Chapter 38: A Moment

Saturday, April 1st, 6:10 PM

Dungeon Ciara

“Mm. So comfy,” Siobhán cooed as she soaked alongside the others in the bathing pool, on the hot-tub seating I’d added at their request.

“I didn’t think we’d get to do something like this.” Joy smiled and stretched.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Joe reminded them.

“Lots of people out there are struggling with nasty conditions like we were. Plus, we’ll have more traitors to deal with.” Mike frowned.

“Ciara, how did you cure our sickness?” Joe asked.

[Spending time inside my Dungeon will slowly heal people, but it doesn’t remove pathogens, according to Sven. So, I healed the damage and kept your symptoms at bay, but your bodies took care of the immune response.]

“That’s ludicrous, to heal people at such a scale.” Mike squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

“It’s incredible, is what it is,” said Rihelah. “Modern medicine can’t even compare with what magic can achieve. Everyone here complained of headaches after the bomb, and Papa Mike’s back used to bother him, but once we came here, all that went away, right?”

“Yeah. I’m not gonna complain!” Mike grinned.

“So, wait. If you slowly heal damage to peoples’ bodies, does that mean if someone is injured by fighting your creatures, they’ll heal over time?” Joe pressed his lips together.

[Theoretically, yes. As long as they don’t get killed by something else before they can heal. I need help designing things so people will be able to train here. Oh, you all need to know about the traps as well.]

“Traps?” they asked in unison.

[Sven said they help people learn situational awareness. Also, they can be used for defense, in the event we get invaded. I can deactivate them as well.]

“What sort of traps are you talking about?” Mike raised an eyebrow.

[Hydraulically-powered spikes, so far. They trip when people grab or step on the wrong ledges of my climbing wall. And, if I set them up with enough pressure, they’d be lethal for F-Rank humans.]

“What the heck is F-Rank?” Mike and Joe asked in unison.

I repeated the explanation Sven gave me.

“Sonofabitch. People can grow that strong?” Joe shook his head.

[Apparently so. But since you’re residents, you’ll all grow in strength as I do, in addition to having your own blessings and the benefit of immortality.]

“So, this power I feel inside me is called mana?” Joe asked.

[Yes. It’s the most basic form of magical energy in the Universe. Mana can be used in innumerable ways, according to Sven. I’ve learned to infuse it into materials to create certain effects. Watch.]

I demonstrated lightstone and hearthstone creation, then warned them about the explosive results of overcharging a material with mana.

“You gotta be shitting me. How long do they last?” Joe asked.

[They never run out, according to Sven. If that’s true, then these things completely break the laws of thermodynamics. But so far, they’re totally effective.]

“ProfCon, does this mean we can create magical weapons and armor?” Siobhán asked, her eyes lighting up.

Rihelah perked up beside her and they shared a conspiratorial grin.

[That’s one of the things Sven talked about. Those things can be crafted. But you’ll also need materials from defeating my minions to make stronger gear.]

“No way…” Siobhán grinned, locking eyes with Joe.

His smile faded as hers grew. “Killarney, why are you—”

“I wanna see Joe swing an axe. Or a sword.” Siobhán’s face lit up like a child who’d just received her first puppy.

A smile crossed Joe’s face as he stared into Siobhán’s eyes. Then he seemed to realize something and looked away.

Ah, so that’s how it is.

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Following a discussion with my human residents, I learned that all four of the younger ones had been avid fantasy gamers. They had all sorts of suggestions regarding how to create and manage what they called a starting area.

By the time we wrapped up that talk, everyone seemed satisfied with the ideas we’d narrowed it down to—even the marines.

[I like Michael’s suggestion about the first cave, so we’ll go with just mining deposits and no minions.]

“These crickets of yours are terrifying to look at, you know?” Mike chuckled while one stood cleaning its long antennae on his hand.

“Too many mouths,” Joe remarked with a sidelong glance at the minion.

[They’ll be relocated to the second first-floor cave where the Devilflies were, alongside twenty of the bunnies Rihelah wanted. I’ve already reworked things with plenty of vegetation.]

Siobhán said, “The crabs are fine for your indoor tide pools, but you should make a walkway people can actually fight on. This is your first floor, so it shouldn’t be a total death trap.”

My Dungeon instinct disagreed, but I figured I could go harder with defense on later floors. Since things were reconfigurable and I could shuffle minions around as needed, I had plenty of options.

“Right, so we’ve got the mining cavern, wabbit warrens, and a crabby causeway on the first level.” Joy ticked the points off with her fingers.

“Yeah, but that boss… Vijaya is terrifying. It’s worse because she’s got that creep lurking in her brain.” Siobhán shuddered.

[I’ll keep her from attacking anyone unless they deserve it. Just make sure you warn people—I care, but I’m not human. I still have my personality and memories, but my mind doesn’t work the way it used to.]

“How so?” Mike folded his arms.

[You saw what happened to those traitors who were murdering innocent people and trafficking kids.]

Rihelah cringed, and Joe’s jaw muscles clenched.

[When they did horrific things, it became… difficult for me to hold back.]

Joe nodded gravely. “That I can understand. But you’ve got the power to wipe out entire crowds of people with those creatures.”

[Stop to think for a moment about what Sven showed us. I’m going to become much stronger over time, and so will all of you. Will you humor me for a moment, Joe?]

“Humor you… how?” Joe raised an eyebrow.

I had him stand apart from the others and asked him to slam his arm down on the water’s surface as hard as he could.

Joe brought his fist down like a sledgehammer. The impact was deafening, and his arm displaced enough water to cause a one-meter-tall wave that threw Joe backward and tossed everyone else on their backs outside the pool.

“Fuck.” Joe shook his hand and healed it.

“Damn it! I wasn’t lookin’ to get Schimpfed.” Mike laughed, hopping back into the partially-drained pool while I refilled it.

“I wouldn’t mind getting Schimpfed,” Siobhán muttered, too quiet for anyone but me to notice as the rest of them got back into the pool.

Staring at his hand in wonder, Joe furrowed his brow.

[Were you so strong before you became a resident here?]

“Hah! Not even close. I mean, I was strong, but not like this. Let me check something…” Joe climbed out of the pool and took off running down the stone path, stirring the plants to either side as he passed.

The rest goggled, shared a glance, then hopped out to run after Joe. Only Michael could match Joe’s speed, but that didn’t surprise me, given his Blessing of Alacrity.

Even short-legged Siobhán could shame Olympic sprinters—until her second bikini top broke and fell away, freeing her beautiful endowments to sway in time with her stride. This time, she didn’t notice until Joe and Michael, who were already walking back with wide grins, stopped to stare. Their smiles changed to smirks as Michael averted his eyes and Joe ogled her pink nipples.

Siobhán looked down and turned red.

“Why?” she shrieked, covering her chest as she bolted toward the changing room. Michael rolled his eyes, and Joe stared after Siobhán’s backside. With downcast eyes, Joy headed for the changing room after Siobhán.

Michael ran to meet Rihelah, who shook her head and her finger at him.

“Let’s go, babe. I need your mind and hands on these tits.” Rihelah whispered to Michael as she pressed herself against his arm. After a quick but passionate kiss, they sprinted toward the basement.

Mike waved his eyebrows as Joe approached.

“Not a word,” Joe said, and Mike chuckled.

Once those who remained on the second floor had clothed themselves, Joe held up a hand.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“We should train together. It’s been a couple days because of all the shit that’s happened, and we all need to get used to these bodies.”

“Pretty sure the lovebirds have the movement thing all figured out.” Siobhán snorted.

Joe and Mike stifled a laugh, and Joy blushed.

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Michael and Rihelah returned much sooner than Joe expected. Joe was captivated by the speed and grace of everyone’s movements. It was helpful that Ciara shaped training bags for them, though that took a few minutes since Joe had to coach her on how to create them.

Among the others, Joy was especially impressive, each of her blows rippling through the bag with tremendous power. After knocking a vertical 100-kilo bag completely horizontal with a bare-handed punch, her delicate skin showed almost no signs of chafing—a feat that only Joe could match.

Joe asked her, “Peterson, how are you hitting like that? Everyone else has to hold back so they don’t damage their hands.”

“I have a blessing from Ciara that made my body tougher. Didn’t help when I got shot, though.” Joy pulled a mushroomed piece of copper and lead out of her pocket, offering it to Joe.

“Cripes, girl. Where were you hit?” Mike plucked it out of her hand to study it.

Joy pointed to the right side of her abdomen, just above her pelvis.

“Looks like .30-06 Springfield. If I’m right, then there was a lot of energy behind that round. How did you find it afterward?”

“It was stuck inside me, and popped out while I was healing.” Joy shrugged.

“No shit?” Mike’s eyes widened.

“What?” Joy asked.

“You see how badly it’s deformed?” Mike held the bullet up as the others nodded. “This thing hit you with a shit load of force. Look how slender you are—it should’ve blown a hole straight through you and kept going. Hell, it should’ve had enough energy left to kill a second person behind you.”

“Huh?” Joy looked confused.

Joe cut in. “.30-06 is a high-energy round. It’s used for hunting big game, like elk and Grizzly bears.”

“Well… my stomach stopped it.” Joy shrugged.

“Cripes-Minetley. Just from the Dungeon’s Toughness blessing?” Mike muttered, shaking his head.

“Hey, Joe?” Siobhán said, putting her hand out to stop Joe while the others exited.

“What do you need, Killarney?” Joe asked.

She looked up at him. “I heard you talking before, about how you want to bring Anna back.”

“What about it?” Joe folded his arms.

“If I can help you, I will. I mean, you saved my life, and Joy’s. Also everyone else’s… a couple of times. I’m really grateful, you know?” She blushed deeply and pressed her lips together.

Joe felt discomfort in his chest. She’s offering her help? That’s weird. What does she want?

“Ah. Yeah, I know.” Joe offered her a half-smile.

“So, how can I help?” Siobhán fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

Joe cocked his head. “Next time you see Sven, ask if he knows anything about resurrection magic if that exists. Ciara said she’s pretty much clueless beyond her ability to grant it to her residents.”

“It does feel like we’re all wandering in the dark. Regarding magic, I mean. I dunno. Maybe ask Ciara for a blessing? She can make you tougher, faster, or smarter. I chose the last one. It’s probably why I can get over… things faster than I used to.”

“I see.”

Siobhán shrugged. “I won’t lie. I really like you, Joe. I know you can tell. But, while the old Siobhán would still be hung up on that, and probably would have clung to that idea for weeks—I can just let things go when they don’t make sense.”

Joe grinned. “Hah. You’re talking much more frankly than I expected. To be fair, I’ll admit you’re an attractive girl. But I need my wife. If I can have Anna back, then no matter how amazing another woman may be, it doesn’t matter for me in that sense.”

Siobhán pressed her lips for a moment, then stuck her hand out.

Joe took it, surprised at the firmness and honesty of her grip.

Locking eyes with him, Siobhán said, “I care about you, Joe. If there’s a way you can have her back, then I want to see you find it.”

Joe saw the same kind of love in Siobhán’s gaze that Anna always had for him, and his heart wrenched.

Siobhán continued, “I don’t know much about magic, but have you tried your own healing again, since you became a resident? It might be stronger than before.”

Numbness filled Joe’s gut.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Joe took off running toward the exit. “No. I need to—”

“I’m coming, too!” Siobhán hollered. Joe heard her small bare feet padding after him.

[I can help you test that, Joe.] Ciara chimed in.

“How?” Joe stopped and clenched his fists.

[Meet one of my crabs by the harbor, and it’ll bring you a test subject. There’s a lot of snow on the ground and it’s dark out, but if you can revive a dead fish, then maybe you can affect a human.]

Joe had never run so quickly in his life. Siobhán’s footsteps faded behind him, and when he tripped in his frantic haste, he received a head injury.

Fuck. I know better than to act a fool.

Healing himself, Joe walked the rest of the way to the surface and Siobhán caught up with him.

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Live, damn you!

In the subtle light from the Crow’s Nest, Joe tried healing the mutilated Mackerel a second time, but nothing happened. Small, light snowflakes made the air around him seem alive, but the fish in his hands lay motionless.

Ragged wounds over its face and gills remained unchanged, the fish as lifeless as before. Joe fell to his knees in the snow and let the Mackerel splash into the harbor, where other fish soon flocked to nibble at its corpse.

I still can’t get over how clearly we can see in total darkness, wherever the Dungeon has claimed the land. Magic’s changing everything.

Joe shook his head at the fish.

Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer, Anna.

“Sonofabitch.” Joe sighed, watching his breath form a pale cloud in the freezing darkness. A small, chilly hand rested firmly on his right shoulder. Joe looked at Siobhán. Still barefoot, she frowned at the fish’s corpse.

I can’t believe she came out here only wearing that. She’s cute with snowflakes in her hair, like a character from a Christmas play. Joe almost smiled, but his failure with the fish weighed heavy on him.

Anna would’ve liked Siobhán. She’s got that same earnest kindness.

Joe frowned and fought against tears that threatened his composure.

“We’ll find a way, Joe.” Siobhán hugged Joe tight, then backed away to rub her slender, bare arms. She kept staring at the fish, and Joe saw her bottom lip quiver before she pressed them together.

“Yeah.” Joe nodded.

For Anna’s sake, I have to.

Nodding slowly, Siobhán said, “Let’s go. We’ve got work to do if we’re gonna find a way to bring your wife back.”

Siobhán offered Joe a hand up, and he fought the urge to snort at a five-foot woman making that gesture toward someone as large and capable as him.

Heh. She’s touched by magic, too. Let’s see if she’s got the horsepower.

Joe gripped Siobhán’s gelid hand and she hauled him upward with surprising strength.

I’ll be damned. I weigh 267, and she didn’t even strain.

Siobhán released Joe’s hand and rubbed hers together. “We should get back inside with the others. It’s colder than my ex’s heart out here!” She grinned and started ahead of Joe, her short legs stepping tall as she walked through the fresh powder.

“Yeah. Snow’s almost two feet deep. In Santa Cruz,” Joe remarked as he fell in beside her.

With her eyes on their footprints leading back to the basement, Siobhán said, “We can take this time to learn what we can do and start people training in the Dungeon. If I know her at all, ProfCon’s been working on changes and improvements the whole time since we talked with her. We should go see what she’s come up with.”

Joe grinned as Siobhán talked energetically.

She’s not how I expected.

[Joe, you’re needed in the basement. Please hurry.] Ciara sounded worried.

Shit. Someone’s hurt.

Siobhán shivered as she trudged through the deep snow, and Joe didn’t want to leave her behind.

“Whoa! Uh… what’s going on, Joe?” Siobhán cried out as Joe picked her up in a princess carry.

“Don’t want you to catch cold.” Joe sprinted through the snow toward the basement.

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He’s warm.

Joe’s big, strong arms gently cradled Siobhán as he dashed toward the basement like a wild beast. His movements were smooth and rock-steady for all the power he used to plow through two feet of snow while carrying her at high speed.

I’ve been trying to push my feelings away for your sake.

This isn’t fair, Joe.

Siobhán felt wetness in her eyes and she frowned.

No. Stop it, girl. It’s not romantic. He’s just protecting me as he does for everyone.

She nuzzled her head against the warmth of Joe’s bicep and sighed.

The firm, focused expression on Joe’s face made Siobhán’s heart swoon despite her determination.

Joe’s so reliable.

Why can’t I want someone else?

Siobhán shut her eyes.

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Floors: 2

Minions: 142/240

Residents: 12/12

Denizens: 45431

Traps: 3/10