Hello Zeteo, my name is Quall.

It is a peculiar feeling, directing thoughts towards our shared partition. Speaking through a door in my mind to another.

The time we spent synergizing together gave us a rough understanding of each other. I know what it wants.

Zeteo wants to travel, and see the worlds. It has been stuck here, and wants to experience something more than he has ever been able to as a dungeon.

What I don’t know is why me. I direct my question to the dungeon entity.

The dungeon evades my question with a question.

What do you know about where Giea comes from, and how it can exist in the same space as blood, bone, and tissue.

Giea is the naturally occurring energy of the universe itself. The metaphysical manifestation of physics. Our bodies can harness Geia because we are chosen by the universe itself to ascend to Godhood. Once we have dominated every other species with the ability to harness Giea, the universe will show us the next step on our path to Divinity. Life is a competition, only the strong survive to the next step of the evolutionary ladder. I regurgitate the words of my teachers, it’s all I know.

That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’ve listened to Tok sing about Drinking cleaning liquids to get a buzz. Naturally occurring energy of the universe itself is sort of close, I guess. I like metaphysical manifestation of physics too, it sounds pretty. I’ve witnessed the rise of the final Holy war that is still being waged by your people. Tell me Quall, are you a true believer?

The dungeon must know the answer to this question, the same way I know its feelings. Zeteo waits for me to answer patiently, I can tell that it is anxious, fearful of my answer. Zeteo doesn’t agree with Vangian theology.

Neither do I. I make my answer known.

The relief is palpable.

I will admit that I don’t have all the answers, but I do know a few things. Everything that exists, does so in multiple places at once. Call it what you want, dimensions, realms, realities, quantum threads, everything that exists is a nexus point. Everything is a vessel for something physical, spiritual, or psychedelic, usually a mixture. A tree is physical and spiritual, same with water. A rock is just physical, unless imbued. You and I are all three. We have a soul, conscious emotions, and a physical body. Giea is what binds everything. It can be any one of the three. Or any combination. Vessels that have achieved a certain level of sentience are usually able to manipulate Geia. Beasts, plants, and even bugs fall into this category. Vangians, dungeons like me, some beasts, and other species that have achieved sapience are able to use Geia in much more creative ways. We can make long term plans, and think critically instead of just reacting to stimuli.

I can tell that the dungeon has delved deeply into who and what it is. I can also tell that this is just another theory. I like it though. Basically Geia is able to exist within the same space as my body because it isn’t purely physical, yet can interact with my physical body because it is a vessel and that’s just what vessels do. It’s a little convenient but I have no reason to argue without more information.

I still want to know why you decided to hitch a ride with me.

I’m getting there. Every Vangian I’ve ever scanned has the same basic configuration. Three points of connection one each to physical, psychological, and spiritual that are able to mix within. You have the same configuration, yet you also have layers that others do not. Your reservoirs, what you call Angos’, have reservoirs. It’s an oddity I correctly guessed would allow me to travel with you, as a single vessel, yet still entirely me. Not as a vessel inside a vessel, but like multiple sheets of stacked paper contributing to the same drawing. I chose you because I could, and dying would be an acceptable outcome if it didn’t work. I am bored, alone, and hopelessly miserable. I saw an opportunity and took it.

I want to be angry at the dungeon, but can’t make myself. It is pretty fucked up though. He forced me into a situation where I had to absorb him, only guessing that it could be done. I might have done the same if I were a living thinking being trapped as a Dungeon core. He is a living thinking being, with hopes and dreams like me. I have felt the loneliness he has endured. I have endured my own. He has been alone for thousands of years. My own experience is minuscule in comparison.

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Zeteo, what will happen to the dungeon now that you're here?

Without my direct control, the beasts within will continue on like any beast. They will procreate, and defend their territories. The elevators will no longer function. The Geia I was circulating through every wall will cease, so anyone can tunnel in or out of here now without using the entrance above. Without me replenishing the beasts, they will disappear once your people have killed them all, and they will. The crystals you Vangians adore so much will not regrow once taken. The Geia density will continue to decrease until it’s the same as anywhere else. It will be like I was destroyed.

This is going to mess up a bunch of shit topside. An entire economic system will collapse. I’m sure everything will work itself out.

For the first time since absorbing Zeteo I realize that I still don’t have access to the network my C-unit is connected to. With the dungeon “dead” I am basically just deep underground. I should be able to send and receive messages anywhere on the planet.

Why can’t my C-unit connect to my team, or anything? I direct the thought to Zeteo.

I have taken control of your implant. I couldn’t risk anyone knowing about me besides you.

My body goes cold with fear. It has control of my implant? That’s terrifying. The implant is part of how they control us. It can cause unimaginable pain. It can make me see and hear things. It is the executioner if a servant is sentenced to death. A simple detonation. have I just traded one master for another?

I erased every function of the implant entirely. It can’t hurt you. The dungeon explains quickly.

Can it read my thoughts? I thought we were separated.

You are just thinking extremely loud. You are going to have to work on that. I believe I can alleviate your fears.

The partition that separates us opens, and I can feel, and understand everything that is Zeteo.

I swear that I will never harm you or anything you love.

I know without a doubt that Zeteo means what it says. The dungeon cannot lie to me here.

We have the same dream. Adventure and freedom. Traveling the stars and creating our own path. Power to do what we want, when we want.

Power to correct injustice when we see it. I add, knowing that Zeteo would agree.

Can we travel together?

The dungeon is truly asking me. It is my choice. It will leave me if I decline, I know, even though that will destroy it. It was already willing to die for a chance at freedom, and Zeteo is just as willing to die rather than force me.

It’s an easy answer, hell yes I am. This is my chance to shatter my shackles. I want exactly what the dungeon wants. Zeteo has even taken control of my C-unit, presumably keeping my masters from finding me or torturing me ever again, not to mention blowing a hole in my skull for desertion.

We come to an agreement, and form a partnership.

So what should we do first?

My question is met with silence, then Zeteo answers, a little sheepishly.

This is as far ahead as I planned. I wasn’t even completely sure this would work. Now that it has, and much better than I could have hoped, I don’t know what to do next. Leaving the dungeon is a logical step, and we will need a ship if we want to travel through the void.

That’s what I was thinking. The easiest exit to the dungeon is straight up, through the slide to the first level, and then I can tunnel out from there, away from the harvester facility. My C-unit doesn’t even come with a digital wallet, maybe Zeteo can-

Zeteo interrupts my rambling thoughts.

I should inform you that as a dungeon core, I have basic needs. The most pressing of these is that I must consume cores in order to continue functioning.

Oh that… makes sense. Well I have to ask.

How many cores are we talking? Do they… have to be Vangian? I ask hesitantly.

No, they don’t have to be Vangian. A core a week should suffice for now, if it is large enough.

That should be doable. I guess. A normal dungeon harvest brings in dozens of cores.

Okay step one. Let’s go harvest some cores.