"Soul-Li-"

The world seemed to suddenly compress. I finally focused on my surroundings, panicking at the feeling of being squeezed all too tight. I was stuck in... some sort of dark void, but that was gradually fading. I cursed myself for not focusing more on my surroundings during the chat with the 'System,' as it may have had some sort of clue for me. To what? I wasn't sure. Maybe I would've been able to see a planet in the distance, or make out some sort of map, or design of what I was supposed to become.

I suppose it was a bit too late to wonder now...

I couldn't help but wheeze, feeling as if my body was being bent and crumbled like some sort of paper wad. It was funny, seeing as if the System's words were anything to go by, I was just some floating soul...

The process of being compressed simply got more and more painful as I experienced it, until my mind eventually slipped away into wondrous, unconscious, bliss.

+++

A dazzling array of colors assaulted me, the iridescence eventually crawling away to the corners of my vision. It was like seeing through a clear... kaleidoscope? Most of my vision was clear, but the corners danced with a rainbow of colors, from those I could name, to those that were... definitely off the human color spectrum. I also felt... small, and petite. I otherwise was fine (no lingering pain from Void-Hell, thankfully...) but some part of me felt all too vulnerable and unsafe.

[ Welcome, Dungeon. ]

"...Hello?"

[ Your Soul-Link was successful, and now it is my duty as the System to guide you, as you begin to discover your abilities and limitations as a Dungeon Core. ]

"...Right. So, uh, those questions you'd say you may answer...?"

[ Previously asked questions may be appropriately reformatted for relevance after Host understands their current situation. ]

"...Right."

Well, I had plenty of time to think over my situation. Like the fact I was most definitely small, and that the room was dark, and... not dark? It was... clearly pitch-black around me, but I could also see my surroundings with ease. It was like being aware of two simultaneous things at once, that you also see at the same time. It was trippy, but also... strangely simple? Understandable? Oh great, weird reincarnation logic...

I decided to focus on my size instead. I was vaguely aware that I seemed to be pearl-sized. Palm-of-your-hand kind of pearl, meaning I had the privilege of easily being ground into magical powder.

Can I even be ground into magic powder...? Where'd that come from?

That stray thought caught my interest, and I focused on my mind a bit more. There was mostly silence, aside from my thoughts, and some sort of quiet background humming. A mental nudge revealed this to be the System, but it didn't say anything yet. It just made its presence in my mind known. Fun. More interestingly, there was something more... frantic within me. It was clearly a part of me, and not some alien freeloader on my psyche like the System was. It would occasionally give me mental nags, and they were slowly but surely getting worse. I could feel it.

...

Huh... I honestly thought the System was going to make a sassy remark about that.

"Hey, System, what's with the weird nagging I feel?"

[ Would you like to open your Host Interface? ]

"...Would it answer my question?"

[ Yes. And many more. ]

"Uh, go ahead...?

[ Opening Host status... ]

Race: Dungeon Core (Newforged) Attributes: [Crowd Averse] [Small-Circle Sociable] [Animal-Lover] [High Animal preference] [Solitude-Lover] [Unmoving and Content] [Human Averse] [Lover of the Fantastical] [Dungeon Master]

Stats:

Mana: 50/50 (+10)

Stability: 100/100 (+20)

Control: 0/10

"My attributes are here too? Are they important?"

[ Yes. They can buff or debuff stats, and possibly add unique restrictions to you. ]

"What do they do?"

[ Loading advanced attribute view... ]

[Crowd Averse] Due to your previous life, you experience a 50% debuff to stats when crowded in a place full of intelligent humanoids. [Small-Circle Sociable] When with a small and closely knit group of intelligent humanoids, you gain a 50% buff to stats. [Animal-Lover] When creating low-tiered, animal-based monsters, you require a flat 1 Control to keep them under your influence. When indoctrinating animals, the 'Break Will' requirements for Control are reduced by 25%. [High Animal Preference] When ordering animal-based creatures outside of your Dungeon-Domain, Control requirements are halved accordingly. It is easier to break contracts between Summoners and Summon if the Summon is animal-based. [Solitude-Lover] The unnervingly quiet does not bother you, nor do enclosed spaces. Gain +20 Stability for being in a place of solitude. Fantastical and animal-based creatures do not count towards a space losing solitude. [Unmoving and Content] Being unmoving or unable to move does not bother you. Rather, it helps you keep calm and focused. +10 Mana when not on the move. [Human Averse] Debuffs caused by being in large crowds or similar of intelligent humanoids are doubled when the majority race in the area is Human. [Lover of the Fantastical] When creating low-tiered fantastical monsters, you require a flat 1 Control to keep them under your influence. When indoctrinating fantastical creatures, the 'Break Will' requirements for Control are reduced by 25%. Control requirements for fantastical creatures outside your domain is halved accordingly. [Dungeon Master] Mana required to cast spells or activate skills within your Dungeon-Domain is halved. Monsters of lower rank are much more likely to understand complex assignments and tasks. Monsters created by the Dungeon are more intelligent by default. Aligned monsters gain a 25% buff to all stats and abilities within your Domain or Dungeon.

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"Woah. Some of these are REALLY good. But a 100% debuff to stability when near a bunch of fellow Humans? Not so good."

[ Precisely why Dungeon Core was picked to be your new form. Most other reincarnation options come into close proximity with many Humans. ]

"I see... ignoring the massive penalties for being near anything capable of thought, what are those stats about?"

[ Loading advanced stat display... ]

Mana The main source of a Dungeon's power. It is used to create monsters, make traps, dig new floors, and activate spells. Stability The equivalent to health. If it reaches zero, you go inert or shatter, depending on the final blow. Unlike health, you can recover from zero stability if the conditions are right, and your Core is unharmed. Stability can be drained over time if you go over the Control limit. The speed of which it drains depends on the over-exertion of Control. Control The resource you use to exert control over created monsters or to indoctrinate and control new ones. Newly indoctrinated monsters will require high Control, but will eventually dwindle to their base cost as their Will reaches zero.

"Interesting. At least I don't have too many stats to keep track of."

[ Stats vary by species. Dungeon Cores are rather simple in design, meaning they require few stats to function properly. ]

"At least being 'simple' means less numbers I have to slog through. Hopefully. Even so-"

It suddenly makes itself very noticeable. I feel a frantic energy within myself.

Unsafe, weak, alone.

These... feelings spun into thoughts repeat, over and over, gradually becoming louder... what the hell is going on?!

[ The unique attribute Dungeon Master, adds an instinctual 'inbuilt aid'. Its primary purpose is to more independently guide you throughout being a Dungeon when I cannot. It may be overwhelming, especially during early stages. ]

"And why wasn't this listed in the attribute section?!"

[ It is considered a 'hidden perk' of the attribute. Therefore, it cannot be revealed unless certain queries are asked. ]

"...Is-"

[ Only unique and legendary attributes can have hidden perks. ]

"How do I make the 'perk' stop 'perking'?!"

[ Give in. Figure out what it wants and do so. This will also aid you in the future. ]

"Oh uh, alright...?"

I focus on the weird mental nagging, the foreign thoughts becoming clearer.

Unsafe.

I need to create something to protect myself. Humans may not be a threat without an opening, but tunneling monsters are. And apparently... I'm on the menu?!

Weak.

Without a proper entrance, my mana flow and regen is limited.

Alone.

I need to create many, many, traps and creatures to defend myself with. Being alone can be anyone's downfall, especially mine.

"That's... certainly something."

[ Indeed. These instinctual feelings should act as a baseline for how to establish yourself. ]

"...And you'll help with the specifics and stuff?"

[ Correct. ]

"Alright. Let's figure this stuff out..."

I thought about it. I should probably dig out a bit, you know? Expand my workspace and all that. Then I can create my first monster, and try digging to the surface a little. I'll need the extra mana if I want to do anything quickly, and I don't have to make a big 'come raid me!' entrance either. Traps...? Probably going to be on the backburner a bit... I don't need to drop mana on something that may not be effective on whatever I'm dealing with here.

"Alright, this seems like a solid plan... creating a monster might be hard... say, how many choices do I have?"

[ To give a simplified answer, over a billion. ]

"Oh. Better start digging..."