CHAPTER 127

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The Creator, Atlantis, The Kalenic Sea

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Instinct's body was ready, lying inside its rotunda beside the dungeon soul's monster core.

I was going over last-minute checks as Huea rode Wave up to the Core Island. The body still had its soul, but it was a small, simple thing without any mental expansion or development. It had enough brainpower to run its body but not much else. Even without input from me, it was in a coma-like state. As soon as Instincts was in there, I'd bring that up to its proper size.

As a precaution, Instinct's body was young, barely a juvenile. I wanted it to have some kind of childhood rather than throwing it immediately into adulthood.

Wave and Taura arrived, landing gently on the edge of the island. They approached Instinct's rotunda cautiously, eyes skyward as they examined the whirling accretion disk above them. I wasn't stupid; of course, the amphitheater my core resided within was higher than the rest of the island. Instinct's rotunda was actually on the lowest part, and it was only a little stifling to stand there, from what Wave could feel.

As the only living being to push through my disk to reach my core... His sense of what was stifling and oppressive was obviously warped, given how both Taura and Huea hunched their shoulders. I stood from where I knelt by the body, and my Avatar turned to greet them as they arrived.

"Welcome to Core Island, my Children. Thank you for agreeing to aid me, Huea." Wave and Taura nodded their large heads in my direction but remained at a distance as Huea approached further

"Of course, Creator," Huea answered with a respectful nod, though her eyes were still fixed on the body. "This is...?"

"The body. Alive, its existing soul is weak and should be easily displaced for Instincts'," I answered, waving at the stand at the center of the rotunda.

"Instincts... this is the 'child' Paragon told us of?" Huea asked, approaching but not touching the core. Her eyes glimmered with stars as she activated her manavision to observe the soul within.

"Ah. Yes, this is that soul," I answered, uncomfortable. Huea obviously picked up on his, raising an eyebrow in my direction. "It's... not actually my child. As far as I can tell, this soul and my own came into being together, and it was only when it disagreed with my decisions that we came into conflict. All my focus was necessary to keep the stalemate. That was why I became... unresponsive, and Wave needed to deliver this core. It was obvious we could no longer coexist within the same core. However, I suspect we could have existed in that state indefinitely if we'd remained of the same mind."

"Twin souls, then. Fascinating," Huea answered, circling the core. "Two souls within one core, in a stable state. I have tried such a thing in my experiments, and the subjects always kill themselves within minutes. The conflict between them is too great. In an effort to 'attack' the other, they take control of parts of the body and strike parts under the other's control. I stopped when I could make no progress, but perhaps... with more compatible souls... or one simpler and one more complex..."

"Remember your limits," I reminded her, referencing how she was only allowed to perform so much Death magic at a time to minimize mental corruption. She nodded, distracted.

"Of course, Creator. I advise we introduce 'Instincts' into the body's core first, and then it can expel the other soul into this core. Can I keep it afterward? Having a simple soul like this to experiment with would be most useful."

"Sure. It's a better idea than mine, at least," I answered. With my original plan being killing the body, then

introducing the instincts... I hadn't exactly planned for a spare soul in the equation. "And less likely to have... complications."

"With this method, I shouldn't even need to bind the soul to the body," Huea theorized, claw running along the body's golden scales. "Instincts will be able to take over the existing connections, rather than need to have new ones made for it."

"Even so, be ready in case it becomes necessary," I replied, my Avatar taking an unnecessary breath. "Let me tell Instincts of the plan, and we can begin." I moved to the pedestal, the light within brightening as I drew closer.

My bony fingers held Instinct's core and lifted as the obsidian fingers that held it in place relinquished it. I pushed a mana tendril down the arm and into the core, connecting to it.

We're ready. Soon, I will place this core against your new body's core. You must move into the body's core, usurp control of the body, and push the body's soul into this core.

Yes yes. Ready. I want my body!

I chuckled. I know, buddy. Here we go. I pulled the tendril away and turned to face the body. As my Avatar knelt next to Huea, I warped the body's flesh, pulling it back to open the chest cavity and expose the body's heart and core.

I gently reached in and touched the two cores together. The core in my hand dimmed as Instinct surged into the body. For a minute, there was no change except for two lights within the body's core. Then, the core in my hand brightened again. A questioning tendril confirmed.

This was the simple soul of the body, not Instincts.

I stood back, knitting flesh back together and performing the finishing touches as I handed the core to Huea. It certainly looked stable. A glance confirmed that Instincts was still within the body's core, and, crucially, it was alive despite losing its original soul.

I expanded the body's brain to the size and capacity it should've had to begin with, giving Instinct's new body one final look-over.

The scales gleamed in the afternoon sun, a bronzed gold with lighter scales on the belly and inner parts of the legs. Two wings sat nestled at its sides, with its four legs curled up beneath it. Its feet had five long, clawed toes each, and all were fully capable of acting like a hand. The tail was long and, unlike Wave and Taura, was bare of any fins. At its end rested a sharp-bladed head modeled after a spiny, irritable dragon I remembered from my previous life.

Yes, with the definition and shape of its face, horns, teeth, and all... this was no Wyvern. This was the first True Dragon. Honestly, once Instinct got the idea, I couldn't convince it otherwise.

And yes, It was still an it. It had no genitalia. It was genderless. If instincts developed masculine or feminine traits, I'd ask if they wanted their body altered to reflect that. Until then, though, I thought it best not to flood a formerly bodiless being with hormones and urges entirely alien to its previous existence.

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Instincts stirred, blinking languidly as it roused to consciousness for the first time. It worked its jaw, spread its wings, and stretched every part of it that could stretch, then stood unsteadily on its legs. Thankfully, there were still some -hah- instincts in the body it could lean on to move about. Instincts looked around wide-eyed, taking in everything in and outside the rotunda. When its gaze rested on my Avatar, I saw them freeze.

"H... Hello?" Instincts said, a hesitance in their voice it had lacked as merely a soul. As intended, their voice was androgynous and could be mistaken for either male or female.

"Hello, little one," I answered, stepping forward. I stopped when I stood before them, our eyes locking, resting at the same height. "Is the body to your liking?"

"I..," Instincts was still hesitant. "You know me... I feel like I know you. But I... can't... remember?"

I immediately understood what they meant. "Ah... I understand. Yes, we do know each other. We existed together as souls, and you asked me to make you a body. It seems we didn't account for any wetware issues. Your soul remembers me, but your mind is a clean slate."

"Made me?" Instincts muttered. Hmm. I'd need to ask them if they wanted a new name. "Are you... my... Mother?"

I blinked, nonplussed. "Technically, I suppose. I shaped your body, and by introducing your soul to it, I gave you life. I didn't birth you and didn't create your soul as far as I know, but then again, most mothers don't form their children's souls. For the record, I consider myself male, even if I'm a genderless gemstone."

Instincts blinked at me, shifting slightly. Then they nodded. "Mother."

I sighed, and Huea giggled. We both turned to look at her, and she covered her mouth. I could see the smile she was hiding; her snout was far too large to hide it behind a single claw.

"Oh, shut up."

"Yes, Mother."

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The Minotaur Village, The Tenth Floor, The Dungeon

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Ossydus took in the view of the village. He'd seen Towers-Over-Others at the Scorpan village yesterday, and The Scorpan had apologized profusely for leaving him behind. Ossydus had assured him there was no blame to be had. If anyone was responsible for him being left behind, it was Ossydus himself.

That morning, he'd entered the Scorpan Citadel and paid respect to the Scorpan King, Strikes-The-Air. After that, he'd passed through the First Temple and was soon on the path through the Tenth. The road was good; the stones were recessed, and the gaps were filled enough that he felt no discomfort, unlike Blackwater Bay. That place had been hell on his hooves. He'd heard that hooved beasts called Horses wore metal 'shoes' to protect their hooves in cities.

Ossydus didn't like the idea of a metal boot like the humans wore, though, and didn't understand how it'd even work, so he refrained from asking further.

At the end of the short path, two smaller dirt paths wound their way through the plains. To the left, between wheat and corn, the path led to the village. He ached at seeing the familiar gleaming grey walls. He'd missed his home, even with the wanderlust that'd gripped him when he heard Aston was leaving The Creator's lands entirely, not just the dungeon. What wonders would he find out there? He'd wondered. He smiled, remembering the humans he'd made friends with. Those four young ones, especially, and not just because they were the most recent.

Ossydus owed them a debt he'd be sure to repay. He thought about them and their oddities for a moment. While pretending to sleep on the ship, he'd heard three of them talk in another language while the fourth responded in Phenocian. And not just that, but the language was one he recognized, even if he couldn't fully understand it. It was the language of the Creator. He had no idea how those three could have known it, but they seemed to have some kind of blessing, like the one The Creator blessed His children with, to help them understand each other without problems.

Inevitably, his eyes turned to the right path, the one that led to the Eleventh. He'd never been there but decided he'd like to go. There was an ocean littered with islands, ripe for exploration—all without having to leave The Creator's lands again. He imagined himself building a home with Penne there, suddenly wistful. Ithca, he'd name their home. He wasn't sure where the name came from, but he liked it very much.

He took another deep breath and took the first step off the cobbled path.

Time to go find the girl of his dreams.

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Outside the Dungeon, Obsidian Beach, Atlantis

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Tamesou Akio stood on the black sand beach nervously, shifting in his armor as he spotted a group of adults approaching, two of which he recognized. The Guildmistress, her assistant -Felin, he'd learned was the man's name- and two tough-looking men.

The group of four had decided to stand by the black obelisk on the beach as the sun rose, hiding in its shade from the bright sunlight. Elize was with them, but not in armor. She was dressed in fine clothes that reminded Akio of what they'd found her in. Noble garments; made of silk and entirely unsuited to fight in. She was talking lowly with Sophie while Bruce idly played with a water sphere in his hand.

He was... "Is that a Rasengan?"Akio asked, recognizing the spinning motion Bruce was doing with the water.

"Yeah," Bruce answered, looking sheepish. "I had the thought last night. It was theoretically possible to do with all the elements, not just wind, but I don't think it was ever explored in that universe. That I know of. I might be wrong."

"I have no idea If it'll work or not," Akio answered. "I wasn't an otaku by any sense of the word. Too busy with Student Council work. Good idea, though." He briefly created a star of light on the end of a finger. "Who knows what kind of inspiration fiction holds." He cut off the spell. "Anyway. Look alive, guys. Guildmistress is on her way over here."

Akio pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. There was a feminine-sounding clearing of a throat behind him.

"I think you mean already here, " a familiar woman said.

He turned slowly. Yup. She was right there. Black dress, blindfold, white skin... holding a parasol, she tilted to protect the exposed skin of her neck and face from the sunlight.

"Ah, good morning!" Akio greeted, a sheepish grin on his face.

"Good morning," she said, waving at the two strange men. "With me are Bertram and Haythem." The men waved when the Guildmistress stated their names. "They'll be delving with you today. They're among the strongest guilders on the island and have reached the Eighth floor of the dungeon. When I heard they were looking for a few more members, I asked if they'd be willing to do some shallow delves for a while. They agreed to one delve to see how well they work with you."

"The Eighth? What's it like down there?" Sophie asked, stepping forward to stand beside Akio. "I know the guidebook said there were only eleven floors, but are they really that dangerous?

"Unlike anything you've probably seen before," Bertram answered. He was heavily armored, with a mace at his hip and a shield on his back. "Each floor is a world unto itself on the lower floors, getting larger and more complicated the further down you go."

"You've obviously got some experience with dungeons if you managed to make Gold at your ages," The other man, Haythem, continued. "Throw anything you think you know about dungeons away. All that junk is useless. You must always be aware if you want to survive delving into this dungeon. Not just of your surroundings but of openings, your footing, changes in air pressure, and most of all, your limits. We'll purchase a couple of Teleport Crystals from the Dungeon Vendor for you when we get there. Given we're only going down to the second floor, you shouldn't need them, but don't hesitate if you feel like your life is in danger."

He looked at them all, and Akio wondered what he'd gone through. The look in his eyes...

"Well? What are you standing around for?" The Guildmistress asked, "I've had you slotted in as the third party to enter. Off you trot."

The albino woman and her assistant left without further ado. Akio turned to Haythem and Bertram when he judged the woman far enough away.

"So, any rumors about what she is? Vampire of some kind, right?"

Haythem smirked, shaking his head. "Vampires don't exist, kid. That's just an old folk tale people told their kids to get them to behave. No, Layla Losat has a certain image she maintains. That's all. Either way, we've been told your names, but I don't know who's who."

"I'm Akio," Akio answered. "Light mage, trained with the sword and shield."

"Bruce, Water mage," Bruce said, showing off the ball of water he was still messing with.

"Sophie, Darkness mage, trained with daggers and shortswords," Sophie continued, making her shadow wave without moving her own hand.

"Elize, Untrained and not delving today," Elize finished, curtseying.

"Ah, it's good to meet a fellow light mage," Bertram stated, his eyes flaring briefly with light. "Not many of us around.

"We'll be in your care," Akio answered with a bow. A bell rang, and Akio turned to the dungeon as the line shortened.

"We should get a move on," Haythem said, already moving towards the dungeon. "That's the second group. We're third. C'mon, kids, keep up." Akio waved at Elize as the three teen heroes followed the men. Elize waved back, and Akio caught the look of sadness that crossed her face.

They'd have to make it up to her somehow.

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