The Crafter's Defense: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 2) Jonathan Brooks (large ebook reader TXT) 📖

by the fact that they were being shot straight up with an Air-based trap, but they also had other things on their minds.  Not to mention the “miracle” Energy Orbs they still held in their hands.

Sandra’s Mechanical Jaguar Queen was still in the Assembly and Storage room; she hadn’t sent it against the Elves after it was obvious that it likely wouldn’t have been much good – and it was also set up there to ferry Felbar away if Sandra were to be destroyed.  Since that didn’t look like it would happen, Felbar was moved back to safety – now in Violet’s bedroom down below – and the Jaguar was free; it was also more than strong and large enough to transport all of the Elves on its back to get to the village faster than they otherwise would’ve arrived.

As they left, Sandra couldn’t help but be proud of what she had accomplished – with the help of Violet, of course.  She had created something new through crafting that had never been seen before, and thoughts of how to improve upon it and expand its capabilities came to her in waves.  Not only that, but she had survived when all had been almost lost, she had bonded the Elite Elves, and she had established a…business relationship with them.

Father would be so proud.

*        *        *

Sandra was right about the capabilities of the Elven Elites against “normal” monsters.  With the help of the villagers who had at least 20 minutes of warning before the reptile army arrived, they set up an impromptu defense that worked remarkably well.

When they were originally sighted coming out of the trees (aided by torches lit at the forest’s edge and spaced all over the valley leading to the village, since it was still dark out), the smaller reptiles were keeping pace with the two Ancient Saurians; as soon as the village came within view, however, the smaller reptiles must have had orders to attack as soon as they could because they streamed forward, leaving the massive lizards behind.  With forewarning of the attack, the villagers were easily able to use their bows at a distance – many with similar elemental energy manipulations as the Elite archer who had invaded Sandra’s dungeon, thereby making them deadlier – to wipe out more than half of them before they got within a hundred feet.  The rest were taken out by the Elites, with fireblasts, shards of ice, dark Nether-y tendrils, sharp thorns, and even hardened slices of Air assaulting them from all sides.  They only held back their energy use a little, because it started to refill from their Energy Orbs almost immediately.  It was a little awkward for them to hold while they were attacking, she noticed, and she immediately thought about crafting some sort of necklace to hold it close to their skin.  Maybe even enchant the necklace as well…and then add some gemstones with even more enchantments…

She was lost in the crafting possibilities as she watched all the Elves wait for the massive lizards to get closer, as they were still quite a bit slower than the smaller reptiles had been.  The Elites even passed around their Energy Orbs to the villagers to help restore some of their energy, though to Sandra it almost looked like they were reluctantly handing over their first-born children.  By the time the Saurians were within range, most had been able to restore at least a small amount of their energy before the Elites collected the Orbs again.

It was a time-consuming slaughter, but a slaughter, nonetheless.  Arrows enhanced with elemental energy rained down on both Saurians, followed up by shards of ice, stone, hardened air, fireballs, poison gas, and all matter of manipulated elemental energy attacks from afar.  Even the toughened skin of the massive lizards couldn’t stand up to that, and their wounds mounted until one fell while it was still 50 feet out from the village.  The second must’ve activated whatever special ability it had to speed up, as it stumbled quickly forward, bleeding, burnt, poisoned, and barely alive.

Porthel took the initiative and sped himself up, enhanced the strength and power behind his new Steel sword from Sandra, and proceeded to hack at its neck a couple of times while dodging attempted bites from the Saurian.  It wasn’t long until even the less-powerful Steel sword was able to cut through its neck and it fell dead, only feet from reaching the village.

* Nice job, Porthel.  Congratulations are in order.  Just don’t forget our agreement. *

The Elite leader looked up into the night sky and somehow pinpointed her Shears watching from above.  “Don’t worry, I’ve not forgotten.  But I think we’re going to need more of these Energy Orbs; they are extremely valuable in a fight, and I can see these villagers eyeing ours.”

* I will be crafting some more soon, especially since those that you have are finite.  I’m not sure exactly how long they’ll last, but they will run out eventually. *

The Elite leader looked surprised as he held up one of his Energy Orbs.  “These will run out of energy?  You didn’t tell us that!”

* It’s all part of the package, I’m afraid.  I guess I’m in the consumable trade now – I’ve got to keep you coming back for more, after all. *

“You’re more devious than I gave you credit for.  Though, even if that’s the worst of it, you’re still the strangest dungeon heart I’ve ever heard of.”

* Thanks…I think. *

As the Elves celebrated that night, Violet went back to bed – she was still tired despite all of the activity – though the Gnome crafted another Spirit Energy Orb and even a Natural Energy Orb for herself by copying what Sandra had her create earlier, and then slept with them curled in her arms like two little babies.  Sandra did the same for herself – not the sleeping,