Cat Core 3, Chapter 33.

Chapter 33

“I hope you can clean this off my coat, Florence,” Doug complained as he followed Sabrina to her core room. With Sabrina’s dungeon being slime and vermin based, lots of gross stuff was on the floors, walls, and even dripping off the ceiling in spots.

“You know you can do that yourself whenever you want to,” Florence replied.

“Sure, but here I am, making the journey for you. The least you could do is show some compassion and help a cat out. I’m trying to dodge the nastiness, and you could help me out a bit here,” Doug replied.

“I apologize for the state of my home. I’m a slime and vermin core, after all, and I didn’t even realize that you could fix up a dungeon to look like a home.” Sabrina sounded a bit embarrassed by her dungeon’s motif.

“Hush up, Doug. You’re a guest in someone’s home and here you go insulting poor Sabrina,” Florence chided.

“Oh, like you wouldn’t say the same if you were in my place,” Doug snapped back.

“Are they always like this?” Sabrina asked Fizz, not quite sure what to make of Florence and Doug’s bickering.

“No, they’re usually worse. I’d like to say that you get used to it, but I don’t like to lie,” he said, following along behind Doug and gathering samples of the various sludge found in the dungeon.

“I suppose I can deal with it. And here we are, my core,” Sabrina said apprehensively.

“This might feel strange, but it shouldn’t hurt or anything,” Florence assured Sabrina as Doug reached out to touch the hovering core gem. The stone was a pleasing mix of various shades of green, and it was quite lovely to look at.

When Doug touched the gem, Florence could feel the connection to both Sabrina and Berikoz. The attention of the lich was turning toward her, so she had to work fast. Their two cores appeared seated at a picnic table, out in a sunny field. Blurry images were behind them, shapes that might be homes or clouds. Florence realized that Sabrina was trying to create somewhere nice for them to meet inside her core, but the poor thing’s memories of stuff were vague.

“Sabrina, are you ready to join my core? We don’t have much time. I can feel the lich approaching,” Florence asked.

“I… Well, yes, I will join you, Florence Valentine,” Sabrina said, hesitant at first, but she grew in confidence as she confirmed her decision. A shattering sound was heard, and Florence’s view returned to her home. A new, lovely-looking green shard hovered near her core.

“Are you okay in there?” Florence asked, a little concerned that the process might have done something.

“No, I’m fine. It’s just a bit odd, and I think I’ll need some time to adjust to this new life,” Sabrina said.

“Don’t you worry, honey. You’re surrounded by friends, and if you need anything, just let us know. Oh, hey, look at that,” Florence said, receiving a notification as the new fragment joined her.

Congratulations! You have defeated one of the cores that the lich Berikoz had infected. You have convinced the core known as Sabrina to join you in your quest against the lich. She has been transformed into a core fragment. A core fragment is linked to your core shard, and should you fall, so will this fragment. Should the fragment fall, she will be reformed in 24 hours. Sabrina’s level will be adjusted to fit yours, her power improving as yours improves. As a reward for defeating or recruiting a core fragment, you have been granted a level. Please review the changes to your core.

Florence paused for a moment, looking over her home and making sure that everyone was okay before she dug into the changes to her core. With another fragment joining the party, they would have to plan how best to work together. To do that, she needed to see what Sabrina brought to the table. Hopefully something more than a few slimes gunking up her carpets.

Florence Valentine, Hybrid Entity

Core Gem / Catomancer (Domestic Housecat Subtype), Level 6

Experience: 1/20,000

Health: 100%

Mana: 600/600

Core Shard Traits:

1. Indomitable Will: Your ability to resist mind control effects has improved and is now shared with everyone in your party and all the inhabitants of your dungeon.

2. Release the Cats: This ability sends your dungeon defenders to assault something outside of your dungeon. Once out of the radius of your core energy, they will slowly decay, and you will not be refunded the mana for any defender that perishes outside of your dungeon. Instructions you can give your defenders are limited to attacking or defending a certain area or person for a specified duration. Once your defenders leave your core’s influence, no further orders can be given. When invading another core territory, your defenders will not deteriorate, but you will still be unable to issue any commands.

Magic: You have access to the following spells.

1. Summon Defender: This spell requires 25 mana and will summon a single random cat defender from those you created inside your dungeon. Your defenders will protect you for 1 minute per level and will have powers and abilities that are scaled to match your current level. This ability can summon 2 of any type of defender you choose and has a moderate chance to upgrade 1 of the summoned defenders into a minor champion or floor champion. While you are transformed into your core, the mana cost is doubled.

2. Empower Beasts: When cast, this spell boosts the level of your summoned creatures and champions by 1 and doubles the total duration of their summons. The cost for this spell is 100 mana. Empower Beasts can only increase the level of a creature by a maximum of 3, and any additional casts will not affect those already at the maximum other than by resetting the duration of the summons. The duration of this spell is 2 minutes per caster level and can be cast in both hybrid and core forms.

3. Instant Dungeon (Hybrid Form Only): This ability can be used once per day and lasts for 1 minute per level. The ability is only available in your hybrid form, and when activated, Instant Dungeon will anchor you in place and allow you to re-create any room from your dungeon, centered on the area around you. The room will be populated with the defenders and traps that were present when your core controlled the dungeon, but the other items inside will be illusions. As you level, this ability will improve.

4. Kitten Storm: This spell conjures a whirling maelstrom of kittens that will bite and scratch any foe with reach. The spell duration is 1 minute, and it requires 50 mana to cast. You may now exert some control over this spell, allowing it to slowly move at your command.

Companion Abilities:

1. Mimic Defender: Doug can choose which of the 3 main types of dungeon defender to mimic. The choice includes brawler, commando, and mage. Additional choices may be unlocked as you level. Changes to Doug’s defender variant can only be made once every 10 hours. Doug will be granted improved abilities to match the variant he has selected. Each defender type confers a specific bonus.

a) Brawler: Increased size, health, melee damage, and defense

b) Commando: Ability to stealth and deal critical damage with sneak attacks

c) Mage: A mana pool commensurate with your companion’s level as well as an offensive and defensive spell to be chosen by Doug

2. Dual Claw: Doug can lash out with both paws, and each attack has a higher hit chance and will deal enhanced damage. Should both claws hit, a bleed effect will be applied to those targets that are susceptible. This ability has a cooldown of 1 minute.

3. Kitten Form: Once per day, Doug can activate Kitten Form, transforming into a diminutive companion. While a kitten, Doug will lose all defender types and have negligible offensive capabilities, but he will regenerate health, mana, and stamina at a rapid pace. After 30 seconds, Doug will return to his chosen defender type.

4. Summon Doug: Once per week, you can summon your companion instantly, despite any cooldown remaining on his respawn timer.

Combat Traits and Abilities:

1. Soulbound Weapon: Your cane can now be used as a ranged weapon, with a maximum range of 50 feet. Once thrown, the cane will automatically return to your control within 10 seconds. You may choose the damage type you wish to inflict with its attack. Bludgeoning, slashing, or piercing damage may be selected. The default damage type for your weapon is bludgeoning. Your cane is considered an enchanted weapon and will be effective against creatures with resistance to non-magical attacks. You may also infuse your weapon with magical damage from any of the schools of magic associated with your core (necromantic and beast), giving it a chance of discharging negative status conditions on your target.

2. Soulbound Armor: Your armor has been integrated into your clothing and currently provides the same protection as chainmail. When you are in your core form, the armor is replaced by a shield that protects your core and absorbs damage until its limit is reached. A damage bar has been integrated into your interface to allow you to monitor how much health your shield can absorb. The shield will slowly regenerate over time, and as you level, the amount of damage the shield can absorb increases.

3. Shake the Cane: This ability can now be activated twice per day. When it is activated, you will vigorously shake your cane, creating a wave of force that will slam into any targets within 15 feet of you. This ability will discern between friend and foe, making it safe to use around your party. When you are in your core form, this ability can still be activated, but a different effect will be unleashed. A flurry of blows will erupt from your cane, each hit having a chance to stagger the foe. The number of strikes is equal to twice your level.

4. Enhanced Durability: When in your hybrid form, you resist 10% of all damage types. This ability will improve as you level.

Florence had gotten some strong upgrades this go-around, with just about everything improving at least a little bit. Nothing new was unlocked, but she was more than happy with the stuff she already had. Unless it was a game-changing ability, she would rather not have to keep track of too many things. Next up was George, and he was improving nicely as well.

George, Core Fragment Level 6 / Berserker Beast Level 6

Health 100%

Rage: 10/100

When you are in your dungeon form, George will also revert to his dungeon form, placing his fragment near your core. Core fragments will also contribute additional defenders to protect your dungeon. Fragment-created defenders can be placed wherever the fragment desires. As you level and the fragment’s power grows, the number and power of these additional defenders will grow. The additional defenders are powered by the mana generated by the core fragment and will not encroach upon your mana pool.

Core Form Abilities:

1. Furious Blow: This ability can either launch a spectral fist at an opponent inside your core room, dealing bludgeoning damage and pushing the target back, or it can create a grasping hand to restrain and crush the target. Only useable once every 24 hours, the ability scales with your core’s level.

2. Respawn Defenders: When activated, this ability will respawn a random defender from George’s core type. The defender will be summoned in the core room but can be ordered to move to anywhere in the dungeon. This ability can be used once every 24 hours.

3. Hybrid Transformation: When activated, this ability will briefly transform the core fragment into its hybrid form for 2 minutes per level. This ability is available once every 24 hours, and when activated, it will consume all the fragment’s mana, preventing the use of any other abilities and absorbing any active defenders linked to this fragment until this ability resets.

Hybrid Form Abilities:

George is a melee fighter who focuses on unarmed combat. He can wield simple weapons but prefers to fight without any. George’s health is dependent on his level, and his body can resist damage as if he were wearing plate armor. His durability will increase as he levels, as will his unarmed attack abilities.

1. Berserker Rage: When George is in combat, he will begin to build a rage resource. As his rage builds, George will increase in strength and his durability will improve. At this level, George always has 10 rage in his rage pool. Once at his max rage limit, George will transform into a powerful beast with greatly improved stats and enhanced health regeneration. When George is transformed, his rage will slowly drop, and once it reaches 10, the transformation will end.

2. Slam: George can join both his fists together in a powerful single blow that will not only deal damage to the foe but also push them back. This ability will stun its target for a short time and can discern between friend and foe. The Slam ability requires 25 rage to activate and can only be activated once every 30 seconds.

3. Roar of Challenge: This ability generates a rage-filled shout that forces all nearby enemies to focus their wrath on George. Roar of Challenge requires 25 rage to activate and has a 1-minute cooldown. While under the effects of Roar of Challenge, enemies will experience a slight decrease in their defense rating as they focus solely on attacking George.

Each of his abilities had improved in some way, and with Rapid Respawn and Hybrid Transformation, Florence’s core would be better protected than it had ever been. George would likely get additional defenders to add to their home, but she’d have to wait and see what he could do. Her newest addition was next. It was time to see what Sabrina brought to the party.

Sabrina, Core Fragment Level 6 / Slime Lord Level 6

Health 100%

Reservoir: 120

When you are in your dungeon form, Sabrina will also revert to her dungeon form, placing her fragment near your core. Core fragments will also contribute additional defenders to protect your dungeon. Fragment-created defenders can be placed wherever the fragment desires. As you level and the fragment’s power grows, the number and power of these additional defenders will improve. The additional defenders are powered by the mana generated by the core fragment and will not encroach upon your mana pool.

Core Form Abilities:

1. Slime Burst: This ability causes a wave of slime to burst from the fragment, spraying across the core room. Hostile invaders will find the slime to be corrosive, eating quickly into most creatures and armor. Friendly forces will receive a healing effect, the slime greatly boosting health regeneration for the next 30 seconds. This ability can only be used once every 24 hours.

2. Respawn Defenders: When activated, this ability will respawn a random defender from Sabrina’s core type. The defender will be summoned in the core room but can be ordered to move anywhere in the dungeon. This ability can be used once every 24 hours.

3. Hybrid Transformation: When activated, this ability will transform the core fragment into its hybrid form. The spell has a duration of 2 minutes per level. This ability is available once every 24 hours, and when activated, it will consume all the fragment’s mana, preventing the use of any other abilities as well as absorbing any active defenders linked to this fragment until the ability resets.

Hybrid Form Abilities:

1. Healing Spray: This ability sprays a stream of healing slime at the target, greatly increasing health regeneration for the next 10 seconds. This spell requires 20 mana and has a 1-minute cooldown.

2. Caustic Blows: The slime lord’s body will damage anything that attacks it, dissolving weapons, armor, and flesh. When necessary, the slime lord can create pseudopods to lash out at nearby enemies. This ability can be used at will with a maximum of 2 pseudopods at any given time. As you level, this ability will improve.

3. Summon Slime: Summon a random slime from the slime lord’s pool of minions. This spell requires 20 mana and has a duration of 1 minute per level. The cooldown for casting this spell is 30 seconds.

Sabrina brought the one thing their party needed: a healing ability. Florence wasn’t so sure that she’d want slime being sprayed on her, but she figured if it was that or die, she’d take the slime. She also worried about what the Slime Burst might do to the decorations in her core room. The same logic followed this ability; if spraying slime meant survival, cleaning up afterward wasn’t much of a worry. Florence had no idea what a slime lord was, but she’d have to wait for them to transform back into hybrid forms to find out.