Since he couldn’t be physically exhausted due to his Inherent Ability, he realized he didn’t actually have to pace himself anymore. He wasn’t fast, but he took off at what amounted to 70% of a dead sprint in the proper direction. The only reason he wasn’t going full tilt is that his pack clanged around, and it made a bunch of noise. It was also extremely uncomfortable as the strap on his pack slapped in him in the back of his head repeatedly.

He had already learned his lesson about staying on the road. While the areas off the road were definitely dangerous and filled with monsters, the fact that he could run into a full Foray on the road meant it was really no option at all. He’d take a chance that he might die over a chance he would die as he guessed the next group wouldn’t be nearly as friendly as Merlot, especially since he had some Mana now. The off-road route meant that he could continue to hone his weevil killing strategy too. They continued to rise up from the ground at random intervals, but once Boyd realized that a quick stomp from his new boots could wipe out a Ground Dirt Weevil Conglomerate quickly, they were mostly a source of great experience. He’d pounce on the swirls and drive his boot deep into the ground, ignoring the smaller creatures. He continued his merry way along the off-roads, alternately jump-stomping piles of swirling dirt and then dashing off into the distance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Venian compound itself was visible from several hundred meters away. It looked like a futuristic beehive had been carved into the wall of a cave. It was clearly massive if you were a Venian, but no more than just large if you were a human. The front was guarded by two VMRs, which immediately tripped a few bells for Boyd.

He very carefully waved his hands from a distance and then did the international sign for “I mean no harm” by showing his palms with his arms extended. He realized quickly that this wasn’t necessarily the case in his new habitat, so instead he just shouted, “I got a package for ya’ll from Glipglaup!”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The VMRs stood still, looked at one another, and then motioned him forward. While Boyd was walking forward, one of them left in a hurry, but the other stayed where it was.

“What’s the package?”

“Hell if know. Glipglaup said I could stay at the inn if I delivered this.”

“Who is Glipglaup?” the VMR asked.

“Man, I don’t know. He acted like he knew you. He said deliver the package. I am delivering the package. You ever heard of don’t shoot the messenger?”

“No. In fact, shooting the messenger is commonly a good idea if they are delivering you something you don’t need or want. Did this Glipglaup tell you who it was supposed to go to here?”

“No, he said the Venians would be interested in this, and to go give it to them and say it’s from Glipglaup and then I got food and a place to stay, which I badly need.”

The VMR scanned the box extensively and then opened it carefully. Whatever was inside it was definitely of interest, because the VMR closed it almost instantly and then began chattering into its radio in a language the System couldn’t translate.

"Alright, we’re good. Go.”

“That’s it? Seriously? I just give you the box and then we are good?”

The VMR flew up close to him and then looked at him curtly. “You do know what delivery means right? What did you think was going to happen?”

“I don’t know. I guess past experience led me to believe this could go a lot worse.”

“Well, it didn’t. Thank your lucky stars.”

“Will do. Thanks.”

“Thank you. Be careful on the way out. Stick to the road.”

Boyd nodded and headed out. He wasn’t going to stick to the road originally and he definitely wasn’t now. He silently thanked his lucky stars that things went so well. He thought that he had been worrying for nothing. Mysterious box delivered, no alarms tripped, no issues of any kind actually. He’d have a place to sleep and food to eat. The bread he had eaten wasn’t great, but it was a hell of a lot better than hunger. He didn’t know if they had butter on Zenith, but it was the first thing he’d ask for when he sat down. Butter and beer and some meat. He’d eat anything as long as it tasted like meat. He smiled as he walked into back towards the poorly lit cavern and away from the open area of the Venian enclave.

SYSTEM: You have completed the Quest. “Deliver a box to the Venian Enclave.” Return to Glipglaup to accept your reward.

The ensuing explosion knocked him almost directly sideways.