《Dungeon Of Desire》 Reborn Today was like any other: I woke up, showered, got dressed, browsed the internet for a while, and headed out for some groceries. It was snowing quite heavily, but I didn¡¯t want to break my routine, which I had worked hard to achieve. As I was walking down the road, I think I saw something coming toward me in the corner of my eye. First, there was a burst of excruciating pain. Next, my vision was shifted high into the air, then darkness. The last thing I remember are the screams and shouts ringing all around. I woke up to nothingness, conscious, but just that, I couldn¡¯t feel anything else. Then I heard it. A being that calls itself The System, informing me of my body¡¯s death and my current state. A soul wandering dimensions entering one dimension under the jurisdiction of The System. It offered a deal: rather than let me be reincarnated, I would be reborn in another world under The System with all my memories. The price to eradicate a problem infesting the said world. The System could handle it, but it would mean the annihilation of the world and adverse effects on the surrounding ones. With me, a special soul blessed by dimensions, able to be reborn in the world imbued with The System¡¯s powers necessary for solving the problem. ¡®Well, what can I do?¡¯ I don¡¯t want to be reincarnated to something else; my soul will be the same, but it just wouldn¡¯t be ¡®me.¡¯ I agreed to the terms. I wanted to live, to see, to feel, to love. ¡®I don¡¯t want it to end. I¡¯m not ready.¡¯
Affirmation Detected... Signing Contract... Binding Commencing... Transferring Soul... The System holds gratitude for your cooperation and applauds your bravery Good Luck
The next thing I knew, I was underground, my body a shining rainbow gem shifting in hues of colors, and somehow, I could see a 1-meter radius around me. ¡®I knew I would be reborn in a fantasy world, so I thought about not being human, but I didn¡¯t think I would become an inanimate object. Well, this is what I get for not reading the terms before signing it.¡¯ Well, let''s see just what I am in this world. Status
Name Aiden
Race Dungeon Core
Titles The System Chosen, Knowledge of Another World
Dungeon Name N/A
Level 1
Affinity (Gain 1 for every 5 levels) Arcane (3 points available)
Current Mana 92/1000
Self Mana Generation 10/hour
Exterior Mana Conversion 100/hour (Max)
Abilities Absorb Mana, Absorb Mass, Interdimensional Storage, Enhanced Mind, Expert Mana Manipulation, Expert Mana Sense, Expert Mana Conversion, Expert Mana Purification, Alter Environment, Create Trap, Create Resources, Duplication, Regeneration, Extraction, Summon Monster, Monster Link, Transfer Floor, Summon Companion (single use)
Traits (Gain 1 for every 10 levels) Born of Arcane Mana, Pure Mana Crystal Origin, Blessed by Dimensions (3 points available)
Perks (Gain 1 for every 2 levels) N/A (6 points available)
¡®I always dreamed of being able to see a magical status screen, and I got to do with cost just being my death, yay for me.¡¯ Hmm, so a dungeon core, huh? I¡¯ve been and enjoyed being a DM in D&D sessions, I wonder how much it will be like that. I miss those times coming up with stories and adventures, seeing them make stupid and interesting choices, and the frustration of murderhobos ruining days of work. ¡®Ah, good times.¡¯ I tried to focus or touch mentally on everything, trying to get more information.
Titles
The System Chosen Chosen by the very system that governs this and myriad dimensions, they are scarce enough to be called a myth, and now you are one of them. -As The System Chosen, you have reed benefits unique to yourseceivlf
Knowledge of Another World You who hold memories of another world. Some went mad, some became heroes, and some changed the course of the world. Be wise and careful, for it could be a blessing as much as a curse. -As long as you interacted with it, and it exists in this world, you can create it
Traits
Born of Arcane Mana A dungeon core born in a place of ambient arcane mana -Unlocks Arcane Affinity -Gives a generous boost to arcane affinity and a moderate boost to other affinities -Your dungeon monsters gain a moderate boost to arcane affinity and a minor boost to other affinities -Delvers get a minor boost to arcane affinity and a minuscule boost to other affinities.
Pure Mana Crystal Origin Your core is miraculously constructed of the purest mana directly coming from the core of the world, acquiring abilities similar to the world''s core -Self-mana Generation is increased 10 times -Mana Capacity is increased 10 times -Exterior Mana Conversion is increased 10 times -Gives an immense boost to mana density for monsters when using Summon Monster -Gives an immense boost to mana density on dungeon floors -Gives a monumental boost to Mana Purification -Decrease the mana needed to level up by halfThis story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. -Increase proficiency by two tiers for any mana-related abilities
Blessing of Dimensions Dimensions all have barriers that protect them by selecting and resisting what comes in and out. Yet, you are a miraculous blessed soul, letting you pass their indestructible and impenetrable walls unscathed and without hindrance. These blessed souls travel freely from dimension to dimension. Many have tried to study and use these properties yet failed as blessed souls are elusive and unreadable, protected by the dimensions. -Has minimal consequences for passing dimensions -Almost impossible to identify unless by a twist of fate -Gives a monumental boost to time, space, and gravity affinities
As I was reading the explanations, a new screen came into view.
Confirmed parameters met for the minimum level of sentience¡­ Confirmed parameters met for minimum mana of 90% of total mana capacity and/or possessing 100 mana ¡­ Initiating protocol¡­ Imparting basic world knowledge¡­ Commencing ability Summon Companion¡­ Good Luck
At that, I feel a tide of information rushing inside my head. The basics of dungeons and monsters. Some rudimentary concepts of the primary sentient races living in this world. The world of Aetheria with three suns and five moons, a day being 28 hours, a week being 8 days, and 12 months being a year. Right when I had processed it all. I feel something, presumably mana, leave my body. A being was being born from it, as I felt a bond form between me and it. A bond so close and indescribable, as I feel a small amount of something deep within me go through the bond to it.
Detected Bond of The System Chosen with Companion... Increasing Authority to Access System Knowledge of Subject Companion... Increasing Imparted General Knowledge of Subject ???panion... Increas???? Limit of Anato?? ?? ?ubject Co?¡Æ?????n Rem???¡Ä¡È¡Ö Lim?? ??? Ego and Consc????? ?? Subject Com??????... ???? ???? ?? ??? Last
A glitched-out screen appeared before my view. As I was perusing through what I could read, I felt The System somehow interfering and empowering the Companion. When all was done and the screen gone, I heard a voice within me. ¡°Hello, Aiden. I am your Companion assigned by The System to help you along the way.¡± ¡®Huh, having a voice not your own in your head is quite a bizarre experience.¡¯ The voice sounded devoid of emotion and genderless. I wonder how they knew my name? ¡°The ability Summon Companion uses the mana and a part of the soul from the dungeon core. When The System was creating me, your soul merged with mine, allowing me to have parts of your memory from Earth. It is an insignificant amount compared to the whole, but I did get your name from them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a little concerning, and I hope you didn¡¯t see something that ruined my first impression. By the way, did I say that aloud?¡± ¡°Of course not, Aiden. I would never think any less of you, with or without your memories. Though it¡¯s odd for me to see these emotions and relationships, I know their concept, yet I have difficulty comprehending them even with your memories. To answer your question, we are able to convey our thoughts and emotions through our bond. You can, of course, control the things you want to convey. It¡¯s just like speaking in your mind or speaking out loud.¡± ¡°Hmm, noted. I don¡¯t want to bombard you with my thoughts and emotions.¡± ¡®Plus, I¡¯m not thrilled with the idea of someone knowing everything I think and feel. Especially when my thoughts get weird and quirky, there will not be enough blankets to kick by then.¡¯ ¡°As your companion, I do prefer you to share in order to help you better, but the choice is always yours.¡± Speaking up and sharing, huh? It did help back then. I mean, that¡¯s the reason therapy exists. It¡¯s weird. As they said, we¡¯re bonded so closely that I can feel their good intentions. I can feel and know that they mean no harm and their resolve to help me. It¡¯s nice to have someone unconditionally show goodwill to you in a new, unfamiliar world. But I¡¯m not thrilled with the idea of someone being created solely for that purpose. A voice interrupted my mulling over that thought ¡°Aiden, before we begin building your dungeon, there is something the system imparted in me for you.¡± Then, a status screen appeared before me.
In one of the many dimensions governed by The System, there was a disturbance in some of the recently acquired dimensions, some being invaded by The Abyss. The Abyss'' sole intent and goal is to corrupt and twist, standing at opposite ends to The System symbolizing Order and Impartiality. The Abyss has grown enough to the point of sentience and was annihilated immediately. As eons passed, The System helped new worlds form as the dimensions settled from the aftermath. One of those worlds, which has come to be called Aetheria, lay dormant, The Abyss, a piece that survived the annihilation using all its ability to twist the perception of The System to go unnoticed. Once Aetheria was formed and stable, it leeched off the core of Aetheria to grow. The System discovered the anomaly when there was a lapse in the Abyss''s ability to twist The System''s perception. Unfortunately, by then, it had grown too much. The System lent power to the aborigines as much as possible, yet after a kingdom in ruins, they only managed to seal The Abyss. The only way to get rid of it was to annihilate it once more; however, this time, countless planes and lives existed. Choosing to do so would destroy and demolish these planes and lives in the process, going against The System''s principles, The System waited for a better solution, setting annihilation as a last resort. Then, after an eon or so, The System encountered a solution: a wandering soul Blessed By Dimensions. Integrating into a dungeon core while amplifying the power to purify The Abyss that is sealed beneath you. It is unknown how long the seal will last, but until then, Grow, Build Your Army, Expand Your Influence, Construct Impedes, and when the time comes, Purify All of The Abyss and Bring Order Back to Aetheria Good Luck
¡®Soooo a threat is lying right beneath us, awesome.¡¯ Not to mention, countless lives are in my hands whether I fail or not, which is just splendid. ¡°You know, I think I bit more than I can chew.¡± ¡°Aiden, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure you are well equipped to deal with it. So, shall we begin to create your dungeon.¡± ¡°Yeah, if creating my dungeon means increasing my chances of survival, then let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Excellent. First, you should have noticed your limited range of view. This is your aura; you are capable of doing many things inside but are unable to influence anything directly outside. Try expanding it, you can expand your aura by pushing the boundaries.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As they said, I felt my sphere of influence or aura, and then I started imagining the boundaries expanding. It didn¡¯t work at first, but then it started to expand. There was no physical strain, but it was like pushing a boulder with your mind. I stopped when my aura doubled in size, and I was mentally exhausted. ¡°Good job. It will get easier the more you do it. Next time, try expanding in one direction; it will be much easier than expanding all around.¡± ¡°Good to know. Hey, is there any way to recover from this fatigue?¡± ¡°It will go away naturally with time, but if you want to speed up the process, try going to sleep. It won¡¯t be exactly the same as when you were human, but it will be similar.¡± Sleeping huh? Well, I¡¯m the type who has a hard time going to sleep when I need to or try to. As I try to sleep, I suddenly feel my consciousness sinking, and my senses are dulled. I¡¯m awake nonetheless, just much less. As I get comfortable in this state, I wake up to the voice of my companion. ¡°Aiden, sorry to disturb you, but I advise you to get going.¡± As I awake, I feel my fatigue gone, and my state is clear and crisp. ¡°How much time has it been?¡± ¡°Less than an hour.¡± That little, I feel rejuvenated, like I had a whole night''s sleep. Time went so quickly while I was sleeping; it was like your head hit the pillow, only to see it¡¯s the next day. ¡°Now that you''re in better condition,n try to absorb your surroundings using Absorb Matter and Absorb Mana.¡± ¡°And how do I do that?¡± ¡°Everything is essentially mana. Ambient mana imbues or changes things, while matter is mana taken form. Just think of deconstructing it to its most basic form and absorbing it to your core.¡± I imagine the stone around me breaking and weathering, turning into smaller pieces to absorb. Then the stone around me started to disintegrate as I felt something being sucked into me. I continue until nothing is left in my aura except for my floating core in the middle. ¡°Great. Now try focusing on your boundaries, and will it to become a part of you, to create your dungeon floor.¡± As I do that, I feel a change happening to the surrounding stone, as it somehow feels like a part of me. ¡°You should have noticed the change when designating dungeon floors. The boundaries become invulnerable, or if it¡¯s any liquid or gas state, any attack done will be nullified. Dungeon floors are like the bodies, and the dungeon core is the heart. Dungeon floors allow you to summon monsters, create traps, distribute mana, and most importantly absorb fresh bodies.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You see, you had no trouble absorbing stone, but it won¡¯t be for fresh corpses as their remnant soul obstructs influence from you. Dungeon floors alleviate that restriction, allowing you to absorb them for mana.¡± ¡°No.¡± Surprised by my sudden remark, I sense their confusion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aiden, but I fail to comprehend the context of your remark. What do you mean?¡± I knew it when I saw I was a dungeon core. But killing, I just can¡¯t. I cannot take away a life when I see and know how people grieve over their loved ones, I don¡¯t want to be the cause of that. No, I can¡¯t. ¡°I won¡¯t kill.¡±
If you wish to see the unbroken system message
Detected Bond of The System Chosen with Companion... Increasing Authority for Access to System Knowledge of Subject Companion... Increasing Imparted General Knowledge of Subject Companion... Increasing Limit of Anatomy of Subject Companion Removing Limits for Ego and Consciousness of Subject Companion... This Will be the Last Piece of Help I Can Give The Companion Will Guide You Along The Way GOOD LUCK AIDEN
Being A Dungeon It takes time for my companion to realize what I said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Dungeons, they don¡¯t need to kill, right?¡± I can feel the confusion in them as they question me ¡°Technically, yes. But why would you want to do that? Why take such an inefficient route? Aiden, you do know what is at stake here, yes?¡± ¡°I know this is the norm here, and I know what is at stake here. But I just can¡¯t justify killing. I can¡¯t kill for the sake of power.¡± I feel their worry and fear come through ¡°Is it something I did? Did I say something wrong?" "NO, no, none of that! This has nothing to do with you. It''s me, I...I just can¡¯t." Confusion is apparent, trying to understand yet failing. "I fail to understand. Delvers are well aware of the risks of dungeons, yet they still delve. Nobody is forcing anybody; they know of the risks and will simply bear the consequences for their actions." "I cannot in good conscience kill living, feeling, sapient people. I don¡¯t want to be the reason people grieve over their loved ones." "Why can''t you? On Earth, I saw the living survive off killing others; lives killed for you to feast and devour. Lives killed for the betterment of your life; weak lives ruined, yet you did nothing." Memories of my own came through our bond, of when I ate meat and fish, where I used animal-tested products, and of when I ignored the beggars and the homeless. I won''t deny it Earth sucked, and so was I living in it. But even so... "No, I don''t need to kill, right? I don''t want to give up my values just because this is a different world; I won''t give up without trying." As I finished my words, I felt the confusion and doubt turning into a brewing storm. Lighting made of anger and disbelief strikes me hard. But I stand firm; I can''t give up the values I hold precious, I can''t just let this world change me without fighting back, and I can''t give up on me. "Aiden! Countless lives depend on you. It is a necessary sacrifice! Why care over some handful of lives lost when it means saving billions? Why risk your life over some people you do not know? Why are you making it so hard for yourself?" "I''m sorry, but no, not without trying." I can feel it, how it comes through our bond, the sadness, the fear, the guilt, the last ones I could bear, but this, this HURTS. "Aiden, out of all my knowledge of dungeons that has been and is in Aehteria, they have all grown through killing. Disregarding The Abyss, people have destroyed dungeon cores for profit or conflict. I don¡¯t know what to do if you choose another path. I don¡¯t have the knowledge required to guide you then. Let¡¯s just be a normal dungeon. With my knowledge, I could guide you be the fastest and strongest dungeon build in history, you¡¯ll be able to create a powerful army for fighting The Abyss. Please, Aiden, you need to kill so that I may help you so that you can be safe." "But I don¡¯t want that. Can¡¯t we do something new, something different? Please, you don''t have to know what to do or what to say or have all the knowledge in the world. You are helping by staying by my side. Just listen and laugh at my stupid nonsense, calm me when I get too anxious, say how you really feel about things, tell me your honest opinions, be someone I can depend on, and I''ll try making you depend on me. As for the Abyss, it has been sealed for a while, right? I¡¯m sure we can grow strong and fast enough within that time without killing.¡± Confusion and turmoil still storm in them, yet they try to calm down. ¡°Aiden, dungeon companions were never made for this. Even after The System changed me, I don¡¯t know how to deal with you. Dungeon companions are made to follow protocols, yet there is not a single protocol concerning you.¡± I sense their worry and hesitance as they speak up after a while. ¡°Aiden, you are a singularity that has never happened before and will not after. So, maybe it can work, you''re the dungeon core, and I¡¯m your guide. Ultimately, the choice belongs to you. But promise me that no matter what happens, you will always prioritize your life first and foremost.¡± I feel their concern and resolution, as they say, their last line. Of course, I want to live; if not, I wouldn¡¯t even be here. But do I want to live even if it means killing thousands? No, given the gravity of my situation, do I even have a choice? Then, the question is, how much can I bear, and how much will I change to adapt? ¡°I promise. I promise to prioritize my life first and foremost.¡± At that, I sense relief washing over them. ¡°Good, thank you, Aiden.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± As we stay there in silence, my companion asks. ¡°Aiden, if you are not going to kill, how will you grow?¡± With the knowledge imparted, I learned of the dungeons¡¯ role in this world. Dungeons attract surrounding mana and purify them, releasing some of them back, but they are mostly used to create in the form of monsters and loot. Their main source of mana, though, is through delvers. Emotional fluctuations create a significant amount of mana. The stronger the emotion or intensity of the fluctuation, like from hope to despair, the more mana is produced. In death, remnants of their soul, body, and mana are absorbed as another dungeon¡¯s main source of mana. Knowing about this, I thought of a way to grow without killing. ¡°By creating strong emotions and emotional fluctuations in delvers in my dungeon.¡± ¡°Does that mean you will be attacking them but not killing them?¡± ¡°No, there are more ways to create strong emotions without hurting anyone.¡± ¡°Aiden, I don¡¯t know people and emotions like you do, but if they know the dungeon won¡¯t hurt them, I predict very little emotions will be produced.¡± ¡°I understand, but please, could you trust me on these? Emotions and people are complicated, I know because I am them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Even though I said I would follow along, I could not stop worrying.¡± Sensing their guilt, I shut them down swiftly ¡°Of course you are. It¡¯s natural. Nothing could have prepared you for me. You are only trying your best; don¡¯t ever apologize for that.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s my purpose¡­Anyway, shall we move on? I will feel much more comfortable for your safety when your dungeon is built.¡± I know they are still in turmoil, but I don¡¯t ask. I mean, they have been born for some hours now, and me not following the usual isn¡¯t helping them at all with settling in. They want to help, but they don¡¯t know how to do so. Helplessness is eating them up. I know that feeling all too well. No matter what I convey, it won¡¯t reach them. I wish they knew how they were helping me by being by my side and supporting me. I don¡¯t need anything else. So, I will wait till they figure themself out. ¡°Sure, what''s the next step?¡± ¡°You should have noticed some available points in your status. Let¡¯s start choosing them.¡± At that, screens appeared before my vision.
Select Starting Monster Race (2 Selections Available)
Type Description
Animal A selection of a small variety of weak animals (Recommended for all biomes)
Plant A selection of a small variety of common monster plants (Recommended for biomes with ample sunlight)
Fungi A selection of a small variety of common monster fungi (Recommended for dark, humid biomes)
Skeleton Animated bones equipped with basic weapons (Recommended for places with darkness and abundant corpses)
Zombie Reanimated corpses with poisonous blood and bites (Recommended for places with darkness and abundant corpses)
Kobold Small, reptilian humanoids known for their cunningness and traps (Recommended for underground and caves)
Goblin Small, green-skinned creatures, adept at using simple weapons and traps to ambush intruders. (Recommended for forests and caves)
Imp Mischievous, small demons that delight in causing trouble. They can cast minor spells (Recommended for areas near lava, deserts, and underground)
Slime Blobs of gelatinous corrosive liquid (Recommended for caves and swamps)
Spirit A weak creature born of mana and remnants of souls (Recommended for all biomes)
Mimic A creature that can mimic the appearance of objects, often as treasure chests and doors (Recommended for complicated underground regions)
Construct Constructed beings animated by magic or technology. (Recommended for mines and mountains)
Choose Affinity to Unlock (3 selections left)
Fire Affinity -Unlocks fire affinity -Gives a moderate boost to fire affinity
Water Affinity -Unlocks water affinity -Gives a moderate boost to water affinity
Air Affinity -Unlocks air affinity -Gives a moderate boost to air affinity
Earth Affinity -Unlocks earth affinity -Gives a moderate boost to earth affinity
Arcane Affinity -Gives a medium boost to arcane affinity
Kinetic Affinity -Unlocks kinetic affinity -Gives a moderate boost to kinetic affinity
Life Affinity -Unlocks life affinity -Gives a moderate boost to life affinity
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Choose Traits to Unlock (3 selections left)
Minor Mana Spring A spring of mana has formed inside you, increasing your self-mana generation -Doubles self mana generation
Solid Core Your core is harder to destroy than others -Gives a moderate boost to core defenseYou could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. -Gives a minor boost to damage reduction on the core
Regenerative Core Your core regenerates faster from damage -Gives a medium boost to the core''s natural regeneration
Water Attuned You are naturally attuned to water and its mana, giving you an advantage over it and affecting your dungeon monsters as well -Gives a generous boost to water affinity -Your dungeon monsters gain a moderate boost to water affinity -Delvers get a minor boost to water affinity
Trapper You have a fondness and interest in traps -Gives a moderate boost to traps you create
Charming Core You have a natural charm about you that makes you irresistible, affecting your core and dungeon monsters -Gives a major boost to the attraction of the dungeon to delvers -Gives a generous decrease in desire to harm your core to whoever notices you -Gives a large increase in desire for possession to whoever notices you -Gives a moderate increase to dungeon monsters'' natural charm
Smart You are brighter than others -Gives a moderate boost to intelligence
.... .....
Choose Perks to Unlock (6 selections left)
Basic Traps Provides schematics for basic traps -Includes net trap, pressure plate, arrow dispenser, and collapsing ceiling.
More basic loot Become familiar with basic loot to create more with the same mana -Gain a minor understanding of coins and basic loot
Animal Speed¢ñ Increases speed of all animal-type dungeon monsters -Gives a 5% increase in speed for all animal-type dungeon monsters
Fire Dungeon¢ñ It makes your dungeon more inclined to fire affinity -Gives a moderate boost to the probability of ambient mana in the dungeon changing to fire mana -Gives a minor boost to the probability of fire-based traits, perks, and evolutions appearing
More Mobs¢ñ Increase the limit of monster capacity -Gives a 5% increase to limit of mobs per floor
Water Traps ¢ô (Requires Water Traps¢ó) Provides schematics for water traps -Includes whirlpool, darkness-infused water, draining rain, haphazard waves, and crawling water.
Snow Floor Provides schematics for building snow-based floor -Imparted with the method of creating snow-based floor -Has a generous increase to all things related to water mana and ice mana within the floor -Has a generous decrease to all things related to fire mana and heat mana within the floor -Water and/or ice affinity monsters occupy less on limits for monsters per floor within the floor -Fire and/or heat affinity monsters occupy more on limits for monsters per floor within the floor
.... .....
As I¡¯m bombarded with the options, I hear a surprise from my companion. ¡°That¡¯s unusual. Normally, dungeon cores have three options to choose from for each point. Also, there are mid- and high-level options to pick from except for the monster race, and you have many more points than usual.¡± ¡°So, how much of an advantage do I have over otherwise?¡± ¡°An outstanding amount, high-level options only become available at level 100, and it takes decades to reach that point even for successful dungeons. I¡¯ll remove the low and mid-level options for you and perks for schematics since I know them. Also, Aiden, there are options for other worlds¡¯ dungeons, but as my knowledge is limited to Aetheria, I cannot explain to you how they will perform in practice.¡± I sense guilt and helplessness in them as they tell me, which hurts me, as they feel bad for something out of their control. ¡°Hey, no worries, that in itself is incredible already.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± ¡®Well, that didn¡¯t help. I know this needs time, but I¡¯m worried. They have so much knowledge yet incomparably little experience to go with it.¡¯ I just hope they don¡¯t break under the disparity. I put back my worry as I peruse the reworked options
Choose Traits to Unlock (3 selections left)
Trap Savant You have a knack for all sorts of traps as the traps you make become deadlier, more complex, more challenging to notice, cunning, and difficult to disarm. Your mind is filled to the brim with trap ideas, and you seem to gain inspiration from the simplest of things. -Gives an immense boost to all traps you personally create -Gives a major boost in designing traps and modifying traps -Gives a large boost to inspiration and creativity for traps -Your monsters gain a major boost using and creating traps
Immortal Core You have achieved immortality, however restricted it is, a considerable achievement nonetheless -Will lose invulnerability when all dungeon boss monsters are in respawn
Sadistic Bloodthirsty Heart You are sadistic and cruel. Screams of agony and wails of despair are the most exquisite music for you. Every moment, you imagine ways to torture and agonize your prey more efficiently, more tastefully, more agonizingly. Wicked machinations you create with such finesse, a talent gone wayward. -Gives an immense boost to negative emotions while inside your dungeon -Gives an immense decrease in positive emotions while inside your dungeon -Gives a major boost to sensitivity to pain while inside your dungeon -Gives a major decrease in willpower while inside your dungeon -Gives a major boost to torture devices and gruesome traps -Your dungeon monsters gain a generous boost to insanity and a generous boost to sadistic nature
Treasure Hoarder You are infatuated with valuables of all kinds and have become a connoisseur of them in the process. You dream of drowning in your collection of treasures and will forever desire more valuable and precious treasures. Your other passion is your abhorrence of thieves who aim for your treasures. -Gives an immense boost to all valuables you create -Gives an immense boost to appraisal -Gives a major boost to all resources in your dungeon -Gives a major boost to the chance of rare valuables appearing in your dungeon -Gives a major boost to dungeon monsters when guarding treasure or fighting thieves
Serene Mind You have learned to be untroubled, untouched even amid a storm. You are tranquil and at peace, and nothing will disturb your mind. -Gives an immense boost to the calmness of the mind -Gives an immense boost to defense against attacks to your mind -Your dungeon monsters gain a major boost to intelligence -Your dungeon monsters gain a major boost to mind defense -Your delvers gain a large boost to mind tranquility
Air Lord (Requires Air Affinity) You became a being of air; air is you, and you are air. Your core changed, and so too will your dungeon follow. For air is the only true thing you understand. -Change Dungeon Core race to True Air Dungeon Core race -Your dungeon will be filled with air mana, and the mana you purify will become air mana -Gives a colossal increase to air affinity and affinities associated with it -Restricts using and gaining affinities not related to air affinity -Your dungeon monsters gain an immense boost to air affinity and those associated with it -Your dungeon monsters are unable to evolve except for evolutions related to air affinity -Your resources and traps are imbued with air mana and gain a major boost to air-affiliated mana density -You are unable to gain resources and traps that are not of air affinity and those associated with it
A Million Curses (Requires Curse Affinity) You have been cursed, baring countless curses yet somehow managing not to shatter under its weight. No, you have exceeded it, and you now wield it like your own. You became the curses, and the curses became you. -Change Dungeon Core race to True Curse Dungeon Core race -Gives a monumental boost to curse affinity -Gives a monumental boost in creating and using curses -Your dungeon will be filled with curse mana, and the mana you purify will become curse mana -Restricts using and gaining affinities except for curse affinity -Your dungeon monsters gain a colossal boost to curse affinity -Your dungeon monsters are unable to evolve except for evolutions related to curse affinity -Your resources and traps are imbued with curse mana and gain an immense boost to curse mana density -You are unable to gain resources and traps that are not of curse affinity
.... .....
Choose Perks to Unlock (6 selections left)
Dungeon Instability (Requires Space and Time Affinity) Causes random distortions in the dungeon. -Will randomly distort the layout and environment of the dungeon -Will randomly teleport objects and monsters -Will randomly speed up anything in the dungeon -Will randomly speed down anything in the dungeon -Increases the chances the higher the floor
Echo of the Dead (Requires Death and Soul Affinity) Summon echos of the past of the one who has fallen in your dungeon -When a monster dies within your dungeon, the corpse will be reanimated for a short period of time before dissipating -When a delver dies within your dungeon, the remnants of the soul will form an incorporeal spirit attacking the nearest delver for a short time before dissipating -Time and strength will be affected by death and soul affinity
Sentient Traps Your traps gain sentience capable of growing and becoming deadlier -All traps will gain sentience -Traps will have intelligence depending on their tier and quality -Traps now have the chance to evolve -Traps can self improve itself -Traps gain an immense boost to regeneration -Traps will now respawn if destroyed
Invulnerability Zone Provides schematics for invulnerability zone -Monsters will become invulnerable when inside activated invulnerability zones -Will require a week of time after use to use again -Will have limited amounts and size per floor
Realm Of Illusions (Requires Illusion Affinity) Your dungeon becomes connected to the realm of illusions affecting your dungeon as a whole -Will create random illusions on floors (ex., hiding and creating pathways and traps, hiding and creating loot) -Will create random sensory illusions for delvers -Will provide illusions for monsters (ex. Hiding presence, making clones) -Illusions will appear frequently the higher the floor -Illusions will become harder to disrupt or counteract the higher the floor
Life Bloom (Requires Life Affinity) Your dungeon becomes a fountain of life -Gives an immense boost to all plant-type monsters -Gives an immense boost to all plant-type resources -Gives a major boost to monsters'' self-healing and healing received -Gives a generous boost to increasing and usage of life affinity for delvers
Curse of Sin: Pride (Requires Curse Affinity) Your dungeon becomes imbued with one of the curses of sin: pride -Delvers who enter your dungeon will become conceited, causing them to delve floors higher than appropriate for -Delvers will underestimate the dungeon, becoming more perceptible for attacks -Delvers will over-exert themselves than required -The curse will become stronger the higher the floor -The curse will become harder to dispel or counteract the higher the floor
.... .....
As I perused through them, getting the gist of them, I asked something to help me decide. ¡°Hey, what are affinities exactly?¡± ¡°I told you before that everything is fundamentally made out of mana, as mana can become and imbue everything. Lifeforms are capable of changing unattributed mana, also known as arcane mana, into mana that is more attuned to specific purposes. Technically, all life forms have an affinity for everything; only some are inefficient, and some will harm or kill them if used. Dungeon cores are an exception, as they are beings made out of solid mana. However, The System locked these affinities since messing with different mana can cause destruction, most likely destroying the core in the process.¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t need these points to gain affinities. Could I unlock them myself?¡± ¡°Yes, and there have been cases of them.¡± ¡°Got it. And for schematics, are there any for expanding the space and increasing the time flow?¡± ¡°Yes, though it would require time and space affinity to be usable.¡± With that in mind, thinking of my idea and how to put it into action, I browsed once more to make sure I didn¡¯t miss anything. ¡°Okay, I decided.¡± To The Surface First for affinities
Space Affinity has been selected
Life Affinity has been selected
Soul Affinity has been selected
When the screen showed up, I could feel things I had never felt before. The space we are in is more transparent in my mind than ever. I could feel my soul radiating in my core, and I could feel the fluctuations and waves coming from my companion next to my soul within my core, as well as the bond connecting me with them. It was so clear that I wondered just how I couldn''t feel this before. I chose them as I thought they would be one of the hardest ones to unlock on my own. Then for perks
Monster Horde Why have stronger monsters when you can have more? -Increase the limit of boss monsters from every five levels to an additional one every 7th-floor level (cannot have two bosses on one floor.) -Doubles the number of floor bosses from one to two per floor -Triple the number of elite monsters from 3 to 9 per floor -Quadruple the limits for mobs per floor -Halves low-and mid-level perks that boost monsters¡¯ attributes -Any perks increasing the number of monsters will always be applied first
Monster Overlord Normally, dungeons have one type of monster race, but yours has them all. -You receive all the starting monster races -Dungeon monster evolution lock is unlocked (Dungeon monsters will not always evolve suited for the current environment, but unlocks every evolution possible, stronger or weaker than when locked) -For every 10 levels, instead of an evolution choice, you are given an Overlord Blessing choice -Gain benefits for every different type of monster race present in the dungeon. -Every floor must have a primary monster race type -Specific monster race perks will become perks affecting all monster types
Lucky Evolution Your dungeon monsters are blessed by luck when it comes to evolution -Dungeon monsters gain an immense boost to evolving to desired paths -Dungeon monsters gain an immense boost in optimizing evolution -Dungeon monsters gain a major boost for evolution chance -Dungeon monsters gain a major decrease in difficulty for evolution -Dungeon monsters gain a large boost for growth rate when evolving
Pools of Birth Your dungeon now becomes a sanctuary of birth -Your boss monster respawn time is halved -Your floor boss spawn time is reduced to one-third of its original -Your elite monsters gain the ability to respawn with a 1 hour waiting period -You can now build breeding grounds where mobs will be summoned automatically once a mob perishes using the ambient mana and remains of the dead mob -Any perks decreasing monster respawn time will be applied first
Ascension of elites Your titled monsters are more elite, unfixed, and simply more. They have ascended compared to others -Dungeon boss monsters gain an immense boost to their souls and conscious -Dungeon floor boss gain a major boost to their souls and conscious -Dungeon elite monsters gain a major boost to their souls and conscious -Titled dungeon monsters are free to move from their floors; however, respawn points must be placed on their floors -Increase dungeon boss monsters'' attributes and growth by 50% -Increase dungeon floor boss''s attributes and growth by 30% -Increase dungeon elite monsters'' attributes and growth by 20%
I plan to create unique monsters, something never seen, and their reason for existing is not to attack but to lure and aggravate. These perks will hopefully help me fulfill my ideas.
Unique Floors Your floors are one of a kind; delvers never know what is ahead -Eliminates some floor restrictions -Able to fuse multiple floors to one -Five times the floor size limit -Gain a colossal boost when using Alter Environment on floors -Able to name, theme, and specialize dungeon floors -Dungeon floors will gain bonus effects, rules, and penalties depending on the theme of the floor -You are unable to create the same themed floors
As I already plan on building unique floors, I thought this perk was perfect for me.
You have acquired the perk Monster Horde
You have acquired the perk Monster Overlord
You have acquired the perk Lucky Evolution
You have acquired the perk Pools of Birth
You have acquired the perk Ascension of Elites
You have acquired the perk Unique Floors
Basic flora and fauna schematics received
You have acquired the knowledge for starting monster race Animal Type
You have acquired the knowledge for starting monster race Plant Type
You have acquired the knowledge for starting monster race Spirit Type
You have acquired the knowledge for .......
At that point, I felt a rush of information about the monsters of all the starting monster races shown in the options, which enabled me to picture them with picturesque clarity in my mind. Finally, the traits
Mana Conductor To you, mana is a friend, a companion, your life. You can use mana like no other; you do not need to think or act but do, and mana follows. You are a brilliant conductor of mana.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. -Gives an immense boost to mana sensitivity -Gives a major boost to proficiency gained for mana-related abilities -Increases Mana Manipulation proficiency by two tiers -Increases all mana-related abilities proficiency by one tier
I chose this one as it will help me unlock affinities. Even without that, since mana makes up everything, having higher control over it will be very useful. Also, having the Pure Mana Crystal Origin trait, it seemed best to improve that advantage further.
Mad Scientist of Amalgamation You are a genius, a mad one, but a genius, nonetheless. Capable of theoretically endless evolution, monsters are highly susceptible to change. You saw something in this: why wait for evolution when you can abuse this property? So, you did; you mixed and converged, united and merged, creating something new. -Changes Summon Monster to Create Monster -Gain more in-depth knowledge of the monsters you possess -Gain a colossal boost to comprehension of monster anatomy -Able to alter monster preset when using Create Monster -Able to adjust the monster when it forms when using Create Monster -Able to combine different elements when using Create Monster (Using incompatible and numerous components may lead to failure) -Any alterations made will not count toward evolution -Alteration limit correlates with monster knowledge, compatibility of components, degree of alteration, proficiency with Mana Manipulation and Mana Sense
This trait will work amazingly with my perks specializing in monsters and will make it much easier for monsters to evolve the way I want them to.
System Access: Quest You have gained access to one of The System Powers: Quest. Able to give quests to delvers that enter your dungeon through The System; once a delver has completed the Quest, you will gain mana depending on the quest''s difficulty. You can establish rules in an enclosed environment that must be followed by all beings within (Including the dungeon monsters). -Able to give compulsory main quests and optional side quests -Able to assign rewards for completion and penalties for failure -Quests must comply with the dungeon rules -Quest zones must be set and need to make quests capable of completion within the quest zone -Able to set rules that must be followed (Limit of rules depends on the effect; the Limit will increase the higher the floor)
The quest trait will prevent brute-force tactics and extremely powerful delvers from bulldozing their way to my core. Also, I chose this to guide and lure the delvers to my design. The dungeon rules are rules dungeons must oblige by. The important ones are these.
  1. Delvers must be able to access the entrance and dungeon core, so the entrance cannot be blocked or the dungeon core can be hidden.
  2. Delvers must have a chance to survive. Simply put, you cannot create a rockslide or cave-in, smashing them all or locking them in a cage with no way out. However, you can lock them in a cage with a hidden switch to escape.
  3. The dungeon must provide appropriate rewards. Simply put, dungeons cannot give a legendary sword for killing a mob rat or coal for killing the boss monster, and obtainable resources must have risks appropriate to their value.
  4. Dungeons cannot intervene in areas where delvers are present, so I can''t summon monsters right in front of them or make changes when they are in those rooms. For quests, I cannot change the quest''s information in the middle or meddle with quest objectives after it is given. However, I could prepare a teleport trap summoning monsters right in front of them and make devices to change the room when triggered. That means for the quest, I could set conditions when triggered, causing changes in quest information and/or goal.
You have acquired the trait Mana Conductor
You have acquired the trait Mad Scientist of Amalgamation
You have acquired the trait System Access: Quest
When I finished selecting them, I felt knowledge pour into me. ¡®Wow, that''s a load of knowledge being injected into me.¡¯ As it is processed in me, I could feel the trait Mad Scientist of Amalgamation working inside me, letting me gain and see more than I could without it. I now know every organ and its usage for each monster. I know characteristics that can naturally occur between the same races, and I somehow know things I could adjust in their mana structure, which is something like genetic makeup. I know the differences and similarities between different monster races and how some parts could be combined; I can now picture the monster''s anatomy to the point of cells. As the rush of knowledge finishes, I quickly organize them in my mind much more easily than I should, thanks to my trait that made this happen. ¡°Alright, I chose them. Is there anything more to choose?¡± ¡°No, you are prepared to build your dungeon, so Aiden, if you will, please dig straight up roughly 10.4km until we reach the surface.¡± ¡°Excuse me, what?¡± "We are quite far underground with a mountain on top, you see; as such, I advise you to make your aura as small as possible while going up." "And we need to do this because...?" "Because without an entrance, we cannot build proper floors and function as a dungeon." "Ughhh, finneee, time to grind."
9.6 Km Left Till the Surface "You know, it would really be great if there were a way to tell the time." "Oh, there''s a time display option you can use on your Status Screen." "THERE IS A WHAT??!!" "I should''ve told you that sooner, shouldn''t I?"
8.8 Km Left Till the Surface "Hey, I reached the limit for my aura. How do I level up?" "Simple, by consuming mana that equals 50% of your mana capacity, for you, that will be 25%, increasing the size of your core in the process." A few minutes later "Huh, well, that was simple. Hey, I got one point for picking a perk and a whole bunch of options to choose from. Is this normal?¡± ¡°No, usually dungeon cores will get three suitable options. It seems like you can choose any existing low-level perk. I suspect it will be like this for traits and affinity, too.¡± ¡°Neat.¡±
6.5 Km Left Till the Surface "Hey, do you know where we are since you know the distance to the surface?" "It''s a function companions are given to find the most optimal entrance build point, but I do know the geography of this plane from the improved general knowledge provided by The System. The Material Plane, with the one and only continent Solara, has four main ruling countries in each direction with similar power and territory. These countries are called The Alliance of the Free Lands, Emerald Grove, Steelheart Confederacy, and The Sacred Order. We are situated in the middle of the continent called The Forbidden." "Having a wild assumption that not many people visit guessing by the name, won''t that be a problem for us?" "No, it was forbidden by The System itself, causing no one daring to trespass it except for those given permission; I''m sure The System will notify the people. Even if not, dungeons are lucrative abodes with infinite resources. They have devices for sensing new dungeons when the entrance is opened; I''m sure they will check if not for checking the anomaly in The Forbidden."
3.7 Km Left Till the Surface "I''m sorry." "Huh, woah, what''s this all of a sudden?" "I''m sorry about how I forced my view on running a dungeon, on the need to kill; I''m sorry for being obstinate without listening; I''m sorry I went against you. I''m sorry for not following your ways. I''m so" "Ok, stop. First, never apologize for going against me or not following my ideas and views. What happened then was that we were just unfamiliar and rusty. I was adamant about not killing, and you wanted to protect me in the only way you knew. Sure, I could have listened and patiently explained my reasons to you, finding a compromise. You could have listened to my ideas and tried to reason with me or compromise. Things could have gone better, but that was our best then. We had different ideals that clashed. Nobody was wrong, so don''t ever apologize for that, and don''t ever follow or comply with me without fighting for your views. I''m not always right, and so are you. That''s why fights and conflict are needed. Thank you. By the way, I should have said that first, and I forgive you. I''m sorry I didn''t hear you out. I''m sorry I shut you down without trying to understand. I''m sorry I didn''t consider your feelings and reasons." "Thank you, and I forgive you." "Neat, so we cool?" "Yes."
2 Km Left Till the Surface "Aiden, you said I was helping just by being here with you." "Umm, yeah. Still true now, too." "To listen and laugh to your stupid nonsense, calm you when you get too anxious, say how I really feel about things, and tell you my honest opinions." "..." "To be someone you can depend on, and you''ll try making me depend on you." "Uh huh, what are you getting at?" "Aiden, as I mentioned before, I''m not made for all those things. Companions are made to guide and instruct dungeon cores to acclimate to the world. They don¡¯t require emotions or thoughts. They simply follow the manual and provide instructions based on their knowledge. Even with The System granting me knowledge far above them, making me able to feel and think much more than any Companion should. Nothing in my knowledge contains any instructions to fulfill what you said, but they also don''t have instructions as to why I cannot try." "You..." "Aiden, you are a singularity like no other, and being tied to you, so am I, but I cannot accept it and change without problem. I will learn and try to be those things, but it''ll take time, and I may very well never be those things. Even then, will you wait for me?" "OF COURSE! Absolutely. Onehundo percent...Can I just add something to the list?" "What would it be?" "One day, you will change for yourself; one day, even if you don''t change or don''t understand, you will be proud for trying." "Yes, I will add that to my list. And Aiden." "Huh?" "You''re the most pain in the ass dungeon core and hell of a dungeon to deal with." "MY, MY, but I can''t help myself. I mean, can you truly blame me when I am this fabulous? Puh...HAHAHAHA!" At that, my companion sighs but also feels like something tying them down loosens, freeing them.
300 Meters Left Till the Surface "Hey, thank you for being here." "Where else would I be?" "I mean being my companion, thank you for being my companion; I''m thankful out of all the companions I could''ve possibly gotten that it was you. And I''m thankful for meeting you, for you being in my life." "...Aiden." "..." "Thank you for being my dungeon core. I''m thankful that out of all the dungeon cores, I could''ve possibly been bonded; I bonded with you. And I''m thankful for meeting you, to be assigned to you, for you being in my life."
0 Meters Left Till the Surface A hole emerges in the middle of Mount. Starfall, situated in The Forbbiden. Natures Bountiful Garden ¡°FINALLY, oh my gosh, that took how many days?" "Roughly about 158 hours, which is about 5 days and 18 hours." "Huh?...Oh, right, a different world with different hours for days. Still, it felt like weeks of mining and expanding, the job being so monotonous and tedious." "Well, good work with that; I''m sure the next one will be much more exciting, if not just as taxing." "You know you are becoming a lot snarkier now." "Ohh, and do you regret making and allowing me." "Naah, bring it. I''ve got years worth of internet BS to be fazed by that." As I viewed the entrance I made in the middle of the mountain, I could feel the wind coming in and sunlight coming through. Seeing as a dungeon core is much more than when I was human. Using Mana Sense, I could feel everything within my aura, and all the information didn¡¯t make my head explode, thanks to Enhanced Mind. It also allows me to split my mind and multi-task, my abilities increasing in capability as my level goes up. ¡°So, are you ready to build your dungeon? Now that you have an entrance, you can designate your floor and create monsters and/or traps. Even though it will take some time for anyone to come here since this is such an isolated and prohibited place, it¡¯s always good to be prepared.¡± "Yep, before that, what does Extraction and Create Resources specifically do?" "Extraction is only usable on dungeon floors; instead of absorbing things for mana, you absorb the schematic for it, allowing you to replicate it with Duplication. Create Resources allows you to designate spots on your dungeon floor, making them into nodes where the resources in them will be regenerated if any are missing. They will spawn in different locations within the node in a day''s time." Hearing the abilities of Extraction made me light up as it would be a tremendous help to my plan. ¡°Aiden, I request your aid in something.¡± ¡°Sure, what is it.¡± ¡®Huh, didn¡¯t think they would ever ask me for help.¡¯ ¡°Will you allow me to use your mana to construct a body?¡± ¡°Sure, but you can do that?!¡± Companion chuckles as they give their thanks. ¡°Thank you, and yes, all companions are capable of doing it.¡± At the end of those words, I feel my mana drain from my core, forming a ball of mana emitting a soft glow. Soon, appendages started growing, settling in a humanoid form with wings. Then, the form takes on more details; the head gains a face, ears, and hair; human hands and feet instead of the stumps before; the body gets curves and grooves; and finally, the wings start to become two sets of wings shaped like a dragonfly¡¯s. When all the glowing mana at the beginning was converted to making this fairy at a height of 50 cm, with short white hair, white eyes, an androgynous white face, and a white body. No nails, belly button, genitals, or even blood and veins as if carved entirely out of marble. Soon, the fairy starts twitching to life and finally moves as they speak in the same genderless and monotonous tone. ¡°Well, this is certainly something new.¡± They try to adapt to their body moving and flying around, perplexion on their face. ¡°So, Aiden, why this form?¡± ¡°Huh, what do you mean?¡± ¡°A companion body is created from the dungeon¡¯s mana, influencing their forms. So, what was on your mind when creating this body.¡± At that, I thought about it but didn¡¯t get anything as I wasn¡¯t even aware I could influence it, but for my guess. ¡°Probably because on Earth, it¡¯s a trope for dungeons having dungeon fairies. I think that in my subconscious mind, I thought you would be a fairy.¡± ¡°Intriguing. Anyhow, I asked for a body so that I may procure specimens outside for you to extract. If you would please extend your aura to the outside, as I can only function within your aura.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± As I watched my companion fly through the tunnel to the surface, I expanded my aura from the entrance to down the mountain. During the tunneling process, I realized that it became much easier and faster with each use of absorbing and expanding my aura. I was currently making a single-use capable of filling meters of volume. I then went on to ask something about the companion. ¡°Hey, I can still feel your soul inside my core, so what¡¯s up with that?¡± Companion still flying answers through our bond. ¡°This body is but a shell, meaning even if it was destroyed, you can always rebuild it, but it is also the reason I cannot leave your aura.¡± As I continued to expand to the end of the mountain, near the end, I came across a field of green. Expanding further, I came across a forest. A few hundred meters into the forest, my companion, who had entered the forest, stopped me. ¡°Aiden, that¡¯s quite enough. I can see kilometers of woodlands. Expanding further will most likely not allow me to procure new specimens. You can start building your floor now.¡± I see my companion fly about as they forage for anything new. Thinking about it, I designate my entrance as a dungeon floor, mentioning to my companion they could unload it there for me to extract. Putting my attention back to my core, I begin doing the first part of my plan. First, I used Extraction on all the stuff inside my Interdimensional Storage I saved as instructed by my companion, with each extraction gaining much more in-depth knowledge of their structure. When I finished with that, I started using my title, Knowledge of Another World, to create the things needed for my plan, not only using Extraction to understand it better but registering them with Create Resources, as testing it out Knowledge of Another World takes 10 times more mana than when using Create Resources. After creating and extracting everything I needed, I divided my mind into two: one to expand and one to absorb. Starting from my entrance, I created a long, straight hallway, 100 meters long, enough to fit two people. Once finished, I started making room for my first floor from the end of the hallway. By the time my companion finished foraging everything and some more, I had finished my floor room, which was roughly a 5-kilometer cube. My companion was surprised, sensing the size of my floor. "Just how many floors is this?" "Three floors in total." "Now what?" "Well, remember how I asked you about some schematics and learned them while tunneling for the entrance? I''m going to use them now." "Which one?" "You''ll see." I focused on the 5km cube, especially feeling the boundaries of the cube; what I''m about to do is to expand the space here. This is possible due to the specialty of floor boundaries being invulnerable and being durable enough to withstand such a volume of expansion. It¡¯s possible to do this with gases and liquids, too, but that would be incredibly harder for me with all the movements. It doesn''t matter for other dungeons since the system helps, but I''m cheesing it here, so it''s one of the reasons I chose to build inside the mountain since the room will be surrounded by solid everywhere. After thoroughly feeling the space, I start converting all the ambient mana to space mana, adding my own mana where there''s not enough, and filling the cube with it. Then, when it comes to the faces, I intertwine and structure the mana like a lattice covering the whole cube. Finally, I isolate this space and leave an entry in the hallway. As I moved and twisted the space, I could feel other forces following and coexisting with the space mana, a force that bent the space and synchronized with the space. As I focus on those forces taking control and manipulating them to make my task easier, I hear The System message.
You have unlocked Time Affinity
You have unlocked Gravity Affinity
At that, I mentally smile and sigh with relief, glad that my plan might be doable and not completely crazy. Finally, I could feel the space exist in another realm yet still present here, anchored to the hallway. I observe the entrance from the hallway to the floor and see how the space is distorted, becoming hazy, and becoming unable to see like steamed glass after a shower, preventing visibility from inside to outside and vice versa.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. All of that work was to isolate it so that I could alter it. I feel the isolated space and the space mana filling the cube, locking onto it, then manipulating it to twist and turn, eventually folding the space onto itself and doubling the space. I try as many times as possible and eventually fold it two more times with great effort as the space is expanded by 8 times, reaching my limit. The cube now from the outside is only roughly 5 kilometers, but the expanded space and volume inside is 40 cubic kilometers. Then, I feel enormous mental fatigue crashing on me as I fall to sleep.
A few hours later, I feel my consciousness waking up. I see my companion next to my core, and I sense their worry. "Aiden! You''re awake." Relief washes over them as they feel my awakening "Yep, didn''t know that would happen. I guess I overdid it, huh?" "Yes, yes you did, Aiden. What you did caused extreme mental fatigue. You automatically went into deep sleep mode, making you recover faster than regular sleeping but not being able to wake up unless fully rested. You are really something, you know that?" "I''ll take that as a compliment. But, hey, look, the space now is huge!!" My companion sighed but followed my lead "Yes, honestly, I''m surprised you were able to do so. I thought you would be lucky if you could only manage to fold it once." "Hehe, what can I say? I am awesome." "Fine, I''ll give you that since normally dungeons spend most of their mana for The System to intervene in something like space expansion. But having too much space isn''t always good. You do have plans to use all of it, right?" ¡°Not to worry, let¡¯s get this started!¡± I moved my attention to my now 40 cubic kilometers-volume floor, proud and excited. However, the large expanse of dark nothingness was kind of creepy, so I decided to fill it out quickly. First, I focus one of my mind on the earth in the forest, feeling its structure and the life brimming in it. My other mind replicates the mana movement and structure as the mana takes the form of earth and also imbuing life mana into it, mimicking the movements of the ones in the forest.
You have unlocked Earth Affinity
You have unlocked Nature Affinity
With that, I start filling the bottom with earth. As I was doing that, I started absorbing and storing the air. Next, separating and sorting them, I filled nitrogen in an enclosed space, manipulating the mana merged within the nitrogen to coalesce and crystallize the structure into a solid.
You have unlocked Air Affinity
You have unlocked Crystal Affinity
I added them to the soil, as well as potassium and phosphorus, which I found in the stone I mined while tunneling. ¡®There¡¯s just somehow this stuff in this mountain, and underground, I mean not complaining, probably has to do with there being magic.¡¯ Finally, I take out ores and extract the metal from them. By moving the mana within the ore, focusing on the mana combined with the metal bits, the metal slowly moves and breaks free as they meld together outside, sprinkling flakes of them into the soil.
You have unlocked Metal Affinity
A few hours later, five kilometers deep, earth filled the bottom of the space. As I kept on doing it, I was able to produce more each time, taking less time than I thought. Next, to create magical mycelium, earthworms, ants, millipedes, and rolly pollies. Some schematics were learned by creating their corpses with Knowledge of Another World and extracting them afterward. Using Create Monster, I first decide on what to create within my mental map of monsters and creatures schematics. I notice my trait, Mad Scientist of Amalgamation, take effect, allowing me to alter the preset in my mind as I make it healthier, improving its resilience, strength, abilities, and organs. I basically optimized their genes to be the one-in-a-million genetically blessed creature. After choosing and optimizing the preset, I activated Create Monster. Times seemed to slow down, and as my mind accelerated, I felt the movement of mana. My mana moved from my core through the dungeon floors to my first floor, coalescing and taking form. That''s when I knew I should strike. I combined them with the components from plant and fungi-type monsters to allow them to absorb nutrients from the ground and some from light. I injected more of my mana, converting it to nature, earth, and life mana, imbuing them to better fertilize and enrich the life within the earth. As I finish making my adjustments with some mental fatigue, the mana takes form and life. Monsters are technically creatures without sentience, having a certain amount of mana. These fungi, insects, and worms may barely count as monsters, but for dungeons, a mob is a monster that has evolved at least once. So, thankfully, they don¡¯t take up the limit for mobs per floor. Another thing I am thankful for is I can use Duplication to create the exact same monsters with less mana and mental burden. I kept spamming Duplication to create lifeforms to enrich the soil and bring it to life. 1 and a half hours in, I covered the whole ground, learning to create multiple of them at once. Before creating them, I was worried about creating life forms, but as I created them, I saw and felt them not as life forms but as cells. My heart was the core, my floor the body, and monsters as cells. I mean, countless cells died in my body every day, and I didn¡¯t feel anything about that. As that notion set in, I didn¡¯t worry about feeling sad about monsters dying. Even though I created them, they were more like robots and machines doing their jobs. Now, onto the main part: plants. I started creating the most basic of plant monsters, optimizing their genes and combining them with different components for my plan. First, I combined the plant monsters'' structure with basil, sage, thyme, dill, lavender, mint, and any other edible herb I have eaten or touched. Enhancing the flavors to the limit while injecting life and nature mana. The combination was a breeze as they had perfect compatibility. Next, I did the same but with vegetables, carrots, onion, kale, celery, tomatoes, cucumber and any other. Following the spices, saffron, anise, ginger, garlic, cumin, pepper, and everything I have ever tasted. Salt was a little tricky, but I managed. Then, there are fruits, apples, peaches, cherries, apricots, grapes, oranges, you name them. The next ones were tricky as they needed another component from a different monster race. I first unlocked water affinity, combining hydrogen and oxygen with the help of air mana.
You have unlocked Water Affinity
Then, I made a water crystal I learned from my companion by combining water mana and mana crystals that are abundant near my core. A crystal capable of converting mana to the affinity imbued. Then, I created a 15-kilometer stone mountain at one of the corners, furthest from the entrance. While at it, I surrounded all the edges with 9 to 10 kilometers of stone, making the place look like it was in a canyon. I then returned to the 15-kilometer mountain cliff thing, increasing its width and bulging it out to make it stand out from the rest of the wall.
You have unlocked Stone Affinity
I placed several water crystals in the crater I made at the top of the mountain. As water is produced and the crater fills up, I make a passageway for the water to fall. Soon, the water fell to the dugout I made out of clay, stone, silt, and sand, filling it with water as it formed a river with a large body of water in the middle that spread into smaller rivers, spreading out to the other places. Finally, the water merges again, and the excess is transferred back to the waterfall by connecting those spaces with space affinity. Then, for the denizens inhabiting the waterfall and river, I first optimized the plant monster preset, then combined it with the mimics components, giving it the ability to mimic objects, combing them with catfish, trouts, eels, walleye, bass, and more and next making the meat as tasty as possible and injecting life and nature mana and also adding some aquatic plants and edible water lilies to the bodies of water. Lastly, using the same method as above, but instead of fish, I did it with chicken, duck, turkey, rabbit, cow, sheep, pig, goat, deer, and lastly, for the heck of it, buffalo and alligator. (What, they were pretty good.) Finish it off by doing the same thing as the others, adding jungle and rainforest plants with some tropical fruits like cocoa, avocados, coconuts, pineapples, bananas, acai berries, and so much more, and also adding carnivorous plants in the mix. To finish the landscape completely, I created a crystal of nature, life, and soul. By creating hydrogen by separating the excess water from the waterfall and letting oxygen fill the room, I used hydrogen and air mana to create three air crystals specifically for producing hydrogen. I then combust hydrogen by manipulating and speeding up the movement.
You have unlocked Heat Affinity
You have unlocked Fire Affinity
I used gravity mana to keep the life crystal stuck together with the air crystal, keeping them afloat in the middle of the ceiling, then surrounded them in a ball of burning hydrogen, manipulating the heat mana it produced to be injected into the crystals, converting the heat mana to life mana and hydrogen which in turn is used as the fuel for the fire with the surrounding air, using gravity mana to stay in form and keep afloat creating a cycle of an endless burning ball of light.
You have unlocked Light Affinity
The nature one gave off a red and orange color light as nature mana was mixed with the light mana, life was green, and soul had a slivery, hazy feel to it. The life and nature one will help the plants grow, but for the soul, I started to alter and change it imbuing my intent and emotion. For what is eternal life a blessing for a few and a curse for the other, to be unable to feel a curse to most yet a blessing for the broken, to be beautiful, some will revel in it, and some will abhor it, for one''s death could be the blessing or curse for thousands. Oh, what a blessing and curse it is to have an appetite and be hungry. At that, I felt the soul crystal change. It¡¯s still the same color, but somehow there is intent and emotion imbued.
You have unlocked Curse Affinity
You have unlocked Blessing Affinity
This floor is the Domain of Hunger; welcome to Nature¡¯s Bountiful Garden.
All components met for Unique Floor Floors 1-3 are designated as Nature¡¯s Bountiful Garden These are the following effects for Nature¡¯s Bountiful Garden
Nature¡¯s Bountiful Garden
-Gain 2 additional floor boss -All mobs, elites, and floor bosses must be edible or have edible components -All edibles produced on this floor will gain a major boost in taste, growth, and effects -All plant-type monsters will gain generous boost to attributes -All delvers will be cursed with the Curse of Hunger; if a similar curse is present, it will amplify the curse instead -All delvers will gain a generous boost for harvesting consumables -All food-related consumables get a generous boost if consumed within the dungeon floor
Name With my perk Unique Floors giving me more floor bosses, I started to add some monsters I wanted to but gave up on. I first dug out a complicated cavern in the underground, going through everywhere on the floor, creating stone cave walls and lichen growing on them. Making some holes to let the river water flow in some places and combining edible mushrooms with fungi monsters, making them habitable in underground environments. I also added some edible moss and glowing moss that the system provided me in the basic flora and fauna schematics in the mix. Some starchy crops and grains plant monsters, animal and plant milk-producing plant monsters, and finally, bees literally made out of honey. I started sectioning the floor equally by 8 . Then I proceeded to fill them with the theme I was going for each section. First, vegetable and herb monsters are created and placed at the entrance, followed by fruit and spice monsters further up, milk plants monsters and honey bee monsters in one section, and starchy crops monsters in the other. Finally, fish-plant monsters were added to the waterfall section, and the jungle-rainforest environment was created for the other sections, finishing it off with plant-animal monsters. Then, feeling the space of floor one, I started imbuing time mana into it, adding gravity mana into the mix. As I started twisting the time, distortion and dilation appeared, and with all my strength, I managed to distort the time on the floor by ten compared to outside. This means that an hour outside is equivalent to 10 hours inside. At that point, I felt my consciousness drifting down. I was familiar with this sensation, so I knew I was going to deep sleep. I think I heard an exasperated sigh from my companion before my mind went blank. ¡°Hah, Aiden¡­not again.¡±
When I came too, I was greeted by a message
The primary monster type has been finalized The primary monster type is plant-type All your monsters will gain a 10% increase in regeneration, self-healing, and healing capabilities per floor
¡°Ohh, you''re awake.¡± I hear an indifferent voice, though they cannot hide the worry they feel due to our bond. ¡°Hey, what''s up with you?¡± ¡°Well, I figured you were going to do something unbelievable or stupid frequently, and it would do me no good to worry and panic every single time. Aiden, couldn¡¯t you have done it by steps or at least lessened the time dilation to something you were capable of bearing?¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry, but I was just so excited I kinda overdid it, but hey, look at the results.¡± ¡®Speaking of results, let¡¯s see what¡¯s been going on.¡¯ I started to focus on my floor, my mind synching with the time, so it¡¯s not like watching a fast-forward video. ¡®Wow¡¯ First, the place was now filled to the brim with plants. I also noticed that they were all placed within my sections, even though there wasn¡¯t any physical barrier. ¡°Hey, how come the monsters fit just right in?¡± ¡°They are a part of you, even if you didn¡¯t do anything physically; your subconscious thoughts alone will influence them.¡± As I looked at the whole thing from above and then saw it up close, I was mesmerized, especially when I encountered the fish-plant hybrid. The outside fins, scales, skin, and visible organs were made of plant components, but the inside was flesh, and plants substituted some of their organs. The fish-plant monsters used water mana to maneuver and hunt in the water. The same goes for the animals. I see them scampering through the jungle rainforest I created. Some are camouflaged in their surroundings, and some use nature mana to manipulate surrounding plants to attack and defend. I even saw a carnivorous plant lure in an animal-plant monster and digest it. This all felt so unreal. Before all this, it was a sparsely populated forest. The next thing I saw when I woke up was a flourishing forest and ecosystem. ¡°How long was I asleep for?¡± ¡°A whole day. Due to the constant use of time distortion, drawing your mana, it required more time for you to recover. Monsters flourish in a mana-rich environment. It only took 3 days for the floor to be covered by monsters.¡± As they mentioned it, I do feel some of my mana generated being moved to this floor. But I also notice something else. ¡°Hey, the mana I¡¯m getting seems to be more than my self-generation and conversion. What¡¯s up with that?¡± ¡°Mana, when changed to different forms, self-duplicates a minuscule amount. The waterfall movements, the monsters'' use of mana, the pseudo suns, etcetera contribute to that. The excess mana exceeding the mana density capacity of your floor is redistributed to you.¡± As I was still viewing and taking it all in, I felt something new, something different. I started following and searching for its origin. There in the orchard section near the center of the floor, I saw a sapling radiating soul mana, possessing a soul so weak and small like an ember yet seemed like it could ignite and grow into a fire. I focused on the sapling, trying to understand just what made this sapling have a soul. Soon, I figured out its unusualness. From the ground up, it''s smaller and unremarkable among all the other trees surrounding it, yet down below, underground, its roots were massive as they grew out to not only one-fourth of the orchard section, similarly to the surrounding three sections as well. As I viewed this peculiarity, I wondered how this sapling could grow over the section boundaries. But then I realized that this sapling roots are connected to the roots of the plants, helping the growth of all plants connected. Distributing necessary and unused nutrients between plants, the nature and life mana it self-generates is distributed to plants for those in need or growth, equalizing the plants connected to it as the connected plants give back mana, which the sapling distributes to the others the sapling itself taking the bare minimum to survive creating a cycle with the sapling at the center. ¡°Oh, my gosh, look at this!¡± My companion starts sharing my vision; seeing the sapling, I feel their surprise as they explain. ¡°A monster already gaining a soul, but it¡¯s only been 10 days with no delvers. It would take at least a year for a soul to form using the remnants of souls from deceased delvers. Does it have to do with your perks or your human consciousness, I wonder?¡± They started to contemplate this situation that even surprised them. ¡°Huh, so this is something that happens. By the way, remnants of souls? What is that?¡± Getting out of contemplation, my companion started explaining. ¡°When a person dies, their soul will enter the cycle of reincarnation under the system; however, it will leave behind parts of its soul, which are memories, experiences, knowledge, and emotions they have achieved in their lives. Dungeons absorb these remnants for mana; however, sometimes, some are left within the floors. Normally, dungeon monsters with souls are created using these remnants. It¡¯s also one of the reasons for me objecting to your no-killing policy.¡± ¡®Huh, glad to know dungeons don¡¯t devour souls, or at least the main part of it.¡¯ ¡°Just what makes them so special for you to object?¡± ¡°Simple, they are the basis for creating a powerful titled monster. When a monster is designated as a titled monster, they are changed and evolved, enhancing its chances of acquiring a soul. When the monster already possesses one, the enhancement it gains will be towards the soul itself.¡± ¡°And that means?¡± ¡°It means they are capable of growing and evolving much more than otherwise. A soul and body are connected. Without a powerful soul, the body cannot evolve or change further than its soul''s potential.¡± ¡°Huh, though I understand what you are saying, without first-hand experience, I don¡¯t quite get it. Another question though, since you know all this about souls, is this sapling aware or conscious since it has a soul?¡± ¡°Just think of it as the difference between a child and an adult. As for the sapling, please give me a moment.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Then, my companion scrutinizes the sapling or, more so, its soul. ¡°From what I can see and compare to my knowledge, it should have the same awareness and consciousness as a fetus.¡± ¡®Huh, about the same as a fetus... Wait!!! A FETUS!?¡¯ ¡°Wow, Aiden, are you okay? Your emotions and thoughts are vehement and in disorder.¡± My companion worries, but I¡¯m too overwhelmed to care. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant!?¡± ¡°What?¡± My companion is visibly confused at my statement. ¡°I mean, I created it, right? I mean, this dungeon is my body, and there is a fetus attached to my body, right? So, I¡¯m a mother, but wait, I identify as male, so transgender, but I have a different body, and do dungeons even have genders?¡± ¡°Aiden¡± My companion talks to me, yet it completely crosses my mind. ¡°Oh My Gosh, Oh My Gosh, I¡¯m not ready to be a mother or father. I didn¡¯t think I would have a baby. Oh my gosh, what about its name? What should I do? What should I say? What should I teach? I¡¯m not ready for this.¡± That¡¯s when my companion shouts at me to get me out of my distraught. ¡°AIDEN!!¡± Out of my state, I noticed my companion in front of my core, worry apparent in their face and through our bond. ¡°Finally, I went through you. Aiden, I will slowly answer your questions. Is that alright with you?¡± I give an affirmation through our bond. ¡°Good, now, first of all, dungeons do not possess gender as it is not required as they cannot reproduce. Second, for your statement about being pregnant¡­ I don¡¯t know, from a human perspective, it could technically be correct. But dungeons don¡¯t perceive it that way; they treat it as a part of its body, like an arm or leg, or perhaps a part of its brain. It¡¯s a monster, not a baby. It will grow perfectly well without your guidance and interference. Monsters'' names are gotten by delvers as they encounter and create titles for identification. Once that tile sticks and is recognized by a certain amount, the system will acknowledge it. Now, do you have any more questions? And if you could please tell me anything I could do besides that to help you.¡± As I gaze at them, looking straight at my core, I feel my mess of mind stop and then slowly untangle. ¡°No, no, at least for now. And thank you, but could you give me some time to think this through.¡± ¡°Of course.¡±
A few hours later ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± At that point, my companion, who has been by my core all this time, flies up and sits on top of my core. ¡°Got it all figured out?¡± I give a hesitant response. ¡°Sort of. I want to see what happens when I designate it as a titled monster, then decide.¡± As I focused on the sapling, I saw that it was the same as before. Then, my companion suddenly spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s amazing a monster with such an infantile soul taking action with such purpose. I¡¯m sure they will be a tremendous help. Aiden, experiencing you, I presume you won¡¯t treat it like a part of your body. I want you to know that I will always support you no matter what you decide.¡± I could feel their worry and resistance, yet despite all that, they chose to support and follow me through. This was more than enough to warm and brighten my heart as motivation filled me. ¡®Maybe it won¡¯t be so bad after all.¡¯ ¡°Aiden Winterguard Seraphim, that will be my name in this world, and this is the first time I have actually mentioned my name to you, isn¡¯t it?¡± My companion was surprised yet gleeful as they answered back. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you, Aiden.¡± I chuckle just a little at that and say what I have been thinking about the moment we met. ¡°Hector, Hector Winterguard Seraphim. Companion, will you accept this name?¡± My companion freezes for a moment, befuddled. ¡°What? Since when did you think about my name? And you do know names are unnecessary with our bond, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, I''m well aware of it, but sometimes humans do things not out of necessity but just because. I¡¯ve been thinking about your name since I met you. I mean, calling you a companion is so impersonal.¡± ¡°I will be the first ever dungeon companion to have a name in Aetheria history. Good for me, I suppose. Aiden, of course, I would gladly accept it.¡± Just then, I was surprised as mana rushed out from my core to my companion. On top of it, a part of my soul also went through our bond to them. They started to glow, just like when I created their body. The glowing human form started to grow and change, finalizing at 1 meter. Then, as the glow began to fade, I saw a completely changed companion: short blue hair and silver eyes, a mature, handsome face, a male body showing lines of muscles, pale ivory skin, and what seemed like veins, pores, body hair, a belly button, and male genitalia. ¡®Wait? Ahhh! They, I mean, he, I mean they, I mean has a penis.¡¯ I started to switch my vision somewhere else, which is pretty hard, being able to see everything within my dungeon but still trying. I started creating a white shirt, underwear, and sweatpants roughly fitting a 1-meter male as I summoned it on top of them. ¡°Hurry up and wear them!¡± I hear some rustling as they finish up. ¡°I¡¯m done. You can ¡®see¡¯ now.¡± The emotionless and genderless voice was gone, replaced by a deep, masculine voice that tingled my brain. I focused my attention back on them. There they were, one meter tall, wearing the clothes I had made. ¡°You know, you already saw it, and I¡¯m still nude underneath these clothes, so you can just ignore the clothes and see my body.¡± At that, I subconsciously do exactly that as the clothes fade out as I ¡®feel¡¯ their body. ¡°AHHH! Why did you have to mention it.¡± They smirk, seeing me all flustered. ¡°Haha, oh please. I really don¡¯t get your perspective. You were perfectly fine seeing my body then, but now you are all flustered just by mentioning it. Though it is satisfying seeing you in this way for once and not the other way around.¡± ¡°You were a moving statue or mannequin before, but now you''re just more. Your voice, skin, and body are like a male human¡¯s, and your face, you actually have an expression.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± They make a startled face as they move their hand to their face, feeling its movement. ¡°Huh, go figures.¡± As I stared at them for who knows how long, a screen appeared before me.
Name Hector Winterguard Seraphim
Race Dungeon Fairy
Titles The Sole Dungeon Fairy, System Chosen¡¯s Companion, Bond of Seraphim
Affinity Arcane, Space, Time, Gravity
Skill None
Trait Dungeon Born, Bonded, Major Blessing Of Dimensions
¡®What?¡¯ ¡°Hey, are you seeing what I¡¯m seeing?¡± ¡°I believe I am seeing what you are seeing. I mean, I am able to share your vision, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s what you are talking about.¡± ¡°Is this normal? And why did you change just by me naming you?¡± They started to ponder over my question, their hand on their face, grimacing from time to time. It was strange to watch them gesture and show expressions. Before, it was like watching a statue or robot, but now they just felt ¡®alive.¡¯ ¡°This is the first time in Aetheria history that this has ever happened, so my conjecture may be wrong. In this world, there have been cases where powerful beings, when naming their child, were able to transfer part of their power. Afterward, their names held power, their bloodline reigning as monarchs for millennia; presently, no one is able to transfer their power through naming, but certain names do hold power in itself.¡± ¡°But I felt a part of my soul go through to you. Is that supposed to happen?¡± ¡°No, at least not that I am aware of. A dungeon''s bond is special, as there is nothing quite like it in Aehteria. Perhaps due to the specialty of such a bond, part of your soul was given to me. With your soul and mana, I became more. An Individual. Companions do not possess status screens, for when a companion¡¯s dungeon has acclimated and served its purpose, it disintegrates to mana being absorbed by the dungeon.¡± ¡°They what!?¡± What the heck!? They die just like that when they serve their purpose. What kind of gruesome mechanism is this? ¡°Aiden, dungeon companions are like an AI. As I said before, they simply follow the protocol assigned to them; they do not feel or think. There is no reason to keep a companion once it has served its purpose.¡± As I hear that, I¡¯m angry and terrified of what could happen. ¡°When were you going to tell me this!? Are you¡­are you going to disappear like them?¡± They came close to my core as they hugged it, a gentle smile on their face. ¡°No, silly. Even before I was given a name, the mechanism was removed from me when I was made. I didn¡¯t tell you because it was unneeded. Lucky me, right? I¡¯m stuck forever with you.¡± ¡°That last one came off as sarcastic, but I¡¯m going to ignore that and cheer. Yay!... I was really scared, you know? For a moment, I thought you would¡­¡± Hugging my core tightly, I can feel a warmth emanating from them that was not present before the change as they chuckle softly. ¡°Hehe, where would I go? Where would I be without my silly, worrisome dungeon core?¡± ¡°...¡± I stay silent, feeling their warmth and presence beside me. ¡°You haven¡¯t said it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°My name, you haven¡¯t said it after you¡¯ve given it to me.¡± ¡®Oh, I guess I haven¡¯t it.¡¯ I was so overwhelmed by their change that saying their name just crossed my mind. ¡°Hector.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hector.¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Hector.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°So, are you a male? Speaking of, why do you have genitalia? Can you reproduce now?¡± A sly smile appeared on Hector. ¡°Hmm, yes, I am male, and I do not possess the ability to reproduce. As to why such an organ exits despite it, it was made for you.¡± My brain stops at their disclosure. ¡°What?¡± ¡°After all, it was your mana that made me, and with more of your soul merging with mine, I have more memories of your time on Earth. My body took form to your liking.¡± ¡°Uhhhh¡­¡± ¡®Is it weird that I¡¯m excited and freaking out at the same time?¡¯ He started to reveal his body under the clothes slowly. ¡°This face, pecs, muscles, penis, do you like it? Or maybe you want to look at my butt and what¡¯s inside. After all, my hole was made just for¡± The words he said, how he accentuated his body with them, their seductive expression and movement, and seeing him just about to take off his clothes made me scream in horror. ¡°AHHH! Stop, stop, stop. Do you want me to die of embarrassment!¡± ¡®Oh my gosh, to have an ideal is one thing, but to see it in form and somebody saying it out loud is another.¡¯ The worst part is I can¡¯t deny his words, I¡¯m ruined. I need thousands of blankets to kick on my bed now for me to feel okay. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hector!¡± ¡°Oh, this is going to be fun.¡± Evangeline ¡®Eugh, how did this happen? Why is this happening to me?¡¯ ¡°Hector, are you done being amused?¡± With glee on his face, he speaks. ¡°Of course, I mean, I was only kidding. You have a gem for a body. What are you actually going to do?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­I don¡¯t know. You changed so much. I was startled, and I didn¡¯t expect anything like that from you.¡± ¡°I told you before, I became an individual. Before, it was like imitation referencing from your memories on Earth, but now I have likes and dislikes. I can feel emotions clearly, as well as my beliefs and attitudes toward things. Also, I have received an expansive amount of your memories on Earth and learned a lot from them.¡± ¡®That¡¯s good and worrying at the same time, I¡¯m glad he is more¡­ well ¡®alive¡¯ but not thrilled with him getting more of my memories.¡¯ ¡°Then why this? I mean, why become someone like this?¡± Well, that sounds awful now that I say it out loud, though he gets what I mean through our bond. With his gentle eyes and smile that looks into my core. ¡°Because I wanted to be someone that can help you, someone you wanted. Stupid nonsense, sarcastic playful words that mean trust with each other, unproductive behavior just for the sake of things, words and things that aren¡¯t practical. You miss this, right?¡± ¡®Yeah, things that make me forget and things that object to all the-¡¯ ¡°Also, your ideal sexual body. You know I¡¯m not joking. You can do whatever you want with me, you could probably manipulate your mana to take the form of tentacles like one of those videos you-¡± ¡°AHHHH! Don¡¯t mention them!¡± Oh my gosh, he knows all the porn videos I watched, how much does he know? It can¡¯t be all of them. Oh gosh, what if it is? Just let me die in a pit screaming alone. ¡°I was just joking, or am I?¡± ¡°Hector, I will choose to ignore what you said and work on where we left off.¡± Ignoring his chuckles and knowing that he was serious, through our bond and the image in my mind being generated. I went back to what I was planning on doing: designating a boss monster. I was currently at level 4, and a boss monster position opens every five levels. Using mana to level up, I brought up my status screen to check.
Name Aiden Winterguard Seraphim
Race Dungeon Core
Titles The System Chosen, Knowledge of Another World, Progenitor of Seraphim
Dungeon Name N/A
Level 5
Affinity Arcane, Life, Soul, Space, Time, Gravity¡­.(1 point available)
Current Mana 2480/5000
Self Mana Generation 50/hour
Exterior Mana Conversion 500/hour (Max)
Abilities Absorb Mana, Absorb Mass, Interdimensional Storage, Enhanced Mind, Grand Master Mana Manipulation, Veteran Mana Sense, Veteran Veteran Mana Conversion, Veteran Mana Purification, Alter Environment, Create Trap, Create Resources, Duplication, Regeneration, Extraction, Create Monster, Monster Link, Transfer Floor
Traits Born of Arcane Mana, Pure Mana Crystal Origin, Blessed by Dimensions, Mana Conductor, Mad Scientist of Amalgamation, System Access: Quest
Perks Monster Horde, Monster Overlord, Pools of Birth, Lucky Evolution, Ascension of Elites, Unique Floors, Bigger Aura¢ñ, Garden¢ñ
Looking through, I noticed a new title and the two new perks I chose in levels 2 and 4 compared to the last time I checked.
Titles
Progenitor of Seraphim A surname born from a unique being, those bestowed upon will gain benefits relating to the progenitor. -Those bestowed the name Seraphim by the progenitor will gain a generous boost to mana-related skills -Those bestowed the name Seraphim by the progenitor will gain a generous boost to wisdom and intelligence -Those bestowed the name Seraphim by the progenitor will gain a generous boost to emotional intelligence
Perks
Bigger Aura¢ñ Increases aura Limit -10% increase to total aura limit
Garden¢ñ Increases quality of plant-related resources -10% increase in quality of plant-related resources
Well, isn¡¯t the new title something? Seraphim was the surname I chose to have in this world. After all, a new world without my family was just the push I needed to end ties with the family name, well partially, at least. As for the benefits, for mana is most likely due to me being a dungeon core. As for the rest, (flashes of memories on Earth pass by). ¡®Yeah, I get it.¡¯ Onto the affinity
Illusion Affinity has been unlocked
I wanted to unlock this on my own, so I tried using light mana to create illusions, but that didn¡¯t unlock it. After obtaining it, I understand why: what I did was essentially light in another form, but with illusion mana, it¡¯s like manifesting your imagination, giving form to something not present before. Using illusion mana, I created some illusion crystals and stuck them on the ceiling, creating a false sky. I mean, except for making the floor look nice and making it feel like the outside, it doesn''t do anything else, but it bugs me, so point well used. Now, back to my lovely sapling, which I designate as this floor¡¯s boss monster right away. Mana started rushing out of my core as it moved through the dungeon floor, arriving at the sapling. As mana was poured in, the sapling''s soul was invigorated, and the binding it had with the dungeon floor was strengthened as I watched it unfold. I used this moment to concrete that binding, trying to imitate the bond with my companion. With some effort and soul mana, I managed to change the binding to a bond similar to the one I have with Hector. However, this one was formed with the sapling¡¯s soul and the dungeon floor/my body, unlike mine and Hector¡¯s bond, which is bonded by our souls. Focusing on the bond, I used soul affinity to separate a speck of my soul and move it through it. I let it merge with the mana, letting the soul-imbued mana empower the sapling¡¯s soul. Once the process was done, I could feel its soul becoming solid, as if it were an ember before being able to be snuffed out at any moment. It is like a small fire now, weak and small but burning. It¡¯s a strange feeling, but I could just feel how the potential of this soul has grown after being assigned as the boss monster. However, that was all, and there were no physical differences.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Umm, is that it? I thought, well, I don¡¯t know, it just seems anti-climactic. I thought it would glow and grow, evolving into something completely new.¡± Hector, who has been watching the process in detail and is still scrutinizing it now, spares his attention as he answers. ¡°Yes, with a powerful soul, the monster¡¯s body will change and evolve to match it, though it¡¯s very inefficient the other way around. The soul is incomparably harder to grow than the body, after all.¡± ¡°So, we just wait and let them grow?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Then Hector turned toward my core with a serious face. ¡°Aiden, the thing you did with it, the bond, why did you do it?¡± ¡®Why?¡¯ The bond with Hector is strange. It feels like you have known them for a very long time, letting me know him as if a thousand conversations had been made. I knew I would have this connection until death, a connection I could never sever. It was pressuring but also comforting. ¡°It was family.¡± I saw Hector¡¯s confusion with my statement. ¡°¡®Blood is thicker than water¡¯ I never liked that phrase. I have seen blood-related families do awful things to each other, abusing their relationship, and people who despaired over how they will be forever connected, tied by blood in the name of family. I saw strangers show kindness and generosity to others, trust and companionship being born, and selfless sacrifices being made. None of it has to do with blood relations. Sometimes, it''s family that hurts you the most.¡± As I say this, he looks at me with concern, but it doesn''t hurt. I¡¯ve grown to be able to bear it, to be okay. ¡°But, I guess I also find comfort and support in it. The blood ties we have, I mean had. The bond, it was something to make it family. You are family, and I wanted that for them, for me too.¡± I thought you didn¡¯t need proof to be family, I still do now. I believe that trust, respect, and love are all there is for a relationship to work, but maybe something, this bond could make it more. I listened to Hector¡¯s remark as he finished contemplating what I said. ¡°A bond was never meant for this. Its purpose was to make the dungeon core feel and trust the companion in order to prevent hostile behavior and obedience to the guidance of companions. Even the links dungeon monsters have with dungeon floors are mere anchoring points to solidify their existence. I believe I now know why my name brought such changes. It had happened to those The System had granted powers for subjugating The Abyss. Dungeons should meet the threshold with their semi-god-like powers, but the dungeons who have lived long enough to gain full sentience and name their monsters weren¡¯t like you. They never thought of them as family.¡± I feel his concern and hesitance as they continue to say. ¡°This is unprecedented. I don¡¯t know the repercussions it would have if you were to continue creating such bonds, but what I say won¡¯t stop you. So, all I ask is to be careful. Too much soul imbued will overpower the other, possibly obliterating it. Also, minor consumption of the soul can be recovered, but once the exhaustion has reached a certain threshold, it will be irrecoverable, so keep that in mind and do it in moderation.¡± It¡¯s nice, feeling and knowing that someone cares for you, how they worry about your well-being, and how they trust you even though they aren¡¯t sure they aren¡¯t themselves. ¡°Yeah, thank you for trusting me, for caring and worrying about me.¡± It fills me with glee as he smiles at that, but soon, that smile turns into a smirk as uneasiness fills me. ¡°So, family, huh? Is that what you thought about me? Like a son or perhaps a father? Perhaps you wanted something forbidden and sinful? What do you want me to call you, Daddy? Or you can call me Daddy anytime.¡± ¡°No! No! Just family, nothing sexual and nothing romantic, just platonic companionship kind of family. Why are you making it sexual?¡± He starts looking at me with playful eyes as they bring up my dark past. ¡°Oh, well, I¡¯m not the one who wrote fan-fic with cartoon characters or about werewolves with a father and son relationship or a messed up serial killer daddy-¡± ¡°AHHH! Okay! Okay! I got it, so can we please never speak of this again.¡± ¡°Hmm, we¡¯ll see. If you are a good boy for Daddy.¡± ¡°Dammit!¡±
A few days passed, and during those times, I started scanning the floor, checking everything out, cleaning and patching up a few rough and unnatural areas. I wanted this place to feel natural, which is quite easy since the plants grow so fast and the time is accelerated. I started assigning resource nodes for lumber, herbs, fruits, moss, and mushrooms, which are lucrative and popular, according to Hector. Some were the monsters that weren¡¯t able to evolve as the mob limit was filled, blocking their evolution. While some of them were cross-reproduced with the plant monsters and basic flora I had planted to fill the terrain. Also used the breeding ground function in the Pools of Birth perk. It was pretty interesting to see it in action before once a mob dies, another monster will evolve, filling the mob limit. But now, once a mob dies after some time, it disintegrates into mana, and with it, a seed is created and planted, which then grows into the exact same type of monster within a minute or so. This not only sped up the process of mob generation but also allowed me to delegate the type and number of certain mobs on the floor instead of random ones taking their positions. After that, it was figuring out the types of monsters I wanted, min-maxing out which type to keep and the amount. During the process, Hector noticed an anomaly and mentioned it. Monsters are restricted in their number of evolutions by the dungeon floor¡¯s tier. Tier 1 is 1-10, tier 2 is 11-20, tier 3 is 21-30, and so on, mobs are only able to evolve the same amount as the tier they are in. Elites get a small attribute bonus, Floor bosses get some attribute bonuses and get to evolve once more, and the boss monster gets a large attribute bonus and two more evolutions. Hector estimated it was due to the Pure Mana Crystal Origin trait increasing the monster''s and floor''s mana density. After that, I started working on making quests, designing them, filling quest information, assigning rewards and penalties, setting conditions, and putting in multiple ways to solve them. It was fun, as it reminded me of the times when I was the DM. Just then, I heard a voice. ¡°Father¡­?¡± A voice that was not Hector¡¯s, a voice not heard by Mana Sense, a voice that came through a bond. Immediately, I put all my attention on the once-been sapling. The tree was massive. It had moved to the very center of the floor, towering over all the surrounding trees at 1.5 kilometers with a diameter of 2 kilometers. Its crown was enormous, covering 20 by 20 kilometers of space. Thankfully, its canopy didn¡¯t block out the light. On the contrary, it enhanced it, making it better for the monsters below. The leaves were like a one-way mirror. From above, they were crystalline, glowing in all sorts of hues of color, just like my core. Light would pass through them, enhancing them in the process. From below, you could only see the fake sky, with some of the leaves bending the light and masking the branches. The only thing visible were all sorts of glowing fruits the tree was bearing, looking like stars in the sky. You can imagine my astonishment watching it grow. I was terrified when all its leaves fell off, even though I knew it was fine. It felt weird watching it grow leaves similar to my core. It actually felt like a child I was having. On the other hand, Hector was, and still is, dumbfounded over it. Something about that it has only evolved twice or even with a stronger soul the greater the evolution this is unbelievable, or him saying to me just what kind of monstrosity I have created. I, for one, am not gonna let that stop me from being proud of my tree-child. Even now, the tree is doing wonders for fertilizing and enriching the soil and plants, with its roots covering twice as much. Though I was worried since it was mainly growing its body and not its soul, it has actually been a few days since it stopped growing, but instead, it focused on strengthening its soul. So, I was anticipating this would happen, but being pregnant is different from hugging and seeing your baby after it¡¯s born, probably? I mean, I¡¯ve never been pregnant, being a male and all. Anyway, back to my tree? child? precious something. ¡°Welcome to this world, dear.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°It¡¯s so wonderful to meet and talk to you.¡± ¡°Father¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, dear.¡± ¡°Father¡­¡± As I keep projecting positive energy through our bond, I panic and call for SOS on my other bond with Hector. ¡°Hector! What should I do? Is there something wrong? Oh my gosh, did I do something wrong? Hector! No!! I cannot fuck up, not with this.¡± ¡°Aiden! It¡¯s okay. Nothing is wrong, you did nothing wrong. So, why don¡¯t you take a moment to relax as I explain? Would that be okay?¡± I give a mental frenzied nod as I try to get myself together. When I hear Hector¡¯s calm, steady, smooth voice tailored to my preference, I find it much easier to think things through. ¡°First, its soul is equivalent to a newborn; they probably only know the term for father, and you are theirs based on the knowledge they gained through merging your soul with theirs.¡± At that, I sigh with relief. ¡°I just thought, I mean, since their physical body is so huge, I thought the soul and consciousness when it awakens would also be, you know?¡± He gives me a comforting smile that makes me feel better. ¡°Yes, even I could not predict how such a small soul could support such a frame. Its extraordinary potential could be the reason, but I suspect there is more to it. Anyway, a tier 1 boss monster soul is limited to this stage, howe-¡± I interject quickly as soon as I hear that. ¡°What!? You mean they will have a mind of a newborn forever!¡± He gives me a dumbfounded look as he continues. ¡°As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. Yours is an exception because, of course, you are. Because every dungeon somehow has a soul-bearing mob monster right at the beginning whose soul potential became overwhelming and somehow grew a gargantuan body.¡± I can see the sarcasm dripping from his voice but in my defense. ¡°I thought it would be a limit or lock dungeons would have, not the limit of a dungeon''s core ability.¡± ¡°I would have mentioned it if that was so. Anyway, your, um¡­ child¡¯s soul and mind will grow up just fine. It¡¯s so weird that this is actually happening. I didn¡¯t think it would know what a father is, much less recognize and accept you as one.¡± ¡°Hey, even though I know you mean something else, it still sounds like I¡¯m a bad parent. What did you think would happen?¡± Hector tries to get his words as he thinks and searches through his boundless knowledge but, in the end, fails. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I could never know with you.¡± ¡°Hey, at least I¡¯m not boring.¡± He answers with a helpless sigh and a slight smile. ¡°I guess there is that. Now, you¡¯ve stalled long enough. Haven¡¯t you been tormented for some time thinking of a name?¡± ¡°Right, the name.¡± I have been agonizing over a name since I knew of their being. I put all my attention back on them as I speak to them. ¡°Hello, dear.¡± ¡°Father¡­¡± All of this before it didn¡¯t feel real. Me, having a child, it was unthinkable. But as I heard them say, "Father," it hit me. This is real. There is a child, and I¡¯m their father. I thought about how I should name them and what their genders, preferences, and personalities would be. But, as I heard their genderless and dull voice, looking at their tree body, I went with the name my heart felt right. ¡°Evangeline Sylva Seraphim, that is your name, sweetheart. Thank you for coming to this world, Evangeline.¡± I say with all my heart as half of my mana is drained, arriving and merging with her. Using that moment, I push a part of my soul through our bond, much bigger than the last. Once it was finished, there was no physical change but a massive leap mentally as her soul became bigger, brighter, and denser. I heard a voice, but this time, it was energetic, with glee and excitement. ¡°Father! Name! Evangeline!¡± ¡°Yes, it''s your name.¡± ¡°Happy! Thrilled! Have name is Evangeline. Father¡¯s daughter! Is me!¡± ¡°Yes, Evangeline, you are my daughter, and I am your father.¡± ¡°Haha! Me feel father happy! Me make father happy! Me happy too!¡± As I heard her voice, with emotions and life, it made me feel a joy I had never felt before. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m happy you are here.¡± Maybe this won¡¯t be so bad, maybe I won¡¯t regret this. Growth After that, her presence caused new ideas to spring up, making me revise and redesign some of my quests and ideas. While part of my mind was working on quests, the other half continuously engaged with Evangeline as I listened to and responded to her energetic remarks. ¡°What is hope?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a feeling of expectation, of the belief that something good will happen. Here, hope is like this.¡± Then, I started imagining hopeful things, hope for the future, as I tried to send that feeling to her through our bond. ¡°What is sadness?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the feeling you get when something or someone you love gets hurt or lost. I will be very sad if I see you get hurt.¡± I think of the sad things that happened, such as parting relationships, when those you love weren¡¯t doing well, or when I had to send goodbyes as I sent this feeling to her. ¡°What is hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s when you feel bad, when something is wrong, so it hurts making us aware of the problem.¡± I sense her confusion as she replies. ¡°Evangeline, no understand, don¡¯t know hurt. Friends, no hurt.¡± I understand her confusion because when I created the monsters, except for the plants, I modified their pain receptors. They have the same senses, and because they are technically part of me, they will be aware of injuries, as I can feel and know everything within my dungeon. This allows them to be active, feeling the bare minimum amount of pain. Even though I consider them cells, seeing and feeling a squealing pig getting mauled or a cow painfully being disintegrated isn¡¯t something I want. ¡°There is another pain as well, different from telling the problem of the body, a pain that tells you a pressured mind and hurt feelings.¡± ¡°Hm, Evangeline don¡¯t understand.¡± I hope she never understands, but that would only be for my comfort, not hers. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Once you have something precious and dear to you, you will understand. It just means that you love them very much.¡± ¡°Evangeline likes father very, very much!¡± ¡°I like you, too.¡± ¡°So, Evangeline make father hurt, Evangeline bad?¡± ¡°No, no. Hurt, it¡¯s not bad or good. It¡¯s just hurt.¡± ¡°Mmh, difficult, hard to understand.¡± ¡°Haha, that too is one kind of ¡®hurt.¡¯ See, you''re learning and getting it all ready.¡± ¡°Really! Yay! Now me know hurt.¡± I laugh and get infected with her jolly spirit.
Two days have passed outside, so that means twenty days for me here. All this time, I have been engaging with her, answering her questions, and explaining concepts. It seems like the knowledge she gained from my soul made her know the concept of most things. Expect emotions were just a phrase, a word for her as the feelings I felt didn¡¯t come along with the memories, which is such a relief that she wasn¡¯t overlord with my emotions. However, I underestimated just how much she would grow mentally. Twenty days in, she is starting to make fluent sentences. I was worried and overwhelmed, so consulting about it with Hector, he speculated that it probably had to do with her overwhelming potential and my soul and knowledge getting merged, making her state more as if she is an adult regaining and relearning their skills and knowledge that they have forgotten. Today was, as usual, with one mind creating and designing quests and the other conversing and interacting with Evangeline, though her question was unusual this time. ¡°Father, am I helping?¡± ¡°Sorry, Evie, could you specify what sort of help you are talking about?¡± ¡°Am I helping by making the plants grow around me?¡± ¡®I wonder why she asked?¡¯ ¡°Of course, you are making this place so much more, thanks to your being and assistance. You have been managing this place well, making it thrive and grow.¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you. That makes me very, very happy.¡± I sensed her overwhelming happiness with my praise, and then I sensed a determination sprouting in her that I had never felt before. Something was different about her. She was growing faster than I could imagine, but this time, somehow, instead of gaining intelligence, I felt like she was growing up. She was becoming someone. ¡®Perhaps she has grown enough to answer the question on my, well, mostly Hector¡¯s mind.¡¯ ¡°Evie, how can you support such a body? Your soul at that time and even now should have a hard time supporting it?¡± ¡°Because I am not one. The trees, the grass, the shrubs, the mushrooms, and the vines connect us. My body is the embodiment of all the things my roots have connected. I am not supporting my body. We as a whole are supporting it.¡± Then I hear Hector¡¯s voice through my bond. ¡°Huh, so that¡¯s how she does it. Intriguing, technically, it could work, but scanning her body is not like grafting or combining. She is whole as one.¡± ¡°I now know that they are not like me. They are a part of father. They need guidance and assembly, and I am the beacon they seek, the center of the cycle. There is no need for differences and variety, just a simple guide to grow, to share, to thrive, to hunger. That is my answer, the other one.¡± Hector¡¯s disbelieving and sarcastic voice reverberated within and in front of Evangeline as he suddenly appeared in front of her. ¡°So, she does know my existence. I thought she was blind or deaf.¡± ¡°Father, I know, no decided on what to do.¡± ¡°Did she just ignore me?¡± ¡°Evie, why? Why be connected to everything?¡± ¡°Aiden, are you ignoring me, too? Your daughter is being rude and ignoring me. Aren¡¯t you going to do something about it?¡± ¡°Because father wanted it. Father wanted this place, this garden, to thrive.¡± At that remark, I get flashbacks of unpleasant memories. ¡®This isn¡¯t what I wanted. No, I don¡¯t want it to turn out like this. Yet, am I doing what they have done to me? Am I repeating this cycle?¡¯ I screamed as anger and anxiety filled me. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be something just because I want you to be!¡± I feel a touch on my core as a smoothing voice follows. ¡°Aiden, it¡¯s okay. Everything is going to be okay.¡± I sense surprise, worry, and fear in her, something that she never felt before. ¡®Shit! I messed up; she¡¯s hurting. And the worst part is I¡¯m the one who made her feel that way.¡¯ I calm myself down as best I can, thanking Hector as I try to fix this or at least prevent it from getting worse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Evie. I shouldn¡¯t have yelled at you. I was, and still am, angry, but not at you or for something you did. I¡¯m worried and anxious that my desire pressured or forced you to become someone you aren¡¯t or don¡¯t want to be. But, instead, I hurt you, and for that, I am deeply, terribly sorry. I am so sorry.¡± After some time, as we all stayed in silence, I heard her speak up. ¡°Father, I have the concepts of what a sea is, but I don¡¯t understand it, nor do I understand the sky, which is real and different from here, or understand what winter is. I do not understand autumn or horizons or glaciers or buildings.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± But then joy and glee so pure and blatant shines within her. ¡°But I do know and understand trees and dirt and wheat and flowers and water and light and warmth and so many things you created in this garden. I like it. I like this garden Father has created. I like the trees where fruits grow, the spices that thrive, the bees and milk plants, the caves and mushrooms that grow within, and the fields of wheat and rice, I feel. Father created us for a purpose, and Father''s desire made and started me to help Father''s wishes.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Father said that these are not real like the ones outside, that they are a part of Father, but they are real to me. Father created me for a purpose, but I want to see it through and finish it. Because I love that I am a part of it, and I love this garden, and I love that I am helping this garden my father created. Because I love Father who laughed and praised and listened and answered and showed me everything.¡± Through our bond, I can sense that each word she says is true and how she feels about it all. Yet, I ask because I¡¯m afraid, because I¡¯m unsure. ¡°Evie, do you truly want to be this? Are you doing the things you do not because of what I desire or want but for you?¡± ¡°Father, I want to help. I like helping you. But I also came to love this garden you created, and I¡¯m glad that I am here with it. So, I decided on what to do, on what to be.¡± ¡°Evangeline.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you.¡± Joy blossoms within her as she hears my praise. ¡°Thank you! Father!¡± Then, her consciousness fades as her body begins to grow slowly. Her trunk grows broader and longer, her branches and leaves spread further, and her roots reach out and connect to the plants around her. ¡°Her third evolution. She was capable of evolving the moment you named her, she must have been waiting.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Just want kind of monstrosity she will come out than already is, it¡¯s frightening.¡± At that, my turbulent mind and heart lessens and easies. Because I know he means no harm, and all these jokes and quips are said for me to relax. ¡°Hey, now don¡¯t be rude.¡± He exaggeratingly gasps as he remarks. ¡°I was everything for you. Now, the very second a girl comes by, I am left behind. I am still not over you ignoring me, by the way.¡± ¡°Hey, I knew you were joking, plus it wasn¡¯t the time and place, but I do wonder why she has been ignoring you. After all, you checked her out a few times, so she should have been aware of you.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Oh, come on, are you seriously ignoring me now? I¡¯m sorry, but you know I only have you in my heart.¡± He rolls his eyes as his words drip with sarcasm. ¡°Wow, I am so grateful.¡± ¡°Haha, yes! You''re not ignoring me now!¡± But I also noticed that the silence wasn¡¯t because of pettiness. ¡®I wonder why he wanted to avoid that topic?¡¯
It¡¯s been three days now, during which some monsters with souls started appearing. Which meant I designated them all as floor bosses and named them. Unfortunately, this time, I couldn¡¯t create a bond like with Hector or Evangeline. The binding was much more fragile and unbound than with boss monsters, making me only able to strengthen the binding with my dungeon floor. Making the naming process have no effect but normally naming them. Hector said it would still help strengthen our connection, increasing my influence on them. However, he estimates that their souls and minds will be limited to an elementary level. It¡¯s unfortunate, but I still love them. It¡¯s just that sometimes I think I¡¯m a horrible person when I have preferential feelings toward Evangeline. Speaking of her, she still hasn¡¯t woken up during these 30 days, but she has grown massive. Her roots are everywhere on the floor, and her trunk has grown to 30 kilometers high and 6 kilometers wide. Her branches and leaves have grown almost to the point of covering the whole sky. Then, as I was decorating the entrance and hallway leading to the floor, I felt her awakening. Shifting my attention, I felt that her branches and leaves had now completely covered the sky, making it the last growth finishing her evolution. ¡°Father.¡± Her voice was also different. Before, it was young, bright, and energetic. But now, it was mature, grounded, and steady. It was still her voice, but I started getting emotional at such a change. ¡°Evangeline, you are awake!¡± ¡°Yes, father.¡±
Name Evangeline Sylva Seraphim
Race Tree of Life
Titles The Garden¡¯s Heart, Nurturing Guardian, Tree of Harmony, Daughter of Seraphim
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Earth, Hunger
Skill Connection, Regenerative Roots, Nature¡¯s Nourishment, Fruit Harvest, Enhancing Leaves¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Boss Monster, Mother Nature, Greater Blessing Of Dimensions
Focusing on her, her status appeared. ¡®So, you have become an individual like Hector, haven¡¯t you.¡¯ As I look through it all, I see that it is much more than Hector¡¯s, but he has been practicing his affinities since then, so maybe it has changed. I don¡¯t want to be rude and peep without their consent. I could, but that doesn¡¯t mean I should. It seems like these just pop out and make me aware the moment they are developed and acquired for the first time, though. ¡®Huh, some skills are concerning, though.¡¯ Nonetheless, I trust my daughter even with some dubious skills. It has been thirty days, technically three for me, but who cares? I missed her. ¡°You have grown so much! And not just physically, but you sound so mature. Oh! And Evangeline, you now have brothers and sisters; you are an older sister now.¡± ¡°Yes, father, I am well aware. I was still conscious of everything happening connected to my roots in my state. I have met and talked to all of them, I will take good care of them.¡± She sounds so mature. She is more mature. I don¡¯t know how to feel about that. She just grew up too fast. For a human, that would be concerning as they could miss out on important things that needed to be learned, the time and process it needs to grow up as an individual, but¡­Let¡¯s just ask her. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m happy that you grew so much, but I¡¯m also concerned that you grew up too fast. I¡¯m afraid that you might have missed out on important things due to it. Evie, could you tell me what happened while you were evolving and how you grew so much?¡± A calm and steady voice rings out as warm as an embrace. ¡°Father, I learned everything I could with you. It was time to digest all you have given me. During my evolution, I thought and contemplated on the emotions you have taught me and the concepts and knowledge you have imparted. Father thinks this place you created is small, but it isn¡¯t for me. I am connected with every plant here; I can feel the earth as our roots grow, feel how we grow, and feel how we thrive. I know what it feels like to swim, to run, to eat, to breathe, and so much more. Father, this place is full of life. You have given me life, and I am so grateful to be alive and to live.¡± ¡®She really has grown, hasn¡¯t she?¡¯ ¡°Evangeline, are you content with the life you have, who you are?¡± ¡°Certainly, however, I will always grow because life changes and thrives. Right, father?¡± I felt it, a sliver and a moment of fear and anticipation. She fears my disapproval and hopes for my praise. It may be selfish of me to think I liked her more before, but that feeling made me realize that she¡¯s still her. Maybe I was afraid because she changed so much so quickly, even with a physical bond, that the connection we had would fade and grow distant. But I¡¯m still her father, and she¡¯s still my daughter. As long as that¡¯s true, I can be okay. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m so proud of you! You¡¯ve grown up splendidly. Now, tell me about the things you felt and thought during evolution. Come on, I¡¯m so excited.¡± ¡°Hehe, yes, father! At first¡­
As we talked for hours and checked on the floor bosses, I thought I would mention something I had been planning. To be honest, I was quite disappointed when the bond with the floor bosses failed, so I thought hard to find a way to solve the problem or at least improve it. That¡¯s when I thought of creating multiple bonds. What if they had a bond with me and Evangeline? I immediately consulted with Hector about its probability. He was stupefied at first, but slowly, he calculated that it might not be impossible. A boss monster with a powerful soul, cooperation, and a body suitable for such bonds would be required. Unfortunately, this was impossible for floor bosses, as the binding with the floor had to be concrete, making any added binding disastrous. However, since elites don¡¯t have a respawn mechanism like bosses, their binding is rather loose, allowing intervention. First, I designated a monster as an elite and then killed it. My perk, Pools Of Birth, allowed me to respawn it, which was the anomaly I had to verify. Thankfully, the perk doesn¡¯t change the binding, as I purposely canceled its respawn. I was worried that souls would be born before Evangeline awoke, but Hector reassured me, as my subconscious wouldn¡¯t allow it. Proving this when exactly one soul for each section and a section requiring two were born. It was a relief as souls born in mobs, when not titled, will disperse. The lower the tier, the faster they will disperse as their bodies are not capable of holding it without a stronger binding solidifying its existence. I¡¯m all for pro-abortion, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want it to happen. I told Evangeline about my plan, and she readily agreed. With that, I worked right on it. First, I took some body parts of Evangeline and used Extraction, partially obtaining her schematics. Then, using it as the basis, I created the monsters. Waiting, it took ten days or a day outside for them to gain souls. Now, for the execution, I designated one of them to be an elite, as mana rushed toward them, strengthening the binding and soul. Then Evangeline, with her roots connected to it, poured in her mana as well, and I guided some of my soul and hers to merge with the binding. Soon, the process was finished. ¡°Success!¡± It had worked when I checked its binding. Though it seemed like there was only one, that one binding was actually two intertwined bindings like a rope, one from me and the other from Evangeline. ¡°Congratulations, you created a child with your daughter.¡± Unfortunately, Hector¡¯s smug remark made me stop basking on my success. ¡°AHHH! Why did you have to mention the thought I was purposely ignoring.¡± Evangeline, at that moment, was focusing on the fruit tree that was bound to her. ¡®A child, my child.¡¯ She was feeling something, a feeling that Aiden didn¡¯t know on Earth, making him unable to explain and convey to her. This emotion was beyond Evangeline¡¯s knowledge and it was a feeling Aiden had learned after coming to this world.
After another day, I had finished decorating my entrance and hallway. I also added safe zone tiles I learned from Hector, which prevent any hostile action within and unlocking order and rule affinity in the process of making them. Lastly, all the elite spots were filled and named.
Name Blossom Sylva Seraphim
Race Fruit Fairy
Titles Gardener, Child of Harmony, Descendent of Seraphim
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature
Skill Planting, Herbology, Nutrition Supplement, Plant Nurturing, Healing Touch, Growth Manipulation, Pruning, Harvest
Trait Dungeon Born, Elite Monster
This is one of the elites status. For their second evolution, one big fruit as big as a human head was produced on their tree, which then fell, and when it landed, the fruit became a small animal made of fruit. This particular one was made out of an apple. When it was named, some of my and Evangeline¡¯s mana was poured into it, empowering it. Unfortunately, it seems to only increase its attribute a little with some titles.
Titles
Child of Harmony A child born from a being of harmony. -Gain a minor boost to nature and life affinity -Gain a minor boost to anything related to plants -Plant monsters will not be hostile unless aggravated
Descendent of Seraphim A unique surname flowing with power that grants benefits to those bestowed upon depending on the progenitor. -Gain a moderate boost to mana-related skills -Gain a moderate boost to wisdom and intelligence -Gain a moderate boost to emotional intelligence
It was pretty clear what got inherited in the process, though severely downgraded from the original. I¡¯m happy enough that they got anything, and the naming actually worked. Another good news is that I got to level up again, which allowed me to split my mind into three: one working on my second floor or floors 4-6, as I had carved out about one-fourth of the space planned inside the mountain; one interacting with Hector, the other titled Monsters; and the other with Evangeline. I know I''m being partial, but hey, as the old saying goes, there isn¡¯t a finger that won¡¯t hurt when bitten, but the finger on which to put the ring is always decided. I was just getting used to this life, but soon, a week and a half after creating my entrance, four people entered my aura in the forest, changing everything. So naturally, I did the most logical action possible, freaking out. ¡°Ahhhh! HECTOR! We have visitors!¡± Hector grimaced as I shouted in his mind as he calmed me down. ¡°Relax, this was bound to happen sooner or later. Now take a moment to relax and untangle, and let¡¯s see, just who the visitors and soon-to-be delvers are.¡± Calming my non-existent beating heart, I put most of my attention on them. There, I see one male elf with daggers, a bow and arrow, and light leather armor, one male human donning a priest robe with a shield and hammer secured behind, one female halfling with intricate devices all over, and finally, one female orc with a battle axe and heavy metal plate armor. As I was observing them, that¡¯s when the elf stared right at me even though I wasn¡¯t visible, turned on a device, and spoke to no one in particular. ¡°We have entered its aura and attracted the dungeon''s attention, and it is currently observing us.¡± ¡®Whoops.¡¯ First Guests Lorien As soon as Lorien entered the dungeon¡¯s aura, he used two of his skills. Heightened Senses Sixth Sense A procedure unnecessary for a newborn dungeon, yet circumstances make him cautious. Soon, his senses catch the gaze of the dungeon, testifying to his cation and wariness. He follows his usual routine, turning on the recording device and recording his findings, which will later be used as a reference for a detailed report. ¡°We have entered its aura and attracted the dungeon''s attention, it is currently observing us.¡± He focuses on his senses and frowns as he notices the anomaly. ¡°Detected curiosity, worry, anticipation, and fear. Too complex for a newborn or any ancient dungeon. Will proceed to delve said dungeon for further investigation.¡± Then he turns the device off, checking his equipment once more. ¡°Finally, we get to do something exciting!¡± An excited shout bellowed beside him as he turned to face her. Varkana, the representative for the Alliance of the Free Lands, an orc of royal descent, though she is more well-known for her prowess as a warrior and adventurer. Then, another voice follows. ¡°I hope this was worth the trouble.¡± Despite her words, her expression betrays her true thoughts as there isn¡¯t a hint of worry but a certain confidence she naturally carries. Andrea, the representative of the Steelheart Confederacy, a skilled craftsman but more known for being one of the wealthiest merchants. Any choice she personally makes has been known to be lucrative, surprising quite a few when she competed for and won the position to be here. ¡°May the Gods guide us.¡± The priest says with a calm and serene tone and aura, which has a natural charm and maturity despite their young visage. Nolan, the representative of the Sacred Order Theocracy, is one of the youngest to gain the position of high priest. He is renowned for his talent and devotion and was one of the people permitted to enter The Forbidden. Lorien observed these distinguished people following behind him, as agreed beforehand on how to act when dealing with the dungeon. He thought about how it turned out like this. It was just the usual. One and a half weeks ago, he was signing paperwork in his office when a signal for a new dungeon was detected. Then it was doing the procedures conveying and reporting the news, assigning dungeon inspectors to inspect said dungeon. Usually, where trainees and mentors would be selected as a newborn dungeon¡¯s danger level is negligible, perfect for trainees to gain experience. However, once we tracked down the whereabouts of the dungeon, we couldn¡¯t follow normal procedures. Soon after that, news spread of a message received by one of the oracles from the Theocracy about The System lifting the ban on The Forbidden, complicating matters further. The Theocracy was zealous in finding the meaning behind The System message, something The System had done only in records. Once they got news of a dungeon appearing in The Forbidden at precisely the same time as the message was given, it was more than enough for them to follow through. Then, as the diplomats of the countries gathered and discussed, it was decided that a representative of each country would investigate and, based on the information gathered, decide further on what should be done. That was why he, Lorian, was here as the representative for Emerald Grove. He had been selected for his profession as one of the most skilled veteran dungeon inspectors and the first to find the signal. Then, with the four selected and gathered, it took them five days to travel to and find the dungeon. Considering the dungeon''s appearance, finding it was the least difficult part of all this. As the four reached the entrance, Lorian thought about how strange this dungeon was. A clean roadway was made on the mountain leading to the entrance. The entrance was smoothed out to a perfect rectangle, and in front was a temple-like structure with smooth marble pillars supporting a roof. Intricate and beautiful carvings were made as Andrea took an interest in them. ¡°Interesting, very interesting. Not to mention its beauty, I have never seen designs such as these. Creation starts from imitation, yet I fail to see where they have gained inspiration from, meaning these designs are original or come from things I am not aware of.¡± She ran her hands along the carvings and pillars, analyzing how they were made. ¡°I sense no trace of imprints always made in the process of craving, making them and meaning they are naturally formed in these states. Oh, it is such a shame they are dungeon floors. Quite a few would be more than eager to buy it for a hefty sum.¡± Still, Andrea fervently observes and feels them with enthusiasm and with a glint in her eyes. ¡°These designs could be interesting for future temples to be built.¡± Nolan casually says as he takes note of the layout and design, while Varkana was indifferent to it all. However, none of these entered Loiran''s eyes as he stared at a carving made at the top of the entrance. ¡®Dungeon Of Desire¡¯ Records are made for those who enter The Forbidden, and the last time someone was present was a month ago. ¡°Speculated dungeon has named itself and will check for intelligence levels. Mystery is how they know the concept of desire even if the dungeon possesses higher intelligence.¡± Lorian began to prepare for the worst as he brought back his party''s attention. ¡°We¡¯re going in, be wary. This is something I have never encountered in my years of working as a dungeon inspector.¡± ¡°Heh, more fun for me.¡± Vorkana reveled in the unknown as the four of them entered the dungeon. However, they were soon stopped once again when something they never thought possible happened. As they entered and walked a few steps, they discovered a doorway with a hole in front of which they could not see the bottom. Moving to investigate, just before they were about to reach it, an invisible force blocked them as a system message appeared.
Side Quest: To the Core
Welcome to the Dungeon of Desire. To reach my core, you must navigate the floors I designed and complete the games I have made just for you. Good Luck, Stay Safe, Have Fun, and May you have an unforgettable time
Mission Goals -Complete all the Main Quests
Reward for Completion: Access to Dungeon of Desire¡¯s core room
Penalty for Failure: None
Will you accept the quest To the Core?A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Yes No
They were momentarily frozen by what appeared before them. It was Nolan who first awoke with a fanatic smile and eyes. ¡°It is now confirmed this dungeon is related to the system in some way. We must put all our efforts into investigating and understanding this dungeon.¡± Varakana, on the other hand, moved cautiously, measuring the extent of the blockage and its workings. ¡°The blockage starts and ends right at the doorway; it doesn¡¯t feel like magic or like something is blocking me, but it''s more towards something I¡¯m incapable of doing. Yo, does anyone have any clues as to what this is?¡± As Varkana looks toward them, Nolan explains fervently. ¡°It is The System, an order and rule. Like how objects fall, how the sun rises, how the wind blows, or how the seasons change. It simply is.¡± ¡°Cool, so any way around it?¡± ¡°No, it would take at least a few grandmasters specialized in order to create an opening, which no one would do by bringing disorder to The System and the severe backlash it would entail.¡± Varkana frowned at his remark, which was filled with certainty. This dungeon had something none of them could solve. She was all for the thrill of danger and the unknown, but she enjoyed living through the odds, not a death wish. ¡°So, are we going forward or turning back with this bringing more back up.¡± Just as Nolan was about to persuade them, surprisingly, it was Andrea who spoke up first. ¡°Of course, we move forward. Do you not know how much advantage we could have by being the first ones to delve into this dungeon?¡± Lorian questioned her motive. ¡°Is that truly all?¡± ¡°Look, I was surprised just as you when a system message popped up, but the system is the system, a natural law that has been with us for who knows how long that has not brought us harm.¡± Nolan was a little dissatisfied with her casualness with The System, but Andrea ignored it as she continued. ¡°And The System doesn¡¯t lie. It may be vague or sometimes not tell us everything, but it has always said the truth. This message seems to be made by the dungeon. I doubt it would kill us this early when it went through all the trouble setting up its floors and games mentioned by it. Now, why don¡¯t we accept this quest since there is no penalty and delve into this dungeon as my merchant senses are ringing about this lucrative opportunity.¡± They discussed it for a few moments before deciding to leave the dungeon, allowing them to use their transmission devices. They would then send news to each of their countries to notify them that the dungeon was, in fact, related to The System. They then went back in once more. As they walked through, they observed the hallway. It had a glowing white ceiling on top, with a glowing strip of white in the middle leading forward on the bottom. Carvings on the walls depicted fruits and plants, with vague humanoid figures eating some of them. There were also depictions of some of them worshipping a massive pillar. Soon, they reached the end, a portal in front as they stepped forward. Lorian first felt the ground underneath him, and the smell of dirt, water, and a floral and fruity scent invaded. Then, as the dizziness from the space distortion faded, he felt the warmth of light and the passing wind. He quickly entered an alert state, ready to attack as he opened his eyes. With the portal behind them, they arrived at the end of a five-meter-long stone cave. Light poured in from the opening, revealing greenery ahead. Momentarily stunned by the view, they soon left for the opening. Outside, they saw the sky as three different colored suns shone from above; a stone-tiled road leading them to the middle was seen with shrubs and plants filling the space on either side of the road. What was most noticeable was the massive pillar reaching toward the sky you could see in the middle. Varkana was silently checking her surroundings. Andrea''s eyes gleamed with interest. Nolan was calm and serene as usual, and Lorien used one of his skills. Mind¡¯s Eye Soon, Lorian saw the view from above him. He could see sections where different plants were situated. He tried to take this place in as a whole but failed due to its massive size, though he was able to confirm that it was inside the mountain and that they weren¡¯t teleported. Cancelling his skill, he began to record his findings. ¡°Entered the dungeon''s first floor, currently observed approximately 20 kilometers around me, but has more space unobserved. However, confirmed to be an enclosed space inside the mountain. Higher mana density was detected on the floor than usual, speculated to be a plant-type dungeon.¡± Soon, he began to move toward the road, with the rest following. As soon as he stepped on the road, a system message appeared before him.
Main Quest: Floor 1-3 (1)
Welcome to Nature¡¯s Bountiful Garden, where all sorts of foods are waiting to be harvested and devoured. Enjoy the treats and gifts nature has to offer.
Mission Goals - Follow the road and meet the ruler of this domain
Reward for Completion: Next Main Quest
Penalty for Failure: None
Will you accept the quest Main Quest: Floor 1-3 (1)?
Yes No
Lorien accepted it, as did the others, as he recorded. ¡°The dungeon has named the floor Nature¡¯s Bountiful Garden. Will now proceed to meet its ¡®ruler.¡¯¡± Then, as he was about to finish, he noticed something unusual about the road. Analyze He used his skills to observe the road and the floor of the cave behind him and recorded his findings. ¡°Observed the entrance on floor one and the road to the middle are safe zones, unlike ordinary safe zones, possess a curse imbued to activate in case any hostile behavior is detected.¡± The more he was in this dungeon, the more it was disregarding his common sense of dungeons. The size, the use of space manipulation, the fake sky and sun, the safe zones typically appearing after tier 3 floors present on the first floor, and the intelligence and emotions shown are impossible for a newborn dungeon. Lorien didn¡¯t know what to think about it. They discussed that it would be best to follow the road and observe while in the safe zones, follow the quest, learn about this ruler, and understand what happens when a quest is completed. They moved briskly along, Lorien using his Mind¡¯s Eye intermittently along the way. Near the middle of the floor, he observed that the floor was a 40-kilometer square with eight sections, each with a theme and certain type of plant, with an underground cave system spreading everywhere underneath. The surroundings were enclosed by a 10-kilometer-high stone cliff with a waterfall in the northwest corner. He informed his party as he recorded his observations. A few minutes later, they arrived at the center of the floor, where an opening with an enormous wooden pillar was located. The road ended at the clearing and began again on the other side. A grass field spread out 300 meters around the pillar, showing the perimeters of the safe zone. Benches and tables were placed, with trees acting as shades and trees made into shapes, such as hammocks and swinging chairs. It felt peaceful. Although the benches and tables were clearly artificial, they seemed to blend in with the scenery. They strolled through the park, fascinated by their surroundings. While the others observed the park, trying to find this so-called ruler, Lorien focused on the pillar. He has been continuously activating his Heightened Senses and Sixth Sense. Being this close, he felt it. It wasn¡¯t a pillar, it was something alive. Appraisal
Name ??????????
Race Tree of ??
Titles ?????, ?????, ?????, ?????
Affinity ??,??,??,???
Skill ????,????,??????,?????,????,???,????¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Boss Monster, ??????,??????
¡°Haven¡¯t someone told you that it¡¯s very rude to stare, much less spy on something private.¡± Soon, a strong, mature female voice resounded within everyone as they were stunned, quickly readying their weapons. They stopped and lowered their weapons as soon as the curse started to affect them, and a system message popped up.
Main Quest: Floor 1-3 (1) Completed
Mission Goals - Follow the road and meet the ruler of this domain
Reward for Completion: Next Main Quest
Main Quest: Floor 1-3 (2)
You have met the ruler of this domain. For this is the domain of hunger, present yourselves to the ruler of hunger. She will explain her domain and the rules to follow. The Mother, The Guardian, and The Garden¡¯s Heart, may your hunger be quelled.
Mission Goals - Listen to the ruler of hunger
Reward for Completion: Next Main Quest, One mystery fruit
Penalty for Failure: None
They were shocked, still standing in place as the voice continued. ¡°Is it not basic etiquette to introduce oneself when meeting them for the first time? However, you are our guests and the very first one at that, so perhaps I should introduce myself first.¡± Soon, a section of the pillar in front of them started to change and form into the upper half of a beautiful woman. Despite looking like a wooden figure, it moved smoothly and was somehow filled with life. She moved her mouth, yet no sound came out as the voice was transmitted directly into their minds. ¡°Evangeline Sylva Seraphim greets our most welcomed guests to fathers garden. As the caretaker of this garden, I shall answer any questions you may have about it.¡± Welcome Shocked by what was unfolding before them, it was Andrea who made the first move. With a pleasant bow and charming smile, her voice was laced with charisma and remorse as she apologized. ¡°Andrea Fenimore, it is such a pleasure to meet you and for us to be in such a splendid garden. This here is Varkana, Nolan, and Lorien, respectively. And I am truly sorry for the uncouth behavior our companion has caused you.¡± Hearing her praise the garden, Evangeline smiled brightly, and her voice was filled with joy and pride as she replied to Andrea. ¡°It is such welcome news to hear you say such about our garden, Ms. Fenimore. After all, is it not splendid work that father has done? It is my pride and joy to take care of it. And please, there is no need for you to apologize as such for your company''s behavior.¡° ¡°Thank you for such kind words, Madam Seraphim, and please, just Andrea is fine with me.¡± ¡°Very well, Andrea. You may as well call me Evangeline. That goes for every one of you and for father¡¯s other children. After all, father has many and will have more children. It would be quite troubling if you all addressed us by our family names.¡± Meanwhile, Andrea has been subtly gesturing to her party members to greet Evangeline and for Lorian to apologize. They got the message, waiting for the right moment, as Andrean signaled the moment. ¡°Varkana, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Nolan, may blessings be upon you.¡± ¡°Lorien, I humbly apologize for the behavior I have done.¡± They greeted her with a careful and respectful attitude. After all, it would do them no harm to say pleasantries to an unknown being. Evangeline returned a polite bow as she introduced herself. ¡°Evangeline, it is a pleasure to meet our guests, and I accept your apology. It was the first time I had experienced something like this, and the feeling was less than pleasant, causing my reaction to be more than necessary. I do apologize for startling you. I give you my permission to see me, though not all.¡± Lorien was relieved that this being was not unreasonable. In his years of dungeon inspecting, it wasn¡¯t like he hadn¡¯t met intelligent-speaking dungeon monsters on high-level floors. However, there were all voices that tricked and hindered intelligence used in order to kill efficiently. This one, however, wasn''t like anything he had encountered, especially this ¡®father¡¯ was more than unusual. ¡°Thank you for your permission, excuse me.¡± Appraisal
Name Evangeline Sylva Seraphim
Race Tree of Life
Titles The Garden¡¯s Heart, Nurturing Guardian, Tree of Harmony, Daughter of Seraphim
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Earth,???
Skill ????,????,??????,?????,????,???,????¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Boss Monster,??????,??????
Lorien once again looked through the information appearing before him. ¡®She is capable of thought and emotion, blocking out and selecting what to show. From the information she said, this'' father'' should be the dungeon core. Then just what is she?¡¯ Then Evangeline speaks in all their minds, stopping Lorien''s thoughts. ¡°Now, before any questions, I shall give a simple explanation this garden is for you and future guests to enjoy. You may pick, harvest, and reap whatever you see fit. Able to do whatever you desire with them.¡± Andrea skillfully interjects, asking a question. ¡°And what would the price be for us to gain such delectable treats?¡± Then, a smile formed on Evangleine''s wooden face, warm and embracing, yet somehow, Lorian''s senses were catching something eerie. ¡°The price is to enjoy. Savor it, devour it, hunger for it, eat till you can eat no more. That is the price. Of course, I must warn you that the further the sections are to the entrance, the more dangers will follow. In addition, each section reigns a lord, my brothers and sisters, who will do what they can to defend. Though I doubt any of this matters for such skilled individuals as your selves.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Andrea gave a pleasant smile and a slight bow. ¡°Thank you for your information.¡± ¡°Of course, now for your rewards.¡± Soon, they all felt a strange mana brush over them lightly. They were tense but tried to relax, feeling no malice. Soon, something fell from the sky to each one of them. As they got closer, they eventually slowed down and finally floated in front of them. They were fruits, each different for the person. For Lorien, they were grapes, Andrea was a peach, Varkana was a pear, and Nolan was an apple. Each one of their favorite fruits respectively. Analyze
Grape of Life
A fruit born from the tree of life, imbued with life mana, will invigorate and heal a small amount. Extremely delicious.
Lorien didn¡¯t get anything more out of it, it was simply a grape. One that was imbued with far more mana than he had ever encountered, but a grape nonetheless. He was wary about its danger but relented when he saw the others eating it already. He plucked one grape, putting it to his mouth as he chewed. Then, a burst of flavors and juice hit him. It was sweeter, tangy, and refreshing than any grape he had ever eaten. The skin was soft and unnoticeable while chewing without any seeds, it somehow had a cool and refreshing feel to it even though it wasn¡¯t cold, with so much juice exploding once the grape burst. His heightened senses allowed him to enjoy and feel them more as he eventually swallowed. Seeing the reaction of the others, he guessed that it wasn¡¯t just his only. A joyful laugh filled their heads. ¡°I¡¯m glad you all enjoyed it. Now, why not adventure and seek this garden now that you know what it holds? Oh, and another thing, more of a request, you see.¡± Then, something flew towards them, landing on Evangeline''s arm. It was a bird, except it was made entirely out of a mango. ¡°You may find them everywhere in this garden, they are the gardeners and my children. They will not be hostile unless provoked, so I ask you to leave them alone. Of course, I have no trouble if they desire to fight if respectfully challenged.¡± Then the bird flew away as her upper half figure started to merge with the pillar, reverting to its state before she spoke her last words. ¡°And once again, thank you for coming to our garden, our most welcomed guests.¡±
Main Quest: Floor 1-3 (2) Completed
Mission Goals - Listen to the ruler of hunger
Reward for Completion: Next Main Quest
Main Quest: Floor 1-3 (2)
You have met the ruler of this place, and with her invitation, it is time to explore. Reap, and harvest, devour, and digest, for this garden was built to fill your hunger. Or you may just wander and tour, observe, and learn. After all, it is a wonderful garden.
Mission Goals - ????
Reward for Completion: Next Main Quest, Access to the next floor Extra Reward: Will depend on how the quest is completed
Penalty for Failure: None
Soon, they sat down on one of the benches with a table in the middle. Lorian and Andrea both activated a device to isolate them from the dungeon and Evangelin from hearing, while Nolan created a barrier for extra measure. Lorian relaxed a little once inside but was still tense as Varkana was the first one to speak. ¡°What in the gods was that!¡± Though he didn¡¯t know if that helped with his troubled mind, sighing, he started to share what he had observed using Appraisal. ¡°A tree, how is that a tree? Just because it is made out of wood, and how can there be a boss monster so soon?¡± Varkana asked Lorian, as he is the expert in dungeons, yet Lorian was only capable of answering one of them. ¡°It is a tree. Look up.¡± They all looked up but couldn¡¯t figure it out. Even Lorian had to use his skill to see it clearly. Piercing Eyes As the view from above became closer, he could see that what they were seeing wasn¡¯t directly the sky but leaves and glowing fruits that looked like stars from below, as he explained to them. They all were surprised by the fact, but not as much as Lorien, as it defied everything he knew about dungeons. ¡°Look, this dungeon is clearly intelligent, and the boss monster, too. I know I cannot use the dungeon knowledge I have to judge, but this is weird. If you know, intelligent dungeon monsters capable of speech are more like avatars of the dungeon core. They remember you when you meet the other higher floor boss monster in the same dungeon and speak and behave as if they are one. But this, she is speaking like she is separate from the core. She designates it as father.¡± He knew he was venting, he didn¡¯t expect them to know any more than him, but he didn¡¯t expect this to happen to him ever in his life. He was the representative of his country, but he didn¡¯t want to do anything with this. He just wanted to retire and relax, not be thrown into something clearly above his pay grade. ¡®Why did I have to be friends with the prince.¡¯ ¡°She isn¡¯t lying.¡± Then Varkana speaks up, and they all look toward her as she continues. ¡°I don¡¯t care about how dungeons are supposed to be, I care about what is and what is happening in front of me. And what I know is that she never lied to us.¡± Varkana, the Truth Seeker, rumored to be able to see through any lies and trickery. No illusion had worked on her. Though I didn¡¯t think it would work on such beings. ¡°So, I say we investigate this dungeon and try to complete the main quest and see that core.¡± Lorian thought he might be thinking too hard. Let the higher-ups do the thinking and figuring out. All he had to do was, as usual, investigate this dungeon and write a report about it later. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡± Nolan followed after Lorian. ¡°It is only natural that I investigate in order to comprehend The Systems'' guidance.¡± Only Andrea was not about to join in. ¡°Yeah, no. Look, you three go out and investigate as much as I¡¯m staying here and doing my thing.¡± Profit Andrea As Andrea watched them staring at her, she thought about how it all started. A new dungeon was found, undoubtedly lucrative but not enough appeal for her position, too much work and waiting till it pays out. Yet, somehow, this was different. Andrea was born with a certain sense of profit, and it has never failed her. There were times she failed to grab that opportunity, but as she grew, that hardly happened. And that sense was ringing like never before. More news was acquired about the peculiar location and the lifting of the ban on The Forbidden. She worked quickly while others contemplated, and the countries were deciding on what to do. She pulled a few strings, some letters, and sweet words, and she got the position to be the first to explore it. As she explored it, she knew her senses were right, her mind worked fast. Normally, a dungeon takes a long time to gain floors, much less new valuable resources, but her senses told her this dungeon would grow at a pace never before seen. Not to mention the first floor, she could see how this place was littered with popular ingredients, not to mention the quality. As a merchant, once she saw them, she immediately recognized that this dungeon had intent, but even now, it perplexed her just how it could know what was popular and lucrative. ¡®Doesn¡¯t matter as long as there is profit to be made.¡¯ Then Lorien speaks, knocking her out of her thoughts. ¡°This is a national problem concerning the whole of Solara, individual activity is not permitted.¡± ¡®Ah, the strict, law-abiding Lorien, the good friend of the prince of Emerald Grove. Such talent used being a dungeon inspector.¡¯ Nolan follows with his disapproval. ¡°And who knows what you may do to this sacred place out of sight? After all, it is best for us to stick together.¡± ¡®Ah, Nolan, the very charming priest, with his smiles and voice. But not entirely. After all, kindness alone wasn¡¯t why he became high priest.¡¯ ¡°Oh, and just what may I possibly do? I simply wish to explore what this dungeon has to offer. And you need someone to talk to her for information, and I don¡¯t see anyone more suitable than me.¡± Just as the two were about to talk, Varkana interjects, stopping them. ¡°Alright, then the three of us will investigate this dungeon while you try to gain information from ¡®her.¡¯¡± ¡®Varkana, not good with her type, no fancy words and tricks, but blunt honesty works on her, yet she is far more than just truthful herself.¡¯ They all knew they couldn¡¯t persuade her, and if they could, it would be far too much trouble. Varakana knew that, so she stepped up. ¡®See, acts like a reckless warrior yet hides a snake inside.¡¯ Once that was settled, the three ventured forward. Once they were out of sight, Andrea began to work. Drinking a potion of haste and levitation, she drifted through the sections'' borders, analyzing and collecting each resource found. Lastly, entering the cave entrance in the clearing as she was collecting moss and mushrooms, a monster tried to attack from behind. Still, she quickly defeated it by using metal affinity to control her metal needle as it pierced through. Once dead, before seeing it burst into mana as the mana showered her, she noticed its form. ¡®Interesting, a fungi-type monster, so does this dungeon have two types or perhaps more?¡¯ Either way, it was good news for her. Back with the gathered stuff, she used a skill on an empty space once she was back in the clearing. Makeshift Workshop Next, the space began to shift, and a simple crafting table and instruments appeared. ¡®Not the best place to work and craft, but far better than nothing.¡¯ Then she got to work, first some herbs.
Red Basil
Grown in a place full of life and nature mana, has gained properties of healing. Delicious.
Mixing it with some other common ingredients in her bag of holding and using the instruments. Soon, a vial of red liquid was made. Analyze
Lesser Flavorful Health Potion
Quality: Superior
A potion made by a master alchemist, quality slightly lacking due to inappropriate instruments. -Provides a Medium amount of healing once consumed -Basil scented and taste
¡®Interesting, very interesting.¡¯ The potion¡¯s grade was one tier higher than usual, which was expected due to the quality of the ingredients, but the flavorful adjective was what really got her. Once she had checked what she needed, she first smelled the liquid, which had a pleasant basil smell as she drank it. The taste of basil that followed it was smooth, refreshing, aromatic, and mellow. The taste and smell pleasantly lingered as she drank it all. ¡®This, this was going to sell.¡¯ Analytical Mind Using her skill, her mind quickly calculated the quality, the amount of supply, the shipment, the rarity, the exclusiveness, the buyers, and many factors to consider when thought and taken into account. When she was done calculating, she went back to creating and testing. As she was doing all that, she noticed a gaze on her but ignored it. As she continued, a voice entered her mind. ¡°Are you not going to join your companions?¡± ¡®Jackpot!¡¯ Andrea was waiting for this moment. As much as she wanted to start talking and getting information out of her years of experience dealing with all sorts of people and situations, she knew that it wasn¡¯t the right way to deal with such kinds of people. You had to wait till they talked to you to be natural and make them feel like they weren¡¯t being interrogated. Stolen novel; please report. Charming Voice Pleasant Voice Relaxing Aura Alluring Movement Mercahnt¡¯s Sense Mercahnt¡¯s Tongue ¡°Well, we¡¯re not exactly friends and more so acquaintances or co-workers. And I¡¯m sure they will be fine. Their competence is famous, after all.¡± ¡°Hmm, well, don¡¯t worry, they will be fine.¡± ¡°So, how was it seeing me working?¡± ¡°Oh, excuse me, was I not allowed to look?¡± Although the voice sounded apologetic, Andrea could sense that they didn¡¯t actually mean it. Although she hid it pretty well, Andrea''s years of dealing with people saw right through it. ¡®Oh, so she can lie.¡¯ ¡°Of course not. Normally, crafters get really protective, but then again, I¡¯m literally doing it in your front yard, so at that point, I¡¯m just begging for someone to see.¡± ¡°It sounds to me like you wanted my attention.¡± Andrea looked back at the tree, but this time, there was no woman figure to look at, yet she still smiled sweetly as she spoke. ¡°Perhaps, after all, it isn¡¯t every day you can talk to someone unique and otherworldly like yourself.¡± Evangeline pleasantly laughed as she replied. ¡°What do you wish to know?¡± ¡°Tell me about this garden, about how you see it?¡± ¡°Gladely.¡± Then, for the next hour, Evangeline discussed her view of the dungeon floor. Andrea naturally chimed in and replied as she continued to use the resources she had gathered. Seeing that she had one-tenth of the gathered resources left to use and test and sensing her ease in attitude, she started to ask questions. ¡°You were so sure of their safety, and it wasn¡¯t just because of their skills, was it?¡± ¡°Oh, that. Yes, your companions will be perfectly fine, as will the other future guests. After all, father dislikes killing, and I dislike making father sad.¡± Andrea tried to wrap her head around that notion, a dungeon disliking killing. She didn¡¯t have the ability like Varkana, but her years of experience told her that she wasn¡¯t lying. ¡®Well, it won¡¯t be long until we can testify that.¡¯ ¡°You really care about him, don¡¯t you? Your name did your father give it?¡± Then Evangeline¡¯s voice noticeably brightens up. ¡°I do, and yes, he gave me this wonderful name that I will forever treasure.¡± ¡°Your father, what is he like for you to care this much?¡± Andrea knew she was rushing it, but this would be the last time she would have an opportunity like this. She had to risk it. Evangeline paused for a while, almost as if she were talking to someone. Then, she replied soon in a warm voice that was also somehow apathetic. ¡°Little one, my love towards father is not simply because he is my creator. He has shown and taught me love, care, compassion, thoughtfulness, and many more. He is the sun that shines upon me, upon us.¡± Andrea thought she had pushed the wrong button, but somehow, she thought this attitude better suited her; it just felt right. ¡°Little one, the name of father is Aiden. Your companions will be arriving shortly, and I believe it is time to leave. But I will permit one more question.¡± Andrea thought about what to ask. What question would be most profitable? ¡°Can you tell me something about how to clear the main quest?¡± ¡°Nature is cruel. It is unfair. Some die so others can live and grow. With another death, new life sprouts and thrives. Yet, there is beauty in it. As they intertwine and connect. They support and give to create something more. It is a cycle of nature and life.¡± Andrea definitely did not expect a philosophical remark. She grimaced at the answer and wondered just how much of an answer that was. ¡°Andrea, it was so nice to meet you. However, it seems you and your companions have overstayed your welcome. I would wait with anticipation for yours and their next visit.¡± When Andrea saw the silhouettes and sounds of the three of them approaching, it didn¡¯t take a genius to realize that she wanted us out and she wasn¡¯t about to be adventurous. ¡°I, too, am glad to have met you, and we thank you for your invitation. And a gift for the wonderful time given.¡± Then, with a charming bow, she said her goodbye, placing a bag in front. She signaled her company that came to view to get out of here. Let¡¯s just say they weren¡¯t thrilled about it.
Soon, they were out of the dungeon and out of the dungeon''s aura. Lorien, with a heavy face, questioned her ¡°What did you do? What happened?¡± Andrea admits that she rushed it, but she felt no malice. It was strange, with no anger, discomfort, or anything else. She felt nothing. ¡°Sorry about that. I might have hit a nerve inquiring about this ¡®Father¡¯ as an apology. I will give you all this information for free. Apparently, the father¡¯s name is Aiden.¡± They were a little surprised to hear that, thinking of the implications, as Varkana mentioned. ¡°Free?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not doing charity over here.¡± Nolan was not too pleased with that. ¡°It is quite brave to put a price on the work of The System.¡± ¡®Oh, please, like you don¡¯t charge for your services in the name of Gods.¡¯ Andrea just smiled and said nothing as they stared at her. Reluntaclty relenting, Lorian asked. ¡°What do you want?¡± A brighter smile appeared on her face. ¡°I want a 1-year monopoly for my trade company to be the only commerce platform for this dungeon.¡± The three of them weren¡¯t too happy hearing that. Lorien was the first to speak. ¡°No, we don¡¯t have the authority to decide, or neither risk sending it to the higher-ups.¡± ¡°Of course, I know. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make it reach whoever it needs to. You guys just have to give it a little push and leave a good word, that¡¯s all.¡± They discussed it for a few moments but eventually agreed upon it, lessening the length to 5 months. As Andrea told everything she got out of her. As they listened, they compared it to what they had observed and found that it matched the description of what they had investigated. However, even after investigating and hearing her information, they couldn¡¯t figure out the objective of the quest. Then Andrea asked about something she was curious about. ¡°About what she said about not killing, is it true?¡± Lorien frowned upon hearing it. ¡°Can¡¯t say for certain there were signs of unusual behavior and the monsters causing hindrances than harm. But that may very well be due to them being no match to our strength.¡± Varkana also added to it. ¡°At the very least, they had no intention to kill.¡± Nolan''s eyes brightened as he declared. ¡°It is a being sent by The System, such actions only reinforce that the dungeon is a gift and miracle.¡± As soon as they had all the information and sorted it out, they each put up barriers for sound and visible blocking to contact their country and send the news. Once they had finished, the four looked at each other as Nolan was the first to say. ¡°It is decided that the Theocracy will build a settlement near the dungeon to continue to observe and seek its guidance.¡± Then, the other three followed, doing the same. After all, the Confederacy saw profit, Emerald Grove saw conflict and change, and the Alliance would not fall behind the others. In the end, the construction of a settlement was unquestionable; the countries had predicted this. The problem is how much authority each country will have and contribute. Andrea went first, laying out how much they were willing to contribute. ¡°We will recruit and pay all the builders, planners, and constructors for the settlement and further expansion.¡± ¡°Then the Emorld Grove would supply with all the materials required.¡± ¡°The Alliance would organize the settlers with professional technicians.¡± ¡°The Theocracy will donate a settlement crystal and will pay for all the upgrades further needed.¡± The last one surprised them as a settlement crystal was a national treasure, much less the cost it would take for it to have noticeable effects. Nolan smiled at them as he explained. ¡°The Theocracy is quite serious about this matter, but all that we ask is for the church to be built closest to the dungeon, and may our priests be free to enter and study this dungeon.¡± Of course, the things said here are not final. It would take some time for the countries to agree on the details, but one thing for sure was that this dungeon would be the center of change. Too focused on their exchange, they failed to notice an ear eavesdropping at the edge of the dungeon''s aura.
This is for those who wish to know the scale of labels on system messages(I can''t think of a better word for it) For Boost: Minuscule-minor-moderate-medium-generous-large-major-immense-colossal-monumental For proficiency and classes: Beginner-Novice-apprentice-journeyman-adept-expert-veteran-master-grandmaster-legendary-mythical For Quality of crafted items: Poor-inferior-average-decent-good-excellent-superior-exquisite-legendary-mythical-divine For blessings and potions: Minor-Lesser-Intermediate-greater-major Not Enough Aiden Hector said he would check up on the delvers, but I refused, yet he said he was sure he wouldn¡¯t be detected as he flew off. As I followed him in my aura, I could perceive him less and less until, finally, at the edge of the aura, he sat still on a tree, and I couldn¡¯t detect him at all. Of course, I could still feel him through our bond, yet nothing came into view. Soon, I heard his voice come through. ¡°Alright, they left. They should be far enough they won¡¯t be able to detect me.¡± Then, I was able to see him again as he flew back to my dungeon while telling me what he heard. I could understand most except for the settlement crystal, curious I asked. ¡°Hey, Hector, what¡¯s this settlement crystal, and why were they surprised to hear that?¡± ¡°A settlement crystal is one of the most difficult artifacts that can be made, with the highest percentages of use of dungeon cores than any artifact. It empowers buildings, residents, offsprings, and infrastructures within its scope. The effect and scope can be upgraded limitlessly as long as the number of residents and conditions are met. It is the cornerstone for any capital or large city.¡± ¡°A dungeon core?¡± Hector frowns as I feel his concern. ¡°Remember when I said dungeon cores are destroyed for profit or conflict. Some dungeons have been destroyed in order to impact the possessing country''s economy, but in most cases, they were destroyed when a dungeon was more trouble than its worth. A dungeon core is essential for creating any artifact, making it highly valuable.¡± Aiden thought about the mana he had gained from them. As their emotions fluctuated, their souls expanded and produced emotion mana. As they used their skills, the mana they used was tinged with a minuscule amount of their soul mana, making it impossible to use again or control. Dungeons can purify this mana so that it is usable again, meaning they are essential to this world. ¡°But aren¡¯t dungeons necessary for purifying mana, ignoring the loot they produce?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same on Earth, trees and the ocean are essential for the enviroment, yet they are deforested and polluted for profit.¡± With that comparison, I immediately understood. ¡°Of course, they do it in much more moderation with stricter parameters. After all, centuries-old dungeons produce pieces of synthetic core shards as loot on higher floors just as effective, though destroying a young dungeon core is much simpler and safer.¡± I don¡¯t know what to think about it. I mean, my current race¡¯s body used to make tools, but I don¡¯t feel much since I identify as a human, at least now and for probably some time. But why is Hector worried? I am and will probably be the most profitable dungeon, and from what I¡¯ve observed, the Theocracy is crazy nuts about me. I doubt they will let me be destroyed, so I ask my question as he answers. ¡°There are more ways to disrupt than just physically. When dungeons absorb people and their souls, a fragment of their memories is absorbed, too. There have been cases of overloading dungeons with piles of bodies, making them mad, feeding them mad and broken people, or torturing people inside the dungeon, ultimately killing them for the dungeon to feed. Companions have a hard time dissuading a dungeon''s instinct to devour, which leads to their downfall as a broken or mad dungeon is subjugated immediately. Even if you are different, people are creative and insidious, I cannot be sure I could protect you from them.¡± The news was less than thrilling, and if the people here were similar to the people on Earth, his worries were not unfounded. ¡°Then let¡¯s be careful. If something like that were to happen, I would still have you to hold on to, right?¡± At that, I see him smile and feel his glee as he replies. ¡°Of course, always.¡±
While another part of my mind was engaged with Hector, the other was checking the floor. I restarted the time distortion, which was automatically canceled as soon as a delver was on the floor. Trying to gain more time until the delvers flooded my floor. The delvers produced much more mana than expected, allowing me to level up. After all, my dungeon is entirely something, though. Unfortunately, that influx will probably die down as they get used to me. It didn¡¯t sit quite well with me as the delvers killed my floor bosses. Thankfully, they didn¡¯t care, and some even enjoyed the fight. Still, I¡¯m not thrilled with the prospect of them dying over and over again. But perhaps that will change after all. I¡¯m thinking by human standards when they are not. They are immortal so long as I live, and to them, death and respawning are natural, like it is for breathing for people. While waiting for them to respawn and hear their thoughts on the experience, I checked up on Evangeline. When I mentioned to her that she could disclose some information about me (mostly because I don¡¯t want to be called something else), her tone was unlike anything I¡¯d heard before. I was worried and went to see her as soon as the delvers left. ¡°Evie, what happened back then, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, father. No need to worry.¡± Despite what she says, I can feel that it¡¯s not. ¡°Okay, just know that I¡¯m always here to listen. Love you.¡± ¡°Love you too, father.¡± Then I spent some time checking the floor, and I noticed some resources the delvers had taken were forming by the mana slowly gathering in multiple places, I also felt any traces left on the dirt, and trees were slowly regenerating back to their original form. It was pretty amazing to see just how quickly they moved. The way they breeze past, the skills they used, how their mana moved and intertwined creating something new, feeling a part of their emotions as I absorb their emotion mana. It was like watching a very advanced 4D movie or virtual reality. The priest, or Nolan, was the first to discover the curse affecting them.
Curse and Blessing of Hunger
A unique curse and blessing intertwined made by the dungeon of desire -Afflicted with the feeling of severe hunger, consuming food will prevent it by 10 minutes, and will have to eat again for the same effect (cannot be superimposed) -Receiver will digest and absorb any consumable at maximum rate and absorption -Receivers excess nutrition and energy will be converted to mana for use
They only noticed after some time since they were all wearing curse-nullifying charms but only semi-worked due to its blessing-curse nature and due to the fact the faux soul sun, being the source, was very subtly affecting them as they bathed in the light. Nolan was quite impressed with how I intertwined a curse with a blessing, which was natural to me. He advised dispelling or putting barriers as doing so, he would have to dispel and prevent any blessings simultaneously. Also, the curse was not life-threatening, and it had benefits. I was just about to absorb the bag Andrea left but stopped as I heard Hecotr¡¯s story. ¡®I highly doubt she would do something so inefficient from what I¡¯ve observed. But, can¡¯t be too careful.¡± I manipulated mana to control the bag, emptying its contents and scanning them with mana. It mainly was resources, ores, monster parts, cloth, leather, plant materials, and some potions here and there. Using Extraction on everything one at a time as it was all done, I gained all of their schematics. Now, it is time to focus on and study the main event.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The bag. It was a bag of holding, or inventory or storage, or whatever it¡¯s called. The fact is, it is the most iconic item in many fantasy genres. I know I have one as an ability, but seeing it as an item is another, which also means I can study and replicate it. As I try to use my Mana Sense to see how it works, Evangeline speaks to me with a hesitant voice, making me focus all my attention on her. ¡°Father, why¡­ why do you allow them?¡± ¡°Excuse me, Evie, could you specify?¡± ¡°They were, are trying to use you! They are defiling this place father has built! Why allow them to do such!?¡± I hear her anger and unwillingness as she feels great injustice has befallen her and me. ¡®Is that how she sees it.¡¯ ¡°Evie, I told you why I built this place and what it entails. They are simply doing their jobs and what I wanted them to do.¡± ¡°But why!? They don¡¯t appreciate anything father has done for them! Why tolerate their existence!? Why not get rid of them!?¡± I feel her confusion, and I understand. This is her whole world, it is our whole world. Yet, I have memories of being a human, of another world so far away, making some of her thoughts unexpectable. ¡°Enough.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Evangeline, I understand your sorrow and reluctance. To you, these outsiders have invaded your world it is natural to be indignant.¡± ¡°Then father-¡± ¡°However, that doesn¡¯t mean you can lash out as such. You cannot act or justify killing anything with such anger and unwillingness. You are allowed to feel as such but never to act upon it.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°You should know nature gives and takes; it is unfair, and it is cruel. What makes you think I am above it, excluding me from this cycle? They take, but they give as I take from them as well. It is a symbiotic relationship. I planned and wanted it to be this way. There is no reason to feel like we have been taken advantage of.¡± Confusion, indignation, sorrow, and fear. I can feel a part of them inside her as they come through our bond to me. ¡®This is hard and sucks so much more than I thought it would.¡¯ But I can¡¯t back down. ¡°Is it because you love them?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I felt it through our bond, how father looks at them, how he was delighted at their presence.¡± I love people as much as I hate them, yet. When you see and experience the worst and best in them, I choose to love just a bit more. ¡°It is, but it is not all. Evangeline, I don¡¯t want my children to kill well, kill as much as possible. But, I will never allow one to kill and hurt fueled by rage and hatred. I hope you will one day understand. I am very angry and upset about your behavior. We will not speak until both of our emotions are settled and you have thought about your words.¡± After that, I focused all my attention on studying the bag of holding. After some time, I figured it out and then proceeded to use Extraction on it, giving me a clearer view. Then I started working on an item I planned to give to every delver delving into my dungeon. Something that will allow access to the teleportation waypoint I planned and to keep track of. With the bag of holding giving me what I needed, I also planned to add an inventory function. As I was working, Hector grabbed my attention, making a part of my mind engage with him. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you could sound so cold.¡± ¡°Hmm, why not? You have my memories, you know how I acted in my youth.¡± ¡°Yeah, but that was¡­Nevermind, it¡¯s just since you consider her as your daughter-¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing it because she¡¯s my daughter. If it were a stranger, I would ignore it. Too much work is needed for someone I don¡¯t care. She¡¯s my daughter, she¡¯s my responsibility. I don¡¯t know if pushing my human ideals and views is what is best for her. But I know that it is right for her. She may be a monster, but that doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t be a respectful person.¡± Hector sighs as he tells me his thoughts. ¡°Look, I can tolerate you being the father and her being a daughter, as she knows and feels parental love. That just means she will protect you more. But, in the end, she and all your ¡®children¡¯ are weapons built to deal with The Abyss. Let¡¯s say she does change, then what? A weapon does not need such values.¡± ¡°We will cross that bridge when we reach it. I¡¯m sure there will be a way.¡± ¡°Risking your life and everyone else''s in the process, is it worth it?¡± I get what he¡¯s saying. I know my purpose for being here, and I know the consequences of my failure, but I can raise these children to be nothing more than killing machines. It all became too much. All the things I tried to ignore, to make better, came crashing down, and I cried out in frustration at my situation. ¡°Hector, I am doing my best!¡± ¡°Aiden.¡± Hector was startled and surprised by my sudden outburst, but I was too overwhelmed, drowning in my emotions, to care or notice. ¡°I¡¯m scared too, you know! That my best just won¡¯t be enough, just like many times before! I know what you are trying to say, and I understand in my head. I know my purpose for being here, and I know that this is bigger than me.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I know that this isn¡¯t logical! I know that I¡¯m holding on to values that mean nothing in the lives of billions! I know what should be done! I know the sacrifices I have to make!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But¡­but I don¡¯t want to¡­ I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t let go of the values and views I worked so hard to attain. That is my entire life. I can¡¯t abandon everything I have experienced on Earth. I can¡¯t become a monster that will feel nothing while doing horrendous things.¡± ¡°...¡± Thoughts about Earth and my time there came to me, and I was too weak to ignore and shove them out as usual. Soon, the memories and regrets that I had kept inside and locked up exploded within me. ¡°I¡¯m dead, and I couldn¡¯t say goodbye to my world, to my friends, to everyone who helped me, to my overachieving brother and sisters, or even to my shitty parents. I¡¯m dead, and I¡¯m supposed to save this world when I can¡¯t even save myself. I¡¯m dead, and I¡¯m never going back. AAAAHHHHH! AHHHHH! AHHHH!¡± All the emotions I kept locked and ignored burst forth, breaking me, my death, this situation, the lives depending on me, the lives I created. As I weep and wail and chock on non-existent tears and breaths. ¡°Haa¡­Haa¡­Haa¡­I¡¯m not meant for this.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°What¡­do¡­you¡­want me to do? Why does everything hurt so much? Why is being me so hard in this world? Why can I never be enough?¡± I sobbed and wept as it became too much for me to handle and bear. ¡®I just wanted to live.¡¯ Hector comes to my core as he gently hugs it. ¡°I know. I know that this is hard on you. That you aren¡¯t ready to say goodbye to Earth.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°But, I know you are enough that you have always been enough and will be. And even if this world says otherwise, you will always be enough for me.¡± I wish those words could make me truly believe them, but no matter what they say, I could never think like that. Not on Earth and not here, especially because Hector- ¡°You are only saying that because you were made for me. Your entire personality, body, voice, attitude, views, values, and everything making you. They were made to be in my favor. Hector, I don¡¯t know how to feel about you.¡± Then Hector grabs my core with a serious face and with an unquestionable voice. ¡°Listen to me, Aiden! You may have influenced me, but you certainly did not choose how I was to be made. I chose to be this, I chose this body, I chose to be made in your favor. I am my own individual who has decided that he wants to help you. These feelings that I feel for you are real and true. Don¡¯t you ever deny that.¡± ¡°But, you are made-¡± ¡°Aiden! Ignoring the bond, there is no reason for me to be this. Nothing is forcing me to feel all these feelings, to care about you this much, to want to see you happy except for my own will. Why can¡¯t you accept that? Are all the things you said to be before I changed a lie?¡± I thought about what I asked of him before I gave him his name. Of the talks we had tunneling to the surface, I didn¡¯t lie they were true at that time, but- ¡°You were the only thing keeping me sane, the beacon to look at, allowing me to ignore everything that was happening, everything I didn¡¯t want to acknowledge. I didn¡¯t want to lose you.¡± His silver eyes were fixed on me, staring at my core with eyes that shone and were filled with emotions and life. Eyes that I can¡¯t help but like, but whether because of my preference or the life Hector brings to them, I cannot say for sure. ¡°Aiden, I like you. Not because we are bonded, or our lives are connected, or because I was made to be your companion. I like you because you talked to me, you listened to me, and you cared for me even before the change. And after that, it allowed me to feel that I truly like you because of who you are. Look, you are the first person I have met, and while not directly, I have experienced countless people in Aetheria and on Earth through The System and you. I¡¯m real, and so is what I feel.¡± I don¡¯t know what to say, I don¡¯t know what to do.
How much time has passed? I zoned out as my raging mind calmed, and things didn¡¯t seem so hectic anymore. Feeling I was okay, Hector then smiled as he flouted away from my core and out of my core room, talking through our bond. ¡°Look, I¡¯m going to talk to your daughter since you are clearly worried, and while at it, try to get what I said through your idiot brain.¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± ¡°You better do it right. Because if it doesn¡¯t settle in your mind, I¡¯m going to remind you of every time you waved to someone not saying hi to you and when you answered a question not directed toward you.¡± Just mentioning it reminded me of a few things, and I tried to think about something else, but it failed because the memory stuck to me, bringing it with embarrassment and shame. ¡°What NOOO! You made me remember.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± As I hear Hector''s joyful laugh, I laugh and say something I truly feel. ¡°Haha! Hector, thank you.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Co-Exist Evangeline A human with wings was flying in front of her, the being called Hector, her father''s companion, the other one. He twists and distorts the space around them, blinding them from father¡¯s view. Displeased and not in the mood to care, Evangeline continued to ignore him as usual. Yet, Hector spoke to her, saying something she couldn¡¯t ignore. ¡°Drop the act. You should realize now just what you are.¡± Emotionless and cold voice, an unfeeling and calculating gaze as he looks upon her. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t think you are in any position to say that to me.¡± No irritants, no frustration on his face without an inch of care like looking at a dead corpse, he says with absolute certainty. ¡°You should have realized this time that you will never be able to co-exist with him. You are unnecessary.¡± Evangeline tried to find the words to say, to retort, to tell him he was wrong as she thought about the first time he spoke to her and all that had happened.
She didn¡¯t remember much before being given a name. At first, a thought or instinct was all to her: to grow and thrive. But, some part of her knew that she needed everything, her and the others, to grow, and so she did. She didn¡¯t know why. It was illogical, and the benefits for her were scant. However, she felt she had a purpose, and this was achieving it. Once she was chosen as the boss and given a name, she was flooded with knowledge of concepts and beings she had never seen or experienced before. A binding she was always aware of becoming something else, she was still a part of something like leaves to a tree, yet she was now a seed born from the tree yet capable and can be another. A bond was created between something so vast and endless, the first feeling she ever felt and understood, the first true memory she had was of joy. Brilliant, blinding joy for her birth and creation. She recognized her creator, and showing joy and dependence on him was instinctual and intentional. To embrace the being more powerful and deadlier her life in his hands, to live instead of fight and perish. As his creation, she acts in a way that allows her to survive and prove her worth. Yet, as time flew, as she learned from him, she truly began to understand what a ¡®father¡¯ is. No longer was it a word or concept she said but something she felt. He was the sun for her, shining and warming everything. As she began to understand more, she learned to enjoy her time with her father. She began to love the moments when her father listened and laughed, answering every question she had. His focus was on her, and joy and excitement flooded her through him. She, too, learned to feel the same. It was warm and comforting, and her sun was always shining upon her. Then, one day, the space around her shifted and changed instinctively, realizing such an act had isolated her from her father¡¯s view and ear as a being approached. She tried to signal help through her bond yet was suppressed by a more prominent and more significant bond tied to her father. ¡°I know what you are.¡± A human with wings flying near her, blue hair, and silver cold and aloof eyes. She knew of this existence, the being bonded with her father yet different from her. She knew yet ignored it, even though it had come to examine her multiple times because she instinctively felt he had the potential to threaten her existence. So, she continued to ignore him because she knew nothing would get through to him no matter what was done. ¡°You''re a monster. Beings whose greatest instincts are to devour and grow. No monster gaining sentience has been able to co-exist with civilization. Even dungeon-born monsters are the same, though made real by the dungeon, that instinct could never be taken away.¡± She didn¡¯t understand. She has certainly had the desire to grow and thrive. Destroying others was part of this, but she could control it. She felt uncomfortable. What was this feeling? Then, as her father''s teaching came to mind, she realized. ¡®Ah, so this is anger.¡¯ ¡°No, you are wrong.¡± Hearing her speak, the being quirked his eyebrow, blatantly showing a look of disdain and annoyance. It was like watching his dying prey futilely struggle as if watching a corpse twitch and breathe its last. ¡°Your world is small. Of course, you wouldn¡¯t have instictints to devour yourself. Time will tell, and you will realize that your existence is nothing more than a hindrance to him, or worse, he will devastated by the thing he created.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. For the frist time, she actually saw general concern and worry on the being''s face. She began to understand that everything else except for one didn¡¯t matter to him. ¡° I learned all that is needed in these past few days, your autonomy is but a hindrance and unneeded. You will be much more useful, becoming a tool he wields. He can never be so cruel as to end your existence, but I can, and once he sees what you really are, I can erase your existence. After all, it is much easier to gain forgiveness than to gain permission.¡± And with that, the space was restored back to the way before as he left. A few minutes later, father returned from his work, and talked and shined like she forever knew. ¡°Evie, you alright? You seem distressed.¡± ¡®Ah, father. Is what the being said true? Will it really come to, as he said? Will you truly forgive him for terminating my existence?¡¯ Yet, she didn¡¯t say what was on her mind. She could have told her everything that happened, everything that was said, but she rejected such actions because a part of her knew the truth about his words. ¡®It won¡¯t solve the problem.¡¯ ¡°Father, am I helping?¡± She thought about what to do and what to be. She decided she would become irreplaceable, prove that being wrong, and survive to see another day and be with her father. ¡°Did she just ignore me?¡± ¡°Evie, why? Why be connected to everything?¡± ¡°Aiden, are you ignoring me, too? Your daughter is being rude and ignoring me. Aren¡¯t you going to do something about it?¡± She felt it through her bond, though not close enough to feel but enough to know. How warm the being is, unlike how she saw him before. A concept came to mind: the moon. The moon couldn¡¯t shine on its own, a cold stone floating in the sky. Only the sun could make it shine, and only the sun could make it warm. Her sun had a moon, a moon that would bring night upon her, the other one that she didn¡¯t want to acknowledge.
Something had happened. She felt that her father was acting differently than she knew, a side she never knew. He said that guests would be arriving, guests he had created this garden for. She was displeased with the so-called ¡®guests.¡¯ They were in her world, her domain, and trespassing her territory. She couldn¡¯t understand why her father would tolerate them, why lure them and go to such lengths when they could just kill and devour everything they had. She knew now what the other one meant. It was flagrant and enticing these beings of walking meat bags filled with mana. She was aware killing them wouldn¡¯t actually fill her but her father, yet something within her was hungry for them, something that made them seem so delicious. What truly stopped her from acting was not her mind or rational thoughts, but she felt her father''s gaze and emotion. It was love. He loved them, not like the love she felt and knew. It wasn¡¯t as bright, it wasn¡¯t quite as warm, it wasn¡¯t profound or as intense. But, it was there, always shining upon them. It was a love so far and wide. Father loved them, he loved people.
It was the first time she felt it, her father¡¯s disappointment and anger. It was different than then. Back then, it was the sun burning too bright and hotter there was no intention to harm. But, this time, it was cold. It felt like he was getting further away. She didn¡¯t understand, she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡®If you love me, if you understand, then why would you forbid me? Why would you leave me?¡¯ She was afraid for the first time in her life, she always thought that he would shine and warm her like forever, no matter what.
¡°Now, let''s get this over with.¡± She felt the being manipulating the mana, changing it and taking form, and the moment she saw she knew it was made of soul mana, and it would break the bond and carve out everything that made her, her memories, thoughts, emotions, all her time in this place she has learned to love. Her soul would become a husk, her only function maintaining this body. ¡°NO!!!¡± Then mana surged around her as she brought forth all her power. She started her final evolution, gaining the attention of her father. ¡°Evie!¡± She was relieved, and even though she knew it was not true, she worried that her father wouldn¡¯t come, that he wouldn¡¯t care. ¡®You are shining upon me once more.¡¯ ¡°Father, I¡¯m sorry. I cannot comprehend your views on them. I cannot feel the same way as father can.¡± ¡®If I am a hindrance to father, then I will go out my way.¡¯ Gathering the mana as she tried to make her body collapse into something that would fertilize this garden one last time. ¡°Evie! Listen to me and stop what you are doing. I don¡¯t know what made you think into doing this, but this is not the solution. I don¡¯t need or want you to become like me. You don¡¯t have to like them; you can dislike them however you want. I just want you to not hate them without giving them a chance and only know to kill when it comes to them. I just want you to learn to co-exist with them. So, please, let¡¯s stop what you are doing. Could we at least try?¡± ¡®To co-exist with them?¡¯ She thought it would be hard to suppress her instincts and tolerate people in her domain, but it didn¡¯t seem impossible. Soon, she began to calm her mana as it was being imbued into her and taking place. She couldn¡¯t stop her evolution now as she felt her consciousness floating down to begin evolving. She began to think about just what to do, what to be to achieve her goal. ¡°Father, I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Thank you, Evie.¡± She thought whatever it was, she would do it. She would grow and thrive, and she would greet her father and proudly declare that she could control herself. She would prove to the other one, and father would shine and warm her just like before as she listened to his words and stories. Loves weight Aiden After making sure Evangeline was not in danger, I began thoroughly checking her and was relieved to find out she was safely evolving. I shifted my view to Hector, demanding an explanation for all of this, as he explained everything that happened.
¡°What were you thinking!¡± I was mad, outraged. Screaming at him, I couldn¡¯t believe just what I heard. ¡°I did what was required.¡± He speaks without remorse or shame, like he''s spitting out facts. It was weird to see him like this. He was so different from the one I was used to and knew. ¡°She would cause you distress, I had to prevent her from hurting you. If she is to continue to exist, her independence could lead to the death of people, I don¡¯t want you to be hurt by that.¡± ¡°And it would be efficient for me to wield her body while also eliminating variables that would come with her, correct? Then is it just her or to every one of them?¡± Hector silently affirmed my first question as he explained the other. ¡°No, just boss monsters. Dungeon monsters aren¡¯t technically real, they are a copied construct of mana in the form of monsters. Every monster, even in different dungeons, follows a pattern. The binding with the dungeon makes them ¡®real¡¯; the strongest binding with boss monsters makes them no different from true monsters, from their traits to individuality. The other titled monsters will at most have an inkling of monster instincts but are mostly filled with the will of the dungeon.¡± Listening to him, I take a few deep breaths as I try to understand. Hector, the way he speaks, what am I missing? This is familiar yet different. ¡°Hector, just give me a few minutes to think about this.¡± This was just too much; first, it was the delvers, and now, this. I try to wrap my head around this. So, with a few minutes of organizing, I come to a conclusion ¡®So, I have a weird psychopath of a companion and daughter I have to raise. Shit!¡¯ And they are different from psychopaths because of me. From our bond, I know that what they said and felt was real. They do love me, and they do care for me that feeling is real. In my view, psychopaths aren¡¯t incapable of love, it''s that their love is different. They love themselves and no one else. They love their children''s smarts, achievements, capabilities, and toughness because they love those traits, not them. Hector and Evangeline were meant to be like this, yet I implanted them with my emotions and morals with a brain incapable of doing so. Hector will do anything for my well-being. He understands morals but only in a way to know how it affects me. That¡¯s why he did this horrendous thing with more steps required because he understands me. Evangeline, there were signs. The way she felt about delvers or how she viewed her children with a mix of love and possession. To her, she loved them as her project and loved them as her children due to the emotions I implanted. I just brushed it off, attributing it to her monster nature, rapid growth, and sudden maturity. ¡®But, it seems this won¡¯t be solved with time. After all, they are complete as is how to fix something that is not broken.¡¯ Augh, why do monsters have to be murderhobo psychopaths, and why did it have to be my daughter? Anyway, enough whining. It¡¯s not the best situation but I can work with this. ¡°Hector, don¡¯t ever do anything like this again. And I want you to swear that you will tell me everything if you know it will upset me.¡± Hector reluctantly gave in as he promised me. Knowing he was telling the truth through our bond, I knew he would uphold it. However, whether he will listen is another story. ¡®Well, at least I know now that he is definitely an individual and not someone solely created to match my preferences.¡¯ As I was trying to find the silver lining to this whole mess, I heard Hectors concern. ¡°Aiden, what would you do with her, and not just her but for the future boss monsters?¡± Knowing everything, I can see now Hector''s concern has always been only about me. Morals only apply to me, and why am I excited about this more than I like to admit? Is he like this because I wanted this? ¡®Shit, is my serial killer romance smut the cause of all this? Ahhh! I thought I abandoned you in the hellhole where you belong long ago!¡¯ Jokes aside, I know it actually isn¡¯t the cause, probably. Maybe? Just a little? ¡®Haaaa, I need some holy water to douse my eyes and brain in. Or bleach for this tainted one.¡¯ ¡°Look, as you¡¯ve seen in my memories, there is at least 1 percent of psychopaths and sociopaths living on Earth, and Earth is hanging on a thread just fine. I assure you far more misery and death were caused by ¡®normal¡¯ people due to politics, wealth, religion, bigots, pride, and whatever stupid reason they always come up with. Psychopaths may have no morals, but they are not stupid. They know the importance of following the law in order to live in and benefit from society and the following privileges.¡± ¡°But, they are monsters, not humans. Their instincts are to kill, devour, and grow ever stronger.¡± I understand that no matter how human they act, it won¡¯t change the fact that they are not human. But, hey, I¡¯m a human inside a dungeon core, and they will born from a special existence like me. So why can¡¯t they be something entirely new? ¡°I know. But you, her, and the children that will follow are also not like regular monsters. You have morals and empathy and are able to love more than just yourselves. Even though it is highly limited to me and things relating to me, starting from zero cannot compare to starting from one.¡± Hector still isn¡¯t convinced, but he doesn¡¯t refute me. He says the following words with a serious expression, leaving no room for compromise. ¡°Aiden, once I have determined they are a threat to you, I will act without hesitance.¡± ¡®I want to reject him, to dissuade him, I really do, but¡­¡¯ What if they become killing machines? What if they slaughter thousands for no good reason? Can I truly handle it all? ¡°Yeah. But, not without trying, I don¡¯t¡­ I could never abandon them just because of what they could be and what they could do.¡± Seeing Hector¡¯s apprehensive expression and worry I mentally smile and pump myself up, sending my feeling to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be okay.¡± With that, I could see a small smile and some relief wash over him. Seeing him like that was complicated. ¡®You really only care about me. You really feel nothing towards them.¡¯ I didn¡¯t know how to feel about that, but some part of me, due to my selfish desire, wanted him to look at me forever like he does now.
It''s been three days since then, and during those days, I expanded my aura to the top of the mountain while adding some touches to the road and the way up to my entrance. Once my aura was near the top of the mountain, I created three small hidden spaces at different altitudes, covering them with illusion mana and placing a telescope and mirror in each. The telescope was for Hector, and the mirror was for me to see outside my aura. Evangeline had yet to finish evolving, and I was working on my second floor, which was currently in its last stages. It was the same as the first floor, with three floors combined, creating a 2-meter-high, roughly 5-kilometer-wide, and 10-kilometer-long rectangular cube as I expanded the space by eight. This floor will be the restaurant, with roughly 5 kilometers and 2.5 kilometers of space(before space expansion) for customers. The other three sides will be used for the kitchen. This time, the monsters will be slimes, with no other monster components but only affinities imbued on them. Slimes have a variety of evolutions exceeding any monster type, and their diversity in evolution is just what I needed. First, I used heat mana to boil water, watching it become steam and sensing the movement of mana as I replicated it using water and heat mana.
You have unlocked Steam Affinity
Then, I used the steam mana and heat mana to create pressure as I felt its movement.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
You have unlocked Kinetic Affinity
I slowed down the movement of the steam till it coalesced into water and further with crystal mana as they started to take the form of ice.
You have unlocked Movement Affinity
You have unlocked Cold Affinity
You have unlocked Ice Affinity
Finally, getting some wood from the first floor and drying it, I burnt it as I watched the smoke produce, sensing the mana within, replicating it with air and heat mana.
You have unlocked Smoke Affinity
Now, with all the ingredients ready, I started to work on my monsters. The first one specializes in water, steam, and heat for steaming and washing. Another for cold, ice, and time for the refrigerator. Third, metal, kinetic, movement for preparing. Fourth, heat, kinetic, and time for marinating and juicing. Fifth, fire, heat, and smoke for grilling and barbecue. Sixth, time, heat, and life for bread making, finally something I hope could work out to be the waiters time, gravity, and movement. Sectioning off some places, creating appliances, tools, and devices for cooking and storage, and making them work with mana instead of electricity was easy but difficult trying to improve its efficiency, but I was able to manage with Hector¡¯s help. I created chairs and tables for the dining area and installed illusion crystals with preset scenes that change daily. I imagined and remembered the scenes I wanted to imbue a soothing forest and the sounds that follow, scuba diving in the ocean as the sun illuminates the wonders below, the fancy ballrooms I hated but come to appreciate, standing on the canyon viewing the sunset and night sky, snowfields as the aurora shines above, seeing the clouds above on the plane, and the oceans spreading vast and endless with glowing jellyfishes while on the cruise. Some conveyor belts for the food and a grand fountain in the middle. Designating the dining place as a safe zone and placing stone tiles for a curse/blessing as emotion and intent stir inside me taking form. How much do you need to be satisfied? As the blessing/curse takes place, I finalize it by naming this floor, this is the Domain of Satiety. Welcome to the Buffet of Wonders
All components met for Unique Floor Floors 4-6 are designated as Buffet of Wonders These are the following effects on Buffet of Wonders
Buffet of Wonders
-Any food ingredient capable of being produced by the dungeon will be generated daily in a designated location(the amount will vary depending on the quality and dungeon core level and cannot be used outside the floor) -All monsters will gain a major boost for any acts involving cooking -All dishes made within will gain a large boost to taste, quality, aroma, and appearance -All dishes made within will gain a generous boost to effects -All beings while on this floor will gain a generous boost to the sensitivity of taste and smell or will gain the ability to taste and smell if not present -All delvers will be cursed with the Curse of Satiety if a similar curse is present, it will amplify the curse instead -All delvers will gain a generous boost for any acts involving cooking
The primary monster type has been finalized The primary monster type is slime-type All your monsters will gain a 10% increase in physical resistance per floor
The next day, Hector mentioned something that caught my attention as I was deciding whether to use time distortion on my second floor since my mana couldn¡¯t keep up with both. ¡°We got company.¡± Feeling where Hector was through our bond, I saw him in one of the spaces using a telescope. I then used the mirror to take a look. There, I saw Andrea and about 10 people coming this way. ¡°I¡¯ll go and eavesdrop on them.¡± Then he flew through as his presence became thinner till I could only know where he was by our bond. Watching, I could see Andrea commanding the people as stones, tools, and materials were emptied out of their bags of holding. Soon, they got to work cutting the trees and flattening the ground in a matter of minutes, much faster than anything I have seen on Earth. Their superhuman strength and magic just made everything so much quicker, and probably because they are talented professionals, considering Andrea''s position. Soon, a donut stone structure was built as they carved out patterns and filled it with magical stuff. Soon, I see Andrea take out several shards of a dungeon''s core as she fixes them in a certain pattern. Soon, they do some magical thing as the structure comes to life as the space inside the hole distorts, stabilizing to create a portal. Then, people and carts full of material came out of the portal. They quickly worked, cutting down the trees and flattening the land as roads and buildings were built. Soon, they built three more portals, and Nolan, Varkana, and Lorien emerged from them with more people and material behind them. Nolan brings a crystal nearly as big as him, sets it in place, and does something as the crystal comes to life. It glows softly, levitating and suspending itself above the ground. ¡°Hector, just how much time do you think we have till people come rushing in?¡± I nervously ask, as I never knew things would go this fast. ¡°Hmm, about two, maybe three days.¡± ¡°Shoot! And why didn¡¯t you warn me about this.¡± ¡°Well, it is the first time such four powerful countries have actually put their efforts into one task. I underestimated their competence, and I thought it would take at least a month of politics and scheming for it to get started.¡± Well, at least I don¡¯t have to worry about which floor to use time distortion on. On floor one, my monsters were actually gaining the hunger affinity, which I still don¡¯t fully understand, seeing as how I couldn¡¯t unlock it myself. Hector speculated they were able to easily gain this affinity due to their above-average bodies and souls being influenced by my blessing and curse of hunger and being connected to Evangeline. I just hope most of them could acquire it before delvers pour in. ¡®Huh!?¡¯ Feeling Evangeline awakening, I shifted most of my attention to her. ¡°Evie!¡± ¡°Father.¡± Then, I talked with my daughter about the things I contemplated in these few days while she was evolving.
Three days later, as more people poured in from the portal, a whole town had been built during these few days. Unlike the builders and planners who left to sleep at home, these people settled down in their newly built homes and opened shops. Those who settled down all went through the process of touching the settlement crystal, which Hector explained was for registering to gain the benefits and to fill in the needed numbers for it to be upgraded, which I saw Nolan do three times the last time he even used a piece of a dungeon core for the upgrade. The town was bustling with new buildings built by the second, and it was like watching your sim city grow. It was fascinating but also nerve-racking, considering what it entails for me. From what Hector has learned, the people who are settling are well-known experts in their professions. They bring with them their families, students, trainees, and appretencies. Apparently, the alliance put quite an effort into bringing them here, and there were more to come. The four of my first delvers delved into my dungeon twice a day, accompanying different people each time. They were all investigating my peculiarity and what I had to offer. The priests Nolan came with were um¡­ concerning. I mean, I¡¯m all for religion and all, but their devotion is something else, not that I can blame them since there are actually literal gods doing stuff and a whole-encompassing omniscient System. So, yay for fanatics if it means they protect me and are on my side. From what I have seen and Hector''s daily spying, Andrea made her impressive company building by shadowing other nearby buildings. She was a busy bee who was always doing something. Varkana was the guild master of the newly built adventures guild, organizing who and how long one gets to delve, who and when they get to face my floor bosses, teaching the trainees, and explaining what to take note of in my dungeon. Apparently, they restricted higher-tiered adventures from delving me. At least until more information is found and more floors are opened. It was so that their stronger mana didn¡¯t agitate me, which was weird, but I think I get it. The fours mana was like 100% juice, while the trainees were like flavored water. I mean, I¡¯m not a baby so I can handle it, and I think they know, too, but they are being extra careful or probably have something to do with politics. After they were clueless about the main quest after investigating me multiple times, they decided to give a reward to anyone who figured out the condition to clear the main quest or to anyone who completed it They even offered rewards if someone reported new information about me. Surprisingly, she was doing a good job. I mean, not that I know much, but just the fact that when she was in my dungeon, I felt she actually cared about the trainees she taught, and her emotions of not wanting them to die were more than enough for me. Even more so, she didn¡¯t slack off a little even though there were no deaths in my dungeon. Nolan and some fellow priests helped the builders build the church. They even provided special materials, expensive ones, judging by Andrea''s reaction to them. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, they built it within my dungeon aura where the forest is. I mean, it''s not like there are side effects on living within dungeon auras, but it''s more about not wanting to build on someone else''s property or having cameras installed in your house so that someone could spy on you anytime. The church was magnificent, and it seems they plan to build it as big as my aura. They even went to great lengths to reference my entrance style. ¡®Yikes, I know they''re technically not wrong since I do have The System Chosen title, but come on, you don¡¯t even know me. You¡¯ve seen me for like a few days! And they are acting like obsessive fans.¡¯ Lorien was the semi-mayor? I don¡¯t know. He is the mayor, and he performs the mayor''s responsibilities, acts like the mayor, and works like the mayor. However, from what I''ve gathered, the real mayor is someone else, a prince, they say. Though where he is is anyone''s guess. I also learned that Lorien is a noble, a high-ranking one, and though he relinquished his family name and title, the teachings he learned made him quite competent. Even then, I wonder just why a dungeon inspector was given such a position. I cannot help but worry every time he comes to my dungeon, I can see his face get grimmer and watch his life get sucked out of him by paperwork by the day.
A week has passed. Fortunately, no one has completed the main quest, buying me enough time for my second floor and for me to engage with my second boss monster and son. Soon, I notice someone entering my dungeon. A young girl with two party members. The reason I¡¯m interested in her is because she has done two of the conditions needed to complete the quest, and something tells me she is the one most likely to do the third condition to complete the quest. Bianca Bianca As Bianca entered the dungeon, she thought she was getting used to the grand entrance, the carvings in the hallway, and the feeling when she entered the portal. However, she still couldn¡¯t get used to the sight before her. She liked this place even though it was a dungeon, the smell of herbs and plants, the warm light just right, and the feeling of the soft dirt beneath her. She thought about how she came here
One day, her master told her they were moving somewhere and that they were planning on settling for a long time or even permanently. At first, she thought the old man had finally gone senile. They were living and traveling from place to place the longest they have ever lived in one place was a year. He adopted her, well forcefully at first. She didn¡¯t know who her parents were. The last memory she had was in the slums with kids like her, following some adults learning to beg for money and pickpocket on the streets as they took everything they earned with just enough to not starve. She thought it would go like this her whole life and she would die in the slums until one day he showed up and beat the adults that were giants to her back then and when all the kids were taken to an orphanage, and for some unknown reason he decided to adopt her. Since then, they have been together as master and apprentice. Though she considered him more like her father and him her daughter, they will never be the first to admit that. She later figured out that he was some kind of a legendary herbalist and botanist, always moving from one place to another, seen in the strangest places, looking for exotic plants. There has been more than once she wanted to ring that old man''s head for the places she has been brought by him. She has still not forgiven him for that time when she gagged at her own stench for a week after being sprayed on by some weird plant they had harvested. Anyhow, one day after returning from gathering some herbs, she saw her master reading a letter. A few minutes later, he declared we were moving as he packed his bags, and she followed, packing their stuff. She was already used to them moving without notice, though she did have to stop and question her master once he told her that they would settle down. After packing everything, I thought it would take a while for us to arrive at our destination, but for once, we were actually taking a carriage and using portals to travel. They could always afford it, but he never allowed it, saying you never knew what interesting thing you might encounter traveling on foot. She tried so hard not to roll her eyes every time she heard him say it since such an encounter only happened once, and it was absolutely not worth all the trouble. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t ask and just follow, but she had to ask where we were going this time. The letter was from an old acquaintance mentioning a new, never-before-seen dungeon containing a variety of unique plants. The letter said the Alliance is willing to provide precious and rare herbs if master settles down and shares some of his findings on the dungeon. So, now, after going through several portals and passing several security and identification procedures, as they were led through with our sight and hearing blocked, to finally go through the last portal. Once they arrived, they were assigned a residence as they unpacked their stuff, and she wasn¡¯t complaining because she was finally settling down. Also, after seeing that her room was the highest quality she had ever had, she definitely wanted to live here for a long time. Three days later, she was entering the dungeon of desire for the first time. She read multiple times the pamphlet guide written by a very well-known dungeon inspector who was also the mayor of this town, and she considered what she learned after asking her master about his findings. She checked her satchel of potions and salves, daggers, and small pieces of food to counter the curse. She looked to her left and right, where two boys her age were also checking their equipment. She was grouped up with them to create a three-person party: Randy Llyod, a half-human and half-dwarf boy wielding a mace and shield, and Travis Dean, a tiger beastkin equipped with a bow and quiver. They met together yesterday, getting acquainted and practicing their teamwork in the Adventures Guild training grounds. Up ahead, the town adventure guild master Varkana led them. I was anxious when I heard she would be leading and training us. All the people settling into town are legends in their expertise, well known only to those in their professions. As for her, I heard stories and songs about her, you didn¡¯t have to be an adventurer to know about her. However, after meeting her, she was surprisingly easy to get along with, nothing like the stories she had heard. Once we arrived, we were all surprised when we got the side quest to the core, even though we had been informed beforehand. Once we went through the portal, she was amazed by the scenery, the smell of plants, the dirt, and the light warming her. The endless greens were magnificent to her. Although the start of her learning botany may have been forced, she truly came to love it all. This place was simply a paradise for her. She had to try hard not to scream when she met the ruler of this floor, a talking, sentient, massive tree. She had only heard of things like this in stories and myths, but she was actually witnessing it. Not to mention, the fruit she ate was pure bliss. After a few warnings from Varkana, she left with the trainees focused on combat classes, leading them to more dangerous areas ahead. Meanwhile, the few groups focused on non-combat classes, like hers, started to go back to the entrance. The then groups split up into their respective parties once near the sections they wanted to explore. It was decided beforehand they would try the herb section due to her interest and since it was the easiest one. Leaving the safe zone and setting foot quests popped up just like the pamphlet said it would.
Side Quest: Levi¡¯s Herb Haven
Welcome to Herb Haven, where all sorts of herbs grow and thrive. Let the soothing scent calm your weary heart, let the gentle breeze and warm light lift your spirits. But, beware, the lord of this section does not take kindly to those who take his herbs.
Mission Goal - Defeat the lord of Herb Haven
Reward for Completion: The defeated floor boss will drop the rarest loot
Penalty for Failure: None
Will you accept the quest Side Quest: Levi¡¯s Herb Haven?
Yes No
Side Quest: Gathering Herbs (Repeatable)
You''re in Herb Haven now, what else to do than to harvest herbs?You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Mission Goal - Harvest five pieces of thyme within one hour
Reward for Completion: One duplication of the lowest quality herb harvested for the quest
Penalty for Failure: Mild hunger for 10 minutes
Will you accept the quest Side Quest: Gathering Herbs (Repeatable)? (Will automatically select No once 5 minutes have passed without input.)
Yes No
The first one was given to everyone the first time they stepped into a section, while the second one was different every time. The pamphlet said the quest would be given daily, and the penalty was feeling like you had starved for a day. Before she accepted, she mentioned what her mission goal was. ¡°Mine¡¯s collecting five pieces of thyme in a hour. What about you two?¡± Randy was the first to speak, followed by Travis. ¡°I got to harvest 13 sages within two hours.¡± ¡°15 parsley, two and a half hours.¡± Randy was boisterous and cheerful, always with a smile on his face, while Travis barely talked and rarely showed anything on his face. She couldn¡¯t figure out if it was due to shyness or aloofness. ¡°My vote is that we all take the quest since we have different herbs to collect and I¡¯m quite confident in finding them within time.¡± She looked toward them to see if they would agree. ¡°Sure, you''re the expert when it comes to this!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, they accepted the quest as they headed forward. Travis was behind on the lookout, Randy was ahead ,and she was in the middle. Harvesting some herbs as she saw them while using Search Herb in between. Then she found one of the herbs they were looking for as she gestured toward her party, following her directions. Soon they found a bush of thyme up ahead as she got closer to start harvesting, mid-way through Travis Danger Sense caught something, quickly alerting them as they formed a defensive formation agreed beforehand. Soon, varying pleasant scents wafted in on them as Randy and Travis quickly put a cloth over their mouth and nose where, whereas Bianca focused on the scent using Analyze. Even with multiple scents, she quickly found out its effect, sleepiness and muscle relaxation, taking out salves to resist them and spreading them underneath her nose. She gave them to her party members to use as she used Herb Sense to find the enemy. Soon, caught in her senses, she used Appraisal to confirm them.
Species Lavender Shade
Description A plant-type monster based on the lavender herb uses its scent to put its prey to sleep and drain their energy
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Sleeping Scent, Camouflage, Masking Scent, Grapple, Tangle, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Species Relaxing Chamomile
Description A plant-type monster based on the chamomile herb uses its scent to immobilize prey and drain their energy
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Relaxing Scent, Camouflage, Masking Scent, Grapple, Tangle, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
¡°One in front and the other in the left, Randy, you hold back the one in the front, Travis, you support me.¡± Soon, she pulled out her daggers, using her fire affinity to heat them up as she threw two of them, one forward and the other to her left. Soon, they hit the bushes, cutting a part of it as they unfurled, becoming 3 meters high and moving towards them as Randy confronted the one in front. Shield Charge Shield Bash With a shield in front and rushing forward, using the momentum to crash into it. While Travis also unloads his knocked arrow with a vial attached to it aiming for the one on the left. Soon, the arrow hits, and the vial shatters, drenching it with the liquid contained. Bianca then casts her skill right after. Spark Soon, the liquid catches on fire as it burns the monster. Travis does the same to the one Randy is confronting as Biance shouts. ¡°Randy, move!¡± Soon, Randy moves back as Bianca uses Spark, causing it to catch on fire. Soon, the fire spreads burning half of their bodies as they fall, and burst into mana, each leaving behind loot. After making sure there were no more threats, they soon relaxed as Bianca checked on Randy. ¡°How are you doing?¡± Randy moves his body, nodding to himself as he answers. ¡°Good, I could bear at least a hundred if it¡¯s this much.¡± The pamphlet explained that this floor had a special characteristic: All monsters drain the energy of whoever they touch. The amount depends on the monster, the area of contact, and the resistance made. They didn¡¯t know how much it would affect them but were relieved it wasn¡¯t serious enough to be a hindrance. Bianca then began to take the loot as agreed beforehand. She would take all the loot related to herbs and pay for it afterward. Finishing harvesting the thymes, she completed the quest as one of the thymes she harvested duplicated.
Lavender Shade
Lavender, imbued with life and nature mana with a rich and calming aroma, has excellent properties for increasing sleep quality and helping with insomnia. Very fragrant
Relaxing Chamomile
Chamomile imbued with life and nature mana with a rich and calming aroma, has excellent properties for muscle relaxation and relieving muscle soreness. Very fragrant.
One hour later, the three of them finished their side quest and were about to head back. Bianca felt her Dagger Mastery proficiency grow as she checked her status.
Name Bianca Lin
Age 19
Race Human
Title Nature Lover
Class Journeyman Botanist, Apprentice Herbalist, Novice Mage
Affinity Fire, Water
Skill Analyze, Appraisal, Apprentice Dagger Mastery, Journeyman Search Herb, Journeyman Search Plant, Adept Inspect Plant, Journeyman Inspect Herb,...
Trait Perceptive, Nimble
However, as they were going back, Randy¡¯s ankle was wrapped around, knocking him down and dragging him, which Travis quickly stopped by shooting an arrow and cutting it off, letting Randy free. Randy quickly stood up as the party got into position, Bianca using Apprasial to confirm what it was.
Name Levi Panra Seraphim
Race Herb Amalgamation
Titles The Herb Lord, Aroma Mixer, Master of Fragrance
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature,???
Skill Sleeping Scent, Healing Scent, Confusing Scent, Invigorating Scent, Dulling Scent, Relaxing Scent, Camouflage, Regeneration, Thorn Volley...
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Protective
¡°It¡¯s the Floor Boss, get ready!¡± Levi ¡°What is the skill Analyze and Appraisal? It is the most ubiquitous skill that anyone of a certain age has attained. Anaylze for non-living and moving objects and Appraisal for monsters and living beings. As for why these skills do not have a proficiency like the others, it is due to their nature. These skills simply deduce and verify from the knowledge we possess as The System simplifies it and shows the truth. For example, where someone would Analyze it to be a stone, a geologist will see perhaps slate, or granite, or flint. It cannot show you information you do not know and may not deduce from the knowledge you possess. More knowledge in such means more access to The System¡¯s ultimate truth.¡± -A piece from ¡°Useful and Useless Facts¡± by ????
Bianca Bianca used Analyze on the now noticeable and prevalent scent. However, after using it, she learned the scents were mixed and changing continuously, needing time to figure it out, which was a luxury she couldn¡¯t afford, and using salves was problematic. Her salves countered the scent and effects, sleeping with awakening, dulling with heightened senses, relaxing with muscle stimulants, and other such effects. They were viable for the mobs but not for the floor boss. Bianca quickly used her water affinity to take out the potion inside the vials, a perk for crafters to have control over their crafts if they have an affinity for it. ¡°Open up wide, you two, and you guys are paying me with the herbs because these weren¡¯t cheap!¡±
Lesser Mind Awakening Potion
Quality: Decent
A potion made by an apprentice herbalist, quite some effort, and rare herbs were used in the process. -Provides a Moderate boost to the mind and mental power for 30 minutes once consumed
Lesser Body Enchantment Potion
Quality: Decent
A potion made by an apprentice herbalist, quite some effort, and rare herbs were used in the process. -Provides a Moderate boost to the body, senses, and physical power for 30 minutes once consumed
The two and Bianca immediately drank the liquid coming toward their mouth as they put on their masks. These potions and masks would help her party to resist. However, besides invading through the respiratory system, the scent could also seep in through the skin. It wasn¡¯t a problem for the mobs since the effect was meager. Enhanced Mind Heightened Senses Yet, using her skill, she could now feel the scent affecting her and also the floor boss¡¯s hidden scent inside them, prepared before they were ambushed. The different herb bushes around them began to move, unfurling and growing larger as they encompassed them in the middle like a dome with an opening at the top. Bianca could see that, although this dome was made of various herbs, it was actually made from one plant. This dome was the floor boss. If not for this situation, she would have loved to study it. ¡°Formation D!¡± Andrea shouted as the three of them put their backs against each other. It wasn¡¯t something they thought they would use since such formation required quite some teamwork, but it was the most effective in this situation, and they would have to make do. Andrea readied her daggers, Travis knocked his bow, and Randy readied his mace and shield as a volley of thorns and branches came from everywhere.
Though they weren¡¯t focused on combat-related classes, it didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t skilled. Bianca, for one, had to fight multiple monsters and delve into dungeons to procure herbs and plants tasked by her master and for her personal use. Her master was no pushover. He was obstinate about personally harvesting plants since only this way could he learn more and harvest them perfectly. He had to take care of the dangerous monsters and delve higher floors himself, and Bianca learned one or two things from him. She heated up her daggers, cutting the branches coming her way and using her water affinity to create a water barrier around her as the thorns collided. Randy used his kinetic affinity to vibrate the mace as they tore through anything it touched, using his shield to reflect the thorns back. Travis used his metal affinity to control his specially made arrows as they moved to cut off several branches at once and retrieve them back to his quiver. The metal pieces attached to his armor were spread wide like a small shield just as the thorns were about to hit him. Even then, they couldn¡¯t stop every thorn and branch. The branch entangles them as they drain their energy, and where the cuts the thorns made became openings for the scent to invade faster. ¡°Bianca! Energy! Mana!¡± Randy shouted 5 minutes into the fight, he was using his kinetic affinity on the attacks within his range, pulling them towards him to bear the brunt instead of the two, resulting in his energy and mana being drained the most. ¡°Here!¡± Bianca immediately used her water affinity on the potions, with Randy using Telekinesis to lift his mask just in time for the liquids to arrive in his mouth.
Minor Energy Potion
Quality: Average
A potion made by an apprentice herbalist, a common potion ubiquitous among Aetheria. (Warning! Frequent use within a short time will cause consequences) -Provides a Minuscule amount of energy once consumed
Minor Mana Potion
Quality: Average
A potion made by an apprentice herbalist, a common potion ubiquitous among Aetheria. (Warning! Frequent use within a short time will cause consequences) -Provides a Minuscule amount of mana once consumed
It was a war of attrition, the party had to finish before the potion¡¯s effect wore off, but it was difficult as the floor boss continued to regrow and regenerate any damage taken. But, it wasn¡¯t a fair trade as it was using its, with their energy and mana absorbed from them. Bianca tried to use fire magic, like with the mobs, but it was intercepted with an Arcane Shield. And even if once a fire was started, it was extinguished immediately, enclosed with an Arcane Barrier, before it could spread and cause severe damage. Travis tried to throw the flammable vials, yet the moment it was out in the open, an Arcane Arrow immediately shattered it. Drenching him and making Bianca have to stop using fire magic. Bianca swore once she realized the floor boss probably had more talent than her as a mage. As a botanist, she shouldn¡¯t think like that and would probably be thrilled if she wasn¡¯t overloaded and fighting against it. It even got worse as the scent started affecting them enough to hinder them. As their movement slowed and became unstable, the floor boss took this opportunity. Randy was ambushed and entangled by three of the mobs, who camouflaged themselves inside the floor boss, looking like a part of it, as it emerged and ambushed him. The other two wanted to help, but more mobs emerged from the floor boss and ambushed Bianca and Travis. At that point, Travis shouted as he covered Bianca under him. ¡°Randy, get down, put up your defenses!¡± Soon, the pieces of metal on his armor broke to pieces as they flew all around him, shredding the incoming mobs. Randy was thankfully unharmed as only some shrapnel came toward him with the mobs taking most of the hit while using Barrier on his vital points. Quickly they got back into the formation with an enraged floor boss attacking them. They were drained, and frequent use of the mana and energy potion decreased their effect on them, signaling them that major fatigue and mana strain were coming in a few hours from now. Yet, their cooperation and teamwork improved in leaps and bounds with each passing minute and obstacle. Slowly but surely, they began to cover each other''s blindsides and backs with less and less communication until there were no words among them except for tactic understanding. They worked like a well-oiled machine, able to hit and cause more damage as they countered and dodged the coming attacks. 27 minutes into the fight, half of the floor boss¡¯s body was gone as its energy and mana weren¡¯t enough for its regeneration as it exploded into mana leaving behind several loot.
Side Quest: Levi¡¯s Herb Haven Completed
Mission Goals - Defeat the lord of Herb Haven
Reward for Completion: Levi¡¯s Favourite Herb
The three of them, supporting each other with their backs together, didn¡¯t immediately lower their guard but slowly scanned their surroundings for dangers. Once they were sure there were none, they collapsed on the ground, out of breath. After a few minutes of rest, they had to stand up immediately, preparing their weapons as they spotted something coming towards them. ¡°Stop!¡± Yet Bianca stopped them as she used when she saw the identity with Aprrasial.
NameThe genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Blossom Sylva Seraphim
Race Fruit Fairy
Titles Gardener, Child of Harmony, Descendent of Seraphim, Child of Healing
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Water, Heal,???
Skill Planting, Herbology, Nutrition Supplement, Plant Nurturing, Healing Touch, Healing Grounds, Healing Water, Rain, Healing Rain, Fertile Grounds, Mend, Restore, Growth Manipulation, Pruning, Harvest
Trait Dungeon Born, Elite Monster, Curious
Out came a squirrel made out of an apple as it looked at them a few meters away. Soon, mana swirled around it as it used its skills. Growth Manipulation Healing Rain Water came down, healing their wounds, and in the barren grounds around them, plants sprouted out, growing into shrubs at a fast rate. Seeing how they let down their guards, it came closer, touching each of them as it used Restore, giving them enough energy to not collapse on the way out. Soon, it turned away and ran in a certain direction, stopping and looking towards them. Randy was the frist to speak in his usual boisterous and cheerful voice. ¡°One moment, we have to sort the loot.¡± With that, it nodded and waited. They knew about its existence in the pamphlet, and the ruler mentioned them, the elites on this floor, the children of the ruler, and the Gardeners. They would help the delvers, heal their injuries, and guide them to the safe zone. It was repeatedly emphasized not to engage in a fight unless instigated by it. What would happen then was not written down. It was strange for a monster not to attack, much less be healed by one. Bianca now understood why that old man was smiling ear to ear every time he came back from this dungeon. Even she was curious. All the other things she found, except for the ruler, were variations of the plants she knew. But the elite in front of her was different¡ªit was unheard of. Knowledge and experience came to her mind, wanting to understand and figure it out. While Bianca was lost in thought, Randy went to pick up the loot, but Travis did most of the work. He silently and quickly organized the loot as he gave it to Bianca, only taking two rainbow-shimmering leaves and giving one to Randy. Bianca came back from her thoughts as she was handed the loot: one shimmering leaf, a variety of herbs whose quality rivaled that of the fruit given by the ruler at first glance. She was slightly ashamed of her behavior, which she had picked up from her master. Usually, it was only her and her old man, so they would discuss and study right there when they were in this state. ¡°Sorry about that, and thank you.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Bianca apologized, but Randy just laughed. Travis gave a small nod, though Bianca could see some red appear on his cheeks. ¡°Sorry for the wait! Let¡¯s go!¡± Randy spoke to Blossom as it led the way out of Herb Haven. The mobs did not attack them once, just as in the pamphlet. However, the pamphlet also mentioned that when someone harvested any resource while being led, that would stop as the elite vanished. Soon they arrived at the safe zone road as Blosson went back into Herb Haven. It was still not time for them to gather at the clearing, but they were tired and had enough for today as they arrived at the clearing, collapsing on the benches as they lay their heads on the table. Bianca started checking the herbs gathered, but one stood out the most.
Levi¡¯s Favorite Herb
A herb leaf from the Floor Boss named Levi, imbued with the dungeon of desire¡¯s mana, transmuting it into an elixir. Has an extremely rare chance of dropping once defeating the floor boss, Levi. Has properties of enhancing the mind and bringing tranquility. Extremely fragrant. -Gain a Minuscule boost to the mind permanently (One-time for each individual)
She was shocked by what she found, an elixir was any consumable able to increase one¡¯s attribute permanently. Most of the elixirs she is aware of were made by legendary or mythical alchemists using ingredients that would cost a kingdom or even rarer gifts given by the gods. Of course, the one-time limit and its properties are extremely lackluster compared to the elixirs of legends. However, this can be gained by anyone for the first time coming here and could be gained when the floor boss is defeated. She could only imagine the impact this would have. But, she calmed her heart and mind. The ones who brought us here knew about this. Worrying about it won¡¯t do anything. So, instead, she thought about what to do with the herb she had. Using it was out of the question. She didn¡¯t even know if her master could do it, considering it was something that has never been recorded, and he was called a legend, but that didn¡¯t mean he has a legendary class. He was just close to it from what he has told her. Considering that about one person in a hundred years might be able to reach legendary in a class meant that was incredible in itself. As she looked at the two, Bianca considered whether to suggest giving it to her master so that her master could learn more and they could gain a higher benefit than when consumed raw. However, she thought against it. Anyone who could defeat the floor boss would acquire it. It was not worth the risk. Perhaps in a hundred years, they would have the luxury to study and use it for crafting in moderation. Instead, she thought about something different she could do as she called out to the two of them. ¡°Hey, catch.¡± Bianca threw two cherries at each, leaving the last two for her to eat. They both recognized the fruit as the one Bianca had been given from the ruler. Surprised, they looked toward her. ¡°Why are you giving these to us?¡± Randy asked, and Travis questioned the same with his eyes. The fruit was precious, and both of them had already eaten the one they got as a reward. When they took a bite of the fruit the ruler gave them, they engulfed it right there like the others. She only ate one, fighting the urge to eat another, and saved the others for later research. She knew the fruits dropped by the floor boss in the fruits section were just as good, though it dropped random ones. She knew this because his master was given fruits from the floor boss and from the ruler to compare as he shared some of his findings with me. She also knew him enough to know that there was a difference enough to keep a secret from me, insinuating the fruits are of the same value. She wasn¡¯t upset because she knew it was for her own good, and sometimes the less you knew, the better. Though, she can¡¯t deny her curiosity. As she looked at them both, she thought about her other dungeon-delving experiences. She would apply her commission to the adventures guild and would delve with the group of adventures who signed up. Her master was never stingy when it came to this, so they were some of the best and most experienced adventures in the area. Of course, she fought with dungeon monsters to improve her skills and learn from her experience as her master wanted. But she was never truly in danger, and she knew that. Before going to the dungeon, her master informed her of something not written in the pamphlet. He said that the dungeon hasn¡¯t killed anybody, and its action implies that it will continue to do so. Yet, she didn¡¯t slack off and let her guard down because of it. She treated every moment like her life was on the line. Today was something. It was hard, it was hectic, it was frustrating but it was fun, it was thrilling, it was a new excitement different from the adventures with her master. It was an experience she would like to have again. Something she would like to do with the two of them as she looked into their eyes. Before the old man, all her thoughts were on surviving. After he adopted her, she needed time to adapt, and once she did, her life of continuously traveling prevented her from making close connections. It wasn¡¯t like there weren¡¯t good people. She was simply afraid of committing when knowing when it would end. From her life of traveling, she has learned to read people, and the two in front of her were good people. So, since I don¡¯t know how this would end, why not try it out? ¡°Because we are tired, and this will help.¡± At the same time, they both refused as they gave the cherries back, taking out their ration of food. ¡°No, let¡¯s just eat these to restore our mana.¡± Randy said with a serious expression as Travis nodded along, both eating their rations. ¡°Haha, look, we took way too much energy and mana potions, and probably in a few hours, we won¡¯t have the energy to lift a finger and a massive period due to mana strain. Just eat these to help with that, so we can hang out after we are out of the dungeon.¡± Randy was stunned by my period joke, while Travis was flustered as his face turned red. Mana strain was different for every individual; for me, it was like a more painful period, which meant massive cramps and constipation. Soon, they took the cherries again, and as I handed them out, Randy spoke up right before they were about to eat them. ¡°By the way, we were definitely going to hang out with you afterward, even without this and with our periods, because blood sisters don¡¯t leave behind others! My period is leg cramps and headache, by the way!¡± Travis blushed, yet he still hesitantly said his piece. ¡°Moodswings and cravings.¡± At that point, we just laughed, and Travis followed along as we ate the cherries. As she ate, she thought they tasted better than the first time.
Bianca used the excuse of going to the bathroom to move to a secluded place in the clearing. She also happened to see the elites manipulate the plants, carrying five unconscious people as they throw them into the clearing. They were drained of their energy to the limit with juice all over them; overall, they were fine with no injuries. ¡®Huh, so that¡¯s how they do it. And it seems they have taken some equipment, too.¡¯ Finding a place, after checking no one was there she spoke to the air, hoping it would reach the dungeon or the ruler. ¡°So, I¡¯m technically not allowed to do this, but from the look of it, I¡¯m sure you could do it on your own, but here.¡± She took out a small pouch from her bag. Inside were seeds from the many plants she and her master had harvested over the years. She knew that a part of the reason her master agreed to settle here was for her. They have been together for years. Of course, she would know. He probably was worried she wasn¡¯t living a normal life, but she enjoyed every moment with him, even the ones that drove her crazy. She wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do it all over again if she could. Experiencing this dungeon, she knew her master would be thrilled and would have settled even if it wasn¡¯t for her, but he didn¡¯t know that at that time. So, she decided to take a gamble. She said her purpose as she put the pouch on the ground, hiding it from view. ¡°My¡­father. He¡¯s a crazed plant enthusiast, so he decided to settle because of this garden. But, by doing so, he also lost his chance to adventure and find rare and exotic plants. It was one of the few things that excited him. So, if it''s not much I hope you can consider using these. Just keep doing what you are doing because my¡­ dad loves it here.¡± With that, she quickly walked back to her party, but she stopped when the voice of the ruler spoke to her. ¡°Thank you.¡± With a smile on her face, she greeted her two party members as they waved at her. Soon, they began to talk and chat about nonsense as they waited for the others to come back. ¡®This is nice.¡¯
¡°Hello! Aehteria to Bee! What are you zoned out about now!¡± In front, Randy was waving in front of her, ending her flashback. ¡°About the first time, we delved into this dungeon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been almost a week.¡± It was Travis who answered over the week, they had daily delved and met in the town, sometimes just doing nothing, sometimes checking out what their friends do for work. Randy had two mothers. One ran a famous restaurant that was always packed with customers, while the other ran a famous bakery with the scent of freshly baked in the morning so enticing that the line to get one of her bread was a war. Fortunately, being friends with the owner¡¯s son means we could get it without the struggle. Travis''s parents, the father was famous blacksmith, and the mother helped with scheduling and sometimes designing the crafts. Travis also helped out a few times with his father¡¯s work, but from what I¡¯ve seen, he seems much more interested in designing with his mother. There was a spark in his eyes, and he talked non-stop about it. Not that he was bad at blacksmithing all the arrowheads and metal pieces attached to his armor were made by him after all. Thinking of hers, she thought about today. When she woke up this morning, she noticed some potions on the table for her. There was no letter or note, but she knew they were for her because they were what she needed. Yet he always refused to make them, saying they were too trivial and tedious for him. She knew why he made them because sometimes he would check up on her when she was with her new friends as he saw how she truly enjoyed hanging out with them. It was his way of saying sorry. ¡®13 years, and I never heard sorry from you. Idiot, you don¡¯t need to feel sorry.¡¯ Lost in her thoughts, they soon arrived at their destination. As they entered the section, a side quest popped up.
Side Quest: Harvesting Vegetables (Repeatable)
You¡¯re in Veggie Valley, now don¡¯t be picky and eat all your veggies, now what veggies are we eating today?
Mission Goal - Harvest seven cucumbers within one hour
Reward for Completion: One duplication of the lowest quality vegetable harvested for the quest
Penalty for Failure: Mild hunger for 10 minutes
Will you accept the quest Side Quest: Harvesting Vegetables (Repeatable)? (Will automatically select No once 5 minutes have passed without input.)
Yes No
BIanca also checked the quest they couldn¡¯t finish yet.
Side Quest: Samina¡¯s Veggie Valley
Welcome to Veggie Valley. Let the freshness of greens make you healthier than ever. The veggies here are quite angry as they had heard the prejudice prevalent from outside that vegetables are yucky and boring. The Lord will not take kindly to those who don¡¯t show respect for the majesty of vegetables.
Mission Goal - Defeat the lord of Veggie Valley
Reward for Completion: The defeated floor boss will drop the rarest loot
Penalty for Failure: None
Soon, they went in, unaware that the dungeon was paying attention to their party and especially her. Spice and Fruit ¡°Mana, when used, is tinged with a person''s pattern, which is unique for each individual musch like their fingerprints. Concerning this, when one crafts, their mana is infused into every part of the process. Afterward, any mana imbued from someone else on the finished product will be repulsed or dispersed depending on the mana¡¯s strength, possibly ruining it. This matters not for most, except for the highly skilled. As such, they will pay great wealth to create custom-made equipment, combining their mana with the crafters during the process of making. On the upside, such properties make it impossible to take control of another''s mana or magic. Speaking of magic, anyone can use their affinity, but not anyone can do magic. For example, using kinetic affinity, one could increase the force of their blow or mitigate that force by spreading it out. However, only mages or those who studied it can use Telekinesis. Simply put, anyone can cook, but not everyone is a chef.¡± -A piece from ¡°Mysteries of Mana¡± by ????
Aiden I was watching Bianca and her party members enter the dungeon, focusing part of my attention on them while the rest began scanning the entire floor. A lot more delvers were currently everywhere, and the number had increased steadily in these few days. Before, there were some hours when there were no delvers. Now, it was only empty at night, and even that was getting shorter. Firstly, I checked the Herb Section. The monsters there were great at camouflaging as ordinary herbs, slowly letting their prey infused with their weakening scent. Hiding, waiting until they are immobile as they tangle them to drain them. Of course, considering most of them are experienced delvers, hardly anyone gets fully drained unless from Levi. With the second evolution, I saw a lot of varieties just from the herb monsters: sharp leaves causing continuous bleeding, herbs producing addictive substances causing hallucinations, rashes causing swelling enough to block your throat, and more. I had to decide, so I was left with these after culling all the ones I thought were too dangerous. Sleeping, muscle relaxants, mind confusion, paralysis, and dulling of the senses. These effects are enough to impede and harm without putting someone¡¯s life at risk. In addition, by reducing their fatality, they had much more potent scents and effects, camouflaging ability, and mobility than the ones I culled. Then, looking toward the spice section, which I had named Kiely¡¯s Spice Fiesta, I saw a four-person party fighting some monsters.
Species Peppercorn Sprayer
Description A plant-type monster based on the pepper tree flings peppercorns as they explode into a powder spreading wide, causing constant sneezing when breathed in and irritation once directly in contact with skin. Will tangle its weakened prey with its roots draining their energy.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Root manipulation, Fling, Exploding Fruit, Growth, Enhanced Fruit, Enhanced Spice, Enhanced Effect, Tangle, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Species Cinnamon Treant
Description A plant-type monster based on the cinnamon tree, a treant with hard defenses and tough vitality, tangles its prey with its roots and branches. When the bark is damaged, it will explode into cinnamon powder. It will tangle its prey with branches and roots, draining their energy.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Hard Bark, Swinging Branches, Regeneration, Resistant Bark, Cinnamon Bark, Branch Manipulation, Root Manipulation, Tangle, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Species Garlic Bomber
Description A plant-type monster based on garlic will explode into garlic powder once the prey is near it, causing constant crying exposure near the eye and chemical burns when exposed to the skin. The garlic cloves will regrow to explode again and must destroy the roots to kill it. A symbiotic relationship with the surrounding monsters will gain a share of the prey by helping them.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Camouflage, Hiding, Timed Explosion, Growth, Regeneration, Enhanced Spice, Enhanced Spice, Enhanced Effect, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
The peppercorn flung its fruits as they exploded into a cloud of pepper powder. The cinnamon treant was defending it. Meanwhile, the garlic moved stealthily in the ground, leaving pieces of its clove behind as they exploded out of the ground into garlic powder a few seconds later. This section was these three positions of monsters. Clove, bay, nutmeg, allspice, and more became treants, tanking damage and protecting the two. Ginger, turmeric, mustard, anise, and other spices for underground plants became bombs, and for the flowering plants atop, they released spice powder once an enemy was near. Different kinds of pepper, peppercorn, sichuan pepper, sancho pepper, and more would fling their peppers toward their enemy. There is also a special kind for salt where salt crystals would form on their branches as they flung it at them, of course, it doesn¡¯t cause much damage except for itching once a wound is made. The party was prepared wearing Aetheria¡¯s version of gas masks, powered by mana. In all honesty, I thought most delvers would breeze through this floor, excluding three sections. Anyone with a hazmat suit and able body could breeze through the rest. I designed this floor mainly to attract delvers and entice them with what I could give, I never thought they would need this much effort. To explain, their masks are expensive, and so is the energy used. For the mask to work, it needs air mana stones, which contain air mana. The masks use this mana to make a wind barrier around their heads, isolating them while creating oxygen for them to breathe. As to where you get these mana stones it¡¯s from monsters, every monster carries a mana stone that functions similarly to the heart, the stronger the monster the bigger it is, and the quality is determined by how many times it has evolved. As for dungeon monsters, since they are not real ¡®monsters¡¯ and the core acts as their mana stone instead, there is about a 5% chance for it to be dropped when killed, 1% if its bosses.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Anyway, gas masks are expensive, and the mana stone, too, is like oil on Earth. Gas masks also have terrible fuel efficiency. Of course, everyday devices like water supply, lights, agriculture, buildings, and so on, are much more efficient since they have been and are being continuously researched. A gas mask is a luxury item, because why would anyone use such money to go through dangerous places needing it, and why would those who do need to go through it buy it? After all dangerous place=dangerous monsters and anyone capable of defeating those monsters can handle the environment without the mask. Anyway, back to the party. Soon, one of the party members found the garlic monster, stabbing it through the ground and damaging its roots as it dispersed into mana, with loot spawning on top of the ground. The other three soon finished off the cinnamon treant as it fell, exploding into mana before it hit the ground. With the peppercorn sprayer left, one of them used air affinity to blow away the cinnamon, pepper, and garlic powder as they turned off the gas masks. Soon, one of them used air affinity to blow away the pepper powder while the others attacked. The last one fell as it tuned into mana. However, soon, I saw the party writhing as they couldn¡¯t avoid it touching their skin. They began to express their pain freely now that the threat was gone. Soon, I saw them take out slaves and apply them as they quickly healed. As soon as they checked the loot, they were thrilled to see that one of them had dropped a life mana stone. Monsters drop a mana stone according to their affinity, arcane was the most common but most used always selling for a stable amount, nature had limited uses but fetched a high price for nobles having hobbies of growing exotic plants, and life was invaluable were there was no shortage of demand. Hunger mana stones couldn¡¯t be dropped. Asking Hector the reason, and he said that hunger is something too personal and vague. Just because mana can become anything doesn¡¯t mean they are. Once something like that becomes an affinity, they mean they have reached godhood for it. He speculated that it was made possible by my human creativity and the dungeon core¡¯s infinite affinity capabilities affecting the monsters. Also, healing affinity is one of the rarest, if not the priciest, so once Evangeline and the elites got it, I was worried that someone would kill them for the money. However, the church did help by warning the people and declaring that should one go against the dungeon''s will, they would make an enemy out of the Theocracy, which was a relief. Thinking about the church, seeing them so excited, and the frugal way they used the mask, I realized who they were or came to be here. Once in place, the church began to buy everything that came from my dungeon at half a price higher than it was worth. So, naturally, many sold it as the priests and acolytes began to study them, though I doubt they could find anything out of it. Andrea wasn¡¯t pleased, from what Hector found, she had managed to gain the right to be the only commerce platform in this settlement for four months. Different from her five months and monopoly on my dungeon she decaleraed at first but still impressive. When she politely mentioned to Nolan the clause, he said they were donations and the church gave them money for gratitude, not buying. This was true, some believers did donate it and they did give the money even though they refused one or two times. But, not all of them. Andrea had a grimace on her face but relented soon enough as the loss outweighed the gains from fighting the church. That day, she began recruiting adventures, each of them signing magical contracts, from what I gathered from the recruited adventures talking in my dungeon, the most important information was the following.
  1. Must stay and live in this settlement for 10 years and may not leave or go out of the settlement.
  2. All items gained from the Dungeon of Desire, not personally used will be exclusively sold to the Fenimore Company at a fair price.
  3. Anything concerning the Dungeon of Desire and the settlement cannot be disclosed to anyone not involved.
In exchange, Andrea gave them money and a house. The people who took the contract were mostly desperate, with sick families, towering debts, people needing high-expense treatment, or just poor and unlucky. They agreed, and from the ones I¡¯ve seen in the dungeon, they weren¡¯t bad. And I¡¯m not talking about their skills as delvers but as a person. Sure, they are not saints, but they are no criminals. Whether she did it on purpose or was forced, my impression of her did improve. After all, she gave these people hope for a better life. I hadn¡¯t seen her for a week, so I gathered she was still out there recruiting more people. Then I felt a party engage the floor boss, Kailey.
Name Kailey Saffron Seraphim
Race Spice Tree
Titles The Spice Lord, Spice Mixer, Heat Bringer, Spicy Dancer
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature,???
Skill Pepper Spray, Capciusm Dance, Enhance Spice, Pepper Explosion, Spice Bark, Dancing Branches, Spicy Leaves, Salt Storm, Root Manipulation Barrage, Regeneration, Growth¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Energetic
While Levi was more like protecting his territory, Kailey was having fun engaging the delvers. She was an 80-meter tree that would rain down all sorts of spices from above and below, also releasing spice powder when hit. She was simply everything this section had offered into one being, faster, stronger, more potent, and more intelligent. Her fight was simple, cut her down or survive until she ran out of energy since she would continue to produce spices even using her life force making her be defeated naturally. The problem was the irritating spices and the roots attacking to drain their energy. While also avoiding those attacks, you have to continuously engage with her by being close to her and hitting her from time to time or she will ignore the delvers. Once, some delvers retreated to see if she would tire herself out, after which she called in reinforcements from her section. The delvers were overloaded with the monsters coming, and once subdued, she made them drink pure capsicum. As I saw the delvers dodging the root attacks with their masks and tight clothing, I knew it would be a battle to see who would have the energy to continue standing at the end. I smiled slightly, seeing how happy she was. There may not be a bond like with Hector and Evangeline, but that didn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t know how they felt. Kailey, excited and encouraged by my gaze, accelerated as spice began to storm down, and root attacks and spice bombs blew up below. Then, I looked over after I noticed another one of my floor bosses being engaged. This was the fruit section called Clara¡¯s Fruitful Path. This section¡¯s evolution took a strange turn. Unlike the others, the monsters here were immobile. They could use their roots to tangle and attack, but they couldn¡¯t move from their spots. By sacrificing their movement, they gained the Curse affinity. Once the enemy was in position, they would drop or fling the fruits from above, exploding when close, drenching them in juice and residue. They would then use their roots to drain their weakened prey. Once hit, delvers would be imbued with a temporary curse of all kinds depending on the fruits. Like cherry for speed down, orange for strength down, apple for reaction speed down, and such. At first, I removed some of the fruits I thought were too dangerous however, once I saw how the delvers delved I realized that my thinking was like saying sports are dangerous to a professional player. And with Evangeline and the Elites gaining the healing affinity it relieved my worries, so I added the fruits I had previously removed: watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, jackfruit, and durian. I know watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe are vine plants, but anything can happen with mana and dungeon abilities. Like a 1-meter watermelon falling from a 15-meter tree, almost hitting a delver exploding before it could hit. All the monsters do stop or retreat when it seems dangerous or if the delver is too strong however, I am still cautious after all these monsters are following my subconscious. Now, on to Clara!
Name Clara Sunshine Seraphim
Race Fruit Bearer
Titles The Fruit Lord, One Hundred Curses, Fruitful Harvest, Fallen Bounty
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Curse, ???
Skill Imbue Curse, Curse Fruit, Explode Fruit, Enhance Curse, Fruit Volley, Regeneration, Root Manipulation, Curse of Weakness, Disorienting Mind, Slow, Lower Resistance, Rust¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Shy
Clara was a 100-meter tree, able to bear any fruit I had made. She would imbue the fruits with the curses, and from what I have seen, she has gotten quite good at it by finding the right curse for the right fruit to amplify it. She would throw them down as they exploded putting a curse on anything it touched. The way to defeat her was similar to Kailey''s, cut her down or survive until she falls on her own. As Clara continues to produce fruits and curses, she absorbs the juice and residue around her, cursing herself in the process. The more curses she bears, the stronger she gets. However, once she reaches her threshold, she will fall on her own. Of course, retreating is not an option since she will explode herself, cursing anyone in the vicinity. A five-person party was engaging her as she threw her fruits at them. The party was prepared bringing a mage and priest who could use Dispel Curse or Purification while wearing curse-warding charms. Clara didn¡¯t feel much about the devlers as she preferred her time alone, so she wasn¡¯t thrilled with the delvers, but she didn¡¯t hate it either. Soon, I felt Bianca¡¯s party fighting the Floor Boss, Samina. ¡®Oh, and here I thought I would lead Samina to the party to play if they haven¡¯t met.¡± Soon, I saw the party surrounded by many monsters with the Floor Boss behind.
Down below is a simple diagram of the dungeon. (It is very crude and not accurate, it is meant to help understand the layout.) Veggies and Milk and Honey ¡°Those with Life affinity can invigorate life, enhancing the body¡¯s resilience, reaction speed, movement, muscles, and more. Able to perform beyond the limits of the body. They can also heal wounds in mere seconds but are restricted when healing severe wounds. Much like health potions, they work by enhancing the body¡¯s natural healing capabilities. However, those with Healing affinity restore and replace what was lost. However, healing affinity is rare and requires the proper knowledge to use to its fullest extent. Of course, there is an alternative, after all there is the God of Healing and God of Purity where almost anyone practicing in the way of medicine are their believers.¡± A piece from ¡°Way of Medicine ¢ò¡± by ????
Aiden There were three types of monsters in Veggie Valley. First,, there was the casters. I watched as the carrot monsters began to use earth magic and water magic to soften and wet the ground, trying to pull Bianca and her party beneath, letting them get stuck and immobilizing them.
Species Carrot Caster
Description A plant-type monster based on the carrot plant. Has evolved to gain affinities and be proficient in using it however has lost its mobile ability in the process. Skilled in earth and water magic, it will trap its prey in the ground as roots entangle below draining its energy.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, Earth, Water, Mud, ???
Skill Earth Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Earth Sense, Create Water, Mud Manipulation, Sticky Ground, Root manipulation, Mud Bullet, Heavy Mud, Sticky Mud, Tangle, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
The casters were underground vegetables like onions, parsnip, beet, radish, daikon, and more. Bianca then used her water affinity on a potion as it sprayed on the ground, Soon, the mana imbued by the carrot monsters in the ground began to disperse as they came into contact with the liquid.
Intermediate Magic Disruption Potion
Quality: Exquisite
A potion made by a grandmaster herbalist has brought out most of the effects of the herbs and was made with skillful mana manipulation in the process, increasing its quality by a large margin. -Provides a Large magic disruption effect on anything contacting it for 14 hours once used
A little excessive, but her master is a grandmaster herbalist, so maybe it isn¡¯t, anyway more things for me to use Extraction on after they leave, so I¡¯m not complaining. With their magic sealed from use on the ground, they retort by firing mud at them, trying to impede their movements. Travis and Bianca try to attack them and only manage to defeat one, as the other attacks are blocked by the other monsters.
Species Broccoli Guardian
Description A plant-type monster based on the plant broccoli. It will hide as a regular broccoli but will grow to 2.5~ 3 meters once an enemy is near and is ready to attack. Resilient, tough vitality, and strong regeneration, it cooperates with fellow monsters, protecting them from harm. Any direct contact will drain its enemy''s energy.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Growth, Regeneration, Restore, Resistant Leaves, Tough Skin, Moist Stem, Tough Vitality, Protect, Charge, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, pumpkin, zucchini, and such were the tanks and protectors. They would take the brunt of the force as the casters attacked. I see them charge in front of the party as Randy clashes with them head-on with his shield and bashes them with his mace. However, soon, mana was imbued to it, healing the damage at a much faster rate.
Species Ringing Cherry Tomato
Description A plant-type monster based on the plant cherry tomato. Specialized in life affinity, they shake their fruits as the mana stored inside bursts in a mana wave, healing and buffing any monster contacting it. It cannot heal, and buff once all the mana stored in all its fruit is used up.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Store, Imbued Fruit, Invigorate, Accelerated Healing, Enhanced Vitality, Enhanced Resistance, Enhanced Resilience, Mana Burst, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Bell peppers, peas, spinach, lettuce, and such were the healers and buffers storing life mana in their fruits, seeds, or leaves, releasing them at intervals once a fight starts. ¡®I know tomatoes and bell peppers are fruits, but I don¡¯t eat them thinking they are, so they belong in the vegetable garden.¡¯ I observe as Travis actually manages to kill one of the buffing monsters as the arrow pierces through the protecting monster, hitting behind it. However, it drained quite a lot of his mana as he took out his rations and some tomatoes they harvested, stuffing them in his mouth as he chewed and continued to draw his bow. ¡®Looks like they have the leisure to eat for mana restoration instead of resorting to mana potions.¡¯ It''s a strategy most delvers use. After all, taking too much mana potin has its side effects, where as eating can restore mana without. But I wonder if they will have that luxury once she intervenes. Soon, a more powerful mana spreads to the monsters as the monsters grow bigger and stronger, attacking with new vigor.
Name Samina Jade Seraphim
Race Berry Queen
Titles The Vegetable Lord, Life Bringer, Berry Heart
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature,???
Skill Imbue Life, Growth, Invigorate, Enhance Strength, Enhance Speed, Enhance Life Force, Life Link, Healing Wave, Frenzy, Regeneration, Imbue Fruit, Fruit Burst¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Serious
Samina was a 5-meter bush bearing all kinds of berries, including blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and cranberries, as well as all the berries I had ever eaten. She was a buffer and healer, buffing and healing all the nearby monsters. With her intervention, the party got serious, Bianca using her heated daggers, fire magic, and potions. Travis fully using his metal affinity to control multiple arrows, and Randy charging toward Samina to make way for his party members to attack. Of course, it wasn¡¯t easy. The caster monsters created and manipulated water to counter the fire and tossed mud at the arrows, knocking them down and sticking mud to them making them heavier. The tanks protected the casters and healers from daggers and arrows, as the other half blocked Randy from charging ahead. The healers and buffer monsters used much stronger buffs to make the monsters much more resilient and stronger. Overall, it was hectic, but I could also sense that the three of them were excited and having fun despite pushing their minds and body to the limits. I smiled as I watched them fight. My dungeon was safe, but it didn¡¯t mean it was easy. Even without the threat of death, the sense of joy of harvesting goods, the sense of accomplishment of fighting and winning over a difficult foe, the thrill of exploring new places, and the excitement of discovering new things. I know the novelty won¡¯t last forever. I¡¯m sure rumors will spread, and people will know what to expect. But seeing only its picture can never compare to seeing the real thing. Plus, I¡¯m sure my dungeon will be one of a kind, no matter what. ¡®Yeah, you are doing good!¡¯The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. With a part of my mind on Bianca¡¯s party, I roam the other sections. Rosamel and Mellisa¡¯s Land of Milk and Honey was a popular one. There was always a scent of honey and milk in the air. Bees made out of literal honey roamed throughout, sharing their mana with the milk plants helping the production of milk, as they drink the milk in return, gaining more mana than they shared, creating a virtuous cycle. The animal milk-producing plants had sacks that were flowers containing milk, while the nut trees, instead of sap, milk was being produced instead. There were a variety of them, from almonds, walnuts, cashews, chestnuts, and every kind of nut I ate. I saw delvers harvest the milk as they plucked the flowers filled with milk as big as their fists. The petals themselves were edible as well, with a sweet milky taste. They also began tapping the nut trees as milk flowed down to the bucket below, filling it with their respective milk. While some delvers were harvesting honeycombs, the bees had produced all stuck to trees, grasses, or rocks. Of course, they had to fight off the monsters to go near them. As I watch some delvers fight them off. There were three kinds, one was the animal milk-producing plants spraying milk from their flowers on the delvers. And the other, nut trees were throwing a volley of nuts toward their enemies.
Species Goat Milk Flower
Description A unique plant-type monster producing goat milk inside their closed petals, forming a ball, can get as big as a person''s head. Will throw milk at their enemies, signaling help to other monsters.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Produce Milk, Spray, Milky Scent, Nutritious Milk, Regeneration, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Species Almond Milk Tree
Description A unique plant-type monster based on the almond tree produces almond milk instead of sap. It will help the milk flowers once it has detected the unique scent of milk signaling help. It will throw a volley of hardened almonds to the enemies.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Hardened Seeds, Tough Bark, Produce Milk, Regeneration, Produce Fruit, Volley, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
Soon, bees join in the fight after smelling the milk thrown at the delvers.
Species Honey Bee
Description An animal-type monster based on the animal honey bee. This bee is made entirely out of honey. It will come to defend the milk flower once it senses the milk scent on enemies. It attacks by throwing honey and wax at its foe. The honey is extremely sticky and will attract other honey bee monsters in the vicinity. The honey gains special properties when mixed with milk.
Affinity Arcane, Nature, Life, ???
Skill Flight, Foraging, Enhance Production, Enhance Plant, Cooperation, Dancing Communication, Produce Honey, Produce Wax, Throw, Drain
Trait Dungeon Born, Mob
The bees construct their mana into honey and wax throwing them at the devlers as the honey and wax stick to them, impeding their movements. Sensing the scent, more bee monsters emerge, creating and throwing more honey and wax. Once the honey and milk mix, the mixture gains a special property. It begins to absorb the energy of the delver touching it, and once it falls and sinks into the ground, the energy-filled milk is absorbed by the milk flower. Soon, there were numerous bees in the sky, too many for an ordinary party to kill, designed purposefully that way. Once the devlers killed the milk plants, the bees would scatter and escape, allowing the delvers to kill a few as they dropped honeycombs as loot. Soon my attention is caught by a two-person party I have come to remember, one archer and the other a mage. They made quick work as they deliberately got hit with milk and honey, waiting for the bees to be attracted as the mage created an earth shield to block the rain of honey and wax, and a wind blade cutting off the milk flowers. The archer¡¯s arrow, charged with mana, hit the almond tree like a hammer, creating a massive hole in the trunk. The tree began to fall, but it burst into mana before it could hit the ground. Soon, the archer rained a volley of arrows on the bees, scattering and escaping, killing about twenty of them. In the end, leaving behind 27 honeycombs, three 1-liter globs of goat milk, some almonds, a 5-liter glob of almond milk, and two mana stones. I had some leeway on the monster''s loot. When the basic loot for the bee, milk flower, and nut tree was honeycombs and milk, I was distressed since when the loot dropped, it would drop on the ground, soiling it or letting it seep into the ground. Normally dungeons didn¡¯t have this problem since liquid forms of loot would drop in high-level floors and they would use potion bottles, but for me, it was too expensive and inefficient. Thankfully with slimes inhabiting my second floor, they produced slimes throughout, like nails and hair for humans. I stored this slime and combined some mana to create transparent thin materials like rubber or plastic wrap to hold liquid loot, edible too. They are super cheap, making a thousand of them costing only one mana compared to 0.1 mana for one potion vial. The two of them weren¡¯t interested in the mana stones and went straight for the honeycombs and milk as they began to devour them on the spot. I was amazed at how they ate. Honey and milk were high in calories and nutrition, and that was only enhanced after being imbued with mana, especially for the honey and milk dropped by the monsters. As they ate, the excess calories and nutrients turned to mana much more than they could hold as they would purposefully let their mana leave their body and disperse in the air. ¡®I mean, more mana for me, so good for me, but why do I feel like I¡¯m stuffing them with food like geese for foie gras.¡¯ As I felt their pure bliss, I thought about the first time I saw them. From their conversation, I learned they were brother and sister. They were quite chubby when they first came here, but soon, they began to slim down as the curse/blessing of hunger started to take effect. They began a killing spree, devouring any food dropped or harvested. They weren¡¯t exactly powerful themselves, as they mostly relied on their overpowered weapons to power through. Soon, however, as the food started to get low, they started bickering and fighting for the last piece. It really was childish saying you took the last piece last time met by you had the bigger pieces till it became you¡¯re stupid, and no, you¡¯re stupid responded with your whole face is stupid, and so on, and on. Till the floor bosses approached them, snatching their bow and staff dropped when they were fighting against each other as they drained them dry of their energy, and the elites carried them out like always. ¡®Why do they never learn?¡¯ I¡¯m sure they will come again with new, expensive equipment. At this point, I almost felt bad for them for always taking their expensive equipment¡ªalmost. ¡®Naw, someone has to vitalize the business in the settlement, right? Let them two rich young masters do it.¡¯
Name Rosamel Leche Seraphim
Race Milk King
Titles The Milk Lord, Milky Way, Milk Heart, Milky Land
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Water, ???
Skill Milk Blossom, Produce Milk, Milk Volley, Blossoming, Water Manipulation, Nutrient Concentration, Enhance Production, Milky Chains, Healing Milk¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Naive
Name Melissa Honey Seraphim
Race Honey Queen
Titles The Honey Lord, Royal Queen, Honey Road, Honey Throne
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Fire,???
Skill Command, Lead, Queen¡¯s Aura, Dance Command, Sticky Honey, Explosive Honey, Volatile Honey, Hardened Wax, Honey Armor, Honey Coating, Wax Shield, Produce Honey¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Aloof
As I said my hellos and thanks to Rosamel and Melissa, they both showed joy, but Melissa didn¡¯t think much of it since this had happened a few times before. Their fighting style is the same as the others. Melissa was a 40cm big bee made of honey, she was beautiful, looking like a sculpture made out of amber. She would call any bee monsters in her vicinity as she commands them, and she would also throw much more potent and sticky honey and wax. She also had some special explosive honey, packing a punch. Fortunately, they always went in pairs, since Rosamel could turn down the heat and heal their burns if they got too serious. Rosamel was a 5-meter bush full of milky white flowers that had their petals shut into a ball with milk inside. He would manipulate the milk with water affinity, controlling the battlefield by using it. Of course, once Melissas and Rosamel¡¯s milk and honey mixed, they would drain the delver¡¯s energy much more quickly than the mobs. Engaging with the two of them, I drifted my attention as I felt one of my floor bosses on the brink of falling and distress. I was in the starch section called Zea¡¯s Starchy Sanctum. There were corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, ube, rice, wheat, and any other starchy plant I had eaten. The way they attacked was simple, underground crops blew up to a starchy mess, capturing delvers. Grains did the same except they would fire their seeds, the seeds becoming a sticky, starchy substance as it hits and explodes, its stickiness being enhanced by mana. The Floor Boss Zea was interesting. She was shaped like a 10-meter corn in the middle of a lake. However, instead of corn on the cob, it was a type of seed that was a mix between rice and wheat on the cob. The lake was white, a mixture of starch and water. It was made by Zea and with a few taro monsters underneath, providing scratch to it, creating an oobleck lake. The delvers had to walk across the lake to the middle, where Zea would constantly fire sticky starch grains while they were coming. Also, she would control the oobleck with water affinity, and since her mana-filled starch was in it, nobody else could control it but her. She creates waves to make them fall, shields to block arrows and magic, and sometimes manipulates them to grasp their ankles, pulling them down. Delvers had to continue moving on their feet because they would start to sink once they stopped. Worst of all, every time you contacted directly with the oobleck, it would drain your energy.
Name Zea Mochi Seraphim
Race Starch Queen
Titles The Starch Lord, Starch Magician, Domain Controller, Lake Protector
Affinity Arcane, Life, Nature, Water, ???
Skill Produce Starch, Create Water, Control Starch, Water Manipulation, Enhance Starch, Sticky Starch, Seed Bullet, Seed Explosion, Growth, Water Waves, Sense Water, Water Flow¡­
Trait Dungeon Born, Floor Monster, Conniving
Seeing her situation, I figured out the reason for her distress. Zea liked to play with the delvers, she liked to make it as hard as possible for them, sometimes using trick moves and making it difficult for one person. However, this time, it went too smoothly. Most of the delvers brought fire-related potions and items considering this floor''s main monster type. However, fire was ineffective for her since she could just block it, and the evaporated water could be condensed, summoned back, or pulled from the river. This time, the delvers used ice magic and items to freeze the lake, creating a path directly to her as they ran across it. She didn¡¯t have the skills to melt it, so she could only attack from the side. It was still difficult for the delvers but not enough for her to be satisfied. Soon, they reached her as she fought, but she was weak in direct combat, so it was only soon that she would fall. She wasn¡¯t distressed about that. She was just annoyed that they didn¡¯t suffer as much as she wanted. I sighed to myself as I tried to relieve her distress. ¡®Haa, I wonder if this is alright?¡¯ She wasn¡¯t doing it out of malice. She never failed to immediately take out any delvers sunken too low on the lake, even if it meant stopping the attacks on the others. She really liked the delvers, except how she expressed it was different. ¡®No matter, as long as it isn¡¯t harming anyone.¡¯ Soon, I knew she was feeling better, and then when the delvers attacked for the final blow, she blew herself up to a starchy mess, imbuing all her mana to make sure it wouldn¡¯t dissipate to mana with her as she went off with a blast. ¡®This child.¡¯ However, seeing the now seething and distressed delvers, feeling uncomfortable with the starchy mess filling up all the nooks and crannies inside their clothes. Wondering why it didn¡¯t burst into mana like her(it would in about 30 minutes or so), I got a say it''s fun to see them like that. ¡®Oh! It looks like Bianca and her party killed Samina. Still can¡¯t get used to me saying my children got killed.¡¯