《Forgotten Dungeon》013
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Uno
My Conservatory was complete without a hitch. I wasn’t calling this room a greenhouse since there was not much green inside. At least the plants were now finished, new monsters put safely in their positions… But that also meant, that there wasn’t anything to do!
Well, except for digging and making new rooms. And that grew boring extremely fast.
I craved the excitement of the fight, even if it could wipe me out of existence.
Normally I was just a coward, but the battles in my dungeon didn’t feel real. Not counting that one time when I nearly had my core grabbed and devoured. But we don’t talk about that. The vibe I was getting was more in the vein of a reality show with all my cameras focused on the action than real life.
Were these feelings categorized as dungeon core instincts or maybe something entirely else? It didn’t really matter. I could hide in my shell and produce more and more monsters while digging a room after room, but there was no purpose behind it. I wanted a sentient to walk into my halls and exclaim in wonder and fear.
And then preferably get mauled to death.
Okay, I admit. Part of the reason I was so impatient was the fact that this limit I felt was steadily approaching. My current dungeon core level was zero and I was somehow made acutely aware that I could dig out only a few more rooms or create one or two monsters until it all simply slipped out of my control.
And yet digging into existing space was considered okay. Some sort of a loophole? I couldn’t care less, but like any real gamer, I was eager to exploit it. This made the Colosseum a viable choice. Even if it was a trap.
So no more hesitation!
There’s no time like the present!
Let’s do it!
I clenched my non-existent teeth, trying to force the outcome and asked both Jonathan and Decapitator (Decapitation Engine as per System naming, which sounded just droll) to move towards where Drones started working and… waited.
It was like half of my new life was waiting.
Thankfully my minions finished their job in only a few minutes. Breaking through the soft soil was easy after all. Slowly a small tunnel appeared, only to end on metal bars recessed in the floor. Talk about disappointing.
The next order was to cut them down, but seeing as both cutting tools and the barrier were made from the same material it would take some time. So during this unexpected break, I ordered the rest of the Drones to start working towards another goal.
I had this strange idea of creating a few twisting tunnels leading towards Armory. I was aiming for a place bit similar to the one area in Dark Souls games, where strange circular undead roamed with impudence. My little corner of deadly roads would be instead a home ground to Decapitator. Which should be much less scary. Also, two bosses on one floor should be enough.
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Now that I think about it… how would it even decapitate enemies? Weren’t pretty much all of its blades vertical? Talk about not being able to satisfy one craving. Did I just do it a great disservice?
Huh.
Let’s just behave like I didn’t notice at all.
Maybe the problem will go away on its own.
Whatever happens, happens.
Anyway, it took Drones a few hours to make sure that the tunnel network was complete according to my plan. In the meantime, Ratlings also managed to dig out some outposts and roads of their own. And in turn, my dungeon was getting even more chaotic. While I could feel where the entrances and exits were a 3D model of them was looking more and more like soggy spaghetti. On the bright side if even I wasn’t able to map them then any enemies trying to were unintentionally screwed over.
Which was still lovely.
I wasn’t even going to ask why Ratlings were moving small electropears in there or masking their scouting tunnels with knife-bushes. They’re the only plant life out here - you’re not hiding anything!
At least their obsession with acidic flowers was easy to understand. Especially after a few of them were nearly melted when searching through Conservatory for the first time. I didn’t check how these plants propagated too.
Another time.
For now, my Drones were nearly finished with their task.
It was time to advance.
Metal bar screamed for the last time until their tools cleared way forward. The room seemed serene and silent. First, a team of Lebirs walked forward, close to each other, somehow holding a defensive formation with their leader sporting a Crackling Mace. Just behind it a group of Ratling warriors waltzed in, not planned at all in my advance guard. They moved cautiously, sniffing the air and pointing their spears towards suspicious parts of the room.
And this Colosseum was suspicious as hell!
For one - there were still torches burning! Underground! In the room closed off for years! I wasn’t even going to start with how the oxygen in here would be all burned long ago. That’s because the answer was boring. Magic, obviously.
The question was who was prideful enough and powerful enough to keep them burning through the years?
The answer came quickly as a shadow pounced from the ceiling on the Lebir walking in the front. The abomination was totally surprised, but quiet, which reminded me once again to at least give them mouths. And maybe a pump to allow some screaming. Or creepy wheezing.
Anyway, my minion just tumbled on the sand, rising dust clouds and desperately trying to free itself.
To no avail though. The assailant stood up quickly and twisted off its head like it was a beer cap. At this moment I took a good look at it - clearly humanoid shape, rag-like clothing which once was probably finery of some sort, covering wrinkled, scarred skin, which made the being look like dried up mummy. I fired Analyze as soon as it stopped.
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Bloodless Vampire Spawn
Vampires are beings of darkness, a type of undead who thrive on the blood of living creatures. It is because of that trait that they fiercely try to preserve sentient races that badlands creatures seek to consume. They are nonetheless hunted by sapiens and eradicated without a quarter.
Most of the monsters classified as vampires have a robust physique, great night vision, powerful regeneration and ability to create more of their kind by sharing their blood. One becomes a vampire through such ritual or by a way of a curse.
This being was turned from sentient, which makes it weaker than its progenitor in addition to lack of blood it experienced through the years. Because of the inability to die and lack of life-giving liquid through the years, it turned utterly insane. There is only Thirst in its mind.
Threat level: D
Like an overture to my reading, the vampire just found out that there was no blood in my Lebir. It threw the severed head at my other warriors and screamed at them in rage.
- $#&^$ &*#$&*&$ #$# @!&*@! - These were clearly words, but...
Haaaaaah.
Just like I thought. No language cheat for me. I was after all just a little dungeon core, not isekai hero sent to right the wrongs.
Ugh.
Who cares.
[Capture it alive if you can.] I whispered to my monsters and they surged forward like a wave of metal and dead flesh closing on their enemy.
Except for Ratlings.
They instead decided it was time to add some skewering to the menu.
Spears flew forward on silent command, impacting the vampire through the chest and left arm, but not slowing it down in the slightest. It crouched, making itself a smaller target and sprinted towards my meatshields. The claws on its hands looked a bit dangerous - I admit.
First Lebir trying to stop it was sent flying, second didn’t fare much better, but it gave one with Crackling Mace a way to bash the vampire face in. The one smacked by it only laughed in response.
And then the lightning hit, scorching the wrinkly face and actually lighting it on fire! The laugh turned into a scream as the being tried to claw out any pieces of flesh still stuck on its skull.
That was when Jonathan started running in the middle of this chaos, taking advantage of a distraction. Well, maybe not exactly running, but there was a tottering grace in his movements. Something about comically imbalanced being trying to walk on its toes.
The ax he sported was not funny at all though.
And neither was his big, “fuck you” swing that nearly cleaved creature in half, taking out both arms and digging a scar through the middle of its chest. The vampire crumbled down immediately, ceasing resistance. It still tried to move, but the damage was simply too great.
If it had hit points then there would be only measly one or two left.
[ALIVE! TAKE IT ALIVE] I screamed in anger, making most of my creatures twitch. Jonathan only stared at his feet, like a small child chided by its parent.
I sighed. At least there’s hope that this vampire regeneration wasn’t overrated. It did survive here for years and that was mostly because it couldn’t die even if it wanted.
[Just… take the pieces, put them together and make sure it won’t escape.]
My orders were carried out swiftly for once, with only Ratings instead searching the whole room. What they found were bones. Hundreds of bones. Humanoid - women, men and children. Horses, or something that looked similar enough. Sheep, dogs, cats, also one or two cows, then goats and weird snake-like things. There was even a skeleton of a gorilla. A monkey anyhow.
And all of them seemed to be drained of blood, with many - and I mean many - holes, similar to fangs slightly jutting out from vampire upper jaw. Their remaining skin was punctured and broken in many places, but there is something in horror seen just before death that stays on one body. Even if only a desiccated husk remains.
Somehow I could easily imagine the tragedy that happened here.
But it didn’t matter anyway.
What mattered though was the existence of a broken down stairway leading to an upper and lower level.
The rest of the room was just like it looked from outside - a whole lot of nothing, sand and four now extinguished torches. I planted my Chandeliers at once, brightening this space in white light, totally different from the red-blood color it was basked in before.
I already knew what I wanted to do. The order was given and drones slowly started to force their way upwards.
And I returned to my core where the new guest was getting moved.
It was time for some literal mind-fuckery.
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if nothing happens [Chinese]
罪惡往往在一瞬間發生, 但靈魂必須用它的整個生命來贖罪。 當你犯了罪, 你有沒有想過如何彌補? 一個眼神,一個動作,一個手勢。 罪已累積。 公正的判斷,執行者的形象。 這是最后的聲音和身影。 不可積存罪孽, 你永遠不知道你的靈魂會去哪里? 你到達時就在那里。 I have written this novel by some unpopular people in the Shadow Kingdom of World of Warcraft. Don't worry about the ending. At the very beginning, the ending is already doomed. I will try to make readers remember me:)
8 62Awakening the Stars
In a world of mystical Gifts, the nation of Ophelia was once a harmonious land, governed by the four Courts and favored by the stars. Since its beginnings, the Ash, Terris, Zephyr, and Aquae Courts have allied firmly to serve their people, each bestowed with a power at birth by their ruling entity. Despite their differences, however, the unity of the people remained taut for many centuries. But alas, the balance was fated to tip. Those in authority have begun to fall to corruption and dominion. A deadly attack on innocent villagers finally exposes their true nature, setting the stage for a kingdom poised to crumble. At the center of it all lies an unlikely cast: a young Runner training for life as a guard in the Terris mountains to fulfill the visions of his esteemed father. A Persuader heir to a family of wealthy politicians, stuck between her parents’ expectations and her rebellious nature. A Levitator apprentice learning the ways of an apothecary before his peaceful life is uprooted by an unsettling tragedy. And a Breather girl whose entire world yielded to an unusual occurrence within herself, with no one to turn to for her peculiar ailment. When it seems their kingdom is on the brink of war, a mysterious woman offers them a solution, and the four Ophelians are drawn to her noble path. An unlikely alliance. Underlying motives. A dangerous weapon. Yet one thing is clear: if they do not rise up to meet this looming threat, then the fate of their people and the lives they yearn for will be in jeopardy. ---------- The first novel in a working series. Written by two co-authors under one account. Chapters are aimed to be released every Friday and Sunday.
8 173VOID REQUIEM
Void Requiem follows the story of Ken Kawasaki, an enthusiastic young human who aspires to become the freest man alive. In a universe filled with mystical supernatural powers and beings, he finds himself to be an ordinary mere human. That is until his soul accidentally bonds with one of the most sacred pieces of an ancient power; The Emerald. With significant power also comes a substantial burden as a mysterious requiem echoes throughout his mind, torturing him mentally and driving the need to find an answer to his misery. Despite the drawback, he isn't one to step back from his path thanks to his determined personality as he moves on to achieve his dream. Somewhere along the way, he finds uncanny friendships, allies, and much more. With each of his friends having a goal of their own, as they travel together throughout the universe trying to fulfill their own dreams and solve the mystery of this Void requiem! [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 125Quiet Tales of a Forgotten Reaper
This is Bob. Bob is a reaper. Here to claim souls and tell stories. Bob likes telling stories. (Wait. Hold up. Stop right there. Hi I'm Bob nice to meet you. My author tries to be funny. But you know try and try again right? I will be the one telling you the stories not this guy. Hopefully you will enjoy them. Anyway I suppose I will let him continue.)I won't bore you with the small details. Lest we forget that Bob is the one telling the stories here. However some things must be known. There are multiple stories each with it's own theme. The Intro is basic and there is not much to it. Senna is a girl in a fantasy world. Oh and I am the Author. It's nice to meet you.A.N. The cover right now is just a temp pic i drew a while back i will be posting a new one eventually.
8 268Other-Terrestrial Episode 1 - "Leviathan"
The Sapient Union city-ship Craton, twenty-five light years out from Sol have an encounter with a terrifying life-form. The giant entity, known as a Leviathan, has been asleep for deep ages of time, but now . . . they may have woken it up. Other-Terrestrial is a hard sci-fi story with cosmic horror elements.
8 104Gray's Crucible
“The value you have brought to trade is immense, more than a thousand fold what any other traveler to Crucible has ever produced. More than even I produced during my journey.” The old man paused for a moment here, seemingly reluctant to continue. After a few seconds he begins again with weariness creeping into his voice. “As the Messenger of Crucible I have received the value of your life. You shall be awarded a body with potential equaling the value you have brought to this place in accordance with the laws of the higher realms. Now you shall depart for Crucible, but first; I, Jaze, will give you some advice.” The old man, Jaze, he had named himself paused a time. Time enough that Gray began to wonder if he was still present, when he suddenly continued in a low and serious tone, “You will undoubtedly have great potential Gray of Earth, but it is still only potential. What could be is not necessarily what will be. If you step foolishly in my world, if you can not live up to the potential you have bartered for, Crucible will crush you mercilessly and tear away your very soul.” A thought, cheerful and light was heard from Gray before his presence was sent rocketing away like a shooting star. “I’m looking forward to it.”
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