Where am I?
I submitted my question to the bar and waited for only a split second
You are in the ruins of Irkalla. A long lost dungeon on Earth.
The response replaced everything else in my vision and inserted itself into my brain.
So I was still on Earth, but the word Irkalla was a word that was foreign to me. What was that?. One that was burning in my mind like an ember. It felt like a long lost memory, yet it was something I never experienced.
What is a Domain Core?
The query bar blinked as the response came in almost instantaneously.
A Domain Core is a step above a dungeon core….
I hated these short answers. Like, why bother telling me something, if you aren't going to tell me anything at all? If there was one thing that I hated more than anything it was my time being wasted. After working as many hours as I do in a day, I quickly came to realize just how important time is. So, please, lets cut to the chase shall we?
What is the description and function of a Domain Core?
A Domain Core is a step above that of a dungeon core. It functions approximately the same as a dungeon, with a few key differences.
You are not bound by the same rules that a dungeon core is. You are allowed free reign to move wherever you please, within your domain.
You are not restricted by the number of mobs that you may have and use at any given time.
You are bound permanently by your chosen affinity.
You can do anything within your domain, even if adventures are within it.
You can leave your domain at any time. However, you will lose all your domain specific power until you return. You will be classified as your primary race for the duration of your stay outside of your domain. You may also choose one class from any of your mobs within the domain. You may also label yourself as a boss and choose your own class. However, you will be permanently locked to that choice.
Instead of a physical realm that acts as your dungeon, you are granted a domain to exist within. You may designate any area that you wish as your domain, up to a maximum diameter of ten kilometers. Once the domain is selected, it will exist as a separate entity from the world. The foundation of your domain will always remain the same size. However, you are free to expand the interior to any size that you wish.
Unlike dungeon cores, you are limited to only the resources that exist within your domain. Once your domain’s foundation is laid, you must accrue all additional resources from outside the designated area or use essence points to create it.
If you are slain, the domain will be destroyed.
The function of a Domain Core:
A Domain Core is a dungeon core that has gathered enough energy to create or has consumed a divine spark and formed an Avatar. The function of a Domain Core is the same as a dungeon core. However, the goal of every Domain Core is ascension to complete godhood. This is done by harvesting essence from anything that may enter your domain—the more potent the soul, the stronger the life essence. At your ascension, your domain will be torn from the world. Then will be yours to preside over for all of eternity as a god.
This was actually something I didn’t expect. I walked through a portal, touched a divine spark or whatever it was, and became something like a god. That has to be something out of a dream. Maybe somebody slipped some drugs into my food or something when I wasn’t looking, or perhaps I’m just losing my mind. More than likely though it had to be drugs. There was no way I could come up with something like this in my wildest dreams. A god? Me? That was laughable at best. I didn't believe in them in the first place, so how could I possibly be one? Yet there was a nagging sensation deep down, in the depths of my mind, that told me it was true. Sadly, any emotion that I was feeling was constrained, leaving me with a sense of emptiness.
Can I go home?
On the off chance that this was real, if I stuck with it, I would eventually get to go back, right? Especially if I become a god. Imagine going back to see my mom or dad as a god. That would be something. The washed-up daughter coming back as a deity. It made me chuckle before the thought of them stabbed a knife of guilt into my heart. I should have said something to them before I did something stupid like this. Now it’s too late.
Answer unknown. Ascension to godhood necessary.
Well, that was helpful. Yet another question left unanswered. What a scam. Hopefully though it was possible. If any of this was true, I still had a chance, and I wouldn't back down from a challenge. No matter what it takes, and no matter what it costs. A piece of advice my father always gave me, that only in the last few years had sunk in was, 'The only way through life is forward. Once you take a step you can never go back.' Those words have never been more true. Doubly so now that I'm stuck in this situation. With my mind made up, and my direction forward chosen, I mentally typed in a response into the flickering screen.
What is an affinity?
An affinity is the primary source of power to either a Dungeon Core or Domain Core. It is the beating heart of the Domain Core and the source of its magical power. Affinities are split into a main, and then a sub affinity that acts as a pairing. The Domain Core can create mobs, classes, and skills, based on the previous selection.
Ah, so that makes sense then, I guess. I bobbed my mental head as everything settled into place. Now that I was understanding, I could work forward from here. Although the lack of emotion on my end was a little unnerving. Excitement? I wish I could feel it. Dread? Nonexistent much like my love life.
What is the arcane sub affinity?
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The arcane sub affinity deals with magic in its purest form. It is the wild, flowing currents of magic that make reality tremble. With this affinity, given enough time, you can perform any sort of magic and rip reality apart. This also unlocks the ability to create arcane horror mobs and grants a magical damage increase, plus damage reduction
Oh, so from first glance, this was going to be a really versatile. That was good. I’m glad it was a solid choice then. Already my mind was racing at all the possibilities of what I could do with it. Now there were just a few more things for me to check out. Namely, what undeath was compared to life and death, along with my new subrace. What ever that meant.
What makes the undeath affinity different from life and death?
The Death Affinity brings only the end to all beings and is the direct opposite of life. Those with the death affinity can only destroy and never truly create. Everywhere they walk, they only bring the absolution of the end.
The life affinity brings creation. Flowers blossom from the destruction wrought by death. Those with the life affinity can never destroy, but only create and heal.
The Undeath Affinity is the antithesis to both life and death. One that many consider to be an abomination. Those that feel the touch of Undeath are brought back to the fringes of life, yet they can never truly embrace it.
So I was going to be a magical necromancer god? I mean, that doesn’t seem too bad. That’s what, zombies and stuff? I wasn’t super against the idea. There was always a budding interest in that sort of stuff growing up, even if it was only superficially. So if this works out; I get to sate my curiosity a bit with this and see where it goes; I suppose. Now onto the last question for now! Arguably the hardest question on this list. It was the one that I bothered me the most, yet most of the anxiety was buried away deep with in me.
Can I start my sub race selection?
Analyzing… due to your affinities, your subraces have been pre-selected. Sub races can all be evolved over time.
Please note this change is permanent.
Zombie
Skeleton
Ghost
Arcane Horror
The words blinked faintly as I stared on. I’d be lying if I said I wasn't let down. The undead options looked well, pretty basic, and the arcane horror subrace was for sure out of the picture. I mean, who would even want to have a subrace with the name of horror?
With arcane horror struck from the list, it left me with the other three. Do I want to be a zombie? I imagined myself as one before shaking my mental head. It felt smelly, and gross, and that wasn’t something I enjoyed in the slightest.
Next up was a skeleton, eh? Would that mean I would be something like a shambling pile of bones? I mentally shuddered at the thought. Nah, I enjoyed being whole, thank you.
The last one was a ghost, which seemed intriguing. Would that mean I could walk through walls and such? It felt like there was some information missing.
What does a subrace do?
A second after I typed the message in a response rolled out.
Subrace acts as a supplementing factor to your main race, with some traits mixing. Some bonuses and negatives of both races are expanded on or completely negated. Subraces also grant race specific skills and passives.
Ah, so it’s a blend. With the new information in mind, I went back and glanced through the choices a little more clear headed. I’m assuming the arcane horror one would be more magically inclined. I still wanted to avoid it, I mean, who knows what would happen still if I selected that one? Even so, none of the others looked as good as ghost, so, let’s pick that one then. Maybe I’ll get some cool traits off of it.
I slammed my mental fist into the ghost option, and the screen flickered once more
Input selected. Ghost subrace has been applied… Checking final data tables… Scanning current status…
New skills have been applied
Nether steps: Lvl I (R): The user steps between the veil of reality and the nether. Their forms flicker in and out of sight as they skip through the spirit realm.
Goddess’s descent: Lvl I (U) The ritual bells chime as the ghostly god arrives. Inflicts fear, and hallucinations on all who hear it.
Passives have been applied:
Arcane Conduit : Lv l (R) The power of the arcane sub affinity runs through you, granting you: 5% Magical damage reduction
5% Magical damage dealt
5% Increase to mana regeneration
Ethereal Frailty: Lvl I (R) A ghost is a fleeting thought, weakened to magic, but ignorant of physical damage
10% damage increase from magical sources
10% damage reduction from all physical sources
Fleeting Presence: Lvl I (R) Dancing on the wind and gliding through space a ghost is not bound by the physical.
5% Increase to movement speed and all related abilities. Decrease in physical presence?
The words flickered as I drank in the contents. So now I have skills and passives? Woah, this really was set up like a video game? Now, I had another question that I needed an answer to.
‘What do the letters after each skill mean?’
The text flickered once more, as the words bled into my mind.
Each skill and item are designated by rarity:
C= Common rarity
Un= Uncommon rarity
R= Rare
E=Epic
H= heroic
L= Legendary
D= Divine
A= Ancient
U= Unique*
*Unique skills are the rarest, but they are not always the strongest.
I nodded my mental head as I read over everything and thought back to the skills that I had. I had all rare skills, and only one unique. The Kami’s arrival, eh? That sounded ominous, but I couldn’t wait to try it out! Though the damn chains around my mind made it hard to feel much of anything. But there was still a kernel of excitement nestled deep in my mind, yearning to be free.
Silence fell as the bleach white text consumed my vision. So now my job was to harvest life and ascend into godhood; what a stark contrast from cooking food all day. As much as this seems exciting, I also feel kinda stupid for just trancing through a portal on a whim. Mom always told me I did stuff without thinking, and I guess this was a pretty good example of that. I reminisced about the thought for a moment before I noticed that I still had access to the query. Let’s see if I can get some more answers out of it, while I could, at any rate.
‘What is a divine spark, and what is Irkalla?’
The Divine Spark is a remnant of a now-dead god of undeath from Earth. It once resided over the dungeon of Irkalla in Mesopotamia but fell into disuse 2562 years ago.
Ah, Mesopotamia, so that was what, Sumarian? Mesopotamian? I wasn’t quite sure, history was never my best subject, but a few things were starting to come together. Did that mean that I was going to be a dungeon core on Earth?
Who was the dead god?
Answer unknown, data has been lost.
Well, that was annoying. I was curious, but maybe it’s something that I will never know. I was a little overwhelmed with everything and couldn’t think of questions that I wanted to ask. So now I have to wait. I was mentally torn between being excited about my new life and being depressed that I left Earth without saying goodbye to my family.
As I pondered on my choices, I floated through the darkness, and a sense of weariness weighed me down. It was a deeper level of exhaustion than I have ever felt. Maybe it was all just a dream, and when I open my eyes, I’ll wake up to my alarm clock and be on my way to that hellhole of a job. As the words faded away, my consciousness slipped. A part of me hoped that wasn’t the case.