The infinity dungeon 149

After dealing with the small robed goblin, who was still hiding his face and cowering in a corner after the threat of future retribution, Michael turned around to leave. The room, or the half of it farther away from the exit, was devastated: parts of the ceiling were missing, exposing the roots of the trees above and even letting some of the sunlight through, the walls were melted and the floor was like one giant crater.

A rumble made Michael stop in his steps. Raising an eyebrow, he rotated his body slowly until the room was once again in his sight, as was the source of the noise.

“What now?” he grumbled, ready to unleash some more violence.

The rumble deepened and then stopped. It had come from one of the smaller craters, the farthest from Michael of them all. He stomped over there, a bundle of annoyance that evaporated as soon as he saw the tell-tale glow and magic of a skill stone. The color was orange, that of a Gold-rank, Rare skill.

Even though he already had six such skills in his Sanctum, Michael found himself rather excited at the prospect of a new skill. He walked over to it, sparing the rather tall stack of mana coins only a cursory glance. Even from a distance, he could feel the Intent radiating from the skill stone, and then underneath it–like peeling back an onion–he felt Qi, mana and a strong Elemental presence.

Michael’s half broken system reacted as soon as he touched the skill stone, informing him about its name and rarity.

[Rare - Telekinesis 1]

He didn’t waste a single second, absorbing the skill and adding its fractal to his Sanctum. He then closed his eyes and plunged his consciousness inside the Sanctum, where he watched the process of the skill etching itself in the stone walls of the strange space, growing vein-like structures that nourished it of mana and Qi, drawing Intent from the air and somehow creating its own supply of the elements needed to work through a mechanism that Michael could neither understand nor replicate.

If he could, he thought, then he would be able to get an infinite source of any element he wished. Even if such a method wasn’t as good as integrating an element into his Aura, it would be a gigantic bonus and would put gaining as many elements as he could at top priority.

After the process seemed to be over, and Michael was ready to leave, something else began to move. Another structure, normally invisible, made itself known in the space of Michael’s internal magic. For a brief moment as it activated, its whole form became visible, and Michael realized that whatever it was had managed to colonize every single inch of his Sanctum. It was in the walls, it was embedded in the two parallel systems of veins that were the mana system and the Qi meridians, it was on the floor and in the air, all the way to touching his own soul at the center of the infinite room.

More worryingly, the structure encroached on the skill fractals like a parasitic plant, sapping them of space and energy, pulsing in time with their own internal rhythm. Once it was done marking and expanding in the space of the new skill, the whole structure once again disappeared from view.

“The system,” muttered Michael, feeling like the weight of this new discovery could crush him at any moment if he let his guard down.

He left the Sanctum and then the dungeon floor, walking quickly and not stopping until he was outside. His thoughts were in disarray and his Aura reflected how shaken he was. When the world assaulted his senses as he crossed the threshold and left the dungeon once and for all, he threw his personal shield around him and had his Aura fold in on itself.

His senses found Johanne at the other end of Site 00, working on her own research. It must have been one of the rare times she was out of the dungeon and not working from the stretched time of the Misty Valley. He went over to her, speed walking on the lone asphalted road that the construction team had hastily thrown up, winding around the hills and ups and downs of the Site for miles and miles.

When he reached her, he had come with the intention of taking his mind off the worrisome revelation he had just experienced. Unfortunately for him, Johanne was very perceptive of his state of mind. Only his, for in her eyes he was the only human being that really mattered on the planet, and for once this strange selective perceptiveness was to his detriment.

“You look shaken, my lord,” she said, looking at her phone for a quick look at something. There was text there, but it was so small that Michael couldn’t really see what was written on it. “You came here straight from the dungeon. Icarus thinks you have been to Floor Five. Did you beat it?”

Michael hummed, “I remember when Icarus was dumb as bricks. What was it, a few days ago?”

“Things move fast around here, at least compared to the rest of your planet,” said Johanne with a shrug. “To me, they feel glacial but it can’t be helped. It’s the human component that requires time, not the technical one.”

“I see.” said Michael. He idly realized that Icarus had been with him all along, seeing Floor Five from the vantage point of its WITCH experimental components. But that couldn’t have been what had alerted Johanne’s instance of Icarus of Michael’s whereabouts, because right now the WITCH module was active only for him, and he kept a tight lid on the information that it could transmit back to its bigger whole.

Which meant that Icarus was indeed getting pretty smart, to be able to make educated guesses and be right about them.

“You finally reached True Silver,” said Michael. “Congratulations!”

His smile was met with a frown. “You are trying to avoid talking about something. Very well, I shall indulge you.”

“You normally shouldn’t say these things out loud, Johanne. I could see you frowning at me before you put on that fake smile.”

She frowned again, before trying a variation of the smile.

“Please stop,” sighed Michael, “it looks uncanny on you.”

“Alright, I shall stop.” she said, immediately reverting back to her default face. Which, Michael had to admit, looked much better on her than her Terminator smile. “Yes, I finally managed to integrate an Element into my Aura. I don’t think I have ever been True Silver in my old life, my lord, for this feels…”

She shook her head, unable to find the right words.

“It’s completely different from False Silver. I think, in my old life, I might even have reached False Gold from False Silver–somehow–and yet the echo of its memory feels insignificant.”

Michael nodded, “True tiers are worlds apart from False tiers.”

“Indeed they are. Kavanaugh is False Silver now, much like I myself was, and I feel like I could snap him in half with but a thought. It is… upsetting, even for me. I tried to make him True Silver, as an experiment, but I just couldn’t. He is not talented enough. Perhaps we could push him to False Gold eventually, but True tiers will always be beyond him.”

“Unfortunately Travis is right,” Michael said, “It’s the wheat from the chaff, the talented leaving the untalented behind. Anyway, I sense a strong Time presence in you.”

“It is so,” Johanne said, materializing a strange apparition in her hand. The way she conceptualized Time was reflected in the way it manifested, and her manifestation was…

“What the fuck even is this?”

“How I see Time,” she said, “I had been stuck for so long because I kept trying to master simpler Elements. Simpler they might be, but they were not something I resonated with. Time is.”

“Welcome to the club, then.”

She thanked him, and the conversation moved onto other topics. They discussed many things, especially how Site 00 was coming along according to their designs. Kavanaugh was leaving to return to the OA for more mole work, now much less worried about suddenly finding himself dead in the middle of the night without being able to defend himself. With how the forces at play were still murky and barely more than dancing shadows, someone like him was going to be a crucial piece to finally shed some light into what was going on with the government.

Travis also had other plans, all the way up to the president, but unlike Site 00 work those plans couldn’t be sped up with magic or time dilation. It was a delicate matter, better be left to those who knew how to handle such things, and there was nobody better than Travis.

“I would like to meet the dwarves,” Johanne suddenly said. “Their mechanical technology and Runescript magic sound fascinating, not to mention how I would love to meet a civilization I thought long dead.”

“Sure,” said Michael, “why not go now?”

But when they reached the grand doors leading to the underground frozen halls, Johanne suddenly stopped. Her face was unreadable, with a hint of disgust.

“These… these are not the dwarves of the tales of old. What are these… abominations?”

***

Candle Light Internal Memorandum

To: All Candle Light Personnel

From: Level-1 Operator Travis Tyrell, Head of Candle Light

Subject: Defining Unity Corporation's Mission and Candle Light's Role

Overview:

As Unity Corporation expands and our operational scope broadens in response to the rapidly changing global landscape shaped by magic and anomalies, it is crucial to maintain clarity regarding our overarching mission and the specific mandate of the Candle Light division. This memorandum serves to articulate these core objectives.

Unity Corporation: Stated Mission and Vision:

Under the leadership and vision of Owner Michael Lexington, Unity Corporation's primary objective is to navigate the new era defined by the emergence of magic. This encompasses:

• Safeguarding Humanity: Protecting the population from uncontrolled magical phenomena, hostile entities (both mundane and supernatural), and the potential misuse of newfound power.

• Understanding and Research: Systematically investigating the nature of magic, its various systems (SKILL, DECK, TOME, etc.), energy Tiers (Mana, Qi, Intent, etc.), anomalies, and extradimensional spaces like the Infinity Dungeon (CL-000). This research, spearheaded by the Science Division under Johanne of the Roses, aims to unlock knowledge for both defensive and potentially beneficial applications.

• Responsible Integration & Advancement: Exploring ways to ethically and safely integrate magic and related technologies (e.g., mana crystals, Icarus AI, vitality tonics) into society for the betterment of humanity, while maintaining control and mitigating risks. This includes community outreach and support initiatives (e.g., Redbud Ridge).

• Establishing Order: Creating a stable framework for managing powered individuals, containing threats, and interacting with existing governmental structures (like the OA) from a position of strength and indispensability.

Candle Light Division: Operational Mandate:

As the primary operational arm of Unity Corporation, the Candle Light division executes the practical aspects of Unity's mission. Our mandate is multi-faceted and critical:

• Anomaly Containment & Management: Identifying, assessing (using Danger Ratings and Magic Classifications - CL-*03), containing, and neutralizing or exploiting magical anomalies (CL-xxx series). This is our most visible and immediate function.

• Threat Assessment & Neutralization: Addressing threats posed by hostile powered individuals, rival organizations, dungeon entities, or unforeseen consequences of magical phenomena. This includes both defensive and proactive measures.

• Intelligence Gathering & Counter-Intelligence: Acquiring actionable intelligence on rival groups, government agencies (such as the OA), potential threats, new magic users, undiscovered dungeons or anomalies, and ensuring Unity's operational security against infiltration. Utilizing assets like Dr. Kavanaugh and our developing network.

• Personnel Management & Development: Recruiting, training, managing, and controlling powered Operators. This involves utilizing the established and known magic System, managing dungeon delves, overseeing Rank progression (Copper, Silver, etc.), employing Oaths where necessary, and maintaining operational hierarchy and discipline. Developing strategies to manage and control powerful individuals is a key long-term goal.

• Research & Development Support: Facilitating and protecting the work of the Science Division, providing field data, securing research materials, and identifying potential applications or threats arising from research findings.

• Resource Acquisition & Management: Securing vital resources, including mana (Coins, AoIs), skill stones, artifacts, funding (via healing services, loot sales, future tech), and strategic partnerships, primarily through exploitation of the Infinity Dungeon and leveraging Unity's unique capabilities.

• Maintaining Secrecy & Public Relations Management: Controlling the flow of information regarding magic, anomalies, and Unity's activities to the public and governmental bodies. Shaping public perception to position Unity favorably ("saviors of humanity") while preserving operational secrecy.

• Ensuring Unity's Strategic Dominance: Executing strategies designed to ensure Unity Corporation remains the preeminent power in the burgeoning field of magic, capable of dictating terms and shaping the future. This includes expanding our influence globally and developing systems of control independent of raw power disparity.

Underlying Principles:

Our operations are guided by:

• Pragmatism: Recognizing the harsh realities of this new world and making difficult decisions when necessary.

• Control: Maintaining strict control over magic, personnel, information, and volatile situations.

• Secrecy: Protecting our knowledge, capabilities, and operations from external scrutiny.

• Adaptability: Rapidly adjusting strategies and protocols in response to new discoveries and evolving threats.

• Proactivity: Anticipating future challenges and opportunities, positioning Unity to lead rather than react.

Conclusion:

Unity Corporation stands at the precipice of a new world. Candle Light is the shield and the spear ensuring we not only survive but thrive and ultimately guide humanity through this transition. Every member of this division plays a vital role. Adherence to protocols, dedication to the mission, and unwavering loyalty are paramount. The stakes could not be higher.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this memorandum is classified Level 1 and is for internal Candle Light use only. Unauthorized disclosure is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with severely.