by Dante King
After they entered the dwelling, I took a few seconds to appreciate Elderwood House. It would be mine soon, and every member of the Deadeye Guild would soon praise the name of Zagorath. Once they learned I’d dealt with their oppressors.
Then, they’d have a new overlord. I would be just and fair, at least, so long as they obeyed my commands.
I started back toward the travel stone as I considered Ralph’s evolution. It had been impressive, no doubt, but it had also proven the extent of my powers. I could complete an evolution while I was miles away from my dungeon core. It spoke of all kinds of possibilities. Could I become a walking dungeon? Could I eventually manipulate the world beyond my dungeon in the same manner I controlled Zagorath?
And yet that lofty goal, if it were even possible, seemed so far away.
Adventurers entering Zagorath were few and far between, and my dungeon was growing too slowly. I hadn’t forgotten about Entropy, either, and they would surely learn of Zagorath soon. When they did, my dungeon had to be ready. These Sap Lords were the next step on the path to readiness.
I soon entered the area of the forest where my travel stone was located. I marched toward the obelisk, eager to return to my home. I had many items to break down, a new skill to test, and evolving Ralph had made me think of something else. What if I could evolve Von Dominus? I’d never tried it before; I just hoped I had enough Soul Essence to give it a shot.
The travel stone glistened in the morning light as I drew close to it. I placed a hand on the obelisk’s cool surface and channeled Infernal Essence directly into it. The teleportation kicked in, and my world turned into a whirling tunnel of stars.
Chapter Fifteen
The familiar presence of Zagorath met me as my essence coalesced back into a solid form. I took a deep breath of the brimstone-scented air.
Home at last.
Bertha stepped out from behind a pillar, and her halberd twirled in her hands as a satisfied smile flitted over her features. My champion bowed and lowered her weapon. “You have returned, Master.”
“I have.” I dropped the items I’d taken from the other realm at my feet. The sparkling pile of loot made a satisfying clatter.
“You were successful?” Abby’s voice penetrated my mind a second before her avatar materialized in front of me. Her blond hair had a few drops of blood in it, and I half-wondered whether my two champions had been sparring. No, the dungeon was different. More powerful. Adventurers had come to Zagorath, and these two beautiful women had killed them.
“I was successful, yes,” I said. “And it seems you’ve also had a victory.”
Bertha attempted to hide a grin, but it was clear she felt proud. “Yes, Master. The little lightning spark showed true strength.”
“Dom gave me a few words of wisdom before he left,” Abby added with a giggle.
“Half-orcs?” I asked.
“Trolls this time,” Bertha said. “I believe a few might have been distant cousins.”
“They were your family?” Abby’s expression became crestfallen. “I’m sorry, Bertha. I wouldn’t have taken so much pleasure in zapping them if I’d known.”
“It’s no matter,” the half-troll said. “I was glad to end their lives in service to Zagorath.”
“Uhh . . . okay.” Abby shuddered a little, and it seemed that my dungeon girlfriend still hadn’t learned what it meant to be a dungeon. “I want to hear about your adventurers.” She bounced on her feet. “Please, Dom, tell us.”
I explained to Bertha and Abby all the details regarding how I’d met with the Deadeye Guild, entered Tyria’s dungeon, visited Elderwood Clearing, and brought Ralph into Zagorath’s fold as an evolved champion.
But there was only one topic that seemed to interest my champions.
“So this dungeon; you conquered her, didn’t you?” Abby asked as lightning danced across her fingertips.
“Can you not smell it?” Bertha gripped her halbert tightly. “He carries the scent of wet soil and fresh sap.”
“I conquered Tyria, yes,” I said.
“Will she be joining us here?” Abby asked.
“I have taken of her gifts, but she will remain in the Nature Realm. She is currently tied with a greater dungeon called Maya.”
“You will free her?” Bertha asked.
“In time. For now, I want to see the prizes waiting for me.”
I dissolved Von Dominus and transferred my consciousness into my core. As soon as I entered my blood-red gem, I felt the presence of more essence in its facets. It wasn’t just Storm and Infernal Essence from when my champions farmed minions. There was Soul Essence, too. My core brimmed with pride. Bertha and Abby had done well.
After only a few seconds, a flurry of notifications appeared before my mind’s eye. Most were items I’d already broken down before, so they only provided me with 3,250 Physical Essence and no new blueprints.
But there was one item that caught my eye.
Acquired Item!
Chaotic Hell Hammer (Troll Iron)
Rarity: Magic
Damage Type: Infernal
Seals: Chaos Nova
Chaos Nova produces a nova around the wielder that confuses enemies. Effect is lessened by the intelligence of an enemy. Higher levels increase its effect.
Zagorath Consumed a Hell Hammer (Troll Iron)
Physical Essence + 188
Zagorath Consumed the Chaos Nova Seal
Infernal Essence + 1,000
My dungeon senses rolled over the hammer’s blueprint and appreciated its craftsmanship. Skilled hands had forged the metal head, and a delicate artisan had created a powerful seal into its surface. My powers reached into the weapon’s very nature like wisps of insight and broke it down into its constituent elements.
“A hammer, eh?” I thought to myself. “And a seal that confuses enemies?”
Both components of the weapon were excellent additions to my repertoire, and I figured each of them could be gifted to my champions. The hammer for Abby, and the Chaos Nova seal for Bertha.
I crafted another hammer with Zagorath Alloy and placed it in the Antechamber, in front of the Hellbat statue.
Zagorath Crafted an Item!
Hell Hammer (Zagorath Alloy)
Rarity: Magic
Seals: None
Cost: 188 Physical Essence
I couldn’t enchant the hammer because Abby could only use Storm magic, and I had no seals of that type. Still, it was a fitting weapon for the kind of warrior I envisaged she would become.
With the Chaos Nova seal in mind for Bertha, I constructed a Burnished Bronze ring and enchanted it.
Zagorath Crafted an Item!
Chaotic Ring (Burnished Bronze)
Rarity: Magic
Seals: Chaos Nova
Chaos Nova produces a nova around the wielder that confuses enemies. Effect is lessened by the intelligence of an enemy. Higher levels increase its effect.
Cost: 1,000 Physical Essence, 1,00 Infernal Essence
I called my champions into the Antechamber and presented Abby with the hammer and Bertha with the ring.
“It’s wonderful,” Abby said as she swung the hammer sideways. Lightning coursed along the weapon and trailed above her head.
I knew crafting the item for her would be a good idea. She was the perfect picture of a female Thor, except my version was created for reasons beyond capitulation to certain vocal groups. She was the product of my own ingenuity and power. She was beautiful.
Bertha slipped the ring onto her finger, and black veins suddenly appeared beneath the skin of her hand. “This ring carries great power,” she whispered.
“It does. You’ll be able to confuse our enemies, but they’ll need low intelligence. It might work on more intelligent creatures, but I doubt it’ll last long or have too much of an effect.”
The half-troll bowed. “Thank you, Master. I believe the troll who wielded the hammer attempted to use this spell on me. I cut off his head before he got the chance.”<
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“It wouldn’t have worked anyway,” Abby commented. “You’re far too smart for a spell like that.”
Bertha hid her face, and it seemed she was blushing. I was glad my champions were getting along so well; I’d feared that adding members to what was now effectively a harem would lead to tension. I figured these two now shared an amicable relationship because they had a common goal: serving Zagorath. It made me think that Tyria might become an awkward third wheel if she didn’t bend the knee at some point. First, however, I needed to deal with these Sap Lords. Then, with their power, I could find Tyria’s mistress, Maya, and conquer her as well.
I shifted my focus back to the travel stone on the First Floor and consumed the equipment I’d brought back from my mission.
Acquired Items!
Elven Longbow (Hickory)
Rarity: Common
Damage Type: Nature
Seals: None
Elven Chainmail (Tarnished Silver)
Rarity: Common
Damage Type: Nature
Seals: None
Elven Dagger (Tarnished Silver)
Rarity: Common
Damage Type: Nature
Seals: None
Blustering Glaive (Tarnished Silver)
Rarity: Magic
Damage Type: Nature
Seals: Gust
Gust produces a powerful wind around the wielder.
Earthwielder’s Lamellar (Oiled Leather)
Rarity: Magic
Seals: Manipulate Earth
Manipulate Earth shifts the earth within a small radius around the wielder.
Flora Wand (Hickory)
Rarity: Magic
Damage Type: Nature
Seals: Manipulate Flora
Manipulate Flora allows the wielder minor control over nearby plantlife.
Consumed Items!
Elven Longbow (Hickory)
Physical Essence + 1,000
Elven Chainmail (Tarnished Silver)
Physical Essence + 563
Elven Dagger (Tarnished Silver)
Physical Essence + 400
Glaive (Tarnished Silver)
Physical Essence + 280
Gust Seal
Nature Essence + 1,000
Earthwielder’s Lamellar (Oiled Leather)
Physical Essence + 135
Manipulate Earth Seal
Nature Essence + 2,000
Flora Wand (Hickory)
Physical Essence + 500
Manipulate Flora
Nature Essence + 2,000
Gained Blueprints!
Elven Longbow
Elven Chainmail
Elven Dagger
Glaive
Lamellar
Wand
Gained Seals!
Gust (Nature)
Manipulate Earth (Nature)
Manipulate Flora (Nature)
Gained Crafting Materials!
Tarnished Silver
Hickory
Oiled Leather
Neither Abby nor Bertha could use the Nature seals, and I discovered after some time inspecting the items that I couldn’t either. It seemed that conquering Tyria hadn’t provided me with this benefit. Well, Ralph was becoming more and more of an important player in my schemes. With the Nature Sigil he’d gained from the Sage, he could use any one of these magical abilities.
I figured I owed my adventurer a few items for a job well done, so I crafted two rings. He’d recently evolved, so I made sure they would fit his large fingers. The first held Manipulate Flora while the other stored the Gust spell.
Zagorath Created the Floral Ring and Blustering Ring
Cost: 5,000 Nature Essence, 2,000 Physical Essence
With these new items, Ralph would become a veritable powerhouse. I had taken some plants from Tyria’s dungeon, so I took them from within my avatar’s belt pouches and consumed them.
Consumed Curing Leaves
Nature Essence +10, Physical Essence +20
Gained Crafting Materials!
Curing Leaves
My Throne Room could use something a little organic, so I used the Curing Leaves to form a few small saplings beside my throne. Without more Nature Essence, I couldn’t manipulate them to grow any larger, but they would mature in time. I figured they would provide passive resources of an essence type I desperately needed.
I wasn’t exactly a horticulturist, but the presence of these little plants was a kind of trophy. I might have been the first Infernal Core with its own garden for quite some time—possibly ever.
I was starting to grow tired of crafting new items, but I’d made myself a promise to enchant a Nature Seal onto the Frightening Baselard, so I drew the dagger out from my jewel and gave it Manipulate Earth.
Zagorath Created the Frightening Earthen Baselard
Cost: 2,000 Nature Essence
While I wouldn’t be able to use the spell yet, I figured I’d find someone to forge a Nature Sigil into my avatar’s flesh. Until then, I would have to be satisfied with battling the Sap Lords. They would be here soon, but there was one thing I wanted to try first. Well, two, counting my Beast Affinity skill.
Evolving Ralph had given me an idea. I summoned Von Dominus into my Throne Room but didn’t enter his mind. I needed all my concentration and power to enact this next task. The Tainted Elf stood like an avatar in a character selection screen, eyes vacant and chest rising as he breathed. I let my consciousness roll over him and pour over every cell in his body. At the same time, I grasped hold of every faction of Soul Essence. There it was: a link between my gem and the avatar. I poured the essence into that bridge, and my avatar’s eyes suddenly widened. White energy exploded from his eye sockets and his mouth, until a blinding light consumed him.
Zagorath Successfully Evolved Von Dominus!
Cost: 1,300 Soul Essence
Von Dominus Increased in Power!
Class (Lord) → Class (Monarch)
Enthrall (Skill) → Greater Enthrall (Skill)
New Perk: Dungeon Acuity
In the old avatar’s place stood a new figure, surrounded by an aura of shadows. His eyes glowed like golden gems with pupils so dark, they seemed to swallow the little light. He was still reminiscent of an elf and cut a rather handsome figure. Every part of him communicated deadly strength and lethal speed.
My dungeon trembled in anticipation as I inserted my mind into the evolved avatar. I felt less disconnected from my core in this new form. I wanted to show Abby and Bertha my improved avatar, and before I’d even finished the thought, my body dissolved. I figured something had gone wrong, but then, my body materialized from the floor of the Antechamber, and I was standing between Bertha and Abby.
“By all that’s Infernal. . . “ Bertha whispered. “Is that you, Dom?”
“Yeah,” I said as I admired the increased musculature of my new avatar. “I was given a new ability. Dungeon Acuity. I think it allows me to move Von Dominus through the dungeon at will, even when my consciousness isn’t inside my core.”
Abby’s mouth dropped. “You’re even more powerful than before.”
“Thanks to you. It took every last drop of the Soul Essence you won when the trolls came here.”
“Then, I suppose we’ll be waiting until the Sap Lords arrive?” Bertha asked.
“Not yet. There’s one more thing.”
Abby raised an eyebrow. “Really? What else could you possibly do inside Zagorath? It’s already far stronger than my dungeon ever was.”
“The Beast Affinity I gained from Tyria,” I said. “I want to use it.”
“For what?” Bertha asked.
“To bring a varidu into Zagorath.”
Chapter Sixteen
The chained varidus had been on my mind a while. Ralph and his pack of Sand Pirates had decimated their numbers before diving into my halls. If I could catch one and bend it to my will, it would be a fearsome addition to the Chasm. I didn’t know much about the creatures, but Bertha had grown up on Shadow
Crag Mountain, so I asked her about them.
“What would you like to know?” my champion replied.
“I wish to capture one alive and bring it inside my halls. What can they do? What benefits would they provide to Zagorath?”
Bertha frowned at my words. “They’re wild, feral, and quite large. They attack anything that draws close to them. They consume birds, straggler Sulfur Gnomes, and scavenge any unfortunate flesh that happens to step into their territory.”
“I can calm them,” I said.
My Enthrall ability had just become more powerful, so I was almost certain I could contain even a rabid monster’s mind. Together with Beast Affinity, the varidu wouldn’t stand a chance against me.
“They are chained to the mountaintop. To bring them here, you’d first need to break their chain—a difficult feat in itself. Then, somehow fit their body through the entrance to Zagorath.”
“I could always expand my entrance,” I suggested.
“And what if the Sap Lords were to come while you were busy excavating? You have certainly become stronger, but you are still a slave to time.”
