It takes time for my companion to realize what I said.

  “Why?”

  “Dungeons, they don’t need to kill, right?”

  I can feel the confusion in them as they question me.

  “Technically, yes. But why would you want to do that? Why take such an inefficient route? Aiden, you do know what is at stake here, yes?”

  “I know this is the norm here, and I know what is at stake here. But I just can’t justify killing, I can’t kill for the sake of power.”

  I feel their worry and fear come through

  “Is it something I did? Did I say something wrong?"

  "NO, no, none of that! This has nothing to do with you. It's me, I...I just can’t."

  Confusion is apparent, trying to understand yet failing.

  "I fail to understand. Delvers are well aware of the risks of dungeons, yet they still delve. Nobody is forcing anybody; they know of the risks and will simply bear the consequences for their actions."

  "I cannot in good conscience kill living, feeling, sapient people. I don’t want to be the reason people grieve over their loved ones."

  "Why can't you? On Earth, I saw the living survive off killing others; lives killed for you to feast and devour. Lives killed for the betterment of your life; weak lives ruined, yet you did nothing."

  Memories of my own came through our bond, of when I ate meat and fish, where I used animal-tested products, and of when I ignored the beggars and the homeless. I won't deny it Earth sucked, and so was I living in it. But even so...

  "No, I don't need to kill, right? I don't want to give up my values just because this is a different world; I won't give up without trying."

  As I finished my words, I felt the confusion and doubt turning into a brewing storm. Lighting made of anger and disbelief strikes me hard. But I stand firm; I can't give up the values I hold precious, I can't just let this world change me without fighting back, and I can't give up on me.

  "Aiden! Countless lives depend on you, it is a necessary sacrifice! Why care over some handful of lives lost when it means saving billions? Why risk your life over some people you do not know? Why are you making it so hard for yourself?"

  "I'm sorry, but no, not without trying."

  I can feel it, how it comes through our bond, the sadness, the fear, the guilt, the last ones I could bear, but this, this HURTS.

  "Aiden, out of all my knowledge of dungeons that has been and is in Aehteria, they have all grown through killing. Disregarding The Abyss, people have destroyed dungeon cores for profit or conflict. I don’t know what to do if you choose another path. I don’t have the knowledge required to guide you then. Let’s just be a normal dungeon. With my knowledge, I could guide you be the fastest and strongest dungeon build in history, you’ll be able to create a powerful army for fighting The Abyss. Please, Aiden, you need to kill so that I may help you so that you can be safe."

  "But I don’t want that. Can’t we do something new, something different? Please, you don't have to know what to do or what to say or have all the knowledge in the world. You are helping by staying by my side. Just listen and laugh at my stupid nonsense, calm me when I get too anxious, say how you really feel about things, tell me your honest opinions, be someone I can depend on, and I'll try making you depend on me. As for the Abyss, it has been sealed for a while, right? I’m sure we can grow strong and fast enough within that time without killing.”

  Confusion and turmoil still storm in them, yet they try to calm down.

  “Aiden, dungeon companions were never made for this. Even after The System changed me, I don’t know how to deal with you. Dungeon companions are made to follow protocols, yet there is not a single protocol concerning you.”

  I sense their worry and hesitance as they speak up after a while.

  “Aiden, you are a singularity that has never happened before and will not after. So, maybe it can work, you're the dungeon core, and I’m your guide. Ultimately, the choice belongs to you. But promise me that no matter what happens, you will always prioritize your life first and foremost.”

  I feel their concern and resolution, as they say, their last line. Of course, I want to live; if not, I wouldn’t even be here. But do I want to live even if it means killing thousands?

  No, given the gravity of my situation, do I even have a choice? Then, the question is, how much can I bear, and how much will I change to adapt?

  “I promise. I promise to prioritize my life first and foremost.”

  At that, I sense relief washing over them.

  “Good, thank you, Aiden.”

  “Yeah.”

  As we stay there in silence, my companion asks.

  “Aiden, if you are not going to kill, how will you grow?”

  With the knowledge imparted, I learned of the dungeons’ role in this world. Dungeons attract surrounding mana and purify them, releasing some of them back, but they are mostly used to create in the form of monsters and loot. Their main source of mana, though, is through delvers. Emotional fluctuations create a significant amount of mana. The stronger the emotion or intensity of the fluctuation, like from hope to despair, the more mana is produced. In death, remnants of their soul, body, and mana are absorbed as another dungeon’s main source of mana.

  Knowing about this, I thought of a way to grow without killing.

  “By creating strong emotions and emotional fluctuations in delvers in my dungeon.”

  “Does that mean you will be attacking them but not killing them?”

  “No, there are more ways to create strong emotions without hurting anyone.”

  “Aiden, I don’t know people and emotions like you do, but if they know the dungeon won’t hurt them, I predict very little emotions will be produced.”

  “I understand, but please, could you trust me on these? Emotions and people are complicated, I know because I am them.”

  “I’m sorry. Even though I said I would follow along, I could not stop worrying.”

  Sensing their guilt, I shut them down swiftly

  “Of course you are. It’s natural. Nothing could have prepared you for me. You are only trying your best; don’t ever apologize for that.”

  “But it’s my purpose…Anyway, shall we move on? I will feel much more comfortable for your safety when your dungeon is built.”

  I know they are still in turmoil, but I don’t ask. I mean, they have been born for some hours now, and me not following the usual isn’t helping them at all with settling in. They want to help, but they don’t know how to do so. Helplessness is eating them up. I know that feeling all too well. No matter what I convey, it won’t reach them. I wish they knew how they were helping me by being by my side and supporting me. I don’t need anything else. So, I will wait till they figure themself out.

  “Sure, what's the next step?”

  “You should have noticed some available points in your status. Let’s start with affinities.”

  At that, a screen appeared before my vision.

  Looking through my options, I see countless affinities for elements in life and concepts.

  “That’s unusual.”

  “About what?”

  “Normally, dungeons start off with one point, and the options are the basic four affinities of fire, water, earth, and air, with the affinity the dungeon core was born with, in your case, arcane. You seem to have access to every affinity available.”

  “And is that good?”

  “Hard to say. It is more efficient to specialize in one kind of affinity than to be able to use various affinities. Like the saying on Earth, jack of all trades, master of none. Though in your case, it may not be so.”

  “Why is that, and just what do affinities do?”

  “I told you before that everything is fundamentally made out of mana, as mana can become and imbue everything. Lifeforms are capable of changing unattributed mana, also known as arcane mana, into mana that matches their affinities. The higher the proficiency, the higher their control, conversion, manipulation, and ability to sense their affinity-related mana. Usually, life forms are born with one or more affinities and will have an easier time increasing their proficiency with those affinities. Technically, all life forms have an affinity for everything; only some are inefficient, and some will harm or kill them if used. Dungeon cores are an exception, as they are beings made out of solid mana. However, The System locked these affinities since messing with different mana can cause destruction, most likely destroying the core in the process.”

  “Then technically, I don’t need these points to gain affinities, do I? Could I unlock them myself?”

  “Yes, and there have been cases of dungeon cores unlocking affinities relating to their possessing affinity.”

  Browsing through the countless affinities, I thought about what my companion said.

  “Hey, do I have to choose them now, or can I see what perks and traits are?”

  “Of course, you should be able to, though normally it is unneeded since companions usually recommend boosting the already unlocked affinity. Let’s first see the perks. Perks are upgrades given by the system affecting the whole dungeon, enhancing dungeon monsters, or imparting knowledge.”

  Scanning through the options, I hear a surprise from my companion.

  “That’s unusual. Normally, dungeon cores have three options to choose from for each point. Also, there are mid- and high-level options to pick from.”

  “So, how much of an advantage do I have over otherwise?”

  “An outstanding amount, high-level options only become available at level 100, and it takes decades to reach that point even for successful dungeons. I’ll remove the low- and mid-level options and schematics for you since their information was imparted to me by The System. Also, Aiden, it seems there are options for other worlds’ dungeons. As my knowledge is limited to Aetheria, I cannot explain to you how they will perform in practice.”

  I sense guilt and helplessness in them as they tell me, which hurts me, as they feel bad for something out of their control.

  “Hey, no worries, that in itself is incredible already.”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  ‘Well, that didn’t help. I know this needs time, but I’m worried. They have so much knowledge yet incomparably little experience to go with it.’ I just hope they don’t break under the disparity.

  I put back my worry as I peruse the reworked options

  As I perused through them, getting the gist of them, I asked something to help me decide.

  “Got it. And for schematics, are there any for expanding the space and increasing the time flow?”

  “Yes, though it would require time and space affinity to be usable.”

  With that in mind, thinking of my idea and how to put it into action, I browsed once more to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

  “Okay, but I saw some perks relating to monster types. Could you explain them?”

  “Certainly, in fact, let’s see what monster type you started with.”

  Checking out the new screen, I’m confused because it sounded like I was assigned a monster type, not given a choice.

  “That’s not supposed to happen. Normally, dungeons are given a type suitable for their surrounding environment to prevent mishaps, such as goblins underwater or plants in wastelands. However, it is a nice advantage to have, not to mention to be able to choose two types.”

  As I looked through them, I decided to look through my traits first before deciding.

  “What about traits, and are there any more I should things I can choose?”

  “No, traits will be the finale. Then again, judging by how unusual the others have been, I cannot be sure there won’t be others I am not aware of. Now, traits are like talent, something you are born with or attain throughout life, directly affecting your core.”

  “Same as the perks let me reorganize them for you.”

  As I thoroughly looked through my choices, thinking about ways to evoke emotions in people without killing them thinking of plans and ideas. I brainstormed on just what perks, monsters, traits, and affinities would help with my plan the best.

  Finally, with hours of thinking I made up my choice.

  “Okay, I decided.”