Survival Quest (The Way of the Shaman: Book #1) by Vasily Mahanenko Page B

Thanks for the offer," Bat's showy friendliness seemed suspicious to me.
    "No, no, that would be no trouble. Let me make it up to you. It wasn't nice what I did yesterday. It's just you were asking such a high price for the skins, so I acted on impulse. So, truce?”
    "Truce, Bat."
    "Truce."
    "But I'll go and get the food myself, all the same."
    When I came to where they handed out food, I showed the guard my food with sand and wanted to ask him for a new portion when I heard:
    "Beat it! Each prisoner gets two portions a day:  in the morning and in the evening, if he meets his quota. You've already had your first. The fact that you got sand into it is your problem. Eat it as-is."
    So if I handed my plate to Bat...  What a jackass...
    Turning around I saw Bat smiling and shrugging, as if to say 'Ah well... didn't get you this time. But there will be others.' I'm gonna kill that scumbag.
    The sand gave the food an unforgettable taste. I could eat it, but it was disgusting...
     
    Attention: you have eaten a spoiled product: Buff gained: Energy loss reduced by 25%. Duration - 12 hours. You received a negative effect: The speed of skill gain reduced by 50%. Duration - 12 hours.
     
    No, I’ll torment him first, give him a good kicking and then kill him...
    My section looked the same: ore veins, dust and Rats sneaking around. Rats were a good thing. I could do with extra Intellect and reputation.
    Striking the vein without the added strength was noticeably harder. Even though I had level 3 in Mining, when the message telling me that my Energy had fallen to 30 appeared, as much as 40% of the vein's durability remained. This was bad, very bad. Never mind, tomorrow I’ll be more careful. Before going to fetch the water I hunted down two Rats (+2 Rat pelts, meat and tails), first 'healing' each of them (+10% Intellect, +8 Experience, +10% Strength, +10% Stamina). Truth be told, the second Rat nearly had me when I missed it with my pick. I only had 3 Hit Points left after the fight. But that's fine: after getting some water, I finished the first vein (6 pieces of ore, +1 Experience, +5% Strength, +19% Mining, +2% Stamina). I still had 50 Energy remaining, so before starting on the second vein, I decided to show the Rats who was boss around here. The next Rat (+5 Intellect) gave me what I'd been waiting for so long.
     
    Experience gained: +4 Experience, points remaining until next level: 75
    Skill increase:
    +5% to Strength. Total: 100%. Strength increased by 1. Total: 2.
    +5% to Stamina. Total: 57%
     
    And that's when it hit me. My whole body was filled with warmth, and it struck my head as if I just drunk a bottle of vodka, I started to shiver - it felt like being immersed in ecstasy. Overwhelmed by these sensations, I fell to my knees and groaned uncontrollably. So that's what the Holy Grail feels like....
    Nothing else interesting happened until the end of the day. I downed 6 more Rats, bringing the day's total to 9 (+30% Intellect, +30% Stamina, +30% Strength) and crushed 6 veins (36 pieces of ore, +30% Strength, +113% Mining, +12% Stamina). Right, tomorrow I'll have to hand in 40 ore pieces. But that's fine, if I don't mess up with the food again. Also tomorrow I should raise my Intellect and Stamina to the second level, so the coming day was looking very promising.
    In the evening I witnessed another set up. When the food was handed out Bat came up to one of the prisoners and saying “Hello, sweetie”, started to grope him vigorously. The prisoner, more than surprised by Bat’s behavior, pushed him away and showered him with choice swearwords. But he happened to push Bat in the direction of the Smithy, where picks were leaning against the wall. Pointing upwards. Bat fell on them and screamed at the top of his voice, his Health Bar was reduced by about 20 percent and the prisoner that pushed him fell and disappeared in about a minute, leaving a pile of gold pieces in his place. The governor turned up, watched the hologram