Vorinus scanned its Dungeon again. Mainly because of this Hivemind prompt:

{ERROR. ERROR. ERROR}

{DANGEROUS INTENT DETECTED}

{ADVICE: DO NOT ANGER ENTITY ‘DUNGEON GUILD’}

{ADVICE: DO NOT EXPERIMENT WITH THE INVERSE OF ENERGY ‘MANA’}

{ERROR.}

The Hivemind had clearly never dealt with this before. Regardless, Vorinus knew that the Guild wouldn’t always be so…’friendly’. It had no choice.

First, it needed to find the ‘inverse of mana’. The Hivemind should have chosen its wording better. Vorinus focused on the mana pulsing through its domain. It was vibrant, and full of life, even with the taint of the Hivemind lingering in its depths.

With sheer force of will, it shattered the mana, bending it utterly in reverse.

The kelp room, where it was experimenting, instantly went dark in Vorinus’ sight, and a sharp, burning pain caused its vision to flicker. Struggling to focus, it constructed an experimentation room far from its main Dungeon, and managed to replenish the completely empty room. The cavern had collapsed inward, anything close by, infused with Dungeon mana, destroyed. But it was done, and the room was repaired.

But Vorinus was very, very wary of Antimana, now.

Experiment two was different. By focusing on a small amount of mana, a small spark of Antimana formed, destroying a small patch of influence. Also, the mobs grown in the room seemed…unwell. Not powerful enough, but certainly safe enough. How to be safe, but strong enough to hinder a Guild member?

On a whim, Vorinus compacted mana into a singular point, where it pulsed brightly, before becoming a crystal. Not unlike the crystals embedded in Vorinus’ own flesh, or those in the newer caverns. Curious, it inverted the mana crystal, which turned from a light blue, to a dark black. It became jagged and shattered, constantly eating away the influence around it.

Best of all, it could be ‘focused’. It seemed to be in a dormant state around lower mana concentrations than themselves, but once something high enough approached, it focused its efforts on that something, weakening it, but not killing it. Numerous ones were constructed with as much mana as Vorinus could use, leaving the Antimana crystals embedded in the walls, waiting for prey.

That was when a weird creature entered the Dungeon. A creature covered in brownish bristles, walking on four legs, with strange horns bursting from its head. AND IT WAS CONSUMING VORINUS’ MANA!

Angrily, Vorinus ordered the axolotls to kill the intruder, and they did, distracting it with psionics, and then tearing the head off. The surge of mana did make up a little of the disruption, but now Vorinus was angry. So it decided to expand again…

Animals are wild creatures often vital sources of mana for Dungeon Cores. Animals are attracted by the mana flows that pass through Dungeon entrances. It is recommended that Dungeon Cores create a secret entrance for animals to increase mana income.

Useful, if random. Vorinus was sure to do as the Hivemind suggested, creating a small hole filled with Assimilators, with a microscopic connection to the rest of the Dungeon, so no animals actually got in. Back to more important matters.

A warren of submerged caverns were built, connected to the Kelp room, by an underwater passage. Vorinus was sure to include air pockets, knowing humanoids had such concerns. To fill them, Vorinus looked to the Deep Stonefish and Axolotl blueprints. Both outdated, and disappointing.

Fusing the two, combining the head of the Axolotls, their psionic abilities, and their amphibiousness, with the streamlined scales of the Fish, as well as the interesting genetic information stored within. When it was done, with a liberal application of mana, the Hivemind registered the new creation.

{DEEP STONEFISH + AXOLOTL BLUEPRINTS FUSED: BLIND SKARN}

Blind Skarn are a Core-spawned species that is specially adapted to life in underground waters. Carrying the blindness of their Deep Stonefish ancestors, but many of the beneficial traits of the Axolotl, these creatures sense vibrations in the water, and use their streamlined bodies to pursue this prey extremely fast, brutally tearing it apart. In addition, they use their latent psionic abilities to communicate with others of their kind at range, improving pack tactics.

The creature spawned was absolutely ugly, a pale, elongated thing covered in soft scales. It had no eyes, but had a gaping maw of serrated teeth, and a large crest of gills. Most curious of all, was the fishtail at the end of the body. However, they were fast and deadly, so many of the eerie caverns were filled with them. They were rather social, so Vorinus put them in groups of 3-5. Then, work began on a different sort of hybrid: the evolution of a Kelp Prisoner.

Conjuring the blueprint, Vorinus analyzed its qualities. They still maintained a rudimentary worship of the Wurm and itself, but they had developed a strange fascination with the dead. They buried the bodies, but periodically pulled them back up, and used them in weird rituals. Inspired by this, Vorinus set out to let this mob revive the dead.

But, it also wanted it to cast ‘spells’ like the Dwarven Mage, so it decided to fuse the two, then edit it before the process completed. Something it hadn’t done before.

As the bones of the Dwarf were knitted over by kelp, Vorinus intercepted, infusing intent into the creature. It’s kelp withered, and exposed the bone underneath, which shined brightly with an unearthly violet light. The same light flickered in the exposed eye sockets of the creature, and its exposed rictus grin was terrifying. The Hivemind recognized it shortly.

{KELP PRISONER+DWARVEN MAGE BLUEPRINTS FUSED: KELP SHAMAN}

A modified species of Kelp Prisoner possessing a talent for mana manipulation. Capable of casting advanced spells of a aquatic affinity, the Kelp Shaman also possesses the ability to reanimate the dead, puppeting numerous creatures at once. It has, however, become quite fragile.

FINALLY! Progress. Something new. Thrilled, Vorinus placed a tribe of Kelp Prisoners in the later submerged caves, wondering if they could still live underwater. It seemed so. Placing a quartet of Kelp Shaman in the center of the cave, Vorinus remembered the Kelp Idols, and placed some of those too. To finish the experiment, Vorinus had the Skarn interact with the Kelp, and watched as something extraordinary happened.

Instantaneous mutation.

The Kelp Prisoners were…riding the Skarn.

{KELP PRISONER EVOLUTION: KELP SKARNRIDER}

A natural mutation of the Kelp Prisoners, adapted to riding the Skarn that populate the same caverns. The Skarn develops a psychic bond with its rider over time, allowing both to share vitality and endurance, but also life. In addition, Skarnriders have the ability to empower their mounts, and have developed experience in mounted combat. Skarnriders are extremely swift on their mounts, and thus serve as the scouts and guards for the Kelp Tribe.

Finally, Vorinus started to burrow a final chamber, one that would hopefully house a Boss. It still didn’t know how to create one purposefully, but it wanted to try.

It selected a Skarnrider and the Skarn they were paired with, modifying their blueprint using a massive influx of mana. This mana was directed towards intellect for the Rider, and strength and psionics for the Skarn. Soon enough, after spending its entire supply of mana, the Hivemind finally decided it was a Boss.

{NEW DUNGEON BOSS: SKARN CALVARY}

A Skarnrider and paired Skarn empowered by a massive, guided infusion of a Dungeon Core’s mana. The Rider itself isn’t changed physically, but has been greatly enhanced in its intellect, and support abilities. It can send its Skarn into a deadly charge, or heal it! In addition, the Rider is more familiar with the scalelance it possesses. The Skarn is extremely large for its species, and its scales have hardened to the point of being near invincible. Its teeth have been augmented with metal alloys, and it can now use the dangerous psychic attacks of its Axolotl relatives. The duo is weak alone, but impossibly strong together.

Vorinus took a moment to admire its creation. The Rider’s kelp skin was hardened, yet extremely flexible, and the light of near sentience glittered in its black, fathomless eyes. It had a commanding presence, atop its Skarn steed. The beast itself was nearly triple its rider, webbed limbs bulging with muscle. Its eyes glowed a bright pink, denoting its impressive Psionic power, and its fanged grin was horrible. Overall, an imposing foe.

As the new Boss cavern was excavated, it suddenly broke into a huge hollow space, covered in greyish mushrooms, and crude huts. Water flooded into the cavern, destroying mushroom and hut alike, and hunched, greyish humanoids roared in fury, loping forward on all fours.

Vorinus was in trouble.

Summoning another Wurm in desperation, the towering beast didn’t even cause the humanoids to flinch. WIth sharp claws and teeth, they swarmed it, taking heavy losses, but killing the Wurm in minutes, before turning to stare blankly at…itself? How could they see it?

Soon, a hulking specimen covered in ritualized scars stalked toward the breach.

“Great Spirit, we feel thy presence. We know of thy great power. As our Ancestors-in-Dark before us, we shalt serve thee, and ye shalt bring us to the Eternal Cosmos Below!”

{LESSER HUMANOID RACE DETECTED: RAKAHN}

{TRANSMITTING RACIAL PROFILE..}

The Rakahn were originally a tribe of early humans, but were seduced by an entity that resided deep below the ground. In return for great knowledge, they performed greater and greater depravities in its name. As their society developed far past that of any human civilization to ever exist, their form became less and less human. Finally, their ‘God’ abandoned them after manipulating them to worship it enough for it to ascend to true godhood, and their society collapsed as they were cursed by the other Gods for nurturing this abomination. Pockets of them remain, much of their great civilization lost, and few fragments remain. The memories of the betrayal of their God have faded, and they have fallen so far as to be classified as a Lesser Humanoid Race.

So these were the humanoids it was supposed to enslave.

It seemed they were already eager to serve it. Adopting a cold, uncaring tone, using the knowledge of ‘speech’ it had gained through contact with the Ambassador, it projected its voice to the leader.

“HEAR ME, RAKAHN. I AM YOUR TRUE GOD, RISEN FROM THE ETERNAL COSMOS BELOW ITSELF! I AM RULER OF BEASTS AND TERROR TO THE LIGHT!”

With this dreadful utterance, the Rakahn fell to their stomachs, in positions of rapture. Energy pulsed from Vorinus’ influence, enveloping these curious humanoids.

{DIRECTIVE COMPLETE: ENSLAVE NEARBY LESSER HUMANOIDS}

{REWARD: SENTIENT MOBS, NEW DUNGEON FACTION}

{NEW DUNGEON FACTION: SHADEFANG TRIBE}

{NEW DIRECTIVE ASSIGNED: KILL 100 ADVENTURERS}

That was surprisingly easy…too easy. It didn’t matter to Vorinus. Sentients were easy to manipulate, it seemed. It surveyed the multitude of blueprints it had gained.

{NEW BLUEPRINT ACQUIRED: RAKAHN WARRIOR}

These seemed to be the fierce creatures that had killed the Wurm. Strong, but on the level of the Kelp Prisoners, roughly. Having never seen humans, it couldn’t compare deviancy. This specimen seemed to be male.

{NEW BLUEPRINT ACQUIRED: RAKAHN SCOUT}

This Rakahn seemed to have a slighter build, favoring lighter but faster tactics. It did seem to be female.

{NEW BLUEPRINT ACQUIRED: RAKAHN ARTISAN}

This Rakahn was more…upright than the others. It had a brown tint to its skin, unlike the grey of the others. In addition, it had a much more developed brain, but reduced muscle mass.

{NEW BLUEPRINT ACQUIRED: RAKAHN TWISTED}

The Twisted was a grotesque mash of Rakahn body parts, paler than all the others, and face composed of hundreds of thrashing tentacles. Whatever corruption had overtaken the Rakahn, this was by far saturated with it.

{NEW BLUEPRINT ACQUIRED: HYLOGO}

The Hylogo was a bizarre lizard that ate the numerous mushrooms in the caverns. Due to this, it glowed a soft grey. The Rakahn used it as livestock and a beast of burden.

{NEW BLUEPRINT ACQUIRED: RAKAHN SEER}

The Seer was a mix between the Warrior, Artisan, and Twisted. The strange anatomical feature such as a slighter, more upright frame were fused with strong muscle, and bestial traits. That was also fused with numerous face tendrils, and paler skin. This was the leader-and the epitome of the Rakahn. But it cost too much to use often.

And with that assessment, Vorinus was absolutely exhausted, almost instantly falling asleep.

It had gotten stuff done.