Chapter 100

Chapter 100

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The Dungeon, Atlantis, The Kalenic Sea

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With the Metal Island done and Paragon finally a fairy, it was time to move on to its relic. Metal isn't a traditional element, but I didn't want another 'control element' relic; it was overdone. Instead, I came up with the Alloy Gauntlet, though I couldn't call this anything but a cursed item.

Upon someone donning this Gauntlet, it would extend, covering their arm in armor up to the shoulder. If the person was already wearing armor, it would eat and replace the metal. Being made of Potentium, the Gauntlet was incredibly potent and would amplify all magic cast with it. What made it cursed? Well, it wouldn't come off. The only way to remove it was to use it for its intended purpose: as a keystone that activates the gateway to the boss arena, among all the other keystones.

Of course, you could also cut their arm off. That was always an option. It's not a good one, but it's still an option.

This relic was the most powerful I had created so far, and it was only fitting that it rested here, guarded by my most powerful manabeing. I placed the Gauntlet in a chamber sunk inside the liquid metal lake. It was enchanted to rise and reveal its treasure either when Paragon was banished or if he manually triggered it.

With Ferrum Isle done, there was only one more island to go.

Water, as a court, didn't really need an island. The whole floor was an ocean, but I still felt that they needed a seat of power, just as the other courts did. Thus, I raised the smallest 'island' yet: a dozen-yard diameter pile of sand. It featured a single palm tree and was occupied by a single Crabssassin modified to crawl up and down the tree and subsist off its coconuts. The Coconut Crabssassin would guard its island jealously.

The real meat and potatoes of this island were under the waves.

The tip pointing out of the sea was the highest point of a guyot, akin to Subnautica, about two miles in diameter. Within that area, undersea life thrived. Dozens of biomes, thousands of species of fish. A true marine cornucopia. At the deepest point of this underwater mesa, I carved a crevasse. Inside this dark ravine, I created a city.

Yes, I made an actual Atlantis. Shut up! I have gaslighting to perform!

It was Greco-Roman in architecture; large columns at the borders of the building led to open-plan living spaces. The most prominent structure, the castle, was almost as intricate as the one on the Fifth. I need a name for that one, actually... But never mind that for now! The rest of the city held buildings made for any purpose one could dream of. There were Barracks were filled with nets, tridents and armor made for merfolk. Open-sea markets peppered the city, often the center of their districts. There were 'spas,' 'manors,' 'boutiques,' and even 'baths.' The baths were filled with a briny liquid that pooled even in water.

With the building done, I moved on to the life that would inhabit it. I was still ruminating on making an actual merpeople species. I had a few ideas percolating through my nonexistent brainmeats. Still, there were a dozen different things I needed to think about before I did it. In the meantime, I filled the city with coral, fish, and seaweed.

The Water Court took to the city with gusto.

They filled the quiet city with movement and life. With the application of a few tactical golems, it became even more so. Coral is such a fascinating substance, and the Coral Golems were terrifying. It looked just like a regular collection of coral up until you realized, oh, that's an arm. That the water sprites' hydromancy was enhanced by occupying these water-adapted forms, if by a much smaller amount than Potentium, was a bonus.

With that done, I looked back through the Elemental Isles and...

Yeah, I wasn't nearly done with them. They had so many gaps in their ecosystems and lacked traps and monsters. I still needed to weave a cohesive story for the Isles, with hints of the relics scattered throughout the islands. But for now, they fulfilled their purpose as seats of power for the Courts, environments they could twist to become more suitable for their respective elements.

I still had plenty of open ocean to fill, and after a quick glance ten miles into the 'sky' of the Eleventh, I was reminded that there was a vacuum up there.

There was so much I could do with that.

But for now, I'd spent enough time in builder mode; I needed to check on the surface.

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Layla's Office, The Guild Hall, Atlantis

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The Voice was silent for a time, and Layla sat patiently. Watching how the connection the monster had to the dungeon pulsed was fascinating. Thinking back, Layla didn't remember being able to see these connections back when they found the dungeon. It was definitely a recent development. She would tell her aunt about it the next time they met.

"The Creator will ensure the Children know the exchange rate of human coins to Talons, and they will abide by it. I will make a similar announcement tomorrow for the humans, including that merchants can exchange their Talons for Coins, and vice versa, at a new bank that will be established soon. A combined workforce of Children and Humans will begin construction within the week."

Layla blinked. That was... comprehensive. "Ah. Thank you. That sets my mind at ease. You will be using the quarry?"

"Indeed," Voice agreed, nodding. "They did well to supply us the stone for the harbor extension, and supplanting them entirely for Children and resources from the dungeon would be incredibly short-sighted."

"Thirdly, I would like to ask if any more changes will be made to the Fifth floor or higher."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"I have been collating and writing a guide and map book for the dungeon," Layla explained, pulling out said roughly bound leather book. "It is relatively comprehensive, but the changes to the Castle have caused much extra work for Harald."

Voice motioned for the book and quickly flipped through it. Layla wasn't sure if she was actually reading it; she was going through it so fast, but she looked interested. After skimming it, she closed it and handed it back.

"You're right, that was quite comprehensive," Voice complimented. "No mistakes on monsters, nor their capabilities. You even outlined rough maps of each floor, key locations, and how to identify trapped rooms and hallways in the Second's case."

Layla once again found herself unable to stop herself from asking a question. "You're not going to stop me from distributing this?"

"Of course not. As I said before the invasion-," Voice said, her mannerisms suddenly changing. Layla was talking to The Creator directly now. "I actually like you humans delving into the dungeon. You once declared my dungeon a Grindstone: a place you can endlessly throw yourself at, sharpening your skills and strength. The opposite is also true, and the Third Floor is the best example in my case. The Trial Guardians have only grown in skill. They will soon descend deeper into the dungeon, increasing the capability of my defenses as they train their replacements and any future apprentices and squires. We sharpen each other."

The Creator looked at Layla, glee dancing in The Voice's eyes. "Anyone delving into the dungeon with no intention to shatter, enslave, or otherwise abuse me will always be welcome to delve into the dungeon. I have made so many beautiful things and places, it would be a shame if no one ever reached them."

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Experimental Chambers, The Seventh Floor, The Dungeon

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Huea looked at the body restrained against the enchanted and reinforced metal slab. They'd kept Hallmark's body mostly intact with regular injections of Life magic. A couple of Life sprites were brought up and assigned to the job when The Creator summoned them. The tiny butterfly-winged golem bodies, which The Creator called a 'Modern Fairy,' were adorable!

The man's Core lay on the pedestal a few feet before the body. They'd learned so much studying dead cores; having one that still contained a living soul was utterly fascinating.

It led to Huea finally isolating the mana type they needed. Death Mana.

Much like Light is the purer form of Fire and Darkness is the purer form of Water, Death is the more refined form of Life. Life is composed of Air and Water; thus, Death was the first Third Tier Element they'd discovered. Death Mana was actually a misnomer. It's Soul Mana, technically, but since interacting with the soul is only possible after the body's death and the removal of the Goddess's protection... Death Mana is also correct.

Combining Death Mana with Life Mana and performing various tests on smaller monsters... They were ready for a real test.

It was time to perform the spell.

She couldn't wait to see how it turned out.

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