"The best place to have fun besides here is the gambling den that's west of the city market," she said

"Lets go tonight" I asked her. Sure let me ask my boss. With that, she walked away from the bar and into the back. A few minutes later she walked out with jewelry on and she shimmered. The ability ring I made her hadn't been a waste I thought.

"Im ready to go" She said. I grabbed her hand and started to walk out of the bar. With a little giggle, she followed me. As soon as we walked up towards the marketplace I felt her squeeze my hand a little bit.

"Left" I asked. "yes its that way" she responded.

We talked about many things as we walked. "Arent you scared of someone trying to rob you if you keep your ability ring on?" I asked

"Ill turn it off for you until we get inside," she said with a little laugh.

eventually, we ended up in front of a staircase leading downward into the ground.

"I've only been here a few times," Lauren said to me. "Well, let's hope it's fun" I walked down the stairs and inside while holding laurens hand. I was instantly surprised as a layer of heat was felt against my face. It was a small room about the size of the bar. Large enough to hold 30 people in it.

There were four tables and a roulette machine. As we walked in nobody greeted us they were all so busy trying to win that they didn't really care.

I had no money any way I thought to myself. You weren't allowed to be close to the poker tables to stop people from cheating. I found the tables were arranged according to how much money they were playing with.

I watched intently as lauren brought me around to look at every poker table and their players. This couldn't be half as fun as the bar I thought to myself.

After watching for a while lauren spoke up. "I have some money if you want to try roulette"

"Okay," I said to her. "Then lets go." We made our way over to the table. The man who spun the roulette asked her "What do you want"

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"Twenty sea coins on black," She said as she put the coins on the table. With a spin the ball was rolling around and it landed on red.

"Better luck next time." The man said with a smile.

"Twenty sea coins on black again," she said. With that, the ball started spinning around again and this time it landed on black. "Got my money back now let's leave before I lose anything," she said.

We left the den and arrived at the market "This is where we split ways I hope you had fun tonight." She said with a little hair toss.

"Ill come to the bar again soon" I said. "Just to see me?" she asked. "Yes I said

bend down for a second she said. I did and she kissed my cheek. "Thanks for tonight she said.

"Thank you and good luck lauren." I said

With that I made my way home and collapsed into bed.

The next day I awoke with 300 mana I decided not to do anything today. My food was another starfruit. I stayed in my room for the next three days studying a map grand elder has given to me of the surroundings and cultivating.

The next day after that I had 700 mana I knew the best way to strengthen the outpost was to make looter squads. But I didn't want that I wanted a team that surrounded me and were all very strong. With the map grand elder gave me memorized. I headed to the training grounds where I practiced using kunai. I challenged the instructor yet again. He was so much better at fighting. But my body had been continually strengthened until my skin was like rocks and my bones were like steel.

I still got thrashed the injury just weren't as bad. Thats what eating starfruit will do for you. Thats the only thing I had been eating.

I knew I had gotten better at using kunai because I was able to block many more strikes. I had satisfaction with my training I decided to go home.

I went home for the day and rested. The next day when I woke up. I had 800 mana. I was at a loss for what I should try and make next. So I went to talk to cannon man.

I saw him standing on the gate wall with the cannon. "hey" I said. He looked startled to see me. Especially when I went climbing the stairs to talk to him.

"I need some advice," I said to him. "Advice on what in particular" cannon man asked me. Advice on what to do next I had always considered this man as on my team.

"What ability ring should I make next?" I saw his gaze stutter. "You may not like to hear this but the best advice is to make normal rings for everyone as you can specify what you want the rings to do."

"I know that already I know that's the best way to invest in humanity. But I don't really want to do that. I want an easy life."

Cannon man stood quietly for a moment and then spoke "You know grand elders apprentice is getting that much stronger that quickly."

"She may even be ready for a second ring soon." I thought about it and then asked "How do the second rings even work?" I asked

"There a bigger ring that goes in the second ring slot. You're in luck I'm the only member of the outpost that has a second teir ring."

We made eye contact and I asked to see his second ring. He materialized it in his hand. It was slightly bigger then a normal ring. It also had firey colors on it so it was a rare grade.