1.2 Infodump incoming

I feel like you missed the point somehow, so allow me to reiterate, YOU ARE A DUNGEON!

“I’m a dungeon?” Verd looked around again. A completely square space, with a single pillar in the middle. When you think of a dungeon you’d think of a dark underground labyrinth, with endless corridors of brick and stone. This place could be better described as a room.

“By dungeon… Do you mean this room is mine?”

Yes. This room and all extensions can be considered as your body, your dungeon.

“So the dungeon is my body. And that orb is my heart?”

Yes. That orb is called a dungeon core and it is extremely important in dungeon operations, the destruction of it usually means death for the dungeon.

He thought about it for a moment. Something did not add up. If the dungeon was his body, then what happened to his old one? While he could not see it, he still felt like he had something like a ‘human’ body. When he reached for the orb, he still felt something like a hand passing through the orb. When he felt that hyperventilating sensation, he felt pain around the area where he expected his heart to be, instead of feeling pain from the ‘core’.

His imagination? Unlikely, the sensations felt too real.

Is he some kind of ghost now? Probably, there’s a good chance that he’s already dead.

“Wait,” Verd said, realising an oddity in the voice’s word choice. “Usually?” Verd asked. Usually did not mean always, did that mean that losing that orb sometimes wasn’t the end?

Yes. While the core is extremely important, it is possible for the consciousness of a dungeon to survive without one. However, once the core is destroyed then I’m afraid dungeon operations will cease.

“If the core is so important, how can I survive without one? Also, what does a core do and for that matter what do dungeons do?”

All good questions, allow me to answer.

Verd could mentally imagine the voice nodding in approval at his question.

As a dungeon, all the area that you have claimed can be considered your own personal domain, an extension of your body or a quasi-pocket dimension. This means that inside your dungeon you can create almost anything as long as you have the resources. The core is the key to all this, it sustains all dungeon operations and is where your consciousness initially resides. Generally, you would attract other intelligent life to try and challenge you, this is so that when they enter, you may extract their mana, and improve yourself.

Verd thought about this for a moment, then replied, “Makes sense I suppose, but that means that a dungeons only purpose is to endlessly grow. All this setup seems too unnecessary for a creature with such a purpose.”

After all, if a dungeons only purpose is to get stronger, then why is there a voice guiding it? Verd had already guessed that this voice was the ‘Dungeon Assistant Menu’ skill in his status screen. However, for assistance to be given to a someone, must mean there was a reason why.

Good observation, what I just said is a secondary goal, only there for the fulfilment of a dungeons primary job. Which is to absorb impure mana and purify it. The purification of mana is essential for biotic life to survive in this world

“Why?”

An excess of impure, or ‘concept’, or ‘elemental’ mana can corrupt biotic life. And an excess of a single type in an area can cause that area to turn into an Elemental Plane, where you can find only one type of mana. Only creatures aligned with that type of mana can survive in an Elemental Plane.

However, pure mana possesses no ‘element’. Your job is to clean impure mana and release pure mana back into the world.

“So I’m some sort of cleaner?”

In a sense, yes.

He thought about it for a moment, it made sense, this thing called mana, while he hears about it alot in games and such, he did not know what it is in this world. And one more thing did not make sense.

“If I’m just supposed to purify mana, why all the stuff about attracting challengers?”

Because the highest concentrations of impure mana, are usually found in intelligent life.

“What?”

For example, when a mage apprentice wishes to cast a fireball spell, they would have to cast it by converting the mana in their body to fire mana, form it into a ball and fire it off.

However, for a mage that specialises in fire, they would have already passively converted the mana in their bodies to fire type mana, effectively skipping a step during the casting process.

Because of this, most powerful intelligent life have large amounts of type mana to streamline combat.

When they fight in a dungeon, the dungeon can absorb all that impure mana they emit and release pure mana back to the world.

“It makes sense but isn’t that just a bandage solution? Say they use all their mana in a dungeon, once they get back out and absorb their mana pools back to full, aren’t we just back to where we started?”

…

The voice was silent for a moment, then replied.

That is if they manage to leave.

Verd fell silent, shocked at the barely hidden implications of what the voice just said.

“Well… Let’s get to that when we get to that.” Verd replied with a sigh, debating with a voice in his head about the moral complications of murder was not something he wanted to deal with right now.

“Sooo. What do I call you? I can’t just keep on calling you menu thingy forever.” He continued in a false jovial tone, hoping to change the subject.

Just call me Menu, that is my designation.

“But Menu sounds bland, how about I call you-”

No.

“But-”

No.

I have seen your naming skills and I don’t wish to be named after an adjective.

“Fine then!” Verd said, throwing his arms up in exacerbation.

“So Menu, what now? Do I just start purifying mana now or what?”

You already began some moments ago.

“So it’s a passive thing?"

Yes and no. While it is a passive thing that usually doesn’t require your attention, however it can be influenced by you. That earlier panic attack of yours jump-started the purification earlier than it was supposed to have.

“Is jumpstarting it a problem?”

Yes, because purification is not perfect, trace amounts of extremely concentrated waste are still created and left in the air. Currently, that waste has no way to escape and is filling up your Core Room. Enough of it will kill you.

“Wait wait wait! This has been happening this whole time and you didn’t tell me?”

A dungeon has better resistance to mana waste than other creatures, even now you should be able to survive for another two or three hours. There was no urgency.

Verd sighed a breath of relief, then asked, “Great, so how do I fix it?”

It’s simple, going by current production you just require a 1m by 1m exit to expel the mana waste. Any smaller and you risk a blockage.

Verd raised an imaginary eyebrow, “It can clump up? Actually don’t worry, how do I make an exit, if you haven’t noticed I’m a bit short on hands.”

Hilarious. If you wish to create an exit, it is a two-step process. First, you must claim the area that leads to the nearest patch of open air, then you can either use your absorption ability to dig a hole or use a preset corridor and door set to open up the way.

“And how do I do either of those?”

Usually I’ll just pop open a menu for ease of access, however, you have not yet chosen your starting species and abilities, because of that, you aren’t considered a fully fledged dungeon yet.

“Great, then hurry up and show me my options.”

Alright.

At that moment Verd felt a slight tingling at the back of his head, remembering what had happened before, he hurriedly said, “Wait, wait, wait!”

The tingling stopped, and the Menu asked,

Is there a problem?

“Do you have another way of doing this? You said you could pop up a menu or something.”

Why? Sending it directly to you is a lot faster.

“I just don’t want you rattling around in my head."

Fine

The voice sounded annoyed, however soon blue boxes began to appear in front of Verd.

Basic Starting Races Goblins Kobolds Slime Skeletons Golems Imps Bonus Starting Race (Obtained due to geographical bonuses) Nature Elemental Spirits Earth Eater Ants Dark-Vine Lure Flower

Please note that you can only pick two of the listed races.

Starting Ability Automatic Repair Creature Spawner Monster Loyalty Racial Boon Area Scan (One time use) Soul Infusion Contract Boss Rooms

You can only pick two of these as well.

Verd quickly read it, the information was pretty bare-boned, almost nothing. “Hey, can’t you display more information?”

If you wanted more info why didn’t you just let me transfer it directly?

It might’ve been Verd’s imagination, however, at that moment, he felt like someone wanted to slap him.

Goblins

Considered a lesser race by many, this short-statured race generally doesn’t exceed a human child in intelligence or strength. However, despite being considered a mere pest, they are very adaptive and rapidly multiply. And with rapid multiplication means greater numbers and a higher chance powerful Elites and Mutations appearing among them…

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

20% decrease in costs of summoning Goblins

Kobold

Another lesser race, they possess strength and intelligence above Goblins, however, they lack the fearsome reproductive qualities and adaptability that Goblins have. Legend has it that Kobolds are the bastard child from the union of a Fenrir and Dragon, this story is ‘unconfirmed’ and if you mention this story in front of either a Fenrir or Dragon, do expect an extended beating.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

Increase the chance of Evolving/Mutating/Naturally Born Kobolds to gain special abilities based on their bloodline by 1%.

Slime

Amorphous, gelatinous and alien, these can all be used to describe the strange race of slimes. They are extremely adaptable, can survive in any environment, sustain themselves on almost anything, and some variations are completely immune to certain attacks. However they possess no intelligence and act purely on instinct, they can be easily killed by destroying their Mana Core usually located at the centre of the slime.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

When Slimes reach a mass higher than what the mana core is able to hold, the excess Slime will split off and become a 'Lesser Slime'. A Slime without a Mana Core, and can be destroyed easily in a single hit.

Skeletons

Weak and fragile, skeletons are the first level of the undead, the weakest of the bunch. They are vulnerable to physical impact attacks, however, they are immune to negative effects the living may experience, such as cold, hunger, fatigue, bleeding or plague.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

Corpses will automatically be returned as skeletal soldiers, this won’t work on creatures without a skeleton.

Golems

Golems are tough magical creations that can be made of any material the dungeon possesses, however, their speed and power is dependant on the material and amount used. Tougher heavier materials make them slower, but stronger, and lighter, flexible materials make them faster, but more fragile. They possess cores which are responsible for all operations, the destruction of it will stop all of a Golems actions. They have the highest strength among the Starting Races, but the lowest intelligence.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

Golems will automatically regenerate their bodies out of combat by absorbing ambient mana in the dungeon, as long as their cores are fully intact or replaced.

Imps

Weak and cunning, imps are the first level of Demons, the weakest of them all. However, they are naturally adept at using magic and are naturally inclined to use cunning or tricks to defeat their enemy. But, they are extremely weak physically but are also the most intelligent of the Starting Races.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

Imps will ‘improve’ dungeon traps and other operations at their own discretion.

Nature Elemental Spirit

A bonus race obtained due to the dungeon’s proximity to high concentrations of nature mana. Nature Elemental Spirits are incorporeal and possess no body. They are essentially clusters of semi-intelligent nature mana and possess almost no combat abilities. However, the existence of one can greatly improve the growth rate and strength of plant-like creatures and boost regeneration rates of all living creatures.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

Random plants will passively sprout up and grow in the dungeon.

Earth Eater Ants

A bonus race obtained due to the dungeon’s proximity to above average concentrations of earth mana and high concentrations of this race. This option contains both Worker and Queen Ant Summons. Workers can be as large as a human finger, with the ability to eat minerals to improve their own shells. The Queen Ant begins only slightly larger than a worker ant, however, once it makes a nest, it will grotesquely enlarge their abdomen to make it more efficient to birth young. Once it enters this stage it cannot move on its own. Do note that Earth Eater Ants cannot survive solely on earth, rocks and minerals.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

5 ant workers will come free of charge with every Ant Queen summoned.

Dark-Vine Lure Flower

A bonus race obtained due to the dungeon’s proximity to a powerful version of the specimen. A carnivorous plant, The Dark-Vine Lure Flower is the result of an ancient dark druid’s experimentation. Usually taking root in high places such as cave ceilings, cliff faces and on the branches of tall trees, the flower lacks the ability to photosynthesize, however, to compensate, they have extensive root systems. From these roots, vines are grown and fall to the ground from its elevated positions. Each one of these vines is sensitive to pressure, when the plant senses multiple vines being moved, the vines will begin secreting a viscous, glue-like substance. As the prey moves through the vines, the vines will be stuck to the prey due to the glue. Once the prey is completely immobilised in the glue and vines, the vines will switch to secreting a digestive enzyme and eventually the prey will be completely digested. Due to the glue-like liquid inside the vines, the vines are difficult to cut or burn.

Selecting this Race with Racial Boon gives you the following passive effects

Increase the strength of the digestive enzyme by 30%, allowing for quicker digestion.

Automatic Repair

All destruction in the dungeon will be gradually repaired using ambient mana absorbed or given off by the core and other creatures. This includes traps and other structures. Repair speed depends on the amount of ambient mana available.

Creature Spawner

Gain the ability to create a structure which will automatically summon a selected creature by absorbing ambient mana. Intervals between each summon depend on ambient mana absorbed by the device.

Monster Loyalty

Dungeon creatures possessing intelligence will always remain loyal to the dungeon, protecting it at any cost.

Racial Boon

Gain passive bonuses from creatures obtained from the menu.

Area Scan (One time use)

Scan in a kilometre in every direction and obtain the ability to summon and recreate all creatures, mechanisms, materials and objects scanned.

Soul Infusion

Grant a dungeon creature a ‘soul’ allowing them to gain unique abilities and mutations.

Contract

Allows for the use of Soul Contracts with other intelligences outside the dungeon. Terms will be determined by the dungeon however it is up to the other intelligence to sign it or not. Breaking the contract might lead to the destruction of either parties soul.

Boss Room

Allows for the creation of Boss Rooms, within these rooms, a single creature can be greatly empowered, allowing for them to take on multiple enemies with the same level at once without much difficulty, however, they lose this strength once they exit the room.

“Holy shit this is a lot,” Verd said as he flipped through the new tabs the menu brought up. “Wait a second… How do you know where I am?” He asked, realising that all these boxes appeared directly in front of his ‘ghost body’.

Are you referring to your mana apparition? It is rather obvious to anyone adept at seeing mana, and since I am technically a part of you, I am obviously able to see it.

“Mana apparition?”

You didn’t know? Well, it's an apparition created purely through mana, it becomes more and more corporeal based on the ambient mana in your dungeon. It is useful because it makes it easier to manage a dungeon. Once it nears solidity, you can obtain a dungeon avatar.

“What’s an avatar?”

A physical body for you to inhabit, created based on your dungeon. Generally, it’s humanoid.

“So until then, I’m like a ghost or something?”

I suppose that analogy works.

“Great…” Verd sarcastically muttered under his breath. “Well, I suppose I gotta deal with this first.” He said, turning his attention back to the tabs covering almost his entire field of vision.