The Dungeon Fairy: Two Choices: A Dungeon Core Escapade (The Hapless Dungeon Fairy Book 2) by Jonathan Brooks (free e books to read .txt) 📗

back to the life of a Raider would fulfill that need to do something in him, and it did, but it wasn’t a full-time job.  Especially since he and the others in their group determined that using their privilege to cut in line for the dungeon was better used every 3 to 5 weeks instead of every week; actually, it was Gwenda and I that determined that, but the reasoning was sound.  Sterge thought that delving at every opportunity would bring too much negative attention their way; it already caused a little stir and some significant grumbling the 2 times they had already done it, and keeping everyone happy – or at least the semblance of happiness – was important to the entire community.  The recent hostile atmosphere was bad enough that it didn’t need something like that thrown into the mix.

Not only that, but their group had acquired a lot more Power towards their Raider Levels than the other groups delving through the dungeon.  While it wasn’t quite obvious quite yet, it certainly would be if they became too strong too fast – and weren’t benefitting from going through the dungeon anymore.  Sure, they could get the loot that dropped from the monsters inside, but at some point they would stop acquiring any Power from killing them.  There weren’t a lot of Raiders nearby that could “Analyze” them, because it was apparently an Ability that most Classes received at Level 5, but there were enough that any significant jumps in Raider Level might be noticed.  The way it was going, it wouldn’t be long before they hit that milestone.

Raider Status

Name:

Sterge Stonewell

Class:

Melee

Raider Level:

3

Power:

292/300

Physical Attack:

3 (6)

Physical Defense:

3 (8)

Ranged Attack:

0

Ranged Defense:

2

Magical Attack:

0

Magical Defense:

2

Resistances:

Physical 3

Mental 2

Earth 1

Fire 0

Water 0

Air 0

Nature 0

Life 0

Death 0

Skills:

Blade 1 (32%)

Blunt 2 (90%)

Two-handed 1 (0%)

Block 2 (26%)

Light Armor 1 (94%)

Heavy Armor 1 (0%)

Abilities:

Forceful Smash (Blunt)

Slam (Shield)

Dungeon Sight (Enhancement)

Power Boost +50% (Permanent)

Sterge and Gwenda were doing their best to keep their secret as long as possible – though that secret didn’t last long when it came to their group knowing about it.  William, Evy, and Mordecai were good people, though; it was both in their best interest and because they were those good people that they weren’t interested in calling more attention to themselves.  It sounded a little callous to think that they had a good thing going and didn’t want to jeopardize it by letting the secret out, but it was nevertheless true.

“The benefits of selling our secret, either monetarily or socially, are insignificant compared to what they are getting by keeping that secret in the long-term.  I think they see this, because they are obviously smart individuals, and the future far outweighs the now – especially since they now have some money to support themselves,” Gwenda had told him in confidence one night.

After both delves, Sterge and his best friend had determined to give all of the loot that they had collected to the three others, as it would benefit them more.  The two Hill Dwarves weren’t rich, but they were well-off enough that they didn’t really need to delve through the dungeon for loot.  In the future, when they would tackle harder dungeons, that might change depending on the loot; for now, though, the others could make much more use of it.  So much so, in fact, that they didn’t even complain too much about waiting a month or so before delving again – because they had more than enough to support themselves until then.

The Hill Dwarves’ only expression of their new-found wealth was to purchase some better armor for themselves and their new friends; nothing extraordinary, but it was a step up from what they were wearing before, and his own didn’t feel like it would fall apart if he moved the wrong way.  Anything better than what they acquired wasn’t necessarily needed, and would be an expense that they didn’t need to incur; the last time they went through the dungeon, in fact, they hadn’t suffered from more than a few minor bites and scratches – and those were in the Boss room, where there were too many enemies to avoid them all.  The rest of the delve was relatively easy because he could pinpoint where all of the dangers were using his Dungeon Sight Ability.

“Sterge?” Gwenda asked, her voice softer than it had been when complaining about profits at the Store.  She had gone on to describe what was happening with their Inns, which were still doing brisk business, but he had only been listening with half an ear.  The change in tone made him really pay attention, however.

“Yes?”

She hesitated for a moment before continuing.  “What are we going to do when we get no benefit from this dungeon anymore?”

That certainly wasn’t what he was expecting her to ask – though it wasn’t like he had an expectation of what seemed to be bothering her.  “What do you mean?”

“Well, from what we’ve heard, it usually takes dungeons at least a year to get bigger and more difficult.  I have a feeling that won’t be until after the snows this winter, which will be here in about 7 months.  If we become too powerful in, say, 2 months, what are we going to do then?  Will we leave here with our group and delve through some other dungeons?  Wait until this one upgrades its rooms and makes it more difficult?  And if we do that, then how long will it be until we out-level that one?”

Sterge had been thinking about that as well, which was one of the reasons why they had agreed to slow down their delving.  He hadn’t really given much thought about after they reached a