After having ascended the stairs, we found ourselves in a small cave. Two red crystal-clusters illuminated the area.
"I think it's a second floor. A new tunnel and a new boss. It must have expanded after we cleared it the first time." Rolf scratched his beard as usual while thinking. "What are those crystals? Can you see anything Frey?"
I was embarrassed. Why hadn't I thought about inspecting surroundings before. There were so many new things. Plants, trees, flowers, crystals...
"I'll try." I just said while walking closer to a cluster.
*Strength crystal. Ingredient. Mining required.*
"Try mining it. I don't know how to use the crystals. But I'm certain that someone, will have some kind of matching profession for it eventually."
"Give me a second Rolf, I need to buy a pickaxe. I haven't tried it before."
I quickly scrolled trough the shop and bought the low quality pickaxe for 5 silver.
Having it firmly in both hands, I swung it at the edge of the cluster while the others watched me.
A red crystal sprang loose and got absorbed by my void gather, directly to my inventory.
*Looted strength crystal x1.*
I hacked again, another crystal sprang loose. But it shattered, I didn't get any loot.
In the end I had hacked 7 times but only gained 3 crystals.
"I think my miner skill is barely enough to mine these. I only got 3." I turned to the next cluster.
I gained two more crystals before I was done.
"Well' maybe you'll be able to get more in the future. At least you have some if we ever need them, or you could sell them, making a profit." Rolf smiled.
Or I think he smiled. The cave was completely dark, I couldn't see a hand before me.
"Ufffh."
Chioma had clearly bumped into Rolf in the dark. "Make a fireball so we can see where we're going, you big oaf!"
A fireball flew and we walked in the dark towards the tunnels beginning.
The main light source was the usual cave moss and plants. But occasionally a red crystal cluster would light the way. Having the moss as light, I continued to mine the crystals as we went.
"There is a group of orcs ahead." Chioma finally said.
But something was wrong when I inspected them.
"Wait up. I think this might be dangerous."
Green orc. Level 17
Health: 320. Mana: 145. Fatigue: 430.
Class: Berserker
Skill: Enrage. Overpower. Regeneration.
Green orc. Level 19
Health: 230. Mana: 310. Fatigue: 295.
Class: Shaman
Skill: Blast of life. Agility dance(buff). Acid rain.
I told them exactly what I saw.
"I don't think this is a fight we want to engage right now." I said, sounding nervous.
I had never seen monsters above level 10 or 12. And they were all boss monsters.
"My body trembles just looking at them. I agree with Frey. I think we should stop here and leave for now. We can always come back another time." Chioma slowly backed away.
Rolf looked at Magnus, and Magnus nodded. "I'm only level 3. They have 10-15 levels on us."
"Right! Our lives are on the line. Let's leave!" Rolf led the way, no one spoke as we left the dungeon behind.
We had been around camp for about an hour, before Chioma gathered us for her rabbit steaks. She served them with wild tomato she had found nearby.
My mouth was dripping from the steaks amazing texture, as we ate around the stone table in my stone house.
"Fuuuuck it's so tender Chioma! You could be making chests of gold if you set up a diner!"
Rolf and Magnus growled in agreement, being too involved in eating the steaks.
"Haha, I'm glad you like it! But shouldn't you feed your units? I mean they have been patrolling all day. Not to mention the five units brave behavior in the dungeon."
She was right. So far I had not taken proper care of them. Naturally they would need food and water. I should start to focus more on them.
"How many steaks can you make Chioma?"
She looked at the area in front of my house's fireplace. Where my units had dropped the horned-rabbit meat, they had prepared.
"With all this meat, I can easily make two steaks for each of your units. Included the wolves. You should feed them as well, considering they are mainly responsible for providing us all this meat."
"I appreciate that Chioma, please get started." I smiled at her and went to the door.
"I'll take a walk around the walls."
Magnus was trying to lean back into the chair, but had to give up as his turtle armor was in the way.
"I could really use a beer right now!" I heard him talk to Rolf as I left the house.
As I walked to the stone stairs that went to the walls, I sold the trash items like orc ear, and everything else I didn't need.
I had 15 silver and 44 copper.
I wanted to give something to my units, as they were only wearing cloth to protect themselves from the cold at night. Though it was still midday, I'm sure none of them slept well at night.
Standing on the top of the wall, looking into the forest just a few meters away. A sword-unit came walking past me, on his guard turn around the wall.
As he went past me, a breeze made my cloak sway into my face.
"Is the food ready?" I was back in the house.
"Yes actually! I'm just finishing stacking it on the stone plates you made."
We grabbed one of the four large stone plates each, and went outside.
"Damn! That's a show of force now, Frey!" Magnus said, as they all appeared outside the house.
I had made all my units stand in attention in front of the house.
10 wolves sat in front of 3 rows with 10 units in each. Some carried shield and spears. Some carried shield and swords. Some just had a bow, and a quiver slung over their back.
But they had all leather boots, cloth pants and vests. And above it all, a black cloak was donned, reaching their knees. A black cloth tabard was slung over their heads, fastened in the middle by a cloth belt.
On the tabard was a blue and red symbol of either a sword, spear or a bow.
The wolves all had red leather collars around their neck. Only the white wolf had a black collar instead, as I wanted to highlight the only female in the pack.
Magnus started to whistle. Chioma smiled at me, recognizing the effort I had put into my units.
Rolf put a hand on my shoulder. "That must have been expensive. But I'm glad you did it. They are human after all."
I made a nervous laughter, "haha you don't say."
Actually I had started to buy stuff, wanting to save as much as possible. But after a while I got so into it that I had sold every single item I could, to the shop. Leaving me with 3 coppers and a stack of stone in my inventory.
"Listen up units. It has come to my attention that I have been somewhat neglective of you. But that will change from now on. Now eat the delicious meal that this young lady have prepared for you. Enjoy the next hour freely, as I will stand watch over you."
A subtle, yet noticeable wave of movement went through the ranks. As if they wanted to express something, but was yet unable to do so.
After handing out my plate of meat, I went to the gate that led to the captains camp.
I went up the stairs to one of the gates towers and from there went to the runway to the next tower, above the gate.
The surroundings had changed so much. A small pathway went from my gate, into a huge forest, that now covered the area I used to call my city.
It wasn't as quiet anymore either. A lot of animals and monsters now roamed the forest. Maybe there would even be some goblin clans growing somewhere.
I thought about when Rolf had told me that goblins was fertile like nothing else. They could even capture and enslave females of other races. They would rape them over and over again in the darkness of their caves. As cattle who's sole purpose was to breed the next generation of goblins.
Freeing myself from those gloomy thoughts, I turned my gaze inward, to my units.
They had split into three groups, gathered around large fires. They seemed to enjoy themself. They kept on surprising me. I felt like they where evolving, or at least capable of it.
They were even talking amongst themselves as they ate. Almost like real, real humans.
The hour was up and my units started to return to their posts.
"Commander!"
An archer saluted me as I went down the stairs, stepping to the side to let me pass, before he took my place above the gate.
I went to the house, were the others were waiting, having talks and enjoying the fireplace.
"You guys. I have a place I really want to explore on my own. It's about my mining skill. Do you think the captain will come today?" I asked them all while I stood in the doorway.
"Hmm. It's impossible to say. I'm actually surprised that Thomas isn't back yet. It's only half an hour walk to the camp." Rolf looked displeased but continued. "If it doesn't take the whole day, I think it's fine. I want to stay here anyway and wait for news. If we've heard nothing by the time you come back, I think we should go and investigate ourselves."
"I will leave the wolves at the gates. But I'm taking the rest with me. I need them. See you later guys."
They just went back to their talks as I left. I gathered 5 wolves at each gate, as I marched towards the dwarven portal with 30 units behind me.