Friday. 31 december 2043
I closed the VCS int—I meant, VICOS interface and made my way to Henry's office.
"Come with me if you want to live!"
"Don't you feel that joke is overused by now?" Henry said after a sigh. Someone might have been using that line every single time he comes through that door these past two days.
"A….." I stop to think of another quote… "I got nothing. So, what'chu got for me today?"
"It's best that you don't." He quipped. "Well, we got the walls sorted out, expanding the Safe Zone comes at a cost in Creds, but we'll manage. This Hospital currently has enough rooms and space for our population of less than 200 people, so thats fine. And we've got plenty of combatants, most still in their second or third level, but leveling them up is a work in progress… We're in need of producers; farmers and tool crafters mostly. Food's gonna be a problem in a few weeks when we run out of old world stuff.
"What about Dianti and that other girl, the earth mage?"
"Shinta," he clarified. "You think two people can feed 200? Though, We do also have a family rearing Lepovine Domestifowl."
"Domesticated vines?"
"No smart-ass! They're the Multiverses go to livestock, multiplies fast, but through laying eggs and they're about the size of a cow. Produces milk like one too." He explained to me in detail, I guess billions of years of existence didn't come to waste if they got this. "Eggs, milk and meat all from one source. Massive eggs," he said.
"Two people farming, and one family tending livestocks," I summarize. "How about offering incentives?" He explained they are, but as everyone is coming to terms about the integration, most people wants to be out there fighting things now that we can all be superhumans and wizards… I can relate. "Its fine, we'll figure something out."
"If you say so," I shrug. "You want me to help pay the Safe Zone thing?"
"Not for another ten percent, no." He grins, "I got chewed out by Herman for giving you such a big share."
"Whyy?"
"Twenty percent is a lot of numbers if this territory end up growing as we envision it to." He explained, they don't currently have taxes set as people are still adapting, but soon, when they start doing so. Anyone registered as citizens of Rumah will be taxed in Creds for every sale in the System Store and for owning a shop and such, just like how the old world was. For Henry, Jennifer and Herman, as owners, a small part of that tax will also contribute to their experience. They can also set a tiny bit of Experience tax for kills that happen within the Territory Core. And a whole lot more. Its a load of complicated stuff, I'd rather fight strong enemies and become strong! Overpowered!!
I can't help but laugh. "How about for a spot of land?"
"What for? Size?"
"I may or may not have seen something like a wizard tower in the Store last night." I answer while gauging his reaction. "Uh, at least a five meter cube."
"Well damn!" He says with a knowing grin. "Maybe next time, imagine the chaos that would bring now. Imagine the chaos Agus would bring seeing that."
"Imagine the chaos I would bring seeing what?" Agus asks from the door.
"Nothing"
"Nothing"
I decided to stay another day, for one more Druidant Dungeon run, where I'm allowed to hunt the Sentries alone, and three more from Chambers of Goblins while carrying necessary people to level up where assuming they can managed fine, I'm allowed to go on a separate hunt. Henry's gonna be organizing the team to maximize gains. In exchange for one seed of every kind available, as well as supplies for my journey. I made sure to tell Tiffany my plans.
** DING **
Skill level up, Heavy Armor Proficiency 11 > 12
Skill level up, Poison Resistance 4 > 5
Skill level up, Tracking 2 > 3
1241 syscred and 8506 exp awarded
1st run on Chambers of Goblins, where the others with me would just hit random targets with their Magico Disks as I cast VLoS or use my more permanent and Latent Mana enhanced ones to wipe them out. The occasional monster drops, we pick up and pool together in one bag. One notable loot among the first roll is a Jar of Toxic Waste that makes your nose wish you're dead.
After clearing the Boss, I got lucky with the extra reward, getting one item tailored for me and a choice of whatever Title / Trait / Magic Item the Dungeon had. I asked for something to increase my mana pool and got offered a ring that has 1000 mana that is free to use has its own mana regeneration, then a ring that has one mana but is soul bound and will grow its mana pool and regeneration by consuming various Cores, as well as almost every possible combination between the two. I decided to take the second option, as well as an Artisan's Durable Carver, which is a tool used by the newly seen Hobgoblin Artisan. I might get into enchanting, who knows.
Skill level up, Thrown Weapon Proficiency 9 > 10
Skill level up, Soul Sense 10 > 11
Skill level up, Dagger Proficiency 9 > 10
547 syscred and 3717 exp awarded
The Druidant Dungeons rewarded me various materials and some tools, all to be donated to Rumah, I'll let them organize these and just grab a bag of organized seeds. Sneaking didn't level up after plenty of uses.
Skill level up, Tracking 3 > 4
Skill level up, Poison Resistance 5 > 6
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Skill level up, Mana Sense 16 > 17
Skill level up, Tracking 4 > 5
1141 syscred and 6488 exp awarded
You are now level 8
823 syscred and 6829 exp awarded
Finally, another level. Though none on Mana Manipulation. More materials and potions, several duplicates of the magical items due to fortunate rolls too, got dumped on Henry. Loots from monster drops between the three Goblin runs, besides herbs and mundane items, also had 22 Monster Cores of various levels.
Between Dungeon runs, I fed the only Mana Core I have to my one and only Soul Bounded ring, Devorantis Stagnum, increasing its reserves to 19 mana. Then, I would busy myself analyzing Pocket Suspense—sometimes wondering why the subspace feels far, shouldn't space be everywhere—or trying to use the Artisan's Durable Carver without a speck of clue how.
Night came soon after and so did sleep.
---
"You leaving today?" Henry asks me at breakfast.
"Yeah, I've delayed to long. Besides, you guys seems better off, so I'm not too worried."
"We can text you and call for help anytime too." He joked.
"Yeah, we had smartphones, meanwhile the whole Multiverse has their version of one too. Though maybe not as smart." We laugh, "also, It occured to me, can't you farm the dungeon and sell their products to bolster Rumah's income? Seeds, the cores."
"We are, you think all that things you dumped on me in the name of donations are just rotting away somewhere?" He grins before dumping a sachel on my lap. "Here's yours."
"Thanks," I check to see seeds of all kind in separate labeled plastic bags, as well as some fresh vegetables. "Very neatly packed."
"Dianti does good work."
"Kak Zeennn! You wana see my bag?" Linda rushes at us wearing a questionably cute sling bag in the shape of a cartridge. "Do you like it? Eyang got it for me! Its now five times bigger on the inside."
"Yeah, its cute!" I tell her, where even did he find one of these.
"Are you leaving?" She ask me, her mood plummeting in an instant.
"Yeah, I wanna find my family. Someone's got to help keep my three years old niece safe." I grin at her, "or she might be four, I forgot to keep track."
She still has that gloomy look on her face, I honestly don't feel that we are all that close. But she might have been spending a lot of time with Jennifer and have no doubt heard of my embarassing stories. "I got a gift for you!" Opening my merchants interface, I gift her Latent Coating, and Will'o'-Weal, as well as patiently describe to her what they each do.
"Eww, spiders…" was what I got in return, and then a hug, then a slightly happier Linda.
"Hey! Long time no see" Jennifer say whilst approaching. A lot of the people I know are, too. We chat for a while longer, and soon enough breakfast is over and it's time for me to go.
—
I've mapped up a route in my mind, planning to follow what's left of the road, then the highway, for as far as possible. Knowing I'll have to adapt on the way. With a final farewell, I embark, leaving behind what feels like everything I've known my whole life.
—-
I fished up a few giant fishes in a lake I passed by, storing them in a separate compartment within my repository, along with a few hundred Trilattic plates that are made to emit chill and provided about two hundred mana worth of fuel. Some of the fish I snack on, raw, it has stopped bothering me.
I reach the highway unscathed and sane, it helped that I can both maintain awareness of my surroundings through Mana Sense and experiment on Pocket Suspense at the same time. All along the way, most buildings and even the road is rubble and dust, the highway I plan to walk on is no longer high, or is in any way walkable. So I decided to travel beside it. Truly, nature has begun to claim a lot, as what seems to be the beginning of a forest is starting to form, here in the middle of a city.
The monsters are pretty weak along the way, I met a few more variants of small mammals, birds and insects. And only a few are above level five, which translates to less fuel to feed my ring. But being small, they ended up being a better fuel to feed myself… lo and behold, It did not take long before the small creatures began to hide away from me instead. I don't bother to chase.
** DING **
Combat summary
Enemies slain:
Hexawhip Catfish lv 2 x 5
Anchovy Penetro lv 1 x 12
Toxic Fly lv 2 x 7
Mowing Mantis lv 6 x 1
CobblerSnail lv 4 x 2
Big Rat lv 1 x 6
Giant Rat lv 2 x 4
Huge Mosquito lv 3 x 15
ShadowRoach lv 5 x 2
Squaills lv 4 x 8
151 syscred and 232 exp awarded
Skill level up, Tracking 5 > 6
Devour Summary:
Strength +7
Constitution +6
Dexterity +14
Intelligence +3
Those are pretty explanatory names; besides the usual ones, a catfish with six whips as whiskers and small anchovies who shoot out of the waters like bullets to penetrate targets, these two I have kept for my chef of a sister. Some poisonous flies. A lone mantis with massive blade hands, it was decently powerful. a few massive—for snails—snails that seems to construct its shells using cobbles and concrete. And small quail-like creatures that shot icicles or water blade attacks or spells at me, these too, I kept. Some of these creatures would be quite troublesome if I did not have Mana Sense to give me ample warnings.
All in all, it was a novel experience, quite enjoyable, especially the part where I devour their souls and with a select few, their meat. I had consumed parts of the Catfish, two whole anchovies, the mantis's torso—its arms I take with me—and three Squaills minus their sharp claws, which I also brought along. The Squaills are—as a whole, extra fine, like breathing in mountain air after a rainy day, refreshing and light. Last but not least, Three Monster Cores.
Kirana approached just before I departed and requested I try to find the Kedoya shelter, if I find myself around the area, or to ask if the guys in the Green Garden shelter know anything. She is now the second person to receive my shared map.
The highway is cut. As in, it's no longer the almost straight road I remember it to be, a few times, on quick observation the rubbles slightly curves to the left, I follow nonetheless. After about half a day's journey, I spotted a building that used to be the Jakarta Eye Center, only recognizable due to the large dilapidated JEC written atop one of its walls. There is something flying above the building, translucent somethings... spirits? I will keep away for now. Thank you very much.
On second thoughts, they might be easy to devour. But I keep to my new course, now moving straight away to the left of the nature-claimed highway to enter what used to be Kedoya. I made sure to pin this spot on my map with a note that says 'approx-Kedoya.' Noting instantly that the JEC building has a crystal icon, a Dungeon.
I pass by a decently sized building still partly standing, surrounded by an equally destroyed fence, albeit with an intact gate. Its destruction seems to have been caused by an explosion, on its roof stands one massive antennae which lacks the refined look of modern construction. This can't be the shelter right? "Oi you over there! What cha' lookin at? Country bumpkin, never seen a big antennae before?!" A speaker buzzed alive before rude words were spoken in a robotic accent. On observation, a classic loudspeaker is mounted on a pole by the gate, mounted above it a CCTV and below it, on the pole, around chest high is what seems to be an attached mike.
"Uhh, I have not, not one this big at least. Though that doesn't automatically mean I'm a country bump---"
"I understand, you're probably just dumb. It's fine, kid." Cut the robotic voice. I'm entertaining the idea of breaking open this building to see the person behind the voice, I'm pretty sure a few exploding v2 disks will do the work. Or I could always figure out how to fireball.
"You better not be think about making trouble, kid!" He/she added.