After a week of running the Tower’s forests for all the XP they could get they finally had enough Tower Points to spend on something substantial. Each day their points had been scuttled away by Kai and only used on a few group items and their needed repairs of weapons and armor.
“Eric will undergo mentorship training first,” said Rich. “He needs the extra training to beef up his attacks and ability to fight under pressure. After him we will have you two go next,” he said pointing at Taylor and Kai.
“I like the sound of that,” said Eric. “The two of us will also need to get some better armor. Being up in the front damages my armor a bunch and we need to reduce our repairs costs a bit.”
“That is a good idea. Let’s hit up the blacksmith’s shop first and then send you off to get your training. In the meantime, we will keep looking at items and do some light hunting around the outskirts of the village.”
The group headed towards the bustling marketplace at the town's center. The air was filled with the sounds of merchants haggling with customers and the smells of exotic spices and freshly baked bread. Navigating through the crowded streets, they passed rows of shops and stores selling a variety of weapons, potions, and magical trinkets.
Approaching the blacksmith's shop, they heard the clanging of hammers and the hissing sound of metal being quenched. Inside, the heat of the forge and the smell of burning coal greeted them. The blacksmith greeted them with a nod and asked what they were in need of.
Eric and Rich examined the various sets of armor available, checking for durability and protection. Alex browsed the weapons section, testing different swords and daggers for their balance and weight. Meanwhile, Kai kept an eye out for any unique items that could aid their team in their quests.
“Check out this cool dagger,” said Alex. “I love the design on the hilt, and it feels great in my hands.” He said to Taylor who was casually scanning the items on the shelf.
“Looks nice but I don’t think Kai or Rich will let you by it. I would need to check with Kai who has handled our points so far but I’m pretty sure that in the next hour, we will be spending all of our points except for the bare minimum needed for repairs. While I would love something as well. Maybe a focus for my magic and some potions in case of emergencies. It won’t be happening today.”
“Maybe next time,” he said as he set the dagger back on the shelf.
In the end, Rich decided to splurge and purchase a new, higher-level reinforced shield that was similar in size to his starter gear. He also picked up a sleek new leather vest with metal attachments to cover his vital areas. To save some extra Tower points, they sold off their old gear. Eric, on the other hand, opted for something similar but with a few changes. He decided to forgo the metal attachments, as they would only slow him down in battle. Instead, he went for a more agile setup, as he needed to move quickly and efficiently to avoid enemy attacks.
After making their purchases, Eric headed off for his mentorship training while the rest of the group continued their shopping.
They stumbled upon a potion seller with an impressive collection of brightly colored vials and bottles. “Check out these potions,” said Taylor. “They have everything from healing to invisibility. Maybe we should grab a few just in case.”
As they browsed the potion collection, they noticed a small section with unique trinkets and charms. One, in particular, caught Rich’s eye: a small crystal pendant that seemed to shimmer in the light.
“Hey, what’s this?” he asked the potion seller. “That’s a Crystal of Illumination,” she replied. “It enhances your vision and makes it easier to see in the dark.”
“Interesting,” said Rich. “How much?”
“Ten Tower points,” replied the seller.
Rich pondered for a moment before deciding it was worth the investment. He handed over the Tower points and the seller placed the crystal pendant in a small bag. “Thanks, I’ve been needing something like this for a while.” He turned to the others. “With this, we can more easily enter some of the caves that are up on the mountain. From what I’ve heard they contain some different varieties of monsters and should be close enough to our level. I know that we were going to stay close to the village, but I really want to try this out.”
“What about some healing potions?” asked Taylor.
“Sure. Let’s get one of those as well,” answered Rich.
Alex, Rich, Taylor, and Kai stepped into the mouth of the cave system. The entrance was dark and plain. The sound of dripping water echoed off the walls. They could hear the faint scurrying of creatures deep within the tunnels. The air was thick with a damp, earthy smell.
“Alright, we need to be careful in here. Let’s test this out,” said Rich, holding up his newly acquired Crystal of Illumination. He tapped it with his finger, and it began to glow with a bright white light, illuminating the cavern. The light bounced off the walls and gave the group a clear view of their surroundings. He led them forward with his new item hanging around his neck.
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The group slowly made their way through the winding tunnels, their footsteps echoing off the walls. They kept their weapons at the ready, wary of any surprise attacks. Suddenly, they heard a loud growling noise up ahead.
They rounded a corner and came face to face with a group of vicious overgrown rats. The creatures were snarling and gnashing their teeth, ready to pounce. Kai quickly cast a spell, sending a wave of fire toward the group of rats. Rich charged after and bashed the first rats with his shield and sword. Alex stayed close by and started stabbing the creatures. Taylor's spells were less effective in the tight confines of the tunnels, but she still managed to conjure up vines and roots to ensnare the rats and slow them down.
The rats were quick, but so were they. They moved with fierce agility, dodging, and attacking the rats with precision. Rich's shield and sword made for a deadly combination, bashing, and slicing through the rat's thick hides. Alex's daggers were sharp and swift, cutting through the rats' fur and flesh with ease. The rats tried to swarm them, but they were too skilled and too fast. Kai blinded the rats and kept them slowed so that the others could fight the rats back. Taylor’s magic was slow and less effective in the caves. Vines began to sprout from the ground around her feet at a heavy mana cost. With a flick of her wrist, Taylor sent the vines shooting forward, entangling the rats, and stopping them in their tracks. She smiled with satisfaction as she saw the creatures struggle to free themselves from her grasp.
With the rats trapped, they were easily killed. She continued to weave her spells, calling forth roots and brambles to trap the rats and slow their movements. But the rats were not easily deterred. She felt exhausted the longer the fight went on. But at last, the rat flood came to an end. Rich’s shield had held up and they had survived with only a few scrapes and bites. Rich tried out the healing potion before handing he rest of the potion to Alex. He took it and downed the last of the potion. He could feel the pain numb before disappearing entirely.
“That was very nice. It is a shame it costs as much as it does,” said Rich.
“Isn’t that why they are supposed to be for emergencies?” Kai asked.
“We can always buy more later,” he replied.
Alex checked his level of progress. It had started to become a habit after every battle encounter. Seeing the number tick up ever so slowly each time was addictive and pushed him to fight more and get stronger.
<<<>>>
Level: 5 (14%)
<<<>>>
As the group caught their breath, they assessed their surroundings. The winding tunnels seemed to stretch on endlessly in all directions, and the stench of rat fur and blood hung heavily in the air. They started to loot for a few minutes as the Tower started to remove the bodies.
"We need to keep moving," said Rich, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Who knows what other creatures are lurking in these tunnels?"
Alex nodded in agreement, but Taylor looked hesitant. "I'm not sure how much more magic I can muster," she said, her voice strained. "I need some time to rest and recover my mana."
“How long do we have to wait?” asked Rich.
“Five minutes. Maybe a little less.”
“Then we will wait.” Rich took out his water and started drinking.
The group continued their descent into the caves, their footsteps echoing off the damp stone walls. The air grew cooler and damper, and the light from Rich’s amulet shone brightly as it flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows on the walls. As they made their way deeper into the cave, they heard the scurrying of tiny feet and the skittering of claws. Suddenly, a pack of mutated rats appeared before them, their eyes glowing with malice.
Alex drew his knives, the blades glinting in the light. He moved with deadly precision, slicing through the rats' fur and flesh with ease. Rich was close behind, his sword flashing in the darkness as he bashed and sliced through the rats. He slammed them with his shield faster than before. By now they had gotten well-versed in the attack patterns of the rats. Kai used his water magic to his advantage, calling forth torrents of water to wash away the rats and disrupt their movements. The steaming hot water burned the rat’s fur and caused them to scurry back from the attack. Taylor bound the rats together with vines as Rich and Alex cut them apart.
With swift movements, Rich expertly deflected the rat's vicious bites and claws, using his sturdy shield and reinforced armor to protect himself. Despite the relentless onslaught, he persevered, blocking, and parrying every attack that came his way. The intense battle against the mutated rats raged on for a few more minutes until the last of the pack was defeated. Thankfully, their superhuman abilities, bestowed upon them by the Tower, allowed them to escape with only minor scratches and bruises.
As they surveyed the aftermath of the skirmish, they began to scavenge the corpses of the rats, searching for any valuable loot or useful items. Taylor, in particular, was feeling the toll of the battle, drained of mana after using her vines to tear through the rocky terrain of the caves. They slung their bags on their backs and started hiking out of the cave and through the forest back to the village. They needed to sell off their items and check on how Eric was doing. They hoped that with the investments in training, they could fight better monsters with higher Tower Point payouts and in the end spend less of those points healing or fixing anything that might go wrong.
The group emerged from the caves and into the cool night air, their bodies slick with sweat and their bags heavy with loot. They trekked through the dense forest, their steps light and cautious as they navigated the winding paths. The sound of running water echoed in the distance, a soothing backdrop to their journey. As they walked, they chatted about their next moves, discussing which creatures they could take on next and how to maximize their Tower Points. They knew that they needed to continue training and upgrading their gear if they wanted to tackle more dangerous foes.
Finally, after what felt like hours of walking, they arrived at the small village nestled in the familiar gathering of trees. The familiar sounds of people chatting and haggling filled their ears, and the smell of cooking food made their stomachs rumble. They made their way to the market square, where vendors peddled their wares and adventurers like themselves gathered to trade and restock.