I awaken to a dreary restless mood. One no brighter than the night before and the cold soft touch of death's embrace still lingers from the previous day's events.

After tossing and turning the whole night, I pull myself from the warmth and comfort of the sheet's lingering heat before I get dressed in the spare uniform that I carry for times like these.

Well, not specifically 'times like these', the memories of yesterday that haunt my mind are not the thoughts I'd had when I originally packed it away. I had thought of wearing my spare set once my current uniform needed washing or just in case it got damaged, unfortunately, both of those occurrences happened and in the worst way imaginable.

I was hoping that the contemplations of my tired mind would have left by the morning's first rays but as I view the village from my window, life now seems stained with a grey monotone that makes every thought meticulous and always ends with the same two words.

"Why me?" I whisper to myself, even though there's no one around to hear my woeful words.

How do I move forward from an event that two others seemed to brush off like dust from a table?

Staring through the dreary window, towards the depressing view of the desolate early morning street, I eventually arrive at a decision.

I need to find them.

That's the only thought I've had that isn't enveloped in the murky waters of death and disdain.

I grab my sack throwing my water flask into it from off the dresser, the remaining potions I've got left and a few vegetables I have remaining from the days gone by, before leaving the village promptly from the North Gate. I'm headed Northwest and I'm so underprepared that if I was seen by Elric, I would have my apprenticeship stripped away from me as...

It's unavoidable though, I can't bear to face anyone else at the moment, it took all the effort I had yesterday to report to the mayor before I shot off to hide away at the inn from everyone else.

With a single goal and my direction set, I begin the arduous travel back to where the horrors of yesterday began dominating my mind.

-Katrina Kartova

Droplets of water run down off the hood of the unmoving female before me.

Attempting to take shelter from the rain outside, she found herself standing inside my entrance. Long brown hair curls out from underneath each side of the hood that kept her safe during her journey. Large brown eyes, sitting atop a cute small nose, are certainly shocked at her startling discovery of the dungeon that she is on the cusp of. The cloak is light green and I've seen them many times before, I owned one similar when I was a human, back in Orad. Under the cloak she is wearing a white Protector's jacket and skirt, both garments feature a black line running down the left side from top to bottom of the two-piece uniform. Black shined shoes cover her feet and white knee-length tights serve to cover the rest of her legs. The chain of Categorisation hangs from her neck, the letter C inside of a triangle, and I suddenly feel weak upon seeing it.

As though my short life has already met its fateful end.

Crap!

"H-hello.." She says timidly to the dungeon in general as no one is in my entrance or the trap room.

My entrance is empty with only a single weak torch, lighting up my intruders fair-featured face, it's barely visible even though the room is small. The doors I had placed stop people from seeing straight through me as they enter but I should really add some type of feature in here...if I survive this person being inside me that is.

"Er, Hi.." I also reply back quite meekly.

What can I say, it's the first live person I've seen since becoming a dungeon, yet she's one of the people that decide if dungeons get destroyed or not.

What kind of twisted fate is this?

Paying careful attention to the intruder on my floor I wait curiously but filled with anticipation, but she doesn't appear to have heard me though as she hasn't made any indications of being aware of me.

"Hellooo! " I call out, but she still seems to be unaware of my presence. Either that or she is blatantly ignoring me on purpose, even though I was fairly loud that time, and it almost resurfaces the familiar anger from earlier.

Why do I keep feeling like that?

Me, why can't she hear me?

Your manifested voice is only capable of reaching the minds of your dungeon monsters. Unfortunately, that human is not one of your monsters and I suggest you kill her quickly.

What?

Why didn't you mention that crucial piece of information to me earlier?

It did not seem relevant at the time as most Dungeon Cores tend to not try communicating with humans. As I say this now though, I am reminded that you are certainly not most Dungeon Cores. You're not going to kill her either, are you?

No, I'm not going to kill her! I don't think I can anyway, I'm almost 100% sure she's a Dungeon Categorisation Expert.

The clothes, the necklace, I'm sure that's what she is.

If I attack her won't she deem me as dangerous and what about my Rogue Village plan?

You do have over 100 monsters now just so you know and is the village complete?

Damn, Me has a good argument there.

Well, no, but...

"Hello!" She seems to have grown in confidence because this time she calls out with no hesitation. "Mr and Mrs Rogue?"

Mr and Mrs Rogue?

Who the hell is that?

Whatever, I'm going to try my best to enact the awkwardly terrible plan that I have concocted for myself.

Please don't let me die, Gods. I'll stop calling you stupid.

I summon Mira, as she and Hana are the closest to the entrance, informing her to be careful when entering the room. Within less than a minute she enters the room cautiously, but confidently at the same time.

The Categoriser notices her approach and watches with a mix of fear and resignation.

"Ask her what she wants and why she's here, also why she dropped a...one sec."

I now only realise that I never actually took notice of my last notification before popping manifestation mode.

Me, what did she dump in me?

It was a backpack with two rabbits, a few vegetables, a water canteen and a couple of different types of potions.

Oh. So... I stole her supplies then?

"One more sec, Mira," I tell my Rogue Guard before purchasing one of each of the new loot items I've just obtained, I then bring it into existence on the ground between both women.

"Ok, now tell her I mean her no harm and that I didn't mean to steal her stuff." I give Mira the words needed to communicate and bam, once more, this dungeon is creating history.

I suppose it's a good thing I don't need underwear anymore.

I feel just as nervous as she looks.

Did she come here by accident whilst trying to avoid the rain?

She repeats every one of my words to the letter and the female Categoriser is even more shocked now than she was a second ago. Feeling bad over the accidental theft of her belongings, I decided to offer up a little compensation to sweeten the deal and hopefully spare myself from destruction in the process. I summon the nicest weapon I possess, the Silver Rapier that came with Talia's upgrade and I place it on the floor before telling Mira "This is extra for taking your stuff by accident, I am sorry, I'm not a bad dungeon."

Ok, I don't know why I added the last part.

Why would I even say that I'm a dungeon?

Even though the disappearing backpack and then sudden reappearance of her belongings, which are now all spread on the ground beside the pack in better condition and with bigger portion sizes than before, was a definite giveaway.

Still, what the hell am I saying, I think this is the first time I've felt nervous since becoming what I am now.

I've grown kind of accepting over becoming a Dungeon Core, even if I do still hold a candle for my former self, so I most certainly do not want this new short life to end so briefly.

I'd even miss Me if I could remember him after going through the reincarnation cycle, which probably isn't likely.

Mira relays my words once more, even with the stupid outburst at the end to the other female in my entrance, who then collapses on my floor...

I'm not going to absorb her, right?

No, she has fainted. She is not dead, yet.

Me!

This is the perfect opportunity for you to acquire more levels.

Yes, but it is also a fairly good shot to plead a case and not have to worry about another expert turning up at my door.

Your case is not as good as mine.

Why not?

In the case of her death, XP is guaranteed. If you persuade her not to have you destroyed then there is only a chance of that outcome prevailing.

Damn you can be convincing when you need to be, you may win the argument but I've got the body... or ball... whatever, you know what I mean.

I'm not killing her.

I would have guessed as much, I was just offering the suggestion.

More like you want me to do it.

That is correct, but I am only the helper. You are the Core.

See, this is what we need to talk about Me. However, once again, it will have to be shelved until I can sort out my new problem.

I have Mira and Hana carry her safely through the Trap Room to one of the suites at the Rogues Retreat, whilst making sure to ask Ali to prepare a hot meal for when she wakes up and I drop off a few of the new ingredients too.

Light and Dropper, who were sat at the bar enjoying a drink together, get given the job of sitting in on her just to make sure she comes to no harm. It's my dungeon but you can never be too careful with these experts. I don't really know what they're capable of but I always thought that they had a cool title though. I know they categorise dungeons but I'm sure they must be badass mages or excellent swordsmen, or something on those lines, just being a dungeon checker would be pretty lame after all.

Whatever they are, they could be really dangerous to me.

Time passes within the dungeon uneventfully whilst Barry ploughs away and the female expert sleeps, surrounded by the two bodyguards I have placed to keep an eye on her.

"Hey, why do you think she's here?" Light, seated on a cheap wooden chair beside the bed, asks his partner who is standing across the room gazing out and down into the Rogues Corner below. Peaches and the two Sweets are passing through but stop to chat with Tara and Lara who are headed the opposite way.

"I don't know, I just want to get stronger for the master," Dropper replies with passion, searing her words whilst watching the conversation transpire below her.

"Yeah, yeah, get stronger to please the master. C'mon Drop, let's have a proper conversation about actual stuff," he almost pleads, trying his best to get his partner to open up a little more and not have an XP related discussion.

"Like what, her?" She motions to the defenceless woman laid in the bed, tucked in snugly and by the looks of it, having the nicest dream imaginable.

No one would guess she had passed out from shock not too long ago.

"Yeah, why not, that is her from before right?" Light asks, now believing his chances have risen to forge a better connection with Dropper now showing a little interest in the conversation.

"I believe so, it's hard to tell as she is not covered in blood or naked." She carefully looks over the sleeping female, now showing an interest in her. "She's lucky I didn't kill her for the XP back then."

"I don't think the Boss would have been happy with that. It wouldn't be as bad if you did it before, but in here, you may get dismantled over something like that," he diligently points out to the female now scowling at him.

"I am not a fool, I know the rules very well and I know what 'would' or 'would not' be permitted. I was just stating the fact that she was not nearly as pretty when she was covered in blood and being plundered. Not to mention that unless she goes past the dungeon-worshipping priests I can't touch her, even if I wanted to," she snarls and returns her attention to the scene below wishing she was back outside the dungeon with the opportunity to grow stronger.

Dum and Dee arrive back at the dungeon at their allotted time and to be honest, the loot they have returned with isn't great.

Maybe I've just been spoiled recently and I'm setting the bar too high?

Dum has a collection of small woodland critters and Dee has a selection of fish he has strung on thin spikes carved from tree branches.

No monsters and no humans.

I'm actually a little sad.

All in all, I earn 11DP and 7XP but it fills my list with more low purchase options for later. I let them head in, sure that I just heard some mention of a broken dagger, before letting Coral and Mystique head out for their run.

Eventually, I will upgrade their weapons, there's just so much to do and not enough DP to do it with.

With the DP earned from Barry over the passage of time, my small income from Dum and Dee and what I had remaining from my purchases earlier, I currently have 238DP.

It's just less than a third of what I spent three hours ago but it's still a substantial amount of points and will benefit greatly my future growth as long as everything goes well.

Still a little anxious at the prospect of destruction, I'm debating adding a large number of cheap monsters to my dungeon for more defence. Seeing how everything I summon seems to be ridiculously good at combat, as well as beautiful beyond comparison, that means strength in numbers would be a good choice to make for defence.

Alternatively, do I try and spruce the rooms up that she might see to show her that I intend on trading and being hospitable to humans?

Will that even work?

I hope so.

These decisions are getting me angry because I can't seem to choose one, even after I set my law and established what direction I'm heading, I've buckled at the first live person that I've come across.

Granted I find myself in the unlucky position of the said person being a passed out Dungeon Categorisation Expert but still, I should stick to my plans and not change them. If I don't follow through then I can't say I gave it my all, can I?

Ok.

I'm composed now.

Dungeon Core Abi, ready to rock.

I choose to fill the empty room first, the one left behind when I moved Trixie and her pack to the third floor. Looking at my list, I attempt to purchase the one with the best sounding name out of the featured buildings.

The Syndicate:

80DP

An organisation that will help with the dungeon's primary objective

Reward:

Contracts

8 XP

The description isn't actually a 'half-assed system' one either. It sounds like it's on the lines of what Me said earlier, even though I still can't believe he dropped that bombshell on me.

As if dying wasn't bad enough, but being reborn to aid other people achieve greatness when I feel as though I should deserve some of that for myself, especially after what I went through, leaves me feeling a little bitter.

I push on, leaving the problem to fester and multiply with the rest of the others on my own growing personal list. Hitting confirm I realise that I haven't actually designated a room for a building to be placed.

Error...

Not that it matters, as I'm assaulted by another core shattering pain. I feel like a part of me has been ripped away or as though a hole has been made inside my gorgeous gem of a body. It's similar to the one I had with Barry, when I tried to take control of his shaft, except this time it feels much worse and I scream.

Unable to confirm purchase...

I scream as I have never screamed before.

Querying...

Not when the Geels bit my thigh and tore my flesh in the marshes northeast near Tune.

Configuring...

Not when I was slashed from behind on the way back from the mines near Denho to the south.

Rebuilding...

Not even when I woke up screaming from my terrortation session over Anya.

Complete:

New Rooms have been placed

4 Tunnels have been removed

DP has been adjusted to reflect specific changes

New Active Skill Acquired:

Divinities Creation: Level 1

The Syndicate:

Level 1

All associates earn a 10% boost to all stats regardless of location

Contracts until next level:

1

Contracts can be acquired from Taskmaster Talia

My monsters feel everything I do, shared by our connection wherever they are and if I didn't know any better I'd say the mountain shook, but it's not like I can see it to confirm this theory. They are reassured moments later though as the pain, that came all too suddenly before leaving in the same fashion, has gone as the purchase manages to complete itself and I managed to calm myself down.

I quickly check my crystal to find out that it has been heavily damaged. Multiple fragments that have broken off are lying beneath it on the floor and a large crack runs through the centre of my Core. Colin is scampering around trying his best to collect them together whilst panicking and drooling everywhere.

What the hell just happened?