“Hey.” I heard from the depths of unconsciousness. I felt a tapping on my side. Five more minutes mom...
“Oi! Wake up.” I ignored the voice.
“Come on! Wake up!” I tried to roll over to ignore the voice, wondering why my pillows were not readily available.
“Get up you lazy human!” That brought me to that half-awake state one experiences after a really good nap. I sat up and began opening my eyes.
“Hey you, you’re finally awake I see,” came the voice from a green light floating in front of me.
“What the hell?” I bolted upright, looking around me. I lay on top of a tall stone hill. “Where am I? Where’s-”
“We’re in the Æstral Plane, kid. How did you get here? It took me thousands of years of research and secrecy to even manage to get here.”
“Æstral Plane. Like, where the War in Heaven is fought?” I looked around, noting the extremely calm plains surrounding us. I looked down, noting we seemed to be on a fairly tall hill.
“Yes, some also call it the Realm of Souls, The Heavens, The Afterlife, what have you.” The floating light rattled off. Looking closer, I noted that the light had a solid center, kind of like my core back in the dungeon. “The place the various Pantheons call home.”
“Oh, so the place that I’m supposed to be making sure adventurers become nice and strong so the Dungeon God can have strong soldiers for his army,” I dryly let out. “How in the absolute hell did I get here? Last I remember, I was just about to be knocked out from the damn levelup curse.”
“Hold on a moment. What did you just say?” The light said slowly. Even without a face, I could tell it was looking at me like I just spoke in tongues.
“I-”
“What are you?” The orb immediately continued, not letting me get a chance to speak.
“I’m Fel,” I began, then sat up straighter. “I was taken from my home universe and brought to this one to become a new Grand Dungeon because the guy I was summoned to replace died not long before then?”
This sent the orb into silence. It bobbed a little bit then backed off, if it had hands I am sure it would have been rubbing it’s chin in thought. I shrugged, taking another look around me. There were a few long-distant clouds in the sky, but I could not see any sun nor moons in the sky. I guess this is truly some weird plane of existence then. Light without a source, no way to navigate by conventional means even if I knew how to use those.
“Fel, how long has your dungeon been active?” The orb was suddenly very close to me and I naturally jolted in surprise.
“W-well, my dungeon has been open for... like a week tops?”
“Impossible!” The orb backed off, muttering to itself again. I shrugged and stood up, feeling muscles stretch that haven’t since I came to this universe. Okay, this is weird. It’s like I have a physical form again. I looked down, noting that I was definitely not see-through, and was missing clothes. AH FUCK!
I admittedly, panicked. In a rush, I opened up my inventory to see if I had anything I could use. I immediately regretted this decision, as the status screen bombarded me with status updates.
[Level 10 Achieved. 5 Perk Points awarded.]
[Level 15 Achieved. 5 Perk Points awarded.]
[Five Dungeon Summons achieved Level 5 simultaneously. 5 Perk Points awarded.]
[Mobile Assault Exoskeleton (New Conglomerate Variant) Schematic acquired.]
[Mining Ram-Drill Schematic acquired.]
[NCM1 Scattercannon Schematic acquired.]
[23 Other Schematics acquired.]
Oh. Well then. I guess everyone is doing okay so far then. And they’re gaining levels! Woo! I sighed in relief. Though with half of ‘em leveling up, that’s half of them that can’t defend themselves... I sincerely hope there’s a way for me to break free from that fucking curse, and transfer said freedom to my peeps. Why do I get the feeling I’m being watched? I turned to my left and the orb was back, inches from my head. I wasn’t sure how, but I could tell it was gazing at my notifications.
“Open for a week, somehow, and you already have five creatures that are at level five? Something is not adding up, Fel.” The orb turned to me, I noticed a flash of dark green run through it.
“Well I ain’t lying!” I defended myself. “Why do you not believe me? I’ve got no reason to lie about this.”
“Because dungeons are all given six months to open up once they are placed in the world,” the orb explained.
“I-” my mouth opened, then I shut it with a snap. Was I knocked out from the landing? “What? When I woke up, I had a week! Then System left me a few days later, dropping the timer down to just over a day! I’ve had less than a week to be a dungeon!” I said with a raised voice, turning to the orb as I clenched my fists at my sides. “If I was supposed to have six months, then I was fucking robbed of all that time after landing on the planet!”
“Hold on,” the orb retreated a few paces. “Landing? All cores are placed within the planet and moons by the Dungeon God Himself. We are not just simply... tossed to the world. That would leave us either dead, or extremely vulnerable.”
“Well the Dungeon God sent me from the heavens above the world to the fucking ground, and I ain’t lying,” I retorted, feeling the urge to vent my frustrations. “He placed me in a big ol’ chunk of goddamn starstone along with a crapton of various materials that were scattered down into the earth below when I hit it. This was after having a conversation about how the whole soul-thing works with this War in Heaven, and that I was supposed to replace some dungeon by the name of Tak’ro. Heh, funny name, that.”
The orb was taken aback by that, bobbing down then once again muttering to itself. I shook my head and took another look around the hill, wondering if I could even do anything here?
[Named Dungeon Creature has reached Level 25. All future |Shredder Golems| now start at Level 5. Two Perk Points awarded.]
[Dungeon Advisor has reached Level 5.]
Well, shit. Lotta zombies to get Shreddy to that point, I guess. God damn do I still wish I knew where the hell they all came from!
“You... were chosen. To replace me?” The orb finally spoke up.
“You’re Tak’ro?” I replied with a raised eyebrow. The orb bobbed up and down. “Well shit, you don’t look dead to me. Sorry about calling your name funny...”
“This is what is left of myself, my last sub-core. With my main core dead, I have maybe another six months left before I simply fade away. Please, would you bring up your stat sheet?”
“Uh, alright.” I opened up my stats.
Name:
Fel
Floors:
1
Level:
15
Treasure Quality:
Poor
Race:
Fallen Grand Dungeon
Creatures:
10/30
Exp:
86/1200
Universal Summoned:
11/100
Mana:
1200/1200
Traps:
0/6
Mana Regen:
27/Hr [32]
Inventory:
+
Magic Affinities:
+
Perks:
+
Skills/Traits:
+
Automatic Expansion:
ON/OFF
Oh baby YES! So much mana now! Though... did Angela make more golems? Oh, huh. Got two new boxes... Ah, auto-expansion was turned back on. Great. Well, at least it isn’t eating too much into my regen.
“So you’re a Fallen Grand Dungeon,” Tak’ro did not sound pleased.
“Yeah? I am entirely unsure what that means. I got it after System left me, though it could easily just... describe the way I entered the world. I did get thrown at the planet from space, after all. Are... fallen dungeons unique or something?”
“Fallen Dungeons, no. Those are actually fairly uncommon and tend to get killed off quickly by adventurers. Fallen Grand Dungeons however? As far as I am aware you are the first. I myself was the first Grand Dungeon to be placed, as well as the only one that has been killed, and regularly kept in touch with my seven other siblings. Judging by the fact you don’t know how bad this could possibly be, would you like me to explain just why being a Fallen dungeon is bad?”
“Uh, yeah. Also if you think that’s bad, you should see some of the unique things I’ve picked up.”
“We’ll get to those in a minute,” Tak’ro stated. The orb tilted back and forth, and I could hear an audible intake of breath. That’s weird. Does he even need to breathe? Do I need to breathe? So many questions, so little time.
“Fallen dungeons are cut off from the standard cycle of reincarnation,” Tak’ro began. “Unlike normal dungeons, they cannot make new creatures unless said creature has no soul. Golems are an exception, every dungeon can make those, though only I was specialized with the-”
“I did pick up the golem specialization!” I piped in, throwing Tak’ro for a loop.
“Great! However, as a Fallen, you’re not going to be able to make anything more than golems for the foreseeable future. Any creatures you made before becoming a Fallen are all you’ll have, and if they die they’re lost to you. Now, I am entirely unsure how, but fallen dungeons that have survived longer than six months after their Fall seem to somehow get around this aspect of their life. About two thousand years ago, I also managed to have one of my creatures infiltrate a Fallen dungeon and came to a few discoveries.” Tak’ro paused.
“What did you find out?” I asked, staving off the panic I felt rising up from this newest revelation.
“It had managed to acquire the ability to create new souls to make its defenders by somehow tapping into this plane temporarily, as well as trapping the souls of adventurers that died within. Of the two, the creatures made with the souls of the latter were the more dangerous. Lastly, the dungeon was sentient, like you and I, and had been summoned from another world to be a dungeon. ”
“Like I was,” I was not liking the train of thought I was starting to go down.
“You were? That is... odd. How much do you remember of your past life?”
“Pretty much all of it, though the Dungeon God did say he yoinked me from the ‘Primordial Universe’ if that helps?”
Tak’ro turned a very alarming kaleidoscope of greens and doubled the distance between us.
“No, he was never that stupid,” the orb stated. “Pulling a fully aware soul from that universe? The only way he could use it is if... Fel, how did you say you entered the world, again?”
“Uh... through a big asteroid filled with minerals and such? I don’t really know where he sent me, but if what I saw of the world was right, I think I got shot at the smallest continent?”
“That might... He might have shot you at Urstem. That damn Emperor’s family had been eradicating all the dungeons on my continent for ages. With my main core’s death, the Dungeon God must have tried finding a way around the Pantheonic Law of Non-Direct-Interference. He couldn’t directly smite those responsible... So...” Tak’ro stared right at me. “He took you, gave you boons, then launched you at the planet... The only reason this shouldn’t work is if he came up with the idea himself?”
“I uh... might have suggested sending me like that. It just felt a little... natural in the conversation for that to come up. Are you telling me he used me as a suicide bomber or something?”
“I am unfamiliar with that term, but if it means sending you at those who displeased him fully expecting you to die, then yes, that is very much likely what happened. He couldn’t use a soul in this universe, for that would violate The Law, so he had to reach into another. But that he reached into the Primordial Universe? He must have been desperate, blinded by emotions, or being pressured into fixing the issue by the others in his Pantheon... That it sent you into a five month coma makes sense... Primordial Universe souls are dangerously durable. But that he took your soul fully intact? He must have fully expected you to die, because a Primordial Soul in charge of a dungeon... Let me see what you have for your talents and traits.”
“Okay then,” I pulled open my Traits menu, alongside my Perks menu.
Fallen Grand Dungeon (Racial Trait)
Base mana regeneration and base mana capacity are both increased by 50%, this trait stacks with all future increases. Also gains a ramping Exp requirement for all future level requirements, the ramping costs will drastically increase after Level 25 due to Fallen status. Gains one rank in each of the four natural elements.
Due to your status as an Otherworlder, this also reveals information on some uncommon to extremely rare Affinities based on the knowledge from your past life.
Due to becoming a Fallen, you are unable to create any creatures that you have not specialized in prior to becoming a Fallen. You must seek out a new source of souls to begin making the locked categories again.
The Pantheons seek your demise for you have intruded upon their domain in the Æstral Plane. They cannot harm you directly, nor can they repeal any boons they gifted you prior to your Fall.
However, their followers have no such restrictions. Furthermore, all Pantheons and Invaders have been alerted to your existence. Expect life to become greatly challenging in the future.
Grand Dungeon Creature Specializations 3/3 (Trait)
Chosen: Golems, Constructs, Universal Dungeon Summons
Each dungeon is able to specialize in one creature type after they have reached their tenth level. Grand Dungeons, however, are able to choose three upon awakening at Level 1. This can include entire creature categories if they have not been previously selected by a current dungeon of any type.
Specializations grant a -50% cost reduction in mana, resource cost, and upkeep for dungeon creatures, but increase non-specialized creatures costs by the same percentage. Having multiple specializations, however, do not affect the other specialization’s costs.
Third specialization automatically chosen due to “Universal Summons I” perk as well as gaining access to the Legacy System interface.
Create Dungeon Feature (Dungeon Skill)
Allows dungeons to create creatures and items. Mana and raw resources are required.
Available categories are:
[Constructs]+: Requires mana, and can be made of different resources. No limit to size, though increased size naturally has increased cost and potential upkeep.
[Golems]+: Requires mana to create, and a single resource, stronger golems require a core. Minor mana upkeep, uncored golems have no soul and are destroyed if they leave the dungeon.
[Humanoids]+: Diverse in types of species, requires mana and organic resources. High upkeep. Have souls, thus able to leave the dungeon.
[Monsters]+: Diverse in types of species. Requires mana, and depending on type, organic and/or inorganic resources. Medium upkeep. Have souls, thus able to leave the dungeon.
Life in Stereo (Unique Skill)
A grand boon from the God of Music, you and your creatures are able to play any music from your or their homeworld. You and your creatures are able to either sing or play instruments with 100% accuracy.
This ability will also automatically activate under certain thresholds to create ambiance within the dungeon, and may be tuned within different sections of the dungeon to play different music.
Your creatures may now use songs to temporarily boost their stats and abilities depending on the genre of music chosen. Ambient music playing within the Dungeon may provide either buffs, or small debuffs, to adventurers seeking to explore the Dungeon.
Bards will envy this skill, and may earn lesser variants of this Skill as time goes on.
The Goddess of Music eagerly awaits what songs you will bring to this universe from your own. Her husband, the God of Music, however, does not like what he hears.
Industrious Machinations (Unique Skill)
A grand boon from the Gods of Metal and Industry, you are unrestrained in whatever technologies you wish to utilize within your dungeon, and can locate minerals and liquids within 1 mile of any of your cores, or within 1 mile of any cored golem.
Note: unless certain perks allow you to bypass this restriction, you cannot create a technology without first researching it yourself or with researchers. For example; while you know about nuclear weapons, you are not going to be able to make them right away with this skill. Either acquire, or research them.
The Gods are watching angrily to see what technologies you utilize.
“Oh... oh that’s not good.”
“No, it is not,” Tak’ro stated as he looked at my first menu. “Luckily, we are far away from where any Pantheon calls home, as well as an equal distance away from the front lines, so we should not expect any of the Invaders to find us anytime soon.”
“Invaders? Do you mean the demons?” I asked.
“Is... that what He called them?” Tak’ro said, stupefied. “While there are demons within the Invader’s ranks, there are many more normal races in the Invader’s ranks, a vast majority of which are, oddly enough, humans. They come from many failed universes, where they diverged from the main timeline of their home universe due to some important event happening that was not supposed to be. It’s good that they spend more time fighting eachother than fighting the Pantheon’s forces, else this universe would have been lost aeons ago.”
“Oh... so like, if the main character of a video game dies, that creates a new ‘failed’ universe?” I questioned.
“What is a video game?” The orb asked slowly. I tried my best to explain, but that just led to further questions about the technologies used, which led to more questions, which led to me getting frustrated because I kept coming up with blanks on how best to describe the technology from my home.
“Alright, look, is there some way I can just... share my memories and such with you at all? While I did have a small degree with machinery, I was just a layperson who had a dabbling interest in how a lot of stuff worked.”
“Place your hand on my core. I have a skill that will allow this,” Tak’ro stated in a huff. I placed my hand on top of the orb, and immediately felt some major disorientation, like I was simultaneously falling from a cliff while gazing into a rainbow kaleidoscope. Holy fuck is this what it’s like to be on drugs?
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
After what seemed like an eternity, but what likely only was just a minute or three, the two of us violently separated and I plummeted onto my backside in extreme pain. Tak’ro likewise made a deep divot in the ground with a thud, shaking as a large scar of yellow appeared across his pristine emerald green surface. It took many minutes to calm my racing heartbeat and slow my breathing.
[Level 25 achieved. 5 perk points awarded.]
“I... understand now,” Tak’ro finally gasped out, his light glowing dimly. “By the gods if that scenario is true, then there are... countless! Countless failed universes! Hundreds just from you alone!” He turned to me. “Your universe... it creates all others. By the gods, we haven’t even scratched the surface... Thank the gods that all those universes have not managed to find their way here yet!”
“You mean to tell me... that all those video games, all those stories, those are actual universes out there. They’re not fiction?” I grated out, eyeing that my right arm was now covered in thick lines of emerald and jade green that traveled all the way up over my shoulder.
“Oh, they may be fiction to you while in your home universe,” the orb rose up slightly. “But outside it? Every single one is as real as this one is. And they all gravitate towards Bulwark Universes like this one to attempt to stave off their own destruction. If the Invaders make a new home here, those that make it live while their universe crumbles to dust. From what I understand, various worlds in this universe have already fallen to various factions of Invaders, from which the breach here in this Plane grew, leading to a rapid demand in strong souls from the Pantheons to make up for things. If one of the Failed Universes fails to make a foothold here after an amount of time I am not privy to, their universe will shrivel up and disappear into the Æther. The Pantheons had been happy that the number of invading universes had dwindled... but with you here, now? The Primordial Universe is one that all want a piece of, even if it’s just a single soul. If one of the Invaders kills you, their universe will stabilize and potentially become a Dark Universe. Said universes are anathema to all, they seek only destruction and grow in power with the more universes they consume. If a being from this universe kills you, your death could open a permanent rift in this universe that spews forth invaders from any universe, even ones where the timeline is still intact.”
“So that’s bad,” I slowly drew out while looking at my arm. What. The. Fuck.
“Very. You die, and this universe will face Armageddon.”
“Well that’s uh... a comforting thought. As a Fallen though, don’t the Pantheons want me dead?”
“Yes, and likely the only one who knows what you are does not care because you were meant to die upon impact.” Tak’ro finally started floating again, a yellow glow now intermixed with the green. “He is blind to what happens to the Fallen after he designates a dungeon as such, I have never known a Fallen to last longer than six months, and that was with a well-established dungeon of over twenty floors.”
“Oh, then I’m royally screwed, aren’t I?” I sighed. “I’ve got just the one floor, I am invaded by undead, and who knows when a team of adventurers is going to show up to try and shatter me?”
“For now, it would seem your defenders are still more than adequate,” Tak’ro pointed out. “There is a timer above your head that keeps increasing in steady intervals. I imagine that you are leveling up while suffering from the levelup curse.”
“Yeah, is there any way to avoid that?” I asked, noting that I had reached level twenty-five.
“There should be a perk available after you achieve your twenty-fifth level that allows you a twenty-five percent chance to wake up early,” the orb explained. “It costs ten points however. Most acquire it at level thirty, since every dungeon gains five perk points every five levels. From the looks of things however, you could get it soon, what with your...” The orb peered closely at me. “Twenty-nine points.”
Perk points available:
29
Prerequisites:
Creature Boost I
2
Increases the total amount of creatures the dungeon can summon.
Trap Boost I
1
Increases the amount of traps the dungeon can utilize by 10.
Worker Separation
3
Worker-creatures now take up slots in a Worker list, instead of total Creature list.
Mana Capacity I
1
Allows you to store up to 50 more mana.
Mana Regen I
2
Increases your mana regeneration by 5.
Citadel of Progress I:
3
Any three Magic Affinities at Level 10, a visit by a friendly deity that does not originate from this Bulwark Universe
Grants a passive boon that every 10 hours a random Construct may be upgraded into something better, or fully repaired. For example, a dull knife becomes razor-sharp, a chair into a throne, a wrecked vehicle into an intact state. Workers are 10% more productive and yields are increased by 10% (these stack with any other bonuses). Unlocks the ability to create hybrid materials far easier.
Cycle Break:
2
Fallen Dungeon
Due to your status as a Fallen, any of your defenders who die within your territory are able to be reborn whole after twelve hours have passed. Their souls remain tethered to your Main Core, retaining all their skills and memories, though they lose any Exp they had saved up to their next level and require new equipment should it not have been recovered for them. Their lives are tied to your own, if you die, they die. Additionally, your Summoned do not age.
Magnificat:
15
Level 25, Grandmaster Mana Manipulation 15, Legacy System access
Everything must be grander with you.
Spells cast are as if you are five levels higher within the given Affinity for said spell. Damage increased by spells by 100%, AoE is 100% larger, durations increased by 100%. Cooldowns of spells increased by 100%.
Tonal Architecture I:
1
Life in Stereo, Music Affinity 5, Grandmaster Mana Manipulation 10
Alter the song of the universe in small ways once per week. Some may describe this as warping reality.
Maelstrom of Mana:
4
Fallen Dungeon, Level 15, Unique Grandmaster Mana Generator.
Magic Affinities: Spatial, Grandmaster Mana Manipulation.
The ambient mana within your domain can no longer be utilized by hostile beings to regenerate their own mana reserves. Additionally, non-dungeon creatures who attempt to use spells within your domain must use twice the amount of mana in order to not take damage. Hostile beings can no longer attempt to reshape your domain without taking 50% health point damage per attempt.
Increase Mana Regeneration by 100, and Mana Capacity by 1000.
Machinator I:
3
Construct and Golem Specializations
Golems and Constructs gain +5% durability. Cored Golems additionally respawn if killed, with a new core after three hours.
Resource Enhancement I:
1
1 Mythic-tier resource node
All resource node timers are reduced by half.
Loremaster:
5
Be a Dungeon with 10+ sentient defenders
A good teacher is only as good as his pupils. You may now designate certain rooms as a Repository of Knowledge. Within, you may etch into any surface the spells and recipes you know. This also allows you to never lose spells from foreign interference.
Your defenders are able to draw upon your own mana reserves to aid themselves in battle after spending up to five hours within a Repository, their access to your mana reserves lasts for an equal amount of hours once they activate the skill.
Any non-dungeon entity must have a high enough Wisdom and Intelligence score to be able to learn from this Repository, else be knocked unconscious for 1-10 hours.
Brothers All, be of Brave Hearts:
3
10 Soldier-type Dungeon Creatures or Summons
For each of your defenders that die while in your territory, other nearby defenders receive a temporary 10% HP boost, lasting for one hour per defender lost.
Break the Curse:
5
Level 25, Legacy System access
Due to your status as a Fallen, the standard requirement for this Perk is halved, but you also are given the Cursed Perk “Locus of Crisis”.
You no longer suffer from the Levelup Curse laid upon this Bulwark Universe by the First Invader Triumvirate of Lords.
Each creature or summon of yours gains access to this perk, but must pay for it separately.
Locus of Crisis: (Cursed)
0
Surviving what should have been a fatal blow, and living to reach Level 25.
Fallen Dungeon
Automatically Granted upon opening the Perk Menu after reaching Level 25.
Your territory will become a part of the War in Heaven whether you like it or not.
You have five years until a portal into a random non-Pantheon controlled point in the Æstral plane opens within your territory. This portal is permanent, but the location of the exit will change every twelve months. You may designate a room in your Dungeon to have this portal appear.
Additionally, each of your creatures or summons who take the perk Break the Curse will either open an additional portal, or widen the portal tied to you.
You will now only gain 5 perk points every ten levels for the duration of this Perk. Basic (<5 points and without Prerequisites) perks are now locked for the duration.
Your magic affinities receive a +50% increase in growth during this timeframe to better prepare yourself for the invasion.
Multi-Plane Dungeon:
0
A Dungeon Core in Two planes, Break the Curse
Due to having a Dungeon Core in both the Mortal and Æstral planes, you are able to grow and modify your domain within each at will. You are able to transfer your consciousness between the two at will as well.
If any of your creatures or summons die in one plane, they will appear in the other alive and well. They may return after twelve hours have passed.
Abilities that have a cooldown, such as Universal Summons may be used again in the Æstral plane, but now you must wait until both timers finish their cooldowns before using it again.
Universal Summons II:
12
Universal Summons I, Level 20
Reach deeper into the realm of souls and enhance your gateway to realms unknown to this universe. Untether yourself from the reliance upon the reincarnation cycle, and usher in a new era of endless possibilities.
Due to being from the Primordial Universe, and being a summon yourself, you are allowed to summon a team of up to six groups of either items or individuals from different universes every six months..
The current maximum size of these groups can be no more than fifty items or individuals, with no physical size limitation.
Each group of helpers may be from the same universe, or several at the same time. Sentient beings who are summoned do so with their consent, so are thus guaranteed to not be hostile to you, with a significantly less chance of being given reason to turn against you. The summons you may acquire are only capable of arriving to this universe if they were about to die in their home universe. Beings summoned may be wounded, best have some healing magic or healers handy.
In regards to items: if they would have been completely destroyed in one instance, in their home universe. Small items are brought in fully intact with no damage. Additionally, once used, you have twenty minutes to bring in your six groups.
The Pantheons have been angered. Many seek your demise for your trespass. Do you have what it takes to outlast or even supplant them?
“Well... fuck.” I voiced my first thought absently. I took a look through the list one more time. “Hold the fuck up. How the hell do I have two cores? I never made a sec-”
I whirled around and really got a good look at Tak’ro, who was doing an admirable job of looking like a shy rock. That yellow in him looks remarkably like my core... And it’s on his right side...
“That ability, what did it do.”
“It allowed you to share your memories with me,” was the reply.
“That’s not all it did,” I snapped out. “What was the name of the skill?
“Soulbind. It allowed you to share your memories with me, and made sure that I will not be dying unless you die.”
I slowly inhaled, trying to calm myself. This asshole used me to keep himself alive? Credit where it’s due, that’s clever, but STILL! I was torn between anger and being rather impressed with the situation.
“Okay, so you are now a part of me? Yet still your own being?” Tak’ro bobbed his body in a nodding motion to my questions. “And... it looks like aside from being a prerequisite for a pretty good perk, I gained nothing but you?”
“Yes, I am still my own being. No, you do not gain nothing from this. In essence, you have gained an additional Dungeon Advisor, one with millennia of experience in running dungeons, as well as knowledge of some of the unique golems I had created. In addition, each core a dungeon possesses increases your available mana capacity by one thousand, but scales with size. Right now, your capacity is one thousand greater, but if I were say, as large as a house, it would be significantly increased.”
“Okay then,” I ground out. I decided to try and put my emotions back in the bottle, and focus on acquiring new perks.
Right off the bat, I chose Break the Curse, which also netted me Multi-Plane Dungeon for free. Thinking about the people who were currently in my other half, I chose Cycle Break as well as Machinator I to help boost my golems, along with the improved Universal Summons. I hesitated over Improved Mana Capacity and realized that I should probably just wait and take it later, so I chose Resource Enhancement I as well as Maelstrom of Mana.
I’ll save the last few points for later. That Loremaster and the Brothers All perk look pretty good, but I don’t think they’ll be of immediate use. The Locus... oh boy. I’m not going to complain about the buff at all, but I am going to need a LOT of prepwork to make sure that whatever comes through in five years, we can handle.
A few moments passed, and I did not feel any different. That was when Murphy decided to say ‘Hi’ and I was flooded with system messages, all culminating in my normal stat-screen.
Name:
Fel
Floors:
1
Level:
25
Treasure Quality:
Poor
Cores:
2
Exp:
8/100,000
Race:
Fallen Grand Dungeon
Creatures:
10/50
Mana Generators:
1
Universal Summoned:
11/200
Mana:
20200/20200
Traps:
0/20
Mana Regen:
115/Hr [122]
Inventory:
+
Magic Affinities:
+
Perks:
+
Skills/Traits:
+
Automatic Expansion:
ON/OFF
I was ecstatic about the mana capacity, happy for the mana regeneration, and absolutely horrified by the cost for my next level.
“So, question,” I slowly asked after coming to terms with this big power spike. “Do... non-dungeons get their mana regeneration and capacity that high at this level?”
“No,” Tak’ro droned out. “That would take a mortal dedicated to magic at least fifty levels, which usually puts them around their species’ middle ages. Except High Elves. Always disliked those arrogant beings, even when they were my creatures on the tenth floor. Wood and Dark elves were far easier to work with. Of course, Angels were by far the easiest due to specializing in them, but they had a tendency to be called away by the gods for various tasks. System was my very first creature, he was an Archangel as a matter of fact.”
“Wait, if he was your creature, then how did he become my first dungeon advisor?” I asked, perplexed. Above us, the sky was darkening, going from a nice afternoon light to more of a twilight.
“About two thousand years after I was awakened in the earth. The Dungeon God required that each of us Grand Dungeons send forth several of our creatures to become System Advisors for the various races. As angels do not require said advisors due to existing entirely in this Plane and thus are able to learn straight from the gods themselves, System was chosen to oversee new dungeons. I was... dumb, at the time, and told the Dungeon God System’s true name.”
“And that’s bad... how?” I asked, perplexed. Night was falling fast, and I could see a strange light show far up in the distance taking place above the clouds. Some of the lights occasionally went either from the ground to the sky, or from the sky to the ground.
“Because if a god, or sufficiently powerful magical being like you and I, or one of the Wyld Fey, knows your true name, they have power over you. You’ll find adventurers only using their first, or last names while they delve into you due to this. Sometimes they’ll use nicknames or both first and last if they have a middle name though the latter is rare.”
“Ah, so that’s why he seemed impressed when I told him my name is Fel.”
“Yes, and is also likely why he was more than happy to throw you to the source of his frustrations, as opposed to simply teleporting your new self into the ground.” Tak’ro explained. His orb bobbed down and a hole widened into the hill below us. “Now, if you don’t mind, I am going to start on this side’s dungeon half.”
“O-kay...” I frowned. “Next questions are, how do I go back to my main self, and how do we communicate?”
A small blue box appeared in my vision.
“We will be able to use this Dungeon-chat feature to communicate between the planes. It is a... significantly dumbed down version of what I used to talk to my brothers and sisters on the other continents, and for now only you and I have access to it as far as I am aware. To get back home should merely require you to open a portal.” -Tak’ro
“But my portals have a distance limit?” I phrased the sentence as a question, making sure my voice was raised enough to be heard through the hole. Tak’ro had disappeared into the ground, leaving a nice stone staircase behind. Huh, kinda plain, but I can already see some fine artisanal work there.
“The distance between planes will be effectively zero if you make a portal between our core rooms due to our Soul Bond. Give me fifteen minutes and you will be able to do this.” -Tak’ro
I harrumphed in excitement and looked around at the very plain plains that stretched off into the distance. Ya know, this place could really use something to break it up. Like an ocean, or rivers, or mountains! If this whole damn Plane is like this, it’s no wonder gods keep making worlds. This place is boring! I also fiddled around with the interface to find the chat-box that Tak’ro was using, and was happy to find it within eight minutes.
“Okay, two things. First, I’d like to task you with making the area out here not so boring if you’re able to do so. Add an ocean, beach, forest, mountains, anything to break up the monotony of these plains! Second, I’d like to give you a new name if that’s alright.” -Fel
I sent the message as I started walking down the stairwell. After ten steps, I lost my footing and slid down the surprisingly slippery ramp that the stairs turned into. I crashed hard at the bottom, flying over the ten steps that appeared at the bottom.
“What the fuck?!” I exclaimed, rubbing my backside in a vain attempt to alleviate the pain. Okay, so this isn’t a figment of my imagination. Cross-Plane shenanigans have gained me a new body. Fun. Ow...
“What are you doing?” The orb asked, turning in my direction.
“Wondering why the fuck you put a god damn slide in a perfectly functional stairwell!” I retorted.
“That is because of the ‘dungeon entrance teleportation’ feature forced upon us by the Pantheons about sixteen thousand years ago. All it takes is just one dungeon to get the bright idea to make an entrance that takes years to go down and the gods impose penalties on the rest of us,” he huffed. “Poor guy got declared Fallen and we never heard from him after that. That feature should kick in once I have the core room established. So, what is this about giving me a name?”
“Right, right...” I stood up with a groan. “Since Tak’ro is basically dead, I don’t want the Dungeon God to come in and steal ya away if he realizes you aren’t as dead as he thinks. So, are you up to this?”
“Very well, if it will allow me to get back to work,” he grumbled.
It took me all of three seconds to think of the name I had in mind. One of my good friends from back home had a great online name, and he was a great story maker. I’ll use that!
“From henceforth,” I started, voice filled with a strange gravitas as I channeled my inner Palpatine. “You shall be known as... Valdur Loreweaver.”
The orb seized up and started shaking as I started, and when I gave him his new name a bright green and yellow light exploded like a flashbang in front of my eyes. When I managed to blink myself back to vision, before me lay the same orb, but now instead of just a scar of yellow, veins of gold ran across the emerald surface. Light of both colors emanated off of the surface, with small loops of it arcing between the veins of gold.
Woah, was my first thought.
“Now that is taken care of, I shall get right back to-” The orb started, then I heard a shrill shriek come out. “WHY AM I ALL THE WAY BACK TO LEVEL ONE?”
“I dunno,” I said with a shrug. “But uh... are you still a Grand Dungeon?”
“Yes, but still!” Valdur spat out. “I was at level one-thousand! Do you realize just how long that takes?”
“Twenty thousand years?” I deadpanned.
“Yes! All of my schematics... all my golems... gone. How could this happen?” He blubbered out.
“On the plus side, perhaps due to our link as well as ya know, being the only Grand Dungeon on this plane that we know of, it isn’t so bad?” I asked. “This also proves you’re a new you, too, I guess. Heh, might be kinda funny if you’ve got access to my unique stuff, like the mana generator.”
“What, exactly, is this mana generator of yours?” Ah, I see I’ve piqued his interest! Good, good, less depressive funk, more curiosity!
“Well, accordin’ to the skill box, I can have up to nine of ‘em around my core. Plus side, you can have as many as you want! It didn’t give a limit for my subcores. Here, lemme pull up the box...”
[???] Grandmaster Mana Generator (Unique):
Generates 2 mana per hour. Requires placement around a Dungeon Core or Subcore. Mana generation scales with the size of the generator. There may be only 9 of these generators at a time for the original Core.
Requires 2000 lbs of Starstone to create, as well as 400 mana and 500 lbs of Starmetal. Also requires at least 24 hours to bring online.
Future perks may allow you to adjust the size of your generators.
Choosing this locks out the standard Mana Generator options and upgrades current and future dungeon cores.
“First one’s always free, as I was told.” I stated as Valdur gazed at the big blue box hovering in front of me.
“That is... definitely unique. I have never heard of any dungeon having their generators within their core room, they took up too much space! But if they scale with size... And you are well on your way to figuring out how to break through into mastering Spatial magic... Hmm.”
I let the orb float there with his thoughts. Well, might as well make myself somewhat useful? Since he’s not going to have much mana at level one... I started carving out the dirt and rock rather inelegantly, using just mana took a lot more than just punching the stuff. Feeling a small bit of inspiration, I started singing Diggy Diggy Hole, which sped up my work considerably, even though I was still using my fists.
I spent a good few hours just taking my frustrations out on the innocent rock until I had a decently sized room available. Valdur floated in after checking to make sure I was done. I was a bit surprised when I heard an audible ‘click’ as he entered the exact center of the room. Valdur began lightly turning in place as I watched. Note to self, if I have to do this again, get a pickaxe or something. I am NOT going to Minecraft my way through this all the time.
That brought me back to another question I hadn’t thought to ask myself. How the hell do I have a physical body again? I voiced this question aloud.
“The Ætherial Plane is one of insanely high magic capacity,” Valdur explained. “Souls are granted bodies to better help them fight against the Invaders. Intangible beings can only affect beings in the mortal plane, they are next to useless here. If an intangible being comes into contact with a magical item, there is a chance for either death or unconsciousness. I highly suspect that should you open a portal between our cores, you will return to the same state you were in before you came here.”
I nodded along, secretly hoping that what he said was not the case. I watched the orb turn around for several revolutions, noting he was scrutinizing my admittedly imprecise handiwork.
“I’ll get this fixed up later, for now it is serviceable,” he finally said.
“Sweet!” I exclaimed. “Need me to do anything before I try heading back?”
“No,” he stated. I was eerily reminded of a certain Youtube video series’ interpretation of a certain Yellow Wall Maker.
“Alrighty then, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.” I then turned around, stretched my arms out and focused on making a portal from here to my core room. Two thousand mana later, and I could see my core. The crystal had doubled in size, and a large scar of green upon one side.
“Okay, took more than expected,” I began. “But this’ll be fun!”
I took one step through the portal, closing it behind me and feeling a bit strange, like I was a lot lighter than I just was. I took a deep breath with my eyes closed, trying to enjoy the sensation of being home. That’s when Murphy decided I had had enough fun, and sent my little mana generator to smack me on the side of the head, knocking me out.