{First things first, I’m going to need to expand my domain.} I focus on my Influence and try to infuse five mana into it. It takes a bit of time, but eventually I can feel my mana drain away as my awareness expands far beyond the five foot cube it was previously.
I’m in a rectangular room six feet long, seven feet wide, and ten feet tall. Like the walls closest to me, every other surface is pockmarked with small holes. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, dripping condensation into a puddle by door I can see on the far side of the room. Oddly enough there aren’t any stalagmites in the room other than the one I rest on.
{Wow, that was a lot of expansion for just five mana!} If that was all it took to expand this much, then getting to the surface would be a breeze! Just then, Vistra draws my attention to her with a cough.
“Ahem. Saol, you may want to take a look at your status. And maybe get a bit more practice with manipulating your mana.”
… I really hope that doesn’t mean what I think it means. With more than a little trepidation I call up my status.
Name: Saol Nua
Race: Dungeon Core
Class: Dungeon Core
(Absorption, Physical)
Level: 0
(0/100)
Traits: Apathy, Adaptable
DP: 500
Dungeon Assistant: Vistra (Succubus)
Core Structure: 20/20
Core Mana: 5/100
Mana Regen: 1/per min
{Sigh. That’s what I was afraid of. Anything you can teach me about controlling my mana?} A thought hits me. {Or maybe there’s something in the Dungeon Shop I can buy that’ll help?}
Vistra looks thoughtful as she taps her chin with a finger. “Well, that is certainly possible. And should you be able to simply buy the skill, it would be far faster and more efficient than the practice it would take to prevent things like this from happening again. Of course if the option is not there, then it would be a moot point.”
{Even if I can’t, it’ll be good to see what I can get with the DP I have. Store!}
Welcome to the Dungeon Store! The one stop shop for all your Dungeoning needs!
Core
Traps
Monsters (Not available)
Environment
Gacha
I have to stop for a moment once I see the last option in the store. {A gacha? Isn’t that one of those loot box-type things? Why is that in the store!?} I continue before Vistra can respond. {Wait. Dumb question. God of Chaos, of course he would have something like this.} After that bit of distraction, I focus on the “Core” option.
Dungeon Points Available
500
Core Upgrades
Current Cost
Structure Expansion: 1 point
100 DP
Mana Expansion: 10 points
100 DP
Mana Regeneration Expansion: 1/per min
100 DP
Mana Control: Increased control over mana
10 DP
Mana Efficiency: Can use mana more efficiently
10,000 DP
Traits: Various
Variable
Experience: Turn DP into XP
5 DP = 1 XP
Structure Regeneration: 1 point
50
My attention immediately goes to the ‘Mana Efficiency’ option. What could possibly make it worth ten-thousand DP!? To get that much I would need to kill a thousand level ten people! And that’s not even accounting for whatever else I spend on other upgrades to myself or my Dungeon! I give myself a mental shake, refocusing on why I came here. The Mana Control upgrade is the exact opposite of Mana Efficiency, compared to everything else it’s ridiculously cheap! Wondering about the price discrepancy, I make the purchase before my mind wanders again.
Congratulations! You’ve purchased the ‘Mana Control’ upgrade.
Mana Control: You can now control your mana with a moderate amount of skill. This makes all tasks that require mana easier to manage, whether that be expanding your AOI or experimenting with your monsters.
Note: I was wondering if I should just stick this knowledge inside your soul when I made you a Dungeon Core, but then decided that it would be up to you to make the decision in case you wanted to actually train and obtain the skill yourself.
…
I feel like Soahc is calling me lazy. I would argue against it, but he’s not here. And he does have a point, I did take the easy way with this. Regardless of what Soahc thinks of me though, I still have four-hundred and ninety DP left to spend. A quick glance at my mana tells me that I’ve only been in the store for three minutes. I take the opportunity to purchase the increases for both mana and mana regen. I feel a sensation like filling up on drinks once I do, and a quick look back at my status confirms that my mana has regened to its new total of one-hundred and ten.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
{Well, well, well.} I mutter to myself with a mental grin. Seems like I can just bottom out my mana then buy the increase for an instant refill! I’m going to abuse the hell out of this.
Apparently Vistra was listening. “Oh, what has you chuckling maniacally?”
{My chuckling wasn’t maniacal!} I defend myself, while inwardly admitting that it might have been a bit maniacal. I explain what I found out as I use fifty mana to expand my Influence in an upward sloping curve from the wall next to me. Just forty-five feet to go! Sigh. Good thing part of my AOI was already inside the wall, or else it would probably be forty-eight or -nine!
“Um,” Vistra gives me a look of pity, “have you checked the prices after you bought those?”
{No...} I pull the store back up to see what she’s talking about.
Dungeon Points Available
290
Core Upgrades
Current Cost
Structure Expansion: 1 point
100 DP
Mana Expansion: 10 points
200 DP
Mana Regeneration Expansion: 1/per min
200 DP
Mana Efficiency: Can use mana more efficiently
10,000 DP
Traits: Various
Variable
Experience: Turn DP into XP
5 DP = 1 XP
Structure Regeneration: 1 point
50
{Ugh. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy.} I could still do it, but it wouldn’t be the cheat I thought it would be. Whatever. I look at the other options in the store wondering if I should buy anything else while I wait for more mana to regen. {I wonder what’s up with the ‘monster’ tab?} I try clicking on it to see if anything pops up.
Due to selecting the absorption class for your Dungeon, you are unable to purchase any monsters. Unfortunately, you have not absorbed the templates of any monsters and so are unable to purchase upgrades. Come back once you have more than the bare bone basics of a Dungeon you noob!
Well that was predictable, if more than a little rude. I don’t think that I’ll have any need for the environment section until I at least have the capability of encountering other beings. That only left the traps and Gacha left.
A quick look at the Gacha revealed that there were three tiers I can buy at. I could purchase a single role for one-hundred DP, one-thousand DP, and ten-thousand DP. The increase in price represents an increase in the likelihood that I would get something good. What I get can be anything, from a twig to a god.
…
{What the hell is up with that!? What am I going to do with a god!? Pretty sure that they would just kill if I summoned one of them!} I looked more closely at the system, and apparently if I summoned a living being from it, it would bind them to me. I would have the same control over them as if I had spawned them from a blueprint. {Well that’s something at least.}
Turning my attention away from the ridiculousness of the Gacha, I take a look at what traps I can buy.
Dungeon Points
290
Traps
Cost
Stone Spears (Physical)
150
Paralyze 1-second (Magical)
250
Dizziness (Mental)
250
Slowly Falling Ceiling (Physical)
150
The list is underwhelming, but considering that I still haven’t started constructing my Dungeon, I suppose the list is good. Looking at the options, I can see that choosing the physical traps for my start-up has already had an impact on my choices. Not only do I have an extra physical trap to buy, but they’re also cheaper than the other types. Still though, I can see the mental and magic traps being game changers in a fight.
But until I start getting people in here, I’ll have to stick with the physical traps for their lethality. So that leaves a choice between the falling ceiling and the stone spears. Honestly, it’s not even really a choice. The ceiling is mainly useful in trap rooms, or to make people panic and make mistakes. So, again, not that useful without people. I bought the stone spears traps.
Stone Spears: Three spears launch out of a surface to impale the victim. Can be triggered by a pressure plate or wire.
Length of spears: 2-6 ft
Spears retract after: 10-60 seconds
When created, spears can be sharp or dull.
Okay. With that I’m left with one-hundred-forty DP. Should I take a look at the environment page? But without any monsters I don’t think it would be very useful…
{Hey, Vistra. Do you think I should buy anything from the environment page in the store? The only thing I can think of that they would have a use for would be disguising traps, but we’re underground so they would probably be more conspicuous.}
She nods her head at my words. “That sounds correct. Not to mention that once you break through to the surface you will be able to absorb some of the surrounding vegetation. This will let you replicate it for mana rather than spending DP to buy the template.”
{Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.} With nothing else to do, I expend some mana to extend my Influence a bit more towards the surface. While I wait for more of my mana to regen, I start to play with my screens. And by that I mean that I just call them up then dismiss them again. Once I get bored of doing this I open the Shop and stare at the Gacha.
…
I have enough DP for the lowest tier, but that would leave me with a paltry forty DP. But it’s not like I have anything else to do…
Hmm. I think about it for a few minutes, going back and forth on whether or not I should. But in truth I already know what I’ve decided. That DP isn’t going to be doing anything any time soon, so I might as well put it to use when I can.
{Okay! Let’s roll the Gatcha!} I make the purchase, ignoring Vistra’s surprised look at my sudden outburst. A blue magic circle appears on the floor in the center of the room, spinning slowly at first but quickly picking up speed. A whirring sound fills the air as the circle begins to flash. Vistra is hiding behind my pillar and barely peeks her head out to watch the show. Suddenly, the circle stops and turns pure white before letting out the brightest flash yet. By the time the light dies down, the circle is gone, and my prize lies on the floor.
I stare at it.
Vistra stares at it.
It stares back.
Congratulations! You’ve summoned a Giant Naked Mole Rat (worker)!
Giant Naked Mole Rat: A naked mole rat that has grown to unusual size. Due to absorbing excess mana, this former herbivore has grown big enough to rival dogs in size and has the ability to walk on two legs or four. It’s jaw strength has increased to the point where it can bite through a steel breastplate to get to the meat within. It can see in the dark and has the ability to construct tunnels and burrows. There are some cases of colonies of naked mole rats developing enough intelligence to utilize weapons and armor, though their teeth remain their primary weapon.
Due to the Adaptable TTrait, you can spawn Giant Naked Mole Rats that are suited to their environment (e.g Giant Naked Mole Rats suited to forests, ruins, quarries, volcanoes, etc.).
Summoning this being through the Gacha has allowed you to obtain the template for its species!
Tunnels these monsters dig are automatically added to your AOI.
Cost to spawn: 40 mana/per level
Note: Giant Naked Mole Rats are broken into two subspecies, workers and soldiers. These count as different species for Dungeon purposes, though many people are unable to tell the difference between them.
Cool, my first monster! I lucked out with getting this instead of something like a rock or a sock. Add in the fact that it can help me expand my Influence without using mana and we have my favorite monster so far! I check my mana real quick. Seems like the Gatcha only took about five minutes to go through the summoning, so my mana is currently eighty-four. I can spawn two level ones, or one level two if I wanted. Not too sure of the difference at the moment, but-.
“EEEEKKKK!” I’m interrupted from my thoughts by a shriek once Vistra’s vision finally clears. “That thing is hideous! It is disgusting! Send it someplace else, I can not bear to look at it!” She immediately turns away and covers her eyes.
I can’t help but chuckle. Even in my world these things were hated by women due to their appearance. Given that it’s the size of a German Shepard from back home, I’m surprised she didn’ try and kill it the moment she saw it.
{Don’t worry Vistra, I’ll send it off. But you’ll have to move first, I’m planning to have it help dig our way to the surface, so it’s going to have to go behind the pillar.} Her face goes pale at this and she quickly flies to the ceiling, her tail whipping the air behind her.
I direct the Giant Naked Mole Rat- that’s a mouthful, I’m just going to call it Rufus.- I direct rufus to dig behind my pillar at an angle towards the surface, using my current Influence as a guide to start with. I turn my attention to the door at the other end of the room. Vistra mentioned that there are a series of tunnels through there, and now that I don’t have to worry as much about getting to the surface I intend to explore.