The Crafter's Darkness: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 4) by Jonathan Brooks (e book reading free txt) 📕

Quickly, Sandra created a Small Fire Elemental Orb and had one of her Unstable Shapeshifters quickly enchant it to convert it into a Small Fire Energy Orb.  Then, selecting the Goblin Foreman (as it was the least expensive non-construct Dungeon Monster she had), she used the Energy Orb as the Monster Seed.  As she hoped, the Foreman coalesced around the Orb and appeared normal.  It worked!

“What worked?” Winxa asked, looking at the Goblin Foreman in Sandra’s Home room underneath her Core.  “All I see is a Goblin.”

Yes, it’s a Goblin Foreman, but this one is using an Energy Orb as its Monster Seed.

“Huh.  I never thought of that before.  But does it work?”

I’m not sure.  Let me try something.

The Energy Orb that comprised the Seed inside of the Goblin wasn’t visible, but Sandra had a feeling it was still there…somewhere.  Looking at it closely, she could see that her Dungeon Monster was still at full Fire and Spirit energy and nothing was happening.  Therefore, she had the Goblin activate its Special Ability that increased its strength and speed for a limited time.  There was no visible reaction, but she saw both elemental energies available inside of the Goblin Foreman dip down 10 points each.  That didn’t last for long, though; the Spirit energy ticked up by one, as the natural regeneration from it being inside of her dungeon took effect.  The Fire energy, though…

The amount of Fire energy ticked up 1, then 2, then 4, then 16 – all in the matter of a second.  From there, it continued to increase exponentially, blasting through the maximum the Goblin could reasonably hold.  In less than 3 seconds, the Fire elemental energy had increased so much that the Goblin suddenly flashed and ignited on fire – from the inside – and exploded in a spectacular fashion, sending fragments of scorched bone, skin, and muscle in all directions.  It was only luck that it didn’t harm anything (her Core especially), as most of it was blocked by the Aerie Roc that was still inside of her Home room.  The massive bird seemed only slightly hurt by it even though it didn’t really react to the pain, but Sandra could plainly see that a sharp bone fragment had embedded itself underneath one of the Roc’s feathers.

That fragment quickly disappeared, along with the rest of the blood and viscera from the exploded Goblin Foreman as it dissolved and left behind…nothing.  There was no Monster seed left behind, as it appeared as though it had been entirely consumed by whatever it had done.

“Umm…that was unexpected.”

You’re telling me.  Sandra had trouble even processing what happened.  I think that, as soon as the process of refilling its Fire energy started, it couldn’t stop – almost like what happens when there isn’t a Limiter rune on enchantments I try to power using the Energy Orbs.  I’m not sure why making this a part of them would make a difference, because my Dungeon Monsters can certainly use them externally to refill their elemental energy.  So, unless I can somehow put a Limiter rune on there with an extra Spirit Energy Orb, I’m not sure if this will work.

Another quick experiment with a single Spirit Energy Orb and another Goblin Foreman produced similar results, though not nearly as explosive.  Instead of blowing up with explosive force, the Spirit energy built up to the point where the Goblin swelled up like an expanding bubble before it popped and deflated with greyish energy leaking out of all its orifices.  Somehow, despite not sending blood and guts everywhere, the death of the Goblin in this method was more terrifying.

The Dungeon Fairy looked sick.  “Ok…so, I’m thinking that isn’t going to work.  I also think I’m going to have to ask you to stop doing that in here, or I might have to leave.”

Don’t worry, that’s all the experiments I’m planning on doing right now.  Until I figure this out, I don’t think this is a viable method.  I’ll break the bad news to Chryla.

“Thanks, Sandra; that was one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen – and I’ve seen a lot.”

All told, the experiments only took about 5 minutes to complete, so Sandra found the Elven Ranger still where she had left her – though now she was petting the neck of the Wyvine fondly.

* Ok…so that really didn’t work.  It looks like it’ll have to be separate Fire and Nether Energy Orbs until I can figure it out. *

“What happened?” Chryla asked after visibly twitching at the return of Sandra’s voice.

* Suffice it to say that you’d probably be better off not knowing.  I should have some more Wyvines for the rest of the Rangers soon, now that we know that they will work for you.  Eventually, I envision each of you having more than one, making all of you capable of handling almost anything by yourselves. *

“More than one?  I can see that being highly beneficial,” Chryla said, before smiling and taking off further into the forest with her new companion running along with her.  “Just…don’t try to scare any of the other Rangers when you deliver the new Wyvines, because I can just see one of the others making it a pincushion before you can explain its presence there.”

* Yes, probably not a good idea and a waste of Mana.  Good luck and be safe; don’t take unnecessary risks, even if you have some extra help now.  And remember, your new assistant there is replaceable; you are not. *

Chryla looked a little offended at that.  “I wouldn’t let anything happen to my Foofoo Kitty here.  No I won’t, huh, little guy?” she asked in a sickly-sweet voice as she petted the side of the Wyvine as it ran next to her.  The fact that she was calling the large Shadow Beast