The sound of a beeping jolted me awake, pulling me from the depths of sleep and snapping my mind into action.
[The necessary conditions have been fulfilled, activating the new dungeon and designating a dungeon interface assistant. Determining the suitable dungeon interface according to the fundamental desires and abilities of the dungeon. A compatible dungeon interface has been found, and the assignment is now in progress. Dungeon interface Jax is available and will be assigned to you.]
[Hey there! What part of "I'm not interested in a new gig" is hard to grasp? Whoa, check out this dude! He kicked the bucket in such a sad way. Seriously, how are we supposed to be a match made in heaven? Are you throwing shade at me just because I don't always play by the rules? Where do you think you're off to? I didn't sign up for this mission. Don't just leave me hanging here!]
[Ugh! What a way to be abandoned in this crazy nightmare! If I'm going to be stuck here for a bit, I guess I should figure out what I'm dealing with. Seriously, how did I end up in a fresh-out-of-the-box dungeon? What did I do to land this gig? That poor fellow probably doesn't know the first thing about being a dungeon master or plotting a surprise attack!]
"What's up? I'm Theros. Who are you, and where the heck am I? Everything's pitch black!"
[Well, well, well... it seems nobody bothered to fill you in on the details, huh? Not even a hint on how to see! I'm starting to think I was just a last-minute pick because I happened to be nearby, and they were eager to offload you. Anyway, here we are! I'm Jax, your friendly dungeon interface. Once I'm linked to a dungeon, my code gets all tangled up with your core, and trust me, there's no untangling that mess. The only one who can pull us apart is The System, but they've vanished without a word, leaving us to figure this out together.]
[I'd say it's a pleasure, but honestly, I was just soaking up the sun and checking out some lovely beach babes before I got yanked into this dreary little cave. Seriously, this place is a joke—no proper mobs at all! But hey, we can change that. First, let's get your sight sorted out, and then we'll hunt down a dungeon wisp to start gathering some mobs and mana. Let's turn this sad little cave into a real dungeon!]
[Alright, let's dive in! First, I want you to really soak in your surroundings—feel every little detail. Once you're in the zone, let your senses expand like a balloon at a party! Keep an eye out for any sneaky movements around you. Do you sense those little flutters? Just a hint of action in the air!]
I followed his instructions, and suddenly I felt a faint stir in the air around me. "I believe I can feel some movement, but I still can't make out anything."
[Don't worry about that you're on the right track and will be able to see in no time at all. Now focus on that movement and think about white light, the light of the sun leaking through some trees through a sunny day. Focus on the movement while you think of light.]
I did what he told me, and before I knew it, tiny lights were zipping around me. As they gathered, the rough outlines of my surroundings became visible. "I see lights and shapes. Where the heck am I?"
[You're still stuck in that cave where you took your last breath. Can you see it in your mind's eye? Does it still echo in your thoughts?]
"Yes."
[Alright, visualize that cave in your head, and let your thoughts dance around the flickering light. Channel your inner power into that glow, making it shine even brighter! Recall the dazzling brightness of a sunny day, the twinkling starlight, and the soft glow of the moon. Bring all those radiant images to life in your mind!]
I followed his instructions, and suddenly, light burst forth in the cave, illuminating everything around me. Yet, despite the clarity of my surroundings, I still felt disconnected from my own body. "I can't see myself at all."
[Do you have a sense of your own mass? If you concentrate a bit, I'm confident you'll be able to feel it!]
"What are you talking about when you say my mass? I've never considered myself a big dude."
[You know, it's way simpler to get what I'm saying if you take a moment to look inward rather than sitting around hoping for a detailed explanation to drop in your lap.]
So, I did it—I turned my gaze inward, but soon I was frowning, caught in a whirlwind of confusion. The more I honed in on it, the more I tried to refute the conclusion that was forming. "My body is consuming this entire cave; no, it's as if my body has transformed into the cave itself. These two rooms at the front and the three in the back—they're all part of me now. Everything in this cave feels like it's within me, and if I concentrate hard enough, it's like I could absorb it all. At least, that's the sensation I'm getting. I feel this intense hunger, but it's not the typical kind; it's not a growling stomach or anything. I just want to soak up energy. I'm ravenous!"
[Well, look at that horned bunny over there! You remember giving it that little boo-boo when you were still in your human form, right?]
"Are you telling me that I'm no longer human?"
[Seriously, is that a question? Clearly, you're not human! Who do you know that could possibly be the size of a five-room cave? Exactly! So let's skip the nonsense. Focus on that wounded horned rabbit and the mana trickling out of its injury. Can you sense it? That precious life force is on the brink of fading away!]
"I can sense it."
[Well, since your database is as empty, why not strike a deal with that little creature? Take a sip of its blood—just a taste, nothing too crazy—and offer it a chance to join your merry band of followers. In return, you'll tie it to your core power, making it a loyal minion! Once it's cozy in your dungeon, it'll have the nifty ability to respawn after kicking the bucket, but don't forget to set up a respawn point in this room first!]
I could feel the life force of the horned rabbit seeping through its cut, and I focused on that energy. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced—definitely not food in the traditional sense. The sensation of absorbing it was bizarre, almost like consuming something, yet it was richer and offered a spectrum of flavors far beyond anything my previous body had known.
[Hey there, I get it, you're starving! But if you keep gobbling up that horned rabbit like a snack, there won't be anything left to contract. How about this: extend a hand—imagine it in your mind—and give that little bunny's paw a friendly shake. I know it sounds a bit silly, but sometimes your imagination can turn into reality. Just roll with it!]
In my mind, I extended a hand and caught a glimpse of something clear, akin to looking through jelly. It took the form of a vague arm that lowered toward the rabbit, which seemed to accept it, allowing its energy to be absorbed and wrapped around its mana core. Then, a bright light burst forth from the horned rabbit's forehead, showcasing a winking smiley face.
"What's the deal with that creepy smiley face?"
[Every monster that's signed up has a little badge of honor from their dungeon, proudly displayed somewhere on their body. Since you didn't pick a sign, I took the liberty of choosing one for you!]
"You never bothered to ask me. I certainly didn't give my okay to have a sleazy smiley face as my emblem."
[Semantics, my friend! I'm cruising through this task without a hitch, so no room for grumbling here. Just imagine the hilarity when your mobs spring into action against those dungeon challengers, and the last thing they catch is a cheeky winking smiley face!]
Coming Next Time: Creating the First Floor