The Crafter's Dungeon: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 1) by Jonathan Brooks (best books to read for students TXT) 📗

she felt a little ridiculous for not trying it first.  She reconciled her ignorance with the fact that the Dungeon Classification: and Constructs sections didn’t appear as if she could dig further into them like the others.  However, when she concentrated on them for more than a few moments, a Classification Menu popped up.

Classification Menu

Current Dungeon Classification:

Constructs

Elemental Proclivities:

All

Change Classification?

Warning:  Changing your Classification will result in the elimination of any progress towards or achieved advanced Classifications.  In addition, all accumulated Core Mana – as well as any non-permanent objects containing Mana or is fueled by it – will be sacrificed to fuel the change.

Accumulated Advancement Points:

14 AP

Available Advancement Options:

2

Current Advancements:

0

Sandra looked at the Classification Menu in confusion.  While she knew that changing her classification would use all her accumulated Mana, she forgot about the mention of advanced Classifications.  It wasn’t really important at the time when she was initially selecting her Classification, so it had slipped her mind.  Now that she had seen the new menu, however, the existence of these “advancements” was brought to the forefront.

Winxa, what are these advancements?  And why didn’t you tell me about these before?

Almost as if the Dungeon Fairy broke out from a spell, Winxa seemed to relax and a relieved sigh escaped her lips.  “Phew, finally – I thought you’d never ask me about that.  The Advancements are purchasable enhancements to your Core Classification that can range from increasing the innate strength and deadliness of your monsters, to adding additional Elemental Proclivities (not that you need that), to – and this might be the answer to your issue – incorporating monsters from different accessible Classifications.  Not only that, but you’ll likely be able to advance your Constructs Classification to the point where you can create larger, more “advanced” monsters.  You can even, with enough accumulated Advancement Points – hybridize your Core with multiple Classifications,” the Fairy spat out quickly, as if she couldn’t get it out fast enough.

Sandra was speechless for a moment as she took in what she was told. Is this a way to gain additional monsters?  That doesn’t make sense – why didn’t you tell me about this before? Sandra asked, after realizing Winxa hadn’t answered her other question.

The Dungeon Fairy sighed again, though this time it sounded more like regret than relief.  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you about it before this.  It is an amendment to all Dungeon Fairies’ contracts now; we literally cannot mention it unless we are specifically asked about it,” Winxa said.  Then she added, in a quieter voice, “And it’s all because of me…”

What?  What do you mean?  Again, none of that makes any sense.

“Do you remember when I told you I was the only one to teach a Dungeon Core that had four elements?”  Sandra mentally indicated that she did.  “Well, even though it was a long time ago, the repercussions of its rise to power is still felt today in the Dungeon Core community, even if most Cores don’t realize it.

“You see, centuries ago, us Dungeon Fairies were more enthusiastic about our jobs; as a result, we were inclined to share every little piece of information if it helped our charges make decisions on how to become more powerful.  This included our knowledge of the Advancement system and how it could be used to significantly increase the power of a Dungeon Core.  And it was this information that allowed Wester to almost destroy the Gnomish race.

“I was never quite sure why Wester wasn’t as addle-minded as the majority of the other Cores, but after hearing your story, I suspect it was because he had access to four of the major elements.  Regardless of the reason, using the Advancements available to him, he was able to shrewdly use them to him to unlock monsters from a variety of different Classifications, though he never hybridized from his original Dragonling Classification.

“I won’t bore you with the details, but by the end of his reign of terror, Wester had advanced his original Classification to be able to create giant Dragons; with his proclivities with different elements, he was able to make various Elemental Dragons that laid waste to a good portion of the Gnomish landscape.”

And then the Elves, Dwarves, and Orcish peoples helped to destroy him?  Sandra remembered the Fairy mentioning that weeks ago.

“Yes, because they knew if they didn’t act soon, they’d likely be next.  After a bloody war that lasted of nearly a year of constant battles against massive dragons, the Creator put an amendment in the Dungeon Fairies’ contracts that forbid us from mentioning the Advancement system unless directly asked about it.  The Creator also took out the knowledge of its existence from the Cores themselves, though if any of them did what you just did, they would still find it available.  Fortunately, none of them could change their Classification before, so 99% of the dungeons in the world haven’t been curious enough to investigate its existence.”

Both were silent for a nearly a minute, before Sandra asked, Ok…I could understand that…a little, at least.  But why didn’t the Creator just get rid of the Advancements if it led to such overwhelming devastation for one of the races?

Winxa looked at Sandra’s Core with an expression that said, “You should know the answer to that.”  And, after a second’s contemplation, she did.

Ah…because that would be “destruction” and the Creator is all about “creating”.  I get it.

“Absolutely.  Now, I could explain the whole Advancement system in more detail, but it will be faster and easier if you take a look at it yourself.  One thing I will tell you is that you won’t be able to fully utilize it until you are quite a bit bigger, but you’ll at least be able to see what is possible.  I’ll be here if you have any other questions.”

Fair