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  Chapter 9: Dungeon

  A full year had ground past since the new members of Strongroot first crossed the floating bridge into the fortress. Zed with the iron help of Lira had made certain every soul on the island carried a full belly every single day. Comfortable living environments sheltered them from the jungle rains that could drown weaker men in hours. Strict hygiene kept disease at bay in a land that fed on weakness. Every adult and child learned everything properly from the moment they could stand ready to serve the growing tribe or fall to its enemies.

  During that year, the monster inside Zed had grown sharper teeth. He welcomed his second child into this cruel existence. A son. He named him Syd. The infant slept safely in Sybil arms or in the violetwood cradle that Zed himself had grown beside their bed. The beast within watched the boy with the same fierce possessive hunger he felt for Enzo. Both children remained untouched by any danger for now. They knew only warmth and protection in a world that would one day try to rip it away from them.

  Half a year after the new members of the tribe arrived every single one of them had learned how to read. Most could write now as well though some formed the letters better than others. To mark the achievement Zed created a library. He filled it with books on myriads of topics. Dictionaries. Gardening. Animal husbandry. Bee keeping. Physics. Carpentry. Blacksmithing. And countless others. He shaped every page from paper conjured through wood manipulation. Torren the elderly scholar stood speechless when Zed opened the doors. Tears ran down the old man face. He confessed that in all his years of studying crumbling scrolls and ancient tomes he had never encountered such concentrated power. These books were a godsend. Zed named Torren head librarian on the spot. From that day forward the people of Strongroot spent their free hours reading. Even Sybil was fond of spending her time in the library while with the children. Some trained in the gym until their bodies bled to grow stronger. Others simply sat in silence. Leisure had returned to their lives in the brief moments before the next storm broke.

  Zed also turned his attention to creating a small militia. Six people so far had joined. Josh the young fisherman and Mira the former river village girl stepped forward first. They wanted to fight pirates one day and take revenge for the loved ones they had lost in blood and fire. The other four were Gob Rike Ian and Lan. Average villagers who had been chained and sold like cattle. Zed planned to make them stronger through the system itself.

  One quiet evening he opened the system shop. He browsed the glowing list of potions artifacts precious materials and skills. Everything carried an eye watering price. Two skills however caught his full attention and refused to let go. Bestow Skill. Party Leader. He purchased both. Each cost one thousand credits. The system deducted two thousand credits instantly. He had read their functions carefully before buying.

  Bestow Skill allowed him to give a full copy of any skill he already possessed but only one skill per person. Party Leader let him invite others into his party. Once joined every member received the talent called Gamer Soul. That talent granted experience points from slaying monsters and a random skill every twenty levels. With these two abilities Zed could finally train people and turn them into something far stronger than mere villagers.

  Zed kept his promise to the scout. He returned the pirate ship and allowed the man to sail away. The only reason he honored the deal was so that one of the nine violetwood dragonflies could follow unseen. The golem dragonfly tracked the scout all the way back to the hidden fleet base. The monster inside Zed smiled at the slaughter that would eventually follow.

  While the adults tended the farms, prepared meals and caught fish, the children played on the playgrounds Zed had created. What looked like innocent fun was secretly training. Obstacle courses built throughout the island strengthened young bodies without them ever realizing they were being prepared for the wars to come.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  That afternoon Zed walked the island paths with Sybil. He carried Enzo in one arm while Sybil carried Syd in hers. They watched their home change from a desolate rock into a lively warm settlement. Children laughed as they climbed the obstacle courses. Adults after finishing their daily work sat together sipping the alcoholic beverages Zed had learned to brew. As the couple passed one group the people called out warmly.

  An old man named Olaf a large balding figure with a booming laugh waved them over. He patted the bench beside him. "Chief! Come sit with us!"

  Zed and Sybil joined the circle. Olaf poured a fresh cup and offered it with respect. Zed took a long drink and let out a satisfied sigh before passing the cup to Sybil. She sipped and smiled the same way. Olaf laughed again.

  "This drink you created for us is extremely high quality. Would you be able to teach us how to make it?"

  Zed thought for a moment then nodded. "Of course. But you know the secret to making the best alcoholic beverages is in the library."

  Everyone eyes widened. One man blurted "Is that the truth?"

  Zed nodded again. "Yes. And that same book also reveals how to create stronger alcohol."

  The moment the words left his mouth the entire group vanished. Every man and woman rushed toward the library like starving wolves chasing fresh meat. Only Olaf remained sitting with Zed and Sybil. The old man chuckled then grew serious. He leaned forward and spoke in a low voice.

  "The moment I saw it I knew what it was. The entrance is not like normal caves."

  Zed sipped from his cup and met the old man gaze. "What is it?"

  Olaf smirked. "A dungeon."

  "A dungeon?" Zed took a shot from the cup refilled it and passed the cup to Sybil.

  Olaf with a raspy voice responded "Yes a dungeon. Dungeons are dangerous but from where I am from it is used to gain resources such as meats material for armors and weapons. And even medicine."

  Sybil gave the cup back to Zed and he nodded as he refilled the cup with the alcoholic beverage that he made. After refilling the cup Zed presented it to Olaf and he took it while continuing to speak.

  "But as I say it is dangerous. You will need strong people to delve into that place so that you can harvest the unimaginable resources that is constantly produced in a dungeon."

  Zed scratched his chin refilled the cup Olaf had drunk out of and drank from the cup. After refilling the cup again Zed offered it to Sybil and she politely declined by shaking her head. Sybil placed her head on Zed. While Olaf and Zed continued their conversation.

  "You should know Chief that dungeons are dangerous. If one is left unmaintained a breakout could occur."

  The two continued to drink while the conversation continued.

  Zed brow raised. "Break out?"

  Olaf took a shot and continued.

  "A breakout is when a dungeon spawns too many monsters that they begin to leave the dungeon. Once that happens nearby unprotected settlements will be greatly affected or even wiped out."

  Zed took a shot and a serious expression appeared on his face. "Do you remember where you saw this dungeon?"

  "I do. From what I remember the dungeon is half a day travel by water from here."

  Immediately after hearing Olaf response he called Shinobi and she appeared from the shadows.

  "Shinobi command the dragonflies to search the coasts for a strange cave."

  Shinobi nodded and quickly disappeared. Zed took a drink once more and refilled the cup to give to Olaf.

  "Thank you Olaf for this information."

  Olaf laughed turning red as he scratched his head.

  "Ah do not mention it. I just thought you would be interested in this information."

  As Olaf took a drink from the cup Zed observed Sybil then turned to Olaf.

  "Well I must leave now. It looks like the wife needs to be carried home."

  Zed called for Alpha and handed Enzo and Syd to the golem. Afterwards he picked up Sybil and began carrying her to their house.

  While carrying his wife Zed was thinking about how he had another potential threat or a potential bounty that he had to monitor. Primal Regeneration burned in his veins fighting the constant vitality drain a battle he never quite won. He stared at his sleeping wife and promised in his mind that he would do everything he could to keep everyone safe. As he approached his abode Shinobi appeared.

  "Master. They found it."

  A cold determined look appeared on his face. Now he knew that he needed to prepare before taking any actions.