Symbiotic: Chapter 25

Sara hopped down from where she stands half inside the corpse of the Crystal Devourer, allowing her spores to consume the body to bring her network back to full.

[Compatible Biological Sample Detected: Crystal Devourer (Dungeon Boss Variant)]

Crystal Devourer (T3) Sample 1 of 5 absorbed.

Effect: Stat growth stored to be triggered during Regrowth.

Note: Stat increases limited to 5 samples per biological source.

Condition: Growth only occurs if source stat exceeds host stat.

*Ping* [1500 Microbes gained. Current Network Capacity: 3000 of (3000) 4000]

She looks on excitedly as two different items are left resting on the cavern floor when the body fades away. One is a larger version of what Sara has seen so many times so far. A Large Crystal, but this one is a foggy Gray color she has not seen before. And into storage with the rest it goes.

The second item is much more exciting when she Identifies it.

[Devourer’s Core Shard]

Item Type: Territory Core Shard (Unique Boss Drop)

Tier: 3 – Legendary.

Description: A jagged crystalline fragment torn from the heart of the Crystal Devourer. It hums with residual psychic resonance, its veins glowing faintly as if alive. When bound to a Territory’s control shard, it fuses seamlessly, projecting a protective aura across the domain.

Effects (Territory Bound):

• Passive Shielding: Allies within the Territory gain +20% Mental Defense, reducing the impact of psychic and mind based attacks.

• Active Barrier: When activated, the shard projects a full protective shield, increasing Mental Defense by +50% for all allies in the Territory.

• Insect Repellant Field: Constantly emits a subtle resonance that deters hostile insectoid creatures, reducing swarm aggression and preventing minor (T1) infestations.

• Fusion Property: Integrates with an existing control shard, enhancing Territory defenses.

Cool as it seems, it is not something that she can make use of today. And so, with a sigh, it joins the stockpile of ‘Someday’ items in her Pocket Storage.

<>

Dungeon Boss Dead, Sara moves over to the only other item of note in the vast cavern, the Crystal Spire lighting up the area around it.

Sara stepped forward, the cavern finally silent after the fall of the Crystal Devourer. The only sound was the faint hum of the Crystal Spire, its glow casting fractured light across the shattered battlefield. She placed her hand upon its surface, spores resonating with the crystalline veins.

The Dungeon Crystal responded instantly, with a series of prompts for its new owner, Sara Bloom.

*PING* [Territorial Control Interface: Crystal Cavern Mines]

Reopen for mining? Y/N

> Yes

Access Permissions: None/All/Only Authorized

> Only Authorized by Sara Bloom

Maintain Crystal Cavern Dungeon as a usable dungeon? None/All/Only Authorized

> Yes. Only Authorized by Sara Bloom

Charge System Credit Fee upon Entry? 0-1,000,000

“Wow. Um. I’ll need to find out more about this but, lets start with something easy…”

>1 System Credit

The Spire pulsed, light spreading outward through the cavern walls. New notifications cascaded across her vision:

[Territory Updated: Crystal Cavern Mines]

Mining operations may resume under Sara Bloom’s authority.

[Dungeon Maintained: Crystal Cavern]

Dungeon access restricted to Sara Bloom’s authorization.

Dungeon Entry Cost: 1 System Credit

*PING* [System Notice]

Challengers who enter and successfully complete portions of the Crystal Cavern Dungeon will generate:

• Territorial Authority Points (TAP)

• System Credits (SC)

These resources accumulate over time and can be managed through the Territorial Control Shard.

For more information, see the Territorial Control Shard or System Shop.

The glow of the Spire deepened, changing to a pulsing green, its resonance now linked to Sara.

Sara exhaled, her hand still pressed against the crystal. “Alright. I guess it’s time to see a farmer about a Valley!”

<>

The fresh mountain air hit her like a wave as Sara appeared at the mine entrance after allowing the Dungeon Control Shard to teleport her out. Instinctively, she understood that if she entered the Dungeon again, she would be prompted whether she wanted to run the Dungeon, or whether she wanted to transport to the Dungeon Core. The mine entrance shimmered now, blocked by a mostly transparent forcefield that rippled faintly with crystalline light. She walked through easily, spores resonating with the barrier, but instinct told her no one unauthorized would ever pass.

To the side, a new structure had appeared: a smaller portal door, black stone ringed in jagged crystal. It pulsed faintly, humming with System resonance. The Dungeon Entrance. Sara knew immediately it was bound to her authority now as well, and only those she permitted could cross its threshold.

Nearby, in the shade of the mountain, a molefolk sat hunched, his fur dusty, his claws worn from years of digging. He startled at her sudden appearance, leaping to his feet with wide eyes.

“You… you made it back!” he exclaimed, voice trembling with disbelief. “You actually did it! The Devourer… The dungeon… The mine… it’s yours now?”

Sara nodded, brushing dust from her armor. The moleman’s excitement spilled over, words tumbling fast as he dropped unnecessarily to his knees. “Please, let my family work the mines for you. We want out of the sun, back underground where we belong. We’ve mined crystal for generations. No one knows the stone like we do.”

Sara hesitated. Supervising miners was not what she wanted. Her Danger Sense remained quiet, though she wasn’t sure if it even applied to business dealings. Still, the moleman’s earnestness rang true.

“Please. Stand up. No kneeling or bowing around me. What’s your name?” she asked.

“Thurge,” he said quickly, bowing his head. “My family will work hard. Will work for you and to make the village prosper. We just need a chance!”

Sara considered, then nodded. She sure wasn't going to spend her days mining. “Bring them in the morning. I’ll authorize you all to enter. For now, you can go inside and look the place over.”

The System chimed faintly as she extended authority:

[Authorization Granted: Thurge of the Molefolk]

Access: Crystal Cavern Mines (Inspection Only). Resource removal Unauthorized.

Thurge’s eyes shone with gratitude. “Thank you, Lady Bloom. You won’t regret this.”

Sara gave a small smile, then turned toward the path leading down the mountain. The town awaited. Herman and the Elders needed to hear what had happened. That the dungeon was claimed, the mines reopened, and the Devourer slain.

The forcefield shimmered behind her as Thurge, with a pep to his step, raced into the dark mine shaft as she walked away, This was her Territory now. The Dungeon secured, and the future of the Crystal Cavern Mines beginning to take shape.

“Next Step…. What’s a Territory Control Shard?”

<>

The sun hung low in the late afternoon as Sara descended from the mine entrance towards the small village of Haven, spores dimmed to a faint glow around her armor as she canceled her locked Infectious Cloud, but kept her Sporesight active. She passed through the outskirts of town, where a few townsfolk lingered near stalls and doorways.

“Welcome back, Traveler!” one called, eyes widening at the sight of her armor and the faint shimmer of spores. Another waved, curiosity plain on their face. Sara offered brief greetings, smiling despite her exhaustion.

She asked after Herman, the village Elder she had spoken with earlier that day, and the townsfolk exchanged glances before one pointed her toward the square. “You’ll usually find him near the fountain. He loves to hang out around town center and talk to everyone he sees. If he’s not there, check the tavern.”

Sara followed their directions, and sure enough, Herman stood by the fountain, speaking with a pair of farmers. He turned at her approach, his eyes lighting up.

“You’re back,” he said, voice heavy with relief. “And alive. That’s more than most expected. Though, I’m guessing being back would be hard if’n you were dead.”

Sara gave a tired grin. “The Dungeon’s cleared. The Devourer and its Crystal Crawlers are dead. The Mine’s are reopened.”

Herman’s brows rose, and he let out a low whistle as his whiskers quivered. “You’d better tell that story properly. Come on, let’s get you a drink.”

He led her through the streets, townsfolk watching and occasionally sharing a word as they passed. The tavern door creaked open, warm light spilling out, and Herman ushered her inside.

The tavern was small, but bustling in the early dinner hours, but the moment Sara entered, the noise softened. Herman guided her to a long table where the Elders sat, mugs in hand, waiting. He pulled out a chair for her.

“Sit, Sara,” Herman said with a grin as he waved to the Tavernkeeper. “Ned’ll bring you some stew and ale. You’ve earned it. Tell them what you’ve done.”

A mug was pressed into her hand, froth spilling over the rim. She took a sip, the bitter ale grounding her after the chaos of the cavern. Then she began her tale. One of Crystal Crawler swarms and shrieks, huge burrowing Greatworms, and psychic roars that clawed at her mind, of the endless battle of attrition against the final boss, the Crystal Devourer. Of course, she left out the part about being flattened like a pancake. No one needed to hear about that!

The Elders listened in silence, their faces grave but their eyes brightening as her story unfolded, allowing her pauses as she enjoyed bites of piping hot savory stew between tales.

And then, as if to punctuate her words, the tavern door banged open. Thurge raced past in a giddy sprint, grabbing a molefolk woman by the hand. His voice carried through the room: “She gave me access to the mine, Selm! Tomorrow the whole family gets in! We get to go back to mining!”, as he dragged her out the door and into the evening.

The Elders exchanged looks, their expressions softening. Proof of her deeds was right there, spilling through the tavern with joy.

One of the Elders raised her mug. “You’ve done as promised, Sara Bloom. The mines are open. The village can harvest the crystals we rely on for growth again. You’ve restored our hope. The Shard access is yours, and with it, the valley.”

The System chimed faintly in Sara’s vision:

*PING* [Territorial Control Shard Access Unlocked]

Territory: Haven Valley

Authority: Unchallenged

Status: Uncontested. Claimable

Herman grinned, raising his drink. “To Sara Bloom, Slayer of the Devourer, Keeper of the Mines, stranger no more, and now… Lady of the Valley.”

The tavern erupted in cheers, the sound echoing like victory itself. Sara smiled and nodded, accepting their cheers and thanks, her own mug of ale in her hands, even as awareness of the Control Shard’s location pinged in her head.

It was in the very center of the village. The well Herman always seemed to be standing near.

Of course it was.

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