-=- 17 Days Until Departure -=-

Trillia, once more, drank greedily from a cup. Dumping more and more mana into the water-creating rune on its bottom. Once she had her fill, she set the cup on the ground next to the furs she was laying in.

Finally, looking at Ba'Shoon and Amelia.

"What happened? I sort of remember the fight against Mini. Then I remember passing out and losing a ton of mana."

Amelia sighed as she rubbed her eyes. "Tenacity kicked in. You took a few hits during that fight. You didn't even seem to register them. Something with your traits is speeding up tenacity's recovery time. You also passed out because you haven't been eating or drinking enough. Look at your debuffs."

Trillia quickly did so.

[Runt]

[Famished]

[Dehydrated]

[Exhausted]

Ah. "Why didn't I know before it got so bad?"

Ba'Shoon shook her head, shaking her finger at Trillia. "You said yourself, you're ignoring all of your notifications! There were probably plenty of warnings; we kept telling you to take it easier. You're just being stubborn. Working yourself to death isn't going to help you reach your goals. You're going to burn out and be incapable of doing a damn thing!"

Trillia looked away and at the ground. "Alright, alright. I just, I want to make the most of the time we have left here. [Fencer] is almost maxed out again, plus I also got a regeneration skill. It's working, but I'll try to be more careful going forward."

Offering them a nod. Trillia stood and began reaching for her rapier. Ba'Shoon smacked her hand. "No! You just woke back up. Take the rest of the day, no dungeon or taming today."

With a heavy sigh, Trillia walked out of the tent that had been initially set up for her and Amelia. "Well, what can I do? Sit around all day? I need to be able to do something."

Ba'Shoon gave her a little eye roll. "Why don't you go pick herbs or alchemical ingredients. Don't you have a trait now that helps you with that?"

Trillia frowned a little before heading off to see if the scout camp's alchemists or shamans needed help.

-=- 15 Days Until Departure -=-

[Monster Taming] Level 0 Obtained!

Monster Taming:

A creature possessing this skill can form Pacts with monsters. Monsters are considered any creature that is not a sapient humanoid on Alirast. The creature must be equal to, or lower than, your Species, Subspecies, or Derived Level, whichever is highest. Every level of this skill allows you to form Pacts with monsters 10 levels higher than your own levels.

"Yes!" Trillia pumped her fist into the air. Tim clapped his hands together for her. The Lovax gave them both a grumpy look before slowly rolling up and rolling off towards less annoying company. It refused the pact from both of them, but all the training had paid off.

Tim smiled a large toothy smile. "You make pack now. You weak tamer, maybe one or two monster. But you learn fast."

Trillia gave the goblin a hug and a smile of her own. "I'll be the best darn pack leader you ever saw, Tim! I won't disappoint you! Gosh, what do you think I should try to make my first monster?"

Tim scratched the weak stubble of a beard his goblin face grew. His voice was hoarse and raspy. "Push dungeon now. Maybe when win. You get dungeon wolf."

Trillia spun around, her smile wider than ever. "To the dungeon! So that I can get my own fluffy fanged friend!"

Tim shook his head with a chuckle but followed all the same.

-=- 12 Days Until Departure -=-

"I think I am going to take [Weapon's Path] this time. I was debating [Fencer's Grace] or finally taking [Rapier Mastery]. But [Weapon's Path] has been invaluable against Roderick The Fencer. I know I'm close to getting to Stibs and Paws again; I can feel it. What class should I go with? [Fencer] again and evolve it into [Rune Fencer]?" Trillia sat there eating some soup as she looked briefly through her notifications. She'd really have to sit down soon and read through everything in detail. But it always took her the better part of a day or two to do that.

She'd rather spend the time training before they all needed to return. Tormash and Ralrouk had been talking at length with Mon'tag. Trillia got the impression that the two of them were making plans for when Tormash left to start his own tribe. Making scout paths and roads that were somewhat safe between the two locations.

Ba'Shoon tapped her hand, pulling her out of her own thoughts. "I said I think you should take Fencer into Rune. Getting an advanced class started is a good idea. Unlike [Runic Scholar], you will have plenty of chances to use fencing skills. [Swashbuckler] is nearing forty, right? It will max out soon. Any thoughts on what skill you are going to take and what you want to replace the class with?"

Trillia rubbed her chin. [Swashbuckler] hadn't been super disappointing, but it seemed like the type of class that worked better as a secondary class than something that had a bunch of active skills. Which she simply didn't.

"I am still holding out hope for a Monster Taming class or a class related to the crossbow. I think [Rune Fencer], coupled with one of those two, would suit me well. We'll have to wait and see." Trillia took another bite of soup.

The ground began to shake under them. Trillia and Ba'Shoon immediately stood up with weapons drawn. Slowly moving towards the tent where Amelia was sleeping. Tormash blew on a horn to wake anyone who was still sleeping and alert the camp.

The sky turned completely white as thunder and lightning crackled through the sky. The sound was deafening. A white notification popped up in front of Trillia's face; at a glance, everyone else was seeing something similar.

A Godling has ascended to become a Lesser Deity of Knowledge on Alirast!

The effects of Scorned Divinity have been lessened. Divine Blessings and communications from Deities still inhabiting Alirast may resume as normal. Divine Blessings and communications from Deities that must send an avatar to Alirast or commune remotely are still prohibited.

Trillia looked over at her brothers with a concerned look on her face. Ba'Shoon also wore an odd look. Amelia was the one to speak, having finally left her tent with a weapon in hand. "I can feel my connection to earthen mana strengthening."

Tormash seemed troubled. "This is like the cataclysm. I need to return to the city as soon as possible."

Tormash turned his eyes to his brother, all business at this point. "Stay here. Guard the camp, the dungeon, and the girls. That's an order. I will report to Grand Chieftain Amara and King Cordaos. I will return with orders when I have them. If no orders come, follow the original plan and leave in twelve days."

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Tormash turned his head to Ba'Shoon. "Help the scouts get this camp warded. If divinity is returning in any form, the Shattered Will Tribe will be weak. Our god uses an avatar. Not all tribes do. Make sure the area around the dungeon and this camp is as fortified as your enchanting can make it. Understood?"

Ba'Shoon nodded before turning to grab Mon'tag and set about her job. Tormash looked at Trillia and Amelia. "Until I know it's safe to travel unguarded, you will not roam outside of the camp or dungeon. In an emergency, you listen to Ralrouk. He is second in command to me in this outpost. You do what he says, regardless of how it sounds. Do you understand me?"

Both girls nodded. Trillia's skills didn't let fear take hold anymore. But Amelia's eyes were full of terror; last time something like this happened, her home and people had been slaughtered within a few years. Trillia took her hand and squeezed it.

Tormash continued. "Explain what's happening to the dungeon. Ask it if it knows any information that might help us. Also, tell it that it needs to get stronger, faster. We may need to rely on it for protection depending on what comes of this, not the other way around."

The girls nodded again. Tormash closed his eyes. Trillia could feel the mana pouring off of him as he used various skills and enhancements. Without another word, he darted off towards the city.

Trillia turned to look at Amelia. "It's gonna be ok, Amelia. You have us. The orcs and minotaurs are in this together. We won't lose anyone else."

Amelia looked up at her friend and offered an unconvincing nod.

-=- 9 Days Until Departure -=-

Attacks on the outpost had come almost daily. Ralrouk and the scouts made short work of it. But something was whipping the [Megapedes] into a frenzy. Everyone was on edge. Trillia still challenged the dungeon daily, but now that it was just Amelia watching her back with healing, she took it a little slower than normal.

After the day's attempts in the dungeon, Trillia sat in the healing hall with Gobbinz.

Gobbinz wore a typical smile, the system message seemingly not bothering the goblin at all. "You're doing much better. You actually saw the boss door today! I think you'll at least be able to challenge them by the end of your time here. I don't know if you'll win, but that's ok."

Trillia nodded slightly. Staring at the goblin, after a few minutes, he shook his head. "Sorry, his answer hasn't changed. Father isn't allowed to talk about some things that are happening. The best he can do is continue to help you train and work on securing lower floors and becoming stronger himself."

Trillia's shoulders slumped. The dungeon refused to speak with anyone about it. At first, Trillia thought Ralrouk and Ba'Shoon would be furious, but they had explained to her that dungeons were attached to divinity. Cores had to follow rules like anything else did. It was then that Trillia remembered Dawn's words to her. That everyone had to follow rules.

-=- 5 Days Until Departure -=-

"[Riposte]!"

As Trillia slapped the jagged dagger of Stib's away, she swung her left arm up and let loose a volley of ten arrows. Half of them missed as the goblin threw himself back from her. The other half grazed his side, leaving only smaller cuts. The lunging attack from [Riposte] flew towards his chest as he backpedaled, his own blade moving to intercept it.

Trillia began launching singular mana bolts from her arm crossbow, one after another, as fast as she could form them. Her [Universal Mana Manipulation] had been gaining experience rapidly using the bow, infusing every bolt with the intent to cripple her targets. Some had even begun to swerve towards her enemy.

Stibs was entirely on the defensive, which wasn't normal for the goblin to experience against Trillia. All of his attacks required him to actually get in close with his dagger, but the addition of rapid ranged attacks from Trillia made that impossible alone.

The fight had gone on for nearly seven minutes at this point. Stibs finally raised a hand. "Enough!"

Trillia skidded to a halt, loosing the charged mana bolts into the ground next to her. Stibs shook his head.

"Damn. My stamina almost empty. No recovery like you. Good fight." Stibs plopped down on the ground, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Trillia flopped down next to him on her back, also worn out from the fight.

"I still need to be able to beat you and Paws together, though. That's the boss encounter, not just one of you. I can barely manage to drain your stamina enough to make you surrender. I still don't stand a damn chance against you both."

Stibs smirked, pulling a waterskin from his side and taking long pulls of refreshment from it. "You advance fast. Gain many, many levels in short time. Father says you will be fine, just be safe and train."

Trillia nodded absent-mindedly. She had heard that many times over this past month. But to her, it still felt like it wasn't enough.

-=- 2 Days Until Departure -=-

This was the third day in a row that she got to the boss room. The third day in a row that Paws and Stibs had bested her together. This time, she at least managed to take Stibs out of the fight. Paws was another beast entirely, though. Trillia lay there as Amelia helped patch her up. Amelia had taken to running the dungeon in her spare time as well. Trillia was no longer in any real danger until the boss room, which freed Amelia up to get some levels of her own.

The camp now had palisades circling it. Every stake of wood had runes etched into it. The camp had moved much closer to the dungeon proper to help defend it and, should the worst happen, flee into it.

No word had come from the city yet. The attacks from the [Megapedes] had slowed drastically; after Ralrouk had ventured out for two days to deal with nests in the area. Everyone was still on edge. It was difficult to discern what changes were going to sweep across the Shattered Plains next.

-=- 1 Day Until Departure -=-

Trillia ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Her rapier no longer in hand. It was sitting in Stib's chest where she left it. Paws was running her down, using that lightning flash step of his skill to constantly harass and damage her.

Minor Regeneration kept the bleeding to an entirely manageable level, the small trickle of health did little during combat, but the potions she chugged did a lot more.

Trillia swung her arm behind her, loosing another volley of arrows. Expectedly, Paws flash-stepped away from them, Trillia had immediately reversed her direction when she fired her weapon, and so she dodged the worst of the attack.

Paws was breathing heavily, even though she hadn't done any real damage to the wolf. Of the hundred or so arrows she had fired, a single one had found its mark. The wolf was just damn fast. But the wolf didn't have a way to recover stamina and health as she did. So it was a very long battle of attrition that Trillia was winning.

Entirely because of her mana pool.

At first, Trillia hadn't wanted to lean on it to win or get ahead. Then Ralrouk had pointed out something very important to her. If she didn't have [Runt], she'd have double the health and double the amount of time in tenacity. If the system saw fit to give her such a damning debuff on the Shattered Plains, she had damn well better take advantage of the buffs she had. That was just the way the world worked, whether she liked it or not.

Trillia took a misstep as Paws snapped at her. She panicked and jammed her left arm into his mouth. He couldn't break the artifact, but it was aimed away from him. Trillia grabbed her skinning knife from her belt and began to jab it at his face, pushing her left arm forward with all her might to keep him from biting her.

He had stopped using his nova attack about ten minutes ago. Trying to conserve stamina and mana for flash steps. It seemed like the wolf was entirely tapped out. As Paws tried to yank its head free from the arm and artifact, the knife finally found purchase. Gashing one of his eyes open.

Another strike, another bloody wound.

And another.

And another.

Trillia slumped over when a notification rang in her head, signaling the wolf's demise. She was only a hundred health in the negatives. She began using [Restorative Chant] to make sure she was alive by the end of tenacity.

More notifications began ringing out in her mind chief amongst them, however, was that she only had seven seconds left. Trillia drank a healing potion for good measure before passing out. Of the seven hundred thousand mana she had left, a hundred thousand vanished as payment for a rapid recovery time from tenacity.

Darkness took her.

-=- Day Of Departure -=-

Trillia awoke with a groan, her head pounding. Her mana let her bypass the recovery time, but it left her exhausted, malnourished, and dehydrated every single time it did. She had long since taken the limit off her mana pool, seeing as she was using it by the tens of thousands a day now.

Amelia, Ba'Shoon, and Ralrouk were in the tent, grinning as she woke up. Amelia did a little cheer. "You did it! The dungeon said that you actually won! We're packing up our things since we have to leave. But Ralrouk said we could delay for a couple of hours while you said your goodbyes to the dungeon. Apparently, Paws has an item for you. It was a dropped item for defeating him. The dungeon also says, when we aren't so busy. You're free to return and see the second floor."

Trillia perked up immediately. Jumping off the furs and grabbing her rapier, stumbling and falling over immediately during the attempt. Amelia steadied her with a laugh. "Easy there. Take things slow. You have time. You can recover on the road to home. Once you're ready, we'll all go say our goodbyes to the dungeon and head out."

Trillia gave Amelia a hug and a smile. Ba'Shoon and Ralrouk left, and Amelia decided to stay behind to help Trillia pack and get things ready. She'd recover and finally go through the mountain of notifications she had and read each in detail.

But after getting her well-deserved prize.