Dum and Dee are sat in the Retreat enjoying a cold ale after their shift.
"So, when are you gonna tell Mystique how you feel?" Dum smiles at Dee who instantly starts waving his arms.
"I don't have feelings for her. Why would you say that?" he questions right back.
"Come on, Dee. Everytime we cross them on shift change you barely say a word. Nevermind holding eye contact either as yer always staring at the ground," he explains with simplicity the events that have brought him to this conclusion.
"It's... It's not like that. She's just... Well.. She's..." Unable to finish his sentences Dee begins to stutter and Dum breaks out into laughter at his friend's expense.
"Sounds like someone's having a good time over here. What are you laughing at?" Talia interrupts as she has spotted Dum's empty mug and is now slightly curious as to what he finds so funny.
"Nothing," Dee cries out in embarrassment before his partner reveals the gossip to the curious Taskmaster.
"Oh, that's some juicy information. What are you going to do, Dee?" she smiles innocently whilst refilling Dum's drink.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Now, if you two don't mind," turning redder than a fire dragon's flame, Dee hurries out of the Retreat before the two remaining people can say another word on the subject. Not that either of them would have been able to as they're both in stitches over Dee's childlike response.
"Aww. What a softy," Talia sighs, after she has calmed down.
"Yeah, but he's the best guy I know." Dum smiles as he thinks about the various scenarios that he and his partner have found themselves in.
"You're a big softy as well I see," raising her eyebrows at Dum she gives him a heart-melting smile and her voice is a melody to his ears. Any logical thoughts that had been drifting around his head crumble to her tune.
"Huh? Er... No?" confused and caught off guard by Talia's feminine wiles, he stumbles through an answer only to earn himself a greater smile.
"I'm... Well... I'm... I'm a real man... You know?" Dum finishes, sounding less confident with each word, before he turns the same colour Dee had just been previously sporting.
"Oh? Of course you are sweetie," she keeps on smiling at Dum. To him, her eyes are like a clear summer sky without a cloud in sight and his heart beats in passion.
"Well, I should... Er... I should go see where... Where Dee got too. Yeah!" downing his ale he slams the mug down and runs to the door.
"I'll... I'll erm... See you later, Talia. Bye. " Dashing from the Retreat with as much speed as Dee, Dum hurries after his partner. Jumping inside at Talia's words, he sets off to find the person he considers to be his brother. He needs to inform him of his own new-found crush.
If he can't share this news with Dee, then who is he going to share it with?
Dungeon Stories Volume 1
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Aside from all my fabulous feature-and-creature upgrades, I also find myself at Level 31.
I know, right?
Where did that come?
Noir deposited a nice amount of points himself with Carrie adding the cherry to his cake. Funnily enough, that wasn't what did it. The Catergoriser and his men weren't actually as high in level as their promiscuous behaviour would suggest. Only going as far to reach the standards of Talon the Defiler. Both literally and figuratively.
So what came and rocked Abi's world like nothing else can? Who continues to out do themselves everytime they leave the dungeon? Who can't I leave alone for two gods-damned minutes
A certain blue haired Rogue and his Goblin dropping partner. That's who!
Not that I'm angry. Only frustrated. I worry that one day, they'll be turned into some dickhead's XP and I won't ever see them again. So yeah, Light and Dropper helped catapulted me all the way to level 31... With a single elf.
First Time Acquisition Bonus:
29DP 29XP
New Loot Acquired:
Elven Bow: 120DP
Elven Dagger: 80DP
Reinforced Traveler's Garb: 50DP
Reinforced Traveler's Boots: 40DP
Elven Absorption Bonus:
21,000DP 21,000XP
Aelion The Woodwalker:
Level 31 Woodwalker 210,000 XP
Thanks to their ever-surprising tributes, I can't help but feel incredibly strong. Or what I consider strong to be. I hadn't even made it to the twenties as a human. Check me out now, Anya. I'm rocking the thirties!
Dungeon Core Abi Level 32:
2586/4400XP until next level
6 Floors
58 Rooms
62 Tunnels
162 Monsters
2 Contract Monsters
88 Traps
3488/1750 DP Available
I'm no longer human but that no longer matters. I mean, who'd grumble over specifics when faced with these stats?
Getting to Level 30 as a human isn't an easy feat though. Once you hit level 20, the XP needed to level up is multiplied by ten.
Unless your in a really good party, or your brother's the guild leader, that's pretty much your cap. It's easy enough to make money and live safely after all. Only a fool would be talked into going into a dungeon to loot it a couple of times for the money...
Memories suck.
Why did he have to be so trusting until the end? What even made him act that way?
Whatever.
Since parties claim all the good spots, most solo adventurers and city dwelling guards never make it past level 20. Even we has slowed down since life had become easy. Well... Not easy, but easier than begging for scraps or stealing before you starved. It was comfortable and with Anya, everyday was a blast.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
From time to time, I still wonder where they keep finding these huge sums of DP. Everytime I think to ask them, however, they're out on a mission. Taken out of rotation, Light and Dropper are tasked with completing missions for The Syndicate alongside Noir and Carrie. Now that there are more people who offer contracts, things are progressing smoothly for once.
When I had nothing to do, Me explained how the Leveling System works. Which is another absurb System that doesn't know its arse from its elbow, or its 1 from its 9. He had to go over almost everything a dozen times for it to finally start sinking in.
Maybe he was right, I'm not the most attentive person?
He explained the XP needed for every level I've been through and even the ones I've not reached. He even went on about how Regeneration will finally start showing its worth. That skill though... Is trash. What Dungeon Core has to get to around level 50 before a skill they start with becomes useful?
Who's she kidding? She doesn't have a fucking clue. She's just sticking shit together and hoping rainbow unicorns come out. Manifestation at level 10? Yeah, I'm grateful. Like super, super grateful. I'd have probably gone absolutely crazy without it, but... Is it really a level 10 skill?
Again, whatever. It's not like I'm in charge. You can't stop a rainstorm of shit with well wishes. Not that it's raining now, but it pours in this dungeon. It damn well pours.
Me's lecture lasted forever. Like, the span of three days forever. Considering I don't sleep, it lasted so long. So long. I wish I never asked in the first place. Still, even when it was over and I actually understood everything he had said, I was still confused.
Why?
For myself and any monster I summon, the XP needed to level up increases every five levels. Which is much different than what I know about human leveling. Human levels increase with each one until you hit 20. Then the amount you need increases tenfold and still rises with every level. Hence why most people don't reach 30. The fact light and Dropper managed to find someone like that is already baffling enough.
Either way, my leveling now is much easier opposed to that of when I was still human. Much, much easier.
No wonder I'm level 32.
It feels like I've been given an advantage and, seeing how I'm progressing faster than I have ever have done before, I haven't complained about the matter once.
Not once.
Anyway.
In my short life the two Rogues who became my first scouting party never cease to amaze me and I find myself wishing to go with them at some point. If only just to be able to watch them in action. Sadly, that will probably never happen and I'll have to catch them on home turf. The next time we're attacked, hopefully they won't be paralysed by magic.
Best case scenario is that there won't be a next time, but I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket. Not for all the gold in Tira. As Kat so rightly pointed out before, humans can be bat-shit crazy and not worth the effort I'm trying to put it. She did however go on to praise my efforts and noble intentions, boosting my ego a great deal.
Hehe. Helping out humanity does make me sound quite benevolent, right? Does that makes me a person of stature and nobility?
What do you think, Me?
It is your story.
Yes it is, but you're also part of it. You know what, Me? I'm feeling really good right now.
If that is the case, how about spending some points?
That's a good idea. I suppose I am almost full again.
What's next though?
What about acquiring some land outside the dungeon? I'm rather curious as to how much space you will receive from using the feature.
I unlocked Land Acquisition many, many features ago. To be honest, I might have forgot about it. Aswell as a dozen others because there's so many. I couldn't even dream of spending 1000DP naxk then. Now that I'm a flush mama jama, let's see what it will do.
Fantastic idea, Me.
Teleporting to my entrance, I float as close to the opening as possible before being stopped by an invisible barrier.
Stupid restrictions.
Even if a Core could leave the dungeon, it's not like we could do anything outside the confines of our bodies. The thought of being stuck inside my walls for the rest of my days is disheartening. Luckily though, I'm not alone in this endeavour I call life. My mind is soothed as I picture the faces of those within and I purchase the land just outside my would-be jail cell.
Grass and soil that surround the entrance to my dungeon begin to shine a sublime golden yellow. The trees, roots and stones in the immediate vicinity outside are also wrapped in the same incandescent glow. As this is happening, I can almost feel myself growing in size. It's the same feeling I get when I place a new floor, but at the same time it's slightly different.
"Woah! Why is everything glowing?" Kat and Ali appear from behind and scare the crap out of me with their arrival. I was too zoned in on what was happening in front of me that I didn't even notice them arrive.
"I've just bought the land outside my entrance so that I can hopefully build on it and expand my town. Also, in the future, please let me know you're coming beforehand so that you don't give me a heart attack."
"Can Dungeon Cores have heart attacks? It doesn't seem very likely," Kat is quick to point out my fakery and has a cynical look on her face.
"They most certainly can," I begin...
They most certainly can not.
... before Me shuts me down.
"Hehe. Thanks, Me." Catching me out, that's the first time anyone has spoken directly to Me in my presence.
Abi just has a vivid imagination.
He did say that he could communicate with anyone I summon. I've never actually seen him do it until now though and technically Kat is contracted, not summoned.
Not that I could list the differences between the two.
"Hey, it's not like that. I just enjoy a good joke," Kat smiles as she places her arms around my ball of light. Recently, I've been able to slightly feel her touch. This isn't the first time she has embraced me over these last few days. Maybe it is because she's comfortable here as Me pointed out before.
"Also, I didn't know dungeons could take control of land outside their... Well, dungeon. In fact, I don't think anyone knows that." Your preaching to the choir there girl.
"To be honest, Kat, neither did we. Me thinks that because I was a human before becoming a Dungeon Core, that's likely the reason for all my strange features." I let her in on another secret from my past. Having grown quite close recently, I'm slowly revealing more and more about myself as we go.
Plus, she didn't run away after seeing Samantula. That there means she a keeper. Any information about the current me, or the person I used to be, is hardly distressing compared to the Scary Mary that protects me.
As the purchase completes, I take everything in from the comfort of Kat's embrace. Which I super nice, even if I do say so myself. As the light fades, the three of us take in my latest acquisition. No one seems impressed, however, and I can't help but feel I've just wasted 1000DP.
The trees look exactly the same and the grass... Is just grass. It's not like becoming part of the dungeon changes your physical features in anyway. Not that I'm bothered in the least.
Nope.
The fact that I can see the grass and the trees, bugs crawling through the soil, birds flying in the big, blue sky above...
I phase through Katrina's arms and out into the world. Emotions begin stirring as I shoot around as fast as I can whilst Ali and Kat watch on with a smile. It's not important that nature hasn't been altered. Nope. The only thing that matters is the fact that I'm outside my walls.
Hehehe. I'm not trapped anymore!
Ecstatic at my new found freedom, I can't help but zoom around. There's still an invisible barrier preventing me from going any further than what I own, but I couldn't care less. Just being outside is the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Or it was.
Captivated by the mountain that houses my dungeon, I'm shocked to see that it's actually quite large. Or maybe massive would be a better description? Either way, it's huge and is most certainly is a mountain. Which throws me off. The last time I saw the outside, this place was a Goblin hovel and no bigger than a house. A barrage of questions fill my mind, but that isn't anything new at this point and I don't even bother to ask.
If I had a DP for every question, I'd be a rich Core.
The large, erogenous rock that houses me is the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen in both my lives and by far the strangest.
And I've seen Sam and Peaches.
Being able to finally see my home in all its glory puts me at a loss for words. Leading upto a snow-filled peak, patches of nature are present here and there in a vibrant display on colour. Pink, red, blue, purple and orange. Surreal trees and grass make for a magnificent sight and I can't help but be mesmerised by the outer shell of my dungeon.
Wow.
I'm so glad you said it. I know you don't know, so don't think I'm asking you, but how the hell is that even possible?
I'm getting used to your rhetorical question these days and have can tell the difference between them. However, I wish I could answer that question with facts and knowledge. I too can't help but want to know how this has happened.
Returning to my senses after my having my socks blown off, I notice Kat is still standing inside the entrance and hasn't followed Ali out. Knowing that she's still a little distressed over past events, I float over and try to ease her burden.
She should be able to appreciate her master's beautiful mountain too, right?
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https://i.imgur.com/rRX3WVt.jpg
Link to a hand-drawn map.
Please go easy on me, my artwork is not the best.