It first seemed like a normal evening just like any other in the secluded mountain range known as the Lost Mountains.

The sun was high in the sky, and the birds were chirping as they arrived back at their nests for the evening.

All in all, the mountains thrive in peace while secluded from any established kingdoms.

Unfortunately, this peace doesn't last as the sky suddenly goes dark after the sun is swallowed up by a strange void of darkness.

The entire mountain range goes silent as every last ray of light is sucked into the void, leaving the mountains in a strange state of emptiness.

However, before this can harm anything within the mountains, everything returns to normal as the void of darkness vanishes without a trace.

Outside of a small village of Goblins living on the outskirts of the mountain range, this strange phenomenon goes entirely unnoticed by the intelligent races of Midgard.

Meanwhile, a sphere of dark energy – eerily similar in appearance to the void of darkness that had swallowed up the sun not moments ago – appears in the middle of a dark and shallow cave within the Lost Mountains.

This sphere stays completely still for a few seconds before it slowly begins to shrink in size until it vanishes from sight completely, leaving only a small dark crystal behind in its place.

If someone were to pay close attention to the crystal, they might notice that it looks incredibly similar to the dark sphere that was previously surrounding it.

Almost as if the crystal had absorbed the sphere of energy into itself.

Meanwhile, a light blue flame was slowly beginning to emerge in the corner of the cave.

Then, as if it were alive, the crystal suddenly begins to move towards the light blue flame as if attracted by it.

A couple of hours earlier

I have lived inside of this endless darkness ever since I can remember.

That is, until today.

Out of nowhere, a strange hole suddenly opens up in front of me, spilling light into the endless darkness for the first time in my life.

What's.... this?

After looking through the strange hole, I see a place full of a reddish tinted light seemingly coming from a strange red liquid flowing in the distance.

A strange creature begins to walk through the hole from the other side before I can float over to investigate it.

This creature has some sort of dark aura flowing out of its body. It has four legs and a tail, with pointed ears on the top of its head and a long mouth filled with fangs that appear to be made out some sort of dark energy. Finally, it has two sharp, golden eyes that radiate a golden light amidst the darkness.

Wolf.

The word suddenly pops into my head.

I'm not sure how I know this, but this creature looks like a wolf made out of a dark energy.

The energy is both lifeless and full of life at the same time; and yet, it still feels extremely comfortable to me for some reason.

The strange hole behind the creature vanishes just as swiftly as it had appeared, taking the precious little light that it had let in along with it.

A few seconds pass in silence before a deep voice speaks into the darkness.

"Hello little one."

Little one? Is the voice coming from the wolf-like creature?

How do I respond to him?

Also, how did I know what a wolf was?

The questions keep coming to me until I hear the voice speak again.

"Yes, I am the creature in front of you."

Okay, so the voice is coming from the wolf.

It's weird how it can hear my thoughts, but if that's the case, then would you mind telling me how I know what a wolf is? I have never left this place before, nor have I ever seen a wolf.

"Sure, little one. You know what a wolf is through your inherent memories as a dungeon core."

Inherent memories? Dungeon core?

Wait, so I am a dungeon core then?

Yes... that sounds right for some reason.

"If you would like, I could teach you a couple of things before my time comes," the wolf-like creature says while staring directly at me with his golden eyes.

What do you mean by that?

The creature sits down in front of me while panting in what seems to be exhaustion and says, "Well, my life force was devoured when I messed around with something that I probably should have left alone."

Really? That sounds harsh.

He chuffs in what could be interpreted as amusement before saying, "Yes, it is harsh. I only barely managed to stumble my way back into the void with what little mana I had remaining. Unfortunately, I don't have very much time left to live."

Oh...

"Don't worry about me little one, just go ahead and ask any questions you want," he says in a kind tone, obviously trying to change the subject from his fate.

Okay.

You mentioned the void. Is that where we are right now?

"Yes, we are in the void. I was surprised to see a void element dungeon core in here though," the wolf-like creature tells me with curiosity written all over its face.

So, this is the void?

It's nice to finally have a name for this place.

What do you mean by a 'void element dungeon core' though?

The wolf shifts his weight a little before saying, "Every being in this world has an inherent element that they are bound to, and you just so happen to be a dungeon core who is bound to the void element. It doesn't really mean much for someone like me before Tier 2, but for a dungeon core? It is going to be extremely important even at Tier 1."

Before I can ask what he means about Tiers, the wolf-like creature chuffs a few times, almost as if it were coughing.

"Meanwhile, the Tiers that I mentioned are the first two tiers on the Path of the World. Dungeon cores have it slightly different when it comes to traversing this path than any other being. For example, I have to kill monsters within a dungeon to traverse this path, but you will have to set up a dungeon and kill any intruders who enter it to traverse it," the wolf continues explaining to me while seemingly having trouble keeping his head up.

A dungeon?

What is a dungeon if you don't mind me asking?

The void wolf – of which I had decided to call him – glances behind himself to where he had first emerged before turning back to me with curiosity in his eyes.

"I would advise you to leave the void before setting up your dungeon. There aren't very many beings in the void, and most of the creatures roaming it aren't ones that a new dungeon can handle. What's more is that your wisp, which will be your guide and partner when you start your dungeon, can't spawn within the void," the void wolf kindly says with a hint of fatigue in his voice.

He then shifts his weight a little bit to get into a more comfortable position.

"You should have inherent memories as to how to set up your dungeon, and if you have any problems, you can ask your wisp when it forms," the void wolf says before glancing backwards once again.

He then turns his head back to me.

He seems to be restless.

I guess this means that he doesn't have much time left...

A strange feeling wells in me.

Is this... sadness?

I guess it makes sense that I would be sad about this.

The wolf is the first and only thing I have ever interacted with after all.

The void wolf hears my thoughts and chuffs a few times in amusement, "Don't worry little one, you will soon meet your wisp. A dungeon core and its wisp always form an unbreakable bond with each other, so you will never be alone again."

The void wolf slumps over as his voice starts getting quieter, "I am sorry little one, but I am almost out of time. I shall open a way out of the void for you now with my remaining mana."

A circle appears out of nowhere with a breathtaking view in the middle of it, flooding the endless darkness with light once again.

The word 'mountains' pops into my head.

That must be from the inherent memories the void wolf had told me about.

I suddenly begin to feel nervous at the thought of leaving the void.

At the same time though, I also feel excited at the thought of seeing something new, but my excitement dies down after taking another glance at the void wolf.

I don't even know the name of my benefactor!

The void wolf looks surprised for a moment before weakly chuffing a few times in amusement.

"My name, little one, is Fenrir. Now, you must go to the world of Midgard while I can still keep the portal open," the void wolf says while very lightly nodding his head in the direction of the portal.

I slowly begin to float over towards the portal.

Thank you, Fenrir! For everything!

I take one last glance at Fenrir before I pass through the portal, weakly hearing Fenrir call out after me one last time before the portal closes.

"Have a good life, little one, and remember to ask your wisp anything you didn't get to ask me!"

Fenrir takes one last glance at the little dungeon core as it floats through the portal.

'I wonder how the world will react to a dungeon core of the void element showing up in Midgard,' Fenrir thinks after a few seconds of silence.

This is because only extremely high tier entities know about the void, much less the void element. Meanwhile, those who do possess knowledge of the void element are afraid of it.

This is understandable though, seeing as the void has the ability to devour all other elements within limits based on the tier and level of the one bound to those elements, as well as the one bound to the void element.

Fenrir sighs before thinking, 'This will be interesting. The world is currently on the verge of war, and now the void element shall return to Midgard. It's a pity I won't be around to see it.'

Fenrir slowly begins fading into the void until nothing remains.