Mage And Wolf
Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Chapter 62

When we find Karl he points out one very important bit of information. Mana stones are an expendable resource. Non mages can use them to power magical circles and devices, though both still need an actual Mage to activate initially.

So things like the food creation and house cleaning spells can be run on mana stones all over the city, though the price might have to be checked, as we’re not sure how long the lower grade stones can power various spells for.

It does somewhat solve our issue with non magical residents needing mana to access magical services though. Even if the exchange rate isn’t great.

Word from the other dungeon teams, including Jake and Mary that had such an annoying time dealing with the teams that came after them, is that the easier two dungeons have a much worse rate at producing the stones. The monsters in the first dungeon mostly only drop one from the boss level commanders, so only a dozen or so a day. The rest of the monsters have nothing, or a simple, soft mana gland, which is largely worthless.

The dungeon full of magical beasts fared a little better, with one in 10 having a properly formed mana stone. In total they collected over 40 in a full clear yesterday. That’s a pretty decent income, but with the demand, I can’t see one team being allowed a full clear. There’s 6 zones to that place, and they’ll likely all be given to different teams moving forward. The meat from the herbivores in the grassy zones will be a big seller though, every shop in town wants it, and the food spells can’t duplicate it.

The dungeon we cleared, while unfit for non cultivators, and in fact, likely not truly fit even low rank ones, was a massive cash influx. We collected hundreds of low grade stones.

Almost 200 grade 2 stones and very few beasts inside didn’t have one. But the hundreds of small spiders for the grade 1 stones were a nightmare. If we didn’t have a fire mage that could top off her mana repeatedly we wouldn’t have made it out.

At least not all of us. Not even with enchanted ammunition.

The agreement is made that we will go in again tonight, despite having cleared the entryway, and clear as much of the area as we can. Our team will forfeit the stones and any meat we collect, to build up the base reserves, in exchange for preferential treatment at a later date.

Really, we’re already getting the VIP treatment. Half a floor to ourselves, free magical ammunition and specialty goodies. Magical maids to bring us whatever we want free of charge. It’s not a bad life.

Night is coming, we’ve had our dinner and an afternoon nap to prepare for the excursion and now it’s time to head back to the spider nightmare.

Hui’Jin spent all day ’preparing’ as she put it. I’m not sure if she meant mentally or physically, but I haven’t seen her around. When she does appear, she’s with the Ramirez brothers, both of whom are carrying a new toy. It looks a lot like a black metal water gun, with a backpack. Fire Mage, plus water gun equals Flamethrowers. It’s got to be flamethrowers.

Now we’re prepared to deal with a spider infestation.

The entry goes smoothly, it’s still mostly clear as we killed off most of the boars for meat first thing this morning. Today Jurgen shifts into his wolf form before we even enter the labyrinth. It’s more combat effective in close quarters, and I can figure out what he means anyhow.

Turning the opposite way we did the first time leads us to a somewhat expected enemy. A team of a dozen centaurs, again led by one with a lightning spear in his hand lay in ambush in a large chamber. Were we a human team, we’d be in a world of trouble, but with Lycan senses and the Werewolf Jurgen taking point, we’re prepared when the first volley of arrows and spears flies our way.

Jurgen leaps forward into the center of the ambush, while the brothers fire shot after shot into the monsters flanking the walls. Hui’Jin only gets off a single volley before it’s all over. Unfortunately for me, I don’t get a second lightning spear today. The centaur used it to block and its enchantment died when Jurgen bit the handle in half. I’ll have to be careful not to snap the one I’ve got then.

This branch ends here at the centaur’s cave and we mark it on our map. 2 more branches lead to dead ends, with hidden traps and a few lost boars. Which leaves us with just the nightmare of spiders ahead of us.

"Everyone ready? Hui’Jin, this isn’t too much for you? I know you’re on Penance, but I don’t want to traumatize you too badly."

"I’ll be alright I think, High Priestess. I mean, Kat" I smile at her finally dropping the worst of the formality "We’ve been through this before, and I made flamethrowers that will run off mana stones, so we should be alright.

The flamethrowers are glorious. Once the skittering masses engulf the hallways on either side of us, the brothers light them up and a few sweaty, sooty minutes later we’re ready for the big guys.

I take the attempted ambush at the back, with the occasional help of Hui’Jin’s fireballs, while One flamethrower and a shotgun assist Jurgen on the front side. We all sustain a few scratches and burns, except Hui’Jin nestled safely in the center of our formation, but nothing serious today.

The flamethrowers clean up the mess, burning everything to ash, and we clean up the stones left behind after a quick lunch break to let the floors and walls cool.

That magical fire is intense, I can see spots where the stone walls started to melt under the onslaught. If it wasn’t for the protective fire shield Hui’Jin keeps up we’d likely have managed to cook ourselves.

Carefully we make our way through the twisting tunnels, filling out the map as we go, so we can see if the layout changes daily. Spiders are the word of the day. Big ones, little ones, green ones, brown ones, we’ve killed spiders until my arms have started going numb from exertion.

The flamethrowers are on their second Grade 2 stone each at this point, but Hui’Jin would have collapsed from exhaustion if we’d asked her to attempt that much magic, especially in a single night.

Finally, we’re at the core of the labyrinth. The map shows there should only be one more large room left in the center of the pattern, we’ve cleared everything else.

Carefully we make our way to the archway that marks the entrance to the final room, knowing full well that our lack of luck means it’s going to contain something nasty and not treasure and comfortable beds.

"Wagers in on what’s in the room" I announce quietly.

"Giant Spider" the brothers say in unison.

"I’m going with a half spider half human hybrid that uses magic" Hui’Jin whispers and Jurgen points his snout at her in agreement.

"Fine, I’ll take the long odds and go for a demon that’s not of the arachnid persuasion."

Pulling my hood up around my face to better hide myself in this dark environment I peek around the corner, finding something I’d not at all expected.

"It’s a poison elemental."

Silence. Not a one of us has any clear idea how to deal with that.

"Well, since we’ve got no idea what will actually hurt this thing, Hui’Jin, hide behind a pillar and cast on it when you can. Jurgen to human form, start with the shotgun, penetrating rounds. Juan and Manuel, on the flamethrowers unless they’re not working."

Jurgen shifts back and tosses on a pair of pants and a tunic shirt from Juan’s backpack.

"I’ll lead. I can heal poison very quickly, and I’ve got these extra tough robes for it to get through. Hopefully my energy claws will do it some damage."

The team tenses, ready for me to attack and start the takedown of the poison elemental.

It barely reacts as I come flying at it from the doorway, but turns quickly when Manuel steps with a crunch on a discarded piece of bone. As it’s now facing side on to me, I attempt to rend an arm from the elemental, my black claws slicing smoothly through the form, like it’s a liquid. The wound shimmers and bubbles while the limb falls to the ground and makes a hissing puddle. My claws seem unaffected, but my robe is smoking where the liquid touched it.

"Poison elemental is acidic" I yell back so nobody is caught off guard.

The shout attracts its attention and I roll away towards the far wall, making the elemental turn its back on the rest of the team. They light it up with flamethrowers and it begins to steam and bubble, the shotgun blasts make ripples, but I can’t tell if they’re actually effective.

Hui’Jin is launching her first attack when the elemental begins its counter attack. Dozens of green balls fly out at my team members and me, making us all dodge wildly to avoid getting splattered. The elemental’s apparent direction is not important, it is firing at all of us no matter where we are. Hui’Jin hides behind a big post as instructed, but the acidic balls eat deeply into its surface, a few more barrages like that and the pillar is a goner.

Juan has taken a glancing blow and rips his pant leg off to get the goo away from his skin, but the rest of us seem unscathed and begin our barrage again. First one flamethrower, then the other lights the beast up, and it’s getting visibly smaller. Then comes an intense barrage of little fireballs from Hui’Jin and the liquid body starts to turn black and tarry, its movements slowing down.

A second barrage of poison balls is not nearly as deadly as the first, only a few flying at each of us, and I jump in to rend it apart. The tarry body falling in jiggly clumps to the floor before being burnt to ash with flamethrowers. It leaves behind a beautiful green mana stone and a collection of small green crystals.

"Hui’Jin, do you know what those crystals are?"

"They should be crystallized elemental poison. They’re worth hundreds of gold to the assassin’s guild back home I’m told. I’ve never seen one before though."

"Well then, we’ll have to save them to trade to Drakon City for gold. Once others start clearing this area, our pitiful stock of coins and valuables isn’t going to go far."

"How do you mean?" Manuel asks

"Well, if we’re going to stop using the old American Dollar at some point, we’re going to need more of whatever we replace it with. Dragon Law says cities must hold valuables enough to back up the coins they issue in the Dragon God’s names. Nobody at this point would take a coin that’s not backed up by anything, that’s why we’re worried about the Dollar. So, we’re going to need enough valuables to cover a month’s wages for an entire city, plus cash out the adventurers and farmers bringing in monster materials. The only upside we do have right now, is that all the Mages currently work for us. We can have them make magical items, from weapons to maid golems on behalf of the city to trade for goods."

"Who knew it would be so complex to just start using different money?" Hui’Jin ponders while the others take in the big picture.

"Enough of this, we’re cleaned up, let’s get back out at a reasonable time tonight. I want a bath."

The guys all laugh at me, covered in blood as always. I swear I’m going to get a magical shower inscribed to take with me.

Back at the truck I duck behind a tree for a minor sense of modesty, setting aside the duffel with my spare clothes, I remove my robes and dump the contents of my canteen over my head, washing away as much of the blood and grime as I can before getting dressed to go home. It’s good to be back in my leathers and out of my formal robes. They’re comfy, but people get so uptight.