Ch 171.
Regaining his bearings after the harrowing encounter with the giant octopus proved to be a formidable challenge for Matt, especially since he had become disoriented and was now down to just two rafts. Nevertheless, two days later, he found himself making significant progress, with only 175 miles left on his journey. A flicker of optimism ignited within him as he began to believe that he might actually reach his destination. Yet, along with this budding hope came an unsettling sense that some new obstacle was lurking just out of sight, waiting to pounce. Time slipped by like fine sand through his fingers, and despite the absence of immediate threats, Matt remained on high alert. By nightfall, he felt a surge of relief upon learning from Radoznaormr that he was now only 120 miles from his goal.
However, that marked the end of the good news. Radoznaormr then warned him about entering a radius controlled by the dungeon. At first, Matt was puzzled by this revelation; it meant that even the creatures swimming in the water would technically fall under the dungeon's influence. Confusion washed over him as he wondered why any sea creature would linger in such a perilous area. But Radoznaormr quickly clarified that the monsters inhabiting dungeons could be consumed, shedding light on the situation. Matt realized he was heading into a region that could be likened to an all-you-can-eat buffet for the denizens of the deep.
Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place, and he understood why his journey had been relatively uneventful thus far. The thought of potential dangers lurking beneath the surface sent a shiver down his spine. He also fretted about the diminishing visibility that night would inevitably bring as he pressed onward. The first indication that something had shifted came halfway through the night when the water grew choppy, as if a storm were brewing beneath the surface. Earlier, he had consulted Radoznaormr about the likelihood of encountering severe weather along his route, and he had been reassured that he would not face any such challenges.
However, now with each mile he traversed, the waters grew increasingly tumultuous, transforming from gentle half-foot swells into menacing five-foot waves by the time dawn broke. Matt hesitated to pull out Radoznaormr’s anchor, as his raft was relentlessly tossed about, making every movement a struggle against the relentless force of the sea. Above him, the once-clear skies had turned a foreboding dark gray, with thick clouds smothering most of the light, leaving only scattered patches of blue that he hoped indicated safe zones. Yet, unease gnawed at him; how secure could these havens be when the ocean's inhabitants were just as perilous—if not more so—than the monsters lurking within the dungeon?
Amidst the chaos, there was a glimmer of good news: the top three feet of the ocean remained outside the dungeon's domain, allowing Matt to focus solely on the natural sea creatures that roamed beneath. This proved to be a significant advantage, as he managed to navigate the entire day without interference, aside from the daunting challenge posed by the increasingly rough waters, which had now escalated to seven-foot swells. However, the only remaining navigational metric he could rely on was the rising swell size, which he diligently reported to everyone through the leadership chat, hoping to keep them informed of the precarious situation he faced.
Apricity frowned as she absorbed the latest update from Matt, standing at the very spot he had departed from, where Bob awaited her arrival. The most pressing concern that loomed over her was the revelation that their ship couldn’t venture deeper than three feet into the water, assuming the information was accurate. This restriction could only be bypassed if the dungeon’s influence was triggered solely by the presence of living beings beneath that depth. If they could traverse the distance using her safe passage abilities, she felt confident that it would enhance the fort's security significantly. However, that assumption hinged on whether Radoznaormr was truthful about the island being an ideal location for the fort and not leading Matt there for some ulterior motive.
After a moment of contemplation, she composed a response seeking clarification before turning her attention to the group she and her mother had assembled along their journey. Many of them hailed from the town nearest to where Matt had lived, and upon learning that a local was in charge of Scattered Stars, they eagerly joined the cause. Yet, even with their enthusiasm, only twenty-one of those who had returned after their integration were present. Along the way, they had successfully recruited several hundred more individuals, all eager to strengthen themselves and contribute to their growing community.
Apricity had distilled her criteria for accepting new members into Scattered Stars down to two pivotal questions. First, did they genuinely desire to become stronger? Second, what motivated that desire for strength? If the answer to the first was a resounding yes and the second was anything that didn’t stem from a selfish or malicious intent—at least in Apricity's eyes—they were welcomed into the fold. While not every newcomer remained committed, a significant number had rallied when they learned about the opportunities of the dungeon. However, a pressing challenge loomed ahead: how could she persuade them to brave the treacherous ocean after hearing the harrowing tales Matt had shared about his own perilous journey across it? On a brighter note, a handful of those who had successfully integrated on a ship exuded confidence about their ability to navigate the waters ahead, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty.
The confidence radiating from the few seasoned sailors was enough to galvanize the rest of those gathered, prompting them to roll up their sleeves and dive into the tasks ahead. Their first priority was to construct several sturdy buildings for shelter, laying the groundwork for what they envisioned as a bustling port rather than merely a single ship docked by the shore. Though this ambitious plan was still in its infancy, they were eager to refine their design and fully commit to the project once it took shape. After a series of animated discussions filled with sketches and ideas, it became clear that they were leaning towards a long rectangular structure made from two layers of logs, each layer oriented in opposite directions. One side would stretch impressively to 60 feet wide, while the other would extend a substantial 240 feet long, providing ample space for their growing community. Additionally, they intended to craft three crude sails by tightly weaving together lengths of cordage, ensuring their vessels would be ready to face the open waters.
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Current estimates suggested that the entire endeavor would require well over a month of relentless labor, so Apricity made the strategic decision to dispatch groups into the surrounding area in search of more willing hands. She hoped that by temporarily reducing their manpower, they could ultimately bolster their ranks in the long run. Yet, she felt an underlying urgency to prioritize sustainability; she sensed that if Scattered Stars did not establish a few reliable locations soon, they would find themselves grappling with resource shortages when it mattered most.
Emily held back a sigh as she scanned the latest directions from Matt, her gaze fixed on the sprawling ocean before her. Behind her stood fifteen individuals, the only ones she trusted enough to confide in about Scattered Stars, all of whom had been invited to join from the very beginning. Unfortunately, in her hometown, drawing attention to oneself was often unwise, and now they faced a daunting challenge. Unlike Matt, who had navigated the waters alone, they needed to cross the ocean at least twice, as another landmass lay directly in their path. Complicating matters further, this landmass harbored an insular population known for their reclusiveness. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, there was a glimmer of hope: at least one familiar face awaited them there—Yumiko. With the hope that their reunion would be smooth, Emily rallied her small group, instructing them to construct a crude raft sturdy enough to withstand the 300-mile journey between the two landmasses. As they gathered materials, she felt the weight of their mission pressing down, but the thought of Yumiko waiting for her helped her to move forward.
Yumiko frowned as she surveyed the work accomplished by those gathered around her. Initially, she had felt uncertain about which direction to take, as leadership was not a role she naturally embraced. However, her family had insisted that she step up and take charge. At first, her role had been simple: she gathered individuals eager to grow stronger and sparred with them, as her level and stats were among the highest in their group. Even though she wasn't the most skilled hand-to-hand fighter, she pushed others to their limits more effectively than anyone else. Yet, when she switched to using a bow, none dared to challenge her; she had outpaced them significantly. This disparity frustrated her, making her feel stagnant while others advanced.
That dynamic shifted when Matt finally broke his silence and began issuing directives. Since then, Yumiko had diligently repeated the instructions he shared in the leadership chat. They needed to traverse over 7,000 miles of open ocean, and it was clear they would require proper ships; even the largest crude rafts would not suffice for such a daunting journey. Moreover, their plan included landing on several islands along the way, with the intention of leaving some members behind to develop those locations further. While others focused on establishing bustling port towns, Yumiko had been entrusted with the critical task of creating a network of islands and ships that would help tame the unpredictable sea.
The challenge was daunting, as she had no experience in shipbuilding, and the few in her group who did were accustomed only to working with steel and fiberglass. Unfortunately, neither of these materials would serve them well as the sole options. Instead, they intended to experiment with the abandoned remnants of ships that looked as if they had been torn apart by monsters, using them to reinforce the structure below the waterline. This approach aimed to create vessels that would be less likely to capsize due to their bottom-heavy design and more resilient against potential breaches from the ocean's depths. At least, that was the hope.
Elanor sighed, her gaze drifting to the ocean for what felt like the hundredth time. A swell of uncertainty washed over her; she was acutely aware that many of those she had grown close to during the integration were preparing to undertake a perilous journey across the water, yet she found herself hesitant to join them. Now that she was back on Earth, even in its altered state, she felt a compelling need to restore some semblance of order to the chaos enveloping her. The thought of reuniting with Matt loomed large, but it would likely mean over a month at sea, not to mention the time required to either build or find a ship capable of transporting her across those vast waters.
In the meantime, Elanor had amassed a following of more than five hundred individuals, comprised of her former employees and their families. Though not all of them would have been the ideal recruits in Matt's eyes, each person possessed skills that could be invaluable as they laid the foundations of their new settlement. This burgeoning community would serve as a critical factor in her decision about whether to cross the ocean. Yet, if she were truly honest with herself, her mind was already made up; the prospect of returning to the relentless battles within a dungeon held little appeal for her now.
Zara sat gazing out at the vast expanse of water that enveloped her, reflecting on how drastically her plans had gone awry. She had been the sole individual determined to press onward toward the North Pole, even after Matt altered their intended course. Unfortunately, by that stage, reaching the North Pole and then making her way south seemed to be her only viable option if she wanted to reunite with him. Emily had asked her to scout the dungeon at the North Pole while she was in the vicinity, which added another layer of complexity to her journey.
Instead of steering clear of the treacherous ice flows and navigating around the frozen wasteland of the northern ocean, Zara had bravely forged ahead into the frigid waters. It was at this point that her flimsy raft succumbed to the icy waves, leaving her stranded on a massive chunk of ice, as large as a cruise ship. Despite her enhanced stats, Zara found herself powerless to steer her makeshift vessel, trapped in a drifting limbo. The silver lining was that she could easily catch food by teasing a large fish into attacking her, dipping her sword into the water to provoke it. Yet, the monotony of subsisting on raw fish day after day was wearing thin. Most of the time, the fish was frozen when she got around to eating it, making it difficult to chew and lacking any real flavor. As the days passed, Zara realized she desperately needed someone to come to her aid, but no one was within reach. All she could do was hope that help would find her before years slipped away as she drifted aimlessly through the icy waters.
