Chapter 4: Initiation

Galaxies streaked by in a blur of color and light, hurtling past him at unimaginable speed. Stars zipped by so quickly they appeared as bright, elongated lines, making him feel like he was traveling at warp speed—just like those sci-fi movies he used to watch back on Earth. The sheer magnitude of space was overwhelming. Humanity had barely scratched the surface of the cosmos, yet here he was, flying through the endless expanse, a mere speck in the vastness.

He wanted to scream at the absurdity of it all, to rail against the incomprehensible scope of the universe he’d been thrown into, but instead, he found himself chuckling darkly. "In space, no one can hear you scream," he thought, the irony settling over him.

Just as quickly as the sensation of being flung through space had begun, it stopped. The rush of stars vanished, and in an instant, everything went black. Not the comforting kind of darkness, but a complete, all-encompassing void. Brent blinked rapidly, trying to focus on anything, but the blackness was unyielding, smothering.

“What fresh hell is this?" he muttered, his voice barely more than a whisper in the oppressive silence. "Where the hell am I now? Did Stacy push the wrong button and drop me into Eternal Purgatory?"

The idea gnawed at him, and panic started to creep in. He could feel his heart pounding faster in his chest as his thoughts spiraled. He waited, hoping his eyes just needed time to adjust to the darkness after the bright, sterile light of the reincarnation station. But the void remained, cold and unfeeling, stretching on forever.

Just as the panic threatened to take hold, a familiar window blinked into view, cutting through the oppressive darkness like a lifeline.

Welcome to Acredia

Well met, traveler!

‎ You have been successfully reincarnated into the world of Acredia—a realm brimming with adventure, danger, and untold possibilities around every corner. As a newly reborn Dungeon Core, your journey begins here, in the heart of your domain.

To aid you in this new life, you have been granted your first Spark—the very essence of life for all Dungeon Cores. Guard it well, for your Spark is the source of your power and existence. Its survival is your survival, and its destruction will mean your end.

Protect it with all that you are, and prepare to build your legacy.

After reading the notification, a soft green glow began to fill the room. Brent blinked, trying to figure out where the light was coming from. After a moment, it hit him—it was coming from him .

“What the…?” Brent started, but his words trailed off when he realized something was wrong. He tried to move, but nothing happened. Panic flared in his chest. “Wait! Where are my legs?!” he shouted into the emptiness.

“You don’t have legs, you silly bugger,” a voice chimed in, its tone light and distinctly Irish.

Brent’s heart raced. “Who said that? Who's there? Don't come closer! I took karate in high school!” he warned, his voice shaky but trying to sound tough.

The voice chuckled. “I’ve no clue what karate or high school is, but that doesn’t sound as intimidating as you think, mate.”

Brent scowled. "Who are you?"

“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Emil, your Dungeon Companion. Pleasure to meet you,” the voice responded cheerfully, though Brent still couldn’t see anyone.

Brent looked around, confused. "Where are you?"

A light laugh followed. "Come now, didn’t your mother ever teach you any manners? It’s rather rude not to introduce yourself when someone gives you their name."

"Uh, right. Sorry. I’m Brent,” he said instinctively, before catching himself. “Wait, I’m not falling for this polite nonsense. Where are you?!”

“I’m with you, of course,” Emil replied, sounding far too amused. “I just don’t have a physical form yet. You’ll need to finish your selections first, and then I’ll show up.”

Brent’s frustration bubbled up. He was on the verge of losing it. Only a few hours ago, he’d been on Earth, expecting to kick back, binge-watch The Blacklist, and enjoy a lazy evening. Now he’d been thrown into some twisted version of the afterlife, been reincarnated into god-knows-what, and was now talking to a disembodied voice with an Irish accent.

"Okay, listen,” Brent said, his voice on the edge of cracking. “I’ve had the absolute worst day imaginable. I’m dead, I’ve been tossed around the universe, I have no idea what’s going on, and now I’m talking to you, with no legs, no body, and no clue what’s happening. So could you please— please —just tell me what comes next before I lose my shit?"

Emil let out a soft sigh, though there was a hint of sympathy in his voice. “You’ve got quite a mouth on you, don’t you? Alright, alright, no need to go full meltdown on me.” He paused, then continued in a more serious tone. “You’ve been reincarnated as a Dungeon Core. Now that you’ve chosen your world, you’ll get to pick what type of dungeon you want to build. Once you do that, I’ll take on a physical form and can assist you properly. I’m your companion now, after all.”

Just as Emil finished explaining, another window popped up in Brent’s vision, waiting for his next decision.

Dungeon Theme Selection

Congratulations, Dungeon Core! You have successfully been reincarnated in the world of Acredia. Now, it’s time to choose your Dungeon Theme. Your choice will determine the environment, style, and creatures that inhabit your dungeon. Please review the options below carefully. Once a theme is selected, your dungeon creation will begin immediately.

1. Necrotic Depths – Undead & Decay

 A dark and oppressive dungeon filled with the stench of death and decay. The walls are lined with rotting corpses and skeletal remains. Expect a chill in the air, low visibility, and an aura of despair.

o Monsters: Skeleton Warriors, Ghostly Wraiths, Lich Priests, Flesh Golems, Zombie Hordes

2. Inferno Bastion – Fire & Lava

 A blazing fortress surrounded by rivers of molten lava, where the walls glow with heat and flames dance in every shadow. The air is thick with ash, and everything in the dungeon is on the edge of combustion.

o Monsters: Fire Elementals, Magma Golems, Salamander Warriors, Flame Imps, Hellhounds

3. Crystal Caverns – Gems & Illusions

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

 A dazzling cave system filled with sparkling crystals that reflect light in all directions. The dungeon is a maze of reflective surfaces and false pathways, designed to confuse and mislead adventurers.

o Monsters: Crystal Golems, Illusionary Shades, Mirror Serpents, Gemstone Guardians, Chimeric Beasts

4. Fungal Grove – Mushrooms & Poison

 A sprawling underground forest where giant mushrooms and toxic spores fill the air. The dungeon is alive with bioluminescent fungi and deadly plants, creating an environment that slowly saps the strength of those who enter.

o Monsters: Spore Hounds, Fungus Trolls, Mycelium Shamblers, Toxic Slimes, Mushroom Sprites

5. Stormspire Keep – Lightning & Wind

 A high, skyward dungeon built into the peaks of stormy mountains, where lightning strikes constantly and fierce winds howl through the corridors. Everything here is charged with energy and unstable.

o Monsters: Thunderbirds, Storm Elementals, Lightning Drakes, Airborne Rogues, Tempest Spirits

6. Twilight Grove – Shadows & Deception

 A dungeon cloaked in perpetual twilight, where the lines between light and shadow blur. Trickery and illusion reign supreme, and nothing is as it seems. The air hums with unseen magic.

o Monsters: Shadow Stalkers, Night Panthers, Illusionary Phantoms, Twilight Assassins, Dark Fae

7. Cursed Catacombs – Traps & Dark Magic

 A labyrinthine dungeon buried deep underground, filled with ancient curses and dangerous traps. Arcane symbols line the walls, and dark magic oozes from every corner. Adventurers are as likely to die from traps as they are from monsters.

o Monsters: Cursebound Wraiths, Trap-Mimic Spiders, Arcane Sentinels, Undead Sorcerers, Hex Golems

8. Verdant Sanctuary – Nature & Beasts

 A lush, overgrown dungeon where nature reclaims every stone. The dungeon teems with wild beasts, treacherous flora, and natural obstacles. It is a sanctuary for creatures who have adapted to its harsh, but thriving ecosystem.

o Monsters: Dire Wolves, Vine Stranglers, Earth Elementals, Giant Spiders, Forest Guardians

9. Mechanized Gauntlet – Traps, Speed, & Mechanisms

 A high-speed, trap-filled dungeon that resembles a mechanized obstacle course. Conveyor belts, spinning platforms, moving walls, and sudden drops are just a few of the dangers adventurers will face as they race through. The environment is designed to test agility and reflexes, with mechanical challenges and enemies constantly in motion.

o Monsters: Gear Golems, Chainblade Automata, Speed Phantoms, Mechanical Mimics, Trap-Setting Gremlins

Brent froze as he absorbed the information in the prompt before him. It wasn’t just the sheer volume of it that stopped him in his tracks—it was everything he loved about fantasy games come to life. Sure, Earth was fine—mundane, safe, predictable—but it lacked the fantastical, the adventure, the real magic that he craved. Zoos and virtual tours could only take you so far. The rest of the world was tied down by laws, regulations, and limitations. But here? Here, anything seemed possible.

"I can’t believe this is real," Brent whispered, his voice barely audible as he read through the options again.

"Oh, it’s very real, mate," Emil’s voice chimed in, still bodiless but brimming with amusement. "And you’re in control of everything that happens in this dungeon. So be sure to choose something that excites you."

Brent’s first instinct was to pick the very first option, just to get things moving, but a thought stopped him. "Emil, are some of these creatures... frowned upon by the people of this world?"

Emil chuckled, a note of approval in his tone. "An excellent question! I can already tell you’ll be better than the last Dungeon Core I helped. That guy wasn’t much of a thinker. But yes, certain monsters are considered... problematic. Some are seen as inherently evil. If you choose those types, you run the risk of attracting attention from, let’s say, a more zealous crowd of do-gooders who might decide to storm your dungeon and ‘cleanse’ the world."

Brent’s eyes widened. "Wait, they can just break in and kill me?!"

"Well, technically, yes," Emil replied, still calm. "It’s rare, though. Adventurers usually prefer the rewards dungeons offer over-harvesting cores like yours. But, yes, if you’re seen as a significant threat, they could try to take you out. That’s why setting up defenses is key."

Brent’s pulse quickened. "So I’m vulnerable right now ? I don’t even have any defenses in place!"

"Relax, mate," Emil reassured him. "You’ve got a three-week grace period. That’s plenty of time to establish defenses and offer rewards. No one’s going to come rushing in just yet."

Brent exhaled, feeling the tension ease slightly. "Okay, that’s a relief. But, uh... why can’t I move?"

"Ah, that’s because you’re a Dungeon Core now. No limbs, no body, just the core. You’re embedded in the heart of the dungeon. But don’t worry, you’ll have Dungeon Vision to oversee everything. For now, though, let’s focus on what’s in front of you—one step at a time... or, er, you know what I mean." Emil chuckled, realizing his slip.

Brent’s gaze returned to the prompt. He read through the options again, but one, in particular, caught his eye: Mechanized Gauntlet.

"Emil, what’s this last option?" Brent asked, feeling a spark of excitement starting to form in his mind.

"Oh, that one? It’s a bit different from the traditional dungeon setup. Instead of adventurers having to kill all the monsters to claim rewards, it’s more of an obstacle course. Completing the track, even without defeating every enemy, still earns them the prize."

Brent’s eyes lit up. "So, it’s like a race?"

Emil paused, considering. "Yeah, you could think of it that way. Why? Does that appeal to you?"

A smile crept across Brent’s face. "Yes! I’m great at races. They were my favorite games back on Earth." For the first time since his death, something felt like it was falling into place.

"Well, then," Emil replied, his tone brightening, "this sounds like an excellent choice for your Dungeon Theme. Feel free to select it, and I’ll explain more once you do."

Brent took a deep breath, reading over the options one last time. That same subtle tug he’d felt during the reincarnation process pulled at him again, urging him toward Mechanized Gauntlet. Trusting his instincts, he selected the option.

The light around him brightened, illuminating the small cave-like space he now realized was his dungeon’s core chamber. Before his eyes, a swirl of sparkles gathered in front of him, gradually taking form. As the glow intensified, a tiny golem materialized, standing no taller than Brent’s knee, or what would have been Brent's knee if he had one. It looked up at him with gleaming eyes and gave a small wave.

"Hello, Brent," the golem said in a cheerful voice. "It’s nice to finally meet you in person."