ok......... wow this got reviews fast....... cool. glad to see people are taking interest, although i feel i should warn you: i will never drop the whole ellipses thing. it is a fundamental part of my writing style at this point, plus i as an Author enjoy them as they are fun...... so yeah they will never go away...... sorry.

anyway what to say about this chapter....... hmmm..... oh, i know! our MC isn't stupid, just vastly ignorant right now. give the MC time to grow, like 3-4 more chapters...

otherwise ENJOY!!!!!!!

I was underground. I guess that explained why everything was so dark, because there was no way for light to reach underground like this. Well, not without some help at least.

So, I’m underground…….. Can I move? How am I even still alive?

Yes you are what is known as underground. We do not yet have the power to move in any way, and you live because your body has not been destroyed. (Instinct)

Well that raises more questions.

What do you mean about power? And won’t I still just die here without food or air?

You do not require food or air to live, only power. Power is all you will ever need to live. (Instinct)

So I didn’t need to eat or breathe? That was strange, I thought that all living things needed to do those things to survive. What made me different, and what was a dungeon core, world seed, and all those other names Instinct gave me anyway?

Ok, then how much power do I need?

Instinct seemed to become confused, I was beginning to understand how instinct felt as if it was natural. Even when instinct’s voice revealed nothing, I could still understand the underlying emotions that were being felt. It was a sensation that felt both natural and utterly strange to me.

I don’t understand………. Please clarify what you are asking. (Instinct)

How much power would I need to continue living? Will I die when I run out? WILL I ever run out?

None, power is only needed because without it nothing could be done. To solely survive, all you must do is not have your core destroyed. You will run out of power when the power is spent. (Instinct)

I spend power? So it’s like a currency…… Wait, what is currency? The concept of exchange for mutual gains and returns….. It seems rather simple, but there are also very complex aspects to the concept as well. Why is a concept like this inside of me? There are other things too, I can feel them. They are there, inside me, but I don’t seem to be able to access them… I can’t even reach them, just sense them. This is quite frustrating… maybe instinct will know more?

Instinct, there are things inside me. I can feel them there, concepts and ideas, but I can’t seem to reach or use them besides the ones about currency I found just now. Why is that?

…………… These things you feel are likely hold overs from when you were simply “it” and not as you are now. I am unsure, but perhaps you will be able to reach more with time and greater understanding? (Instinct)

That seems like it makes sense. I don’t really like not being able to have them, but I suppose that I can’t do anything about them right now. I should just focus on understanding power and what I can do with it. I suppose I should also try to do something as well, I do have this rather strange urge…..

Alright, that seems likely enough. Instinct, tell me all you can about power and what it can be used for. I want to know everything about myself that I can.

………There is something that may aid you more than I. It is inside you, I shall show you where you can find it. (Instinct)

I felt something, a sensation that seemed familiar but was also wholly new to me. It was as if something that I had never known of and had always been closed had just opened inside of me, and now that I knew it was there I could now use it as I pleased. It was a rather nice feeling, but what I saw and felt next was even better. There was sensation, something I did not even realize was absent until this very moment it returned. I could feel the earth surrounding and holding me, and I could feel myself. I was hard, but also round and smooth.

There was something that broke up the simple darkness of where I was, i didn’t so much SEE this thing as I sensed and understood it. It was a sort of perception greater than the concept of sight, but as the concept of sight was the closest to this form of perception it is what I identified it as. The thing that triggered this was a sort of square with words inside it. Its mere presence brought me a strange sort of joy, and brought forth the prior concepts of books, scrolls, language, communication, reading, numbers, math, and recording that before were out of my reach.

This should help you far more than I would be able to express to you as I am now. (Instinct)

Something suddenly stood out amongst all the other words on the thing.

[ Power: { Mana: 0 } { Animus: 0 } ]

What are mana and animus, Instinct?

Mana is the power of magical energy, it is present naturally everywhere and is limitless and infinite. Animus is the power of life-force, it is present in only things that live and may die. (Instinct)

And what do I use them to do?

To create and/or destroy. Mana is used for inorganic creations or acts, Animus is used for organic creations or acts. (Instinct)

I see, and that is what this other part is?

I looked at the total thing that I decided was a menu of some sort. It had so many options that I could hardly even begin to understand them all.

[ Name: ??? Titles: N/A Rank: N/A Dominion Level: 0 Territory: 1cm ]

[ Power: { Mana: 0 } { Animus: 0 } Class: ??? State: undamaged core ]

[ Floors: 0 Rooms: 0 Inhabitants (slaves/livestock/pets/etc… included): {none: 0} Traps (magical/physical/other…): {none: 0} ]

[ Creation Options: {Mana: expansion, building, decoration, design, trap creation, core growth} {Animus: dungeon lord creation, inhabitant creation, soul stone creation/granting, name bestowal, mutation/evolution/etc…, core growth} ]

[ Destruction Options: {Mana: magic, deconstruction, siphoning, absorption, portation (in-dungeon), Teleportation, item/magic recycling (automatic)} {Animus: siphoning, absorption, remodification/recreation, life recycling (automatic)} ]

[ Stored/Owned Creations: {Dungeon lord: 1} Possible/Purchasable Creations: {∞} ]

Yes, this is what is known by your kind as a “dungeon menu” or “dungeon screen”. This is the quantified and qualified representation of all you are. It will also grow with you, expanding in options and features as you grow more powerful and to greater levels of Dominion. (Instinct)

I looked at the menu. If I really could do all these things it listed, I should be more than able to entertain myself. My purpose is my own, so I have decided that my purpose is to entertain and enjoy myself, at least it will be for now. Now that I had felt and understood the concept of joy from the act of reading, I wanted more. Much more…

Instinct, my currant mana and animus are at 0… does that mean that dungeon cores are not living things to not naturally have animus or mana?

Instinct was silent for a very long time. When Instinct finally spoke again I could feel a mixture of many negative feelings coming from instinct regardless of the words calm and unchanged quality.

……….. I do not know. This question greatly disturbs me, please do not ask me this again. (Instinct)

Ok I won't, how do I obtain mana and animus?

There are many ways. You could directly siphon them from things inside your territory, absorb them from your surroundings, recycle them from the dead or abandoned things within your territory, receive them as gifts or offerings, gain them by the natural accumulation that occurs from things holding them being within your territory, or breakdown your creations to gain a lesser return on the power used to create them. At this point however, you seem to only have absorption as a viable option. I will show you how to do so, the rest you will come to learn naturally over time and with experience. (Instinct)

I felt something, it was as if I was pulling warm energy inside of myself. The sensation was extremely pleasant and contented me in a new way. It was not at the level of joy that the act of reading gave me, but it still made me happy.

Thank you instinct. I have one last question, after that you may rest until I need you once more: What is this stored dungeon lord that is shown in the menu?

It appears to be a half-demon variant dungeon lord creation option that was brought by the “it”. It costs 100,000,000,000,000 animus and 100,000,000 mana before it can be made your other body. This is also the reason I told you that you do not have the needed power to move, as your current concept of true movement can only be achieved in a form such as this. (Instinct)

A holdover of the “it”… I wondered what that could mean as I enjoyed the warmth washing over me from absorption. It wouldn’t matter for quite some time though, given its cost I doubt I would be able to obtain it for quite some time. Especially given my growing urge to create and grow, I almost couldn’t contain my urges to do so at this point.

If I am to grow, I must use power…. If I use power, I will lose power……. If I lose power, I must gain more……. If I am to gain more, I must grow……… Perhaps there will be an opportunity to obtain this dungeon lord body in the future, but for now…….. For now I will focus solely on growing enough to at least partially satisfy this urge of mine. Then I will search for new ways of finding joy, perhaps more things to read…..

I let myself fall into thought, even as I felt Instinct leave our shared mental space. Ever since I had asked about whether Dungeons were actually alive, Instinct seemed to be growing weaker and weaker. I had no desire to lose my new companion, and so I thought allowing instinct to rest would be for the best. It also gave me some relief, it seemed that the longer I talk with Instinct, the less I am me and the more I become we. I do not want to become us and we again, now that I am me I wish to stay this way forever.

It was also nice to be able to think privately once again, I was not used to sharing my thoughts with another.

…………….Wait, why would I think that? …………….I guess it isn’t truly important. What matters far more is my lack of a name. I dislike only knowing myself as I or me, it seems to lessen me in a way. I REFUSE to be lessened! What could be my name?

I thought on this question for quite a long time all the time continuing to absorb power, I was unsure how long it was, but I knew it took quite a long amount of time. While I thought, I explored my menu and read the many things I could obtain in the future and memorized their names and prices. I was only able to read the descriptions of 20 things, but there were countless names and power costs. While I read even my urge to grow and create faded into the background, it was bliss.

There was one name that I knew that I never read however. It seemed to stay with me and as I finished reading the very last power cost for something to create in my menu, it popped back into my mind.

Waynor……. Huh, I kinda like it…. It might serve as a decent name……. from now on I will be Waynor!!!

I felt a strange pulling and sinking sensation. My body began to heat and cool to extremes, my round core felt like it was breaking and it utterly terrified me.

[ Name: ??? Titles: N/A Rank: N/A Dominion Level: 0 Territory: 1cm ]

[ Power: { Mana: 167,781,241,568,697,452,152,662,490,765,824,462,573,866,562,652 } { Animus: 2,372,591 } Class: ??? State: core ]

[ Floors: 0 Rooms: 0 Inhabitants (slaves/livestock/pets/etc… included): {none: 0} Traps (magical/physical/other…): {none: 0} ]

[ Creation Options: {Mana: expansion, building, decoration, design, trap creation, core growth} {Animus: dungeon lord creation, inhabitant creation, soul stone creation/granting, name bestowal, mutation/evolution/etc…, core growth} ]

[ Destruction Options: {Mana: magic, deconstruction, siphoning, absorption, portation (in-dungeon), Teleportation, item/magic recycling (automatic)} {Animus: siphoning, absorption, remodification/recreation, life recycling (automatic)} ]

[ Stored/Owned Creations: {Dungeon lord: 1} Possible/Purchasable Creations: {∞} ]

The sensation increased, suddenly a new concept came to me, pain. I was in pain, incredible unendurable pain. It was a very horrible feeling, and I didn’t like it at all. I would do anything to get it to stop, I was even ready to sacrifice joy as compensation. I couldn’t even form thoughts, only watch as my menu changed…

[ Name: processing Titles: N/A Rank: N/A Dominion Level: 0 Territory: 1cm ]

[ Power: { Mana: 167,781,241,568,697,452,152,662,490,765,824,462,573,866,562,652 } { Animus: 0 } Class: ??? State: damaged core ]

[ Floors: 0 Rooms: 0 Inhabitants (slaves/livestock/pets/etc… included): {none: 0} Traps (magical/physical/other…): {none: 0} ]

[ Creation Options: {Mana: expansion, building, decoration, design, trap creation, core growth} {Animus: dungeon lord creation, inhabitant creation, soul stone creation/granting, name bestowal, mutation/evolution/etc…, core growth} ]

[ Destruction Options: {Mana: magic, deconstruction, siphoning, absorption, portation (in-dungeon), Teleportation, item/magic recycling (automatic)} {Animus: siphoning, absorption, remodification/recreation, life recycling (automatic)} ]

[ Stored/Owned Creations: {Dungeon lord: 1} Possible/Purchasable Creations: {∞} ]

It was getting worse, the pain. New concepts were constantly coming to me from this horrible experience. I learned of Agony, misery, torture, torment, eternity, hopelessness, resignation, and when I wondered why it never seemed to end I learned of mercy, just because it was denied to me.

Finally the pain faded. I had suffered for an eternity only able to watch as my power values increased and decreased seemingly at random. I had far less now than I did before, but I couldn’t bring myself to mind that very much over my relief over the end of my pain.

I had discovered yet more concepts with the end of my pain. I learned of relief, ecstasy, regret, safety, salvation, and caution. I wished to never go through such torment again, nor anything similar. I had decided in that moment that I would not allow it to ever happen again and I would do whatever I possibly could to ensure that as fact.

As my thoughts became hazy and my senses seemed to fade away I looked at my menu once again.

[ Name: Waynor Titles: Icon of Patience, Self-Named Dungeon, “The One Who Endures” Rank: N/A Dominion Level: 0 Territory: ???/%!#$ ]

[ Power: { Mana: 420,936} { Animus: 0 } Class: ??? State: heavily damaged core (dormant for restoration) ]

[ Floors: 0 Rooms: 0 Inhabitants (slaves/livestock/pets/etc… included): {none: 0} Traps (magical/physical/other…): {none: 0} ]

[ Creation Options: {Mana: expansion, building, decoration, design, trap creation, core growth} {Animus: dungeon lord creation, inhabitant creation, soul stone creation/granting, name bestowal, mutation/evolution/etc…, core growth} ]

[ Destruction Options: {Mana: magic, deconstruction, siphoning, absorption, portation (in-dungeon), Teleportation, item/magic recycling (automatic)} {Animus: siphoning, absorption, remodification/recreation, life recycling (automatic)} ]

[ Stored/Owned Creations: {Dungeon lord: 1} Possible/Purchasable Creations: {∞} ]

Waynor……… Waynor! You have awaken right? (Instinct)

As I heard the voice of Instinct in my mind, I felt my senses return and began to think again. I wondered how much time had passed, but then I felt the emotions coming from Instinct. There was joy, relief, concern, and something else, something I didn’t understand and couldn’t identify. This new feeling of Instinct’s confused me, but I didn’t dwell on it long.

What happened?

Instincts voice was different. It was still the gender neutral neuter tone I was used to, but now it had inflections and even emotion to the words that were said. It seemed more like what I was used to, which made no sense as Instinct was the only thing I had ever spoken with. Regardless of that, hearing how Instinct had changed seemed to make me happy so I didn’t mind it much. I would ask about the change later, after I had answers to far more pressing questions

You gave yourself a NAME Waynor! You did something that I didn’t think was even possible! You even converted mana into animus and vise-versa! That shouldn’t even be possible for you as you are, but you did it when the name bestowal cost more Animus than you had……. You even continued to absorb power while that was happening! That was Amazing! (Instinct)

I looked around, things had changed a lot since I was last aware. I was in what seemed to be a hollowed out room, and there was light coming from a small pinprick hole in the ceiling. I was also resting in something that was on top of a pedestal of some sort made of rock. This was far different to the packed in darkness I was used to from before.

Instinct, what happened while I was….. away? Why is everything so different now?

Well Waynor, you surfaced for a while which triggered your need to always have an entrance to the surface of at least a certain size. This wouldn’t have been much of a problem, but after a while we were underground again and the fact you didn’t have an entrance/exit was hurting you and almost killed you, so I made one. I had to expand your territory a bit though, and I made sure to keep the opening small, see it’s up there! (Instinct)

I once again noted the small pinprick hole. I guess now I know why it was there…

Well anyway that took some time to do since I’m not you, but I was able to use some of the broken of pieces and shavings your core made as it broke down from not having said opening to….. Um….. Make me? Yeah I guess that’s what I did…… (Instinct)

I felt both shocked and confused at what Instinct just said. How could Instinct make itself? Didn’t Instinct only exist to aid me? Was it plotting to overthrow me, make me suffer again? Now that I think about it, Instinct is saying it did all this stuff, but it shouldn’t be able to do anything other than exist in our shared mind space when I call it, right? So how did it manage to do this?

How and why did you do so?

Instinct paused and I felt more excitement and joy come from it.

Oh, while you were dormant, I gained a little control over your body. Using that I kept you safe and made me, so I could better fulfill my purpose! It took some time, and I am really sorry about that because you might have woken up sooner if I was faster, but I did work as fast as I could as I was…… (Instinct)

Ok, Instinct seems like it isn’t trying to overthrow me, but I have to confirm one more thing from it before I can trust it means me no harm.

Instinct, what is your purpose? Tell me.

Of course, Waynor! My purpose is to exist and by existing fulfill my purpose which is for you and you alone to decide. It is all I desire to ever do. (Instinct)

I felt relief as the tension inside me released some.

I see, thank you Instinct. But when you said that you made you, what exactly did you mean?

Oh, the old Instinct was unable to help you and would not have been able to save your core from total destruction after it went into that reaction from being buried by the landslide that reburied you. That’s why the old Instinct made itself into me by using your shavings and discarded pieces, I am a sort of…… I guess you could say I’m a dungeon by proxy or a sort of manager for when you are not here. I can do lots of stuff as long as I am within the confines of your territory, but all I can do is based off you and you can overrule me or strip me of my abilities at any time. I’m also that holder your core is resting in. (Instinct)

I focused in on myself, there was a rather elaborate and decorated shining platinum stand on top of the pedestal. It brought back two new concepts, beauty and desire. I liked the thing holding me, it was beautiful. Which if it was what instinct was now, meant that instinct was also beautiful. And now that I had light to analyze myself in, I was beautiful as well….

There was only one problem. The stand was an elegant sloping design that culminated in two hands holding me in there cupped palms, it was utterly stunning and I enjoyed looking at it. But then there was me, I was a sphere of shimmering silver platinum crystal…. That was the size of half of the sculpted pinkie nail of one of the hands holding me.

In essence I, Waynor, the mighty dungeon core that had shocked and impressed even the neigh-omniscient Instinct by naming myself and converting power, was a shiny pebble.

In the moment I made that realization I understood what seemed to be the last of the concepts that were out of my reach, humiliation, embarrassment, and shame.

I distanced my mind from Instinct’s, I no longer wanted to hear about whatever else happened while I was sleeping. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a moment.

…………………..I wish Instinct had just left my core to break while I was asleep……………..

[ Name: Waynor Titles: Icon of Patience, Self-Named Dungeon, “The One Who Endures” Rank: N/A Dominion Level: 0 Territory: ???/%!#$ ]

[ Power: { Mana: 306} { Animus: 143 } Class: ??? State: flawless core]

[ Floors: 0 Rooms: 1 Inhabitants (slaves/livestock/pets/etc… included): {???: 1} Traps (magical/physical/other…): {none: 0} ]

[ Creation Options: {Mana: expansion, building, decoration, design, trap creation, core growth} {Animus: dungeon lord creation, inhabitant creation, soul stone creation/granting, name bestowal, mutation/evolution/etc…, core growth} ]

[ Destruction Options: {Mana: magic, deconstruction, siphoning, absorption, portation (in-dungeon), Teleportation, item/magic recycling (automatic)} {Animus: siphoning, absorption, remodification/recreation, life recycling (automatic)} ]

[ Stored/Owned Creations (organic): {Dungeon lord: 1} Stored/Owned Creations (inorganic): 1 Possible/Purchasable Creations: {∞} ]

so yes, Instinct changed......... Waynor got all he ever will from his past life, i.e: the concepts that imprinted on him the strongest (which is fucked up if you look at all the negative concepts that carried over compared to positive.....), and we learned that Waynor still identifies as male, even if he doesn't realize it himself (*Ahem* Name choice *Ahem Ahem*)

and now the prize goes to the person who figures out how long this chapter took in the time-span of the story!!! btw: the prize is internet cookies, so........

anyway imma probably post another chapter today......... help me out by pointing out any major errors in the chapter, i found a word that WAS that when i typed it in Word..... it became THot when i moved it to RR........ THot people, THot.... needless to say there may be more mistakes like that, or just in my own writing...

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Author out