Chapter 1.
The Awakening of the Dungeon.
In a two-story house by the banks of a crystal-clear river, on a rainy morning on the outskirts of a small town, a young man finds himself lost in his thoughts. For the past two months, he has been working diligently on a code segment that proved to be exceptionally challenging. His goal is to implement an effective way for users to access the statistics and skills menus of his project.
Meanwhile, a thunder illuminates the room momentarily, and a new song from the band The Misfits titled "Astro Zombies" begins playing in the young man's headphones.
Clair is a determined young programmer who is committed to fulfilling his dream of developing a video game. In his room, he watches raindrops hit his window with one hand under his chin. He has worked tirelessly for three years on his thesis, but it has not been easy to do it alone. His skin is a pale pink tone due to the long days of confinement, with gray eyes and shoulder-length hair.
He's wearing a red shirt with an arcade print of "Joust" and a skeleton playing on the back, while the phrase "player one" appears on the front. His black slim-fit pants showcase his slim build, and he's donning red Converse shoes.
The computer in front of him is on a wooden desk, and scattered diagrams suggest that he has been working on the visual elements of his project. The monitor's sides are covered in stickers that he uses for quick notes. In the remaining space on the desk, there are more square stickers, some of which contain sketches of rooms and corridors that together form a map with some empty spaces for more stickers.
The computer is currently rendering the grand foyer of the royal castle for the video game "Battle for the Kingdom." In this game, users can assume the role of a character with features such as race, alignment, and other unique abilities. The player's goal is to find the best combination to overcome challenges presented in the game. The player starts as a novice knight and as they progress in the game, they can gain control of new territories and form their own kingdom, earning honor and glory.
In multiplayer mode, players compete for more fertile lands, expanding their territory while competing for resources and valuable treasures. Players can challenge each other and fight for supremacy in the game, seeking the ultimate victory.
Although messy, his room features a small three-tiered bookshelf hung over his bed. The first tier holds various editions of role-playing manuals, including one of his most prized possessions: a 1974 edition of "Dungeons & Dragons". The second tier houses a large collection of books on historical battles, both ancient and modern, while the third and final tier contains his favorite band's LP-format records, such as Misfits, Danzig, Dio, Iron Maiden, and others.
After a moment of relaxation watching the rain fall and the river run downstream, Clair has a sudden idea for his device while his computer works on another process. He quickly takes out his laptop to record the idea before he forgets it and opens the console to start writing the code. However, due to months of non-stop work, his vision becomes blurry and he loses consciousness, falling unconscious on his desk.
Suddenly, something strange happens on the computer screen and a new line of code appears:
1 Ready...
Clair's dream began unusually. She had never felt conscious in a dream before. Usually, she dreamt of working on her thesis and dumping wild ideas into her computer without any control over her body or actions. Occasionally, an idea from her dream would turn out to be useful. But this time, she found herself floating in darkness. A tingling sensation ran through her body, and her senses slowly returned as she began to feel the cold, hard ground beneath her feet. Suddenly, she heard a rough sound accompanied by a wooden thump: "TAC..TAC...TAC..." echoing in the darkness, making her jump.
As Clair adapted her eyes to the darkness, she discerned the strange contours of a cavern with a black marble floor. In the distance, she noticed a figure approaching slowly. When the figure was a few steps away from her, she recognized that it was a skeleton covered in a black robe and wielding a scythe. When the skeleton stood in front of her, it asked:
— Who are you?
— I've had many names throughout the ages. Some have called me "Pluto", "Dis Pater", others have called me "Orcus" among others, but you can call me "Airon", said the skeletal figure as he approached Clair in the dark cavern.
Clair recognized the names mentioned and understood the gravity of the situation. He knew he was facing the personification of death itself, who presented himself before him under the name of "Airon".
After a brief silence, Airon spoke again.
— "Your time on earth has ended. Your soul belongs to me."
A strong feeling of despair swept over Clair and he wished to run, but he found it impossible to move, let alone escape.
After a moment of recovery from the shock of what he had just heard, Clair remembered the usual family movie nights on Fridays. That time, they watched "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," a moment he spent in the company of his parents and younger sister. His mood saddened as he recalled it. He also remembered the research he did for "Battle for the Kingdom" on religions, mythology, and popular stories about death and other gods. After a moment of reflection, he came to the conclusion that death enjoys challenges, if the stories are true. Additionally, death is an arrogant being. He made a risky decision, swallowed hard, and began to speak:
— "Am I really dead, or is this just a simple dream?"
His counterpart raises his left hand, whose white phalanges shimmer in the darkness with a dim light. When it reaches Clair's chest level, he makes a gesture as if he's grabbing and squeezing something between his fingers. Unbearable pain runs through Clair, his eyes widen and his knees begin to tremble. Unable to hold his weight, he reaches for his chest in a desperate attempt to locate the source of his pain.
He tries to scream in pain, but only manages to release a weak moan: "AGH...". With a strong dizziness and panting, he falls at Airón's feet. After a moment, the pain begins to subside. Airón drops his arm, takes Clair's chin and lifts it. Looking into his empty eye sockets, Clair only sees darkness capable of absorbing the world. Airón moves his jaw and pronounces:
— "Do you understand now?"
Airón takes a step back and raises his scythe as if about to cut something. Despite the pain, Clair jumps back and begins to speak quickly to set his plan in motion. Airón stands still as Clair, with a trembling voice, continues:
— "I understand that my soul belongs to you, but I suppose you also get bored of this monotonous job. How about we make a bet?"
Clair said, despite the pain, taking a step back as Airón raised his scythe as if about to strike. Airón let out a loud laugh before responding.
— "I like your bravery, mortal."
Suddenly, a metallic sound from the walls on either side of Clair made him turn his head, and he saw chains flying towards him, trapping his hands. Despite the cold sweat running down his back, Clair decided to continue with his proposal, unsure if his idea would have a positive outcome for him.
— "After all this time, I suppose you must be bored with the same old routine. Why not add a little excitement?"
After a long and tense silence, Clair continues.
— "I challenge you to a game. Winner takes all..."
At that moment, a second line appears on his laptop:
2 Player Name...('CLAIR')."
After Clair puts forth his challenge to Airón, the latter responds with a sepulchral voice:
— I have been without entertainment for a long time, I'll give you a chance.
Without a word, a crimson glow emanates from Airón's eye sockets, momentarily blinding Clair and absorbing all his knowledge about "Battle for the Kingdom". When he regains his sight, he realizes that the chains that held him captive have disappeared and the figure of Airón has transformed into an imposing skeleton king, whom Clair recognizes from his game. This being corrupted the lands of the kingdom, leaving death and desolation in its wake, and players had to join forces to eradicate its evil.
— How did he know? - Clair wonders, surprised -. It was still just an idea I had planned for the future.
Airón, now transformed into the skeleton king, seems to smile as he responds in a voice.
— I am a capricious and eccentric being who doesn't like to lose. Now, what is the bet?
Clair feels a shiver running through his body, but decides to go ahead with his plan:
— "If I win, my soul is free. If I lose, I offer myself as your eternal servant."
The skeleton king lets out a macabre laugh and replies:
— "Let the game begin."
Clair relaxes upon hearing that Airón has accepted his challenge and asks him to choose his character. Airón's raspy voice resounds again in the room, urging Clair to make a decision.
— "Choose your race: Human, Orc, Elf, or Dwarf," Airón announces the options.
Clair, with his vast knowledge of the game, knows that the choice of race is crucial in determining his character's abilities and stats. After a brief moment of reflection, he decides to choose the orc race due to their excellent attacking and defensive skills.
— "I want to choose the orc race," Clair says confidently.
— "Now choose your alignment: Mage, Warrior, Rogue, or Priest," Airón continues with the game.
Clair knows that the choice of alignment will determine the playstyle and abilities of their character. They decide to choose the Mage alignment, which, although it doesn't have a great range of attack, can compensate for it with powerful magical abilities.
— I choose the mage alignment - Clair responds with determination.
— Now, choose your ability: Blacksmith, Alchemist, Healer or Bard - Airón says.
Clair reflects for a moment and decides to choose the Alchemist ability, which will allow him to create potions and improve his stats with the right ingredients.
— I choose the alchemist skill - Clair announces.
But something is wrong. The cave where Clair is located begins to change. A gray color under his feet replaces the black marble, giving way to a concrete texture. A moment later, he finds himself in front of the imposing figure of the Skeleton King, who once again has changed his appearance. Now, in addition to his kingly figure, a crown is perched on his skull. At its bottom, there is a 1.5 cm tall strip of black gold covered in red pearls. Above it, there is another strip of at least 5 cm tall with inlaid amethysts and topaz. On top of another strip equal to the bottom one, it is decorated in white gold with an ornamental design in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. This design covers the total circumference of his skull.
He no longer has the cassock covering his figure. Instead, he is equipped with black armor. His shoulder pads are adorned with dragon skulls, from which a red velvet cape falls. His scythe has disappeared, and a massive sword protrudes from his back, reaching from his skull to almost touching the concrete. On his breastplate, there is an image of a coat of arms with two crossed flaming swords. His bracers have worn finishes with a retro-futuristic style forming a unique style. The greaves and boots match his armor. On his belt, on both sides, there are two axes. On their edges, you can distinguish drops of dried blood. The armor appears to be made of obsidian with golden details.
All of this greatly impacts Clair, who understands that this will not be an easy challenge.
When Clair recovers from the impression caused by the imposing figure of the skeleton king, she feels a tightness in her chest. As she looks at herself closely, she realizes that her clothes have completely changed and she is now wearing the attire of a craftsman from the city. Additionally, she notices that she is holding something in her hand, although she is not sure what it is.
When Clair examines closely what she is holding in her hand, she realizes it's a rolled-up parchment, held by a silver skeletal hand. She unfolds it and begins to read quickly.
At the top of the parchment, there is a title with ornate letters in red ink that reads:
“Battle for the kingdom”.
“Clair”.
You agree to abide by the rules set by the dungeon master, "Airón". If you complete all the challenges presented, you can extend your time on Earth and earn their favor. Otherwise, if you perish, your soul will serve them eternally and you will never be able to leave their kingdom.
Next, the characteristics that will represent you in your adventure are presented.
RACE: Human.
ALIGNMENT: Tester.
ABILITY: Blacksmith.
With a feeling of anger, Clair looks at Airón and immediately confronts him:
— Tester? What happened to my initial equipment? You gotta be kidding me!
Airón lets out a loud and rough laugh.
— You can always refuse and give me your soul right now and serve me as a faithful servant.
Clair's anger disappears instantly and she continues reading, examining the parchment more closely for further surprises. When she finishes, she looks around carefully at her surroundings and, lastly, at her equipment which is far from adequate.
Although her starting gear is not optimal, she has a chainmail and leather uniform. Clair lets out a sigh, reflecting, "At least I have a chainmail, it could be worse. Convincing Airón to accept my proposal is a small victory."
At her feet, there is a cloth bag with a tag that reads "maximum of 5 items". Inside, she finds 2 potions and 3 food rations. Quickly, she looks for more tags that explain how to use the items in her bag. The potions restore a percentage of her health, while the ones in her equipment restore 10% of her health. In alchemy workshops, she can buy more powerful potions or, if she has the corresponding skills, create them herself.
— "And what about the food rations?" Clair asks.
When she checks the corresponding label, she realizes that she must consume food to reduce fatigue.
On his belt, on the left side, he finds a key. This key has another label with a brief description that he reads. The key provides access to the magic chest located in the forge rooms and other workshops he may find. In the chest, he can store weapons and other items he discovers during his adventure. It has 10 compartments, and one will always be occupied by a safe with a slot on top and a value beneath it: "150 Gold".
Clair startles at the sound of Airón's voice. He has modified the combat system. Your role-playing and strategy game system is too confusing and you try to cover too many things that you cannot define properly. Now it's a "Dungeon crawler" with role-playing elements. You can always upgrade your equipment and blacksmithing skills, and you'll have the option to access other skills as long as you find a master. "Once again, he seems to be laughing." Of course, he's willing to teach you the basic concepts of such a skill.
In addition, whenever you find yourself in a room with an enemy, you can only escape if your fatigue level is low. Fatigue is a negative statistic that affects your physical functions, such as mobility. If your fatigue is greater than the agility of the enemy, it will be impossible for you to escape and you will have to fight. Agility and other statistics are only known by the dungeon master, and all creatures have different values. When you defeat an enemy, a chest with your reward will appear in the room.
Under other circumstances, cuts and other wounds, although uncomfortable and painful, will not kill you. However, if you are poisoned or paralyzed, you will need to go to a recovery room or take the corresponding potions.
After his explanation, Airón stopped talking and everything fell silent for a while.
Clair waited for a moment, seeing that Airón remained silent. He inspected the items he had just received, although he felt hurt by the frankness and coldness with which his video game had been classified. He had worked tirelessly, sacrificing long hours of sleep, and still held out hope that the battlefield would have many elements he could identify. Apparently, when he was covered by the glow that came out of Airón, this being scrutinized Clair's memory, taking all the information he wanted. Despite this, Clair believes he has greater knowledge and hopes to survive until he finds a way to take advantage of this situation.
In his scabbard, Clair finds a rusty sword and realizes that there is a counter at the base of the handle indicating the durability of the weapon, says Airón surprising Clair. The current value of the counter is 100%, meaning the sword is in good condition. However, if the durability drops below 50%, enemies will receive less damage. If the durability falls to 30% or less, you run the risk of breaking the sword and receiving a penalty of damage caused by the shards generated at the moment the sword explodes in your hands. Clair puts the sword back in its sheath and notices there is a second, smaller weapon attached to his belt: a blacksmith's hammer.
When Clair takes the hammer, Airón tells him that he can carry a second smaller weapon, such as a dagger, in addition to the sword. At this point, Clair has the blacksmith's hammer equipped, which causes minimal damage to enemies. He can leave it in the chest whenever he wants, but if he wants to use his blacksmithing ability, he'll have to have the hammer equipped.
As it happened before, after Airón finished his explanation, he fell silent, allowing Clair to continue exploring his equipment.
When Clair puts the blacksmith hammer away, he notices a strange digital watch. On closer inspection, he realizes that it resembles the self-destruct system used by the Yautja in the movie "Predator". It's so long that it almost covers half of his arm, and it wasn't in the game's code. Now he remembers that before he fell asleep or died, "he hoped this was all a dream." He comes up with the idea that players can access menus by unfurling a scroll stored in the character's bracelet.
Airón has modified everything based not only on his knowledge of "Battle for the Kingdom," but also by incorporating different elements from his memories to adapt to this new universe. This makes Clair wonder what other surprises he will encounter in the future.
Clair looks for the label on his new tool and upon finding it, reads its description which says:
To access menus, press the side buttons or enter voice commands. For example, say the word 'time' or 'close' to disable device functions. When you say 'time', the algorithms on the screen will change and display '00:00:00'.
Pressing the button again, the content will change again and display the word 'STATUS'. Pressing it once more will display a hologram that you will recognize as your stats.
LIFE: 250
MAGIC: 20
LEVEL: 1
XP: 0
FATIGUE: 0%
SMITHING LEVEL: 1
When Clair pressed the side button once more, the hologram changed to another screen displaying the combat skills menu. It seems that there is a variety of combat moves available that are divided into three branches: melee attacks, ranged attacks, and defense. At the top of the skills menu was the "Blacksmithing Lv.1" skill, but below it were several locked lines that were not available. When accessing the blacksmithing skill, the following text was displayed:
You can create and repair weapons, armor, and shields using iron as a composition material.
At this moment, Airón speaks again and Clair startles. "I won't be able to get used to the sound of his voice," she thinks to herself.
— "Now the battlefield is complete. You'll have to defeat me," Airón says confidently. "I've absorbed your knowledge of this insignificant fantasy and a few other things. I've brought to life a great number of creatures, which I've spread throughout this dungeon."
"You have a total of '120 hours' to complete this dungeon. You are free to explore and find the throne room. If you don't make it within the time limit, the game will end. Also, if your life reaches 0, you will die."
Before Clair can object, a terrible tremor shakes the vestibule. She notices that behind Airón, a black coffin rises. On its lid, some figures can be faintly distinguished engraved on it: a huge three-headed figure and, beside it, a knight with splendid armor and long hair. As Airón enters the coffin, it sinks back into place and disappears.
The clock beeps in the vestibule "BEEP BEEP BEEP" and Clair looks at it, realizing that the countdown starts at "00:00:00", understanding that it's time to begin.
In this moment, alone in the vestibule, Clair notices a small closet next to a cold fireplace in a corner. In his mind, he remembers every room in the castle, but as he programmed it, there are only a few hidden rooms for the most daring explorers and the throne room. He never thought it would become a dungeon for a challenge.
He decides to inspect the wardrobe and finds some scrolls written with unimportant royal decrees. Then he runs to the fireplace and takes a piece of charcoal. He turns one of the scrolls and draws a square in the center, writing the word "vestibule." He stores the scrolls in his bag, at which point a girl's voice, recognized as Lisa's from the movie "Weird Science," informs him that his bag is full and he cannot carry any more items. Knowing this, he takes a piece of string and ties the piece of charcoal to it, hanging it around his neck, and folds the scrolls to store them in a pocket of his pants.
He returns to the wardrobe in search of more valuable objects, but finds nothing. He tries to open the highly decorated double-sided door, but it is completely closed, so he heads to the other door opposite it. It's a little smaller, but at first glance, it's the same as the previous one. He takes his rusty sword, pulls the latch to open the doors, and with a loud creak, takes a deep breath and steps decisively into the next room. Rather, it is a long passage with another door at the end, illuminated by two candelabras located in the corners.
Suddenly, he hears a noise under his feet and a small black shadow passes between them. He jumps back to the vestibule, alarmed. "I almost died of fright for a little mouse," he thinks. When he returns, he sees the small mouse running in the opposite direction, escaping from him.
A larger shadow swoops down on the small mouse, but he can't clearly see what's going on. He only sees how a river of blood emerges from under the shadow…
The door closes behind him and Lisa tells him he cannot escape from this fight; the enemy is a giant rat. At that moment, Lisa finishes her explanation and "Scream" by the band "The Misfits" starts playing.
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