[Dungeons] were created on the day of the Great Calamity to prevent mass casualties, from what we know through the study of [Dungeons] is that they are linked to the [Planar Gates] that caused the Great Calamity. At least for Hatoria and the five holy continents [Dungeons] act as the first line of defense against planar entities such as the voidlings, daemons, and elementals. The link between the [Planar Gates] and [Dungeons] usually cause a significant increase of intelligence and tactics that the [Dungeons] can employ, because of this [Dungeons] containing an active [Planar Gate] are by far the most dangerous but rewarding place to train. [Dungeon Breaks] are one such danger where the overpopulation of a [Dungeon] can cause the nearby environment to become saturated with mana, allowing the normal [Dungeon Monster] population to develop [Mana Cores] that allow them to survive low mana environments. Another danger of what I'll refer to at this point as [Planar Dungeons] is the difference between normal [Dungeon Bosses] and [Planar Dungeon Bosses]. Simply put [Planar Dungeon Bosses] can near endlessly improve themselves like the Sapient races. -Passage taken from Adventurer's Guide To Nature : Dungeon edition, written by Lance of the Runesmith clan. circa 1490 AGC.

  'Well that certainly helps me.' The fogginess that I felt seems to be lifted by some amount as thinking and calculating things mentally has gotten easier. 'Now how and what should I continue training next?' Realization hits me that I haven't fully explored my surroundings yet. My vision fades in to see I'm within a extremely old looking room like a banquet room in a medieval castle, the walls look to be made from a carved stone brick with a nearly smooth stone tile floor. Every 10 or so feet within either side of the room lay pillars that tower to the ceiling 30ish feet up, on the pillars are smokeless torches that glow with the orange hue you would expect to see.

  'Well this is certainly one hell of a boss room.' My inner thoughts are interrupted by a sense of an innocent appreciation towards my mental comment of the room, this foreign feeling emanates from down the hall behind where I stand.

  "Hello?" my voice echoes from inside my helmet spreading through the Main Hall. It sounds deep and guttural, the dry vocalization sound near foreign to me. 'is that what I sound like here?' my inner musings are interrupted by the vague feeling of excitement emanating from further into the [Dungeon]. Tempted by curiosity to find out where these feelings are coming from and what is giving them, I tread forward taking the time to check my [System Description] as I wander deeper into the [Dungeon].

  'Alright where should I start?' Continuing the slow wander I started, I look at my [System Description].'First I'm gonna get traits out of the way'

  "Uhm.... is that Normal?" My dry voice echoes down the hallway that I had wandered down.

  "Tell me something I don't know" I counter the [System Notification] with verbal dialogue.

  'Well that was fast. I gotta hand it to you System you sure fix errors fast unlike some of the stories I read.' I think aloud not bothering to speak with my new voice.

  'wait... the hell is a [Planar Gate]?' I ponder to no one.

  "Well Shit..." I say to myself thinking of the problems that it will cause. The vague feeling I get this time seems closer and it's like it agrees with my words. 'at least whatever this thing is, it is on the same page as me.' Continuing with my walk I get back to looking at my [System Description].

  'That's interesting' I internally say looking over the bonus to [Mana Manipulation]. 'Does it make Manipulating mana easier, or does it make [Mana Manipulation] more effective? No matter I'll find out sooner or later.' Interrupting my brainstorming I look to [Mana Sight].

  "[Mana Sight] will certainly be useful in the future to use in tandem with [Mana Manipulation]. But it could also be used to forgo my limited vision in fights.' Moving on to the next one.

  "The System wasn't kidding when it said it would give me a chance at survival." I spoke, my dry voice echoing down the silent halls. 'Is that what is going on with the foreign feelings I get? The [Dungeon] that created my body gave me a [Mana Core]?' As I thought that the vague feeling returns like an echo from the end of the hall but this time more detailed in its intent.

  'I think I have enough words to start speaking now, Hello my Guardian!' The Voice that reverberates in my head expresses the same innocent appreciation that I had felt when I saw the Main Hall.

  'So your the [Dungeon] that created my new body? wait back up a minute since when can you speak?' My confusion evident in my mental questioning.

  'Since now! Unlike you I didn't have memories to rely on for speaking, though skimming through your knowledge on vocabulary has certainly helped. Oh sorry, I forgot to say thanks.' The way the [Dungeon] speaks is refreshing, the isolation I was in had affected me more than I thought... Thinking back, I can't help but feel sad that my family had likely died long before I did. Dying by freezing to death sucked, my armor shudders as I remember my thoughts when I was freezing to death.

  'The only thing to do now is move forward, it's not like I can gain the power to return home. Even if I did would I want to return to that frozen nuclear wasteland? I already know the answer, No I'm gonna choose to stay here. The apocalypse that this world is dealing with seems infinitely more manageable compared to the nuclear winter that I survived. I may even be able to make a difference in this world!'

  'I agree with that line of thought! though I'm not sure what nuclear winter is, the feelings that back the words are not enjoyable in the slightest.' The [Dungeon] speaks within my mind, adding its own thought on the line of thinking.

  'I can't argue that, feeling that cold isn't enjoyable.' with that I finally get to the end of the long twisting hall, I'll make sure to count the rooms that I passed on the way back. Opening the large stone door that stands in my way, I take a mental note to test the limit of my strength as opening the door seems easy. Creaking open, the bottom of the stone door drags against the floor causing an unpleasant sound. The room that lies beyond is a circular domelike library, the walls stretch vertically up 15 feet before the ceiling begins to curve into a dome. On the ceiling either built with colored stone or painted is a mural of this world's night sky, each star on it is lit up with a soft white glow from crystals of some kind. The sense of awe strikes me as I view what I assume is the recreation of Hatoria's sky, a hopeful excitement fills my mind with the realization that this might truly be a different world than earth. Looking down from the ceiling the smell of old rotted wood assaults my senses, The bookshelves that litter the room are in varied states of disrepair. Some buckled under its own weight while others hold dusty books, grabbing a book from a nearby shelf I begin to clumsily flip through the pages each one seemingly empty. Towards the back of the room opposite from the entrance lies a raised floor with a pedestal in the center. Atop the pedestal Lies a tome made from ancient leather, affixed to the center of the cover is a large rectangular amethyst.

  'So you found my core! how do you like the room?' The [Dungeon's] voice emanates in my mind louder than ever.

  'This Library looks amazing, but otherwise you are saying that this book is your core?' I continue to think and occasionally look up to the mural on the ceiling still stricken by that feeling of awe.

  'Well technically the System calls it the [Dungeon's Heart] but I like the word core better! now where was I, oh yeah the [Planar Gate] seems to be leaking some kind of creature in the room right after the entrance to my Dungeon. The Lesser Wyrmkin are barely holding the creatures back from flooding the rest of the dungeon.' The [Dungeon] seems to lose track of things easily, that probably won't be a problem.

  'Alright I'll go handle it, I gotta test some things out that fighting would be perfect for. Can you repair the walls and floors?' Mentally speaking to someone is easier than I thought. Looking to my last trait I'm surprised by what I find.

  Wait did I do that?

  'I have near total control over the dungeon as it is technically my body, so yes I can repair it though the ability is substantially harder to control the closer my attempt to change things are to an invader.'

  'Got it, can you form me a greatsword from stone?' After asking the floor in front of me begins to dip into a divot as a greatsword formed from stone raises hilt first from the ground. 'Thanks.'

  After grabbing the sword I place the blade on my shoulder and I begin my track back to the main hall. Passing by 17 rooms on my way back, I start the process of checking over my skills and spells.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  'Do I really need the lore description of the abilities?' mentally groaning over useless words 'man I wish I could change this so I'm not bombarded with words.'

  'IT WAS THAT SIMPLE!!!! GODDAMMIT.'

  'that.... actually looks better than before' stopping my stride towards the main hall I just stare at the new interface, dumbfounded by what just happened. My mind takes in the info sitting in front of me.

  'I'll take it, not gonna question it. I- Sure go ahead and give it to Desmond. I don't wanna go down that rabbit hole just yet.' My mind catches up to the present and I see the different race. 'Hold up, When did my race change?'

  "yay, more information given to me by the system." I say sarcastically, rolling my equivalent to eyes. Now onto the new trait.

  So the creation of new people... Can't do that right now. Just creating people like that would sound weird if I was still human, being living armor I can't tell if I care about that or not. Moving on before I become uncomfortable.

  'That's Amazing, even more survivability for me!' finally I walk into the main hall and continue walking forward following the directions that the [Dungeon] is giving me.

  'Alright looking good, moving on.'

  "A healing spell, that will certainly be useful." I begin to open the stone door that lays in my way.

  'A buff to all capabilities? does that apply to skills and spells as well? A fight is a good place to find out.' Pushing past the door I walk through the linear path of rooms and hallways that leads to the [Dungeon] entrance. Sounds of fighting can be heard ahead in the distance, Sounds of war cries and pained grunts can be heard. The smell of iron grows thicker the farther I walk, anxiousness sets in as flashes of memories of that stranger attacking me out of desperation. I bury those thoughts as I see a corpse of what looks like a Kobold with a longer neck laying in a pool of its own blood, its left arm and should broken in several places and gashes lie all across the face and chest. Whatever attack it looked like it tried to disembowel the kobold but was probably interrupted by another.

  'So this is a Lesser Wyrmkin, I don't think anything could live through that slaughter.' I think as I step carefully, to avoid stepping in the blood. A weak wheezing cough interrupts my attempt to avoid the pool of blood.

  "You're still alive!" I so expertly point out with surprise as I quickly move over to the kobold bleeding out. lightly facepalming from what I said, I place my free hand on the chest injuries, I focus on channeling my mana into [Mending Touch].

  "May any damage be repaired, [Mending Touch]" my voice involuntarily speaks some sort of incantation, the wounds on the Wyrmkin begin to set and close causing a pained but weak scream.

  'Good to know people earn Exp. from more actions than just killing things' my mental musing cut short as the kobold opens its eyes, pupils dilate with terror directed at me, the nightmarish suit of living armor with a voice that belongs to a villain.

  "I won't harm you, I just need to know what attacked you so that I can deal with the problem" My voice rumbles as I attempt to keep my voice from booming and scaring the poor kobold anymore. After a few moments of silence the kobold manages to squeak out.

  "G-gem boss sent ar-armorman to help-p?" I seriously can't tell if the creature has a stuttering problem or if it is a habit out of fear.

  "Yes little one the boss did send me to help, what is attacking us?" I keep my voice level and calm.

  "ot-others call me Vyth, not l-little one, Metal boss." Vyth continued stuttering, maybe its normal for them.

  "Well my allies call me John, not metal boss." I counter vyths attempt to call me metal boss. "Vyth, I still need information on what we're fighting if we want to win the battle."

  "O-of course Boss John, kin and me f-fight red scaleless person shorter t-than Wyrmkin, R-red skins have wings on back, always cackling and throwing fire at d-distance." Sighing, I stand up from my knee and start my march as I signal Vyth to follow. Channeling some of my spare mana into my eyes I activate [Mana Sight], My visual awareness expands to the 30m radius unable to see through walls the colors of the room coalesce into a river of different types of mana. [Mana Sight] takes up 90% of my mental processing forcing me to stop thinking beyond I got a fight to finish and lives to save. Visual overload would be the best description to [Mana Sight].

  "Alright Vyth, have the others follow my command. I'm going in there to draw all of the red skins that I call Imps, You and the rest of the Wyrmkin will flank the strong ones and I'll try to Clean up the rest." My voice hardens to steel as I go over the plan with Vyth.

  "G-got it boss!" As the time ticks away more kobolds will be injured, I'll pull out all the stops to protect them.

  "Good." My sword feels lighter as I shift the weight off my shoulder. Charging into the room I bellow at the top of my lungs. "Fight someone your own level!"

  Moving faster than I could before as I swing the greatsword one-handed vertically as I bisect the nearest Imp splattering gore on the other imps nearby. The Imps just stare at me like deer caught in the headlights of a car, using my free hand I grab the second nearest Imp picking it up by the throat as I see the thrashing mana on the skin of the creature. Crushing its throat with a loud crunching snap I throw the body as hard as possible towards the nearest group of imps. Notifications nag at the back of my overwhelmed mind but they fall on deaf ears, continuing the fight with a horizontal slash of the greatsword taking the arm of the unfortunate imp in my way as my sword cuts cleanly through its torso. "Wyrmkin, Rally with my call and slaughter our enemies!" Yelling this war cry I get another notification as I behead another imp. After my war cry the kobolds that are healthy enough to move yell there own war cries and begin the bloodbath as the crash into the disorganized Imp like a wave and start tearing the nearest ones apart with their claws. As the imps they begin fighting back as the shock of the surprise attack wore off, though they were to late in the counter attack. Bolts of fire bounce uselessly off my armor at the same time their claws barely dig into my armor. With another low horizontal swing of the greatsword I split the three imps attacks me in half from the waist down. All of my senses are bombed with the smell of blood and the sight of a one sided fight.

  Not focusing on that I split another imp's head into two parts and slash my sword diagonally cutting into the shoulder of another imp, likely hitting the thing's heart as blood pours from the wound. The battle soon finishes after with no Imps escaping the battle turned massacre, I deactivate [Mana Sight] as [Might Of The Manaborne] time limit expires. Feeling all the physical exertion I accumulated over the battle drop like a mountain onto me, I crumple to the ground barely holding myself on my knees with the nearly broken stone greatsword. Chips on the blade are frequent as I force myself to focus on the details of the greatsword, hoping it will distract myself from the overwhelming pain that burns itself into my memory. Stumbling to my feet using the sword as a brace, I begin shuffling towards the injured kobolds, Checking my stat pools while I walk.

  I proceed to spend the rest of my mana to heal as many of the injured as possible channeling my mana and the surrounding mana to heal them. Another notification dings in my mind as a warm golden aura surrounds the injured and I. A sharp pain bouncing around my head and my mana channels burn with a vengeance indicates that I'm out of mana. 'I got a lot of notifications to sort through...'