Chapter 60 - Jungle Expedition Part 2
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We immediately left the inn Predawn after we took our cozy slumber. It might be a bit too early since the rest were not enough to fully accumulate our fatigue, but the early bird gets the worm as they say. We had to be early as people since the world still hasn't discovered the change of world as of yet—so we're planning on monopolizing everything before them.
Many people especially adventurers and explorers doesn't really like to explore the 『Jungle』. According to them, the 『Jungle』 is dangerous but lacking in materials. Moreover, even if there was, the materials can only make a mid-pre-chaos mode mage armor which they exclaim that—armor is weak because it has a low defense.
The people here are pretty much ignorant in terms of armor. They only care about the defense not the bonus it gives to them. But its favorable in our ends so I won't complain.
On our way to the 『Jungle』 and the guards that keep the adventurers in-check gave us a warning before venturing ourselves to the danger. I took long on convincing them until they concede—cause of being persistent bunch.
Unfortunately, we've been hearing bad things about the 『Jungle』 since before—Luckily, the girls didn't seem to mind it.
* * *
After an hour of walking and we finally reached the 『Jungle』. Though Unfortunately, this is not the place what we came for, so we trek our way going around the place until we finally managed to find an underground.
"Is this it, Master?" Luna asked.
"Yeah," replied. "It will probably take us a few days in here so prepare and steel yourselves."
"Just thinking about it gives me anxiety..." remarked, looking concerned.
"Don't worry, I have everything we'll need so you don't have anything to worry about." I assured.
After steeling ourselves, we proceed to get down on the cave in full vigilant. We slowly trek our way on a steep mud down the cave using our grappling hook ending us into a large underground cavern full by greeneries. Compared to a regular cavern, the 『Underground Jungle』 had many plants and even tress surrounding the place—be it on a wall or even the roof dominated by nature. It is also hundred-times larger than a regular cave which is guaranteed—a place full of treasure.
Now—as for why we're here, our plan was to mine and collect certain materials that will be a necessary item for us to get stronger. Since we're already in 『Chaos Mode』, a fruit called 『Everfruit』 will start spawning at a fast rate.
Similar to a 『Life Essence』, 『Everfruit』 gives the person a permanent +20HP when eaten—and it can be consumed until a maximum of +400HP had been achieved.
It is the next buff a player should attain as it can only be consumed if the player has reached the max capacity of 400HP.
In our situation, Seia is the only one who can used it as the rest hasn't maxed our HP yet. Luckily for us, we're currently in the 『Underground Jungle』 which is called the "Place of Treasures". Needless to say, the 『Life Essence』 and 『Life Extract』 are no exception.
"That's how it is." I explained. Though when I noticed the silence, I shot a look at the girls to know their reason of quietness.
Seeing their face... I already know... But well, their priceless surprised expression never seems to bore me. Haha!
"Y-you mean there's more?" Lily exclaimed.
"Yes." I replied wryly. "There are more if you're curious."
"Unbelievable..." Luna mumbled in disbelief.
"But that just mean that there is still space left to improve ourselves." Seia remarked. "Very exciting."
Mhm! I like this girl's mindset. Her tail's even wagging aggressively. That's cute.
For our formation, I will be focusing on mining and collecting the materials. Meanwhile, the girls will focus on fending the monsters and protecting me as we traverse in deepest layers of the 『Underground Jungle』. Not only it will make things faster, but the girls will also get quite an experience in battles and to hasten their dynamics to each other. As for that certain danger—
"As we go deep, we'll start to encounter myriads of monsters on the way—be it a large tarantula, hornet that's as big as us, and many dangerous beings. However," I paused, voicing a serious demeanor. "Never—ever kill a bug who's flashing a green light."
Luna starts to ask, her eyelids drooped in agitation. "W-what would happen if we accidentally killed it...?"
"I'll be frank," I replied, scratching my head. "If that ever happened, it'll be impossibly hard to fight it with our current gear—so high chance that will be our last."
Everyone was frozen stiff in response to my frank reply—stunned. Even Akari who was always carefree were left anxious as her lip wrinkled in fear. Yikes... Reality sure was harsh huh. They're not going to tell me they regret coming to me, right...?
"Well, if that ever happened, make sure to listen to me, alright?" I added, trying to reassure.
The girls meekly nodded. Though sadly, the moral of this party we're bottom low. I'm sure I'm to blame for that but we need to face reality in order to survive this world.
I took a potion in my pouch whose liquid is sparkling with gold. When I start to drink it, my vision started to see some highlighted ores, treasures, and even rare materials—that feels like I'm looking at an X-ray machine. That's right.
What I drank is called 『Spelunker Potion』, it gives the player a buff which has the ability to see valuable materials as far as an eye can see. Now that I've used it, I can already see some 『Everfruit』 that started to sprout at any parts of the underground.
"Follow me everyone." I commanded and started to mine my way throughout the underground.
Although I said that the 『Underground Jungle』 is hundred-times larger than caves. The 『Underground Jungle』 is actually a network of small caverns. Meaning, I need to mine my way to get to the destination I wanted.
Our first priority in coming here is to maximize our HP. Since all of us hasn't maximize ours with the exception of Seia—we need to get at least 34 『Life Essence』 for the first maximization of HP and a 100 『Everfruit』 to fully maximize the next to be exact.
Man, I'm getting shivers just by thinking about it. We're in for a hell, aren't we?
* * *
Since we're in the underground, time became unknown to us whose too busy minding our own said positions. But as far as I can estimate it, it was probably a couple of ours since we started.
A banging of shotgun, the whistle of arrows and the sword that fires a wave of projectiles to the enemies can be heard as I mine throughout those hours. Let's be honest, this is actually the worst for me. The embarrassment of looking cool on a series of danger—and now, I casually mine my way caverns to caverns as the girls try their best to kill the monster before me...
"Uh... This is the worst..." I mumbled timidly.
"Sai, did you say something?!" Lily who heard my faint voice asked. "Sorry, I'm preoccupied, this hornet sure we're tough. We're giving it the most of us just to kill a single one."
That's right. Ever since the 『Chaos Mode』 started, all of our enemies had at least a thousand HP or higher. That's why it's taking time just to kill a single mob just like what's happening currently.
"I want to die." I unconsciously said, feeling pessimist.
"Eh?!" Lily cried in surprise. "What's with all of a sudden? Don't say that."
"I'm kidding." I quipped. "Please don't mind me."
"O-okay..." Lily timidly replied, seemingly convinced. "Please don't say something like that again. You can talk to us if you have a problem."
"Thanks..."
But well, if we look at the bright side, during the course of hours, at least we managed to collect 11 『Life Essence』 and 9 『Everfruit』 in—which consumed by Akari for survivability and Seia who's the only one who can consume it at the moment. Their current HP at the moment is:
• 『Akari HP: 320/320』
• 『Seia HP: 580/580』
The are also the drops from the dead monsters the girls annihilate in that many hours. Surely, I can make something seem worthwhile to their hardwork—Oh! a 『Life Essence』.
"Akari," I called and hand it to Akari. "Here."
"Thank you, Aruji-sama." Akari replied, crushing the item in her hands—then proceeds to help the girls.
"This will take a while..."
* * *
Another couple of hours have passed and regrettable to say, the girls are starting to reach their limit. Luckily, as we dug around from who knows where, a small cave with a small ruined underground cabin had greeted us with great fortune. There's even a waterflow near it which can be used as our drinking water and shower.
Well, it was thanks to the 『Spelunker Potion』 that I saw it, but it was still lucky that there are near us, nonetheless.
Even the corners of the mouth of the girls turned into its highest when they saw the place. Even I can't help but smirk in relief when I saw it.
"You all should take a rest. I'll take it from here." I addressed. Compared to mine, they've been doing most of the hard work by fending of the monsters from me—so as their senior, it's my responsibility to manage them and their morale. I'm the one who invited them after all.
"You don't need to Master," Luna protested. "We can do it—"
"Just leave it to me," I interjected, cutting Luna's word. "You all have been moving more than me so at least let me do this much. Besides, you all won't be able to work properly tomorrow if you don't have enough rest."
"Is that so..." Luna replied, seemingly convinced. "Don't overwork yourself, okay?"
"Thank you."
I start to put a tent in which the girls will use as their place to rest. The girls went inside to the tent and didn't respond afterwards. They must have been exhausted that they fell asleep immediately.
As for me, since this place has every necessary thing a person will need in their everyday life. I decided to use this place as our base in the 『Jungle』. Starting from the ruined cabin and a messy field, a small renovation is all this place will need to set a foundation.
So, I put all the necessary crafting stations including a workbench, brewing station, and other stations I took from my pouch that we will need in this long period of staying here. Don't ask how a crafting station fit in the pouch. It's a dimensional storage mind you, and that just how the game works so it is what it is.
With a plan set in stone, I started to collect materials like woods, stone, and other things that can be made useful in renovation.
If you remembered, STELLA is also a "sandbox" game meaning, you could build your house if you wanted to. The game almost has freedom to anything after all.
Furthermore, I also liked to build a house during my time of gaming so you can say that I have confidence when it comes to building.
I wonder how the girls will react after they woke-up. I can't wait...!