As I walked into the Base of Operation on Earth, the real one. Man, it was nice to be back in business. I could worry about everything Merlin had just shared with me but instead of getting bogged down, I decided I needed to focus on the here and now, not a lot of “What If’s” that had just popped into my mind based on what I was told. To that end, I opened a portal at the very bottom of my subterranean building and started flooding the Earth with real nanites from my soul space. I converted the Chaos still lurking outside my artificial solar system in my soul space into nanites and funneled them into the planet. I had four Cosmos worth of chaos; minus the bit, I’d already used. They were still small enough to exist within atoms and survive the temperatures and pressures of everything save the extreme gravity of a black hole.

I adjusted my original programming and set the nanites up to only infiltrate and convert inorganic matter. Living creatures were off-limits. I wanted the networking this would give me for the planet not to take over the population. If there were beings that were truly more powerful than me out there, I didn’t want to piss off any of them and especially not the one that might cover the core idea of free will. Of course, that garnered the question, did they even know that this Realm wasn’t fractured anymore?

When I talked to Merlin again, ah screw it, I needed to know, I asked Merlin through the intercom, “Hey Merlin, quick question for you?”

After a few moments, Merlin’s voice came back through the intercom, “Yes Adam?”

“One of the holes in everything you told me that is bugging me is concerning people that die. Where do their souls go?”

“I didn’t cover that, oh I see, because I said even the Gods don’t know what happens when they die. Let me clarify. Beings that have not achieved Neophyte or higher status do as you have learned through other sources. They either reincarnate, serve whatever divine or God they worship or move on to one of the other layers until they give up let go, and are reincarnated anyway. That is the one aspect of your teaching that was wrong. Entities cannot just fade away, that doesn’t happen. Once a soul has enough identity to develop a sense of self, even if they get tired of the struggle of existing, they simply shed that identity and become something new, all within the realm of the layer they are on. The Identity may be lost for a time, but things have a habit of happening over and over. This is true for all souls. That is until you get to Neophyte or higher. Neophytes or higher that are destroyed cease to exist, as far as anyone has been able to determine.”

“What about you, by your own word you have died?”

“My body has died sure, but I have no access to my soul space, and it is locked away somewhere that I cannot get to.”

“Okay, so souls still follow what I learned until they get to the level you reached or higher, unless you’re in the doghouse with big daddy O, who, or whatever that is.”

“That’s about it.”

“Thanks, Merlin, it was just bugging me.”

“You’re welcome, signing off,” Merlin said as the intercom clicked.

So that made a little more sense. People could die but as I’d learned before it seemed that whatever the system was it had been designed to improve souls from the ground up, at least until that soul reached a certain level. Still, not messing with people or their souls. I’d give them choices, but no more compelling people to do anything. I could very easily fall into the trap of a dictator again. I hadn’t liked how that made me feel. If an Individual came for me, that was a choice. How I responded was my choice to make.

I continued pouring nanites into the Earth and they spread from New Mexico in all directions. If I started from only one point it would take roughly 241 days for the entire earth to be covered. That would take too long. Well, I needed to do this anyway. I went into the Elevator, cast Invisibility on myself then started flying around the globe mapping it out. As I flew around the Globe, I would land in a secluded area, open a portal to my soul space and flood it with nanites for a few minutes. Take off and go find a new location.

It took me the better part of 24 hours to map out the entire globe well enough that I could teleport to any location near a major city. The nanites had covered the whole planet by 2 p.m. central standard time the next day. Once that was done I had the nanites convert the nuclear material in every single weapon to an inert substance, like silicon. No more weapons of mass destruction. I left normal munitions alone because they would probably be needed in the coming days, but nukes were a no-go. Nukes caused too much ecological and collateral damage to allow their use,

With the nanites everywhere, I would now be able to keep track of everything that was going on and copy all the information on the planet. That took about a minute. A quick comparison to my Earth’s information and I found that the deviation my Cosmos had taken from the Prime Cosmos hadn’t been all that great. In fact, it looked like the primary factor that led to change was me. Otherwise, this world could have been my world before I won the lottery.

As I was reviewing everything I noticed that the food and water I’d created were being confiscated by local governments and gangs. Then they’d try to sell the goods back to those they’d just stolen them from for an insane amount. All the good I’d tried to do was being undone within two days. With nanites in play, I now had options. I created food and water for every hungry person on the planet. No magic was involved this time, so I wasn’t worried about saturating the planet with even more magic. I could use nanites to automatically fix everyone but without the infrastructure to help them, millions of people that were sick, suddenly becoming healthy again was a bad idea. This time around I’d provide the food, water, and medicine as needed and let the people recover normally. I could also make immediate chronic care available but people would need to ask for help.

While I was traveling all around the globe I had Thor 2 open a portal to the moon and drop off some nanites there too. It could be the Vrax or the Lexi, but a moon base for observation didn’t seem like either race’s style. The Vrax could already be on the planet blending in and the Lexi were way too warlike. Of course, the recombining could have changed something. I could be dealing with an entirely new species. The nanites would help me figure that out.

I also had Thor 2 determine the spatial coordinates and location for every planet in the solar system and drop off some nanites to each of those bodies as well. Those would take time. I had a feeling things were not going to go as easy as they had before. Nanites on the planets in the solar system I was in, were one thing. Spreading out was probably going to be problematic. Of course, that wasn’t really my plan. Back when I’d spread across the Milky Way, I hadn’t known everything I know now. Knowing that there was more to the Universe than just this Universe, I needed to worry about myself and those I cared about. After that, I’d try to help those in need I came across if I could. Ruling everything and everyone was not my end goal. Also, it was not good for people to have someone forcing someone else to live a certain way. I could help but I would not dictate.

As I worked on getting nanite coverage on Earth and all objects in orbit around Earth I also noticed something. My nanites encountered dead zones they could not access across the globe. I even had nanites make chains and stick other nanites into each zone. The nanites ceased functioning as they reverted to particles and disintegrated. I sent out a diagnostic check to all the nanites and was shocked to discover that all my physical nanites were deteriorating. Slowly, but they were deteriorating. The only thing allowing me to set up the coverage was the number of nanites I’d flooded into the planet. It seemed that high levels of ambient magic were incredibly bad for nanites. Of course, flooding the area with magic probably hadn’t helped. Maybe when the magic density equaled out the nanites wouldn’t break down as quickly?

I pulled up my Universal Interface and checked the local Ambient Magic level and noticed in just two days it had dropped to 830% above normal density. The magic was being absorbed, relatively quickly if it had gone down over 170% in two days. At that rate, things should be back to normal for a magical universe in another two weeks. Of course, if the refreshment of mana was still low, it might drop back below 100% again. I had a feeling that wasn’t going to be the case though.

I reconfigured the nanite programming to account for deterioration and to replace as necessary to keep the surface of all stellar bodies and satellites at 100% nanite coverage then I started reviewing what was going on again. The new food supplies were still being seized. Should I go heavy-handed or have some fun? I voted for having some fun and set up a time loop of sorts. I watched as the “freedom fighters” in Africa took the food from the various huts in a village and started driving down the road to their base, only to arrive with nothing in the truck. They’d go back to the hut, find the food there and take it again. They’d yell and scream to figure out how they’d taken the food back, only for it to happen again. The third time a commander had the brilliant idea to have someone in the back of the truck watching the food. As the truck started to pull out of the village all the food broke down into nothing. The soldier pounded on the cab, the truck stopped, and the commander came back to see. They walked back to the huts and sure enough, the food was back. The commander wasn’t stupid, I’ll give him that. He picked up a food ration, walked to the edge of the village, and watched as the food disintegrated in his hand. He went back to the hut grabbed another food ration and ate it. Again, he went back to the hut and noticed that it was immediately replaced. Eventually, the soldiers got in their truck and drove away leaving the people in peace.

That pattern was repeated across the world as people tried to profit by controlling the supply of food, only to find out that no matter how much was taken, it would always disappear and reappear. One government tried to relocate the people away from their homes so they could use the food for themselves only to find that the food stopped coming to the soldiers and shifted to appear where it was needed. I had to admit, fucking with those assholes as they tried to profit from the suffering of others was fun. I also had to admit to myself that just wiping them out of existence would have been easier but would have had much dire consequences.

With the food, water, and medicine issues sorted I contacted a Law Firm in New York City and Created Portals Inc LLC. Then I purchased an office in New York City. I also looked online for real estate that was for sale and found a very nice valley for sale just east of my estate in the Rocky Mountains. This time I was trying to purchase the land for Portals Inc. So, I’d go through the official process. I put in the bid and let the Lawyers I hired get to work. I let it be known that I was one of those that believe that bonuses would be based on the successful and timely acquisition of properties I wished to acquire. After the initial call, I let Thor 2 get to work. He could handle property acquisition. I’d handle infrastructure build-up if I could.

With all of that underway, it was time to visit Al. I teleported into the air bubble at the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle and then had a thought. I released my chaos into the eight feet around me then started creating an airlock of sorts around the entrance to the dungeon. While I did this I tried to make physical nanites every once in a while and soon realized that when my nanites were within 100’ of the entrance they failed to work anymore.

Using only my chaotic nanites I created an underwater structure that could withstand the pressure, I made it out of Adamantium, just to see if I could and all ports were transparent Aluminum of course. Because I had to move slowly and built the structure from the ground up to make sure the foundation was also able to withstand the pressure. I created a structure that was 500 feet in diameter with an airlock at the top that could be attached to an elevator shaft that I would extend to the surface. Eventually, I’d add portals once the technology was up and running again but for now, I’d go with the technology people would expect.

Once the structure was done, I went inside, closed it up, and opened a portal from where I was into the sky 500 feet above the ocean. I held myself in place as almost all the water vacated through the portal. This completely cleared the upper levels and left just a small puddle of water on the ground floor. I closed the portal then quickly walked around the ground and had my nanites convert the water into chaos and absorb it back into my soul space. The air bubble the dungeon created was in the center of the structure. The cliff rose out of the floor, surrounded by the main room which was 100 feet across. I added a red dotted line around the area of the air bubble the dungeon maintained. Along the outer edge the words, “In Case of Breach move inside the red dotted line or into the cave” printed around the outside.

It took about three hours to finish the structure and then provide power, air, and furniture. In a pinch, it could house 50 people and I set up accommodations for 10 five-man parties to have their own areas to rest in. While it might look like the structure from the movie The Abyss on the outside, when I was done the structure resembled a hunting lodge.

After the structure was complete it was a simple matter to create a floating platform that attached to the airlock at the top of the structure. The shaft had an elevator that rose to an underwater base that floated 100 feet under the surface to allow it to remain stable and unaffected by surface waves or wind during a storm. Water planes and boats would land above. I created some nice submersibles that could ferry ten people down to the submerged base where they could then ride an elevator down to the base that surrounded the cave entrance. Because I was utilizing normal nanites I made that portion of the base out of normal materials that could withstand the pressure, except for the elevator, I made that out of Adamantium as well.

Buoys were released on quick-release cables to the surface to mark where the structure was beneath the surface. I also sent out a flash message to all subs in the area that the location of the structure so there would not be any accidents. Once the function of this facility became known, I was pretty sure that wouldn’t be an issue. In fact, I was quite sure the governments would be working to protect entry into the dungeon.

I finalized my work by filing all the necessary paperwork with every government that was even close to the location I was in as well as with the Chinese and Russian Governments so there would be no misunderstanding as to its purpose. Once everything was filled, the upper part of the base was connected to my underwater fusion reactor. I was done. I clapped my hands as if cleaning them to show that I was done, and stepped into the Dungeon.

A mouth formed on the wall opposite me. “I thought I felt something going on outside of my opening. Is everything all right Adam?”

“Yes, that was me. How are you?” I asked.

“As good as can be expected sitting at the bottom of the ocean in a cave that at this depth, I’m lucky if anything makes it into the cave entrance, If I’m being honest.,” Al said.

“Well, I came to keep my word. Do you have those first couple of levels set up to give those that visit a fighting chance?” I asked

“Yep, would you like to take a look? Nothing in those levels can harm you so you should be able to look around just fine..”

“I think I will, though I’m just going to look. I’ll use invisibility to take a look and be back out here if a few to talk., I said

“Sounds good”

I cast invisibility stepped into the first level and moved through the floor Al had created. The first level consisted of a normal cave system with giant crabs, swarms of sharks in “Short Cuts” between pools in different caves, and a few critters I didn’t recognize. The floor boss was a giant water-based salamander-looking thing. Behind the boss was a stairway leading down to the second level. The Boss was level 10 and everything else on this level was lower than it. This would be a very good starting level.

The second level would be a little more difficult. The primary creature type in this area were the merman. The boss was similar to a witch doctor as he could cast spells. I looked around and found nothing that didn’t seem fair, even the traps were appropriate for the level they were on. The first level looked like it was for levels 1-10 and the second for levels 11-20. This would do nicely

I walked back to the entrance and faced the wall with the mouth on it. “Do your floors keep to that 10-level pattern going down?” I asked.

“Yep, I’ve got 10 floors set aside. The 10th floor can handle a party of level 91 – 100 though it’ll be a bit of a challenge.”

“It looks like we’re ready here, where do I need to go to fix your node link to the surface?”

A platinum node rose out of the floor, “You need merely place this node back into the holder that was already created ages ago.”

“Where is it?”

“There’s an island 37 miles west and just a little south of my location. On that island, there is a cave with a statue in it. The node goes there.”

“I reviewed the layout of the surrounding area through my nanites. The island of Bermuda was 57 miles southwest of the cave entrance to Al. Just north and east of Bermuda there was an underwater mountain that almost reached the surface. I reviewed the data I had of the area, found the cave Al was talking about, and said, “So I have some bad news there Al, the island you’re talking about. It’s completely submerged now.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Quite sure. I have some good news though. I’ve already created a base and way to get down to your cave entrance for normal mortals”

“That’s nice I guess?” Al said dejectedly.

“Cheer up man, as soon as I get my company up and running I’ll be able to open portals that lead to the facility right outside your cave entrance. Also, it’s made of Adamantium so it’s not going anywhere. Hey, I have an idea! How would you like someone to test your Dungeon levels? Not me, I’m a little overpowered but someone I know would probably love to give it a whirl?”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to accidentally kill anyone you’re fond of?” Al asked.

“I don’t think you’re going to have that problem, let me get her here,” I said and opened a portal into my place of power near Desirae, who was in a training session with my mom and dad, “Desirae, I have a task for you, if you’re up to it?”

“A task he says,” she said as she looked up, “Okay you two, we’re done for today. Keep practicing I’ll catch up with you later. Thor if you don’t mind,” she said. As Desirae stood the nanites shimmered over her skin and she was left looking refreshed and dressed for success. She took a step through the Portal to stand beside me.

“Desirae, you are now in a dungeon here on Earth. The dungeon is sentient. This is Al,” I said pointing to the mouth on the stone wall.

Desirae, looked around, “A sentient Dungeon, really?” she asked excitedly. “Al was it? Do you have a Dungeon Master yet?”

“Nooo,” Al said hesitantly.

“Can I, please?” Desirae asked.

“Desirae, you, and Al need to work on the terms, one of which I know is that you need to beat his dungeon. Do you need any equipment or weapons if you and Al come to an arrangement?”

“I’ll need my weapons and armor. It’ll make running the dungeon easier.

“I can do that,” I said as I focused my will and conjured the equipment I’d taken from her so long ago. The items appeared in a neat pile on the ground before us. “Desirae,” I said waiting until she looked up and met my eyes. “Al is a friend of the Labyrinth, whom we do not want to piss off. If you and Al cannot come to an arrangement, just leave him alone. If you do come to an arrangement, by all means, accept the role of Dungeon Master if you are given the opportunity. Lord knows I’m going to be far too busy to.”

“Understood,” Desirae said seriously

“Okay, when you’re done, that is the exit portal,” I said pointing at the exit portal.” Outside you’ll find an underwater base with all the luxuries, including a communication suit through Thor. Also, nanites are out there once you get more than 100 feet from the cave entrance. So just head down the hall to the lounge after you’re done and give me a shout, I’d like to discuss a couple of other things with you about moving out of the soul space and setting up shop to handle affairs here. You, Mom, Dad, Amanda, and Abi.”

“Okay,” she said as she started picking up her equipment and armor

“Are you sure she’s going to be okay in here?” Al asked.

“Al, Desirae was one of the top assassins before we met. She’s also level 5,000. Do you think she’ll be okay in here?” I asked.

Al sighed, “Yeah she’ll be all right, it won’t even be a contest,” Al said.

“Okay then, you two hash it out, I’m going to head back to my Base of Operation. I’ll check on both of you later,” I said as I teleported to the Base of Operation under my estate in New Mexico.