Now then let’s review the overall changes of the dungeon while I was gone. I stretch my vision across the vibrant ecosystem and virtually endless dungeon helpers.

The regular Zodarii and Seangán láidir are cooperating well. The Napkins didn’t look like they care about new inhabitants. So let’s make a mental list of all minor changes:

Mining operation slowed down considerably due to big amounts of various ore that blocked further access. Expansion towards the surface is coming along nicely, the crater has expanded a lot during my absence. Additional holes were made because the generic Zodarii can’t climb efficiently using other climbing Zodarii as footholds. Throughout the territory several bridges and roads were placed to speed up the mining process. There were new thick artificial pillars placed in strategic places to support the ceiling or to house makeshift flamethrowers that used hydrogen procured from Napkins. The crater itself has changed considerably, once a hole from surface to subterranean cave was now surrounded by thick pillars of wood and other plant matter and really looked like dungeon helpers were preparing to make a cargo lift there.

All matters aside, this lift, even unfinished, could be considered a major engineering feat considering that Zodarii has virtually no engineering knowledge.

But then I noticed that not all of my fauna was working, no, some of them were fighting off small rodents that were coming from the surface. These abominations were the size of a golden retriever but were mostly gray or white had almost no fur and looked like hairless rats.

To combat those unholy creations I picked up one Napkin that was floating around and began changing its structure. First off I made several sacks that will hold hydrogen and will be connected to the main creature by thin tethers and delicate pipes. Now the Napkin had the balloons above itself that looked like those from the movie UP.

Secondly I added small wings to the creature and organs that condensed water from the atmosphere. Next I focused really hard on the aspect of sustenance and growth. I arranged everything like so:

First stage is old combat Napkin that landed near plants, that were engineered to house big amounts of hydrogen and basic elements the CN was made off, splits itself and anchors itself to the ground the parts that were split house rudimentary organs and biomatter of juvenile CN. Second stage is juveniles feeding off surrounding plants to grow into adolescent forms which are massive enough for further reproduction process. Third stage is adolescents specializing themselves by staying on certain altitudes (I programmed them to “evolve” based on atmospheric pressure). If the CN stays close to the ground It becomes the plant that will feed other juveniles, Elders go through the same process. If the adolescent isn’t close to the ground or the ceiling it helps with training and runs errands for front line like bringing food or water. The ones that stay close to the ceiling get larger and evolve to be able to detach one of the balloons along with special enzymes that will ignite upon impact, those detached balloons are weighted by water and will spread simple seeds of CN plants. Fourth stage is adults for first specialization that means the plant can spread its seeds or spawn random napkin by sacrificing most of its progress reverting back to adolescent form. Second spec gets bigger wings to move faster and some weak limbs to move more stuff. Third spec gets bigger and has some glands that are able to shoot out concentrated streams of hydrogen and enzymes that will explode violently, due to the same enzymes that were in the bombs. Final stage is the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of the species. Every spec becomes a plant and will grow larger to the point of being able to spawn one napkin without big loss of progress once a day.

Well then it looks like I made animal/plant that can and propably will snowball so fucking hard it will destroy the world! Hehe it’s not my fault I was placed in this position in this world, If I could I would gladly go back…. Hmm, no, I don’t think I would, being totally honest.

Now let’s speed up the construction sites! After I placed a dozen or so CN plants I picked up another “bored” Zodarii. First thing I did I made it into a perfect copy of the porter then I expanded the carapace even further to house more brain matter and to house more specialized short limbs with 3 small fingers each. All in all I added 4 new limbs, a pair on the underside of the carapace and one of each side of the head.

Then I made it’s legs house a bunch of small hairs that will literally glue themselves to anything on command. Next I replaced whatever glands were inside into those that helped with coordination and with production of strong web, so the Engineer is able to build stuff even by itself. After feeling a sense of satisfaction I focused on making them very curious and cunning but before everything calm. For stages of growth I didn’t make much changes except that now eggs with Engineers inside can learn from Old Engineers that help around the colony.

I was slowly trying to limit the amount of mana consumption of my fauna so I could have more for myself ergo make more horrific monsters that could take over the world with ease. Huh, I noticed I’m talking to myself….. Well, I guess I’m alone and I always loved to speak to an imaginary crowd of people inside my mind. Welp what can ye do? OH right, you might ask what about the subroutine? Aren’t ya worried about it deleting your new helpers?

No, Because I made a great discovery, The subroutine can’t do what I also cannot do and I can’t kill any animal without it betraying me or me feeling it betrayed me. So the only thing I changed was to make a Identification protocol for the subroutine, everything that is made by myself or evolves inside my domain and before was friendly Is considered friendly. Yeah, yeah, I know It’s easily exploitable but I really suck at programming.