The two forms stood before me, freshly molded from my own essence. Spark, slender and quick, its single eye glowing with a soft light. Bulwark, stocky and resilient, a solid mass ready to absorb any blow. They were the first of my kind, the fruits of my transformation. A new feeling, strange and unnamed, began to settle deep within my being. A wave of... responsibility.
I watched them. They waited. Their young minds were awakening, their cores humming with nascent life. I felt a connection forming, a guiding link, and in a curious way, a sense of... parenthood? No, that word didn't fit. I was a creator, yes, but not a "father."
It was then that the first word was uttered. Not a question, nor a statement of status, but a sound. A sound from Spark, then echoed, deeper, by Bulwark.
"Papa!"
Something within me tightened. It was as if a discordant vibration resonated through every fiber of my being. Papa? The designation echoed in my consciousness, both absurd and... strangely appealing? No! It was unacceptable. My mind struggled to process this data without some kind of internal disturbance.
I articulated my appendages, a gesture I didn't know I could make. It felt... strange. Not a simple logical error, but a feeling of being caught off guard, like an emotion I shouldn't have felt had just overwhelmed me. The surface of my body, though made of cold metal, suddenly felt warmer.
"Stop that appellation immediately," I commanded, my voice, a mix of clicks and hums, sounding more strained than I would have liked. Their eyes lowered, confusion evident in their young forms.
I took a moment to weigh my words. It wasn't anger. It was more like... the need to define things. To maintain a certain distance, while still including them in something greater.
"I am not your... 'papa'," I continued, the word itself feeling alien and ill-suited to what I was. "I am simply One. Call me One. No need to complicate things."
They blinked. Spark tilted its head, with a small sound. Bulwark emitted a deep hum.
"One?" they repeated in unison, confusion giving way to an attempt at understanding.
"Yes, One," I confirmed, and this time, there was a slight easing within me. It was acceptable. It was right. And in a way... it felt as warm as the other appellation, without the emotional burden I wasn't yet ready to handle. "You are my first-born, my siblings. My subordinates, and my family."
Bulwark, with a slow movement, half-knelt, a posture I hadn't programmed, but which seemed to express respect. Spark imitated the movement, more quickly.
"One," they repeated in unison, their young voices echoing in the small cave.
"Rise," I said calmly. "There's no need to prostrate yourselves. We are a team."
A new warmth, softer and more stable, settled within me. These small beings, created from my own essence, recognized me. And they called me by my name. It was a good start.
"Good," I declared, feeling a new strength surge through me. The solitude that had accompanied me since my reactivation in this dungeon had faded, replaced by the presence of these two souls. "We have much to do. My goal remains my survival and my domination of this dungeon. You are now an essential part of this plan."
I began to explain the basics to them. "In this world, to grow and survive, you must understand evolution and hunting. Every creature defeated grants experience. Accumulate enough, and you'll reach a new level. With each level, you can strengthen your abilities. That's evolution. And when you reach certain thresholds, a major transformation awaits you."
I described the mechanics of XP and ability points. "When you gain a level, you receive points—some for your physical capabilities (AP), others for your upgrades (SP). These points are crucial. You must spend them wisely, based on what you want to become. If you want to be stronger in close combat, invest in strength. If you want to be faster, it's agility. For resilience, constitution. And for magic, intelligence."
"As for enhancement points, SP," I continued, "they will allow you to upgrade specific parts of your body or acquire new functions. Think of your legs, your shell, or even special abilities. Every point counts, so think carefully about the effect you want to achieve."
Spark, with its agility, seemed to absorb every word, its bright eye focused on me. Bulwark, slower in its reaction but just as attentive, responded with deep murmurs.
As I explained how to identify targets, how to move discreetly to hunt, and when to strike, a detail caught my attention. I was transmitting data, concepts I held from my own knowledge, but I felt them receiving and interpreting it in their own way. It wasn't a mere duplication of my information. There was a subtle nuance, a unique way of assimilating what I told them.
A shiver ran through me. They weren't mere extensions of myself. They had their own way of thinking, their own being. It wasn't just my strength I had created; it was also new consciousnesses. The scope of my responsibility had just taken on a whole new dimension.
At that precise moment, a notification appeared in my vision. The System confirmed what I had just felt.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Subordinate System Development Confirmed.
Your subordinate units (Spark and Bulwark) have developed individual interface systems, allowing them autonomous management of their capabilities.
Basic functionalities unlocked for subordinate units:
* Shop: Access to unit-specific upgrades and resources.
* Skill Synthesis: Ability to combine acquired skills to create new ones.
Evolution available:
Your subordinate units will be able to evolve and transform upon reaching level and experience prerequisites.
My eyes widened, a surge of pure joy coursed through me. Not only had I felt it, but the System confirmed it! My creations, my younger siblings, were capable of growing, improving, and acquiring new abilities autonomously! They weren't just tools, but complex, living beings with their own potential. A wave of such intense pride overwhelmed me that it took my breath away, a bright spark of hope igniting within me. The thought of watching them evolve, of seeing them forge their own path alongside me, was an absolutely exhilarating prospect.
"Spark, your mission will be to explore and gather information. Bulwark, your strength will be our shield," I resumed, my voice softer, imbued with a new emotion.
Their eyes shone with agreement. Silence returned to the cave, but this time, it was no longer a heavy silence. It was a silence of preparation, of determination, filled with the gentle murmur of their presence. I was no longer alone.