Conquering His Cold Heart

The moment Dark finished speaking the golden doors behind him opened up, allowing a succulent scent to drift into the ball room. All the Dungeon cores and remaining guardians felt their mouths start to salivate and their stomachs rumble with greed, the smell alone was irresistible.

"Come, everyone join me in the dining room, the food is already prepared and waiting to be devoured." Dark smiled as he saw the looks on his children's faces, he put a lot of work into preparing the family meal. He summoned some of the best chefs and utilised some of the greatest ingredients all for this one meal.

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His children would get to experience the very height of Nova's food and understand the benefits of being at the very peak of the world. Dark hoped that experiencing such luxury would inspire his children, so that one day they could enjoy such benefits through their own capabilities.

Dark turned around and walked through the golden doors. Frost and his many siblings and their guardians quickly followed after him, keen to see what was giving off such a delectable scent.

The dining room Dark had prepared was lavish in style, silver walls, grand chandeliers and a massive round table in the centre. All seats were customised for each Dungeon core, allowing everyone no matter their form to sit and eat in peace.

Rumble

Countless stomachs loudly rumbled as their eyes latched onto the many, many dishes laid out across the table. Stews, roasted meat, soups, vegetable dishes and more filled Frost's eyes, all more appetising than the last.

"Well, what are you waiting for, take your seats and dig in before it gets cold." Dark said with a bright smile as he took his own place at the table and began filling his plate with bits and pieces of his favourite dishes.

With Dark giving the ok his children quickly found their seats and started digging in, well most of them. Frost looked to his side where Maya was standing with saliva dripping from her pretty lips, there wasn't a place for her and the other guardians. Were they supposed to remain composed, standing against the walls as he and his siblings enjoyed quite likely the greatest meal of their lives.

Frost was no longer ignorant, if he didn't speak up here on her behalf he'd definitely pay for it later. He glanced over at his father with a pleading look in his eyes, doing his best to ignore the growing vice grip wrapped around his arm.

"Haaaaaaa no need to look at me like that Frost." Dark reluctantly stopped eating and waved his hand causing the round table to expand and 38 new chairs to suddenly appear.

"Thank you Dark God-sama!" Maya squealed with glee before dragging her significant other to the table. The other guardians gave their own thanks before joining their charges.

"Ow!"

"Ow!" Two stifled screams arose from Indra and Terra the moment their guardians sat beside them. Frost was considerate enough to think of Maya how could their partners be so insensitive.

Their pain earned a few rounds of chuckles before the feast truly got underway. Dark allowed his children to fill their bellies a little before starting his round of questions.

At random Dark picked out a young Dungeon core called Wukong, who had the form of a large monkey to start. "Wukong how about you start us off, your Dungeon's based on the Eastern continent right, near the Wuji mountains?"

"Ah yes father my Dungeon's in the outer peripheries of the Wuji mountains." Wukong who had a mouth filled with spaghetti was startled by Dark's sudden question, but he quickly downed the contents of food and replied honestly.

"Hmm the Eastern continent is known well for its varied climate and is home to some of the most diverse species of monsters and sapients. How have you been finding it? do you like the area?"

"Umm yes I like it very much, the food's good and the nearby towns are very welcoming, I've even managed to make a few friends." Wukong spoke with excitement eager to tell his father and his siblings about his life.

"That's good to hear son, what are their names, and have you developed any hobbies out with the dungeon?"

"There's Kazuma, who's a beastkin of the great ape tribe and a fellow practitioner of my Jihan mountain staff style. Sana who I've been friends with since I joined the local adventurers guild, we entered at the same time and are currently racing to see who reaches B-rank first. Then there's Mino who trades in gemstones, she helps me handle the gems produced in my Dungeon.

And as far as hobbies go I quite enjoy making jewellery out of gemstones, Mino says I have quite a knack for it."

"More than a knack, your talent made her latch on to you like you were a piece of royal quartz." Wukong's guardian, Botta chimed in making Wukong blush and Dark laugh.

"Agar what about you?" Dark moved onto another one of his children, Agar who had the form of a regal skeleton.

"Me, well given my appearance it's rather difficult to meet with sapients but the local monsters around my Dungeon are more than welcoming. I have a few wraith friends who I occasionally explore with as well as a local lich who has taken it upon himself to act as my elder and teacher in the way of necromancy."

"Hobbies, romantic interests?" Dark pried for more details.

"I haven't taken up a trade if that's what you're asking but I have grown fond of baths if that can be called a hobby. Romance though, sorry nothing on that end father." Agar held very little interest in romance right now.

"No rush, no rush you can take your time Agar."

"Tori would you like to go next?"

"I'd rather not father." Tori a woman that was half spider and half human in appearance coldly replied.

"Ugh Tori?" Dark frowned and pleaded slightly but was rebuffed with the silent treatment. Tori had no intention of becoming friendly with her siblings, letting them know all her secrets. She viewed Frost and the rest as competition, possible enemies not siblings who she could rely on.

Though Dark wished to hear about her life he decided not to force it, each of his children had their own wills and personalities. If she didn't feel comfortable giving away her secrets that was fine by him, he thus moved onto another child.

For several hours Dark and his children relished in stories and enjoyed a sumptuous meal, their bonds as family growing. With that the first phase was over and the next stage could begin.

The large group made their way back to the large ballroom that had been retrofitted as they ate. Now it was arranged so everyone could view a giant screen that stretched from one side of the room to the other.

"Time to start a Dungeon war, Void, Queek are you ready?"

"Do I have to?" Void grumpily complained while Queek nervously nodded his little head.

"Yes you do Void! You've yet to take part in any Dungeon war and given your personality it's likely you'll avoid it forever if I don't force you." Dark quickly quashed Void's complaints. His son who was the avatar for the space element detested having to take part in a Dungeon war. Not because he was some kind of pacifist but because he felt it was a complete waste of his time.

All he cared about was studying magic, even his Dungeon suffered from his lack of interest, sporting a paltry four floors.

His opponent Queek had the form a rat beastman and stood at barely 4 feet tall. He was one of the lowest ranked Dungeon cores both in the sibling hierarchy and the DP rankings. In his early days Queek tried to be a little too proactive and suffered greatly for it. He lost the majority of his Dungeon's forces as well as the one time save of his guardian.

From that moment on he played it very, very safe, afraid to take any risk. His Dungeon had even less floors than Void, just three though they were expanded a few times over.

Void reluctantly prepared himself for the inevitable war, hoping that his father would at least reward him with something related to magic for his time.

"Void and Queek will compete in a restricted Dungeon war, they will be limited to using only the upper three floors of their respective Dungeons, forbidden from taking to the field personally, using DP to summon more monsters mid battle and the war itself will have a time limit of 4 hours.

If none of them have defeated the other's invading team or they fail to reach their opponents core the victor will be determined by a combination of damage and delve progress. The winner will be granted a personalised reward with an upper limit value of 20,000DP while the loser will earn a 5,000DP gacha pull. Do the two of you understand the rules that I have set?"

"Yes father."

"Yes Lord creator." Void and Queek replied respectively.

"Good, I'll give you each 1 hour to ready your Dungeons for war, good luck." With a wave of his hand two magic crests appeared under Void and Queek spiriting them away. Dark then turned to face the rest of his children with an evil smirk.

"Time to place your bets kids."