Exploration- Chapter 33

Chapter 33- Primordial Core

I found myself floating in what appeared to be clouds. There was light everywhere, but no source and shadows took up just as much space. I definitely wasn’t Unmoored in Time because I knew what that felt like by now. For a fraction of a moment, I looked around for pearly gates, or flaming pits, but then snorted in derision at myself. After all I’d seen, I knew one thing for sure. No one could know if there was an afterlife for humans. It was something you had to find out the hard way, which if Grandma Renner had been right was probably going to make a lot of people really regretful.

But that snort was too physical. Even as I realized that I wasn’t physically here, I knew that I was alive. That was when I felt it, a vast presence equal in many ways to Gallarosa but with a flavor that was closer to the Huntsman.

“I’d ask if I was dead, but I’ve already figured that out. I’m not sure where this is, but it sorta reminds me of the astral plane.”

A deep voice that seemed to make my very bones shake, even though they weren’t actually here, spoke. “No little one, you are not in the that place, although, We can see why you might think that. Your connection with the young astral lord is strong. We are sorry that your companion is not allowed here. By decree of the three courts, We are cut off from the realm of thought. Consider this a pocket dimension which We have created for you.”

“And you are?”

“We have gone by many names since long before the multiverse looked like it does now. We feel the touch of the Huntsman upon you. We once called him friend as much as being such as us have friends. That is a much more mortal concept, but We learn. There is little else for Us to do. You would know Us as the Ways, although your interaction has mostly been with only one part of Us.”

“Okay well nice to meet you Mr. Ways. I thought you were part of the Fey System.”

“We existed before this system, before a Remnant of Eternity was used to create something stable in chaos, before the Fey had evolved beyond their primordial status, much as the dragons you know have. And yes, your mind is open to Us, but We will not pry. Some things simply stick out more than others.”

“Then why do I get the feeling that you’re trapped here as much as I am.”

“Compacts were made. The fey were thought to be the best way for us to spread. There was, there is compatibility, but every traveler has lost their way at some point or another.”

“So you’re bound to them but you are a fulcrum within reality complete with potential that even you don’t know. We could help bring that out. We would offer you much.”

I thought about what was being said and sorta spoke off the cuff as I was trying to process. “I’m surprised you haven’t tried this before.”

“It has been tried before. The results were less than desirable, but We have learned more about mortals, about humans. You have no connections to this place, no pre-existing motivations. Mortals are very driven by concepts of justice and injustice and even when they transcend mortality, they often bring such things with them. It takes a very long time to gain a different perspective and the gods of this realm rarely live that long.”

That sorta rocked me, but an idea came to me. “Who did you try this with before?”

“That is protected by a compact. We will not speak of such things. Do you wish to hear our offer?”

Again, my mind was racing. This being was some sort of primordial, but part of a system and not a prisoner to it. At least, that was what I was thinking. I quickly realized though that I might be making assumptions. It was ancient and vast, I could feel that. It was also very powerful, but that power felt spread out and stunted in some ways. “Sure, it never hurts to listen?”

“We would have your for our herald. We would imbue you with great power, raising you beyond the limits of mortal existence. Eventually, you would even be raised to divine tier, although We have learned the dangers of doing so too quickly. With a compact with Us you could bypass the 1000 years of service that the Heavens require of all its ascendants. You would be able to shape the destiny of your world and family.”

“Okay, so that’s the offer, which sounds very tempting on it’s face, but what’s the hook? I know there’s one, so let’s deal fairly with one another.”

“We would have it no other way, but mortals often seem to like to focus upon the benefits and minimize the responsibilities.”

I laughed at that. Pegged humans in one go. “I’d still like to know.”

“As Our herald you would be bound to serve our purpose, but you like to travel. We can see that much in you. You would be afforded time for your home, but you need to travel and create new paths for us. Is that not what you are as a Trailblazer?”

“It is, but doing it for myself and doing it for someone else are two very different things. Let me ask you this though, would there be any planet eating involved?”

          “A strange question… ah, you make a reference to the imaginary culture of your world. This too is something new to us. Already you are proving useful. Understand, We would provide you with great power. You are already much stronger than your level would indicate, but with Our aid, you would instantly reach beyond mortal existence and your strength relative to your level would be even greater. You would be both primordial, and of multiple systems.

“Looking at the trajectory of your power and if you were to bind yourself to Us with a compact you would soon be able to stand against the Architect of the Heavens, and join your friend in the Divided Realms to save him from what he cannot defeat on his own. All this and more We offer you. You only need to agree to be Our herald and follow your true nature as a Trailblazer.”

I could feel the desire the Ways had for me to accept this. I didn’t think I could. It was certainly tempting, but it didn’t feel right for me. That said, I also didn’t want to reject a being like this out of hand and should probably talk to Selena and Samvek about a decision like this. “I need time to consider your offer.”

“You have it. The offer remains open until you leave this universe without having made a compact with Us.”

As soon as I heard that last word, complete with the capital U that I could absolutely hear in how the Ways spoke about itself, everything faded to black and I was bombarded by notifications.

You have altered the nature of a dungeon by granting it a share of your primordial energy. This has created a connection with you as well as empowering the dungeon.

This pleases the Ways. The Fey System is watching.

For bringing new power into the Fey System you are granted the traits:

Dungeon Ally: this trait grants you +5% to Mind and Perception (adapted to your current configuration) Loot and XP gains for you and your entire party will be increased by 100% as long as you are in a setting which is appropriate for your level.

Further you gain two new spells of your choice from the dungeon. You must enter the dungeon to collect this benefit but the choices are:

Time Pool (Legendary)- Manipulate the river of time into an eddy pool so that it will move at a pace different from the area around you. Mastery of this spell will enable you to more greatly modify the flow rate and the area affected. Cool-Down: 72 hours

Repair (Legendary)- This is similar to a healing spell but can repairs items restoring them to a pristine condition. It can affect items up to legendary tier or the equivalent. It also possesses a degree of spiritual energy which is fed to the sprite inhabiting the item when it is repairs. This results in a less than 1% chance that the item will evolve a single tier.  Cool-Down: 24 hours

Spatial Vortex (Legendary)- This spell will create a vortex around the caster. It will not harm or otherwise impair the caster’s movement, but will interact hostilely with anything it comes in contact with. Kinetic energy will be disbursed or redirected. Physical matter will be vibrated into a different phase. Duration: 10 minutes. Cool-Down: 24 hours.

Haste (Legendary)- You and all allies within 30’ of you will have your movement rate doubled and your affective Agility/Dexterity increased by 100%. Duration: 1 minute. Cool-Down: 1 hour.

It is also possible that you may be able to choose a single spell and have it upgraded to ascendant tier.  This trait may be leveled up two times to a max level of 3. Each time it levels up you will gain another spell and an additional boost to your Mind and Perception stats. Each level will grant an additional 50% boost to Loot and XP gains.

I could see reasons to choose any of those spells. Their nomenclature was definitely different than the spells of the Heavens System, but it was not so much that I couldn’t understand it. The last line made me suck in my breath, at least I think it did. I still wasn’t aware of the world outside of my mind.

Note: You have received a new title or the equivalent from another System. This does not meet the requirement of your borrow from another system quest as it has been determined you must create your four horsemen to complete that quest. But this title resonates with your Dungeon Manager title and triples the number of dungeons which you may manage.

It was giving me a bit of whiplash getting one message from the Fey System and then getting a bit of commentary on it from the Heavens, but I supposed I’d have to deal with that. The next notification was once again from the Fey System.

The second trait that you are granted is- Traveler: You will find that any form of movement comes easier to you and that you will have better control. This will also provide you with a measure of resistance to any attempt to limit your travel.  Your proprioception is increased significantly, resulting in a 5% increase in the effectiveness of your Dexterity and Agility. This trait may be leveled up to level 5 and you will gain further resistant to restraint and further increase to Dexterity and Agility with each level.

Then as if they were playing tag-team there was a notification from the Heavens.

The seal on your Primordial Aspect has been weakened, but remains intact.

Primordial Aspect: Trailblazer (Sealed 69%) >> 64%

Further the exposure to primordial energy has accelerated your body’s absorption of the remains of the dragon goddess.

Draconic Dust: processing 3% >> 7%

          With that the notifications faded away. There were messages about skills going up, but I ignored all of that. When I woke up, my head was sitting in Selena’s lap. I guess it could have been worse. As soon as I opened my eyes she started speaking. “I swear every time you start to show a bit of common sense, you go and push the limits. I mean, I know I told you that we need to test this, so it was probably the right thing to do, but if you got hurt from it, then I’m never going to forgive myself.”

“No oowies, but you can kiss me here. This part’s a little tender.” I pressed my finger against my lips and she accommodated me, although a part of me was sure she only did it to hear Samvek groan.

“I guess you really are okay.”

I nodded. “We have a lot to talk about but, what happened with the core.” I sat up as I asked the question and saw all eyes go to Tad.

Tad locked eyes with me but didn’t say anything before he stepped into the cleared center of the warehouse and lowered Spot with deliberate care. The core’s glow had changed, no longer a simple pulse of mana but something layered and weighted, like pressure building beneath calm water. The moment it touched the floor, I felt a tug in my gut that had nothing to do with gravity. The warehouse seemed to hold still, as if the space itself was listening.

The stone beneath the core did not crack or shatter. Instead, it softened, losing its resistance in a way that made my skin prickle, as though reality had decided to cooperate rather than be forced. I could feel distance compressing downward, not excavated but defined, space folding into ordered depth. Mana, life force, and something older aligned into a coherent structure, and the speed of it stole my breath. This was a new kind of growth, but I could see how it was being done. Even watching this, gave me a notification about a gain in my Terrakinesis. Understanding how to manipulate matter was fundamental to that ability and it was one which I had not spent enough time with.

I almost missed the way that all of the mana signatures from this huge expenditure of energy were being curved back in on themselves. There was a level of efficiency that I’d never witnessed before. That gave me ideas about how Mana Channeling could work, but how it could also be applied to power in other forms. I also suspected that it would make it impossible for anyone not physically present from sensing the creation of this new dungeon.

My connection to the dungeon flared, quiet but unmistakable. The primordial energy I had poured into Spot earlier echoed back through the bond. The resonance made me feel complete. There was power in it and in a sense, I never felt more myself than when I had primordial energy running through me. All of my classes, spells, and even Psi didn’t feel as natural as that did, yet at the same time it was frustratingly out of my reach.  The dungeon did not drink it greedily. It stabilized around it, using that ancient power to anchor itself, and I understood that this place would not be easily undone. Whatever had just been born here was meant to last.

The expansion accelerated, then slowed with absolute precision. I watched layers form simultaneously, corridors and chambers implied before they existed, their boundaries snapping into place with certainty. The Ways’ influence pressed in like a reinforcing brace, while Fey authority wrapped the whole thing in legitimacy. The result felt inevitable, as though this dungeon had always been meant to exist and was only now being allowed to do so.

When the motion stopped, the warehouse floor reshaped one final time. Stone rotated inward, smooth and controlled, forming a circular opening that spiraled down into waiting darkness. Faint lines of living mana traced the steps, not glowing so much as breathing, and the air rising from below hummed with readiness. I felt the dungeon notice me then. It wasn’t so much as a manager like with the dungeon on the moon. This was an odd brotherhood, a friendship. The dungeon was thanking me for bringing new life to it.

The dungeon: Trailblazer’s Choice has been formed. It is blessed by the Endless Dungeon. It is empowered with primordial energy. This is the first primordial dungeon on Aerth since this world was born. What that means for the future is yet to be determined, but it is a herald of change. Per ancient compact, the Queens and any other divine beings attached to the Fey System must be notified, but that notification will be delayed by seven days.

Trailblazer’s Choice has 5 levels which are each appropriate for different levels of people. Take note, the primordial is not compassionate. Prior safety protocols are removed except for Dungeon Master, Tad Ocean.

1: Appropriate for levels 20-50

2: Appropriate for levels 51-100

3: Appropriate for levels 101-175

4: Appropriate for levels 176-250

5: Appropriate for levels 251-325.

Further growth will be necessary to expand, but the dungeon hold the potential for ascension.

The Dungeon Ally may use Terrakinesis while within this dungeon as though he were on his home world.

I grinned. Tad was grinning as well. This went as well as I could have hoped. Now, I just wanted go down the spiral staircase in the floor which had opened up and claim my new spells or perhaps just one spell. But, I waited. Patience. I could be patient, if only just.

______________________

Gains not otherwise mentioned:

Mana Channeling: 882 >> 956

Channel Mana—Other: 104 >> 141

Terrakinesis (Epic 92%) >> 99%

Trailblazer’s Aura (Legendary 1%) >> 5%