Combat Summary:

3x Wolves, Level 4

Summon Wisp Novice 2 -> Novice 3

Universal Currency Earned: 800

Mathew was breathing heavily as he looked at the most recent combat summary log. It was their second fight of the day, and it was by far the worst.

It only had three wolves, but these wolves appeared ten minutes after the last fight. They had little time to rest and patch up their wounds. Both Brown and Leo were excellent medics. Brown, having a profession dedicated to it, received a spell that allows him to heal.

Captain Henderson received a unique Profession similar to Mathew. She had an ability called [Power Attack] and received a defensive skill called [Medium Armor]. She sported the combat gear most of the military wore when in combat, with a few upgrades she purchased from the shop.

Mathew had no idea what her profession was called, but to receive two things, it had to be Rare like his. Which made him wonder if she too had a unique title.

“Can we please leave this time?” Damien asked.

Out of everyone, Damien was the most recent to acquire his profession. An upgrade of the Scout profesion, he received a perception skill that was envied by practically everyone called [Analyze] It allowed him to determine the name of any creature he looked at.

Captain Henderson looked at her team, seeing them wounded and tired. “Yea, for once I would like a hot dinner actually. Zack you grab the two best looking ones, I’ll grab the other two.'' Both of them were in charge of bringing back wolf corpses for the crafters. They each brought in twenty currency for each member of the team.

Everyone cheered at the early return and had some pep in their step as they marched back to base. Mathew saw he Leveled up again, and placed his points accordingly. He placed two in both Intelligence and Wisdom, his last in Endurance.

When he realized he kept his additional 5 stat points on top of his extra from his profession, he had decided on a new pattern of stats.

Every odd level he would put 2 in Intelligence and Wisdom and then go back and forth between Endurance and Vitality with the extra 1. On even Levels he would put Three into Dexterity, 1 into Strength and then one into either Endurance or Vitality. Just now acquiring Level 7 meant he was still one of the highest leveled people on the base. He knew Captain Henderson had to be close or was at 7 as well, since she didn’t stop fighting every day when Mathew was recovering and training for a week.

“Gods, I can’t wait to be high enough level to go back home.” Damien said as he walked with the group.

“What do you mean?” Brown asked.

“I mean, I enjoy being here as much as the next guy, but I don’t want to live on this base forever. I have aunts and uncles I want to try and reconnect with. It’s hard since the phone lines are all dead as well as the internet.”

Henderson nodded. “I hope you find them. The Government more or less knows where everyone is at, at least those who sought shelter at a government owned area. Some people have already started leaving, especially those who are now Level 5.”

“Yeah, but I’m just glad we are safe from any wars or human on human fights. You heard what’s going on in the city?”

Most people nodded. It was a bit gruesome. The city had much worse monsters to fight. Rats, Giant Spiders, and worse of all, other people. Bandit groups and gangs formed quickly after the free for all looting did. Word got out quickly that killing people was a fast way to Level up, especially those at higher levels.”

“Could be worse.” Zack said. “Could be one of the coastal cities or near the border. I imagine a lot of fighting happening there between countries.”

“Shit, I just realized something.” Leo said. “What about nukes?”

Everyone stopped walking and looked at each other, then to Henderson.

“Why are you looking at me?” She asked.

“Well, you are the only person here who knows if nukes have been launched.” Mathew said. “I have my own theory, but I want to see if I am right, like always.”

“You are not always right.” Leo said. “You were wrong about your Wisp counting as a mob to farm for experience.”

“Hey, it’s a monster! Technically. Maybe we didn’t kill it enough to gain a level.”

Henderson looked at Mathew. “What’s your theory? No point in me saying anything, you could just change your idea.”

“Fine. Guns don’t work right? I think Nukes are similar, as with any modern weapon. Aircraft, Boats, Subs, anything with a weapon, finds themselves having better luck using foam darts and water balloons.”

A few people glanced at Leo, whose shotgun was somehow more effective than before since he started to use ammo that came from the shop.

“You are half right Mat. I will say this, Nukes were absolutely attempted to be shot, however it was soon found out they were all gone.”

“Gone? How do nukes just end up ‘gone’.” Zack asked, not trusting what Henderson was saying.

“I am saying the buttons were pushed, nothing happened. People were sent to investigate to find them just poof gone. Most of our planes were gone as well. However anything with people on or in them remaind, just the weapons didn’t work. Nuclear subs had it the worst, since their main power source went out the window.”

Mathew shook his head in disbelief. “How do you even know this? No offense, but you don’t strike me as a Top Secret Clearance type of gal.”

She shrugged. “At this point it’s not a well kept secret since it’s happened to everyone across the world. Nobody has nukes, large bombs, or even rockets that work. Both the space kind and the missile kind. We were surprised Satellites worked for as long as they did, but soon crapped out on us for no reason.”

Zack’s face lit up. “Because of magic!”

“That’s your answer to everything!” Brown shouted at him, while throwing a punch in annoyance.

“No, but it makes sense! Magic didn’t exist before, now it does. At least that’s my theory for why some of our technology has ceased to keep working. We still have power, and older phones still work. The new ones don’t even turn on anymore.”

“It doesn't explain how nukes just get stolen by sticky fingers and a man with deep pockets.” Damien said.

“The System probably took them as an equalizer.” Zack said. “Remember that first night? It saved us, it said. What if taking the nukes was part of that?”

“That’s ridiculous.” Henderson said. “Why would we go M.A.D for no reason? I would have at least known tensions were rising and nukes were on the table as threats long before they were launched. Clearance or not, I was still in charge of some shit.”

Zack shrugged. “Not in the military, so I wouldn’t know. It’s just a theory after all.”

“One that I somewhat agree with.” Mathew said. “It makes sense, what other world ending event could we have been saved from? There were no natural disasters. No spatial anomalies that we know of. If the nukes were taken, it had to be the cause of all of this.”

“So magic is real as well as man eating monsters, but thank god WWIII didn’t happen.” Henderson said with a huff.

“No, what I am saying is humanity still moves on without all the nuclear fallout, significant increase in deaths, and the fact we now are superhuman. Think about it, if one nuke goes off, all of them do right?”

She nodded understandingly. “Shit Mathew, I get it okay? I just don't want to think about it anymore.”

“Neither do I.” Brown said, with Damien nodding.

The walk back was quiet.

The next day started as all days do for Mathew. He heads to the cafeteria and goes directly into the back kitchens. After the second horrible cup of tea served, he refused to let anyone else make it other than himself.

Several of the cooks have acquired various skills related to their craft, but nobody had a tea making skill, not even Mathew himself. While he let the tea seep into the water, he went ahead and gathered his breakfast. Two eggs, sunny side up, toast, and a side of fruit. “Breakfast of champions.” Mathew said to himself remembering what his mother said to him as a child. He was the only one out of his brothers who liked his eggs sunny side up, just like she did.

Mathew read one of his books while he worked on eating. He was in no rush today since it was a rest day for the team. Unless serious injuries that Brown or anyone else could heal in a day, the team went out every other day to train and grind their skills and levels.

Zack sat down next to Mathew. “We have just over twenty days left before the portals open up Mathew. Nobody is Level 10 yet, since the quest is still active from the General. I say we call off your plan.”

“I am so close to Level 10! I am close to Level 8, I can feel it. If we keep this work pattern up, I’ll be Level 10 just before the dungeon opens.” Mathew pointed out.

“What about the rest of us? Have you even told Henderson or the others about your plan?”

“Nope, I don’t want the secret getting out, otherwise someone else can steal it from us.”

“At this point, the Dungeon should be ready. I dont’ see what can take forty days unless Beginner rank is something way out of our leagues. Nobody knows when we will get to that rank. Only a couple people have even gotten a skill to Beginner rank, and even then it’s remained at Beginner 0. Madison is furious that she can’t get her [Unarmed Combat] to a higher skill level, demanding she be allowed to fight wolves to level up.”

“I’m surprised she hasnt’ snuck out yet.” Mathew commented after taking a sip of tea.

“Oh she has, but after the last time, she has an extra pair of eyes on her. Several of the teenagers are like that. They hate being treated like children.”

“I say we let them lose. Those that want to anyway. No worse than the idiots who die because they are Level 2 and fight with a baseball bat.”

“And you think those kids won’t do the same?”

“At least 80% of those kids are nerds like you, Zack, and have formed groups to train together. Madison, while not a nerd, can probably kick half the people on this base butts. Mine included.”

“Ooo, Mathew admited he is worse than someone else at something, mark it down in your calaenders.” Leo said coming in to hear the end of Mathew’s sentence.”

“I’ve never claimed to be the best at everything. I’m not a selfish imbicel who claims he can kill god...for now.”

“They are Gods for a reason. They can’t be killed.”

“Then I’ll tide myself over by dealing with a devil, and winning.”

Leo rolled his eyes, “This again? Just because they might be real, doesn’t mean you have to try it out with one.”

“What kind of laywer would I be if I didn’t at least test and prove one of the oldest sayings about those in our line of work? It’s an Infernal Dungeon. Zack said it’s plausible.”

Zack chuckled. “I have five hundred UC on Mathew winning, but only because the devil let him win so they can trade tea flavors.”

“You should try some, it’s better for you than that bean juice.”

“As if your leaf juice is any better.” Leo said loudly, slurping his coffee.

“I’m just glad you drink your coffee normally. Those who put chocolate and whiped cream in it like it’s a desert are weak.”

“Agreed.” Leo said.