Uno

I really, really disliked surprises. Surprise visits by friends, surprise birthday parties, surprise boyfriend’s day presents - it doesn’t matter. My life should be as boring and predictable as possible.

Because that’s safe.

I sometimes wondered if this quality of mine was part of why I was chosen to work as a Dungeon Core in this new life. This inner instinct was to hide, burrow, and avoid other people and their loud, obnoxious attention.

Not quite the basement dweller, but close.

Now that I started to wonder about the past it’s easy to notice that these memories grow more and more blurry with each passing day. The human me is getting steadily replaced by a colder, more crystallized persona.

Some would even say - an inhuman imitation.

Not me though.

To live is to learn.

To learn is to change.

And I’m doing just that.

Well… not exactly. To tell the truth, I was currently busying myself with a hasty rework of the tunnels and kinda trying to duplicate a current collector. I had not enough knowledge about how it worked, but I was going to need it - right now!

Anima be damned.

Meanwhile, my loyal Lebirs were slowly carrying the now undead Tinna on a stretcher. Their target was clear - the Central Pond room. Of course, before the whole journey started they were ordered to bind the undead girl with some ropes. Both for her and her escort's safety. Who knew if she was in the mood to attack my minions, so I wasn’t going to risk it. There was no us (monsters) versus them (humans) mentality.

It was more of a free-for-all in my mind.

To make the whole affair harder the revenant’s face was hard to read, baring her habit of suddenly screaming or babbling. Even then the words she threw out concentrated on revenge and pain, making up a few parts of an endlessly repeating mantra. I once saw something like that in reality, when a bullied guy in my class muttered endlessly, working himself into a rabid rage to beat on his oppressors.

He was expelled by the way. His bullies were not.

I sure hoped it wouldn’t happen again.

No matter, back to the work.

Discarding idle thoughts I focused on remaking the ceilings between the first and the second floor. More precisely the tunnels with a staircase starting up behind the Guardian’s room and then leading the whole way down, right into the Central Pond. It was only ten, maybe twenty meters, but the trouble it brought me…

At least the whole shape was a spiral with steps carved into a rock instead of something built by brick and mortar. Because of that I easily managed to carve a ditch in the middle of the ceiling, deep enough to slide my copper wires through it. This action only added a few more meters to the already gigantic network. I guess it was kinda similar to the human nervous system. The one I saw on TV at least. The feeler wires were stretching everywhere and connecting all the important parts of my body - the dungeon itself.

Now came the hard part.

Like I mentioned before - what I wanted was something akin to a current collector. What it was exactly? A mobile device had been used on a tram to attach it to the power lines. In my case, I had an idea to interconnect it with a cluster of wires already attached to Guardian’s head and allow him greater mobility. It didn’t escape me that a current collector (as its name described) wasn’t made to transfer information. Or mana.

But it had to do, the Anima would fix something similar enough.

I could also go the other way - just extend the wiring and make him more mobile this way. In a normal situation, this would be even preferable - I had to just make sure that he kept the spare wire somewhere safe.

It was this “somewhere safe” that I was worried about. Currently, my first floor was teeming with soldier patrols. They were checking every nook and cranny, while constantly staring at my already-spawned Floor Boss. I was paranoid they would go for an attack of opportunity as soon as they saw that Guardian was absent.

My options were limited, so instead of useless thoughts I just worked, shaping stone and copper into an imitation, leaving it to the Anima to connect the pieces, all the while Guardian tried desperately to converse with me.

[My lord!] He whispered mentally, his unstable and frightful thoughts freely flowing through my mind.

[My lord, I’m sorry. Please, please speak to me.]

A moment passed, and my existence focused on something more important than his whimpering.

[My lord!] He cried again. [The silence… it is too much.] He clutched his armored head, suddenly sitting on the ground.

The metal on his body clinked and a rogue that was watching from just behind a corner darted away in panic seeing my iron giant move.

Guardian ignored him completely though.

[I have sinned, my lord.] His insectoid, dark form slumped even more. A broken being without a purpose. The weapon he earlier sported - a blunt, two-handed broadsword, was nowhere to be seen. His red eyes - two points of light in the otherwise black mass of metal - moved towards the ceiling. [I shall repent, my blood and those of the invading sentients will paint your walls!]

His form condensed, a purpose found. Standing up one of his hands reached for the bundle of “sanity” wires. A moment of hesitation and he touched the glistening metal.

[For the Dungeon!] He shouted mentally, only to get instantly chided in the next second.

[Shut up and let me finish my work, Guardian!] I exploded, forced to hear his whiny nonsense for a long while. And worse, during so delicate task. Any bit of Anima wasted was unrecoverable after all!

[My lord, you speak!] He laughed happily.

[Of course I speak you fool! Can’t you see I’m busy right now?] I snapped back irritated at the childishness of my most powerful creation.

[I see, I see…]

Blessed silence lasted only a few seconds.

[What are you doing then, my liege?] He changed his words a bit, maybe understanding that his my lord routine was starting to sound like mommy, mommy to my ears.

[Preparing a way to the lower level for you.]

[And why am I needed down there?] I sighed and spoke immediately sensing his rising panic.

[There is an undead down there who is not under my control…] I started, only to get interrupted.

[I see! As your strongest pawn, I shall dispatch this monstrosity in your holy name!] He screamed zealously, his physical form flailing and once again scaring the shit out of already returned scout. I decided to once again stop his unneeded enthusiasm.

[Shut up. I need you to communicate with her, not fight. She may become my servant yet.] I mumbled the last words, remembering how Gangria called her a present. She was a bit damaged, but I had an idea of how to remedy that problem. Now only to negotiate.

My attention turned to the present. Walls were changed, wires extended, all in complete silence. Meanwhile, the big child called Guardian was staring daggers at the humans, hoping they were stupid enough to challenge him. He even murmured under his helmet, loud enough to scare anyone peeking inside.

One could say that without a weapon his ability to kill and maim was severely limited. And yet even if his armored hands were empty, the sheer bulk of my creation was enough to rend bones and smash any armor these pathetic humans could produce.

Seeing him calm down I continued my work and summoned a mace similar to the weapon used by Boulder the half-orc. Guardian swung his new toy with glee, while I used this time to describe Tinna’s character and share any knowledge about her and her companions that I had access to.

It wasn’t much, yet a few hours passed in a blink, humans relentlessly patrolling the first floor and digging away the new rooms to the east. A large amount of rock has already been excavated and a new batch of workers descended into the darkness - this time they weren’t the miners though, but artisans. Architects, planners, sculptors. As they practiced their craft I was growing more and more certain that they worked on a bunker of sorts.

But what disaster do they hope to survive? That I did not know.

Yes, people talked with each other in hushed voices. Yes, they stared at shadows and prayed more often than not. But the problem was they weren’t really specific! I just understood that something really bad was going down.

The suspense was killing me!

Bah.

Not really.

What does a Dungeon Core care for the problems of mortals?

I grumbled a bit, my work nearing the finish and decided to diverge even more.

The earlier excursion taught me how to “grow” the cameras through the ground. This ability was now a part of my experience - something that I was able to do without much conscious effort.

And since I needed knowledge… I focused on seeding about twenty-five more. While the deed was being done I taught Guardian what I knew about principles of communication. The theory of it at least.

I wasn’t very good at it.

By the time the rest of my work finished only four cameras were alive.

The locals were quite persistent in squashing them whenever they showed up, all while calling them Devileyes.

Curious that this world had devils too.

Then again in a place where gods were real, it wasn’t a far-fetched thought to have demons and devils too.

Not that it mattered now.

I used the survivors to confirm that something big was still going on.

The traps were being built, the palisade had already been finished and a large plaza was full of constantly sparring soldiers and adventurers. I was glad that my cameras lacked a sense of smell.

My view shifted. The tent was full of adventurers, dirty, loud, and full of testosterone. There was a discussion going on - all this getting-stronger-at-all-cost bullshit. A person in charge had been asked a few times to send a party or two into the dungeon. To gain experience and explore the second floor.

For a moment I hoped for a bit of excitement - these people weren’t even as half as strong as the Swords of Hope, so they would get squashed. Sadly their leader immediately refused, citing the princess's opinion as a reason.

Contrary to my expectation they simply swallowed the explanation.

No grumbling, secret plans, no nothing!

I was feeling disappointed.

At least the way down has been finished. Guardian was currently slowly lumbering down, trying to keep his large feet on the narrow stairs and not tumble down in an unsightly manner.

Yup, that was an oversight on my part.

Gotta remember to change that as soon as possible.

Thankfully he managed to get down without any problems and then safely emerged from the tunnel. All to meet our special guest.

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The girl in question was calmly lying on the stretcher while staring at the ceiling. She was muttering to herself. The loneliness, silence, and darkness weren’t fazing her at all. She should feel right at home down here according to the Analyze description.

Anyway, I ordered Guardian to come closer and repeated the last order given, in a somewhat vain hope that he won’t screw this up.

[Now, ask her who she is, what she remembers, what her goals are, and - most importantly - do not slip up that you’re asking on behalf of a Dungeon Core!] I hissed and my boss monster straightened his back even more.

The last few steps and his red eyes stared at pale face up close. Not the best position to start a conversation, staring someone down.

“Welcome to the dungeon, undead.” He started, while the girl seemed to ignore his words and continued her mumbling. It was however noticeably slower now.

“Can you hear me?” He repeated waving a black hand before her eyes. This got her attention.

“W-ho?” She asked, throat having trouble with speaking proper words.

“Me? I’m called Guardian and… I guard the dungeon's first-floor entrance. You should remember me.” He added, hoping that the recent battle would rattle her memory.

“Mem-ber…” She growled. “Fi-fight. Fear. B-battle.” Her eyes focused, suddenly full of reason. “E-enemy.”

“No, not anymore.” Guardian shook his head in denial. “You’re already dead, remember? No need to fight against a fellow undead.” It took her a moment to understand. For the first time she looked, really looked over her body. It was mutilated, pale, and dirty. She wasn’t a sentient anymore. This knowledge seemed to sink in, nearly breaking her. But then, with a sudden influx of willpower, she clenched her fist.

“H-how? Not… d-dead?”

“No, no. You don’t understand. You’re one of us now.” Guardian gestured towards the nearby Lebir, having it turn its skeletal head towards the girl. “See this guy? You’re similar.”

“N-no! No. C-can’t… Too… M-much.” Her mood changed once again, black tears threatening to spill from her unblinking eyes.

“Shhh… focus on the present. Leave the past behind, it is the only way.” Guardian coaxed her gently, somehow used to this situation. His hand landed on the girl’s shoulder, reassuring her. Then, in one swift motion, he undid her bonds and she sat down, trembling like a small animal.

And the mumble had returned, only with a focus on different words this time.

“No, no, no, no… Si-sters...” She whispered while rocking back and forth, like a patient in a mental asylum.

“The living don’t matter now, girl.” Guardian rumbled. “The dead are even more irrelevant. It’s a new life, on the other side of the barricade. You should have a single purpose now. What is it?” He asked, gently at the beginning.

Seeing his charge descending into madness he repeated the words, louder this time.

“What is your purpose?”

Silence.

“WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE, GIRL?” He shouted in the end, waking Tinna up from her stupor. Black eyes stared at him unblinkingly, like the earlier humanity she had shown was only a lie. The silence continued until a single word left her mouth.

“REVENGE.” She answered crisply, her only hand tightened so hard, that black blood started to seep between twisted fingers.

“Good.” Guardian nodded, his voice once again calm and collected. “Who is the target of your revenge?”

“Geinard Kingdom.”

“Who?” My servant simply repeated his question, forcing Tinna to think. To search deeper into her newborn mind.

“N-nobles. H-a-w-k-s.” She iterated each word, each letter a chore. “L-l-leade-ers.”

“Are all of the humans your targets?” He re-confirmed.

“N-no.” She shook her head in denial. “N-not c-ca-re.”

“Do you remember anything else? Your friends, family, enemies? The Geinard Kingdom you seem to hate so much?” Guardian continued his interrogation, but the only answer he got was an unblinking, silent stare.

Tinna, former Swords of Hope rogue seemed to be nothing much, but an empty husk right now...

[I can work with this.] I mumbled.

[My lord?] Guardian asked, shedding his older brother persona.

[Offer her a way to restore the limbs she had lost.] I ordered, staring at the seemingly calm revenant.

[What our terms should be then, my liege?]

[None. Just let her sow chaos in the world.] I grinned. Not that he could see what my face looked like right now. Not that I could see.

[Why? She could be groomed to become a powerful ally!]

[And how would you control such a being?]

[Isn’t her goodwill a good enough bargain chip?]

[The world doesn’t work that way, you know. Not between monsters, anyway.] I sighed. It was a tempting proposition, but I sensed a trap. Gangria was content with sowing chaos everywhere. Somehow I doubted that she would exclude me from her plans. [But yeah, we should probably ask her for something. I guess hunting and dragging back some of the larger creatures should suffice. More data to work with is always good.] I said, mostly to myself. [Do you have any preference?]

[Just… not the bats.] He visibly winced.

[Right.] I stopped for a moment, thinking, searching for holes in my reasoning. There wasn’t anything else I wanted him to do. [Then off you go. Negotiate.] I ordered.

The giant once again stomped close to Tinna. She didn’t react to his presence, still mumbling and staring into nothingness.

“Let’s start again.” He spoke and sighed in exasperation. “What is your name? I already told you mine.”

“N-n-no-ne.”

“You don’t remember?” He asked, trying to interpret her words. The revenant shook her head in confirmation.

“Non-e.”

“You don’t have a name, then?” A sharp nod. “That’s troubling.” A head tilt. “How should I call you then? ‘You’ and ‘revenant’ are going to get stale real soon.”

The girl closed her eyes and started to think about the question. After a few minutes of deliberation, an answer came from her lips.

“Non.” Another sharp word escaped her mouth.

“I will call you Non, then.” Guardian nodded. “What are your plans for the future then, Non?”

“K-kill.”

“How?” He asked while staring at her stumps. “You lack a leg and an arm. You’re weakened and there are human warriors everywhere. You’ll get killed as soon as you leave the second floor.” The girl in question only stared, not moved by his simple analysis. “And your vengeance will end unfulfilled.”

These words were effective though.

“NO!” She twitched, trying to unsuccessfully stand up. “M-must. K-k-kill.” A wet stare once again found her anchor in the Guardian’s red-eyed helmet. “H-help.” She said unabashedly.

“I can help you.” Non’s face brightened. “But there is always a price.” Her smile was immediately replaced with wariness. “Oh don’t look at me like that!” Guardian grumbled. “It’s nothing much. I can use some of the powers hidden in this place, but in turn, you should hunt some animals and drag them inside once you get better. That’s what I meant as a payment.”

“K-kill.” She shook her head in denial.

“Listen, you can’t be the only one to gain something in this transaction. The world just doesn’t work that way. If you don’t want to I’ll just leave you to your own devices. There is no rush.” There was a smile in his voice.

“I’ll be over there.” He added, while pointing at the nearby lakeside, then walked away with a steady gait.

He sat on a fairly flat rock, simply waiting for her response. Minutes passed in silence until Guardian decided to interrupt the calm with his mental voice.

[Talking with her reminded me of my younger sister.] He said while staring at the waves. [She was also taciturn and stubborn.]

[Where is she now?] I asked.

[Dead.]

[I see.]

[I can remember her figure, voice, even the things she said.] The giant stopped, his fists clenched. [Why can’t I remember her name or her face?!]

[That I do not know.] I answered softly.

[Yes… I’m sorry, my liege. I guess as we return from death there is always a price to pay.] He grumbled under his nose. [I should consider myself lucky. That girl… she lost everything, but her revenge.]

[And how do you know that?]

[Her emptiness feels similar to mine. Only, it's deeper. Much deeper.]

[Aren’t you afraid she won’t come?]

[Oh, she will.] He paused, scratching the wires extending from the back of his head. [People like her… people like me… we’re always moved by a single-minded purpose. She knows we hold the keys to her freedom.]

A few more minutes later his prophecy came true, as Non dragged her half-destroyed body along the ground, leaving a thin, snakelike trail. She appeared determined, her only arm clutching the earth and rock.

“Have you decided?” Guardian turned his head to look at her.

“Y-yes. E-e-x-change.”

“Good. Up you go, then!” He said, lifting her small body in his arms. She struggled for a moment, surprised, but soon stopped moving altogether.

“You.” He pointed at one of the Lebirs mulling nearby. “Get the core and bring it here.” He ordered, while simultaneously speaking mentally. [My lord, please. With grandeur, if possible.]

[Yes, yes.]

The Lebir in question simply walked into the lake, traveling down, into my hidden (but fake) Core Room.

The normal poker face that Non sported changed as she understood that something was down there, deep underwater. Something important.

It took nearly thirty minutes to prepare my soldiers - heavily armored Lebirs flanked by their electric and exploding brothers. The one in the middle was a fail-smith brother, another Bile-brain Golem encased in dark armor.

In his hands a Dungeon Core rested, suffusing the air with its power.

Both the carrier and the surrounding soldiers were traveling slowly. Both the undead and golems can travel underwater, but it was hard to work your way against the pressure. More importantly, the minions walking had most of their attention focused on the Core and its carrier.

I quickly Analyzed my substitute, finding it the same as before.

Mechanical Core Gem

This mechanical creation is indistinguishable from the real dungeon core for the sapient races. It can give orders to dungeon creations and even to attack and defend on its own. The communication ability is restricted to at least part-mechanical creations.

It can be subordinated to the dungeon core or left to its own devices after giving orders. As such it allows to grow the dungeon's influence even outside its normal borders. The additional effect is cleansing of the surrounding mana while converting most biological and mechanical lifeforms to dungeon-created ones.

The ability to attack and shield with electricity allows it for a modicum of self-defense, but the real strength of the Mechanical Core is its ability to direct and create new beings. Due to its nature, the amount of subordinate cores you can possess is directly linked to the Dungeon Core Level…

Threat level: D--

The additional effect is cleansing of the surrounding mana while converting most biological and mechanical lifeforms to dungeon-created ones. I mouthed the words. A little surprise. I did not have any means to control her… yet.

My cautiousness also disallowed me to convert her immediately. The risk was simply too great - who knows what she could’ve done until completely taken over?

But this? A way to strengthen her and then to let my influence slowly grow, only to win out in the end?

I grinned maniacally, my non-existent face full of ecstasy.

[Do it.] I ordered the core and a computer-like beep of acknowledgment echoed in my mind. I wondered - was that something created from my memories or were mechanical beings just similar even when created in wholly different worlds?

As I mused the power that resonated from the Mechanical Core was growing stronger and more focused.

The fake Core looked just like me - an onyx gem, about 15 centimeters in diameter, but the power it wielded was different from my own. The color and intent were different. Instead of electricity a cone of bronze energy suddenly expanded from it, covering both newly named Non and Guardian. The girl twitched in surprise, while my servant stoically waited for the process to end.

Then a scream came.

And another one.

Weird, living metal was growing on Non’s body, the “infestation” starting in the stomach region. Unlike any metal known to man the blackish substance breathed in and out and with each passing second the energy that it carried seeped into the revenant’s flesh. It was strengthening it and somehow regenerating appendages that were lost.

Besides muscle and bone getting grown from nothingness the rest of the metal started to cover the nearly naked body, devouring the bits of flesh and any clothing - more like rags - that were still left.

Liquid-like iron draped itself over each centimeter of the pale body and then retreated - building a light armor, similar to the one she wore when alive - chest, arm, and leg pieces appeared before my eyes. Then the metal retreated, leaving a finishing touch - a black mask covering her whole face. It was a simple, oval piece of equipment with slits for eyes.

And then...

Then it was over.

Non’s moans of pain slowly died down as my subcore retreated with its retinue, their job already done.

What was lying in the Guardian’s burly arms was a completely different-looking revenant.

[Analyze]

Iron-melded Revenant

named Non

A type of the cursed undead returning to haunt the living and exact her revenge. Parts of her body are made from iron, creating a functioning body - a combination of a golem-like arm and leg with the pale flesh, combined to create a form of a young woman. Her brown, braided hair and black eyes look human enough a first look, but the stench of death that permeates her surroundings quickly reveals her true nature.

Revenants are masters of death magic in many forms. This being uses her newfound power to hide and ambush her foes. The darkness is her home and two corroded daggers on her waist are much more dangerous than they look. Her small frame may be mistaken for a child. As all revenants she has a target of her revenge - Geinard kingdom, which mistreated and starved to death her younger siblings, while she was outside, serving their nobility’s interests.

Threat level: D++

Perfect.

I smiled…

And then she was gone.

Guardian panicked, getting into a defensive stance, while the rest of my servants looked around dully. Undead weren’t too bright after all.

Non had already departed the second floor, after all.

How did I know that?

Well, she wasn’t exactly stealthy when Geinard Kingdom’s patrols were in her way.

Screams and the smell of blood followed her every move.

People falling, killed, or dying, with their throats sliced by an unseen monster.

Some were running.

Others simply prayed to the unfeeling gods.

None were spared.

And in their absence, my dungeon released its pent-up stress, both undead and the bosses returning to defend me Decapitator, Jailer Jonathan and the Lebirs were being summoned one by one.

I caught a glimpse of her black-iron armor as she stood near the stairs leading outside. Her eyes were still completely black when she turned to give a last, long look at my dungeon’s interior.

I could hear her scoff.

[Not wanting to keep your part of the deal, girl?] I laughed soundlessly, even Guardian was outside my range right now. Now I knew why villains tended to project their plans when encountering a hero… It just feels sooo goood!

[Don’t worry. I wasn’t one to keep to mine anyway.]

A manic grin once again appeared on my face.

[See you later.] I sent to her mind.

She twitched with disgust and ran into the encampment premises.

Screams followed.