Eternium ~ 37

I extended a tendril of Essence, allowing that to reach into the air below my dungeon. I felt a presence connect to it for a moment before it was obliterated. If I were a human, I would be so pale right now. But… the feeling hadn’t been malicious. It felt like someone that had a really high grip strength grabbing a delicate glass cup without being told that it was fragile. Alright. I could work with that.

Again, I extended some Essence, but this time I used the purest Essence I could manage, and packed it into a dense slip of power. Okay. Now all I needed to do was wait until- gah! Again the Essence shattered and dissipated, but it had almost survived. Time to take it up a level. Mana this time, packed and dense enough that there would be some questions if a human or other sentient saw it. As it was Acme, the highest tier of Mana and I had poured some serious power into it, I figured I would- ow!

It held… barely. I was shocked that it had been a close thing, but now the presence on the other end of this connection began to communicate with me. That is, I think it was trying to do so. The thoughts were mountainous, monolithic pictoghraphs of energy that I was fully unable to comprehend. I decided to try speaking, and I really hoped it wouldn't be seen as rude. <Hello there! I’d like to thank you right away for not killing me accidentally or intentionally.>

There was a pause in the link, and it seemed that the dungeon on the other end was thinking. I kept speaking, mainly to offer as many words as possible, and complimented it on everything from the environment to the creature swarms on the ground. The aurora was of particular beauty and allure today, wasn’t it? Then I felt something, a kind of… hole in the connection that I was feeling. I was ecstatic, because I knew exactly what this was! The dungeon was requesting information from me, and I was almost certain that it wanted the language I was using. Done and done.

I sent over the information happily, and waited a few moments as the dungeon digested the information and translated its own thoughts for me. <This… language is… inaccurate. It leaves… much to interpretation and context. An unparagoned sesquipedalian as myself prefers the accoutrements of language acumen which facilitates non-anomalistic vernacular.>

Well, that had escalated quickly. Going from not speaking the language to becoming beyond expert showed an intelligence on par with my own. <Hi there, I’m Cal. I’d like to mention right off the bat that I make jokes when I am uncomfortable.>

There was a slight pause, and then the dungeon spoke again. <Would you feel more comfortable if I used language you are more familiar with? I reanalyzed the language packet you sent and found the words you use with the most frequency. I see that you are both comforted and disturbed by this choice, so I will move onto the true topic of conversation. Why are you here, young dungeon? I do like visitors, so much so that they typically never leave, but I feel that in this case you are here for a reason… not selfish. Very rare, and worth hearing out.>

It was a good thing that I was a Core, and didn’t have the same panic-inducing chemicals running through me like a human brain did, else I would be shivering in a corner right now. <Yes, I… *ahem*... there is a bit of a story behind that. So, there is this guy, Xenocide, who->

The connection between us snapped, my extended Mana being absorbed into what felt like an unending chasm. I had to forcefully cut off that extended tendril, else there was danger of this draining my Core as well! In a moment, the feeling stopped, but my mountain was slowly falling through the air, all of the ambient power having been sucked out of the area. I had to devote some of my Essence to keeping us afloat, and even still we were spiraling down too quickly for comfort.

I regained control about one thousand two hundred and fifty-six feet off the ground, and slowly started to climb into the air again. It took a half hour or so before I could try again, but I hesitantly extended a Mana tendril again. I had a feeling that if I tried to run, I wouldn't get very far. The Mana was grasped firmly nigh-instantaneously, reaffirming my choice. <I am sorry, little one. As you know, I have not had that name. But, the physical description that you sent matches a troublesome insect that has been pestering me for centuries.>

<Does he kill your creatures, make insulting gestures, then strip and dance around on their corpses?> I was already exhausted by this conversation, there was far too much panic involved.

<Yes.> The dungeon growled, making me vibrate hard enough that i felt microscopic cracks form on my surface. 

<Right, so this guy tried to end the world.> I paused, but there was no information flowing back to me right now, so I continued. <He set up a huge Ritual that was designed to pull the moon to the earth, ending all life. He was planning on using the accumulated madness to ascend.>

<Fool.> The response was succinct, but it got the point across. <He may well succeed, but then what? If he stays, he would become the weakest cultivator in existence even as he became the strongest. His plan would backfire on a scale that I doubt he has the sanity to consider. Now, what of you? How did you come here?>

<I was asked to come here thanks to my Wisp. Dani.> I looked at her and linked her into my thoughts. <She was the one who felt utterly compelled to come here, and I couldn’t do aught but listen.>

His serious and formal speech was infecting me, it seemed. Dani sent a mental acknowledgement but didn’t speak. Odd, for her. The dungeon spoke again, <Why? Did not this aberration fail in his plot to destroy us all?>

“Yes, and no. His plans were delayed, but the moon was demolished and even now is raining chunks of rock to the earth.” Dani carefully explained. “The moon… we were given a vision that there would be very few survivors. We are doing everything we can to save those that it is possible to save, but we are making only slow progress.”

The dungeon spoke to Cal, words that Cal had been dreading and expecting. <I suppose I could help you… for a price.>

<What could someone like myself offer to you?> I was flabbergasted, honestly. Really. It was dangerous ground, but it was also a little flattering to know that this ancient being wanted me to do something for it.

<First of all, look up.> Up? What was up? I glanced upward and nearly stifled a scream. I failed, and the scream came out, though weakly.

*Ahhhh!*

Dani gave me the strangest look she could possibly manage, so I explained myself and my oddly-intimate sounding screech. <Right, so, it looks like the main body of the moon is falling here. It’s huge and I have no idea why I didn't see it earlier.>

<My luring ability kept any truly unsettling things from being perceived until I opened a space for you to look for.> The dungeon explained. <As for the favor you can do for me, first I need access to all of your memories. I need to know that you can be trusted, and this will also grant me the ability to know what it is that you need most.>

<You want into my head?> 

<Your Core, actually.>

All I could think of was the fact that this dungeon was so powerful that he was smashing my most potent Mana by twitching. <Right, well… I don’t know if that's a good idea. You seem, um, smashy.>

<You will come to no harm from this.> An aurora exploded outward from the sky, a signal that his power had accepted his words as fact and would destroy him if he were wrong. While it would be nice to take someone with me, I still didn't want to offer myself up to be broken like that. <Or I can decide that you are not trustworthy.>

Creatures faded into existence around my dungeon. Huge flying serpents, strang amalgamations of creatures, dozen-armed humanoids in a lotus position… the list went on and on. <Oh, good; I was wondering why you didn’t have air defenders. The lure thing again?>

<Correct.> Came the stern response.

<Lovely. I suppose nothing to do but work together, huh?> I nervously opened my mind along the connection, and felt a whisper of pain as unintelligible energy swept over my mind, taking a copy in an instant.

<Done.> At least it had been fast. <I see. There have been many interesting events in your life. As is currently stands, Cal, it seems that your greatest threat comes not from the falling moon, but from angry and uncontrollable cultivators that mean you personal harm.>

<As far as I know, which of course… you know.> I felt really strange about this scenario.

<Then it would only make sense for me to teach you how to defend yourself against the S-rankers that mean to harm you,> The dungeon chuckled at my incredulity. 

<That’s possible?>

<Very much so, as you shall soon see. You were on the right track with the infernal cannos you have stored and prepared.> There was a pause. <Your other plan, to drop this ‘Barry’ into fewmets… not as good.>

“Told you.” Dani chimed in. 

<And… the favor?>

<Is simple, Cal. I need you to save me.>

<You’re joking.> I responded flatly.

<Cal, the moon is falling on me.> There was exasperation in his tone, as if he really didn't want to admit weakness. <Me specifically. Truly, it will not be difficult to take me with you. All you need to do is finally connect to that Silverwood tree you are underutilizing, and allow me access though mine. Frankly, containing me will be a much more taxing proposition.>

<I see that I have a lot to learn from you.> I wearily gave tacit approval. <What should I call you? Teacher? Master? Is sensei a thing?>

<Just call me by my name, Cal.> The dungeon was laughing, causing the entire continent below us to shift. <I am Dungeon Eternium.>