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

who was looking at him like he was crazy for speaking so openly to the Great One— “he is still a great Leader.  He cares for his Warriors as individuals, not just a way to amass power for himself.”  He shrugged again.  “However, I have to say that my knowledge on potential candidates is poor; there could be a better one out there, but in my opinion you can’t go wrong with Palzerk.”

A very reasonable and articulated recommendation for Furbrea’s choice.

* Then it’s settled; get ready to fly. *

“What?!  Oh no, I don’t think that’s necessary.”  Kelerim was suddenly looking even paler than usual.

 

* Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe.  Your ride should be arriving just about…now. *

Sandra had accumulated enough Mana from the Arachnid Queens – which were still constantly churning out new leaf-and-stick spiderlings – to create another Roc for them to use as transportation – though this one was a bit different due to Sandra’s increased Advancement Level.

High Peak Roc

 

Current Elemental Energy:

Air – 70000 energy

 

Special Ability:

Traveling Vortex: 20000 Air energy

Shattering Screech: 5000 Air energy

Sonic Dive: 2000 Air energy

Beak Extraction: 200 Air energy

Not only was it not called the Aerie Roc anymore – now a High Peak Roc – it also had more Air energy at its disposal, as well as a new “Traveling Vortex” Special Ability.  That was all on top of its different physical characteristics; it was now 150 feet long from beak to tail feathers (a 50% increase in size), 45 feet wide (again, a 50% increase in size), had a beak that was nearly translucent – like a cloudy diamond, and its talons were made from the same material.  All for a 28,000 Mana Cost, which was 8,750 more Mana than the previous incarnation.

Luckily, she had made a pair of extra harnesses when she had been outfitting the Rocs that had taken Violet, Felbar, Echo, and Gerold back to their respective capitals, in anticipation of needing to use them in the future.  Some quick work from a dozen of her Unstable Shapeshifters in Gerold’s form was enough to combine the two Leather harnesses together, as well as fitting it on the massive Roc.  The giant bird felt like it barely even fit in her Home room, but there was fortunately plenty of room for it to maneuver and squeeze out into the tunnel Sandra had built for that purpose.

Getting through the 50-foot-wide tunnel was a bit tougher, because with only 5 feet of clearance in width, running through the tunnel was a bit more complicated.  Luckily, its feathers were fairly durable, and even if they scraped along the sides, there wasn’t a single sign of damage to either the bird or the tunnel itself.

When it had emerged from the tunnel, Sandra couldn’t help but wonder what the new Roc’s “Traveling Vortex” was.  Instead of running it to her entrance where she was discussing potential candidates with Furbrea, she had it take off and use its new ability.

After activation, a pulse of energy seemed to flash out of the giant bird, before the energy seemed to explode about 500 feet in front of the Roc.  After the explosion, a massive flat-shaped vertical vortex of yellow-tinted swirling air appeared like a hole in the sky, large enough to swallow the Roc whole, even with its ginormous wingspan.  It didn’t take long for the Monster to fly through the “Vortex”, enveloping it completely until the Shears above, which she was using to watch, lost sight of the bird.

The sound of the Vortex collapsing reverberated through the air like a thunderclap as air rushed in to fill the void, almost deafeningly loud to Sandra’s Shears.  When she looked at what had happened, she saw the Vortex had collapsed to a pinpoint, the bird and everything else nowhere to be seen.  That didn’t last long, however, as the Vortex exploded open again, exactly where it was before, spitting out the Roc as if nothing had happened.  As soon as the last tailfeather emerged from the swirling mass of air, the Vortex collapsed again and disappeared completely.

Uh, Winxa?  What just happened?

She had to explain what she saw and heard, before the Dungeon Fairy was able to answer.  Not a very comprehensive answer, but it at least sent her in the right direction.  “I have no idea.  I’ve never heard of something like that before.  Though, I wonder…if this is for ‘traveling’, did you have a destination in mind?”

Sandra hadn’t, but she wasn’t sure why that would make a difference.  Whatever it was, the Dungeon Core didn’t have any more time to experiment, because she was just finishing up her conversation with Furbrea, Owchet, and Kelerim.  She landed the Roc just outside, where it waited patiently for the latter two to emerge from the workshop.

 

* Furbrea; I’m sending you back to Grongbak now, via the same way you arrived.  If things work out, it’s going to start getting busy out there.  I’ll try to keep you informed and supplied, but I can’t guarantee I’ll have everything set up before these dungeons attack again.  Thank you for your assistance through everything so far; we’ll get through this if we work together. *

“It is my pleasure and honor, Great One.”  The old Orc was still on her knees, and she bowed again with her head against the floor, before standing up and heading towards the Mechanical Jaguar Queen that had brought her to the dungeon in the first place.  As soon as she was settled, she sent it on its way, returning it to the hidden “stables” outside of the village, where she could get off and walk the short distance back to her village.

“You have got to be kidding me.  Is this thing bigger than the ones before?”

 

* Yes, it is.  Now, like I said, it’s perfectly safe, so let’s not