Brunar didn't like how Jack kept deflecting his taunts as if they were useless. They were, but Brunar just thought Jack was too afraid to do or say anything.
Jack sat down by a tree as everyone else took down their tents and put out the fire. He opened his notifications and went to the achievement screen, happy to see the latest addition.
[Form a pact with a follower: completed]
[Form a pact with a follower. Reward: varies based on who the follower is, and the pact used. Would you like to claim the reward?]
Jack claimed it before he had finished reading it, anxious to see what he got.
[Form a pact with a follower: completed]
[Formed an inheritor pact with Maynard the Ronin. Special reward: 35 skill points]
Glad to get some free skill points, Jack spent them immediately. First, he advanced his sword skill from lv. 0 to lv. 2 for fifteen skill points. Next, he spent ten skill points to push health regeneration to lv. 2. This way, both Rydel and Maynard would have their health regeneration, bow, and sword skills at lv. 1. Plus, Jack would need a close-range weapon while in the streets of the goblin city since just in case and a sword would work perfectly.
Before he closed his skill tree, Jack spent the last ten skill points to increase his hearing and intimidation skills to lv. 1. With him being so low leveled, those skills would help him better avoid danger and keep any low leveled enemies from immediately attacking. Jack hoped that they would come in handy, especially if his increased hearing could help him discover more achievements.
'Why Jack happy?' asked Bowser.
'I just unlocked more skills, of course, I'm happy,' laughed Jack. 'Not sure if it's enough for phase three, but we won't know until then.'
'Why phase three special?'
'I'll explain it later buddy. Till we reach the goblin city, don't worry about it,' answered Jack, handing Bowser more jerky rations.
'Okay,' said Bowser, happily accepting his dried breakfast.
Jack thought for a moment, trying to anticipate what kind of small achievements might appear within the cave. If any of the missing adventurers were still alive, they were most likely being held captive somewhere in the goblin city, unknowingly waiting for phase three of Jack's plan. Determined to find something, Jack made his mind to explore a few abandoned goblin settlements and possibly an outpost if needed.
Suddenly, Maynard interrupted Jack. 'Hey, did ya already advance?' Looking across the camp, Jack saw Maynard with a bright smile as he wielded one of his katana. Not many would notice the difference in Maynard's energy as he wielded the sword, but Jack easily recognized it as the passive activation of the sword skill.
Activating a passive skill would unlock a new level of focus and natural reflex towards the respective skill, almost like it were more instinctive. Jack smiled when he noticed Rydel equipping his bow and doing the same as Maynard. Neither of them attacked or did anything more than wield their weapons, but that was all they needed to feel their new level of strength.
'Yeah, I got lucky and was able to upgrade it now.' Jack smiled when he saw the joy of adventuring reignite in their once bored gazes.
'If you need anything else to advance them again, we can help kid,' said Rydel with a childish joy in his voice.
'Yeah, no kidding! Just say the word!' Maynard added his two cents, fully supporting Rydel's statement.
'I'm sure there will be a few things that could help, like exploring abandoned goblin settlements,' stated Jack. 'Also, you should know that I also upgraded my health regeneration skill, so you have that now too.'
Without a word, Maynard sliced at his finger, showing extreme precision in only breaking the skin like a paper cut. He was amazed to see the cut slowly repair itself at a speed barely visible to the naked eye. 'You're pretty amazing, ya know that!'
Rydel heard Maynard's comment and felt a rush of enthusiasm wash over him. He had just become stronger with multiple skills and the best way to test them was to find a fight as soon as possible.
'Be careful though, the regeneration you have is only lv. 1 and isn't invincible. It's only to help with minor injuries and help maintain your stamina. I'm hoping Rydel won't even need it this time around,' mentioned Jack.
The two nodded, understanding that they can't be reckless. They let their heartbeats settle down and nodded to each other.
Maynard yelled, "Hurry up! We can't wait for ya any longer. If ya don't want to be left behind, store your tents and get over here."
Brunar was the first to take down his tent, followed by Troni. Slivia was slower and was eventually helped by Troni without invitation, causing her to silently blush. Jack was busy chatting with his new followers to notice, otherwise, he may have felt some jealousy begin to well up in his chest.
"Good, now let's go. Leave the horses here, that's all we can do." Rydel took charge and led the way.
"But what if someone claims them while we're away? Surely, we can take them with us, they'll speed up the journey significantly." Brunar argued, not wanting to leave behind the purebred horse he had recently purchased after breaking through lv. 20.
"Leave it, they'll only get in the way in the caves." Rydel didn't look back but his stern answer showed his unwavering opinion.
"Master, surely we can—"
"Ya heard him. Leave it Brunar, otherwise, they'll be easy for goblins to track and target," interjected Maynard emotionlessly.
"That's what happens when you spend so much on a mount without having proper storage." Jack's comment was only a whisper, just barely reaching Brunar's ear.
"Don't talk to me like that, you—"
"Our party captain said to leave it!" Maynard turned and gave Brunar the death stare, forcing his cooperation and silence.
Despising the obvious protection that his master gave Jack, Brunar silently stewed in his emotions as he tied down his horse again and followed the party toward the cave.
Everyone moved forward behind the two pillars of the party, Rydel, and Maynard. Maynard offered the greatest physical strength and the power to face anything head-on, opposite to Rydel who specialized in quick wits, secrecy, and assassinating threats without detection. What felt a little unusual was how close behind the two Jack stood, giving off a sense of closeness to both Rydel and Maynard.
Once they reached the cave's entrance, Rydel faced the party. "Alright, from this point onwards we'll form a single party with me as party captain. Are there any objections?"
With only silence following, Jack saw his status bar change and add everyone's' status. Happy to know how to form official parties, Jack took a mental note.
"Good. From here on, I will lead the way while Maynard will watch our rear. This way we can't be surprised and easily ambushed." Everyone quickly nodded and followed Rydel into the caverns with little hesitation.
The inside walls of the mine were dirt brown, like the usual mine, only having faint streaks of blue passing through the rock walls. These lines were once azure deposits that had been mined long ago and had run dry. With every few hundred meters they traveled, the blue lines would grow thicker, soon showing some remaining azure.
"Jackpot!" Brunar got excited when the walls were now ripe with faint blue azure crystals.
"Calm down, this is the lowest quality azure and can't be compared to mid-tier or high-tier azure that we'll find deeper in," said Rydel, calming the situation temporarily but planting a seed of excitement for later.
The party moved forward without any obstructions, confirming that not a single goblin remained on the first floor. Because Rydel was extremely familiar with the mine, he decided to take his time and explore the entire first floor. Some complained and argued that it was a waste of time, but Maynard supported Rydel's decision, so no one questioned it further. Little did the others know that Jack had asked Rydel and Maynard to do so in hopes of learning more and finding as many clues as possible for achievements.
In the far reaches of the first floor, they found some low leveled rat monsters, offering the party their first pieces of EXP. It wasn't much for most of the party, but it was enough for Jack to almost reach lv. 5. Not only did he and Bowser share EXP, but he also received a portion from Rydel and Maynard with every monster.
The biggest factor, however, was the weathered jade that Jack activated under his cloak as they entered the dungeon. Weathered jades were pretty much useless for anyone above lv. 20 and too expensive for most under lv. 10, but for anyone as low-leveled as Jack who could get one, the benefits were practically cheating. For every piece of experience gained within three days, Jack would receive an additional ten EXP. So, every time Jack gained EXP from himself, Maynard, or Rydel it would activate, meaning that a single monster would give him three bursts of EXP.
What Jack had forgotten was his companion mirroring skill. Yes, he and Bowser shared EXP, letting them both level up twice as fast compared to others, but the companion mirroring skill allowed Bowser to gain five EXP extra with every monster.
When Jack saw his insane leveling potential, he couldn't help but chuckle. He knew that every level was twice as hard as the previous and the beginning levels were the easiest to advance through, but he couldn't help but imagine the incredible amount of EXP he would get from razing the goblin city.