Forgotten Dungeon

Dungeon Core

With an audible *pop* I was spat out from the maelstrom that consumed me on Earth. That wisp-like thing really did a number on me… even my human-like body was torn to shreds and I was now looking nothing like before - I was now a slightly more blue wisp of energy, floating on the wind. The sensation only lasted a moment though. The voice boomed in my proximity, paralyzing my new senses.

[What do we have here?] It mused. [Another package from a foreign world. Strange. Such a backwater system and there is still somebody who remembers… Anyway, what are you?] The excitement was nearly visible - as was the large sphere floating above me. To reiterate - I was a small wisp of bluish light floating in the air. My size was no bigger than a dinner plate. And the being next to me was similar except larger. Much larger - Elephant or even Walrus category larger than my poor dinner plate. I could only hope that it wasn’t hungry.

What did I do in response? Fight or flight, right? The ancient coping mechanism. Nope. My true and trusted reaction was to keep my mouth shut, do not make eye contact, and wait it out. Like a small animal under a predator's gaze. It worked somehow and being sighed.

[Another piece of subpar goods it seems. Dissolved soul, to be put into a dungeon core gem? Haaaah. It can’t even speak. I was hoping for a hero or saint soul. Divinity knows we need them here.] There was another pause. [Well, nothing I can do about it now. Begin the procedure.] It commanded into the ether. And surprisingly our surroundings responded. From the black mist, a robotic voice answered with mechanical precision.

[Seeding module ready. Compatible source vessel detected. Begin?]

[Yes. Authorize seeding.]

[Authority checking. Authority confirmed: “God of Stars and Science” Brighton. Checking available locations on Yana. Installing soul-guiding system.] A slight itch came through my body as I twitched in displeasure. Brighton's eyes focused on me once again - at least it felt that way, seeing as he didn’t have any. The voice continued. [Installation complete. Checking compatibility. None found. Forcefully creating compatibility. Anima compatibility was created.]

[Hoh! Now that’s rare. Maybe something good will come out of this, after all.]

[Searching for available locations. No locations found. Converting existing location.]

[That’s right! It’s like the six hundredth core that I was able to plant on the soil of Yana. The non-corrupted landmass has its limits. But that means…] For the first time, unease was heard in god voice.

[Ruined castle of Henrik Waltzer found compatible.]

[No, no, no, no, no! Abort, abort!] Panic was now clearly heard in Brighton's voice, but his orders fell on deaf ears. Whatever being was dragging me down to the earth below promptly ignored him.

[Location confirmed. Seeding.] My whole being was sucked down towards a black onyx crystal buried in dirt and debris. It was like a roller coaster, but without a safety harness. I would promptly discharge the contents of my stomach if I had anything inside. Or had a stomach at all. Or mouth. Yep. It was still very nauseating even as a simple soul.

And there was a box, floating before me, taunting.

Welcome to Yana!

Your Race has been changed to Dungeon core

Your Affinity has been changed to None

Your starting Element has been changed to Anima

Your starting Location has been changed to Henrik Waltzer's ruined castle - Dungeons

Your Name has been changed to Uno

As always it seemed like life decided to grant me lemons. It was time to make lemonade.

Only… how?

***

Brighton

I think I made a mistake… Well, it’s not like there are many of my fellow gods left anymore, so I won’t be admonished, but still, it doesn’t sit well with me. It simply doesn’t.

Gotta do something. First, check from where the soul came.

Earth. Where is that? Ho, in the White-Dark Duality? Non-magical world, non-magical beings, with a lesser amount of willpower and luck. Completely unremarkable. I still don’t understand…

Then maybe the sender is the key?

Paidel Solomon of the Fallen Angels?! What the hell? What is one of the big guys swindling an innocent random soul to become a Dungeon core?! There has to be something more here after all Paidel is known for his perfectionism. Everything was already done, but if it’s a piece of information… Maybe I can deal with some Angels or Demons from that dimension? Who knows. It will take time though.

Then let’s make sure that the dungeon is growing alright. There should be… a… tutorial… ready…

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS! WHY CAN'T I ACCESS THE SYSTEM?!

Oh, it’s only when it comes to Uno and his dungeon. Wait.

Did he name himself? The simple dissolved soul doesn’t have such strength of will. Nor does it care about names. It’s getting more and more complicated. I sure hope that it won’t affect our other plans. Maybe I should send some of my followers near it? But it’s on the edge of known territories. There won’t be many people in the area even outside of my or other gods' followers.

Maybe I just let it be? It will be years before Dungeon will grow strong enough to arrive near the territories of sapient races. That's not even taking into consideration that it would have to battle corruption all the way through. And with the Anima element? Wasn’t that like spirit magic and some shamanistic rituals? This isn’t exactly my cup of tea. Magic is much less regulated than science. But then again what could that core even do without normal animals.

I might have doomed it already. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. Despite being one of the younger gods I've already been strapped with so many responsibilities. At least with the current pace, the world should end in a few hundred years, and let us all rest, thinking about what went wrong this time.

Maybe I could ask Mirabelle? As Goddess of Luck and Chance, she could get a better glimpse. But then, talking to her is grating. Maybe I’ll just let it go?

***

And so Brighton continued to panic like a headless chicken. And Uno was waiting in the darkness.