Once Arizo and I calmed from our laughing fit she floated down to the chair I made her weeks ago.

“We still have things to do.” She said sobering us up.

I gave a few more chuckles as I replied. “Yeah I need to level up and see if any of the others can.”

“I am ready for a level up Creator.” Una chimed in. “I also have a box with an achievement, which I have placed to the side until you are ready.”

I focused on her and pulled up her whole stat block

Name

Una

Title

Indomitable

Rank

D

Level

2

468/300

Deity

Unnamed Core

AC

12(+3)

Race

Kobold

class

fighter

HP

30

MP

6

Strength

7

Dexterity

14

Constitution

9

Wisdom

11

Charisma

8

Luck

12

Armor

Cherry Wooden Shield

Vine Sack

Weapon

short sword

Skills

Natural Armor

Level Up?

“Your rank went up.” I stated.

“Yes, Creator. That changed after the fight with the Dire Bear.”

“When you got the achievement.” She nodded. “That makes sense. I’ve noticed that my achievements take effect whether I’ve looked at them or not. Can you pull that up for me?”

She did so. Her boxes looked a bit different. They appeared before her instead of me for one and they seemed to be written in a different language. Though I could still read it just as easily.

Indomitable

One Level to ‘Natural Armor’

“Is there any information on Natural Armor?” I asked her.

In lue of words she just pulled up another box

Natural Armor: Add 3 points to base Armor Class

“So that’s what the +3 is on your AC. Good to know. I’m going to level you up, and place your skill point in strength.” I told her as I did so. “You are at the front of our most dangerous attacks and having a harder hit will likely come in handy.”

“As you say.” She bowed once more.

To ignore the uncomfortable feeling I get when the Kobolds do that, I looked at her new stats.

Name

Una

Title

Indomitable

Rank

D

Level

3

168/500

Deity

Unnamed Core

AC

12(+3)

Race

Kobold

class

fighter

HP

35

MP

7

Strength

8

Dexterity

14

Constitution

9

Wisdom

11

Charisma

8

Luck

12

“I guess it’s my turn.” I pulled up my own stat block.

Name

Rank

D

Level

7

712/1,300

Deity

Death

AC

50

HP

860

MP

123

Strength

20

Dexterity

19

Constitution

21

Wisdom

24

Charisma

14

Luck

23

Ascension level

2

Unused Points

27

“My armor class doubled. I guess that’s another side effect of my ascension level. But that’s not as fun as 27 points. Where should they go?” I asked no one in particular.

“Maybe a few in charisma. Since you want to make friends.” Arizo replied

“I still think it’s a junk stat for a rock that can’t talk.” I put 3 points there anyway. After bumping everything else to 25 I still had 6 points so I split them between wisdom and constitution. Those give a bump to my health and mana.

“Alright here’s the result”

Name

Rank

D

Level

7

712/1,300

Deity

Death

AC

50

HP

940

MP

145

Strength

25

Dexterity

25

Constitution

28

Wisdom

28

Charisma

17

Luck

25

Ascension level

2

“You are becoming a dangerous foe.” Arizo said with a smile. “Most will have trouble making a hit hard enough to overcome your armor and do any damage.” She paused and blushed lightly. “I forgot to mention something.” Before I could ask what she continued. “Well the Naga that was here mentioned that if you were attacked then restrictions on creating monsters on the same floor as invaders and your DP limit would be lifted. But that’s not all that happens.”

“Ok. Care to elaborate?” She had piqued my curiosity.

“When a core is attacked, even if you don’t take damage, ALL restrictions are lifted.” She frowned. “Unfortunately this often drives a core mad. All those memories of your past lives are no longer being blocked. Inhibitions and restrictions, some that even us fairies don’t know about, are lifted. And cores just go wild. Little is known about all that happens when a core goes mad like that because their madness spills over the bond to their fairy. They have also been known to kill their partner.” She ended sadly. Her wings drooped and I could feel her grief.

“That will not happen to the Creator!” Una declared. Passion burned in her eyes. I could tell she was ready to take on anyone in my defence. “They have seen into their past and come out stronger. They have faced threats far beyond our level and won. There is nothing that I will let harm them.”

“You are right.” Una seemed to deflate at my calm agreement. I could see that some of her scales had risen in her anger and they smoothed back against her skin. “Arizo has the same job as you, Una. You are both my first line of defense. Una, you protect me from physical attacks and Arizo keeps me informed so I don’t make deadly mistakes. You are letting your anger get the better of you again.”

She looked away and shame rolled off of her. “I apologize Arizo.”

“Apologies don’t erase your hurtful words.” I scolded before my dear fairy could accept her apology. “Arizo was telling what has happened in the past. Our lives are but a spec of time compared to hers. Some of those fairies may have been her friends and family. She has every right to be saddened by their loss. Her fear that she could lose her home and her sanity is all too real.”

“Please, don’t punish her. She wasn’t attacking me. Or belittling me.” Arizo defended. “Una was showing her devotion and passion.”

There was fear in her tone. Fear that I had put there. Shame, sadness and rage warred in my core. I clamped down on the boiling rage when Arizo shrank back from me.

“Una. I apologize. It seems to be in my nature to defend Arizo even when there is nothing to defend against. She’s right. This time I over reacted. I made assumptions and that was unfair.”

I could feel her embarrassment as she looked away and ducked her head.

“Arizo. Unless one of my creations turned on us, I would never harm them. And so long as I am in my right mind I will never harm you. But I can guarantee that if your previous core has the misfortune of meeting me or mine I will not only destroy them, but grind their core to dust.” I’m not sure what they were feeling from me at that moment but both fairy and kobold looked awed. “Anyone or anything threatening MY home, MY creations and those I care about will know just how dangerous a dungeon I can craft.”

Arizo bowed her head to me as Una dropped to one knee. “As you say.” They agreed in unison.