Still day 6…

‘Ugh… that sucks a lot…’ Kirja thought as she finally returns to consciousness ‘Did we win?’ she thought as she looked around and gave a sigh of relief ‘need to bite Galdra for… jinxing the whole situation? Whatever that means… though need to wait for fangs to grow back’ she thought as she slithers back towards the group.

“So, I figured out that when you stack multiple acid and dark affinity buffs to a young pseudo wyvern diving at max speed at an enemy… you get a very powerful… living trebuchet projectile” Aenirus proudly exclaimed to Taika who was writing stuff down into her personal notes with her uninjured hand.

“So I was thinking, what if you use lighting affinity buffs?” Aenirus suggested “I’m not that far yet, I just learned how to quicken my spells which would let me cast with just my mind though I could definitely see the appeal, it should buff the speed greatly increasing impact damage!” Taika observed.

‘Oh interesting, they are talking about magic stuff! It’s always fun to learn about more magic stuff’ Kirja thought as she made her way to the two other magic users and listened in as she looked around again to get better view of the situation.

Ruma was at the sides near Aenirus simply enjoying the scenery around him… especially that crater he created where that big muscle thing used to be ‘Huh… did he do that? That’s… very extremely great, he seems to have defeated a big bad muscly thing on his own!’

Verk and Parl were simply talking to each other after Verk saved Parl’s life with the tourniquet around the stump of his arm though he only now remembered that they were capable of respawning meaning they would come back after death though Parl really respect the sentiment.

Everyone else… was currently trying to bandage themselves or each other up with whatever healing supplies they could find including Verk’s final healing potion… which worked meaning that almost half of his potions worked… though the healing was… very minor only treating a cut and clotting some minor bleeding.

“… alright, enough resting, we need to secure the village” Kaide announced as he got up after getting checked on “I see you trying to open your mouth Galdra, do I need to come and rip your tongue off? No? then do not open your fucking cursed mouth for the entirety of this expedition” he also gave Galdra an ultimatum on what not to do and he shuts up immediately.

‘Seriously, the loud one seem to attract those big meaty masculine thingies so much every time he speaks’ Kirja agreed as she observes the situation ‘I definitely will bite him when my fangs regenerate… though only a nibble… killing is bad unless they are a danger to the master’ Kirja reminded herself as she listened in.

“The first thing we’re going to do is simple… Coward… yes that is your fucking name now” Kaidde pointed at the vesper that retreated last fight “If you want to keep your position as a member of the expedition team than you will listen to what I say TO THE LETTER!” Kaide shouted angrily at the vesper that was scared shitless and heavily nodding.

“If you do a good job Coward than you might get a better name that is less suitable but less humiliating” Kaide then went with a more calming tone of voice ‘I say that’s fair since we can… come back to life when we die and despite that the flying fur thing ran away… I say Coward is a suitably fitting name...’

“I agree, desertion is a very hefty sin, if it was up to me… let’s just say Kaide is very generous” Tier’s voice can be heard from the background ‘Oh master is back… hooray!’ “you guys should leave the village and come home to the dungeon, it’s a hard enough day already, I’ll call back the reinforcements as well” Tier suggested an order.

“I actually disagree with that order” Aenirus surprisingly objected “Ruins can sometime disappear without a trace at any moment without anyone looking, they basically fought a hard battle to get rid of probably not all but most of the mimics in the area, we should be able to get some good stuff from the face or all that effort would be in vain” she gave out her line of thinking.

‘Oh big sister Aenirus is… that’s a very clever thing to say… I wish I was as clever or cleverer than her’ "Good point… alright, I’ll get some of the others to come help you load up anything that isn’t nailed down, I want you guys to rest but… it depends on your opinions, do you guys want to continue on?” Tier asked them all

There was a resounding chorus of nods, agreements and yeses ‘Yay for big sis Aenirus saving the… erm… journey even though it was very hurt… it hurt very much… ow…’ Kirja admitted though she was excited.

“Before we go… what are those things anyways” Meena asked Aenirus “ghouls… nasty undead creatures that used to be humanoids for some reason… some say it was a failure from an experiment to give humanoids core crystals” Aenirus remarked in disgust

‘What’s undead?’ Kirja mentally questioned “What’s undead?” Tier asked curiously “It’s a term for unliving creatures that are animated due to a virus, disease, magic or whatnot that controls the body after the host dies” Aenirus explained.

…

“Okay… I order all of you to collect the core crystals of all the ghouls… I will experiment myself to see I that is the case… if it is…… let’s not talk about this now” Tier said “I’ll go call reinforcements now” and with that he leaves the others in the village to clear it out and search for any valuables.

The sweep of the rest of the village goes… surprisingly smoothly in fact, Kaide had Coward (yes he was serious about the naming) sweep each house and got him to go into each house as well to be extra sure there were no threat before moving to the next house.

Some of the buildings had a couple straggling claw ghouls inside though they were easy pickings when in such low spaced out number despite crippling wounds on much of the expedition.

The village was of a good size, there were at least 30 intact buildings, a lot of carts, hundreds of barrels, boxes, etc… Most importantly was the fact that it housed a small church with a bronze bell in the bell tower.

Inside, they found more ghouls there, even one of those big muscle things that turned out to be ghoul ogres but with Ruma basically giving the big ghoul a one sided beatdown despite being 2 threat rank lower than the undead and Aenirus simply skewering the rest with shadow spikes from the ground… it was as easy as eating a slice of pie… not that any of them know what a pie is.

The only injury received from the sweep was when Ruma battled the ogre ghoul head on and when Hraeta slipped on a puddle and fell on her tail. Despite only half of the expedition being able to fight at all… they made quick work thanks to Aenirus having at least a dozen years of actually combat experience and Ruma being both fresh and hitting above his weight.

“This should be the last house” Aenirus commented as Ruma tore a ghoul in half “If there are more in the area… there shouldn’t be anymore, most ruins are just a singular or a small pocket of buildings or something else… the abandoned village types are rare and usually contain many mimics but this one seems clear now” the added as she left the packed dirt and straw house.

‘Ah… how I wish for a soft bed right now’ Kirja thought as she looked at the straw “Sure, I guess we should be able to go loot stuff now… I do want to wait for reinforcements though” Kaide thought about it for a bit longer.

“Okay, we’ll loot now and save some time, the faster we can get back, the faster the wounded can heal up” with that decision made, everyone split up to five teams of three with the most heavily wounded being Kirja, Parl and Batra staying in the bell tower to ring the bronze bell if anything shows up and to search the church.

‘…Drat’ Kirja said mentally once she realized that she was left behind by the others and not allowed to o help with the searching of loot around the village ‘It’s not fair, I wasn’t even hurting that badly… It hurts very badly but I wasn’t as injured as some of the others’ She defended herself and in some cases her logic makes sense.

Being bored out of her mind at not getting a chance to go, Kirja decided to go looking for some stuff inside the church and wouldn’t you know it there were stuff everywhere ‘Ohhhh Shiniessss!!’ Kirja let out a hiss of excitement as she called on the other two to help her out a bit “Good find Kirja” Parl complimented her which made her blush out a bit in bliss.

Inside of the church, the only location of interests… they found a small stash of books, approximately 14 books, some silver jewelry and a couple of coins. Searching more carefully, they also found that the church has a basement of some kind… with no enemies so they searched it and found some more trinkets, some powder, a few strange glass bottle with water inside of them and a sword of some kind.

Kaide, Coward and Meena made it back to the church which became the rally point first finding 2 books, a small pouch of some kind of dried herb, a small pouch of coins, some rusted tools and a clay pot filled with something that went bad a long time ago.

However, from what Aenirus said this village is probably very new which makes no sense at all ‘It is curious to know what’s that all about’ Kirja wondered but couldn’t question due to a lack of vocal chords.

Aenirus went back with her team consisting of Hraeta and a tailless monitor with some dried up mushrooms, a few knifes, a hoe, some moss, lichen and a few small coins 'It's a bit annoying that i cannot talk...'

Galdra, the other monitor and Barmas found a book, a barrel filled with something and a few glass bottles filled with unknown liquids ‘I do sometimes wish I can talk but… no I already decided I want to learn how to talk the natural way through evolution’

Lastly, Taika, Verk and Ruma came back with a cart that Verk managed to fix up that the two kobolds were pulling whilst Ruma just walk alongside them with a barrel filled with stuff they found strapped on his back.

The stuff they bought includes hay, wheat, a lot of different kinds of produce, some tools, more books, more bottles, barrels, rusted weaponry, sacks of strange powder, dried herbs, a lot of unidentified stuff, more unknown substances, etc… including a few dead things.

“Where… did you find all of that?” Kaide asked curiously “You would not believe me if I told you so I’ll stay silent” Taika answered honestly “Same mate” Verk added, Ruma nodded. A quick look over and they appear to be a bit more haggard than the rest of the team.

“Also we discovered a basement full of those acid spitter ghoul buggers and… it was na pretty mate” Verk added seriously “You guys did good” Hraeta congratulated as she patted each of them in the back ‘They seem to tried their best and that's all that matters’ Kirja decided.

“So… when are the re-” a very loud roar-bark can be heard off in the distance cutting a complaining Meena off “From my experiences with the maned kanids… which isn’t much… they’ve just arrived” Parl added and they all breathed a sigh of relief as the reinforcements trickled in.

The reinforcements include, 4 kobolds from the first floor riding on maned kanids from the second floor ready for a fight, four modified monitors from the first and second floor alongside 6 other kobolds from the second floor, a score of Vespers for close air support and a newly spawned Lesser Yao Guai Tier remembered to spawn with the rest of the kobolds from the second floor mainly the ranged skirmishers from the mud room, they also have the only non-boss magic user still left in the dungeon Klaki a cave gecko with level 3 ice affinity as well as two armored serpents, one of which recently evolved.

The hastily put together force barreled into the village screaming at the top of their lungs ready to rescue the trapped expedition team… to realizing that they came in late “Oh… well shit” one of the second floor kobold said unremarkably “You guys are very late” Taika commented.

“There was a lot of logistical problems to get a force of basically under-trained militia this large out of a small cave entrance to travel a kilometer away from a place they never left and to travel in a group with enough precautions so they don’t get ambushed or fall into a trap or to get pointed in the right direction” Tier defended himself “But yeah, I should’ve sent a faster force first” he admitted to himself.

“Ermmm… so what do we do now?” Johta a kobold of the first floor and commander of the reinforcements asked out loud “Good timing, you guys can do all of the hard work now” Kaide answered seriously ‘It is good to have people who can work for us now’ Kirja nodded to the decision.

“Start by carrying all of this shit we pile here home in an orderly manner” he ordered and the entire reinforcing force went to do just that… all and all it was two and a half hours since the expedition left the dungeon and 30 minutes since Tier called for reinforcements so it was a very quick response time.

“You know what, I think I’ll cycle through who gets to go on an expedition outside of the dungeon so more of you guys can experience it” Tier announced a new decision in which all of the reinforcements cheered as they get to do something new for once “Well then, you guys should head back to the dungeon and we’ll decide on it later” he said out loud.

Before the expanded group can get back to the dungeon carting a lot of loot, they were attacked by a pack of smaller versions of the maned kanids… that froze immediately upon seeing how many enemies there were… and promptly ran away with their tails behind their hind legs getting a laugh from pretty much everyone, even a chuckle from the quiet types.

They did have to dispatch a couple of slimes who got in the way and were not intelligent enough to realize the threat, caught a couple of critters along the way and actually managed to bring a tree down and dragged I inside the dungeon though unfortunately it was an Akir tree so no new tree blueprint but still, it was a huge load of new stuff

‘I hope the master is proud of us for bringing so much new things back into the dungeon’ Kirja proudly thought as the entire team lumbered back into the dungeon and dropped everything onto the ground for Tier to absorb.

…

‘Now then… now that I’ve healed everyone who was wounded… thank you dungeon powers making my life easier… time to get to absorbing the blueprints’ Tier mentally decided as he began absorbing everything… all at once… ‘Wait a second didn’t I get a migraine fro-Agh!’

You now have access to the blueprint(s):

Copper currency

Silver currency

Gold currency

Basic jewelry

Silver

Gold

Iron

Lead

Compost

Fertile Soil

Common Weeds

Hay

Wheat

Corn

Basic Tubers (potatoes and such)

Karrats (carrots)

Earth Nuts (peanuts)

14 different kinds of tea plants from dried tea leaves

Olives

Lavender

Mint

Sage

Felianade’s friend (a type of herb found in the mountains, can be used to help in indigestion or respiratory problem)

Goblin’s hoard (a type of yellow herb that grows a symbiotic relation with ironwood trees, they can be used to create some minor healing potions or to combat the common cold)

Serpent’s respite (a green herb that grows on the ground, used as a general antidote against most serpent venoms)

Dog’s gift (a fragile, rare herb named for when a legendary dog led a dying legendary king to it to cure his curse, the legend has been lost to time though the herb remained and it can be used to cure most curses or diseases)

Lemon

Tatarns (tomatoes that grows on small trees instead of vines, also sweeter and plumper than real life version)

Tomatoes

Yaro (Yam basically but slightly bitter and larger)

Low grade Steel

Axe (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Hand Crossbow (Akir Wood + Spidersilk Sting + Steel)

Light Crossbow ((Akir Wood + Spidersilk Sting + Steel)

13 different types of crossbow bolts)

Hoe (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Scythe (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Hammer (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Shovel (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Knife (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Dagger (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Short sword (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Short Spear (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Pitchfork (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Medium grade Steel

Longsword (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Arming Sword (low grade steel + Akir wood)

Dagger (low grade steel + Akir wood)

…

Coal

Charcoal

Pewter

Saltpeter

Lilian’s Blessings (a type of mystical plant found near rivers, said to be a blessing upon the world from saint Lilian, can be used to make mana potions and has many uses)

6 different types of edible mushrooms

2 different types of edible herbs with no mystical properties

Reeds

Papyrus

Paper

4 types of trashy romance books

3 types of children’s books

2 books about the adventure of Galverian, an ancient hero

A book about common Herbs

A book for beginner herbalists

A book for beginner alchemists

3 types of books for three different languages including Garrickian, Wronanese and wolgata

A book about rarer herbs

A guide to advanced herbalism

A guide for beginning Chirgeons

A guide for beginning adventurers

A guide for beginning scavengers

A guide for beginning mercenaries

A guide for beginning monster hunters

4 types of books about legends and myths

A tale about the Fox of Mardosa, a village from the Garrick Empire

A book about the basics of mana, magic types and mana affinities

Wooden Cart (Akir wood)

Barrel (Akir wood + iron rings)

Crate (Akir wood + iron nails)

Iron nails

Clay pottery

Minor healing potion (unknown ingredients)

11 different types of alcohol

3 types of fungal mold

Some Lichen

…

There were more but at that point Tier highly regretted absorbing everything all at once ‘Fuck! I forgot how painful it is to absorb more than I can process’ he thought in the midst of the migraine ‘It feels as if I just ate an entire gallon of… whatever the brown sludge with the sweet taste was in my memories… it tastes good… until you ate too much’ Tier groaned as the blueprints and mana flow stopped.

‘Okay… it’s over now… I still feel extremely bloated and… have a terrible migraine though’ he thought as he started doing stuff to ease his pains “Excuse me guys but… I am going to start building the 3rd floor now… do not disturb me whatsoever!” he ordered before beginning immediately forgetting his pains in his work whilst making everyone else worry about him.

To Tier… it was a hazy memory at best, he worked with manic determination not stopping to talk with anyone, his mind going into overdrive as he worked through a day of headaches and migraines until it finally stopped after he was well done with his 3rd floor… at least the basic floor layout. When he finally finished his automated creation spree… he went back up to check up on the others as day 6 pass on to the early hours of day 7.

“Hey… I’m up again” Tier announced weakly as Aenirus who was trying to snuggle his core gem perked up “Oh gods, I am so glad that you’re up again” Aenirus said in a voice of relief “I thought that you might break at any moment” she sounds very worried “It’s fine, it’s a bad migraine but it’s manageable, nothing life threatening” Tier assured her to which she breathed a sigh of relief.

“I also finished the basic layout of the third floor… though the details are a bit hazy” Tier admitted as he showed Aenirus down the stairs. The entire 3d floor were currently a small 15ft cube room connected by a 30ft long by 5ft wide by 10ft tall corridor leading South to a 40ft wide North to South to 85ft long East to West room.

The amazing thing about the entirety of the 3rd floor was the design and atmosphere it gave off “I have no idea how or why I created the wall patterns like this but I’m not complaining, it took a lot of mana so I did it” Tier said proudly as he showed her the design of the floors, walls and ceilings. They were made in a way that they resembled ancient ruins with cobblestone bricks held together with some cement and overgrown with vines, weeds and moss.

The lighting of the rooms was created from both by Shine mushrooms and torches whilst the walls and floor was made out of a mixture of different rocks in a hurry with no regards to pattern whatsoever. Leading through another 30ft long 5ft wide 10ft tall corridor to a large 60ft wide circular room with a 10ft wide well of crystal water in the middle of it all.

On the opposite side to the room in a set of double doors which currently stands open leading to a similar 10ft tall 5ft wide 30ft long corridor that leads to a small… maze that was currently empty.

“I hope to spice things up here, no idea how I thought of it when having a very bad headache from all the mana but it was a neat idea, no traps yet though I did make it randomized, I plan to have only traps in here though so no defenders” Tier explains his plans as they travelled through the maze in the quickest route thanks to the help from Tier “It is a nice change of pace though” Aenirus observed.

The maze was localized on a 100ft wide 30ft tall cube with three different floors with winding paths that are planned to be filled with traps and things to waste time as it soon leads to the boss room “No idea what the boss will be though, I did stumble across a small cave though” Tier admitted as Aenirus soon headed into the large room.

It was a 60ft wide square room… at least it was supposed to be but the break from the North said otherwise revealing an unremarkable cave with a large pond on half of it making the room 60ft wide and 90ft long South to North with a raised ceiling of 20ft to accommodate it.

“S… yeah that’s all I did with the 3rd floor, most of the spent mana was spent on the aesthetic of the floor to ease it since I probably didn’t want to do anything stupid with any extra rooms or whatnot… what do you think?” Tier asked for Aenirus’s opinion

“A bit linear, the maze is a great idea but everything else seems… very linear which is a surprise compared to the two floors above…” Aenirus gave her opinion.

“hey Aenirus… how would you like to work on the 3rd floor of the dungeon?” Tier asked her hyperbolically “… you mean really? You really mean it?” She counters excitedly “yes………” Tier confirmed nervously.

The wide smile of curiosity and excitement told Tier her answer immediately and for the entirety of the 7th day… both of them stayed on the 3rd floor with Aenirus holding the Pen and drawing the floor plan with her ideas, creativity and enthusiasm whilst Tier had the Highlighter painting the floor with life, color and designing them as both of them envisioned…

It was a good time for both of them who each had their fair share of fun and excitement ‘It’s such a wonderful thing to have her here, not just as a mouth to talk to but as a fried and a partner… and she even reminds me of… some… her’ Tier thought as he watched Aenirus drew a room plan with some sort of shadow abilities

‘I wonder sometimes… about the people who I used to know… about the people who I am reminded of when I talk to some of the others… why do I have this awful memory blocker in my mind’ Tier thougts turned somber as he went deep.

“Hey Tier, I finished the room plan, I think we should do a fun obstacle course style for this room with the floor filled with water, it would create an interesting course” Aenirus proudly said showing off her drawing which drew Tier out of his somber thoughts immediately.

“That seems great, I absolutely love it, keep fleshing it out Aenirus” Tier encouraged her as she got back to work ‘Ah… but she does put a smile in my heart… not that I have any… I can’t imagine running a dungeon without her’ Tier thought as he observed her and gave some advice as they both continue working on the 3rd floor together…

…

Meanwhile…

“… is that a village?” a person asked with a regular male voice looking through his binoculars “No doubt about it” another person answered in a higher pitched voice similar to that of a child though not high enough.

“That’s probably a ruin, didn’t remember that on the map of abandoned settlements in the wildlands” the higher pitched voice added “Distressing… it’s a good spot as well… we should at least scout it out and then report it… good place for the settlers of the upcoming expedition” the deeper voice said… voicing his opinion.

“Hey, no running off on your own, you’re not a hero from one of those old stories” the higher pitched voice warned the deeper voice “Alright, alright I learned my lesson 8 years ago… knock it off already” The deeper voice deflects “Of course I’ll get the other six, we can scout out the village and if possible clear the ruin of any threats” the deeper voice added.

“And then we mark it as a good spot for the new settlement” the higher pitched voice added with a hint of annoyance “And then we mark it as a good spot for the new settlement” the deeper voice repeated with a hint of annoyance... a lot of annoyance.

“Good, if our spot gets chosen than we can make it rich than go home to Ravic city as experienced adventurers or whatever your plan was” the higher pitched voice commented on with a bit of a smirk.

“Yeah, yeah, quit your yapping, we still need to tell the others and we have to make it quick, don’t want any of the other four teams finding the spot and recording it before us… however unlikely that is” The deeper voice said calmly.

“Fine, let’s go then, I am looking for any chance I have at destroying stuff with the new magic potential level I gained, finally after a year as well” the higher pitched voice said excitedly as they both went back from their scouting run arguing like old friends or siblings which they technically are as they return to their group.

From this moment, Tier was going to start having more sapient visitors or invaders in his dungeon as once told, the adventuring party of 8 would likely find him and report on their findings possibly resulting in a dungeon town unless they somehow disappear.

...