Milkers in the Dungeon Chapter 9

After cleaning up after Shenhe's mess, we all regrouped in a meeting room that was thankfully not a torn-up mess. And the large meeting table meant for the Rangda familia's higher-level members wasn't some... Horror show or anything.

It was JUST a normal, darkly stained table, thankfully.

"Now, although this mansion has plenty... More than enough size for our Familia. It also very clearly needs some work. An expensive cleaning crew will need to be brought in to clean it up, and having a lot of fixtures, doors, and paintings removed and destroyed as well." I spoke to get things started.

Tiamat sighed with a wry smile as she said. "Yes, that is indeed the case. I can't help but wonder if Ouranos played a trick on me. But the manor was rather cheap, and more importantly. The Rangda Familia has been dissolved, with her being sent back to Tenkai. So any familia remnants won't be an issue."

"In the end, all our issues will be solved by having enough money. Well, in that case, should we not merely just sally forth into the dungeon?" Xianyun spoke calmly, getting to the heart of the matter.

With Shenhe perking up clearly at the thought of violence that made my lips rise in amusement as I fought a smile at how Shenhe was such a murder hobo.

Then I took a breath and clapped my hands together softly. "Yes, in either case. Let's get back into the dungeon. And our goal is to try to get to the seventh floor."

The ladies raised their eyebrows and then with a weak smile I said. "Well, I think that if we are careful... We can make some money if we abuse the Killer Ant's scream ability. So that when more and more Killer Ant's come, we can kill them off to gain more monster stones. Instead of hunting down groups of monsters."

The room was quiet for a moment before Shenhe stated rather bluntly. "That's rather dangerous. Even higher-level familia's with levels two and three's don't do it for a reason. And for people that are stronger, it's just not worth the effort of dealing with the Killer Ant's carapace for a pittance of valis."

"Yes but I can create structures to funnel the killer ants around, we won't be swarmed by the buggers. But yes, cleaning up the Killer Ants would be annoying with how durable their exoskeleton." I admitted frankly before I added. 

"However, this is a quick way to make a good bit of money. Especially with the fact that my sword cannot be dulled or otherwise destroyed. Combined with the special elemental martial arts I picked up? Its got good potential I think."

Ganyu then added on. "Messing around on the seventh to ninth floor will be good for me and Xianyun as well. As we can use the Needle Rabbit's horns to make really good armor-piercing arrow heads. Being able to stock up on them would be great to say the least."

With Xianyun humming and saying curiously. "True, the resources, including the purple moth's poison powder, can also be used to poison our arrows. To say nothing of getting some Killer Ant Chitin to make some scale mail."

"I certainly wouldn't say no to some protection... Leather and Chainmail isn't going to do much when those Needle Rabbit's or War Shadows jump us. Those bastards are literally made to go through non-adventurer grade special armor." I muttered.

The reason Killer Ant's and War Shadows were called the so-called Rookie Killers was simple... The Killer Ant's huge mandibles could crush simple plate mail around the limbs. And the dagger-like sharp claw fingers of the War Shadow's were perfect for going for the joints of people's armor.

Needle Rabbits, on the other hand. Those little bastards would just throw themselves at you at like thirty miles an hour with their full mass driving that needle point, diamond hard horn right through a steel plate like it was paper being put through a hole puncher.

"Hmm... Then I suppose I should go spend some more time with Ereshkigal then while you are all busy. The most important question though. Is whether we will sleep here starting now?" Tiamat spoke up with a rather good point.

I nodded, saying calmly. "Yeah, we found some rooms that aren't a mess and with some new mattresses and sheets. There shouldn't be any issues sleeping in those rooms."

The meeting of the Tiamat Familia was finished after we spoke a bit more about some other topic's and then we, the adventurers, headed back for the dungeon itself.

"Hopefully, we avoid any other would-be bandits down here." Xianyun muttered quietly as we saw a rough-looking group split off the main procession that was going through the dungeon in the mid-morning.

And in answer to her words, a loud crack rang out as the dungeon seemingly offended that she was more worried about other adventurers than monsters, tossed a dozen goblins at us that we swiftly slayed.

With that, we made good time following the already mostly cleared path down to the eighth floor which had noticeably bigger rooms. By the seventh floor, the dungeon changed its design that was just long hallways to having large rooms that formed the intersections of the hallways.

Which had its pro's and con's for sure. For one it gave us all more room to work around one another. But on the other end, the purple moths liked to be in the large rooms and would try to fly over us to drop their toxic wing dust on us.

But, thankfully, Xianyun and Ganyu especially were skilled archers so they weren't too much of an issue.

A series of cracking noises rang out as my divine sword broke through two of a Warshadow's claws that were going for my face. And then my sword carved through the shadow like creatures' immaterial flesh cutting it in half.

But even with that one warshadow dead, that wasn't the end of it. As I had to hold my sword backwards so I could more easily slam the point of the sword in the damned ankle biters that were the killer ants.

"Ok, I was wrong! These damned Killer Ant's are not good for farming for money!" I cried out in some annoyance as I waved my hand to create a mess of copper wire that got tangled up quickly in the many legs of the approaching killer ants.

Meanwhile, Ganyu and Xianyun were sending bone/armor breaking arrows into the heads and eye's of the Killer Ant's that were being rather annoying with how they were attracted by the scent of their dead fellows, it seemed like.

Violence however, was totally the answer in dealing with more monsters and I realized that copper in being used as a conjured weapon, was best used to ensnare monsters with ultra-thin wires that were in a mess of being weaved around one another... Like some overused steel wool actually.

The monsters, especially the Killer Ant's would get their feet stuck in it, and for more bipedal monsters. I created actual nets with the copper to trip them up. But also unlike my other element of Sodium, Copper did actually hold a bit of an edge.

So I was able to use it for making spikes or spears to slam into monsters... Or Shenhe's case, make a large sledgehammer out of the copper so she wouldn't wear down her new spear. And she just happily smashed the large heads of the Killer Ant's that approached her and Fillia.

"This is why people mostly work themselves to the bone in hunting Minotaurs, Jake. Each Minotaur monster stone is worth about three thousand valis and they can spawn in groups of five to ten sometimes." Filia spoke with a slight sigh of mental exhaustion for herself.

As she had been healing our bruises and small gashes that resulted from trying to kill several dozen Killer Ant's and War Shadows especially that got lucky in hitting us as we killed them.

"Let's move on from here. Let the damned monsters get all caught up in the copper wires and lets rest on the stairs leading to the seventh floor." I spoke to get us moving again.

We then did just that, we heading through the tunnels and past another large room that had a couple purple moth's which one of them actually dropped one of their wings as a drop item. Which was useful in making potions and antidotes.

"Hmm, I wonder if I can make remove all the toxin's in the wing. And then by layering it with some treated cloth, use it as a mask to prevent other purple moth's or other air born poisons from getting into someone's systems?" Xianyun spoke in curiosity.

Which reminded me of how Tiamat told me privately that Xianyun had a lesser form of the Mystery development ability already. Which allowed her to make some enchanted things.

But said items weren't that strong, though Tiamat was SURE that Xianyun would obviously get the actual Mystery development skill when she reached level three or four. Which would allow her to make possibly very powerful enchanted objects in the future.

'That future will be interesting though.' I mused before loud shouts hit my ears coming from the distance.

Well it wasn't the screams of the dying so that was... A plus? But we obviously made our way over. Because why the hell not honestly.

Coming around the bend, I and the rest of the girls paused. As there were two groups at odd's with one another. And seeing my party of five come around, the two other parties of four and three paused at seeing the slightly larger group.

One group was filled with elves of all things, with two male elves and the other two being women in the typical semi lewd but form fitting clothes that elves liked to wear.

The other group of three was full on wearing lewd outfits. But they were all amazons so it made sense actually.

The leader of the amazons group was very full figured but seemingly only in her late teens. And she looked us over, and seeing our very well put team in two close ranged fighters, two ranged, and an obvious healer.

It was clear she didn't want direct conflict as she said coldly. "This is our business, leave and peace or face the wrath of the Ninshubur Familia!" 

I blinked and then I said in complete honesty. "I have... Zero clue who that Familia is. Do you guys have any level three's or anything?" 

The leading amazon twitched at my words with the leading elf who was a blond haired man who had his lower face covered up with a silk bandanna and wearing some tight fitting robes clarifiying in a dull tone. "No, its a subordinate familia of the Ishtar Familia. Any level three's's are transfered to the Ishtar Familia to act as her bouncer's for the red light district."

There was a pause, before another elf one with another silk bandanna over her lower face and also having blond hair said somewhat coldly. "And how do you know so much about the red light district big brother?" 

The leading amazon gave a hearty chuckle and said with some amuesment. "Hoh hoh, is that the reason you are wearing that adorable little face mask? You are scared someone from Orario's happy zone is going to recongize you?"

"I was worried people were going to be killing one another... But this is much more entertaining." I heard Filia speaking to Ganyu behind me who gave a nervous giggle at the truth in that.

Taking in the scene however, I realized the source of the conflict. As there was what had to be a supporter. Lying dead on the ground with a full large sack that had overflowed with some of the contents. I could only frown as it was just too convienent...

"That... Guy has been down here a while, and looking at his black lips, he was probably poisoned. Do you guys really think that so close to the stair's a loaded supporter would be left with all their earnings from another party's work?" I spoke in some confusion.

And both parties paused as they seemingly just didn't consider it was likely a setup and then a loud annoyed groan rang out. "Hey you little shit! You are fucking up my game!" A loud thump rang out and I looked over to the side.

A man fell from where he had hidden himself with a brown blanket that matched the dungeons walls while he had climbed up the rugged walls and seemingly was impersonating a stalagmite.

The man's gear just fucking screamed bandit honestly. A Killer Ant chitin chest piece along with armor on his wrist's and neck and knee's. He also had the pelt of a mundane coyote of all things drapped over the back of his neck and lying on his shoulders.

And then there was his face that just screamed bandit to the senses, his face was rather dirty honestly with a scar running over his right eye, a couple more across his lips, and a large scar across his neck as though someone tried to slit his throat.

"You left that supporter for bait didn't you? To have groups kill themselves and then what... You don't have a fancy crossbow or anything. You going to just jump some people after the fight and hope for the best?" I asked incrediously.

The man chuckled and I saw his large curved sword was rusted not with age or the elements but blood itself. "Yeah something like that. It's worked out for me pretty well for the last few months... And the day a green little bitch made level one gets ahead of me, a level 2 almost three is gonna be the day for fucking sure haha!"

And then it struck me... This was that bastard upper level two who was hunting down newbies and looting them according to the other shits of the Kubera Familia we killed.

As the more I looked at him... I could literally see that the dead supporter, was also very noticably missing his hands, and a set of hands had seemingly been tied to the man's belt as well.

"You are the captain of the Kubera Familia then. The guy who has been killing newbies huh." I spoke seriously as I held my divine sword at the ready to stab it into the ground to activate it's divine ability.

Along with having my Swiftblade Wand at the ready to summon some flying swords as well.

The man paused at being called out so specifically and then he glanced at me instead of looking at the large breasted amazons and the other silent elf who had a large chest as well.

"Oh you are a sharp one? How did you know?" He asked in confusion but clear interest as he turned to me and began striding over with his large curved sword held to the side.

"Don't get in front of me." I said quietly as I waved the Stygian Blade in warning.

But I didn't dignify him with an answer. I marshalled my inner energy and using the martial arts I inherented from the Wheel of Solar and Lunar, I sent a wave of flames at him from my sword.

And even then, I was multi-tasking as with my other hand which was on my Swiftblade Wand, I summoned up a dozen Flying Swords and as I stepped forward, I also mentally prepared to summon up some copper and sodium.

The wave of flames was cut through literally with a shout of effort as the man pushed himself to the limit to create a wash of winds with his curved sword that pushed aside my flames.

And then with a flicker of motion I heard clanging noises as he blocked the two arrows with his sword that Xianyun and Ganyu sent at him.

But stopping to block those arrows allowed the dozens of flying swords to reach him, and I realized the difference in a level one to three in a more literal sense. As he first used his curved sword sword to cut through half of my flying swords, and then by backstepping he was able to dodge or destroy the other flying swords.

"Not bad haha! Is that a Magic Sword? Shhhiittt, I am going to be able to buy so much fucking pussy when I sell that off hahaha!" He laughed with joy and then he stepped forward and blurred forward with his speed as he dashed at me.

Knowing we were all helplessly physcially outmatched by this guy, I just came in with my Stygian Blade and as he got within ten meter's I knew he was going to come on my side to take off my hands/head with his curved swords slashing ability.

So I just fucking cheated and my familia knew to stay well away from my 'Magic Sword' when it was used so as he sped up with myself being unable to follow his speed... He just ran face first into a wave of conceptual destruction.

A loud scream rang out as the man managed to turn himself slightly to the side and partly escape the circular wave of annihlation that surrounded me and had shaved the dungeon into a flat surface where I had stabbed it.

But by partly escape... I mean that, he not only lost a leg, but he just lost his whole lower body just past his thigh's as he tried to dive away from the wave of destruction.

"Ahhh you fucking fuck! You took my fucking cock! I can feel it pissing blood inside of my pants!" He screeched with my face going a bit pale at seeing his mangled leg stubs that was just below his waist.

And as he went into shock and kept screaming curses, a loud thunk of broken bones and rang out as Xianyun and Ganyu... Both put an arrow through his eye's making him fall to the ground and begin twitching as his body locked up due to the arrow's turning his brain into a mess.

There was a long moment of silence as the other two parties looked at me, and more particularly my 'Magic Sword' And I decided to be shameless and said proudly. "I saved all of your lives from the level two if not close to level three, so you all can run along. All this loot is mine unless you want to contest for it?" 

"Wow... Jake has a mean side as well." I heard Filia mutter behind me but Xianyun said coldly.

"No, as the alpha of the situation, he is merely taking his spoils of his hunt... If they were the stronger they would have dealt with the other group, the hunter, and then claimed our own spoils. It is his kindness that prevents him from looting them as well."