The Core was cheery as it watched its age on its Status Sheet move from zero days old to one day old. It expected to feel different somehow or to get some kind of Prompt describing the event. But as the minutes went by, the Core was disappointed but not upset.
It knew that, in the scheme of things, being a full-day-old was not much of an accomplishment. Still, there was something in the depths of its crystal that wanted some kind of fanfare or celebration for this feat. As minor as it was.
Eventually, the Core got bored just waiting around for apparently nothing, so it went back to its work. Over the past day, the Core had done nothing but expand its Domain and absorb anything that it didn't have in its memory. Now, not only did it have [water], but it also had [Limestone], [Chalk Soil], and the [Core Fragment] Imprints.
From what it could tell, Core Fragments were it, or specifically, the type of crystal that made up its body. It knew that it had been much larger before it had crashed landed on this planet, it wasn’t entirely certain given the terror it had felt when it achieved consciousness. The fragment that it had absorbed proved, in its mind, that it was so much more before its fall. But that wasn’t as interesting as the sudden recharge of mana it had gained as a result.
It was not sure how that happened or why but whatever the reason, the Core was elated that it could keep going. It was slow going, having to wait for its mana to regain a point before being able to continue. Luckily, the Core had no concept of tedium, boredom, or time so it simply expanded its Domain.
After the sphere of its Domain reached ten feet in diameter, it started to require more mana points to expand. At first, it took two points of mana to grow its Domain. One to maintain the integrity of the area's edge and a second to expand it. It had needed a little bit of mana to properly define its area of influence but had not needed to add any more for a while. Now it needed to add mana to the edge in order to expand.
This, of course, annoyed the day-old Core since it slowed down its expansion and its ability to do, well, anything. But it contented itself by looking at the variations of the limestone beneath it as it checked for anything new.
As the Core checked, it actually did find something it didn't recognize in the new part of its Domain. Since it didn't have any mana to try and break it down and absorb it, it spent some time observing the new thing through the dirt.
It took stock of its form for the entirety of the hour it was regaining mana and was not disappointed. It was mineral but crystalline, like the Core itself. But unlike the colorless luster of the Core, this thing was blue with varying hues throughout. It was extremely pretty compared to the gray-toned stone it had seen up to this point. So It was excited to put a little mana into the thing and prepare to absorb it.
Only to be disappointed when putting that point of mana into that thing felt like putting a drop of water into a deep hole.
The Core stared at the gem with accusation at the mana it just drank in and wanted whatever this thing was even more. It wasn't sure what it could do with the thing, and that really didn't matter to it. For the moment, it was content with what it had been doing for the last day, expanding its influence and absorbing new things.
So it started putting more mana into the thirsty thing every time it gained a point to do so. Every point was an hour spent not progressing and the Core was aware of this and got more and more annoyed even as the blue crystal was slowly being filled.
Thirteen points spent and the crystal thing was only… well, a little filled. It was glaring at the thing that was being incredibly stubborn when the Core heard something besides the basic Cave sounds for first time. But, this sound was something it was familiar with, the fear the sound imparted to it was something it empathized with due to its fall.
"Stop following- Ah! Stop following meee!" The new sound said, followed by several heavy sounds that the Core had no reference for.
From way above it, the Core heard what sounded like a lot of movement near where it had landed before fallen deep in the ground. It wasn't sure how it had gotten down here, but it knew it must have been underground given how there was no sky above it, only more earth.
It mused about this for only a moment before the voice let out another exclamation, this one displaying a tone it couldn't identify.
There followed several more short shouts as the source of the sound got closer. The Core was actively paying attention when something else new happened to it. It got a look at its first living being.
It was a pale skinned creature that stood on two appendages that it recognized as legs. In both of its hands, it carried tools of some sort that it refused to release. It was also clothed in layers of dark gray and green cloth. A different piece of cloth was pulled and draped over the head, but strands of pale yellow hair had escaped past it.
As the thing got closer, the Core could see streams of red fluid escaping from several holes in the thing's body.
It didn't seem to noticed the Core as it got close, its gait oddly wavering despite the way it looked like it should move. It leaned against the wall of the cave they were in as it leaked dark red fluid onto the floor as it passed. The apparently blind nature of the creature relieved the Core.
At least until the Core saw the thing that was chasing it. The thing was about as tall as the one it was pursuing, but with a gangly and unseemly build. Coarse hair covered every part of it that the Core could see and it wore thick brown coverings all over its body. What made this more interesting was the elongated face and snout that gave this thing a more threatening visage compared to the one it was chasing.
The chasing creature apparently had an easier time seeing down here than the one it was pursuing, going directly after it. Leaping, the thing landed on and rode the other to the ground, the hood coming off in the fall.
The pursued creature had a much flatter face than the one pursuing it. Instead of fur, smooth-tanned… skin, yeah, that's the word, skin covered its face? Yeah, face seemed right. The pursued fell on its front and was stunned for a long second as the creature on it's back growled and cackled at the same time.
The creature took this moment to extend something sharp from the tips of its higher appendages and dragged them along the others arm.
It screamed and the creature on top cackled again, seeming to enjoy this act of hurting another.
The Core did not enjoy the show that was now in its Domain at all. Something about this seemed wrong and definitely disturbed the quiet that it had been used to up until now. But worse, there was something in the one being hurts plight that was grating against the Core's sensibilities. It wasn't exactly that it was being attacked, it was more that the one being attacked not having a chance bothered it.
Or maybe it was something else, the Core wasn't sure. What it did know was that it didn't like this at all, not one bit. So it took what little mana it had and started creating a plan. One thing it discovered right now, and loved, was that it could put mana into a mental plan but did not need to summon it right away. It could be useful later.
The Core continued to watch the struggle, the things attack on the other freed it from its stun. It bucked it's back, legs and head, trying to knock the creature free. It's head slammed into the creatures snout, getting a pained yelp as it scurried off and several feet away, out of the Core's Domain.
Getting to its feet, the flat faced one was breathing heavily as it shakily attempted to draw something sharp from its middle. The item fell from its grasp as it attempted to hold the thing and fell back onto the floor. Upon seeing this, the creature snarled at it and let out a cuffing laugh.
It approached slowly, pulling something free from its middle as it took step after step getting closer. The creature stepped back into the it's area of influence and the Core didn't hesitate.
Willing the shape to form, the Core took aim, glad for the thing's slow pace. Then it released it's intent, allowing the mana constructed three-foot-square of gray limestone to appear and fall. The creature didn't notice the perfect block fall on top of its skull before it killed it.
You have killed one Savage Werejackal and have gained experience as well as mana.
By killing a creature to protect or help a species known to be civilized, you have gained a new Spirit Core type as an evolution option. Would you like to see the revised list now?
The Core was tempted but resisted and closed both windows. Instead, it enjoyed the rush as mana suddenly filled its Core and a feeling of fullness left it brimming with joy.
It considered spending the mana immediately on either spreading it's Domain or putting it all into the crystalline thing it had been putting mana in for the last few hours. But something in the back of its Crystal made it hesitate to use it yet. Instead, it turned its attention to the creature it had just saved.
Whatever it was called, the thing was looking around the cave with wide eyes. It did not escape the Core's notice that it did look up above it every few seconds, making sure nothing was going to fall on it.
"He- hello?" It asked the air, looking around the space.
The Core felt the sound it created enter its Domain and considered if it even wanted to try and communicate back.
"Anyone, or anyth- thing there?" It asked, it's tone shaky and its voice high pitched.
It considered for a moment longer before deciding, why not. Besides, if it didn't like what it said, it could always drop another piece of limestone. The tactic did seem to be effective, after all.
So the Core focused on the effect the other thing's voice had on the environment and readied itself to put some mana into its first words. Everything else the Core needed to do required mana, why wouldn't this?
Putting a single point of mana into its word, the Core simply said, "hello."
The single word combined with the mana caused the creature it was trying to communicate with to cover the sides of its head. It's entire expression became pained as the section of the cave shook for two seconds. As it died down, the creature pulled its hands away from its head slowly as it looked around.
"Please, d-don't hurt me. I am no threat to you, Mighty Dungeon," it said, its tone quiet and meek.
The Core put another point of mana in its voice to keep it going, finding that it enjoyed this so far. "Why would I hurt you?" It asked, its voice causing the creature to protect its head again.
As the cave stopped shaking again, the creature pulled its arms free from its head again and didn't say anything for a long moment. The core was starting to wonder if it did something wrong and thought about it while it waited for the cowering creature to speak.
"Your voice, it's hurting me," it said finally.
The Core almost put another point in to get more information but paused long enough to consider. When this thing before it spoke, it didn't cause the room to shake. Why?
The answer became clear a moment later when it spoke again. "Dungeon Core?" It asked, quietly.
There was no mana coming from its voice. It seemed obvious in retrospect but the Spirit Core had no idea how this speaking thing worked. So this time, it tried without using mana. "Is this better?"
Almost immediately, the thing nodded and responded, "yes, th-thank you."
"What are you doing here?" The Core asked, its next question shooting out only a moment after the things' response.
"I… my village was attack by that thing and its tribe. My Father, Sister, and I were separated during the attack and I ran here," it said, pausing for a moment to breathe.
"My family and i saw you fall from the sky and i hoped that some of your monsters or a trap might kill them. Oh gods, that was close. I've been running for almost a full day and night," it said.
"Oh, that wasn't a trap," the Core told it proudly. "That was limestone."
"Not a trap," it stated. "But it fell from the roof."
"No, I made it and dropped it on its head," the Core told it. "Weren't you watching, are you blind down here?"
"Blind down here? What are you talking about, Elves can't see in the dark," it stated plainly.
"What's an Elves?" The Core asked, "and what's the dark?"
The thing now called an Elves paused and looked around the section of cave it was in. After several moment with the Core deciding to remain silent, it spoke with confusion in its voice as it said, "what's an Elves… no, I am an Elf. Elves is what my people, my species, are called. Like how you are a Dungeon Core."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Oh, the Elf/ Elves thing made more sense now. Calling it Elves just felt wrong with what knowledge it did have of language. But, the Elf seemed to be wrong about something, "I am not a Dungeon Core."
"What?" The Elf asked, its voice becoming high and shrill.
"I. Am. Not. A. Dungeon Core. I thought you could hear me alright, did something damage your ability to hear me?" The Core asked.
"N-no, my hearing is fine," the Elf said slowly. "We- we saw it, you fell from the sky yesterday. That is how Dungeon Cores are supposed to appear. That was you we saw, right?"
"Yes, but I am not a Dungeon Core," it stated again. "Maybe your hearing isn't the problem, are you perhaps just slow?"
Suddenly, the Elf was extremely flustered. It tried to get back to its feet, only for its weary frame to give out under it and collapse back down. But it didn't let whatever was ailing it to stop it from spitting out a rebuttal. "I- I am not slow. I'm considered a prodigy amidst my peers."
"Oh, I did not know that." The Core said, it's voice low as it thought. That language download it had gotten the day before had given it a good understanding of many words, prodigy among them. A few seconds later, the Core spoke out in a chirp, "oh, I get it now. The rest of your peers must be very slow then, if you are considered a prodigy."
"What?" The Elf said, flabbergasted.
"You seem to say that a lot. Are you sure you weren't told that to make you feel better?"
"Yes!" It shouted, indignantly. "If you say you aren't a Dungeon Core, then what are you?!"
"Oh I am a Spirit Core," it answered.
"Wha- I mean, what is a Spirit Core?" The Elf asked, keeping its voice low and forcefully collected.
It didn't escape the Core's notice that the Elf almost said what again, but decided not to comment on it. While it was enjoying seeing the Elf get flustered like this, it could not say that it was intentional. With that in mind, it answered. "I don't know. I think I am a Newborn version of Cores, like the Dungeon Core. I just haven't decided to… what's the word, evolve yet?"
The Elf didn't respond for a minute, just stared into the space around it while it thought. "I, uh, didn't know that. Nobody told me that about Dungeon Cores, I wonder if my Father knew about this?" It asked, rubbing the side of her head.
"How would I know?" The Core asked. "I've never met this Father, I've barely met you."
The Elf let out an exasperated sounding breath and ran its fingers through its pale yellow hair. The movement on its part must have done something to it because it winced and looked at its appendage with apparent distress. "I don't suppose you can heal me, can you?"
"Heal you? You mean like fix you?" The Core clarified.
"Well, yeah. Can you make healing items that can fix me?" The Elf asked, it's voice hopeful.
"I can make Limestone, Chalk Soil, and Water," the Core told her, joy in its voice with what it could make.
The Elf didn't seem happy to hear this. It scowled as it muttered, "figures." The Elf then proceeded to go into something that hung about its middle and start fumbling about. A minute later, the Elf withdrew a couple of things and started working on covering the leaking bits of its form.
After a few minutes of silence, the Core watching the Elf work, it spoke to the empty room again. "So, uhm… is there any chance that you won’t kill me if I stayed here and rested for a while? I don’t think I can get up yet,” the Elf explained.
“Why not?” the Core asked.
“Because I have been running all day and just barely survived an attack from that thing!” the Elf snapped, her voice rising in agitation.
The Core mentally prepared to drop another block of limestone and answered her, “that depends. Are you a threat to me?” the Core asked simply.
“What? No, of course not. I know you aren’t a Dungeon Core but they are extremely valuable since they can help level people up, create things we need, and make money. If you survive at least.”
The Core sat in silence for a few moments that dragged on. “Then why risk it if it might kill you?”
The Elf raised its shoulders in a gesture the Core didn’t recognize. “Why do people do anything? Power, survival, the way to live an easy life… people will do almost anything if it means they might get an easier life.”
“I see,” the Core said, thinking through what the Elf said. If being a Core meant that people would be coming after it, then the Core really didn’t have much choice, did it? “Do you think if people come here expecting a Dungeon Core and don’t find one, that they will hurt me?”
The Elf did that gesture with its shoulders again, “Maybe. Some people are just super mean but others might just take you or leave you alone, who knows?”
That made up the Core’s mind. As much as it would have rather stayed being a normal Spirit Core for a while, it sounded like it would need to get stronger in order to survive the world coming after it. In order to do that, it would need to pick what type of Core it wanted to be. Bleh.
“Uhm… Core? Actually, do you have a name?” the Elf asked, curiosity coloring her tone.
“Name? No, I don’t have a name. Do I need one?” the Core asked.
“Of course, people need something to identify you when they want to talk. Plus, I want to stop calling you Core,” the Elf explained.
“Why? It perfectly defines what I am, why do I need a name?”
The Elf was getting exasperated again, this was obvious from the obscenities she was muttering under her breath. The Core, of course, heard her but elected to ignore them as she took a deep breath and said, “Just because. Everything has or gets a name eventually, you can pick one if you’d like.”
The Core thought about it but honestly couldn’t think of a reason to get a name yet. It really didn’t mind being called Core. “If everything has a name, then what's yours?”
“Oh, I guess I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Joselin Setalla, daughter of Corinth Setalla, Ranger in training, Class 9 Adventurer, and future head of-” it started.
“That’s nice,” The Core told it, interrupting whatever was going on. “Do you always introduce yourself like this or am I just special enough to get the introduction?” Then the Core processed everything the Elf, now known as Joselin, had told it and one thing in particular tickled its mind.
“Wait, you’re female?” the Core asked.
“Yeah, have you never seen a girl before?” Joselin said, returning the confused tone.
“No,” the Core responded.
The now identified female Elf shook her head, “nope. I’m done with this for the night. Core, if I wanted to rest here for a while, you won’t kill me or anything, right?”
“No,” the Core told her, dismissing the rock it was ready to create and drop on her. “No unless you give me a reason to.”
Joselin yawned loudly as she wiggled herself in a vain attempt to get more comfortable. It didn’t seem to matter because she didn’t seem to get any more so, only managing to kick up some loose soil around her. Giving up, she pulled out something from her waist and put it between her head and the floor beneath her.
She looked around the room for a long moment as she yawned again. A moment became a minute, then two, before she spoke, “Core?”
“Yes?” it asked almost instantly after she asked.
“Thank you for saving me from that werejackal. You didn’t have to and I realize that, so… thank you,” she said, before putting her head on her makeshift thing and closing her eyes. A minute later, Joselin was asleep within the Core’s Domain and was quietly muttering in her sleep.
As annoying as it was, this Elf named Joselin had told it something important. People would be coming to this area looking for a new Dungeon Core. If they found it and it wasn’t a Dungeon Core, who knows what they would do? It considered itself lucky that this Elf girl hadn’t found it, it wasn’t like it was hiding or had the ability to do so.
So, should it do what it honestly didn’t want to yet and just choose a type of Spirit Core to become. After spending some time thinking about it, the Core decided that it was really just being stubborn and not wanting to change. Everything was new and it just wanted to spend time expanding, absorbing, and learning about the world and itself.
This appeared to not be on the table for the Core. With a heavy sigh that it allowed to be audible to anybody close enough to hear it, the Core willed up its Evolution Prompt and willed the choices to open.
Spirit Core Evolution List - Please choose one.
* Dungeon Core (31% of all spirit Cores) - A predator who creates great labyrinths filled with monsters, traps, and other challenges meant to try and stop or kill those who enter it. They gain mana and experience by providing challenges and by killing adequately strong adventurers. Other rewards for the Dungeon Core that manages to kill or absorb the right enemies or items. What can you create with the opportunities you get?
* Deity Cores (9% of all Spirit Cores) - A parasitic being that strength from the faith of people who believe in their divinity. The experience and mana amounts gained depend on the 'Faith Level' of the followers. Deity Cores have the highest strength of any core type but their power level tends to plateau quickly, needing certain requirements to advance further. What sort of god can you be if given the right followers?
* Creature Core (4% of all Spirit Cores) - A type of Core that chooses a path that let them clothe themselves in their mana to create a body. When a Spirit Core chooses to become a Creature Core, it loses much of its power to affect the environment around it but gains infinitely more freedom than any other Spirit Core type, not being bound to a Domain. When becoming a Creature Core, the Core must choose what energy will become its main focus. Freedom is the cost of power, will you be able to enjoy life without as much of it?
* Druidic Core (6% of all Spirit Cores) - these Cores bind with the essence of nature itself in a set area around it. This lets the core control vegetation around it, and influence its growth and powers, as well as the animals around it. A very uncommon choice for Spirit Cores, this core gains its power by helping the environment flourish and protecting it from outside influences. The more that nature grows, improves, and is kept safe with a Core’s assistance, the more experience and mana they receive. What sort of land will be cultivated by the Core’s influence here?
* Civilization Core (0% of all Spirit Cores) - A currently non-existent type of Spirit Core that binds with the idea of a growing and expanding community. This idea can change depending on the Core. Will it be a thriving metropolis with a strong and happy population, a Necropolis directly managed and controlled by the dead, or an empire gilded in gold and silver but built upon a foundation of the bones of their subservient and beaten. Whatever they wish their city to become, Civilization Cores are the rarest type of Spirit Core because it is one of the few that have special requirements to unlock. This type of Core is bound to the Civilization it raises up, this gives the Core experience and mana depending on the quality of the inhabitants and the state of the city. What can be achieved when Mortal and Core work together?
These are the choices that your actions or desires have unlocked. You may unlock more in the future but that is never certain. It is recommended that you pick from this list before you get too set in your ways
Looking at the choices, the Core could see why the Dungeon Core would be a tempting choice for any Core, It sounded powerful and dangerous. The Deity Core was another good choice but the idea just did not sit well in the Core's mind. Why would anything want to worship it, and why would it want it anyway, other than for power.
Then there was the Creature Core which it dismissed out of hand. No way did it want to lose its powers to affect its surroundings, it was too cool. And then the Druidic Core it just dismissed because… well, it just did not seem interesting.
But the Civilization Core type, however, now that held its focus. It knew what cityscapes were by definition but had never seen one before. But upon reading about what this Core type could do, it had visions.
It saw houses made of loose stick houses and simple shacks becoming better built and evolving over time. From sticks, to wooden boards, to stone brick, more and more exquisite structures. It saw people, like Joselin, walking about fantastic looking buildings and admiring them quietly as they went about their day. All the inhabitant kept safe with spectacular walls and unknowable defenses.
And at the end of the vision, it could see itself, safely tucked away inside a nondescript building, its Core significantly bigger and sitting as an observer as it looked over its work. And it was definitely deciding what it could improve or add.
Wonder filled the Core as its imagination was somehow fuelled with these visions of what it could do. At least, what it could do if it chose to be a Civilization Core. For a moment, a sense of rightness filled every fractal of the Core's structure as it pondered the choice it was going to make.
A stray question entered its mind as it was about to choose the Civilization Core. Were visions common in this process or was what happened to it unique? It didn't really matter to the Core since it had made up its mind.
With a content feeling, the Core Selected to become a Civilization Core and read the following prompts.
Congratulations on making the choice to become a Civilization Core. This decision does come with some reworking to your Status Sheet.
First, your Mold Mana Skill is getting reworked into the Mana Processing Skill. You are no longer able to take mana and recreate something you have an Imprint of. Now, you have to work with materials that you have an Imprint of AND is within your Domain. Really though, you really didn't make much with the skill anyway.
Second, you gain the Skill; Structured Mindset. Your mind is a well-organized place where complex calculations are performed, perfect memories are stored, and in-depth structures are designed. This will not affect your personality and how you react to the world. Only the way you process and store information. No need to worry about your mind, what little of one you have now. You know, being under two days old anyway.
Third, you gain the Perk, Create Drone. This Perk grants you the ability to summon Special Workers to do specific tasks in your Domain. The specific rules for this Perk are in its description.
Lastly, you have gained another Perk, Blueprint Manipulation. This Perk gives you the power to scan, create, alter, and store blueprints in your Structured Mindset. When you have a blueprint in your Structured Mindset, you can start an automated building process using already processed and ready resources. Too bad you have none of eithe- Wait, I spoke too soon.
For being the first Civilization Core in 27481 years, you gain three free useful blueprints and one random blueprint! The Basic Dwelling Blueprint, the Basic Storage Shed Blueprint, and the Civil Center Blueprint. Your random blueprint… Remote Gathering Post.
Now that you have chosen a Spirit Core type, you have a 24-hour window to move yourself and your Domain without damaging yourself or your power base. Hopefully, you can see the obvious way to leave your current location for a better one, above ground for example.
The World System apologizes for the sudden change in your Core System and expects that you'll understand. We also apologize and hope you'll understand that with the rush of information and the restructuring of your Core, you will be made unconscious for the next few hours. Unconsciousness in 10… 9… 8…
The Core stopped watching the countdown and its mind started moving frantically within its Core. All of it panicked by the sudden coming blackout, annoyed by the lost time, excited by the coming ability to create, and most of all angry. Why did the System not note the changes that would happen to its powers or note that it would be knocked unconscious with this change?
Oh, the Core actually decided to vocalize it before it passed out. "I swear, whoever you are World System, I will meet you and somehow make you regret not making things clear. I-"
Just as the darkness closed in on the Core, one last prompt appeared.
System Message:
From: ALL
To: “Unnamed Core”
-Good luck with that.