Slime Dungeon (3)

Victoria's eyes gleamed in satisfaction as she added the luminescent fungi to her inventory. The system chimed softly in acknowledgment, and a notification appeared before her.

[+5 CP for collecting new items]

The sudden boost intrigued her.

CP...

It had come up before, in quests and rewards, but this was the first time she'd earned some for simply gathering resources. Chaos Points. They seemed to be more than just a currency, something integral to how this dungeon functioned, how her powers would grow. And now, simply by collecting fungi, she had earned more.

Her curiosity was piqued, and Victoria opened her status, searching for a way to gain more information about CP and how it connected to her progress. Among her list of free skills, one in particular caught her eye: Arcane Insight.

She hadn't used it yet, but the name alone suggested it would give her the clarity she needed. Without hesitation, she activated the skill.

As soon as she did, a warmth bloomed behind her eyes, spreading outward in a gentle pulse. Her vision shifted, though she wasn't aware of it. If she had a mirror, she would have noticed that her eyes now glowed with a soft purple hue, as if imbued with arcane energy. But to Victoria, it simply felt like a mild current of warmth coursing through her, centering in her gaze.

[Arcane Insight activated.]

Before her, the fungi glowed faintly, its properties laid bare in her mind as the skill's power took hold.

[Luminescent Fungi]

[Description: These fungi emit a soft, bluish glow, providing natural illumination in the darker areas of the dungeon.]

[Properties:]

[Light Source: They grow in clusters along walls, ceilings, and floors, creating patches of light that help adventurers navigate the dimly lit corridors.

Healing Properties: When consumed or used in potions, luminescent mushrooms offer minor healing benefits, accelerating wound recovery and providing a slight boost to vitality.]

[Habitat: Prefers damp, dark environments and thrives in areas with high magical concentrations.]

[Role in Ecosystem: Besides lighting the dungeon, they serve as a food source for some of the dungeon's fauna and are occasionally harvested by slimes for their healing properties.]

Victoria studied the information with keen interest, her mind already working through the possibilities. The fungi weren't just a convenient light source. They had practical value—healing properties that could be harnessed for potions or even consumed directly.

A minor boost to vitality could be useful in the early stages of this dungeon, she mused, making a mental note of the mushrooms' dual purpose.

She reached down and gently plucked another cluster of fungi, adding it to her inventory with a practiced motion. The warm glow of Arcane Insight lingered as she studied the small plant in her hand. Even such a seemingly insignificant resource could serve a vital role here.

In a place like this, nothing is useless, she thought.

Everything has a purpose.

Her thoughts turned toward the process of resource gathering itself. While she didn't mind collecting things manually, it felt like a waste of time to gather each item individually when she had other tasks to focus on.

Is there a way to streamline this? she wondered.

The system had been generous with its free skills—perhaps there was one designed for this very purpose. She opened her skills menu again, scanning through the options until one caught her eye: Resource Harvesting.

It seemed to be exactly what she was looking for. With a subtle command, she activated the skill, and a new interface appeared before her, highlighting the available resources nearby.

[Resource Harvesting]

[Selected: Luminescent FungiAvailable units nearby: 10]

Victoria's lips curled into a slight smile.

Ten more nearby, and all I have to do is choose how many to collect.

The system offered efficiency, and Victoria was nothing if not a fan of maximizing her efforts. She selected all ten, eager to see the results.

As soon as she confirmed the selection, a new prompt appeared.

[Collecting all selected resources will take 2 minutes. Proceed?]

Victoria accepted without hesitation.

Two minutes is a fair trade for efficiency.

She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as she waited. During this time, she mentally reviewed what she had learned so far. The Arcane Insight skill had provided valuable information about the fungi, more than she could have gathered on her own. It confirmed what she had suspected all along—this dungeon wasn't just about brute strength or combat. It was about gathering knowledge, understanding how things fit together, and using that knowledge to her advantage.

She glanced around the dimly lit corridor while waiting for the collection to finish. The soft glow of the fungi cast long shadows against the damp stone walls, giving the narrow passage an eerie, yet oddly serene quality. The faint sound of dripping water echoed in the distance, creating a constant rhythm that seemed to pulse through the dungeon. It was a place of mystery, of quiet danger lurking just beyond her sight. Yet, here she was, calmly collecting mushrooms as if she were strolling through a forest.

Victoria wasn't one to let her guard down, though. Her mind remained sharp, analyzing every detail of her surroundings. The presence of luminescent fungi suggested this area was rich in magic, and where magic thrived, so too did dangers.

The slimes must be close, she thought, her senses attuned to the dungeon's subtle shifts.

After what felt like no time at all, the system chimed softly, signaling the end of the collection process.

[Resource Collection Complete]

[Luminescent Fungi (10 units) added to Inventory]

Victoria glanced at her inventory, satisfied to see the fungi safely stored away. The convenience of the Resource Harvesting skill was undeniable—it saved her the time and effort of gathering each item by hand.

This will be useful later on, she thought, already thinking ahead to the deeper levels of the dungeon where resources would likely become scarcer and more vital.

With the fungi collected, her focus shifted back to her main quest. She still had one task remaining: Defeat a few slimes to understand their behavior. The thought of facing the dungeon's creatures excited her, not out of some bloodlust, but because she knew that this was where she would truly begin to test her abilities.

The information, the skills, the resources—all of it had led up to this.

Victoria took one last look at the glowing mushrooms around her.

Even the smallest items held value, she reminded herself, recalling the lessons of Arcane Insight. This dungeon was more than just a physical challenge—it was a test of wit and adaptability. And if there was one thing Victoria excelled at, it was adapting to her surroundings.

With her inventory full and her skills sharpened, she turned her attention deeper into the dungeon.

—

Just as Victoria started moving deeper, the system processed her activity with a soft chime, informing her that she had earned an additional 10 CP—one for each luminescent fungi gathered.

A thought flickered through her mind as she recalled how earlier she had received 5 CP for discovering the fungi. It seemed that first-time discoveries were rewarded differently, but from now on, she would gain points based on the quantity of resources collected.

Satisfied with the newfound understanding, she opened her status screen and noted the total: 15 CP.

The progress section displayed it clearly, a tangible reward for her efforts. The value of Chaos Points was becoming clearer, each point a marker of potential—whether for future use in abilities, upgrades or perhaps something the system had yet to reveal.

Victoria closed the pop-up with a flick of her hand, the translucent screen vanishing from view. She was ready to continue her journey deeper into the dungeon when suddenly, the oppressive silence of the passage was broken.

In the distance, faint groans echoed, their haunting resonance carrying through the narrow corridors.

At first, the sound seemed too distant to pinpoint, but as she listened more intently, the groans morphed into something more unsettling—pleas for help. The voice was weak, and strained, as if whoever it belonged to was on the verge of collapse.

Victoria's eyes narrowed.

The unexpected break in silence sent a ripple through her usually composed demeanor, but it wasn't fear that gripped her—it was curiosity.

Who else could possibly be here?

And more importantly, were they friend or foe?

Without hesitating, she adjusted her stance, her senses sharpening as she began moving cautiously toward the sound, her every step calculated, wary of what—or who—might be waiting for her deeper within the dungeon's shadows.

After all, the real challenge was only just beginning.