Melton flew out of the cave, his body propelled by the newfound power coursing through him. Rubble and debris scattered in all directions as he burst through the entrance with utmost strength and versatility. His shield covered him from head to toe, a shimmering barrier of energy that protected him from the collapsing rock and dust.
His shield dissipated as he landed softly in the open air, rising to his full height and inhaling deeply. He wiped the perspiration from his brow and muttered, "Phew, that was a close call."
In stark contrast to the terrible combat he had just been through, the surrounding terrain seemed unnaturally silent. The stifling dungeon atmosphere was gladly abandoned for the crisp, refreshing air.
"Status report," Nexus spoke in a composed, businesslike voice. "All systems operating within ideal parameters." The energy levels leveled off. You have effectively finished assimilating and integrating the fabled chimera's core."
Melton nodded, feeling the weight of his accomplishments settle over him. "Thanks, Nexus. I couldn't have done it without you."
He paused to take in his surroundings, the tranquility of the outside world serving as a sharp reminder of the perils still present in the dungeon. But now that he had acquired new skills and S-Rank power, he felt more equipped than ever to take on the difficulties that lay ahead.
He flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders, saying, "Alright," still in awe of the raw electricity sparking just beneath his skin. "Time to see what this new power can really do."
As Melton soared through the sky, exhilaration from his newfound powers began to give way to a nagging thought. It struck him suddenly, and his heart skipped a beat. In his quest to defeat the legendary chimera, he had completely forgotten about the supplies he had promised to procure for the others.
Panic set in almost immediately. "Oh no," he muttered, a sense of dread creeping into his chest. "I got so caught up in the fight... I completely forgot the supplies!"
He hovered in mid-air, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "Nexus," he called out, his voice edged with urgency. "How much currency did we earn from the dungeon raid?"
"Accessing currency data," Nexus responded.
There was a brief pause before it continued. "Total currency accumulated from the dungeon raid: 7,823,500 credits."
Melton's jaw dropped. "Seven million... eight hundred twenty-three thousand... five hundred credits?" he repeated, stunned. The amount was far beyond what he had expected. It was a huge fortune, more than enough to get the supplies and then some.
He inhaled deeply as his fear started to fade. His voice steadied, "Okay, that's... that's more than enough." "We can get everything we need and still have plenty left over."
"Nexus," he continued, a thought beginning to take shape in his head, "start making a list of the top vendors for food, wellness products, and equipment upgrades." Additionally, see whether there are any unique objects that could be useful to us in the forthcoming conflicts."
"Acknowledged," Nexus replied. "Compiling list now."
"Would you like to proceed with purchasing supplies?" Nexus inquired.
"Yes, but first let's get back to the others," Melton replied. "They're probably wondering what's taking so long."
He changed his trajectory and flew in the direction of the little village where his friends were waiting, full of purpose again. He started to prepare a plan as he flew. He would update their gear and bolster their defenses with the credits in addition to purchasing the essential supplies.
They needed every edge they could obtain because the voyage ahead would be difficult. As he accelerated approached the village, the surrounding area became hazy. Already, his mind was sorting through the logistics, ranking the most important things first and speculating about possible improvements.
As he neared the settlement, Melton spotted the familiar outline of the buildings and the small, bustling market square. He descended quickly, landing with a grace and precision that belied his earlier panic.
As Melton touched down, Zara, Cass, Darius, and Nadia rushed over, their faces a mix of astonishment and curiosity.
"Melton, you can fly now?" Zara exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.
"That's incredible! When did this happen?" Cass added, her voice filled with excitement.
Darius crossed his arms, a look of admiration on his face. "Man, you've been holding out on us."
Nadia stepped closer, her gaze scrutinizing. "What else can you do now?"
Melton felt a wave of unease. He had wanted to keep his newfound abilities and the wealth he had accumulated under wraps for now, fearing it might cause unnecessary tension or envy within the team. He quickly tried to think of a plausible explanation that wouldn't raise too many questions.
"Uh, yeah," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I got an upgrade from Nexus. It enhances my combat capabilities and movement. Pretty useful, huh?"
The team seemed satisfied with the explanation, nodding in approval.
"That's awesome!" Zara said, her excitement undiminished.
"Yeah, it's definitely going to help us out, now we don't need to focus fully on protecting you during battles" Darius agreed, grinning.
Melton seized the opportunity to steer the conversation back to their immediate needs. "Speaking of help, we need to focus on getting the supplies. I raided a dungeon while I was out and We scored big in the dungeon raid…..823,500 credits. We can get everything we need and then some more."
Their eyes widened at the mention of the substantial amount of credits.
"Whoa, that's amazing!" Cass exclaimed.
"Let's get to it, then," Nadia said, her tone practical. "We need to stock up and prepare for what's coming next."
As the team started discussing what supplies they needed, Melton mentally addressed Nexus. "Nexus, please, whenever we engage in battle and the whole team is around, remind me to conceal my full abilities."
"Acknowledged," Nexus replied. "I will provide reminders as requested."
With that settled, Melton turned his attention back to his teammates, joining in the planning and preparation.
"I had asked Nexus for a compilation before I got here," Melton said.
As they gathered to plan for what they would be getting, Melton turned his attention inward, addressing Nexus. "Nexus, can you provide the compilation of suppliers and items I requested earlier?"
"Compiling list now,"Nexus responded promptly. "Displaying optimal suppliers and items for purchase based on available credits."
A holographic display appeared before Melton, listing various categories and suppliers, along with detailed descriptions of the items they offered. The list was comprehensive, covering everything from essential supplies to advanced equipment upgrades.
"Alright, team," Melton said, catching everyone's attention. "Here's what Nexus has compiled for us. We have a lot of options, so let's prioritize what we need the most."
The team gathered around the holographic display, eyes scanning the extensive list.
Category: Food and Medical Supplies
1. Supplier: Healthy Harvests
- High-nutrient food packs
- Long-lasting rations
- Fresh produce
2. Supplier: MedCare Direct
- Advanced medical kits
- Healing potions
- Regenerative salves
Category: Equipment Upgrades
1. Supplier: TechForge Industries
- Enhanced armor sets
- High-powered weapons
- Energy shields
2. Supplier: GearWorks Solutions
- Tactical gear
- Communication devices
- Portable energy generators
Category: Special Items
1. Supplier: Arcane Emporium
- Magical artifacts
- Enchanted weapons
- Protective charms
2. Supplier: Nexus Labs
- Experimental tech
- Personal enhancement modules
- Advanced data analysis tools
"Looks like we've got everything we need," Darius said, nodding in approval.
"We should focus on food and medical supplies first," Zara suggested. "We can't fight if we're hungry or injured."
"Agreed," Cass added. "But we also need to upgrade our equipment. The enemies are getting tougher."
Melton pointed to the special items category. "We should also consider getting some of these magical artifacts and experimental tech. They could give us an edge in battle."
Nadia glanced at the list, her eyes narrowing in thought. "We'll need to balance our spending. Let's make sure we get enough essentials before splurging on extras."
"Good point," Melton said. "Let's break it down. We'll allocate a portion of the credits to each category, ensuring we cover our basic needs first and then move on to upgrades and special items."