Chapter 72: Day 166 – Time to G-G-G-Grind

Tom, Ruth, and I left via the East gate and made our approach throughout the small wolf grassland. I had a strengthened pack with my spare outfit in it. Hopefully I wouldn’t want to make use of it, however no less than I had it, simply in case.

I used to be again to being poor. Nicely now was the time to grind out an insane variety of crystals within the subsequent 23 days or so.

I used to be even on cart obligation since I had Tom take the lead killing small wolves. To let him get observe with fast paced enemies, earlier than the meerkats. Ruth was there as again up. As soon as we reached the shadowlands, I took over on the entrance killing scorpions whereas Ruth supplied again up once more.

We made it to the meerkat deadlands and turned to the Southeast. We made camp as soon as we noticed the massive rocks within the distance and moved again into the shadowlands, clearing out some scorpions.

“You might have a deal with on them?” I requested Tom in regards to the meerkats I had him battle.

“Yeah, however how do they preserve showing behind me?”

“I instructed you, blink, an immediate teleportation talent with commentary limitations on this case. Simply be glad that it’s the solely tremendous harmful factor about them and getting overwhelmed.”

“I acquired it, so that is our camp long run?” Tom requested.

“Sure, I shall be going to the South to the rocks. Ruth?”

“North, however I’ll ensure East is evident for you,” Ruth replied. I nodded in because of that. If the flies didn’t work out, then I might be going after meerkats. I didn’t wish to waste time on the close by scorpions.

“There you go, you go East and kill meerkats. In the event you attain ant land, which I doubt, simply run away as shortly as you possibly can.”

“Acquired it. I do take note of every thing you each have been telling me,” Tom mentioned.

“I simply get frightened about my cute apprentice.” Tom and Ruth each stared at me. “I at all times needed to make use of that line.”

“Don’t trigger hassle. Taking a torch?” Ruth requested.

“And the hearth starter. If there’s a mega-boom, don’t be too stunned.”

“I nonetheless suppose you might be loopy for wanting to do that,” Ruth mentioned.

“The pace. I would be capable to break 500 50-point crystals in at some point. If I actually get quick sufficient, may need assistance selecting all of them up,” I mentioned with a cheeky grin.

“Use the time to regain vitality,” Ruth mentioned, giving a deadpan response to the exuberance I used to be emitting. Choosing up crystals was annoying, similar to dragging the cart.

“What are apprentices for then?” I requested. There was a stretch of silence at that. “Nicely, true apprenticeships would require the apprentice to pay a charge or a portion of their work.” At the least that was the way it was traditionally again on Earth.

“Ah…” Tom muttered.

“However I’m a pleasant grasp. My home might use some extra lights and strengthened home windows.”

“They value 10,000 every,” Ruth mentioned.

“Particulars,” I waved a hand. “You will get robust sufficient and deal with your grasp to a talent level crystal or three.”

“Three?” Ruth requested.

“Are you the apprentice, or is he?” I requested.

“Simply ensuring you don’t take benefit,” Ruth replied with a smile. She then reached over and gave Tom a decent hug. He simply smiled goofily.

“No inflicting hassle. Anyhow, we’re leaving day 189. That is your time to grind. Keep in mind, what’s the saying?” I requested.

“Marathon, not a dash grasp.”

“Wonderful, glorious.”

After that we turned in. All of us acquired up for evening clearing obligation after which again to sleep. It was changing into an instinctual behavior at this level. As soon as daybreak arrived, I gave Tom and Ruth a lightweight kick and commenced consuming.

“Actually?” Ruth groaned.

“The day was too lengthy. Cleared out the pit,” I instructed her in regards to the format, monsters, and abilities.

“A beam assault sounds helpful.”

“Nicely, I’m not in a rush to return. Degree 2 dungeons will value, if you’d like me to do them for you.”

“How a lot and don’t you dare upcharge me.”

“I might say 25,000 factors for the headache.”

“Actually?”

“Sure, actually. Anybody else, 100,000 factors. You might be getting the crew low cost.”

“I’ll suppose on it. I acquired 122, you?”

“Solely 278. What about you Tom?”

“41.”

“Not unhealthy, not unhealthy in any respect,” I mentioned.

“Identical factor tomorrow?” Ruth requested.

“I shall be heading South and angling out and in of meerkat territory to regenerate vitality after which again to the flies. An excessive amount of ready in any other case.”

“Alright. Tom, go at your personal tempo, don’t die.” He gave Ruth a thumbs up and a smile. In all probability not desirous to spend vitality to talk.

The evening was uneventful moreover having to kick Tom twice to get him up for the midnight clear. No slacking on this crew. The subsequent day I went on one other grind session.

I nearly forgot how annoying the meerkats had been. They had been actually annoying. It made me need their talent all of the extra. Nonetheless, I rushed ahead pretty overtly, not too involved about over aggro. My iron greaves protected nearly throughout my leg, which gave me a measure of consolation I wasn’t going to be chewed up that simply.

Probably the most annoying half was having the meerkats assault once I was making an attempt to select up a crystal from one, I already killed. It was like they may sense vulnerability. It didn’t matter if I had already waited a minute, there was at all times one that may assault as soon as I went to select up crystals.

Extra annoying than harmful with correct gear and talent to battle them. I additionally routinely dipped again into venom fly shadowlands and used my talent Acid Shot to kill them off shortly. After I returned to camp, I had a smile on my face.

“Let me guess, some quantity that may make me really feel disgrace?” Ruth requested.

“512.”

“That’s nonsense. Solely 131,” Ruth mentioned. Tom appeared drained and dejected.

“37,” Tom mentioned. “Am I doing one thing mistaken?”

“No. Ruth has what 50 Physique upgrades?” She nodded at that. “I’ve 100 Physique upgrades. You might have 5 Physique upgrades and nothing else?”

“Sure, it actually makes that large of a distinction?”

“Not that large, I’ve twenty instances your variety of upgrades into the Physique stat, however I’m not doing twenty instances higher. Identical with Ruth. You retain up the identical charge, then you possibly can afford 100 upgrades after we return. May even begin utilizing that talent of yours. That’s the job, kill issues, get crystals, get upgrades, get abilities, and repeat.”

“Yeah, simply irritating,” Tom mentioned. If solely he knew how lengthy, it took me to get up to now and the way fortunate he was.

“Don’t examine your self to that machine disguised as a human being. Simply suppose how lengthy the poor saps need to grind out 5-point crystals to achieve what you might have.” Thanks Ruth for saying that.

“Yeah, simply drained,” Tom mentioned.

“Truthful sufficient. You resolve your tempo. So, Ruth, trying to get one other talent level?” I requested her.

“No, I would like upgrades greater than something. My vitality is the limiting issue for the time being,” she mentioned.

“Alright. In the event you change, your thoughts, let me know. The value goes up,” I mentioned with a smile.