Getting Stronger (1/2)

I actually don't remember how I got to bed. I passed out after reaching my main Cave Room. There's a hazy image of my minions rushing to my aid, led by a very concerned Sumire. I woke up with my head in her lap. My body was bandaged up, almost top to bottom, the linen wraps soaked in crimson. Apparently the young woman had refused to leave my side all night and kept praying to Trishda to aid her as she took care of me with the assistance of her mother. I smiled as I saw her sleeping face looming over mine. The exhausted girl had fallen asleep just before I had awoken, as per my restless guardians who were also present. Fiona and her pack had remained in my Altar Room as well. All the slimes stood guard at the door and Fisher had reinforced the entrance with extra traps and silk! I was so lucky to have this.. In my previous life, my condition and life choices had turned me into a loner. It felt so refreshing to be surrounded by such care and support.

I lay there thinking about what happened. Replaying each moment in my mind and tried to find a path forward. My HP was still in the "red" as without my Cultivation I healed like a normal human.. or Arsani rather. I had to Tier up and maybe also reach Level 7. It was the only way I could measure up to that thing! I was a Dungeon Core not a Hero and I needed to start fighting like one. No more solo fights unless necessary. If I fought with my summons we could have each other's back. Sumire stirred after an hour or so. The girl almost shrieked when she saw me awake. I tried to smile and thank her but she smothered my head with a hug. "Lady Minoa! I'm so glad you're ok! What were you thinking!? You can't be reckless like this! We just found you.. Please, don't leave us like this..". There was true pain in her words and a tremble in her voice. I had been so stupid.. I took in these women in with the promise of a better life and then almost killed myself by taking unnecessary risks.

I still didn't know what would happen if my Avatar died. What if I needed weeks or even months to create a new one!? What if my consciousness were trapped inside my Core like a lesser Dungeon and I couldn't even communicate with Sumiré and Fatná? The young woman's watery eyes looked down at me, filling me with regret. I sat up next to her and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry.. I really am. I won't make the same mistake, I promise..".

I stood up and raised a hand to my monolith. By expending Mana, I caused Arsan hieroglyphs to appear at the bottom of the statue, creating my first entry on the structure. A name, a few shapes and date. "This day marks my close encounter with death and the rise of my two saviors. Your name and my Ooze are now part of this Dungeon's history." I said, sending a broad smile her way.

"My Lady, you honor me.. but.. um.." Sumiré answered with an emotional tone. I studied her expression, expecting to see her still crying and maybe a little relieved. The woman was actually flushed, cheeks of red and eyes wide looked at the ceiling and away from me. I looked around confused, trying to figure out what had caused her to become so embarrassed. "Oh.." I said with a dumb expression. Apparently as I stood up, my sheet had fallen off of me, revealing my fully naked body. "I see you had to remove all my armor.." I continued and the girl simply nodded while still avoiding my gaze. It's a good thing my bronze skin didn't really show how "red" I was with embarrassment. I quickly wrapped the sheet around me, ancient Hellenic style! "Forgive me Sumiré haha I could barely feel my body after the beating I took.. I hope I didn't scare you..".

"No.. NO!! Of course not my Lady! Don't apologize.. Y.. you are very beautiful.. I'm sorry I stared at your body! It won't happen again!"

"It's ok! Really.. You were taking care of me while I was unwell. There is nothing to forgive.."

After a small pause the young woman must have mustered up the courage to ask me something. She seemed troubled but the words refused to leave her mouth. "I'm so sorry my.. um.. Lord? It's just.. I.. I undressed you because I was sure that you were a woman!" she finally said and faced the ground, eyes shut out of fear of just having said something offensive. I smiled and walked close to her, taking her hands into mine. "I am.. I am a woman despite what you saw down there. I know its a little difficult to understand but it doesn't always define who we are. I see myself as a woman and it would make me happy if you could as well.. but.. it's ok if you cannot, I would under.."

"No my Lady! I will do as you ask! If this is how the Lady Minoa feels then I shall accept it." she answered with renewed composure. Her smile was so beautiful and innocent. Fatná and I had decided it would be best if Sumiré never learned about our.. "encounter". She respected her mother too much and she seemed to be developing a great admiration for me day after day. The truth of what happened between me and her mother could shake her faith in us. I wish I could have met a girl like this in my old life. Beautiful, caring, smart and resilient enough to remain positive after growing up in such a troubling environment. But who am I kidding.. Chances are, I met plenty of admirable women before I died but probably never had the courage to get to know them enough to appreciate them.

"My Lady.. I've seen men before.. you know.. at the Sheikh's mansion.. and.. well... Are they supposed to be that big?"

Huh... How do you explain to a girl this pure that the reason my junk was abnormally huge was because I was a little perv in my previous life? "Well.. no.. it just happened I guess. Luck of the draw, what can I say.." and I let out a very very awkward laugh.

"Well it is very impressive my Lady.." continued the girl and I wanted to shove my head in a hole.

"Um you know what? Why don't you go help your mother? I have to get back to meditating.." I said so I could get rid of her, although it was the truth weirdly. The agreeable girl bowed with a hand on her heart and asked if I needed anything before she left.

"Yes.. yes I do.. Do you girls know how to start a fire?"

• • •

[ Missed System notifications ]

[ Achievement unlocked. "Death's Door" You lived through an encounter with a superior force by a hair's breadth. 100 XP awarded. ]

[ Dungeon Manipulation skill has reached Rank 2. All basic Dungeon skills have reached Rank 2 or above. The Core can advance to its next Rank by Cultivating Aether for 8 hours ]

[ New Passive Skill unlocked! "Minor Regeneration (Rank 1)". from recovering after almost dying. You gain 1 HP every 10 minutes even when not resting. 50 XP awarded. ]

[ You have assimilated a new Beast species in your Dungeon. "Acamar Pale Bat" was destroyed and assimilated upon entering your domain ]

[ Three of your ranked summons have gained Levels. 1) Coyote B Lv.6 -> Lv.7, 2) Amber Jelly E Lv.4 -> Lv.5, 3) Dire Cave Fisher A Lv.5 -> Lv.6. ]

I read the notifications carefully one by one, just so I wouldn't miss anything. I checked my body and realized that, even though it was slow, it was truly patching itself up at a faster rate than what would normally be possible. Having thought of some ideas on how to proceed, I decided there was no reason to delay. Meditation would have to come first. Cultivating Aether would heal me completely and give me the necessary Mana and Aether points in order to grow in strength. Not to mention that I was going to Tier up as well during that time. I sat by my monolith and the warmth of my pool of hot water. Still having an extra Attribute point I thought it best to invest in my Magic once more. I needed the extra magical power, a strong body wouldn't get me out of this one..

With a Magic score of 8 I should be able to gather 1.9 times the Mana in the same time. My heightened sense of Mana manipulation kicked in and I could immediately feel a small difference in how easily I could draw Aether in. It was intoxicating honestly. All this power at the tips of my fingers.. Gathering it, shaping and repurposing it.. I completely lost sense of time. What seemed like minutes to me was actually a few hours when I checked my internal clock. "Just a bit more.." I said to myself. Suddenly a huge portion of my power was sapped away from me, leaving a void in its space, bigger than it was originally. I was confused and frustrated! But.. I could get it back! I redoubled my efforts, caught on to multiple strands of Aether at once and used every technique I had developed thus far in order to, more efficiently, gather in the exotic energy and transmute it. When I was satisfied, I looked at my clock and winced.. Fourteen hours.. it had been fourteen hours.. I could hear distant echoes of concern, followed by light touching of my Avatar's body. It was time to return. Everyone was probably worried about me.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Race: Superior Dungeon Core Lv.6

Avatar: Arsani (Hermaphrodite)

Age: 29

HP: 105/105

MP: 203/56

XP: 192/400

Aether: 181

Gold: 178

Physical - 9 (Near Peak)

Mental - 3 (Average)

Social - 5 (Above Average)

Magic - 8 (Well Above Average)

Skills

1) Monster Summoning (Rank 2)

2) Dungeon Manipulation (Rank 2)

3) Aether Cultivation (Rank 3)

Passive Skills

1) Fire Resistance (Rank 1)

2) Natural Allure (Rank 1)

3) Minor Regeneration (Rank 1)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .