Chapter 2: Dungeon Guide
I woke up in the same room as before. Well maybe not really the same room. Gone were the four walls. Gone was the ceiling. In place of those boundaries, was Space. Not the black emptiness that I was trapped in for so long, but the vast unexplored expanse of a universe.
Planets floated close enough to block out everything, only to disappear over the horizon and be replaced with cosmic plasma storms, meteor showers and solar flares. Black holes opened and closed at random, swallowing whole solar systems and then spitting out the remains on the other side of the universe. Stars were born, aged, and died all as I watched the scenes around me.
I was dumbstruck by the sight, so much so that I did not even think about all the things that were wrong with this sight. I just stared out into the endlessness that was space and marvelled at all that existed there. Then after a long time of observing, a black hole opened right in front of me. The trance was shattered the miraculous sight lost its innocence, and I was drawn back towards reality.
The trance broken, I remembered that I was in the middle of reading the dungeon management window. Thinking about it, the window reappeared in my view, startling me slightly.
<<<
<< The Chaos dungeon is absolutely unique; it is the only one in existence. Brought into creation by the melding of multiple existences with high Affinities for the Elements and Laws, with the only existence of Chaos. This dungeon exists on a separate plane of reality within the vast bounds of the universe. All floor types, Creature types, Trap types and Habitat types are unlocked and available for use. Warning: Due to innate nature of the dungeon, the Dungeon Heart will remain within the Chaos habitat at the lowest level. Modification of the room is available in a limited fashion, but the heart cannot be moved or hidden.>>> << The Dungeon is currently locked off from all outside influence and has not been constructed. As such dungeon is still unlevelled. Rank is not applicable till the dungeon acquires traps and creatures.>>> << The Dungeon Guide has not been selected. Please create a space for the guide to enter the dungeon >>> ‘Looking at the window gave some insights into the dungeon, its type, rank and level were all displayed which was useful, but what is this Dungeon Guide thing’ I thought as I read the information on the screen. Reading further there was more information, like number of creatures present, mana generated by creatures, adventurers and deaths, number of floors, rooms, traps, treasures, loot. There was even information on when I was opening the dungeon and where. Having looked at everything that was on the screen, I decided to see about making a space for my so called guide. Then realized I had no idea how to do that. Pondering on that I remembered the message that said certain skills would be automatically acquired. Opening up my skills list with a thought I looked through << << << << << << << << Looking at the skills on my skill list I was intrigued that they all referred to the dungeon and not the being. ‘Does that mean that this is just an avatar to move around in and the dungeon itself is really me, or simply that the dungeon is another part of my body.’ As I was thinking about this I tried to use the Dungeon manipulation skill. Suddenly a floating 3D projection appeared in front of me, looking at it, it seemed to be a representation of the room I was currently standing in. It showed a cube with a crystal embedded in one wall and myself standing in the centre. Looking next to the projection there was a window with a list of possible options on it. Looking through the list I chose the Create New Room Tab. Immediately a small room was added next to the one I was in, and a new list of things came up to replace the old ones. It looked to be parameters for the room that was next to mine, height, sides, entryways, type, resources, layout, you could change anything you wanted about the room. Taking my time, I decided to start properly making the dungeon. So I went ahead and made what would be the first floor of my dungeon, or rather my home. I shifted the room that I had created above this one and slightly forward. Next I increased the size to about 150km2, making the length slightly longer than the width. I increased the height of the ceiling to 5000 metres and applied a sky and horizon to the room, changing it into a plain of stone with mountains surrounding it and clouds, sun, stars and moon, in a day-night cycle. Changing the ground, I used a Plains and forests template from the menu, creating a rolling grassland bordering a luscious deciduous forest, with a small river lined by trees and plants. Next I created a small house just on the edge of the mountain, where the forest and plains met and the river started from a lake. It was a small house built in an Eastern style of this world, referred to as Oriental, the house consisted of several rooms setup around a central courtyard. The house was then surrounded by a stone wall that was just slightly taller than myself. A part of the river was diverted into a small stream which provided water for the house as well as decoration in the form of several ponds and streams that were populated by fish and which were placed artistically throughout the courtyard. The Courtyard also housed a number of shade giving trees, and beds of flowers that provided a pleasant fragrance to the air. A small Gazebo with a table and chairs, as well as a bench beneath a willow provided places to sit and rest. A small stage constructed of dark teak, provides a nice place to train and dance. Away from the house, and further up the hill, a set of rocky crags and gullies within the forest hide a cave in which the stairway to the heart room is hidden. It would be the location of the boss as well as a hidden spot to keep people from taking or destroying my heart. The entrance to the floor was through a set of stairs and a pass in the mountains on the far side of the floor. This pass would lead outside when I decided to connect my dungeon to the outside world. Seeing that my work was complete and that Everything was how I wanted it I finalised the skill. After which I watched in wonder as a large area of space above me was taken up by a solid shadow, blocking out the view of the view of the universe. Following that a set of stairs connected to the room leading up to the shadow. Deciding that staying here, when I have a house above, would be boring, I head to the stairs to take a look at the new area I have created. As I step forward, I suddenly feel extremely dizzy and light-headed, looking to the small bar in the top left of my vision, I notice that the blue bar has dropped to just 1% remaining. Just as my vision starts to go black I curse my stupidity for not realizing that abilities would obviously have a cost. “ey. . . up . . . wake . . . hey. . .“ A small voice was droning in my ear. I was enjoying my sleep so I waved my hand towards the voice and rolled over while mumbling, “Ugh just ten more minutes.” Suddenly I felt a bit of pressure on my finger as something tried to move my hand or push my body. Realizing that there was something else in my domain I came instantly awake and moved into the corner of my room scanning for the thing which had woken me. Looking around all I could see that was out of place was a small light that was floating near one of the walls, ‘or is it a star that’s closer than usual?’ I thought to myself as I observed the ball of light floating where I was just lying. “Finely you’re awake. Do you know how long I have been trying to wake you up?” The orb in front of me pulsed as I heard a voice speaking to me. “Honestly, why were you sleeping when you knew that I was coming, especially when all you have made. . . is . . . this . . . small . . . room. . . What the hell is this place!!” it seems that the light ball was going to mock me until it realized that it was standing in the middle of the universe. “My Heart Room, and I didn’t make this it became this after the systems Avatar creation. Also who are you exactly?” I asked with a smug grin on my face. Watching the Light ball fly around in circles and strobe at a ridiculous frequency, I decided to head up the stirs that I had just created. “What do you mean this is your Heart Room, only a dungeon can have a, hey did you say you went through avatar creation. . . wait where are you going. . . hey get back here I am not finished with you!?!” The ball of light stopped its buzzing around when it heard my reply only to notice me walking up the staircase that it had missed behind it. “Where did this come from?!?!” Oblivious to the fact that it was always there the ball of light flew up the stairs following me. As I got to the top of the stairs I was greeted by a relatively large rock cavern, complete with Stalactites and stalagmites, a small underground lake and little island in the centre, where we emerged in the ruins of an ancient building of some description. Looking around I was very happy with what I could see. ‘It seems that the system uses the mind reading for this as well. Interesting, I have very few memories that I can recall, and yet I seem to have a good enough Idea of structure to build this type of thing with some system assistance.’ I mused to myself while I paused at the edge of the island and looked out at my creation. Seeing that the world lit up a little bit I turned round to find the Light ball behind me. “Hey, I was talking to you. I know you Dungeon’s have no idea about manners or etiquette but it’s bad to ignore someone when they are speaking to you. Honestly blank slates are the . . . “ The light ball stopped speaking as it looked around us and saw the cavern and the detail of its construction Looking at the ruins around us the Light Ball slowly started to change colours going from red to a very pale white with almost no light coming off of it. “Uhm, you didn’t happen to make this room did you? It was the same as the last one, made by the system right Right!?!?” It asked extremely subdued. “Nope this part of the room was definitely made by me, took a while to get the image just right, guess the system helped with that, but the idea and design of this particular part of the room are mine.” I reply while stepping forward and walking across the lake. What I am not using skills, part of the perks of being the Dungeon itself I can walk on anything as if it was solid. As I got to the other shore I saw a light coming from the end of a short tunnel. Moving towards it I could feel the impression of fresh air against my skin, and wind blowing my hair. Looking behind me the light ball had only just realized that I had left the island and was now zooming towards me as fast as it could. “STOOOP!!! DON’T GO OUTSIDE THE DUNGEON!!!” It screamed at me as I was walking out of the cave mouth. The Colour was now almost black, radiating a darkness around it the was visible. I ignored the little thing and walked into the first floor of my dungeon. As I stopped to take in the sights the ball of light flew in front of me and tried to push me back into the cave. “Hurry get back inside before all your magical energy is detected by dungeon hunters. You can’t leave your dungeon because you will be too weak to get away from danger if you are found!” Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Brushing the light away I continued walking down the mountain, heading for the house I had built myself down in the foot hills. “We are still in the first floor of the dungeon you strange idiot, I simply built it differently to normal dungeons.” I said as I picked my way down to the river on my right. I had purposefully linked the river to the cave as a sort of hint to where to go next for dungeon visitors. “This is obviously outside, you can’t make a dungeon like this without ridiculous amounts of magic, you are only a new dungeon don’t lie to me like that, you obviously don’t have enough magic for all this.” The light ball came flying towards me and tried to stop me again while calling me a liar. For some reason that pissed me off a lot. Sighing I decided it would be easier to just prove it with the dungeon manipulation skill. Activating the skill, a 3D projection of the dungeon appeared in front of me, finding the right box I checked the ‘show to all box’, “There is that proof enough, two floors, one which we are on and one which holds the heart.” I said as the light ball observed the image between us. Having proved my point, I stopped the skill and continued walking towards the house. Arriving at the house I took a key from inside a stone lantern at the door and unlocked the door to enter the house. Walking inside I placed the key back into the lantern and then continued towards the gazebo located near one of the larger ponds within the courtyard. Taking a seat, I looked around at what would be my abode for the foreseeable future. Slowly the light floated to the chair opposite me and the seemed to drop down suddenly as if sitting in the chair. Its colour was now changing slowly from cold cool colours like teal and lavender to warm colours like orange and red. “So care to explain who or what you are yet?” I asked as I watched the ball floating in front of me. “Haaaaaa . . . Well I am a dungeon guide as to who or what specifically that is now your choice to make. My names given by the being that raised me is Gwynavier or Gavin as I am still just energy until you chose what my existence will become, man or monster, beast or spirit, you are the one that gets to decide on my final form as well as my final name.” The orb of Light sighed deeply, before replying as I watched it slowly float around now looking around the gazebo out towards the garden. “Your choice will determine more than just my form though; it will also determine how my personality will develop as well as some other small minor things. You are quite literally being given control over the flow of my destiny so please be kind to me.” The last part of what it was saying was in a whisper that was only just audible to me. “So you are the one who is meant to guide me through the creation of my dungeon, huh. So why exactly does one need a guide. It all seems pretty straight forward really. That being said, I could probably use your knowledge about the outside world. Would be good to have that sort of knowledge.” I simply decide to speak my mind as I really don’t see much other need for the guide that is before me. “Well I will admit that you are probably one of the only dungeons that has ever created a first floor so large and detailed alone before, but without a dungeon guide, you would have no Idea how to make it into a productive dungeon that is left alive or one that is destroyed for being evil and dangerous. Also you would not be able to summon any monsters as you have no knowledge of them, so you wouldn’t be able to populate your dungeon.” The guide replied with a little self-satisfaction. “Well I don’t think I have to worry about any of that cause the dungeon is in another plane of reality and doesn’t even connect to anywhere until I make it connect to the physical plane. As for monsters that’s easy I simply need to use the create monsters option in the manipulation skill.” I say as I pull up the skill and click on the tab. <<< < “Hmm, maybe I do need you after all. So I get to pick your race for you do I . . . hmmm” After reading the system error I murmur to myself while looking at the guide and trying to decide what type of creature it should become and whether it will be male or female. “So what do you want to be then?” I ask the guide out of curiosity. “You’re going to let me choose, really! Really really!?!?! Ah ahm, wow I always thought about it but could never decide, an Elf or maybe an Angel, oh maybe a dragon, or better yet maybe” The orb started to ramble so before it could get any further I cut in. “Your race will be a Chaos Faerie; your gender will be Female. And you will have the name Gwynavier.” I picked randomly to shut the guide up and get it to focus. “Wait what?!? No I thought you would let me chose, and what’s a Chaos Fairy anyway?” The guide asked before a light greater than its own enveloped it and everything went silent. Watching closely, I could slowly make out a darker shape within the light. After about ten minutes the light slowly started to fade and before me, lying on the chair was a small girl, literally, only about six inches high. She had similar features to my own, however hers were far more feminine and smooth. Wrapping around her body were two beautiful sets of wings that formed a type of cocoon around her body. As I was watching she slowly unfolded her wings before pushing herself up and looking around herself. Looking down at her hands, then her body and legs she slowly looked up towards where I was sitting. She slowly stood upright before opening her wings to their full size, showing of their magnificence, chaotic patterns swirled about them changing and shifting seemingly at random, then they were covered in clouds, stars, the universe, then colours again swirling and mixing until they flow back through other sights from the universe. Her wings were as wide as she is tall, double her height and tapered into tails at the bottom and similarly tapered off at the top. Her hair was similarly chaotic but was done up in braids and fell below her perky ass. Her figure was displayed by a form fitting dress that fell to her the bottom of her feet and came up in a halter around her neck. “Well, that was interesting, the system created an entirely new race just for me, again. I guess this is what happens with admin privileges huh. So how is it, do you like your new form?” I ask as I watch her use her wings and magic to start flying. Floating off the chair she flies around for a bit, losing her concentration and almost crashing at one stage, before turning back to me. “I thought you would let me choose what I would be, and why a fairy, they are so week, and even if I have the strange Chaos attribute it doesn’t mean I will be Stronger than a normal fairy. I should have been something big and bad so I could be the final boss. And I wanted to be a guy. Guys have all the fun.” Gwyn complained in reply to my question. She had crossed her arms below her considerable chest, and pouted at me, quite alluringly I might add, while moving to the table to land. “I never said that you would get to choose merely that I wanted to know what you would choose. As I am already part elf and dragon so having you be either of those would be pointless, as for angels, just no, so boring and dull. And a female is a much better choice for a companion especially if I have to spend pretty much eternity with you.” I reply as I start to bring up the dungeon manipulation skill again. This time when I click the Monsters/Creatures tab I am able to see some options available. <<< < < < < < < < < < <> “Humph! Well I guess you have your reasons. . . You seem pretty advanced as a sentient being for a new dungeon though. Why is that and why do you have an avatar already?” Gwyn asked, with some slight displeasure, while walking towards me to get a look at the dungeon screen. “Probably because I was alive a while ago. Then died. Then crashed into this planet after escaping a dark void which I spent. Hmmmmm I wonder how long it really was, I lost track around the 75th millennium. As for the Avatar, the system helped me make it when I came to in the Heart Room.” I reply with disinterest. Remembering the void was definitely not a pleasant thing that I wanted to do. “Now enough of that, we need to pick the starting creatures for the dungeon. So do we go with humanoids or do we go with beasts and monsters, maybe a mix as I can summon two races?” I continue on completely ignoring the flummoxed expression on Gwynavier’s face. “You just said that you have been alive for more time than this world has existed, do you realize how crazy that is?” She asked me, looking at me like I was some Kind of imbecile or crazy person. “Honestly. You would think that you could have come up with a better lie. I mean It isn’t like you came here from another universe like the hero, so you can’t possibly be that old.” “Really not so important at the moment, but apparently you would like my whole life story so let me give it to you in a nutshell. I was born. I lived half my life, I think, then I died. Was trap in a place that had no exit for long enough for me to go insane and come back to sanity again a few thousand times, at least that I can remember. As for this world, Of the fragments of memories that still exist within my mind and soul, is nothing like the world I lived in while alive.” I reply to her snide and sarcastic remarks that seem to take me for a fool. “When I escaped that hell It was through a hole of light no bigger than a proton. Then I crashed into this world. Woke up in some underground room, and made the body I am currently wearing. Bringing a species back into existence to do so. Now, can we get on with the dungeon, as I would really like to finish off this first floor, before I go to sleep to regain my mana.” “Okay fine, say you’re telling the truth, that makes you the oldest soul in existence and also potentially a threat to the gods, so we can expect them to send their champions after us.” She replied seeing my dead serious face, “Now lets see what choices we have and the get started. Saying that she flew onto my shoulder and then looked at the screen before me.