Uno

I was going mad.

These stupid Drones getting through the prison wall were slowly driving me insane.

*shing*

*shing*

*shing*

*chikk*

*shing*

*shing*

And repeat. Ad nauseam.

Metal clanging against stone, again and again, was unhinging.

To escape from boredom I started to take stock of already done work and things that I still needed to make or create.

Most of my work orders were fulfilled - western part of dungeon was now a 4 by 5 meters big room with a strange mound-like structure in the middle. It sported a few entrances from different sides, but the main parts of the structure were underground.

I was staring at the unseen part of it and it was glorious!

The network of tunnels and small rooms dotted pretty much entirety of the current dungeon and some of them even stretched outside. Normally (because of that twisted mana) even my sight couldn’t penetrate outer darkness. And yet Ratlings slowly nibbled on it, allowing both me and their kin access.

Still - singled out structure looked simply lonely.

And I was about to change that.

Firstly - I was thinking about adding some light to the rooms - both this one and all others. Secondly, I would like to force invader's hand and funnel them through Ratling Warrens, because right now they could waltz straight into my core room and I would be not able to stop them.

Because of that, I let my imagination flow. What is the first thought when hearing the word “light”? As a human… or rather a former human from a highly civilized society answer was simply - a light bulb!

My idea was to create something that could hang from the ceiling, like a lamp - I would prefer a plant or something of this kind, but since my material options were limited I decided to go for something in-between.

As a base, I created wooden liane - short and thick, only ten or so centimeters from the ceiling. In the middle of it was a small, pear-shaped “fruit” - it had two iron bolts inside and was built from thin wires. Yes, I know iron was not ideal as a conductor, but until something like copper fell onto my lap I would work with what I had.

Add to that a battery-like organ located in the lower part (in plant equivalent of roots) and my chandelier was finished.

Why chandelier?

Because I also made thinner lianas all around the central one, with only two bolts on their pointy end and bent them in such shape that if somebody wanted to take “fruit” from my creation it would snap shut like a bear trap. Electrocuting and hitting unlucky brave in the process.

This “plant” was also programmed by my Anima to sway on non-existent wind thus creating moving shadows, helpful to my other creations. There were also some more… disturbing changes.

Using Analyze I was able to confirm them.

Electrical Chandelier

This dungeon monster uses plant mimicry to look like a safe, but bizarre source of light. It's mostly passive, feeding of local mana and maintaining its form. Unless somebody gets foolish enough to try plucking the fruit it sports.

Not only such a person will get electrocuted, but also grabbed by its rope-like appendages.

In the unlikely situation that somebody manages to detach Chandelier fruit without much damage its possible to plant it or create accessories and weapons with power over lightning.

Threat level: E++

I immediately planted one of them in every room adding much-needed light to the ceiling. After that, I sculpted tree roots from available materials and distributed them among free space. These were of course only roots, as I still couldn’t get a hang on creating something truly alive. So no trees yet. I guess Ratlings were an exception.

And then I proceeded to seed geometric statues through the dungeon - with swaying shadows one could easily think them, enemies. And in some cases, they were designed as such.

It was time for trap creation.

Since most of my minions were either stupid or clumsy it was hard to make something dangerous, but only for invaders.

In the end, I settled on animating some of my statutes - humanlike shapes made from iron and wood, with large, oval heads without hair nor eyes and thin, wire-like limbs. They were mostly just standing around, but some of them I put into poses. There was dogeza statue, triumphant statue, running away statue, begging statue, dancing statue. And so. Each of them was designed to unnerve, but also accustom invaders to their existence.

A few had spear throwers in their chests, cleverly hidden behind the mesh of wires. Some simply grabbed people walking near them, trying to crush their opponents. Others were created to impale enemies by hidden, rusted spears. Possibly. Hopefully. At least my Lebirs were sturdy enough to withstand them.

One of them kinda stumbled over the trap while I was putting it in the tunnel. That’s why I prepared a clear road leading towards every room available. Thanks to that Lebirs and Drones traversing it could actually get some work done.

I also made sure that road straight towards my core (from the southern entrance, where I decided the digging will commence as soon as possible) was blocked. By using stone and not my Drones hard work (when digging they were acceptable, but building… nope) I made sure that it was sturdy enough to stop invaders and force them to move through Ratling Warrens in order to reach my core.

I also started working on the now excavated southeastern room. I had a clear purpose in mind - but the materials and blueprints at hand were not enough. Yet.

Instead, I did what I could - making wooden barrels and metal trunks, while filling some of them with additional Lebir clubs, Ratling reserve spears and even some crude shields I made after a moment of consideration. This would be a forge or rather machining room. As soon as I was able to create somebody or something to man it.

Which would probably take some time. I mean… blueprints for sentients were gained after killing them? I think? Not like I killed any… These bodies were here when I arrived, Mr. Policeman!

In a few minutes more barrels and trunks appeared all over dungeon - most of them empty, few filled with traps and even less - with weapons.

This time I went for simplicity when it came to traps. I made two types - one which simply tried to cut hand searching through the container and another, which pierced it. Of course, if somebody was stupid enough to push his head inside… then the threat level moved towards lethal.

I guess that means it's time to start digging towards my self proclaimed entrance?

My rats already spied another room somewhere to the south. Only a few meters - logical, considering that all this underground complex was here before and I was only excavating it. The room itself looks more like a long-ish hallway, but to glean anything more from Ratling was simply impossible. I should probably be grateful for any information at all.

I’m also pretty sure that there is nothing alive left in these rooms. Otherwise, my not-so-strong minions would get slaughtered right away. And in the worst case scenario, something could even invade their tunnels in turn.

But for now, I can only wait.

*shing*

*shing*

*shing*

*chikk*

*shing*

*shing*

And hope to keep my sanity.