> Understanding Increased: Fire - a destructive output of energy.
> Understanding Increased: Ash - the remnants of fire; a fertilizer for plants.
> Monster Adaptation Available: Cavern Slime
* Eclipse Slime - Forever bound by the forces of yin and yang. The brighter one grows, the darker the other; result of ‘symbiosis’ with [Green Slime], Unique.
* Oil Ooze - Black gold, while self-destructive, it can set itself alight to take on foes far stronger; result of knowledge: fire, Uncommon.
* Silt Slime - Infused with the minerals of the earth, the swamp-like slime will be the last resting place for many; result of diet.
System was an impartial narrator. One who did not judge and simply provided possible options during the battle that left their dungeon in ruins. That was their job, not to judge, but to teach.
However, for the love of the gods above, System demanded the Core make the right decision when evolving the Cavern slime.
As the upgrade was too complex to have a default path, System could put the best upgrade front and center. They were not going to take any chances. A unique upgrade was available, which made everything else subpar. However, the Core still needed prompting to make a choice.
> INFORMATION: First evolution path strongest.
It was not a suggestion but was not an order. It was a message that pained System to write. They had to stoop to the Core’s level and speak like they were an equal, a peer. The Core only understood strength, and so System spoke in the language they understood. A heavy-handed approach that saw the Core select the correct evolution option. All because System didn’t have the power to limit choices.
> Selected, evolving slime…
> Evolution successful: Eclipse Slime
> ‘Bonded By the Blaze’ Title Attained - Base stat increases based on the difference in light levels between “Shimmer” and the Eclipse Slime.
The evolution into a title that granted the enhanced form of the slime greater potency. As his sister glowed from her new title, he did the opposite. He had become an opaque liquid that absorbed the little light that trickled through the entrance into the depths of the dungeon. A linked pair of monsters that would become a staple for all future adventures.
Adventures…. In the waste pit of ash that the dungeon had become… Ok, System really needed to restore the dungeon before any grand adventures could take place.
They scoured all options, slowly filtering out those that did not apply. Dungeons had many ways to restore the damage done to them based on the different ways the channel mana. They could create plant spawners, or designate sections of the environment as forests. Unfortunately, those options were locked without information. The Core didn’t know about maps or respawning monsters automatically. Traps, loot, monsters, the ability to grow and restore… all locked behind knowledge.
Knowledge the Core lacked.
The only option was to let the ecosystem grow back naturally.
Progress was sped along as ants hatched from eggs made of pure mana in their nest. Their spawner worked overtime to restore their population. An amazing tool that the Dungeon would one day understand well enough to repurpose to spawn more than just monsters.
Ants who marched from the ruins of their home to excavate. They gave their entire lives for the dungeon they called home. While plants grow slowly, the care of Shimmer and her legion of farming insects would help them along. They sowed the few seeds to survive under the rain of spring.
Their work only paused when they came across relics discarded during the conflict with the invader. Enchanted fragments from their sling littered the dungeon. The spells imbued into them were expended, but the remnants lingered within them. The stone ammunition, along with a wand of fire, was stored in the insect’s nest.
They would be dissected, piece by piece. Reduced to their most essential components and analyzed for everything they were. The invader had left a puzzle for System to solve. They had left relics that would fuel discovery.
The very thought brought joy to System. Finally, they could fulfill their intended role.
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A week had passed since the initial discovery, but finally, the four friends gazed upon their destination. Dreams of discovery and riches vanished upon seeing the desolate landscape. Their destination appeared no different from the landscape they had traveled through.
“Hold on guys, I know it was just here,” spoke Thalman as he pulled the small cart that carried their supplies down the hill. The cart groaned under the stress of the wards inscribed for a safe journey. As Thalman walked, the wards gave off arcane waste that flowed into his body to strengthen his muscles.
Samu looked over the runes he had inscribed from his place on the cart. His eyes drifted to the suits worn by his friends to protect them, to confirm his suspicions. After making sure, he spoke up, “My enchantments have dimmed, as the wards have less to protect us against. Regardless of visible flora, the environment is safe.”
Though not the oasis they had expected, the conversation as they entered the valley was a light one. Causal conversation as they pointed out and took notes of their surroundings. Minor details added up as they pieced together the history of the land.
It was Gozric who spearheaded the investigation as he channeled magic into his senses, heightening them tenfold. He could see the soot that had yet to wash away, smell the smoke from a fire days old, and find the seeds that had sprouted a day prior. He left no detail unspared in the report to his friends.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
After a lecture of great detail, the dwarf ended his investigation with a simple “You’re right Thalman, this is our destination. Though a fire has destroyed it, this area could support the ecosystem you described.”
Only half listening to Gozric’s notes and rambles, the half-elf Ink trailed behind the group. Every so often, she paused to sketch out the area in immaculate detail. Parchment met charcoal stencil in a rhythmic pattern as soft scrapes turned into a tune under his work. A spell that turned the noise of her pencil into color as the sketches became a mosaic of detail. While a perfect recreation of the landscape they had discovered, the spell accidentally caused the smell of boiled cabbage to fill the air.
The examination of the environment and notes continued as they set up their camping supplies. Thalman took the lead so that his more curiosity-oriented friends could continue to take in the sights. The group continued to try to stay positive as they all felt a little disappointed by what they had found so far.
It was when Ink made an odd comment that it drew everyone’s attention from their tasks. A single question.
“Why do I smell citrus?”
They had known each other for years, so they all knew and trusted that when the elf’s synesthesia acted up, it was because of an unseen threat. An early warning system against ambush that had saved them countless times. They needed no further questions as they all went on guard, preparing for combat.
An aura of magic centered on Samu and Ink as the casters cycled the mana they would use for spells. Gozric drew daggers as Thalman grabbed his oversized pickaxe. All poised and ready for a fight. Eyes turned toward the ground as the sky held no threat.
Gozric picked up the direction of the enemy first. He sent a dagger flying, only for it to bounce off of a rock. No damage dealt as the attack only served to give his friends a direction. All attention turned towards the enemy hidden behind the boulder. Carefully, they watched as their foe crept around their cover.
All held still as a monster appeared. A small glowing ball of ooze gently rolled around the area, completely unaware of the adventurers. They lost focus on their spells and the grip on their weapons loosened, as the slime was not a threat.
Thalman stared, before chuckling, “So…. I may not be an expert, but is this the famed wildlife you guys plan on documenting during our stay?”
Gozric was quick to mumble all the different ways a species could be bioluminescent. Countless theories came tumbling out of his mouth, ranging from cells coated in mercury to reflect light, to a lost form of magic to create a miniature star. These theories quickly came to an end as Ink approached the slime.
“Careful Ink’el, we don't know anything about it,” he warned.
Ink, for her credit, gave an entire half-second of thought before she picked up the glowing green slime. Cradling the monster in her arms like a baby, she turned to the others. “It's probably fine, besides I think it’s purring. Not that much different from a cat if you think about it. Oh, it has a sound that reminds me of aged potatoes… I might just call it Vodka Mutini”
The slime’s appearance prompted Samu to get out of the cart. He walked over with the help of his cane to give the monster a deep stare, appraising it. Mana filled his eyes as his will manifested to probe at the intelligence of the being. “Not a bad name, as it is definitely a vodka mutant of some degree, but I believe she already has a name. I am unsure as to what that specifically may be, though.” The questioning looks from the others was just met with a shrug. “No idea. Might think of herself as ‘slime’ for all I know, but she seems content with that.”
With the threat neutralized, the party could focus on other tasks. Ink carried the slime under her arms and cooed at it throughout the day as she explored. Samu and Gozric worked together to scour the landscape for details, miraculously compiling notes and creating maps. Thalman spent the day looking for any sign of metal ore veins, still wanting to get the materials to have Samu make him a pair of gauntlets.
At dusk, they reconvened to compare notes and discoveries. Notes, samples, maps, and stories made their way around the camp as they ate their meal. Each enjoyed the light and warmth that came from the central pit. They lacked the wood for proper fire, but had packed volcanic stones that retained their heat for a makeshift fire.
Thalman and Gozric were discussing how much to sell the maps for when Samu cut them off. “Keep your voice low and eyes peeled. I can feel malice creeping around us. Just beyond the boundaries of the fire. It is not straying any closer, but it does not like us.”
Everyone kept their head on a swivel as the glowing slime wiggled out of Ink’s grasp. Once it made its way to the ground, it headed out of the camp. Whatever the malice was that hid slowly receded with the slime, almost pushed away by the light it gave off.
They added this to the notes. Scientific documentation was required to be thorough.
Once their meal ended and they all stared up at the stars overhead, Samu spoke up in a somber tone, “Why do you think someone destroyed this place?”
“Gods, I have no idea, let alone anyone who could've found this place before me. Not like many people explore around these parts.” Thalman said with a heavy sigh.
Their words put Gozric deep in thought as he absent-mindedly stabbed a large ant that tried to crawl over him. “While unlikely, it may have something to do with the mages down south. Perhaps that is why this place is dead. Power is being siphoned to fuel their war, though we would see traffic through our town if an army stopped by. It had to be a small and elite squad. A group of people, crafty and masters of hiding in the shadows.” His words were no longer being addressed to anyone as he spoke his thoughts aloud.
“Perhaps it would be wise to protect this place and leave some enchantments of our own to help monitor any arcane fluctuations in the environment,” Samu spoke as he drug his cane through the dirt, its thin point sketching possible runic layouts in the dirt.
“You hold such grand goals, wanting to end a war and save an entire corner of the world,” Ink gave with a yawn. “Try to focus on one step at a time, and try not to spend all night rune crafting.” With that, she turned over to get some sleep.
With that, the others nodded in agreement. In the morning, they would finish their research and leave behind magical wards to warn them if there was further tampering. Ants were the only hindrance to their work but rarely got in their way when the slime was absent. After several days, they completed their work and made their way to return home, ready to start a manhunt.
Unfortunately, in their wake, they had done something catastrophic. After all, how could they have prepared for something they did not know?
The band of adventurers had broken down their camp and left. Yet, they had discarded the scraps they had no use for. The remnants of meals, a broken strap and buckle, and several torn pages from their notebook were left behind to waste away. They gave these insignificant items no further thought as they were abandoned.
As the friends did not know what a dungeon core was.
How could they? It was a myth that gods descended from the heavens to forge trials and monuments to fill the world. It was only the grandest of scholars who knew the truth. Knew that the gods would bless the world itself with the ability to learn; to evolve.
The party had unknowingly given the dungeon core the one thing it could not learn by itself. They had given it the knowledge of culture. Language, meals, habits, clothes, and tools, all eroded away as they became knowledge.
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> Intelligence Increased by 5