With the passage of time, I delved deeper into the complexities of this new world, my curiosity guiding my every interaction with the interface. I learned several important things:
One: Godhood Potential (G.P) acted as a form of currency within this system, used to acquire and customize entities. Customization included choosing their class and increasing their level, which incurred additional costs beyond the standard one. It appeared that this world operated on a sort of leveling system, similar to the video games I had occasionally played back on Earth.
Two: The monsters section of the interface contained an extensive list of creatures, ranging from seemingly mundane animals to horrifying monstrosities that seemed like they belonged in a horror novel. The diversity of these creatures left me wondering how the inhabitants of this world managed to survive, thus far. Well, I can’t really say I don’t know how It was evident that this was a fantasy-like world, with swords and magic.
The more I explored, the more it seemed like I had been thrust into a fantasy world straight out of a video game or a novel. The familiarity of the terms and concepts presented to me raised the unnerving possibility that I might not have died but instead found myself in a simulated reality, akin to the Matrix.
My mind swirled with convoluted thoughts and theories, threatening to overwhelm me. However, a moment of introspection and prayer provided clarity. I recalled that place. I recalled vividly how much of a hell every second spent in that hellhole felt like an eternity.
"Forgive me, A42675, Outer God of Corruption," I whispered, my voice echoing within the confines of my existence. "For I have doubted. This sinful one is very flawed, but I repent. Have mercy upon me."
As I calmed myself, I continued, "Forgive me, A42675, Outer God of Corruption. Forgive me, Mighty K.R.U.L. I promise to never doubt again. Of course, you are real. I definitely died. I better than anyone should know that. I should never forget that sight, what is now my purpose. While I'm not really sure what it is entirely, I'm here for it. I will dedicate my being—no, I'm not a being anymore—but nonetheless I will dedicate my whole existence to it."
With renewed determination, I embraced my role as a Dungeon Master and Dungeon Core and prepared to navigate this world, intent on fulfilling the purpose that had been bestowed upon me.
Anyway, to continue where I stopped.
Third: As I delved deeper into understanding this new world, it became clear that, if I were to consider G.P as a form of currency, I was a very poor Dungeon Master. My available 90 GP barely afforded me the opportunity to acquire a level 18 Warrior Verdenkind or a level 9 Highbreed Priest. While I lacked a comprehensive understanding of the metrics, higher levels certainly seemed preferable. Level 9 and 18 didn't feel like a significant amount, and it appeared as if it might not be enough to achieve my goals whatever they will turn out to be.
Monsters, on the other hand, presented a different challenge. While there were many affordable options, the ones that truly piqued my interest, such as dragons and Phoenixes, since they sounded formidable and quite fitting for someone like me serving a God, were well beyond my 90 GP budget, which meant, no dragon or phoenix for me.
Of course, I understood that I could always acquire what I could with what I had, but I also understood very well how important Godhood Potential is; just like I had been with money in my past life, I’m destined to hoard GP.
So while I wanted what was best for my precious 90 GP. It was important to start small. Especially when I had yet to figure out how these entities I’m so keen at acquiring will be of any use to me.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
Monsters
_____________________________
I continued skimming through the seemingly endless list of entities in the interface. It was overwhelming, with numerous categories and subcategories to explore. The classification ranged from elemental creatures to undead, forest creatures to deep-sea monsters, and many more. Each category had its own subcategories, further expanding the options available.
As I browsed through these categories and subcategories, I realized that there were near-endless possibilities for customizing and acquiring entities. It was clear that this world was filled with diverse and unique creatures, each with its own set of abilities and characteristics.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
Monsters
Undead
_____________________________
Despite the overwhelming choices, I needed to remain focused and find an entity that would suit my current situation. I wanted to start with something affordable and manageable to gain a better understanding of how this dungeon world worked.
After some time, I finally settled on a relatively affordable entity from the Undead category.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
Specters
Spectral Reaver
_____________________________
“Cheaper than a level 1 VerdenKind, but already stronger than a mere peon,” I mused, “this isn’t a dragon, but this seems like a good starting point for my experimentation.”
With a mental click, I decided to acquire the spawn and see how I could use it.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Acquire [ 0.35 GP ]
_____________________________
“Yes.”
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spectral Reaver Level.1 Acquired.
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Name: ???
Entity: Dungeon Core
Designation: Dungeon Master
[ Ressource ]
- Raw Manacyte (R.M): 1▲ / 1▲
- Mana Available (M.A): 403.7▲
- Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 89.65
_____________________________
“Sayonara 0.35 GP of mine, you will be greatly missed.”
At first, I had no regrets about spending the 0.35 GP on the Spectral Reaver. It was a relatively small amount compared to my total Godhood Potential. However, as soon as the acquisition was completed, I noticed that there were no additional options shown to me. There was only the exit button and the option to make another acquisition. It felt as though I hadn't purchased anything at all. Panic started to rise within me until I quickly remembered the specific section of the interface. I exited the spawn catalog and navigated to the spawn section within the spawnable entities section. To my relief, I found my acquisition listed there.
“Sigh, there you were. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawnable Entities
Spawns
Spectral Reaver
_____________________________
***
I began to explore the interface further, examining each of the options related to my newly acquired spawn. First, I clicked on the "Assign M.P" option. It led me to a screen where I could allocate a portion of my mana available (M.A) to the Spectral Reaver, which could only be assigned "10" of whatever exact unit it was.
I thought about it for a moment, considering the fact that I wasn't very poor mana-wise, as for some reason my M.A., which was initially 323.7, as I remember clearly, has now made it past the 410 threshold and is still growing without showing signs of slowing down. So taking that into account, I remorselessly decided to allocate the full ten percent of my mana to my specter spawn. There was simply something satisfying about seeing that 10/10 MP on the spawn status, for some reason. It made me feel like I had empowered it in some way, though I wasn't entirely sure how this mana allocation would affect its abilities. I made a mental note to observe its behavior closely to see if there were any noticeable changes as soon as I got to that part.
The next option I decided to explore was "Assign Behavior." With a mental click, I entered the said section of the interface. As I clicked on it, I was presented with a list of options that included various behavior patterns.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spectral Reaver
Assign Behavior
_____________________________
Initially, apart from that peculiar instinctive inclination to accumulate more G.P., I was uncertain about what was truly expected of me. However, as I delved into the myriad interfaces of this enigmatic "system" – the name I've tentatively assigned to it for now – certain theories began to take shape, shedding light on my role as a dungeon core.
But now that I see this interface, it became evident that I, as a dungeon core, or perhaps more accurately, my spawns, bore the responsibility of dealing with what this system cryptically termed "intruders." Odd, isn't it? I’ve seen odder.
Anyway, right it seemed clear that I was expected to select one of the four available behaviors.
The first option was "Guard Behavior," which would designate the spawn to protect specific areas. It seemed like a defensive role, focused on safeguarding valuable locations. I considered this as a possible choice, particularly if I wanted to secure key points within my dungeon.
The "Hunt Behavior" intrigued me. This would make the Spectral Reaver actively seek out intruders, acting as relentless trackers. It could be a useful choice to intercept and confront those who entered the dungeon. I made a mental note to consider this option.
"Patrol Behavior" was another intriguing choice. Spawn assigned to this behavior would systematically move through predefined areas, serving as deterrents to intruders while also providing valuable information about the dungeon's surroundings. This seemed like a balanced approach.
The last option, "Rest and Spawn Behavior," piqued my interest. It involved some spawn remaining concealed, conserving their energy and resources until summoned in response to an intrusion. This approach could add an element of surprise and unpredictability to encounters. It was an interesting choice.
After some contemplation and a lingering uncertainty, since each option appeared equally promising in their presentation, I ultimately settled on the last one: the rest and spawn behavior. "After all, I should have the flexibility to alter this choice should I come to regret, shouldn't I?"
With that in mind, I mentally confirmed my selection by clicking on it. As I did, the choice seemed to lock in. Seeing that there was not much else I could do here, I exited the "Assign Behavior" section of the interface to get to the next: Promote to Domain Guardian With a mental click, I selected "Promote to Domain Guardian."
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Spectral Reaver
Promote to Domain Guardian
_____________________________
The "Promote to Domain Guardian" option seemed like a significant enhancement for my Spectral Reaver. This choice could potentially bolster its abilities and make it even more formidable. But there was a "but"—a big but—that I simply couldn't ignore. The cost of 0.5 GP for promoting my Spectral Reaver to a Domain Guardian was a bit steep for my current budget. I decided to hold off on this option for now, with the intention of revisiting it in the future once I had a better understanding of my dungeon's resources and capabilities.
"This is not for me yet. Yep. Better come back to this later."
I promptly exited the "Promote to Domain Guardian" option and moved on to explore the two remaining subsections. In the corner of my nonexistent eyes, I saw the "Upgrade" option, but it sounded very familiar, for I had already figured it would be similar to when I had first acquired the Spectral Reaver. Instead, I chose to explore the "Spawn" option and as soon as I clicked on it, a map materialized before me, one akin to the one in the Dungeon Visualisation," featuring a single notification in its center.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Select spawning zone for [Spectral Reaver Level 1]
_____________________________
After some consideration, I decided to place my Spectral Reaver near the entrance of the cave-like structure I inhabited. It seemed like the most logical choice, as it would serve as an early line of defense against potential intruders. With a mental command, I designated the entrance as the spawning zone for my Spectral Reaver.
As soon as I confirmed the selection, the notification disappeared, and I was left with a somewhat anticlimactic map of the dungeon. It felt underwhelming because there was little to nothing different about the map at all. There was no sign of my "spawn." It was only when I activated a newly discovered zooming ability that a dot representing my Level 1 Spectral Reaver finally appeared. The dot was so minuscule that in perspective on the map, it looked like the size of a grain of rice atop an 8-person table, the latter representing the map, which finally brought to my mind just how large the dungeon was.
