Today was like any other: I woke up, showered, got dressed, browsed the internet for a while, and headed out for some groceries. It was snowing quite heavily, but I didn’t want to break my routine, which I had worked hard to achieve.
As I was walking down the road, I think I saw something coming toward me in the corner of my eye. First, there was a burst of excruciating pain. Next, my vision was shifted high into the air, then darkness. The last thing I remember are the screams and shouts ringing all around.
I woke up to nothingness, conscious, but just that, I couldn’t feel anything else. Then I heard it. A being that calls itself The System, informing me of my body’s death and my current state.
A soul wandering dimensions entering one dimension under the jurisdiction of The System. It offered a deal: rather than let me be reincarnated, I would be reborn in another world under The System with all my memories.
The price to eradicate a problem infesting the said world. The System could handle it, but it would mean the annihilation of the world and adverse effects on the surrounding ones. With me, a special soul blessed by dimensions, able to be reborn in the world imbued with The System’s powers necessary for solving the problem.
‘Well, what can I do?’ I don’t want to be reincarnated to something else; my soul will be the same, but it just wouldn’t be ‘me.’ I agreed to the terms. I wanted to live, to see, to feel, to love. ‘I don’t want it to end. I’m not ready.’
Affirmation Detected...
Signing Contract...
Binding Commencing...
Transferring Soul...
The System holds gratitude for your cooperation and applauds your bravery
Good Luck
The next thing I knew, I was underground, my body a shining rainbow gem shifting in hues of colors, and somehow, I could see a 1-meter radius around me.
‘I knew I would be reborn in a fantasy world, so I thought about not being human, but I didn’t think I would become an inanimate object. Well, this is what I get for not reading the terms before signing it.’
Well, let's see just what I am in this world.
Status
Name
Aiden
Race
Dungeon Core
Titles
The System Chosen, Knowledge of Another World
Dungeon Name
N/A
Level
1
Affinity (Gain 1 for every 5 levels)
Arcane (3 points available)
Current Mana
92/1000
Self Mana Generation
10/hour
Exterior Mana Conversion
100/hour (Max)
Abilities
Absorb Mana, Absorb Mass, Interdimensional Storage, Enhanced Mind, Expert Mana Manipulation, Expert Mana Sense, Expert Mana Conversion, Expert Mana Purification, Alter Environment, Create Trap, Create Resources, Duplication, Regeneration, Extraction, Summon Monster, Monster Link, Transfer Floor, Summon Companion (single use)
Traits (Gain 1 for every 10 levels)
Born of Arcane Mana, Pure Mana Crystal Origin, Blessed by Dimensions (3 points available)
Perks (Gain 1 for every 2 levels)
N/A (6 points available)
‘I always dreamed of being able to see a magical status screen, and I got to do with cost just being my death, yay for me.’ Hmm, so a dungeon core, huh? I’ve been and enjoyed being a DM in D&D sessions, I wonder how much it will be like that. I miss those times coming up with stories and adventures, seeing them make stupid and interesting choices, and the frustration of murderhobos ruining days of work. ‘Ah, good times.’
I tried to focus or touch mentally on everything, trying to get more information.
Titles
The System Chosen
Chosen by the very system that governs this and myriad dimensions, they are scarce enough to be called a myth, and now you are one of them.
-As The System Chosen, you have reed benefits unique to yourseceivlf
Knowledge of Another World
You who hold memories of another world. Some went mad, some became heroes, and some changed the course of the world. Be wise and careful, for it could be a blessing as much as a curse.
-As long as you interacted with it, and it exists in this world, you can create it
Traits
Born of Arcane Mana
A dungeon core born in a place of ambient arcane mana
-Unlocks Arcane Affinity
-Gives a generous boost to arcane affinity and a moderate boost to other affinities
-Your dungeon monsters gain a moderate boost to arcane affinity and a minor boost to other affinities
-Delvers get a minor boost to arcane affinity and a minuscule boost to other affinities.
Pure Mana Crystal Origin
Your core is miraculously constructed of the purest mana directly coming from the core of the world, acquiring abilities similar to the world's core
-Self-mana Generation is increased 10 times
-Mana Capacity is increased 10 times
-Exterior Mana Conversion is increased 10 times
-Gives an immense boost to mana density for monsters when using Summon Monster
-Gives an immense boost to mana density on dungeon floors
-Gives a monumental boost to Mana Purification
-Decrease the mana needed to level up by half
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
-Increase proficiency by two tiers for any mana-related abilities
Blessing of Dimensions
Dimensions all have barriers that protect them by selecting and resisting what comes in and out. Yet, you are a miraculous blessed soul, letting you pass their indestructible and impenetrable walls unscathed and without hindrance. These blessed souls travel freely from dimension to dimension. Many have tried to study and use these properties yet failed as blessed souls are elusive and unreadable, protected by the dimensions.
-Has minimal consequences for passing dimensions
-Almost impossible to identify unless by a twist of fate
-Gives a monumental boost to time, space, and gravity affinities
As I was reading the explanations, a new screen came into view.
Confirmed parameters met for the minimum level of sentience…
Confirmed parameters met for minimum mana of 90% of total mana capacity and/or possessing 100 mana …
Initiating protocol…
Imparting basic world knowledge…
Commencing ability Summon Companion…
Good Luck
At that, I feel a tide of information rushing inside my head. The basics of dungeons and monsters. Some rudimentary concepts of the primary sentient races living in this world. The world of Aetheria with three suns and five moons, a day being 28 hours, a week being 8 days, and 12 months being a year.
Right when I had processed it all. I feel something, presumably mana, leave my body. A being was being born from it, as I felt a bond form between me and it. A bond so close and indescribable, as I feel a small amount of something deep within me go through the bond to it.
Detected Bond of The System Chosen with Companion...
Increasing Authority to Access System Knowledge of Subject Companion...
Increasing Imparted General Knowledge of Subject ≘⊘⊩panion...
Increas⊩⊃⋧⊷ Limit of Anato◼◻ ⥷⦧ ⦲ubject Co∲∑≅≘⊘⊩⊃n
Rem∉⇷≅∧∪≈ Lim⋉⊾ ⊠⊠⊊ Ego and Consc⥷⦧⦲⦻⧰ ⧒⧫ Subject Com⨡⨊⧰⩰⩛⩞...
⤸⤰⥇⥿ ⦥⥷⧏⦩ ⧊⧠ ⨴⨝⩍ Last <⇶∑≍≏ ≶⊘ Help ⊷ ⤤⦿⦰ Give
⟅⟀⟡ Com⊁⊏⊕⊽⋕⋨⋯⏐◻ ⟠⟞⟩⟍⟊⟊ Guide ⥣⎵⋧ ⊟⊘⊔⊙ ⊛⊤ ⊴⊾
G⨀⨨D ⧭⦽⥫⥰ AIDEN
A glitched-out screen appeared before my view. As I was perusing through what I could read, I felt The System somehow interfering and empowering the Companion.
When all was done and the screen gone, I heard a voice within me.
“Hello, Aiden. I am your Companion assigned by The System to help you along the way.”
‘Huh, having a voice not your own in your head is quite a bizarre experience.’ The voice sounded devoid of emotion and genderless. I wonder how they knew my name?
“The ability Summon Companion uses the mana and a part of the soul from the dungeon core. When The System was creating me, your soul merged with mine, allowing me to have parts of your memory from Earth. It is an insignificant amount compared to the whole, but I did get your name from them.”
“That’s a little concerning, and I hope you didn’t see something that ruined my first impression. By the way, did I say that aloud?”
“Of course not, Aiden. I would never think any less of you, with or without your memories. Though it’s odd for me to see these emotions and relationships, I know their concept, yet I have difficulty comprehending them even with your memories. To answer your question, we are able to convey our thoughts and emotions through our bond. You can, of course, control the things you want to convey. It’s just like speaking in your mind or speaking out loud.”
“Hmm, noted. I don’t want to bombard you with my thoughts and emotions.”
‘Plus, I’m not thrilled with the idea of someone knowing everything I think and feel. Especially when my thoughts get weird and quirky, there will not be enough blankets to kick by then.’
“As your companion, I do prefer you to share in order to help you better, but the choice is always yours.”
Speaking up and sharing, huh? It did help back then. I mean, that’s the reason therapy exists.
It’s weird. As they said, we’re bonded so closely that I can feel their good intentions. I can feel and know that they mean no harm and their resolve to help me.
It’s nice to have someone unconditionally show goodwill to you in a new, unfamiliar world. But I’m not thrilled with the idea of someone being created solely for that purpose.
A voice interrupted my mulling over that thought
“Aiden, before we begin building your dungeon, there is something the system imparted in me for you.”
Then, a status screen appeared before me.
In one of the many dimensions governed by The System, there was a disturbance in some of the recently acquired dimensions, some being invaded by The Abyss.
The Abyss' sole intent and goal is to corrupt and twist, standing at opposite ends to The System symbolizing Order and Impartiality.
The Abyss has grown enough to the point of sentience and was annihilated immediately.
As eons passed, The System helped new worlds form as the dimensions settled from the aftermath.
One of those worlds, which has come to be called Aetheria, lay dormant, The Abyss, a piece that survived the annihilation using all its ability to twist the perception of The System to go unnoticed.
Once Aetheria was formed and stable, it leeched off the core of Aetheria to grow.
The System discovered the anomaly when there was a lapse in the Abyss's ability to twist The System's perception.
Unfortunately, by then, it had grown too much. The System lent power to the aborigines as much as possible, yet after a kingdom in ruins, they only managed to seal The Abyss.
The only way to get rid of it was to annihilate it once more; however, this time, countless planes and lives existed.
Choosing to do so would destroy and demolish these planes and lives in the process, going against The System's principles,
The System waited for a better solution, setting annihilation as a last resort.
Then, after an eon or so, The System encountered a solution: a wandering soul Blessed By Dimensions.
Integrating into a dungeon core while amplifying the power to purify The Abyss that is sealed beneath you.
It is unknown how long the seal will last, but until then, Grow, Build Your Army, Expand Your Influence, Construct Impedes, and when the time comes, Purify All of The Abyss and Bring Order Back to Aetheria
Good Luck
‘Soooo a threat is lying right beneath us, awesome.’
Not to mention, countless lives are in my hands whether I fail or not, which is just splendid.
“You know, I think I bit more than I can chew.”
“Aiden, don’t worry. I’m sure you are well equipped to deal with it. So, shall we begin to create your dungeon.”
“Yeah, if creating my dungeon means increasing my chances of survival, then let’s do it.”
“Excellent. First, you should have noticed your limited range of view. This is your aura; you are capable of doing many things inside but are unable to influence anything directly outside. Try expanding it, you can expand your aura by pushing the boundaries.”
“Okay.”
As they said, I felt my sphere of influence or aura, and then I started imagining the boundaries expanding. It didn’t work at first, but then it started to expand. There was no physical strain, but it was like pushing a boulder with your mind. I stopped when my aura doubled in size, and I was mentally exhausted.
“Good job. It will get easier the more you do it. Next time, try expanding in one direction; it will be much easier than expanding all around.”
“Good to know. Hey, is there any way to recover from this fatigue?”
“It will go away naturally with time, but if you want to speed up the process, try going to sleep. It won’t be exactly the same as when you were human, but it will be similar.”
Sleeping huh? Well, I’m the type who has a hard time going to sleep when I need to or try to. As I try to sleep, I suddenly feel my consciousness sinking, and my senses are dulled.
I’m awake nonetheless, just much less. As I get comfortable in this state, I wake up to the voice of my companion.
“Aiden, sorry to disturb you, but I advise you to get going.”
As I awake, I feel my fatigue gone, and my state is clear and crisp.
“How much time has it been?”
“Less than an hour.”
That little, I feel rejuvenated, like I had a whole night's sleep. Time went so quickly while I was sleeping; it was like your head hit the pillow, only to see it’s the next day.
“Now that you're in better condition,n try to absorb your surroundings using Absorb Matter and Absorb Mana.”
“And how do I do that?”
“Everything is essentially mana. Ambient mana imbues or changes things, while matter is mana taken form. Just think of deconstructing it to its most basic form and absorbing it to your core.”
I imagine the stone around me breaking and weathering, turning into smaller pieces to absorb. Then the stone around me started to disintegrate as I felt something being sucked into me. I continue until nothing is left in my aura except for my floating core in the middle.
“Great. Now try focusing on your boundaries, and will it to become a part of you, to create your dungeon floor.”
As I do that, I feel a change happening to the surrounding stone, as it somehow feels like a part of me.
“You should have noticed the change when designating dungeon floors. The boundaries become invulnerable, or if it’s any liquid or gas state, any attack done will be nullified. Dungeon floors are like the bodies, and the dungeon core is the heart. Dungeon floors allow you to summon monsters, create traps, distribute mana, and most importantly absorb fresh bodies.”
“What?”
“You see, you had no trouble absorbing stone, but it won’t be for fresh corpses as their remnant soul obstructs influence from you. Dungeon floors alleviate that restriction, allowing you to absorb them for mana.”
“No.”
Surprised by my sudden remark, I sense their confusion.
“I’m sorry, Aiden, but I fail to comprehend the context of your remark. What do you mean?”
I knew it when I saw I was a dungeon core. But killing, I just can’t. I cannot take away a life when I see and know how people grieve over their loved ones, I don’t want to be the cause of that. No, I can’t.
“I won’t kill.”
----------------------------------------
If you wish to see the unbroken system message
Detected Bond of The System Chosen with Companion...
Increasing Authority for Access to System Knowledge of Subject Companion...
Increasing Imparted General Knowledge of Subject Companion...
Increasing Limit of Anatomy of Subject Companion
Removing Limits for Ego and Consciousness of Subject Companion...
This Will be the Last Piece of Help I Can Give
The Companion Will Guide You Along The Way
GOOD LUCK AIDEN