Novels2Search
The Dungeon's Worst Little Mistake
Chapter 2.2- Open for Business

Chapter 2.2- Open for Business

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Stats

Name – Bug

Age – 0

Race – Gremlin

Class – None

Level – 4

EXP – 19/30

Free Stat Points - 6

Heath – 42/42

Stamina – 21/21

Mana – 40/40

Vitality – 7

Endurance – 7

Strength - 7

Dexterity - 9

Magic - 4

Intelligence - 12

*Luck – N/A

*Note: Luck is a work in progress stat. Points cannot be put into this stat at this time.

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Bug looks over her new stats as she walks through the halls, following the tracks of the fleeing mobs. Her body is still warm from the aftereffects of her new levels making her stronger.

This is the second time that this has happened, so Bug has taken notice of an important detail. Apparently, level-ups only happen after fights have finished. So even if she hits the threshold for her next level, the stat growth won’t happen until the fight is done.

This is important, so Bug makes sure to remember it as she rolls her stiff shoulders.

Looking over how her stats have grown; she learns some other pieces of info.

First - and something she already knew – Vitality increases her HP by six points per level.

Second is that Endurance gives her three Stamina per level and Magic gives a surprising ten per level.

She has no idea if this stat growth will change with time, but for now, the value of the Magic stat has just gone up in her heart. Even if she can’t really use it just yet.

The third piece of information is how her stats increase per level-up. They seem to alternate in giving stats. Her first level-up had increased Vitality, Dexterity, and Intelligence. Level 3 had given her Endurance, Strength, and Magic. While Level 4 had given her Vitality, Dexterity, and Intelligence again.

A pull from the knowledge she gained from the manual draws her attention to the ‘i’ symbol she finds near None, marked as her Class.

Opening the icon, she reads over the note.

‘Class feature is unlocked at Level 10. Until then, all users bellow Level 10 will have the None Class. None Class has balanced stat growth, alternating per level-up, and rewards 3 Free Stat Points and one Skill Point per level-up.

Classes unlocked for selection will be determined by User’s stat values, skills, knowledge, and spells.

Please note that Leveling past Level 10 without a Class is now impossible. [You can thank Tommy the None Puncher for us making that decision. Never again…]’

Another weirdly named person… Not that I am much to talk considering that I am named Bug…

Giving one last look over her stats, Bug distributes her Free Stat points.

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Stats

Name – Bug

Age – 0

Race – Gremlin

Class – None

Level – 4

EXP – 19/30

Free Stat Points - 0

Heath – 60/60

Stamina – 21/21

Mana – 60/60

Vitality – 10

Endurance – 7

Strength - 7

Dexterity - 10

Magic - 6

Intelligence - 12

*Luck – N/A

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

*Note: Luck is a work in progress stat. Points cannot be put into this stat at this time.

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Dumping two points into Magic, one into Dexterity, and three into Vitality, Bug confirms her choice and watches as her health and mana both jump up to 60/60.

Ten points of mana is too tempting as a stat. When I’m finally able to use Magic and cast spells, it will be great to have.

Now, with stats taken care of and her body tingling and warm, Bug finally addresses something that she has been putting off.

One of the notifications she received after the fight.

//Congratulations! You have earned a Skill!

//Knife Fighting lvl1 unlocked!

I am seriously going to strangle whoever it is that made that manual… Why the hell was the fact that you can earn Skills not covered!?

I was this close to buying Knife Fighting lvl1… if I did, I would have wasted a point!

Thinking back over the fight, Bug tries to remember when the notification had popped up…

When I grabbed that guy and kept stabbing him. Then I moved past the punch and almost took that other guy’s head off… Yeah, that’s when it happened…

But that raises the question of what caused it to happen? Is it just a reward for killing things with a knife, or had she just gotten better at using a knife and the System recognized it as her having the Skill now?

“Seriously, why wouldn’t this be covered in the manual?”

Well, for now, this gives me some options. Instead of wasting points, I can earn Skills and I’m guessing Knowledge. I mean, it makes sense that if I already know something, then I shouldn’t have to buy the Knowledge…

Taking that into consideration, Bug opens the skill store and look through as she tracks down the fleeing enemies.

Throwing Weapons, Stealth, and Fist Fighting. All skills that she was planning on buying first, but now her plans have changed. If she can earn them, then she can save her points for buying magic spells and other skills that are harder to get.

“Is there a tracking Skill?”

Scrolling through the list, she finds it. One point for the lvl1 version.

Alright… plan. Going to see if I can get Tracking lvl1 and Stealth lvl1 first. This will tell me if I can earn Skills through practice or if it is only through combat. Once I have the Skills, I’ll start throwing rocks at them until I get the Throwing Weapons lvl1 Skill. Then, if they’re not dead yet, I'll beat them up and try to get Fist Fighting lvl1.

Her plan made and a goal gained, Bug sets off with renewed vigor as she tracks down the fleeing mobs.

Following the tracks, she keeps an eye on the mini map as the paths are slowly filled in. She notes where the entrance is and scowls.

“Those idiots, they’re getting closer to the humans…”

She picks up her pace until she can finally hear them. They’re arguing with each other apparently.

They still haven’t learned… Did they not think that I might track them down?

Bug forces down her disgust as she gets low and peeks around the corner.

//Congratulations! You have earned a Skill!

//Tracking lvl1 unlocked!

A smile spread as Bug reads the notification and gradually the feeling she gets from the footprints in the dirt changes.

It sort of feels like it has gotten a little easier to notice the tracks now.

Not very useful yet, but if I keep improving it, it should become more useful.

Now to focus on Stealth lvl1… If I just follow them around without getting spotted, that should be good enough, right?

Watching from behind the corner, Bug observes them as they wander down the hall. Apparently, they really aren’t considering the possibility of still being followed.

They just keep walking as they bicker with each other. Occasionally they might pull some moss from the wall to munch on.

They aren’t very interesting to watch, is the conclusion that Bug comes to rather quickly…

But, she keeps with it and continues to follow them from a safe distance, focusing on remaining as silent as she can be.

Eventually, the ones that she is following end up running into another group. After a quick scuffle for deciding who is in charge, the two groups merge and become one.

Well, there goes my plan for training those other Skills. I don’t want to attack a group that big without using my knife. I’ll get ganged up on…

Continuing to follow the newly made group of mobs, Bug finds her opinion of the things to be steadily dropping with each passing moment.

They keep getting closer to where the entrance is, and yet they are still being loud.

Ehww… That male keeps playing with female’s chest. Why does she like it? Is that what these things are for?

Bug touches her own breasts through her shirt and tilts her head.

I don’t see the appeal of touching these things… But if anyone tries to touch mine, I’ll cut their hands off.

The group up ahead eventually disappears around a corner and Bug moves to catch up with them. Hugging the corner and staying low she keeps watching.

They really are heading towards the entrance. If they keep getting any closer, I’ll have to pull back and find a different –

Her thoughts are interrupted as an arrow flies from an intersection up ahead and takes out the leader of the group.

With the arrow sticking from his chest, he crumbles to the floor as the rest start to panic.

Before they can make any decisions on what to do, a tall figure in leather armor charges into the hall and cuts the head off of another with a single slash from his sword.

Shit!!!

Bug gets low, practically hugging the floor as she watches.

//Congratulations! You have earned a Skill!

//Stealth lvl1 unlocked!

She disregards the notification after a quick look, noticing how her instincts are now whispering about how to better hide.

Hugging the wall a bit better now, her presence slightly reduced, she watches as the humans slaughter the mobs.

A second human has now joined the first and they are both busily killing the group with single blows. One tries to run away, but is rewarded with an arrow in the back.

It takes less than a minute for the humans to completely slaughter them. By the time that they are done, the one with the sword is laughing.

“That was too easy! I told you guys we could handle the Dungeon, hahaha!”

“Shut up Kent, don’t be getting cocky just because you killed some Gremlins. The rest of the Dungeon is a hell of a lot harder than this. We're still just on the first floor.” Says the second one. He is dressed in dark leathers and has a hood up. He had used a pair of daggers to fight with, and even at a glance, Bug can tell that they are of a higher quality that the one she has.

A third human, what Bug assumes to be a female, comes into the intersection holding a short bow. She scowls at the swordsman - apparently named Kent - and says, “We agreed to take you on as our frontliner, so we need to know if you are worth the trouble of keeping around. Being able to kill some Gremlins isn’t good enough.”

The guy with the daggers speaks up next, “She’s right, now shut up and help us skin these things. It is getting closer to winter and the furs sell for a couple coppers each.”

Saying that, he tosses a knife to Kent.

He fumbles the knife in the air for a bit before finally catching it. “Ah, ahhh, sorry… Right.”

Turning his back to them, they all set to work on removing the furs from the corpses. Bug grimaces as she watches. A chill running down her spine as she watches the knife slide through them, separating hide from meat.

Ah, that is not pleasant to watch… Ehhh….

But still, she observes them as they work, and because of that, she doesn’t fail to notice as the two look at Kent’s back. Bug gets the feeling that they probably don’t have the best of intentions for their new friend…

I think I’ll try and stick near them. I have a feeling that they aren’t going to be staying as a group for very long down here…

Throwing out some Identifies; Bug scans the three of them.

‘Lvl6 Human. One of the many Sapient Races that calls this world home.’

‘Lvl9 Human. One of the many Sapient Races that calls this world home.’

‘Lvl10 Human. One of the many Sapient Races that calls this world home.’

All three of them are stronger than me… Hnn!

Suddenly, the human with the daggers turns her way. Bug immediately pulls back around the corner. Her heart racing in her chest.

He sensed me!

Voices come from around the corner.

“What is it, Si? Something the matter?”

“Hmm… Thought I felt something.”

“Should we go check it out?”

“No, it was nothing. Just focus on getting the furs. I want us to be on the next floor as soon as we can. The sooner we reach the first boss, the better.”

Not wanting to risk peeking the corner again, Bug gets up and moves as silently and quickly as she can to get away from the humans.