[Inside the Quantum Dungeon — Phantom Nexus]
The void hummed quietly, almost like a heartbeat in the darkness.
Arden floated above the newly formed Dungeon Core, his clone standing beside him like a loyal shadow.
A transparent holographic panel shimmered into existence before them.
[Dungeon Menu Available]
– [Guardian Creation]
– [Terrain Expansion]
– [Mystery Function: ?? Locked]
– [Mindhub Management]
Arden focused on "Guardian Creation."
[Resources Available: 1 Soul Seed]
[Experience Points: 20 (Generated from Mother's Growth)]
[Guardian Types Available:]
[Spectral Sprite] — support, healing. (5 EXP)
[Abyss Hound] — offense, stealth. (10 EXP)
[Quantum Echo] — hybrid, intelligent scout. (15 EXP)
Arden chose carefully.
He didn't just want mindless beasts.
He needed partners.
Family.
He selected [Quantum Echo].
[Guardian Summoning Initiated...]
Energy from the Dungeon Core twisted and spun, condensing into a small figure.
A humanoid shape emerged: silvery skin, glowing blue circuits, eyes of swirling galaxies.
The creature knelt before Arden, head bowed.
[Name your Guardian.]
Arden smiled faintly and thought:
"Nova."
[Designation Set: Nova — First Echo.]
Nova raised her head.
Her voice was soft, almost childlike but brimming with curiosity:
"Creator... I await your command."
[Mindhub Link Request: Nova]
Arden accepted immediately.
Their thoughts brushed lightly against each other — no barriers, no misunderstanding.
Nova wasn't a slave.
She was... a partner, born from his soul.
[Side - Family Bond Quest Progress]
[King Darius: Affection +5]
[Queen Althea: Affection +10]
[Hidden Effect Triggered:
Passive Blessing - "Warm Hearth" (Family EXP Boost)]
—
[Back in the Real World - Palace Garden, Daytime]
Queen Althea was feeling unusually energetic.
She walked outside, craving fresh air, her hand stroking her belly.
Two maids followed, concerned but smiling at the Queen's radiant glow.
King Darius joined her moments later, wrapping a fur cloak around her shoulders protectively.
They sat under a great silverwood tree.
The Queen chuckled warmly.
"The babies... they're not ordinary."
"No child of mine and yours could ever be ordinary," Darius teased.
She laughed, leaning against him.
"I feel... blessed. Stronger somehow. As if the world itself wants them to thrive."
Unknown to them, they were already beneficiaries of Arden's growing power.
[Back Inside the Dungeon — Strategic Meeting]
Arden, Nova, and the Clone sat around the glowing Core.
Nova floated a glowing screen in the air — a map of their tiny world.
[Current Dungeon State]
Terrain: Phantom Nexus Core
Size: Micro-Realm (Expanding)
Creatures: 1 (Nova)
Energy Flow: +1 per Day
Arden gave his first command.
"Expand territory. Secure foundations."
Nova bowed and began directing invisible forces to push the walls of the dungeon outward.
Small islands of shimmering crystal formed in the void, seeds of future realms.
[System Announcement — Hidden Mission Unlocked!]
[Mission: Create the First Court.]
Objective: Form a team of 5 intelligent Guardians to serve as your founding council.
Reward: Dungeon Level Up + Special Title (Lord of Beginnings)
Arden's mind raced with possibilities.
Court of Five...
He imagined generals, scholars, assassins, healers, spies —
All born loyal only to him.
He would never be alone in this world — or any other.
[Meanwhile - Cosmic Side: The Celestial System Reacts]
Far beyond mortal understanding...
The Celestial System stirred uneasily.
It sensed a "flicker" — a tiny glitch in one of its monitored worlds.
Too small to warrant full attention... yet.
Still, it dispatched a Watcher Drone to "observe anomalies."
The countdown had truly begun.
They would come eventually.
And when they did, they would see what Arden had become.
[Back to Family Time — Sweet Scene]
Later that night, Queen Althea couldn't sleep.
She hummed an ancient lullaby, gently stroking her stomach.
King Darius wrapped his arms around her protectively.
"You're humming the song my mother used to sing," he murmured, half-asleep.
"It felt right," she whispered back.
Inside her, Arden stirred faintly, sensing the pure love filling the air.
He extended a tiny thread of energy from the Mindhub.
And for the first time...
he touched his family's dreams.
They dreamed of green fields.
Of bright skies.
Of laughter and swordplay and gentle afternoons.
And Arden promised himself:
No matter what.
No matter who stood in his way.
He would make this dream a reality.
Even if he had to drown the stars in blood to do it.
[Dungeon Update:]
Nova working: Expansion progress 5%.
New resource node detected: "Memory Crystal Fragment."
Nova request: Permission to harvest? (Y/N)
Arden granted permission instantly.
[Mindhub New Subsystem Unlocked!]
- Shared Experience Pool:
Every linked being gains and shares experience.
- Rapid Skill Transmission:
When Arden or a linked being learns a skill, all others can access a copy (weakened version) instantly.
- Emotions Sync Mode:
(Optional: Turn on emotional resonance to share determination, courage, happiness.)
(He kept it off for now — but smiled knowing it was there.)
At the heart of his private world, Arden stood watching Nova work.
His tiny hands clenched in determination.
He wasn't just preparing to survive anymore.
He was building an empire.
One day...
even the Celestial System itself would kneel before him.
Or be destroyed.
No middle ground.