Arriving in the town of Dune, Light, Dropper, and their human tag-along Sophie, begin their search for the Silver Moon brothel.
To complete the contract to the highest standards, they have to eliminate their target whilst he's in the brothel and they must return with his body. As they traverse the streets in search of their destination, Light purchases some food for the party. With Sophie busy eating, finally removing herself from Light's waist, he and Dropper rock, paper, scissors to decide who will disappear to complete the mission.
After cursing a few times, Light resigns himself to the less enjoyable job of babysitting Sophie. Fortunately for him, it seems that this job was made especially for the blue-haired Shadow Walker.
After finishing their meal, the trio continue their search. Less than half an hour later and they're stood at a crossroad. The brothel is off to the left, whereas the opposite direction leads to the beautiful, golden meadow. A well-frequented location for young lovers going through the courting period and adults out for a good time.
Grumbling under his breath, Light can't help but want to assassinate someone as Dropper informs Sophie that they're splitting up. The guard/ex dungeon diver doesn't bat an eye until she's told who she will be accompanying and where. After taking the news exceptionally well, she's all smiles
"Okay, Dropper. We'll meet you where the roads join up later!" dragging Light by the arm, Sophie and the reluctant Shadow Walker disappear round the corner before Dropper can even say goodbye. Although a sarcastic comment was what she was lining up, the blonde Shadow Walker didn't get chance to make her quip.
"Why are you pulling me? And why are we running? We're not chasing anyone." Still upset after going from Assassin to babysitter, Light catches Sophie smiling back at him and decides to let it be. There could be worse things to do other than hang out with a pretty woman. Caught in her heart-moving smile, all Light can see is Sophie and he runs straight into a group of people, causing them both to tumble to the ground.
"Light! I'm sorry. Are you okay? I'm really sorry, if I was watching where I was going, then this..." crouching next to a goofy-looking Shadow Walker, Sophie knows the accident was her fault and apologies profusely before she's cut off.
"What the fuck! Do you know who I am?" Without waiting for an apology, the cloaked man stands up and screams in outrage. His entourage back away immediately as his temper flares to the max. After only a small, accidental misunderstanding, the fact that he's so quick to rage testifies the type of person he is. The three women don't say a word. However, one is staring murderously at Light and Sophie.
"How am I supposed to know who you are? Do you know who I am? Also, you don't look like the type of person that bakes bread... That means you're not who we're looking for anyway, so you can just toddle along. I'm not really in the mood to..." Before he can finish his sentence, the man's features that are visible beneath his hood turn red from embarrassment and he disappears in a burst of wind. Brushing the dust of his clothes, Light almost misses the blade aimed straight at his heart.
"Nice," brushing the attack aside with a casual flick of his wrist, Light watches astonishment wash oer his attacker and then full-force slaps him across the face. The poor man rolls violently past his entourage and crashes into the building behind them. With his head spinning, he struggles to stand before finally making it to his feet.
His companions gather around as he glares furiously at Light. Shaking visibly, he starts arguing with himself in the middle of the street before losing that battle also.
"Y-You're lucky that I have other business to attend to," the man barks out before walking away with more haste than necessary. His speed doesn't stop him from flipping Light off as his entourage round the corner, however.
'That wasn't cool." Watching them round the corner, he shakes his head and turns to finds himself confronted with a sparkly-eyed Sophie.
"That. Was. Amazing. He was like whoosh, and you were like bang, slap. Get away from me fool. It was awesome. How are you so strong? Are you like... A Vampire or something?" laughing at Sophie's silly thoughts over where his strength comes from, Light shakes his head and smiles warmly.
"I'm not a vampire. I'm just good at what I do," playing it off as nothing, he turns to continue on down the street. He doesn't get far before Sophie links their arms, almost faster than the man had attacked.
"It's ok if you are. I don't mind at all. Whatever you are. You can... Bite me. If you want too," hooking up to Light as tightly as he can, Sophie leans in close. Tempting him with her eyes, she fully exposes her neck to him and it causes Light to stop.
"I'm not a Vampire. If I was, I wouldn't be able to walk around in the sun with you. Would I?" trying to get Sophie to see sense by using logic, Light's words fall on deaf ears as Sophie leans in even closer.
"I don't care what you are. Just bite me and take me right here. I want to stay with you forever," blushing worse than his attacker did a moment ago, Light flusters at Sophie's words as he is taken back by their meaning. Inside his chest, his heart beats faster and faster and the scent of the sweet aroma coming from the woman offering herself to him is all he can smell.
By the time they hit the meadow, Light can barely control himself. His heart beating even fader than before threatens to burst out of his chest. Looking down, Sophie is already looking up at him and their eyes meet. They stop, the Shadow Walker is unable to move. Paralysed by the allure of the woman on his arm.
He blinks and she's closer. Once again and she right infront if his face. Ever so slowly, the distance between them disappears until eventually their lips meet. Ecstacy floods his entire body in an unbridled overload of euphoria, before he collapses on the floor in a love-stricken mess.
-Light, Dropper, and Sophie, Syndicate Assassins.
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After purchasing another plot of land, I named it the residential area after filling the entire section with homes and inns. After that, I paved the roads and added a bit greenery to the area.
I have to say that I'm super impressed with my work. Being a Dungeon Core certainly has its upsides, even if the majority of my time is spent spiralling.
If I was still human, I'd love to be able to own a house here and I'm hoping that's how other people will see this place. After all, this area is specifically for non-dungeon residents and that's why it's so well done up. Not that the area my summons inhabit is worse off, it's just that I can build freely around them without having to use Divinities Presence.
Either way, this place has everything it needs for people to start living here and shouldn't need anything else adding to it. Then again, it's easy to overlook small details, but I can easily accommodate a few hundred people now without worries.
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Right after I finish, one of my scouting parties return and I finally hit level 33. My explosive growth ran its course a while ago and since then it's taken almost two weeks to reach my next level.
Funnily enough, it's also the same time that I swapped Light and Dropper from scouting detail to Syndicate Contracts. Those two always bring back something absurd. Maybe when they get back from their current mission, I should let them scout around my mountain for a few days. With almost two dozen scouting teams out at any time, it's unlikely that they will bring back anything on the same level as before. You never know with those two though.
I'll think about it.
From what I hear and what I'm told, most of the area within a 5 mile circumference of our home is relatively clear of monsters. Which is another good selling point for moving to Varona. Come and live the easy life, relax without having to worry about monster attacks.
Even if a monster does show up, there'll always be someone around to take care of it. These Shadow Walkers don't mess around.
As is the trend with a new level, I always unlock something new. Whether it's a building, room feature, a monster, or even the occasional loot I barely use, there's always something. It's whys there's always so much to do.
I've been trying to work through my backlog before using the latest features. With my last level up, I've unlocked something that darent makenwait at the back of the queue for me to test. Or possibly forget.
I'd cry.
This one, insignificant level up, in the many I've been through since reincarnating, offers me a fraction of the hope. A sliver of longing that I had almost given up on.
Dungeon Core Abi has reached Level 33:
A new monster has been unlocked:
Rock Worm: 20DP
A new skill has been acquired.
Spiritual Presence: Level 1
That's right, the Rock Worm.
...
What? A Core can't crack a joke when she's in a good mood?
Ignoring the Rock Worm, I waste no time and immediately cast my new skill. Praying, to anyone and everyone beyond my own gods and System, that it will finally give me a semblance of what I desire. What I long for.
My manifestation is wrapped in a soft, blue hue. What I've come to know as the light of creation, or something similar, covers me entirely and it ends up that bright I can't see a thing. Thinking something has gone wrong, worry casts a cloud over my heart until I trip over something.
Landing on the cold, hard floor of the dungeon, my body shakes uncontrollably as I begin to tear up. I still can't see yet, but that thing I tripped over... Was me. It was my foot, I think? Feeling my chest pound away furiously causes my waterworks to go full-on flood and I keep trying my best to dry my eyes.
It doesn't work though and I can't stop crying. Instead, I sit there like that for a while. Moving around various body parts until my sight finally returns. Infront of my face are the cutest hands I've ever seen, wiggling their fingers at me.
I can actually feel myself doing it.
Muscles in my face contract as I pull the largest smile ever. I've wanted to do for ages and now I can. Performing some light stretches, followed by a few mocks attacks, my body feels fantastic. This skill is amazing so far.
However, it has two problems that are both glaringly obvious. First, my entire body is translucent. That means it's not a proper, human body. If anything, looking like this is only going to make people think I'm a spirit.
The second problem is that I'm tiny. Like, child-sized tiny. Light would be able to stand on me unknowingly, if he wasn't watching where he was going. That's how small I am. Looking at myself, my proportions are all in the right places, which is awesome. I'm just not big enough for anyone to see properly yet.
Still, I look amazing. I don't even care how big I am, right now. The only problem is this colour. I don't like how my hair makes me look old.
I have an idea.
Ending my new skill, I combine Manifestation with Spiritual Presence and cast them simultaneously. Again, I'm turned into the brightest light in the room. When I open my eyes, I'm pleasantly surprised to see my hair a vibrant green.
"Yes." The cutest sound ever leaks from my lips as I announce my genius to the dungeon. The fists I'm holding in the air cause me to pause though. They're also the same vibrant green as my hair. Crap.
Green spirit or white spirit? What do you think, Me?
I would say that green is certainly your colour.
And I would agree. I reckon you would be an orange by the way.
An orange?
Yeah. I don't know why though... You just strike me as an orange.
Colours are irrelevant for myself. Green does suit you however. Now that you're happy, you have more DP to spend.
Aww. But I just got a new skill and it's an actual body. Hang on.
I bend down and try to grab the rock on the floor. Unsatisfactory, my hand phases right through it as it would with regular Manifestation.
It was worth a shot. Maybe when I level up some more, I'll be able to unlock something that lets me touch and taste. I'm coming Ali. Just you wait.
I've given up worrying about your skills now. After you passed level 10, the consistency between what you should earn and when changes too often. You always earn a feature during a level up, but as to what that something is going to be, I could not even hazard a guess.
I actually have my fingers crossed. Hoping and praying that I'll be able to physically hold something in the near future as Me explains what I already know. I get it. It's vexing. Probably more so for him. Me's supposed to be able to guide me through this process, but can't because a certain Dungeon Core doesn't roll like those normies he's created to serve.
No wonder he gets irritated and snappy. Although, since he's acting that way, it means he should be able to grow alongside me. Feelings are what makes us who we are and if Me was some autonomous being... Yeah, I don't think I'd like that.
Do this, Abi. Do that, Abi. You're not spending points fast enough, Abi. Don't let points go to waste, Abi. Don't let them...
There isn't much of a difference when I put it like that, is there?
What are you going on about now?
...
...Nothing.
Kat says humans are crazy and she's not wrong. Again, it's probably because of emotions and feelings. They're what drive people to do whatever it is they think is best. That said, there's just something about being human that has a lure to it.
Twirling my fingers through my hair, I chuckle whilst remembering what that lure was. Freedom. Being an adventurer. Facing the unknown. Conquering the challenges of life with your friends and family.
I suddenly feel quite shameful. Am I able to leave the mountain? Do I know what's going to happen tomorrow? Am I surrounded by people that love me? Why am I only now realising that I already have everything that I wanted .
I may not be able to leave the dungeon's boundaries, but everyday they get bigger. Even if I was still confined to the mountain, would it really matter? As long as I fully support and embrace those that can, did it really matter if I had a body or not? What changes now that I can move my fingers and toes? Nothing.
Having a body was all that I wanted. Now that I've got it however, I understand that it's not what I needed and was only a selfish whim.
The acceptance that I claim to have over being turned into a Dungeon Core may not have been as true as I had claimed it to be. Deep down, I was still harbouring grudges and aiming them in the wrong directions. At the wrong people. Using any reason I could find to vent my frustrations, I even named Dropper in a parhetic rage over a stupid Goblin.
The spirit body that I'm currently in helps me see things differently. What I really needed was what I was already creating around myself. Strong foundations. Dependable people. Everything that makes the current me, me.
Having a human form is great, but since it's smaller than average, I'll revert to my overview and do as Me suggested. The autonomous helper, who's not really autonomous at all, is the closest thing I have to a best friend and I should listen to him more aswell.
Let's stop letting things get to me and concentrate on features and building.
With my newfound outlook on life, things can only get better from here.