"We were getting worried," Gwen said to Annie when we stepped out of the portal. "Are you okay, or did that creep do anything to you?"

"Gwendolyn, I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself," Annie said.

"So, what did you think of your first run? Want to do it again?" I said.

Annie grabbed my ass and said, "Are you sure you don't just want some more after-run action again. That can wait. Emily has been hard at work while we have been playing. I think we should appreciate her efforts before we play again."

"Hey, Randy. I was going through some of the packages you have been getting, and I found this." Sid held up the premium compound bow I'd ordered. He had attached all of the extras that I'd bought with it. Scopes, stabilizers, bowstrings, wax, string silencer, that sort of thing. He also had a hunting bow quiver all set up with broad heads already screwed onto carbon fiber arrows that he'd attached to the side of his bow. Sid had another small pile of projectiles already prepped with different types of arrowheads. He'd found the laser rangefinder I'd also ordered, and that was on the pile.

I shrugged. "If you can use it. I will have to stop spending my money equipping the team. We need to find a way to raise money from our adventures."

"Why not charge to have access to the dungeon." Gwen said, "Disney charges upwards to $20,000 for a run. That is after you pay the $50,000 annual fee for a Club 33 membership."

"I don't want some douche stealing this place away from me. Someone with contacts in DeSantos's government would be thrilled to eminent domain my apartment and kick me out."

"Have you spoken to a lawyer yet? There are probably things you can do to prevent that." Gwen asked.

"Don't know who to trust in the legal community," I said.

Gwen pulled out her phone and said, "Let me give you the phone number to our Family's lawyer. We've used him for years. Why not give him a call."

"Maybe," I said non-committedly.

"So, Annie, do you have any ideas about what kind of build will you go for?" Gwen said, placing a bowl of noodles, meat, and mushrooms before her.

"Thanks," Annie said, "I am thinking about maybe going Druid or Ranger. I usually play a half-elf ranger or druid when we play DnD. I kind of dig the whole nature thing. Plus, the healing thing will make my folks happy. My dad got me the healing spell because he wanted me to go to medical school and thought being able to heal would help me get into a good program."

"I'm sure there are guides to getting the Druid Class in the forum. Or you could just do like I've been doing and pick skills that interest you and try to get a class that works with your interests. I know a lot of forums say you can't get a class until the tenth level, but as long as you qualify for a class, you can pick one up whenever. You are only forced to take one at the tenth level, and the classes move from apprentice classes to actual mainstream classes.

I tried to bring up my [Status] and got slammed with a message asking

Update Status? Yes No

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"Just a sec. There is an upgrade to DominoRay's [Status] interface." It had been a while, so I clicked [yes]. "Annie, Gwen, you use DominoRay, right?"

Gwen didn't, and Annie did; Annie got my wifi password and showed Gwen how to buy a license and install the interface as her H.U.D.

"Anyway, the options I have right now for Class choices are:

* Amateur Rogue

* Apprentice Hexsword

* Apprentice Healsword

* Apprentice Spellsword

* Apprentice Summonsword

* Arcane Dental Hygienist

* Battlefield Sawbones

* Post Modern Shaman

* Bagel Artisan

"It seems to only give a short list. The list seems to be getting better quality classes on it. That must be due to my level, and I had Zombie Fluffer and a few others the last time I looked. "

"Amateur Rogue?" Sid popped out of nowhere and asked.

"I picked up a few stealth skills, just in case," I replied.

"Cool, cool, cool." He said before disappearing again.

"Want to go in again?"

"I'm a bit tired; I wouldn't mind taking a little break," Gwen said.

"The Increase Stamina Recovery pretty much eliminates the need to sleep. Though after a few days, your body starts to crave it. That probably has to do with the body's inherent need for R.E.M. sleep. But I can give everyone a quick refresh if you want."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I think I'm gonna head out. Are you coming, Annie?" Gwen said. Gwen looked imploringly at Annie, who seemed oblivious to her friend's hints. Finally, she shrugged and headed towards the door.\

"Thanks, Gwen, but no, I think I will stay. Doing a couple more runs sounds fun," Annie said.

"Does anyone know anything about the [Basic: Animal Companion] or [Basic: Find Familiar] spells," Annie asked.

"Nope. There's gotta be something in the Wiki. Oh, yeah. If I remember correctly. I think I was told that if you got [Basic: Mana Fertilize] and [Basic: Magical Plant Horticulture] and willpower of 15, you have access to the [Druid: Pledge] class." I saw her eyes glaze over like I assumed my face looked when I looked around in the system. I checked my own Status. I thought I had enough XP to buy some stuff after my last solo and the week spent among the mushrooms. But giving some basic skills to Gwen and Annie had tapped me out, and I was stoked to get back to killing stuff quickly.

I stood and said, "I'm going back in. Anyone want to join me?"

Em said, "Give me 15 minutes, and I'll come. Sid?"

"Yeah, I kind of like being in civilization right now. Those killer mushrooms really took a lot out of me. Easy fights, but being underground for so long was overwhelming."

Sid flipped on the T.V. On the news, another school shooting was happening in Texas. The news was going in the same ideologically polarized direction when school shootings happened. According to the anchor, there had been 21 third graders killed, along with two teachers who had died trying to protect their students and an unlucky first responder.

The police still hadn't figured out the wacko who had committed the massacre. This time there was footage of the guy in a black suit and hop hat walking into the school carrying his AR-15 and a side arm, and a sword at his hip.

"Any bets the crazy is some coward who bought [Basic: Underwater Basket Weaving] was too chicken shit to go into a dungeon at level 0 and was looking to wrack up some easy experience points at the local school," I said. Ever since the apocalypse had started, a few mentally unstable wannabes had done just that.

"That's horrible," Annie said.

"People tend to be," Sid replied. "We can't just teach kindergarteners fireball spells and how to disappear when they are scared. I get not want to regulate firearms since a person with a gun stands no chance against me in stealth with my spelled knives. Or Randy with his electricity spell. Emily, can you tank a headshot yet?"

"No. Not yet, I don't think. Soon maybe." Emily said.

"Anyway, the old arguments are kind of ridiculous."

I kept watching the reruns of the home video some helicopter parents had taken of their kids entering class. The network was showing it over and over again. Something about the top hat and black suit tickled my memories.

"Son of a Bitch!" I yelled.

A chorus of "What's" sounded from around the living room.

"The kid killer. The crazy on T.V. He's the dungeon monster who stole my car."