Uno

The humans were descending. Agnes took the lead, still however allowing Tinna to take a long and thorough look at every stone step on her way down.

A wise notion.

This also gave me an idea to add some traps to the stairs? There was this weird compulsion that usually stopped me from implementing them, but the deeper I was the weaker it seemed.

According to Princess order, the Swords of Hope walked down the stairs in a tight formation and safely arrived at the “greeting room” as I started to call it. I left it alone and focused on the other chambers in return, thus creating another rest spot for the sentients.

Tinna wasn’t however in a mood to leave anything to the chance and as such adventurers slowly crawled forward just behind her back, matching slow and deliberate steps.

Only to end up in the Central Pond Room.

What?

I never said that I was good at naming!

At least the people entering didn’t have this fading, big letters sprawled right in their faces…

Valley of Drakes

Undead Burg

Lost Izalith

Firelink Altar

Central Pond Room

Yeah… Nope.

The place was just like the name suggested - teeming with life, full of white-silver trees and strange bone ferns growing in a chaotic way all over the pond visible in the center. The air was surprisingly dry thanks to my lichen conquering every wall available. Maybe I should prepare another species to compete with it? Something preferably not white, silver or grey. The whole chamber looked pretty nice under the bright, but cold light provided by the large Electrical Chandeliers sprinkled around the ceiling. They had this strange, natural irregularity, creating sections of brighter and darker patches.

Bed of copper grass screeched under the soles of their boots as the invaders walked a few meters into the metal forest before suddenly stopping, noticing the water surface. A large mass of water was teeming with a few types of monsters I added. There were Erosion Rays frolicking underwater and freely growing dirty green Drowning Man Razors or even piss-yellow Acidic Freshweeds. There were also other, Anima-free creations with similar colors, but without any of special properties reserved for Uno-made creatures. They somehow made their way down from the stream originating in the Underground Lake. The more shocking revelation was however that one or two even managed to mutate and survive - even thrive! - in the poisoned fluids that my “pond” was made from.

In the end, while parts of the Central Pond Room were covered in all kinds of metallic flora and brimmed with life the water itself had a dirty and toxic feel, mostly because of its dangerous inhabitants. The place as a whole had limited visibility, making for a nice ambush location, while also gently pushing the adventurers away to explore the four branching tunnels (not counting the one they came from).

It was all of course because my fake core was hidden deep under its surface.

Not that it mattered much right now.

Anyway.

I gave an order to attack as soon as the adventurers advanced into the chamber. While they just stood there, staring at both shiny plants and small animals moving my Lebir Exploders started to arise from various hidden holes and from behind tree trunks and began to run.

It was the best quality of the undead. They didn’t need to breathe, they didn’t question my plans and they had nothing against suicidal orders.

Perfect soldiers.

It took a second or two for the sentients to recognize them as dangerous. After all, there were Blue Hoppers, Dragonflies and other small fauna I created in order to liven this place up. All of them moving, rustling and hunting one another.

And to tell the truth, fifteen undead running forward, while looking like they were auditioning for the position of an Olympic torchbearer wasn’t the most menacing sight in the world. Especially since each of them had fallen at least once. I still thanked my luck that none of them fell and then exploded. My surprise would get ruined otherwise.

That’s why the line of advancing, blue-colored undead already made it half-way when Tinna started to shout in a panic:

“Incoming enemies! Prepare!”

“Intercept!” Barked Peter, leaving her, Lone Mountain, Boulder, and Agnes to do their job.

“They’re running weirdly! Something doesn’t add up!” Commented half-orc, eyeing their clumsy movements. “Surely the dungeon knows that something on this level won't stop us?” He snorted. “We killed its Floor Guardian, for Brighton’s sake!”

“You’re right! There must be something else… something that we overlooked!” Shouted Agnes, nervously swinging her weapons in preparation for the fight. “Wait! My skill is telling me something…”

She focused, retreating a bit behind the defender’s line.

And this saved her life.

True to his orders Boulder smacked a Lebir Exploder right in the head, intercepting his advance and burying the poor creature into the ground. It would work, normally, but his luck seemed to run out and the Electric Stick still managed to touch the volatile metal, while falling helplessly on the ground.

The effect?

*booom*

An explosion that stunned the man and blinded him.

“I c-can’t seeeee! Heeeelp!” He screamed while attacking anything that approached him.

“More incoming! Dodge!” Agnes commanded, her voice once more growing hoarse. It was however too late. Princess people couldn’t hear her through the explosions and the dust and wooden splinters both hurt and separated every invader.

Then a few more explosions happened and suddenly most of them were out there - alone, and facing an unknown weapon. And these Lebirs were only a first wave. The second one started from a bit farther but should arrive in thirty seconds tops.

A few of the perks of the undead - inexhaustible stamina.

“Is everybody alright?” Agnes shouted into the air, trying once again to take control over the situation. “Retreat to the stairs! We can’t deal with these things!”

“Retreat!” Repeated Peter, hot on her tail.

“Don’t leave me!” Screamed back Boulder, blood flowing from his eyes.

“Move, move, move!” The mages were already retreating. Shadow mage was first to run, Eve also turned her back on the rest of the team in order to reach the stairs sooner. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Boulder's angry and fearful silhouette, but she shook her head and moved away.

“INCOMING!” Tinna screamed once again seeing the not-so-comical-anymore shape of undead waddling through the ferns and smoke. “Get back, sir!” She directed her words at the Charles who, surprisingly, was moving forward, not backward.

“We need to get the half-orc back!” He shouted back.

“Our orders are different! SIR!” She responded, her body tensed and fearful. Yet she held still. “RETREAT!”

“No! I need to--!”

“As one of the Hawks, I order you to turn back, sir! You’re much more valuable than any of us!” Tinna took out a weird brooch with a symbol of the bird with its wings open. Like it was preparing to take into the air.

Charles's face changed to shock, curiosity and then anger.

“I don’t care for the Kingdom's special forces!” He screamed loudly enough to spray some saliva on the thief’s face. “I am saving that man and there is nothing that----!” His words were cut short as the handle of Tinna dagger robbed him of consciousness. She turned her head only to see advancing undead. “Lone Mountain! Take him back!” Her eyes burned with conviction. “PLEASE! I’ll block them!”

Hearing that the tall woman hesitated and, after muttering a short curse, turned back to drag the fire mage to the safety.

At this moment the next wave of Lebirs arrived, their weak eyes focused on the warrior trashing in the front. And the rogue right behind him. Boulder was, however, closer to them than the girl, which sealed his fate.

An undead lunged forward with its Electric Stick kept high in the air.

*booom*

One

*booom*

after

*booom*

another…

*booom*

Their combined effort turned towards the orc’s annihilation and they continued to self-destruction until he stopped screaming... and only after a pile of flesh and metal pieces remained.

[Tasty!] I screamed in delight feeling the devoured energy. This was… something else entirely! These scrawny half-elves couldn't even compare! [Would that be insensitive if I’ll say that he tasted like pork?] I giggled, overcome with ecstasy.

My mind returned a few seconds later.

[That’s good stuff.] I mumbled. [But too much of it and I don’t know what’ll happen…]

In these few moments even more Lebir Exploders arrived. Tinna turned towards the incoming attackers and weaved through their lines like a goddess of war. My undead were clumsy piles of bone and iron thus an agile rogue like her easily cut their hands off, effectively disarming them.

She worked tirelessly, glancing towards the retreating Agnes. After she confirmed that the party escaped it was her turn to reach safety… and it was then when her attention slipped.

It was only a moment, a small oversight.

The electric weapon fell on the already disabled Lebir.

On the volatile, blue part to be exact.

But it was enough.

The explosion tore through the air and mangled a few meters of trees and other flora, the secondary detonations happening as both metal and weapons were strewn in every direction.

Soon the dust cloud had fallen leaving only thoroughly plowed earth and scattered pieces of meat. The rest of the invaders retreated in time, not even looking back in their panicked return to the first floor.

Save from Agnes who took a long, grudge-filled look at her fallen companions and my undead until she quickly retreated.

[That one will be trouble.] I mused quietly.

And then I turned my attention to the survivor.

Tinna was very unlucky.

The explosion mangled her left leg and arm, pretty much leaving only stumps intact. Her cute, small face was scarred and bloodied, the same with parts of her torso. The armor shielded parts of her flesh from the explosion, but pieces of shrapnel - from my undead and her own broken down defenses were embedded in her body.

But she was alive.

And I made sure that she remained as such, giving the appropriate orders to my minions. A tourniquet isn’t really that hard to make, especially with people (undead) who have opposable thumbs.

I wanted to quietly celebrate my successful defense when a familiar green and red mana flux appeared in my dungeon. While I planned to check on the adventurers and maybe do some peeping… I mean - the tactical reconnaissance - it seemed like much bigger trouble appeared on my doorstep.

And right I was.

Soon a pair of twins appeared from the thin air. Like before one of them was blonde, with long hair, modest figure and piercingly accusatory blue eyes. Like before “the left one” as I called her in my mind was wearing a one-piece dress both humble and tempting. “The right one” looked similar, yet different. The shape of her body and face was the same, but burned, scarred, tortured. Her was the red hair and eyes dark, deep like the blackest night.

And yet they were one - a Goddess called Gangria, a part of the triumvirate of gods still residing in this dying world.

Unlike earlier they took one look at me, at my Exploding Lebirs standing at the ready, at the husk of the Tinna, the rogue being dragged over and the shouting had already started.

[Are you retarded?] “The left one” asked gently, like a child looking at an ill puppy.

[Do yOu wiSH tO bEcoMe liKE YOur mIndLeSs pRedEceSsorS?!] “The right one” screamed right at my core.

[It’s really weird how you use your gifts, Uno.]

[WhY dO yOU oVeRusE tHe ANIMA oN SucH tRiFleS!]

[What did I do wrong?] I whispered under their vocal and mental attack.

The twins looked at each other, sighing deeply. They shook their heads for a moment, communicating without words and soon “the left one” stepped forward.

[We appeared in your dungeon because you nearly managed to kill the Geinard Kingdom weapon.]

[wE tEnD tO kEeP wATch oVEr oUR eNeMIes.]

[And when we arrived we noticed this…]

[...aBoMinATioN!]

[I still don’t understand what are you talking about… can you please explain?] I was getting a really bad feeling about this conversation. What they were getting at? Was playing with undead a taboo now too? Or was it something else?

Fuck.

It was something else, right?

The twins nodded again and “the left one” started.

[It will take a while, but I’ll explain.] She bowed lightly, like a child making a performance for her parent’s sake. [What do you know about magic?] She asked and I noticed that “the right one” disappeared somewhere.

[Not much… Ummm, where is your sister?] I asked nervously.

[She’s interested in your prisoner. Answer my question.]

[Oh, Tinna. I see. Well... you press the button and the magic comes out? Using… mana?] She looked at me in exasperation.

[iDiOt!] A faraway voice echoed in the chamber.

[Let’s just start from the beginning then. A short version.] She nodded to herself and somehow I understood that her expectations turned a bit lower. [Mana is everywhere. It’s an invisible substance that penetrates every being, thing - simply a lifeblood of our world. Long ago people of the world discovered that by using it they can bridge the impossible. They can command the elements, shape the world and kill each other.] Her last words had a hidden viciousness in them.

[The gods didn’t think much about this power at the beginning. They were beings of faith and it was their sustenance and their power. However, as the mortals grew the need for the gods diminished.] A cruel smile appeared on her face. [And so the gods panicked. They debated with each other, trying to avoid the fate of starving to death…]

[Magic?] I whispered, seeing as she deviated from the topic.

[Yes. But the gods were lucky. You see, the people who took in the power of mana in their bodies started to get twisted. It was slow at first. An angry outburst here from the fire mage, an unfounded suspicion from the dark mages, the laziness from the earth mage… and so on.] She shook her head, blonde hair once again swaying in the invisible wind. [And then the war happened. Beings as powerful as gods, but not quarter as sane clashed. The world was nearly destroyed.]

[The end?]

[No. The story repeated itself - mages grew in power, they grew unstable… gods needed the new solution. And they found one - the System and the cores.]

[What are they?] I asked, full of curiosity.

[They’re a type of a filter prepared for the gods to keep the mana influence away. It stops the assimilation of one’s element and gives time to cope with it. Also by severing the ability to freely take in the mana in one’s body it stops the catastrophe that already happened twice.]

[The Second Empire?] I asked.

[Yes.] A sharp and concise answer. Against all hope, I tried again.

[Can you--?]

[No. It’s not important and my time is limited. Now.] She clapped her small hands to gain my attention. [The dungeon cores were made differently.]

[How?] I asked dreading the answer.

[They take the mana directly, as did the wizards of old.] Her smile turned mischievous.

[Where does that put me?] My question was filled with dread.

[Can’t you at least puzzle out that part by yourself?] She pouted, but I only begged quietly.

[Please. There is something wrong with me. I know it. But I can’t really understand why.]

*sigh*

[What is your Element?] She asked pretending to be a teacher asking questions during the test.

[Anima.]

[What is Anima?]

[An essence of truth?]

[Yes. And what the element does to the one using it?]

[It permeates? Assimilates? But what does that mean to me?!] I felt the rush of the adrenaline, something long absent from my crystal mind. [PLEASE. TELL ME!]

[YOu’Re nO fUn!] Another voice answered. [To pUT iT sImPLy - yOUr rEaL bOdy is a cRysTaL mAdE aS a sLaVE tO gODsssss…] She hissed her last words.

[And because of that each time you use your Anima to breach the realms of impossibility, to create these toys…] She pointed towards my duct-taped undead. [You get a bit closer to the truth of your body. The unchanging crystal whose layers turn stale with each spell you cast, each monster you make. To turn you into the end into a slave. A machine. A tool.] With each word her smile grew wider and wider, more and more resembling her sister.

[Why are you telling me this?] I asked, full of suspicion.

[YoU’Re a nICe diStRacTiON!]

[We already got all the pieces in place. Would you believe that we just enjoy seeing you squirm?]

[Why?!] For the first time both of them stopped smiling. After a long and heavy silence, the "right one answered".

[WoUlD yOU bEliEvE tHaT We’Re loNEly?] Her voice echoed in the shadows and their forms started to disappear.

[Wait, please! I have questions!] My words were only answered with two distinct chuckles.

[Later! Have fun!]

[I LeFT yOU a pReSEnt!]

Eh…

What present?

As if to answer my confusion a woman’s scream tore through the dungeon.