[B2] Chapter 6 - Changes and Expansion
First, Second, and Third Floors have been successfully reordered!
Rune of Holding successfully used to stabilize the imminent collapse of Floors outside of the Dungeon’s direct Aether Flow. Hidden Floors or Detached Floors may now be created by the Core so long as long as enough Runes of Holding are present to accumulate the Aether needed to maintain the Dungeon’s established level of Aether.
Progress to Core Evolution:
15%
Valterra looked at the words uncomprehendingly. His instincts did not like the idea of a Detached Floor. With the words of the System came knowledge and he knew, in a detached way, that a Detached Floor was one that had no number and was completely separate from his Aether Flow. It existed outside of his Dungeon, completely and utterly on its own apart from the fact that he would need to claim the space first to create such a Floor.
Despite the feelings his instincts gave him, his mind told him something different. He could have a whole Floor outside of his main realm where he could experiment with creatures and create biomes for them that wouldn’t work within the house. Not only that but he could create them wherever he expanded which meant that he could create pocket domains in order to get more creatures for his numbered Floors. More locations meant more opportunities for new Schemas.
Valterra kept himself from getting too excited. There had to be a catch but even if there wasn’t he imagined it would be hard to remain aware of multiple Detached Floors. Any he made would also be unable to help his main Dungeon nor would the main Dungeon be able to help them. They would be on their own. At least until he had something fast enough that could get there in time to be of any help.
Regardless, his new Floors had been recognized and were stable and his creatures had already begun to battle it out once more. Attempting to climb higher in order to win the right to enter the house proper and delve deeper. Valterra was satisfied.
Until he wasn’t. He had spent his time since his last evolution fighting a war and cleaning up the aftermath. His very being chafed at such things. He wanted to play, to create, and to experiment. It was time to expand once more.
So he did. His presence swept out from the house in a wave, taking new ground at a steady rate. Valterra was surprised to find that it didn’t seem as hard as it was before and certainly less jarring of an experience. His mind easily accepted the new territory, allowing him to eat up ground steadily. Allowing himself to get lost in the sensations he also lost track of time.
He was awakened from his self-imposed stupor sometime later. His System blinked at him revealing a host of notifications. Apparently, it had been a day or two since he had started claiming more territory and he had succeeded in claiming the entirety of the clearing where the cabin was built. That land included a nearby pond and garden and he assumed many of the notifications would be new plants and perhaps some new creatures.
Opening the notifications he was stunned by what he found.
Multiple Locations of Power Located!
The Pond (Rare) - Unclaimed
Enhanced by a seed of power this pond is no longer an ordinary spring. Now a natural source of Aether, this pond is home to multiple evolved species of fish, waterfowl, plants, and other aquatic and semi-aquatic denizens. As an unclaimed place of power, it is a powerful boon to any that would claim it. Be warned, however. The denizens will not surrender their home without a fight.
The Garden (Uncommon) - Unclaimed
Enhanced by a seed of power this plot of land is no longer an ordinary place. Now a natural source of Aether, this garden is home to multiple evolved species of insects, plants, birds, and other such denizens. As an unclaimed place of power, it is a powerful boon to any that would claim it. Be warned, however. The denizens will not surrender their home without a fight.
As if that wasn’t enough he had still more notifications, many of them being creatures who had finally finished their evolutions despite the war that had recently been waged. These were creatures that had reached evolution while he had been evolving and he was interested to see what choices he had made.
Evolution Complete!
“House Mouse” has evolved into the Schema “Feral Mouse”.
New Schema Acquired!
Feral Mouse (Common)
Often compared to adult rats this mouse is larger than its mundane kin with sharp claws and strengthened jaws. Found naturally in the wild it is extremely territorial, throwing itself at enemies regardless of danger to itself. Often deployed in unceasing hoards by young dungeons they have proven to be an effective countermeasure to inexperienced adventurers.
Evolution Complete!
“House Mouse” has evolved into the Schema “Feral Mouse”.
Evolution Complete!
“Constricting Green Snake” has evolved into the Schema “Razor Constrictor”.
New Schema Acquired!
Razor Constrictor (Uncommon)
Growing in size this snake has gained rigid sharp edges to its scales. Continuing its habit of constricting its prey, its new armor shreds prey even as it squeezes them to death. Any creature that doesn’t free itself in time will find itself lacerated and broken, helpless as the snake consumes them whole.
Evolution Complete!
“House Mouse” has evolved into the Schema “Feral Mouse”.
Evolution Complete!
“Hunting Pack-Mantis” has evolved into the Schema “Pack-Leader Mantis”.
Evolution Complete!
“House Mouse” has evolved into the Schema “Mouse Wylder”.
New Schema Acquired!
Mouse Wylder (Unique - Common)
This mouse has chosen to follow the path of symbiosis with the natural world by hunting with a completely separate species. Blessed by Qual’Dorn, the High Spirit of Nature, with this distinct evolutionary path, this mouse has embraced the call of the wild.
Evolution Complete!
“Wolf Spider” has evolved into the Schema “Dire Wolf Spider”.
New Schema Acquired!
Dire Wolf Spider (Common)
Larger and fiercer than its lesser kin due to the absorption of Aether, this spider has reached a level few of its mundane kind have. Firmly laying aside its mundane nature the Dire Wolf Spider is a fearsome hunter and deadly ambusher, though its new size makes the latter more difficult.
Immediately the Core honed in on the last two notifications. One of his spiders had finally evolved and he had been granted an entirely different mouse evolutionary path. To his surprise, it wasn’t from Ile’Fen but rather Qual’Dorn. He wondered why that was. Perhaps all the gods would get involved in some way. Valterra smiled to himself at the thought and sent a thank you to Qual’Dorn, receiving a hazy sense of acceptance from the High Spirit.
His new spider was impressive, to say the least. When he had first spawned it so long ago it had been around two inches long which was on the small end of his Schemas even though it was big for a bug. Now though? Now it was over three times that large. It was bigger than its mouse companion who had stayed around the same length as its previous evolution.
That the mouse was changed was a foregone conclusion, its eyes sparkled green and its fur had a dark brown hue reminiscent of bark. Valterra was giddy with excitement. He loved his mice and to receive a whole new evolutionary path for them excited him to no end. He quickly spawned more of each in different parts of the new First Floor. He couldn’t wait to see what they would become.