Chapter 36
I awoke slowly, the soft light of dawn filtering through the thin fabric of my tent. The warmth of the sun wrapped around me like a comforting embrace, coaxing me from the depths of sleep. As I rubbed the remnants of slumber from my eyes, I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the work I had put in over the past days.
Just as I was about to slip back into my thoughts, a sudden chime echoed in my mind, jolting me fully awake.
Congratulations on Surviving Day Ten!
Special Notice: The Store is Now Open!
My heart raced with excitement as the message illuminated my HUD. We’d made it through to day 10. It’d been a little touch and go there for awhile but success filled my thoughts and I realized that I had everyone’s credits for the camp.
“Byte, wake up!” I called, nudging the small robot that had curled up beside me during the night.
He stirred, blinking his eyes open with a soft beep. “Beep!” he chirped, stretching his little body in response.
After quickly freshening up, I checked my supplies and then looked down at Byte. “Let’s open the store in here first,” I said, gesturing to the space around me. “I know I need to give a big chunk of these credits to Galene but first I want to be a bit selfish.”
I activated the store interface, and the familiar holographic display materialized in front of me. As I browsed through the items available, I realized pretty quickly they were a completely different list than what we’d seen before.
The items available flickered in my HUD, and I began to scroll through the categories:
Potions and Consumables:
* Rejuvenation Tincture: Restores 30% of maximum health and provides a temporary health boost. 300 Credits
* Essence of Wisdom: Grants +4 to Wisdom for one hour. 900 Credits
* Elixir of Agility: Increases Dexterity by +6 for 30 minutes. 1300 Credits
* Foresight Drink: Provides a temporary +3 bonus to Perception for one hour. 1100 Credits
* Fortitude Brew: Increases Constitution by +4 for one hour. 1200 Credits
* Adrenaline Surge: Temporarily boosts movement speed and reflexes by +5 for 30 minutes. 1500 Credits
* Mana Infusion Potion: Restores 40% of maximum mana instantly. 350 Credits
* Gourmet Ration Pack: Heals 20% health and restores 20% mana. 500 Credits
Weapons:
* Neon Arc Blade: A sleek energy sword that deals 10% damage and grants +3 to Dexterity. 6000 Credits
* Shadowstrike Dagger: Increases damage dealt when attacking from stealth, adding +4 to Stealth. 4900 Credits
* Harmonic Bow: An enchanted bow that grants +5 to Dexterity and fires arrows with magical energy. 5500 Credits
* Crimson Hammer: A massive weapon that deals heavy damage and adds +4 to Strength. 5200 Credits
* Frost Staff: A staff that adds 10% additional Ice damage and +2 to Intelligence. 4100 Credits
* Silent Blade: A dagger that adds +4 to Stealth and increases critical hit chance. 4800 Credits
* Elemental Crossbow: A crossbow that deals additional elemental damage based on the chosen bolt type. 4700 Credits
Armor:
* Adaptive Armor: A flexible suit that can be modified to enhance resistance to a specific elemental type (fire, ice, etc.). 6000 Credits
* Arcane Shield: Provides +4 to Defense and reflects a portion of magical damage back to the attacker. 4800 Credits
* Stealth Suit: A suit that enhances agility and provides a +3 bonus to Stealth. 4500 Credits
* Warden’s Mail: Heavy armor that adds +6 Constitution and provides +5 to physical damage resistance. 5300 Credits
* Guardian's Plate: A fortified breastplate that adds +4 to Strength and boosts overall defense. 5200 Credits
* Mystic Cloak: Grants the wearer +3 to Intelligence and boosts magical abilities. 4900 Credits
* Titanium Vestments: Lightweight armor that offers a +5 bonus to Dexterity. 4600 Credits
Special Artifacts:
* Teleportation Stone: One-time use portal to a location within sight. 25000 Credits
* Chrono Crystal: Allows the user to reverse time by ten seconds. 29000 Credits
* Veil of Shadows: Grants the ability to become invisible for a limited time. 31000 Credits
* Binding Chains: Temporarily incapacitates a powerful enemy. 33000 Credits
* Vision Sphere: Reveals hidden traps and doors within a specific area. 27000 Credits
* Mirror of Revelation: Exposes the true intentions of those who gaze into it. 28000 Credits
* Amulet of Serenity: Calms nearby hostile entities, creating a peaceful aura. 26000 Credits
Crafting Supplies:
* Glass Vials (x5): 15 credits
* Bolt of cloth: 20 credits
* Iron bar: 10 credits
* Needle & Thread: 5 credits
* Cooking Pot & Utensils: 15 credits
* Chefs knives: 10 credits
* Ream of paper: 20 credits
* Ink and Quill: 5 credits
…
As I scrolled through the items, I was reminded of the importance of being prepared for whatever lay ahead. I started with the potions and consumables, selecting several Rejuvenation Tinctures for their promise of quick healing. I couldn’t ignore the fact that I’d need every advantage I could muster, especially after the havoc we had faced.
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The Mana Infusion Potion also caught my eye. Restoring 40% of my mana instantly could prove invaluable in tight situations, especially as I grew into my new abilities.
Next, I focused on weapons and armor, knowing that my choices would shape my effectiveness in the coming days. I felt a rush of anticipation as I selected the Neon Arc Blade. This energy sword, with its increased attack speed and damage, felt essential for engaging effectively in combat. It would allow me to navigate dangers more adeptly while also supporting those around me.
I then spotted the Titanium Vestments. The lightweight armor promised to enhance my dexterity even further while providing solid protection. The thought of being more resilient in the face of adversity was comforting; I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me, but it felt more manageable with the right gear.
As I continued to browse, something else caught my eye. A ream of paper, along with a few quills and vials of ink along with a few other miscellaneous crafting supplies. An idea sparked in my mind—blueprints. I could plan my projects out far better with a little preparation and iteration.
With my selections made, I activated the checkout process, feeling a sense of purpose wash over me. I quickly pushed aside a pang of guilt as the 15,830 credit total was deducted from my total.
After equipping my new armor and sword I took a look at my stats. I assigned my free points to Constitution. Felix was right, I needed to stop passing out and the only way to do that was to keep getting stronger. After allowing the familiar sensation of growth pass through my body I went ahead and took a look at my improved stats.
Name: Maura
Race: Human
Race Skills: [Identify], [Multilingual]
Level: 13
Strength: 12(+2)
Dexterity: 27(+3)(+12)
Intelligence: 29 (+12)(+2)
Wisdom: 13(+2)
Constitution: 15(+2)(+2)
Charisma: 16(+2)
Free Points: 0
Credits: 55,670
Points: 4900
Blessings: [Empty]
Titles: [Empty]
Achievements: [First Kill][Dungeon Crawler]
Profession: [Bio-A̴̡̤̥͚̯̠͔͖̝̾͊̒͝ǘ̸̗͇̌ģ̸̺̖̹̰͈̩̄̈́̈̓́͐͂̚mentor]
Abilities: [Gadget Manipulation], [Arcane Tech Mastery], [Arc Weld]
Skills: [Companion Summoning], [Electric Surge], [Data Integration], [Holographic Decoy], [Arcane Barrage]
Quests: [Floral Mastery], [Technomancer’s Trial], [Technological Tinkerer]
My Dexterity and Intelligence were lightyears ahead of everything else, and I realized I needed to find a way to balance my stats. As I glanced at my remaining credits, a thought struck me. I knew it was time to give back to the group. The overwhelming sense of responsibility crept back in, but I pushed it away. I had put my life on the line during the battle, and using 15,000 of those credits to help the camp felt more than fair to me.
After all, we were in this together, and I wanted to ensure we all had the resources needed to thrive in this uncertain environment. Myself included. With that final determined thought I gestured to Byte and we headed out towards the center of camp.
“John, can I have a word?” I called out, gesturing for him to follow me away from the group.
He excused himself and stepped over, curiosity replacing the seriousness on his face. “What’s up, Maura?”
“I’ve got the remaining credits from Matt—55,670 in total. I think it’s best if you handle the purchases for Galene,” I said directly. “Stock up on crafting supplies, armor, and weapons for those who will use them.”
John blinked, taking a moment to process what I was saying. “You’re putting me in charge of this?”
“You are our fearless leader are you not? Full disclosure, I used some of the credits along with my own.” I said gesturing to my new armor.
“I would have it no other way.” John said nodding. You definitely needed some armor. The old stuff was practically falling apart. But sure go ahead and transfer me the credits and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Yeah, I trust you’ll make smart choices. You know what the camp needs better than I do,” I replied, keeping my tone firm. “I do think it’s important we get practical items that can enhance our defenses and allow people to contribute more effectively.”
“Alright,” he said, nodding slowly. “That makes sense. I’ll make sure we get the supplies we need.”
“Good,” I replied, feeling a bit of relief wash over me.” With that, I transferred him the credits, watching as he considered his next steps. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, his determination evident.
I stepped back, feeling a mix of satisfaction and unease. It was time to let John do his part while I focused on mine. I turned back toward the crowd scanning the faces for a familiar one. Hey have you seen Corwin around? I missed him yesterday and I have something I really want to run past him.”
John looked thoughtful and then shrugged, uncertainty overtaking him. “I think he was over by the crafting area earlier. You might catch him there.”
“Thanks,” I replied, a sense of excitement to try out my craft propelling me forward. I made my way through the gathering, my mind already racing with ideas about the prosthetic arm I wanted to craft for Corwin. It was important to me not just as a project, but as a way to help him recover from the loss he’d suffered.
As I navigated through the crowd, I could hear snippets of conversation—talk about the new supplies, discussions of what professions people were interested in, and the lingering unease from the previous chaos. I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the task ahead.
Finally, I spotted Corwin near the crafting area, examining a set of runes on the inscription table. He looked up as I approached, his expression lighting up with recognition. “Maura! You’re okay. I heard you were around here somewhere.”
“Hey, Corwin!” I replied, my excitement bubbling to the surface. “I wanted to talk to you about something important.”
His interest piqued, and I could see him leaning in, eager to hear what I had to say. “What’s up?”
“I’ve been working on a plan to craft a prosthetic arm for you,” I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. “I think I can integrate some nanobots I found, which could enhance its functionality. The prosthetic could potentially have adaptive features that make it stronger and more responsive.”
Corwin’s eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and hope flickering across his face. “That sounds really cool and really crazy. Do you actually think it will work?”
“I believe so,” I said, feeling a rush of confidence. “The nanobots are designed to bond with living tissue, and I think they can enhance the arm’s abilities. I want to use them to create something that not only restores what you lost but improves upon it. We could develop the arm into a powerful tool, not just a replacement.”
He looked thoughtful, the gears turning in his mind. “I could actually be useful again. I’ve been struggling to adjust without my arm, but if this works I could go out and find Jackie.” His voice trailed off, lost in the possibilities.
“We’ll need to take some measurements and work out the specifics,” I continued, feeling a surge of tenacity. “We can draw up some blueprints to ensure everything is tailored to your needs. I want this to be something you’re proud of.”
Corwin nodded, a smile returning to his lips. “I’d love to be involved in the process. If we can make this happen, it would mean so much to me.”
“Great! Let’s find a quiet spot to discuss it further,” I suggested, scanning the bustling crafting area filled with settlers experimenting with their newfound professions. “We can brainstorm and get everything down on paper.”