Dane knew that the stones sitting in his belly were going to make his life hell for the next couple of weeks, but the recharge to his mana pool was more than worth it. He would have to go mining to collect water and space crystals, so he could recharge without having to scarf down so many. Still encased in the mud wall, Dane began to do what he did best, and he started to strike the wall with his gravity mana-embued pickaxe. He was able to turn his brain off from the life and death fights that he found himself in so often. Just swinging away like John Henry; it was calming. When he was a slave mining for the empire, he frequently hated the monotony of his work. He could train for killing without complaint, drilling the same move over and over again, but as soon as someone compelled him to do anything, he would lose all interest. A hole behind him opened up in the stone tomb, and he saw what looked like the King's hand just out of reach. Then the water began to shoot out of his hand, first a trickle, then a raging water cannon that slammed into Danes' back, knocking him off balance and forcing him to the ground. He struggled to his feet, grabbing his trusty pickaxe, which slipped out of his grip during the fall. The chamber began to rapidly fill up with water, with it being up to Danes' knees already, only having a short time remaining before he was going to drown. The master prospector began to swing each strike more dire than the last, reaching a frantic crescendo similar to the final act of an animal caught in steel jaws. He was barely making headway, the dry mud reinfusing with water to make a sludge that his pickaxe slogged through, becoming bound up in the viscous concoction. He wished the mud would go back to the dried-up, flaky dirt that he was making progress on before he had to deal with the poetic justice the tunnel king was dishing out. He began to channel mana to make the walls decay, wanting them to become like the sand they would eventually become through time and erosion. A faint orange and blue glow emanated from the water in the dark death trap. The walls had nothing happen. Dane assumed that the end state of the mud wall was that it would become a fine powder, which would only help the water create the sludge. So he aimed the freeform spell at the floor. The floor underneath him began to erode and turned to sand. The mud dome and Dane plummeted to the floor below, and everything went black as Dane slipped into unconsciousness.
He finally emerged from his slumber, the trap that the tunnel king had sprung foiled by Dane, and what awaited him was Ada sitting atop the mangled corpse of the overweight rat, triumphantly.
"What happened?" Dane said with a confused, scrunched-up face. He didn't understand how the boss monster was dead. The drop was enough to kill an augmented human, but the Tunnel King was made from sterner stuff.
"Well, after you took your tumble. I was left all alone with the Monster; he was going to try to climb down and finish you off. I wasn't sure if you were alive or dead, but since I could still feel the pull to help you, I figured that you didn't die. I have been working on using my heal spells as freeform Magic. I have been thinking that if you can add mana to the chains, why couldn't someone pull mana from the constructs? So I pulled out all of the life mana I felt from the King until he went unconscious, and gravity took care of the rest." Ada said with a smirk that told Dane training was in his near future. "I even got a new skill and an achievement. The skill is called Mana Syphon, and the achievement is called almost a monster." Ada was giddier than usual, and it took him a second to comprehend what was coming out of her mouth.
Looking at the character sheet, it wouldn't be long before they reached the evolution cap. Both of them were now in their 80s, and Dane had three skill selections to choose.
Dynamite: Wow, you know how to make things go boom. This has always been a crucial talent for prospectors to be able to blast a hole in the side of a mountain, up to 100% more potent explosions.
Iron Gut: Your body can process mana, but the waste from eating minerals can take its toll. This skill will let you process that better. Honestly, a waste of a skill slot, but I am sure you know best.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Balistic weapons proficiency: Prospectors run across little critters all the time, and many turn to their trusty musket, the great equalizer. You may now wield system weapons that fire combustion projectiles.
The body of the King they had just fought began to disintegrate, snapping and popping as the tendons and muscles dissolved into the floor. Ada jumped off the Monster and scampered to Danes' side, clutching his arm, both too focused on what was in front of them to mention it. A faint blue system light started to glow in the spot where the King once sat, and the light began to move slowly up 2 feet and then back down. Two large wooden chests started to fade into existence, materializing before their very eyes. It was easy to forget that the world was full of Magic, given how material collection usually went, typically skinning and breaking down the corpses of monsters. They approached the chest and opened both. In the larger of the two chests sat a white dress with the edges of the skirt burned and worn. Parts of the Dress were soot-stained, which matched the black sash that went around the midsection like a belt. Beside the Dress was a wooden staff that looked like something you would see in The Lord of the Rings. A rustic and old aura radiated from the stick, giving it a simple, homey feel.
Wedding Dress of the Black Witch: This Dress was the final garment worn by the black witch, a mighty mage who struck fear in the hearts of many, on her wedding day, when she least expected it. Templars stormed the castle and gathered the witch and her betrothed. Setting her a light in front of the terrified townsfolk who had grown to hate the Baron and his witch lover. Her last words before she died were the spell Life Drain to end their suffering before it even began; the flames engulfed their remains. When the pyre was complete, the only thing that remained was the Dress. +25% to spells considered Dark Magic. Skill unlock Lifedrain. This Dress will also become armoured when channeling mana into it.
Staff of the Slave Healer: A staff that was a gift to an orc slave from the empire, who would spend much time fighting and healing. An imprint of the Orc has been left on this item and receives 50% mana reduction when healing. Class restrictions: Healer. Item restrictions: Only a slave may wield this weapon.
Dane turned around as Ada changed into her new Dress, abandoning the tattered slave outfit, which was essentially a woven rice sack with a rope belt. It was hard not to notice how beautiful the Hawaiian was in a proper outfit, and Dane found it hard to make eye contact. Ada let out a little chuckle but didn't mention his sudden shyness around her. Turning to the last remaining chest, Dane knew that the contents belonged to him. He slowly lifted the heavy lid, which creaked as it opened fully. A black case lay at the bottom with a scroll on top of it. He opened the case and found an old leather gun belt with 32 bullets in it. The leather was a deep cherry red color, which was darker in the areas that the previous owner had frequently touched. In the belt was an old-looking TC9 in pristine condition. The gun was black with some patina, making parts of it look gold. The cylinder was classic for a cowboy gun and it was single action meaning that he would need to cock back the hammer before squeezing the trigger. It felt heavier in his hand than he thought it would. Opening the scroll, he wasn't given a choice to decline.
New Occupation granted: You have met all the requirements for the demolition expert occupation. You now have access to your recipes at all explosive benches. Be warned, a Demolition expert is an unforgiving job and may result in dismemberment or even death.
Cowboy Gun: A gun that belonged to a Native American from the Ocite Sakowin of your world. Passed down for generations in his family. He practiced with it every day, pouring his soul into each shot when the cataclysm swept him away during shooting practice. He used an item upgrade token, imbuing it with Magic, and transforming the mundane old-world weapon into a growth item that scales with the user. A giant snake swallowed him before he could use the new system weapon.
Recipe: Saltpeter is made from urinating on organic matter and letting it sit. Saltpeter can be added to sulfur and charcoal to produce gunpowder.
