After taming Cypher I spent a few more days in the dungeon, getting our rhythm when fighting monsters. It was a bit hectic at first, Cypher would stalk and wait for the perfect moment. While I would just walk up to my target and kill them. This pissed off Cypher to no end and earned me a few "love-taps" from him. They hurt like hell.
He essentially thought that I was a 'weird looking cat' and needed to be taught how to hunt and survive in the dungeon. I showed him a memory of how I destroyed the monster horde. He was not impressed. 'Noisy, clumsy, slow, inefficient' were the thoughts and feelings communicated back to me. Cypher then led the way to a herd of Minotaurs, and displayed 'proper hunting methods.'
Holy shit, he just took out 17 Minotaurs in less than 30 seconds! Then acted all nonchalant as he started digging in.
"What in the world?"
*****
It took a few days before we found our rhythm. Attacking together was a waste of both our potentials. The strategy was that I would attract the attention while he picks off his prey from the flanks and rear.
The dungeon being ever so kind kept throwing more and more groups of monsters our way. The speed at which I would have to attack with cold weapons had to increase substantially to keep up with Cypher.
I created a rune enchantment to muffle loud noises. Completely blocking them out would do you no good, as oftentimes important lifesaving information is usually shouted out. The spell/enchantment had the purpose of heavily muffling loud noises made by my firearms and explosives. Other loud noises weren't as heavily muffled. Sonic attacks simply won't work as sounds over a certain volume and frequency are completely blocked. The best part, it can be toggled on or off. There is also a function for complete silence. Cypher liked that very much.
We played around on the 17th floor for the week. The 19th floor is off limits until I figure out what's with the eerie feeling of someone watching me. Also I don't want to endanger Cypher.
Cypher and I got along fine when were just resting or figuring out how to communicate. It just fell apart a bit when we would try to work together to kill monsters.
The few days we spent working together in the dungeon really made it clear that taming was a process. Things don't just magically pop into place when you tame a monster. For example Cypher has a personality, he dislikes most other monsters. Wyverns he will grudgingly accept, but infant dragons are killed on sight. Like I wanted to try taming one, nope. Cypher just looked at me like I was insane.
The hellhounds respected Cypher's territory. He didn't mind them as long as they behaved. That was rather nice of him. I thought about getting him a dog, or getting myself a bunch of dogs. The answer was clear, we both get a bunch of dogs. That's for later though, now it's time to head back up to the surface.
*****
A few hours later we were up at the entrance/exit of the dungeon. The guild employees initially raised a fuss over Cypher. They'd never heard of a Ligerfang growing to that size. I showed them my permit for monster taming and all was well. They gave both Cypher and I a wide berth.
We took it slow and decided to show Cypher the sights and sounds of the surface. I could have made him smaller to fit in better but previous trials showed that he didn't like it, at all. So we left it at that.
Cypher was trying his best to not pounce and kill the several horses being used around downtown Orario. Constantly petting him and talking with him calmed him down a bit. We eventually made our way over to my warehouse. Cypher took a look around while I took a shower.
I got out of the shower and fed Cypher and made something for myself. The warehouse is still standing. The plans are final as to the renovations and such, I just don't have the materials, yet. The warehouse has temporary facilities built until I could enact the proper changes. The finished design would be a blend of ottoman and gothic architecture. The styles to my simple mind are quite similar and provide a multitude of hardpoints to setup turrets and other defensive constructs without making it look like an obvious target.
The instructions on how to conduct a soil sample showed me that the bedrock was roughly 120-150 metres deep. It would also intrude upon the 7-8th floor of the dungeon.
That would provide me with a way to bypass the whole entrance and scrutiny of the guild but it would also allow monsters to come up. Actually if I think about it. Getting monsters to come up whenever I want would be beneficial for training, testing and making money. Perhaps Knossos has a purpose. What if I just take over it?
Nah, it's too large and too well known by the city and criminals just establishing a foothold will take a really long time. It's better if I simply free the slaves and materials I need for my own project. Discretion is key. Also having a connection to the 7th or 8th floor is to my benefit. Large quantities of weak monsters. I can train up a small squad in relative ease.
If the bedrock coincides with the dungeon then I will do that. Otherwise simple pile foundations and a few sub levels should be enough.
The excavation process is actually pretty straightforward. I simply use runes to cut into the sides. Then raise the 'slice' of soil and store it into the INVENTORY. I can also convert it into other things using Alchemy, but using the material as a source of energy to produce a self sustaining Transmutation is not yet possible for me. I know how to do it, it's just that doing it on such a large scale is not so simple. The initial energy requirements are proportionally large as well. The downside is that the yield is about 25-50% less than normal depending on the required results. That being said a Philosophers' Stone can solve the initial energy requirements.
Making a philosophers' stone is not all that difficult. All you need is blood, a soul or souls depending on the final product specifications, gold, mercury, phosphorous, nitrides-lithium nitride works best for this as it is stable at room temperature, sulphur, and some esoteric materials and ingredients which I simply bought from the SHOP. Things like the heart of a female newborn unicorn foal, 13 eyes of a beholder, the flames of a dragon - any dragon will do but the older the dragon the better off you'll be, items of rarity-this was a bit obscure so I am saving up some of the Golden Eggs for this, and so on.
I came across the entire process later in my studies, and just the requirements made me want to not do it. I also brought all the warnings and notes on what not to do made me stop right away. The possibility of having your soul bound to the closest thing was enough for me to not want to do it. Thankfully the notes went over what to check for. I got really lucky as the fastest and safest method was to use runes. The ingredients were the same or similar, and it should only take a day of prep and a minute of casting to create a philosophers stone.
The requirement of souls was kind of annoying, if I'd known earlier I'd have even more souls, as of right now I only have 38 souls. I would've had over a hundred if I'd known before. The container for souls was also an ingredient. It was made with the purest silver. The micro defects such as holes and gaps in the microscopic structure were intolerable. The lattice work of the silver had to be perfect. Which in normal practice is impossible. But with magic and a manual, it's not that hard. I could've also gotten it from the SHOP but it was better to do it yourself.
The more procedures and tasks undertaken in alchemy increase not only ones understanding but also the magical reserves. I don't know how to describe it, but it feels like something imprinting on my mind. The next time I do the same procedure it's a little bit faster and more efficient. I have transmuted enough gold to buy all the land outside Orario in a 10 km radius. The best thing is I can melt it down to refine it further and turn it into 1kg bricks. I have a few metric tons of the stuff. The amount of waste I've removed from the world is insane.
Making preparations for the next few days, I left and went the familia residence. Boy was I in for a surprise.
****
The meeting with Hermes was not what I'd expected. First of, some of the amazons from Ishtar's familia were now a part of out familia. The squad of amazons was broken up due to the large number of amazons who wanted to quite the profession and be full fledged adventurers. The ones who did not mind whoring themselves went with Freya, the rest went their separate ways.
Second, there was a war in some distant land. Overall nothing new, the thing that concerned Hermes was that the Dark Elves were being invaded by some over populated human country. The fight would be bloody, for the invaders. He wanted me to ensure a Dark Elf or Drow victory and possibly recruit some for the familia. Personal squad, party of their own, decide upon meeting, it's up to the interested party. There have to be results. I will be going with Asfi, Aisha and her amazons, Thane Hire and Suicia. I asked to be transported to the vicinity of the Drow capital. I am not wasting time walking. I don't have a means to transport 20 odd people and supplies for all of them. A simple deuce-and-a-half would work, but I'm not wasting time making that. Hermes agreed to ask Ouranos for permission to use his Arcanum to teleport us to the Drow Capital. There was also an information package for me to go over before heading out the day after tomorrow.
Third, my taming of a Ligerfang has drawn attention. Ganesha and his familia want to talk to me about it and invite me to the Monster Feria. I refused.
Fourth, the Hestia familia were challenged to a Wargame by Apollo. I asked what he wanted me to do with that information. He said to do whatever I wanted after telling me how the Apollo familia attacked Hestia and Bell to force their hand. Well I can make things easier for Bell and Hestia. I asked when the Wargame was, Hermes said in a few days. 'So a large number of explosives should work, whoever survives, lucky you.'
Finally, was a request by Asfi for a proper launcher, with a list of requirements. I stated that I need to have word with her before I actually make something permanent for her. also told Hermes I would be moving out of the residence and staying in the warehouse behind the training field.
With that the meeting ended. As I was leaving I came across a few of the former hookers I had visited. I said hello and went on my way. They were familia now, it'll be a bit complicated but should be alright.
I caught up with members of the Chat-Group for a bit. I fed Cypher then went to the Apollo familia residence.
I came upon the sight of Apollo fucking his own familia members. Men, women, young, old didn't matter to the fucker. I had a runic spell to transmute anything into HE plastic explosives. However I needed the detonators. I bought a hundred remote detonators from the SHOP, buying in bulk is cheaper. I went around the residence turning the foundation into explosives. Basic engineering knowledge helped in turning non-structural and some structural walls and pillars into explosives. I also used some refuse and waste to simply make iron shrapnel.
A couple hours later the Apollo familia residence no longer existed. My work done I went home to sleep. I found Cypher waiting for me. I showed him my memories and the explosion of the mansion, he was disappointed he refused to come along. From his expression and actions, I think he was storing the meaning of explosions equalling fun.
We cuddled up and went to sleep.