The Crafter's Dominion: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 5) by Jonathan Brooks (e ink epub reader .txt) 📕

Except that she hadn’t come back with any real good news, though the development of the Weapons of War would eventually help with the culling process.  If they lived long enough to make a difference, naturally.

The Journeyman Enchanter looked around the room, and she could see that Echo and Gerold hadn’t had as much luck as she had.  In fact, according to the update on the situation in the Dwarven lands, it sounded like they were the worst off of everyone, with a few dungeons already attacking their mountain strongholds.

“You’re saying that there’s nothing we can do?  That we should just give up?”  No one disputed what the Master Blacksmith was asking, but Violet – for one – couldn’t think of a way to stop the eventual destruction of all their lands.  There were obviously some local plans in place, maybe stretching out for a few dozen miles if what Sandra said about her influence was accurate, but the rest of their people were caught without the benefits of the benevolent Dungeon Core’s proximity.

Fortunately for their morale, Sandra wasn’t one to give up.

* Not in the slightest.  This was a sticking point in my mind when I was trying to figure out how to save as many people as possible, in fact.  Destroying more Cores was out of the question, because it would just make every other dungeon that much more dangerous.  Trying to contain a continually worsening situation, even with some added supplies, weapons, and Energy Orbs, seemed doomed to failure after hearing what was already happening in all your lands.  There had to be another way, I thought…and I believe I have discovered it. *

Violet was speechless, as was everyone else in the room, including the venerable Dwarf.  What did she discover?  The Enchanter was about to ask that out loud, when Sandra beat her to it.

* I was going to let the suspense grow dramatically, but it looks like I’m going to have to delay this whole revelation for a moment.  It seems as though some divine happenstance of the Creator has decided to intervene, instead. *

What does she mean by that?

* I hate to cut this short, but it seems our important guests have decided to wake up, all around the same time.  Would you all head back to your rooms and help me reassure them that they are safe before they try to rip my dungeon apart? Please? *

Violet was up and running before Sandra even finished talking.

Chapter 42

Sandra didn’t even attempt to talk to any of the Royalty just now waking up in her dungeon, because she really didn’t want to frighten them into trying to force their way out.  Especially the King and Queen of the Elves – those two frightened the Dungeon Core a little with how powerful they were with their affinity of so many different elements.  The only consolation at the moment was that they weren’t embedded with Energy Orbs and didn’t have any around them, so if they decided to cast a multitude of spells, they would run out of energy eventually.

Half of her dungeon might be destroyed in the process, but that was something that Sandra didn’t want to think about.  Besides, she could always fall back on taking control of anyone that got out of hand because of the Bond, but that was an extreme last resort.

Luckily, her constant monitoring of their important guests had paid off, as she was able to detect their awakening state before they became fully aware of their surroundings.  By the time they were up and looking for a way out, Violet, Echo, Gerold, and Jespin were all there to help reassure them that they were safe.

The easiest of the awakenings was Princess Celeste with Violet to help the Royal Gnome adjust to her surroundings.  Despite the strange environment, as well as the frightening additions to her palms, the Princess was more curious than anything.

“So, this is the dungeon you were talking about?”

“Yes, your Highness.  I can show you around later, including the Enchantment Repository Room—”

The Princess just waved Violet off, though she stopped as she stared at the Energy Orbs embedded in her palms with fascination.  “That’s not what I’m interested in the most, as you can probably guess, Violet.  I want to see some of these constructs you mentioned, as well as these Deep Divers that were constructed, if it’s not too much trouble.”

Contrary to the disposition of the Gnomes she had met before, Princess Celeste seemed more martial than Sandra was expecting.  The Dungeon Core got the impression that the Royal Gnome didn’t seem as focused on Enchanting for Enchanting’s sake, but as a means to an end.  That end being the death of Dungeon Monsters, naturally.

* I only have the one Deep Diver right now, your Highness.  I made it for Gerold, as he had lost his Shieldman armor, and it has been a great help. *

“Who is that?  What is in my head?”

* Sorry about that.  This is Sandra, your friendly local Dungeon Core, at your service. *

“Sandra, huh?  Nice to meet you,” the Princess mentioned, seemingly offhandedly.  The Gnome didn’t seem either suspicious or curious that she was talking to a dungeon, of all things, unlike most that she had the fortune to meet.  “Was it you that I need to thank for fixing me all up?”

* While it was my Repair Drones that helped to heal your rather severe injuries, you really should be thanking Violet for bringing you all this way on her own. *

“Oh?  Well, thank you, Violet.  You have my eternal gratitude.  I know that if my…father were here, he would grant you a boon of whatever you desired.  So, you name it, and I’ll do what I can to provide it to you.”

The Journeyman Enchanter just blushed and stammered “you’re welcome”, while at the same