Duke sat a bit straighter as the being that actually had answers to some of his pressing questions sat before him. “Yes, let’s talk. I have so many things going on and so many questions that I’m thoroughly distracted and unable to focus.”

“Fair enough. It doesn’t help either of us for you to be so distracted, so I’ll do what I can to help. What is the biggest concern with which you are wrestling?”

“I am missing a timeline or even context for whenever this ‘Contest’ that I am being groomed for will occur. Without that, I am making decisions based on guesses and hopes.”

“I see. I have told you before that I cannot give you specifics on the Contest.” He appeared to mull the question over before continuing. “I can tell you this: At your current pace of development, you are not going to be ready in time. You need to step up your advancement and significantly step up your planting of dungeon cores. I understand the desire to find ideal locations for planting the cores you have planted so far. And don’t misunderstand me, ideal placement of dungeon cores is something very close to my heart, but you need to move faster. Even if it means you have cores planted out in the middle of nowhere, they will grow. Their growth will be slower than at an ideal location, but they will still grow.”

“But won’t they be vulnerable? What if some monster comes along and destroys the dungeon? That’s a big hit to my power.”

“If you plant one hundred and twenty are destroyed, you are still ahead in the power department. I hinted at this previously, but I guess I’ll have to come out and say it – if you plant enough dungeons, the title will upgrade, and you will have even more upside versus downside from the dungeons.”

Duke nodded. “So is one hundred the target I should be shooting for?”

“Not remotely. That’s just a starting point. Right now, this is the only dungeon you have that is budding. Soon some of your other dungeons will start budding. I am infusing as much dungeon essence into this world as I dare without alerting any other entities. You need to use it while you still can.”

“OK, got it. Plant as many dungeons as fast as I can for the foreseeable future.”

“Something like that.”

“I know you can’t tell me specifics, but how tight is the timeline? Do I have days? Months? Years?”

“I am not permitted to give you that specific information especially since it is not a definite date.” He paused again and lit up when a thought occurred to him. “I can tell you this. There are specific things that have to happen before the Contest is started. In order to have a proper Contest, all the Contestant slots need to be filled. That has not happened yet. Contestants need to meet a minimum criteria to be selected. You have already met the minimum criteria. BUT someone at the minimum criteria will be hopelessly unprepared for those who were selected earlier and have continued to grow in power. Does that help you understand what is coming? It’s the best I can do for you in that respect.”

“And I suppose you can’t just hand me things to advance myself?”

“You are starting to grasp the way things work. I can influence you, set you on the right path, and even provide some minor resources from time to time, but your ultimate growth and readiness is up to you. Can you complete the Thirsty Scorpion Inn’s trial by yourself?”

“I might be able to if I used my DUNGEON MANIPULATION but without it, probably not at this point.”

“Use that as your minimum requirement. Bring your friends and allies along to help you complete it as you will gain significant power from its completion. It is a special dungeon and a rather rare type. Plant all the cores you have now and then use the resources at hand to grow – specifically that dungeon and any others that may help.”

”I noticed that you’re not trying to get me to ditch everyone else anymore.”

“You are who you are. I’m not going to get you to drop everyone you care about so why waste energy on something that is not productive for either of us?”

“Rather pragmatic of you.”

“I am pragmatic. I selected and stole you because you fit my idea of what I want in a Contestant. You have already planted six dungeons on a world that was for all intents and purposes devoid of dungeons. That alone tells me that you are the right candidate for me. But I will say it yet again – you are woefully underprepared for what is to come.”

“I get it. I really do.”

“You are worried about this kingdom of yours and its people. It is ostensibly a noble mindset, but it is not helping your growth much. You dealt with the enemy queen rather brutally and efficiently. You may need to be equally efficient and even more brutal if you wish to hold onto this kingdom. Remember, I am not the only entity that knows you are on this world. The twin entities are still out there and they are hopping mad. They are jealous and petty. What do you think they might do?”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“They will probably try to take everything away from me.”

The Overmind did not respond but the gleam in his eye told Duke that he had hit upon the answer.

“So I had better prepare for that too.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. My time here is drawing to an end for now. Remember what we discussed and keep your Legion training in the dungeon. It really accelerates the growth of the dungeon.” Duke could tell from the look the Overmind gave him there was more to the statement but also a warning not to talk about it.

“Thanks for the tip.”

“You are quite welcome. Until next time.” The Overmind’s avatar vanished, leaving Duke alone with his thoughts.

Duke put everything aside and went back to the first item on his plan and set to execute it. Step one was to retrieve the map that Baslin had given him so long ago. In as many minutes, he had targeted nine places to plant dungeons. He quickly departed for the first.

After TELEPORTING, Duke stood alongside a lonely road in a hilly area. There were scattered trees around, but the area was mostly overgrown grass and shrubs. Duke planted his next dungeon. He smiled as it took shape before him. The interplay of branches and timbers holding up the thatched roof reminded Duke of an enormous bird’s nest. When the sign finally formed, signifying the completion of the transformation, Duke couldn’t help but chuckle at the name. He stepped inside.

He was greeted as usual by the inn’s minotaur keeper. This one had brown fur so dark, it was nearly black. “Greetings and welcome to the Golden Griffon Inn. I am Carl and I am very happy to see you. Things were getting awfully stale sitting in that bag of yours.”

“Sorry about that. I’ve been a bit distracted and haven’t gotten things done nearly as fast as I should have. Speaking of which, I have to move on to planting the other cores. Will you be alright by yourself?”

“Of course. Go give my brothers and sisters a new home.”

“That’s the plan.” Duke waved and TELEPORTED to the next location. This one was another mountainous area with a complex cave system. Duke was taking a risk with this one but if the gamble paid off, it would pay off big from a dungeon growth standpoint.

With a wary smile, Duke planted the next core and stepped back to wait for it to grow. Soon, an inn unlike any other he had planted stood before him. It had the appearance of being poorly constructed and maintained but Duke could see that the appearance was deceptive. Shadows hid the structural supports of the inn, only allowing the façade of faded and broken timbers. When the sign sprouted out, Duke hoped it was indeed a sign of things to come in the inn. He headed inside.

Duke had to do a double-take when he entered. All the furniture was decidedly built for someone at most half his size and there was a stage set up along one wall of the inn. When he saw the normal-sized (for a minotaur) innkeeper come out to greet him, Duke shook his head in confusion.

“Hello, Duke. Welcome to the Dancing Goblin Inn. I am Shemer and you seem confused.”

“This is not what I expected. At all.”

“This is built for our expected clientele. You knew that this area was filled with goblins when you decided to set me up here. Speaking of which, you should head out – you’re scaring my customers away.”

Duke just shook his head. “Goodbye Shemer. I hope things go well for you.”

“Don’t worry. They’re going to love this place.”

Duke left and returned to the Lake Front Inn for a break before heading back out again. He headed down to the common room for a snack. Even though he could create any snack he wanted by himself with his DUNGEON MANIPULATION, he still enjoyed the interaction with others. Calen waved him over to the bar.

“How are you, Duke? It’s been a bit since we talked.”

“It has been a bit, hasn’t it? Hmm. Well, things could be going better but they also could be much worse. Aurelia is pissed off at me for something I did but I’m not entirely sure what it specifically was that set her off.”

“You had better talk to her about it then. Letting it sit and fester will only make things worse for both of you.”

“You’re right, of course, but I just have so much to do right now.”

“If you don’t take time for the ones you love, do you really love them?”

“Ouch. Truth bombs hurt.”

“You had best get going then, right?”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

Duke spent the next hour planting the remaining seven cores. He didn’t even set foot inside the inns that sprouted up, but he did take note of their names. He had another idea for that. Instead, he went looking for Aurelia.

When he did find her, she was in her rooms in the castle. As he knocked on the door, he realized that he had never actually set foot in this area of the castle and wondered if this was the section where his rooms were.

“Come in.” Aurelia’s voice sounded exhausted, but Duke was glad to open the door and see her. She was resting on a divan and looked up at Duke with an expression of dread that chilled his bones. “So, we’re going to talk now.”

“I think we need to.”

“We do. Come sit with me.” She shifted to give him room and he joined her.

She didn’t give him a chance to speak before she started. “You scared me. I don’t mean a jump-scare. You did something that was ruthless, cruel, and without remorse. Intellectually, I understand that you were sending a message to an enemy, but emotionally, how you approached it…that chilled me to the core. I was afraid that you were no longer the person I fell in love with. That you were not you anymore, especially when it looked like you were preparing for an unspeakable act.”

“Yes, what I did was ruthless, but I would argue that it was necessary. I had to send a strong message to Pahst’s court that there are consequences for sending an assassin after me. I’ sorry that it frightened you. I needed someone strong that I could trust absolutely with me for that. I don’t have anyone I trust more than you in this entire world. Would it have helped if I told you what I was planning beforehand?”

“Maybe. But next time you are going to do something like that, leave me out of it. I understand, but that was too close to the line for me. I am a soldier. I have no problem killing enemies on the battlefield but torture or things along those lines are not for me.”

“I hope there won’t be a next time, but I can’t promise that. If there is a next time, I’ll keep you out of it.”

“I know you can’t promise what the future will hold but I appreciate that.” She leaned over to him in a side-hug.

“Are we good?”

“Shut up and kiss me. Make the bad all go away.”

Duke did just that and let the rest of the day slip into bliss.