[Chapter 6]

[Alice’s POV]

I am Alice and the ‘Dungeon Core’ of dungeon Genesis. The one who created me is my one and only Master, the Demon Lord, John. I was created through his will and by extension; his soul. When I was created I seemed to have some of my Master’s memories, but somehow they are a blur, and I became sentient as, we dungeon cores, do not have emotions or such things such as worries, only the things we are commanded or instructed to do.

When I saw that my Master became exhausted and that he was sleeping in his demon form, I became aware that he was more handsome than his human form. I became worried, scared and at the same time excited, but I need to be professional, so when he actually woke up I was quite relieved. My master, after he awoke, asked me some questions and I answered the questions immediately, everything I know, through the worlds law and what instinctual information that was imbued within me.

When we started to work together, devising and creating the dungeon, I seem to be feeling emotions of joy and happiness, in being together and working with my master. We used my base mana to develop the various floors and monsters of the dungeon and when we were done, my master tapped me on the head and said ”All done. Well it’s not perfect, but I’ll leave everything in your care to redevelop and change it more too your tastes.”

To this, I replied, “As you wish Master, I will make this dungeon glorious and infamous throughout the world.”

Yes!... that’s right I will make my Master proud I thought to myself.

Master smiled and said: ”Umm... That’s the spirit”.

Then he bestowed upon me, the name, Alice. Together with the name of my home, he even helped me on what appearance to model after. I took the form of a 5’ tall human female; with a long black hair, blue eyes, red lips, snow-white skin, red lips and dressed with a black gown dress, After we finished finalizing my appearance, he once again transferred extra mana from himself to me, then said that he will someday return to visit me and at that, bade me his farewell and left.

After he had bade me farewell and left, only thing that I felt, was sadness that my master had left me and at the same time, excited, of when he will or was to return.

[End of Alice’s POV]

[…back to present…]

[John’s POV]

As the morning came I made my preparations for the day, such as cleaning myself, wear my silver-coloured armour and cover my face with the temporary clay mask, created from a bit earth-magic, a cloth and a lot water manipulation. After I had completed my preparations; I left my current temporary house and then buried it again, back under the earth so it won’t be found by any passers or intruders.

I first went over to where the soldiers were camping and what I saw first; was the soldiers faces showing despair and a serious lack or morale. The food they are eating, at first it looks, was like an over-watered gruel, that smells like an old man’s feet, so I went over to one of the soldiers that was attempting to eat without grimacing and asked; “What are you eating?”. I replied, with a scowl, that it was indeed gruel and that it was just that their supplies were not sufficient enough to get back to Cera, so they were rationing and improvising as they went. I asked where I could get some food and the soldier pointed me in the direction of a tent to head over towards. As I entered the appointed tent, I heard the soldiers were generally talking to each other and heard various conversations that were about me and what I did yesterday. I went heading straight to the kitchen and found the cooks that were still serving or cooking. It seems that they indeed were having a lack of food stock, so I just removed all of the meat I had in my storage, in that I think I still had some rabbit and wild boar left over, and the cooks, seeing what I was giving away, went out of their way and thoroughly thanked me for the donations.

After I had given them the meats and had something small to eat, as thanks for the meats they quickly prepared and cooked them while I waited, and then left after telling them thanks and went off to the tent of Sir Gregory. I arrived and found that Sir Gregory had indeed now awoken. The Princess and Albert were there too and they both looked at me full of relief and joy.

[I got no idea, what’s happening right now…?]

[Sir Gregory’s POV]

As I opened my eyes slowly, I felt ... weirdly good. I mean, I never felt as good as this as of recent, but only that in my younger years I remembered the same feeling; energetic, no aches and pains, easier to breath.

So that, when I finally opened my eyes, the first sight I saw since the battle, was the sight of the Princess and my friend, Albert. Both of them had relieved faces and looked no worse for wear.

Thinking about it, the last thing I remember, was me fighting against a bandit named Axe Killer and being struck down and dying. I remember feeling angry, as if I was just in my younger years, I could have easily defeated him, but with my old age and body, I could barely hold him off and hence lost the fight. I remember the feeling of failure of being unable to protect the Princess and friends.

So after awakening and seeing them I asked the only question that came to mind; “So if I am dead and this is Heaven, did we all die?”

I continued with “Ar...are we in heaven???, W...what happened to the bandits?? Wait... why is my voice different…? Why do I feel more younger and my h.h..hands, m...my skin. I.. I am younger!!! What is happening!!??“. I finally stopped after hesitating and stuttering with disbelief of what had happened to me.

As I finished asking my questions, my disbelief and noticing the changes, a man, wearing silver armour, a faced covered by a mask entered the tent. I thought to myself… I don’t recognise him from before.

[Back to John’s POV…]

Albert suddenly, in wanting to update Sir Gregory on the situation and possibly giving him the wrong impression, said: “Sir Gregory, this is the one who defeated the Bandits, together saving us and the one who revived you after you had died. His name is John and is now currently being hired by us, to help in defending and protecting us while we were waiting for you to awake.”

Sir Gregory, having listened and complete trust in his friend, looked towards me and then spoke firmly and with definite gratitude; “Thank you Sir John, for both saving my party and giving me another chance at life, and in that spirit, another chance to do my duty as a Knight. Now with me seeming and being younger, I will be more capable in defending, as until recently in that situation where my age was impeding my ability.

I in return, replied; ”Your most welcome, Sir Gregory”. I then took the time to look at his status;

Status for [Sir Gregory]:

Name: Gregory Logia

Race Human

Level: 71

Age: 39

Class: Commander

Title: The Beast Knight of Cera

Stats:

Strength: 212

Agility: 190

Endurance: 244

Defence: 188

That’s pretty high; considering they were higher than the axe dude’s stats were. It seems that old age really affected his stats, but why did he become younger?? Was it because the Relic considered that old age is a curse or de-buff?? I am still unsure about the cause and or effect concerning the Relic’s abilities.

After that, the sub-commander, explained to Sir Gregory what their plans were and in which Sir Gregory agreed that the plan, of claiming the crown, and that they should plan to move out soon as possible. But firstly Sir Gregory offered Albert and myself to join him in eating a meal with him, since his quite hungry(due to the resurrection?), so we went left the tent and went outside to where the food was being served at the kitchen-tents.

When we entered, the soldiers seemed to be less depressed than the last time I saw them and were now cheerfully conversing, possibly after the fact being be that their plates were now filled with meat and bread, but when Albert looked around and saw this, he went straight to the cooks at the kitchen and enquired about the meals and how they were managing the supplies. Once the cook explained, about the situation, Albert returned back to where we were and dingily thanked me again for donating the meat, in which had greatly improved the mood and morale of his soldiers.

As soon as he was done expressing his thanks, the four of us walked over to the kitchen and ordered some meat and bread and then sat down and happily ate together without much conversation. The princess ate gallantly temporarily in Sir Gregory’s tent being served by her personal nanny, while we ate at the table just by the kitchen tents with the soldiers.

[End of chapter 6]