Chapter 7

They walked in silence until they made it all the way to the workshop. It didn’t take long for Jack find the large pile of bones collected by the skeletons. The one of which was just walking back into the workshop with an armful of bones before dumping them onto the pile. The pile was sizeable but there wasn’t enough for what he needed yet. At the rate his… minions?

Yeah, let’s go with minions.

His minions would probably need a few days to get all the bones he needed. Maybe he should send one to find some scrap metal while they were at it. At least there was enough for Frizzy’s arm.

Eventually she gave up trying to guess and asked Jack what he was going to use while as he prepared his work space. When he had told her he was going to use bone, her reaction had been priceless. She swore up and down that it was not possible but Jack just chuckled and told just wait and see. He had the skeletons and the zombies go out and collect the biggest piece of stone they could find and to bring it into to be his new work table. The first stone they brought in was a bit too big to use. He told them to go out and another large piece that reached past his hip in height. While they were doing that Jack set to work to make some tools he would need.

He took the cauterizer and started to measure it by eye to how much metal he had to work with. It wasn’t be as precise as he would normally like, but this was for a tool. He ended up taking half of what was once a sword and used the dagger to super heat the spot he needed until it glowed white hot. Once it was at the right temperature, he took his hammer and dagger in order to start cutting the steel until he had two separate pieces. When he had what he needed, Jack put the rest of the scrap to the side then got to work. He used his Form and Function spell to try and shape the metal into a simple chisel. That was when Jack hit his first snag. The spell activated but the hunk of metal wasn’t affected.

Curious, Jack tried another method by using the spell refine on the hunk of steel and this time the metal did change its shape. Heating up and morphing itself while slag and impurities were removed, the steel took the form of a small bar while the slag made a small pile on the table. Jack and Frizzy looked over the steel and admired it once it had cooled down enough to touch. Taking his hammer to lightly test it, Jack heard a clear crisp ring come off the bar. It was easily the purest sounding steel Jack had heard and it made him very grateful that he wouldn’t need to go through the entire smelting process once he got more materials.

With the steel purified, Jack tried again to use his Form and Function spell and this time it worked. The steel morphed twisted and shaped itself before their eyes to make a small triangular tipped chisel.

Looks like I can’t use mangled items with the Form and Function spell. Only processed materials will work. Jack thought to himself as he looked over the chisel. I’ll have to experiment later to see it if has any other limits.

With his mental note complete, Jack repeated the process with more of the sword to make a mason’s chisel while he waited for new stone table. When it arrived, Jack used his mason chisel and hammer to clean up the surface until it was relatively smooth and made a semi deep bason on the side of the work table. Putting the bones in the basin, he took his hammer and started to crush them until nothing was left but a fine powder.

Now came the actual crafting.

It took him an hour to forge with the chisel to carved a fusion circle into the stone surface of his table. But when he wsa done, Jack carefully placed the bone power and the steel bar inside its center. Adding more bone powered as need until he found he a working mix. Once Jack felt it was all ready, he activated the circle and the old workshop was once again filled with arcane light.

Jack was lost in his craft as he fused and melded the steel and bone. Watching as the two became one. Mixing and melding until it eventually made large block of a semi white metal that was one foot in height, one foot in length and one foot in width. The material was smooth as glass while also solid to the touch.

As he inspected his creation, Jack noticed a flashing icon shaped like the marble floating in his chest was blinking yet again. When he focused on it, a new plane of glass with text popped into existence once more.

Congratulations!

New Alloy Discovered!

Osteal Ferrum

This alloy is made by fusing bone dust with steel. Though it is not strong as steel, it is light weight and far more conductive for enchantments and channeling arcane energies. This alloy is ideal for making artifacts and crafting magic items.

You have made the following.

Osteal Ferrum Brick.

Quality: Low

Weight: 20 pounds

Mana conductivity: Medium

Jack looked over the brick and read the notifications. Thrilled that this new alloy would be great for enchanting. Never mind that fact that it was so light and he could now see that actual quality of the metal. That certainly took out a lot of the guess work and experimentation on his end leaving him plenty of time to make Frizzy’s new arm. When he saw the quality of the brick though, his inner perfectionist refused to let it slide.

After using the Refine spell to remove any impurities and bringing the quality to high, he set to work using both spells and skills to cut, shape and model the alloy into pieces and parts. Showing and explaining what it was he was doing to the gremlin girl as she asked him questions. The whole process was enjoyable and far faster than he was used to. The alloy seemed almost eager to take shape at his guidance, responsive and cooperative to his will as each piece of the arm was made. Then there was Frizzy who seemed eager to learn and asked questions that showed her naivety and her desire to understand what it was he was doing. It felt good to not only work with the new alloy and make something meaning full while also explaining why and how it worked to someone eager to learn.

As he finished making all the parts, Jack explained to Frizzy that certain enchantments needed set into them so each part work with one another. He then explained that the real trick that made it work was that it each enchantment was really just a piece of a greater whole. She asked what that meant, Jack explained that it worked like branches in a steam, each branch led to a different part and would cause a different affect allowing different part of the arm do to different things much like an actual arm. When the arcane circuits were finished and connected to each other properly, they would work to make something entirely new. Jack then started to add some additional enchantments. This was a dangerous world after all, it would only do Frizzy some good to have something to protect herself with.

At some point, Frizzy fell asleep while he worked. Likely because of the stress of the day had caught up with her. Which worked fine for Jack since he wanted to surprise her with the arm when it was done.

By the time he was done, the arm was made to look like segmented ivory that looked like a mirror opposite of her left. That was when another notification popped up.

Congratulations!

You have Crafted the following Magic Item!

Osteal Ferrum Arm

This arm is able to take the place of the missing limb. Once the arm attaches to the user, it cannot be removed by anyone other than the user. This arm has all the same range of motion and dexterity of a normal flesh and blood one.

Enchantments:

Strength Multiplier

Durability Reinforcement

Self-Mending

Mana Conduit

When Frizzy finally woke up, Jack presented the arm to her in all of its splendor, her reaction took him off guard.

She walked around the arm, looking it over and touching it with reverence. The way she regarded the replacement was as if she was looking at something out of myth. Her eyes even watered as she carefully touched the limb, almost scared as if her touch might soil it.

When Jack asked if she was ok or if she liked it, she nodded so vigorously her bat like ears started to flop. Coming out of her reverence, Frizzy screamed with joy as she practically demanded to have it put on at that moment. After checking to see if her arm was still numb and finding that the medicine in the wrappings was wearing off, he quickly made a fresh batch. Once her arm was good and numb once more, Jack guided her arm stump into the opening where arm attached itself. The was a light crunch sound and a soft hum before a pale green light shined between the segments before it faded from sight.

She sheer amazement and joy on Frizzy’s face when she moved her new arm, opening and closing her fist, and even moving individual fingers. Each movement as smooth and natural as her flesh and blood arm. Jack felt no small amount of satisfaction from a job well done. That was until she made a face that said she was looking at something visible only to her. That was when her looked at the arm with even greater excitement. She asked him if it was true what her arm could do. His only response was to tell her to try and punch the first stone slab that was brought in.

Jack watched in amusement as she approached the stone slab. Unsure if she should actually punch it with her new arm. Clearly scared that she might break it if she actually tried. After some encouragement, she mustered up the courage and wound her arm back and swung with all her might with a clenched fist.

With staggering speed, her fist whistled through the air before striking the stone. When her fist connected, the sound of metal striking stone filled the room with chunks of stone were sent flying off. The once pristine knuckles of her new hand were scuffed with shallow scratches. Yet when she watched as the same pale green light shinned in those scratches before the surface became smooth and pristine once more.

If Jack had a face, he’d have the smuggest expression at seeing her stunned expression. That was until he saw silent tears streaming down her face while flexing and moving her fingers. Still unable to believe what she saw when she turned her gaze to him. He was about to ask if she was ok when she finally spoke.

“Please…. Please teach me…” Frizzy said finding her voice once more.

With more of her senses coming back to her, Frizzy dropped to her hands and knees and pressed her forehead do the ground.

“Please! Please teach me the art of the ancients! I want to learn! I want to build! I want to make artifacts and wonders like you!” She begged not taking her forehead from the ground.

Now it was Jack’s turn to be caught off guard. He expected her to be happy, some gratitude and maybe even a tear of joy. That was what he thought would happen since that would made sense if someone got a new and stronger limb. Thinking it over, Frizzy was curious and she was inquisitive. There was a clear passion for magic items there. If he was honest, she was probably more excited to see and learn about magic items and crafting then when he first started. Passion can take someone pretty far as well even if they didn’t a proper understanding of how something worked. After all, with enough time and practice someone can build up and understanding.

Thinking about it, Jack probably would have taken a couple apprentices had things played out differently. Plus, there were worst things he could be doing besides teaching someone what he knew. But it never hurt to make sure the person he was going to teach was going to be responsible with what they learned.

“Tell me, why do you want to be my apprentice?” Jack asked after a moment of silence. “You said ‘what’ you want to do. I haven’t heard the ‘why’ you want to learn.”

Remaining in place, Frizzy didn’t raise her head from the ground and started to tremble a little. The sight left Jack feeling a little guilty, but he needed to know her reasoning.

“… I’m a gremlin… my kind are small… we aren’t fast, we aren’t strong, and we don’t have a lot of magic…” she said as her large ears drooped at her admission. “The other races don’t treat us with respect and they barely treat us like people…” she continued now with mounting frustration. “You saw how the elves treat my kind… The dwarves cheat us in trade… The orcs raid us and many of the others take advantage of us where they can.” She said as her fingers started to clench into fists, still keeping her head down. “I want a better life, I want to make our lives better. I want to become so irreplaceable that I can never be threatened again and give my people a better choice than scavenging for relics.” Now she raised her head and looked Jack in the eye sockets.

That was when he saw what he was looking for. Fire, passion, drive, and a refusal to let anyone stop her from chasing her dream. A dream of a better life.

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“I don’t want to survive anymore,” Frizzy said with resolve strong enough to rival adamantine. “I want to live.”

If Jack had a face, he’d be grinning ear to ear.

“Than get the hell off the ground.” Jack said with a firm tone of voice. “No apprentice of mine is allowed to beg to anyone. Not even to me.”

The hug he got at that moment from the now crying Frizzy was worth every bit of snot and tears she leaked on him. The joy that radiated off of her as she thanked him profusely made Jack chuckle before she eventually tired herself out. Frizzy spent the night sleeping at his workshop while Jack took some time to think that night.

The following day, Frizzy left to go and get all her things from her tribe. She promised to be back in about four or five days to begin her apprenticeship in earnest. He had handed her the adamantine dagger for protection, telling her how to activate the fire enchantment and how turn it off again. When she started to protest, saying she was not worthy of such a powerful artifact, Jack told her it was a loner until she got back or she made her own.

She left that day and Jack found that he was alone once more. He had his skeletons and zombies but they weren’t much for conversation. Thankfully they were diligent and tireless. He had them working all through the night to search for any metal or bones that were to be brought back to the shop.

After the first two days, Jack opened up his stat sheets or plains of glass with text…

Menus? Jack thought for a moment. Yeah, menu feels right.

Jack looked over his status menus and the menu for his dungeon he was supposed to make. He looked it over to see if he could find something useful when took another look at the loot drops. Purified bone pieces and refined metal. If there was ever a sign that he needed to get off his boney ass and make the dungeon, that was the kick in the pants he needed.

Taking a moment to think, he weighed his options of where to plant the dungeon core. Thinking more on it, Jack discovered that he had another question to answer on top of his first one. What KIND of dungeon was he going to make?

Thinking about it, he drew up what he could remember about dungeons and the types that existed while he was alive. There was just one… little problem.

… I DON’T REMEMBER A FUCKIN THING! Jack lamented.

Jack tried over and over again to remember what kinds of dungeons that existed. He KNEW they were powerful and he knew without question they were sources for hard-to-get resources. Like adamantine, celestial coper, or void iron. For the life of him he couldn’t think of what forms dungeons can take.

With a sigh, Jack resigned himself to try the ‘throw it at a wall and see what sticks’ method. OOOoooooh how he HATED that method. To him it was like banging his head on a wall until he found the door that was that was two feet to his right the whole time.

Taking a moment to consider how he wanted to start, Jack decided that the center of the town as a good place to start. It might even give him some ideas on how to plant the dungeon core, however the hells he was supposed to do that.

The walk was fairly long from the shop was and where he thought the higher district was. From what he could remember, the town was built in rings and layers with walls that separated one from the other. Unfortunately, the first thick wall he came across was partially collapsed in a way that made a massive V in fortification.

As he walked through the massive gap, he thought more about the design of the town and reconsidered the design. Yes, it was a town by population standards but by design it felt more like a city in the making. Or at the least it was designed to later become a city. At least the architects seemed to have some forethought.

Walking further into the inner sections, Jack would find that many of the buildings were damaged, burned, or partly collapsed. Yet as he got closer to the inner most section, he found the buildings were much less burned or damaged. The doors were all broken in, showing that the invaders had the idea to not destroy the nicer buildings but to kill the opponents to create free real estate for the next person to move in. The buildings homes were much larger and the gardens, though vastly over grown, were nice to look at. He could imagine what the area would have looked like back in the day. A little trimming here, a bit of pruning there, maybe a black iron door with some copper or bronze inlay and he could see himself living here.

Thinking more on it, Jack had to ask himself what was stopping him from living in the upper district? Sure, there was his workshop and the vault, but he could always empty the vault and make a new workshop.

You know what Jack, maybe it’s time to move up in the world? He thought to himself. Nothing and no one saying you can’t afford it.

Jack mused to himself with these thoughts while getting closer to the center of the town, or at least what he thought was the center of town. It was there he found the major’s center office, or was it the governor’s office, and found it was a five-story tall building. At least he thought it was the mayor’s, or governor’s, building. There were columns and stone arch ways around the building that made it look more decorative. The way it was made gave that the impression that it was designed to look like a temple of some kind. The building was large so there was plenty of space to work with. The building itself was defensible and was easily the most intact with the exception of age and weathering. There no doubt that this would be the best place to plant his dungeon core.

Town hall! Jack thought with a snap of his fingers. Yes, finally. That was going to bother me all day.

Jack walked through the open doorway and searched around to find the most defensible room available. After searching for a while, was able to find a room that was perfect as it was a safer room in the basement of the town hall. The door had been destroyed of course but it wouldn’t take too long to fix. Hopefully. Just from the doorway alone he knew that the walls were four feet thick. For now, he would focus on a much more important task.

Walking into the room, Jack though that this would be the closest equivalent to the center. At least he hoped it was.

Once in position, Jack summoned his menu and looked at the window while trying to think of how he was going to plant the dungeon core. He tried to focus on the dungeon core section and even tried thinking about how to plant the core. For almost an hour of standing there and feeling stupid, Jack started to pace back and forth trying to think of a way to plant the core.

There has to be some way to do this… He thought to himself while pacing. How come I could pull up more information on my spells and skills by just thinking about them but planting a dungeon core has me stymied? Come on Jack, think damn you! If you can’t get this done it’s going to take you weeks or months to get enough materials!

Cursing himself, Jack continued to pace back and forth as he raked his metaphorical brain to try and figure out what he could be doing wrong.

Plant the dungeon core the thing says, build a dungeon it says. Couldn’t have come with some kind of instructions but nooooooo. He thought to himself while kicking a piece of debris. All it says is plant the dungeo-waaaaaaaait.

Jack tilted his chin down at his rib cage to stare at the dungeon core inside. Playing with the idea while silently praying that the answer wasn’t what he thought it was. Jack decided to take a chance since nothing else came to mind as of yet.

Reaching into his rib cage, Jack grabbed the floating dungeon core to hold it up to his face to look at it. Taking a moment to examine it before he tried his idea.

“If this works, then I’m going to feel really stupid.” Jack mumbled to himself.

Kneeling down, Jack pressed the Dungeon core to the ground before he pressed against it.

Attention!

You are attempting to Plant the dungeon core

Would you like to start the Dungeon Core planting process?

Yes/No

“Oh… Fuck you.” Jack growled as he felt profoundly stupid at how simple it was. “I mean thank the gods I figured it out but fuck you all the same.”

Still muttering, Jack focused on the ‘yes’ option of the prompt and felt a massive flood of mana suddenly wash through him.

Attention!

You have stated to make your dungeon

Please Choose what type of Dungeon you wish to make from the following options.

1. Subterranean Dungeon

2. Lost Plains Dungeon

3. Graveyard Dungeon

4. Open Air Dungeon

5. Ruins of The Lost Dungeon

Feeling his earlier frustration quickly fade away as his excitement took its place. The next three hours, Jack examined the options and focused on each one to get more information on each one. The names of each type of dungeon were mostly self-explanatory like most of the things the notices brought up.

I really need to talk to Frizzy about these prompts. Maybe she can give me some insight on what these things are.

Refocusing his efforts, he examined each of the dungeon types to get more information and found that each type has its own benefits. The subterranean dungeon, the mobs got a big bonus to stealth and dropped crystals as a loot option. When he looked at the crystals, he found they would act as a type of magic battery. They allowed the user both empowering skills and abilities as well as casting spells without using the user’s own mana. There were a few other benefits but nothing that was all that tempting. The Graveyard dungeon had some rather impressive benefits. For undead mobs it gave them a bonus to how tough they were and get him get new kinds of undead more easily. It also let him turn adventures that died in his dungeon into undead almost automatically. For adventurers it would make it so that there were more hidden chests with treasures inside that could be gold or minor magic items. The adventurer would also gain skills and abilities to better combat against dark powers. Useful and severed a good purpose for all involved.

Jack looked over each one multiple times and gave a lot of thought to what it was he wanted to actually do with the dungeon. At first, he just wanted access to the loot options and use the refined metals loot. Now though… now he had options.

What was his legacy going to be? What was it that he wanted to accomplish? He wasn’t going to die of old age now, and not only did he have access to the resources from a dungeon but he controlled it.

After thinking about it he felt an urge start to well up inside of him. Something that felt like a siren’s call that refused to be ignored. Chasing the feeling, Jack eventually caught it and held on to it for dear life until he finally understood what that feeling was. It was desire. More specifically it was a desire to build, to create and design. To either make something entirely new or to make something that exists better.

That’s right… Jack thought to himself. I wanted to make people’s lives better with my craft.

Jack continued to chase this thought as brief flashes of memory crossed his mind. Images of strangers came and went and with each person he saw that he was helping them. Selling them new limbs, giving devices that made life more convenient for people. He had wanted to make the world better. To make people’s lives better.

Only there was no one left. The town didn’t have a single living soul left in it. The buildings were in ruin and in various states of decay.

No… The people are dead but the town itself is still here. Jack thought, feeling a decision within himself be made. I have the foundation here, not to make lives better. No. I will do something harder. Something much more rewarding.

And to do that there was only one option. Without any hesitation he chose the Ruins of The Lost Dungeon type.

I’m going to make a better world. Jack said with finality.

With an explosion of mana, Jack felt the dungeon core shot from his hand deep into the ground as the ground shifted and morphed. Stone twisting before him to make the surrounding safe room change before him. The stone of the saferoom warped further as the effect spread beyond the boundaries from the room. Soon everything was subject to the changes. By the time the stone was done shifting twisting and folding on itself. The entire building had been remade as well as the room he stood in.

More and more of the building began to warp as Jack felt himself being raised higher in the air along with the room. With each second that passed, he found furniture forming out of the stone as metal also started to bud from the walls. Then it was all finished.

Jack now found himself in a grand room large enough to be a warehouse. The walls were of a fine marble with veins of iron and copper running through them. Obsidian columns with vines of Gold and silver tracing up their shafts lined the room at supported a dome ceiling above. On one wall was a stone book case made into the wall that sat empty while another wall was lined with a giant work bench made with a granite top and above it was a rack of all tools of every make and variety. Cabinets of rich red wood also sat over or on the work bench where they also had various shelves made of the same wood. Everything he could need for metalworking, woodworking, tinkering, carving, masonry, a small forge for smithing and more was set up orderly with the work bench and that there was the terrace that showed a view that overlooked the entirety of the ruins of the town. There was the large stone platform center of the room that radiated arcane energy. But at the end of the room there was the throne. Sitting by itself was a throne with the main body being made of black and white stone with gears and cogs of bronze and coper sticking of its sides that silently turned. While in the seat, armrests and back had a crimson cushion for the comfort of the one who sat there.

This was no workshop. This was Jack’s dream workshop.

Walking around to inspect the room to really take it in, Jack eventually found himself standing in front of the throne. Jack had never really given much thought to the idea of thrones. Sure, he could have made quite a few nice ones but now looking at this piece of moving art left Jack mute.

Slowly and carefully, Jack answered the call of the throne to take his place on it. The moment he put his weight on the throne, he felt himself truly relax as he fully enveloped himself in the seat. Jack let out an involuntary sigh as he leaned his head back against throne. It honestly surprised him just how comfortable the throne was.

After letting himself relax and enjoy his new favorite chair, Jack noticed that blinking signal marble icon once more.

Taking a moment to focus on the icon and that was when he saw the new notification.

Congratulations!

You have Successfully Planted the Dungeon Core and created a “Ruins of The Lost Dungeon” Type Dungeon.

First Building made!

Tower of The Master!

This building acts as the central room of the dungeon core. From here the dungeon is shaped, controlled and grows outwards.

Any who make an item, a potion, a weapon or a suite of armor has a higher chance of learning a new skill in terms of the crafting arts.

Mob and adventurer benefits from the

“Ruins of The Lost Dungeon” Dungeon Type

ADJUSTED STAT BONUSES FOR DUNGEON MOBS

1. Necrotic Repair (+5% to +15% Health Regeneration)

o Mobs regenerate health outside of combat, with the regeneration rate varying depending on the mob type. The more powerful or ancient the undead or construct, the higher the regeneration rate.

2. Restless Resistance (+10% to +20% Status Effect Resistance)

o Mobs gain increased resistance to status effects such as stuns, paralysis, or poison. The percentage of resistance depends on the type of mob and the specific status effect, making them harder to debilitate in battle.

3. Increased Physical Defense (Variable Defense Bonus)

o Mobs receive a bonus to their physical defense when attacked. This bonus varies based on the mob type, the nature of the attacker, and the type of weapon used against them, making them more resilient in combat.

4. Changing Times (Evolutionary Potential)

o Mobs have a chance to evolve after each combat encounter. This chance doubles with each battle the mob survives, potentially transforming them into a more powerful version with enhanced abilities.

5. Awareness Increased (Heightened Sound Sensitivity)

o Mobs have enhanced sensitivity to sound. When they detect a noise, they will investigate the source, making stealth and silence crucial for adventurers trying to avoid combat.

BENEFITS FOR ADVENTURERS

1. What Doesn’t Kill You…

o While in the dungeon, adventurers gain 1.5x more experience from encounters, combat, and quests. This bonus reflects the harsh environment and the rapid learning curve necessary for survival in such a dangerous place.

2. Lost Knowledge

o Adventurers have a higher chance to gain new skills or level up existing ones while exploring the dungeon. The ancient, arcane nature of the dungeon imparts forgotten knowledge to those who survive its challenges.

3. Make It Better

o While crafting within the dungeon, adventurers have a 10% to 15% chance to craft items, both magical and non-magical, at one quality category higher than what would typically be possible. The dungeon’s mysterious energies enhance their craftsmanship.

4. Residual Insight

o As adventurers spend more time in the dungeon, they begin to develop a sixth sense for its layout and dangers. This growing awareness helps them recognize patterns, detect unseen dangers, and sense when something is out of place. They may also develop the skill Danger Awareness, enhancing their ability to anticipate and avoid traps, ambushes, and other hazards.

5. Fortified Resolve

o The relentless challenges and trials within the dungeon serve to temper the adventurers' minds and bodies. Those who endure find their resolve growing stronger, both physically and mentally. This hardened resolve becomes a vital asset, allowing adventurers to face future threats with increased determination and resilience.

"Find your resolve, Adventurer. Temper it, and it will serve you well."

Jack once again reviewed the benefits of the dungeon for by his mobs and the adventurers. Satisfied with what he saw and that he was on the right track. His mobs would be strong but not so strong that the adventurers wouldn’t be able to handle them. the benefits would also be pretty enticing as well for them to delve in his dungeon. He already had some ideas for loot and they wouldn’t take too long to make. He’d have to figure out a way to make it so the adventurers would get the loot without them trying to stab him, but that was a later problem.

While sitting comfortable on his throne, Jack side swiped with his hand to shoo the notices away. That was when he saw another one pop up to take its place.

As he read it, Jack leaned more out of his throne and took a closer look to make sure he read it right. For a third, fourth and fifth time Jack reread the notice more frantically each time. By the sixth time, Jack was sitting at the edge of his seat struggling to believe what he was seeing.

Just to be sure, he rubbed his metaphorical eyes and red it for a seventh time. It was then that his literal lower jaw fell and hit the floor.

“Oooooh, Mother fucker!!”