So apparently, neither would take me, at least that Shawn’s first thought when he awakened all around him is darkness. With no lights, not even a sliver of moonlight or even a single speck of starlight, just some dark surroundings. At least He was still alive, he hopes anyway. The last thing he remembers was bleeding out, so the fact he is still kicking is very confusing but it could be worse. He is just going to chill for a bit in case his movement starts the pain again.
That is till what can only be described as a voice coming from all around Him. The voice that speaks calmly and clearly says to him, “Greetings. You have been selected to try something new for your reincarnation cycle. “Selected? Reincarnation cycle? What?” Shawn asks, confused, hoping for an answer, but none come. The voice continues. Your next life has been chosen. You will be a Dungeon core. Shawn is shocked for a second and almost misses what the voice says next. “You will be able to choose from several types of cores, and you will be placed in the selected location. When ready to choose, say, open options.”
“Um, what? Can I ask questions, please? Shawn asks, confused, but with no answers coming, he just decides to start “ok then, open options” Once he says this, a popup appears, looking like a grand strategy game’s event box. The screen shows a list of thousands of options, with options ranging from specializing in resource nodes to being the base for a wizard tower to even being a ghost pirate ship. There are so many choices. Shawn thinks with excitement growing in him.
As he goes through many options, he sees one that he can’t help but be drawn to. City Core is a Dungeon core that has chosen to ally with the surface. This dungeon has specialized in creating and boosting sentient life from a city to a continent-spanning empire. This core is best for those who like seeing the growth of civilizations. “Now that sounds amazing. Let’s do that.” as he says, a new popup appears.
You have chosen City Core as your core type. This choice has given you several choices for monster types. A second popup shows a list of over fifty choices, and well there are many options; only one sticks out to him as something he would want. You have chosen Vulpine; this option leaves you with a new race in your chosen world. “Wait, what world?” Shawn asks, confused, only for no answer to come.
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One final popup shows big, bold words with the voice coming back stating. “Your New Life Awaits”
Drip, drip, drop. The sound of water dripping echoes in the air. A cave no bigger than a small closet has a small jewel floating in the middle above a small puddle, its light shimmering off the water beneath the jewel. A question rings through the air in an ever so slight voice: “Is that me? I am so pretty!” the core vibrates in excitement. Wait, I vibrate? He thinks for a minute; well, that’s embarrassing. His thoughts continue. Well, I should get started but how?
A new popup appears in the back of Shawn’s mind, something he switches to as soon as the thought enters his head. This one reads Quest Started Getting Started. First, expand the cave to twenty units. Well, ok then, how at that thought, the area starts to grow, and a notification pops up, Earth Moving one unlocked; just then, the knowledge of how to use the powers he has fills his head. And he is off to the races. The cave grows to something more substantial, just a bit bigger than a house, before the quest update notification pops up before closing after being read size of twenty meters reached next place a fox den.
Deciding to see if it is as easy as it looks, he thinks of an open menu showing building options and it pops up. The only thing not grayed out is the building Fox Den with the cost marked as free; selecting the option, a new notification opens that reads. The building is placed where the core desires, and after a bit of consideration, he places the den in the top left of the cave.
Quest updated Den Placed
next, Train a monster.
Thinking to select the den, a notification training one fox starts leaving him with a small red fox kit. Rushing out of the cave after a flash of light.
Quest Complete Getting Started
Plus One Mana per turn
Mana Unlocked
Mana points are the main currency of the dungeon. Using Mana, a dungeon core can do anything from moving earth to creating life. At its most basic, a dungeon can gain a set amount of Mana Per hour should try to feel the air around its core and inhale it to achieve a slow but steady growth of Mana till eventually it either upgrades the primary gain, gains Mana from defeated attackers, and or from resident taxes.
Oh my god, the fox is so cute, thinks shawn before the fox turns to the gem after running for a while and, in a high voice filled with joy, “Roma, you’re pretty.”
“Wait, What? You Can speak?” The core asks in shock.