Leonhardt Udalth was a middle-aged man reaching the thirty years with a short crisp black hair and patchy beard which he never tried to cut or take care of it. He also had bright brown eyes adorning his boring oval face, Leonhardt leaning on the short side was many times bullied because of it, not that his 'friends' needed of only his height to be the material for the bullying. Since Leon was... for a lack of better word, mediocre.
If he lived in another age or even another universe, being normal without any special talent wouldn't be that bad, but in his world which have special windows pooping in and out giving people Skills, being normal without a special talent was the worst thing that could happen to him.
Even babies were stronger than him and they have more Skills with high levels.
The situation was so bad to Leonhardt that he didn’t he even had the Skill, [Puking], which all the babies have and are highly experient in always vomiting in the worst times possible while perfectly aiming at their parents’ faces. Their Skill level must be at least Lvl 100 with such ability.
Joking aside, at least he couldn’t say he hadn’t a Skill, but it was only one with Lvl capped at 1 for years. It was the [Taming Lvl 1] Skill. He for luck received after trying for fourteen years to his cat to let him caress its head. The happiness he felt in that moment was indescribable, however, his hope to level it up was short lived. As his cat never really obeyed him in the last four years.
Thinking about his cat made the pain of separation resurfaces again principally because of the situation his world is now. “I wonder if he is eating properly? He isn’t a young cat anymore with all the cuteness that comes from the young age, would the Aliens spare him if they one day found the slaves I let to take care of him?” Leon said aloud gazing in awe to the holes where a bunch of Aliens were coming from to attack all the capitals of the entire world.
The swirling purple holes were an oddity never seen in his world, you could perfectly see them no matter where you are, the proof of this was how Leonhardt could even tell the details of the Aliens coming from it in all the capitals. He didn’t know the exact distance to the others countries’ capitals, he knew he was at least three million of kilometers from his country’s capital though. Since he is at its country border.
The meaning and concept of distance didn’t seem to be part of the purple holes’ dictionary. And beauty also seemed not be part of the dictionary of the Aliens too, although he can be mistaken since beauty is a concept too much subjective.
The Aliens were a mass of what seemed a pitch black sludge patched together with various miscellaneous objects surfacing and disappearing on their body, they had numerous cruel eyes purple as the hole where they were coming from.
They didn’t have any other apparent members with the exception of the tendrils full of bulges that were intertwining between themselves as each bulge exploded to only be substituted by another.
Their appearances were worthy of being called of monsters, however, because of the definition of Aliens he learned with his ancestors(seniors) the name Aliens seems more appropriate.
“Gross. Better concentrate back on finding my rest place in the last minutes I have of life.”
Leonhardt continued to walk in the forest, not caring about what seems the end of the world. It is not like he was special or strong enough to do anything about the Aliens, so why should he care about them? He was just mildly worried about what his cat will be eating from now on and he doubted his parents would even get hurt by the Aliens, that was the amount of faith he has in them.
Leonhardt, at what was supposed to be his prime age, was friendless and never get involved in any kind of relationship that wasn’t part of his family. Since small he was detached from everything, the only people he talked with pleasure were his loved family, his ancestors(The Lords) and his cat. This got even worse when the medics using magic apparatus discovered he had an unknown Terminal Illness.
He hadn’t a strong grip on his identity as a Human or of the reality, so he didn’t care about the new windows that weren’t the normal Skill Windows appearing at his front telling him that he now can pick a [Class], see the [Status] or that he has 0 [People Points] and is in critical danger of being killed.
He just walked on, not worrying that his world never had such features or if it is going to end today.
I am probably going to die in twenty minutes anyway, he observed seeing the lump of blood coming from his mouth and how it became harder to walk.
Finally finding the perfect place for his rest, a damp cave that seemed that will collapse because of the tremors and how the walls were fragile with stalactites and stalagmites everywhere.
As if waiting for him enter the cave, memories from all his life came to him as a flashback while he ignored the buzzing and glow from the black gem he uses as an amulet on his neck.
The memories of his childhood were fuzzy, but he still could clearly remember all the humiliation he received every day for being weak and short, now thirty years old he can laugh of it without crying.
Those were good times… maybe not.
When he completed twelve years was the moment his life changed, on his birthday when he blew off his birthday cake’s candles not only the room became dark, but his world too.
Days later he woke up on a bed in a hospital and was told that using the Skills and magic disponible to them, he was diagnosed with a new Terminal Illness and the hope to his survival was… zero.
It was spirit-crushing notice, principally because the medics didn’t have the ‘tact’ to call his parents before giving his ‘expiration date’, what did they expect would happen if they told a bullied boy without self-esteem such notice when the parental love wasn’t close to him?
Of course, he broke. The barrier of what was real or what was illusion disappeared as tears flowed down and a hollow, soulless laugh sounded from the throat of the boy. Was he even a Human at the eyes of medics? No… was he even a living being?
They were a bunch of heartless bastards that only thought of money, this thought resounded in the small Leon’s head as he was forcibly sedated.
His parents made a ruckus about it and the medics were punished because of some random law or just because his parents were close friends with the mayor of his city.
The damage was already done and his parents thought of the best solution they could do in a short time frame before their son decided to suicide, they gave him a pet.
A white as snow cat with fur that seemed to glow in the sunlight.
And that until today was the best day of Leonhardt’s life.
A year passed without him going to the school and the scars on his heart were gradually healing but made his total detachment to everything that wasn’t his family, cat or ancestor even worse. Since none of his ‘friends’ went to visit him when he most needed.
His family began to sink deep into debt searching for a cure, and that pained Leonhardt, making him decide to appeal to his ancestors for help.
Lord Second taught him not how to paint, but how to copy all his paintings that were considered the best ones in all the Multiverses. And told Leonhardt to sell them to become rich and help his parents.
And that he did with a facility so big that he thought he would at that moment receive his first Skill, [Painting]. However, that didn't happen and he no even gained the Skill, [Copy], to prove to himself he was good at something.
Skills are granted based on the latent talent of the person, so even if Leonhardt painted with his own hands the most beautiful painting of the world by copying his ancestor, he didn’t earn either [Painting] or [Copy], because he doesn’t have latent talent for any of those things.
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Nevertheless, the painting was a masterpiece and it together with others paintings was enough to give money to his family sustain themselves forever.
Years passed once again in his flashback as Leonhardt rested his tired body on the cave’s floor.
Full of money and without any needs as the cure for his disease was never found, Leon’s parents convinced him to return to the studies in a military academy as it was less prone to someone bully him because of him being weak or with a Terminal Illness, since the people in the military academy have better things to do, like train to protect the royal family for example.
He learned how to use all kinds of weapons thanks to the instructors there together with the general knowledge his ancestors gave to him to try to pass the year. In the end, his body couldn’t endure no even raise the weapons for more of one minute and the knowledge of all fighting styles were wasted.
He later went to university to be a veterinary to treat better his cat, although he had to take a bunch of lessons of a new surging course that makes biologists to finish his course with a doctorate degree, the experience was delightful and innovative with the concept of cells made by a new random genius.
Reaching the end of life, he decided to spend his money on charity and any really expensive stuff, like the black jade on his neck. For only one reason.
Why not?
If he had the chance to do good or evil with the money he sees no value within, then why not be good and help other people in similar situations of him.
He even picked the habit of contracting homeless people and slaves to his mansion to them to have a better life, they looked at him as if he was savior which he didn’t like that much.
It was everything just a whim. Making him not feel good when he saw them with eyes full of hope for a new future.
It was funny to Leon how envy works when you are most close to your final destination.
In this last year of his life, he decided to travel around the world, not forgetting of freeing his slaves and giving money to his employees, enjoying everything the world could give to him while planning to his rest be in this cave.
The cave wasn't known well enough to receive a name, but it was a dangerous area with the danger of collapsing any moment, being perfect to be his grave as he wouldn’t need to dig one since the cave could collapse at any moment, swallowing his body beneath the rocks.
Born in a cave as his parents fled from an enemy, dying in a cave as he fled from his family.
A perfect combination almost poetic.
“So this is death…? Not bad at all, I even had the chance to see my family and cat one last time in my memories. I am going to your sides, my ancestors.” Leonhardt drew his last breath with a satisfied smile while closing his eyes.
[You have 0 PP left.]
[You died.]
“Welcome, little brother, Lord Sixth. We were waiting for you.” Lord Second opened his arms and gave Leon a tight hug that you only gives to someone you love, your family. “Do you want to play a game of chess with me?”
Struggling to breathe as Leonhardt gazed upon the blank place where all the True Udalths go after dying, he said. “It will be an honor. Senior, Lord Second.” Leonhardt turned his head and noted the lack of Lord Fifth in between the others Lords as he expected. The man still feeling guilty by him being the reason Leon born without talents in his family.
A board of chess appeared and what seemed hours passed as Leonhardt felt happy by passing the eternity playing games with his ancestors. Being between family in death is the best, thankfully I don’t need to worry about being reincarnated as I am a True Udalth.
“Ho? Interesting.” Lord Second snapped his fingers and the time in all the Multiverses seemed to stop.
“What’s wrong?” Leonhardt said struggling to come up with an answer to the black queen attacking his knight.
“Something is trying to revive you and I temporarily interrupted it. Do you want to live again?”
“Humm… not interested. Life should be livened only once without reincarnations or time travels.” To win he will need to sacrifice his pawn that is almost being promoted.
“Good point, but don’t you think you didn’t really enjoy your life? You did nothing amazing or breathtaking, a second chance to become powerful and mark your Udalth name in the Multiverses seems quite fair in my opinion considering what kind of existences we are.”
“Still not interested, I don’t see much value in being alive.”
Lord Second clapped his hands beneath his silvery white eyes and black hair, discovering the best solution. “How about we gamble in this game of chess?”
Hearing the word gamble from the cautious Lord Second made Leonhardt suspicious, but there is no chance his ancestor would do something bad to him, so he calmed down immediately. “What kind of gamble you have in mind?”
“If I win, you will let yourself be revived and if you win I will take you to Lord Fifth. You like him despite him being the reason for your woes, right? I and Lord First, that glob of Destruction, will be there to be certain you two will play games and talk a lot as good brothers. The first game you will play with him will be our favorite game, Uno.”
“Pawn to B7.” Leonhardt let his chess movement tell his determination, he is definitely going to play with the ancestor he feels the closest connection!
Unfortunately, in only two movements Lord Second crushed him. “Checkmate.” Lord Second was just toying with him since it was the first game after Leon died.
Leon sighed and stood up. “Fine… I will live again.” He said with frustration and annoyance perceptible in his voice.
“I know if you go without an objective you only get yourself killed again. How about this?” Lord Second made appear a round pure white soul. “Do you know what this is?”
“This is the soul of Lord Seventh that is gradually being created after I died.” Leon instinctively said, feeling a connection as close to Lord Fifth from the white soul.
“Correct. And if it continues in this way Lord Seventh will be weak and talentless like you. True Udalths receives powers and talents from their predecessors creating a Link in this way. Do you want to make your junior, Lord Seventh, suffer from the same things you had to endure? All the humiliation, sadness-”
“Of course not!” Leonhardt shook with anger just thinking about it, he won’t let his junior live a bad life. “But what can I do? I knew if I continued weak, Lord Seventh wouldn’t be good. That was the principal reason I went to the Military Academy. Even if I revive won’t I continue being the same person, without talent or powers?”
“Who knows? Only you can decide your own Fate, but I will tell you this to make you less worried. A chance for you become powerful exists if you get revived, I can feel it.” A door of light surged, inviting Leon to enter. “Go become powerful not because you want to save the world or for yourself, but go for our little brother, your junior. To make certain he won’t suffer like you.”
“I will come back more powerful, wait for me.” Leon hugged the small soul and confidently walked on the door of light with a clear objective and determination present in his eyes, for his family he will do anything. And nothing will stop him. He is certain of it since he completely trusts in the Lord Second’s ‘feelings’ and prophecies.
As Leonhardt disappeared in the door, Lord Second snickered. “My little brothers are so gullible. Sometimes is just too easy to trick them.”
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[Congratulations! You have successfully changed your Race.]
[You are now a Core-Master(Half Dungeon Core and Half Dungeon Master).]
Leonhardt couldn’t understand what was happening, how could he be seeing himself in the third person?
“Finally you have woken up.” His body said to Leonhardt while a tiny person, even tinier than a dwarf, was glued in his shoulders with little wings at its back, it was a fairy. “You are now the black jade on the ground. It was supposed to me, the Dungeon Master, and my Dungeon Core, this fairy, to create a Dungeon and be slaves of the Ex-Phantasmas to train all the people of this planet, but why would we want to be a Trash Rank Dungeon?”
The previous Dungeon Master continued as Leon felt the opportunity that Lord Second talked about coming to him while he was worried the previous Dungeon Master would drop dead at any moment before he could gather more information about his new body. “For luck, one the random Dungeon traits we could choose came as [Body Change], [Possession], and [Time Revival]. And that’s how we revived you, changed the bodies where our souls live and possessed your body as we didn’t know how to actively move it... enough of chit-chat. Good luck being a slave with the body of a Dungeon Core and Master-”
And there it comes, Leonhardt thought in pity as blood came from the previous Dungeon Master and the Fairy’s mouths and they destabilized themselves knocking their bodies over the fragile cave’s walls. “Your body is-” The previous Dungeon Master tried to talk, but his voice was muffled by the rocks falling over ‘his’ body because of the impact he made when he got destabilized, crushing and killing him and the fairy.
“...” A Terminal Illness only ends with the patient dead, however, it seems being revived isn’t enough to escape from it or doesn’t make it stop working to kill its victim. They are called Terminal for a good reason, not even magic can cure them.
Although the true reason for it still be working is the ‘time’ word in the [Time Revival].
The souls from the previous Dungeon Master and Dungeon Core floated from the rocks and Leonhardt awkwardly looked at them without knowing what to say, it wasn’t his fault that they didn’t try to discover the reason he died, right? Or that they didn’t know how fragile the walls are.
“Give back our-” The souls tried to scream, but a black hole appeared over them and from it, a skeletal white bone hand came and grabbed them back as the black hole closed.
“What the fuck just happened?” Leon screamed to no one in particular.
And that was the beginning of the Leonhardt's life as a Dungeon with the lowest Rank in the planet and without the [Monsters’ Loyalty] trait thanks to a certain someone that just wanted flee from his duties.