Chương 100

-0-0-0-0-0- The Dungeon, Atlantis, The Kalenic Sea -0-0-0-0-0- 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. -0-0-0-0-0- Layla's Office, The Guild Hall, Atlantis -0-0-0-0-0-"Thank you, Voice, for taking time out of your busy day to meet with me," Layla began when the monster entered the room.

The unnaturally graceful Child nodded and sat on the comfortable chair Felin had brought in for this meeting.

"It's no trouble at all. I assume there is a reason we couldn't have this meeting in my office?" Voice of The Creator asked, one eyebrow raised.

"While I am confident in the privacy enchantment on my office, I am not so confident in your own. I assume you haven't had your own enchantment placed since taking over for Mr Medean?" Layla enquired. The Voice frowned slightly and pursed her lips. The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"I have not. Is the existing enchantment not adequate?" The Child asked. Layla scoffed.

"The man was greedy. He paid for the cheapest enchantment he could. It only muffles voices within the room. Someone with their ear against the door could overcome that." The Voice nodded, still frowning.

"I'll get on that ASAP. I don't like the idea that my private space isn't private." Lyla couldn't help asking a question at the odd word.

"ASAP? I've never heard that word. What language is it?" The Voice blinked, then sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"It's an acronym meaning 'as soon as possible.' I was going to ask The Creator to enchant the room after this meeting, but we've caught His attention, and He is apparently dealing with it now. Need to get a handle on that bleeding effect..." That last sentence was said quietly, and Layla noted the term for later investigation.

"Well, If you give me a second, I'll activate my privacy enchantment, and we can get on with the meeting."

"By all means." Layla touched the wardstone on her desk and watched as the mana woven throughout the walls of her office brightened and became opaque. All the hustle and bustle of the Guild and the birdsong beyond the window faded from her hearing.

"Well, this is our first official meeting after your... ascension?" Layla began, trying out the word. It didn't feel quite right.

"What would be the term to use for one of your position?"

"I believe 'appointment' would be the most appropriate," Voice answered after a moment of thought.

"And yes, it is. I must apologize for how We ran roughshod over you during and after the invasion. We could have acted with a touch more... diplomacy." Layla blinked. The way she'd begun using 'We' halfway through her sentence and her connection to the dungeon brightening painted a picture...

"I accept your apology but insist you do not overly blame yourselves. The situation changed, and you took the opportunity to secure your existence. I assume I'm speaking to The Creator and His Voice?"

"You are," Voice confirmed.

"He is listening closely." Layla nodded confidently, took a breath, and began.

"We have a few things to discuss today. One, The tariffs Duke Medean has levied against goods from Med- Atlantis." Before Layla could continue, Voice waved a clawed hand dismissively.

"Not an issue. While they might be the closest port to us on the mainland, we can send the goods through Kolchiss instead. It's only a few more days sailing north."

"Ah, yes. I heard Lady Kolchiss retook her maiden name. And what of the rumor she has been seen in your presence?"

"I needed a steward, one more experienced with ruling than I. With a bonified Lady at my court, one whose father rules their own independent dukedom after the Phenoc's shattering, why wouldn't I employ her?" Layla nodded. That made sense.

"And when the time comes for her to give birth? The babe will be the heir of both Medean and Kolchiss," She observed, to which Voice smiled.

"I have a Child interested in administration shadowing her," Voice admitted.

"She can teach them all she knows, and when the time comes, she can take leave to have and raise her child." Layla nodded. The rest of her reasons went unsaid. If the babe happened to grow up on Atlantis and later inherited two dukedoms... Their decisions were their own.

"The second thing to discuss is about the Children on the surface," Layla said, returning to her list.

"I've had dozens of complaints from Humans and Children both about trade, mostly about the Children attempting to use Talons as currency and the humans not understanding what a Talon is worth." 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." -0-0-0-0-0- Experimental Chambers, The Seventh Floor, The Dungeon -0-0-0-0-0- 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. -0-0-0-0-0-