Shade sighed, “I wouldn’t put it past him to hire a bard to create some stupid song to sing.”
“Regardless of the musical outcome, it’s time for you two to leave,” Stomper said and pointed at Francis and Roo, “The rest of us have business to attend to.”
The two healers grumbled and looked mad, but walked away saying nothing. Everyone else waited until they left the cave.
“Now that they are gone, we can truly talk about the mission, but first, let’s finish up this mess,” Shade said and walked over to one of the landsharks. It was struggling to get up and Atlas hadn’t noticed it. In one quick motion, Shade pulled out a dagger and thrust it down through the top of its head and it crumpled to the ground. A message appeared in front of Atlas.
You have successfully completed the Cave of Fins Mini-Dungeon. You are granted 1,000 bonus experience and 1 attribute point for your first completion.
“Well, that’s nice,” Atlas commented.
“Yep, we didn’t want those two getting the bonus since they were so bad. Now that they have left, they can’t get it.”
Atlas could only smile. It’s good to play with others who properly understand how to use game mechanics.
Stomper walked over to one corpse and reached out. A few items popped up over its head and he snagged them. He did this to three others before he spoke up.
“More damn leather hide, as usual. Told you that you should have taken Leatherworking, Shade.”
“Didn’t seem as useful to me. Especially not at low level.”
“I’m a Leatherworker,” Atlas said.
The two turned to look at him.
“What level?” Shade asked.
Atlas glanced at his stat sheet, “Nineteen.”
“Looks like he can probably use them. The Alpha hides are even Uncommon rarity,” Stomper told Shade.
The rogue only shrugged and Stomper walked over and handed Atlas the hides he’d collected. The items were interesting for sure, but he’d need to find some way to use them.
Item - Landshark Hide
Requirements: Level 15
Rarity: Common
Quality: Good
Durability: 45/45
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Slot: Crafting
Traits: The hide from a landshark. The flexible sandy textured skin can be used for crafting.
Item - Alpha Landshark Hide
Requirements: Level 15
Rarity: Uncommon
Quality: Good
Durability: 55/55
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Slot: Crafting
Traits: The hide from an alpha landshark. The flexible sandy textured skin can be used for crafting.
20% chance for special traits to appear on items created using this hide.
That could definitely prove useful.
Stomper handed him 14 of the alpha hides and 40 of the normal landshark hide. Each of them dropped 2 hides.
“Thanks.”
“Consider it payment for having to carry those noobs through that fight. Let me gather the rest for you,” Stomper told him.
Atlas watched the two walk around and loot all the bodies. He didn’t bother asking about the loot because he doubted he’d get anywhere with it. They were giving him all the hides anyway so he wouldn’t complain.
Atlas waited at the entrance for the two guys to come back. As they arrived, he gestured toward the opening the alphas charged out of earlier.
“We going to check that out?”
Stomper looked over his shoulder at the entrance, “Nah, we have a dungeon to get to. I don’t want to delay any longer in case someone else finds it. Besides, it said we completed the place. Don’t feel like searching for some obscure loot back there.”
“Care to fill me in on this dungeon?”
Stomper led the way, and they all left the dungeon.
“You have everything you need for a dungeon run?”
“I could use a few potions, but otherwise I’m fine.”
Stomper nodded, “I have some extras I’ll sell. I can give them to you at cost since you’re helping us out and it’s short notice. What kinds you want? Mana and health?”
“That should be good. A couple of each, maybe? What do I owe you?”
The man fished through his bag, and his hand came out holding four vials in between his fingers. Each looked like a standard glass tube from a high school science class. Two looked the color or a strawberry syrup while the others reminded him of blue raspberry.
“One gold for them all.”
Atlas grimaced a little at the price.
Stomper saw the look and continued, “That’s half the market price. They usually run fifty silver each.”
Atlas just nodded and grabbed a gold coin from his bag and handed it over. Stomper gave him the potions, and he tucked them into his bag.
“How much time you have left for this login?”
Atlas did some quick math in his head as he looked at the game clock.
“Close to a day.”
“Should be enough. Let’s get to the dungeon as fast as we can.”
They picked up their speed, racing through the trees and headed for an unknown destination. Atlas used the time to dump his free point from the mini-dungeon into Spirit, bringing it to 9 and then focused on the trip.
Chapter 25
Secret Dungeon
The forest blurred by as the party raced toward the city. They made the trip back in half the time it took them to get there. Francis and Roo were already off on their own somewhere. Atlas kept pace with the fighters, although he was cheating using the nightstalker form.
When the gate came into view, he shifted back into an elf and they hurried through the gate and back to the registrar. They dropped their old party, formed a new one, and then hustled toward the gate on the other side of the city.
People gave them odd looks as their group rushed through town. A few guards reached down to their swords as they passed. Their suspicion obvious from the incredulous looks on their faces. The party just ignored them and continued past, and no one called for them to stop.
They avoided roads with heavy traffic and instead skirted by on the side roads. A good half hour of weaving through people and carts brought them to the other side of the city and past the wall.
Stomper changed course, and they headed in a northern direction. Returning to his cat form, he kept a
