CHAPTER 8: BEYOND THE GATE
[March 25, 2100 | 05:15 PM | Ethereal Court, Marketplace]
Sue followed Pip into the bustling Marketplace, her eyes widening at the sheer scale of activity. Stalls overflowed with glowing artifacts, rare essences, and strange creatures locked in crystalline cages. The air buzzed with energy, and Dungeon Masters of various shapes and sizes haggled, bartered, and evaluated wares.
She paused for a moment and asked the System silently in her mind, "What is the conversion rate for Essence and standard currency?"
Her HUD flickered to life, displaying a message:
[Current Conversion Rate]
1 Essence = 100 Gold, 1,000 Silver, or 10,000 Copper
Pip flitted ahead, his wings carrying him just above the crowd. "Alright, Nelye," he began, motioning for her to follow, "this is where you’ll find everything you need to build and improve your dungeon. From traps to creatures, it’s all here. But not all shops are equal, so let me give you the lowdown."
He pointed to a nearby stall piled high with gleaming traps. As Sue approached, a system window blinked into her view:
[Spiked Pit Trap]
* Cost: 50 Essence (∼48 Gold, 75 Silver, 0 Copper if buying with standard currency)
* Description: Creates a concealed pitfall capable of impaling Hunters. Can be upgraded to increase lethality or camouflage.
Sue read through the details, nodding. "Traps seem straightforward enough," she said, stepping back as Pip gestured to another shop filled with cages of snarling, shadowy creatures.
A new system window appeared:
[Shadowhound Minion]
* Cost: 200 Essence (∼192 Gold, 50 Silver, 0 Copper if buying with standard currency)
* Description: A stealthy creature capable of tracking and ambushing Hunters. Gains additional abilities when paired with certain dungeon layouts.
Sue glanced at Pip as the system window faded. "Which currency do Dungeon Masters usually use?" she asked.
Pip shrugged, his wings giving a light flutter. "Standard currency—Gold, Silver, and Copper. Everyone uses it. I don’t know why, though. You’d think Dungeon Masters would prefer Essence since it’s their main resource."
Sue nodded, thinking to herself. I do know why. Who’s dumb enough to spend 200 Essence when they can convert it into standard currency and spend far less? If these vendors knew they were losing money because of this, they’d probably cough up blood. She smirked slightly but kept her thoughts private.
"This guy," Pip said, pointing to the vendor, "has decent creatures, but they’re overpriced. You’re better off buying minions from the eastern stalls near the Arena—they’ve got better deals."
He gestured further down the row to a dimly lit corner. "And that one? Avoid it. The owner’s notorious for selling defective traps and weak creatures disguised as rare finds. Stick to vendors with good reputations."
Sue followed his guidance, absorbing the information while marveling at the endless variety of items. "You seem to know your way around," she said. "Are you my personal guide, or do you work with other Dungeon Masters too?"
Pip’s wings fluttered as he turned to face her. "Because of the update? Just you. For now, at least," he replied, grinning. "I’m only allowed one Dungeon Master to guide until I reach Level 20. After that, I can handle a second. But you’re my first and only, so I’m all yours."
Sue tilted her head. "Update? You mean Earth wasn’t the only place affected?"
"Exactly," Pip said, nodding eagerly. "The System updated this world too. A lot of rules changed, including how guides like me are assigned."
Sue considered this as they moved deeper into the Marketplace. "What’s the name of this world, anyway?" she asked.
Pip perked up. "This is Vhalrith, a planet with a little bit of everything. Ten years ago, a gate opened, just like on Earth, connecting our worlds. At first, it was chaos. Some creatures loved it—killing Hunters was their idea of fun. Others just wanted to live in peace, but the Hunters didn’t care. They attacked anything that moved."
Pip sighed, his tone turning reflective. "Vhalrith is home to many races, including humans, but the humans here are different from those on Earth. Every race on Vhalrith has both an intelligent side and a non-intelligent side. When the gate opened, it was the non-intelligent ones who ran through first, mindlessly killing and destroying. That’s what the humans on Earth saw. Since then, they’ve labeled us all as monsters."
He glanced around the bustling Marketplace, his voice lowering. "Dungeon Masters like you use those non-intelligent creatures in their dungeons. They’re sold into slavery, bred, and trained for that purpose. But it’s not just them. Sometimes, intelligent creatures are sold too—if they have rare magic, beauty, or if they’re just unlucky."
Sue frowned. She hadn’t heard anything about monsters trying to come in peace on the news back on Earth. It’s fascinating, she thought, that there’s such a world behind the gate—a place with its own rules, complexities, and struggles. The news never even hinted at this side of things. The more Pip explained, the more she realized how little she truly understood about the worlds connected by the gate. It was always about monsters attacking or being hunted down.
She wondered how the people on Earth would react if they discovered the truth about the other side of the gate. Could they accept that Vhalrith’s inhabitants were more than just monsters—that they were living beings trying to survive? Or would they cling to their narratives of fear and violence, unwilling to see beyond the chaos brought by the non-intelligent creatures? The idea left Sue with a mixture of curiosity and unease, the enormity of the gap between the two worlds pressing heavily on her thoughts.
"What's your race?" Sue asked.
Pip straightened proudly, his wings fluttering lightly. "I’m a Lirvian. We’re known for our agility, adaptability, and intelligence. You don’t see too many of us because we tend to keep to ourselves. But, as you can tell, I’m not exactly the shy type."
Sue tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "If Dungeon Masters inherit their predecessor’s memories, what’s the need for a guide?"
Pip grinned, his tone light but thoughtful. "Good question! Normally, a Dungeon Master would inherit all the knowledge they need, but it’s not a perfect system. Memories can be fragmented or incomplete, and sometimes, new Dungeon Masters don’t get the full picture—like you. That’s where guides come in. We fill in the gaps, provide updates, and help you adapt to changes in the System."
He paused, his expression turning serious. "And now, because of the recent System update, guides are more useful than ever. There are new rules, new mechanics, and things that even experienced Dungeon Masters are struggling to figure out. For someone like you, starting fresh, a guide is practically essential."
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Pip clapped his hands, a bright grin spreading across his face. "Now, let’s get you your first servant! But before we do that, what’s the theme for your dungeon?"
Sue blinked, tilting her head. "Theme? I don’t have a theme."
Pip’s wings fluttered in surprise. "What do you mean you don’t have a theme? Every dungeon has a theme!"
Sue crossed her arms, her expression calm. "My dungeon is like a blank canvas. I don’t have a theme—yet. Do you want to see it?"
Pip stared at her, dumbfounded, before nodding quickly. "Yes! Show me."
Sue smirked slightly and called a portal to her dungeon. The air shimmered as the gateway materialized, swirling with energy. "Let’s go," she said, stepping through the portal. Pip followed close behind, his eyes wide with curiosity as they stepped into the heart of her dungeon—the throne chamber. The air was cool and heavy, humming with potential. The room was vast, with polished obsidian walls reflecting the faint glow of the dungeon core behind the throne. The core pulsed gently, its crimson light casting eerie shadows across the empty chamber.
Pip’s jaw dropped as he spun in the air, taking in the stark, featureless space. "It’s... completely blank," he stammered. "No traps? No creatures? Not even a hint of a theme? How is this a dungeon?"
Sue walked toward the throne, her voice calm. "Like I said, it’s a blank canvas. The System gave me control, but it’s up to me to shape it."
She turned back to him and added, "I do have two floors, though. The first one says 'unmade,' and this is the throne chamber—the core room."
Pip landed gently on the ground, tapping his chin. "Most Dungeon Masters inherit at least some semblance of a layout. But this? This is something else. You really are starting from scratch," he muttered, a mix of awe and disbelief in his voice.
Shaking his head, he turned to Sue. "So, where do you want to begin?"
Sue looked around, her eyes scanning the vast, empty chamber. "This floor," she said decisively.
Pip nodded. "Okay, in your dungeon HUB, there should be a Dungeon Customization option. Click on it, and we’ll start building your domain."
Sue opened her dungeon HUD, and a glowing menu appeared in her vision:
[Dungeon Customization]
Current Essence Balance: 500
* - Select Floor:
1. Floor 1: Unmade
2. Floor 2: Throne Chamber
Sue selected Floor 2, and a follow-up menu appeared:
[Select Dungeon Theme]
1. Infernal Abyss – 100 Essence (Fire and brimstone-themed, with lava traps and flame-resistant creatures.)
2. Frozen Expanse – 100 Essence (Icy corridors, frost traps, and cold-resistant minions.)
3. Verdant Labyrinth – 120 Essence (Overgrown jungle filled with poison flora and stealthy predators.)
4. Cavern of Shadows – 110 Essence (Dark and maze-like, with traps designed to confuse and ambush.)
5. Celestial Ruins – 150 Essence (A holy yet dangerous theme, with light-based traps and divine creatures.)
6. Mechanical Fortress – 130 Essence (Filled with gears, automatons, and energy-based defenses.)
7. Arcane Nexus – 140 Essence (Magical environment, brimming with traps and arcane guardians.)
8. Volcanic Crags – 120 Essence (Treacherous terrain of molten rock and erupting hazards.)
9. Ethereal Mistlands – 140 Essence (A dream-like space, confusing and shifting, with psychic traps.)
10. Custom Theme – 50 Essence (Design your own theme piece by piece. Base cost; traps and minions sold separately.)
Her HUD prompted her: [Select Your Theme].
Sue hesitated, glancing at Pip, who watched intently. "No pressure," he said with a grin. "But a good theme is key to making a statement—and scaring Hunters senseless."
Sue clicked on Custom Theme, and another menu appeared:
[Custom Theme Options]
* Select Core Aesthetic:
1. Futuristic Lab – 50 Essence (Sterile white halls, glowing panels, and high-tech defenses.)
2. Neon Cityscape – 50 Essence (Vibrant neon lights, urban chaos, and traps hidden in plain sight.)
3. Haunted Carnival – 50 Essence (Distorted funhouse mirrors, eerie laughter, and deadly games.)
4. Underwater Abyss – 50 Essence (Flooded chambers, bioluminescent creatures, and water-based hazards.)
5. Crystalline Cavern – 50 Essence (Gleaming crystal walls, reflective illusions, and energy traps.)
6. Desolate Wasteland – 50 Essence (Cracked earth, smoggy skies, and brutal environmental hazards.)
7. Floating Islands – 50 Essence (Fragmented terrain, gravity-defying traps, and aerial ambushes.)
8. Steam-Powered Foundry – 50 Essence (Industrial machinery, steam vents, and automated defenses.)
9. Twisted Wonderland – 50 Essence (Surreal, dream-like space with shifting realities.)
Her HUD prompted: [Select Core Aesthetic].
"Whoa," Pip murmured, his wings fluttering with excitement. "Some of these I’ve never seen before. Seriously, a Neon Cityscape? Hunters are going to hate this—like, really hate it! These are way outside the norm for dungeons. Hunters are going to lose their minds dealing with this kind of variety. So, what’ll it be?"
Sue selected Neon Cityscape, and her HUD immediately updated with a new prompt:
[Theme Selected: Neon Cityscape]
[Essence Spent: 50]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 450]
Another window materialized in her HUD:
[Neon Cityscape Enhancements]
* Choose Environmental Effects:
1. Pulsing Neon Fog – 5 Essence (Adds a disorienting fog that shifts with neon colors.)
2. Holographic Decoys – 10 Essence (Creates moving holograms to confuse Hunters.)
3. Synthwave Soundscape – 2 Essence (Plays a hypnotic synthwave track that disrupts focus.)
4. Dynamic Lighting Traps – 5 Essence (Lights that flicker and blind Hunters temporarily.)
5. Neon Slime Pits – 10 Essence (Glowing pits filled with corrosive slime that harm and slow Hunters.)
6. Shifting Seasons – 8 Essence (Seasonal weather effects: neon rain, glowing snow, and synthetic sunlight cycles.)
7. Aerial Drones – 10 Essence (Hovering drones with blinding spotlights and basic attack capabilities.)
8. Interactive Billboards – 3 Essence (Billboards that project false routes or distract Hunters with sudden animations.)
9. Neon Plantlife – 5 Essence (Glowing plants that obscure sightlines and emit hallucinogenic spores.)
10. Underground Circuit Maze – 10 Essence (Hidden, electrified pathways designed to shock and redirect Hunters.)
Her HUD prompted her: [Select Enhancement Options].
"Okay, now this is wild," Pip said, spinning in the air as he examined the options. "Hunters are going to walk into this and think they’re in some sci-fi nightmare. What are you going to pick first?"
Sue selected Synthwave Soundscape, Shifting Seasons, and Interactive Billboards. Each selection prompted a notification:
[Enhancement Selected: Synthwave Soundscape]
[Essence Spent: 2]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 448]
[Enhancement Selected: Shifting Seasons]
[Essence Spent: 8]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 440]
[Enhancement Selected: Interactive Billboards]
[Essence Spent: 3]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 437]
A new prompt appeared:
[Select Sub-Theme for Neon Cityscape]
* Urban Decay: Post-apocalyptic streets littered with ruins and glowing rubble. Cost: 10 Essence
* Cyber Metropolis: A high-tech city filled with sleek skyscrapers and advanced neon infrastructure. Cost: 10 Essence
* Synthwave Suburbia: A retro-futuristic suburban vibe with glowing homes and vintage tech aesthetics. Cost: 8 Essence
* Industrial Sprawl: A gritty, factory-driven design with massive industrial complexes and smoggy skies. Cost: 8 Essence
Sue selected Cyber Metropolis, Synthwave Suburbia, and Industrial Sprawl. Each choice displayed a confirmation message:
[Sub-Theme Selected: Cyber Metropolis]
[Essence Spent: 10]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 427]
[Sub-Theme Selected: Synthwave Suburbia]
[Essence Spent: 8]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 419]
[Sub-Theme Selected: Industrial Sprawl]
[Essence Spent: 8]
[Remaining Essence Balance: 411]
A new prompt appeared:
[Do you want to Design Floor? Y/N]