Creating Games in the Dungeon

I gaze at the Runeboard in my hands, tracing the glowing runes etched into the smooth wooden surface. "This Runeboard allows me to control the circuit board like a computer," I explain, excitement creeping into my voice. "With it, I can program the holographic displays and bring my vision to life."

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the Runeboard in my hands.

"Alright, let's see if this thing works."

Placing the Runeboard on the ground, I crouch down and begin tracing the runes with my fingertips.

"Okay, let's start with a simple 'Hello World' program." I chew on my lip, carefully recalling the steps. "Let's see, I need to input the command rune, followed by the display rune and the text rune."

With a furrowed brow, I slowly etch the symbols onto the Runeboard, muttering the words under my breath. "Command... display... text..." My heart pounds as I finish the sequence and place my hands on the board, channeling my mana.

The runes flicker to life, and I hold my breath, waiting. Suddenly, shimmering letters appear in the air before me. "H-Hello World?" I read aloud, a grin spreading across my face.

"It works!"

Excitement surges through me, but I quickly tamp it down.

"Okay, don't get ahead of yourself, Rai. That was just the easy part." I glance back at the Runeboard, already contemplating my next steps.

I ponder the Runeboard, considering what game I should create first. The arcade classics I remember from my old world - Mario, Pac-Man, Space Invaders - come to mind, but the thought of tackling those complex games as a beginner feels daunting. I chew on my lip, trying to determine the best approach.

I rack my brain, and the first video game I decide to make is Pong. Pong - a simple, classic arcade game that I remember fondly from my old world. It's a table tennis-themed twitch game, with basic two-dimensional graphics.

"Pong, huh?" I muse aloud, tapping my chin thoughtfully. "Seems like a good place to start. Simple mechanics and doable for me to create."

I turn my attention back to the Runeboard, tracing the runes with my fingertips. "Alright, let's see what I can do." I channel my mana, feeling it flow through the intricate symbols.

"Okay, let's see what I can do." I channel my mana, and begin tracing the runes with my fingertips.

My brow furrows in concentration as I begin inputting the code for Pong. I start with the basic game loop, carefully etching the command runes to create the frame.

"Alright, let's get the ball moving."

I input the runes for the ball physics, but as I channel my mana, the ball simply bounces off the walls erratically.

"Huh? That's not right." I frown, scrutinizing the Runeboard.

After a few more attempts, I realize I've made a mistake in the angle calculations.

"Ugh, stupid mistake." I erase the runes and start over, double-checking my work.

This time, the ball bounces back and forth smoothly, but it moves way too fast. "Whoa, slow down there, buddy!" I laugh, quickly adjusting the speed parameters.

An hour passes as I continue tinkering, running into various bugs and glitches. The paddle movement is jerky, the scoring system is off, and the game keeps crashing unexpectedly.

"Come on, work with me here," I grumble, wiping the sweat from my brow.

Finally, after countless iterations and adjustments, I input the last few runes and channel my mana. The holographic display flickers to life, and two paddles materialize, with a small white ball bouncing between them.

"Yes!" I pump my fist, watching the prototype Pong game unfold. The paddles move smoothly, the ball's trajectory is perfect, and the scoring system registers each point correctly. "I did it! Well, sort of."

I can't help but grin at my creation, even with its rough edges.

"It's not perfect, but it's a start." I lean back, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. "Now, what should I try next?"

I test the Pong program, watching the paddles move up and down in response to my commands. The ball bounces smoothly, the scoring system registering each point. Satisfied with the core functionality, I set out to create the control scheme.

Using the Runeboard, I carefully etch the runes for up and down buttons, allowing the players to move their paddles. Then, I add an extra button to speed up the paddles' movement.

I channel my mana, bringing the controls to life. The paddles respond instantly to my inputs, and the paddle's speed increases with the press of a button.

"Yes, this is shaping up nicely!" I exclaim, a grin spreading across my face.

I carefully place the circuit board I created into the wooden arcade cabinet, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The board fits snugly, and I connect the various wires and components, making sure everything is securely in place.

Next, I install the wooden buttons I carved earlier, inlaying them into the control panel. I trace the runes on the Runeboard, bringing the buttons to life. They light up with a soft glow, ready to respond to my inputs.

With the core components in place, I take a step back to admire my work.

"Alright, let's see if this thing actually works."

I channel my mana into the machine, watching as the circuit board springs to life. A shimmering holographic display emerges from the cabinet, casting a warm glow throughout the cave. The Pong game I created earlier appears on the screen, the paddles and ball moving in response to my button presses.

"Yes! It works!" I exclaim, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I can't help but grin as I watch the game unfold, the familiar sounds of the classic arcade title filling the air.

Carefully, I adjust the volume and fine-tune the controls, making sure everything is responsive and polished. The holographic display is crisp and vibrant, and the buttons click satisfyingly under my touch.

With a deep breath, I step back and admire my creation.

"The Rai Arcade is officially online!" I declare, placing my hands on my hips.

"Alright, my slimy friends, who's ready to play some Pong?"

The slimes let out a chorus of enthusiastic chirps, and I can't help but chuckle. "Thought so." I gesture to the arcade machine. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's give it a try!"

I place two of my slime companions in front of the arcade cabinet, chuckling at their eager wiggles.

"Alright, you two, time to learn how to play Pong!"

I crouch down beside them, pointing to the glowing buttons on the control panel.

"See these? They control the paddles. The top one moves the paddle up, and the bottom one moves it down." I demonstrate, guiding their slimy pseudopods to the buttons.

The slimes let out excited chirps as they press the buttons, their paddles responding in kind on the holographic display.

"That's it, you've got it!" I encourage, watching as they get the hang of the controls.

As the ball bounces back and forth, the slimes wiggle and squirm with pure joy, their movements so adorable I can't help but smile. They dart their paddles back and forth, their reactions quick and precise.

The slimes let out a chorus of happy trills, their bodies pulsing with delight as they score point after point.

I watch with a growing sense of pride as my slime companions masterfully navigate the paddles, their slimy forms bouncing and wiggling with each successful return. The Pong game is a resounding success, and their sheer joy is infectious.

However, as I bask in their enthusiasm, a nagging thought creeps into my mind.

"My Dungeon needs to lure other people, but I don't even know if there are any nearby," I mutter, chewing on my lip.

My domain is nestled deep within the forest, and for all I could know, I might be the only person for miles.

"I'm going to need to start searching for people."

I turn to my slimes. "I'm going to go find people. Who is coming with me.

A few of the slimes peel away from the Pong game, their bodies undulating with excitement, while some wanted to stay. I give them a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, the rest of you can stay and keep playing. I know how much you're enjoying it."

With a heavy heart, I watch as the majority of the slimes remain behind, their attention glued to the holographic display.

"I'll be back soon, I promise," I say, trying to assuage their disappointment.

I begin looking for the exit of the forest, determined to find other people and bring them to my dungeon. I walk in a straight line, not wanting to risk getting lost in the dense foliage.

As I move farther and farther away from my cave, a strange sensation comes over me. A sense of unease creeps up my spine, and I can't shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Suddenly, my legs buckle, and I fall to the ground, feeling inexplicably weak.

"What's going on?" I mutter, trying to push myself back up, but my limbs feel like lead.

I glance around, confusion and concern etched on my face. The slimes who accompanied me immediately rush to my side, their slimy bodies pulsing with worry.

"Guys, I... I don't know what's happening," I admit, my voice strained. I try to stand again, but the moment I put weight on my legs, they give out, and I crumple back to the forest floor.

The slimes gather around me, their movements frantic as they try to support my body. I can see the panic in their eyes, and it only adds to my own growing sense of dread.

"We need to get back to the cave," I say, my words barely above a whisper. "Can you carry me?"

The slimes respond with a chorus of determined chirps, and together they gently lift me off the ground, their slimy forms working in unison to support my weight.

As they carry me back through the forest, I can feel my strength slowly returning, but the initial weakness still lingers.

"What happened out there?" I wonder aloud, my brow furrowed in confusion.

The slimes pick up their pace, sensing my growing distress. I can feel their worry radiating through their movements, and it only serves to heighten my own concern.

Finally, we reach the familiar entrance of the cave, and the slimes carefully lower me to the ground. I take a deep breath, relief washing over me as I feel the comforting energy of my dungeon core.

"Okay, I think I'm okay now," I say, pushing myself to my feet. The slimes hover nearby, ready to catch me if I falter.

I take a few experimental steps, testing my strength.

"Huh, that's strange. I feel fine now." I turn to the slimes, giving them a reassuring smile. "I don't know what happened out there, but I'm glad you guys brought me back."

The slimes chirp happily, their bodies undulating with relief. I reach out and gently pat their slimy forms, grateful for their unwavering loyalty.

I decide to retrace my steps, hoping to figure out what caused my sudden weakness. Bracing myself, I head back into the forest, the slimes trailing behind me anxiously.

As I walk, I keep a close eye on my body, monitoring any changes. At first, everything seems fine, but the farther I venture from the cave, the more my limbs start to feel heavy.

"This is definitely not normal," I mutter, pausing to catch my breath. The slimes gather around me, their slimy forms pulsing with concern.

Determined to get to the bottom of this, I push on, traversing the forest in different directions. But no matter which way I go, the same debilitating weakness overcomes me. My heart pounds as I struggle to keep moving, sweat beading on my brow.

"What is going on?" I cry in frustration, sinking to my knees. The slimes huddle close, offering what comfort they can.

"Okay, think, Rai. There has to be a reason for this." I wrack my brain, searching for any clues.

As I ponder the situation, a realization dawns on me.

"The dungeon core..." I whisper, eyes snapping open. "Could it be that I can't stray too far from it?"

I realize that the farther I stray from my dungeon core, the weaker I become. It's like my very life force is tethered to this place. The thought of wandering too far and risking death fills me with dread.

Dejected, I make my way back to the cave, my slime companions trailing behind me. I can only hope that somehow, someone will discover my dungeon.