Eric POV
The others gain a level each on the way to the fourth chest. We talked about it and agree that it would be a good idea for all of us to have at least one skill from the utility category. So they each spent a little extra time trying to find a skill that suited them. Damien acquired the herbology skill, which he claims allows him to see what effects if any different plants have. The skill is only at the basic level now, so he can only see if the plant is safe to eat and the individual health benefits or dangers if any but it's better than nothing. I have no doubt it will be very powerful later on. Amy was a bit more practical and picked up the mining skill even though we had yet to see any ore at all. The biggest surprise however was Rachel. She got the carpentry skill. Honestly with her fire magic even the blacksmith skill would have made more sense despite her size. I mean wood and fire don't exactly play well together.
After reaching the chest I took a minute to identify what we where actually getting. Most of it was stuff I didn't really need the skill for such as swords, staffs, daggers, and various armor pieces. Though I will admit that the system calling something as tough as that 'low grade' was a little concerning. The next few items however helped me broaden my horizons, though in hind sight it should have been obvious to anyone who has ever played a fantasy RPG. We got three minor health potions, three mana potions, and two stamina potions. On top of that we also got six copper coins which according to the system is 'universal currency' whatever that means. This should be enough to let us keep going but we all decide to call it quits for now. After last time we found that our bodies need at least a day to fully adapt to the new level.
It took us a while to make it back to the entrance because we were further in than we had ever been before but thanks to the potions we weren't in any real danger. I just wish Identify allowed me to see what skills the creatures have. Perhaps if I level it up some more it will. I can't neglect my combat skills to much but one more level into the identification skill can't hurt. I've already made up my mind to see if I can talk the others into coming here more often. Sure, it's a bit of a hike but thanks to this dungeon we are already close to the strongest people in town, if not the strongest people in town. Coming here more often would only allow us to widen the gap, especially since nobody else has recognized what this place is. Surprisingly, it doesn't actually take that much convincing. Rachel in particular is excited about getting stronger. She has always hated being made fun of for her size. The poor girl looks like she is 7 or 8 despite being 16.
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Walking through the gate to the town is like walking into a different world. Most people, especially those over 40 are trying desperately to cling to the old world. Some even have the ability to generate electricity from time to time using biofuel. Ironically these same people use to be labeled conspiracy nuts and doomsday fanatics. Most of the town is dark however. Without electricity some places remain in the shadows even during the day. It's probably worse in the big cities with all the skyscrapers casting tall shadows. Instead of going home we made our way to an abandoned building that we were using as a clubhouse but is now our base.
Only now do I understand why Rachel chose carpentry as she doesn't even wait for us to get settled before she starts gathers the loose bits of wood we managed to gather and gets to work. While the rest of us are busy sorting out the spoils from this trip and putting them with the other hidden stashes Rachel is busy trying to secure the base. I wish I could help her but I feel like we would only slow her down. By the time night falls she has reinforced the front door and has started on the back door. I make a decision right then that we should try to get skills that will help with base security. After all it doesn't do any good to gather the stuff if someone else can just take it with little to no effort while we're not here to guard it. Tomorrow Amy and I will go help finish the wall around our fair town while Rachel and Damien stay here and work on the base. Nobody should suspect anything because they don't think those to can actually do anything useful.
Dungeon POV
With the DP I got from Eric's delve I decide to upgrade the second loot node to level 2 the chest grows from 100cm x 50cm x 75 cm to 110cm x 60cm x 85cm. It's not a lot bigger but the internal volume has increased dramatically. Not only that but it now has an entirely new loot table to pull from. There is some overlap with the level 1 loot node but there is also new things like Iron shields, axes, and more. I would upgrade the third loot node as well but my DP is limited so I decide to do a little more work on the second floor.
I use some of the DP to place a rabbit node on the second floor, about a third of the way through the floor. With what I've been overhearing it seems that protein is in short supply recently which will make people want to delve my second floor specifically for the bunny meat. I then place one of each type of plant node that I haven't already placed on the second floor, which because they have to start at level 2 means it uses up the remaining DP. A small sacrifice but this means that the second floor is now more or less finished I might add one more mob type and I will definitely increase their levels but other than that the floor is finished. This way I can stay well ahead of the delvers.
