The moment the Dungeon confirmed its race, it felt its core expand Rapidly to almost double its previous size.
His consciousness expanded with it. Instead of merely feeling his heart, now he could sense about 20 square
meters of space around him. He also realized he could now move his "eyes" around the area he controlled. With a
mental whoop of excitement he quickly circled around his new territory, stopping only when a barrage of new
windows popped up in front of him.
<table><tbody><tr><td> Congratulations! Since you have chosen the crystal race, your dungeon heart has been upgraded to
a Lesser Crystalline Dungeon Core. It now purifies 50 energy into mana every 12 hours. </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><tbody><tr><td> Congratulations! Because you are now a Lesser Crystalline Dungeon Core, you can create Lesser
Crystal Cores. Crystal cores form the hear of all Crystalline beings and act as batteries for crystalline constructs.
They cost 50 mana to create. To begin your race, you are provided with 5 lesser cores. </td></tr></tbody></table>
5 small crystals grow out of the ground near the Dungeon core. They look like small obelisks and are translucent.
Once they''ve finished growing, the crystals begin to exert a minuscule influence upon the natural energy around
them.
<table><tbody><tr><td> Congratulations! Because you are now a Lesser Crystalline Dungeon Core, you can create a
Basic Crystal Forge! This basic construct is used to shape basic elemental materials and cores into
defenses and other creations. It can also be used to enhance cores. A forge costs 200 mana to form. </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><tbody><tr><td> Congratulations! Because you are now a Lesser Crystalline Dungeon Core, you can create a
Basic Mana Purifier. This construct is little more than a cluster of lesser cores surrounding an enhanced
core. The cores synchronize and begin to purify energy into mana for you to use. Each lesser core
produces 1 mana every 12 hours, while the enhanced core produces 5 mana every 4 hours. Requires
1 enhanced lesser core and up to 10 lesser cores. You can only have 2 purifiers per level of your core. </td></tr></tbody></table>
The Dungeon feels slightly overwhelmed by all the new information he received. "Cores, a forge, and a
mana purifier? Where are my starting minions?" Then, after rereading all the windows, he comes to a
chilling conclusion," Oh, so that''s why crystal dungeons are so rare."
After a moment of despair and self-pity, he realizes that wasting time isn''t helping fix his bleak near
future. "Okay, I have 5 crystals and 250 mana. I need to create the forge in order to build defenses,
which, since I don''t have any minions, are literally my only hope of survival at the moment."
"Create a forge!"
About 20 centimeters to the right of the dungeon core, a basic forge begins to take shape. It is made
from a gray, opaque crystal. The main body of the forge is a cube with a deep bowl- like depression
carved into it. In the center of the bowl, a small crystal core stands, its top in line with the top of the
body. The body also had four small obelisks: one on each corner. These obelisks however, had joints
and were curved inwards until their peaks pointed toward the tip of the core.
"Hmm strange little thing isn''t it?" The dungeon thinks to itself. Then another set of windows pop up.
<table><tbody><tr><td> Congratulations! since you have created a basic forge, you can now create a lesser
Defense array, enhance crystals, and create a lesser rock golem! </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><tbody><tr><td> Lesser Defense array: A specialized mana purifier that, instead of creating mana, focuses nearby energy in order to damage enemies. Initially deals 5 damage per second, but if it fires for 10 seconds, the damage doubles.
Deals 1 extra base damage per lesser energy core in the array. Requires 1 Enhanced lesser core. Can hold up to 10 lesser cores. </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><tbody><tr><td> Enhancing cores: combining two cores of equal level to form an "enhanced" core of that level. If two enhanced cores are combined, they require a certain amount of mana, depending on the level, and form a standard core of the next level. </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><tbody><tr><td> Lesser Rock Golem: The first and weakest crystalline unit, the lesser rock golem is found in almost all crystal dungeons. With a high affinity for Earth energy, these small beings can move through rock with ease and attack enemies from any direction. Also, with bodies made out of earth and stone, these minions are incredibly difficult to damage. Requires: 200 mana, 1 minor core, 1 enhanced lesser cores, and four lesser cores. </td></tr></tbody></table>
"Well, there''s the starter minion I suppose... Alright, enough pessimism lets see, I have enough mana to create
one more core. That''ll bring me up to six cores. Then, I can enhance four of these core and create a purifier and
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
a defense array, for safety. I can put the other two cores into the purifier and keep adding cores to it as I make
them until its full! Then with a stable mana income of about 150 mana a day, I can invest in either another
purifier if I feel safe and my inner greedy pig overwhelms common sense, or I can invest into defenses and
eventually a golem!" The Dungeon excitedly concludes.
Now comes the work. First, the dungeon sorrowfully uses its remaining 50 mana points to create a lesser core.
It then enhances the cores, a surprisingly hard process involving interweaving the two cores at a molecular level
to form a larger, clearer pyramidal core. The first enhanced core was transformed into the mana purifier. The
enhanced core grew into a two foot tall thin rod that split at two points. The middle and upper segments began
slowly rotating in opposite directions and drawing in energy. When the two remaining lesser cores were added to
purifier, they retained their obelisk like shapes and attached to the base, pointing in opposite directions at a slight
angle. "Whoa that looks awesome!" the young dungeon exclaimed. " I wonder what the defense array looks like?"
The defense array was very different. The enhanced core splits into two pieces. The larger base doubles in size and
gains a curved depression at its peak. It loses its translucency and becomes gray and opaque. The smaller tip changes
shape to become a hollow semicircle. A small, clearer crystal in the obelisk shape grows into the semicircle like the
forge. Eight smaller crystals grow inward from the semicircles edge, pointing towards the center crystal. The
second part then ''stands '' up in the depression of the base with the center crystal parallel to the ground. It begins to
slowly rotate, seeking out any threats.
"Great! Now I''m ready for action! No little rat is going to kill me!"
The universe, apparently hearing this confident boast, decided to test that theory.
<table><tbody><tr><td> WARNING! Two Cave Rat Scouts have entered your dungeon! Due to their Chaotic alignment, they will seek to destroy your dungeon! Defend yourself! </td></tr></tbody></table>
"Oh shoot, shoot, shoot! I didn''t mean it! Sorry Universe! Please Don''t kill me!" the Dungeon thinks in a panic.
"Okay I can do this. I need to calm down. They''re rats... evil footlong rats. Let me try and control my array."
The Dungeon''s mind focuses on the array and a window pops up.
<table><tbody><tr><td> Turn this array into your Dungeon''s Boss? (Can be changed)
Yes/No
</td></tr></tbody></table>
"YES! PLEASE!"
<table><tbody><tr><td> Congratulations! your dungeon now has a Boss: Enhanced Lesser defense array. Has 75 health and deals 10 Base Dps. It also has the defense array doubling effect. </td></tr></tbody></table>
The array grows in size and clarity, finishing just as the rats enter the room. They have red beady eyes, raggedy
black fur, and terrifyingly large incisors.
<table><tbody><tr><td> Cave Rat Scout: a small monster found in dark caves. Common. Hp: 100 Damage: 4-5 </td></tr></tbody></table>
"HP 100? For a rat? My boss is really a glass cannon!"
The rats pause for a moment to orientate themselves. The light in the dungeon room, however dim, is enough to
hurt their eyes that have only seen darkness so far. That full moment is something they never get.
"If those things get close my array is toast! DIE RATS!" The array opens fire at the first rat. Energy builds up in the
eight side crystals, and a small beam of white energy is fired from each into the main crystal. the main crystal then
focuses the power and blasts out a huge ray of power towards the first rat.
The rat is stunned for a second when its seemingly helpless prey opens fire on it from a distance. However, it
quickly pulls itself together and runs towards the painful little crystal with its partner.
They take four seconds to scramble over to the array. In that time the lead rat''s health had already been whittled
down to 50 HP. "Oh this is gonna be close!!" the dungeon worriedly exclaims.
For five seconds the two rats and the array trade damage. Then, the first rat''s health hit zero and it died! The
array was left with only 25 HP though. But now Its power activated and it dealt 20 damage per second to the
other rat. 5 seconds later, the second rat was killed as well right before it could deal a fatal blow to the array.
"Oh thank goodness that was way too close! Let''s see what I get for that close fight!"
The Dungeon happily absorbs the rats.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ONLY 50 MANA?"
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Thank you all for your patience, here''s chapter two. It turns out my "computer crash" was just me accidentally
stepping on the power button of the extensor. hehe.... really embarrassing... Any ways chapter three still needs a
bit of work so expect it a bit later tonight.
AN Infantile Treant