by D. R. Rosier
Ebony said, “I’ll be watching from my place, they shouldn’t disturb it.”
I hoped she was right as I watched them walk down the stairs.
Ember said, “Holy shit, I’m getting increased levels of all magic spheres.”
They paused a moment and Bran muttered a spell, the surge of light magic was huge, and all of them started to glow brightly with a warm white light.
Ember said, “I’m detecting raw air magic use to filter the air. I’m also recording the level of magic in the skeletons.”
It was almost embarrassing, the three of them just walked through the rooms, all the skeletons simply died as they got near. The zombie managed to survive long enough to attack, but was incinerated with a wave of Ember’s hand.
I felt… inadequate.
Ember said, “A perfect floor for initiates level three and above. Even the zombie, as a group fighting together, to teach them how to work together better. Almost too perfect, even the rewards matched every time, and were different.”
Bran grunted, “I know what you mean. Let’s check the second floor.”
“What do they mean Ebony?” I asked nervously, it was ridiculous, I could squash them all easily with my power, if of course, I wasn’t imprisoned.
Ebony pouted, and I realized I didn’t call her sexy.
“I don’t know, perhaps you did too good of a job? Dungeons as far as they know act with instinct, maybe your design shows too much thought?”
I had no idea what to do with that. Plan more randomly?
They moved quickly through floor two as well, annoyingly pointing out the acid traps, and falling spike traps on the ceiling. The zombies at least caused them to put out a minimal effort, about the same effort a normal human would use to lift a beer glass. The skeletons once again were destroyed simply by that spell’s aura. I wanted to study it, but I couldn’t get close enough to it, not when they were still alive. Which was likely to be for the rest of their visit.
Ember said, “That knight in the last room brought it up to a mid-level apprentice.”
Ari agreed, “Absolutely, and this enchantment is basic, but not half bad. Does anyone else think it’s ironic the zombie was wearing armor with a light protective enchantment on it?”
Bran shook his head, “Where do you supposed it learned it, this is a brand new dungeon, and I didn’t read that the men that died in here had enchanted anything.”
Ember snorted, “Look around you Master Bran, this dungeon woke up in a family catacombs underneath a keep of an Earl’s family. I’d imagine the dungeon found plenty of stuff to study and emulate when it woke up.”
Bran grunted, “Good point, I didn’t think of that.”
I watched as they went down to the third floor. Of course, it was another slaughter, but I was proud that at least the undead mages got off some spells before they crumbled to dust. Granted, the light shield they had on stopped the curses and bolts of magic cold. I just wanted it over with now, so some adventurers I could actually kill would visit.
Ember said, “Undead mages and knights are impressive, and that zombie was a monster, the first modified creature we fought.”
Ari grunted, “yeah, the fire aura on the sword could be nasty, especially with the armor rotting curse on the blade.”
Ember added, “I’m going to say high level apprentice to low level journeymen for floor three. Shall we continue?”
Bran asked, “Any idea on the levels yet, I’m surprised this wasn’t it.”
Ember shrugged, “According to my readings there are at least a few more floors. As for having so many, it’s probably because it started out with three for free, the dungeon didn’t do much with the catacombs at all, and had all those corpses to work with. Probably spent most of its energy on the next three floors.”
Ari noted, “There’s also a second stairway going up, a shortcut?”
Ember shrugged, “Looks like it, we’ll note it down.”
That was fair, it was exactly what happened. I was a little nervous about their reaction to the demons. I didn’t have long to wait, they went through the imps quickly even if they lasted longer than the skeletons by dodging and keeping their distance.
When they walked into the last room they froze.
Bran gasped, “Succubus and incubus? In a dungeon?”
Ari snickered, “Anyone hungry.”
Ember glared.
Ari said innocently, “I meant the food Em, it looks kind of good. I’m not detecting poison either.”
The succubus was posing for, and staring at Bran, while the incubus focused on the two ladies. They were both lying on separate beds, naked.
Bran frowned, “This isn’t good, no adventurer is going to want to risk their soul, if not for the aura on our shields we may have been feeling the urge to use those beds. Plus, this room looks like a safe room, it could fool a lot of people.”
Ember frowned, “Let’s not jump to conclusions, Ari, trap one of them so we can do an analysis of their bindings.”
Ari muttered a quick spell, and a light shot out and a cage of light surrounded the succubus. Ember waved her hand as the incubus lunged at them, it’s claws in the lead as he realized they weren’t going to fall for it, and he burst into flames. I cringed a little as he screamed while being slowly incinerated.
Ember said, “Bran, you’re up.”
Bran muttered, “I don’t see the point.”
Ember growled, “What is wrong with you today? They could be bound to prevent them from devouring souls, and could just be set up to take the life energy. That’s the fucking point.”
Bran flinched.
Ari said, “He was dumped. Saori gave him an ultimatum to quit adventuring, and he chose us over her.”
Bran glared at Ari.
Ari said unapologetically, “Sorry, but she’s our leader and deserves to know why you have your head up your ass today.”
Bran grumbled under his breath as he approached the caged succubus, and cast a light spell that I didn’t recognize. I was able to analyze that one though, as it hit the succubus it was in my domain. It examined the bond and links I had bound into the demons I summoned. It was impressive and I memorized the way the magic was organized so I could break it down later. The more I learned, the more I could both copy and create.
Bran sighed, “You’re right, sex with her would kill someone, but not take their soul. She’s very tightly bound.”
Ember smirked, “Good, I’d have hated destroying this dungeon because you were being lazy.”
I shivered.
She continued, “Same level of toughness I think, high apprentice, low journeyman.”
Ari agreed, “It’s like it wanted to introduce demons and tactic changes, but at the same challenge level to give people a chance to adjust. I’m pretty impressed so far.”
Ebony pulled my attention and said, “Things seem to be going well so far.”
I replied, “Thanks to your advice sexy.”
Ebony beamed and posed rather erotically. Her tits were practically spilling out. That’s when I noticed she changed her outfit, it was far more seductive now.
“Love the new look.”
She winked and looked very pleased with herself. I wondered if it was a demon thing, or if she was actually developing feelings for me, a crystal. It sounds weird, but I had to say I liked the little demoness more and more as time went on.
I moved my attention back up. I wouldn’t exactly say that the fifth floor challenged them, but it kept them focused and on their toes as the imps sniped them from hidden positions with spells, and the basic warrior demons used not only swords, but bows and javelins from a distance in the large room.
I wouldn’t say it was an obstacle course or labyrinth, but it was a very large room with lots of walls, turns, and hidden nooks. Although split up into sections, it could almost be said that level five was one big ass room. There were also some traps that caused walls to collapse behind them, and demons were set up to ambush so th
at they were pinned and couldn’t retreat without first moving forward and finding another path back to retreat.
Still, I highly doubted I was ever in any danger of actually killing them, or even scratching them. The spells and attacks they used with just a little more effort were frighteningly powerful, often killing in one strike. They hadn’t even broken a sweat.
The large demon warrior at the end died quickly as well, but it took them two spells to do it.
Ari said, “That was a blast,” and then giggled.
Bran smiled at her, “That was kind of fun, sorry I’ve been such a drag.”
Ember said, “This one was a jump, but not an unreasonable one. I’d say it would be a challenge for a group of mid-journeyman. Rewards aren’t lacking, and not too much either. Let’s go down.”
When they got to the bottom Ember said, “Okay, this is the last floor. Perhaps these readings explain some things, I’m seeing a powerful water magic source below us, and a very powerful light magic source.”
Ari tilted her head, “Have you picked up the dark magic source yet?”
Ember shook her head, “No, the catacombs itself is one, but it isn’t that strong. Let’s not worry about it yet.”
The sixth floor was normal rooms again, but were still rather large and had obstacles in them to hide behind for cover. There were the warriors again, plus the succubae for distraction, and full blown demon mages who could cast various and complicated spells, instead of imps who just had a few natural magic abilities to cast basic spells.
I worried a bit, what would they think about the dark magic source. If they found it the jig would be up, since I was the dark magic source myself. That made me worry, how hard would they look?
It didn’t take them long, but they were quite careful about it as they finished up the floor and faced my twelve-foot-tall magically modified warrior, accompanied by two mages.
Ember sighed and stretched her neck, “Well, that was high journeyman for sure. Where’s the dungeon core?”
Ari pointed, “The crypt? It’s the only thing down here related to the catacombs.”
Ember nodded and stared for a minute, “I’m still not picking up the dark magic source. Even if it was intrinsic to the dungeon I should be picking up its core. Let’s open it up and take a look.”
They didn’t have warriors with them and for a minute I hoped they’d fail to move the heavy slab of stone, but the three of them managed to push it far enough to look within. I felt strangely naked and vulnerable. Still, it was good to know some dungeon cores had their magic intrinsically bound, maybe I’d get out of this yet.
Bran grunted, “Would you look at that, that might explain it. Have you ever seen a dungeon do this before?”
Ari shook her head, “You think the other bands of elemental magic are hiding the dark energy source within? I suppose it’s possible, and no I’ve never seen this before.”
Ember said, “I agree, the core of the dungeon is dark, yet it was born with all affinities and worked out this band thing. It must be interfering with my readings.”
I mentally sighed in relief. They were right, except of course, that they were assuming the dark energy core was much weaker on the inside than it really was. I knew that because they weren’t freaking out.
Bran frowned, “Still, is this a new kind of dungeon? Every other dungeon absorbs and uses magic like a mortal, transmuting it to life energy as it’s absorbed, and of course transmuting back when they use it.”
Ember shrugged, “It’s ingenious though, because it isn’t losing any energy in the transmutation. In order to do it, it has the crystalline structure of six different elemental stones, all at the same time. Something I would have said was impossible just two minutes ago.”
Bran asked, “So, what should we do?”
Ember said, “Make that information top secret, or every mage that studies elemental stones will want to steal it. As far as I know no known elemental stones have ever had more than one sphere. Let the grandmaster make that decision. Maybe he’ll send someone to study it in place. As for the dungeon, it’s one of the most stable starting dungeons I’ve ever seen. We’d be foolish to mess with it. The guild money counters would kill us.”
Ari laughed cynically, “Too true.”
Hmm, I supposed that meant the innate knowledge of structures to hold the different elemental spheres of magic wasn’t inborn to a dungeon. What the hell was I that it was inborn to me? If I had a body, I’d have sighed in relief when they pushed the tomb slab closed.
I was excited as they left to go report, soon my dungeon would be filled with greedy humans wanting power and money, and of course, I would reap the benefits.
Chapter Eleven
Carlton muttered a quick spell and the door, walls, and windows glowed white. Selwyn, Diana, and Cory looked startled by the strong privacy spell he’d cast.
Cory said, “I thought we worked out the problem with the duke?”
Carlton shook his head, “Maybe. It’s possible that rumor was true, but why not just open the dungeon and keep her at home. There’s more there, especially with his daughter suddenly hanging around there all the time. Her cousin and the others she’s purported to be forming a party with, should be here in a week or two, and I think they’re up to something, but that’s not what’s most important right now.”
Diana asked, “And that would be?”
“Highest Verin has sent his own team, they’re already here with the latest dispatch. He is disbelieving of the glowing report the guild sent out and they’re launching their own investigation. They’re determined to find any indication of instability, and then pressure the duke to call in a dungeon killer team. I don’t trust it, and I don’t understand how he can be so sure from so far away, so something else is going on. Verin has always been an asshole but even he agrees a stable dark dungeon is a godsend. Mark my words, this mischief has something to do with that damned group from Jennesar. Though, I have no idea what it could it be, or rather, why another country would care at all about a dungeon in another kingdom, even if it is dark.”
Selwyn asked, “And you want us to do what about this crown city team? We can’t refute or accuse them of anything, even with proof. The highest would kill us, or replace you at the least, if this is true.”
Diana sighed figuring it out first, “You want me to leak this to the princess?”
Carlton pondered that a moment, “That might work, we can’t expose them if they try and set up the dungeon, or perform some other mischief, but Catalina would eat them for breakfast, even without her father, and Verin wouldn’t be able to do shit in retaliation, not if he likes his neck where it is. I hear the king is rather fond of his cousin and family.”
Selwyn smiled, “It also may make her do something to reveal what her and her father are up to.”
Carlton considered that and decided it was doubtful, “Maybe. It depends on what it is, and if we spook her. I’m not even sure it’s a problem anymore. It seems like more of an old secret they’d like to stay buried, rather than some kind of power play. After all, they’ve blocked off that estate for centuries now, when they should have given it to someone by now. Maybe I should do it myself.”
Cary asked, “Do what yourself sir?”
Carlton grinned, “Talk to the princess, and let something slip.”
Diana asked, “Your excuse for being there?”
Carlton’s grin turned smug, “Why, to re-consecrate the chapel above the catacombs of course. Boduna’s blessings upon her children.”
They all smiled wide…
It was far more complicated a spell than I’d ever formed before. Without just specifying the greatest and pointing it at an emotion or wish of some kind, things got complicated. The mind was a very complicated thing. Still, I’d used the core of the analysis spell I’d pinched from Master Bran. Then I tied it into the effects of the mind trap. After that, I just had to define a great number of options based on the analysis.
It’d t
aken me many days, while I kept track and kept on with everything else. Regardless, if Lila ever forgave me we’d be able to try again. Or rather, she would, unless she consents to me joining her again. I knew that was doubtful, and perhaps foolish, but I still hoped.
The dungeon had opened quickly as the guild moved into the keep, and a tavern and marketplace were being built swiftly. A lot of brave but stupid local people had died to fuel my rising power. I realized of course, after Ember’s and the other masters’ conversation, why I had so much trouble with absorbing a whole life force. A normal dungeon would simply take that life force into their own, and then transmute it at need to magic. I couldn’t do that at all, since taking in that much energy could potentially add enough energy pressure to my core that it would shatter the crystal into pieces. Plus, that much energy would take forever to feed through the small imperfection in my crystal lattice prison.
No, as with so much else I did as a dungeon, I’d have to fake it and find another way.
I found in the past I could hold on to it, and transmute it quickly to magic, and either load up my crystal, or use it immediately. The problem was I couldn’t just hold on to it until I had room, the longer it took, the more life energy escaped from my grasp. That wasn’t an option.
Eventually, I would have enough layers and storage capacity to easily transmute not just one life, but many at once, but until then I had to come up with other alternatives. I’d considered just building levels with them, carving them out in the ground, until I was big enough, but leave the new floors empty, unconnected, and without monsters until I could expand.
I’d decided against that however, because I wanted the life energy to supplement what I could hold in the layers outside my prison for an emergency. So… I got a little creative. If I couldn’t hold life energy like a normal dungeon, I decided to get someone else to do it for me.
So, I summoned and bound a succubus who is currently in an unconnected room on the sixth floor, completely locked in. I’ve been channeling the life force for her to hold, kind of like an elemental stone can accept, store, and channel elemental energy for a mage. It works, mostly, but it had an unforeseen side effect. Apparently, a succubus with a lot of extra life force energy becomes rather… randy and insatiable, more than normal I mean. She’s been masturbating for the last thirty-four hours, and shows no sign of stopping.
