Worthy Core

Xenia grimaces as she brushes off the effects of the Dragonlord's revelation - or at least the physical aspect of it. Given that an illusory toga was probably doing nothing to hide the magical energies of an equally illusory dungeon core, the wave of energy she just felt must have been an artificial effect created by the Dragonlord specifically for the reveal. Well, she can't blame them for their sense of dramatic presentation, at least. Fortunately, there's still many other things she can blame them for.

"So you got an avatar that impersonates the old Dragonlord? Sneaky, I guess - though I'm kinda curious how you managed to leave this 'home' of yours and still stay active. I got yoinked once and it was naptime for Xenia pretty much immediately."

The revealed dungeon shakes their head at her, however. "Not an avatar, and not an impersonation - although this body is the answer to your question. Few know the tale of my current form, perhaps you'd be willing to join that number?"

Xenia has to admit, she is pretty curious about the mechanics of it. After all...if one dungeon can gain a body and walk around, why not her? But she's not about to help inflate the opposing dungeon's ego any more than it already is if she can help it. "Eh, sure, why not. Been a while since I've heard a good villain monologue. Lay that origin story on me, pal."

The villain scoffs, although there's a trace of amusement in it. "Very well. You see, when the colonizers from other lands began to settle this continent, the former Dragonlord was in a very poor position. Their followers - the kobolds, the slimes, and the few draconics - almost uniformly lived in the south of the continent. It was months before the Dragonlord even became aware of the newcomers' presence and scale, and months more before they were able to assemble an army in response. By time that happened, their home - your current residence, the so-called 'Triple Peak Mountain' - was dangerously exposed. When battlelines were drawn the mountain was beyond them. The Dragonlord, of course, was mobile. The Great Dungeon, however, whom they had settled atop as an abode, was not. And dragons are always so very loathe to allow others to take their treasures."

Xenia spawns herself a comfortable chair, taking a seat in it as she settles in for a long story. "So the Dragonlord figured out a way to move you to another cave or something, then?"

"Actually, it was I who devised the solution." The Dragonlord begins to pace, apparently unconcerned that they lack a seat of their own. "Dungeon cores require a great deal of mana to sustain. The gods deal with this by typically placing them in areas that are naturally high in magical energy, and then providing them with the tools to naturally tap into those reserves. However, there was another source of magical energy at hand, and one which was not confined to a single location." The tyrant grins triumphantly. "The body of the world's most powerful dragon!"

"You...hold on, now." Xenia leans forward, her right eye twitching. "You actually talked a dragon into sticking you into their chest!? This avatar of yours ain't just for show?"

"Indeed! There were promising hints of a powerful symbiosis, after all. A dragon with the power of a dungeon core at their command...and I am not your typical core, no. Younger cores have had many restraints placed upon them by the gods, specifically to prevent them from doing some of the things which I had done. However, there were...some unfortunate complications."

"Noooooo, really? Sticking a magic rock into someone's chest? Can't see how that could go wrong."

"Well, it did solve the immediate issue of mobility." The Dragonlord takes a deep breath before continuing. "There is the problematic matter of my domain. I was ripped from my floors, my borders, my core chamber, and placed into a mortal body. And while I was able to tap into the dragon's energy reserves in order to remain alive, in the process...their body became my dungeon."

Guy had been remaining rather silent for the entire conversation so far, floating by Xenia's side, but this proves too much for the guide. "What would that even mean? Do you use the dragon's body to...to spawn monsters?"

"Ha!" They laugh loudly at that, as if Guy had told a joke. "No, if I wanted to spawn powerful offspring, a dragon's normal anatomy is more than capable of that. No, I did not use it to create life. But I could use it to modify the Dragonlord's body. Something I avoided doing for a long time, mind you." This time their good humor fades away, and the dungeon master sighs. "Sadly, despite all of their physical and magical power, I had bound myself to a host that was quite simply incompetent. At least for the task at hand. Ruling a small number of kobolds and draconics who worship you like a god? Child's play. Combating a swarm of refugees and colonists numbering first in the tens and then the hundreds of thousands? They were utterly unsuited for the challenge before them."

Xenia sucks in a breath, worried that she already knows the answer to her next question. "So what did you do about it?"

A faint smile returns to reptilian lips. "Why...I changed the Dragonlord's mind."

Guy shudders as much as their screen-like form can manage. "...Monstrous."

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"It was painless for them, I can say that. A few neurons here, a few neurons there. A dose of hormones when needed. At first it was simply altering their mood - calming them when they were acting impulsive, enraging them when they were ignoring an important threat. But eventually, so gradually that it's hard for even me to say when - there was nothing left but myself. Myself, and my will. And one remaining problem."

"Pfft." Xenia snorts. "Having a super-dragon body wasn't enough for you?"

"It literally was not, I'm afraid. For when I inherited the Dragonlord's body, I inherited everything they owned. My borders were no longer a single body, but the entire Domain of the Dragonlord. ...And the Domain is broken."

"Well you've been running it for like a century now, buddy. Sounds like a you-problem."

"No, you misunderstand, reincarnator." The Dragonlord's eyes meet Xenia's. "A dragon does not give up ownership of their property. Ever. The true Domain of the Dragonlord is the entire continent. However, magically...so long as it is claimed by those who do not swear fealty to me, two-thirds of it do not properly register as my territory. A complicated mixture of the magic governing dragons and dungeon cores, it seems. My...power as a dungeon core does not properly function the way it should."

Xenia thinks through that for a moment, and her face falls. "...Hold on, now. What...what happens if you do manage to take charge of the entire New Continent?"

This time the Dragonlord's toothy smile is far from friendly. "I see you can imagine it. I would, in effect, become the god of this continent. Able to reshape its features at a whim. Spawning defenders wherever required, slaying wild monsters wherever they lurk. Generating riches beyond compare for all who serve me."

"...And for those who don't serve you?"

The would-be god harrumphs. "I understand that the Old Continents are far less chaotic now than they were when the colonists first fled here. Numerous ships now exist which could carry their descendants home."

Guy prods them with another question. "And what of other dungeons? Like our own, for example? Surely you cannot intend for Xenia to somehow move to another continent!"

"If I did, we would not even be having this conversation. No, so long as a dungeon swears fealty to me, then my Domain is secured. In return I can offer power and resources a dungeon would never be able to acquire on its own, or which would require the efforts of a millennia. And as a dungeon placed atop my former abode, reincarnator, you are of particular interest to me."

That doesn't sound particularly positive, but Xenia works to keep a calm expression. "Oh? Not gonna ask me to move out? Or gonna make me start paying rent?"

"Neither. While I do not need my former residence, relocating back to it would be a significant boon to me. I would have the power of a great dragon, and once again be able to access my old reserves as well. However, having two dungeons with connecting borders is...a unique situation. It has never occurred before, to my knowledge. I believe, however, that it would allow for a greatly positive symbiotic relationship. A sharing of resources, double the growth, allowing for expansion beyond compare. Triple Peak Mountain was the Dragonlord's former capital, but that was in name only - none but the dragon and their closest servants actually lived there. Under our joint rule, the mountain would become a true capital, a jewel outshining the world itself."

"Yeeeaaaaah...except you just told me what you did to the last person you had a 'symbiotic' relationship with." Xenia rises from her chair and approaches the Great Dungeon, arms crossed. "What, I become your 'Dragon Queen' for a few decades until you figure out how to worm your way into my core and take everything I have for yourself? Doesn't sound like a great deal to me."

The dragon halts their slow pacing, turning to face towards Xenia. "A valid concern, I will admit. Paranoia is a respectable trait when the threats arrayed against you are real. I am prepared to take a...carrot-and-stick approach to this matter, however."

The reincarnator narrows her eyes. "Ain't liking the sound of that much."

"I will reclaim this continent and my former home, with or without your assistance. If you stand against me, it will not go well for you. However, I am willing to send you a...peace offering as well. In fact, I have the ideal messenger in mind for the task."

"Well, a lady does like presents. But it's not like you're actually here to whack me with that stick of yours. You haven't reclaimed this continent in centuries, and in another hundred years I doubt you'll even have much to offer me."

To her annoyance, the opposing dungeon laughs loudly at her comment. "A century!? Aha! No, no...in fact, the time has come even sooner than I foresaw, it seems. My plan was to strike this winter, you know. The northern part of the continent would have been paralyzed by snow, allowing me to claim the center before the Rainlands or Valleylands could fully react. But Highlight Mountain's...foolishness has accelerated matters beyond my wishes. But not beyond my capability to adapt. No...I believe we will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face sooner than you might expect."

Xenia takes a deep breath. "...And if I warn folks about all this? The Association? The local nobles, and shit?"

"Do as you will. I do not need to belabor how I shall respond. But consider your actions wisely, Reincarnator Extraordinaire. It would be a shame to send you on to your next world after such a short stay. Until next time...I believe I have said all I need to say. Farewell."

Before Xenia can respond the connection closes, and the image of the dragon-wearing Great Dungeon disappears. Cursing, Xenia turns to face Guy. "...Fuck!"

"...Fuck indeed, ma'am. Any thought on how we should, ah...approach this matter?"

"...You know, I actually figure there's a, like...two-in-three chance they're telling the truth about working together. And if we were physically linked into the powers of a god, that would be huge for us. As long as they keep their word, we'd probably be immortal, just about." Xenia shakes her head. "But...even if they've been good for the demons, and the kobolds and so on, I still don't trust them to be good for everybody. Especially those who don't come with a hero-worship attitude going on. And...I've ruled one Fallen Tower already. I'm not doing that again."

"So how should we proceed?"

Xenia taps her chin for a moment before looking back at the hovering guide. "Call in...Taly, Deylia, Opal, and...Trush. We'll do an all-hands meeting later, but first things first?"

Xenia's eyes grow hard. "We need to send out a few messages."