As explained the situation to Varian, he burst into laughter. It wasn't just a giggle, but full-blown, belly-laughing, doubled-over amusement that nearly had him tumbling to the ground. His laughter resonated throughout the room, filling the space with his mirth. After a while, he managed to regain his composure and wiped away the tears from his eyes.
"Sorry about that," he said, still grinning. "I haven't had a good laugh like that in a long time. It's almost absurd how I got so worked up over a lesser cave snail."
"This could actually be a good thing. This can be a contender for your first mob," Varian suggested, snapping back into his usual calm demeanor, which was becoming a common occurrence.
“And how would I do that?” I inquired.
“How much leftover mana do you have from the adventures?” He asked.
I didn’t remember, it told me earlier. So I was prompted to ask Varian “How can I tell?”
“Think status, and it should pop up” He supplied.
Status
Name: Blake
Race: Dungeon-Core
Affinity Type: Magical/Divine
Mana: 14 (0 per day)
Mana to Level Up: 14/10
Huh… Well, I guess I was expecting more. And I said the same to Varian.
“You’re a level zero dungeon, so you don’t really have a lot.” He told me “You'll get more information as you level up. But nevermind that how much mana do you have?”
I relayed my current mana count and mentioned that I was already able to level up. He advised me to hold off, explaining that passive mana gain required mobs, and I lacked any at the moment. Varian went on to clarify that typically, followers of the gods provided cores with mobs and offerings to start, but he was unable to do so due to his previous circumstances. This meant we'd need to improvise.
Varian ascended the long staircase, with me following closely, as he continued to elaborate. He explained that I needed to absorb the deceased body of a creature to gain a mob. I questioned him about the dead humans, and he informed me that I couldn't do anything with them until I unlocked a mob with some form of necromancer ability. But for now he told me I could absorb them. I just wouldn't get anything from them, but he suggested that it would be better just to get rid of them for now.
I waited until later to do that, for now I continued to follow him.
When he finished explaining, he stopped about halfway up the stairs and turned to look at my awareness, seemingly able to discern where I was focusing. With a tinge of sadness in his eyes, he spoke, "You really don't remember anything, do you? Are you still in there, Tarill, Moria, Luma, Farlene? Do you still not remember me?"
I felt a pang of emotion, but just as quickly as it arose, it dissipated. I continued to gaze at him, lost for words. After a minute, he sighed, returning to his usual demeanor, and then he resumed his ascent up the dark and dreary staircase.
As we reached the top of the stairs, we found our little assailant, who had managed to make it another three feet into the dungeon. I was somewhat impressed with the little guy's determination, or was it female? I couldn't help but wonder if snails even had genders. But such details didn't matter at the moment. What did matter was that this snail seemed to be perfect for my first mob, or so I thought. Varian, however, assured me that the snail was the worst possible creature to start with. Though he reluctantly conceded that it was the best we could manage without putting himself in harm's way.
Bringing another concern to my mind, I knew that things needed food but I didn't have any, outside the few rations the adventures had. And so I brought up my concern with Varian.
“The creatures you create have no need for food; they only eat if they choose to,” Varian explained. “As for me, luckily, this body doesn't seem to require food or any of the other necessities. I suppose it was designed to keep me alive for as long as possible.”
He sat in silence for a moment before speaking again.
“I didn’t endure the void like you did,” he went on, his voice fading for a moment. “I sought refuge in my own domain, fearing the followers of the other gods might come to finish what they started if I stayed on the mortal plane. I had to witness my own devoted followers dwindle away, and the world evolving without me. But then, you came to mind! My final hope, my last ally. I observed you for years, holding onto the anticipation that you would reawaken from your mana starvation. And when that moment finally arrived, I expended all the mana in my domain, destroying it in the process, but it was worth it to reach you.” He said, smiling at me.
During Varians explanation, our snail friend had made another half a foot of progress. But before it could move another inch, Varian bent down and snatched it up.
“Hi, little fella, your whole life is about to change.” Varian told the creature, holding it up in front of his face. In turn, the snail retreated to its shell.
Varian carefully placed the snail into one of the pockets of his oversized robes, then turned and made his way back down the stairs. On his way down, he asked if any of the adventurers had a knife. I quickly checked and returned with the answer before he had reached the halfway point, confirming that both of them had a knife.
“Good,” he said. “Unfortunately, I'll need to kill our little friend here, but worry not. If you recreate it in a timely manner, its soul shall remain.”
As Varian reached the bottom of the stairs, he walked over to the adventurers and began searching them. After a moment of struggle, I pointed out the knife to him.
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He pulled it and the snail out, and without a moment of hesitation, he slew the snail.
A couple of boxes popped up in the corner of my view, so I looked at them.
[Lesser Cave Snail] has died in your dungeon.
6 mana points have been awarded.
There are no more invader's inside your dungeon, all building and monster spawning has been reactivated.
You can now level up
After I finished reading the boxes, Varian explained how to absorb things in my dungeon by pushing my mana through them. Fortunately, it didn't seem to use any of my mana; in fact, it gave me two points for the adventurers and one for the snail, bringing me up to a total of 25 mana.
As I absorbed the last bit of the snail, another box appeared.
Congratulations you have unlocked your first mob type.
You may chose one of the following to inhabit your dungeon.
[Lesser Rune Snail]: These snail's have much larger shells then normal, engraved into there shells are a multitude of different runes. When in danger the snail will retract into its shell and activate the runes. Runes can have a large amount of differing affects. This snails life expectancy is usually based on the luck of the draw.
[Sorcerer Snail]: This snail's innate magical abilities have elevated it, increasing its intelligence and giving it a deeper understanding of magic. It gains the ability to manipulate the world's mana, akin to the sorcerers of old. Due to the nature of a snail, it takes a significant amount of time for it to learn and master its abilities.
[Enchanter Snail]: These snails possess a unique talent for imbuing objects with magical properties. They can create various enchanted items when provided with the right materials and time. Enchanter snails are highly sought after by adventurers for their skill in crafting items. However, they are not known for their combat abilities and often rely on their enchantments for protection.
[Pyrokinetic Snail]: This snail has harnessed the power of fire magic. It can emit and control flames, making it a formidable offensive mob. Pyrokinetic Snails are known for their ability to set enemies ablaze and create fiery barriers for protection. Their fiery attacks make them a force to be reckoned with.
[Luminous Glider Snail]: These snails have an innate connection to light and illumination magic. They can emit blinding light to disorient enemies, create illusions, and even heal wounds with their radiant energy. Luminous Glider Snails are often found in dark dungeons, providing both illumination and magical support to their dungeon cores.
Damn it, I was already dreading the decision-making process. All the options seemed to hold value in their own right.
It became apparent that these choices were color-coded. When I inquired about them, Varian explained that they followed a rating system of sorts, with white being the lowest tier, followed by green, blue, purple, red, and finally gold as the highest. And so I considered them in that order.
Starting with the Rune Snail, it seemed nice, but I really hadn't felt very lucky so far, so I ruled that one out for now. The Luminous Glider was great, but it looked like it would only be viable if I had other mobs, which I didn't have any. When I asked Varian when I would get more he told me one of the snail’s needed to evolve first, as then I would know how to make it and it’s evolved self. Or another creature needs to die in my dungeon. With this in mind I looked at the other options.
The Pyrokinetic Snail was a strong and formidable defender, but Varian expressed concerns about fire in our enclosed space. I reluctantly moved past it. The Enchanter Snail also intrigued me, but its benefits would shine when I had an army to equip with enchanted weapons. It might appeal to adventurers but wasn't the right choice for the moment.
But in the end I went for the Sorcerer Snail. Not only because it was the rarest, but also because it seemed like the most versatile; besides Rune Snail and I already ruled that one out. Varian seemed almost surprised that I had that option, and he went on to explain that these snails were once the companions of wizards in a bygone era of magic. There was even one legendary "Scriboran'' that was so enormous it could carry an entire wizard's tower on its shell. It was incredibly skilled in earth magic and could tunnel through mountains with ease. During the war that followed Varian's defeat, it served as the last stronghold for magic users. However, with time, it too succumbed to the changing world.
This put my excitement level to the max, I couldn’t wait to see what this snail would be capable of. And so I open my status to create one.
Status
Name: Blake Race: Dungeon-Core Affinity Type: Magical/Divine Mana: 25 (0 per day) Mana to Level Up: 25/10 Available Mobs
[Sorcerer Snail]: (10 mana)
The mana cost was quite hefty, but considering the power these creatures possessed, it made sense. As I summoned the snail, my expectations were immediately crushed. The creature was only about 3 inches tall at most. Its shell was a dark purple with a smooth exterior, and its body was a dark brown. It looked up at me with droopy eye stalks, expressing curiosity and wonder.
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Questions raced through its mind. What is life? Is it merely existence, or is it about becoming stronger and seizing control? Is it about survival and taking life head-on? These were the thoughts that occupied its newfound clarity. It could think more deeply now, moving beyond basic instincts to truly contemplate its existence.
It truly lived a leisurely existence, moving only when compelled by hunger or danger. The memories of its brief moments seemed somewhat foggy, but it retained a sense of the power, and once felt the urge to seek it. It had been in close proximity to that power, making it seem attainable. However, its quest was abruptly disrupted when a giant figure rushed toward it, scooping it up before it could react. The giant held the snail in front of its face and emitted a strong vibration, or so it seemed at the time. Reflecting on the encounter now, it realized that the giant was attempting to communicate with it.
In the midst of contemplation, it found itself drifting through darkness. After a brief moment of reflection, it noticed a distant purple light. This light radiated the same power it had felt before, but with a newfound purpose – it sought to share its strength. It wished to empower it, granting it the chance to shape its own destiny, to lead a life marked by strength, power, and control. Without hesitation, it moved toward the beckoning light, eagerly embracing the opportunity.
As its surroundings became clear, something within it stirred, something that had always been there but now revealed itself. Knowledge, information previously locked away, surged forth. Mana, runes, incantations, and magic—all not fully understood but present. It was aware of its revival and the bestowal of a new, more potent body and shell. It sensed an increase in size, strength, and speed. It felt the mana in the air and recognized the potential within itself, even though it had yet to grasp the art of manipulating mana. It gazed towards its savior, its new master.