Ch 89

  With a new bag slung over his shoulder and a tentative formation in place, Matt smiled as he led the group of nine out of the safe room and into the dimly lit dungeon. If everything went according to plan, their goal was to begin fully exploring the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon, which meant finding a new safe room before stopping their expedition. However, they had contingency plans in place to return to the original safe room, depending on how things unfolded with the path they had chosen. Nevertheless, after battling their way through all the known threats and allowing Zara, Eleanor, and Rose to gain some experience and adjust to fighting in the dungeon's eerie atmosphere, Matt felt confident and optimistic about their progress.

  The only downside was that each fight resulted in only about three experience points for Matt and the others who had reached level 9. Thankfully, this was offset by the fact that they were getting into skirmishes approximately every 25 minutes, thanks to the route they were following. At least, that was what it felt like because, after six hours, Bob reached level 9, and they all got to witness the crossing of a rank for something other than a human.

  The first thing they noticed was the growl Bob let out, as he sent images of pain mixed with power into Matt’s mind. Then Bob's form slimmed down slightly as his limbs extended at the same time. The end effect was rather awkward to Matt, as the proportions just felt off, but Bob seemed to have no issues. He quickly started to test out his new form, resulting in a lot of running, jumping, and even climbing on the walls. The longer limbs’ purposes became apparent, mainly in the fact that they didn’t seem restricted in the same way most four-legged mammals’ legs were. Instead, they seemed to mix the best attributes of both humans and cats, allowing for agile and fluid movements.

  This included his paws, which had developed an opposable claw. While this new feature seemed useful for gripping during climbing, it still wasn't practical for holding a sword or even a spoon. Nonetheless, the changes sparked a lively discussion among the group about the possibilities. This continued until Greg started talking about cat girls, at which point the excitement turned into a collective reprimand, telling Greg to keep his mind out of the gutter and declaring him banned from ever having any female pets. Everyone except Matt shifted their focus back to the changes, while Matt was absorbed in the unexpected conversation happening in his mind with Bob.

  "Want me to help him?" Bob's voice echoed in Matt's thoughts.

  "No," Matt replied mentally. "Can you hear my thoughts?"

  "Yes, easy now. Still need to work on words, but many things clearer now," Bob responded.

  "Cool, just don’t change who you are," Matt thought reassuringly.

  "Naps and fish guts still best, but need work now," Bob added.

  "Good to hear. Anything else you want?" Matt inquired.

  "Mate but can wait until stronger," Bob concluded, his thoughts tinged with determination.

  Matt just chuckled, acknowledging that Bob truly had simple needs that almost matched his own, except for that last one. Still, maybe Greg wasn't so far from reality, Matt mused, considering Bob potentially gaining a human form as Tempormr had hinted might be possible. He cleared his throat, saving Greg from further chastisement.

  "That's enough. Bob's growth came as a surprise to all of us, but I don't think we should be yelling at Greg for dreaming about something most of us should have known he'd consider."

  With that, the break ended, and they returned to exploring the dimly lit dungeon, battling various monsters for several more hours. After another relatively easy fight, Matt gathered them all together.

  "Let's take a moment to consider that we've been at this for a long time. We can either keep pressing on or turn back, as it's about that time," he suggested, glancing at the weary faces of his companions.

  "I think we need to turn back," stated Eleanor with a hint of uncertainty. "Either that, or we go all in and assume there won't be two safe rooms within half a day's walk from each other."

  "My vote is to keep going," suggested Zara, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "And if we need to, we can take naps along the way."

  "Just make the call, Matt," commented Greg with a resigned sigh. "You know we're going to follow your lead anyway."

  "Fine," Matt replied with determination. "Apricity, use your skill. I need to know if it will guide us to a safe room. Everyone, get ready. I want us moving at full speed once she starts directing us."

  As Matt spoke, Greg appeared uneasy, but everyone nodded in agreement. A few moments later, they were moving at a brisk walking pace through the dimly lit corridors. Although Matt wasn't entirely sure, he estimated that they were moving at least four times faster than when they had been expecting a fight around every corner, their senses heightened and on edge. Even though they still remained somewhat cautious, nothing disturbed them, and just as Apricity felt her skill nearing its end, they stumbled upon a chamber that looked remarkably similar to the one they had left behind. A smile spread across Matt's lips as he realized they had gained a crucial insight from using her skill. Not only had it guided them to backtrack to a turn they had previously passed by, but it had also led them directly to a safe room. Matt was now convinced that her skill was meant to direct them to the nearest safe room that wasn’t the one they had just departed. At least, that was how it seemed in that moment, and as he pondered the plan for the following day, he felt a surge of confidence in their newfound understanding.

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  "We need to find tougher battles that offer more experience," stated Zara, as she settled into her seat, trying to unwind after a long day. "Not that I didn’t value the chance to get used to things today, but if we continue with a routine like this, we'll only end up as grunts, and I want more than that."

  "I thought our main focus was on leveling up until we returned to Earth," commented Apricity, glancing at Zara with a hint of curiosity. "If you’re seeking tougher battles, maybe you should consider tackling a few of the upcoming fights on your own."

  "It’s the lack of experience points that's the issue," interjected Greg, as he adjusted his gear. "Right now, it feels like we're constantly battling pairs of level 9 monsters, with an occasional level 10 thrown in. We need to locate an area with level 15 and 16 monsters and grind there until we feel prepared to face D-ranked monsters."

  "I think we're nearing the limit of fighting above our rank," stated Matt thoughtfully, as he analyzed their progress. "The next rank might be achievable, but considering how much our stats increased from level 8 to level 9, the leap from level 16 to level 17 must be significantly greater."

  "Bridging that gap is what will distinguish the great from the rest," asserted Greg confidently. "Matt, we must achieve this as a group, and you should be striving to do it on your own as well."

  "Why does he need to take such risks?" Apricity inquired, her voice tinged with concern. "Just because you all look up to him as if he's some anomaly capable of the impossible, he's still just one man."

  "You weren't there when he faced the impossible before," Emily interjected, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. "Nor were you there when he foolishly took burdens upon himself that he should have shared among us. We know that when our backs are against the wall, he'll do it again. That's why he needs to be prepared before that moment arrives."

  "No, it is when that moment comes that I'll find out if I can," Matt responded firmly. "I don't feel the need to jeopardize myself in such situations when they can be avoided."

  "We do need to push ourselves," Eleanor chimed in thoughtfully, "but I agree that we should be strategic about it and gradually work up to challenging a rank above us."

  "None of you were present when I battled the goblin king, and honestly, I haven't shared much about that encounter. To be frank, reaching him felt surprisingly easy. However, there was one moment that truly startled me—when I slashed open his throat, he survived and even healed. It was the first time I witnessed a creature recover from what should have been an instantly fatal wound. For now, I'm just hoping that between now and reaching level 13, I'll discover an explanation for this anomaly. Until I learn more, I'm considering fighting creatures above our ranks to be more of a risk than it's worth."

  "You're accustomed to trading a devastating blow for a lethal one and winning because of your regeneration capabilities," Emily stated with a hint of concern. "Therefore, you see a fight with something you can't kill in a single strike as outside your comfort zone. Does that accurately reflect your feelings?"

  "Yes," Matt replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "But it runs deeper than that. There are countless variables in what becomes possible with each new level that I can't help but feel we're in danger of mistaking something possible for impossible until it's too late."

  "Like defeating foes that are significantly more powerful than we are?" Greg inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Matt, instead of worrying about what you might encounter, all any of us can do is perfect our ability to face whatever challenges may arise. That doesn't mean we should learn a million different techniques or abilities, but rather we should perfect the ones we possess, as mastery is more potent than mere versatility."

  "I can't agree with that," Emily interjected, her tone firm. "Sure, mastering a skill like your magic is powerful, but what use is it to master fire magic when you need to stop a river of lava?"

  "Just extract the fire from the lava, transforming it into rock," Greg explained with a thoughtful nod. "When you master something, you strive to find a way to apply it to every obstacle that might stand in your path. Take Matt's regeneration, for example. He's already figured out how to use it to heal others, transfer wounds to his enemies, and I'm sure he'll even discover ways to do extraordinary things, like creating clones of himself."

  "Can you not talk about bizarre things that sound like a terrible idea?" Matt interjected with a frown. "There's no way I want any copies of myself running around claiming to be the real deal."

  "As long as they didn't go around trying to be the only one, that might not be the worst scenario," Rose remarked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "I mean, it could make a few other things less complicated."

  "No, any cloning technique needs to be one where either the clones are clearly identifiable as fakes or eventually return to the original," Emily stated firmly, adjusting her glasses. "Anything else would likely result in messing up karma or whatever vague principle governs potential, much like having kids would. At least, according to what you've mentioned on the subject."

  "I believe we are venturing into topics that can be addressed at a later date," remarked Yumiko carefully. "Matt, like the rest of us, will choose the path he wishes to follow, and for now, we should focus on resting since we have another day of exploring the dungeon ahead of us tomorrow."

  "Yes, and another day of the same after that," added Zara with a hint of weariness. "We really need a way to blow off some steam; otherwise, these conversations that tiptoe around what we're all thinking will just keep happening."

  "Any suggestions?" Emily inquired, looking around at the group.

  "We could all just spend some time focusing on ourselves," suggested Yumiko. "I mean, even if we just sit and meditate, it could be beneficial to have a bit of time to our own thoughts."

  "Not a bad idea considering our current constraints," agreed Eleanor, nodding. "But I don't think I’ll want that every day. We should find something that all eight of us can do together."

  "Nine," corrected Matt with a slight smile. "Bob might only be able to communicate with me, but he's smart enough to know when he's being left out."

  "Alright, what is something that the nine of us can do together, but won't devolve into reality TV drama?" asked Greg, raising an eyebrow as he considered the possibilities.

  “If we had pen and paper, we could play a roleplaying game,” suggested Emily enthusiastically. “But that might also feel too much like what we are already doing every day.”

  “I have an idea! We can use the leather to make a makeshift pad and take turns giving each other massages,” proposed Apricity with a playful grin.

  “Bad idea,” cautioned Greg with a chuckle. “Unless you all expect Matt to give me massages, and me to give him massages, while the rest of you handle each other.”

  “How about we try group storytelling?” offered Eleanor. “It's something I used to have my teams do to build cohesion and add a bit of fun to our meetings.”

  “How does it work?” inquired Emily, intrigued.

  “Someone picks a topic, then chooses someone to start by saying a few lines to get the story going. We all sit in a circle and take turns adding to it until the last person concludes it,” explained Eleanor.

  “As long as we steer clear of X-rated topics, I think it’s worth a shot,” Matt chimed in with a laugh.

  “Alright then, let’s give it a try, unless anyone has any objections,” replied Emily, looking around at the group.

  With no objections, they all settled into a circle, anticipation buzzing in the air, as Eleanor chose the topic of cooking breakfast to kick off their storytelling adventure.