Tweedledee and Mystique are sitting at a table together inside Ali's fine-dining establishment. On the central table they've been seated at is a red tablecloth with white heart-shaped serviettes placed in a symmetrical pattern on top. Oblivious to this, and everything else around them, they both enjoy their time partaking in a delightful three-course meal made by The Gourmet herself.

Earlier that day, Tweedledum had informed Ali of what was going to be happening inside her establishment that night. Being the person she is, Ali was happy to oblige and cater for the potentially first coupling of dungeon residents.

As the two infatuated scouts talk and laugh in between meals, neither of them notice Dee's companion, sitting in the corner of the busy restaurant. There's no ulterior motives or hidden agenda, Tweedledum only has his best friend's interests in mind. He may also be a little bit nosey.

Lowering the menu so that he can peak over the top of it, Dum watches for a few seconds before he turns to his own pretend-date for the evening.

"What do you think they're talking about?" he whispers.

"It's hard to tell from so far away. If you would have chosen a table that was closer, perhaps we would be able to hear them," The blue-haired woman points out Dum's mistake.

"Damn. It's too late to move now as well, he would definitely spot us. He's got good instincts my partner," Dum smiles and peeks over his menu at Dee.

"Well then, what do you suggest we do? Talia smiles at Dum's smile causing his heart to jump as it did before.

"Well, we... W-we could enjoy a meal together... Whilst observing their body language that is," Dum pulls his menu further in front of his already embarrassed face.

"I'd like that, Dum," Talia smiles again at the man behind the menu.

The evening went on and after a while Dum stopped watching Dee and instead, gave his full attention to Talia. He listened to her stories about the drunken customers that she would have to kick out of The Retreat from time to time and she listened to the exciting tales of his scouting missions.

By the time dessert had been served, eaten, and taken away, both Dum and Talia were thoroughly enjoying each other's company. Neither of them saw Dee or Mystique's smiles as they held hands and left the restaurant.

Dee did happen to notice his partner sitting in the corner with Talia but kept it to himself as he didn't want to ruin their atmosphere, or spoil his own date.

Dungeon Stories Volume 1

Once I've got my Golem out of the way, I begin the usual routine and a doorway appears that will lead to the floor below. Carrying on, the floor inside forms in a spiral staircase leading down towards my next milestone. As they magically make their way downwards, the once solid earth around them begins to push itself out into the shape of a large room. I contemplate the different floor-layout plans that I earned from the Dungeon Cores but decide against them for the moment.

May as well stick to what I know for now. These plans didn't exactly help them out in any way did they?

Not necessarily but I would suggest that you look through them in your downtime and maybe incorporate some of their designs into your own.

That's not a bad idea. Once I'm out of DP, I'll look them over. That said, I do want to try out one of these new elemental features.

The floor and room stop opening up when they reach the designated size. I decided on a large square room, as usual. I don't know why but they seem to be my favorite.

Large rooms mean a lot of travelling back and forth for adventurers searching for the correct path. Not that I have any of these so called adventurers treading my grounds yet. If I do ever find myself in that situation though, I need to make sure I'm thoroughly prepared.

As I think about the precautionary measures I'm taking against future events, nothing could have prepared me for what came next.

Error:

First Time Absorption Bonus: 1DP

Error:

Defender Level 19

1XP

Error:

Cleric Level 18

1XP

Error:

Error:

Error:

A new class has been unlocked:

Mage: 10DP

A new subclass has been unlocked:

Teacher

New features have been unlocked:

Mages Guild: 80DP

Teleportation Stone: 1000DP

A new skill has been unlocked:

Light Bender

What the fuck!?

"Abi?" A ghostly voice, one I know all too well, yet never expected to hear again, calls out to me against all the odds.

"A-Anya? W-Where are you!?" as I look around the room, there's nothing to be seen and I wonder if I've just lost my mind. If I thought I was going crazy when I became a Dungeon Core, then I don't know what level of madness I'm on now.

Am I going mad, Me?

No. I... I heard that as well. I do not know how but I definitely heard someone say your name.

That was Anya. She was my best friend. The only problem is that she's dead.

"Abi?" again my name is called out from the empty air of the dungeon causing chills to run up my non-existent spine.

There is a chance that it could be related to whatever the error was that you just absorbed. You did unlock a new human-type class and I would make an educated guess that it was someone's remains.

I remember the nightmare from my terrortation session all too well and the only people that I can think of are me, Anya and the bastard Kal.

Does that mean that I've just absorbed myself? How is that even possible? Absorbing Anya and giving her the comfort of being at peace with me I can get behind. But Kal? Fuck that guy! Can't I spit him back out?

Unfortunately not. It would also appear that all of the bodies were... less than fit for consumption, hence the small amount of XP and DP.

What do you mean 'less than fit' for consumption?

There wasn't much remaining of... Your friends.

Friend! Singular. Remember the bastard Kal I told you to watch out for? He was the level 19 Defender.

On another note, I'm getting sick and tired of all these errors. For once, it would be nice to understand what's actually happening to me.

As always, my lack of knowledge and frustration run hand-in-hand alongside my excitement.

Another elemental skill has been unlocked and it happened a lot faster than I was expecting it to. Not only that but I unlocked the teaching role for my academy and the mage class alongside it. Ignoring the rather expensive Teleport Stone, the icing on the cake is an actual guildhall.

How the hell did I get that?

Maybe I'm the lucky dungeon?

The Mages Guild: 80DP

All Mages register at the guild to discover what manner of magic they specialise in although most people already know

Int and Wis stats are boosted by 20% when a proficiency test is undertaken here

Oh, I'm so excited.

"Abi?" Again the haunting voice of my best friend calls out to me, throwing me off my game.

Do you think I could summon her? She is calling my name.

It is highly unlikely. Her soul should have already been reincarnated.

I huff in disappointment and finish off the Seventh floor layout. Multiple tunnels lead out of the main room and I fill each one with traps as I go.

Even though I started with the goal of making the floor intruder ready, the voice that keeps calling out to me is really doing a number on my mind.

"God's damn it, Anya! What do you want from me?" The building pressure finally gets to me and I can't stop myself from screaming out at the empty tunnel I'm in. Not that she replies.

Just after I create the Boss Room, she calls out to me once again and instead of responding, I teleport away to my tower. The orange sun setting in the distance slightly soothes my fragile mind now that I've removed myself from the haunted floor.

Why won't she stop saying my name, Me? I mean, I'm really happy that I can hear her voice, or I was at first, but the fact that she only repeats my name is quite disturbing. Especially when there's nothing I can do about it!

It may be related to the seventh floor in some way.

That's what I thought! I did die on the Seventh floor of the last dungeon. It could be related to that somehow.

"Abi?" As I discuss my problem with Me, the soft-chilling voice of my friend calls out to me in my tower.

Well there goes that idea.

Whatever. In time she might learn some new words. I've just got to get used to the creepiness of it.

I teleport back down to the Seventh floor and begin looking through my new list of recently acquired elemental features. I decided to try out the wind feature first and apply it to the whole floor. Dust in the main room begins to swirl as two large tornadoes build up opposite each other and slowly begin to move around slowly. The tunnels are not exempt from the elements either. Anyone trying to find the Boss Room will find themselves being pushed back due to the strong currents inside rushing to the main room.

Continuing with the theme of wind, I carefully read through my new list of monsters before adding three different varieties, all with an affinity for wind magic. Once I'm finished though, I realise that I may have added more than I needed to on this floor. I also learned some valuable knowledge regarding Mini-Bosses and my mountain.

In the main room I summoned ten Goldors, a bird-type monster able to create blades of sharp feathers that they're able to launch at their enemies. Light-brown feathers cover their entire body. After that I created their second evolution, a Galdune. The much larger bird has an incredibly-strong yellow beak, razor-sharp talons and is five times the size of a regular Goldor. Black feathers and a white chest make the creature look quite pretty to say it's a large bird. The Galdune became the first Mini-Boss of the floor and I left the bird with the rest of its underlings guarding the main room.

Once I had finished in the main room, I went with something different and summoned ten Wind Sprites and a dozen Wind Pixies. Each Sprite cost the same amount as the Galdune which means they should be equal in power, or so I would have liked to assume, but there was no Mini-Boss option and I dismissed the idea. With ten tunnels connected to the main room I sent each Sprite, which happens to look like dark clouds of wind, off to guard a single tunnel each. The Wind Pixies are pink clouds of dust, until they stop moving that is. As usual I didn't put much thought into them and they all look quite similar. Their skin is vibrant pink and they're all around 15cm tall. Fluorescent-coloured hair flows onto gorgeous white wings and cute little-outfits cover their cute little-bodies. I didn't give them specific tunnels but instead left them to decide between themselves, after I confirmed their status' as Mini-Bosses that is.

All that was left was the Boss Room and I spared no expense beefing up my security. Ten Harpies, a half-lady half-bird monster, is how I started. This was followed by another ten of their evolved form, The Siren. These women are more human than bird. All ten have black hair and even-blacker wings and barely a shred of clothing between them.

I remember that Me said I could have as many Mini-Bosses as I wanted, so all ten Sirens earned the title. During that, I felt a little strange and hearing Anya calling out to me was already throwing me off my game, so I ignored the feeling like a boss.

After that, I confirmed the next evolution in the Harpy line, The Temptress, as the Boss of the floor. She isn't as strong as some of my other monsters, especially not the Rogues, but her strength lies elsewhere. The Temptress is a master of illusions, or so her status claims.

As though a dark angel had risen from hell itself, her long-black hair complements her even darker wings magnificently. The alluring black dress she wears fits her human-shaped body perfectly. My Core skipped a beat whilst taking in her beauty. Aside from her wings, and her pitch black eye sockets, she could pass as an ordinary person quite easily.

Anyway, seeing as my dungeon is still closed at the moment, The Temptress' strength isn't a pressing concern. The newly-grown black forest, high up on my mountain though, is another story.

Huh. Who would have thought it?