POV Valterra Unok’Davaas

  It was done. The birds had been driven off, and the whales were on their way to claiming the pond in his name. Meanwhile, Geckodo had been hard at work and, combined with the raid on the birds, Valterra was flush with new Frameworks. Some of them were repeats, but there were quite a few standouts.

  New Frameworks acquired!

  Glimmer Dart Dragonfly (Rank D - Iron)

  While its beautiful carapace certainly draws eyes, the Glimmer Dart Dragonfly is a terrifying predator. Capable of reaching impressive speeds for its small size, this insect is able to form a sharp cone of air around its head, which it uses to impale potential prey. Able to stop on a dime and accelerate almost instantly, and you have a recipe for aerial supremacy, especially once many gather together in a swarm.

  Wavetender Vole (Rank C - Steel)

  A truly impressive specimen of a rodent, the Wavetender Vole is at home both on the shore and in the water. Their ability to navigate treacherous stretches of water is what gives it its name, along with a decent water affinity. It uses said affinity to calm the water outside of its home, which is built into the banks of ponds, lakes, or streams. It can also use it to drown any predators that come knocking, creating waves capable of washing a grown fox offshore and into deeper water.

  Rookery Ringleader (Rank D - Iron)

  Living within the bounds of the Sylcyne Forest are many territorial and societal birds. This rook is one of them. Forming a Rookerie with fellow birds of the same species, one can find multiple different stages of Ascension living within such a flock. This particular bird has reached the height of natural Ascension for its species. Taking command of its rookery with an iron claw, it has also taken on the responsibility of keeping its members alive, becoming the primary defender of the rookery against higher Rank threats.

  Nesting Rook (Rank E - Bronze)

  Living within the bounds of the Sylcyne Forest are many territorial and societal birds. This rook is one of them. Forming a Rookerie with fellow birds of the same species, one can find multiple different stages of Ascension living within such a flock. Content to remain at home, this rook has Ascended to take care of chicks and maintain the collective nest of wherever the rookery makes its home.

  Swiftwing Sparrow (Rank E - Bronze)

  Despite its low Rank, the Swiftwing Sparrow is largely considered to be the fastest bird of its Rank in the Far North Reaches. Coupled with a voracious appetite, this bird feeds on all manner of insects, seeds, fruit, and anything else it can safely consume. Its speed allows it to pick fights it might otherwise not win, fleeing quickly if it pecks off more than it can swallow.

  They were all great additions to his dungeon. The rooks had more representations than he had expected, while the pond had yielded some exciting Frameworks. The dragonfly would be a strong contender for the sixth floor if it didn’t like water so much, but then again, the floating mountains did have water; they just weren’t large bodies of water. Still, for all that he had received a lot of Frameworks, many of them he had found he already had.

  The garden had given him more than he had expected, such as the Vibrant Blue Tite (Rank F - Copper) or the Arctic Kestrel (Rank E - Bronze), and wasn’t the latter exciting. A true bird of prey that was small enough to fall beneath his title and so wouldn’t shrink when he spawned more of them. All of that was to the good, but it didn’t help him with the new issue that had appeared outside his wards.

  His Mouse Rangers had taken to his request with alacrity and had returned to the other side of the wards to spy on his niece, Natalia. Now that he had more images to work with, he was sure it was her. The people around her, he had come to realize, were either friends or party members, going off his father’s memories. He made a note to open some more of those memories soon, perhaps after this next plan.

  And what plan was that? The forming of another domain, intended to welcome some of the larger animal invaders, as well as the more intelligent and sapient humanoid variety. The good thing was that he was sure he could get it to interact with the wards already in place by utilizing his System Administrator and Transcendent Tiny Dungeon titles. He would just have to flex it a bit. Which meant he had to call someone.

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  Hey Uncle Krat’Imos?

  He didn’t have to wait long before his uncle’s presence descended to meet him, the whisper of it sounding like a hammer striking an anvil or the heat emanating from a forge. It was strange that he had never noticed that before. Maybe he was getting used to his uncles’ and aunts’ signatures, or maybe his sensitivity had gone up because of his Administrator title.

  “What is it, nephew? You had a question for me?”

  Uh, yeah. I wanted to create a domain that interacted with my Tiny Dungeon title and the wards that surround my domain. Integrate them somehow.

  “Ahh, I understand. That shouldn’t be a problem. Simply use what you have, and you should be fine. It might cost a little more, but such a problem is hardly a noticeable one.”

  Valterra sighed in relief. He had, of course, picked up on his uncle's use of certain words. He was clear to use his Administrator title this way, and it wouldn’t raise any flags for the other gods. He was about to thank his uncle when the god spoke up again.

  “And about those creatures banging on the front door. One of them was invited, so treat her with respect.”

  Valterra couldn’t hide his shock as the elder god chuckled good-naturedly, his presence leaving before the core could muster up a response. Oddly, his uncle’s statement left him feeling relieved rather than anxious or betrayed. Krat’Imos had given Natalia some information, though how much wasn’t something he was privy to. Still, it was enough that he figured meeting her wasn’t going to be as bad as he had suspected at first.

  Still, he thought as he expanded his senses to take in the wards surrounding his land, it’s a good thing that this will take some time to implement. I want the pond claimed at least before they get in. Hmm, I should probably warn Wenigo and my other guardians when I’m about to finish. Hmm, maybe a memory in the meantime as well.

  POV Mouse Guardian

  Wenigo’s predictions were proven true over the next several days. The dens once claimed by birds became a battleground as beasts of all kinds attempted the climb to the third floor. What he didn’t expect was for the colony of Black Warden Ants to become more involved, conducting their own battles with the climbing creatures. He had known that the birds had proven to be an apt bane of the ants, but hadn’t known how badly they had been held back.

  Now the ants were marching to recover the strength they had lost and to claim territory and food for any upcoming trials. The colony was quickly establishing itself as the opposite power of the citadel on the third floor. With their power regained and with the Aether from their newest conquests, the ants once again began raiding the citadel. Proper conflict had returned to the third floor, and Wenigo knew that his lord’s plan was going to bear fruit.

  That shifted with the return of the birds. Though fewer in number and far less entrenched than before, the feathered pests began to return and hunt the climbing creatures as well as interrupt the war between ant and mouse. Wenigo was at a loss for what to do, considering these birds didn’t make new nests or come to the ground in order to be slain by his mice. Instead, they stayed high, hunted for a few hours, and then left.

  Not all of them survived their attacks on the dungeon, but their persistence yielded its own results. At least, that was until the dungeon lord got involved. Wenigo was present when his lord made the first deterrent. It was one of the beasts that ruled the floating islands, the ones with jaws of teeth and bristly scales. The ones for whom Aether sang.

  There was only one, but its undulating call had an immediate effect, as did its flight from the third floor. It fell upon the birds with a vengeance even as they scattered. Even more surprising than the creature’s appearance was the creation of dozens of birds from the dungeon’s Aether. The dungeon lord had apparently decided that the only way to deal with the feathered pests was to create ones of his own. Wenigo watched as they took to the skies, driving the other birds off with chirps and cries.

  He shrugged and turned to find a strange creature staring at him. It was mouselike in appearance with small ears and large eyes, standing around a foot and a half tall with a tail half again its body length in size. Its dark eyes held a cruel cunning, and the Mouse Captain knew immediately that there would be no allying with this creature. It blinked slowly before disappearing down into the space below, deeper into the dungeon. It was just a feeling, but Wenigo knew in his bones that he would be seeing that creature again.

  “Wenigo.”

  His master’s voice had him dropping to one knee, planting his sword upright, and placing both paws on its hilt.

  “I am pleased by your service and have come with a new task. We will have visitors soon, and you will most likely be tested. Don’t be afraid to fight them as I will be with you, even unto death. Prepare yourself.”

  Wenigo bowed his head in obeisance. His lord’s voice had held a fragile composition of hope, anxiety, and a tension he couldn’t explain. It was evident that a great deal was riding on these visitors. Wenigo would make sure they didn’t besmirch his lord’s hospitality.