There was not much fanfare, when Peter appeared back into the center of the lower chamber. He glanced back around. All of the 50 tutorial battles had been shown simultaneously. A handful of them were still ongoing. Peter found that he could focus and see one with more detail if he chose. He did so, but quickly realized that like his battle for the most part they were all just slog fests. He quickly relocated upstairs. Most of the older dungeon cores were hardly paying the battles any mind.
I guess I defeated another rookie dungeon, so what… Peter thought. There will be 50 winners and 50 losers after today. The only difference would be that the winners would get a decent headstart from the rest.
Peter shifted through the battles gleaning what he could. He was still pretty new to this, so seeing the different unit types and their capabilities was still useful information on what he could expect going forward. The last of the battles finished up maybe five minutes after his own had concluded. None had gone near the hour mark with most finishing before twenty minutes eclipsed.
[Tutorial battle awards:
Winners: 10,000 essence, 10 support card packs, next unit tier unlocked, 1 spare dungeon core, 3 opponent original type cards upgraded to max
Losers: 2,000 essence, 5 support card packs.]
Peter immediately checked his interface. Sure enough, the C tier was unlocked. The 3 lightning type cards were all also tier C. I guess max meant his current tier max, with the awards factored in. Buying his own C tier cards would cost 500 essence, five times the cost for the D tier. However at half a million essence, unlocking B tier would not be something he could expect in the near future.
As far as the card packs, each would only give him 1 support card, but there were 10 options for helpful cards that he could get. The spare dungeon core was just that. He could now lose one battle and still continue on. This might just be the greatest reward since it was basically a free life.
It was a bit odd that there were rewards for the losing dungeons, but then they would need to start with something for their collection dungeon once out in the real world. Peter would have to save most of his reward essence for just such a purpose. If Clockwork had stressed one thing it was to win the first battle, but he had also mentioned that his focus should be to ensure that his dungeon was up and operating to bring in more essence immediately. Clockwork had said he did not however need to save any of his essence. Peter had been a bit confused, but now understood that even the losers got a consolation prize so that they could get started.
Peter dismissed his interface window. It was time to get back to work. He needed to save most of his essence to get a good start for his dungeon, but there was no reason he should not acquire a handful of C tier cards. He could buy C tier Design cards for 500 essence or even trade his lightning originals. Of course he decided to approach the other rookie dungeons first since their resources were limited and each would only be willing to trade a handful of cards.
“Gabriel,” Peter shouted, approaching the muscular angle first. The golden haired bodybuilder with wings turned his direction and smiled. He had gingerly been sipping from a goblet off by himself. He had not talked to Gabriel for long, but he was definitely the friendly sort. Like Peter’s own guide, Gabriel had also gotten a dud. The dragonfly dungeon core had given him the bare minimum as well, probably having quickly realized that Gabriel would not be joining the insect faction.
“Peter!” the suave voice returned. “Based on your demeanor it seems like you were victorious. Care to trade?”
“Don’t want to be blunt about it, but yes that is the main reason I approached you. I take it that you also won.”
“Naturally, it was a bit tricky, but I got a few good units thanks to you. I used up all of them including the stock, so would be happy to get some more.”
“Perfect, however would you be interested in a trade for one of your opponents originals, your guide’s, and your own? All C tier of course, and I would offer the same.”
“Hmmm…” Gabriel said contemplatively. Peter had unlocked 3 C tier clockwork cards along with the upgrade. He would not want to trade all 3 of them away, but he was interested in expanding his options. It might be in poor taste to try and get another original type by only offering to trade for his own. Gabriel's fallen type seemed to subvert a type’s original purpose. His crystal unit had become a sand slime. The dragonfly types he had combined had apparently become wingless crawlers. Gabriel had used up his doublifacations during his prep time before the congregation and had said as much.
“Very well,” Gabriel said finally. “But if you are amenable I would like to get 3 C tier design ‘cards’ in addition to the other types. Being able to make adjustments and the unit choice is pretty handy.”
Peter agreed. It was a bit of a larger cut since he would have to spend 1,500 essence to buy 3 design cards, but he had a feeling that Gabriel could be a pretty good ally in the future. That and the fallen type cards could be fairly useful. Gabriel’s opponent had been the granite core. Peter was not sure how useful the core type would be, but there should be some benefit. A dungeon core had chosen it after all. Every core type would have its uses.
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Peter continued on moving through the rookies. He avoided the more adversarial faction rookies, including bones who had lost his battle. His opponent had been Elyra the red half bovine half red demoness. Peter had not gotten a chance to approach her beforehand; he did so now.
Before she had been in the company of her guide along with a few other older dungeons. They had been closed off, so he had elected not to attempt. Now it was just her and her guide, so approaching them now should be a bit easier. Peter had already analyzed her guide, but he did so again. Helen, nightshade, 260. She either belonged to the plant faction, or perhaps concept, or one of the others that would allow her in.
Helen was a blue skinned woman with white hair that matched that of her protege. She wore a glimmering black dress. Quite different from her protege who was adorned with multiple different animal hides sewn together.
“Ahhh, the first fly approaches,” Helen said with a diminutive smile. “Design, could be useful, but still I would recommend a 2 for 1. If you are so inclined, that is.” she looked down at her protege.
“You heard her, I will trade 1 C tier phase for 2 of your designs,” Elyra said smuggly. Her red lips were quite alluring, Peter found that he had been honed in on them.
“Wait… you want 2 for 1,” Peter exclaimed. What she really trying to use her looks to get better deals? She was exotic and alluring for sure, not taking into account her lower bovine half, but not to the point that he was completely mesmerized.
“Of course, in the future it might be difficult to find such a deal. Normally I would recommend a 3 or 4 to one exchange, but my young protege is still new and could expand her arsenal. That and you would not be able to offer much more than that without hampering your progress. Take it as a gesture of good will for a future fellow faction member.”
“A gesture of goodwill…” Peter echoed trying not to let a hint of annoyance show in his voice. “Could you please explain why you think 2 of hers are worth 1 of mine… please.” Peter felt like he was chewing on gravel getting the question out. Both of their expressions were just so smug…alluring… but smug.
Once again it was the older dungeon core that did the talking. Elyra seemed content to allow her guide to do the talking. “Who was your guide, young concept core?”
“Clockwork,” Peter replied, receiving a burst of laughter in response.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you.” Helen said as her voice settled. “That core is really something. Don’t worry since you and Elyra will be in the same faction. I will explain things. How much do you know about the alternate dimension?”
“Well, very little. I just skimmed through the section,” Peter replied hesitantly. Since the alternate dimension section had opened with most normal units could not open a way into it until they were at least C tier, he had skimmed the section.
The alternate dimension was basically a shadow realm with a multitude of different ways to get in. There was only one alternate dimension, but many ways to enter it at varying levels. Dungeon walls and floors were still hard barriers, but traps and physical units would be nonexistent. There was a region around each floor entrance and exit where units would generally have to reenter the physical realm to pass through but otherwise they could potentially move through the alternate dimension, and pop up behind the defender lines. For all intensive purposes it was another front for the battle to take place.
“Okay, well I won’t explain the specifics. You can read that on your own, but how many core types do you think allow for easy access into the alternate dimension?”
Peter shrugged. He honestly had not looked into them overly much. “I have no clue,” he finally said.
“The answer is very few. Of course you can always get them from any core type, but not reliably. The problem is… that most of the few that there are belong to the undead faction specter, spirit, and even the new rookie ghost core. I know the undead have been waiting for it to cycle back through. Then there are a few others that pop up under one of the other factions. How willing do you think they would be to make a deal with you?”
“Oh…” Peter replied. One more thing Clockwork probably should have mentioned.
“When I saw Phase among my sweet Elyra’s options, I of course advised her to choose it for just such a reason. Other non rookie dungeons might not be willing to really help her out, but today I could still easily find deals for her of either a 1 for 1 or a 2 for 1 phase from among them. If for no other reason, but to build good will with her. That is why I say that you will need to trade 2. Since it is the best that you can do, and you will definitely need to make a move to shore up your defenses. Two for one is the deal for her future allies. I would recommend she charge 3 to 4 for other rookies.”
A minute later, Peter walked away. His mood was certainly sour. He had begrudgingly accepted the deal. He had even tried to get 2 type cards, but Elyra also had a limited amount of essence to work with so wanted to keep her options open.
Peter continued to comb through the other rookie dungeons, but was only able to grab a C tier crustacean from the same guy he had previously traded D tiers’ with. Then he approached Fellette and Emma, his guides and other former proteges.
“Good Job,” Emma said smiling as he joined their group. A lizard type core they had been talking to used this as an opportunity to extricate himself.
“Yeah, I was lucky to have a C tier. I don’t know if I could have managed a win without the blue horn crab.”
“That was indeed fortuitous, but don’t get too full of yourself. Several other rookie dungeons managed to do so as well including that red demoness,” Fellette said matter of factly. Peter glanced back over at Elyra, she happened to catch him looking and smirked once more. “In fact the same thing happens near every decadal congregation.”
“I’ll keep that in mind… So same deal for C tier?” Peter said, smiling sheepishly.
“We really are spoiling you,” Emma said, but a moment later he got the offer.
[Emma is offering 2 C Tier Ember cards for 1 C tier Design card. (500 essence will be spent)]
A moment later he got a second one from Fellette. “Now don’t go expecting these kind of deals all the way through the tiers. We are just making up for our helpless master. Once you have some breathing room we expect you to pay it forward,” the orangutan said, waving his finger.
Peter agreed readily enough. “Now what advice can the two of you give me about building my dungeon in the outside world?
“We really are spoiling you,” Emma chided, but she and Fellette spent the rest of the congregation with him. They gave advice or told stories for nearly the entire time.
