Uno

Now, how should I begin my creation spree?

First - it's better to check what materials I have at hand - what was absorbed in these few days. Now, should I let go of my gaming preconceptions and simply order my new power around?

Let’s do it!

With all my might I simply wished to know.

And the System responded in turn.

Current resource availability:

* common oak hardwood

* common conifer softwood

* common low-quality pig iron

* low-quality dirt

* limestone

* sandstone

* meat (Grey Rat)

* leather (Grey Rat)

* bone (Grey Rat, human)

* vegetable matter (grass)

It wasn’t a lot.

You may be wondering, how did the human bones appear on this list? I kinda decided to absorb them a few moments earlier. This allowed me to learn how humans were made, or at least their bones. And while most of the skeletons in my closets were incomplete I was able to piece the whole specimen.

Which I promptly summoned.

It took a bit from my reserves. This mana thing wasn’t endless after all.

Under the thrall of my ability, it stood upright, white bones slightly gleaming under power emitted from dungeon core. The rest of the room was too dark for sentient eyes to see. As a material I used human bones - there was a hesitation, not because they were sacred or something, but because I had stronger things on hand. Yet each of them had a distinct weakness - wood was easy to burn and warp, metal rusted (and pig iron wasn’t really that good anyway), the stone was much too heavy… I needed something strong and light.

And making a human skeleton from rat bones felt just wrong.

I started immediately - first to cover its chest in the iron, uneven surface of metal forming something similar to armor. It completely hidden skeleton ribs, and then, like a living thing excess flew towards its arms and legs. I precisely controlled how much of it was allowed to bond with my creature, turning it into a rusty looking juggernaut. It didn’t need eyes, so even its helmet was looking like some third rate blacksmith tried creating the knightly doll.

Since the body was complete I could focus on a weapon. I leaned into making swords and spears or similarly complicated weapons - but these would be nothing more but pale imitations of the real stuff. Mana creation seemed to lean heavily in a favor of things I had a good idea of how they were made. Or in other words, what I had blueprints for. So instead of getting fancy, I went for the easiest choice - a club made from metal, with wicked spikes on it.

I finished my job and in turn mana receded like an ocean wave.

Only to see my creation crumpled on the floor.

Ah.

Duct tape.

It was needed once again.

I quickly zoomed in - moving through something like iron was not posing any problem - only to see from the inside how metal was bonding with bone. Or rather how it wasn’t.

But!

There is something in this world called double-sided tape!

A real marvel!

By using it I managed to join up both components and force the new being to stand up.

It wasn’t large. The skeleton was about 160 centimeters high - the size of a small adult or big child - but thanks to that it could move through the dungeon without problems. My first impression was that it looked like a discount knight figure, similar to the ones that people used in some wargames, back in my old world. Only totally discolored. It moved jerkily, dragging large club behind it and leaving marks on the floor.

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But once again, I was not yet finished!

As an icing on the cake my power over Anima, the chosen, inner truth, swelled and drowned the creature. It struggled for a moment, seemingly getting melted under violent currents.

Two reddish eyes formed on its faceplate, hidden under the metallic eyelid, as did two small horns. Or more like thick antennas? They were flat on the end after all. Arms grew more slender and its ribcage stretched, bulging against the body's surface, yet it remained contained within the metal. Fingers thickened, making it able to pick up its weapon with ease, and the creature's legs grew shorter and more robust, allowing for greater power when swinging.

The transformation stopped and I immediately used Analyze, only to be greeted by a weird announcement.

Iron Anima-Touched Lesser Abomination

Making use of sentient parts when creating golems and monsters is a huge taboo. Those who create such monsters tend to gather positive and negative karma in greater amounts.

This never before seen race had touched its inner truth and emerged as half-machine half-undead beings. For now, however, its intelligence is only marginal. In turn, it won’t tire nor grow hungry, working towards nothing else but completing its duty. This type of monster has a clear preference for martial arts and close combat fighting. It has no special abilities except Charge, which will allow it to close distance towards its foe.

Like all abominations its weak towards holy magic and due to its machine heritage - lightning.

Threat level: E+

Wow. That was a mouthful. So… I’ll call them Lebirs? Because of Lesser Iron Abominations? It’s shorter and rolls on my tongue just fine.

The first of the new race simply stood without moving, waiting for my commands. It was more like a doll - without a will on its own. For now, I left it in the corner.

Since I already created my first melee combatant there was a need for something that could take care of fighting at range. There wasn’t much choice, really, when it came to the base of this new monster. It could be either another humanoid or monster similar to a rat.

Since I already used humans now it was time for rats. And I had a weapon just for them prepared - all low-tech and shit.

And just to be fair - I tried creating biological entities - they were just that - bags of meat, collapsing on the floor almost immediately. Their hearts didn’t beat, blood didn’t flow, brains didn’t work. Complete and total failures. And yet with metal and decaying flesh, I was able to grant them life. Weird.

Like before I was basing this new monster on a biological skeleton. On that thin coating of pig iron created pseudo-skin and under it - muscles made from my mana duct tape. After that came enlarging - it gained another ten centimeters and I sculpted a long trench through the middle of its head and on parallel to its spine. The tail was elongated and made more flexible while still full of muscles - allowing for greater motion range, dexterity, and power.

After that, I forced on it a little spear with a wooden shaft and iron head - just long enough to fit into the carved trench. Mechanical rat tail could be used to push it out like a spear thrower, the monster head used as an aiming mechanism. What’s more on the end of said tail I created three-pronged graspers which could be used to pick things up - like for example… new spears.

As a finishing touch, I soaked the beast in Anima just like I did with his predecessor, bringing it to full un-life and elongating the tail even more. Now it was longer than the beast itself, dextrous like a sentient hand. And as a bonus - under rat belly dangled a small pouch with few more spears - far enough to not be seen at first glance, but easily accessible for its tail-hand.

My creation was ready. What Analyze had to say?

Iron Ratling Spear Thrower

Small, beast-like dungeon creature created from basic Grey Rat. It boasts much better speed, strength, and firepower, thanks to iron skin and the spear thrower carved into its flesh. Has pack mentality, a tendency to form tribal societies and will help any dungeon creatures in the vicinity defend their home.

Will breed naturally and convert some locations to Lairs. Natural evolutions are available.

Has built-in mana conversion gland which allows it to roam corrupted wastelands without trouble.

Threat level: E

Good enough. In anticipation, I order drones to dig through western parts of the dungeon. Yes, yes I know - where is west, east, north and south here?

How can I tell without seeing the sun?

I can’t!

So what? My newest decree is that entrance tunnel is to the south, to the northeast is my core room and to the west are now Ratling Warrens! At least as soon, as my minions will manage to dig them through.

I also sent them to the southeastern jail cell and ordered its expansion. My Ratlings would need somebody to arm them after all, but it wasn’t all that pressing matter since there were no enemies to fight as of yet.

In a flight of fancy, I created four more Ratlings. Each of them looked a bit different, like you know - individual creatures, not machines - and ordered them to claim nest in the Warrens as soon as my Drones finished their work.

Two more Lebirs were also made, but due to their nature (or rather lack of intelligence), I moved them towards the entrance and ordered to guard it.

And - most importantly - I sealed all these little pathways that Grey Rats were pouring in my dungeon, turning dirt into sandstone, which was simply too much for their claws and teeth. Now the only way in was from the south, where my mechanical men stood guard.

I could only wait. Drones weren’t really that adept at digging, but they did the job. Eventually.

And after that, I should probably look at my dungeon as a whole.

I wasn’t bothered by a lack of lighting, but some of my creations may be…

Time to do some decorating!