Dungeon Core Online

Chapter 8

"So, quick question Rue." The two were flipping through the Dungeon Creator screen for what felt like the hundredth time. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the clock counting down. They had less than 18 hours remaining, before the adventurers could enter the game. So far, all the dungeon had was the basic room.

"What is it?" For the past few hours, they had been brainstorming countless layouts and possibilities for the dungeon. How many rooms it should have, what the hallways should be like, how they should modify it. However, no matter what they thought of, James always hesitated, and changed his mind. He was limited on resources, he couldn't afford to commit to a dungeon layout he wouldn't like.

"Does my first floor actually need to have multiple rooms?" He had been slowly mulling over an idea as he flipped through the Dungeon Creator options, eying all the possibilities before him. If he had to be honest, his Mad Cow mob had also helped inspire him. After he got over the initial anger of his misfortunate mob types, his mind had reminded him that this wasn't the first time he had come across demonic cows in a game.

A couple months ago, during a lull in action in Warcraft Universe, James had started looking into old school games. One such game he came across, which he had spent a few nights playing, was called Diablo, specifically its second version, Diablo II. He had decided to play it after reading a few forum posts calling back to what people were claiming was a golden age of PC gaming, and because it created by the same company that had put out Warcraft Universe. What's more, James had managed to find a 25th anniversary version of Diablo II, which had been remastered with much better graphics.

After lovingly conquering the game in solo mode, playing as a necromancer, he had dived deeper into the forums on the game, looking for fun things to do. One such thing he came across, was simply referred to as the Cow level. After following the instructions outlined in the guide, which involved combining a wooden leg with a magical tome in a certain area, he had opened a portal into a literally cow level. This cow level was filled with bipedal cows wielding polearms, and a boss known as The Cow King.

While James doubted his Mad Cows would be anything like those mobs, the level design had sparked an idea in his mind. An idea that he needed Rue's approval on to initiate.

"Well dungeons usually have floors filled with various rooms and paths, right?" Rue was staring at him, observing him. For once, James was pretty sure she didn't have any idea where he was going with his thought process.

"But, they don't have to, right?"

She shook her head. "Well, no. As long as they have mobs and a boss mob-"

"-thanks." He cut her off, turning back to the Dungeon Creator. As much as he wanted to ask her about boss mobs, something that hadn't yet been described to him, he wanted to see if he could create a basic layout for his floor first. Especially because if he didn't act now, he knew he would start doubting himself, and wouldn't act at all.

"What are you doing?" She whispered as she watched him flipping violently through the Dungeon Creator, while simultaneously tearing away large expanses of dirt and earth.

"Creating my first floor." James responded nonchalantly, as he continued to create a large, empty cavern, even destroying the walls of his basic room that he had created, to connect it all. In his mind, he could imagine it. Players opening that small door, expecting to lead finally into a dungeon, but instead being met with a massive open expanse. It was simple, it was unique, and it was brilliant.

"You know mobs can't be summoned in areas that haven't been created by resources."

"Oh, I know." James had already taken that into account, and had a plan for it. He had found the solution to that problem as he poked around on the Dungeon Creator over the last few hours. Next to the option that allowed him to simply devour and destroy things for free, was a tool that said influence. After focusing on it, he had found details on it, which said he could use the tool to consume resources and essentially add 'influence' to any given area. That influence, if he was a betting man, was what was actually needed for a mob to be created in an area.

"So, what are you going to do?" For an AI, Rue was not following, was she?

"I'm going to use the influence tool, to add my influence to this expanse." He spoke as he finished creating his expanse, holding his breath as he choose his next tool.

"You're going to-" She paused as she observed the expanse he had created, and then looked at the tool he had selected. A smile spread slowly across her face. "Oh, you're good." She said with a low growl, and for a second James faltered. Had she purred those words? Seriously, what cruel developer had given an AI such a personality, and then assigned her to a teenager. Sheesh.

"Well, we shall see." He started using the tool to draw out the area, watching as the resource cost ticked up. Not only did he want to use this entire expanse, but he also wanted to craft various buildings and add in environment to his first floor. He wasn't going to settle with just a large empty room. No, he was going to create an actual demonic farm.

As he brought the tool over the last bit of land, an empty expanse roughly 450 by 450 yards, he stared at his resources. It was going to cost him 900 resource points to add his influence to this expanse.

"That's a lot of resources." Rue whistled as she looked at the number. He had started the day with 1000 resources, spent 55 earlier on his door and basic room, leaving him with 945 points. After 3 hours of deliberation with Rue over how to make his dungeon, he had found himself back at 975 points. That meant, he would only have 75 points remaining if he choose to add his influence to this large expanse of space. With a little less than 18 hours before adventurers arrived, he would have, at max, 255 resource points to spend on improving his empty space, before people started entering his dungeon.

"We don't have a choice." He said with a sigh. It would be rough, it wouldn't be what he initially wanted, but for now, it was a start. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they always said. Without another thought, he spent the resources, watching as they drained, noting how the air in his expanse seemed to take on a charged feel.

"Well, you're committed now." Rue patted his crystal, before looking down at the massive expanse."So, what do you want to do next, oh wise and mighty dungeon core?"

"Next, let's fill this place with mobs, and go over how exactly I make a boss." She had mentioned boss mobs before, but never explained how he was going to make one. He figured after he populated his first floor, it would be a good time to create his boss. Especially since he had to wait for his resources to refill, before he added any more details to his floor.

"Sounds like fun."