Thomas

After instructing the spiders of the pit to save the journalists, I was going to go save them myself if my leggy pancakes couldn't. By the time I had phased through the wall from my core room where I play piano at, down to the bottom level of the pit the "fight" was already over between the traitor and the spider matriarch, the very first spider I had summoned. Sym assured me they were just paralyzed and just needed time to be able to move. I repaired the floor then went through the list of resources that had been ticking up much faster this Delve from them than it did last delve. The presumption I made when they had entered had proven correct. The traitorous person was a very much higher level than the group. I don't know how to tell at a glance, I wish I did but that's why I sent the gate up behind them.

The materials gained included a lot of new ones this time, probably from killing such a high level individual. Elementricium is a fun one of note- it conducts Magick, from the "base elements set 1" increasing the strength of spells cast through the material. I had originally thought Avatar elements. Though when asked about it Sym brought up a screen in my DIEsight.

Element Set 1 Description Fire 🔥 Air 🌬️ Water 🌊 Earth 🪨 Lightning ⚡ Ice ❄️ Light 🕯️ Space 🌌 Divine 🍀 Void 🖤 Time ⌚ Dark 🌑 Life 🏥 Death 💀

It's not so much the basic elements I was expecting, there is void on the list as a opposite of divine. I suppose all of them are the basic things you would consider elements to make life. I'd change Divine to be Luck though. Void is just a black heart emoji, all of them are emojis. It's frustrating but I guess Void must be new and unknown. My core being a black void diamond, and that I call it my heart it makes sense.

My musing is interrupted as I float above the group of journalists, when none other than Betty skitters past. She is cautious to not step on the paralyzed group, instead passing by them cautiously before opening the door by using her venom as the liquid to solve the puzzle. Smart spider. I mean I know she was more intelligent than the others, but I didn't realize she was THAT intelligent. Focusing on her I only receive the same word multiple times over the connection I have with all of my living creations.

"Help. Help. Help."

I watch her closely as she drags the arm of the lead journalist, Samuel, inside the door, clearing the puzzle and essentially completing the quest. That was cheeky, and smart, but I still would have preferred them to solve the puzzle on their own. She then skitters over them again and taps a leg on the wall that leads to the Getmethehelloutinator/Savemyassinator and bodily turns to stare at me.

I sigh, then wave a hand at the wall, removing the stone back into my inventory. Betty the helpful spider goes on to cocoon the party then carries them one by one into the lift. Once inside she seems displeased they didn't get a reward and sends "Prize, Prize, Prize, Prize, Prize" over the connection. I float closer to her and, as long as I keep my mind on it I can talk to just one of my denizens at a time. Erifis is most likely asleep, Tomas is still catatonic in the Core chamber, but I'd like to not wake Eri if possible.

Thinking hard to keep my voice from going to everyone I tell Betty that I don't count her assistance as a victory for the team. She is upset at first, her body slouching down lower to the ground and eyes, all 8 of them downcast. I tell her to look at their armor, that with a few changes to how she applied the web she can make it better, stronger. That if she wants to partake in their quests, she needs to be on their team. She sends back confusion first, then joy followed by acceptance and scheming.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I lift them up to the surface and leave them sitting there until they gain their muscle control back. Betty had ridden up with them but once at the top she hopped out of the well and set off exploring the city on my surface. Roof to roof like a real life spider girl, except not human in the slightest. Very pretty though. I look forward to seeing her grow more, both as an individual and as a monster/adventurer. Which reminds me.

I descend deep into the depths of the land, deeper than my lowest floor into a room I have made hidden from all the others. I haven't checked on him since I made the room at his request, but my Mimic is standing in the room swinging a sword with his new body.

I was thinking about alot of things the day the asshole delved, and I knew I was going to kill off his whole team. The traps worked perfectly. I made all their deaths quick and painless, except for the prince, and two of his companions. The others were all hired to be here and I even gave them a sign saying there would be no mercy. A few atoms of Divinium in a neat solid line made for a decapitation wire. Like the stories of people losing their heads on rollercoasters. Which made me think about animatronics, which led to big fluffy animals - which I absolutely love, animals are pure, they don't hate you, they don't steal from you, they don't shoot you and they just want attention and to be told they're good. When offered a choice by my boss in my last life of a dollar an hour raise or an infinite supply of dog treats I chose the dog treats. I chose the right option and it was not a mistake - focus Thomas, we can go down the rabbit hole another time.

The Mimic came into existence because while thinking of the cute and fluffy I went to my favorite npc in any game. Chester from Don't Starve, short for Otto von Chesterfield Esquire, a cute Mimic dog. My mind jumped to Mimics and how cute it would be to have one in the Dungeon, and it appeared, a Mimic without a body is just a ball of shadows with too many legs. It was able to copy speech, and do what I told it, but it was in a very creepy voice, and since the assholes had entered around the same time I couldn't make a box for it. Well, one of the princes' team died in the same portion of the underwater maze that the Mimic was hiding in. It crawled into his body and took it over.

So now we're here, a Mimic piloting a decomposing meat puppet, practicing swordplay in a room so separate from the Dungeon I'm the only one that knows about it. I was expecting a treasure chest with four legs that follows you around and eats people on occasion, not a sentient body snatcher with a British accent.

"Its Welsh not British, and you're sending your thoughts at me again without realizing it. If you weren't my Creator I'd be more disappointed in you. As it were though, you made me and that is a huge success. I've decided by the way, I'd like to be named Otto, since you had envisioned it for my name back then anyway I figured I might as well stick with it, cheers."

I dislike how he will directly cut into my thoughts, even If I am sending them to him, if I don't realize I am doing it - don't confront me about it, please. At least he likes the name that led to his creation. Otto it is, welcome to the Dungeon we have fun and games.

"Everything they want, hanging up from chains? The Dungeon, welcome to the Dungeon- okay quiet down, you can celebrate later please. I don't mind it once in a while no, just, just stop think-screaming in my head. I'm glad that as my Creator you are pleased, but I am certainly not. I have a horrid headache now and will be heading to sleep, if you can control your thoughts enough to not scream them every five bloody seconds."

I excuse myself from the chamber while thinking to myself the whole way up to the surface, I have a singing Mimic, I have a singing Mimic, excitement evident in my face. I'm sure my lower jaw is hanging on by a single tendon. Music one step closer to my dream. I will have my playlist back. I just need a drummer, and an electric guitar now. Small steps, Thomas small steps.... I need a drummer.

I'm so excited I almost missed the reaction of the journalists as they were crawling into the beds of their houses after finishing their reports for the article, almost. The scream was loud enough to wake up their neighbors. Kelsey was the one with the glass breaking vocals it seems, and mild arachnophobia, she wasn't expecting to be rooming with Betty but she is now.

I eventually make my way back down to the Core Chamber, to check on Tomas, who's just where I left him, on his knees staring at my heart.

"if you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.... nothing? Dude, at least eat something you've been here for a week."

"Not hungry"

"Are you at least closer to understanding the meaning of life, the universe and everything?"

"Dunno"

"Mysty is asking if she can eat you."

"I'll be right here if you decide to let her"

I sigh, then focus on my Core, and am pleasantly surprised when I notice I can evolve my core again. I quickly start the process, and while it doesn't hurt as bad as my one day war on the Kingdom did, it still kicks my boney ass.