With my perk Unique Floors giving me more floor bosses, I started to add some monsters I wanted to but gave up on.
I first dug out a complicated cavern in the underground, going through everywhere on the floor, creating stone cave walls and lichen growing on them. Making some holes to let the river water flow in some places and combining edible mushrooms with fungi monsters, making them habitable in underground environments. I also added some edible moss and glowing moss that the system provided me in the basic flora and fauna schematics in the mix.
Some starchy crops and grains plant monsters, animal and plant milk-producing plant monsters, and finally, bees literally made out of honey.
I started sectioning the floor equally by 8 . Then I proceeded to fill them with the theme I was going for each section. First, vegetable and herb monsters are created and placed at the entrance, followed by fruit and spice monsters further up, milk plants monsters and honey bee monsters in one section, and starchy crops monsters in the other.
Finally, fish-plant monsters were added to the waterfall section, and the jungle-rainforest environment was created for the other sections, finishing it off with plant-animal monsters.
Then, feeling the space of floor one, I started imbuing time mana into it, adding gravity mana into the mix. As I started twisting the time, distortion and dilation appeared, and with all my strength, I managed to distort the time on the floor by ten compared to outside.
This means that an hour outside is equivalent to 10 hours inside. At that point, I felt my consciousness drifting down. I was familiar with this sensation, so I knew I was going to deep sleep. I think I heard an exasperated sigh from my companion before my mind went blank.
“Hah, Aiden…not again.”
----------------------------------------
When I came too, I was greeted by a message
The primary monster type has been finalized
The primary monster type is plant-type
All your monsters will gain a 10% increase in regeneration, self-healing, and healing capabilities per floor
“Ohh, you're awake.”
I hear an indifferent voice, though they cannot hide the worry they feel due to our bond.
“Hey, what's up with you?”
“Well, I figured you were going to do something unbelievable or stupid frequently, and it would do me no good to worry and panic every single time. Aiden, couldn’t you have done it by steps or at least lessened the time dilation to something you were capable of bearing?”
“Yeah, sorry, but I was just so excited I kinda overdid it, but hey, look at the results.”
‘Speaking of results, let’s see what’s been going on.’
I started to focus on my floor, my mind synching with the time, so it’s not like watching a fast-forward video.
‘Wow’
First, the place was now filled to the brim with plants. I also noticed that they were all placed within my sections, even though there wasn’t any physical barrier.
“Hey, how come the monsters fit just right in?”
“They are a part of you, even if you didn’t do anything physically; your subconscious thoughts alone will influence them.”
As I looked at the whole thing from above and then saw it up close, I was mesmerized, especially when I encountered the fish-plant hybrid. The outside fins, scales, skin, and visible organs were made of plant components, but the inside was flesh, and plants substituted some of their organs. The fish-plant monsters used water mana to maneuver and hunt in the water.
The same goes for the animals. I see them scampering through the jungle rainforest I created. Some are camouflaged in their surroundings, and some use nature mana to manipulate surrounding plants to attack and defend. I even saw a carnivorous plant lure in an animal-plant monster and digest it.
This all felt so unreal. Before all this, it was a sparsely populated forest. The next thing I saw when I woke up was a flourishing forest and ecosystem.
“How long was I asleep for?”
“A whole day. Due to the constant use of time distortion, drawing your mana, it required more time for you to recover. Monsters flourish in a mana-rich environment. It only took 3 days for the floor to be covered by monsters.”
As they mentioned it, I do feel some of my mana generated being moved to this floor. But I also notice something else.
“Hey, the mana I’m getting seems to be more than my self-generation and conversion. What’s up with that?”
“Mana, when changed to different forms, self-duplicates a minuscule amount. The waterfall movements, the monsters' use of mana, the pseudo suns, etcetera contribute to that. The excess mana exceeding the mana density capacity of your floor is redistributed to you.”
As I was still viewing and taking it all in, I felt something new, something different. I started following and searching for its origin.
There in the orchard section near the center of the floor, I saw a sapling radiating soul mana, possessing a soul so weak and small like an ember yet seemed like it could ignite and grow into a fire.
I focused on the sapling, trying to understand just what made this sapling have a soul. Soon, I figured out its unusualness.
From the ground up, it's smaller and unremarkable among all the other trees surrounding it, yet down below, underground, its roots were massive as they grew out to not only one-fourth of the orchard section, similarly to the surrounding three sections as well.
As I viewed this peculiarity, I wondered how this sapling could grow over the section boundaries. But then I realized that this sapling roots are connected to the roots of the plants, helping the growth of all plants connected.
Distributing necessary and unused nutrients between plants, the nature and life mana it self-generates is distributed to plants for those in need or growth, equalizing the plants connected to it as the connected plants give back mana, which the sapling distributes to the others the sapling itself taking the bare minimum to survive creating a cycle with the sapling at the center.
“Oh, my gosh, look at this!”
My companion starts sharing my vision; seeing the sapling, I feel their surprise as they explain.
“A monster already gaining a soul, but it’s only been 10 days with no delvers. It would take at least a year for a soul to form using the remnants of souls from deceased delvers. Does it have to do with your perks or your human consciousness, I wonder?”
They started to contemplate this situation that even surprised them.
“Huh, so this is something that happens. By the way, remnants of souls? What is that?”
Getting out of contemplation, my companion started explaining.
“When a person dies, their soul will enter the cycle of reincarnation under the system; however, it will leave behind parts of its soul, which are memories, experiences, knowledge, and emotions they have achieved in their lives. Dungeons absorb these remnants for mana; however, sometimes, some are left within the floors. Normally, dungeon monsters with souls are created using these remnants. It’s also one of the reasons for me objecting to your no-killing policy.”
‘Huh, glad to know dungeons don’t devour souls, or at least the main part of it.’
“Just what makes them so special for you to object?”
“Simple, they are the basis for creating a powerful titled monster. When a monster is designated as a titled monster, they are changed and evolved, enhancing its chances of acquiring a soul. When the monster already possesses one, the enhancement it gains will be towards the soul itself.”
“And that means?”
“It means they are capable of growing and evolving much more than otherwise. A soul and body are connected. Without a powerful soul, the body cannot evolve or change further than its soul's potential.”
“Huh, though I understand what you are saying, without first-hand experience, I don’t quite get it. Another question though, since you know all this about souls, is this sapling aware or conscious since it has a soul?”
“Just think of it as the difference between a child and an adult. As for the sapling, please give me a moment.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Then, my companion scrutinizes the sapling or, more so, its soul.
“From what I can see and compare to my knowledge, it should have the same awareness and consciousness as a fetus.”
‘Huh, about the same as a fetus... Wait!!! A FETUS!?’
“Wow, Aiden, are you okay? Your emotions and thoughts are vehement and in disorder.”
My companion worries, but I’m too overwhelmed to care.
“I’m pregnant!?”
“What?”
My companion is visibly confused at my statement.
“I mean, I created it, right? I mean, this dungeon is my body, and there is a fetus attached to my body, right? So, I’m a mother, but wait, I identify as male, so transgender, but I have a different body, and do dungeons even have genders?”
“Aiden”
My companion talks to me, yet it completely crosses my mind.
“Oh My Gosh, Oh My Gosh, I’m not ready to be a mother or father. I didn’t think I would have a baby. Oh my gosh, what about its name? What should I do? What should I say? What should I teach? I’m not ready for this.”
That’s when my companion shouts at me to get me out of my distraught.
“AIDEN!!”
Out of my state, I noticed my companion in front of my core, worry apparent in their face and through our bond.
“Finally, I went through you. Aiden, I will slowly answer your questions. Is that alright with you?”
I give an affirmation through our bond.
“Good, now, first of all, dungeons do not possess gender as it is not required as they cannot reproduce. Second, for your statement about being pregnant… I don’t know, from a human perspective, it could technically be correct. But dungeons don’t perceive it that way; they treat it as a part of its body, like an arm or leg, or perhaps a part of its brain. It’s a monster, not a baby. It will grow perfectly well without your guidance and interference. Monsters' names are gotten by delvers as they encounter and create titles for identification. Once that tile sticks and is recognized by a certain amount, the system will acknowledge it. Now, do you have any more questions? And if you could please tell me anything I could do besides that to help you.”
As I gaze at them, looking straight at my core, I feel my mess of mind stop and then slowly untangle.
“No, no, at least for now. And thank you, but could you give me some time to think this through.”
“Of course.”
----------------------------------------
A few hours later
“I’m ready.”
At that point, my companion, who has been by my core all this time, flies up and sits on top of my core.
“Got it all figured out?”
I give a hesitant response.
“Sort of. I want to see what happens when I designate it as a titled monster, then decide.”
As I focused on the sapling, I saw that it was the same as before. Then, my companion suddenly spoke up.
“It’s amazing a monster with such an infantile soul taking action with such purpose. I’m sure they will be a tremendous help. Aiden, experiencing you, I presume you won’t treat it like a part of your body. I want you to know that I will always support you no matter what you decide.”
I could feel their worry and resistance, yet despite all that, they chose to support and follow me through. This was more than enough to warm and brighten my heart as motivation filled me.
‘Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.’
“Aiden Winterguard Seraphim, that will be my name in this world, and this is the first time I have actually mentioned my name to you, isn’t it?”
My companion was surprised yet gleeful as they answered back.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Aiden.”
I chuckle just a little at that and say what I have been thinking about the moment we met.
“Hector, Hector Winterguard Seraphim. Companion, will you accept this name?”
My companion freezes for a moment, befuddled.
“What? Since when did you think about my name? And you do know names are unnecessary with our bond, correct?”
“Yes, I'm well aware of it, but sometimes humans do things not out of necessity but just because. I’ve been thinking about your name since I met you. I mean, calling you a companion is so impersonal.”
“I will be the first ever dungeon companion to have a name in Aetheria history. Good for me, I suppose. Aiden, of course, I would gladly accept it.”
Just then, I was surprised as mana rushed out from my core to my companion. On top of it, a part of my soul also went through our bond to them. They started to glow, just like when I created their body.
The glowing human form started to grow and change, finalizing at 1 meter. Then, as the glow began to fade, I saw a completely changed companion: short blue hair and silver eyes, a mature, handsome face, a male body showing lines of muscles, pale ivory skin, and what seemed like veins, pores, body hair, a belly button, and male genitalia.
‘Wait? Ahhh! They, I mean, he, I mean they, I mean has a penis.’
I started to switch my vision somewhere else, which is pretty hard, being able to see everything within my dungeon but still trying. I started creating a white shirt, underwear, and sweatpants roughly fitting a 1-meter male as I summoned it on top of them.
“Hurry up and wear them!”
I hear some rustling as they finish up.
“I’m done. You can ‘see’ now.”
The emotionless and genderless voice was gone, replaced by a deep, masculine voice that tingled my brain. I focused my attention back on them. There they were, one meter tall, wearing the clothes I had made.
“You know, you already saw it, and I’m still nude underneath these clothes, so you can just ignore the clothes and see my body.”
At that, I subconsciously do exactly that as the clothes fade out as I ‘feel’ their body.
“AHHH! Why did you have to mention it.”
They smirk, seeing me all flustered.
“Haha, oh please. I really don’t get your perspective. You were perfectly fine seeing my body then, but now you are all flustered just by mentioning it. Though it is satisfying seeing you in this way for once and not the other way around.”
“You were a moving statue or mannequin before, but now you're just more. Your voice, skin, and body are like a male human’s, and your face, you actually have an expression.”
“Is it?”
They make a startled face as they move their hand to their face, feeling its movement.
“Huh, go figures.”
As I stared at them for who knows how long, a screen appeared before me.
Name
Hector Winterguard Seraphim
Race
Dungeon Fairy
Titles
The Sole Dungeon Fairy, System Chosen’s Companion, Bond of Seraphim
Affinity
Arcane, Space, Time, Gravity
Skill
None
Trait
Dungeon Born, Bonded, Major Blessing Of Dimensions
‘What?’
“Hey, are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
“I believe I am seeing what you are seeing. I mean, I am able to share your vision, but I don’t think that’s what you are talking about.”
“Is this normal? And why did you change just by me naming you?”
They started to ponder over my question, their hand on their face, grimacing from time to time. It was strange to watch them gesture and show expressions. Before, it was like watching a statue or robot, but now they just felt ‘alive.’
“This is the first time in Aetheria history that this has ever happened, so my conjecture may be wrong. In this world, there have been cases where powerful beings, when naming their child, were able to transfer part of their power. Afterward, their names held power, their bloodline reigning as monarchs for millennia; presently, no one is able to transfer their power through naming, but certain names do hold power in itself.”
“But I felt a part of my soul go through to you. Is that supposed to happen?”
“No, at least not that I am aware of. A dungeon's bond is special, as there is nothing quite like it in Aehteria. Perhaps due to the specialty of such a bond, part of your soul was given to me. With your soul and mana, I became more. An Individual. Companions do not possess status screens, for when a companion’s dungeon has acclimated and served its purpose, it disintegrates to mana being absorbed by the dungeon.”
“They what!?”
What the heck!? They die just like that when they serve their purpose. What kind of gruesome mechanism is this?
“Aiden, dungeon companions are like an AI. As I said before, they simply follow the protocol assigned to them; they do not feel or think. There is no reason to keep a companion once it has served its purpose.”
As I hear that, I’m angry and terrified of what could happen.
“When were you going to tell me this!? Are you…are you going to disappear like them?”
They came close to my core as they hugged it, a gentle smile on their face.
“No, silly. Even before I was given a name, the mechanism was removed from me when I was made. I didn’t tell you because it was unneeded. Lucky me, right? I’m stuck forever with you.”
“That last one came off as sarcastic, but I’m going to ignore that and cheer. Yay!... I was really scared, you know? For a moment, I thought you would…”
Hugging my core tightly, I can feel a warmth emanating from them that was not present before the change as they chuckle softly.
“Hehe, where would I go? Where would I be without my silly, worrisome dungeon core?”
“...”
I stay silent, feeling their warmth and presence beside me.
“You haven’t said it.”
“Huh?”
“My name, you haven’t said it after you’ve given it to me.”
‘Oh, I guess I haven’t it.’ I was so overwhelmed by their change that saying their name just crossed my mind.
“Hector.”
“Yes.”
“Hector.”
“Yup.”
“Hector.”
“I’m here.”
“So, are you a male? Speaking of, why do you have genitalia? Can you reproduce now?”
A sly smile appeared on Hector.
“Hmm, yes, I am male, and I do not possess the ability to reproduce. As to why such an organ exits despite it, it was made for you.”
My brain stops at their disclosure.
“What?”
“After all, it was your mana that made me, and with more of your soul merging with mine, I have more memories of your time on Earth. My body took form to your liking.”
“Uhhhh…”
‘Is it weird that I’m excited and freaking out at the same time?’
He started to reveal his body under the clothes slowly.
“This face, pecs, muscles, penis, do you like it? Or maybe you want to look at my butt and what’s inside. After all, my hole was made just for”
The words he said, how he accentuated his body with them, their seductive expression and movement, and seeing him just about to take off his clothes made me scream in horror.
“AHHH! Stop, stop, stop. Do you want me to die of embarrassment!”
‘Oh my gosh, to have an ideal is one thing, but to see it in form and somebody saying it out loud is another.’ The worst part is I can’t deny his words, I’m ruined. I need thousands of blankets to kick on my bed now for me to feel okay.
“Hahaha!”
“Hector!”
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”