Sealed Workshop

I got home a few hours after the trip at Oscorp came to an end, as I skipped the rest of the classes for the day in favor of a shopping trip to get more ready for the dungeon. 

Since using my inventory too openly in public seemed like a bad idea, I ended up carrying home a brand-new high quality backpack I purchased as well as a few bags by hand, all full of supplies.

Firstly I got a bunch-, and I mean a truly unnecessary amount of medical supplies. Most of this stuff I realize I don't even know how to use, but I figured better to have it than to not have it. All of it together was a fair sum of money, but I have lived fairly cheaply for most of my life compared to the amount I was being given for living expenses, so I had a huge sum saved away.

I also visited a store specializing in cooking equipment and purchased a set of kitchen knives that were supposed to be very durable and sharp. This was before I reached a hunting store, so I didn't realize I could just get hunting knives made for skinning and butchering animals, which fit my needs way better. At least I have a brand-new set of knives for my kitchen, so I can't complain.

And as said, my final stop was a hunting store, which is where the majority of my purchases came from. A got a pair of the hunting knives I mentioned as well as some stuff to properly maintain them. I also picked up 2 machetes which seemed like decent weapons for fighting since there wasn't exactly a place I could go to, to buy swords or other melee weapons. They looked to be good quality to my untrained eye, but hell, I'll find out what they really feel like once I'm in the dungeon.

Finally, to end it off, I got a full set of padded clothing. Most would use it to protect themselves against the weather and the elements while out, but I figured it would provide at least somewhat decent protection to me in the dungeon as well. If monsters are to start out as baseline human level or even weaker than, this will be good enough for now and I can put more thought and planing into things later.

I was on the verge of getting a second full set as backup when Gali finally spoke up and questioned what I was doing since I could just get better stuff in the dungeon itself. Something which I didn't even consider, but yeah, drops from monsters are a pretty common thing if you think about games and dungeons. Not that I really regretted all the purchases I made. Going in with no protection or weapons whatsoever would have been foolish.

I throw all the medical supplies along with one knife and machete into my inventory for backup, while the rest is left outside for me to put on before entering the dungeon. Upon arriving home, the first thing I did was send a message to Gwen to check up on her, but I have yet to receive an answer back. She was probably sleeping off her 'sickness'.

[If you place your phone in the inventory, I can notify you if you get any messages.] Gali said, floating in the air next to me. [On most floors of the dungeon, time moves at a 1:1 scale with this dimension, so it should be fine.]

"That's good. Let me know if someone tries to reach me." I couldn't help but notice she said 'most floors' so some might have time moving at different rates in the future. I tend to leave future problems for a future me though, so I'll ignore that for now.

It takes me a few minutes to change clothes and put on the thicker set I just purchased in full. Grabbing the machete in hand and attaching my knife to a small sheath on my belt, I do a quick check to make sure I'm all good to go before stretching out my arms. "Alright, beam me up, Scotty!"

[Huh? Um… okay, sending you to the first floor of the dungeon…] Gali said hesitantly as she tried to figure out what I meant by that command.

The world did not warp around me or anything crazy of the sort, instead a portal, very similar to something you might see a sorcerer open, appeared before me and slowly expanded into a large circle in front of my very eyes. Not exactly what I expected.

Inside the portal, I see a dimly lit room. It was hard to see the details but the walls and floor looked to mostly be made out of wood, but everything was very clearly abandoned as cobble webs adorned every corner and edge of the room visible. The room wasn't empty either, there were plenty of almost identical stations with an unknown purpose set up next to one ano-

[What are you waiting for? Go through before something decides to come out and make a mess of this place!] Gali abruptly interrupts my inspection, making a pushing notion on my back that I can't feel in the least.

Wait, what was that? Enemies can come through to my side?

Without hesitation, I jump through the portal and enter the dungeon, unwilling to delay longer in fear of something dangerous coming into my apartment and breaking everything.

The moment I step through the portal I hear it close behind me, making me sigh a breath of relief, almost forgetting I am now in enemy territory before remembering and grabbing a hold of my machete tightly and looking all around the room I am in.

Thankfully, the room is entirely empty of all life except me and maybe a few spiders chilling in the webs. Nothing dangerous to my life. With no immediate threat, the first thing I take notice of is the chill in the air that makes me feel thankful for the set of warm clothes I bought to wear. Someone ought to really turn on the heating in this place and by god, it will be me.

[Oh, I got some info about this dimension sent to me by the big guy. Give me a minute.] Gali who of course followed me in suddenly said, pulling out a pair of reading glasses to wear and a scroll to read. [Uh, let's see here… oh this is a lot of lore. Let me read through it all and give you the rundown…halfings…assassination…yeah that would do it…oh god…unlucky for them, I guess…yeap that about does it.]

Speedily reading through it all, Gali took off her glasses and discarded the scroll with the information. [Alright, so let me give you the gist of this place. We are currently in a sealed off workshop that once upon a time was the place where the smartest and most talented halflings crafted incredible items for anyone willing to pay the price. That is until the leader of this workshop made a weapon that was used to assassinate a human emperor whose son then had the place sealed off from the world with all the halflings still inside. Since then, a devastating war took place outside, killing all life in the world except for those few that got sealed in here. Too bad, hundreds of years have passed and the halflings are nothing more than cannibalistic monsters who could no longer even be considered an intelligent lifeform. If not cleared out they would eventually invade our dimension when a portal for them is opened up, so chop chop, time to get to work.]

Gali ended her explanation with a shrug.

So cannibalistic, monstrous halfings for my first dungeon, huh. Not the worst thing imaginable. If anything, the lack of sunlight and crappy diet should have made them all extremely weak and easy to fight against, even for someone like me who has zero experience. A perfect target to practice against.

That reminds me, I should look for a place to learn basic fighting from later once I leave the dungeon, Im sure there are plenty of suitable places in New York.

I cast another quick glance over the room I entered the dungeon from. All the stations that were once used for crafting were in heavy disarray or broken entirely. A few skeletons laid on the floor in one of the corners, but nothing else could be seen. Guess it's time to gather up my courage and go through the only door here and start exploring.

"Hey Gali, mind phasing through the door and letting me know what's on the other side?" I make a request to Gali who briefly looked puzzled.

[Huh? Oh yeah, that's a great ide- Oh wait, never mind, not allowed.] She starts sounding exited to do some scouting, but quickly becomes dejected. [I'm not supposed to help you out like this or you wouldn't grow on your own. Just got a bunch of gods in my head telling me off.]

"It was worth a try." Guess I am mostly on my own for this. I can do it.

I press down the door knob and gently push it open, taking a peek through the crack for any immediate threats. Slowly the door opens more and more, and finally I spot what will be my first prey. A single tiny naked creature that is disheveled and malnourished. Boney from head to toes, with barely any fat or muscle to be seen.

[What a sad sight…well, as they say, blood for the blood god.] Gali whispered in my ear like the devil on my shoulder. She is right, though, that's walking experience right there.

No time like the present. With the creature completely unaware of my presence, presenting its unguarded back to me as it crawled on all fours, digging in the floor for bugs to eat, I made my way towards it as stealthily as I could.

I ready the machete in my hand, only a few steps away from the halfling as it finally takes notice of me creeping up behind and turns around to look at me. I don't give it much time to react, lunging forward myself with the machete pointed out towards it. 

The creature is not able to muster up the strength to dodge at all as I pierce it through the shoulder. I was aiming for the head, but with it being my first time, I suppose I should be content with just hitting my target at all.

It musters up some strength to swipe its hand with overgrown nails at me and despite my efforts to pull back actually manages to scathe me but does 0 damage as it isn't even able to penetrate or grab onto my clothing.

[Quick, kick it down and deal the finishing blow!] Gaia yells from the side, waving around pom-poms as if she cheered on the violence.

"On it!" Im not sure if she actually has any experience in fighting, I imagine not, but I go with her plan. I don't even wind up too strong of a kick, but upon contact with the upper chest of the halfling it lets out a painful cry as it flies onto the ground, the machete being pulled out of it. 

I follow up with another quick slash at the neck, or as close as I can get with my aim. I end up cutting open a large wound right below its neck, which is still enough to kill the creature as it stops moving entirely a few short seconds later.

"That was it? Not too bad." I say out loud, looking at my victim. I can see that they would be dangerous to me if there was a large group, but with just one feels like I'm bullying a child.

[Notification: 15 dollars added to the inventory]

"Huh? That's decent money for this week of an enemy, I wonder how big the numbers will grow in the future." Would I be able to take advantage of Stark being kidnapped (if that even happens) and use what I gained in the dungeons to buy up the stock for his company? Actually now thinking about it… "Is that paper money? Am I just gonna be carrying around obscene amounts of physical cash by hand? I don't think any bank will accept me coming in day after day depositing thousands if not more dollars to my bank account with no explanation on how I got it."

[Notification: The issue raised is valid. A solution is being discussed. Please stand by."

"..." I look over at Gaia, who flies back over to my shoulder. 

[Just give them a minute, they will come up with something. Though it would be funny to see you walk into a bank with a truckload of money to deposit.] Gaia chuckles at the idea. 

[Notification: A decision has been made. All money from now on will be deposited onto a bank account that has been made with reality warping. Nobody will question the amount or source of the money.]

"Sweet Jesus, hallelujah, Im gonna be rich." I cheer, and Gaia cheers with me for some reason. My money, hands off. "Won't that cause hyperinflation though if I gain too much? Won't that be an issue?"

To that, Gaia is the one that shrugs and answers instead of a further 'proper' system notification. [The economy of one earth, in one universe, in the infinite multiverse, in the infinite omniverse when the existence of the entire said omniverse itself is at threat matters very little.]

Fair enough, I can't complain or disagree with the logic. After all, I am the one that will be benefiting from this.

"You know what Gaia, you're alright. I can give you like 1% of my gains."

[Only that little? Come on now, I want a castle! Buy me one!]

***

Author notes: No chapter tomorrow, most likely, as I am out all day and won't have time to write. If there will be one, it's gonna be several hours after the normal upload time.