A day after a rushed job of adjustments to protect myself against my most recent invaders, I saw a few of them congregating outside my Entrance, within my perception range. Do not think just because I went easy on you, you guys will have such an easy experience this time. Just see, my newest additions will absolutely stop you this time…. I mumbled in a half terrified whisper, while giving special attention to the C-Rank Kobold and his four D-Rank goblin companions. I was currently still unable to see the stats of the new goblins, since they were still outside my domain.
As I was anticipating their next move with distrustful curiosity, I saw them setting up a bonfire along with a circle of stuff just outside my reach, which I would have loved to get my mind tendrils on. I finally felt something happening, when the white haired wrinkled goblin in tattered robes started making weird noises and jumping around the fire like a monkey, sometimes within, and sometimes outside my perception range. The pure mana outside my dungeon started swaying to some rhythm and slowly started spiraling with the wrinkled monkey as the focus.
Warning!! Breach to Spirit Realm has been detected in the vicinity of the Void passage.
Current Core Stability under 50%, Void passage unstable.
Threat to integrity of Void Anchor due to instability of Void passage.
Void Anchor will be compromised in 30 minutes.
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.
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Warning!! Breach to Spirit Realm has been detected in the vicinity of the Void passage.
Void Anchor will be compromised in 25 minutes.
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The Goblins were most probably preparing for summoning from the Spirit Realm to attack my dungeon. And warning messages started popping up, due to their actions. As the exterior environment started to deteriorate, some types of soul creatures also started phasing in and out the edge of my dungeon with the summoning. I saw the spirits of goblins as well as other creatures who had some slight resemblance to goblins, and even spirits of creatures who looked nothing like goblins, circling around the bonfire along with the wrinkled goblin monkey.
I tried to catch the status screens of all the new monsters they were summoning from the spirit realm in order to attack me. Various Basic screens of different Ranks started popping up before me for short moments before disappearing as the soul monsters again phased out of my dungeon.
Status Screen (Basic)
Name :
Whisperwind the Elder
Age :
267 years
Class:
Spirit Dominator
Species:
Goblin Spirit
Level :
D
XP (Experience) :
1/100
HP (Health Point) :
100/100
SPP (Spiritual Power) :
C
STR (Strength)
F
END (Endurance):
G
INT (Intelligence):
D
AGI (Agility) :
E
Mana Pool
340/500
Mana Reg.
30 Mana/hr
Spiritual Resilience: Complete immunity to physical damage.
Some even went so high in rank, that it was the first time I was seeing those Ranks.
Status Screen (Basic)
Name :
Emberheart the Shaman
Age :
435 years
Class:
Spirit Baron
Species:
Goblin Spirit
Level :
B
XP (Experience) :
1/100
HP (Health Point) :
100/100
SPP (Spiritual Power) :
A
STR (Strength)
F
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END (Endurance):
G
INT (Intelligence):
B
AGI (Agility) :
C
Mana Pool
980/1000
Mana Reg.
50 Mana/hr
Spiritual Resilience: Complete immunity to physical damage.
By the time I was done reading through a few of them, I was pretty much convinced today was going to be the day I died. I still have so much to do, why oh why I am still so young. Would my life have been different if I did not take sixteen hours to Anchor my core. Maybe if I had not taken so many days to complete my first floor, I would have been stronger and able to resist the invasion today.
Warning!! Breach to Spirit Realm has been detected in the vicinity of the Void passage.
Void Anchor will be compromised in 13 minutes.
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.
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I never thought I would reach this day where I was backed into the corner. If these Spirit realm creatures do not kill me then I might die from a compromised Anchor point at this point. I think this is the perfect moment where I can stop thinking rationally and start freaking out. I thought to myself as I started to wallow and feeling sorry for myself. Just as my short life of just over two months started flashing before my eyes, I noticed that the warning messages from the system had stopped coming at some point.
“.............. dislikes anyone going near his floating crystal; he also dislikes a large number of his subjects visiting him at the same time, the optimal number seems to be between five and ten. Now, set up an Altar a few meters into the Cavern as we wait for the Sacrifice to begin.”
I caught the end of the speech given by the wrinkled monkey. Perceiving the outside world, I discerned goblins standing outside without any spirit creature in sight, even the breach to the spirit realm was slowly mending itself. Looking back, I belief that the previous speech might have contained important information. And I also have some nagging suspicion that it might have something to do with me, especially if the floating crystal they were talking about was my core.
Just as I was unsure whether it was a good or bad thing that these goblins seemed to know my preferences. All those goblins started coming into my dungeon and few of them started setting up an Altar at the center of my Entrance. I started checking the Status screen of all the new arrivals, which were previously unavailable to me, since they had been outside my domain. All the Status screens of D and E ranks finally convinced me that today was really not my day.
After the passage of more time, they tied up a roe deer unto the Altar and the Old goblin started swaying around again this time with a knife. "Great Creator of the Dark Below, hear our call! We, the children of shadow and stone, come to honor the ancient pact, to pay tribute to the Lord, our sacred guardian and provider."
After a long chant without any mana signature or any other significance other than stating their history according to my assumption the wrinkled monkey brought down the knife aiming for the carotid artery of the Deer. Blood spray in a high arch all over him as the sacrifice started struggling for the life that was slipping away along with the blood that started overflowing from the Altar.
A Contract template popped up as a system message as soon as the sacrifice was made.
As Creatures born from Dungeons a Goblin Tribe has initiated the Standard Dungeon-Goblin trade contract with you.
Dungeon-Goblin Trade Contract
Parties:
* The Dungeon, represented by its sentient core, hereinafter referred to as "the Dungeon".
* The Nightshade Tribe, collectively represented by their leaders, hereinafter referred to as "the Nightshade Goblins".
Terms and Conditions:
Regular Sacrifice of New Creatures:
* The Nightshade Goblins agree to provide the Dungeon with a regular supply of new creatures for sacrifice. The types and frequency of these sacrifices will be determined by the Dungeon, at the Dungeon's discretion.
Restrictions on Goblin Actions:
* The Nightshade Goblins shall not attack the core of the Dungeon or attempt to breach its defenses directly.
* The Nightshade Goblins may only enter the Dungeon with a party of no more than ten individuals at any given time.
Benefits to the Nightshade Goblins:
* In return for their services, the Nightshade Goblins shall receive a multiple-fold return on their resources from the Dungeon, at the Dungeon's discretion.
* The Dungeon may reduce the difficulty for the Nightshade Goblins when they engage in attacks against it, at the Dungeon's discretion.
Use of Goblin Blueprints:
* The Dungeon reserves the right to use the blueprints and knowledge of any deceased goblin who perishes within its confines. This includes technological, magical, or strategic insights gained from such individuals.
Divine Law Punishment:
* Any violation of this contract by the Goblins will result in divine punishment as per the system laws governing the Gulkonda Realms existence and operation.
Duration of Contract:
* This contract shall remain in effect from the Agreement date until the natural death or dissolution of the Dungeon, as determined by its core's lifespan.
Do you accept the Contract: [Y/N]
I read through the Contract while the goblins were saying their spiel in the background. This time I made sure I was listening to everything they were saying. From what I can see from the contract I assume that it was made by some Core who knew what they were doing. Everything seems to be highly skewed in the dungeons favor, honestly speaking I can not find any concrete benefits the goblins are receiving. Are they really that dumb? Heck at any rate, if I say no to such a contract, then I am the dumb one. Not only are these creatures basically giving away free Blueprints, Mana and KR to me, but they are also swearing to not put my life at any risk. There goes my existential crisis. I thought, as I agreed to the Contract.
Congratulations! You have formed a Contract with the Nightshade Goblin Tribe.
Opening up Goblin Race to the creation menu.
Error…
Goblin Race already available for Selection.
Opening up Higher evolution of Goblins to the creation menu.
New Dungeon Monster Available: Hobgoblin
Since I had already opened up the goblin race in the creation menu with the death of the goblin scout, I received the hobgoblins as a new monster race upon confirming the Contract.
The Goblins were also finishing up by the time I was through with the contract.“Oh Lord, we offer this sacrifice to you to appease your anger for any of our current and future wrongdoing. Please accept our offering, as we will accept your trials and bless those who you deem worthy. We bow to thee, our Creator.” Maybe they timed the chant with the reading time of the contract? I mused to myself as I listened to the end of their ritual.
“Oh Lord, bless us with your favor” All the creatures shouted. A new system message popped up as soon as the shouting was finished.
You have received heartfelt worship from creatures outside the influence of your domain.
New Statistics added, DIV (Divine Favor) : 0.00019%
When I looked up divine favor in the definitions tab what I saw was that it was a power which increased my healing ability, ability to influence nature along with some other powers. I would have to experiment more with it when I had more than 0.0002% of this power.
DIV (Divine Favor):
Divine Favor represents the amount of reverence, adoration, and spiritual energy directed towards a deity, powerful entity, or significant figure. It accumulates over time through prayers, offerings, rituals, and acts of devotion performed by followers or believers.
Higher Divine Favor could grant various benefits such as increased powers, blessings, protection, or influence over natural elements or events.
Ha ha ha, finally there is validation from the system confirming that I am a higher being. Giggle…
If we listened carefully, we could hear that adrenaline from a near death experience had given rise to new delusions in our protagonist Core.
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Status Screen
Name :
(Unnamed)
Age :
64 days
Class:
Void Creature
Species:
Dungeon Core
Level :
F
Experience :
14/100
INT (Intelligence):
E
DEF (Defense):
G
KR (Knowledge Repartoir):
2/100
STBC (Stability of Core):
10.90%
Mana Pool:
540/2000
Essence:
368/1000
A/M Conversion:
2.5 M/sec
Essence Regen.:
0.25 E/sec.
DIV (Divine Favour)
0.00019%
Abilities: Creation and Design, Spawn and Control Monsters, Trap Generation, Resource Management, Environmental Manipulation, Bonds
Extra Ability: Mutation and Evolution, Artistic Conception (Passive), Disease and Healing, Guidance (Dungeon Creature)
Titles: Contractor