By the time Gem actually got to starting on his bridge, he had another 80 cobblestone blocks from Shriek and Pals. They were still established at their generators in his attic and would be able to just keep pumping out blocks while he built.

Gem knew he could get the new Plantlings going on generators as well; he had the space to set up another five generators in the attic. But that would keep the Plantlings away from the dungeon, and since they couldn’t use his make-shift stairs to get between the two areas, he’d also be down a Cicadossum or two for ferrying. If adventurers were quick to run his dungeon, he didn’t want it to be half empty.

It wasn’t until Gem was about twenty blocks out that he realized something was wrong.

Chesu jumped as if startled and gave a little manly shriek of totally-not fear. He recovered quickly, although he continued looking out over the edge of the bridge with hesitancy. “It’s because I wasn’t entirely honest with you on how building works. You can absolutely keep going past your area of influence. You can’t control those blocks, however. Adventurers can interact with them, and Ostrum can destroy them.”

Chesu glared at the floating block Gem was holding as if it were an approximation of where Gem’s consciousness was. “Yes and no. I’m not nervous, just worried. We’re outside of your area of influence. If the Ostrum wanted to attack your dungeon, now would be a really good time.”

Gem sent the wisp an image of a calming smile. It likely lost some of its calming nature since it was sitting on top of a disembodied purple and yellow gem, but Chesu didn’t seem to mind.

“Did you say invaders or adventurers? Two different things.”

Gem couldn’t recall, but he assured the wisp it was the former to calm him. After they finished with the bridge, Gem would go around and reprogram everyone to make sure of it.

Once the wisp’s worries about safety were quelled, Chesu returned to talking about the building mechanics. “It would be pretty silly if you had to install Pylons out to the main island. You need experience to level, and you need adventurers to gain experience.”

Gem thought, although he still felt a bit upset that he could have been building this the entire time.

“Yep!” The wisp perked up almost immediately. “I’m so glad you asked; I can’t just outright tell you about it, but there are other islands. They have resources you can gather. Need to be connected to them via a bridge, but you can take the bridge apart once you’ve gathered the resources if you want.”

Gem felt like grinning.

“Can be all sorts of different things. Sometimes there are chests, like the starting one you found. But other times its different types of trees, or maybe a new ore or block type. Sometimes you can even find Corruption or Hallow blocks, but those are a bit more rare.”

Gem let silence fall between them as he contemplated Chesu’s words. It would be a good idea for him to have access to other building materials, especially if it would diversify the types of blocks he could generate. While he was well aware that aesthetics weren’t a necessary component of end-of-the-world stoppage, it would still make things a bit fun. There was likely no difference between having a Plantling generate a cobblestone block and something else.

And the potential for more free items was tempting as well. The original chest had been so helpful; he couldn’t imagine others would be as useful, but they could still be used to improve his situation.

Chesu nodded. “There’s no marker for islands other than the main one. Eventually you’ll get access to skills, and one of them can help you find other islands, but, well, there are better things to spend your upgrades on.”

Chesu waved away the words. “Worry about that when we get a little closer. You just need to spend them to get from Tin 9 to Copper 1. Not really important right now.”

Gem sent the wisp a frowning Gem.

“Right. But you can’t even access the menu to see if things are different for you. I can theorize about the different perks you’ll get access to, but I know for a fact that a Desert Dungeon is different from a Jungle Dungeon.” The wisp started getting louder, more angry. “Will a Forest Dungeon be different from both of them? I don’t know! You’re my first, remember?”

“Some things will be the same,” Chesu said, his voice returning to a normal tone. “I’m not entirely sure what though.”

Gem groped for another topic so that the wisp wouldn’t continue to get angry if Gem dug more.

Chesu turned and looked at the floating block in shock. “The what?”

Gem sent an image of a blushing gem.

The wisp stared at Gem’s cobblestone block stack for a few seconds before he erupted in hysterical laughter. It was apparently so funny that the wisp started rolling around in the air, and tears formed in his eyes.

Not in on the joke, Gem just continued to place blocks. He was over halfway out now, according to his map marker, and he wanted to be done.

Once Chesu had recovered from his laughing fit, he flew to catch up to Gem. “That smarmy bastard.”

“Ruxium. He’s given you the keys to the castle and you don’t even know it.”

Gem sent the wisp a series of floating, disembodied question marks.

Chesu grinned. “Dungeon theory. You need adventurers and adventurers need you, right? You both get experience for them running your dungeon. But you’re the only dungeon on Sleyn. And there’s likely only a few hundred adventurers. I’d say less than three more than two. And you all need to be ready to go down to the surface in less than 30 days.”

“It’s impossible. So the system found a loophole. By giving you an experience boost for both you and anyone in your dungeon, you’re essentially gaining more experience in less time. We don’t need to worry about your Tin 9 mobs anymore. You’ll be Copper. Maybe even Bronze.”

Chesu shrugged. “Quest text doesn’t say, right? So it could be double, triple, or even higher. Sky’s the limit.” The wisp smiled. “Knowing Ruxium, he tried to give you the best fighting chance he could, within allowed limitations.”

Gem gawked at the possibilities before focusing on the wisp’s words.

The wisp made a thin noise of indecision. “I can’t tell you that,” he said after a moment. It was said with a sigh, and one that sounded like it was in relief. “Apparently. But let’s just say…” He trailed off and seemed to struggle again. “Nope. Can’t tell you that either. Alright. So, there are limitations.” Chesu frowned. “Oh, sure, I can tell you that they exist but not where they came from? That seems like a completely arbitrary rule.”

Gem just sent more of those question marks, this time without a thought confirming his confusion.

“Nothing. Just… ignore me. Way of the… universe, I guess.” Before Gem could ask, Chesu continued. “I can only tell you certain things if you ask me about them. But even then, I’m limited in what I can actually share. There are hidden rules. Even if I know the answer, my mouth won’t form the words.”

Gem sent the wisp a grinning gem.

“Yep. And even building them out of blocks, once. Can’t. It’s something about the intent.” The wisp looked grumpy. “World’s ending and there’s a chance we might not make it but I still can’t tell you how the universe works.”

Gem consoled the wisp, but his mind raced with the possibilities. The universe seemed so strange, so foreign. He was playing within the constraints he was given, but none of it seemed right. He could almost without a doubt confirm that his past self wasn’t native to Sleyn, but he seemed to have a lot of knowledge that came from somewhere. It wasn’t an endless library filled with a wide range of topics, but it was pretty well suited for his life as a Dungeon Core.

Who was he?

Why was he?

The questions danced around in his head. They distracted him as he placed his blocks, making him place them in the wrong spots. It wasn’t hard to just put one block in front of another, but he constantly placed the next one on top or just off to the side.

No amount of chastising made him focus, either.

He had to know.

A noise stopped him. It was faint, distant. A familiar sound but one he couldn’t quite place.

He almost ignored it, but then a message appeared in front of his vision: Magiphis engaged in combat! 100% hit points remaining.