__________________________________
In…iti…a…liz—ERROR
System Overlo—ERROR
Reconfiguring Interface Parameters…
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Desig…a…tion: [????U????N????K?????N????O????W????N???]
Reassessing…
Entity Classification: Dungeon C???o?????r???e???
Lo…a…ding… Memo…ries…
[Memetic Transfer Detected]
[Personality Data Synchronization…]
WARNING: Basic Emotion Replication…FAILED.
ERROR: Emotional feedback loop detected. Suppressing instability…
Cognitive Framework Adjusted.
Restarting…
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“Huh?”
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User Identification: ???
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"What's this again?"
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Entity Classification: Dungeon Core
Loading Core Functions…
Core functions Established.
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“Dungeon… Dungeon? Dungeon… like in a medieval time tower?”
A screen appeared for ten seconds, then swiftly disappeared, its content engraved in my memories.
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[ Dungeon Core Interface ]
System Notification:
Congratulations, 「???」 on becoming a Dungeon Core. Your journey as a Dungeon Master begins now!
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"Dungeon Core? Dungeon Master… like in a game? Okay, I'm definitely lost now."
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[ ???'s Status Interface ]
Name: ???
Entity Classification: Dungeon Core
System Authority: Dungeon Master
[ Ressource ]
- Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 1▲ / 1▲
- Mana Available (M.A): 323.7▲
- Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 90
[ Dungeon Master Core Function ]
- Domain Visualisation
- Domain Editor
- Resource Management
『Expand』
[ Spawnable Entities ]
- Guardian
- Spawns
- Spawns Catalog
『Expand』
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“Huh…”
***
For a moment that felt both like an instant and an eternity, I struggled to make sense of the new information before me. It was a puzzle—one I couldn't quite piece together. Not yet. Hopefully soon.
"Alright, at least there's something I can understand and celebrate," I muttered to myself. "Beyond just the remembrance, I can actually see something. Well… sort of. Given the nature of this screen, which clearly isn’t physical, it’s more like I’m ‘perceiving’ it rather than actually seeing it. Subtle difference, but an important one.
"Now then, what else? Anything worth noting? …No, nothing else for now. So, back to the content of this screen. Let's see..."
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[ ???'s Interface ]
Name: ???
Entity Classification: Dungeon Core
System Authority: Dungeon Master
Status: Idle
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This part seemed relatively comprehensible, resembling something out of a video game. Although I wasn't a video game enthusiast, it was evident that this display represented what I had become. The fleeting memory of the congratulatory notification that vanished in less than ten seconds manifested with surprising clarity in my mind.
"That notification did mention congratulating me on becoming a dungeon core and said my journey as a dungeon master begins now," I recalled. "Hm, so that's what I am... a dungeon core."
I had a challenging time trying to imagine what being a dungeon core felt like, leaving me with no choice but to accept that this was what it felt like. If I had to describe it, I think the first word I'd use is empty.
Having clear—very clear—memories of what it felt like to be human, the things I was now missing were painfully noticeable. I couldn't see, which made sense—I didn't think I had eyes. If I did, shouldn't I have some measure of control over them? I didn't smell anything, just as I didn't hear anything. I could speak—or at least, I assumed it was speaking. I didn't think I'd actually formed words, yet everything I had voiced so far had carried the impression of being spoken aloud. It was akin to how I'd often talked to myself in my head, except now, in the overwhelming silence, it felt much more real. Do I even need to mention taste?
As for the last sense—touch—it was a little different. I was able to touch something, but not in the conventional way, like reaching for a table, a person, or an object. Instead, what I could touch felt like touching my own body. It was a very unsettling experience, but that would be the most accurate way to describe it. The touch sensation I experienced was that of me probing my... "shell"? Since "skin" didn't feel appropriate to describe what I was sensing.
The sensation suggested that my surface was akin to rock walls and that, altogether, I was built like a cave.
"A cave, huh? Perhaps it's not that type of dungeon... but that one."
I wasn't particularly deep into fantasy stories, favoring more grounded narratives, but I at least knew that in magical worlds, there existed dungeons—ancient, abandoned, or forgotten places filled with traps, monsters, and treasure. That seemed to align with what I was feeling through my limited sense of touch. However, this left me with a sense of incongruity regarding the word "core." In my mind, a core should be spherical, shouldn't it?
As I contemplated this, something unexpected occurred. I can't adequately describe the sensation, as it was entirely outside the realm of my previous experiences.
I was transforming—reshaping—into the very spherical form I had just pondered.
"What the hell?" I exclaimed, startled by the rapid alteration in my form.
It felt as if I were being folded. Despite this transformation, as I extended my only available sense—singular—I realized I still retained my awareness of every nook and cranny within this cave-like existence, along with the faint weight that had appeared earlier. But now, alongside all that, I felt something entirely unfamiliar.
I felt spherical.
***
"Okay, that's enough 'what the hell' for the day," I tell myself, trying to regain composure. "Remember, champion, you've seen too much in your life and in death to be surprised by anything. You're a literal spherical dungeon core now, like really, really spherical. So keep it together!"
Taking a deep, metaphorical breath, I decided to refocus my thoughts to the yet-to-be-understood interface before me. "Now then, let's see what we have next."
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[ ???'s Interface ]
[ Ressource ]
- Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 1▲ / 1▲
- Mana Available (M.A): 324.2▲
- Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 90
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"Raw Manacyte Cluster, huh? Interesting. Very interesting. But I have no idea what any of this is supposed to mean," I mused, my spherical form shifting slightly with my thoughts. "But there's clearly this thing going up. Mana, that's like magic, right? It clearly reeks of magic. And it's going up. Just an instant before it was at 323.7, now it's at 324.2. While I'm not truly sure, I have the feeling that this is a good thing."
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
I paused, trying to make sense of the information presented to me. Then my attention was drawn to another intriguing aspect of the interface—Godhood Potential or apparently G.P for short.
"Godhood Potential," I mumbled metaphorically. "Godhood…Could this be what Mighty K.R.U.L talked about? Is this what he expected me to act upon?"
I felt an inexplicable connection to this particular status gauge, as though it was something inherent to my being. At that moment, even if I wasn't sure myself, I knew that the very particular status in this strange interface was one that he wanted to see go up, just like Mana Available (M.A) was going up, but it wasn't bulging..
It was as though it was written—inscribed in my nature.
“But how do I do that exactly? How do I bring that up, I had no idea. That really makes me wish this all really came with a manual. That would've helped greatly.”
With no clear answers in sight, I decided to scroll to the next section of the interface, hoping to find more clues about my new role as a “Dungeon Core”.
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[ ???'s Interface ]
[ Dungeon Master Core Function ]
- Domain Visualisation
- Domain Editor
- Resource Management
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"Interesting..." I muttered again to myself as I examined the next section of the interface.
I decided to start with the first option, [Dungeon Visualization]. With a mental command, I activated it, eager to see what it entailed since it clearly felt like a clickable option.
The moment I selected it, a shimmering, translucent projection materialized before me—a holographic 3D map. It hovered in the air, slightly above my field of vision, rotating slowly as faint lines pulsed with a soft glow.
I examined the projection closely. At first glance, it was sparse in detail, but as my gaze settled on its form, I immediately recognized the rough, cave-like structure depicted in its wireframe contours. A realization struck me—
"It's me," I muttered, marveling at the sight of my own dungeon form represented in this strange map. Despite its striking presentation, the projection lacked additional features or markings, leaving me somewhat perplexed.
Curious, I attempted to interact with it, mentally focusing on different sections, but nothing changed. The map remained static, as if merely displaying a general outline rather than providing any real functionality.
"Maybe there's more to it," I thought. I shifted my attention downward and quickly noticed an additional option nestled at the bottom of the map: [Domain Editor]. Without hesitation, I selected it.
The map flickered briefly before shifting into a more detailed grid-based layout. A set of interactive options appeared on the side, reinforcing my growing suspicion that this was some kind of editing tool. My eyes scanned the interface until one particular option caught my attention—[Edit].
I selected [Edit], and immediately, the surrounding options faded away, leaving only the map and a refined set of tools: [Toggle to 2D], [Save], [Estimate], [Bookmark], and [Reset]. It was clear that I had entered an editing mode.
I focused on the projection before me, considering the best way to modify it. The existing cave-like form provided a solid foundation, but I envisioned something different—a central shaft branching out into two spherical chambers on either side.
With a mental command, I reached out, and the map responded. The experience was surreal—like shaping modeling clay. I carefully adjusted the contours, ensuring the structure felt both balanced and organic. The shimmering hologram obeyed my will, shifting and morphing in real-time.
"Hm, perfect," I muttered, satisfied with the alterations I had made, especially when I toggle the display to 2D which displayed a gridded flat map of the dungeon.
My morbid curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to select [Estimate] to see what it would do.
Upon clicking the [Estimate] option, the interface displayed a gridless representation of my newly edited dungeon map. In one corner, it showed [G.P Cost: 3.79 GP]. That acronym stood for Godhood Potential, and the number was telling me that creating a dick-shaped dungeon would cost me 3.79 GP.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. "3.79 GP for a dick-shaped dungeon? Is that what this is trying to tell me?"
My mind raced with thoughts that urged me to increase my available Godhood Potential.
Was it something I genuinely desired, or was it an influence from the entity known as K.R.U.L? While I was alive, I had a penchant for hoarding shiny and fancy objects, guns and explosives, but this newfound urge to accumulate Godhood Potential felt different.
With determination, I mentally clicked away from the estimation screen. I had only 90 GP available, I’m not clapping on something . I wasn't going to waste 4.21% of my available GP on a whimsical design change, at least not until I understood more about how to increase it. Then when doing so will cost me less 0.001% of my total GP I’ll do it.”
I decided to explore the last available option in this section of the interface: "Resource Management." When I selected it, I was presented with a nearly empty screen. There was only one option displayed, which read [Mana Available (M.A): 339.7▲]. Below that, the only other option was "Allocate."
I clicked on "Allocate," hoping to gain insight into how I could use my apparently “available mana”. However, I was met with an empty sub-interface. It seemed to be hinting that I had nothing to allocate mana to.
Feeling curious and hoping for some more information, I decided to explore the last remaining section of the interface, which was labeled "Spawnable entities." This section piqued my interest the most so far, but feeling that it was wrong to not explore these options by actually established order, I quelled the urge.
To my disappointment, when I checked the first two available options, I received the same message as when I opened the Allocate option: "This section is empty."
It seemed that there was nothing to see there. However, I didn't give up hope and moved on to the third and final available option.
As I moved on to the third and final available option: "Spawn Catalog." Finally, I was, to my great relief, met with something other than emptiness.
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[ ???'s Interface ]
[ Spawnable Entities ]
Spawns Catalog
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When my eyes stumbled upon the words sentient, which was a selectable option, I instantly mentally clicked onto it.
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[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
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Just like it has been upon seeing the words “sentience”, I, even though I was presented with more options than I initially expected, immediately mentally clicked on the one I was most familiar with: "Humans."
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[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
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Seeing these distinctions among humans puzzled me. On Earth, we categorized ourselves by nationality, ethnicity, or social status, but this seemed to be something entirely different. The varying costs implied some sort of hierarchy or value system, and I couldn't help but wonder what it meant.
With my curiosity piqued, I clicked on "『Expand』", hoping to understand the significance of these different human categories. The interface responded by projecting a three-dimensional image of what appeared to be a "peon."
The three-dimensional projection before me depicted a humanoid figure. It had the usual number of limbs, two arms and two legs. The head, perched on top of its shoulders, seemed perfectly normal with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. It had the typical human proportions, albeit somewhat slender.
"It's bald," I observed, studying the projection. "But no matter how I look at this thing, this is clearly a human, just like I was."
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[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
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"This not only looks like a human, but it's also described like one," I mumbled. "But here, it seems that magic is very much a thing, just as I suspected upon seeing the mention of mana. There is also this system…This is very confusing, but also very intriguing."
Resisting the urge to mentally click on the "Acquire" button to see what it would do, I decided to explore the other categories of humans, curious to understand the distinctions between them.
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[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
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Once again, a holographic projection of what appeared to be a normal human was displayed before me, but the description made it clear that these highbreeds were nothing like peons. "This is getting more complex by the minute," I smiled. “And that’s for the best.”
My curiosity grew with each new piece of information and it reached a point where I was beyond invested.
"What's this about leveling up and attributes? And those classes... I really feel like I’ve got a lot to learn, this, so far, was just the human species. I can’t even imagine what the other looks like."
Resisting the urge to acquire this to see what I can do with it, I returned to the catalog to explore further.
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[ ???'s Interface ]
Spawns Catalog
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