60%
Valterra stared at the screen in his Core in shock. Just making additional entrances into his Dungeon and learning how to absorb Aether from them at the same time had given him a jump of 15% toward Ascension. If the pattern with his floors continued then he would reach his next evolution by floor six. That was without any other unexpected upgrades that he achieved along the way.
He knew it was just a manner of time before his newly enlarged third floor began to give him Frameworks. He would have to be present of course but he figured he would be able to do that soon. After planning out his fifth floor that is.
He didn’t know exactly what he wanted yet but he had figured something out while working on his other floors. He wanted them all to connect in some way. It wasn’t just that he wanted his Aether circulation to be better so that it would hit all his floors, he also wanted them to work together so that invaders would have little idea of just how many Floors he actually had. Combined with his multiple entrances Valterra was certain that this would prove to be devastating to anyone who might wish him harm.
He turned to what had once been the kitchen. Gradually an image took shape in his mind but he needed something first. He went looking and immediately found what he was looking for claiming what he needed.
New Framework Acquired!
Wind-Blown Moss (Mundane)
A plentiful moss that forms a dense cushion upon rocks, soil, and logs. Using wind to disperse itself far and wide this moss can be found anywhere it can grow effectively.
It hadn’t taken very long for Valterra to find where the now Mouse Squire had acquired the moss he had used to clean his first floor guardian’s needle. He was interested to discover that the moss was used by other Dungeons as he didn’t get the option of modifying it freely. Thinking through this though he realized it wasn’t that farfetched. Most Dungeons probably had a simple cave as their first floor, with Moss and other plants as the basic environment.
It didn’t matter as much now. If he truly wanted to modify the Framework he could use his Divine Potential, for now though, it would suffice for what he wanted it to do. Directing the Aether that was coming into the kitchen from the rest of his Dungeon he began to create stone out of it by activating his Authority. Using the stone he created ledges and cemented them to the interior wooden walls. Then going once more to his borrowed memories he built “bridges” out of stone to connect the various slabs that sat on top of the “cabinetry.” Tall folk had weird names for everything it seemed. He then shortened the steps leading down to the basement so that smaller creatures could climb up and down.
Next, he began to spread his moss everywhere that he could, using Aether to make sure it would grow properly. While he was at it he spread his Aether-Dew Mold as well, creating little, wet, out of the way areas where it could thrive. In between the cabinets, he fashioned large five foot pillars that he anchored to the floor. Going below to the ceiling of the fourth floor he was reinforcing it when he had an idea. Chuckling to himself mischievously he began creating what his memories called a “trapdoor.” Apparently, other Dungeons had them.
They would seemingly look just like any other bit of floor until someone triggered the trap and then the person who triggered it would find the floor suddenly falling away beneath them. Valterra figured it would be the perfect way to make sure that invaders wouldn’t be able to avoid his Fourth Floor once they realized it was all aquatic.
Having finished all of that Valterra still felt as though something was missing even as he sealed the top half of the big kitchen from the bottom creating a ceiling of rock that was supported by his five foot pillars. He now had a large cavern, though still much smaller than one of the tall folk might find comfortable which was all to the good as far as Valterra was concerned.
What was he missing?
He knew he still needed creatures but that wasn’t all of it. The large entrance into the living room hadn’t been sealed off yet but it wasn’t that. He shut it temporarily making sure to leave holes so that his Aether circulation wouldn’t be ruined again. The last thing he wanted was for Aether to pool up on the fifth floor without reaching his Core.
As he was finishing up he realized what he needed. He needed conflict. He only had one major predator in mind and it wouldn’t be enough for the kind of ecosystem he wanted to build, one based on the struggle to Ascend. Contemplating this he looked through his various creatures. He wanted something that would fit the wooden cave aesthetic he was going for and yet also smart enough to trigger his traps for him.
When the solution finally dawned on him he mentally berated himself. He already had the solution and in fact had summoned some for his first and third floors already. He went to the bottom of the basement stairs and began forming an impressive citadel right on the edge of the waters.
And then he populated it.
With Mouse Soldiers and Scouts.
He really had no excuse as to why he hadn’t thought to include them within his Fifth Floor other than the fact that he already had those creatures throughout his Dungeon in suitable numbers. In the fifth floor the Aether content was greater and what’s more, the environment and the ensuing conflicts would help these mice evolve quicker into what he wanted them to be.
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Now he just had to make their competition.
He started by summoning some Savage Minks and releasing them onto the floor. As a higher Rank creature they would be the apex predator of the Floor and thus push the surrounding creatures further up the Path of Ascension. They immediately began competing for the choicest spots of moss so he figured they would be fine until he finished with the rest of the floor.
Moving quickly Valterra went to his Deeplight Belchers and dived into the Framework looking for some way he could use them. They were integral to the fourth floor and he wondered if there was some way he could manipulate the Framework so that they could be a part of his fifth floor as well.
He ended up settling on making a variant. It wasn’t even that hard. He rid them of their paddles and shrunk them a little to make them around 18 inches long and 9 inches high. They retained their inner lighting and ability to spew superheated, highly nutritious liquid.
He also sharpened their front pair of limbs to make them fearsome weapons in their own right and kept their need to lay eggs in water. He planned that they would need to head down to the water of the fourth floor to lay their eggs where they would then have to fight the Mice and their cousins to do so. As he released the Framework he was pleased to see a variant separate from the original only to frown as the line went down rather than sideways or up.
A new stage on the path of Ascension has been synthesized from an existing Framework! The Framework “Deeplight Belcher” now has a preceding Framework:
Deeplight Stalker (Unique, Rank E - Bronze)
The preceding Framework to the Deeplight Belcher these insectoids have been fashioned to live on land yet remain tied to the underwater layers of their higher Rank cousins. Unlike their underwater cousins, this insect is even more dangerous after it has spewed its caustic load although they sacrifice control to affect a larger area. Having done so it makes use of its dimmed interior to pounce on prey once they have been blinded or scalded by the liquid.
Huh. I created a lesser stage? I didn’t even know I could do that. Valterra thought to himself. He felt a presence descend and heard a voice he identified as Qual’Dorn.
“Hmm, yes you did. It is most likely because you didn’t add anything new other than making their front legs extra sharp. Mostly you simply took things away which, coincidently, means that its Aether Core went through diminishment. Ascension is all about growth so if you wanted something extra powerful you would have had to add things in addition to what you already have. I can’t say much else but I figured you might want some answers.”
Yeah, that helps a lot! Thanks, Uncle Dorn! Valterra said cheerfully as he went back to work unaware of the effect he had on the divinity in question.
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“Huh. Valterra just called me Uncle Dorn.” The other high spirits looked at Qual’Dorn in confusion.
“He…what?” Tal’Irieth asked.
“He called me his Uncle?”
“Well, we did kind of adopt him,” Krat’Imos stated calmly. “It figures he would take it literally. You all keep forgetting he is like a kid.”
“I kind of like it,” Qual’Dorn said with a smile.
“Of course, you would,” Trik’Weri said with a smirk.
“What is that supposed to mean?!”
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Hmm. Adding things increases the Rank of the Framework, removing things lowers the Rank. Valterra pondered Qual’Dorn’s words even as he continued the creation of his fifth floor. He set his Stalkers loose and watched as they hunted and were hunted by his Minks.
He now had three creatures that populated his little wooden cave system but still wanted more diversity. He continued to think about it as he created more overhangs and tiny alcoves within the wood before layering the outside with stone.
I need some small things, he realized. He looked at the different Frameworks he had for small things and frowned mentally. I have a ton of small things, he thought in frustration, But none of them seem quite right.
Then again, he did have his new mold and moss. Every other creature had been used up except for his Bumblebees and he didn’t think they would be happy on the fifth. Also his instincts really didn’t like that for some reason. When he thought hard about he gradually came to understand what they might be warning him of.
His mind went back to his first meeting with the High Council and Tal’Irieth’s warning about monsters. Then Trik’Weri had given him a rundown of Aether Cores and their effects on the Path of Ascension and Frameworks in general. Suffice to say his instincts were telling him that the amount of Aether flowing into his fifth floor would, at best, kill any mundane creature he summoned. The worst thing that could happen would be if the pain twisted them into a monster.
Valterra shuddered. No thank you, he said to himself. Pretty sure we are going to make mistakes but let’s not make that one. I think we can just let this Floor be for now. Besides, it’s not like I can’t add things later, right? Satisfied with his internal argument Valterra confirmed the floor before drifting off into thought. There were more floors to come and he needed to determine how he was going to fill them.
End of Chapter Notifications:
Floor 5 Created!
The Core has created its 5th floor with an active and diverse ecosystem that combines prey, predator, and environment with Aether.
Progress to Core Ascension:
80%