[Player Garett: Strength +5, Dexterity +3, Charisma +3, Perception +4]

[Strength: 23](+4 Fanged Club)

[Dexterity: 5]

[Perception: 10]

[Charisma: 10]

[Intelligence: 10]

[HP 80/80 MP 35/35]

[Player Trevor: Strength +6, Dexterity +12, Perception +7. Charisma + 16, Intelligence +9]

[Strength: 20]

[Dexterity: 44]

[Perception: 29]

[Charisma: 32] (+5 with cultured beings)

[Intelligence: 33]

[Current Status: HP70/70 MP 85/85]

[Player Samantha: Strength +4. Dexterity +6, Perception +7, Charisma +17, Intelligence +8]

[Strength: 14]

[Dexterity: 16]

[Perception: 21]

[Charisma: 49] (+5 Halo)

[Intelligence: 34]

[Current Status: HP 55/55 MP 95/95]

[Player Ashley: Strength +3, Dexterity + 4, Perception +7. Charisma +1, Intelligence +26]

[Strength: 15](+5 Against Defenseless)

[Dexterity: 16]

[Perception: 20]

[Charisma: 4] (+5 with lawful beings)(+5 Wish subjects)

[Intelligence: 90]

[HP 55/55 MP 180/180]

The party leveled up again, and this time they didn't gain any new skills. Garett wondered what dictated the random assignment of the skills in this system. Was it truly something as simple as his own desires- or some odd twist on them, or was it more random- or more complex than that?

Garett longed to understand the complexities of the system. It was no fun to take part in a gamble if one didn't know the rules.

However, there was also a certain charm to not knowing the inter workings of the system, as something that could be coldly calculated would seem to be completely random from the recipient perspective if they didn't understand the rules behind it.

Either way, Garett felt satisfied as he sliced the neck of the goblin. He had been concerned about his low statistics compared to everyone else, however after fighting those goblins he began to gain confidence in his own ability.

Not only was his armor strong enough to repel attacks he took from them without any damage, but he was strong enough to beat them in one hit if needed. Even if they were all weaklings in this world, at least he was still stronger than a bunch of weaklings.

He would always have Ashley by his side to save him- but that would not cure any insecurity he had about his own ability. While he didn't need to be self sufficient, he wanted to at least be able to pick up the slack.

He didn't want her to have to protect him.

He wanted to be able to protect her.

And if it meant losing his mind and slaughtering those who tried to harm her..... then so be it.

How good it felt when he sliced the neck of that goblin, and he was also filled with motivation when it spoke those words.

Motivation to prove that thing wrong.

Motivation to show that thing that he and his comrades were being underestimated.

Perhaps the goblin had judged the strength of his comrades using Garett as a frame of reference... if he did so, oh boy would his boss be in for a surprise....

Garett chuckled just imagining the looks on the goblin bosses face if Ashley showed her true power.... but he was getting ahead of himself.

It was time to scavenge the materials.

"I'm going to analyze and collect what I can from these guys before we head down the corridor... Salary man, do you sense anyone near us?"

"Right now I hear some faint moaning, but no movement. Down the tunnel there are a number of living beings there, however we should be able to collect the materials without any problems and then head out."

"Perfect"

Garett then collected the leather armor, slicing it up with his knife to create leather straps and various small pieces of metal scraps from the buttons and such. After that, he put all of these items into his inventory, which in reality was where his pockets should be, however the items were sucked up into a void space when he placed the items inside there.

After doing this, he began to slice up the goblins for the meat, bones, and fats. He didn't know if he would use these things, but he stored them in his inventory just in case. It was good to always be prepared, and while he didn't want to eat this disgusting goblin flesh, if worst came to worst and they had no food then they would be forced to eat it. Even if they didn't have to eat it, he could still try to experiment on it later...

Once Garett had done this, he collected the spears and clubs that the goblins were carrying, and used his saw from the toolbox to slice these up into pieces of wood and metal, and then stored these in his inventory as well. If he could figure out how to smith, perhaps he could use the metal for something interesting.

Garett also collected the alcohol and the bottles that the goblins had been drinking from. After using [Analysis], he discovered that some contained beer, and others wine.

'So alcohol exists in this world as well.... well, I suppose that's about right. After all, no matter who you are, everybody wants to get drunk and forget their problems.'

And so, the materials were collected, and the four moved down the cave tunnel quietly.

The stone walls of the cave became a brick path, and as they turned a corner, a very odd sight was seen.

It looked like something out of a horror story. A crimson arch made of bricks and mortar, with a black iron gate covered in spikes led into a stairwell. Outside the door there were sticks that

had various skulls stuck on them like kabobs. Human skulls, humanoid skulls, and even bird and rodent skulls were stuck on these pikes that protruded from the stone ground.

Everything about this place said to 'stay away'.

Trevor was a pessimist, and so he was erring on the side of caution, but his instincts as a businessman were telling him that there was something to be gained here. One always needed to take a risk if they wished to be rewarded.

As the group stared at this gate, the two spiders shivered.

"Are... are we going in there?", Berith asked.

"Do we have to?", Coran stated, Both of their voices quivered with fear of the place.

"Well... you don't have to come with us... if you would like, you can stay out here and wait alone... without any protection...", Ashley said, sadistically.

"Well go in!", the two exclaimed.

A quick response. These two would make for good subjects.

"Don't worry. As long as you stay by our side we will protect you. These guys are just trying to intimidate you, don't worry too much about what they say."

Samantha was trying to comfort the spiders, but they seemed to be just as scared of her as any of them.

"Y- yes, your excellency!", Coran replied.

"Stop tormenting the slaves, woman. We have work to do. Lets go."

"Tormenting!? I was just comforting them!!"

"Oh really? Are those the types of faces of someone who is being comforted?", Trevor responded, pointing to the spiders.

"Eek! We are sorry for our rudeness! It is just that we cannot help but fear such powerful beings as yourselves!", Coran replied to Samantha.

Berith stayed silent.

"Wait just a minute! How can you be so scared of such a beautiful woman as myself!?"

"Woman, I said lets go. Stop tormenting them. You're only making things worse"

"Grr!"

Ashley let out a giggle at this exchange, but then lit her finger on fire with a small fireball.

She melted the lock on the gate with precision, and the gate slowly creaked open.

[Player Ashley MP: 175/180]

However, just as the door was slowly opening, a message appeared.

[Help]

[Please help us]

[Anyone. I don't care who you are. Please save us from this maniac]