Dungeon at the End of the Universe

The first thing that greeted me when I woke up was another System message.

Level-Up 1 → 2!
New Ability gained

Unfortunately, before I could see any more than that, I was interrupted by a panicking Faellen.

Even though I could not see anything amiss, the fairy was desperately pounding on my crystal core, trying to wake me. So, while sent a quick telepathic message over, asking what was wrong, I also started scanning my Dungeon.

At first, nothing really looked any different from before my Level-Up. My walls and the general layout of the Dungeon were the same, the inside was still lacking any any air at all, and my first attempt at monster creation was lying on the ground, dead.

Oh, alright then, I suppose that’s a clue. On closer examination, it was less dead and more drained of energy, though I couldn’t tell you how I knew the difference on what is basically just a lump of stone.

Finally, Faellen responded, “Dungeon? Oh, thank the Wylds you’re done! Quick, did it work?”

“Not sure, haven’t had time to check. Anyway, what’s going on here?” I asked back.

“Then fucking check already! It’s the Universe, it’s trying to claw onto life, fighting back against the space decay, but while it seems to be somewhat working, it’s not very productive to our own existence,” the panic and desperation were clear on its voice. “Your Dungeon naturally stabilizes your claimed area, but even that’s not going to hold forever!”

And indeed, as I looked out of my Dungeon, I finall0y spotted the chaos. Where previously pieces of space were seemingly just missing, now something much more strange was happening.

Something, and I’m not quite sure what (though it was a bit reminiscent of mana), periodically gathered around the space tears, trying to suppress them. Which worked, temporarily.

Problem was, as soon as this strange energy dissipated the space breaks started growing faster than before.

Yeah, it seemed the ‘last hurrah’ of the Universe was here, or would soon be, if this wasn’t it yet.

Now understanding the situation, I navigated over to my Abilities to see what I’d gained.

Endless End (UNIQUE)
Within your domain, the End is…

That was as far as managed to read, before the scene outside abruptly changed.

With a sound like glass shattering (even though no sound should have been possible), the outside world… well, shattered. The still remaining bits of real space that prevailed over the holes in reality gained tiny fractures in them, at last connecting all of the tears together.

Some even intruded into my own domain. Thankfully, something about my Dungeon domain prevented them from spreading too far, but the damage was done. Whatever barrier separated from all else was breached, which was why what happened next became such a fatal blow.

The strange energy from before, the Universe’s own energy, I suppose, reached out again. This time, however, it wasn’t to stop whatever was breaking. Rather, it decided to try and recoup its losses.

Even though real space and the breaks had now seemingly switched places, it didn’t mean no space remained. Which is why, the energy this time gathered around those last scraps of remaining space and dragged them off to wherever. Probably to build a last stand.

Problem was, with my Dungeon breached, the energy also clutched at the space of my own Dungeon. Space that we were occupying.

Now, you’d expect that when the space someone is in moves that they would move with it, right? After all, position is a spatial quality. Just like when you move a glass of water, the water moves with the glass.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. Our glass of water was ripped from right around us and the water, Faellen and me, fell down to splash against the ground. Or in other words, die.

Oh well, it was a good run. Maybe cheating death is not so easy after all.

And then I felt something activate.

...
Stabilizing claimed area.
Stabilizing Dungeon.
Dungeon Establishment complete.

Quest notification!
Quest complete!

Summoning: Dungeon Fairy
No Dungeon Fairy found in System area.
Aborting process.

Ignore That activated!

Extending search area.
Dungeon Fairy found.
Transporting candidate.
Candidate unable to be moved to present location.
Aborting process.

Ignore That activated!

Transporting candidate.

Oh boy. Seems my Paradox Aspect is… really… lifting… its weight. Right now.

Wait, what?!