Hak-Ham Plogan Nuur Kwam-Tuurkun (and at least twenty other titles which are omitted here for the sake of brevity) is a very proud dragon. Woken from a nap at least a century too early, he is also a very pissed off dragon. The cowering figure standing halfway in the doorway to his personal chambers, a massive cave, shakes as it continues its report.
Graawl. Groohoowul. Rarwiiirrl.
GROOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLL
Mineth sincerieths exusems, oh Aal-Druuguun.
RUMBLE
Is this dialect better for thine ears, oh All-Dragon?
The figure is shaking now, terrified at the annoyance the strongest dragon currently awake is projecting towards him. The massive dragon head nods while snorting, causing the simple robes of the person to flutter. He imdiately kneels on the ground, face hovering centitres above the floor.
The massive cave is dimly lit by an entire rainbow spectrum of glowing rocks. They softly tinkle as the dragons rumbling causes them to shift and dance across the rough floor.
Reporting to the All-Dragon. Re-Haan has returned without permission, her watch post abandoned while she snuck back into the fold. She has been spotted going down towards the weak quarters. All active patrols are engaged in the search.
RUMMBBLGROOOWL
I shall dispatch all personnel to the new silent area at once. The humanoid figure imdiately runs out of the cave, not even waiting for a dismissal. Blinding light pours out of the cave he just ran away from, lighting up the dim surroundings. He only casts a single glance back before running away even faster.
UNCLE, OPEN UP! Re-Haan is yelling at a large door disguised as a rock. The slab of stone blocking her way is unable to mute the sound entirely, causing a bespectacled old man to look up from his book with annoyance.
I KNOW YOURE IN THERE. I JUST WANT TO ASK SO QUESTIONS. Pounding on the chunk of stone, Re-Haan shiftily looks around. A barrier shimrs behind her, blocking all sound from leaving towards that direction. Stubborn old man. He can leave anyti, right? Its not like this...
Rhea looks around as her eyes open up wide. The occasional glowing crystal gives her just enough light to make out her surroundings. Squinting, she peers into the murky darkness. She then slaps a hand over her face.
Monts later, her eyes glow with a violet tint. They turned this entire section into a silent zone? She swivels her head around, not believing what she is seeing.
He turned this entire section into a silent zone. Now visible to her qi enhanced eyes, tunnels litter the large tunnel she is standing in. Every cave-entrance has a massive piece of rock placed in front of it.
These are all my kin, why would he do this? She tears her eyes away from the beehive of plugged tunnels and glares at the rock impeding her way. She breathes in deeply before slapping both hands to the obstacle. Her fingers sink into the stone as corded muscles beco visible in her arms. With a small yell, the stone rolls away from the entrance.
Sputtering at the avalanche of dust she receives to the face, she notices a placid old man is sitting in the middle of a circular room, surrounded by books. A small smile flits across his wrinkled face while he pushes his small, round spectacles up on his nose.
Hello, Re-Haan. To what do I owe the pleasure.
Distracted by thundering steps coming closer, Re-Haan looks back towards her uncle. I just want to read so of your books. One mont please.
She turns around, shoving her fingers into the stone a second ti. More dust showers her as she pulls the slab back into place. The old man looks surprised for a fraction of a second before schooling his face back to placidness.
Why are you in silence with only a few crystals?
Oh, you know. Just the All-Dragon displaying his dominance by suppressing the previous council.
Frowning, Re-Haan walks towards her uncle, her eyes now the brightest sources of light in the dim cave. Looking at the books scattered everywhere, she makes her way between the piles and stands in front of her uncle. Then she smiles and hugs the old man.
I missed you.
Suddenly frozen solid, he looks bewildered for a mont. Then his face becos gentle as he pats her on the back. I missed you too. It was quite boring without you around.
Pulling back, they look each other in the eyes. Care to tell why you are here and not on your watch?
She scoffs. Pah, watch. Just an excuse to get out of his sight. His power isn't an issue now, don't worry about . Do you mind if I read so?
No, no. Go ahead.
Thanks. With a smile, she picks up a book and flips through it. Her uncle stands there for a few minutes, unsure what to do as Re-Haan flips through the books at a fast pace.
Anything specific you are looking for? It might not look like it, but there is a system to this chaos.
Haha, sure. Rembering where all the books are does not an its a system. And I'm just browsing.
Silence once again descends on the duo, the only sound the shuffling of paper.
A man who looks like he is smuggling large waterlons inside his arms is walking speedily through a spacious tunnel. A space of ten ters around him is clear, his following of humanoid figures clad in a wide variety of dress giving him more than enough room. The man himself wears the barest amounts of leather armour, only covering his important bits.
Is she found yet? No one seems to have enough courage to answer. Only when the man glances back does soone speak up.
No, All-Dragon. She seems to have gained a great talent for subterfuge.
Or you are all incompetent. His words drip with disdain and the small female brave enough to answer shrinks back. Maybe the wrong brood is in silence right now?
The entire crowd of followers shiver at this question. The procession continues to move at a rapid pace for hours as they half walk, half run through a complicated network of rough tunnels. The man in front suddenly stops and looks around.
The group watches on in silence as their leader scours the environnt with his eyes. Then a low growl starts to emanate from his throat, slowly becoming louder.
rrruummBBLLEAAND NONE OF YOU THOUGHT TO CHECK FOR SIGNS OF ENTRY?
The sound of falling dust and rolling crystals is very loud in the ensuing silence. The muscled man spits on the floor, drawing a gasp from the crowd. He then walks up towards a rock and studies it closely.
He puts his hand to the stone, brushing fine powder from a set of five holes. He does the sa for another set a ter to the side. His fingers sink into the holes halfway before getting stuck. His arms bulge as a dense network of veins pops out from his skin.
Five minutes of futile struggling later, he slinks away from the immovable rock. One of you shift and push this thing away. His face is an unreadable mask and none of the bystanders dares to make a single sound.
The sa female from before speaks again. Uuhm. Im the youngest. I think Ill fit in this small tunnel. Timidly she steps forward, a white dress patterned with dark scales adorning her slim fra.
The All-Dragon waves a hand in assent. Dark light spill from the girl as her silhouette expands, the rest of the hangers-on quickly scurrying to the sides. Monts later a dark grey and sleek dragon is standing in the now cramped tunnel. She shuffles around a bit before grabbing onto the rock with a large clawed paw.
And nothing happens. The claw retracts before it crashes against the obstacle once again. It does not move an inch. Veins are now visible on the bare-chested man's forehead. The grey dragon whimpers as she begins to gnaw on the rock, with little effect.
Re, whats that ruckus outside? I cant read like this. An old man grumbles as he looks up from an open book, a dim mana crystal in the hand that's not holding a to.
All kinds of sounds have been audible inside the dimly lit cave for a while now. They vary from groaning sounds of stress to a jackhamr-like staccato.
Re-Haan looks up from the latest book she is scanning, only to snap her fingers. That snap is followed by an eery silence, not even the usual groaning of rock reaching the small library. Better?
The old man stares at the grin on Re-Haans face for a bit. He then shakes his head and resus his reading, once again the only sound the rapid flipping of pages.
So, my dear students. What have you all learned this past week?
I sit on a couch, relaxing. Not on my usual super comfy chair but sothing made from materials I harvested in this dinsion. Voxs snake has a lot of trouble floating around now that its shaved, but the couches I stuffed with its hair are really comfortable.
We are all sitting in a large circle just before Tree. The small pond it used to have is now gone, allowing us to sit in its shade. Not that we really need it, the clouds circling around this pancake of land are getting thicker by the day, and they provide ample shade.
It will properly rain soon, and that should provide another cycle that will liven up this place, and increase qi generation by a minute amount. Speaking of qi generation, that has been going rather well. More about that later though, Ket is about to speak. This should be good.
I want everyone to promise never to speak about my heartcore fiasco again. The poor boy is looking rather depressed. He's slumped on the couch, his head in his hands.
Why though, you were so happy with that core. Even kind of cute, giggling all the ti. The beastkin sitting next to him is smiling rather broadly. Her tail is twitching behind her as she tries to hide her mirth.
I notice Tess twitching the mont Angeta said the word cute. That reminds , I never really talked about safe sex with these kids. Being a cultivator makes so things easier, others a whole lot more complicated.
You seed so happy when you were bashing those swamp things over the head with a massive chunk of tal. Those stone fish never knew what hit them when you headbutted those tal balls right through them. Or those water things, I never saw you that happy. I also never knew you could giggle so much. Pfhaha.
Angetas savage comnts cause Ket to shrink further into his seat. He just groans as he tries to forget those dark days. Then he suddenly sits upright and starts talking.
I dont think that we have affinities for a certain core system. I do think that certain personalities match with certain cores better. Extrovert and introvert were the terms I learned from so of your information, Teach. Body cultivators do everything external, both in body and mind, in terms of their cultivation. Braincore cultivators do everything in their heads before it sees the light of day. I have found out that I enjoy not thinking too much. The mories from the ti I had a heartcore are irreconcilable from my current, braincore perspective. A gut core gave the worst of both worlds, so I am sticking to a braincore.
Here he takes a deep breath. "I shifted my general intent to all types of tal. Controlling ferromagnetics is still easier, other tals also have their uses though. I am currently experinting with alloys, both here and through simulations. He takes another deep breath. Done, next. And he goes back to sulking again.
That was quite a story. Whos next? I continue to pat Lola as I sit back in my seat. This couch cant hold a candle to my own personal chair when it cos to comfort, but I think I did quite well with the materials available.
Ill go next. Tess stands up and holds out her hand. Soone please cut off my hand.
Ket looks up in horror as the rest display varying levels of alarm. Just do it. Im not quite as stupid as Ket with a heartcore, trust . Tess is now also grinning at the boy. He gets a an look in his eyes while pulling a sword from his ring.
*sswingg*
*plop*
A slender hand is now lying on the grass. Ket looks between the severed limb and the sword clutched in his hand as he slowly starts turning pale. Tess, sorry, I never a-
The hand turns into wisps of smoke as it returns towards her stump. The end of Tesss arm is wreathed in black smoke as the strands of darkness return to their origin. Monts later, Tess is showing off a pristinely reford hand with a smirk on her face.
How much can you subli? Tess looks at with a dumb look on her face. How much of your body can turn into smoke?
Two fingers. Her ring and middle finger imdiately turn into black mist. She forms so shapes with the fog before returning her hand to normal.
I think braincores are super boring and heartcores are too limiting. Tess nods to herself with a satisfied smile before sitting back down.
I'm a fast, close range support heartcore, Vox says. He is sitting next to Ares, who speaks up next. I'm a long range support braincore.
Vox and Ares look way too smug as they high-five. They must have rehearsed that bit. Elaborate. Wait, I an explain further.
My heals and buffs are around three tis more effective now, but I need to touch people. My intent is fast and wholeso. Also smart. Vox casts a wry glance at Ket and Bord when adding that last part.
I can attach a qi thread to soone and improve all kinds of different things. I also learned that healing is very similar to damaging.
Are they going to continue this duo act? I hope not. It will get old fast, I think.
Triangles all the ti is not good. I learned that no triangles ans more triangles when triangle.
Bord is back to his chubby self. Other than that, I'm not even going to try to analyse what he said. Lets move on quickly. Angeta breaks the awkward staring contest between Bord and the rest by speaking up.
I first changed my intent base to wood. That was useful when fixing the ship but rather useless when fighting. We all glance towards the pristine-looking boat at the edge of the clearing. I give her a thumbs up. Relying on plants for armour all the ti has its drawbacks too, as Teach and Bord showed .
Here she rubs her stomach a bit. So now I am focusing on aspects of plants for my intent. I am still working on it. Poisonous intent is not fun though.
You bet, her fur was purple for an entire day after she asked for the most poisonous plants at my disposal. We now all stare at Selis.
I am still working on it. Can I tell you guys later? Her bright blue eyes are staring into mine with such innocence. I think its all an act though. She can be vicious.
Sure, tell us when you are ready. Anything else? I receive head shakes all around. Now it is my turn to grin. I put Lola on the couch and stand up.
Great, we have half a day left before we need to leave. I want to know if this dungeon also stops at level one hundred. Lola, want to join on a small rampage through this place?
Her head perks up at the ntion of her na and a certain expression cos across her face as she hears my words. My wide grin might have sothing to do with that though. She jumps into my arms, and I start walking towards Tree.
You guys do whatever. Im going to do so exercise.
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