It took four more days for the majority of the evolutions to complete. The Dungeon seemed to wake up as higher evolutions crawled forth from the burrows Valterra had hidden them away in. First to wake were the mice of various kinds. There were two kinds, only one of which was Unique. The Mouse Soldiers of the Fifth Floor woke with a start, nerves firing in tandem with their Sparks to achieve a kind of snap-like quality to their wakefulness.

They went from asleep to alert in the space of less than a second, rising to their back paws and observing their surroundings with keen eyes and noses. They all woke up in the same place, that being the fortress on the Fifth Floor right above the descending stairs to the Fourth Floor. Many of them remembered the outcome of their fight with the invaders and their chests swelled with the sense of victory they had achieved. Already their new thoughts whirled with ideas about how they would have fought better.

The fortress was soon a bustling hub of activity as the soldiers got to work. The few guard mice that had not undergone evolution had done a fair job at maintaining a presence on the walls but as more and more soldiers woke up and got moving, these individuals relinquished their positions to their awakened kin. The soldiers quickly got the fortress in order, with squads being developed and sent out in order to recover certain things left beyond the wall after the battle.

They had not forgotten the weapons used by the invaders, as they cut and stabbed their way through their kin beasts and fellow Dungeon Monsters. These they found lying where they had been forgotten. They gathered everything and hauled it back to the fortress where they distributed it out to those who needed weapons. Many still had to make do with the old needles that the Mouse Captain had given to them but the rest were pleased with their new upgrade.

On the Second Floor, where they had been placed by Valterra, the Other-Touched Mice awakened in an entirely different manner. The Aether around their slumbering forms popped and crackled, coming alive as their evolutions ended. Eyes the color of kaleidoscopes opened and gazed around their burrows while stretching languorously. Each a foot and a half long, not including the tail, they were magnificent creatures with golden fur from tip to tail except under their bellies, paws, nose, and the insides of their large ears which were black.

As they began to explore the outside of their burrows their inherent powers came into full display. Some of them became hard to see, indistinct, while others flickered in place as though they weren’t there at all. Still others were perceived to be half a dozen paces forward, back, or the side as the Aether determined. Each one moved instinctively to climb higher. Their place was not to be on a lesser floor. Their Evolution demanded a proper place and the Aether called them higher.

The next to awaken were the Uncommon mantis evolutions. The Cinder-Spark Mantises woke as a pair within the wooden inter-wall passageway not far from where their climactic battle against the invaders had taken place. They woke with an ache, an ache that would not diminish. What they were searching for they had no idea of until they felt a presence come and guide them. Following the presence, it led them past the slumbering, evolving, form of their old Pack-Leader and fellow pack mate.

Even as their former pack mate woke up themselves the Cinder-Sparks were gone, moving with the flow of Aether that would bring them to their new home. When they reached their destination they waited while the presence began to work. Aether was pulled and transformed as the wooden edifice before them transformed into rock. The space beneath where heat and Aether were escaping was sealed and two smaller doors of stone were etched into the rock before being opened.

Immediately, vast amounts of heat and Aether began to drift out and the Cinder-Spark Mantises needed no other guidance from the presence that had led them here. With a clack of their mandibles, they rushed inside together. They didn’t notice at first as more of their kind were produced from the very Aether around them but it didn’t take long for them to find them. Perhaps it was residual instincts left over from being Pack-Mantises but they quickly found the others and formed a rough pack.

Back in the den, they had just left, the singular Mantis Recluse opened its multifaceted eyes. It paused, immediately seeking the darkness of a nearby alcove. After making sure it was alone it began to scurry off, pausing only to acknowledge its former Pack-Leader before making its way elsewhere. It took a moment to find its way before a familiar presence homed in on its position. Stairs formed on the inside of the wall, creating a way higher.

The mantis took the offered path forward and moved rapidly up the stairs. Despite its appearance as a Pack-Mantis the eight-inch insect was an entire rarity higher and all of that Aether was condensed into a small frame. To a normal human, the insect would have appeared to disappear only to reappear at the top of the tiny set of steps. A section of the wall opened momentarily, releasing the insect onto the Second Floor.

With a blur of motion, the mantis flashed to the safety of the grass, blending in with its green carapace. Making its way by instinct it quickly found a place where a pack of its lesser kin had passed by. It didn’t take long after that before it was integrated with the group, hidden in plain sight and hungry for prey. The presence that had followed it for a time departed and the mantis fully relaxed into its new pack. Deep in the back of its mind the old bond with its Pack-Leader still remained, silent for now.

POV Valterra

Valterra looked on as the newly evolved Mantis Recluse blended seamlessly into a pack of its former evolution. He flexed his Aetheric muscles and formed another half dozen within the boundaries of the Second Floor. It was somewhat of a shame that the Recluse relied on its former Evolution for much of its usefulness although he could see potentially where the bug was headed in future evolutions.

The way it had instinctively attempted to find the shadows was perhaps indicative of a Darkness Affinity in the future. Valterra drifted more fully into his Dungeon Awareness, feeling for how his creatures fit into his Floors. The Mouse Soldiers were a perfect fit for the Fifth Floor and they matched his idea for the floor perfectly. A bastion of civilization like from his father’s memories, holding the savage monsters at bay. In fact, now that a number of his Schema had reached a proper rarity he could fill out the Fifth a bit more.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He had noticed in the last week or so since the invasion that the Savage Minks and Deeplight Stalkers weren’t likely to engage in combat with each other. The few battles that happened were quite entertaining to watch but they often pulled back before getting too terribly injured. This deep in the Dungeon Valterra’s Aether sustained them more fully so they didn’t need to eat as often and didn’t feel the need to go forth and hunt.

Valterra wished to change this dynamic since it reflected badly on the purpose of his Dungeon. He wanted his creatures to grow stronger and for that, they needed to desire it. Before he could get around to his ideas, however, the System began to vibrate, The shock waves resonated with his Spark and created an uneasy dissonance that Valterra found revolting.

“Give it a moment lad,” Krat’Imos’s voice punched through the discomfort. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better but I promise it’ll be worth the wait.” As if to prove the High Spirit’s words the dissonance spiked terribly. Valterra groaned as he felt his Spark fluctuate alarmingly. Divine as it was, his Spark was a tiny thing on the cosmic scale and this felt like trying to stuff one of his Great Tidal Whales into one of his House Mice.

Then, with an almost physical pop, everything settled and Valterra let out another groan, this time of relief. “What just happened?” He received nothing at first and tried pinging the System. To his surprise it responded with alacrity, displaying a notification that had him reeling in an entirely different manner than before.

Welcome Valterra Unok’Davaas!

The Creator of this System has given you full Administrator privileges, including the ability to lock out other Administrators from accessing this version. Without a connection to the greater System, this version may become outdated.

Analyzing…Dungeon Core Found…Divine Boon Found…Divine Title Found…Divine Spark Recognized

As a Divine Dungeon all Boons and Titles will be cemented within your Divine Spark and cannot be revoked by those without Administrator access unless forcefully stripped from your soul. Territory Claimed by you cannot be influenced by those without Administrator access or sufficiently powerful Aether control.

Note: Contact the System Creator for further information.

That was…a lot. The information contained in that one notification was enough for the Dungeon Core to freeze up. The first paragraph caused numerous questions to begin racing inside Valterra’s mind. What was an Administrator? What did it mean by This Version?

It took Valterra a long moment to find his bearings but when he did he noticed the equivalent of a polite tapping on the edges of his Awareness. With a thought he acknowledged it and at once Krat’Imos’s calm voice reached him.

“Hey lad? You there? Say something if you’re there. Hello?”

Valterra snickered at the image of the System Creator essentially poking him to get his attention but sobered quickly with the System notification fresh on his mind. He repeated his earlier question with some wariness injected into his tone. “Krat’Imos? What just happened?”

“Ah!” Valterra could practically feel the god relax as he answered his poking. “Well, I kind of…gave you your own System…disguised as a personal Update.”

Valterra took that in for a moment before asking, “So. What does that mean?” He could practically feel Krat’Imos deflate.

“Ah, I should’ve known it might be difficult to understand. Essentially I’ve given you the newest version of my System. It’s been copied and pushed into your Core for your Spark to obtain. That action caused the discomfort that you experienced.” The god’s next words shook Valterra. “You’re free lad. Free from the Council’s control. Nothing you have can now be taken from you unless they try to do so by force. Even me.”

The Core didn’t know how to feel about the situation. On the one hand, the idea that he was “free” set a fire in his Spark. On the other, he didn’t really know what that meant. His whole life up to this point had been directed and established by the gods and their influence. His name, his nature, and even his Schemas were all gifts bestowed and power offered. What was he now that they had no influence to transform his life?

He shook away another bout of introspection before it could properly start. “Is that a probability? Having things taken by force?” He heard the grimace in Krat’Imos’s voice as he answered.

“There are many things I cannot tell you. The High Council, which I suppose includes myself, we…had plans for you. Plans that became unstable with the death of Calamvor the Archmage.” It was clear that Krat’Imos was struggling to skirt around the issue while still trying to communicate and Valterra felt a warmth flood his Core.

“It’s alright, Uncle,” he said cutting off Krat’Imos’s next words. “My father left me some gifts which have shed light on some things.” Krat’Imos’s presence went rigid before he spoke quickly and firmly.

“Never repeat that information to anyone else in the Council. It was dangerous for you to even tell me but…I’m glad you know something. And,” Here Krat’Imos’s voice held a deep sorrow and pain that Valterra had never heard before from one of the gods. “I’m glad he was able to leave something behind for you. He…he saw you as his greatest achievement. He would have wanted you to know that.”

Valterra once again felt his Core surge with emotion but it was hard to know what he was feeling. He pushed it aside but made sure to analyze it for later inspection. He found his footing even as Krat’Imos continued.

“Whatever he gave you he must have hidden well, so keep it hidden. Make sure to keep the other gods as administrators for now. It will keep them from noticing anything other than the immediate differences. At some point, everything will become clearer but until then,” the god’s voice grew firmer but lighter. “Your System has some upgrades but to explain those I have brought a guest. Would you give me permission to let her into this discussion?

Valterra let his Awareness spread out but he felt nothing. Was there somebody else there that he couldn’t feel? He picked up nothing but his heightened Awareness did pick up something strange from Krat’Imos’s presence itself. “Uh…sure.” He finally responded but kept his Awareness up even as Krat’Imos did…something.

“Hello, am I coming through clearly?” Even as a feminine voice spoke out, another presence arrived. It didn’t descend as the High Spirits did, it was more like it unfolded out from somewhere else entirely. Valterra’s Awareness rolled over it and the feedback he received didn’t serve to calm him down.

“Yes, you are, my dear. Valterra allow me to introduce to you my new wife, Lady Ish’Matar.” The Core could hear the love in Krat’Imos’s voice but the very essence of the lady brought flashbacks of pain.

“Why?” Valterra spat and he could see that both presences practically flinched at the venom in his tone. “Did you think I wouldn’t know what she is? Has it been so long since I was invaded that you have forgotten uncle? She is Fae, like those who tried to bind me!”

Krat’Imos made to speak, his presence speaking to a growing anger before a soft voice interrupted him before he could speak. “I wasn’t aware of those events until Krat’Imos informed me. What you need to know young one is that there are many factions among the Fae. Factions within Factions, in fact. We are not a direct people. We scheme and connive. It is in our nature. Not even I am above such things.”

Hearing the honesty in her tone Valterra took a metaphorical step back and tried to reign in his anger. “What makes this time different? Why should I trust you?”

“Because I love Krat’Imos and together we have turned my nature towards helping you. I scheme now on your behalf and my schemes have borne fruit, with Krat’Imos’s help, in the form of an update to your System. Your creatures no longer need fear death if you do not wish it upon them.”