There was simply too much happening at once. Spiritually drained, confused, and starting to get angry, Alan took a defensive crouch and reached for his Basilisk Fang. It was then that he realized not only did he suddenly have his body back, but it seemed more insubstantial than it should've been. Looking down at himself felt more like looking at a reflection of his reflection. Worst of all, his weapon refused to leave the sheathe.
As he looked around, it was difficult to come to grips with the sudden shift in scenery. Everything was as he remembered it, though the details seemed blurred. The room was heavily layered with gloomy shadows, cast from an unseen light source.
He could clearly make out all five obsidian pillars, but their bleak depictions of death, and the departure of souls to the afterlife were entirely absent. The pillars stood bare, and uncarved. The Wraith stood before the equally unmarked Boss door, patiently surveying his captive audience.
Is he waiting for me to say something? Alan pondered warily. He's gonna be waiting for a while… How am I supposed to help? I don't even know what the fuck I'm doing here!
Acting on an impulse, he activated [Trap Detection], but felt only a hollow emptiness where his Skills should've been. After double, and then triple checking his surroundings to make sure that he wasn't about to be ambushed, he had to admit he was curious.
Alan studied the blue-skinned being standing opposite of him and nodded his head, gesturing for the Dungeon's Wraith to continue.
The Wraith held up both of his meaty, three-fingered hands, and gave Alan an apologetic smile.
“Listen, Alan the Human. I would like to apologize once more. I understand that this intrusion is both impolite on my part, and unwanted on yours, so I'm going to try and be brief,” He said, his oversized sleeves billowing as he clasped his hands out before him. “But please, all I ask is that you listen to what I have to say. You are in no danger here. This is nothing but a phenomenon known as Astral projection. Through your new, and growing connection to the Naga, I was able meet you in these, our astral bodies."
He held his clasped hands to his waist, and bowed respectfully. Cutting short Alan's urge to start yelling. The Wraith's calm, respectful demeanor had him feeling more intrigued than angry.
Well, he's definitely going out of his way to make a good impression… But what are Astral bodies?! I wish he'd just get to the point… And what's happening with the Soul-Union if I'm not there? Or am I somehow in both places at once?! He knew there was nothing else he could realistically do. At least not until he knew more about what was going on.
Hoping to get it over with, Alan bit back his words, and listened to the blue-skinned humaniod speak.
“System Administration has been trying to starve my Dungeon ever since they discovered there was a Non-Tutorial Dungeon within a Tutorial realm. They have yet to succeed, obviously, but you should know that it was by no means an accident that you wound up in the desert. This is far from the first time they have sacrificed a Tutorial denizen to the Sandstone Palace.“
Great. Skarg, you shady piece of shit! Alan thought, anxiously flexing his elbow nub. Did that asshole eyeball set me up?! Was I sent here by my Tutorial Administrator to die? Or was someone else behind it? He felt the latter option made far more sense.
Yeah… that's more likely closer to the truth. Some asshat at the top must've given me the shaft. I mean… Why would Skarg seem surprised to find out I was in a Dungeon if he was the one who sent me there to begin with… Besides… That dickhead said he wanted to watch me kill myself. It'd be pretty hard to conquer the dungeon and solve their problems for them if I was dead.
“I believe their hope is that one of you will eventually survive long enough to claim the Dungeon Core, and rid them of the problem. What I would ask of you is this. Please, conquer the Sandstone Palace Dungeon and claim the Dungeon Core as your own. Should you get the opportunity to claim the Core, I would ask that you either set me free of my thousand year imprisonment, or assist me to banish my other half from within my core, so that I may retake my proper place. Please understand Alan… I am running out of time.”
He grimaced, as if what he said caused him physical pain, “I fully understand that you are a Human, and that will most likely make my words difficult to trust… It's undeniable that my kind has not always treated fairly with your own… I know that it's a selfish request, but something must be done if I'm to survive. I'm wasting away you see?! I have no other options! The Core has given up on the outside world, and focused inward. It no longer cares for anything but creating new core-driven abominations!" He shrieked, tugging at the wispy remnants of his hair so hard that it was no wonder the creature was clearly balding.
As if realizing how crazy he looked, the Wraith took a deep breath, and hid his hands beneath the drooping sleeves of his robe. "The Dungeon's Core Consciousness has become obsessed, and its obsession has grown to the point of unsustainability. The Core uses more Mana than can be afforded. I have not experienced growth in nearly nine hundred years… At this rate, the Sandstone Palace won't last the five years to the next Tutorial!“ The veins in his face bulged out like thick blue worms as cried out angrily and shook his balled-up fists at the room around him.
As if reacting to his emotions, the walls groaned, and then collapsed inward. Without further explanation, the room twisted in on itself with an ominous rumble. Alan feared it was threatening to collapse entirely.
“Im sorry. As I said, I have grown weak, and my abilities are not what they once were. I won't be able to maintain this connection for much longer. I am ashamed that it has come to this, to have fallen so far… I once had such hopes! Only to be backed into a corner by the System time, and time again… And now, I find myself distrusted by my own Dungeon no less! To be forced to the point that I have no other choice, but to make this request of you… Although I realize it isn't fair of me, I have already hit rock-bottom, and thus have nothing left to lose but my pride… Yet, what use is pride to the dead?" He looked down at Alan beseechingly.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"I understand that earning your cooperation is going to be a long shot, but if you are able to see past our differences, it won't be a one-sided opportunity. I can be of help to you as well!“
His last statement grabbed Alan's attention. Though at this precise moment, there was only one thing he wanted from this being. “Set Su'ong free." Alan stated. His tone was friendly, yet firm. He didn't want to be a dick without reason, but he needed the Wraith to understand that this wasn't negotiable.
"If you are willing to do that, then I will try to do the same for you. Her soul is now bound to mine, as you know, and I'd rather limit the outside interference. If you can pull me here, I wouldn't be surprised to find out the Core can do the same thing.
With a voice thick with desperation, the Dungeon Wraith nodded, and made his response, “If you will give me your oath, that should you successfully conquer the Dungeon you will do all you can to assist me, then I will relinquish my hold over Su'ong. She will be free once more, and you will not have to contend with the Dungeon for her continued existence. If you are willing to agree to my request, and make an oath to the System, then as a show of good faith, I will annul her contract with me Immediately.“ It was as if he had known this was coming all along.
Obviously Alan wasn't about to turn down the offer. Although he knew he would have to be leery of this Dungeon Master, knowing that Su'ong was free of any outside influences was well worth taking a risk over. Especially since he's willing to free her first...
“Before we go making any deals, what am I supposed to call you? What's your actual name? And don't even think about asking me to call you Master. Because I can tell you right now, bro. That ain't gonna happen.“ Alan said firmly.
The Wraith's face scrunched up in concern, “That's… Well, you see… My name is… Umm... Alright, you've kind of backed me into a corner here. I must admit that it's a bit of a sore spot for me, because Names are important for beings such as myself. They instill a sense of self, of purpose and individuality. And in most cases, power. But…” He ran a pudgy blue hand through his thinning hair, and frowned at the twisted walls behind Alan.
“I don't have a name…” The Wraith whispered sadly, his eyes suddenly downcast.
“I'm sorry, but I couldn't hear what you said,” Alan replied, “what was it?“
“I said I don't have a name Alan... Alan, that is a nice name by the way! Would you mind too terribly if I used that one?“ He asked with an eager expression, “The Dungeon Core was supposed to provide me with a name, but it has no interest in anything other than its damnable, waste-of-Mana experiments!“
As the wraith once more became worked up, the walls continued to twist further. By now, the room had shrank down to less than half its original size. Even the pillars were beginning to look warped, and lopsided.
Hoping to calm the Wraith down, at least long enough to get the deal done, Alan made a split second decision. He decided to offer the Wraith a name of its own. Everyone should have a name, Alan thought sadly.
“If both of us are named Alan, that's gonna get confusing really fast. But how do you feel about the idea of me giving you a name of your own? It might not be as good as what the Core would've given you, but regardless, it would still be your own name right? Or is that not how it works?“
The Wraith surprised Alan once again when it collapsed to the floor in a puddle of robes, and began to tremble. Fearing he'd somehow offended the strange creature, Alan started to apologize, but the look on the Wraith's scrunched-up face evaporated his words like the scorching desert sun would a puddle of silty water.
“My friend, you… You are truly too kind. As the first friend I have ever made, I would be most honored to receive my name from you!“ The Wraith's face split in a grin so wide, it made Alan's cheeks hurt.
So we're friends now huh? That was pretty fast! Though I guess he must be more lonely than I could even imagine… A thousand years of solitude… I can't even imagine how many asses that must've sucked. Alan tried to work his head around that fact, but he kept coming back to the same conclusion. I've always wanted to make friends. And here is a freely offered friendship. Though he may be a bit odd, I think I could get along with him. And though I don't have much experience, it seems pretty dickish to choose my friends based on appearances alone… “Oh man… Alan groaned, “I really hope this doesn't piss Su'ong off…”
“Alright!“ Alan said, though he tried to put on a cheerful expression, his brain was spinning circles like a rat on a wheel. Desperately searching for a fitting name. Or really, any name at all of truth be told.
Well, it can't be Alan, or Alex… And Rexus is out… Skarg was a dick, and no offence Skorn, but your name is stupid-sounding. It REALLY doesn't help that I put myself on the spot like this… Come on Alan, you can do this! Just think of a name man!!
As Alan tried to deal with a colossal brain-fart, the Wraith waited patiently. Never once did it even think to stop smiling. This was a moment it would happily wait for. Even if it took the rest of its life.
Alan realized he had an idea for a name, but he wasn't very proud of the source. His train of thought kept leading him back to his pet fish, Reginald, or Reggie for short. Reggie had, as Rexus was fond of saying, 'Just up and vanished like a ghost.' Uncle Alex on the other hand, pulled Alan aside that same evening. After a bit of hesitation, he had told Alan that after having an especially unsuccessful day of fishing, Rexus had gotten fed up, and decided to eat Reginald for lunch.
I never did find out the truth… But a Wraith is similar to a ghost right? Bah, whatever! If he doesn't like it, I'll just name him Dick.
“How about I call you Reginald? Or Reggie for short? I've never been responsible for naming someone, so uhh, sorry if it isn't what you were looking for.“
“Reggie... Reggie the Dungeon Wraith!! Yes! Yes this will do nicely!“ Reggie opened his arms wide and cried out. His body began to release crackles of deep brown energy that gathered around him like an egg of miscolored lightning. As the orb grew, violet sparkles could be seen flying off in all directions, pushing back the oppressive shadows.
The unexpected scene came to a sudden, and slightly disappointing conclusion when all at once, the Wraith reabsorbed the dense shell of energy.
“BURRRRPP!! Oh excuse me!“ Reggie said, patting his stomach like he'd just ate a four course dinner. “Gods above as my witness, I just gained a level!!“ He pumped his fists in the air and began to shout with excitement. “For the first time in 900 years, I GAINED ANOTHER LEVEL!!!! I can't believe it! I even got a new Skill! I don't know what else to say… Thank you... Thank you so much… I...“ The poor creature lost its composure and began to blubber uncontrollably.
Though the Wraith seemed beyond ecstatic about his new name, Alan still sort of felt like an asshole for naming him after a most-likely-dead fish. Well, as long as Reggie's happy… That's what counts right?
“I guess there's only one thing left to say,” Alan decided to get it over with. “I, Alan Robbins the Human, do hereby swear by the System itself, that should I manage to Conquer the Sandstone Palace Dungeon, and claim the Core, I am willing to do whatever is within my power to help you gain your freedom. Although,“ he added, wanting to be as upfront as possible, "As things stand, I'm not very confident that I'll be successful."
A haze of golden energy poured out of the surroundings, and condensed down into the semblance of a halo around Alan's head. Once in place , it shrunk down, and was absorbed through his skull.
As Alan grit his teeth against the sudden pressure locking into place within his mind, another golden notification materialized.
Remarkable! You have been issued the (System Oath-Quest) A Promise of Salvation!
Warning! This Quest is involuntary. Failure to satisfactorily complete this (System Oath-Quest) will result in severe penalties.
For just a moment, as the system oath took effect, he stared into the beaming face of Reggie the Dungeon Wraith, and truly believed the being was about to cry itself out.
With a quivering lower jaw, Reggie nodded once. Obviously satisfied with the outcome, his shadowy features shrank down into a formless blob, and disappeared without a trace.
“Gods damnit,” Alan growled, “Not another Quest…”