It sounded like I had some time to prepare but I needed to make sure the vitapygmy knew what was about to happen. I wasn't sure what 'Becoming' actually entailed but I felt like whatever I was planning required that I do that first. after a bit of pantomime I got the message across and they set about organizing themselves.
I made sure that my volpertinger had their orders and knew what was important. I still wanted to try and keep myself hidden to a degree but if it came down to it I wanted to try an protect Lu Xian and at least the Priestess since she seemed to be more in charge of their territory and I didn't want to have to start over with someone new. I also contemplated using Fog of War before I started everything but unless the delvers changed their mind about securing their base the spell would likely run its course before they even came down here. In that regard I was sure the volpertingers spellwork would be sufficient in case of an emergency.
In my internal space that window sat there above the green sphere of energy expectantly hovering. I knew I hadn't done everything I could to prepare for this and I was very worried that starting this process might knock me out but I just had to move forward and take what comes. So I reached out with my not-hand and made a connection with that green orb and began the process.
----------------------------------------
Nothing seemed to happen for a moment beyond the green orb of energy simply pulling itself apart and diffused into the rest of my inner space. The bits of floating crystal that drifted lazily around the inverted tornado in my sky began to glow slightly and sparks of distant green lightning began to flash deep within my clouds. Then my domain started to report that there was a great deal of energy build up in my core room proper.
Stepping out I saw arcs of verdant energy leaping from the pool of my primary Mana Well to my Core. the bolts were so frequent it began forming a nearly solid pillar of twisting green light attached to my cores base. Trails of light began to stretch out like the branches of a tree and freeze suspended in mid air and then transition into more fluid and undulating forms. Little by little it took shape and was less and less like lightning strikes or a tree and more like a large green anemone reaching out and grasping my Core. It was hard to see through all the flashing light but my Core looked like it was expanding as layer after layer of material was being added to its outer surface. A spark snapped out across my surface as the small section of Life Mana Crystal was violently dislodged by one of the tendrils and with a sudden rush of vertigo I was pulled back inside my inner space.
Lightning was flashing at near strobe light intensity as the walls of my space where consumed by the storm of change. My inner space itself was mostly calm but it had its own changes to contest with. Radiating out from the center were thick vines sparsely twisting outward and weaving over and under each other. they sat below the clouds themselves put would occasionally push their way up into view. at these places weathered crystals began to form a ring of standing stones giving the whole place an ethereal, vaguely druidic flair.
The inner space also felt like it was getting larger. From the fog filled studio apartment sized snow globe it had been to an extensive fluffy warehouse made of clouds. where one would expect there to be supports in physical structure thick vines would wrap around themselves extending from deep bellow my lower clouds to then disappear into the clouds that floated above.
A long narrow string of vines extended from one such pillar to wrap itself around the floating crystals in my sky and criss cross their way in front of the inverted tornado's' opening. They would grow thick and then shrivel and die or snap in the high winds around the storm eventually settling to a number of thin flexible vines that hung loose swaying with the spinning form anchored to the glowing rocks and each other in a loose ring.
Back in my Core chamber the pillar of light began to decrease in intensity as it was being fully absorbed by my Core. The room itself had undergone a plethora of minor changes. the mosses had thickened and were now joined by a number if miniscule plants a lichens across my floor giving the diorama an even more realistic miniature appearance. Interspersed through the hills and lakes were small glowing mana crystals of both the verdant green Life affinity and the pale blue Cloud affinity.
The castle had the most dramatic change where its crenelated walls had gained stark accents that were interspersed with flecks of glowing crystal and patches of lichen and small vines that gave the whole thing a weathered and ancient appearance and the pillars that held it above the rooms clouds had become cracked and broken by large twisting vines that now supported the weight of the miniature castle in their stead.
----------------------------------------
As the last motes of Life Affinity mana was consumed I felt the affinity begin to flow out into the rest of my domain. Mosses became more lush and my monsters felt more hale and hearty. The Core itself had doubled in size and now swirled with verdant green light along with the pale blue of my cloud affinity. I was then struck with a sudden surge of power and a massive announcement window filled my vision.
Congratulations Achievement become
BECOME [https://i.imgur.com/QGKVemr.png]
Secondary Shell
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOME
Life Mana Affinity Gained
TIER 2 UNLOCKED
> New options available
>
> -_-_-_-_-
>
> Garden chamber available
>
> Chamber Attachments available
>
> | False Core - 100 pearls
>
> | Trap - Variable
>
> -_-_-_-_-
>
> Sand Pit Upgrades
>
> | Arena - 5 Pearls
>
> Habitation Upgrades
>
> | Barracks - 5 Pearls
>
> | Workshop - 5 Pearls
>
> Stockpile
>
> | Storehouse - 5 pearls
>
> | Armory - 10 Pearls
>
> | Refurbisher - 10 Pearls
>
> Lair Upgrades
>
> | ERROR - Tier 3 chambers have no upgrades at this level
>
> Altar Upgrades
>
> | ERROR - Tier 5 chambers have no upgrades at this level
That was a lot of information all at once.
I took a moment to look through it and then checked my other informational windows. I had gained an Attachments tab on the chambers window that showed one of my new features. It had my new expensive False Core option that didn't really seem worth it, and the trap option that had a variety of simple mechanical traps that I could add to a room all being some form of pit fall or dead fall trap. In addition there were options that I had apparently unlocked previously which were the Mana Well and its upgrade the material compiler, which I knew well, and the Material Generator that was also the same price as the False Core.
The Upgrades didn't have a window I could pull up but each room with the option had a pliable sensation to the mote of energy that empowered it as a camber of my dungeon. This also meant I didn't even have the minimalist descriptions that I would get for other features and would have to work out what the upgrades did through context.
I also had a few new spells at my disposal which was interesting. Life affinity spells seemed rather straight forward if a bit underwhelming. I could also tell by the simple mana density that second tier spells would likely be beyond my volpertinger for now.
Tier 1 spells
Spell Cost
Fog of War
1 Cloud Mana Pearl
Mist Cloak
1 Cloud Mana Pearl
Mistform Decoy
1 Cloud Mana Pearl
Heal
1 Life Mana Pearl
Mass Heal
1 Life Mana Pearl
Tier 2 Spells
Bolt
2 Cloud Mana Pearl
Mist-Step
2 Cloud Mana Pearl
Summon lesser Elemental
2 Cloud Mana Pearl or 2 Life Mana Pearl
Greater Heal
2 Life Mana Pearl
Cure
2 Life Mana Pearl
----------------------------------------
I didn't pass out, which had been my primary concern before taking the plunge, so I could now obsess over little details in hopes of getting everything perfect for the upcoming conflict.
Firstly, I quickly took care of what I had forgotten to take care of previously. There were a number of buds on the tree and five round crimson skinned fruit that my Domain told me were called Grand Mangrove Apples. These fruit had grown on the tree in my sand pit as a result of the tournament I had them moved to the stockpile just to more carefully manage my resources especial with uninvited guests about to visit.
I also figured out an issue that may or may not become a problem. The system treated every interaction between myself and the vitapygmy as some variation of combat. If left alone they would be treated as the victors of said conflict and in turn would conquer the chamber they were in. I wasn't sure what effect that would have on the rooms themselves so I had been careful to not let it happen but if I wanted to keep control of the sand pit I needed to make sure that my monsters were in attendance even if hidden whenever the vitapygmy were present.
The vitapygmy performed their daily prayers and I had my volpertinger present them with a silver coin in way of apology for the loss of the vitapygmy in the formation of the Lair chamber. I wasn't sure if they understood what I was trying to convey but the silver coins had been incorporated into their general aesthetic and I didn't want their new member to be the odd one out.
The day turned over and the dungeon was flooded in its entirety with Life Affinity mana. moss and vines that spiderwebed their way through the tunnels and chambers became more vibrant in they grey-green coloration and more completely incorporated themselves into the chambers structures and designs. The verdant green mana crystals joined the pale blue ones that accented and illuminated the various rooms and corridors. I also noticed that the vigor grabs had lost the 'lesser' prefix and were now about the size of dinner plates if you included the legs and defended their pool aggressively which kept the little cooing fleshborn from falling in.
I was back up to three dire nimbus crabs. In addition to the coins and silver ring a polished green coral broach with a silver hare inlaid into its surface rolled down one of the various aqueducts to land at the feet of the highlander statue. As a final note there were two splashes as a Cloud Mana Pearl and a Life Mana Pearl dropped into the Mana Well.
Mana metabolized. Life affinity spread
I was as ready as I was going to be. Now it was just the waiting.
----------------------------------------
Jac stood up and slowly paced toward the dungeon entrance and you could see the D class adventurers and Dernan scramble to form up with the seasoned adventurer. They paused for a moment at the entrance looking down into its depths.
"Alright then. Lets get to it."