Chapter 2
As the room rings with the following silence, I freeze in fear –a gut feeling of instinctual dread welling up inside of me.
A few agonizing minutes of terrifying tension pass. Soon after, the mana settles, and with it I began to calm. I emit a shaking internalsigh –glancing anxiously the around the room from my crystal.
There is the startling high pitched ring of a bell.
I jump at the sound, and glare furiously at the recently appeared screen.
[Unknown Arcane Magic residue detected –Most likely cause based on Wisdom Lvl: Level 3 Arcane AoE attack spell.
Insufficient knowledge to determine further information.]
‘Was it a fight?’ I consider briefly. After a moment, I summarize my thoughts, ‘I feel as if a conflict between my betters would reduce me to shards on the ground at this point’ I muse sourly.
A few moments of silence come to pass as I consider my possibly minuscule existence. Almost immediately, a powerful instinct throws me out from my melancholy with new found drive.
‘I must grow’ I realise. ‘I become stronger’
[Notice: Residual Mana intake increased 100-Fold.]
[WARNING- Mana intake exceeding current limit. Excess Mana to fuel evolution]
Taken by surprise I freeze; before my thoughts race once more ‘Umm…’ I tense. ‘That doesn’t sound good.’ I brace –ready for anything.
But –contrary to my expectations –the only happening is a sensation similar to my condensing –but in the other direction.
The contradictory feeling of becoming denser while simultaneously expanding in all its endless perplexity assaults my senses –briefly stifling my panic. My Crystal form lightly vibrates, its colour shifting from bright white to a light purple as it grew.
After about five minutes and a little above half a centimetres progress, the growth stops and a previously absent spark lights in my crystals centre –eliciting a slightly pulsating glow of purple light thoughout the room.
The very air now hums with energy as another panel appears.
[Evolution successful]
It states simply.
My hithherto fearful mental state is now but a distant memory; and I excitedly check my Status –brimming with enthusiasm.
[-Status-]
Name: Enriched Newborn Dungeon Fledgling (N/A)
Titles: Newborn Fledgling, Mana Enriched
Age: 0
Level: 233, 46%
Race: Dungeon
Sub-Race: Mana Enriched Dungeon
Form : Crystal
Fame: 0
Reputation Lvl: 0
Health: 555/555
Life-force: 555/5,000
Stamina: ∞/∞
Internal Mana: 2,155/2,370.5
External Mana: 5,000/5,250
Mana Potency: 75
Strength: 0 (13 – 100%)
Constitution: 15 (11 + 4)
Endurance: ∞ (∞ + 0)
Defence: 6 (2 + 4)
Dexterity: 5 (5 + 0)
Agility: 0 (5 – 100%)
Intelligence: 35 (31 + 4)
Wisdom: 27 (24 + 3)
Willpower: 30 (26 + 4)
Perception: 14 (14 + 0)
Charisma: 8 (6 + 2)
Life-Span: ∞ (∞ + 0)
Skills:
{Mana Vision} – Lvl: 1
{Mana Enriched} – Passive Lvl: 1
I quickly scan the screen –perceiving the differences with inhuman speed.
‘I am now… Mana Enriched’ I note. Slightly disappointed, I focus on the title ‘Mana Enriched.’
[-Mana Enriched –Title given to creatures that have come into contact with a large quantity of Mana in their youth, usually birth. Mana is assimilated into and bonds with the creature. Mana to size of being ratio requirement 5000:1.
Grants an increase in general Mana Affinity and Potency. Density increases. Boosts related Stats.
–25% increase in Mana Potency
–5% increase of External Mana
–10% increase in Internal Mana
+4 Constitution, Defence, Intelligence and Willpower.
+3 Wisdom.
+2 Charisma-]
‘Oh…’ I pause. ‘That’s better than expected,’ I think –mood heightened once again.
Suddenly –from the wall directly to my right –a low rumbling comes, quickly becoming louder
Fear grips me once more, and my attention is completely focused on the wall. In my focus I feel the face of the very wall, and –like an extension of my skin –it shakes; like fingers scratching a blackboard. Hollow scratching of sandstone soon rings through the room –relentlessly accompanied by desperate panicked screeching. The scratching becomes more and more agitated as time goes on, and eventually, the high pitched splitting of stone sounds loudly.
Out of a crack as if from plaster, a cockroach of ungodly proportions bursts through –its harrowing screams piecing to the ear. It rapidly crawls out and a metre up the wall before freezing –its compound eyes darting around warily. Confirming that the room is indeed empty, is continues sprinting up the wall, and reaches the nearest corner. It squeezes itself as far into that corner as it can manage –its jittering wings and antennae quickly calming down.
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My panic gone –quickly replaced by curiosity –I focus on the monster of a bug and inspect the ensuing screen.
Name: Mana Enriched Giant Cockroach (N/A)
Titles: Cadaverous, Contagious, Hardy, Mana Enriched
Age: 3 Weeks
Level: 3, 83%
Race: Giant Cockroach
Sub-Race: Mana Enriched Cockroach
Fame: 0
Reputation Lvl: 0
Health: 3/10
Stamina: 0/25
Internal Mana: 1/3.75
External Mana: 0/0.625
Mana Potency: 6.25
Strength: 3 (3 + 0)
Constitution: 7 (3 + 4)
Endurance: 4 (4 + 0)
Defence: 9 (5 + 4)
Dexterity: 4 (4 + 0)
Agility: 10 (10 + 0)
Intelligence: 6 (2 + 4)
Wisdom: 3.5 (.5 + 3)
Willpower: 4 (0 + 4)
Perception: 25 (25 + 0)
Charisma: -1 (-3 + 2)
Life-Span: 5.3 ( .3+ 5)
Skills:
{Mana Enriched} – Passive Lvl: 1
{Antennae} – Passive Lvl: 4
{Hardy} – Passive Lvl: 6
{Contagion} – Lvl: 1
{Minor Poison} – Lvl: 2
‘Quite the specimen’ I think. ‘Looks like I wasn’t the only one effected by the blast' I muse.
As I look away from the status and actually look at the insect –now in a state of torpor –a strange feeling surfaces in my mind.
‘I need this creature’ I think, somewhat entranced.
Going on instinct, I begin to pump mana into the cockroach –bending surrounding mana to my will. The roach is not immediately alerted, but begins to twitch. I begin to become excited –and in that excitement, I increased the rate of mana. I then increase it again, and just I felt its mind become mine, I increase once more.
With a screech, the cockroach leaps of the wall and lands hard on the floor. With one its six legs mangled, it sprints in circles –each rotation its wails becoming louder and more distressed. A second behind, I go to stop the mana flow –my excitement turning sour. However, the cockroach has already stopped moving.
It is dead.
Extremely surly, I pour all the mana I can muster into the body.
‘Maybe I’ll make you explode then’ I growl ‘Insufferable wretch.’
The carcass starts to dimly glow –though a far cry from my crystal –and suddenly my mana flies into it much faster –my control forfeited. Startled, I attempt to forcefully revoke my mana to no effect.
The feeling of severe nausea and lethargy envelopes me, and I lose consciousness.
----------------------------------------
Feeling utterly drained –of mind and body –I awake with a start. Ignoring everything, I immediately open my status to check my condition.
Name: Enriched Newborn Dungeon Fledgling (N/A)
Titles: Newborn Fledgling, Mana Enriched, Necromantic
Age: 0
Level: 233, 72%
Race: Dungeon
Sub-Race: Mana Enriched Dungeon
Form : Crystal
Fame: 0
Reputation Lvl: 0
Health: 555/555
Life-force: 555/5,000
Stamina: ∞/∞
Internal Mana: 1,146/2,370.5
External Mana: 12/5,250
Mana Potency: 75
Strength: 0 (13 – 100%)
Constitution: 16 (11 + 5)
Endurance: ∞ (∞ + 0)
Defence: 7 (2 + 5)
Dexterity: 5 (5 + 0)
Agility: 0 (5 – 100%)
Intelligence: 36 (31 + 5)
Wisdom: 28 (24 + 4)
Willpower: 31 (26 + 5)
Perception: 14 (14 + 0)
Charisma: 7 (6 + 3 – 2)
Life-Span: ∞ (∞ – 1)
Skills:
{Mana Vision} – Lvl: 1, 2%
{Raise Dead} – Lvl: 1, 6%
{Mana Enriched} – Passive Lvl: 2, 12%
{External Mana Endurance} – Passive Lvl: 1, 34%
[-Necromantic –Title given to those who discover and utilize the dark art of Necromancy with no prior knowledge. Bearers are of closer proximity to death.
Improves Necromancies and level of control over summoned dead.
Necromancy is 10% more powerful
Learn Necromancies 5% faster
+10 Willpower
+5 Intelligence
– 2 Charisma
– 1 Lifespan-]
{-Raise Dead –Raise creatures below your level back into life-}
{-External Mana Endurance –External Mana is consumed at a reduced rate: 2% decreased mana consummation-}
I quickly examine my condition, sighing in relief and taking note of the differences.
‘Necromantic? Raise dead?’ I ask. ‘Wher–’ I freeze, my thoughts clicking into place.
‘The cockroach…!’ I exclaim, dropping the panels and scanning the room.
On the floor in the corner of the room, the cockroach is there –fidgeting as if pained. Its once warm brown shell now a dull grey, the insect turns to face my crystal –its eyes reflecting a glamorous purple. The connection I felt just prior to my collapse is still present, and I still can tell that if I wished it, it would complete whatever task ‘twas given to the best of its ability.
I command it closer to me, and re-appraise it once it is in front of the flat bottomed pendeloque that is my crystal –currently on the floor in the centre of the room.
Name: Mana Enriched Giant Undead Cockroach (N/A)
Titles: Cadaverous, Contagious, Hardy, Mana Enriched, Undead,
Age: 3 Weeks
Level: 2, 83%
Race: Giant Cockroach
Sub-Race: Mana Enriched Cockroach
Fame: 0
Reputation Lvl: 0
Health: 15/15
Stamina: ∞/∞
Internal Mana: 1/3.75
External Mana: 0/0.625
Mana Potency: 6.25
Strength: 6 (3 + 3)
Constitution: 10 (3 + 7)
Endurance: ∞ (∞ + 0)
Defence: 17 (5 + 15 – 3)
Dexterity: 1 (4 + 0 – 3)
Agility: 7 (10 – 3)
Intelligence: 3 (2 + 4 – 3)
Wisdom: .5 (.5 + 3 – 3)
Willpower: 31 ( = Master’s Willpower)
Perception: 25 (25 + 0)
Charisma: -11 (-3 + 2 – 10)
Life-Span: ∞( .3 + ∞)
Skills:
{Mana Enriched} – Passive Lvl: 1
{Antennae} – Passive Lvl: 4
{Hardy} – Passive Lvl: 11 (+5 Lvl: Undead)
{Contagion} – Lvl: 6 (+5 Lvl: Undead)
{Minor Poison} – Lvl: 2
{Undead} – Passive Lvl: 1
‘Interesting…’ I remark, checking the titles and abilities, both new and old.
[Cadaver –Title given to those who are one with death, even before their demise. Evolved form of Cadaverous.
Gain Major Death Mana Affinity.]
[Contagious –Title given to those that spread pestilence.
Gain Active Skill – {Contagion}]
[Hardy –Title given to those who stubbornly refuse to die.
Gain Passive Skill – {Hardy –Gain 1 Defence for every level of this skill}]
[Undead –Title given the risen dead.
Gain Major Death Mana Affinity.
Gain ∞ Endurance & Stamina.
Gain Strength & Constitution based on power of original body.
– 3 Defence, Dexterity, Agility, Intelligence, & Wisdom
– 10 Charisma.
Like all artificial Undead, Willpower is equal to summoners Willpower.]
‘This little cockroach will help me grow’ I think, staring at the insect; entranced once more.
‘Now… how can I get more of you?’ I continue. ‘I don’t have enough mana to do the same thing again, even if I had another cockroach’ I realise.
The soft imprint of a forgotten memory disturbs the surface of my mind, and I remember seemingly crucial information.
‘Open Menu’ I command.
- Allocate Attribute Points
- Allocate Skill Points
- View Monsters
- Dungeon Trespass Message
I view the following menu for a moment, before quickly selecting the ‘View Monsters’ option –deciding to check the others later.
[Monster List]
Monster
Type
Price
Giant Undead Cockroach
Insectoid (Undead)
Summon: 300 Internal Mana
The list is hopelessly small but, with time, I am sure of its growth. More importantly, this provides me with a means of population.
‘Let’s begin…’ I muse, a maniacal laugh building within the confines of my mind.