Dungeon at the End of the Universe

While our main Dungeon Core experimented with its monsters, the Dungeon Seed expanded, the Sipalians panicked and hunted, and the newest intruder came ever closer, the inevitable march of time continued.

Soon, Faellen decided that it had been enough. That Ram, Ditti, and Prshky had learnt as much as they would for now. Maybe they wouldn’t be the best adventurers in all the land, but they definitely had a head-start. And most importantly, and the reason it was doing this all in the first place, they would certainly be able to handle what was coming to their planet.

Which meant it was time for the Dungeon duo’s next step in their plan.

The fairy told its Dungeon Core it was time. The Dungeon Core, in return, began to weave together a bit of System Essence.

Just a second more, aaand… there it is. Let me just pluck it out for a second while it’s making its way over to the three Sipalians. Here is what they would receive:

(*this is percentage of non-sapient population that has mutated into monsters)

Yes, a rather ominous message for a trio which had, up until now, been more or less enjoying themselves. It definitely didn’t help that their Tutorial guide had suddenly disappeared.

While the only fae far and wide may have determined them to be ready, they definitely did not feel that way. Especially once the scale of the task ahead of them was revealed.

But they had no choice, for the two masterminds behind this were already preparing another ritual. In almost no time, it was ready and once more the pillars of light appeared above Lapis. This time though, no one would be disappearing.

As the three newly minted adventurers were transported back to their homes, another investigation was launched. People thought there would be another wave of unexplainable disappearances. Which meant that this time, everyone immediately locked onto the areas the pillars of light had hit.

It came as a surprise then when instead of discovering anyone was missing, they found that the three most discussed people in recent history were no longer missing instead.

What followed one can easily imagine. A veritable bombardment of question. At least until some more qualified people came in. Like people from P.I.S.S. and various other government organizations.

They were then taken to, in some government agents own words, a more secure location where they found out the most shocking news about their disappearance.

And although none of them were in the same room at the time, they all has the same reaction: “I was gone for how long!?”

For none of them knew of the Dungeon’s UNIQUE Aspect combination, not how it affected time within it. So naturally, it came as a surprise that what felt like at most a little over a week to them, was in truth more than a year for everyone else.

Ah, finally. I have it all to myself. No pesky adventurers to worry about

“At last, a chance to relax,” I said aloud.

“You do realize that you’ve done almost nothing with them and have been relaxing this whole time, right?” pointed out the disrupting voice of my greatest helper and worst nemesis, “And also that we’ll have to summon some more soon, because those three definitely can’t handle the whole apocalypse that’s about to happen?”

I simply gave a contented sigh, “...a chance to relax…” But unfortunately, while I was acting oblivious, I knew what it said was true, so I sent an undertone of agreement over out Bond, even if the words I said spoke contrary to that.

“Fine, just make sure it won’t take you too long. I’ll go see how things have developed down on Lapis in the meantime.”

And with that, there was truly nothing to do. For a little while at least.

Which, according to Murphy’s law, naturally meant that I would be interrupted in just that moment. And lo and behold, there was indeed one thing.

Level-Up available!

At least it’s a good thing that interrupted me and not some kind of impending catastrophe that will throw all our plans into chaos.

As for Levelling-Up, do I really need it right now? Sure, it’d probably help with our plans going forward, but I don’t even have an idea of what kind of new Ability I’d want to construct.

Not to mention that with my new skill with mana, I no longer really need to use my Levels for gaining Abilities. I can just use Essence and mana to gain one whenever.

But what if…

System, is there a way for me to store the charges I get from Levelling-Up, so that at a later Level-Up I have more than I should?

Query [Level-Up details] received.
Providing answer:

As a System Core it would be possible to store any such charges for a limited amount of time. The cost of doing so would be one of those charges, with the possibility of more depending on storage duration.

Alright, not the worst. It still probably makes sense, since as far as I can tell the more charges the more powerful the resulting Ability. I just have to check one last thing.

System, how many charged would I receive this time?

Query [Level-Up details] received.
Providing answer:

You would receive [5] charges, as you have four Aspects and are a Dungeon Core. You would also receive an extra one for being a System Core if the System was running at full capacity, as well as extra charges for [information withheld]. This number does not change with Level.

Good, that means I’d store four charges and next Level I’ll have nine instead of five. Simply maths. Unless I take too long to Level again, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

It’s a bit frustrating seeing another one of those ‘information withheld’. What use is there in being a System Core and having basically administrator access if even that much doesn’t give me access to everything.

At least I know there’s at least one more way for me to min-max my Levels.

Well then, this should be quick. Without me making another Ability I should be in and out. With that I confirm my Level-Up and feel that drowsiness come over me.

The last thing I see and feel is a sense of deja-vu as Faellen shouts at me, “Dungeon, we overlooked a massive thing! Time-”

And then everything cuts out.