My newly formed Monster Core begins to gather and condense energy. The Source all around me begins to swirl and flow into my chest. The Source density in my immediate vicinity lessens. A strange pressure I hadn’t even noticed, lifts slightly.

I feel like I’m missing something. Something valuable. Something… essential to who I am and what I’ve done.

I abandoned my race, my class, and my stats for one simple reason. To evolve. I remember doing it, I remember it was for an important reason, but for the life of me I can’t remember what the reason was. I can’t even remember the goal of my evolution. My first ‘mini-evolution’ came, and I didn’t even take the time to decide because I was too worked up about a girl.

Something is wrong with this picture.

Mordai, Honey, and Quinn all vividly remember the moment they realized that they were written. But I don’t. I was just a normal ‘ole god-defying mage and then bam. Summoned into another world with the knowledge of being a fictional character.

Whenever I think about something suspicious for too long, my head feels like it is going to split. And was I always so easily distracted and prone to changing the subject?

I remember accomplishing great feats with my fellow written protagonists, but I feel that I’ve done more than that. I consider myself a god among men from my past world, but why?

I can’t remember doing anything that would validate my opinion of myself being so high.

Why do I feel like I’ve been starved for attention for hundreds of years?

Hmmm… hundreds of years…

Certain lines of thought aggravate my headache more than others. Not only that but I feel like more and more things are slipping from my grasp.

I had been a wielder of forces so powerful that the very essence of magic had engraved itself on to my skin. Now what have I become? A human. A human so afraid that he must keep his enemies as far away as possible using a spear and shield.

My own familiar is more powerful than I.

What have I lost and where do I regain it?

‘Narrator.’ I address a man who may have answers.

‘Yes, Snowflake?’

Ah yes. A snowflake is what I’ve become. Delicate and drifting on the winds. Snowflake.

‘I shall take that name and shove it down the throats of ‘the powers that be’,’ I resolve. The most ironic to do so would be to master the element of ice, but I remember reading that ice isn’t an element? Things just become cold when heat is drawn out of them? No. Heat is an off product of the transfer of energy.

Where did I read that? Is there more?

‘Narrator, how do I regain my memories?’ I take control of my wandering thoughts. A tendency I have always had, but an exacerbated one nonetheless.

‘I have been informed that your memories combined with your ‘Adaptability’ would give you an unfair advantage. As such, your memories will be returned once you reach a realm where the inhabitants are just as powerful as you would be with your memories.’ The Narrator responds clearly and concisely.

Why I had I never thought to ask? And why is he answering so easily?

‘Narrator, why are my thoughts clouded?’ I ask, hoping for more answers.

‘There is a plethora of possibilities, but I cannot answer with certainty,’ The Narrator replies.

Hmmm… Next task at hand.

“Honey,” I address the beast-kin leading me toward the massive structure. “Why should I be wary of Quinn?”

This very conversation had derailed perhaps one of the greatest decisions of my present life.

The beast-kin hesitates before answering, “She has some… unsavory relations. I refuse to gossip, so I will not say more. Just be careful.”

Yeah. I fucked up. I fucked up bad. That answer is definitely not worth throwing my decision away.

I acknowledge what she has said before requesting a piece of paper and something to write with. My headache is growing stronger. The Monster Core is nearing full. I need to write a few things down in case my moment of clarity fades.

***

I stand at the entrance to the Dungeon, scrap of paper in hand. Spread before me are my four companions to be. Honey stands leisurely in her every day grey pants and white shirt, confident in her every movement. She has added a long light grey overcoat, a survival pack, and a pair of heavy blades to the ensemble adorning her 5-foot frame. If you ask her why she doesn’t wear any armor, she’ll tell you that her skin is as hard as any steel, and much lighter.

Mordai, on the other hand, is dressed in full plate armor. Standing at 7 feet tall, he cuts an imposing figure. Pitch black armor is a sharp contrast to his red skin. Sharp teeth, massive ram horns, and hooved feet. He looks every inch the conquering demon. At least he would, if not for the white tabard and wooden staff marking him out as a Priest. Most badass looking priest ever.

Framed by gold hair and snow white wings, Quinn is as gorgeous as ever. She is wearing the same outfit I met her in with the addition of a satchel. Skin tight pants, bandage-like cloth for boob support, and combat boots that go to mid-calf. It must be her fighting outfit. She throws me a wink, but not much else. Looks like we are acting professional. I’ll play my part.

The last member looks quite lazy and self-content. Dressed as scantily as ever, Ra’hel cuts a seductive figure. However, with her tail engorged, she looks irritated to be here. If what I know about snakes is true, I’m sure she wants to nothing more than just sleep and lay in the sun. She is ignoring me.

Maybe she can smell Quinn on me? Or maybe she can sense my hesitance to get near her. I remember how she treated those goblins. Not only that but, the impression left by my nightmare of her eating me has yet to fade. That unhinging jaw was nowhere as sexy as I thought it would be.

I put thoughts of sex, murder, and fashion on the back burner of my mind. The slip of paper in my hand holds many secrets. I can remember writing it, but for the life of me, the thought processes involved escape me.

I read the note again.

Evolution is #1 most important Explore Monster Core capabilities Gain power to regain memories Cold comes from removing energy Quinn should be~

And that is it. I had stopped writing before I could finish the last thought. I can feel the secrets contained in my grasp. It is almost like a to-do list.

Yeah. A to-do list. That’s how I’ll treat it.

First, explore the Monster Core to see how evolution effects me. Second, master the elemental magic of ice using this removing energy thing. Third, continue to evolve. And lastly, regain my memories.

Quinn seems to be an afterthought. Probably not that important.

Ms. Un-important motions me forward. Together we approach the military esque barricade guarding the entrance to the Dungeon. As known members of the Guild, we pass through easily.

Our adventuring party stands at the base of the bohemian structure. I cast my gaze toward the top, but in spite powering through the vertigo, all I can see is it disappearing into the sky. It is as if it continues forever. Out into the void and beyond.

The massive door before us offers up the same aura of majesty. Standing three stories tall, the massive double doors are carved with images of epic escapades and dangerous duels. Across its surface, strange creatures fight what appear to be Awakened such as myself.

The door is cracked open. The crack is small compared to its gigantic frame, but it is enough for even the largest of our party, Mordai, to pass through with ease. I find the crack strange. It is like the Dungeon is tempting us inside. It isn’t a full invitation like it would be if the doors were wide open. It is more of a ‘come if you dare.’

Honey, impromptu team leader, gives us our orders. We stand in a half circle around her to receive them.

“Snowflake and I will hold the front line. Ra’hel, Quinn, and Nevasca will be damage dealers. Mordai is on healing duty,” she explains what sounds to be a classic formation to us. I get the feeling that this is mostly for the benefit of myself and Ra’hel.

“The first 10 floors of the Dungeon,” Honey continues. “is in the form of a classic dungeon. It will feel a little weird at first to be descending instead of climbing, but you will get used to it. The first floor contains undead, so be prepared.”

I hear Ra’hel let out a groan. Probably because you can’t eat undead. I mean… you COULD. I doubt it would taste very nice though.

“Oh, and experience is shared amongst the party equally. Let me set that up really fast,” Quinn adds.

Quinn has invited you to join her party. Join? Y/N

I immediately select yes. Getting experience from the kills of others is a sweet deal for me.

Honey leads the way into the Dungeon. As the other front line member, I follow. Nevasca refuses to go very far away from me with so many people around, so she is hot on my heels. The others come too, but in what order, I do not know.

The feeling of stepping into a different dimension through a portal makes me feel nostalgic, for an unknown reason. I try to figure it out, but a pounding headache stops me.

Honey hisses at me to focus. As soon as our whole party is in through the portal, it blinks out of existence behind us.

Before my eyes is a wide, cavernous tunnel. Torches flicker in alcoves, dimly lighting the way forward. Forward and down. Deeper into the depths of the dungeon. Shadows lurk everywhere.

The floor beneath us is nothing but compact dirt. Not ideal footing, but mostly level. Above us the ceiling soars. I judge the distance to be about 20 feet. The ceiling looks to be made of a natural rock.

Something flickers on the ceiling. I raise my shield to block, thinking that a loose rock might be falling. With a solid twunk an arrow embeds itself into my shield. Its gravity fuel strength would have been enough to easily pierce my chainmail.

Cold shivers run down my spine. I could have died. If I wasn’t looking at the ceiling like a dumbass I would have definitely died.

“Skeleton squad front and center!” Mordai chimes from the back with an annoyingly gleeful voice. “Snowflake! Be careful to not die before I can heal you. If you did that would really rattle my bones.”

“Fuck you Mordai. That is a stupid joke,” I reply, lacking a witty comeback.

Mordai’s chuckles plays background music to the percussive rattling of the charging skeletons coming from the shadows. A few more arrows come my way, but now that I was aware of them it is easy enough to step aside or block.

A handful of skeletons charge out from the sinister tunnel ahead of us. Three of them carried rusty swords, while one has a hefty looking axe, and the last one has a shield. Just a shield. Poor guy can’t even get a decent weapon to murder adventurers with.

Honey takes a step back, leaving me to face the charge. Something about me ‘needing the experience.’

‘I thought experience is shared!’ I think.

A pebble goes hurtling past my head. A thunk sounds in the distance and the arrows stop. Ra’hel’s work most likely.

I condense two of the marble sized fireballs I have been working on, in front of me. Spears of earth sprout from the ground to destroy the axe skeleton and one of the sword skeletons.

I shoot my fiery marbles at the remaining sword skeletons. Not to destroy them, I don’t have that kind of oomph just yet. Just to slow them down.

The orbs explode on impact, rocking the skeletons back a step. The shield skeleton continues his clattering advance. Knowing that a spear thrust won’t do much good, I meet his shield charge with one of my own.

I fuel my corresponding muscles with Source, but as I push off the ground to launch myself forward, a different energy fills me. It flows from my chest into the rest of my body. This energy feels wild, cruel, and much more concentrated than the source I usually work with.

My action does not stop. Launching myself forward I meet the charge. Shield on shield. The skeleton before me crumbles into dust as the shock waves tear his body apart.

With a back handed swipe of my spear I blow the other two approaching skeletons to smithereens with one strike.

Power courses through my veins. I bare my sharp teeth at the dust of my victims. I can feel my core grow a fraction bigger as it absorbs the life force from my kills.

Maybe this Dungeon dive won’t be so bad.