Esmeralda

  Lorem and Bessie were still analyzing the ruins and repairing their functionality as the trio flew south. They yoinked several towns and even a few cities as they were traveling. Jim gave them a standard, “Welcome to the dungeon. As you have probably heard, there are several of us that have been given the mission to train you and help you survive the upcoming invasion. Speak to Bessie to learn what training options are available for you to level and equip yourselves. If you have complaints, talk to Bessie. We’ll give you opportunities to train with the dungeon provided weapons that you can use during the invasion once we have gathered more resources.”

  For the most part, the humans accepted their situation and those that didn’t were ignored. Jim wasn’t too concerned about training the people. John would get all the credit anyway since Bessie was a subordinate dungeon to Sparkie and Jim would offload the troublemakers to John as soon as Bessie had the upgrade to create a portal linking to Sparkie.

  They took some time to yoink all of Phoenix and Tucson. The citizens of Phoenix were not happy with being added to the dungeon, but that was a Bessie problem which she quickly solved by summoning several higher level dungeon beasts from her training program and told the boomers that they should direct their complaints to her complaint department. It only took a few minutes for the crowds to decide they didn’t have any more complaints.

  Not long after they crossed the former border to Mexico, Bessie got Jim’s attention, “Master, I’m detecting a group of armed and armored vehicles ahead. They appear to be killing beasts as they patrol.”

  Jim pulled up a projection and saw what he was expecting. The humans were almost entirely young men. Heavily armed and some covered with tattoos. Before the ship reached them, the convoy pulled into a small village and began rounding up people as Jim watched.

  “Pull up close and park yourself. Create a ramp for Lorem and I to walk down.” Jim ordered and Bessie slowed and came to a hover about fifty meters from the vehicles. The armed members all turned their weapons toward the ship. A large man wearing black cargo pants and a long sleeved black shirt shouted for everyone to hold their fire.

  When Bessie lowered herself onto some landing gear she created, she lowered a ramp from the belly of her ship and created a portal to take Jim to the top of the ramp. “Come on Lorem. I suspect you will enjoy this.”

  As Jim walked down with Lorem floating behind him, the weapons focused on the two of them and the leader shouted, “Who are you and what do you want?”

  Jim motioned towards the ship and said, “The navigation system on my RV seems to be out. Perhaps you could point me towards Las Cruces? I’m supposed to pick up my daughter and her family there.”

  “That’s an RV? Like a camper on wheels?” the man said in disbelief.

  “It’s upgraded a few times since the integration.” Jim responded.

  “That’s a nice vehicle.” the man said as he looked at Jim and the book floating beside him. “Are you the only one aboard?”

  “Thank you. I’ve put a lot of work into it over the years since my wife passed. It’s just me and my bound companion.” He said pointing at Lorem. “With the invasion coming, I was going to pick up my daughter and her family and hunt down one of the dungeons that are offering protection when my navigation system went haywire.”

  The man looked admiringly at the sleek ship and said, “Come with us to Juarez, we’ll protect you.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got to…” a smiling Jim started to say, but the man cut him off.

  “You’re coming with us.” the man said. Jim could feel him trying to use an intimidation skill.

  “But my daughter…” Jim once again replied as he forced his smile to slip a little and he readied several spells in case Lorem was accidentally slow again. A man with ugly facial tattoos and a worse attitude stepped forward, raised his rifle, and fired a short burst at Jim and said ”Enough Gringo. We’re taking the ship.”

  The rounds were deflected by small shields raised by Lorem and around the shield Jim had raised. The man looked at his rifle and then at Jim before raising it to fire again. Jim just smiled and said, “Lorem. He’s yours.”

  Lorem’s face appeared and his mouth opened wide creating a swirling circle of eternal darkness. The man’s essence was quickly sucked into the book as a stream of white/gold light. The man’s skin shriveled and turned to dust before his clothing and equipment fell to the ground. Several of the armed men exclaimed, “Brujo!”

  The leader of the group raised his hands and smiled, “My apologies, Hechicero, you know how it is. You looked like an easy target and that is a fine ship.” He said with a shrug. “How do we resolve this?”

  Jim smiled and said, “Easy. You work for me now. Share your maps.”

  The man’s smile slipped as he said, “Let’s be reasonable. You are powerful, but you can’t take on the entire…”

  This time, Jim cut him off. “You have no idea how powerful I am and what I can do.” Lorem played his part perfectly as he began to open his mouth again and released his aura. The surrounding men’s eyes flashed back and forth from the leader, to each other, and to the ominous looking Lorem who was rapidly expanding in size.

  The leader smiled and gave a small bow, “As you wish, Jefe.” He shared his map data with Jim who quickly analyzed it and located a large city not far off for the ship that the man had apparently made multiple trips in and out of. “My name is Alejandro. How may I be of service?”

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  Jim nodded and said, “Bessie. Absorb us.” The core who had been spreading her influence below the ground quickly absorbed an area of approximately five kilometers around the small village. The armed men and the villagers all looked around in fear thinking the book was going to absorb them until they received the system notification.

  Allejandro’s eyes went wide and he exclaimed, “Jefe, you’re a dungeon master!”

  Jim ignored him and said, “Bessie, deal with the villagers and create a separate instance for me and my new associates.” A glowing ball appeared and a portal rose that Jim motioned the men through. They were looking around at the barren desert setting when Jim and Lorem followed Alejandro through. “Bessie can set up some living quarters and get your men training so they can get some loot. I’ll have Bessie fetch you when I need you.” Jim explained as he motioned to a glowing ball that appeared next to him.

  Alejandro was staring at him waiting for more guidance when Jim started to turn and walk away. “Uh…Sir…What are we training for?”

  Jim turned back to him and looked at him like he was an idiot. “To get strong and learn how to fight with dungeon support.” Alejandro’s look made it obvious he didn’t fully understand, so Jim let out a sigh and continued. “We’ll play their little game and save as many people on your planet as possible. After that, it will be up to your leaders.”

  “I can take you to our leaders.” Alejandro offered despite still not sure if he would be chastised for endangering them, congratulated if they managed to take the dungeon away from the brujo, or thanked for including them in the opportunity.

  As Jim walked away he said, “That’s okay. I’ll come get you when I need you to make a proper introduction.”

  Several of the low level muscle that Alejandro had with him started to question him, but he silenced them with a look, a small taste of his intimidation skill, and a flick of the eyes towards the glowing ball floating beside him.

  *****

  As Jim and Lorem entered the control room, Lorem asked, “What possible use could you have for criminal thugs? Are you planning on making them…”

  “Bessie, can Sparkie compel you to tell him everything you know about us?” Jim said as he stared at Lorem.

  “Yes, master, but I don’t think he would. He’s a very nice dungeon core and I think he might have a crush on me.” Bessie said

  Lorem suddenly felt a small surge of energy come through his connection with Jim and snarled when it felt as if Jim had flicked him in the forehead before he said, “And if that control was modified in some way, Sparkie would know immediately.”

  “Yes. He would master.” Bessie replied. Jim stared at the book whose eyes went wide when he realized what Jim was talking about. Bessie broke the silence again. “Master, we are approaching the city.”

  *****

  Esmeralda looked around at the junior directors of her organization. A cell was overdue reporting and a strange ship had been spotted heading in their direction. “A new weapon of some sort. Can’t be that strong. Prepare the defenses. The fools are bringing the prize right to us.”

  All across their midsize city, phones began receiving messages and cells loaded into their armored vehicles and moved to their designated positions prepared to react to the incoming threat. Reports came in and the cell's positions were adjusted to create a recon unit to meet the incoming ship and access its capabilities. La carnada moved to intercept while La exploradors moved into positions to observe and report.

  Esmeralda empowered her altar and moved out to an open plaza to prepare to meet whoever may come. When she arrived, she used her broom to sweep a clean circle on one end of the plaza before using her athame to cut a circle of power before spreading salt for protection in the lines of the circle, lighting candles at the intersections, and placing cursed soils, animal carcasses, and other resources for her spell casting around her.

  As the circle came to life, Esmeralda felt the power surge into her and continued to grow as her assistants activated the channeling rituals around the city. Dominio was established, she was ready.

  One of the directors stepped to the edge of the circle and held up a tablet showing the ship destroy la carnada with rays of power when they opened fire. However, after establishing their strength the ship continued to slow down and stopped outside the city.

  *****

  Alejandro inspected the buildings as the dungeon created them. He had to admit, the dungeon had both skill and style. He liked the Nahuatl inspired theme Bessie had used and he had to admit her constructions were a major improvement to the living conditions his cell maintained in the sector they were responsible for.

  “The master requires your head.” Bessie suddenly announced and before Alejandro could even react a large dungeon creature appeared and pushed him through a portal. Sliding across the metallic floor, Alejandro slapped a hand on the ground throwing himself to his feet in order to defend himself or more likely beg for forgiveness for whatever sin he had committed in his new master's eyes.

  “Thank you, Bessie.” Jim said before turning to Alejandroafter placing a crystal into a control panel. Alejandro felt a light tingling of essence surround his head. “Tell them we wish to speak to them and offer them an opportunity.”

  *****

  Esmeralda tensed as the ship hovered outside the walls and turned to face her location. A small amount of power gathered near the front tip of the ship and a projection of one of her cell leader’s face appeared. Allejandro, the slimy bastard too smart for his own good and too ambitious for his strength.

  “The dungeon master hechicero Jim would like to seek an agreement with La Familia. He requests an opportunity to speak with La Matriarca. Please designate the location of the meeting.” Allejandro said.

  Esmeralda listened closely to the words and watched the facial expressions. Alejandro was speaking what he believed to be the truth. The directors that were present looked at her and she pointed to the area of the plaza in front of her circle of power. One of them walked over and cast a large ball of essence into the air before marking the spot she wanted this hechicero to come to.

  The ship moved forward and hovered over the far side of the plaza and Esmeralda felt something take control of a small section of her dominio away from her and a portal opened. An old man followed by a floating book stepped out with Alejandro behind them. Alejandro quickly flashed a series of signals. The man wished to negotiate. He may have something of value to offer. Alejandro was not certain that Esmeralda was strong enough to take it from him. He then created a circle with his thumb and index finger before signalling great strength and danger.

  The bruja looked at the man. His essence was minimal, surely he could be controlled. The book was an unknown. She felt only emptiness and an evil spirit. She waited for the man to speak, but he stopped and began singing, “Esmer-al-da, she reminds me of a west side story, growing up wherever the hell this is, she lived life just like a movie star. Oh Esmer-al-da…”

  Esmeralda reacted to the attack quickly. She encased the book in a shell of essence and attempted to cut its connection to the man with a blade of essence, but that failed with her blade shattering. Essence flowed out of an idol worn around her neck and she took the shape of a gigantic toad with black skin that oozed flickering flames of shadow out of it.

  Her eyes went wide as the shell encasing the book peeled open and was absorbed into the horrific mouth of the skull like face that appeared on the book. The sorcerer flicked a finger and her transformation was halted and she returned to her human form.

  “Not a fan of Carlos Santana?” The man said as he boldly stepped forward. One of the directors pulled his enchanted pistol and fired, but the book created a small shield redirecting the bullet towards its open mouth. “Relax. A fight will only result in your unnecessary demise. I come with a honest offer of a partnership.”

  Esmeralda nodded. The man had shown his superior power. A negotiation would be acceptable to the directors. “Who and what are you?” she asked.

  *****

  Jim took one look at the leader Alejandro had informed him was named Esmeralda and couldn’t help but start singing. Despite how easily he countered her transformation spell, she was clearly the most powerful earthling he had met. “I am Jim. Miner and Dungeon Master. I have been told you are the leader of the organization that controls this area.”

  “Where is your dungeon?” Esmeralda asked. Jim looked at her confused for a second before pointing towards the ship. Esmeralda was confused and stated, “Dungeons are stationary. They do not fly around.”

  Jim shook his head, “You misunderstand the nature of dungeons. They control a domain and have the ability to change it to whatever they have the templates and materials to create.” He looked up to the ship and asked, “Are you ready, Bessie?”

  A voice that sounded like a teenage girl with an American accent rang out, “Yes, Master.”

  Esmeralda felt her Dominio ripped from her control and her ritual circle shattered. She also lost the boosting power of the rituals feeding her circle as everyone within a kilometer of the plaza received a notification that they had entered a dungeon. Time for plan B. she thought as she smiled at the being in front of her.