Chioma had prepared breakfast, salad and horned-rabbit, she told me that she wasn't able to cook or alter the flavors of shop-bought foods.
While we ate, they told me about the fat captains activities.
Apparently the captain had made a lot of changes to his camp, upon gaining skills and learning how to fight the monsters.
Everyone who wanted to stay there, had to swear fealty to him, a strict dictatorship, or kingship as he would like it to be named.
Calf had opposed him, and a small part of the camp had joined him. Wanting democracy to rule. But Calf's numbers were few, as the main part feared the monsters and thought that the military was the only way to be protected.
A melee had begun, and Calf had surrendered to the captain, to prevent any lives being lost.
The captain had imprisoned Calf, making an example of him, to stop anyone else from challenging his rule.
Rolf had gathered Chioma and the rest, leaving the captains camp when it was clear that Calf had lost.
They hid in the forest for a while, hearing that the captain still expected that my outpost belonged to him, before they left.
"So you're telling me, that the captain thinks that all my hard work belong to him? That my tiny castle wall and the profession dungeon, all belong to him?"
"That's about right." Thomas looked firmly at me, sitting on a piece of wood, while chewing on some rabbit meat Chioma had provided him.
"And that's not all. A lot of young men and women have joined his ranks. All possessing skills now. They have started to make battlegroups to take on the nearby portals. So they will be leveling up as well, gaining loot and gear."
Thomas stopped talking, taking a huge bite of his meat.
Chioma took over. "He must have about a thousand of men and women, who is able to fight now. Including his military forces."
"Some of the women I know, that helped to protect the children, have joined him as well. I do not wish to fight them." Charlotte looked directly at the morning fire, sadness covered her face.
"What do you think Rolf? My goal is ultimately to find Aya. Should we leave this place?"
I had listened as they all spoke. And I felt bad about leaving my wall unfinished, leaving the first safe place since the shockwave. But I didn't want to fight a battle that could be avoided, especially when the opponent had a thousand members, who could potentially grow stronger by the day.
Rolf was silent for a long time, scratching his beard and chewing his food.
"The path is narrow. Trees and ruins makes it impossible for a huge number to march here. They will have to come at us, no more than 20 at a time. And considering your surprising ability. We now have a strong advantage if they come looking for a fight."
We all kept silent, waiting for him to continue.
"The captain is a greedy person. A power hungry and dictator-minded individual. That much is certain. But I still think he is open to talk, if we show him how strong we are."
He turned to look at Thomas.
"Your daughter is there. I think the best option, would be to send you to the captain. The guards will surely let you in, knowing you come for your daughter. You could arrange a meeting. Tell the captain that we continue to protect the profession dungeon, so he can come and get one. Tell him we need more people, and that we require Calf to come here."
Thomas agreed and left with Charlotte, wanting to reach the camp as fast as possible.
Before Rolf had a chance to ask again, I told him everything about my ore manipulation. How my looter skill was able to collect stone without me having to touch it, like with monster loot.
I also told them about my class-skill upgrade, how I was able to summon and command wolf units.
But they were so persistent, that I had to give a view of my status.
Frey Raven. Level 11. Inventory 13/310.
Currency: 46C. 7S. 0G. 0T. Dungeon Points: 188
Health: 385/385 Mana: 285/285 Fatigue: 9/425
Passive Mana regeneration: 6 / 5sec.
10% reduction to all damage.
Unallocated Attribute Points:0
Stamina: 61(+14) - Strength: 50(+6) - Agility: 50(+5)
Intellect: 55 - Spirit: 60 - Perception: 65
Class: Legion
Unit capacity: 40/40
Skills: Looter (D-rank). Dungeon Creation. Eternal Watchful Eye. Summon Unit (D-rank). Legions Light. Sword dual-wielding (E-rank). Strength of veterans.
Profession: Ore manipulator: Ore altercation, mining.
Titles: The First. Dungeon Master. Commander of Legions.
Gear: Leather boots (+3 stamina). Black Thunder Cloak: Strikes on the cloak, has a small chance to paralyze. (+5 agility). Venomscale belt (+4 stamina, +1 strength). Leather vest (+4 stamina). Leather pants (+3 stamina). Light steel sword (+5 strength).
Being satisfied, they stopped asking more questions.
I was about to ask Magnus, if he had gotten a skill yet, when the profession portal suddenly pulsed a small amount of light, before the whirlpool began to move.
Rolf smiled, "so it takes about a day to reset. I guess I was right then!"
"Prepare to go in, when I'm finished with the wall and assigned my units, I will clear it. And since you are all here, you'll be helping me."
They began to prepare themselves, and I started to move towards the wall.
"Yeah we might as well do it now, we can't have orcs falling in our back if the captain comes here." I heard Chioma talk as I walked.
I really wanted to go to the dwarf portal today, and check out my mining skill.
"That's life..." I shrugged. You could never tell what would happen.
Half an hour later, the wall was finished! I took a step back and admired my handywork. Noone could get over those walls without some kind of 3-4 meter ladders. The only way inside was the two gates in either end. Though without any kind of door, it could still serve as a chokepoint, where my spearmen could block while my archers could shoot from above.
I decided to assign 4 spear-units at the crossroad gate, 2 inside and 2 outside. Along with 1 archer in either tower at that gate. I had the 5 sword-units to patrole along the entire wall. The 10 wolves would be scattered around the woods, on either side of the path leading to the captain. The remaining 8 archers would be on the gate and towers on that path. That left me with 11 spear-units. I took 5 with me back to the portal. Leaving 6 spear-units to guard the last gate.
"So are we all ready to go?" Rolf had a big smile, while Chioma was flexing her dagger to Magnus.
"I think so. The wall is complete, and 35 units is protecting our area. Come to think of it Magnus, what is your skill?"
I had tried to inspect him, but it didn't work. So I had already guessed the answer.
"Well let's find out!" Rolf pushed Magnus towards the portal and he touched it.
His body became ingulfed in blue light. His shape was being altered, and when the light vanished after a few seconds a Magnus-lookalike-blueish turtle creature was standing in his place.
Magnus was still more than 2 meters tall. Still humanoid, standing on two legs with two arms. But his face was that of a mix of a human and a turtle, his beard and hair was completely gone.
His belly was no longer as fat or big, but large and muscular, and with a smaller, softer shell that connected to his back, where a large turtle-like shield had grown. Protecting his body from the knees to the neck.
Magnus Sol. Level 1.
Health: 85. Mana: 30: Fatigue: 17/125.
Race: Tortle.
Class: none.
Skill: Aquatic adaptation. Natural armor. Taunt. Retaliate.
"Holy turtle Magnus!" Chioma burst out, she couldn't help herself.
Even Rolf, who usually laugh about anything magical or gamer-like, just stood as paralyzed. Looking at his friend as he had changed race entirely.
"What the fuck just happened?! And what's wrong with my voice!!"
His voice had a low pinch to it, almost like talking under water, yet not at the same time. Magnus turned around himself, looking at his body. When he was satisfied he stopped spinning and looked at Rolf.
"HAHA! This is awesome! I feel tough as hell!"
Rolf who had been standing as paralyzed, suddenly came to life as Magnus spoke. His personality hadn't changed!
Rolf burst into laugh together with Magnus, and when they finally calmed down, we all took a turn touching his blue soft-scaled skin, and the huge turtle-ish shield on his back and stomach.
"So, not to sound cheap or anything, but I've been buying stuff for people left and right. So it's time that you and Chioma cash out." I smiled at them while crossing my arms.
Chioma purchased leather boots and leather pants for Magnus. Rolf purchased a leather vest and a rusty shield. The shield was better than a wooden shield as it had an iron ring around it, making it more solid, it was also more expensive.
"I don't have enough money for a weapon." Rolf looked at me, and I looked at Chioma.
"Didn't you make some copper from selling food?"
"Avv, come on Frey! Well, I did, but accidentally I left the coins at my tent as we left, I never got to put them into my inventory."
"Allright, as we got no choice..."
I threw the venomscale spear to Magnus.
"Pffft.. That actually suits you Magnus!" Rolf and Chioma both agreed.
"Well it better! It's the best weapon I have found so far. With +4 stamina and +4 strength. Additional it has a small chance to poison the foe it strikes."
I looked at Magnus and had to agree as well. If I didn't know our difference in strength, I wouldn't want to fight him. He looked terrifying with that spear and shield.
Having equipped the items his health increased to 155, and he had become slightly stronger too. Not bad at all for a level 1.
"It's still a few hours before noon. Let's get going, we don't know if or when the captain will come here for a profession." Rolf entered the dungeon with Chioma and Magnus in tow.
I took a look around my camp, before ordering my 5 spear-units to enter.