Dum and Dee are sat in the Retreat enjoying a cold ale after their shift.

"So, when are you gonna tell Mystique how you feel?" Dum smiles at Dee who instantly starts waving his arms.

"I don't have feelings for her. Why would you say that?" he questions right back.

"Come on, Dee. Everytime we cross them on shift change you barely say a word. Nevermind holding eye contact either as yer always staring at the ground," he explains with simplicity the events that have brought him to this conclusion.

"It's... It's not like that. She's just... Well.. She's..." Unable to finish his sentences Dee begins to stutter and Dum breaks out into laughter at his friend's expense.

"Sounds like someone's having a good time over here. What are you laughing at?" Talia interrupts as she has spotted Dum's empty mug and is now slightly curious as to what he finds so funny.

"Nothing," Dee cries out in embarrassment before his partner reveals the gossip to the curious Taskmaster.

"Oh, that's some juicy information. What are you going to do, Dee?" she smiles innocently whilst refilling Dum's drink.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Now, if you two don't mind," turning redder than a fire dragon's flame, Dee hurries out of the Retreat before the two remaining people can say another word on the subject. Not that either of them would have been able to as they're both in stitches over Dee's childlike response.

"Aww. What a softy," Talia sighs, after she has calmed down.

"Yeah, but he's the best guy I know." Dum smiles as he thinks about the various scenarios that he and his partner have found themselves in.

"You're a big softy as well I see," raising her eyebrows at Dum she gives him a heart-melting smile and her voice is a melody to his ears. Any logical thoughts that had been drifting around his head crumble to her tune.

"Huh? Er... No?" confused and caught off guard by Talia's feminine wiles, he stumbles through an answer only to earn himself a greater smile.

"I'm... Well... I'm... I'm a real man... You know?" Dum finishes, sounding less confident with each word, before he turns the same colour Dee had just been previously sporting.

"Oh? Of course you are sweetie," she keeps on smiling at Dum. To him, her eyes are like a clear summer sky without a cloud in sight and his heart beats in passion.

"Well, I should... Er... I should go see where... Where Dee got too. Yeah!" downing his ale he slams the mug down and runs to the door.

"I'll... I'll erm... See you later, Talia. Bye. " Dashing from the Retreat with as much speed as Dee, Dum hurries after his partner. Jumping inside at Talia's words, he sets off to find the person he considers to be his brother. He needs to inform him of his own new-found crush.

If he can't share this news with Dee, then who is he going to share it with?

Dungeon Stories Volume 1

Aside from all my new fabulous feature-and-creature upgrades, I now find myself at Level 31.

I feel as though I should be proud of that number. Sadly though, ever since the death of the Expert and his men, I have only gained one extra Level.

That's right. Just one.

Light and Dropper catapulted me from Level 15 all the way up to 30 with their shocking deposit of a single elf. Granted he was Level 31 himself.

First Time Acquisition Bonus:

29DP 29XP

New Loot Acquired:

Elven Bow: 120DP

Elven Dagger: 80DP

Reinforced Traveler's Garb: 50DP

Reinforced Traveler's Boots: 40DP

Elven Absorption Bonus:

21,000DP 21,000XP

Aelion The Woodwalker:

Level 31 Woodwalker 210,000 XP

Thanks to their ever-surprising offering, I now feel incredibly strong. Or what I consider to be incredibly strong anyway. I hadn't even made it to the twenties as a human but check me out now, Anya. I'm rocking the 30's!

Dungeon Core Abi Level 32:

2586/4400XP until next level

6 Floors

58 Rooms

62 Tunnels

162 Monsters

2 Contract Monsters

88 Traps

3488/1750 DP Available

I'm no longer a human but that no longer matters. I mean, who'd grumble over specifics like that when faced with these stats?

Getting to Level 30 as a human is no easy feat. Once you hit level 20, the XP needed to level up is multiplied by ten. Unless you join a party to venture out with to search for strong monsters, you'll find levelling much slower closer to the main cities. Most adventurers and city dwelling guards never make it to 30.

I struggle from time to time getting my head around my own XP increases and I still need to ask where Light and Dropper keep picking up these fortuitous bounties. I've had them completing Syndicate missions recently, the same as Noir and Carrie, as I need to catch up on all my new unlocked features.

Me explained the amounts of XP that I have acquired so far to reach the criteria for each Level and how it will keep progressing. His lecture went on for a while and he had to repeat a good majority of sections a few times before it finally stuck in my head. The only thing I don't understand now, is why it's set out the way that it is in the first place.

For me and my monsters the XP that's needed to Level up increases every five levels. This is much different than what I already know about the other species of Tironia. For me to level up as fast as I have been doing, I need to absorb people at the same level as myself or stronger.

In a way it feels as though I've been placed at a disadvantage, especially when you consider that the XP I need increases more often than 'every' other species does.

Seeing how I'm progressing faster than I have ever done before, I haven't complained about this matter to Me either.

Not once.

Anyway.

In my short life the two Rogues who became my first scouting party never cease to amaze me. I find myself wishing to go with them at some point, just to be able to see them work. Sadly, that will probably never happen and I'll have to catch them in action on home turf.

The next time we're attacked, they won't be paralysed by Categoriser magic, hopefully.

Best case scenario is that there won't be a next time, but I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket. Not for all the gold in Tira. As Kat so rightly pointed out before, humans can be bat shit crazy sometimes and not worth the effort I'm trying to put it. She did however go on to praise my efforts and noble intentions, boosting my ego a great deal.

Hehe. Helping out humanity does make me sound quite benevolent, right? A person of great stature and Nobility, maybe?

What do you think, Me?

It is your story.

Yes it is but you are also a part of it. You know what, Me? I feel really good right now.

Well then, if that is the case, how about spending some points?

That's a good idea. I suppose I am almost full again.

What's next though?

What about acquiring some land outside the dungeon? I am rather curious as to how much space you will receive from using that feature.

I unlocked Land Acquisition many, many features ago and to be honest, I forgot about it. Aswell as some of the other unlocks I have yet to use. I couldn't afford to splurg 1000DP before but now that I can, let's see what it will give us.

Fantastic idea, Me.

Teleporting to my entrance, I float as close to the opening as possible before being stopped by an invisible barrier.

Stupid restrictions.

Even if a Core could leave the dungeon it's not as though we could do anything outside the confines of our bodies. The thought of being stuck inside my walls for the rest of my days is disheartening, luckily though I'm not alone in this endeavour that I call my life. My mind is soothed as I picture the faces of Kat and the others, I purchase the land just outside my would-be jail cell.

The grass and soil that surround the entrance to my dungeon begin to shine a sublime golden yellow. The trees, roots and stones in the immediate area are also wrapped in the same incandescent glow. As this is happening, I can almost feel myself growing in size. It's the same feeling I get when I place a new floor but yet at the same time it's slightly different.

"Woah! Why is everything glowing?" Kat and Ali appear from behind and scare the crap out of me with their arrival. I was zoned in on the sight before me to even notice them.

"I've just bought the land outside my entrance so that I can hopefully build on it and expand my town. Also, in the future, please let me know you're coming beforehand so that you don't give me a heart attack."

"Can Dungeon Cores have heart attacks? It doesn't seem very likely," Kat is quick to point out my fakery with a cynical look plastered on her face.

"They most certainly can," I begin...

They most certainly can not.

... before Me shuts me down.

"Hehe, thanks, Me." Kat calls to her accomplice in the shaming of Abi. This event leaves me a little flabbergasted as that was the first time anyone has spoken directly to Me in my presence.

Abi just has a vivid imagination.

He told me before that he could communicate with anyone I summon. I've never actually seen him do it until now though and technically Kat is contracted, not summoned.

Not that I could list the differences between the two.

"Hey, it's not like that. I just enjoy a good joke," Kat smiles as she places her arms around my ball of light. Just recently, I've been able to feel her touch. This isn't the first time she has embraced me over these last few days. Maybe it is because she's comfortable here as Me pointed out before.

"Also, I didn't know dungeons could take control of land outside their... Well, dungeon. In fact, I don't think anyone knows that," she's quite shocked at the newest of revelations that I've laid on her since she was contracted to me.

"To be honest, Kat, neither did we. Me thinks that because I was a human before I became a Dungeon Core, that's likely the reason for all my strange features," I let her in on another secret from my past. We've grown quite close recently and I'm slowly revealing more and more about myself to her.

She didn't run away after seeing Samantula so hearing any information about the current me, or the person I used to be, is hardly distressing compared to the scary hairy that protects me.

Kat stands there watching nature radiate beautifully as it slowly begins to fade and I float there with her. Wrapped between her arms, I'm also watching as I'm able to see the land perfectly now that I own it. Me and Ali also watch on in stunned silence.

The area returns to how it looked before it beamed life. It appears to be no different than it was and it sets off a little spark of worry inside me. I phase through Kat's arms and begin to inspect my new area.

The trees haven't improved in any way and are still regular old trees. Likewise with the grass and soil, everything on the ground looks like... well, just ground. Nothing special. This isn't the important part however. What is important is the fact that I'm now outside my walls.

Hehehe. I'm not trapped anymore!

Ecstatic, I turn back towards my dungeon and family but instead of heading in, I am taken back by another new sight that has captivated my attention.

The mountain, that I was sure wasn't a mountain but more of a large hill with a cave in it, is absolutely massive and most definitely, a mountain. Instantly, I'm filled with questions but this isn't anything new at this point, so I don't even bother to ask.

If I had a DP for every question I had, I'd be a rich Core.

The large erogenous rock that houses me is the single, most beautiful and without a doubt the strangest thing I've ever seen.

And I've seen Sam and Peaches.

I can now finally see my home in all its glory and I'm lost for words. The strange colours that appear, scattered around the dark coloured stone, are vibrant and magnificent. Little forests of pink, red, and orange trees, litter the hard outer shell of my dungeon.

Wow.

I'm glad you said it. I know you don't know, so don't think I'm asking you when I say this but how the hell is that even possible?

I'm getting used to hearing you question yourself these days and I have begun to tell the difference between them. However, I wish I could answer that question with facts and actual knowledge as I also want to know how the hell that happened.

Returning to my senses after my brief view of wonder, I notice Kat is still standing inside the entrance and didn't come out with Ali. Knowing that she's still a little distressed over past events I float back over to try and ease her worry.

She should be able to appreciate her master's beautiful mountain too, right?

https://i.imgur.com/rRX3WVt.jpg

Link to a hand-drawn map.

Please go easy on me, my artwork is not the best.