“You damn cart!” Dave yelled, the wrench in his hands fading into smoke before doubling size and forming into a larger one nearly as big as Steve’s own axe.

He swung the wrench, hitting the cart. It seemed to jump slightly as Dave shook his head the cart seemed to give up the fight, shuddering slightly before moving backwards.

“Hah! Take that!” Dave said letting the wrench go, it turned to smoke, revealing two rods that flew back to either side of Dave’s belt.

He rubbed his head, he was tired. They’d cleared through all of the first phase of facilities in two months, the second had taken three. Now they were on the final third phase. There were just four facilities to go. Based on the difficulty of getting the previous facilities working, Dave knew it was going to be hard.

Deia walked through the refinery’s catwalks, finding Dave sitting on a nearby empty workstation.

“Hey babe,” Dave said, looking to her, a tired look to his face.

“What did the poor cart do to you?” She said, smiling, making Dave feel a little less tired as she gave him a side-hug.

“Got stuck,” Dave shrugged, the other crafters that had been sent to learn from the impressive Dave snorted and shook their heads, working on the varying maintenance issues that plagued their latest Forge facility.

“So you hit it with a wrench?” She asked, exasperated at her fiance’s antics.

“No, I hit it with a bigger wrench,” Dave smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “First lesson of engineering. Though it is more mechanical than rocket…”

“So other than beating the Forge’s carts into motion with a massive wrench,” Deia gave him a pointed look, the corners of her mouth twitching. “How are we looking on repairs?”

“Well, the main smelting furnaces are back online, thanks to my runers.”

“You know that sounds like runners?”

“I know it does, I’m still working with the whole naming thing,” Dave sighed. He might have come up with a new way of making magical circuits by writing it out like lines of code instead of magical formations. It made the whole process more refined, increasing the effectiveness of the magical coding and also reducing the necessary size that a magical circuit took up.

He'd started off the idea but there had been a number of real-life coders that had taken the idea and gone nuts with it. Dave had dangled his book of magical runes and now there were a number of them that tried to follow Dave everywhere to talk magic coding.

“I think I’ll keep to Magical Coding for now,” Dave said.

“So, progress?” Deia asked.

“Those damn metal munching rodents messed this place up pretty bad. We fixed the metal plating that opens into the magma chamber, regulating the forges heat. Fixed and filled the coolant tanks which was either freezing as hell or boiling hot. Gained damned Vitality points for just doing it!” Dave shook his head, Josh now only sent Deia and her party to where the worst damage or creatures were. Mostly it was damage. With Dave’s abilities he could quickly diagnose and fix what would take seven other people to do.

“The casts, hammers and factory side of the forge is messed up. We’ve put the repair bots on it and we’re shipping most of our materials out to the other forges. I hear that we’re having trouble with raw ore supplies?” Dave looked to Deia.

“Yeah, Shard and Josh have asked us to go and take a look at one of the mines. The crafters are having a rough time of it. There is a large concentration of those ore making machines in the mines area. They’ve been extruding materials for Decades but there hasn’t been anything to cut it back. The mine looks like it’s half caved in,” Deia said.

“Awwweeeesome, I guess this is what I get for not needing that much sleep anymore?”

“Something like that,” Deia said.

Dave snorted, opening up a flashing notification.

You have gained a Class Level: Aleph Engineer

Just making all kinds of things. For fixing Aleph tech because it’s confusing as hell and complicated (I’m surprised your brain could handle it). You get a whole ‘nother class! Seriously, you think these things are trading cards or something? Damn well racking them up.

Status: Level 2

Effects: +30 to Endurance, Willpower and Intelligence

“Wooh!” Dave laughed, doing a small jig with a giant smile on his face. Others looked over before shaking their heads and getting back to work. They were used to the Dwarven Halflings excitable manner.

Dave hummed out an upbeat song as he cha-cha’ed from side to side.

Celebration over, Dave checked his Character Sheet.

Character Sheet

Name:

David Grahslagg

Gender:

Male

Level:

10

Class:

Dwarven Master Smith, Friend of the Grey God, Bleeder, Librarian, Aleph Engineer

Race:

Human/Dwarf

Alignment:

Chaotic Neutral

Unspent points: 511

Health:

12100

Regen:

4.28 /s

Mana:

2910

Regen:

12.95 /s

Stamina:

1920

Regen:

9.35 /s

Vitality:

121

Endurance:

241

Intelligence:

291

Willpower:

259

Strength:

192

Agility:

187

The Aleph Engineer class had given him a great advance with Endurance, Intelligence and Willpower.

His Skill sheet was looking damned impressive with all of the levels he had gained over the last six months.

Dave looked through them, it had all passed so quickly going from one fight and fix to the next.

Active Skill: Archery

Level: Master Level 1

Effect: Critical Hit chance increases by 41%. Ranged targets take 22% increased damage

Cost: 10 Stamina

Passive Skill: Dodge

Level: Master Level 2

Effect: 87% chance to evade objects. 10% faster when fighting more than two opponents.

Passive Skill: Perception

Level: Master Level 3

Effect: 91% chance to find hidden details. 15% chance at better loot.

Active Skill: Two handed

Level: Expert Level 8

Effect: 38% armor penetration on target. Stamina costs reduced 15% while fighting.

Cost: 35 Stamina

Active Skill: Dual wield

Level: Master Level 1

Effect: Attacks are 41 % faster. 5% chance of slowing target.

Cost: 15 Stamina

Active Skill: Inference

Level: Expert Level 3

Effect: 69% increased chance of using moves you’ve read in books.

Active Skill: One handed and Shield

Level: Expert Level 9

Effect: Weapons damage increased by 39%. Defense increases by 15%.

Cost: 20 Stamina

Passive Skill: Night Vision

Level: Master Level 6

Effect: 95% increased night vision. 30% increased vision in magical darkness.

Racial bonus: Dwarves, even half-dwarves are at home in the darkness of mines and their empires dug underneath mountains. +25% increased night vision (+5% in magical darkness).

Active Skill: Sprint

Level: Master Level 5

Effect: 93% increased speed. Sprinting costs 25% less stamina.

Cost: 5 stamina/second

Active Skill: Sneak Attack

Level: Master Level 2

Effect: When in you are undetected in stealth, attacks will hit with 368% increased damage (Massive increased when hitting Critical area). May your aim be true. Ignores 10% of opponents armor.

Cost: (Attack 50 Stamina)

Active Skill: Stealth

Level: Master Level 4

Effect: 91% chance to remain undetected (reduced in direct light). 20% easier to detect others in stealth (must be below your level in stealth).

Cost: 5 Stamina/second

Active Skill: Spell formation

Level: Expert Level 7

Effect: You use 20% less mana and your spells are 77% stronger.

Active Skill: Soul Smith

Level: Expert Level 5

Effect: 73% less soul energy necessary for crafting with soul smith.

Cost: Dependent on creation.

Active Skill: Builder

Level: Master Level 5

Effect: 93% speed and efficiency. Creations material cost is reduced by 25%.

Required: Tools

Active Skill: Smithing

Level: Master Level 4

Effect: 91% improved quality of smithing creation. 20% Chance to imbue metal with skill.

Able to analyze items made of Stone, Iron, Steel, Silver, Malachite, Gold, Ebony and Mithril, Aluminum, Titanium.

Active Skill: Soul Manipulation

Level: Master Level 3

Effect: Tools you make to manipulate souls and their energy is 89% stronger. Able to use Soul energy to fuel spells. 15% increase to soul energies reserves (can only be used for spells, does not act as extra willpower points).

Cost: Dependent on creation.

Active Skill: Magical Circuits

Level: Master Level 9

Effect: 100% chance of creating better Magical circuits and understanding them. 45% Reduction of cost.

Cost: Dependent

Active Skill: Maintainer

Level: Master Level 1

Effect: 85% chance to restore durability, at higher levels possible to increase durability, quality and gain 10% Sharpen bonus to items that have been cared for.

Require: Dependent on gear; Sharpening stone, hammer, anvil. Better maintainer’s tools lead to higher chance of increasing stats.

It had paid off, Dave just had to look at the repair bots that were swarming the badly damaged forge. They had just a handful, now they had over a thousand of the creations rushing around repairing different systems, speeding up their ability to fix areas. There were also Guardian Automatons that they could call on to fight with them. It greatly increased the effectiveness of a Stone Raiders’ Party.

Each and every one of them had gained an aura detection skill. A kind of sixth sense that only really activated when you were fighting over level one hundred and fifties.

The overall level gain might not have been all that much, twenty or thirty points. Though the Stone Raiders were nowhere close to their old selves. Their new or improved skills, instincts and training for fighting nearly everyday for six months had made them monsters.

Josh was already joking about trying out Ashal’s dungeons.

“Dave?” Deia asked after a few minutes.

“Sorry, was somewhere else,” he said.

“I noticed, first you’re getting some food, sleep and then we can go to the mining facility,’ Deia said.

“I like that plan,” Dave smiled.

Deia stood, the two of them holding hands, waving to the other Stone Raiders. Dave had worked as hard as any of them for two days straight. He had been the only crafter capable of braving the heat of the forge while he fixed the coolant systems and the heat regulators.

Malsour, Induca and Deia just came to hangout, Malsour and Induca being able to shift into their Dragon forms and stretch out.

Dave and Deia talked about different things. Deia sending messages to the rest of their party. They had made it through the honeymoon phase, supporting one another in their pursuits, Dave in his crafting, Deia in her leadership.

They’d become so close that they found it difficult to think of living without the other.

“If I never see another metal eating Odo I’ll be happy!” Suzy finished saying as she and Malsour talked.

They fell in behind Dave and Deia, deep in conversation.

“They are interesting beasts, using the planet’s heat and mana to survive. The metals down here probably tasted nicer to them than the unrefined ores,” Malsour said.

“Did you really have one carted off so you could open it up?”

“Well, they are interesting creatures. Their ability to manipulate inanimate objects, but only the elements that they have bands on their bodies. Those bands must take decades to build up!”

“They’re also highly refined and imbued with mana. I can only imagine what the Dwarves are going to pay for that kind of material,” Dave interjected.

“What are you going to do with your share of the loot?” Suzy asked as they passed an Automaton Fighter that was sawing through an Odo. It had a massive maw with eight clawed feet that jutted out like the points on a compass. They were meant to assist the Odo through the ground as it consumed or pushed through anything in its path.

It had a ridged body from its massive mouth to its only slightly smaller exit hole. Inside the bands were highly acidic linings that broke down the metals.

The bands had different colors depending on which metals they had consumed. A band was only formed of one singular metal. Some might have multiple bands of the same metals, or intersped metals showing which metals the Odo had eaten themselves through over time.

The Odo could only manipulate the metal that they had bands of. The more bands, the more powerful.

“Looks like ridged toilet roll that’s been pinched at one end and has feet sticking out of it,” Dave said.

“So kind of like a toilet roll, but not at all?” Suzy quipped.

“I think the question is what to do with the loot,” Deia said.

“Well, I’m going to keep it, I know that Suzy had been looking for a staff of some sort and I think that with the mana attunement, if you two want it I think I can make you magical weapons, as well as Induca.”

They would also be getting a large portion of mana imbued Mithril Ebony and other rare metals from the Odos. No other Party would be able to do anything but sell these expensive resources.

With them, they looked first to improving themselves, anything else they threw it out. It was the Stone Raider’s way.

Dave already had requests from other Stone Raiders for custom work.

Anna’s sword had made them all eager to get a Dave weapon.

“I would be interested in rings primarily, a wand capable of holding a higher level Dark spell would also be nice,” Malsour said.

“I have been holding off on new blades, though these one’s durability has been dropping quickly due to the higher level buffs I am using with them,” Deia said.

“I know I said a staff would be cool, but I’m more interested in heavy mana imbued cores, especially for steel which takes so long to get it to retain any kind of mana. It’s the best metal to use for my creations,” Suzy said.

“Hi ho Party!” Steve said, waiting in the teleport room.

“Hey Steve,” Dave waved before yawning.

“We off to the Mining facility?”

“Nope, food and rest, some of us need sleep,” Deia said.

“Okay, mind if I go off to do some hunting with Dwayne?” Steve asked as the teleport activated.

They stepped through without a second thought. The teleport pads had become familiar long ago.

“Sure, just don’t get too banged up,” Suzy warned as they walked out into an identical room. They waved to the Stone Raiders waiting in the different control rooms on the second floor. Trap runes lined the room. If someone needed to fall back and brought something with them. Either the traps or the different players would kill it before it could do much damage.

“Ahh, I’ll be fine,” Steve said, waving like it would be an impossibility.

“You said that before I had to replace your leg. Three days ago,” Dave said.

“How was I supposed to know that the damn log with legs would try to eat my foot?”

“When we said, ‘get out of the way you idiot, it eats metal’? I think it would be around that point,” Suzy nodded to herself.

“Sorry, can’t hear you, Automatons don’t have ears you know? Hey Dwayne!” Steve said, looking at the party that was organizing. By their members and numbers it looked like it would be quite the battle.

“Hey Steve,” Dwayne looked to the rest of Party Zero. “Everyone Else.”

They greeted him, heading out of the teleport room and out into the central tower that had become their home.

They headed into the mess, greeting different people before grabbing food and sitting down.

There was a large open window that showed the rest of the City that had become their home base after liberating it from an army of the undead, a few moles and a Lich Lord.

When they had arrived the city had been in darkness, only the tower that they had arrived in with any sort of power to it.

Now entire regions of the city were lit up as powerstations, workshops, mining facilities, forges and every major system of the city worked away.

The city was in the shape of a cylinder, spinning constantly so that the exterior of the city always pulled the residents towards the ground.

They talked about this and that, their plans for the materials, and then what they thought could be their next mission after the mining facility.

“I think that it’s going to be a combat mission,” Malsour said.

“What makes you think that?” Suzy asked between bites of her burger.

“We’re finishing off all the maintenance issues and only going into the areas where there is little resistance. I think that there is a large concentration in one or more of these last few facilities we need to clear,” Malsour said.

“I’m nearly at master with one handed and Two handed, I hope we can get in enough trouble for me to level those up,” Dave said.

“Have you put thought into advancing to level 50 so that you can get another class?” Deia asked.

“Not just yet, I really want to try and go for the classes I know I can get on my own merits. Though being level fifty does have its benefits. Take a lot more deaths before I lost my classes and the longer I stay at level fifty the more my body will get used to it. I think it’s about time I started using those points. It takes me days of fighting just to get a few levels. How long is it taking you to get skills Suz?”

“It’s slowing down by a lot but if I was to try out fighting I think that my stats would still increase for a bit. I think you’re reaching the realm of diminishing returns. It’s hard for you to gain any kind of stat points by just training so you’ll have to resort to using the stat points that comes with gaining a level to increase. What level are you anyway?”

“Technically I’m level ten still, but I’ve unlocked level one hundred and thirteen,” Dave said.

“How many stat points have you spent of your unlocked levels??” Deia asked.

“Fifty-four.”

Malsour whistled. “That is a hell of a lot of stat points”

Dave opened his interface pulling up his level.

Level 113

You have reached level 113; you have 511 stat points to use.

“You could say that.”

“How many stat points do you have already in your character sheet?” Deia asked.

Dave switched over to his character sheet tallying it up. With his increased intelligence he could easily remember multiple things, his memory becoming almost photographic.

“One thousand-one-hundred and forty-one. Which is the same amount as someone that is level two hundred and twenty-eight,” Dave said, taking a moment for his brain to understand what he had just said.

“Damn,” Suzy said.

“Looks like Josh might not have been joking about us being able to take on dungeons in Ashal,” Deia said. “I hadn’t realized how strong we had all become down here.”

All of them sat, lost in their own thoughts.

Dave spread out his aura detection skill, checking the aura of all those around him. Few were trying to hide it, some doing it unconsciously. He used Malsour as a reference point. Knowing that his actual aura was ten times what he was letting out.

Damn, we don’t look that much weaker, we’re all about a tenth as strong as a Dragon. Dave had to wonder how powerful Malsour was compared to his fellow Dragons. Knowing that Malsour had killed the Undead Xelur Demon Lord at Boran-al made a hungry smile pass over Dave’s face.

People and Guilds had been arguing that the Stone Raiders were dead as they hadn’t been seen in the longest time. Watching as they slowly grew in numbers and wealth but never showing themselves.

“Well, I think we’re going to give the rest of Emerilia one hell of a shock when we finish helping the Aleph,” Dave said.

Deia laughed and shook her head. “I don’t think there has been a groups of Players this powerful so soon in the player’s life cycle.”

“I foresee an interesting future,” Malsour smiled.