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The Dungeon, Medea Island, Kalenic Sea

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I have a cunning plan for the sheep and rabbits.

To begin, I focused on the series of tiny warrens the small family of rabbits had dug while I was dealing with the Minotaurs. While Neo had given me a breeding pair, the use of mana to speed up their already prodigious breeding rate left me with more than a dozen animals to work with.

I'd given the original two rabbits, who I referred to as Adam and Eve, monster cores beforehand, of course. That way, their progeny would be born with cores and overall easier to mold to my purposes.

What purposes, you ask? Well, I have a few options to work with here.

There are plenty of myths and legends about lapines, including but not limited to jackalopes, horned rabbits, and so on. I started with the easy option; giving an ordinary rabbit a horn and magical powers.

I took a male and female, directed them to their burrow, and began enacting the changes.

First, a general size increase. Not too much of one, but just to make the rabbits large enough to be a threat. I gave them extremely soft white fur, pure gold eyes, and an elegant, spiraling horn. Their cores were enlarged, taking up about the same amount of space in their bodies as their hearts.

Next came their instincts and behaviors. They would act as support, casting spells to aid their fellow rabbits against the guilders. Using their horns for more than casting spells was a last resort. I'd prefer they led the guilders on a merry chase than recklessly charge them. I also gave them an intelligence boost. Not human level, more like a chimp. It's just a step away, but they'll need that intelligence to use magic as more than an instinctive tool.

Magic-wise, I didn't give them a specific element. Instead, I ensured all the types I knew of were present in equal amounts. This included the standard elements, ice, darkness, metal, light, and life.

I didn't give them any specific spells, just the knowledge of how to use each element in its most basic form. I'm sure they'll specialize and develop their own uses for it.

My Unihares quietly acclimated to their new bodies, and I left them alone.

Next, I took the largest male and female in the group and made them even larger. Enormous, even. The size of a Great Dane. I gave them short brown fur, along with even more powerful muscles. Finally, I grew a set of stag-like horns from both their heads. Each point was wicked-sharp and pointed directly forwards. I gave them Life magic, specifically. They would be the guardians of the forest ringing the edge of the floor.

My third future monster was an interesting one. The Winged Hare. An otherwise normal rabbit that possessed wings. While a total tall tale on Earth, it was very much possible here. Just a bit finicky to implement.

The first step was to give them wings. I had a couple of examples to choose from and decided that using the Pheonix as a template would be most appropriate. Of course, they'd be sized for the winged hares, which was the 'normal' size for a rabbit. To lighten the monster, I made its bones hollow, like a bird's bones.

Finally, I gave all my new bunny monsters a mouthful of fangs. They still had molars, of course. I only adjusted them to be opportunistic carnivores. They'd be pretty content to chow on grass all day.

With my three monsters completed, I fell deep into thought. So far, I'd generally only needed to evolve my monsters once, and they'd breed more to keep their numbers up. I found my mind drifting to my more intelligent species, and I thought about the dubiousness of the consent they gave when I changed them.

Willing or not, they'd never reject my decision to change them. My monster's thoughts and evident devotion to me showed that. But if I gave them the option, without ordering their ascension...

But how it would work is where the problem lies.

Perhaps some kind of evolution stone? The amount of mana needed to change my sapient monsters is significant, and something holding that much mana would need to be reasonably large. No fist-sized rock would work here. A 'shrine' then. The evolution crystal would keep the blueprints to 'evolve' a specific monster into a predetermined variant or evolution.

Of course, safeguards would prevent monsters not of that 'evolutionary line' from activating them and causing... problems.

For now, I focused on the rabbits.

In a broad sweep, I made all my new evolved rabbit monsters non-gendered. Specifically, I removed their genitals. They won't need them. Meanwhile, I upped the fertility of the normal rabbits. Deep in their warren, I carved out a room big enough to hold three Jackalopes, along with a hidden passage for them that led to the forest. I placed three enlarged monster cores in the back wall of that room, then went about enchanting the things to do what I wanted.

I lost track of time, focused as I was on the weaves and layers of mana in those cores. In the end, my evolution crystals were finished. I set up a small tunnel, through which I led a stream of mana right up to the back of the crystals.

In my final move, I implanted knowledge and instincts into my rabbits. After giving birth to a litter of bunnies, they would come to this room and choose an evolution. I watched as the first rabbit approached. His nose twitched furiously. In an entirely deliberate move, he nosed the Horned Rabbit evolution crystal.

His fur transformed in a wave, from nose to tail, gaining a snow-white color and extreme softness. Next, a horn twisted up from his forehead, his genitals were wiped away, and a golden color bled in from the edges of its eyes. Transformed, the Horned Rabbit hopped up the tunnel to the forest exit.

Another rabbit, the first in a quickly-formed line, stepped up. She chose the Jackalope crystal. The next chose the Horned Rabbit, then one picked the Winged Hare.

Ultimately, I was left with pretty even numbers of every species. The warren was full of young mothers, fathers, and their children. When those children began finding their own mates, their parents would come to the evolution chamber and leave to defend the floor.

I don't want to get overpopulated, though. With the fertility of rabbits, I'd be saturated in the things within a week. I slowed the growth rate of the bunnies and tied it into a floor-wide enchantment that monitored the number of rabbit monsters. If it dropped below a certain point, their growth rate would increase. Over that, it would slow. I'd have to monitor and adjust the exact rates later, but for now, this was fine.

Satisfied, I turned from the rabbit warrens. I did have a rabbit-themed miniboss in mind, of course, but that could wait for now.

In the meantime, I looked to the Minotaurs. They'd cleared a patch of trees, cut the wood, and were currently assembling their first house. It was quite large, of course. They're large monsters.

Next, I turned my attention to their flock. The sheep were currently penned into a small area by makeshift fencing, and I have a few ideas...

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The Sixth Floor, The Dungeon, Medea Island

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Igna looked out over her court proudly. Today, they had retreated from the scorched plains to a small cavern created just for them.

My loyal subjects. She addressed the gathered sprites, free-floating and golem-bound alike. We have grown greatly, in power and numbers, since this court was formed. Our patron, called 'The Creator' by its subjects, has been generous and kind in his dealings with our kind. Five of our own have reached the precipice of their transformation and have held it back for this ceremony. Step forward. Five sprites came forward.

One was unbound, as their kind were in their natural state. Its core hummed with the potent fire mana roiling within it, and it shivered as it tried to hold back its transformation.

One was bound to a 'Mithril' Golem. Its metal body was almost overcome by the fire mana within, glowing a molten orange and bubbling viscously. It maintained a humanoid form, though as its focus was on holding itself back, that form had... 'melted' slightly.

One was bound to a stone Golem. Like the Mithril Golem, its body was straining. The veins of orange magma that crossed its cracked stone shell were moving like water, no longer viscous or dawdling. Like rivers of water in a canyon, they flowed rapidly.

One was bound to an 'Orichalcum' Golem. The most feminine-presenting golem type was in much the same state as the Mithril. Unfortunately, its body had a lower melting point. It had gathered its metal into a ball around its core, using mana to float above the ground.

The final one had already received a Potentium body. Gifted to it by 'The Creator' to see the long-term effects on a 'baby' fire sprite's growth. It glowed white-hot and had a much more recognizable human-like silhouette.

My subjects. You have a choice. Before you lie Potentium bodies, of the same make as mine. You may use them or stay in your current forms; I will not sway you. The choice is yours.

The unbound sprite dashed for the inert body before it, quickly situating itself within. The Orichalcum golem-bound sprite did likewise, abandoning its melted shell for a greater one.

To Igna's surprise, the other two golem-bound sprites refused the offer. She could feel their resolve.

Very well. You have held yourselves back long enough. Let go, and join me in Spirithood!

The straining sprites did so.

They transformed in a burst of heat that would have evaporated any organic beings in the room.

The three with Potentium bodies became very similar to Igna herself; humanoid outlines seemed to be made of pure flame. They hovered inches above the cracked stone, marveling at their newfound power. Igna watched the other two closely.

The Mithril-bodied spirit was no longer of pure fire. It had taken the metal mana bound to its body into itself. It was now a hybrid spirit and could quickly reshape its body. Unlike the Potentium-bound spirits, it was very obviously made of molten metal. With a flex of will, it formed half-a-dozen long tentacles, which it could flex and twist however it wished.

The Stone-bodied spirit had likewise taken Earth mana into itself. It doubled in size, pulling in stone from the ground. The stone plates on its body began shifting and moving around, buoyed by the molten rock beneath.

Welcome, my Peers, to the Fire Court of The Creator Dungeon.

Though they were technically her peers, for now, Igna herself wasn't far off from her own transformation. She was more powerful than the rest of the new spirits combined, evident to all who gazed upon them.

My Peers, you should spend some time contemplating a name. Though you can find one yourself, I asked 'The Creator' for mine, and it might also name you if you care to ask. In the meantime, mingle amongst our subjects and form your own factions. You will be roaming the scorched plains in these groups, so don't be shy.

As sprites gathered around them and gazed in wonder at their transformed brethren, Igna sat down on the throne raised from the stone floor.

Her court continued to grow stronger, and Igna knew 'The Creator' was why. It was so free with its mana! So giving and generous! One might say ruinously. However, one only needed to observe the great river of mana at the Lava Cavern's roof to understand that what it granted them was a mere pittance.

Yes, answering that summons was possibly the best decision Igna had ever made.

And, quite possibly, the best she ever would.

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The War Room, The King's Roost, Phenoc Kingdom

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"Your Majesty, Grand Duke Plasied is again requesting an audience," the servant relayed, eyes down and bowed at the waist. Kenias sighed in aggravation and turned from the circle of his closest advisors.

"Inform him that I grow weary of his persistence. Unless he has any reason to meet beyond his obsession with a dungeon, I will continue to refuse his requests. I am too busy to allow myself to be distracted." Knowing a dismissal when he heard one, the servant took his leave.

"Plaised grows more unhinged by the day, your Majesty." High Marshal Jonn commented, with a stern cast to his features. "His obsession is driving him to great extremes. That bounty he advertised in court has caused quite a few guilders we keep on retainer to whisper fantasies of leaving to fulfill it. None have yet, of course. Their loyalty is unquestionable." Kenias sighed again and raised a hand to nurse the growing headache he had begun to associate with the Grand Duke.

"Speaking of the bounty, Barnart, I asked you to look into that. Is it as bad as I feared?" Chamberlain Barnart looked uneasy.

"Your Majesty, I believe it is, in fact, worse than originally feared. I had heard of the bounty before now, of course. Such a large sum of gold is quite... unusual as a reward for any bounty. If the duke was to sell titles and lands, he might be able to gather the gold to fulfill it, but it would all but beggar him. All that would remain of his personal domain would be his family's castle. Even then, it would be quite bare in terms of furnishings." He pursed his lips, then continued.

"I find it far more likely he will offer his remaining child, his daughter, as part of the bounty to lower the cost. He does own several forts around his lands he could also offer. If he did so... he would still be laid low, but not as badly. He might even still be able to pay his guards."

"He does have other options."

Kenias' gaze drifted to the man standing back from the table, wreathed in shadow.

"Olitar. Speak your piece." Kenias ordered.

"If the grand duke was so inclined, he could order the assassination of any who fulfilled the bounty before they could reach him in his castle. I do not believe it likely, as any who could shatter the Medea Dungeon would be far too difficult to kill." The spymaster reasoned. Kenias nodded, frowning.

"If he did make an attempt, however... Things could spiral out of control. I believe the group most likely to shatter the core are the guilders known to us as 'The Heroes' Descendants.'" Kenias winced, as did many of the others around the table.

"You see the problem," Olitar noted. "They would retaliate. Violently. In the best case, they merely murder Plasied and his family and consider it done. They loot his castle to pay the bounty and move on."

"And in the worst case," Jonn interjected, "They have one of their own claim the dukedom. We either legitimize their claim or kick them out. I doubt we could put them down, so we would have to legitimize them. Then, the situation we've been desperately avoiding for hundreds of years comes to pass. Guilders begin to believe they can take what they want, up to and including titles, and we will do nothing about it."

Kenias' Chancellor, Ghalan, hissed through his teeth. "Dukes and Counts across the kingdom would lose faith in us, and in our ability to protect them and their lands. They would declare their independence from the kingdom by the dozens. We cannot afford this. Not with the Bahrain watching for any weakness."

Kenias watched as his councilors descended into a fierce debate. Ideas flew across the room, to be refined or dismissed. He sat back on his throne and watched them with a satisfied smile as they displayed their competence and genius.

Within the hour, they had a plan. It was one Kenias barely had to add to and one he fully approved of.

"It's decided then," he announced. "You all know your parts. I expect you to perform them with all the excellence expected of your positions." He stood from his throne. "Until we next gather, my friends."

Kenias left for his chambers, as did his councilors.

Stopping at a window, he judged the time to be nearing midday. The sky was clear, not a single cloud blemishing its pure blue. With plenty of time until he was next needed, he decided to take a long way and enjoy the weather.

The gardens were pristine, as always. Hedges were cut to precise shapes, and flowers were in bloom by the thousands. Half a dozen fountains of various designs lent the area a pleasant atmosphere. Across the way, he noticed his daughters and wife gathered in a gazebo, sharing tea and company. He smiled as they saw him and waved.

He waved back and moved on.

The training yard was full of dueling knights. The Crown Prince was locked in battle with a Guilder, one Kenias recognized as a high-gold. As the second and third princes were still too young to fight with steel, they dueled the squires with wooden swords.

He moved on quickly before his presence could disrupt their training.

As he approached the door to his chambers, he dismissed the guards following him, and they took up a position at either side of the door. "I'm not to be disturbed for the immediate future." He declared and closed the doors behind him.

He turned and smiled at what he saw. It was time to relax after all the last week's stress.

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© Max Porteous, 2022