49 Procreation (3/3) [End of the Dark Under Ark]
Next up was the Ghoul's Monster Core. I have to say.. Assimilating a part of that creep gave me the chills.. He was a rapist, a genocidal maniac.. a true monster.. but sadly, a powerful one. I needed some of his power if I were to continue my campaign to bring diversity and chaos to this world. "Well.. bottoms up!" I said and smashed the Core between my palms. The multicoloured Aetherial energies swirled widely inside my Core Room, like a maelstrom of power before being absorbed by my Core directly.. "You never expected it would be you, that would get eaten in the end, did you?" I thought as his remaining essence became part of my own.
[ Chimera Ghoul Core Lv.10 (Preserved) has been assimilated! The following have been gained: 1) 400 XP, 2) Skill: Progeny Rank 1. ]
[ Progeny: A very rare summoning skill that involves cultivation of a certain minion type that is produced through breeding. The minion can be developed and augmented by breeding with different creatures that must belong however to the same creature category as the user. Higher Ranks of this Skill allow the user to instantly summon batches of said minions, by using pure Mana. ]
[ Synergy detected! Your Skill "Progeny" and Dungeon Feat "Chimera" can be used in conjunction! ]
[ Congratulations, Intermediate achievement unlocked! "Eye for an Eye" you have successfully gained retribution against a foe by dealing them the same hand they would have dealt you. 300xp awarded! 1 Free Attribute Point awarded! 1 Free Dungeon point awarded! ]
[ Congratulations on obtaining your first Dungeon Point. These rare Skill points can be used to augment your three basic Dungeon Skills or even a Dungeon Feat! ]
I shared my gains with my minions and nearly cried of relief. It wasn't for nothing. The suffering, the blood, the fight and the fear we all had experienced.. it wasn't for nothing. I had managed to gain everything I could've hoped for and more. Before summoning my minions I went ahead and augmented my stats and checked my Avatar's status screen.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Race: Superior Dungeon Core Lv.12
Avatar: Arsàni, Fire-Breather (Hermaphrodite)
Age: 29
HP: 176/300
MP: 3/155
LvL.13: 46%
Aether: 1209
Gold: 561
Physical - 15 (Near Heroic) [+1]
Mental - 6 (Above Average) [+1]
Social - 6 (Above Average)
Magic - 12 (Beyond Peak Condition)
Skills
1) Monster Summoning (Rank 5)
2) Dungeon Manipulation (Rank 2)
3) Aether Cultivation (Rank 4)
4) Bound (Rank 3)
5) Progeny (Rank 1)
Passive Skills
1) Fire Resistance (Rank 3)
2) Natural Allure (Rank 3) [+1]
3) Minor Regeneration (Rank 4)
4) Fire Manipulation Magic (Rank 6)
Spells
1) Finger Gun (2 Mana/13 Dmg, Average)
2) Flame Arrow (13 Mana/50 Dmg, Average)
3) Fire-Breath (6 Mana/15 Dmg, Average, 20ft Fan)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
&
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Superior Dungeon Core Rank 2
Maximum Chambers: 5/5
Maximum Summons: 7/35
Maximum Summon Rank: Rank 3
Maximum Ranks: Rank 2 - 2/15
Rank 3 - 4/5
Totem Pieces Assimilated: 1
Cores Assimilated: 3
Maximum Progeny: 2/5
Dungeon Skills
1) Monster Summoning* (Rank 5)
2) Dungeon Manipulation* (Rank 3) [+1]
3) Aether Cultivation* (Rank 4)
Dungeon Feats
1) Caves of the Strong (Rank 2)
2) Kindred Sight (Rank 1)
3) Mists of Fright (Rank 2)
4) Chimera (Rank 1)
5) Ore Mongers (Rank 1)
6) Abundant Earth
Active Effects from Feats
All Summons -> +3 Levels, +3 to Physical, +1 to Mental, +2 Mining.
All Enemies -> -8% movement speed, -8% physical damage output, 2% drain in their remaining Stamina for every minute one spends within your domain.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
We had come a long way. I nodded to myself, there was nothing more I could do for now. All that remained was to strengthen our defences so we could enjoy some hard earned peace. I closed my eyes and my inflated body began to shrink. My bely became flat and chiseled with powerful abdominal muscles, as all the seed from my summons was transmuted into essence. There was so much excess energy that it was almost visible, like a blue flaming aura around my body.
[ Deep Fisher Essence detected! Would you like to produce... 6 Deep Fishers Lv.4? ]
I held off for just a moment, opening up a submenu containing all other Beast Type creatures I had managed to assimilate. Sand Viper's venom.. Crag Scorpion's black luster carapace.. Trawling Spider's silk.. Minor characteristics but all of them quite unique and would pair very well with my beloved mob type. So.. for the first time I activated "Chimera"!
[ Summon type: Deep Fisher, has assimilated Sand Viper's venom. Pincer venom coating has transformed to "Blood Fire" venom. This nasty substance will not only act as an anticoagulant in an enemy's open wounds but will also make their veins feel as if they are on fire. Muscle spasm, pain will spread throughout their body of any wounded foe.
Deep Fisher has assimilated Crag Scorpion's black luster carapace. The unique composition of this chitinous armor, scaled in the appropriate size for your summons, provides a much greater protection against physical harm, especially Fire, Piercing and Slashing damage.
Deep Fisher has assimilated Trawler Spider's silk. Your summon's silk now has greater strength, elasticity and resistance to sunlight. Additionally Deep Fishers will be more likely to develop Web spinning abilities. ]
[ Chimera Assimilation Complete! Apply changes to, yet to be summoned minions for 150 Aether? Apply changes to all existing summons and their variants for 300 Aether? ]
"Yes.." I thought and my will bent the Aether and Essence around me into shape. Six new Deep Fishers came into existence and as soon as they did, my Feats boosted their level and stats! In mere seconds they reached level 7, grew bigger and bulkier as well, a sign that their physical stat had been boosted! They looked almost the same as always except for a more prominent coating of liquid on their pincers and a shinier yet tough looking carapace. Fisher and his brood soon transformed as well, taking on the new improvements. I then transmuted the plugs Blu had left in my body. They counted as essence too and I was able to produce two stronger minions from it. I called them Blue Jellies since they shared more characteristics with Blu. These new Jelly variants had a more developed ability to propel themselves through water and could move like a liquid even on land. After that, I summoned Amber Jellies and Coyotes normally with my Mana to fill the gaps left from the recent raids, distributing the defenders into their respective chambers.
Spinner with two more Deep Fishers and an Amber Ooze, manned the Entrance Cave. Blu with her two children guarded the Main Cave alongside six Amber Jellies and two Amber Oozes. Fisher with five of his brood guarded the First Boss room, assisted by three bats, two normal Pale Bats and one Pale Imp. Sŭnfur the Dire Coyote was given watch over the Barracks alongside three pack-members while Fiona and three more of her coyotes remained guarding my Core. Lastly, Shu-Bongo our new Pale Wyvern remained outside the Dungeon with two Pale Imps. They nested in a small cave above the Dungeon, on the cliffs of the Great Plateau and were going to be our eyes in the sky, patrolling vigilantly the surrounding areas.
[ With all basic Dungeon Skills having reached and surpassed Rank 3, you are ready to ascend to Superior Dungeon Core Rank 3. Proceed with the ascension? ]
I was tempted but after some thought decided not to.. It was time to rest. When all was as it should be and every minion posted I finally stretched and yawned. Everything seemed in place once more. I lay on my bed, no intention of cultivating whatsoever. It was time for me to rest.. I closed my eyes with a satisfied smile on my face. There was so much more to do and accomplish still. A wet nose poked at my muscled arm and I saw Fiona staring at me like a giant puppy from hell. I hadn't payed much attention to the scary baby since I came despite knowing how much she adored me. "Ok.. just this once.." I said begrudgingly and the wolf curved its jaw almost as if it were smiling! She jumped on the bed and cuddled next to me and I had to struggle to find a position that wouldn't get me sliced up by her horns. "Master smells like flowers and water...and.. Fisher?" she said to me with curiosity and I blushed not knowing what the hell to say! "And you smell like wet and dog.." I finally answered once I took in a good whiff of her. "Yes! I am both those things!" She said happily and nuzzled even more intensely against me while taking care not to stab me by accident. But I could manage.. What the hell.. might as well bathe her too next time I'm in the pool. "Can we go for a long walk outside tomorrow? I don't want Master Minõa to leave before spending more time with Fiona.." she said to me through our bond. She sounded more articulated, no doubt a result of her mental stat increasing. "I won't be in a hurry to leave you again.. We'll go on lots of walks starting tomorrow.. Maybe even a hunt!". She squirmed upon hearing that and her tail flailed wildly! I scratched her behind the ear as a goodnight and fell asleep while petting the large mutant wolf.
