Chapter 8:

Jay stood in front of the dungeon entrance. “You hid real good there, didn’t yah?”

Jay drew a grenade and threw it into a rocky outcropping.

Before the smoke even cleared, Jay rushed in. “Sorry, old spirit, I ain’t giving you the jump on this one.”

The thing about dungeons was, even if no humans are controlling them, something else always will. The only requirement is that they have some way to interact with mana.

So no normal goblins, only goblin shamans. Thankfully, there were none of the little fuckers out and about in the dungeon.

The master of this dungeon was an earth elemental. A spirit born of the earth.

Hence the number of unassuming rocks Jay just sprinted by.

Jay grinned as he imagined the rock-crabs looking back and forth, unused to their prey moving at fast pace.

“Left.”

“Right.”

“Right.”

Jay navigated a labyrinth he had studied over several nights.

“Left.”

“Left.”

Jay passed slow moving earth monsters, jumped pitfalls, dodged rockfalls and dart traps, and took hairpin turns at a breakneck pace.

Jay laughed as he drew a scroll, “Favorite one coming up.”

He unfurled it, “Through! Water cutter!”

A large stream of high pressure water cut through the mud wall Jay was sprinting at.

Jay laughed, “Noclip, BABY!”

Jay landed straight on the miniboss of the dungeon, a torterra style earth turtle.

The thing barely had time to react to the Baron on it’s back.

Jay pulled a thick scroll from his bandolier, and undid the sealing charm around it.

It unfurled on it’s own, and Jay activated it. “Minor telekinesis, Multi-spell trigger, Magic amp!”

Mana powerful enough for the untrained to sense poured out of the scroll, and 24 scrolls fell into formation around the turtle.

Water chains bound the monster, blue glyphs formed on it’s skin and shell, the ground beneath the behemoth turned into mud, and raging torrents submerged it’s head cutting and tearing where it could.

Jay watched from above, safely floating on motes of light.

Jay stalled, “Damn… I- I can’t even think of a quip. Fucking Brutal.”

After watching the behemoth fall Jay rushed to the next room, as not to let the Earth Elemental change things up.

Jay shifted several bundles into his hands. He knew what was in the next rooms, but was unconcerned with that.

What occupied his thoughts was something much more important to Jay. “...Jesus, I hope nothing ever causes me to become suicidal. I can’t believe I’ve never even thought about it...”

A troubled Jay casually tossed a bundle into the middle of the room. The bunch of (Mythril Core Golem)s that were vital to Jay’s plan fell over with no resistance.

The specially made bundle of bombs and potions would immobilize these types of golems immediately on contact.

Jay made record time going through the last seven rooms of the dungeon.

If not for the fact that this bundle was worth 10 times that of a golem core, they might have become popular among adventurers

Before Jay entered the core-room of the dungeon, he chugged several potions, applied many charms, and precast a few scrolls.

The Jay that entered the abode of the earth elemental was one that was glowing with magic power, dressed in clothes worthy of a Stansa Baron, and had a look of determination and superiority in his eyes.

A 12 ft tall man made of mud formed before Jay Northsand.

It spoke, “Human, how did you clear the dungeon so quickly? I wasn’t even able to-

Jay allowed his etiquette skill to take over.

He stood ram-rod straight, put his right hand behind his back, and held his left out. Showing the open scroll he carried.

Jay spoke clearly and crisply, meeting the spirit’s eyes while not allowing his head to tilt upwards. “Silence Old Earthen One, I aim for the dungeon, not your life. Vacate the premises, or meet your demise.”

The spirit stared dumbly for a second.

Jay continued, “I will allow you the count of five.’

“One.”

The tower of mud and mana was shook. “Arrogant Human, do you truly believe your toys make you better than me?!”

“Yes. Two.”

The elemental was speechless.

“Three.’

The Earth Elemental, old and powerful, sized up Jay’s active enhancements, equipment, and usable items.

“Four.”

The Elemental fled.

Jay waited one heartbeat.

Then two.

After 20 heartbeats, Jay’s act broke, “Hahahaahahh. Hee-Haw. snort. Oh dear god, did I just fucking bray?!”

Jay laughed wholeheartedly for a solid minute, before he allowed himself to move forwards.

As he moved to the dungeon crystal, a crystal about a fifth the size of his and tinted brown, he allowed himself to ponder. “I am glad that worked, I would hate to have to murder someone for what is rightfully mine.”

Jay stopped for a moment, “I would hate to murder anyone really. This is a world of magic, after all.”

Jay reached the crystal, “Fuck second chances, am I right. People out here should have infinite chances. Utopia is just one powerful spell away.”

Jay’s thought process is that in a world where power truly ruled all, it would only take one person to say, ‘Nah, fuck that, I rule all, and I say peace!’ and it would save the world, or on a smaller scale, it would still save tons of people.

Putting all that out of his mind, Jay placed his shard on the crystal.

“Assimilate”

Jay’s clear crystal shard flowed into the brown crystal.

+++

Northsand Barony Crystal attempting to dominate Dungeon Crystal!

Success!

Congratulations Baron Northsand!

+++

Jay laughs, “Well that’s simple! System, show Dungeon Crystal interface!”

+++

Crystal grade: Average (402/500)

Type: Dungeon/Town

Dungeon: Earthen Spirit’s Empty Den

Town: Unnamed

Allegiance: Stansa Kingdom, Northsand Barony

Functions:

Stansa Kingdom Market: ACTIVE Message Box: 0 Messages Blessings: Earth Goddess’ Boon Defenses: Earthen Barrier (Average) Dungeon Functions: Safety Teleport Offering Boon Stamina Regeneration Crystal Management: (Authorized Only) Dungeon Management: (Authorized Only)

+++

This was not new knowledge to Jay, so he quickly activated the earthen barrier function and set up an obelisk some 100 feet from the dungeon entrance. An obelisk being something that allows people to access a crystal’s function without touching it.

Jay turned to leave, “I need to get outta fucking dodge fast, the early arrivals should be getting here in a few hours. It would be a pai-”

He stopped, “Before I forget!”

Jay slapped a sticker on the barrier.

It said, ‘A Reminder: Those who damage a crystal under a Stansa noble’s control will be persecuted by Stans Kingdom’s full ability.’

It wouldn’t stop anyone actually wanting to damage or steal the crystal, but it served its purpose in reinstating who owned this dungeon.

Jay muttered under his breath as he left, “All it is now is a matter of time, Jay. A matter of fucking time.”