I dumped everything in Willpower. The 40% Efficiency from the removed Perks/Traits, the 850 base Attribute Points. Which bloomed into 3,170 points after Efficiency. I also deactivated the Ribbon Perk for good, reclaiming the Perk Slot. I was making enough MP per day that I could pay the full upkeep with enough Mana left to pay for another one.
I won't lie. I felt more powerful than ever. Because I was. I was also free. The damn Quest that took almost seven years to complete was finally behind me. I didn't even need to protect any humans. Not that I wouldn't. I didn't remember much from my previous human life but what I remembered was more than enough to let me feel a deep kinship.
Like six hundred thousand pets. Family. Even Marshall was a bit like that. And to be honest, my humans still gave me benefits and worship points. But I shrank Speranza by 90% in all dimensions. Yeah. It now occupied only 3 square miles of territory inside my Inner World, and a thousandth of its volume. I also sped up time in there three times, on top of what Demiplane Control gave me to a total of 4.2x time acceleration. They would experience a year inside for every two months and twenty-six days outside.
> > Your knowledge and training improved your Demiplane Control Skill to level IX — You can connect up to (10*Rank)% of the outer boundary of a demiplane to itself, creating the illusion of contiguous space.
Unfortunately, it didn't make them give me more Mana. It still used the outside time for that. But my Mana stone factory, which was included in this time dilation, worked that faster. I was now burning more than two billion DM making Mana Stones.
Anyway, It meant I needed to plant more trees. I designed a version of the Magitech Transmuter that could cast Plant Growth on its own, using Mana Stones as fuel. Shrinking Speranza gave me 304 square miles – Which I also shrank, turning it into 30,400 square miles, a region bigger than Lake Victoria – to plant trees and make ecosystems. Even if I couldn't save the World, I would preserve Earth and humanity within myself.
> > Your knowledge and training improved your Landscaping Skill to level VI.
>
> — Ecosystems you create are (5*Rank)% less susceptible to disruption.
>
> — Ecological imbalance takes (5*Rank)% less time to correct themselves.
>
> — Animals and plants living in areas landscaped by you are (5*Rank)% healthier.
>
> — Animals and plants living in areas landscaped by you live (2*Rank)% longer.
Holy... was the system just waiting for me to make some decent effort to spring these ranks on me? 12% of a human's lifespan was... around 17 years. That was a lot and it would improve. Landscaping wasn't the Skill I needed right now, but the one we deserved.
I watched as the specialized tree-planting quadcopter drones carrying the Magitech Transmuters went around, shooting tree seeds at the ground and then zapping them with magic to make a new tree sprout. More DM for me. Also, the Improved Drones Perk worked wonders with these not-so-little flying machines. Remember, they were carrying 44lb magical crystals and that was just the power source.
I set up a factory to produce generic Magitech Transmuters that could be tasked with specific jobs later. That gave me a few levels as every 8,000 Experience points meant a new level for my new Classes until they reached 180. Once I finished grinding these levels – and I was saving the meaty giant robots that would push me past level 180 for later – I think I would go on an explosive burst of territorial conquest.
Claim Australia as mine. Reclaim the world one inch at a time.
*
----------------------------------------
*
While I worked on the massive amount of software I received with my evolution, I watched as Marshall broke apart a fight between two drunk hunters. Endurance and Constitution protected a person from intoxication but perhaps the swimming pool of Scotch wasn't a good idea. Well, too late for that. The bottle lay shattered in Marshall's back yard, the scotch was gone, most of it into the tummies of the Guardians, and a fistfight between people with 4,000 points of Strength was frightening.
More Infernali came swimming onto the Australian shores, and the amount was increasing with every passing day. They were greeted with lasers and railgun shells from the heavens above, divine punishment for the sin of setting foot on this most hallowed penal colony of Her Majesty. Also, free Exp. Once enough rotting carcasses piled up on the beaches, I flashed a Beacon down, cleaned up the mess, and Replicated flying drones to collect the stones. Waste not, want not.
And so the months went by.
I opened another set of factories, in an expansion to Speranza's circular walls, an industrial district. I added a library and some industrial printers coughing books for the people. I increased the gap between floors from 175 to 350 feet, extending the tram lines and giving the residents more room to breathe. Some industrious folks wanted to increase the height of their buildings. The mayor appointed by [King] Marshall asked me about that and I gave him the green light.
Things were good. Fine. Too good but I didn't want to jinx it. Australia was almost free of volcanic smoke, earthquakes became a weekly thing, and I decided to send some huge blimps up. Just like meteorological balloons, they were tasked with reaching the depleted ozone layer. There, they started to Replicate ozone, burning through my massive stockpile of Mana stones. I didn't care about the costs.
*
----------------------------------------
*
Meanwhile, people in Speranza lived their lives without a single worry in their lives. Two years of accelerated time had passed in the shrunk city. The inhabitants had no idea they were now the size of... A Smurf. They laughed, loved, and even built mobile games.
Yeah. I released an SDK for mobile apps. We were seeing some innovative ideas. Like this one, that apparently told my life story.
I installed the new app and played it.
.
..
...
....
.....
......
.......
This is your Dungeon Core. It is in a landfill, surrounded by garbage.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071261917055819806/image.png]
Click the Dungeon Core to absorb garbage and recycle it into Mana.
Click! +1 Mana.
Click! +1 Mana.
Click! +1 Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to build a Dungeon wall to generate passive Mana.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071262652011118592/image.png]
Click! +0.1 Mana per second.
Click! +0.1 Mana per second.
Click! +0.1 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Let's research Electricity! Click to fill the gauge!
Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Congratulations. Research Complete. You know know about Electricity and circuits! Clicks on your Dungeon core now generate 50% more Mana.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to buy a shock trap that kills Giant Rats. Generate more passive Mana.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071263441899241492/image.png]
Click! +1 Mana per second.
Click! +1 Mana per second.
Click! +1 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to build a Dungeon Chamber, that will capture garbage and convert it to passive Mana.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071264469684076604/image.png]
Click! +10 Mana per second.
Click! +10 Mana per second.
Click! +10 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Oh, no! Evil Adventurers stole your Dungeon Core! Fortunately, you escaped your captors and landed in Dallas, Texas.
...
Click here to absorb some rubble and generate Mana.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071265067871518801/image.png]
Click! +100 Mana.
Click! +100 Mana.
Click! +100 Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to build a spring-mounted Spike Launcher Trap to kill Infernali and generate passive Mana.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071267482473603173/image.png]
Click! +100 Mana per second.
Click! +100 Mana per second.
Click! +100 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to dig an underground Dungeon to make some Mana.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071265959999983616/image.png]
Click! +1,000 Mana.
Click! +1,000 Mana.
Click! +1,000 Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to grow a tree in your underground Dungeon to generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071268028605534218/image.png]
Click! +1,000 Mana per second.
Click! +1,000 Mana per second.
Click! +1,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to build more Dungeon floors full of green trees! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071268626776215664/image.png]
Click! +10,000 Mana per second.
Click! +10,000 Mana per second.
Click! +10,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click to research Computers!
Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Congratulations. You can use a Computer to solve complex tasks! Like playing this game! Clicks on your Dungeon core now generate 200% more Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to rescue humans into your Dungeon! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071270402497712178/image.png]
Click! +100,000 Mana per second.
Click! +100,000 Mana per second.
Click! +100,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Jabberwock is coming! Click to fire your cannons at it and kill the World Boss!
Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
..............................................................................................................
Oh, no! Jabberwock is still alive! Click to fight with your Ranger Ork ß!
Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Swish! Swing! Pow! Pow!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Congratulations. You killed Jabeberwock and saved Pitsmouth! Clicks on your Dungeon core now generate 500% more Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to buy more wagons on your land train Dungeon! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071274123508064316/image.png]
Click! +1,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +1,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +1,000,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to buy walls and defend your new home! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071273589023715338/image.png]
Click! +10,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +10,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +10,000,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to build a shiny steel blimp to patrol the skies! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071272987334037504/image.png]
Click! +100,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +100,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +100,000,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
A Wicked World Boss army is attacking your city! Click to fire your mighty upturned space rockets and blast them all!
Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Congratulations. You wiped out the monster army! Clicks on your Dungeon core now generate 800% more Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to buy countries and rescue more humans! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071271346945921054/image.png]
Click! +1,000,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +1,000,000,000 Mana per second.
Click! +1,000,000,000 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to buy powerful giant robot pilots! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071269832013647902/image.png]
Click! +10E12 Mana per second.
Click! +10E12 Mana per second.
Click! +10E12 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
Dragons are attacking! Click to fight with your giant robot army.
Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Congratulations. You slaughtered the dragons in your giant robot combiner! Clicks on your Dungeon core now generate 2,000% more Mana.
..............................................................................................................
Click here to create Mana stone factories! Generate passive Mana.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1045112362870526002/1071271932919549992/image.png]
Click! +10E15 Mana per second.
Click! +10E15 Mana per second.
Click! +10E15 Mana per second.
..............................................................................................................
*
----------------------------------------
*
In my sanctum, surrounded by Trees, I stared at the LCD screen displaying an idle clicker game some guys developed and put in the store. I had no idea how I should feel about seeing my whole life turned into a clicker game.
But here we are. People were making new games. Using the technology that rested dormant for almost seven decades. Lost. Forgotten. I decided to push my disgust and shame aside and be proud of this.
While the researchers still hadn't made a breakthrough to build magical computers themselves, we had lots of people with Classes related to the use of computers.
Mobile Apps were hot right now. I found another one with me as the protagonist. I launched it.
.
..
...
....
.....
......
.......
Larry the Platypus: "Contractor! The Infernali is coming our way!"
Garfield Babbage, Dungeon God: "Don't Worry, Larry. Let's fight them. Call the rangers!"
[A lineup of combat robots appears at the bottom of the screen].
Garfield Babbage, Dungeon God: "Now, Larry. Help me. Swap the colored Mana Crystals to create combinations of three or more gems to launch our powerful attacks on the Infernali. Here, swap these two."
[The screen darkens except for four golden crystals in a line with a black crystal in the middle, and a golden crystal to the left of the black one. A hand shows the swipe motion to swap the crystals].
Garfield Babbage, Dungeon God: "Come on, Larry. Swap these Crystals to give me the power to fight! We need to stand together in these trying times!"
Larry the Platypus: "But Contractor! I don't know if your robots are strong enough!"
Garfield Babbage, Dungeon God: "Here, Larry. Use these diamonds to roll on the random draw and recruit mighty Rangers for you. You might even win the seven-star Valkyrie Goddess Róta!"
Larry the Platypus: "But she is Hyper-Mega-Rare! Seven stars!"
Garfield Babbage, Dungeon God: "Roll the Gacha, Larry. I know you want to pull Róta. You will understand it then."
[The cartoon platypus guides the player to tap on the Gacha. Stars fall from the sky and show the characters' portraits rotating in a merry-go-round. Róta appears and the merry-go-round almost stops on her, but flips at the last moment.]
Larry the Platypus: "Oh, no! I was so close!"
Garfield Babbage, Dungeon God: "For the next 30 minutes, you can buy the premium Extra-large Diamond package for only 99 credits. You have a guaranteed 5-star character every 90 draws!"
*
----------------------------------------
*
Ugh. Gacha?
Behind me, Larry gasped. "Contractor! Is that me on the game?!?"
He sounded so excited to be featured in the game that I had to fling the tablet to him. "You can play it. Here."
I had work to do. But I flagged that app as predatory. it needed to rework its language and stop goading people to go hungry for two days to buy a stupid Hyper-Mega-Rare mobile game toon.
*
----------------------------------------
*
The Great Australian Blimp Barrier became complete mid-august. I had one armored blimp every two miles, eight thousand floating pieces of Dungeon, fully autonomous and self-sustaining. And another four thousand two miles further inside, to lend fire support to the back line. Then another four thousand four miles away from the coast, with long-range artillery weapons. Above and around the World Tree site, thirty to forty miles out, tens of thousands of Saturn V rockets floated, upside down, pointing at the ground, ready to blast off and nuke some Kaiju.
Five miles out into the ocean, a thousand lighter-than-air dirigibles flew on patrol, Domain Beacons sweeping a half-circle in front of them from side to side, eating up the smoke. That gave me nine miles of visibility out from the shoreline.
The World Bosses were coming. I knew it. The Universe wouldn't let me sit and prepare for much longer.
*
----------------------------------------
*
The Mana stone grenade was ready.
I wrapped one of the 24-point Mana stones in a shell of steel, marked with fault lines that would allow it to split and fragment when the crystallized Mana sphere blew up. To detonate the crystal, I used a Fire Blast spell pointing inward, that would crush the crystal and destabilize the Mana. This Mana would fuel the fire spell, pumping the equivalent of a mid-level Mage's Mana Pool into overcharging the spell, and then blow outward. The steel shell would break up along the fault lines, sending a shower of supersonic shrapnel in all directions.
I placed Supply Depots every 100 feet in a spiral around the blast zone. The ones closer than a quarter mile from the detonation were rendered unusable, with considerable damage up to a half-mile away.
I attached the grenade as the warhead of a railgun shell. Now, I needed to find some volunteers for a test drive. Oh, there's a new pack of Infernali coming on the shores.
Application for destruction accepted!