Ben gasped for air, sucking in the dusty air. He was surrounded by darkness, and his throat felt like sandpaper as he gulped down his metallic-tasting saliva.
[You killed Mineroach Queen Level 10: +150XP]
Ben breathed relief as he thought he would have to fight the queen in total darkness. His flashlight had been knocked away when he pummeled into the wall. Patting the ground around him, Ben hoped to find it again. Instead, he discovered a faint blue glow reflecting off of certain things.
After twisting his neck, Ben noticed it was coming from the cave wall behind him, where luminescence patterns were woven into the rocks like wonderful web-like patterns. They were concentrated at various points where the effects of the light multiplied. It looked like he was looking at an ore of some kind.
Crawling, Ben moved closer to a little pile on the ground.
[Raw Mirium Ore]
[This mineral contains high concentrations of magical energy. It can be used for various applications, such as creating basic potions and enchantments. It can also be refined for more advanced applications.]
[Mirium ore can now be scanned and extracted with the Omnitool.]
I need to figure out how that damn Omnitool works.
Ben looked around and found his flashlight. He turned it on without issue and placed it on a nearby rock, pointing it at the vein. He stood about a meter away from it and put his hand out. Thinking about the Omnitool made it suddenly appear, causing him almost to drop it.
Whelp, that’s gonna take some getting used to.
Ben aimed it like a gun and activated the scan function. An opaque hologram emerged, covering the vein like a water jet and flashing several times.
[Mirum ore vein detected.]
The extract function became available, and when he pressed it, the hologram became thin in the area where he pointed before it started to spark, creating the same sound a pickaxe would make when striking it.
Ben waited until there was a small pile before stopping the process. Then, he moved closer and picked up one nugget. It felt heavier than it looked, which made Ben think it must have had a high density similar to heavy metals like gold and silver. That meant he wouldn't need to mine much of it to make up the weight he needed.
Ben grabbed the pieces that looked like they contained the most ore and stuffed his pockets full of the stuff. Satisfied with what he had, he made his way back.
The moment Ben came out of the shaft, he got awkward stares from everyone.
“Are you alright?” Har asked.
“Yeah, that queen was still alive. She won't be causing any more problems. For now, the third level seems clear of enemies but will need structural work to make it safe before any mining can begin.” Ben explained.
“With time, we can make it safe again.” Har nodded.
Finn chuckled. “Talk about filled pockets, Mister Ben. Is that what I think it is?”
Ben nodded. “Strangely, that darn queen had her mouth full of the stuff. I’m not sure if that’s the reason she got all big the way she was.” He then patted his pockets, “Hopefully, this should be enough to get Hauxwell better.”
"What? You fought and defeated the mine queen!" Finn cheered.
“Hey,” Har interrupted, “you should be more careful. From what I’ve heard, that’s volatile stuff. Put it in a damn crate before you damage your family jewels.”
Ben raised his eyebrows. “I didn't have anywhere better to put it.”
Har shook his head in disappointment and almost facepalmed. Then he turned to the other people and said, “You heard him. It’s not safe to go down there without serious safety work. Stay clear of the third level until we sort things out. For now, continue your clearing efforts and move the remaining ore piles to the ore store upstairs.” Turning to Ben. “Speaking of the ore store, what do you want to do?”
“Let’s get there and open it up,” Ben replied.
Ben stood at the ore store.
After twisting the key, the mechanism clicked to life, and a loud clang reverberated around the entrance chamber. The door opened slightly, and Ben swung it open, shining his flashlight around.
The chamber had a path running down the middle, nestled between sectioned areas where large piles of ore were stored. Near the door were a few storage crates that would have been used to transport the ore out and into the carts.
Ben grabbed one of the crates, quickly dusted it off, and emptied the Mirium ore from his pockets. Looking around, he also noticed the coal and iron areas were filled.
Stolen story; please report.
Har cleared his throat. “Well, it looks like our lucky day.”
Finn nodded, “Yeah, I’ve never seen it this filled before. They must have worked hard before the collapse.”
Ben turned to Har. “We need to fill a cart of iron and deliver it to Halyard so I can complete his quest. It’s better to kill two quests with one stone and save a journey.”
Har didn't complain and got to work ordering the village folk. It had taken a few trips back and forth before filling the cart outside.
Before setting off, Har pulled Finn aside. “Give us some time. When we get back, we’ll get the burial done. Now, don't go about doing something stupid. I don't want to see you or anyone else get hurt. Alright?”
Finn nodded. “Alright, Mister Har. I’ll wait here.”
Har then patted him on the shoulder. “It’s important that you keep an eye on things here and ensure things go smoothly. If you do a good job, I’m certain Ben will give you an important position when the mine properly re-opens for business.”
“I promise I’ll do a good job and won't disappoint you.” Finn finished.
After that, Ben started the van, and once Har gave him the signal to go, they set off towards Robynhill.
Ben found himself at the inn and stood before the mage in charge. “Will this be enough?” He asked.
The mage glanced within before he raised an eyebrow. “We need to refine this before it becomes useful. I'll update the quest for you so you can reap its reward." He then looked at the crate's contents, "You've brought us more than we need, so I'll pay you for the leftovers, as they’ll come to good use when we start the alchemy operation here."
[Quest Completed: Blackrock Mine]
[+150XP, +10 Gold Pound]
[You are now Level 7: +1 Skill point available.]
[Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Sergeant.]
The mage turned to his subordinates. “We have the ore. Now it’s time to get to work,” he ordered. He was about to walk away when he stopped. “Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you. Alfred is doing much better now but wants to be alone. He said not to come after him as he had gone off somewhere. I think he’s having difficulty coming to grips with his situation. If the Royal Flush works as intended, you could ask Hauxwell to train you." He gave Ben a nod before getting back to his work.
Ben glanced around the inn and found Halyard before making his way over to him.
“I see you have returned.” Halyard started.
“Yup, and we’ve got your ore. It’s outside near the grassy clearing in Har’s cart.” Ben explained.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all year.” Halyard smiled before making his way outside. He checked the cart's contents before turning to both Har and Ben. “I didn't think you’d be able to do this. With this, I’ll finally be able to make it to Expert Blacksmith.”
[Quest Completed: Gather Hematite Ore.]
[+100XP, +10 Gold Pound]
Halyard continued. “As promised, that is your reward. Now, I must get to work getting the forge up and running. These Hollow Moon knights have already put some orders in.” Turning to Har, “You don't mind moving this near my forge.”
Har crossed his arms. “You better be paying me for that.”
Ben sat at the bar.
Later in the evening, Arthel provided them with a warm meal and something to drink.
Ben noticed the inn had been cleaned up and repaired to its original state. With the Hollow Moon providing military-level protection, more people filled its wooden walls and appeared lively. It was like a mountain of frustration had been lifted from their shoulders, and they could finally rest from the constant threat to their lives.
Arthel explained that a few people had set up stalls near the inn to sell their wares, and even a couple of caravans had come to trade their goods. He also mentioned that he had received word from one of the knights that the artisans would be arriving soon to set up their workshops.
The talk then shifted to the mine, with Har explaining in-depth what had occurred.
Arthel stood there stunned by what he had heard about the mineroaches. After gathering himself, he shook his head. “In all the years I’ve been here, there hasn't ever been a mention of those little buggers. Sounds like you were lucky to get out of there alive.”
Har motioned towards Ben. “He’s the one that fought them.”
The inn’s door creaked open, causing Arthel to look that way. “Look who’s finally back.”
Jerry walked in before rushing to the bar. He motioned to Arthel for a drink before turning to Ben. “You two are back already. Did you get the magic rocks?”
Ben nodded. “Of course. The mage guy said it’s more than he needs and is working on that potion.”
Jerry let out a sigh of relief. “You’ve done good work out there, and Le’Vieux was right to trust you in that quest. I just hope the damn thing works.”
Ben pointed to the back of the inn, where the mages worked hard with their alchemical equipment. “That mage guy seems like he knows his stuff. We’ll see how it goes soon enough. Besides, where the heck did you go? I could've used your help down in that matter.”
Jerry scratched his head before taking a sip of ale. “It took me some time, but I removed my things and workshop from the cabin. I’ve brought them here but don't have a place to set it all up.”
Arthel slapped his towel on the table. “I’ve got a shed in the back that you could use until you get a more permanent workshop area. But I’ll expect you to pay me some rent while you use it.”
Har shook his head disapprovingly and gave Arthel a death-filled stare. “Do you ever shut up about money? These two have done so much for the survival of this village. You should be thanking him, not charging him money so he can help with the war effort. You can be a greedy git sometimes, but this is pure stupidity.”
Arthel grunted as if he was annoyed. “I’m trying to run a business here if you can't tell.”
“The two of you need to take it easy,” Jerry stated with a hint of laughter. “Honestly, I’ll need a larger area than a shed for my workshop. Besides, there’s a lot of noise around here with all the knights knocking. Some peace is what I need to craft my arrows, maybe somewhere secluded.” He stroked his chin as if thinking about what to do.
An idea popped into Ben’s head, so he cleared his throat. “We’re still clearing the mine, and there’s plenty of space where the old mineworks used to be. You’re more than welcome to set up there. And besides, you’ll have quick access to plenty of resources without waiting for deliveries.”
Jerry gave him a nod. “You’re on to something, but it won’t be as simple as that. You’ll need artisans such as Bloomers to smelt the iron ore, foresters to cut the wood, and builders to create the workshops.”
“Well,” Har interrupted, “I’ll speak to a few people around here and see who we can convince to go there. I’m sure Arthel said there were more artisans on the way.”
Jerry shrugged, “Fair enough. You get the people on board and can count me in.”
A coughing sound from the back distracted them.
When Ben twisted his neck, he saw the mage commander standing there.
The mage raised a small vial to show everyone. “The Royal Flush has successfully been crafted. If you want to go upstairs, we can begin the procedure.”
End of Dungeon I: Blackrock Mine
Name: Benjamin Bailey
Level: 7 (245/800XP)
Skill points: 2
HP: 50/50
SP: 50/50
MP: 25/100
Currency:
Copper Penny: 10/12
Silver Shilling: 1/20
Gold Pound: 22
Active Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 1
Bull Bar Mk.1, Armor Plating Mk.1, Off-Road Tires, Fuel Efficiency Mk.1, Off-Road Drivetrain
Class: Mechanical Mage, Level 2
Class Skills: Repair Mk.1, Refuel Mk.1
Profession: None
Profession Skills: None
Faction: Order of the Hollow Moon
Faction Rank: Sergeant
Faction Skills: None
Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 2
Type: Camper
Condition: 42%
Fuel: 32%
Power: 140HP (Mechanical)
Mass: 1983KG
Armor Rating: 49
