The monster unleashed a torrent or caustic sap at the group of adventurers.
Their wizard, Prshky, attempted to stop the deluge with an opposing mana bolt. But while the strategy had worked against the blobs, this attack could not compare. The flood of liquid practically shredded through the spell, barely slowing at all.
Dittillapp was still beneath the Boss, nowhere near close enough to do anything against the stream rushing towards the rest.
And Rampampadam? She steeled her nerves and activated her defensive Ability. She was the only thing standing between the attack and her party. There was no time to dodge, only to absorb the attack and hope her shield would hold up.
For a single, split second the torrent of sap struck against Ram’s shield. Her arm, despite it’s enhanced strength, almost buckled under the pressure.
In the next instant, the earth began rumbling.
A slight tremor expanded from the ground between the floating monster and Ram. It quickly grew in intensity until…
...a block of earth started rising out of the ground.
Soon enough, it was high enough to block the torrent of sap and ease the burden for Ram.
----------------------------------------
Whew, just in time. Can’t even imagine what could have happened had I not gotten the idea exactly when I did.
The Dungeon network, while normally extending deep underground, did not always follow that guideline. Especially around the entrances, the tunnels we quite close to the surface.
So what would happen if someone pushed against the ceiling of a tunnel right underneath where the fight was going on? Well, I’m sure I’d look somewhat similar to earth-bending, geomancy if you will.
But still, that was damn lucky for all of us.
Soon enough, Thistleskin’s torrent attack runs out.
The rest of the journey, really just a couple dozen metres, was a cake walk in comparison. The Boss was exhausted from its last attack and already running low on mana. It no longer put up any fight.
Finally, they threw it into the Dungeon.
Quickly as I could, I initiated contact and ordered TUP to go back to the portal room. The monster paused for a second, took a breath of the plentiful Dungeon mana, and stepped forth into the depths of the Dungeon. Mission accomplished.
“Well, that’s done,” I said to the only person that could listen to me.
“Yes. Maybe let’s try limiting our Bosses to certain areas in the future.”
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“Probably for the best.”
The three Sipalians and a fairy were sitting around the Dungeon entrance now, once more recovering after a battle. This time, however, after a successful one.
“Oh, also,” I continued, “I’ve got a bit of a situation up here with the Sipaloons. Plus my new Ability from the Level-Up could use some of your expertise as well. Do you think you’ll stay on Lapis for much longer?”
“I’ll have to talk to the others, but yeah… I think I’m ready to get out of here. For now at least.”
While Faellen was talking with the adventurers, Thistleskin made its way down the tunnels and to the portal hidden there. I told it to stop and wait for Faellen, no need to make the portal back any more of a bother.
In the meantime, I turned my attention to something I hadn’t properly looked at for a long long while. My status sheet.
Paradox Core of the End (Dungeon?)
Level: 4
Primary Aspect: End / Paradox
Secondary Aspect: System / Eldritch
Status: [Eldritch god]
Abilities:
Create
Destroy
Control
Sense
Final Stop
Ignore That
Endless End
Mana-Cycle
System Core
Taste of Old Memories
Seed Dungeon
Grant System – blessing
Mystic Realm
Quests:
Entrench the System [Special] (reward pending)
Wow, that’s a long list of Abilities. Sure must be annoying to write out. Maybe something will happen to make that easier, who knows?
Also, when did my designation go from ‘Dungeon’ to ‘Dungeon?’ with a question mark? Am I not a Dungeon anymore?
I mean, sure. I did sort of become an [Eldritch god] and I also do have a few properties of a Universe, but… okay, yeah, no. I have no argument against that.
Good to at least see that the System is no linger hiding my status from me. Also, a status field on my status sheet? Who named this shit?
Again, that’s a damn lot of Abilities I have there. More than double what I started with!
And as for my quests… Oh! I forgot about that!
I did appoint Faellen as a System Anchor back before my Level-Up. I guess with how the whole process makes me pass out, I never saw the notification that I’d completed the quest. Well, let’s see it. What were the rewards again?
Reward: Quest [Special], ???
Quest: Nurture the System [Special]
Sheep and shepherd selected, it is time to nurture the new generation of Users, and the System by association. The initial seed has been planted, now it’s time to water it.
Objective: Provide System access to a planet of Ferras
Reward: Quest [Special], ???
Selecting reward.
Reward selected:
enchantment blueprint
Huh? Okay, let’s take this from the top.
That is quest is… certainly an escalation. From 16 Users and an Anchor to a whole ass planet? That has got to be more than several magnitudes greater!
How am I even supposed to do that? It really does look like the System is pushing me towards a proper System apocalypse. And I’ve put in so much work to avoid such a scenario. I suppose I could just go slow and steady.
But the real strange thing here is this blueprint.
Examining it, I think it’s for…
No way! Is this what I think it is? Seriously? A practically unbreakable Divinity cage?
Oh, now I definitely have to share this with Faellen. If this does what I think it does and works how I think it works, then we’re never again going to need to worry over our little divine battery.