Chapter 19
Felix stretched, groaning as he stood up and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Morning, Maura," he mumbled through a yawn, blinking at the faint light filtering in from somewhere deep within the dungeon. "How’d you sleep?"
"Better than I thought I would, honestly," I replied, standing up and dusting myself off. My muscles ached from the rough night on the cave floor, but there was a strange sense of accomplishment that lingered in the back of my mind. "I completed Byte’s upgrades about half an hour ago," I added, stretching my arms above my head, trying to shake off the stiffness.
Felix’s eyes lit up with curiosity. "You finished? How’s he looking now?" He knelt down to inspect Byte, who chirped proudly at the mention of his name, his sleek, upgraded form glinting in the dim light of the cavern. The fangs I’d installed stuck up like cat ears now, sleek and deadly, giving him a slightly more intimidating appearance. “A cat!” Felix laughed. That is so appropriate. I swear I’ve heard him purr more than once.
I laughed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he’s ready for action," I said, watching Byte with a mix of pride and anticipation. "I incorporated the venom glands from the spider queen into his system. He can inject enemies with paralyzing toxin now. The ears are retractable, so he can pull them in and still go rolling around like before.”
Felix raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Paralyzing toxin, huh? Even after what you went through you are willing to use it?”
I considered for a moment before responding. “Its a lot. But, I set it up so I can control the potency of the toxin release. Essentially we can set phasers to stun unless we’re up against a big bad.”
Felix grinned, reaching out to pat Byte’s metal head. "Guess we won’t have to worry about being outmatched for long.”
"Not if Byte’s around," I said, feeling a surge of confidence. "Plus, I was able to integrate some of the adaptive camouflage circuitry from the spiders, so he can blend into his surroundings better, too."
Felix whistled softly. “Well, I’m just about ready to go if you are. We need to get as far as we can and still reach a safe spot to talk with John at four.”
Byte beeped enthusiastically, as if to say he was more than ready to test out his new skills.
Felix shook his head in awe. "I don’t know how you do it, Maura. I mean, I barely knew how to program my phone, and you’re over here turning your robot into a walking arsenal."
I shrugged, feeling a little proud of myself. “Oh come on. You solved that crazy puzzle box! And this stuff with Byte It’s just like coding, really. You start with a basic framework and build on it, piece by piece. Plus, I’ve had a lot of inspiration in this dungeon. Those Mechweaver spiders gave me a ton of ideas."
Felix gave me a playful smirk. "So, you’re saying if I find a way to plug into a giant spider, I might get some upgrades too?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. "If only it were that easy, Felix. But hey, if I come across a spare set of venom fangs, I’ll let you know."
Felix chuckled, standing up and brushing off his clothes. "Appreciate it."
Byte beeped again, clearly pleased with his new role. He zipped around us, showing off his newfound speed, rubbing between our legs to demonstrate his new feline qualities.
I nodded, feeling a sense of resolve settle over me. "Oh, speaking of advantage," I added, as I remembered the faint notification that had flashed in the corner of my vision earlier, "I need to assign my free points and choose my new skill."
Felix’s eyebrows rose with interest. “Right, I forgot you leveled up during that fight. Go ahead—let’s see what you’ve got.”
I brought up my HUD, the familiar interface springing to life with a soft glow that illuminated the cave around us. I considered how to allocate my hard-earned points. My last battle had shown me the importance of quick thinking and precise action, but I also needed to increase the effectiveness of my abilities.
After a moment of deliberation, I added 1 point to Dexterity—making me quicker on my feet.
Name: Maura
Race: Human
Race Skills: [Identify], [Multilingual]
Level: 10
Base Stats:
Strength: 10
Dexterity:19(+5)(+2)
Intelligence: 19 (+4)
Wisdom: 11
Constitution: 13
Charisma: 14
Free Points: 0
Credits: 3500
Points: 1700
Blessings: [Empty]
Titles: [Empty]
Achievements: [First Kill]
Profession: [Empty]
Abilities: [Gadget Manipulation], [Arcane Tech Mastery]
Skills: [Companion Summoning], [Electric Surge], [Data Integration], [Holographic Decoy], [New Skill]
Quests: [Floral Mastery], [Technomancer’s Trial], [Technological Tinkerer]
The increase in Intelligence gave me a sharp clarity that I hadn’t noticed before, a subtle but powerful shift that made every sense feel sharper, every thought quicker. I confirmed the allocation, and the familiar sensation of growth washed over me, like tuning a complex machine to run at maximum efficiency.
Afterward, the HUD shifted to the list of available skills. This time, a new set of skills lit up before me, each one promising greater offensive power and tactical versatility:
Arcane Barrage: Unleashes a rapid series of arcane projectiles, dealing consistent damage to multiple targets. The number of projectiles scales with Intelligence.
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Static Burst: Releases a concentrated burst of electricity in a 10-foot radius, stunning all enemies caught within the blast for 2 seconds..
Fragmentation Shot: Fires a condensed shot of magical energy that shatters on impact, damaging and applying a slow effect to all enemies caught within its range.
Overload: Overcharges the caster’s next spell, doubling its potency but also increasing its mana cost.
Byte Sync: Temporarily links Byte’s abilities to the caster’s spells, amplifying the effects and allowing Byte to cast weaker versions of selected spells. This skill creates a synergy between the technomancer and companion, allowing for devastating combinations
I studied each option carefully, weighing the pros and cons. I could use another offensive ability myself and the idea of an area of effect spell that did consistent damage over time was really helpful, especially since Felix had slowing and Byte had paralyzing respectively.
New Skill Acquired:
Arcane Barrage: Unleashes a rapid series of arcane projectiles, dealing consistent damage to multiple targets. Lasts 30 seconds. Increases with intelligence level.
After reading the new skill aloud to Felix he responded, "That’s pretty neat. We could use a big AOE if we come across another group of monsters.”
I grinned, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “Yeah, I think so. If we can use Byte’s venom in tandem with my spells, it’ll give us a huge advantage.”
“Okay, good. Because we’re going to need everything we’ve got. This place isn’t getting any easier,” Felix said, his tone serious but his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Now, let’s get back to the main room and take that second hallway.”
I glanced over at Byte, who was anxiously pacing near the exit, seemingly eager to head out and test his new capabilities. “You ready, Byte?”
He beeped an affirmative, the tiny fangs I’d installed on him glinting under the soft light of the cave. He was almost cute—if I didn’t know they were filled with a paralytic venom potent enough to immobilize a creature twice my size.
“Let’s head out,” I said. Byte zipped ahead of us, his sensors scanning the path as Felix and I followed. As we made our way back to the main chamber, I couldn’t help but glance at the other two hallways branching off in different directions. The one we’d come from was behind us, but the remaining two loomed ahead, each promising its own set of challenges.
“We’ve got this,” Felix said, almost as if he sensed my apprehension. “Whatever’s waiting in those hallways, we’re ready.”
I nodded. Together, we stood before the second hallway, and with a final nod to Felix, I stepped forward.
"Alright, hallway two," I said, pointing to the next corridor. “Clockwise like we agreed. This one looks… less dangerous?”
Felix snorted. “It’s a big dark corridor identical to the other ones.”
I tilted my head and looked again at the second corridor. As Felix said, it looked identical to the other ones, but for a second I thought I had seen through the darkness. I shook my head trying to clear the image and confusion, “Just wishful thinking.” I said with a dry laugh trying to convince both he and I that I wasn’t hallucinating.
**
The second hallway was indeed different from the first. Instead of cold, smooth stone, the walls here glittered with crystalline formations that cast soft, multicolored light across the path. Massive mushrooms of varying sizes lined the floor and ceiling, their bioluminescent caps glowing in shades of blue, purple, and green.
The air felt damp and cool, with a faint earthy smell that made the cavern feel more like a living, breathing organism than just a tunnel of rock. The mushrooms were the size of bushes in some places, growing densely along the walls and ceiling. The crystals were breathtaking, refracting the soft glow from the mushrooms into a kaleidoscope of colors that danced on the walls.
"Wow," Felix said, stepping closer to inspect one of the glowing mushrooms. "This is... beautiful, actually."
I ran my fingers along one of the crystals, feeling its smooth, almost glass-like surface. The soft glow it emitted shifted subtly under my touch, pulsating with a gentle rhythm that felt almost like a heartbeat. I activated [Identify], letting the HUD analyze the crystals and mushrooms around us.
Crystal Formations: Mana-infused Quartz
Rarity: Uncommon
Description: A crystal that has absorbed ambient mana over centuries, these formations can be harvested to create mana-enhancing potions or used in crafting to amplify the magical properties of weapons and armor.
Luminous Mushroom
Rarity: Common
Description: A bioluminescent mushroom that thrives in damp, mana-rich environments. These mushrooms can be harvested for their glowing caps, which can be used as a natural light source or ground into a paste for use in low-level alchemical recipes. When consumed raw, they provide a small boost to stamina but may cause minor hallucinations if ingested in large quantities.
Arcane Sporecap
Rarity: Rare
Description: A rare species of mushroom that releases spores containing concentrated mana particles. These spores can be gathered and used in potent magical concoctions or combined with other ingredients to temporarily boost spellcasting abilities. Highly sought after for crafting mana potions and enhancing spell components.
"These things are like a gold mine for any alchemist or mage," I murmured, fascinated by the various properties of the mushrooms and crystals around us. I carefully began harvesting the Mana-infused Quartz, using my energy sword to chip off pieces without damaging their structure. Each shard emitted a soft, bluish glow that filled the air around me with an almost tangible hum of mana.
Felix knelt by a cluster of the Luminous Mushrooms, delicately cutting off the caps and placing them into a small pouch. He moved with practiced precision, his fingers quick and steady. “These could come in handy if we need to go to a rave.” He said with feigned seriousness
I nodded, carefully storing the shards in my spatial storage. “Definitely. When we get back to camp we can teach Byte to create some EDM music and really make a night of it.”
Felix shook his head while Byte whirred beside us, his sensors scanning the room. His new ears twitched slightly as he detected changes in the environment. He let out a series of soft beeps, indicating the presence of something more potent deeper within the corridor.
"What is it, Byte?" I asked, curious as I looked down at my little bot. “Did Timmy fall down the well?” His display projected a small map of the corridor, highlighting a cluster of bright energy readings a little further down.
“Looks like we’ve got something worth checking out,” Felix said, looking over Byte’s projection. “Think it’s more of the same, or something different?”
“Only one way to find out,” I said, standing up. We continued deeper into the hallway, harvesting as we went, my inventory quickly filling with various glowing mushroom caps, spore sacs, and more fragments of Mana-infused Quartz.
As we progressed, the crystals grew larger and more vibrant, their glow intensifying until the whole corridor was bathed in radiant light. At the same time, the mushrooms became sparser but more elaborate, with intricate caps that seemed to spiral outwards like some kind of fantastical floral arrangement.
We finally came to a small alcove, where a massive crystalline structure jutted out of the wall, its surface pulsating with a deep, amethyst hue. Surrounding it were clusters of Arcane Sporecaps, their stems radiating with an almost electric energy.
Mana Conductor Crystal
Rarity: Very Rare
Description: A crystal formation capable of channeling and storing large amounts of mana. When properly harvested and integrated into equipment, it can significantly enhance spell potency or be used as a high-capacity mana battery. It’s unstable in its raw form and must be handled with extreme caution.
Mature Arcane Sporecap
Rarity: Very Rare
Description: A fully matured version of the Arcane Sporecap, its spores are rich with concentrated mana, making it a valuable resource for powerful spellcasters and alchemists. When mixed into potions or enchantments, it provides a substantial increase to mana regeneration and spell effectiveness.
Felix let out a low whistle as I carefully harvested a piece of the Mana Conductor Crystal, the light within it dimming slightly as I broke off a shard. “With that, we could probably supercharge some of your Technomancer gear or make some top-tier potions.”
I nodded, my excitement barely contained. “This stuff is potent. When we manage to get out of here, we might be able to trade it for some serious help or use it to make something that gives us a real edge.”
Byte beeped again, drawing our attention to a smaller cluster of mushrooms near the base of the crystal. They were almost translucent, with a faint shimmer running through their caps like liquid moonlight.
Ethereal Veilcap
Rarity: Unique
Description: A mushroom that grows only in areas saturated with pure mana. The spores released by this mushroom can create a temporary veil of invulnerability. They are extremely fragile and difficult to harvest without damaging.
“This is incredible,” I murmured, carefully extracting the Ethereal Veilcaps and placing them in my spacial storage pouch. “This could be the key to getting Galene back.”
Felix nodded, clearly impressed. “I wonder how long ‘temporary’ is.”
“Invulnerable is invulnerable and even for a few seconds it would definitely make a difference. “I met his gaze, the implications of our haul sinking in. With these resources, we wouldn’t just be fighting back—we’d have a real chance to turn the tide.
"Do you hear that?" I asked, stopping in my tracks. Felix, who had been crouched down inspecting the mushroom, stood up quickly and listened.