The next few days were a blur. Through careful coaxing I was able to converse with Mini and gain some useful insights from a fellow dungeon core. It took time to interpret Mini’s less than detailed answers, but I have learned more about how dungeon core’s domains work.

Oh Mini? Since they didn't have a name before, not one they would tell me, I decided to name them Mini. They are a mini me after all so it felt appropriate.

Mini has taught me a few things so far, firstly, that a dungeons domain can be expanded by concentrated effort. Just like I had forced my domain into their core, I can force my domain past its current bounds. However it's much harder to push my domain into something like stone than it is to push it into something like air. As such I've been mostly focused on slowly expanding through the halls and rooms in the surrounding cobblestone structure to actually figure out where we are.

It's been slow going. The further I stretch from my core the more difficult it is to maintain the connection to that domain. In a few cases it's literally slipped back and my domain has contracted. I think i don't have enough power to support the full space I am trying to.

At the moment I have maybe tripled my domain itself by total volume. I have pushed past the original room I was born into, and discovered that just outside of that range was a stone archway which led to a long stone hallway which extends in two directions, both left and right from this room. Ive been able to claim some of the hallway so far, but its all a slow work in progress. I've also pushed out through the stained glass window and found we were at least a dozen feet off the ground as I was unable to reveal anything other than the outside wall of this structure. No ground in sight.

And what has Mini been up to? Well outside of answering my many questions, Mini has been helping me dig into the stone wall of this room. We are trying to construct a shorter path through the neighboring rooms rather than taking the long path that is expanding my domain though winding pathways. Mini seems to be untethered from some of the restrictions I have as a dungeon core. They can move themselves around unlike my stationary self and are taking advantage of this to literally tunnell themself through the wall. By channeling my own energy they can move and form stone just like I can. We make a good team I think.

Just then I felt a wave of emotion from Mini and immediately could sense it. Mini had broken through the side wall and into a neighboring room!

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The flood gates opened and I allowed my domain to pour into the new opening. Being so close to my core it was easy for the newly discovered space to fall into my grasp. In a few moments I was able to increase by another fifty percent or more, revealing a full new room to my control.

Immediately a few things were known to me.

image [https://i.imgur.com/YumxRPt.png]

Firstly, this new space had a chest! I wonder if it held anything interesting. But more pressing than that, it was no longer just me and Mini here.In the corner of the new space, in a cold and dark corner, I could feel it. There was a small mouse.

Mini, sharing my senses, immediately flooded me with emotions.

> Dungeon. Growth. Monsters. Kill.

That mouse? You want me to push my domain into that mouse? Kill it?

> Yes. Strength. Grow Dungeon. Grow Power.

I still feel so limited. Reflecting on Sky and the power she radiated, it seems insurmountable the gap between us. How does one get to that level? She even had a body! How do I get one of those? It’s probably best I pursuit this method to increase my own power rather than mindlessly expanding my domain.

> Dungeons grow stronger through their monsters fighting?

I felt what Mini said was correct, like something deep inside my very nature was telling me that this was the way, this was what it meant to be a dungeon. But hold on, why? Why was this nature something i had to obey? Maybe it was the rebellious streak in me, or some of the fragments of previous souls which imprintented their memories to me, but I wanted to reject this implicit goal.

Why violence? Why subjugation?

Sky’s words echoed back to me:

Be different than we were, be a force of change in this world

No. Mini, I appreciate you are trying to help, but I will not kill this creature. I will find another way.

Instead of the mouse, I moved my focus towards the chest in the room. With some careful nudging by both my own domain and Mini channeling my energy, we were able to snap off the rusty lock and pry open the chest revealing its contents.

Jackpot! A sword!

Wait, why am I excited? What do I even do with a sword? Additionally, there likely was a good amount of ornate clothes in here at one point, but they were lost to time a while ago. And at the bottom of the chest set a final item, a leather pouch containing what appeared to be gold coins.

This gave me an idea.