Pip’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Victor, what if you could speak to us directly, with a voice of your own?”

  Victor’s core pulsed with curiosity. “Is that possible he wondered?”

  “With the right tools and a bit of tinkering, anything’s possible,” Pip replied, as if she could tell what he was thinking, her voice tinged with excitement.

  Pip set to work immediately, her hands moving with practiced precision as she sorted through gears, pipes, and coils. The workshop was a chaotic blend of brass, steam, and scattered blueprints, but Pip navigated the chaos with ease.

  “Alright,” she said, her voice filled with determination. “Let’s see if we can make this work.”

  The process was complex, requiring careful calibration to ensure the speaker system could handle Victor’s unique energy signature. Pip connected the system to Victor’s core, her hands moving frantically as she fine-tuned the settings.

  “Almost there,” she muttered, her goggles reflecting the glow of the core. “Just need to adjust the mana flow…”

  The dungeon shuddered as the speaker system came online, its brass frame gleaming in the dim light. The System flickered to life:

  New Ability Unlocked: Vocal Communication.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Victor hesitated. For the first time since his rebirth, he could speak.

  “Pip,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “It worked.”

  Pip grinned, her hands already busy with a new project. “Welcome to the conversation, Victor.”

  With the speaker system in place, Victor decided it was time to formally introduce himself to his new allies.

  “Aelin, Borin,” he said, his voice echoing through the core chamber. “I can… I can speak.”

  The duo paused, their expressions a mix of surprise and relief.

  “About time,” Borin said, his tone gruff but not unkind.

  “This will change everything,” Aelin replied, her voice sharp and precise.

  Victor’s core pulsed with satisfaction. “My name is Victor,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I was once a human from a world very different than this one, an engineer, before I was reborn as a dungeon core. I don’t know why this happened to me, but I do know that I want to survive—and I want to protect those who stand with me.”

  Borin crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “And what makes you think we can trust you?”

  “You don’t have to,” Victor replied, his voice calm but firm. “But in our first encounter I was sure not to harm you. That has to count for something.”

  Aelin nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the core chamber. “It does. But trust is earned, not given. If you want us to stand with you, you’ll need to prove yourself.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with determination. “I will.”