I didn't want to do this, but I had no other choice.
After what happened to Thonie I had to make sure nothing like that happened again, so I asked Siel to hire me some workers.
The next day I had sixty men and women ready to work.
There are already spies around me, I can only prepare defenses to protect myself and Thonie.
Siel assured me of their discretion, which means he threatened their families.
I don't want to be that kind of person, so I pay them a silver a week.
With the extra hands production exploded.
I not only expanded the wall, I made it from concrete, wood, and steel.
Firstly, I - with their help - cleared the land further into the forest.
Then, I had them dig a trench, with holes every foot inside of it.
Steel rebars were put into each hole, wooden fences were erected on each side held together with more rebars through them.
Next, concrete was poured in and hardened with crafting magic.
The wall stood a good twenty-five feet high, and ten feet thick.
Afterwards, I carved glyphs that channeled electric mana, this meant that any who touched it would be electrocuted.
It's not strong enough to kill anything, but sure will be one hell of a deterrent.
Next, I made multiple multistory buildings.
By borrowing concepts from his world, as well as using crafting magic, I was able to build them as high as twenty stories.
For the buildings that will be used for living the set up was simple.
The rooms starting from the third floor up were just for sleeping, and the first three floors were the communal bath, kitchen, and living area.
Now, I didn't have to do this, but I didn't just stop at the living spaces.
I guess I wanted to see how far I could go.
I set aside buildings for businesses, and vertical farming as well.
The vertical farming buildings I am especially proud of, by use of mirrors and glass I will be able to produce multiple crops.
The heavy plants will go to the bottom and the shrubs to the top.
I put huge glass fish tanks in there as well, allowing certain fish species to be kept as another food source and the water will act as heat storage for the plants.
As for water, there is a lake towards the north-east, I had the men dig a trench and lay a copper pipe from the lake to the pseudo village.
Every twenty feet inside of the pipe is a grate, to prevent debris and would be intruders.
After that, we covered the pipe with concrete and buried it with dirt.
The water lets out in an artificial aquifer I made, once the aquifer is full, I shut-off the water by closing the valve I installed.
All of the buildings have water towers on top of them, which allows for indoor plumbing.
To fill the water towers up I use gravity powered water pumps.
Of course, all of these add-ons to the original plan cost coin, and lots of it.
As I ran out of the coin the others left me, I had to start making more.
After the scheduled construction is done for the day, Thonie and I would go out hunting with my gun.
Due to my wall preventing spies from gaining access to the pseudo village I would of course catch them trying to spy on me in the woods while we hunted, those unlucky fools were quickly found by Thonie and dealt with.
There were some who tried to trick her heat detection abilities by covering themselves in mud, the idiots never realized there is a plethora of ways she uses to track her prey down.
As I made sure none of them got to see my gun I let them live, with a lot of bruises, but alive nonetheless.
As there are only Low and Mid-rank animals and monsters around here, and that there is no competition because the guards at Saltwater restricted hunting because of the increase in deaths in the forest, I have a monopoly on game and local monster parts.
A few guards would try to get me to leave for my safety, but this land isn't under their purview, and my gun can handle anything out here.
Be it wolves, bears, boars, or a giant mantis, one shot from four hundred yards away is enough to kill them safely.
___________________
"Are you sure you killed all of these?"
(Jungo)
"Yes."
I can understand his hesitation and disbelief.
After all, in his eyes I'm a skinny, weak Dalian man who couldn't possibly have killed these monsters and beasts.
I am in the shop Jay and the others use to sell their kills.
I decided to sell the extra monster and animal parts I'm not using to Jungo because that's who they use, and I'd rather not complicate things.
"I mean, other than a small hole, they are completely undamaged! Are you sure this is all you want to sell?"
"Yes, the rest I will use."
_____________________
As I left Jungo's shop, I turned towards the adventurers guild.
Because they also signed me up under Jurea's name in the adventurers guild I decided to take up odd quests here and there, like killing a couple of goblins.
Just sitting outside of the nest and snipping them is almost too easy.
The quests I take aren't high paying, but along with me hunting I make enough.
Coin in hand I decided to buy a few things before heading back.
_________________
Even though I had basically finished a few buildings I didn't start renting out the rooms to adventurers yet - I'll wait till they return - because I hate dealing with people more than necessary, instead I brought more slave beastfolk from my uncle and freed them on the caveat that they do the upkeep around the property like farming and what have you.
I also started to pay them the same as the workers, and they can keep whatever they sell from the farms, the only reason I built them was to only see if I could anyway - I don't care if I don't make a profit on it.
One of the beastfolk asked if they could start raising wild game to sell, I liked the idea so much that I made a boma and animal housing right outside of the wall.
I made a gate through the wall to make getting to it easier.
I then made devices that would funnel air into the pseudo village powering my wind turbines, which in turn will power my electric equipment I started to design - like the heaters to keep the plants at preferred temperatures.
Most people would just assume I'm using some type of magic, but this will be more efficient.
I won't need some idiot to keep chanting and worry about him running out of mana, or one of my glyphs failing due to low mana in the air.
I haven't got to the point where I can craft the really advanced technology from his world yet, but basic stuff I can handle.
Kikiki!!
That's Thonie's way of telling me she's hungry.
She came slithering into where I am working.
She pounced onto me, causing me fall to the ground.
I started petting her.
"You've got to slow down, you're getting too big."
She already is half the size of a full-grown slangan, won't be long now until she can single-handedly kill most things here without my help.
I slid myself from under her and reached into the rat cage I keep near by, and pulled out a nice fat one to toss her.
She gobbled it up in one gulp, then looked at me for seconds.
I reached for a second one, there's plenty left.
That kid sure is an entrepreneur alright, after I came back a second time for some more rats, I'm assuming he started to breed them himself.
The rats seem even bigger now, I'm pretty sure he has hired an alchemist with the coin I've given him to alter the rats somehow.
Oh, well, as long as Thonie likes them, I'm fine with it.
Now, onto my latest project.
.............
"Wow! So, all ten floors are one!"
The surrounding woods buzzed with life.
"Yes, dungeons can take on many different forms. I know of one that is just one big space that goes on forever, another that's completely set aflame,or... or so I'm told. This floor has all ten in one."
Lyra spoke with gusto about what she'd heard before.
"But, more importantly, the bosses entrance is hidden somewhere in this forest and constantly moves! The only
way back is to kill the boss."
(Flora)
"We're bound to find it eventually."
(Jurea)
"Yeah, but when? Nex..."
"Shhhh!!!!"
Eric shushed us.
"Why are you...."
"Shhhh!!!!!!"
Eric had gotten low to the ground, and motioned for us to do the same.
"Like hell I'm goi....ugh."
I pulled Flora down to the ground.
Eric motioned forward and started to creep that way.
We all followed, while I walked I scouted ahead with 'Empath Aura' and 'Spatial Awareness' and was almost overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information there was.
It's like a hundred times the amount of monsters, and saying they would like nothing more than to kill us would be a massive understatement.
After walking for a bit, Eric motioned for us to stop and take a look.
We peered out of the brush and saw a deer-like creature that had a scorpion's tail and pincers.
"One monster, oh so dangerous! What would we do without you?"
Just as Flora was talking a shadowy wolf like creature that none of us had sensed appeared, then another and another until there were around eight of them.
They are slightly bigger than normal wolves, pitch black, eyeless, horns, and have razor-sharp spines running down their back.
"Shit! Jagters!"
(Flora)
"Are they bad?"
(Me)
"Shhh!!!!"
"You're the who talked....ugh."
Flora elbowed my gut.
"Be quite, before they hear us!"
As we were talking, the wolves made their move.
The lead wolf ran at the deer monster, the deer stabbed its tail at the wolf.
I thought the wolf was done for, but the tail passed right through it and the wolf bit into its throat.
While the deer was flailing around, the other wolves attacked its legs bringing it down.
After it fell down the deer was done for, they tore into it, eating it alive.
Yeah, it's time to leave alright.
I turned to signal the rest of them to leave, but they were already gone!
Come on guys!
I hurried back the way we came and met back up with them.
"What the hell guys!"
"What?"
"Don't what me, everyone knows the guy left behind dies first!"
"This isn't one of your horror movies, shit like that isn't going to happen."
(Flora)
"What's a horror movie?"
(Lyra)
Jurea decided to answer her.
"It's like a story, but moves."
Lyra gave Jurea a weird look.
"Let's just go, before those jagters catch up."
(Jurea)
"You're right, let's go."
_________________________________
"There's another one over there."
(Lyra)
It had been a week or so since we've landed on the third set, and we've been avoiding conflict as much as possible.
We have a limited amount of mana potions and other supplies left, and we will be needing those to fight the big boss.
As for right now, we're - meaning Lyra, Flora, and Eric - are collecting magic herbs.
The herbs are really weird looking, some look like bells, others glow purple, and etc.
"I hope you know whatever profits you get from these we get half."
Flora told Lyra as they continued picking.
"Why would she have to do that?"
(Eric)
"Because she took our payday, so it's only fair we get something too."
"But she paid you with that magic scroll."
(Me)
"No, she paid us to guide her down to the third set. Nowhere in that verbal contract did it say that we were not to partake in the profits procured from this expedition."
"Big words won't help you here, we're not taking her coin."
"No, it's fine, they are helping me pick them, and y'all did let me keep that High-rank heart."
"Exactly! Also, I'm keeping what I pick."
(Flora)
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Wel...."
"Shhhhh!!"
We all shut up and dropped low to the ground.
We've come to rely on Eric's wilderness training, without question.
Apparently, there are monsters that can mask their presence from my abilities, but Eric's training sniffs them out - most of the time.
I looked over to her and mouthed 'what is it?'
Eric mouthed back 'predator'.
Last week, while we were all talking, she had caught a sniff of a predator and it turned out to be jagters.
I stretched my 'Empath Aura' and 'Spatial Awareness' abilities to the max.
Over this past week I've gotten better at weeding out the unnecessary noise.
Some of the monsters can deceive my abilities, but not all can and all information counts.
But I still sensed no big monsters.
Just like when we ran into those jagters.
I turned towards the others and motioned that we had to go now.
We were going to let Eric lead the way, when out of the underbrush step the eight jagters from before.
"Aahhhhh!!!"
Without hesitation Jurea charged at the closest jagter.
Once she got to it she swung her hammer true, and it went straight through it.
As soon as her hammer passed through it, it leapt up towards her throat.
Just as it was about to sink its fangs into her neck she used her arm to take the hit.
Then, as its teeth were impaled in her arm brace she pulled out a dagger from the guys who had left Lyra for dead - which I didn't see her even take - and stabbed it into its eye.
There was no announcement from Patty, so it is lower or around the same level as Jurea.
The other jagters, angered by this, charged at us.
Jurea spun on her heel, and tossed the corpse to me.
"Absorb it!"
I caught it mid-flight.
Patty, absorb.
Don't care.
Ability 'Transcendental Traversal' gained. > ---------------------------------------------- Transcendental Traversal : By going into a pocket dimension you gain physical avoidance. The longer the ability is used energy drainage will double. Energy cost: 100/sec ----------------------------------------------- A big one was about to pounce on Jurea's back. I activated both 'Dash' and 'Transcendental Traversal' and ran to intercept it. I was afraid that when I tried to push it my hand would go straight through it like Jurea's hammer, but as my fist made contact with the jagter I felt a boundary that broke with sparks of energy and the dog went flying. It hit a tree and crumpled. Gggggrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! After they saw what I did to their pack mate the rest circled me, leaving the others alone. Without thinking, I bum rushed that jagter, picked it up by the throat, smashed it to the ground, and stabbed it through the heart with a mana spike. Four levels gained for each party memember. You divide XP with pet(s). You receive two levels. > The other wolves looked at me, then the corpse, then the six that were left ran away. Huh, cowards. I looked at Jurea. "That was a big risk you took." (Me) "Yeah, but I thought it would be worth it. If I did nothing, we'd all be dead." "How'd you know you'd be able to touch it?" "When they attacked that other monster, it was physical then. To go in for the kill they needed to be able to touch their prey." "Well, we should be going, the sooner we find the exit the better." (Flora) "Yes, I agree. I've already collected more than enough herbs." (Lyra) "I saw a mountain range that way. We can set up a new fall back point there." (Jurea) "Works for me." ________________________ Dungeons change, I noticed this when I was all alone. And more so now that I'm traveling deeper within it. Every couple of months all of the old scars - floors caved in due to battle, sides of the walls dug out to be slept in, etc - would be healed. Even my cave would start to close every now and again, and I'd have to widen it back again. It's even more like that down here on the third set, a mountain or lake that was there once would disappear over the course of three months. So, we were on a timer - that we don't even know when it began - to find the boss portal, or we'd have to start all over again. By Flora's rough estimate we have a little over a week and a half to find it. We already dug out a small cave and were working our way from there. Flora pointed East, or at least what we all agreed we'd call East. "I think we should head in that direction today. There were a lot of monsters over there, and maybe they're gathering by the portal?" "Yeah, sounds like a plan. I'd hate if all of our progress went down the drain." (Me) We were getting ready to head out again. We only have a couple of potions left and our prepared rations are already gone, when we do meet the boss it's going to be a tough fight. I'm especially worried because of the bladepede, what if another one of them is waiting for us? We barely survived the last one. Might as well not give myself an aneurysm thinking about something that might not even happen. Screeeeee!!!!!!! As we exited the cave entrance, a loud shrill screech sounded off. "Get in a circle in front of the cave! Lyra stay in the back." (Jurea) I focused on my senses. "Shit! It's coming from above...." It dive-bombed from the sky, scattering us in different directions. It was a bird, but it was shaped more like a feather covered raptor. "Shit! A bloody eagle. Don't let it shoot out its mist. {Encapsulating ice}." (Flora) Those talons and beak look like its main weapons, but why would we worry about mist? No time to think about that now, cause it's attacking. It ran and jumped into the air, unfurled its wings, glided over to Jurea, and dive-bombed her with its talons. Jurea rolled out of the way, just barely getting nicked on her cheek. In a flash she was on her feet again. The bloody eagle swung its tail at her. Jurea used her hammer to block the blow, she was still pushed back several feet. Dumb bird's gonna be chicken dinner soon, it's five against one. At near the same instant Eric let loose an arrow, Flora shot a fireball, and the rest of use charged it. Before any of our attacks landed the eagle raised its wings and a plume of red mist surrounded it. All of our attacks hit the mist and was stopped. Both Eric's arrow and Flora's fireball was destroyed, and the rest of us ran into what felt like a wall. The mist then expanded, we were completely enshrouded. "Guys.....ow!" I was calling out to the others when what felt like a blade slashed me across the shoulders. My healing kicked in and I was about to call out again when a club bashed me across the face. After that, injury after injury was being inflicted upon me by various means. It has to be the mist! That eagle is making weapons from the mist to attack with. "Aaah!" "Ow!" "Rrrrrrgh!" "I'll kill you!" And by the sounds of it the others are doing no better than me. With my heat detection I can at least see where they are, and Flora's the closest. "Hold on Flora! I'm comi...." "What are you doing idiot?! I've got protection and Jurea's to stubborn to die! Go get the slave and new girl into the cave. While we kill this motherfucker." She's right, both she - with that spell - and Jurea have the best armor, the rest of us have basically none. I activated 'Dash' and picked up both Eric and Lyra and ran towards the mouth of the cave - I think, while the other two battle the eagle. When I somehow make it into the cave and drop both of them down I cast healing spells and turned to rejoin the fray when..... Boooooom!!!!! The cave explodes and chunks of rock start to fall. As a big slab of rock was about to crush the girls I caught it, and used all of my strength to hold it up. Jurea must have knocked the bird out because the mist started to clear, and when it did I could see Jurea headed for the bird to finish it off when Flora stopped her. "Are you going to show yourselves? Or are we going to have to wait all day?" (Flora) "How'd you know?" (Rando fucker 1) Four people came out of hiding. One of them is a woman with matted brown hair that is holding a staff, so I'm pretty sure she is the one who's probably responsible for the cave-in I'm currently in. "It was kind of a weirdly specific coincidence that a monster would choose to attack now rather than all of the times we were in the forest, seems more like a human thing to do." "Yes, well, you have injured my tame so you'll have to find someway to pay me back." The scrawny guy in rags said that to Jurea. "You attacked us! The only way I'm paying you is if it's in iron." Jurea brandished her hammer. "Dumb bitch, too dumb to realize that you've already lost. Wert if you would." (Witch bitch ) A guy from the left side of her took out a pouch and threw it on the ground in front of them. A gas cloud enveloped them and they started coughing and wheezing until they fell unconscious. Before she fell out Jurea was giving them a death stare while struggling to reach her hammer. "That was creepy, I thought you said that would put them out instantly Wert?" (Teal haired woman) A woman with teal colored hair - that is tied into a braid - and is holding a spear spoke. "It should've, she must've had high resistance." Teal - that's what I've decided to call her - looked in my direction. "What about that thing? It looks stronger than a normal akkedis, it did make down here. Should we take it?" "No, we will leave it here to die. You're right that it is strong, so I don't want anything that strong to be after us." (Witch bitch) "But can't Vern tame it?" "I rather not risk it breaking free of my control, just kill it. We have the two we were after." (Vern) The witch aimed her staff at me and smirked. "I know you won't understand this, but this just wasn't your day. {Flame javelin}." A javelin made of fire shot out of her staff and hit the cave once more, burying us alive.