Creating Games in the Dungeon

(Rai POV)

Ruka and I continue our Pong match, the ball zipping back and forth between us. Despite my best efforts, he's proving to be a formidable opponent, his reflexes sharp and his concentration unwavering.

"Hah, I almost had you that time!" Ruka exclaims, his tail wagging excitedly.

I can't help but grin. "Don't get too cocky. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve."

We play on, the slimes cheering us on as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. Try as I might, Ruka manages to edge me out in a few of the matches, his competitive spirit fueling his determination.

"Yes! I told you I'd beat you," he says, his ears perking up in triumph.

I chuckle and lean back, wiping the sweat from my brow. "Well, you certainly gave me a run for my money. I'm impressed."

Ruka's expression suddenly shifts, and he glances up at the fading daylight. "Oh, I should be heading back now. My tribe will be wondering where I am."

I nod, a pang of disappointment tugging at me. "I see. Do you know the way back?"

"Of course," Ruka says, his tail swishing confidently. "I can follow the scent of my pack. We Beastfolk have a strong sense of direction."

"Ah, I see. That's quite a useful ability," I remark, my curiosity piqued.

Ruka grins and stands up, stretching his limbs. "Well, I had a great time. I'll have to come back and beat you again sometime."

"I look forward to it," I say, offering him a warm smile. "Feel free to visit anytime."

With a final wave, Ruka turns and heads out of the cave, disappearing into the gathering darkness. I watch him go, a sense of anticipation stirring within me.

I check my Dungeon Points, pleased to see that Ruka's visit has earned me 2 additional points. It's not a massive amount, but it's a start. I'm hopeful that if Ruka continues to come back and maybe even brings some of his friends, I can start accumulating DP at a steadier pace.

"Looks like having guests around is paying off, even if just a little," I muse, stroking my chin thoughtfully.

I'll have to play the long game here and be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say. In the meantime, I turn my attention back to the Mario game I've been working on. The arcade cabinet is coming along nicely, and I'm eager to see how the gameplay will turn out.

Grabbing a handful of slimes, I head back to my workbench, ready to tackle the next phase of development. The slimes eagerly gather around, their gelatinous forms bobbing with excitement as I explain my plans for the game.

"Alright, let's see if we can get Mario jumping and running across the screen," I say as I start writing the runes on the circuit board.

The slimes chirp and watch me in anticipation, hoping they could try out my new game as soon as possible.

(Ruka POV)

The forest flies by as I dart through the familiar trees, my sharp senses guiding me home. The cool night air ruffles my fur, and I can feel the anticipation building within me. Soon, I'll be back with my pack, the comforting scent of my tribe drawing me in.

My paws land softly on the mossy ground, and I can already make out the faint glow of the campfires in the distance. The wooden huts come into view, their thatched roofs standing tall against the inky sky. I slow my pace, not wanting to startle anyone, and make my way towards the center of the village.

As I approach, I spot the familiar faces of my fellow Beastfolk. The women are tending to the crops, their hands gentle yet efficient as they tend to the plants. The men, on the other hand, are gathered around a large fire, sharing stories and dividing up the day's hunt. The aroma of roasting meat fills the air, and my stomach growls in response.

I make my way towards our family's hut, but before I can reach the entrance, I hear a familiar voice call out.

"Ruka! Where have you been all day?" My sister Ruya strides towards me, her brown hair and fur ruffled by the evening breeze. Her grey eyes are narrowed in concern.

I wince, knowing I can't hide anything from Ruya. She's always been the responsible one, looking out for me and the rest of the pack.

"I was just exploring the forest, that's all," I say, trying to sound nonchalant.

Ruya doesn't buy it. She grabs my ear and starts tugging me towards our hut.

"Exploring the forest? Do you have any idea how worried I was? You can't just disappear like that, Ruka!"

"Ow, ow! Let go, sister!" I protest, but her grip is firm. I can't defy my older sister, no matter how much I want to.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Ruya scolds, her brow furrowed in frustration. "You can't just disappear like that, Ruka! What if something happened to you?"

I wince, knowing I've upset my responsible older sister. "I'm sorry, Ruya. I was just exploring, that's all. I didn't mean to worry you."

Just then, the familiar figure of our mother, Shara, emerges from the entrance of our hut. Her long, white hair and fur sway gently in the evening breeze, and her warm, grey eyes regard us with a motherly concern.

"Fuu~ Fuu~ forgive your brother, Ruya," Shara says, her voice soft and soothing. "He is just being energetic for his age."

Ruya's grip on my ear loosens slightly, and I resist the urge to rub the sore spot. "But Mom, what if he encounters any danger?" she argues, her eyes still filled with worry.

Shara places a gentle hand on Ruya's shoulder, her expression calm and reassuring. "Then, he will just have to fight. A proud member of the Wolf tribe never backs down from a challenge."

"That's right! I'm strong!" I say, puffing out my chest with pride.

Ruya's hand comes down swiftly, bopping me on the head. "That does not mean you get to be reckless!" she scolds, her eyes narrowed in concern.

"Owie..." I wince, rubbing the sore spot. Just as I'm about to argue, a booming voice interrupts us.

"What's all this commotion?" comes the deep, rumbling tone of our father, Rurik. He strides into the hut, his muscular frame casting a long shadow. In his hands, he carries a large slab of freshly hunted meat.

Shara greets him warmly, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Welcome back, my dear. I can see your hunt was a success today."

Rurik's chestnut eyes crinkle with a wide smile as he takes in the sight of his family. "Indeed it was!" he bellows, his laughter rumbling like distant thunder.

Without hesitation, I dart forward and throw my arms around his waist, burying my face in his fur-covered chest. "Father!" I exclaim, my tail wagging excitedly.

Rurik chuckles deeply, his large hand coming to rest atop my head. "And how is my energetic pup doing today?" he asks, lifting me effortlessly onto his broad shoulders.

I settle in, relishing the familiar warmth and security of my father's embrace. "I had fun today, Father!" I say, my earlier scolding from Ruya already forgotten.

"I see, that's good!" Father says, handing the slab of meat to Mother. "Shara, can you prepare this?"

"Of course." Mother flashes a warm smile. "Ruka, go gather some firewood," she says, turning to me.

"Okay~" I chirp, eager to help. Bounding outside, I search the nearby bushes and trees, gathering an armful of dry kindling and logs. The familiar scents of the forest fill my nose as I work, and I can't help but feel a pang of excitement at the thought of returning to Rai's cave.

The Pong game we played was so much fun, and I'm determined to beat him next time. Rai seemed kind, even though he is a human. With a satisfied grin, I head back to the hut, ready to help prepare the evening meal.

(Rai POV)

I'm sleeping soundly in my cozy slime bed, dreaming of people flooding into my dungeon and playing all the games I've created. Visions of laughter and excitement fill my mind as they explore the wonders I've built. The sounds of chatter, beeping computers, and cheers echo through the corridors. My heart swells with pride, knowing my hard work is paying off.

I hear a loud voice and groan as I groggily open my eyes. Ruka stands before me, tail wagging excitedly.

"Hey, Rai! I want to play Pong again," he says, ears perked up.

I blink a few times, trying to clear the sleep from my mind.

"Ruka? What are you doing here so early?" I ask, confused.

"Early? But it's almost noon."

I glance around, realizing the sun is indeed high in the sky.

"Oh, I must have slept in."

"Come on, let's play!" Ruka insists, tugging on my arm.

I chuckle and hold up a hand. "Alright, alright. But at least let me wash my face first. I need to wake up a bit."

I get up from the slime bed and make my way to the small stream running through the cave. Cupping my hands, I splash some cool water on my face, feeling the refreshing sensation. The slimes chirp and gather around me, eager to start the day.

"Okay, I'm ready," I say, turning to Ruka with a smile. "Let's see if you can beat me this time."

Ruka grins mischievously. "Just you wait, Rai. This time, I'm gonna crush you!"

We take our places in front of the arcade cabinet, and the game begins. The familiar pong sounds fill the cave as the ball bounces back and forth. Ruka's eyes are laser-focused, his nimble fingers guiding the paddle with precision.

"Whoa, you're really getting the hang of this," I say, impressed by his improvement.

"Hah, I told you I'd get better!" Ruka exclaims, scoring another point.

As the game progresses, I find myself getting caught up in the friendly competition. Ruka may have the edge in reflexes, but I'm able to outmaneuver him at times.

"Not bad, not bad," I say, a hint of pride in my voice as I tie up the score.

"So, Ruka, what's life like in your tribe? What do you all do for food and shelter?"

"Well, our tribe lives off the land. We farm the nearby fields and hunt the animals and monsters in the forest. There's about fifty of us, and our elder is the one who leads us."

"That sounds like a pretty self-sufficient way of living. Do you all have specific roles within the tribe?"

Ruka pauses the game momentarily to give me his full attention. "Yeah, we all have our parts to play. The hunters, the farmers, the crafters - everyone contributes to the tribe's wellbeing."

"That's really fascinating, Ruka," I say, my fingers deftly returning the ball to his side of the court. "Do you have much interaction with humans, then?"

"Not really. The adults in my tribe say we should avoid them. They like to capture Beastfolk and make us their slaves."

My eyes widen at this, and I can't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

"That's…terrible. I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's alright," Ruka replies, his tail swishing back and forth. "We just stay deep in the forest, away from the human settlements. They're too far for us to reach anyway."

"I see." I ponder this information, wondering about the state of relations between humans and Beastfolk in this world. "Do you happen to know the name of this forest we're in?"

"It's called Starfall Woods. That's where my tribe makes its home."

"Starfall Woods," I murmur, committing the name to memory. "Good to know. I appreciate you sharing all of this with me, Ruka."

"No problem! Now, let's see if you can beat me this time."

I chuckle and refocus on the match, my mind racing with the new information Ruka has provided.

As our intense Pong match comes to an end, I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Ruka put up a great fight, but I managed to clinch the victory this time.

"Nicely done, Ruka," I say, offering him a congratulatory pat on the back. "You're really getting the hang of this game."

"Thanks, Rai! I told you I'd get better."

"Say, Ruka, do you have any other friends your age in your tribe? I'd be curious to meet them as well."

"Oh, yeah, I've got a bunch of friends back home. We're always exploring the forest and playing together."

"That's great to hear," I say, a thought forming in my mind. "Do you think you could maybe invite them to come visit sometime? I'd love to have them over to play some games with us."

Ruka's expression suddenly shifts, and he shakes his head.

"I don't know, Rai. If my friends come, they'll all want to play Pong, and then I won't get a turn."

"Well, what if I told you I'm working on a brand-new game? One that I'll let you try out first before anyone else?"

"A new game? Really? Okay, I'll invite them then!" Ruka's tail starts wagging again.

"Excellent. I can't wait for you all to try it out. I think you're really going to enjoy it."

With that, Ruka rushes off, presumably to gather his friends and bring them to my dungeon. I turn to my slimes, who have been watching the exchange with their usual enthusiasm.

"Alright, time to get to work on that new game. I have a feeling we're about to have some more visitors soon."

The slimes chirp in agreement, and I head back to my workbench, eager to put the finishing touches on my latest creation.