A Few Days Later…
POV Mouse Soldier
Within the turf war happening outside the third floor, a lone mouse stood his ground panting, facing off against three opponents.
The three insects were covered in injuries but rushed once more in mindless fury. Flexing his mighty tail the Mouse Soldier sent it cracking like a whip and the force of it was enough to separate one of the left insect’s legs from its body. At the same time, he brought his right paw down to thrust his enchanted needle through the head of the lead insect who had lunged forward thinking the Mouse Soldier was distracted.
With a ruthless wrench, the mouse ripped his needle out and leaped to the right allowing the last insect to fly by, digging its wickedly barbed forelimbs into the dirt where he had been. As he landed his tail lashed out flipping the insect over onto its back where it struggled, its wings buzzing futilely. He then turned and attacked the insect he had taken a leg from, jabbing his needle into one of its eyes as it tried to get out of the way.
With a brutal charge, the mouse lifted his enemy with his tail and left paw, using his right to stab repeatedly into the joints of the insect’s carapace. It chirped weakly in his grasp before slumping to the ground to move no more.
Turning to his final opponent the mouse didn’t walk so much as stalk over to the insect on its back where it lay flailing its many legs and buzzing its wings, trying to flip over. Arriving, the mouse stood over his fallen foe with a look almost like contempt.
The insect in turn looked up from its helpless position at prey that somehow had become the hunter. It couldn't fathom that the ambush would fail and that this rodent would be so monstrous.
The Mouse Soldier only thought of how the Aether would feel when the final opponent fell. As the insect tried one last wild strike, the mouse moved and with a final lunge of his needle, the fight was over. The mouse sat back on his hind legs to relax as the after-battle glow of Aether entered his body. He heard a commotion as the younger mice came out from where they were out of sight but still able to watch the fight.
The Aether didn’t diminish the pain of his wounded flank where the first insect had landed its surprise blow. The confrontation had been quick and brutal but the Mouse Soldier would have it no other way. Once the insects had entered the open to face him directly they had sealed their fate.
Then the younger mice swarmed him, interrupting his post-battle thoughts, squeaking questions, and awed comments about how he had fought. The firstborn of them, who seemed less childish than the others, took his needle and cleaned it using some moss. The Mouse Soldier patiently let them swarm, squeaking back answers to their questions in his gruff way and directing their praise back to his lord.
It was he who let the Mouse fight so well because of the excess Aether available and the title that let one as small as the mouse grow fearsome. He slowly rose, towering over his lesser brethren as he directed them to gather up the corpses. Their procession gradually made their way back to the first floor.
It didn’t take them long to do so as close as they were and soon they were back in front of his lord’s pedestal. Laying down the offerings before the pedestal the Mouse Soldier led his brethren in kneeling before the Core as had become a ritual for him to do. He cast his mind out seeking the connection that bound him to his lord and notified him he had returned.
POV Valterra Unok’Davaas
Valterra hummed with pleasure as he consumed the gifts laid out before his pedestal. He had finally recovered from his traumatic experience and had done so relatively quickly, having taken a few days to rest his mind and acclimate to the new memories. He had just needed a nap.
When he had come out of it he had found that the Deeplight Belchers had bred enough that he felt comfortable finishing the fourth floor. He had been about to do so when he felt Aether enter him, soon followed by his Mouse Soldier’s notification.
He had not told his newly awakened Mouse Soldier to go fight in the turf war, having been in his self imposed nap but quickly understood why he had decided to do so on his own. His creatures wanted to get stronger. There was no better way to do that than fight and the only creatures worth fighting were the ones out in the new territory, especially the ones strong enough to stake a claim.
When the Core shifted his perspective to his pedestal he saw each mouse arrayed in a semi-circle around it kneeling. He had not commanded that particular action but he couldn’t deny its appeal. As he began absorbing the bodies he sent a grateful wave of Aether at the mice and watched as they seemed to bow further.
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New Framework Acquired!
Hunting Pack-Mantis (Rank F - Copper)
A common enough sight in the wilds, these relatively large hunting bugs choose to hunt in packs to catch their prey using their long, wickedly barbed, raptorial forelimbs to capture their victims and hold them still as they bring their sharp mandibles to bear. Their eyesight is particularly clear and sharp for a bug allowing them to identify prey easily. They are capable of extended periods of stillness allowing their prey to get close before rushing it in groups of three or four. With wings on their back, they are formidable opponents being able to chase prey in the air and on land.
As the first Dungeon to use such a creature as a Dungeon Monster, you will be able to create and modify its Path of Ascension freely.
Warning! May have unforeseen consequences.
Interesting. The fact that it was Rank F and yet he was the first Dungeon to use it as a Dungeon Monster made him wonder if it had Ascended because of his Dungeon territory and the Turf War. The fact that they were able to work together like his mice had him wondering if their intelligence was being boosted in some way. Perhaps it had something to do with the Aether content.
He shifted quickly to the turf war and flitted across it like a ghost observing the creatures. No fresh kills sadly but he did notice that the creatures settling within his borders seemed to behave more intelligently with prolonged contact with his Aether. He noticed several creatures even teaming up with others of their kind to protect territory, something they hadn’t been doing when he had first observed the turf war.
Turning from those thoughts he drifted down to the fourth floor where its still waters gleamed with various colors. Aether Grass created a colorful forest of shifting light that made it difficult to see the large insects that made their way through the strands seeking food. Looking at the creatures he had helped create, Valterra felt a surge of pride. Perhaps it was misplaced but he had helped to design these monsters of the deep.
That pride only lasted as long as it took for him to pull up the Framework of the Great Tidal Whale. He had looked it over before but it was only now in this moment that he was struck by the absurd size of it. Perhaps it was the memories forced upon him or perhaps it was the Framework itself but the magnitude of the creature in its natural habitat was hard to dismiss.
His Title would be shrinking it, of course. Even shrunk to 1/24th of its size it was still larger than any of his other creatures by a significant margin. Valterra couldn’t swallow but if he could’ve there would have been an audible gulp. To think that such creatures dwelled in the far reaches of the world, creatures that were natural rather than Dungeon designed.
Then again, the Framework did exist and he could see the sheer amount of detail the creature possessed. He shuddered at the thought that some being out there might possess the ability to design such a creature. Was that all that nature was? Some cosmic playground for a higher being? While a part of him was fascinated to contemplate what wonders were out in the world, another part of him shut down at the thought.
The Framework remained, superimposed above the gleaming waters of the submerged basement. The ethereal outline of the huge mammal stood out in stark contrast to the surrounding light show. Valterra let himself be grounded by the sight. Whatever awaited him outside of his Dungeon could stay there until he was ready. For now, he had a whale to summon.
Summoning his reserves of Aether, he began to pour it into the Framework. As before, the first thing that formed was the Aether Core. A massive gemstone of swirling light manifested itself in the middle of the creature before flesh and bone began to form around it. As more and more Aether was drawn in, Valterra began to worry he wouldn’t have enough but just as he was about to go dry, the Tidal Whale formed.
Six feet and 4 inches long, the fully adult Tidal Whale slipped into the waters of the fourth floor.
Immediately the new floor changed. The Deeplight Belchers shifted in primordial terror as the Whale began to explore her new domain. Lithe and powerful, the whale cut through the water with an ease that belied her impressive size. Her skin was a dark mottled blue to the point that she blended in with the water around her, like a giant shadow in the deep.
Her large eyes were set into the sides of her head and two massives fins spread out to either side. Her massive tail propelled her through the depths with ease, a thing made easier by the Aether Conduits spread throughout her body. Valterra watched as Aether was pumped from her core and out through her conduits into the water itself where it shifted and flowed under her control.
Valterra stared at her in shock. If this was what a miniaturized version looked like as it moved through the water, he could well believe the terror it would inspire in the oceans of the world. She was six feet of rippling muscle and massive jaws. As terrifying as the new Apex predator was, the effect on the floor was even more impressive.
The water now had a current.
Oh, it was a small one and not very strong but the Tidal Whale’s affinity over water was even now beginning to show itself. Oh yes, Valterra was very pleased and his satisfaction grew as a chime rumbled its way across his Core. He would check and see which threshold he had met this time later but for now, he settled in to watch his new creation.
End of Chapter Notifications:
Floor 4 Created!
The Core has created its 4th floor with an active and diverse ecosystem that combines prey, predator, and environment with Aether.
Progress to Core Ascension:
45%