Creating Games in the Dungeon

I've been hanging out with Ruka and Leza at the arcade every day for the past week. They're totally addicted to playing Pong, but I don't mind. It's actually kinda fun watching them go at it, trash-talking each other the whole time. Ruka always thinks she's hot stuff, but Leza usually ends up whooping him. I just sit back and laugh at their antics. Even though it's the same game over and over, I enjoy the company. Those two never fail to keep me entertained.

I'm hunched over the Runeboard, carefully etching runes and symbols onto the wooden surface. The circuit board sits before me, glowing faintly with magical energy as I input the commands. My progress on this Mario game has been painstakingly slow, but I'm determined to get it right.

"Excuse me, what are you working on?" I glance up to see Leza, the shy Beastfolk girl, peering at me with curiosity.

"Ah, Leza. I'm working on creating a new game," I explain, setting down the tool in my hand.

"A new game?" She moves closer, examining the circuit board and the Runeboard. "It looks very complex. Are you having trouble with it?"

"You could say that. I'm still learning how to properly utilize the Runeboard and Manatech to bring my vision to life. It's been a slow process, but I'm getting there." I gesture to the half-finished arcade cabinet in the corner. "But it's taking time."

"Do you think... could I try?"

"Of course," I say, offering her an encouraging smile. "Here, let me show you how it works."

I guide Leza through the basics of the Runeboard, demonstrating how to channel her mana into the runes to input commands. At first, she's hesitant, her movements tentative. But as I continue to explain, her confidence grows, and soon, she's writing out simple programs with ease.

"Wow, you're a fast learner," I remark, watching as she deftly manipulates the symbols. "I'm impressed."

Leza's cheeks flush, and she ducks her head shyly. "Th-Thank you…," she murmurs. "The process… is very interesting."

I nod, feeling a sense of pride swell within me. "Well, you're a natural at it. Keep practicing, and I'm sure you'll be coding circles around me in no time."

Leza's lips curve into a shy smile, and she continues to experiment with the Runeboard, her fingers dancing across the symbols with growing confidence. I sit back, content to let her explore and discover the wonders of Manatech for herself.

Ruka saunters over, his fluffy tail swishing.

"Hey, what are you two up to?" he asks, peering over my shoulder at the glowing circuit board.

"We're working on coding," I explain, glancing up at him. "Leza's been a natural at it."

Ruka leans in, his brow furrowing as he examines the Runeboard. "Coding, huh? Looks...complicated." He scratches his head, his ears drooping slightly.

"Would you like to give it a try?" I offer, gesturing to the Runeboard.

Ruka's eyes widen, and he takes a step back. "Uh, nah, I think I'll stick to Pong. My head's already spinning just looking at all those symbols."

He turns and bounds back to the arcade cabinet, plopping down in front of it. I chuckle, amused by his disinterest in the more technical aspects of my work.

I see Leza still intently focused on the Runeboard, her brow furrowed in concentration as she manipulates the glowing runes.

"Leza," I call out, drawing her attention. "You seem to have a real knack for this. How would you feel about helping me with a project I've been working on?"

Her eyes widen, and she glances down shyly. "A p-project? With you?"

I nod. "Yes, I'm in the process of creating a new game, and I could use an assistant as talented as you." I gesture to the half-finished arcade cabinet. "It's been a slow going, but I think with your help, we could really make some progress."

"Do... Do you think I can do it?"

I nod encouragingly. "Of course! I believe you can." I place a hand on her shoulder, meeting her gaze. "You've already shown how quickly you've picked up the Runeboard. With your talent, I know you'll be a huge help in bringing this game to life."

"Th-Thank you, Rai. I'll do my best!"

"Great! Then let's start. First, we need to…"

I've been working on this Mario game project with Leza for weeks now, and I have to say, her help has been invaluable. With her natural talent for the Runeboard and Manatech, we've been able to make steady progress, far quicker than if I had tried to do it all on my own.

One of the key components we needed to tackle was the audio. I knew I had to create a Manatech speaker to bring the game to life, but the technical aspects of it had me stumped. That is, until I decided to visit the Dungeon Shop.

After browsing through the various items and materials, I managed to find a small magnet and some wires that I thought could work. Excited, I hurried back to the cave and got to work.

Carefully, I wrapped the wires around the magnet, creating a coil. Then, I crafted a small funnel-like structure out of some wood and bark, aiming to amplify the sound. It took some trial and error, but eventually, I had a functioning speaker that could produce basic tones and effects.

Leza watched, her eyes wide with fascination, as I demonstrated the speaker's capabilities. She listened intently, offering suggestions and ideas on how we could incorporate the audio into the game. Her keen mind and creative vision were a perfect complement to my technical skills.

Over the following weeks, we worked tirelessly, Leza handling the level design and graphics while I focused on the Manatech programming and sound effects. It was a delicate balance, but with our combined efforts, we began to see the Mario game take shape.

The levels started to come alive, with vibrant colors and intricate details. The sound effects, from the familiar jump sound to the eerie background music, added depth and immersion. And the controls, powered by my Runeboard, felt responsive and intuitive.

As we neared the completion of our prototype, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. This was my vision, brought to life with Leza's invaluable assistance. I knew that without her, it would have taken me much longer to get this far.

The prototype is finally finished," I say, stepping back to admire our creation. "Great job, Leza."

"Th-Thank you... Rai..." Leza replies, her cheeks flushing with pride.

I set up the Mario arcade cabinet, carefully inserting the circuit board we've been working on for weeks. With a deep breath, I power on the system, and the familiar Mario title screen lights up the display.

A wave of nostalgia washes over me as the iconic theme music begins to play. I can't help but smile, remembering all the hours I spent playing this game back in my old world. It's surreal to see it come to life in this fantastical setting.

"It worked!" she exclaims, clasping her hands together. "Rai, this is amazing!"

"I know, right?" I can't help but grin. "All our hard work paid off."

"Should we... should we try playing it?"

"Actually, I already promised Ruka that he'd be the first to try out my new game."

As if on cue, Ruka saunters over, his ears perking up at the sound of the familiar music. "Hey, what's going on over here?" he asks, his gaze fixed on the glowing arcade cabinet.

"Ruka!" I call out, waving him over. "Come check this out. I've got a new game for you to try."

Ruka's eyes widen, and he bounds over, his tail wagging excitedly. "A new game? Seriously?"

"Yup. I've been working on this for a while, and it's finally ready." I turn to Leza and give her a reassuring smile. "Leza helped me a lot with this project, so I'm sure you're going to love it."

Leza ducks her head shyly, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Alright, alright, let me see it then!" Ruka exclaims, practically bouncing with anticipation.

I chuckle and step aside, allowing Ruka to take a closer look at the arcade cabinet.

"It's called Super Mario," I explain, watching as Ruka examines the controls.

Ruka's eyes light up, and he plops down in front of the cabinet, his fingers already hovering over the buttons.

"This looks awesome! Can I try it?"

"Of course," I say, gesturing for him to go ahead. "You're the first one to play it, just like I promised."

Ruka grins and presses the start button, his ears perking up as the game springs to life. The familiar theme music fills the air, and Mario appears on the screen, ready to embark on his adventure.

(Ruka POV)

I plop down in front of the arcade cabinet, my fingers hovering over the unfamiliar controls. This "Super Mario" game Rai has been working on looks totally different from the Pong game we've been playing. I take a deep breath and press the start button, my ears perking up as the familiar theme music fills the air.

The screen comes to life, and I see a little mustachioed man appear, jumping and running across the colorful landscape. "Woah, look at that!" I exclaim, my eyes widening in fascination.

I start experimenting with the controls, pressing the left and right buttons to make the character move. It takes me a moment to get the hang of it, but soon I'm running back and forth, jumping over small gaps in the ground.

Suddenly, I spot a strange creature, a little brown thing with a big head, waddling towards me.

"Rai, what's that?" I ask, pointing at the screen.

"That's a Gomba," Rai replies, leaning in.

I nod, determination filling me. "Alright, let's do this!" I press the jump button, and my character leaps into the air. But as I come back down, the Goomba collides with me, and my character suddenly disappears in a puff of smoke.

"Huh? What happened?" I exclaim, my ears drooping in confusion.

"Oh, you got hit by the Goomba," Rai explains. "You need to either jump on its head or avoid it completely to get past it."

I frown, staring at the screen as my character reappears at the start of the level.

"Okay, let me try that again."

This time, I'm more cautious as I approach the Goomba. I time my jump carefully, and with a satisfying "boing" sound, I land squarely on top of the creature, sending it bouncing away.

"Yes! I did it!" I exclaim, my tail wagging excitedly.

"Great job, Ruka. You're getting the hang of it."

I grin and continue playing, jumping over gaps and dodging more Gombas. The controls feel a bit strange at first, but the more I practice, the more natural it becomes. I'm starting to really enjoy this game.

As I progress through the level, I encounter new obstacles, like floating blocks and pits of spikes. I have to be extra careful, but the thrill of overcoming each challenge is exhilarating.

"Whoa, what's that?" I ask, spotting a strange, mushroom-like creature.

"That's a Mushroom," Rai explains. "If you collect it, it will make your character grow bigger and stronger."

I nod and guide my character towards the Mushroom, scooping it up with a satisfying "ding" sound. Suddenly, my character grows in size, and I let out a delighted laugh.

"Look at me, I'm huge!" I exclaim, steering the character through the level with newfound confidence.

Rai watches, a proud smile on his face. "You're doing great, Ruka. I knew you'd get the hang of it."

Here is the continuation from Ruka's perspective:

I let out a triumphant cheer as I clear the first level of this "Super Mario" game. The little mustachioed man on the screen jumps and bounces his way to the end, and I pump my fist in the air.

"Yeah, I did it!" I exclaim, my tail wagging excitedly.

"Great job, Ruka. But that was just the first level - it only gets harder from here."

My ears perk up at the challenge. "Bring it on!" I say, already positioning my hands on the controls, ready for the next level.

Suddenly, Leza speaks up. "Um, Ruka? Can I... can I have a turn?" she asks timidly, her gaze shifting between me and the screen.

I hesitate, not wanting to give up my spot. This game is so much fun, and I want to keep playing. But then I remember that Leza helped Rai create this whole thing. It wouldn't be fair for me to hog it all to myself.

With a sigh, I reluctantly scoot aside. "Alright, Leza. Your turn."

Leza's eyes light up, and she quickly takes my place, her fingers tentatively pressing the buttons. I watch as she navigates the first level, her brow furrowed in concentration.

To my surprise, Leza proves to be a natural. She deftly guides the character through the obstacles, even managing to collect a few of those mushroom power-ups. I find myself leaning in, captivated by her progress.

We continue to play, taking turns and cheering each other on. The game is challenging, but the sense of accomplishment when we clear a level is immensely satisfying. I find myself getting lost in the colorful world of Super Mario, and before I know it, time seems to fly by.