It takes time for my companion to realize what I said.
“Why?”
“Dungeons, they don’t need to kill, right?”
I can feel the confusion in them as they question me
“Technically, yes. But why would you want to do that? Why take such an inefficient route? Aiden, you do know what is at stake here, yes?”
“I know this is the norm here, and I know what is at stake here. But I just can’t justify killing. I can’t kill for the sake of power.”
I feel their worry and fear come through
“Is it something I did? Did I say something wrong?"
"NO, no, none of that! This has nothing to do with you. It's me, I...I just can’t."
Confusion is apparent, trying to understand yet failing.
"I fail to understand. Delvers are well aware of the risks of dungeons, yet they still delve. Nobody is forcing anybody; they know of the risks and will simply bear the consequences for their actions."
"I cannot in good conscience kill living, feeling, sapient people. I don’t want to be the reason people grieve over their loved ones."
"Why can't you? On Earth, I saw the living survive off killing others; lives killed for you to feast and devour. Lives killed for the betterment of your life; weak lives ruined, yet you did nothing."
Memories of my own came through our bond, of when I ate meat and fish, where I used animal-tested products, and of when I ignored the beggars and the homeless. I won't deny it Earth sucked, and so was I living in it. But even so...
"No, I don't need to kill, right? I don't want to give up my values just because this is a different world; I won't give up without trying."
As I finished my words, I felt the confusion and doubt turning into a brewing storm. Lighting made of anger and disbelief strikes me hard. But I stand firm; I can't give up the values I hold precious, I can't just let this world change me without fighting back, and I can't give up on me.
"Aiden! Countless lives depend on you. It is a necessary sacrifice! Why care over some handful of lives lost when it means saving billions? Why risk your life over some people you do not know? Why are you making it so hard for yourself?"
"I'm sorry, but no, not without trying."
I can feel it, how it comes through our bond, the sadness, the fear, the guilt, the last ones I could bear, but this, this HURTS.
"Aiden, out of all my knowledge of dungeons that has been and is in Aehteria, they have all grown through killing. Disregarding The Abyss, people have destroyed dungeon cores for profit or conflict. I don’t know what to do if you choose another path. I don’t have the knowledge required to guide you then. Let’s just be a normal dungeon. With my knowledge, I could guide you be the fastest and strongest dungeon build in history, you’ll be able to create a powerful army for fighting The Abyss. Please, Aiden, you need to kill so that I may help you so that you can be safe."
"But I don’t want that. Can’t we do something new, something different? Please, you don't have to know what to do or what to say or have all the knowledge in the world. You are helping by staying by my side. Just listen and laugh at my stupid nonsense, calm me when I get too anxious, say how you really feel about things, tell me your honest opinions, be someone I can depend on, and I'll try making you depend on me. As for the Abyss, it has been sealed for a while, right? I’m sure we can grow strong and fast enough within that time without killing.”
Confusion and turmoil still storm in them, yet they try to calm down.
“Aiden, dungeon companions were never made for this. Even after The System changed me, I don’t know how to deal with you. Dungeon companions are made to follow protocols, yet there is not a single protocol concerning you.”
I sense their worry and hesitance as they speak up after a while.
“Aiden, you are a singularity that has never happened before and will not after. So, maybe it can work, you're the dungeon core, and I’m your guide. Ultimately, the choice belongs to you. But promise me that no matter what happens, you will always prioritize your life first and foremost.”
I feel their concern and resolution, as they say, their last line. Of course, I want to live; if not, I wouldn’t even be here. But do I want to live even if it means killing thousands?
No, given the gravity of my situation, do I even have a choice? Then, the question is, how much can I bear, and how much will I change to adapt?
“I promise. I promise to prioritize my life first and foremost.”
At that, I sense relief washing over them.
“Good, thank you, Aiden.”
“Yeah.”
As we stay there in silence, my companion asks.
“Aiden, if you are not going to kill, how will you grow?”
With the knowledge imparted, I learned of the dungeons’ role in this world. Dungeons attract surrounding mana and purify them, releasing some of them back, but they are mostly used to create in the form of monsters and loot. Their main source of mana, though, is through delvers. Emotional fluctuations create a significant amount of mana. The stronger the emotion or intensity of the fluctuation, like from hope to despair, the more mana is produced. In death, remnants of their soul, body, and mana are absorbed as another dungeon’s main source of mana.
Knowing about this, I thought of a way to grow without killing.
“By creating strong emotions and emotional fluctuations in delvers in my dungeon.”
“Does that mean you will be attacking them but not killing them?”
“No, there are more ways to create strong emotions without hurting anyone.”
“Aiden, I don’t know people and emotions like you do, but if they know the dungeon won’t hurt them, I predict very little emotions will be produced.”
“I understand, but please, could you trust me on these? Emotions and people are complicated, I know because I am them.”
“I’m sorry. Even though I said I would follow along, I could not stop worrying.”
Sensing their guilt, I shut them down swiftly
“Of course you are. It’s natural. Nothing could have prepared you for me. You are only trying your best; don’t ever apologize for that.”
“But it’s my purpose…Anyway, shall we move on? I will feel much more comfortable for your safety when your dungeon is built.”
I know they are still in turmoil, but I don’t ask. I mean, they have been born for some hours now, and me not following the usual isn’t helping them at all with settling in. They want to help, but they don’t know how to do so. Helplessness is eating them up. I know that feeling all too well. No matter what I convey, it won’t reach them. I wish they knew how they were helping me by being by my side and supporting me. I don’t need anything else. So, I will wait till they figure themself out.
“Sure, what's the next step?”
“You should have noticed some available points in your status. Let’s start choosing them.”
At that, screens appeared before my vision.
Select Starting Monster Race (2 Selections Available)
Type
Description
Animal
A selection of a small variety of weak animals (Recommended for all biomes)
Plant
A selection of a small variety of common monster plants (Recommended for biomes with ample sunlight)
Fungi
A selection of a small variety of common monster fungi (Recommended for dark, humid biomes)
Skeleton
Animated bones equipped with basic weapons (Recommended for places with darkness and abundant corpses)
Zombie
Reanimated corpses with poisonous blood and bites (Recommended for places with darkness and abundant corpses)
Kobold
Small, reptilian humanoids known for their cunningness and traps (Recommended for underground and caves)
Goblin
Small, green-skinned creatures, adept at using simple weapons and traps to ambush intruders. (Recommended for forests and caves)
Imp
Mischievous, small demons that delight in causing trouble. They can cast minor spells (Recommended for areas near lava, deserts, and underground)
Slime
Blobs of gelatinous corrosive liquid (Recommended for caves and swamps)
Spirit
A weak creature born of mana and remnants of souls (Recommended for all biomes)
Mimic
A creature that can mimic the appearance of objects, often as treasure chests and doors (Recommended for complicated underground regions)
Construct
Constructed beings animated by magic or technology. (Recommended for mines and mountains)
Choose Affinity to Unlock (3 selections left)
Fire Affinity
-Unlocks fire affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to fire affinity
Water Affinity
-Unlocks water affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to water affinity
Air Affinity
-Unlocks air affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to air affinity
Earth Affinity
-Unlocks earth affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to earth affinity
Arcane Affinity
-Gives a medium boost to arcane affinity
Kinetic Affinity
-Unlocks kinetic affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to kinetic affinity
Life Affinity
-Unlocks life affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to life affinity
....
.....
Choose Traits to Unlock (3 selections left)
Minor Mana Spring
A spring of mana has formed inside you, increasing your self-mana generation
-Doubles self mana generation
Solid Core
Your core is harder to destroy than others
-Gives a moderate boost to core defense
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
-Gives a minor boost to damage reduction on the core
Regenerative Core
Your core regenerates faster from damage
-Gives a medium boost to the core's natural regeneration
Water Attuned
You are naturally attuned to water and its mana, giving you an advantage over it and affecting your dungeon monsters as well
-Gives a generous boost to water affinity
-Your dungeon monsters gain a moderate boost to water affinity
-Delvers get a minor boost to water affinity
Trapper
You have a fondness and interest in traps
-Gives a moderate boost to traps you create
Charming Core
You have a natural charm about you that makes you irresistible, affecting your core and dungeon monsters
-Gives a major boost to the attraction of the dungeon to delvers
-Gives a generous decrease in desire to harm your core to whoever notices you
-Gives a large increase in desire for possession to whoever notices you
-Gives a moderate increase to dungeon monsters' natural charm
Smart
You are brighter than others
-Gives a moderate boost to intelligence
....
.....
Choose Perks to Unlock (6 selections left)
Basic Traps
Provides schematics for basic traps
-Includes net trap, pressure plate, arrow dispenser, and collapsing ceiling.
More basic loot
Become familiar with basic loot to create more with the same mana
-Gain a minor understanding of coins and basic loot
Animal SpeedⅠ
Increases speed of all animal-type dungeon monsters
-Gives a 5% increase in speed for all animal-type dungeon monsters
Fire DungeonⅠ
It makes your dungeon more inclined to fire affinity
-Gives a moderate boost to the probability of ambient mana in the dungeon changing to fire mana
-Gives a minor boost to the probability of fire-based traits, perks, and evolutions appearing
More MobsⅠ
Increase the limit of monster capacity
-Gives a 5% increase to limit of mobs per floor
Water Traps Ⅳ
(Requires Water TrapsⅢ)
Provides schematics for water traps
-Includes whirlpool, darkness-infused water, draining rain, haphazard waves, and crawling water.
Snow Floor
Provides schematics for building snow-based floor
-Imparted with the method of creating snow-based floor
-Has a generous increase to all things related to water mana and ice mana within the floor
-Has a generous decrease to all things related to fire mana and heat mana within the floor
-Water and/or ice affinity monsters occupy less on limits for monsters per floor within the floor
-Fire and/or heat affinity monsters occupy more on limits for monsters per floor within the floor
....
.....
As I’m bombarded with the options, I hear a surprise from my companion.
“That’s unusual. Normally, dungeon cores have three options to choose from for each point. Also, there are mid- and high-level options to pick from except for the monster race, and you have many more points than usual.”
“So, how much of an advantage do I have over otherwise?”
“An outstanding amount, high-level options only become available at level 100, and it takes decades to reach that point even for successful dungeons. I’ll remove the low and mid-level options for you and perks for schematics since I know them. Also, Aiden, there are options for other worlds’ dungeons, but as my knowledge is limited to Aetheria, I cannot explain to you how they will perform in practice.”
I sense guilt and helplessness in them as they tell me, which hurts me, as they feel bad for something out of their control.
“Hey, no worries, that in itself is incredible already.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
‘Well, that didn’t help. I know this needs time, but I’m worried. They have so much knowledge yet incomparably little experience to go with it.’ I just hope they don’t break under the disparity.
I put back my worry as I peruse the reworked options
Choose Traits to Unlock (3 selections left)
Trap Savant
You have a knack for all sorts of traps as the traps you make become deadlier, more complex, more challenging to notice, cunning, and difficult to disarm. Your mind is filled to the brim with trap ideas, and you seem to gain inspiration from the simplest of things.
-Gives an immense boost to all traps you personally create
-Gives a major boost in designing traps and modifying traps
-Gives a large boost to inspiration and creativity for traps
-Your monsters gain a major boost using and creating traps
Immortal Core
You have achieved immortality, however restricted it is, a considerable achievement nonetheless
-Will lose invulnerability when all dungeon boss monsters are in respawn
Sadistic Bloodthirsty Heart
You are sadistic and cruel. Screams of agony and wails of despair are the most exquisite music for you. Every moment, you imagine ways to torture and agonize your prey more efficiently, more tastefully, more agonizingly. Wicked machinations you create with such finesse, a talent gone wayward.
-Gives an immense boost to negative emotions while inside your dungeon
-Gives an immense decrease in positive emotions while inside your dungeon
-Gives a major boost to sensitivity to pain while inside your dungeon
-Gives a major decrease in willpower while inside your dungeon
-Gives a major boost to torture devices and gruesome traps
-Your dungeon monsters gain a generous boost to insanity and a generous boost to sadistic nature
Treasure Hoarder
You are infatuated with valuables of all kinds and have become a connoisseur of them in the process. You dream of drowning in your collection of treasures and will forever desire more valuable and precious treasures. Your other passion is your abhorrence of thieves who aim for your treasures.
-Gives an immense boost to all valuables you create
-Gives an immense boost to appraisal
-Gives a major boost to all resources in your dungeon
-Gives a major boost to the chance of rare valuables appearing in your dungeon
-Gives a major boost to dungeon monsters when guarding treasure or fighting thieves
Serene Mind
You have learned to be untroubled, untouched even amid a storm. You are tranquil and at peace, and nothing will disturb your mind.
-Gives an immense boost to the calmness of the mind
-Gives an immense boost to defense against attacks to your mind
-Your dungeon monsters gain a major boost to intelligence
-Your dungeon monsters gain a major boost to mind defense
-Your delvers gain a large boost to mind tranquility
Air Lord
(Requires Air Affinity)
You became a being of air; air is you, and you are air. Your core changed, and so too will your dungeon follow. For air is the only true thing you understand.
-Change Dungeon Core race to True Air Dungeon Core race
-Your dungeon will be filled with air mana, and the mana you purify will become air mana
-Gives a colossal increase to air affinity and affinities associated with it
-Restricts using and gaining affinities not related to air affinity
-Your dungeon monsters gain an immense boost to air affinity and those associated with it
-Your dungeon monsters are unable to evolve except for evolutions related to air affinity
-Your resources and traps are imbued with air mana and gain a major boost to air-affiliated mana density
-You are unable to gain resources and traps that are not of air affinity and those associated with it
A Million Curses
(Requires Curse Affinity)
You have been cursed, baring countless curses yet somehow managing not to shatter under its weight. No, you have exceeded it, and you now wield it like your own. You became the curses, and the curses became you.
-Change Dungeon Core race to True Curse Dungeon Core race
-Gives a monumental boost to curse affinity
-Gives a monumental boost in creating and using curses
-Your dungeon will be filled with curse mana, and the mana you purify will become curse mana
-Restricts using and gaining affinities except for curse affinity
-Your dungeon monsters gain a colossal boost to curse affinity
-Your dungeon monsters are unable to evolve except for evolutions related to curse affinity
-Your resources and traps are imbued with curse mana and gain an immense boost to curse mana density
-You are unable to gain resources and traps that are not of curse affinity
....
.....
Choose Perks to Unlock (6 selections left)
Dungeon Instability
(Requires Space and Time Affinity)
Causes random distortions in the dungeon.
-Will randomly distort the layout and environment of the dungeon
-Will randomly teleport objects and monsters
-Will randomly speed up anything in the dungeon
-Will randomly speed down anything in the dungeon
-Increases the chances the higher the floor
Echo of the Dead
(Requires Death and Soul Affinity)
Summon echos of the past of the one who has fallen in your dungeon
-When a monster dies within your dungeon, the corpse will be reanimated for a short period of time before dissipating
-When a delver dies within your dungeon, the remnants of the soul will form an incorporeal spirit attacking the nearest delver for a short time before dissipating
-Time and strength will be affected by death and soul affinity
Sentient Traps
Your traps gain sentience capable of growing and becoming deadlier
-All traps will gain sentience
-Traps will have intelligence depending on their tier and quality
-Traps now have the chance to evolve
-Traps can self improve itself
-Traps gain an immense boost to regeneration
-Traps will now respawn if destroyed
Invulnerability Zone
Provides schematics for invulnerability zone
-Monsters will become invulnerable when inside activated invulnerability zones
-Will require a week of time after use to use again
-Will have limited amounts and size per floor
Realm Of Illusions
(Requires Illusion Affinity)
Your dungeon becomes connected to the realm of illusions affecting your dungeon as a whole
-Will create random illusions on floors (ex., hiding and creating pathways and traps, hiding and creating loot)
-Will create random sensory illusions for delvers
-Will provide illusions for monsters (ex. Hiding presence, making clones)
-Illusions will appear frequently the higher the floor
-Illusions will become harder to disrupt or counteract the higher the floor
Life Bloom
(Requires Life Affinity)
Your dungeon becomes a fountain of life
-Gives an immense boost to all plant-type monsters
-Gives an immense boost to all plant-type resources
-Gives a major boost to monsters' self-healing and healing received
-Gives a generous boost to increasing and usage of life affinity for delvers
Curse of Sin: Pride
(Requires Curse Affinity)
Your dungeon becomes imbued with one of the curses of sin: pride
-Delvers who enter your dungeon will become conceited, causing them to delve floors higher than appropriate for
-Delvers will underestimate the dungeon, becoming more perceptible for attacks
-Delvers will over-exert themselves than required
-The curse will become stronger the higher the floor
-The curse will become harder to dispel or counteract the higher the floor
....
.....
As I perused through them, getting the gist of them, I asked something to help me decide.
“Hey, what are affinities exactly?”
“I told you before that everything is fundamentally made out of mana, as mana can become and imbue everything. Lifeforms are capable of changing unattributed mana, also known as arcane mana, into mana that is more attuned to specific purposes. Technically, all life forms have an affinity for everything; only some are inefficient, and some will harm or kill them if used. Dungeon cores are an exception, as they are beings made out of solid mana. However, The System locked these affinities since messing with different mana can cause destruction, most likely destroying the core in the process.”
“Then I don’t need these points to gain affinities. Could I unlock them myself?”
“Yes, and there have been cases of them.”
“Got it. And for schematics, are there any for expanding the space and increasing the time flow?”
“Yes, though it would require time and space affinity to be usable.”
With that in mind, thinking of my idea and how to put it into action, I browsed once more to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
“Okay, I decided.”