On the way back, Dum and Dee debate what their Master will say after they managed to successfully cross the river running north of her mountain.
Upon crossing the slow moving water they wait just before the treeline to dry off a bit before heading back, both still a little hesitant to know what Abi will say about Dee's broken dagger.
"Why did it have to break?" He poses the question to himself more than his partner.
"They're cheap and rusty, don't worry about it, the Boss'll understand. We've had 'em ever since she summoned us so they were bound to break at some point, especially when we're trying to take down enemies like those boars." Dum tries to cheer up his partner, who's looking a little dejected.
"I just... it's special you know." Dee says with sadness in his voice.
"Don't be daft, it's just a dagger."
"Give me yours then." Dee holds out his hand and Dum recoils faster than a Leipold.
"No, it's mine!" He exclaims whilst almost hugging his weapon.
"See, you get what I mean now, right? It's more.. sentimental, I was created with this weapon for it to be used to serve my master any way that it can and now..." He trails off leaving his bittersweet words hanging in the air.
Before Dum can once more try to console his trusted partner the overgrowth behind them starts to rustle and both Rogues spring into action taking separate hidden positions to maximise their chance of a stealth attack.
"Come out you idiots, I heard ya talking a moment ago. It's me, Veris, I'm with the adorable Sweet A and the beautiful Sweet B." The new voice shouts out.
Drawn out at the mention of the first-floor Boss monster, Dum and Dee reluctantly reveal themselves and kneel before Veris to appreciate her status in the dungeon.
"Veris, how come you are not protecting the first floor? Is the master safe?" Eager to know about the place he calls home, Dee blurts out his thoughts to the three Vagabonds before him.
"Yea, Boss is fine. She created some more voracious Vagabonds and now I can rotate with them, meaning I get to come out and kill things." She snickers joyfully to herself, then notices the broken blade in Dee's hand." What happened there?"
"He broke it inside a large Boar that we managed to kill." Dum happily belittles his partner, whilst boasting of their victory, to the monsters a tier above him.
"Well done, I'm sure the Boss will be pleased with your efforts, here." She tosses Dee one of her old Rusty Daggers. "The boss has had an upgrade of sorts, so I won't be needing that one anymore and I'm sure you can put it to good use."
Dee's face lights up at the prospect of not having to tell his master that his blade has broken anymore.
Veris eyes him as he catches the blade before ending their conversation with, "Don't disappoint me now."
"Okay, come on you two sexy beasts, Mama's got shit to kill," Veris comments to the two named Sweets beside her before disappearing back into the overgrowth.
"I thought you said these blades were special, you're happy as hell now you've got Veris's," Dum questions his now jubilant partner who appears to be grinning ear to ear.
"Shut up fool, I've got one of Boss's daggers now and neither of us has to tell the master we couldn't carry our loot or that my dagger broke. In fact, do you know what, to quote Veris, I also feel like killing 'shit' "
"Alright but we don't have that long left, let's stay close to the dungeon." Dum reminds his companion.
"Okay. Hey, w-what do you think she meant by that last bit?" Dee asks with a touch of hesitation in his voice.
"I don't know, but do you intend to disappoint anyone?" Dum asks back smugly.
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm a natural killing machine, I am! I'm definitely gonna kill more than you in..." Dee boldly declares all hints of fear or hesitation gone at the slight mockery from his friend, before asking "..how long's left again?"
Dum lets out a hearty laugh before reminding his partner of their deadline and with that, they head into the woods that surround Mount Morte, the home of Dungeon Core Abi.
The Adventures of Dum and Dee:
Part 2
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Shadow Walkers.
If I was still human, would I have eventually reached their stage? Would I have dressed similar to them? It's doubtful. Armour is what it is for a reason.
Noir looks like he's some type of foreign royalty, unapproachable to those not in his social circle. Whereas Carrie isn't that much better with that cold and distant vibe she's got going. In more ways than one, she fits the bill for an evil sorceress title. Whether it's regal or ruthless, both of them look phenomenal and you can't fault the added beauty created by yours truly.
"Master. I beg of you to command me!" Noir's attitude, however, doesn't do his appearance justice. He just can't seem to control it and catches himself another side-eye from Carrie. No longer saluting with his fist he is clutching at the extremely-expensive shirt that he's wearing in anticipation.
"Woah. They're... Beautiful. Just... Like me?" Peaches, who has just watched everything with the other ladies, has her jaw open further than any humans would ever stretch. Her eyes are also bulging a bit and the Vagabonds have to rein her in.
I wish I could gawp like that. I just shine.
At least she said me instead of us that time. She didn't sound too confident at the end, but it shows growth on her part.
Such a cutie Slime.
It wouldn't even bother me if she couldn't talk. That's how cute she is. Adorably pink and a brand new kind of stupid, half Slime but 100% gorgeous, I love you, Peaches.
"MASTER!"
"YES, Noir. I heard you the first dozen times. Gods. What was I thinking? I mean... I was just thinking." I bring it back by the skin of my teeth and move straight on before any can otherwise.
I definitely wasn't going to tell them about wanting to open my mouth like Peaches, was I?
"Where are your weapons?" That makes it appear as though I was actually in thought. Neither one of them seem to have a weapon on them. Unless they're concealing them, they must both be trained in martial arts or something.
Their actions answer my question without need for words. Noir and Carrie reach out into pocket dimensions and retrieve magnificent weapons that complement their outfits.
If Peaches' mouth opens any further, she'll be earing some dungeon.
Noir has a spear, which surprises me. Since the Shadow Walkers are part of the Rogue Line, I was expecting a stealthier weapon. He throws out some mock attacks and go through the motions well, assuring me of his skill. It still leaves me wondering why? though.
Carrie is much better. She has the nicest sword Ive ever seen in her hand. It has a golden crossguard with small red gems embedded, which I'm sure are mana stones. A double-edged sword is dangerous to those who haven't been trained correctly. Like Noir, however, Carrie seems to be proficient in the art of death.
Why didn't I get a notification about being able to create their weapons? I can summon the one that Talia has.
Those weapons are unique to the individuals.
That's some bull right there. If I could give every summon a weapon like them it would be amazing.
Yes, but that does not mean they would know how to wield them. These weapons were created during the summoning process for no extra cost to suit the user. That itself is rather amazing, don't you agree?
Yeah. I can't fault you there, Me.
You know, sometimes you give good advice.
Only sometimes?
Well... You're not always Mr Information, you know? At times you can be a bit sarcastic or even a little dramatic, like earlier. You can tell jokes and you can get grouchy.
So? What's your point?
Do you want to know?
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Yes.
Really?
Yes.
Are you sure?
Abi! Yes, I want to know. Tell me, please.
That's my point, Me.
You want to know.
Is that even right?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Not in the slightest.
Ahhh, well it's...
"Master. Does my weapon please you. Isn't my pole girthy" Noir interrupts me by flaunting his skill and spewing some filth. It causes a shock to my Core and my Manifestation flickers.
"Don't shout out things like that you, pervert!" I yell back harshly, silencing the Shadow Prince as he stops his exhibition and drops to his knee. Carrie snickers at him and shakes her head.
Is that just her thing? Prince Loudmouth got all the words and she got the looks?
We'll revisit our conversation at a later date, Me.
It makes no difference to me.
Hehe. Stop it. I have to deal with these two. I swear, you do it on purpose sometimes.
"Ahem... Okay, right.That was a good display of skill, thank you." Noir's mood perks up and he opens his mouth. "However, I make the dirty jokes in this Dungeon. I don't want to hear about your weapon. Do you hear me?" That recieved another snicker from Carrie.
Noir closes his mouth but beams in pride over what I said about his skill. "Noir?"
"Yes, Master. I will not talk about the weapon's shaft." He put a fist to his chest and salutes me as I flicker once more.
I swear my core will turn red at rate.
"What did I just say?" Is he like Veris? Did he really listen, or is he doing it on purpose?
"Not to talk about my... Oh. I am sorry, Master. I didn't think about what I was saying. When I try to describe it, only certain words do it magnificence justice. It's extremely long and penetrates with ease. The shaft is perfect to grip and on the end where the... "
"NOIR!!! Why the hell are you still describing it. I swear to the Gods that I'll dismantle the next person that doesn't call that weapon a spear. And if you say shafts one more time..."
I leave the threat hanging since Noir riled me up. I think that's the first time I've gotten really angry since becoming a dungeon. I've had a few temper tantrums and a couple of wailing sessions, I even had some crass words for the system. That was actual anger at the embarrassment starting to build up.
I felt it.
My monsters felt it.
I can sense through the bond I share with Me, that even he felt it.
I drop my Manifestation after shouting at Noir and see that every one in the dungeon is on their knees.
Woah.
It wasn't intentional. Don't hate me.
Ahem...
Oh, right.
Turning Manifestation back on, I reappear before Noir. Carrie has also taken a knee and lost her Ice Queen status. For someone so domineering, why is she scared of little old me?
"Your job is learn whatever you can from whoever you come across. Whatever they want to talk about, you listen. We need to know as much as possible for the future. Also, level up as much as you can and use that storage of yours to keep your kills in. I can absorb it all when you get back. Got it?"
"Yes, Master." They reply in unison and then drop into the shadows beneath them.
Oh my word. That was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
"Woah. That was... amazing!" That was almost a proper sentence, Peaches. I'm so proud of you. And your also Gods damn right it was.
"What do you think I should do next, Peaches?" The Slime tilts her head as though she's confused.
Stupid Abi.
My question was extremely vague, it's understandable she doesn't know what I mean.
"What do... you mean?" Point taken.
Stupid Abi.
"Shall I create another monster or a building. Or should I work on the fourth floor?" I lay out my option before adding a forth. "Or... Would you like your own room with more Slimes?"
"My... Own room?"
She thinks it over and I can't help but be proud of how much she sounds like a proper person now. Aslong as she keeps her sentences short, that is.
"A room full of different Slimes. You can visit it whenever you want or not at all if that's what you choose. Wouldn't that be cool?" I think it sounds awesome.
"Cold?" Peaches obviously thinks otherwise and suddenly I'm really glad there's a restriction on contracted monsters being Floor Bosses. It's a good job she's cute, if it isn't related to Slimes she's about as clever as Noir's muscles.
"Don't worry, Peaches. Forget I even said anything. Why don't you and..." I've just realised that I didn't name the four Vagabonds I sent to Veris.
Again.
Stupid, stupid, Dungeon Core.
"That's Sweet C and that's... Sweet D's." Peaches is quick to point out that she knows their names. Although...
"I didn't name them that and why is it D's? Shouldn't it be D like the rest?" Curiosity get the better of me.
"Veris named... them. Sweet A and Sweet B... Went with her. C and... D's are there." She points before going on, "She also said... They're definitely D's."
Of course she did.
She is a bit... Strange. I regret not taking the matter more seriously.
That couldn't be truer. She's definitely... Eccentric?
Whatever. I can certainly put that till later. How's Barry getting along on the second floor?
I am unable to see it all through the dungeon and the overview only shows his first tunnel. His previous cave system on the first floor, however, has started to close.
What do you mean?
How?
I'm can't imagine the cave system is closing, but the walls of your Dungeon are slowly healing themselves. If you applied a little DP you can keep it open for longer.
That's good to know. I'll leave it there for now and use it to trap prospective powerhouses in the future.
It's was good having Barry dig that tunnel. I knew it would come in handy. I'm glad he's not up there anymore too. He was way too close to the entrance for a mythril Golem. I'll have to send him deeper into the Dungeon soon. Then we'll have Trap Tunnel 2. If I move him every now and then, he won't get trapped by accident. Last thing I want is to lose Barry.
Just because I'm a bit flush, I purchase ten Iron chests for Colin and place them in my Core Room with his others. That startles him from playing chest and he skitters around the room in glee before drooling over the new additions.
Unlocking the next upgrade, I release Manifestation and enter my overview. Which sucks because I'm no longer able to zoom around, but is by far the easiest way to place features in the Dungeon.
Getting to work, I'm done in less than five minutes. The fourth floor is basically a copy of the second. A never-ending corridor spirals down into the earth and is interspersed with camoflagued rooms to fill the floor requirements.
The difference between this here and the second floor is that the web feature has been attached to everything. The entire area is Spider paradise. I summoned nine Sticky Spiders to wander the never-ending corridor, unlocking their evolution, and set her as the Fourth Floor Boss.
Yes. Her.
A new Monster has been unlocked:
Reaping Spider: 12DP
New loot unlocked:
Luxurious Silk: 6DP
Summoning the Reaping Spider, I was a little disappointed to see the usual summoning light. I was hoping for a different colour since it was a third tier monster, but The System said no.
Even though she's a Dungeon summon, I can't help the shiver that runs through my Core when she smiles at me. I don't think I've ever seen a monster this scary.
A spider, for all purposes, she is. Even if her front two les are scythes. It's the human-shaped upper half sticking off its head like a bad mushroom infection that I can't get my mind around. Coated in the same hair as the main body, the only visible feature on the human element of my new Boss is her pearly-white fangs and her large chest.
I'm happy to receive the same optional notification as last time, although it's hard to focus on it with the Reaping Spider watching me.
Out of nowhere, a voice that matches the mouth sinisterly declares me it's, "Master" and also scares me to death. If I was still human I would have died there and then. No ifs or buts.
That was some creepy shit.
Optional Choice:
Make the Reaping Spider the Boss of the Fourth Floor
Due of the low number of monsters on this floor accepting this decision will summon 10 Baby Spiders as minions for the Reaping Spider at half the original cost
Yes/No?
I hit confirm and Bam that's 10 willies for Sam.
That's what I've decided to call the ridiculously-scary monster that now guards my fourth floor, Samantula the Mega Tatantula, but just Sam for short. The 9 Sticky Spiders that I summoned before Sam, plus the ten half-price Willies make the Spider count on this floor twenty.
Spiders are ridiculously cheap!
Moving on, the stairwell goes in the same place as the rest and the fifth floor is unlocked. This time I'm going with the same type of room as the Wolves Den, but without the forest. I'm going to create a large pitch-black room so that if anyone ever reaches here, which is unlikely, they won't be able to see anything or anyone. This will slow any attackers down as they won't be able to spot any of the tunnels across the span of the room.
Fifth Floor has been created:
5 XP Awarded
New features have been unlocked:
Seeds: 1DP
Rooms can now be placed adjacent to each other with wall partitions removed to create even larger spaces
Passive Skill Regeneration has reached Level 7:
DP has increased to a rate of 3.5 per hour
That feature might end being useful for my first floor.
Seeds on the other hand?
I unlocked Fertile Soil before too. Is The System expecting me to become a farmer or something? It's bad enough that I don't have a body anymore, the last thing I need is more dirt.
On the Fifth I add two rooms next to each other. Not because I want to use my new feature, but because I'm finally sorting out one of my problems.
The Dungeon Boss is supposed to guard the Core Room. Not the entrance to the second floor. That said, Veris' room is the first be swapped into the first room on the fifth floor.
Error:
First Floor has no Boss Monster
Select a random Mini-Boss to be the first floor Boss Monster
Yes/No?
Opting No, I decide to choose Webster and swap the Wonderful Womb of Web location myself. Once that's done, I move my Core Room behind the Boss Room. Core, Colin, chests and all.
Now that I'm looking, the jade diamond that is my Core has grown considerably compared to when it was level 1.
Back then it was the size of a gemstone. One that would make a gorgeous necklace or ring. Now, it's bigger than a fist and has a strong pulse. It's also a considerable distance away from the surface now and I have to say, I'm very proud of what I've accomplished.
Not just the creation of my dungeon, but managing to keep my shit together. Through everything that's happened to me and that rest that's bound to follow.
Just as I'm about to check my Status, a notification I didn't call up presents itself first. Interruptions are the salt and pepper in this dungeon and once again it must be dinner time.
First Time Absorption Bonus:
Let's see who's back early this time, did I give them more time than they need?
We'll see.
Popping Manifestation, the Dungeon Core is back in the house.
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Dungeon Core Abi Level 15:
76/390 XP until next level
5 Floors
33 Rooms
48 Tunnels
115 Monsters
1 Contract Monster
65 Traps
65/400 DP Available