**Workshop of the God of Dungeons, Dungeon God’s residence**
Hansel stared at the limp body of the young goddess named Udel that was lying on the floor of the workshop. I turned as much as my bodiless body would let me. “That does not look healthy, what did you do to her?” I ask with curiosity. Whatever it was did not look safe.
The God of Dungeons chuckles, “I sent her soul down to Egalia to inhabit a body.” Before I could ask another question, he continues as if reading my mind. “If I sent her down there in her celestial body?”
“...would she die?” I reply slowly. He tries to stifle a laugh. “Maybe not?”
The large man standing in front of me starts shaking his head with a large grin on his face. “Precisely, Young Udel would most likely die, her body is not made of the same substances that the beings in the mortal realm are made from.”
“Then what about her soul? Shouldn’t it be bound by the same law?” I ask.
“That would be false Dungeon Hansel, every being has a soul similar to each other. That would be the reason you are allowed to be transported to Egalia.” He turns around and walks towards a rather plain door. Before, he can open it, I fire him another question.
“Then, what about you? Since you are an overseer of Egalia, are you able to descend?” He stops and turns once again this time facing me, he seems to ponder the question before nodding.
“Well, it would seem that as gods of Egalia, we are able to descend to the world. But, if my memory serves me right, only through an avatar. We have to choose an avatar from the realm that represents us.” He scratches his chin seeming to think harder about an answer. “I believe the God of War chose an avatar that was a successful war general. Another one I think was… a Sea Dragon? But, that was for the Goddess of the Sea.”
I spiritually nod. “So would you have an avatar of a famous dungeon explorer?”
The God shakes his head. “No. I would have to go down as a dungeon core. The explorers you talk about are better known as adventurers, they are the bane of my existence. They go down and destroy my creations, and when they do, they slowly collapse the foundation their world is built on.” He finishes with a huff.
“Oh…” I start gliding over towards him. “So, this Udel… she was a Goddess of Dungeons, right?”
“That she was.”
“So would she have an avatar through a dungeon core?”
I watch as he takes his hand off the half-open door, and uses it to scratch his head. “Uhm… that is a possibility.” After another second of thought he shrugs, “Whatever, I am sure it will be fine… ...maybe.”
---
**Behind the Door in the Workshop, Dungeon God’s Residence**
The room was not as spectacular compared to the workshop we just came from. The walls are made from a warm dark brown wood. The planks of wood lined up neatly around the room giving the room a sense of security. The room was completely empty except for a large globe, that floated in the center. I stared in awe at the 10 foot wide globe that was floating over a small circular pedestal.
The globe showed a world of blue and green. Wisps of white I could only guess were clouds floated in large clumps around the world. “So, I am guessing this is Egalia?”
“Yes, this will be your new home. Now where do you want to settle?” He looks at me. “Either I can choose a spot or you can.” He says while pointing to the globe.
My smile widens, if anyone that knew me were here they would be telling me to stop. “How about a gamble? We randomly pick five spots each. We go and check them out and I will decide from there.”
He smirks at me. “Sounds good.” He snaps his fingers and the globe turns black. After a few seconds small red dots start to appear all over the surface. “Here are all the possible caves that are available. Their danger level size and placement is unknown. They could be inhabited by monsters, maybe it is located underwater.” His smile widens. “Well, I will allow you to pick the first one.”
---
**Cave #1, Somewhere on Egalia**
“Sooo…. Not this one.”
“Agreed.”
Cave #1
Location
Upper Agareen Mountain range
Status
Failed
Reason
Caved In
---
**Cave #2, Somewhere on Egalia**
“This one is not that bad, I mean other than being submerged…”
I look towards the god. “Yeah try telling that to the adventurers who can hold their breath long enough to die from the pressure from the water at this depth.”
“Ah, I see.”
Cave #2
Location
Bottom of the Blood Sea
Status
Failed
Reason
Submerged - Bottom of the Sea
---
**Cave #3, Somewhere on Egalia**
“What season is it on Egalia, O’ mighty God of Dungeons?” I snarkly ask.
He scratches his chin. “Early spring I believe.”
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“Ah. Let’s go. Next. One.”
“What is wrong with this cave?” He asks sincerely.
“That.” I try to gesture to the seething mass of scaly bodies.
“What, you don’t like snakes? They are an incredible member of the monster choices with incredible possibilities.”
“I like snakes. But, not at this time of year. I have been scarred enough as it is.”
Cave #3
Location
Garinth Forest
Status
Failed
Reason
Giant Snake Mating Season
---
**Cave #4, Somewhere on Egalia**
“Hmm, this one is not that bad.” The God looks around with admiration.
I roll my eyes. “Indubitably. I love walking into a natural blast furnace that houses monsters that want to kill me.”
“Give it a chance. You would get this whole volcano. Plus, it is well protected with all the lava around.” He pleads.
“Technically it is called Magma, O’ GOd of dungeons. I will keep this one in mind though.” I look at the bubbling magma and shudder. “Onto the next one.”
Cave #4
Location
Khantavnanda
Status
pending...
Reason
Large Cave - Really Hot - Full of Magma
---
**Cave #5, Somewhere on Egalia**
“...” I look at the god.
“...” He looks at me.
“...” The group of brown bears looks up at us. It is not everyday you see two glowing balls of magic talking to each other, one blue, the other gold..
Cave #5
Location
Lower Agareen Mountain range
Status
Failed
Reason
Goldilocks’ Friend’s Wild Cousins
---
**Cave #6, Somewhere on Egalia**
“This one is not that bad.” I state looking around.
“Really? There is nothing here except a stream of water.” He looks at me quizzically. “I mean, yeah, water is cool.”
“Yes, I think this may be it. But, let’s go look at the last four.”
Cave #6
Location
Below the City of Hansden
Status
pending...
Reason
A nice lil’ cave with a stream in it
---
**Cave #7, Somewhere on Egalia**
“...”
“...”
“Behold fellow followers of Cratin, our lord has heard our pleas and has sent his underlings to aid us!”
“...”
“...”
Cave #7
Location
Fendrol Marsh Cave
Status
Failed
Reason
Cratin cult/worshippers
---
**Cave #8, Somewhere on Egalia**
“So, another one of these ones, huh?”
“It seems so. We still have two more caves left for you to choose from.”
“I am surprised this is only the second caved in one that we chose.”
Cave #8
Location
Dastgust
Status
Failed
Reason
Caved In… really, again?
---
**Cave #9, Somewhere on Egalia**
“...”
“...” The god agreed with me.
“Spectacular…” I was at a loss for words. We were floating in the most beautiful cave I had ever seen. Along almost every surface of the cave there was crystals of all shapes and sizes sprouting out. Some collided with each other, some split off from each other, and most spectacularly there were some that merged together to form spirals of colour.
“I did not know a place like this existed.” The god floating beside me says. “It would be a shame if this place fell into the wrong hands. I see almost pure Emerald over there, Rainbow Opal spires, and even Alexandrite.” He somehow shifts his gaze around to stare at the rest of the cave. “Please claim this cave…”
“It looks very enticing for sure, but, why?” I reply not understanding his desperation. I turn around and look at what caught his attention. I see a large colourful pillar, as I look at it I get a sense of it being different, but nothing comes to mind. “What is so special about a spire of Rainbow Opal, I mean there is quite a lot in here.”
He looks at me stunned. I still have no idea how he can do that as a wisp of magic. “Of course you would not know what this is, it does not exist on your Earth.” He turns and shifts a tendril of his orb to act like pointing at something. “That, dear Hansel, is a pillar of crystallized Mithril, The strongest and most magical substance on the planet. It is so hard to come by even for us Gods.”
“...”
“... Indeed”
“I would like to claim this cave.”
Would you like to claim the Crystal Cave?
Warning: Once you claim this cave you are not going to be able to claim another cave
Yes?
No?
“Yes, dammit.” I smash the ‘yes’ button with as much thought power as I can.
Cave #9
Location
The Valley of Dreams
Status
Chosen as Cave of Residence - all previous and remaining caves set to failed.
Reason
Too Rare to Pass By - Crystal Mithril - Do I need to keep listing reasons? No? Good.
---
**Cave #10, Somewhere on Egalia**
A figure stays still as they sigh. “Oh well, and here I was hoping to have some visitors.” The figure remains there, sighing. After a moment the figure moves and a loud rattling of chains can be heard all around the cavern. “I guess I am still chained to the wall. Screw black Mithril chains.”
Cave #10
Location
Underneath the Dead God’s Shrine
Status
Failed
Reason
Better Cave Chosen
---
“So quick question before you leave me here. What are these translucent boxes?” I have been wondering for a while, but never had time to ask properly.
“Ah, yes that is the System, I know not a very creative name. It gets the job done though. I have modified yours to fit your needs as a dungeon. Well then good luck!” He disappears with a flash of golden light and small popping sound.
“Ah, thanks…” I say to the open air. “So now what?” My consciousness gives out as I see a faint blue screen appear in front of me.
Beginning to stitch soul into the Dungeon, Many parameters are being finalised and decided due to the cave you have decided to reside in.
Processing…
…
…
…
…
90% finish
...
...
Discovering Problem
...
...
Diagnosis received: One final step left
---
Final step: place soul into a sleep until assimilation is complete.
Good night Dungeon Core Hansel!