Part 23: Update XXI - Featuring: Incredible rewards!*

Update XXI - Featuring: Incredible rewards!*

Music: Ladyin - Sacred Tranquility


The other path that dragon was guarding...



Leads to a second door.



That's the left side of this floor mapped out, so we head back to where we came in and head north.



Which has yet another split path immediately after.



Heading north leads to yet another door.



While heading east leads to a dragon and another split.



Long story short, the poison on Aiden's guns went off and killed it.



I head east first.



Hardworking Maid: By the way, this is a bit of an odd question, but do you know the way to the surface?

...

Why are you cleaning the dragon infested hellhole?





The chest right next to her holds a new weapon. With that name, I'm guessing that it goes on either Valerie or Aria.



Called it!



As you could see on the map, we have yet another split to the south.



Going east leads to a fourth door.



Wait, so we have to head down to find Ulania.

So are her guards killing dragons on the way down, only for more to pour in, or is Queen Ulania, last of the royal bloodline and key to destroying the Star Crystals and saving the world, just sneaking around bloodthirsty dragons?



At least the south path should be the end of it.







And that's the first floor clear.

Now, we can't take the east door, so that leaves us with three other doors to pick from.



Let's take the north door first.







Its a connecting corridor that leads us to B2F.



Not much else to say, really.





Are you a new dragon?



Aww...



South of the dragon is another civilian.





Past the lady is a new weapon for Valerie.





While north of the dragon is more loot.



In the center of the floor is a dragon.

Music: Battlefield - Furious Predator


A new type, at that!



Although it still doesn't have much health.



Also it doesn't deal that much damage.



Like the Forval Dragons can deal about this much damage in an AOE.



That's just sad.

Music: Ladyin - Sacred Tranquility


From the center, we have three paths.



South leads to a door.



Same with heading north.



But past the northern door are some civilians!







Proud Old Man: O-Oh, don't worry about that! Just a broken foot. No problem! Gwahahaha!





B2F is mirrored, so the western half is the same as the east.



To the north is the last dragon on the floor.



Yawn.



Former Captain: I tried to be the change I wanted to see in the world, but I ended up getting lost instead.





Oh, more rewards!



The other side has some more loot.



And the far left has our fourth door.



Both the western and southern exits lead to B3F.



...which means those other doors on B1F probably had loot behind them.



Well if I'm going to backtrack, I might as well save myself an extra trip back up.



Plus I have some stuff to grab from Nodens anyways.

Music: The Daily Grind


Kino: Oh! You've saved 20 people! As promised, here's your reward! Thanks a lot!



...


Really, game?



I should probably see if any of the new rescues have settled in.



Now, I haven't mentioned this yet, but that south-eastern exit on the Portal Floor?



That leads to the main lobby. Nodens is keeping their time machine about 30 feet away from the general public.



Our trip to Berg has given us enough Dz to upgrade the shops.











Hey, this is better than those Crummy Energy Bars from earlier! Thanks, Rika!



The shops now have the usual batch of gear upgrades, plus another set of new items.

As you can see by my money count, I've finally had to burn through my starter Az to get everyone outfitted. Having twice the people means I spend twice as much money on gear compared to the 2020s.



I also finally remembered to do that sidequest from earlier.

All the pharmaceutical companies are already out, though. We could try and make it ourselves, but... The main ingredient comes from an animal called the Helm Crab. Not only does it live in ocean depths, it's also endangered. It'll be near-impossible to get.



There is one place...

Hm, you have somewhere in mind?

~

So I can find them in the ocean?

Hold on a second. It's not that easy.

~~

Oh, I see...! That's right! Very clever indeed. The Helm Crab is essentially a living fossil... There must be swarms of them in Atlantis! Unit 13, go retrieve a Digestive Gland from that monster crab at once! Just one will suffice!



Hey what are the odds, I already have one!

So this is a digestive gland... Ugh, it's icky... But now's not the time for that! Wait just a moment. Here you go! All finished! Go give this to Maimai.



It seems strange that a medicine for a modern ailment can be made using a crab from Atlantis. Though I suppose 12,000 years is but a mere pebble in the grand stream of time...





Nurse Maimai: It looks like we won't run out any time soon now. You have my thanks. I even have a special shot for you as a sign of my appreciation... *giggle* Just kidding. Here, this is for you.



You obtained 150 Az!

You obtained Nano-Aid x1.

This sidequest gave more than rescuing 20 people.





No one else from Berg has shown up, so they'll probably appear when we make housing for the Atlantis refugees.



So back in we go!

Next time: We finally get to Ulania.

_{*Rewards may not actually be incredible.}