Chapter 2: Answers

Have you calmed down yet?" The Core asks hesitantly

"I suppose so, maybe not having a body helped since my human brain isn't limiting my soul? But whatever, care to explain what's happening and how I got here?" I ask impatiently

"Yeah.. Well sit tight cause this is probably going to shock you more than the fact that you died. Actually, you can't sit… Sooo… Be quiet and listen I guess"

"I am a dungeon core, specifically an extremely high tiered one. Typically a core will not have sentience and will work in accordance with the realms laws. The Realm from what I have gathered from those that have entered my labyrinth is called 'Ena'. No one knows how vast the Realm is as those that have explored it have not returned, neither from danger nor due to not finding the limits. Those that have returned have not been successful in reaching the limits of this realm."

"The continent we are currently residing within is called 'Asteria'. My labyrinth encompasses the entirety of this continent and a bit of the ocean past that. As I said, I shouldn't have sentience but since I have devoured countless other dungeon cores and human souls that have ventured within; I have passively pieced together as much of them as I could and built a soul within my core and gained sentience."

"Do you know what sucks the most about that?" It asks.

"Dieing and getting stuck with you?" I sarcastically answer

"Rude… If it wasn't for me you would have had your soul purged in the river of spirits before your next reincarnation."

"Ok fine, then what? And how do you know about all that?"

"Being imprisoned…This dungeon is my body, my home, and sadly my prison. I cannot converse with sentient life and can only build, expand, and devour. With the limits of this continent reached It might be eons before I can grow enough to encroach on another continent to expand further. While this expansion might free me of my prison I cannot wait that long. Its already been thousands of years since I have gained full sentience and several eons since I have been generated by the Realms Will."

"Before you ask…Cause I know you will.. The Realms Will is not sentient, it's like a care-taker of the entirety of the realm. Everything it does is within certain limits and is only for the continued existence and prosperity of the realm itself. The more powerful existences that come to be can then assist its creator apparently… Though I have no clue who that is or anything beyond what I mentioned regarding the Realm's Will. Simply put you can think of it as a computer that analyzes and enacts certain procedures depending on events within the world. Such as a lack of conflict within a region will eventually generate a dungeon core to take on the role of the aggressor. Reason being, conflict is the main component in most beings growth to higher tiers."

"Wait Wait Wait" I cut in

"How do you know what a computer is? Is technology that developed in this realm?" I ask suspiciously

"Gods no, The existence of monsters, magic, and many races' cultures halted technological development many thousands of years ago I believe. Well at least that's when better equipment stopped showing up. I have been analyzing your memories while we converse, your world is amazing by the way." It answers happily.

"What the hell man! That's extremely rude!"

"Do you really care that much about it with all that's happening to you right now?" It mentions with an uncaring tone.

"Kinda, those memories are my last possession. I don't want to lose those too."

"O well. I'm going to finish my analysis no matter what so get over it. Knowledge is power and I need what you have"

"F*ck, is that all Im worth? I got fished out of the river of spirits like some trash fish and after harvesting my memories you're going to dispose of me like one too huh? I ask as I increasingly get more depressed with my overall situation.

"Well, that would have been the case if you had low intellect, no sentience at all, or if your soul was already purged. But you're in luck, I'm only going to help you out! You have no idea how many attempts I had to make to pull your soul out of that river. Over 50,000 attempts! Do you know that plants have souls as well?" He asks excitedly

Before I can answer he continues, "ALL OF THEM! I grabbed the pitiful soul of some weed, tree, or other plant more than 98% of the time. The other attempts were all beasts, monsters, animals, fish, or had already had their souls purged."

Growing more excited he continues, "You. Out of all my attempts are the first with a fully intact soul and a level of sentience I can relate to. I don't think you can comprehend how happy I am today that I have finally succeeded."

I breathe out a sigh of relief. Well I sigh in my mind at least. Then I ask, "So what will become of me?"