TravelingDreamer

B6—Chapter 32: Dungeon Illogic, Round Two

It took us an ungodly long time to cross the mountain range with the floating ball of lightning. We could have flown over it quickly, but alas, it was full of ore. So, our travel turned into a start-stop-mine project that dragged on forever. Unfortunately, since we’d defeated the dark magic submachine guns together, I was now part of the mining crew.

I tried to “coax” the metal ore to rise to the surface, but sadly, I wasn’t there yet. I could feel it, even move it a coup...

B6—Chapter 31: Lord of Lightning, Part III

Author's Note:
We have liftoff—or actually, internet—and it's great.

The reason for the shortages was that they replaced the entire internet infrastructure in our area, switching from regular cables to what I think is called fiber optic cables, but I’m not completely sure. I don’t understand it enough to explain it properly.

Anyway, I have internet, everything is fine, and it even works three times faster. 💃💃💃💃

>>>>&...

Update

Hi everybody,

We've been having internet problems since this morning, and apparently, it's going to last all day. I can still access my files and write using my phone's hotspot, but for some reason, Dell 3 (the picture AI) is too heavy for it and isn't working properly.

Since the next few chapters are picture-heavy, that's a bit of a problem.

If they manage to fix the internet today, there will be a chapter—it’s almost finished.
If not, you’ll get two chapters tomor...

B6—Chapter 30: Therapy by Extermination

When we finished collecting all the crystals, the entry cave was pitch black, except for my light ball, and I personally collected over fifty mana crystals. It was actually a good haul. Their size was decent, ranging from mana crystals we could get from relatively big monsters, like the furry rhinos, to some larger ones that usually came from bosses. All in all, it was a worthy endeavor, despite the general disappointment with the dungeon.

We walked out, and I stopped, mouth agap...

B6—Chapter 29: Lord of Lightning, Part I

By the time we finished all the forms, the sun had dipped below the artificial skyline, casting long shadows across the tiles of the lobby floor. Outside, I looked at it in wonder. I could sort of understand how they created a dungeon dimension with a city inside it, but an actual sun in the sky was on another level entirely. There were fewer people and animals in the streets, and more noise spilled from restaurants and taverns.

I slumped back against a nearby wall and rubbed my ...

Announcement #2

According to the comments I received, the winner is Option #2.
I’ll pause billing on April 30 and resume it on June 1st—with a brand-new chapter, of course.

Thank you all so much for your understanding, support, and vacation wishes. I really appreciate it. It’s genuinely heartwarming to receive this kind of encouragement.

Now, just to ease some worries: I’m not disappearing after the break.

First of all, the entire story is fully outlined—an outline th...

B6—Chapter 28: Almost Feels Like Home. Unfortunately 

I jolted awake, eyes blinking against the soft morning light as I lay there, trying to figure out what had yanked me out of sleep. “If you b

I jolted awake, eyes blinking against the soft morning light as I lay there, trying to figure out what had yanked me out of sleep.

“If you believe that, you are lying to yourself,” Al’s voice floated in from the living room.

“Oh, shut it,” Mahya snapped, her tone sharp and furious.

“I know the truth is sometimes diff...

B6—Chapter 27: The Happy Squirrel and the Angry Bladedancer

By the time I woke up, Mahya and Al were gone, so I took Rue out for breakfast and wandered through the mall. Each time I came here, I appre

By the time I woke up, Mahya and Al were gone, so I took Rue out for breakfast and wandered through the mall. Each time I came here, I appreciated it a little more. It was surprisingly thoughtful of the city planners to group everything in one place. It made it easy to get a sense of what this world had to offer without having to run all over the c...

Two Options, One Burned-Out Brain – Vote Time!

Hi everyone,
I started posting chapters in April of last year. For the first six months, I managed six chapters a week. After that, I dropped to five. Over the past year, I’ve written five and a half books—roughly a million words.

Let that number sink in for a second.

The only reason I’ve been able to keep up that pace is because I’ve had the entire story outlined from the start. Even so, turning three or four bullet points into a full chapter takes a lot of mental ene...

B6—Chapter 26: The Hardship of Engineering a Pond-Side Paradise

I found Mahya and Rue in the home appliance section, crouched in front of something that looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie.

I found Mahya and Rue in the home appliance section, crouched in front of something that looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie. Mahya had one hand on her hip and the other poking at the weirdest contraption I’d seen so far. A metallic orb about fifty centimeters in diameter sat at the center, with ten legs extending in every directio...

B6—Chapter 25: How Not to Ask a Girl Out

I liked the lake in the middle of this habitat and wondered if I could create something similar. Having an open space with three private hou

I liked the lake in the middle of this habitat and wondered if I could create something similar. Having an open space with three private houses around a lake in a private dungeon dimension would be fantastic. Grass and trees would add nicely to the peaceful vibe.

With that goal in mind, I turned invisible, flew upward, and spread my mana sens...

B6—Chapter 24: Apprentices Know Stuff

I strolled down the endless glass-front main thoroughfare of the mall, scanning signs while trying not to get distracted by glowing magical

I strolled down the endless glass-front main thoroughfare of the mall, scanning signs while trying not to get distracted by glowing magical displays and bouncing enchanted advertisements. I needed a financier to exchange coins.

The deeper I went into the mall, the more I understood what Mahya had said—that advanced magical worlds weren’t b...

B6—Chapter 23: The Swords are Dead. Long Live the Swords

On the way to the blacksmith, I groaned and facepalmed. Ugh. I forgot to ask her name. Again. Of course, the entrance dropped me off in the

On the way to the blacksmith, I groaned and facepalmed. Ugh. I forgot to ask her name. Again.

Of course, the entrance dropped me off in the food court. Still, I took advantage of the detour and grabbed a cup of orbos. The unique taste was growing on me, and the jolt of energy it gave wasn’t bad, either.

This time, the blacksmi...

B6—Chapter 22: Rue the Shepherd, Mahya the Schemer

Back at the hotel, Al and Mahya were gone. I made myself comfortable on the couch with one sword and got to work figuring out its aspect. The metal was completely unfamiliar. It didn't resemble anything I’d examined on Earth or anywhere else. After about fifteen minutes, I thought I had it. I pulled out a mana crystal and tried to aspect it to match the metal.

That’s where I hit a serious snag.

No matter what I did, it just wouldn’t take. I had both the sword and the...

B6—Chapter 21: Dungeon Illogic Strikes Again

Author’s Note Managed to squeeze in a chapter today, so that’s one less I owe you next week. Have fun, and happy Passover! —TD >>>&

Author’s Note
Managed to squeeze in a chapter today, so that’s one less I owe you next week.
Have fun, and happy Passover!

—TD

>>>>>>>>>>

To get to our suite, we took an elevator—here called a Rising Platform. It was a round disk, big enough to hold ten people ...

Sand Plains Outpost #7

B6—Chapter 20: New World, New Experiences

When I came down for my guard shift, Mahya sat curled up on the couch, a thick book balanced on her knee and a blanket draped over her shoulders.

“Anything interesting happen?” I asked.

“No. All quiet. Al and Rue also had a quiet night.” She closed the book and stretched her legs out with a yawn.

“You can go up and sleep some more.”

“I’m good.” She gave a small shrug and swung her feet to the floor, the blanket slipping to her lap.

I nodded and ...

B6—Chapter 19: Magitech. Yay!

The next dungeon was a major letdown after the glorious mana gym. The portal spat us out into a wide ravine between two towering cliff faces. It twisted to the right, so visibility was twenty meters. The place was also dead quiet. No wind, no rustle, no anything. It felt like being in a tomb or wearing noise-canceling headphones.

We stood there, looking around. Al’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. I blinked and finally noticed he had his eyebrows back.

“Let’s move forward ...

B6—Chapter 18: Magical Cardio and Mental Strength Training

“We are not removing this core,” Al said, shooting a pointed look at Mahya.

“Of course not,” Mahya replied without missing a beat, tossing her hair back with a confident flick. “If this is the reward for the first run, the next ones should be good, too.”

“You want to run it again?” I asked.

They both turned to me in perfect sync, eyes wide with disbelief, like I’d just suggested we swim in lava.

“Hey! Don’t look at me like that.” I held my hands...

B6—Chapter 17: Brain Day at the Dungeon Gym 

On the way to the Gate, the wind led us to a few dungeons. I’d been feeling restless lately, like my bones were vibrating with excess energy, so I joined the gang for the runs.

The portal of doom turned out to be a jagged crack in the hillside, barely wide enough for Rue to squeeze through. He grumbled under his breath, or rather, in my head. “Bad place. Tight. Rue not like.”

“So stop growing so big,” I said, ducking low and slipping into the darkness. “You sh...

B6—Chapter 16: Ten Thousand Gold Coin and One Cool Gizmo

Mahya and Malith were holed up in her workshop for two days, resurfacing only for meals. Even then, they just took plates and disappeared again. Al worked on the potions order, and Rue fought snakes. He had a serious grudge against them. In the past, he tried to avoid them, complaining about “stupid, no-yummy, no-level snakes.” Now, he went looking for them—“To show stupid snakes Rue is dangerous.”

I used the time to create two upgraded versions of the M...

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B6—Chapter 15: A Totally Innocent Moonwalk

When I came down in the morning, Malith sat beside Rue, gesturing with both hands while Rue huffed and shook his head as if he were refusing broccoli. His ears twitched with irritation, and he occasionally bared his teeth in response.

I moved past them, set the coffee to brew, and reached for the mixing bowl to start on pancake batter. The familiar scent of beans heating filled the kitchen as I cracked the first egg. I inhaled with pleasure and continued cooking.

Malith straighten...

B6—Chapter 14: [Upgraded]

I took a day off to let my channels rest after the overload of the last two weeks. The following day, I couldn’t ignore the spell in my palm anymore. Every time I looked at it, it bothered me. It was a constant reminder that I’d left it half-finished. Half might have been generous. A quarter was probably closer. Yeah, I had other things I left unfinished, but this one bothered me more.

I popped it out and set back to work, fingers moving in the air.

Malith stepped out of the h...

Malith Drex Var

B6—Chapter 13: My Library’s Having a Growth Spurt

We spent most of the day chatting with Malith. He was a fascinating guy who’d been traveling for over a hundred and fifty years and was a lot less cagey than Lis when it came to sharing stories. I got where Lis was coming from—not wanting to spoil anything in case we ended up visiting a world he’d been to—but it was still a lot of fun hearing about all the different places.

At some point, Al straightened up and gave Malith a curious look. “Do you know what your future plans ar...

B6—Chapter 12: Catalysts and Consequences

As we neared the house, Rue bounded toward us with ears perked and tail swishing. He weaved between us, sniffing us thoroughly from the soles of our boots to the tops of our heads, then gave a curt nod of approval.

Malith froze, eyes wide and fixed on the massive dog. Then he gave a little shiver and glanced between the three of us. “Familiar?”

“Yeah. Mine,” I said, sliding a hand over Rue’s back.

“He’s big.”

Rue tilted his head back, nose in the air, a...

B6—Chapter 11: Third Traveler Saved—Yep, It’s a Pattern Now

“So, do you know why they grabbed you?” I asked Mahya telepathically once I stopped calling her various damsels in distress.

“No clue. I arrived at the information broker and saw the bots. Next thing I know, I’m waking up with you there. I didn’t even feel a prick or anything. I have no idea how they drugged me.”

Her tone was more annoyed than scared, but underneath, something jittered, like she was still trying to make sense of it.

"You did...