Uno

Most of the preparations for surfacing were already done. My core was safely stored, the fake displayed in the flashiest way possible and a guardian made. There wasn’t much more that I could do, maybe some finishing touches here or there, upgrading Drones and even Lebirs in the spare time. I was consciously trying to delay the inevitable - breaching the surface.

There was not much choice, I knew it, being blocked from further progression otherwise, but the simple knowledge that it couldn't be undone…

It was like this feeling in an RPG when I was greeted by an ominous message “You are reaching a point of no return.” - it would always force me to run around, checking for the smallest things I might have missed. To get the full experience otherwise locked behind these dreadful words.

Of course, the situation was totally different, but I couldn’t help myself. It was something I was used to doing after all.

That’s why the Drones were getting a small overhaul, while I wondered if there was anything else that escaped my mind.

I was hesitating between making them sturdier by adding a layer of stone or focusing on damage by reforging their arms and legs into a more “spiky” appendages. In the end however defense won - they weren’t made to attack adventurers, but rather to keep the dungeon in the best shape and dig even deeper. The System, in turn, acknowledged my changes as a different monster race.

Stone Anima Drone

Dungeon drone made from iron and stone by a strange Dungeon core. It has a basic ability to move, function, excavate, transport and attack. It's slow, but very durable and usually stays passive even when attacked. It uses a claw-like arm to dig and a scoop-like appendage to gather material.

All Drones are connected to each other, making them one large organism. Drones are incapable of moving outside limits of the Dungeon core influence that spawned them unless some modifications are included.

Threat level: E

So they were now slower, but more durable? Good trade. In a few hours I forced the change on all my Drones, turning them into a bit more formidable monsters.

There was also an idea to give mouths to my most loyal soldiers - Lebirs, but I was just getting started on it when familiar mana swirled in the dungeon.

It was, of course, a type of energy that Gods used. And since one specific Goddess wanted to talk with me… the result was clear. Gangria was coming.

I relaxed, waiting for her first words and my non-existent heart nearly stopped when something manifested in my core room. In my real core room, I might add!

The air changed and suddenly an influx of mana swirled in the middle of the room, green and red mixing to form a shape. No - two shapes. First silhouettes appeared, like somebody was molding clay, then in a span of few seconds details were added, like some painter decided to create two girls out of thin air. They appeared and their first reaction was to look with the same crooked smile at my bare dungeon room.

The left one seemed to be about twelve years old, with long, flowing blonde hair, modest figure and piercing blue eyes. She wore a one-piece dress with blue and white accents. Her angelic visage would surely move people to protect her smile.

The right one seemed similar to the first girl, but her features were distorted, with skin burned in places, hair turned red and eyes black, like the darkest abyss. She was also blind on one eye and sported a long scar starting at her eye and ending somewhere on her waist. She also wore the once white dress, now stained with blood in some places and burned to cinders in others. Small black horns were also growing on her forehead - nearly invisible under her hair.

Yet there was no doubt that this pair were twins once. Or still, are? Curious.

They too looked over my black onyx and stared at it for the moment. Then, like they heard some silent command both girls inclined their heads and spoke in my mind.

[Hello, oh young dungeon core...] Spoke the angelic one.

[...wE wElCOme yoU To tHE wORld of YANA.] Burned one finished her thought.

[Who the hell are you people?] I answered in exasperation, forcing a giggle out of the girls. Their voices melted into one.

[Why. wE’Re tHe goddESS who contacted yOu. Gangria is my/our name.] Both of them smiled at the same time. It looked both horrific and sweet.

[No, no, no. Wait a moment. Gangria is two people?!] Another bout of a laugh. I really dislike when people do this, skirting the topic of conversation. [Answer me. Please.]

[It’s complicated. We were nOT alWaYS liKE tHaT.] A glimpse of sadness appeared in their eyes and disappeared as fast as it was born. [We are Gangria. I aM GanGRia. That is all tHaT yOU nEeD to know.] They stared in defiance at my core, keeping silent after that.

[So you are.] I sighed internally. Remember Uno, whatever their forms were they’re still Gods. Probably powerful enough to wipe you out of existence. Control yourself. [Then let me start anew. My name is Uno and I’m a Dungeon core of this place. Welcome to my humble abode, what is the reason for your visit?] I asked while trying to keep my mental speech leveled and calm.

[We are sEEkInG alLiES.] They spoke in unison.

[I don’t understand.] If I had head I would be shaking it right now. [Aren’t Gods on the same side? Trying to save civilization? To push back the savages?] Their faces were turning dark with each word. In a flash of inspiration, I added. [To keep the System in place?] My last words seemed to be a trigger.

[SYSTEM! THEIR PRECIOUS SYSTEM!] A scream shrill and powerful reverberated through my dungeon. [THEY STOLE IT FROM US! FORCED IT ON US!]

[TRAITORS!]

[THIEVES!]

[EGOISTS!]

The screams continued for a while until both girls finished with their “performance”. My minions were getting stressed out, since it seemed like their emanations weren’t blocked by iron, stone nor dirt, echoing in their heads.

[Let’s start fRoM thE beGiNNiNg.] They seemed to calm down already, so I just listened. [First. Gods need faith to live. AnD tO PeRfoRm mIrACles. Do you think that civilization lacking nOtHing is the perfect sTatE to gaTHeR fAith?] They asked, staring at me.

[No. I don’t think so.]

[Right. Now then the state of the world after the first magical war allowed the remaining Gods to harvest whatever faith was left without problems. wE weRe rIch in eNeRGy. That was however only if the status quo was kept.]

[And it wasn’t?]

[On the ruins of the old, magical empire a new civilization was born. One uTiLizInG not only mAgIC, bUt aLSo TecHNOlogy. So in response, the Gods forced it to seLF-dEStruct.]

[What?! That wasn’t what I’ve heard from them.]

[Bah!] The girls snorted at me. [Obviously! Why should they tell you that they’re tRyIng tO sAVe the world fRoM their OWN MISTAKE!] The amount of hatred at the end of that sentence was too much. Now I wonder if these girls have their own stake in this world.

[Aren’t you two Gods too?]

[We’re different! Our authority was drained. StOLeN! To create this System, which controls the people of the world! Ah, but iT aLsO gIveS uS a bIt oF pOwER. That’s why we’re going to trade that power. ThAT kNowLeDge! tO yoU! Or some of it. After all, a footsoldier doesn’t need to know why is he fighting. Not until he grows strong enough.] Blue Gangria sent me a wink at the end of that monologue.

Well, they say that there was no evil knowledge or technology, only the purpose you use it for. And I certainly wasn’t going to let that chance slip by. More so because my “guardians” were leaving me out here alone and without any help. If not for Daniel I would be completely in the dark.

And now this whole situation grows more and more complicated?! I just wanted to build my dungeon and be left in peace. All this creating stuff and planning the tunnels seemed fun. Like Dwarf Fortress type of fun! Why add politics?!

[And what can a humble dungeon core like me do for the omniscient Goddess?] I asked with only a small dose of sarcasm. It seemed like it was a bad move.

[Do not PATRONIZE US, mortal!] They screamed again, their shrill voices piercing my mind. [We were here long before your creation and WILL BE LONG AFTER YOU TURN INTO DUST!]

[All right, all right, I’m sorry!] I answered desperately and they stopped...

[Good.] Like a switch was flipped. [KnOw yOuR pLaCe.]

[So, how about the answer to my question?]

[It’s simple. Just kill the sentients that they send here. It’s in your best interest, really.]

[Well neither Mirabelle nor Brighton didn’t tell me to not kill them. So I guess it's okay?]

[Good. In time stronger sentients may be coming to explore your realm. It is, after all, an interesting place.] The angelic one whispered softly. [It reminds me of the Second Empire.] Then a burned one spoke. [I mAy hAVe sOmE moRe IntERestInG oRdeRs iN tHE fUTurE. iF yOu SurViVe.]

[Ummm… sure?] If I had a face I would wear a crooked smile right now. There was nothing better than getting caught in a conflict that you didn’t understand.

Haaaaah.

[Then, before we leave. tWo pIeCes oF adViCe.]

[Yes?]

[If you want to experiment on the sapients then do it somewhere where even A gOd cAnnOt sEe yOu. You can’t produce nor modify them anyway since they have a divine link in their souls. To gather faith. Removing it would alert the Gods and then these prudes would declare you a Rogue Dungeon in no time.] A wide, much too-wide smile appeared on their faces. [And then they would CRUSH YOU LIKE A BUG.]

[I-I see. A-and the second piece of advice?] Scaaaaary.

[It would be a great time to surface right now~~] They ended their thought with a mental whistle.

[Why?]

[It’s a seeeecret~~~! Don’t you believe us?] Their smile was back, still creepy as ever. Yeah. No. It seemed suspicious as hell. I’ll just wait until they leave and then slowly and… [What are you waiting for? DO IT NOW!] Shit. No choice then?

[I see. Then it’s time to break through the last layer?] I sighed and gave the command. At least she will help me… Or so I was thinking, as Gangria avatars started to disappear. [Going already?] I asked with a bitter feeling.

[Yup. hAvE fUn! We don’t need weak chess pieces, so try not to dIE!]

As soon as they finished their little speech I had multiple intruders in the stairway. Undead, humans, even elves and some animals.

What the hell was going on up there?!