by S Bailey
“It hasn’t spotted me; I’m going to hang tight.”
Just then one of the hydra heads raised up sniffing the air like a dog. Jen could feel the emotions the hydra was giving off and knew it had located Tamako’s location and hollered, “It’s spotted you. Sam, distract it while Tamako pulls back.”
Sam started firing bolts at the hydra. They either bounced off or exploded doing some damage, but mostly just pissing it off, and he said, “Shit! That thing is tuff.”
The hydra was only slightly distracted by the bolts. Unfortunately, the head that caught Tamako’s scent wasn’t losing focus, and the hydra started charging in Tamako’s direction. Tamako fired a ring log at the hydra and it snatched the log out of the air with one of its heads and threw it to the side. Tamako didn’t hesitate and fired a small forest of logs at the hydra. This did slow it down, but didn’t appear to cause it any significant injury.
Sam targeted the scenting head and used his lightning tattoo to drop a bolt of lightning straight into its forehead. The hydra’s scenting head was disintegrated by the lightning bolt, and the impact almost knocked the hydra off its feet. The hydra and its other heads were dazed just long enough to allow Tamako to sprint out of danger. The hydra was pissed off, and it looked like its scenting head was growing back, but instead, there were two heads growing back instead of one!
As Team Kelly re-grouped far back at their rally point. Tamako asked, “Any ideas on how to kill that thing?”
Jen laughed, “Yeah, I have one idea. Let someone else do it. We’re out of here. Next stop, back to Rolling Dice City.”
Sam winked at Tamako, “Gotta know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em.”
Chapter 75:
Rolling Dice
“What’s your business in the City,” said the gate guard.
Jen replied, “We have business with the Arc Guild.”
The guard looked over them closely, and paused just for the briefest of moments when looking at Tamako. Tomako’s psych ability was the weakest at forging her level and stats. Jen sent a light static buzz into the sound wave on the guard’s ear distracting him.
The guard fumbled with his sound wave settings and said, “That’ll be 24 copper, and be warned, we execute unauthorized gambling quests!”
“Of course,” said Jen as she paid the man, and they entered Rolling Dice City.
It was only about one-half the size of Casino City, but it was still considered a large city on the First Deck. They could see the City’s Shop and crafting sectors, but Jen also wanted to make a quick stop by the Arc Guild to find out if Director Devon and his sister’s family were O.K. after the Roulette attack.
They purchased supplies for their Deck jump, and made a few stops in the market area. On their way to the Arc Guild, Jen commented, “Rolling Dice doesn’t have near the constant chaos of Casino City. There are alert guards everywhere ready to crush any system gambling activity. It’s nice not constantly worrying about gamblers trying to steal from you or attack someone.”
Tamako looked a little envious and replied, “This is the way a Deck City should be run, but most of the City Lords in the First Deck will not hire enough guards to keep the peace. They don’t give a damn about the chaos gamblers create, as long as it doesn’t impact the amount of taxes they can collect. They’re too cheap and short-sighted to realize that if you make the city safer, it will encourage trade, which in turn will generate enough additional tax revenue to pay for the extra cost of the guards, and then some.”
Slim messaged Jen as he headed off down an alley, “I’m going to take a look around the city, call me when you are ready to leave.”
“O.K. be safe!” Jen called after him, purposely annoying him like a family member is supposed to.
As Team Kelly requested entrance into the Rolling Dice Arc Guild branch, the guards were actually expecting them, and lead them straight to guild Director Tobin.
“Ms. Jen, Captain Tamako, and Master Enchanter Sam, I am Director Tobin of the Arc Guild. We heard rumors you might have been killed during the attack on Casino City, but Director Devon believed you survived and would be heading our direction. Please have a seat and let me get you a drink.”
“Thank you Director Tobin for seeing us and for the refreshments” Jen said.
Director Tobin and Jen made niceties for a while and Sam was thinking how he was grateful that she handled this stuff. Director Tobin seemed like a really nice man, but Sam just wanted to find out if Director Devon was Ok, and look through the guild shop, but “when in Rome...let Jen handle it,” he thought.
“Director Devon, his sister, and her family are just fine. No City Lord or invading army would risk losing the trade affiliations associated with the Arc Guild, but I will pass along your concerns to him.”
“Do you know what happened with the City Lord?” asked Jen.
“After the unexpected defense of the palace System Shop, the New City Lord tracked down Caesar X. Rumors say that Caesar had only about one-half of what was supposed to be in the City accounts, and he told everyone that Captain Tamako was supposed to keep the rest of the treasury safe. You should be aware; the New City Lord purchased a gambling-quest from the System Shop for your capture Captain Tamako.”
Jen looked at Sam, and he spoke up, “Director Tobin, the Arc Guild has been very honorable and fair in all our dealings, please keep it confidential that we survived the battle. Additionally, we are about to Deck jump, is there anything we can do for the Arc Guild to show our appreciation before we leave?”
“Director Devon informed me that you set up a multi-Deck account with our guild, but I don’t recall him mentioning payment for a deck-jump. Are you looking to purchase a deck jump with us, or are you jumping with one of the other guilds?” asked Director Tobin, not believing they would have enough gold to purchase a Deck Jump, unless...
Jen replied, “We are planning on Deck-jumping in the wild.”
The shock on Director Tobin’s face was unmistakable. Jen’s statement made it clear to him that Captain Tamako definitely did not loot the Casino City treasury as rumored, and he advised, “I understand you are anxious to get to the Second Deck with its mana, technology, and gold. However, the beasts and gamblers that roam the wilds are much more powerful than what we have here. Additionally, keep in mind, the shop on the second Deck may pay more for loot you gather in the wild. However, the weapons you will need to purchase from the system shop or guild shops in order to kill Second Deck beasts, will also cost much more, and that’s assuming you even make it into a city in the first place!”
When Jen and her companions did not look concerned enough, Tobin said, “Look, I know you had a successful enchantments store in Casino City. I believe you could easily do the same thing here. If you save up for a year or two, you might have enough to purchase a safe Deck Jump with us.”
Jen couldn’t explain to Director Tobin that they had a way to carry their gear with them to the Second Deck, so Jen smiled and replied with an excuse, “your advice is logical and sound, but with the gambling-quest for the capture of Tamako, we are going to take the risk.”
Director Tobin wanted to argue against their decision, but they were not of his guild and it was not his place, and said, “We wish you the best of luck, is there any other business you would like to discuss before your journey?”
Jen smiled, “Just one. Any interest in the location of a new dungeon?”
Director Tobin was speechless for a second as he thought, “The last dungeon discovered on the First Deck had been almost five years ago. This would be two new dungeons for our guild in less than a year! How are they finding these dungeons? What can I do? We don’t have nearly the budget of the Casino City Arc Guild Branch.”
Jen felt Director Tobin’s emotions spike before he said, “Ms. Jen, we are certainly interested, I will call in our executive board to discuss. We will certainly want to hear more.”
Jen smiled as she prepared to discuss terms.
Chapt
er 76:
Dungeon Deal
When negotiations were finally completed, Jen agreed to provide Director Tobin with the location of the dungeon so his guild could purchase the land rights from the System Shop. The land and rights were cheaper than Hot Streak dungeon because it was in an area that had no previous ownership. In Exchange, Director Tobin agreed that Team Kelly could stay in the Arc Guild’s guest quarters for two months. At that time they were to be transferred to Slot City for teleportation to the Second Deck. Additionally, Team Kelly would be allowed to participate in the first-ever raid on Hydra Dungeon, but they would get last choice on loot drops.
Director Tobin said, “To be allowed to participate in the dungeon raid, all of you will have to enter a gambling oath to keep our skills and techniques confidential. We never dungeon dive with non-guild members, and HQ’s approval of this part of the deal requires a gambling oath.”
Jen wanted to shout for joy, but only replied, “Of course, and I assume a similar gambling oath will be entered into regarding our participation, skills, and techniques.”
After the terms were finalized and as Jen explained everything to Tamako and Sam, Tamako was confused and asked, “why did you want us to jump with the guild instead of Deck Jumping in the wild like we previously discussed?”
Jen explained, “I agree, and I’m not sure this will turn out to be that valuable for us, but there is a little part of me that is worried that the animal transport technique we used coming from Earth, may not work on the rainbow teleportation between decks. Additionally, and not nearly as important, I want to see the Arc Guild’s best fighters in action.”
Tamako nodded as Sam Shrugged and asked, “So what now?”
“We are going to leave for the dungeon in a week, and in the meantime, we are scheduled for training with the raid team Tobin is putting together. I’m guessing Tobin wants to make sure we know enough to stay out of their way.”
Director Tobin put together three five-person teams of his best adventurers for scouting the Dungeon’s location and defenses. He was the raid leader, with Jen, Tamako, and Sam in support. He didn’t like having them along, but Jen had insisted it as part of the deal.
Jen was surprised to learn that the four weakest guild members on the raid team were planning on jumping to the Second Deck, but instead chose to give up their deck-jump slots to Team Kelly for the chance to go on the raid and get first pick of the loot. They ranged from level 13 to level 16, while the rest of the raid group ranged from level 20 to 28.
“Assuming none of them knew how to forge their levels.” Jen thought.
Tamako explained, “At a certain level, a guild member needs to decide to Deck jump or stay and grow stronger in the first Deck. If you Deck Jump, you go back to the very bottom of the pack in your guild, and not many like going from being rich and powerful to being a broke newbie again. However, if you jump, you can eventually increase your power and skill to a much greater skill than those on the First Deck.”
Jen replied, “I just didn’t think our true skills would be so much higher than the guild members that planned on deck jumping.”
Tamako warned, “remember, on the second Deck, they would have the elite members of their guild to protect them, and we will only have each other.”
Jen nodded her head, “good point.”
After the first day of training, Director Tobin and the rest of the raid group realized that Team Kelly was more than competent to accompany the guild on the dungeon raid.
Sam wanted to get a look at all the enchantments on the raid groups equipment, and offered, “Would anyone like me to repair their enchanted gear and maybe add a few comfort enchantments?”
All but one of the raid group, politely declined, but one of the ‘tanks’, Stone Wall Lucky, took Sam up on his offer, “Master Sam, my enchanted breast plate hasn’t been working properly since a recent battle in the Dice mines with some orcs. If you can do anything about, it would be greatly appreciated.”
“No promises, but I’ll do my best.”
Sam was grinning as he quickly fixed the damaged rune and then copied the breastplates’ enchantments for elemental defense into his enchantment app.
The major problem with most of the combat-oriented enchantments he copied was the massive amount of mana they used. This resulted in the enchantment only working for a very short amount of time before the wearer had to spend hours recharging the enchantment with mana.
Sam was sincere in his offer to the raid members and Lucky. He wanted to try some “comfort” enchantments he had thought of while they were traveling to Rolling Dice.
Sam was also truthful with Tamako when he said he was only really good with interdimensional space pockets and enchantments. He loved Jen, but she had no appreciation for his explanation of his enchantments, and liked to annoy him by simply calling his work ‘ring magic’.
Sam designed and carved some ‘cooling’ and ‘heating’ enchantments on the armor. They required almost no mana to use, because all they did was absorb cool air into a space pocket when it was too cold outside, and then release that same cold air onto the wearer of the armor when it was hot outside. The ‘heating’ enchantment did the same thing. It would absorb hot air when it was hot outside, and release that hot air on to the wearer of the armor when it was cold. With both runes carved all over the armor, depending on the weather and the usage, it would cool or heat the user as needed. Sam’s enchantments didn’t need the massive amounts of mana necessary to actually create cold or hot air.
Last, Sam placed an enchantment on the weapons and armor that would absorb sweat or blood, keeping the sweat and blood from getting in the eyes, or causing weapons to get slick in the hand. Sam hoped the enchantment would also absorb any liquid poison or acid that landed on the gear, keeping both the armor and the wearer a little safer.
A little part of Sam made him go all out on Lucky’s ‘comfort’ enchantments to make all the other guild members jealous after they refused his assistance.
Stone Wall Lucky looked at Sam with disbelief and amazement after Sam finished explaining how the enchantments ‘functioned’. However, Sam left out how the enchantments actually worked.
Lucky said, “Master Sam, these upgrades are far better than any loot I expected to recover in the dungeon. I’ve never heard of enchantments like these before. I…I…can’t afford to pay you for these.”
Sam was tired from working all night, but laughed, “All I ask is that you tell me how well they work. You should be happy the rest of the raid team didn’t need repairs, or I would not have had the time or mana to create these on all your weapons and armor. I am nearly out of mana as it is, and will need to spend the rest of the week building it back up before the raid.”
“Indeed, I’m very lucky!
Sam laughed at the bad pun, and said, “Please remember that under our oath, no one outside the raid group should ever learn that I created these enchantments for you.”
Stone Wall laughed with joy, “Thank you! After the dungeon raid, the beer is on me, and I only hope I can repay your generosity someday!”
Sam wasn’t really out of mana, but he didn’t want to spend the rest of the week making those same enchantments again. He already knew he was going to be spending several nights placing them on Jen’s, Tamako’s, and his own gear.
Sam secretly enjoyed seeing the rest of the raid group sick with envy when they learned about the enchantments placed on Stone Wall’s armor and weapons.
Director Tobin had primarily been negotiating with Jen, but when he inspected Sam’s enchantments, he finally realized the value Director Devon had placed on Master Sam’s enchantment skill.
After they left for the dungeon raid and were nearing the mountains, Jen pointed out the hidden slot canyon to Director Tobin, and said, “We will need to travel single file through there. It will open up on the other side. We will then be able to spread out, and you will see the entrance to the dungeon.
Tobin thought, “How in the Dec
ks did they ever find this place?” As he looked to his three squad leaders, seeing the same question mirrored in their eyes.”
Jen groaned inwardly as she compared the gambling-quest Sam auto-forwarded her to the one she received.
The Greater the Risk, the Greater the Reward!
==
Gambling Quest: Kill the Hydra
==
Requirements: Kill the Hydra within 30 minutes
Select your Fortune:
Accept reward of 5 ability points plus euphoria for every ability point gambled, maximum bet of 3.
Accept reward of one bottle of 100% imbued mana ink for every ability point gambled, maximum bet of 3.
Decline Quest and continue to be pathetic!
==
Sam accepted “B” gambling 3 ability points.
Jen looked over and gave Sam the stink eye for gambling, but she also knew he had been trying to find some real mana ink to analyze and practice with. The shop was selling one bottle of 60% mana imbued ink for 100 gold, which was way more than they were able to spend right now on ink. Jen’s and Tamako’s Gambling-Quests were useless to them.
The Greater the Risk, the Greater the Reward!
==
Gambling Quest: Kill the Hydra
==
Requirements: Kill the Hydra within 30 minutes
Select your Fortune:
Accept reward of 5 ability points plus euphoria for every ability point gambled, maximum bet of 3.
Accept reward of 2 ability points plus euphoria for every ability point gambled, maximum bet of 3, but time to kill extended to 60 minutes.
Decline Quest and continue to be pathetic!
==
They both selected “C” declining their gambling quests.
Jen, Tamako, and Sam had talked about the Hydra since their last encounter. Jen knew that the Hydra from Greek mythology had nine heads instead of only 3, and according to legend, if a head were cut off, two would grow back in its place. The Greek legend, Hercules, had to cut off each head and cauterize the severed neck before two more would grow back in its place.