Chapter 233: Day 519 – Another Breakfast

“Good morning, Michael,” Clarissa said as she entered the breakfast balcony.

“Good morning, Clarissa,” I replied.

“Rough day yesterday?” she asked. I let out a scoff and drank my pulped orange juice.

“Screw spiders, screw swamps. The level 3 monsters for the dungeons had mist cloaking and super cutting web strands,” I explained.

“Ah, so a pain in the rear then?” Clarissa asked.

“Obviously. But a hunting camp would be good to set up. How is that going by the way?” I asked.

“It is going alright. There is discussion about the roads. That is probably going to be the investment after the repair and preparation for the next store upgrade,” Clarissa said.

“Not the possible upgrades?” I asked.

“No. Better to sit and think about them for a little bit and increase our income and skill harvest. Building a road into the swamps to easily access the dungeons and provide for quick travel would greatly boost the amount of crystals flowing into Purgatory,” Clarissa explained.

That was the difference between us. She was focused more on the income side of things. I was focused more on the military applications and what could benefit me personally. Still, increasing income was always a wise choice in strategy games.

Unless you were under pressure, it was always better to focus on building up one’s economy so that way there were more benefits over time. Then when things did get rough, there was that higher income to fall back on.

“I want more work and investment in enchanting and monster processing and airships, if they are available,” I said. Clarissa gave me a look that clearly said I needed to prioritize.

“I have it handled, but it will take a while. The expensive upgrades aren’t cheap. Once you get beyond a million points, we are looking at long term investments,” Clarissa explained.

“And the points. Are they going to be saved up as crystals, or will you hold onto them?” I asked.

“Crystals. Even if a single level 4 monster shows up, we can kill it without you. Already we are getting more soldiers with Radiant Beam. It is a priority skill. Once we have 20 or 30 people with it, we can easily sweep any battlefield. While a single beam might not kill a level 4 monster, I have confidence enough of them will have a serious impact,” Clarissa explained.

“That makes sense. So, things are being made ready for the next attempt at a store upgrade?” I asked.

“Yes. People will focus on dodging and drawing aggro while you and Naran kill the monsters. Rather than people trying to kill them,” Clarissa explained.

“I am glad it is being thought about,” I added.

“Gamer logic as you like to talk about. One person to kite the monster with lots of ranged attacks. A lot more training with bows and arrows, since people can’t fight a level 4 up close,” Clarissa explained. She then casually began eating some apple slices.

“That makes sense. Using bombs and arrows at range. Any progress in terms of improving arrows?” I asked.

“There is hope with enchanting that something can be done, but for now they are primarily a delivery mechanism. The testing that has been done has shown something interesting though,” Clarissa said.

“Oh what?” I asked.

“So force is opposite liquid, based on the crafting crystals.” I nodded at that. “Force arrows don’t melt against blue slimes,” Clarissa said.

“Opposing types cancel each other out,” I replied.

“Indeed. It is a minor thing. But an archer could stock up arrows against a specific type of monster and then take it out much more easily,” Clarissa replied.

“There are what? About 20 or 21 types discovered now. The total could be in the 30s or 40s,” I said.

“Probably not that many, but yes. It would require an archer to be prepared for monster types, working them out, and using the right arrows to counter that monster,” Clarissa explained.

“The worms were probably air, if I had to guess. Their light green blood matches up with the light green crafting crystal in terms of coloration. Do we know the opposite of that type yet?” I asked.

“Not many light green crystals to test, since you have found the only source,” Clarissa replied.

“Just South of Heaven, twisting vines on the West and North side of the zone, near the void,” I answered.

“That would be a challenge. But I will reroute a Union team in that direction to get those crafting crystals,” Clarissa said.

“Why a challenge?” I asked.

“After Naran and what you have explained to me, I want to keep our people away from the voids and have issued a confidential advisory to Union teams in that regard. Similar to the million point warning they get.” I had a confused look on my face, so she kept explaining. “Things we don’t share with the public, but are important to know for teams going into the wilderness. We want to avoid attrition at the higher levels if possible.”

I nodded at that. “That would be good. If the arrows can actually do damage, or penetrate through the monster’s defenses that would be huge.”

“There is another possibility. That another type of monster shows up. That is why the type chart is a long term project and not the focus of our defense plan,” Clarissa explained.

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“If a monster with the radiance type shows up, then our attacks will have little effect or do nothing,” I said.

“Yes. Having a range of types seems to be the best option. At least two, so we can respond to a wider range of threats,” Clarissa explained.

“What about mental skills? There is Sleep by Neo Brasilia,” curious if any progress was being made there.

“They are hit or miss. We have some people with that skill, but it isn’t a popular one. Mental skills are hit or miss. Giving headaches to monsters, doesn’t do much. Not much use either since everyone is investing into the Mind stat after the Ritualist used them with summons. White slimes are popular summons for a reason,” Clarissa said.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, and monsters that can summon on their own. There is talk of having public fights with monsters and selling tickets,” Clarissa said, clearly wanting to judge how willing I was to allow something like that.

“As long as clear rules and safeguards are put in place, we can have pokemon battles. We get a cut of course, since it can be a business with food stalls and stuff,” I said.

“Obviously. I will arrange for it to be sorted out, and a block turned into a coliseum,” Clarissa said.

“That would basically open up summoning to the public. No monsters in the city, unless with the RMPF. Even then, we should push that the monsters have to be kept near a person. I guess the exception would be the outer walls,” I said.

“That is already the case. It is to prevent incidents and confusion with new arrivals. Even just an accident. While there is some grumbling, a fighting arena would go a long way to dealing with the complaints,” Clarissa said.

“Person to person fighting, let’s keep that to light sparring. Anyone setting up a training center for high body stat people?” I asked.

“No, but do you want me to look into it?” Clarissa asked.

“For now no. I like having that advantage, but if something comes up naturally that is fine. But skills are too deadly to use in training unfortunately,” I said. That was the issue with my training with Naran. I couldn’t use Acid Shot, just throw stones to simulate my use of the skill.

“Heading off again today?” Clarissa asked.

“Yes. To the North this time. Going to be a pain since the slimes are in the swamp water, right?” I asked.

“Yes, they are,” Clarissa said, and I let out a sigh at that.

“Having roads cut through swamps can’t come soon enough. To the North and South would be the best,” I replied.

“Yes, the dungeons would be quite useful to bring under our control. Another minor question since I just remembered. If a person kills a level 4 during the next store upgrade, will they be promoted to the Immortal Council. I have gotten some questions about that,” Clarissa said.

“If they can make the kill primarily on their own, then yes. But if it is struck by a Radiant Beam beforehand, well not really. Why? Is there someone at that level?” I asked.

“A lot of the high-ranking Union teams are grinding hard to reach that point. After the First Upgrade Battle, it was a disaster for the Union. The older people who survived are working hard so they aren’t put in that position again,” Clarissa said. I knew she meant older, by being around the Systemic Lands longer, not in terms of age.

“That is good to hear. As long as they understand that the position also requires they fight in defense of the city. Just having high stats and killing a level 4 monster are the two main requirements, but long term, if they want a say at the table they have to be willing to fight,” I explained.

“And that gets us to another issue we need to discuss. How will the Immortal Council work?” Clarissa asked. We had a constitution, but there was a difference between words written on paper and reality.

“They are given housing and privileges and they get a vote. Naran would get a vote and I would get a vote and break ties. But they wouldn’t answer to you, but they can’t order you around either. If they have a problem with you, they can discuss that problem with me. Try and keep the peace?” I asked nicely at the end of my explanation.

“I will try. Most of the high up people with a shot are fairly steady for the most part. But be ready for more people to step up. Naran showed a clear path forward with the Body stat and has some fans,” Clarissa explained.

“And me?” I asked.

“You have a lot of upgrades for your skill and there hasn’t been a big push for level 3 skill points. I suspect that there will be a rush soon, especially once people see they can beat a level 4 monster,” Clarissa said.

“So my days of being a unique snowflake are numbered,” I replied.

“I wouldn’t go that far. But people are standing still, and more pressure is building up from below. The First Upgrade Battle, didn’t see a large number of casualties. That means hunting camps are putting out more and more people to form Union teams. The dungeons we do control are a limited resource. So people are looking further afield as they build up their stats,” Clarissa said.

“And all this is being documented?” I asked.

“Of course. If anything interesting or a dungeon clear you haven’t done comes up, I will let you know. For now people are trying to raise up their stats, but it is slow grinding on level 2 monsters,” Clarissa explained.

“And they won’t or don’t want to chance level 3 monsters,” I added.

“Also, the cold. They need to invest into the Aura stat. No one invests points seriously into that stat. So it is another barrier and takes time to overcome. But people are getting close. After day 605, we are going to see a lot more people clearing dungeons to get skill points, in level 2 zones if the current progression holds up,” Clarissa explained.

“Thanks for letting me know. Will be leaving fairly late today, so I don’t have to be in the swamp at night,” I said.

“I don’t keep track of your schedule, just have the guards alert me when you return,” Clarissa said. I nodded at that. She knew I wouldn’t like if she tried to keep tabs on me all the time or make me give her a precise schedule.

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