** DING **
3,252 syscred and 16,361 exp awarded
Skill level up, Parry 7 > 8
Skill level up, Dodge Roll 10 > 12
Skill level up, Swords Proficiency 5 > 7
Skill level up, Polearms Proficiency 6 > 8
Skill level up, Evasion 14 > 15
Skill level up, Axes Proficiency 4 > 6
Skill level up, Soul Sense 12 > 13
Skill level up, Bowed Weapons Proficiency 3 > 4
Skill level up, Mana Sense 18 > 19
Skill level up, Maces Proficiency 5 > 7
Skill level up, Soft Weapons Proficiency 4 > 5
Skill level up, Thrown Weapon Proficiency 13 > 14
Skill level up, Heavy Armor Proficiency 14 > 15
Skill level up, Unarmed Combat Proficiency 12 > 13
Skill level up, Shield Proficiency 8 > 9
Skill level up, SYMPHONY 12 > 13
Skill level up, Dagger proficiency 12 > 13
Owners of Devourling Constitution, please refrain from further rampant consumption of any and all creatures that is causing irreparable damage to the cycle
Did you know that shields can be a weapon too? I do now, all it needed was an additional usable blade or spike attached.
By the time I return to Rumah to join breakfast—just in case there are reports I need to hear—I have stopped devouring every enemy I come upon. All due to The System warning that showed up after the night-morningly dungeon run. The run itself was satisfyingly fruitful, as I took my time eliminating the enemy from every single nook and cranny.
—
The days pass by in a blur of grinding skills and experience while, once in a while, helping to develop Rumah. I refrained from killing the enemies I found outside Dungeons, this allows the non-delvers a chance to gain experience. As for how-in-the-world I am to fight three owners of Devourling Constitution alone and without continuing my own devouring still eludes me.
My dad is now the fourth member of Rumah's council, he is currently both a shareholder, as well as the person managing inventory and our Territory's sales. Freeing Henry from some of his duties, which I only know now, is planning. Planning of most-everything; man power allocation, building plans, day to day running of the Territory, almost everything. Mr Herman mostly handles security and the guards. While Jennifer is to focus on keeping herself and the baby Healthy.
I'm currently procrastinating on claiming the newer sales of the store, because… procrastinating. And had only known there were some from Antonio, my dad. Besides, I'm busy! Today is now the fifth day of running both dungeons after every cooldown, which, after the first few runs, I do alone. Everyone is familiar enough with them now to do their own runs with regular synergized groups, and there are more experience points for me to gain by delving solo.
Amidst my inner-monologue. I cast another VLoS on the fifth field and watch all five Druidants and both harvestable Bambreezes perish and wilt. I have stopped caring about harvesting anything on my runs, there are plenty enough planted at Rumah, not to mention the infinite amount of resources within the dungeon itself. Therefore, soon I found myself before the slain corpse of the third Sentinel. Repeated encounters made everything in this dungeon familiar and I have since designed a personal streamlined process for the most efficient clear, not that this is a video recorded speed run or anything. And so, I entered the boss room duly prepared for another familiar battle.
"I remember you." The Queen says out of nowhere. At those words I pause to stare confoundingly at it. "My people are merely nature loving farmers, we live alongside it while we nurture the lands. Why must you… humanoids repeatedly come and hurt us so?"
I'm lost for words, the lands? "You remember us?" And asked a stupid question, which I hastily rectify. I decided to tell her the truth. "I mean, sorry. There may be land to nurture here and plants to live along, but, I'm afraid you do not exist in True Space."
"What do you speak of humanoid, what is True Space?" Her face scrunches up in confusion.
Right, it doesn't even know it's in a Dungeon, let alone know of True Space. "I mean. You're all living in a Dungeon, a magical one that exists past a magical gate. Uhh, its like—"
"I know what a Dungeon is." It says, interrupting my pitiful attempt of an explanation. Her expression now shows a pondering look. Isn't she too, alive?
"I'm afraid that explains the broken fragments of my memories and why we cannot seem to find an exit, not to mention our disability to harvest a majority of our crops." She finally says, "it is no curse of the gods… our heroes have lost their war."
She mourns, staring at the ground.
"I'm sorry…"
After a few minutes, she perks up and once again look at me. "So, are you here to slay me? It is not often one attempts a Dungeon without a party."
"That was the plan, yes. But I don't have to." I tell her, not if she remembers every death.
"Are you the heir of a tier five kingdom? Or the successor of a multiversal conglomerate? Maybe a seeded genius from one of the well known academies?" She asks. "That you are so mighty so as to be capable of Dungeon delving on your lonesome."
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"None of that… in fact, the existence of such people did not even cross my mind before you mentioned them."
"Curious." It went back to thinking. "Perhaps, a primitive-denizen born genius, or, although unlikely. A diamond-in-the-rough prodigy from a newly integrated sapient race?"
"Yep. Not sure about the prodigy part, but newly integrated, yep." I confirm her very specified guess.
"Ah. It is as they say, ignorance is bliss. Peacefully integrated, not conquered." It spoke to itself, then to me. "Well, It is what it is. Shall we?"
I stare at her for a moment, "shall we what?"
"You versus me. Shall we begin our deadly duel?" Ohh~, she meant to begin fighting.
"Nah, I'll just leave if that's okay with you?" I point at the exit.
"And then what? Forever stay away from this Dungeon? What of your kin?" It asks me, "It is now my life to die in battle and be forever revived, over and over again. It is only the price of our defeat."
Once again, I am struck dumb by her words. "You've got a point. But are you fine with that?"
"My kin and I are alive, albeit as a mere duplicate of what we once were, but alive is alive." It says. "I am currently grateful for the opportunity to risk my life in combat. During my previous life, as a queen of my race, it had never been appropriate—despite my interest."
However cool she made our fight sound, the battle was over soon. Its bulky physique made it an easy target for my various spells. So I opened up with a VLoS before using Beam Torrent, interspace between dodge rolls and evasive maneuvers, to finish her off. After absentmindedly rolling for my rewards, I promptly returned to Rumah.
I was halfway towards my room to bathe and check my updates when a chime indicated a new message, which turned out to be Henry. He wants me to visit him in his office, right now! I internally shrugged and took the detour.
"Reports are in about of a group of three people that meet your description of Simon and his cronies, they have been sighted." He dropped the bomb the second I closed the door… Wel–
"–well damn!" I decided to speak my mind.
"What now?" He asks.
How do I win a fight between half-devourlings one versus three, not to mention they might have kept devouring despite The System's warning? Maybe if I buy traps and explosives from the Store. Or hire merc—
"You got a plan?" He asks again.
I look at him and shrug, "nope. I don't think it is possible to win with my current arsenal, yet I've got no choice but to try my best. Where were they spotted?"
"Around Greenlake, but they do not seem to be moving straight in our direction." Informed Henry, "though before you go gallivanting off trying to be the hero of our planet and get yourself killed. How about you hear me out."
He suggested we try facing them as an army, why fight fair when our life is on the line. During his search for a way to keep Rumah safe from external threats. He had found siege weapons that combine technology and magic, as well as siege spells that are usable through the combined effort of several casters. I… the thought of not fighting the trio alone never occured to me.
"Can we do tha—" Dumb brain. "—I mean, good thinking! I was just about to suggest the same thing!"
He stares at me while I stare back, before we begin laughing out loud. That is one major burden off my chest. And so, after the moment of unsuppressed insanity, we begin planning the demise of our enemies like two drunk supervillains.
---
** DING **
Combat summary
Enemies slain, Participants: 2 - 3:
Goblin Hatchling lv 1 x 26
Goblin lv 5 x 127
Goblin Warrior lv 10 x 11
Goblin Scout lv 10 x 26
Goblin Bandit lv 10 x 13
Goblin Shaman lv 15 x 7
Hobgoblin lv 15 x 12
Hobgoblin Bruiser lv 25 x 9
Hobgoblin Patrol lv 25 x8
Hobgoblin Raider lv 25 x 7
Hobgoblin Mage lv 25 x 2
Hobgoblin Artisan lv 25 x 1
849 syscred and 5,218 exp awarded
You are now level 10
Combat summary
Enemies slain, Participants: 2:
Druidant Sentry lv 12 x 40
Druidant Planter lv 8 x 20
Druidant Sprinkler lv 8 x 40
Druidant Fertilizer lv 8 x 20
Druidant Harvester lv 8 x 20
Druidant Concocter lv 10 x 10
740 syscred and 2,832 exp awarded
Combat summary
Enemies slain, Participants: 6:
Druidant Sentinel lv 18 x 3
Queen Druidant lv 25 x 1
13 syscred and 106 exp awarded
Slain Druidant Young lv 5 x 10
50 syscred and 100 exp awarded
'Summarize them further please, thank you.' I interrupt The System updates of dungeon slain enemies. The daily order in which I cleared them are; one, the Chambers of Goblins, then Antrum de Druidants, before three more Goblin runs. Rinse and repeat. Besides the first three, I delve the Dungeons solo. It is also important to note that although the Antrum de Druidants have a consistent number of enemies, the population within the Chamber of Goblins varies to a significant degree.
Chamber of Goblins:
1,228 syscred and 6,016 exp awarded
Chamber of Goblins:
2,201 syscred and 13,060 exp awarded
Chamber of Goblins:
2,345 syscred and 11,194 exp awarded
'Summarize as daily gains please, including the one this morning.'
8 jan 2044
Antrum de Druidants:
1,509 syscred and 5,457 exp awarded
Chamber of Goblins x4:
11,497 syscred and 49,796 exp awarded
You are now level 11
9 jan 2044
Antrum de Druidants:
1,509 syscred and 5,457 exp awarded
Chamber of Goblins x4:
8,348 syscred and 36,957 exp awarded
You are now level 12
10 jan 2044
Antrum de Druidants:
1,509 syscred and 5,002 exp awarded
Chamber of Goblins x4:
10,725 syscred and 44,821 exp awarded
You are now level 13
11 jan 2044
Antrum de Druidants:
1,459 syscred and 4,541 exp awarded
Four days and four times per day delving the Chambers of Goblins had me tired, disgusted, and bored of the monotone activity and scenery. True my skills improve and so do my levels, but it's still a total grind. Which was why I skipped doing it this morning and instead ended up meeting a talking Queen Druidant. But, now that Simon and Co has been spotted, I plan to be on standby. Which meant no more Dungeon runs. I'll be stuck at Rumah to prepare and await further news about the trio's movements.
I know what to do during the wait, one word. Spell! So far, my attempts to further understand or improve the various spells in between delves vary in results, some spells gain significantly greater improvement than others. Last but not least, it's about time we buy and experiment with siege spells and constructions.