Chapter 8

  The Exodus Part 2

  “Hmm. You're right. Let's see what my perks entail!”

  Mimicry: Allows the dungeon to create a flesh and blood replicate of one creature, or a chimera based on a mix of creatures, that the dungeon core has previously subjected to [Analysis]. This creature exists for half an hour before being dismantled and reabsorbed into the core's material storage.

  Landscaping: The dungeon core has mastered altering the terrain. 30% reduction in the time and/or material cost of creating or altering a structure such as buildings, signage, ponds, hills, gardens, etc.

  Sapper: Specializes in the construction, disarming, and removal of traps. 50% reduction in material costs for producing a trap, 50% bonus materials collected when dismantling a trap to put into storage.

  Mechanical Engineer: Dungeon gets bonus to blueprints regarding any “man-made” object and will have a proficiency bonus to creating blueprints to a desired design. The System will even provide tutorial assistance when the dungeon attempts to create a new design based on available blueprints, memories, images, descriptions, or whatever the dungeon wishes to create if it doesn't already have a blueprint for the design. Further, the dungeon will find it easier to modify existing blueprints of mechanical structures to suit its needs. Warning: If this perk is ignored now, it will not be available again.

  Biologist: Dungeon core has an innate understanding of living beings, organic or otherwise. Creating blueprints from the corpses of living beings has a 30% reduction in how intact the corpse has to be for acquisition. Creating materials normally gathered from corpses, such as meat, also gains a 40% reduction in material costs. This also applies to processed items such as wool clothing, cheese, leather, etc.

  Necromancer: Due to successfully disassembling and reassembling a living being, the dungeon core can now reassemble and then reanimate any creature from its available blueprints. Warning: The reanimated creature will not be under the dungeon's control unless it gives consent or is brought under control by other means.

  “Holy shit. They're all totally broken. There's even a lovely synergy between [Necromancer] and [Biologist], but considering that we currently have no way to gain the obedience of anything, or anyone, that I can reanimate, and our experience with traps is extremely limited, that perk's off the table right now too. Plus, since the [Mechanical Engineer] perk is a one-time only offer, and I'm a Traveler from another world with different, if not superior, technology to what I've seen so far, we can't afford to pass that up.”

  “Um... Yeah. Looks like we'll have to pass up getting you a body in return for technical knowledge, at least for now...”

  “... DAMN IT!! System, why is the [Mechanical Engineer] perk unavailable later?”

  System Notice: User has insufficient privileges to know the answer to that question.

  “Okay then. System. I choose the [Mechanical Engineer] perk.”

  System: Choice confirmed and locked in. Dungeon core has evolved into Dungeon Mechanic. Next perk available at level 30. [Sapper] perk has been assimilated into [Mechanical Engineer]. Due to your selection, the [Biologist] and [Necromancer] perks have changed, descriptions available at the next perk selection benchmark. Blueprints available for research: [Crossbow], [Bolt], [Darts], [Steam Engine], [Black powder], [Rubber], [Plastic], [Ceramic], [Lodestone], [Plumbing], [Oven]. Other blueprints may become available after research is completed.

  “Wow. The perk's paying off right away. I should be able to whip up a crossbow for you real soon, Allura. Now get to sleep while I go on patrol.”

  “Sure thing, Boss!”

  “Hey! I thought you were the dungeon boss! I'm the core!!”

  “Hahaha! Gotcha!” (Kisses the blueish marble that is Jade) “YAWN! Okay, going to bed now.” And she lies down and slowly goes to sleep.

  “Now to start my patrols, and might as well get my research started while I'm at it. Let's start with [Crossbow].”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  System Notice: [Crossbow] research started. Discount applied due to [Bow] blueprint being available.

  After a couple of revolutions in a 3 meter radius around Allura, the research was completed.

  System Notice: [Crossbow] research completed. [Bolt] research required to produce or upgrade.

  “Begin [Bolt] research, please.”

  System Notice: [Bolt] research started. Discount applied due to [Arrow] blueprint being available.

  After a couple more revolutions,

  System Notice: [Bolt] research complete. Crossbow and bolts available for construction.

  “System. Are you reading my memories? This research system sounds like the system in 'Xcom-Enemy Unknown,' one of the games I loved to play.”

  System Notice: The System is authorized to do a very surface-level scan to find a mechanism familiar with the user. Actual memories are beyond The System's purview or perusal.

  “Well. That answers a lot of questions. Let's see now. Nothing in the list seems immediately necessary. Darts is redundant at the moment as I've already got crossbow and bolts. A steam engine would be nifty, but without something to hold it would just be a burden. Rubber... That could be useful in many things. Alright, please begin researching [Rubber].”

  System Notice: [Rubber] research started. No discounts found. Calculating... Estimated research time, 8 hours, 15 minutes, 50.35 seconds. Researching can not be paused without starting over.

  “That... That's a long time. System, is it possible to estimate the amount of time it would take to research beforehand?”

  System Notice: Negative. Researching times can only be calculated during actual researching. Further, only one blueprint can currently be researched at a time.

  “Well. That sucks. Very well. Continue research on [Rubber].”

  System Notice: Acknowledged.

  Meanwhile, in the ruins of the mine, Duke Deokk's men stumble upon the sorceress Selena.

  “My lord! We have a survivor! It's the sorceress!”

  “Finally! Perhaps we can finally get some coherent, believable answers!” Duke Deokk loudly proclaims as he approaches the elderly mage/alchemist. “Healers! Tend to Lady Selene!”

  “Duke Deokk?! It's about time ye and yer men got here! That dimwit ran afoul of Beast-kin commandos in the middle of the night! It's been hours since I activated the distress beacon on me person!”-Selena

  “Wait. So there were commandos attacking the place?! All we saw was that boob Royce destroying the mine himself with explosives and then coming to us with a cock and bull story about how a Dungeon Boss made him do it.”-Duke Deokk

  “A Dungeon Boss?! What kind of malarche... No. Wait. Hang on. That would explain an awful lot.”-Selene

  “You believe that nonsense?!”-Duke Deokk.

  “No, Your Excellency, but I do believe that oaf believes it, and I can understand why. All we encountered was a lone beast-kin rabbit-kin with bat wings who not only eliminated all the sleeping troops and several patrols with barely a trace, but trounced me, the baron,(Is he still a baron?), and a good battalion of soldiers in direct combat with nothing more than a single earth-based spell, though it would make sense if she was a Dungeon Boss and the Dungeon Core was simply manipulating the terrain in her favor and consuming the bodies of the fallen as Dungeons are wont to do...”-Selene

  “Oh for the love of... We don't need the mine turning into a dungeon, of all things!” Duke Deokk.

  “I haven't gotten to the worst part yet, Your Excellency.”-Selene

  “And what could be worse than our most productive mine being turned into a dungeon and then being destroyed by an incompetent?!”-Duke Deokk

  “A Traveler is likely involved.”-Selene

  “A.... A TRAVELER?! FUCK ME WITH A THORNY CACTUS!! RIGHT UP THE ASS WITHOUT LUBE!! WHAT THE HECK DID THAT IDIOT DO TO GET ONE OF THEM INVOLVED WITH US??!!”-Duke Deokk.

  “By that idiot's own admission? A warcrime, sir, beating the living daylights out of a Slave (POW), 'to make an example of her' which she apparently didn't survive.”-Selene

  (Facepalms)”I know the national policy is that beast-kin are to be seen as animals, livestock at the absolute best, but for the love of all that's holy, The System trumps national law, regardless of which country! Especially when international law agrees with it! IF a Traveler is involved, and I'm now starting to suspect that's bloody likely, and that Traveler has bonded to a dungeon, of all things, then we need to hurry and find them, while they're still weak, or else, this nation's days are numbered!”- Duke Deokk. “Runner!”

  “Yes, sire!”

  Duke Deokk quickly scribbles a note that he passes over to the soldier, after affixing the ducal seal. “Take this to the royal capital! Deliver it directly to the king, not his steward, his wife, his concubine, or even the freaking crown prince, but the king himself! If he orders you otherwise, very politely demand you get that order in writing, or at least with a System confirmation.... On second thought....”

  System Quest: Duke Deokk to Runner George. Deliver the letter directly to King Artorious Sydonia.

  Completion Reward: One level and rise in rank, with corresponding privileges.

  Failure Penalty: Loss of one rank and exile of your entire family from the Deokk Duchy.

  Do you accept? Yes/No

  Quest Accepted.