<div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    A white loop observed some branches of memory in the dungeon mind. This loop had caught the sensation of “entry” into the dungeon. A thin beam of mirror light traced along branches of the green memory vine, pulsing “entry”. Occasional ghostly memory branches formed above the green branches. The loop paused to take in and process the memories.


    “entry, System message, creature death” “entry, System message” “entry, System message, spawn fruit, exit” “entry, System message, creature death” “entry, System message, spawn fruit”


    A second loop joined the first and together they focused on a few of the memories. Under the light of two loops, the memories grew longer and more detailed.


    “entry, System message, creature death, creature death, spawn fruit, mana flow, claim, claim tortoise”


    Information trickled into the loop from the mushroom network. The dungeon instincts felt that “claim tortoise” was good. A few more loops began scanning for “claim tortoise”. As the search time dragged on, more and more loops resumed scanning for other concepts or observing the sensory rain. Eventually, a loop passed around a memory that contained “claim cactus”. The dungeon instincts said “claim cactus” was good also. The loops shone their light across the two memories and sent pulses of concepts back and forth.


    A white branch began to form above the first loop. The white branch resembled the ghostly mirror branches, but was more solid and had streaks of green and red, like the white loop vine had. The branch formed with the concepts, “entry, System message, claim, claim <something>”. The vines passed these concepts between each other, reinforcing the white branch.


    The sensation of “entry” flowed into the first loop and into the white branch above it. The branch resonated with the concept of “entry”. More loops turned their light on the white branch, observing.


    _ Higher Life Intruder Group Detected. Select Automated Response:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Attack


    </li>


    <li>


    Claim (Unlikely)


    </li>


    <li>


    Dominate (Unlikely)


    </li>


    <li>


    Ignore


    </li>


    </ul>


    _


    The sensation of a System message arrived, increasing the resonance. Mental energy from the loops filled the branch and broadcast, “claim”. The System accepted this response.


    _ “Claim” selected. Claim Failed, Make Another Selection _


    The resonance between the white branch and the loops faltered as the expected “claim <something>” did not occur. Several loops broke away and began scanning memories for the sensation of “claim, fail, System message”. The white branch dissolved. The first loop re-scanned the memories with “claim <something>”. The System moved on to randomly select the “ignore” response for the recently arrived group.


    The first loop built a new branch with the concepts, “System message, claim, claim <something>” and spend some time reinforcing it with mental energy. A few other loops observed this new branch. Another “entry” sensation flowed into the first loop, followed by “System message”.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    _ Higher Life Intruder (Resident) Detected. Select Automated Response:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Attack


    </li>


    <li>


    Claim (Likely)


    </li>


    <li>


    Dominate (Unlikely)


    </li>


    <li>


    Ignore


    </li>


    </ul>


    _


    The branch and loop responded with “claim”.


    _ Claim Successful. Higher Spawn Unlocked: Raven _


    _ Higher Intelligence Spawn are Ineligible for Automated Spawn. Consult With Your Dungeon Fairy on the Proper Management of Higher Intelligence Spawn _


    The sensation of “claim raven” washed over the dungeon mind space. Loops passed it back and forth. Many loops focused on the white branch above the first loop, strengthening it further. The branch and loop felt more “System message” and broadcast “claim” again. Sensations rained down and flowed through the mushroom network. Nothing relevant seemed to occur. The majority of loops returned to their previous activities. The first loop focused its light on a tiny new branch of the memory vine and sent “System message,


    claim, claim <something>”. The green branch absorbed those concepts and grew. The new growth was streaked with white. The loop resumed scanning memories, allowing the memory vine to proceed naturally.


    A raven information bundle flowed into the dungeon mind. It looked around curiously. It launched into flight to better observe the mind space vines. White loops and memory branches absorbed the raven’s concepts of “curiosity, explore”.


    <hr>


    A raven re-entered the dungeon. It had been curious about one of the trade caravans and followed them out into the forest. It watched them exchange shiny treasures and wrapped packages. The traders had no trouble blocking the raven from stealing several shiny treasures, so the raven had returned to the dungeon. Upon returning, it had hardly gotten its bearings when it felt a power reach inside and stir its mana. The raven croaked roughly in surprise while the mana swirled. A few thoughts entered the raven’s mind as naturally as anything, and then the power released the raven. The raven shook its wings. It decided it didn’t want to leave the dungeon ever again. Also, it would obey the commands of the dungeon core. Probably. If the raven wanted to obey those commands, it would do so. The raven flew back to the treetop worldlet after scavenging a bit of carrion.


    <hr>


    _ Higher Life Intruder Detected. Select Automated Response:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Attack


    </li>


    <li>


    Claim (Unlikely)


    </li>


    <li>


    Dominate (Unlikely)


    </li>


    <li>


    Ignore


    </li>


    </ul>


    _


    A ghostly memory formed above the branch where the loop had recorded “System message,


    claim, claim <something>”. A few loops noticed the memory and scanned it. They processed the instruction and broadcast “claim”.


    _ “Claim” selected. Claim Failed, Make Another Selection _


    The memory reset as the “System message” sensation returned. The loops broadcast “claim” again.


    _ “Claim” selected. Claim Failed, Make Another Selection _


    The loops broadcast claim a few more times before turning away from the memory. They focused on new green growth and recorded “System message, no


    ” in white-streaked growth. When the next System message arrived, most loops read the memories with instructions not to broadcast. After the normal delay, the System randomly selected “dominate”, “dominate”, then “ignore”.


    <hr>


    Zdeska, the human bandit queen, shook herself as an oddly clingy sensation touched her mind. She took out a small mirror to check herself for any lingering effects. Seeing only rich brown skin and green eyes, she put the mirror away. The clingy sensation reappeared a minute later, but she ignored it. Zdeska took a moment to settle her long black braids. She yelled for a report from her second in command. “Sajaa! What news?”


    A goblin woman stepped out of a patch of tall grass. She spat on the ground before reporting. “Fire. Ice. Borth nearly died from the fire, but said the floor didn’t look like it had another exit. Ice is the way to go.”


    Zdeska nodded at Sajaa, accepting the recommendation. The goblin woman began yelling at a few bandits carrying huge packs to start distributing cold-resistant gear. There wasn’t enough for all the bandits, so Sajaa stayed behind with the remainder. They would probably rob the next trade caravan and take their gear before catching up with the main group. Zdeska led her group into the blizzards of the captured space.