His mice had truly paid for their Aether upkeep, and more besides. He had no idea what a Location of Power was, but he was excited to find out. What kind of Frameworks would he discover within their borders? What kind of challenges did they contain?

  I’ll need to send some creatures to investigate. The Mouse Rangers are a given, but they aren’t really soldiers. I need to send more than just them, and there are two separate locations to claim. Not only that, but the System notification stated pretty definitively that I would need to fight to claim the locations.

  Who did he trust to do this? Wenigo, his first guardian, was a prime candidate, but he was still sleeping off the bestowal of his Name. Also, he didn’t feel comfortable sending his most loyal defender away. It had only been a couple of days since the invasion, after all. The mental toll of a life and death situation didn’t just go away in such a small amount of time.

  Still, perhaps this was an opportunity to step beyond his fear and begin to trust. After all, he had gained some new minions. Perhaps this would let him test how loyal they really were. His primary task of expansion complete, Valterra began searching for the creatures he had in mind. Even as he did, the implications of the Locations of Power whirled around in his head.

  Was it a coincidence that they were here in his clearing? Were they experiments left by Calamvor, his creator? According to the System, they had been transformed into sources of Aether due to a seed of power. He had no idea what those could be, but all the signs pointed to Calamvor as the culprit.

  And if he was? What then? Then I’ll use whatever I can get. If there are traps, I’ll disarm them. If there are dangers, I’ll claim them for myself. I refuse to live in fear.

  It was in that frame of mind that he found the first of his targets. The creatures that had attacked his dungeon had remained outside of it for the most part. That had now changed with his claiming of the surrounding land, and they seemed more wary than ever. It was only now that Valterra noticed the subtle feeling of control and power that he knew he held over these people.

  He couldn’t be a puppeteer, commandeering their bodies through the power of commands, but he instinctively knew that he could punish them for disobeying. Then again, it seemed as though they could interact with him at a greater level as well. As soon as his presence drew near, he could hear their voices in his mind, pleas for help reverberating around his Core. Simple in nature, their requests were mostly for things like food and shelter.

  While he could have been vindictive, he didn’t truly mind answering their requests. After all, it was the work of a moment for him to summon up stone dens, much like he had on the second floor. He even summoned moss with which they could pad their caves. It had only taken a single look to deduce that these creatures were no longer a threat to him. Even being in his presence cowed them into an almost catatonic state.

  Perhaps because of that, the ensuing ripple of joy that followed his actions astounded him. He felt their gratitude, and with it came something he hadn’t expected at all. Divine Potential. He stared as his potential grew by almost fifty points, all from just answering a few requests. It seemed being a divinity had perks beyond just having a band of followers you could punish for disobeying. All in all, it was a weird experience for the extremely young god.

  Feeling a gaze upon his mote of awareness, he turned and found the leader who had led the group of invaders into his halls. The large canine-like Sapient bowed his head low at the attention. The creature’s acknowledgement of his gaze reminded Valterra a bit of Wenigo, his newly named Mouse Captain. Deciding to test something, Valterra moved his Awareness closer before speaking directly.

  Hello, he stated simply. He watched as the creature’s eyes widened and his head bowed a little lower.

  “I greet the master.” The creature said, not lifting his gaze. As he spoke, others of his kind began to chatter excitedly, having heard his words, though it didn’t seem like they had heard Valterra himself.

  The Core accepted the greeting for what it was and spoke on. We have some talking to do, I think. I am your new divinity, and you are no longer Fallen. This does not in any way diminish the fact that you invaded my halls and slaughtered my creatures. Valterra pushed aside the rage that bubbled up at those words and instead focused on the creature before him.

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  Some of his repressed anger must have bled through because the creature flinched minutely even as it answered. “Yes, this is true. Initially, it was because you would be a source of strength for my people. We were diminishing slowly, on the cusp of losing our sapience. I was desperate. Then, when we entered your borders, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.”

  His gaze blazed as he spoke. “Divinity. I knew then that you might be the salvation my people had been looking for ever since we fell. But I had to make sure and…I needed to get your attention.”

  His eyes held remorse but no apology. He had done what he felt was necessary, and Valterra could respect such a position. It had been such a frame of mind that had necessitated dealing with Trik’Weri and his sour bargain. Valterra nodded to himself before addressing the creature again.

  I have a penance for you. There is a Location of Power within my realm that lies unclaimed. Claim it in my name, and I will consider your transgressions forgiven.

  The creature's eyes furrowed. “A Location of Power? There was no such place nearby before we invaded.” His confusion seemed genuine, and Valterra hummed to himself thoughtfully. Turning once more to his broader sight, the Core tried to focus on the Locations once more, only to be met by the haziness that surrounded them.

  It is hidden from my sight despite being within my territory. A secondary mission of yours is to discover how it has been hidden. I will direct you to its location, but then you are on your own.

  The creature bowed his head and nodded. “I accept this penance. Let it show that the Risen will serve faithfully. I, Geckodo, will not fail.”

  Valterra nodded in satisfaction, noting the creature’s name for future conversations as well as that of his race, meaning to move on and find the next creature on his list of possible explorers. Before he could, however, Geckodo spoke up once more.

  “My lord? There is one other matter that I would like to discuss with you.”

  Oh, Valterra hummed to himself before speaking further. What would that be?

  “I mentioned before that my people sought out your dungeon as a source of strength. I believe it necessary to explain why, so that you might understand the true wealth you provide, and so that you might understand why you will forever be in danger.”

  The surge of anger that washed over Valterra was born from grief and pain he hadn’t yet processed. It consumed him for several moments, and he struggled not to lash out as the memory of the invasion came back. He had done his best to move past it, to get back to normalcy, and now he was being told that it would repeat itself?

  Why? He said quietly.

  The creature responded cautiously, as if aware of his current state of mind. “All dungeons breathe pure Aether, untainted by affinities or corruption. This Aether is then shared among its creatures, both to help them grow and to provide for their needs in the form of an Aether core. They, in turn, protect the dungeon from invaders who are after the dungeon’s core.”

  Here, the creature paused before continuing. “Not all invaders are after your core, however.”

  Valterra had a bad feeling about where this was going. Flashes of memories that weren’t his flickered in and out of his mind while Geckodo spoke. He saw gleaming gemstones wreathed in Aetheric smoke, dissolving in cupped hands. What do you mean?

  Geckodo dutifully continued, “Mortal invaders, which the humans call Delvers, often do so in order to grow. They, like myself, have a Crystal Core–”

  Which acts as their own version of an Aether Core, putting them on the Path of Ascension. Valterra ignored the look of bafflement on Geckodo’s face as he continued. What does that have to do with me? I am well aware that the mortal races utilize their Authority to take the powers of monsters for themselves.

  “You are more knowledgeable than I expected, my lord. You have almost reached the reason yourself. This next question will help you reach the right answer. How do your creatures grow within your dungeon?”

  They fight, and the winner receives the Aether of– oh. Geckodo was right. Valterra was halfway through answering the question when his mind came up with the answer. Combined with the flash of memory, he knew the answer. This time, anger did cloud his voice. They’ll come and kill my creatures, taking their Aether to fuel their growth.

  Geckodo nodded solemnly. “There are those who continue to grow the old way, through fighting monsters and absorbing their cores, but the vast majority delve into dungeons to do so. There are dangers associated with absorbing monster cores that don’t exist with the Aether cores of dungeon creatures. Most dungeons that exist within the human lands are treated as little more than Aether core farms.”

  Valterra felt his core churn as anger turned its depths red. Well… they will not find me so accommodating. He almost growled the words and found it somewhat gratifying to see Geckodo’s hackles rise. Something that seemed to take the savage leader somewhat off guard.

  “Well said, master. My people and I will work to prove ourselves worthy of helping you in this endeavor. You will not be found weak by those who come to take what isn’t theirs. This I swear.”

  Valterra felt warmth enter his core. Perhaps these people weren’t as bad as he had feared. Then again, he thought to himself, he came to this place for the same reason. To Geckodo, he said, I will take you at your word when your word means something. For now, you have your penance. We will readdress your people’s place in my dungeon when that has been accomplished. Ignoring the creature’s flinch and bow of acquiescence, Valterra moved on. He had rats to find.