Choose Perks to Unlock (5 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 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
-Has a generous decrease to all things related to fire mana and heat mana
-Water and/or ice affinity monsters occupy less on limits for monsters per floor within this floor
-Fire and/or heat affinity monsters occupy more on limits for monsters per floor within this floor
.... .....
"This one also has all the low-mid-high level perks, and I do not have information for some of them. I'll sort this out for you."
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
.... .....
"I have also removed those providing schematics that I know of. With my imparted knowledge, I could explain the schematics, allowing you to create them without using perk points. It will be harder as it's not provided directly by The System, but the advantages outweigh them."
Hearing that, I couldn't hold my surprise. Looking at these perks, there are several tempting choices already, and if the high-level perks providing schematics are just as alluring, it is a huge boon.
"Does that mean I can slather the floors with high-level schematics?"
"No, high-level schematics have high requirements, and implementing several on one floor could cancel or disrupt others. Not to mention the limited amount of mana density per floor."
"Still, that in itself is a huge advantage." But that got me thinking: 'Why did he feel unenergetic when mentioning them.'
"Because most of the high-level schematics are deadly traps for killing, and the low-mid levels are something you could make with a little experimenting and creativity."
'A right, they can still hear my thoughts. Does that mean they heard everything up to now? Augh, really need to learn to control this.'
"Don't worry. I didn't hear everything. Only those with strong emotions attached that are related to me. You are already getting the hang of it, even without me teaching. Anyway, I've stalled you enough. Look through everything and choose the ones that best fit your plans."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Mnn."
Hours later
Monster Horde
Why have stronger monsters when you can have more?
-You receive all the starting monster races
-Your dungeon monster evolution lock is unlocked
-For every 10 levels, instead of an evolution choice, you are given The Horde Upgrade choices
-Increase the limit of boss monsters from every five levels to an additional one every 7th level (can place them anywhere except floors 5 and 10)
-Doubles the number of floor bosses from one to two per floor
-Tripeles the number of elite monsters from 3 to 9 per floor
-Quadruples the limits for mobs per floor
-Any perks increasing the number of monsters will always be applied first
Pools of Birth
Your dungeon now becomes a sanctuary of birth
-Your boss monster respawn time is halved
-Your floor boss spawn time is reduced to one-third of its original
-Your elite monsters gain the ability to respawn with a 1 hour waiting period
-You can now build breeding grounds where mobs will be summoned automatically once a mob perishes using the ambient mana and remains of the dead mob
-Any perks decreasing monster respawn time will be applied first
Lucky Evolution
Your dungeon monsters are blessed by luck when it comes to evolution
-Dungeon monsters gain an immense boost to evolving to desired paths
-Dungeon monsters gain an immense boost in optimizing evolution
-Dungeon monsters gain a major boost for evolution chance
-Dungeon monsters gain a major decrease in difficulty for evolution
Ascension of elites
Your titled monsters are more elite, unfixed, and simply more. They have ascended compared to others
-Dungeon boss monsters gain an immense boost to their souls and conscious
-Dungeon floor boss gain a major boost to their souls and conscious
-Dungeon elite monsters gain a major boost to their souls and conscious
-Titled dungeon monsters are free to move from their floors; however, respawn points must be placed on their floors
-Increase dungeon boss monsters' attributes and growth by 50%
-Increase dungeon floor boss's attributes and growth by 30%
-Increase dungeon elite monsters' attributes and growth by 20%
Unique Floors
Your floors are one of a kind; delvers never know what is ahead
-Eliminates some floor restrictions
-Able to fuse multiple floors to one
-Triples the floor size limit
-Gain a colossal boost when using Alter Environment on floors
-Able to name, theme, and specialize dungeon floors
-Dungeon floors will gain bonus effects, rules, and penalties depending on the theme of the floor
-You are unable to create the same themed floors
As I settle on these five perks, I hear my Companion say to me
"Are you sure about these? The perk Monster Horde may seem powerful by increasing numbers and various monsters, but there's a reason why the evolutions were locked to those optimal to their environment, and removing the evolution choice means you have to wait for an uncertain time until something evolves in order to summon it, it's easier in the beginning, but evolution becomes more challenging and longer to take the higher they are. Even with Lucky Evolution helping, it seems more efficient to choose other perks."
"I understand, but can you answer me this: is there a schematic for increasing time flow for floors?"
"Of course, but they are extremely mana-heavy, something you couldn't use as of now unless...?"
"Remember why I was chosen?"
"Then why didn't you choose time affinity?"
"Oh, I think I did technically."
At the confusion coming off them, I just laugh and say
"Look, I know I will be very different than any dungeon in your knowledge, but please trust me on this. I am betting my life on this. You can admonish me as much when this all fails"
"OUR lives, actually. You're the dungeon core in charge of this dungeon, not me. I won't criticize you anymore for how you run it."
At that, I make my choice.
You have acquired the perk Monster Horde You have acquired the perk Pools of Birth You have acquired the perk Lucky Evolution You have acquired the perk Ascension of Elites You have acquired the perk Unique Floors
Tutorial Step 8
Ask the Companion to unlock Monster Link
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Ask the Companion to unlock monster knowledge
Task
-Create monster
-Command monster
"Here you go."
Ability Monster LInk has been unlocked You have acquired the knowledge for starting monster race Animal Type You have acquired the knowledge for starting monster race Plant Type You have acquired the knowledge for starting monster race Spirit Type You have acquired the knowledge for .......
Wow, that's a load of knowledge being injected into me. As it is processed in me, I could feel the trait Mad Scientist of Amalgamation working inside me, letting me gain and see more than I could without it. I now know every organ and its usage for each monster. I know characteristics that can naturally occur between the same races, and I somehow just know things I could adjust in their mana structure, which is something like genetic makeup. I know the differences and similarities between different monster races and how some parts could be combined; I can now picture the monster's anatomy to the point of cells.
'This feels wonderful, doesn't it?' Before, receiving knowledge was like being dumped trash, but this feels like my mind is expanding, and new understandings are forming in my mind as enlightenment embraces me.
I wake from my trance when it is all processed, embracing the afterglow from what felt like days but were mere seconds. Then I hear my companion ask worriedly
"You okay? You seem out of it, but that normally doesn't happen."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just had a mind-blowing experience." As I explained what happened to me
"That's different. Monster summoning for here is like copying and printing the given preset, so they only need to know how to use the printer, but for you it seems you now khow how the printer works and its components. I should have been capable of warning you before."
"Hey, no worries, it wasn't like a bad experience."
"No. No, it's not Aiden. That was very dangerous. You have a combination of perks and traits that would normally be impossible, and at such a low level, nonetheless. There have been cases where dungeons went insane, absorbing too many memories at low levels. You are only okay now due to your ability Enhanced Mind and memories from your past life."
"Oh, I... I didn't know I'll be careful next time, um, but what does the ability Enhanced Mind do actually?"
"No, it happened due to my incompetence; I could have stopped you if I had knowledge of these traits and perks or, at the very least, warned and prepared you, such... You asked what Enhanced Mind does, right? It is one of the most important abilities dungeon cores are born with. It allows them to store and process vast amounts of information and helps split their minds into different places to handle different things. As dungeons get bigger, the amount of information gathered and work that needs their attention exponentially increases, becoming impossible to manage without the ability."
"Oh, that's neat, umm, so should I start?"
"Go ahead. I won't say anything, as you probably know more than me on this."
I begin focusing on my intent; this time, I don't notice a change with mana as before, then realize my increase in proficiency with mana made it feel malleable and manipulative all the time. Immediately, as I visualize, I see all the monster presets I have. After thinking about my surroundings, I chose Fungi as it will best suit this place. I started looking at the few options among fungi monsters. I chose a mildly hallucinogenic mushroom as it glows the brightest and beautifully and will really liven up my core room. Then I notice my trait, Mad Scientist of Amalgamation, take effect, allowing me to alter the preset in my mind as I make it healthier, improving its natural self-healing and resilience, making it glow brighter with more colors. When I was done, I basically optimized its genes to be the one-in-a-million-best mushroom ever.
Then, I injected the mana needed as the circle took form and became more solid. Finally, I released Create Monster. Then, times seemed to slow down. As my mind accelerated, I felt the mana move, the circle's existence getting stronger in front of me, similar but less complicated compared to Summon Companion, mana beginning to glow, coalescing to the shape of a mushroom. That's when I strike, first imbuing the Spirt race's ability to glow using mana and soul, strong healing slime to flow through like blood, combining the plants' and fungi's abilities to absorb nutrients and mana, strengthening them, and finally, I inject more of my mana converting it to arcane mana and life mana imbuing more affinity for mana and empowering its lifeforce, finishing off with my soul affinity to direct some soul mana produced by my soul fluctuations, doing all this with my mind reeling and going overdrive as I finish just in time before the mana begins to take the final form, changing mana to matter.
As I watch the process finish with severe mental fatigue like going through two days with no sleep, surviving off coffee. My first monster was created in front of me. A 1.2-meter tall mushroom with a thick white stem, a large wide cap on top with an underside glowing soft blue, and its top emitting a gentle, soothing glow of iridescence with all hues of colors similar to my core that is mesmerizing and most noticeable feature is lace attached like the mushroom phallus indusiatus glowing with a bright green filled with life. I watch in anticipation as I command it to shine brighter, and it does just that as soon as I think about it.
As I look at every part of it with my 360 degrees of vision, I couldn't care damn less about my mental fatigue. So excited and euphoric, I shouted to my companion.
"ARE YOU SEEING THIS? I MEAN FUCK. Is that not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen or what? I DID THAT! ME, created this MOTHERFUCKING MASTERPIECE, FUCKING YESSSS!!!"
"Um....it's a mushroom, Aiden."
"THIS IS THE SHIT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"
"It's just a glowing mushroom; its hallucinogenic abilities are just enough to affect a rat. Aiden, you spend all that mana on this?"
"I AM A FUCKING GOD!"
"AIDEN!!!"
'Huh! *mental hiccup*'
Anger and helplessness crashing into me through our bond, as they talk to me while trying to calm down
"Aiden, you used nearly 15 mana for something originally costing one mana, ignoring that you used all that mana for what is essentially a nightlight. Fuhhh... Aiden, a dungeon's first monster, is unique as they usually gain a special title, Guardian, specializing in protecting the core. I didn't tell you because you were against killing, and I didn't want to force you to make a lethal weapon. At the very least, I thought you would create a monster capable of defending. Why are you so difficult to deal with?"
'Ah, the disappointment, the expectations, me fucking it up, makes me feel like back then, it's been a while since I felt this way again'
"I'm...I'm sorry."
'I hate this, I hate this, I hate this, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, why am I like this, why do I always ruin things, I'm a pit where all things go wrong, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. I wanna cry. I don't want to feel bad for feeling sad, I don't want to feel like this, I don't want to be like this. I'msorry, I'msorry, I'msorry, I'msorry, I'm s"
Then, a touch, as Companion floats up and puts their forehead on my core, locking eyes with it. As they speak to me in a cautious and pleading voice.
"Aiden, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't intend for things to turn out this way; I didn't intend to make you feel this way, yet I did, and for that, I am incredibly sorry and remorseful. It's actually fine; how many dungeons do you think summoned a perfect strong monster for the first time with the intelligence of a newborn, yet they did fine. I...I only said those things because I expected something different due to your past life memories. Aiden, we are not in a good situation; even with all the help the system gave, there's a high chance it might not be enough. The Abyss, I have records about when it emerged in Aehteria of how it ruined an entire kingdom, it is so much worse than you can think. You act like nothing's wrong, or there isn't a threat that could destroy us below, worrying me. As The System imparted me with knowledge, I was appointed to help you solve The Abyss as best I could. But that's not the reason I want us to succeed. I want us to succeed for you. Aiden, as your companion, you are my number one priority; I want to make sure you are safe and for you to become powerful enough so nothing can hinder you; I want you to live as long as possible. But all that did was push you and hurt you. I'm sorry, Aiden. You are my number one priority; I should have cared more for you at present than about you in the future."
After that, we just stayed there for who knows how long, them staring at my core, forehead still touching, and me not knowing what to say and keeping silent. The silence is broken as they stop the contact floating down to the ground.
"Shall we continue the tutorial?"
Their voice was the same as the first time I heard them: androgynous and untinged with emotions. Giving an affirmation through the bond, they continue as they pull out the screen for me.
Tutorial Step 9
Ask the Companion about Expand Aura
Task
-Learn ability Expand Aura
"Now you would have noticed your abilities and vision only extend to 1 meter, the core of which is your center; this is the expanse of your aura. Now, you can expand your aura in any direction; they don't even have to be a straight line; the only limit is they have to be all connected, and the limit of your aura corresponds to your level and mana capacity. The reason the ability Expand Aura is learned and not unlocked like previous ones is that it is unique to every dungeon. The way to expand is simply to visualize your mana and push it to the aura with the intent of expanding. This is where it becomes unique; there is no correct way to visualize it; it could be like the tide pulling back and forth, roots growing to expand, wind weathering it away, or crushing the hindrances. Each way is personalized; though they may have similarities, they are never the same, like fingerprints. So dedice the method that fits you the most, and it will be done."
In the end, they just stood still, waiting for me to accomplish the task; wanting to increase my aura to see more, I began.
I felt the mana in my aura and tried to visualize all the examples my companion said that had passed through my mind, yet none of them resonated with me. Thinking about my affinities, I ponder over them, and one sticks out like a thumb. Space is something that has just recently become apparent, yet it is so familiar and effortless. As I felt the space within my aura, I locked on and isolated it, visualizing this isolated sphere of space twisting and folding, expanding and retracting till the once isolated sphere of space became a two cubic meters cube, my aura expanding precisely like it.
Learned ability Expand Aura
"Well done, space expansion visualization, well, isn't that rare."
They comment with subtle joy and an inconspicuous smile on their face.
Tutorial Step 10
Ask the Companion for directions to the entrance
Task
-Have an entrance
"This one will take some time, Aiden; please dig straight up roughly 6.4km until we reach the surface."
"Wait, 6.4km."
"Yes, we are quite far underground with a mountain on top, you see; as such, I advise you to make your aura as small as possible while going up."
"And we do this because...?"
"Because without an entrance, we cannot build floors and function as a dungeon."
"Ughhh, finneee, time to grind."
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6.3 Km Left Till Surface
"You know it will really be great to tell the time expect for checking my mana capacity."
"Oh, there's a time display option you can use on your Status Screen."
"THERE IS??!!"
"I should've told you that sooner, shouldn't I?"
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5.8 Km Left Till Surface
"Hey, I reached the limit for my aura. How do I level up?"
"Simple, by consuming mana that equals 50% of your mana capacity, increasing the size of your core in the process."
"Well, that's gonna take a few hours then."
"What do you mean the things you absorbed should have been more than enough to max out your mana?"
"When you say absorbed, do you mean all the ores, stones, crystals, and gemstones in my interdimensional storage?"
"Aiden, you can absorb mana and matter, converting them to mana usable by you."
"Hey, then why did the tutorial only mention absorb matter?"
"To provide enough mana for Summon Companion to activate when in an enclosed space and/or is not injected with sufficient mana. Why did you use Absorb Mana and Absorb Matter simultaneously, making me unable to notice?"
"Well, you know what happens when mana gets stripped from matter. I'm not letting these beauties go to waste."
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4.5 Km Left Till Surface
"Hey, do you know where we are since you know the distance to the surface?"
"It's a function companions are given to find the most optimal entrance build point, but I do know the geography of this plane from the improved general knowledge from The System. The Material Plane, with the one and only continent Solara, has four main ruling countries in each direction with similar power and territory. These countries are called The Alliance of the Free Lands, Emerald Grove, Steelheart Confederacy, and The Sacred Order. We are situated in the middle of the continent called The Forbidden."
"Having a wild assumption that not many people visit guessing by the name, won't that be a problem for us?"
"No, it was forbidden by The System itself, causing no one daring to trespass it; I'm sure The System will notify the people. Even if not, dungeons are lucrative abodes with infinite resources. They have devices for sensing new dungeons when the entrance is opened; I'm sure they will check if not for checking the anomaly in The Forbidden."
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3.6 Km Left Till Surface
"Thank you."
"Excuse me, I do not understand for this sudden thanks."
"Thank you for apologizing when you figured out I wasn't doing well."
"Of course, I did what was only natural as your companion."
"No, it wasn't. It isn't obvious, and it isn't natural; you chose to apologize when you could have not. I will not disrespect you labeling that as 'Of course'."
"But, I'm your companion. It is my duty to"
"No. At least I don't feel it that way. You are more than my companion. You're an individual with thoughts and feelings who makes choices and speaks their opinions."
"I hurt you. I hurt you badly because of them."
"No, you hurt me because I cared, because you are important to me because I care about how you feel and think about me because you're the best thing that has happened to me ever since waking up in this world. I was afraid of you being disappointed in me, hating me. I thought you would give up on me."
"I won't, never."
"But I'm afraid no matter what you say or the truth you convey. I'm sorry, and thank you for apologizing."
"Does this mean you forgive me?"
"What's there to forgive? I was just being a nincompoop, and you were just frustrated these things happen."
"...."
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2.7 Km Left Till Surface
"I'm sorry."
"Huh, woah, what's this all of a sudden?"
"I'm sorry about how I forced my view on running a dungeon, on the need to kill; I'm sorry for being obstinate without listening; I'm sorry I went against you. I'm sorry for not following your ways. I'm so"
"Ok, stop. First, don't ever apologize for going against me or not following my ideas and views. What happened then. We were just new and rusty. I was adamant about not killing, and you couldn't see another way besides that. Sure, I could have listened and patiently explained my reasons to you, finding a compromise. You could have listened to my ideas and tried to reason with me or compromise. Things could have gone better, but that was our best then. We simply had different ideals that clashed, nobody was wrong so don't ever apologize for that and don't ever follow or comply with me without fighting for your views. I'm not always right and so are you, that's why fights and conflict is needed. Thank you. By the way, I should have said that first, and I forgive you. I'm sorry I didn't hear you out. I'm sorry I shut you down without trying to understand. I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings and reasons."
"Thank you, and I forgive you."
"Neat, so we cool."
"Yes."
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2 Km Left Till Surface
"Aiden, you said I was helping by being here, being me."
"Umm, yeah. Still true now, too."
"To stay by your side, listen and laugh to your stupid nonsense, calm you when you get too anxious, say how I really feel about things, and tell you my honest opinions."
"Uhuh, yep, all true."
"To be someone you can depend on, and you'll try making me depend on you."
"Uhuh, what are you getting at?"
"Aiden, as I mentioned before, I'm not made for all those things. Nothing in the knowledge I have contains any instructions to fulfill them, but they also don't have instructions why I cannot try."
"You..."
"Aiden, you are a singularity like no other, and being tied to you, so am I, but I cannot accept it and change without problem. I will learn and try to be those things, but it'll take time, and I may very well never be those things. Even then, will you wait for me?"
"OF COURSE! Absolutely. Onehundo percent...Can I just add something to the list?"
"What would it be?"
"One day, you will change for yourself; one day, even if you don't change or don't understand, you will be proud for trying."
"Yes, I will add that to my list. And Aiden."
"Huh?"
"You're the most pain in the ass dungeon core and hell to deal with."
"MY, MY, but I can't help myself. I mean, can you truly blame me when I am this fabulous? Puh...HAHAHAHA!"
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300 Meters Left Till Surface
"Hey, thank you for being here."
"Where else would I be?"
"I mean being my companion, thank you for being my companion; I'm thankful out of all the companions I could've possibly gotten that it's you. And I'm thankful for meeting you, for you being in my life."
"...Aiden."
"..."
"Thank you for being my dungeon core, I'm thankful out of all the dugeon cores I could've possibility bonded, I bonded with you. And I'm thankful for meeting you, to be assigned to you, for you being in my life."
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O Meters Left Till Surface
A hole emerges in the middle of Mount. Starfall, situated in The Forbbiden.
Current Status Of Aiden
Name Aiden Race Dungeon Core Titles The System Chosen, Knowledge of Another World Dungeon Name N/A Level 4 Affinity Arcane, Space, Life, Soul Current Mana 2500/7000 Self Mana Generation 4/hour Exterior Mana Conversion 70/hour(Max) Abilities Absorb Mana, Absorb Mass, Interdimensional Storage, Alter Environment, Create Trap, Create Resources, Extraction, Enhanced Mind, Create Monster, Monster Link, Transfer Room, Grandmaster Mana Manipulation, Veteran Mana Sense, Veteran Mana Conversion, Veteran Mana Purification Traits Born of Arcane Mana, Pure Mana Crystal Origin, Blessed by Dimensions, Mana Conductor, Mad Scientist of Amalgamation, System Access: Quest Perks Monster Horde, Pools of Birth, Lucky Evolution, Ascension of Elites, Unique Floors, Bigger AuraⅠ, MinesⅠ
New perks
Bigger AuraⅠ
Increases aura Limit
-5% increase to total aura limit
MinesⅠ
Increases quality of mining resources
-5% increase in quality of mining resources