After setting up the first teleportation node I made my way back to camp.
Clink! Clink!
Slash!
"GET HIM AIS!"
"YOU CAN DO IT SHADOW BOY! SHOW HER WHO IS THE MONSTER HERE!"
"BEHIND YOU"
BOOM!
Well, when I got back to the camp it was quite a show. Both Ais and Shades were fighting each other, both serious but non going all out.
When both back away a bit from each other after exchanging some attacks, Shades use his shadow movement skill to appear behind Ais and send her flying into the trees, destroying them in process.
"What's going on here old man?" I asked the dwarf who was cheering for shades.
"OHH boy, where were you? You know you missed most of the fun?" He answered my question with questions. Can't you directly tell me what happened.
"Nothing serious. When Ais was practicing with her sword Shades came to her and do some hand motions with pointing his sword at her asking for a spar match to which she agreed according to Lefiya. And hearing the sound of blades clashing everyone gathered here to watch." Tiona came from side and explained me why this crowd was here, before I could say anything.
Clink!
Thud!
Looks like Ais isn't down yet. She tried to do a surprise attack which Shades took head on with his armor, giving a punch under her chin in return. The result of this exchange was Ais was down for real this time but Shade's chest plate hardly have any scratch. The winner is obviously My Partner Shades.
"Haaaaaa" After the spar ended Riveria released a exhausted breath like a mother seeing her child doing some mischief and get hurt, than she approached the now knocked Ais and cast some quick healing magic on her which make her good as new.
While Riveria was taking Ais to her tent Finn approached me and asked without beating around the bush as always. "So have you run your tests?"
"Hmm, But things are a bit complicated." I answered.
"Okey" He nodded and lead me to a tent. After a few minutes both Riveria and Gareth also arrived.
"Can you tell us what are the complications now?" Finn asked, curious about what happened.
"Well you see there can only be one recall point. If I want set it here I have to cut the connection from my home's recall room. But I have found out a new solution for this problem. That's a teleportation hub. I have already set a teleportation node here. If we, in emergency have to escape to my base, it will take me about one hour to set the hub and come back here. And the good news is unlike our armors hub can teleport large groups of people in one go." I explained them about what they should know.
"That's good than. You should sleep now, tomorrow will be a long day and thank you for your efforts." Finn said.
After that I left the tent and find Shades leaning against a tree hands crossed, a bit away from the tent semi-merged in it's shadow. (map is all knowing)
Soon I approached him and said "Yo, Shades what are you doing here, afraid of sleeping alone in new area. HAHAHA....."
"Humph as if, I just came here to check at your sorry ass. And except that I am bored. This floor doesn't have much to offer." he replied in a annoyed and bored tone.
Ya I forget, monsters specially war shadows don't sleep much. At home Shades spent most of time swinging swords or practicing his movement skills or simply sneak into dungeon to have fun.
"Don't be like that. You know you are acting more and more like Bete." I said, I can actually imagine them competing against each other about who is more grumpy.
"Don't compare me with that dog." Shades replied angrily to my teasing.
.
.
After a bit more back and forth banter we go to sleep. Well more like Shades going back to practicing his shadow movement skills and I merged in the shadows of a nearby tree to have some chat with Crystal with our telepathic connection. Its been a few days since I talk to her, will she be angry? hope not!
'Hey Crystal you up there.' I said in our telepathic connection.
'...Yes master do you need anything.' she replied, thou her voice seems normal, but why do I feel like she is a bit angry now.
'Are you angry?' I said.
'No why would I be angry. I am a summon after all.' ya she is angry conformed.
'Don't be angry, you are like my big sister, shouldn't it be other way around?' I tried my best to calm her a bit. In my previous life I was the only child of my parents and a lone single dog so this is new to me.
'I am not ANGRY.' she shouted in embarrassment. Man I didn't know this mature and bold lady also has such a childish side of hers.
'Okey! Okey! Fine you are not angry. So tell me how are things on your side.' I asked changing the subject.
'Well everything is just like it was before, nothing to special. How are things on your end.' she said.
.
.
'Okey its getting late, you should sleep now, so you don't fight while half in sleep tomorrow.' She said cutting the line.
An hour has passed since we start talking. I told her what we encountered in the dungeon and she shared what's happening on the surface.
One thing caught my ears thou. Junior has leveled up and make a new record of fastest grinder from level 1 to level 2 in one and a half month. So my junior is also a talented guy huuu. Nice.
Except that nothing major happened in past few days.
Welp time to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day of grinding for me. And I fall sleep in just a few minutes...
.
.
.
Next morning....
We, the main force were all standing in front of the tunnel leading to the next floor, while the members who will be staying here were standing in the sides to set us off.
"Liston, from here onward don't let your guard down. Bete, Tiona, Tione and Ais you all will be our vanguard. Gareth and Shades you will be our tanks. Raul....." And like that Finn give us each a role. My role was a rearguard and supporter because of my rifle, sub-space and stealth.
"Viel Breath!" Riveria cast a protection magic on us and after that give us some advise well more like a lecture on not to be overconfident, be cautious and shit.
And Finally! After green signal we rushed straight into the tunnel to the next floor, maintaining the formation of course.....
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Author here- This chapter was more like a character development chapter to correct my mistakes in the early chapters.
I tried showing Shades and Crystal a bit more than some puppets like people, family and friend in this chapter.
What do you think, do this story have more life now?