Sometimes there isn't that much to do in my dungeon, especially when my DP runs dry. Yet, whenever there is a task that requires my attention, there always seems to be a queue forming behind it.

This has become one of those times.

As I stare at the hole-ridden remains of the elf on the street, I start with what I assume to be the quickest and easiest of the tasks I'll take on today. It also happens to be one that I've been waiting for so it has been automatically bumped up to the number one spot on my list.

I hit confirm on the blue-haired demon waiting in front of me and the evolution process begins. This might be the easiest thing I do today, but my spirit heart and jade-green Core beat in tandem at the prospect of Light's power level rising even higher.

After it has ended, the upgraded Rogue looks no different than before yet at the same time I feel winded. It's as though the air has been knocked out of me, even though I don't technically breathe.

What was that?

You have just used Divinities Creation.

What? How? Ah, crap. Nevermind, I've just realised. Stupid Abi!

"Did it work?" I furrow my brow as the idea of even more wasted DP doesn't sit well with me. Thoughts of the Hay Bale still linger in my mind as I examine Light's unchanged features.

"Yes, Master," placing his fist on his chest, Light bows to me and Sophie appears quietly by his side now the action is over. It must be really strange for her at the minute. Although, when Light tells her what's really going on here, I doubt she will even be phased by it.

She seems to have a one-track mind that one and has already firmly stated her opinion.

"Really? You don't look any different. Why do you still have the same clothes on? That's not normal. What's changed?" As I call up his status sheet, Light lists the new tier-four skills he has unlocked and I read through their descriptions like last time.

Prince Sillybollocks also tells me that he's acquired a new set of armour. It didn't manifest, but is safely stored away with his weapon and can be equipped in under a second if he needs it.

As if I wasnt jelly enough, he even went and beat Noir and Carrie to the punch. Neither seem impressed and I think we should all join some kind of group together. Then again, I'll have to kick them out when they rank up because I'll be just as jelly of them.

Sophie listens to Light's words like he's the Shadow messiah and I almost feel the same way. Damn, he's cool. I'm not above admitting my jealousy, but I really wish I could use some of the skills I've just read.

And I thought this was going to be quick and easy. I could easily spend half a day thoroughly combing through Light's stats and skills but I don't have the time to do that right now. Not when there's still more to do that needs my immediate attention.

The women that arrived with the elf, who I kinda forgot about and accidentally used up my daily allowance of Divinity's Creation, have both been moved to the Retreat and are next on my to-do list. There was three women, but one of them... Yeah, she just boom. It was weird. Anyway, let's get some answer from the two remaining accomplices.

The redhead elf in rags is called Aura and has been with Hiroshi for the last two months. Tilly, the human Cleric, has only been with them this last week. After unfortunate circumstances led to both women become Hiroshi's property, the were forced to follow him here or they would have been punished.

The elf's eyes are crimson red and remind me of Noir, however, she lacks that boisterous personality that goes part and parcel with who he is. She's that resigned that all I can see is Kat. Even though they look nothing alike. Tilly doesn't look much better, but you tell her spirit still has some Oomph to it. Aura... She's going to need some work.

"Why did you attack us?" Giving it a go, I'm not surprised to get zero responses. Well, a snicker came from behind, but I'm trying not to dismantle people today so I'll let it slide. Using my recently-upgraded Assassin, Prince Sillybollocks, I question the women. Light's tone can't keep their attention though and they continue to look outside.

The Retreat's on my list. Divinity's Presence has already been used today though, so it's going to have to wait until later.

"We didn't. Neither of us wanted to come here. That bastard Hiroshi just wouldn't let me die. If it wasn't for Tilly showing up..." Eventually, I get an answer, until the redhead breaks down and the Cleric has to take over.

"He killed my... My friends. M-my family. I thought he was going to do the same thing here. How? How did you beat him so easily? How did you get so strong?" Wiping tears away, Tilly's bright blue eyes gleam at Light in hope and she catch the ire of Sophie in doing so.

"Your sob stories won't work here! Answer my man's question. Why did you attack us?" making sure to point out that Light is taken, Sophie pushes for my answer. .

I knew I liked her. Stick to the point, Light.

"We didn't attack you! Hiroshi did. He was getting stronger by absorbing dungeon cores. I'm pretty sure that's why he made us come to this town. He said that he could get more abilities here after he found the core," the redhead answers honestly and her words leave me wondering.

So he was sort of like an elven Categoriser in one way? Except he craved the dungeon's power as well as their destruction. Why does this shit keep happening? Honestly, I can't wait for the day when people turn up and don't want to kill me.

"Tilly, right?" Light asks the blonde human who has managed to get herself under control.

"Y-yes, that's me," wiping her eyes, the Cleric looks at the elf beside her and fear takes her, "She isn't like the other two. Please... Don't kill her because she's an elf. Aura is kind and my friend." The waterworks renew on both women and Sophie rolls her eyes as she pleads her case to Light. Before she can finish, Aura inserts herself into the conversation.

"Tilly! It's ok. After what I went through, death will be a release from this shitty torment of a life. The body's freedom is not the same as the mind's. You weren't... With him as long as I was and I...I-I never liked men in the first place... " No one says a word at Aura's confession until Tilly wraps her arms around the elf and embraces her.

Well...

I definitely don't think they mean us harm. That said, I'm at a loss for words like most of the people watching. How do people who find themselves in the most unfortunate situations manage to end up in my dungeon?

Is this what The System means by help humanity? Do I need to become their shrink? Is that my job?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Luckily, Kat appears from nowhere, embracing both women at once tackling this problem for me. Her upbeat attitude also brings me out of my funk.

"It's OK? Is that what you really think? Don't be ridiculous. People like us have to stick together. We can empower each other so that the next time some scumbag piece of shit tries something similar, we can smash their faces in instead!" Kat squeezes the girls tight and my mouth drops open at her violent words.

Where did that come from?

"Abi, please can I talk to these two alone?" I close my mouth as Kat is looking at me as though she is wanting for an immediate response.

"Er... Well... I suppose so? Do you need someone to go with you? Just in case?" Looking around the Retreat, everyone is suddenly avoiding eye contact and no one wants to volunteer for the task I made up on the spot.

"No, I'll be alright. Thank you, Abi. Come on girls, let's go somewhere more private. Talia, will you bring some drinks upstairs please? Is that ok?" Talia nods to Katrina who disappears upstairs with Tilly and Aura, as I glare at the unhelpful drinkers around the room.

"Big load of help you guys are," I call out jokingly only to earn the attention of Noir, who races over to me.

"Master! I am almost level 80! I can feel the power swelling inside me. It's almost ready to burst," I raise my fist at Noir, but Carrie appears from his shadow and places her hand on the shoulder of Prince Loudmouth faster than I can clonk him one.

"Come. The Master is busy and you could do without a scolding for once," Carrie bows her head and pulls her partner through the shadows behind her, leaving me to move on to my next task.

The elf.

Almost level 80. Pfft. Didn't see him volunteering to look after Kat.

As I walk up the street toward the elf, I absorb the rubble around me and clear the path on the way. The invading elf's body is lifeless, gray and still full of holes.

How many dungeons did he destroy?

I don't know. Maybe you can connect to them somehow.

How do I do that?

I don't know? It was just a suggestion?

We're forever in uncharted territory aren't we, Me?

You could absorb the body, as you usually would.

Setting the limits and exploring the unknown, that's us. Let's do it! Although, it's not like I was going to let it rot.

Psyching myself up, I touch the body of the dead elf instead of absorbing him but nothing happens. Not wanting to give up straight away, I try to remember what his will felt like when he first entered my dungeon. It's not too hard as it wasn't that long ago and the fact that it was maliciously sinister makes it easier. He wanted to be at the top of the food chain and his will clearly carried that sentiment with it.

Mixed in with that evil presence are three smaller ones that went unnoticed until now. None have a will of their own anymore and instead they followed the host's commands unchallenged. It makes me wonder if that's how humans get their powers from Cores? They make us none sentient and rip our spirit from the dungeon.

As I get a better feel for the three residual souls inside the elf, I sense a sort-of kinship between us and can feel them slowly pulling towards me. I watch in amazement as three distinct wisps leave his body in three. Red, brown and green, all I can think is that they look like me when I'm using Manifestation.

I don't know how they managed to stay inside him, or even how they didn't disappear, but as they enter my body I'm extremely grateful they didn't.

New loot has been unlocked:

Refer to your system guide to view all... 873 loot items

New monsters have been unlocked:

Refer to your system guide to view all... 106 new monsters

New features have been unlocked:

Multiple scenery settings have been unlocked

Various floor templates have been unlocked

A large number of building customisable features have been unlocked

Please refer to your system guide to view all... 485 new features

Passive Skill Regeneration has reached... Error:

Calculating value based on multiple core levels/number of present core souls + level of current DP regeneration

Passive Skill Regeneration has reached Level 64:

DP has increased to a rate of 32 per hour

New skills have been acquired:

Temptress of the Wind

The Earth Sculptor

Forger of Fire

Error:

A new skill has been been acquired:

Soul Guide

Well...

Where do I even begin?

Even though I could sense our connection, it's not like I thought I was going to earn anything from them. Let alone the amount I actually got.

Isn't that like cheating? Not that I'm complaining. If I thought I could spend a half day looking at Light's stats page, how long could I spend reading my own!?

I don't know what to say.

Ha! That makes two of us.

I was hoping you would be able to connect to their spirits and gain an insight into the lives of other Dungeon Cores. I did not expect you to receive the accumulation of their lives' work.

I wasn't actually expecting anything to happen. I thought the other Cores were long gone until I actually felt them. Even then, I was only expecting a little Terrortation session. Maybe witness how they died. Instead...

I hit the Core'pot baby!

Before I can remove my hand from the withered elf's chest, his body turns to dust and disappears. Watching his ashes float away on the wind, I earn a nice peace of mind knowing the one who killed the three cores I absorbed is now gone from this world.

It's a shame his soul has already passed on. I could have used him as a test subject for the Soul Guide skill I just earned.

There's no way in hell I'll be trying that one on myself first. Maybe I can get one of The Syndicate members to bring back a live subject before they kill them?

Wait a minute! I'm missing something here. What is it?

The elf's body is gone. Taken away by the winds of fate and so to is his soul. I stand there feeling confused until realisation dawns on me.

What happened to the insane amount of XP that I was supposed to receive? Light earned a ridiculous amount, so where's mine?

You didn't absorb the elf's body.

But... But... I got all those monsters and features and stuff. Why didn't I get the XP?

You connected to the remnants of the Core's lingering around inside the elf. In doing so, you acquired the monsters, features and skills that they had unlocked over the course of their lives.

But...

What about the XP?

Even though I earned an incredible boost in almost every way that matters in the life of a Dungeon Core, I'm still wounded that I missed out on that tasty XP from the elf.

Who knows how much I could have gotten? Maybe the three Dungeon Core souls inside his body when he died was the reason Light levelled up so explosively. I could have really done with some of that.

It is a shame but you cannot let the loss stop you from moving forward.

Yeah, I know. Last thing we need around here right now is a wailing session.

"Noir, Carrie," calling the two Shadow Walkers that are closest to evolution, they appear from the shadows. Both salute and take a knee before Noir opens his mouth to speak. A quick raise of my eyebrow promptly closes it, which shows progress on Noir's part, and I explain what I called them for.

I want them to head into the woods around me and bring home a bad guy. I know the phrase 'bad guy' is a bit vague, but I don't want them overlooking thieves just because they aren't killing people. So bad guy is how I chose to describe the type of person I want for my experiment.

"The woods are actually quite safe Master. It may take a while but we will return as soon as we can. Come Noir," for the second time today, Carrie puts her hand on Noir's shoulder and they both disappear as Noir bellows my name until the shadow-portal closes behind them.

I still can't believe I didn't earn any XP.

"I'm going to my tower. Call me if you need anything," I call out to no one, knowing that everyone of my family heard me, and float off to my futon in the Academy tower.