Chapter 8: Domain Hub

Inside, the Domain Hub was nothing like the landscape outside.

It was a complete contradiction.

A wide circular hall opened before him, lined with various floating lanterns casting warm golden light. 

The floor was a polished obsidian, reflecting the glittering ceiling lights like a mirror. 

Multiple pathways branched outward into different corridors labeled with glowing signs:

• STORAGE

• SUMMONING CONTROL

• DOMAIN EXPANSION

• MARKET ACCESS

• POINT EXCHANGE

• TRAINING GROUNDS

At the center of the hall stood a floating crystal interface shaped like a rotating cube.

And directly beneath it…

There was a small kiosk.

Gene walked closer questioning the world’s sense of humor.

The kiosk however, was not a physical shop in the traditional sense. 

Instead, it offered a hovering display of items, weapons, structures, and abilities rotating slowly in midair like a holographic catalog.

A pleasant voice spoke from the interface.

“WELCOME, SUMMONER GINGERLINE.”

Gene jumped.

“Okay, I’m officially tired of disembodied voices.”

Moira stepped in beside him.

“That is the Domain Interface.”

“Does it always talk like a customer service representative?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It reduces psychological strain.”

Gene nodded slowly.

“That makes sense but I still want to hate it.”

The interface expanded.

⸻

DOMAIN STORE SYSTEM

Available Currency: Loading Points…

•  Structures

• Summon Enhancements

• Defensive Systems

• Environmental Modification 

• Utility Items

⸻

Gene stared.

“So this is the economy system.”

Moira nodded. “Correct. Points are earned through summoner activity.”

“Like random quests?”

“Most points are made from making summons, but there is also Territory Challenges, Resource harvesting, and Combat between summoners.”

Gene crossed his arms.

“Basically we are inside a real life game.”

“Many of the foreign summoners, like yourself, describe it that way.”

Moria touched the top of the kiosk list. 

The store interface shifted, showing a list of  items.

⸻

STRUCTURES

• Fog Generator: 50 Points

• Fear Amplifier Node: 120 Points

• Nightmare Prison Cell: 500 Points

• Expansion: 200 Points

• New Buildings Available 

⸻

Gene leaned closer.

“Nightmare Prison Cell? What would you need to put into a prison?”

Moira answered immediately.

“For containment of unstable summons. Or anything deemed a danger usually.”

Gene glanced at the Caretaker.

“Good to know I have a way to keep  my summons from killing me.”

The Caretaker stood silently, as if uninterested in the concept of being contained.

The interface shifted again.

⸻

SUMMON UPGRADES

• Strength Amplification

• Loyalty Reinforcement

• Regeneration Boost

• Conceptual Stability Increase

• Fear Aura Expansion

⸻

Gene whistled as he looked through the prices. 

“These are… expensive?”

“Some yes,” Moira said. “Power always requires a fare investment.”

“And I start with around 100 points?”

“Yes.”

Gene frowned.

“That buys basically nothing.”

A new notification appeared.

⸻

BONUS POINTS RECEIVED 

First Summon Successful: +100 Points

Unique Horror Archetype Bonus: +500 Points

Domain Compatibility Bonus: +300 Points

⸻

Gene’s eyes sparkled.

“Wait. That means I have  1000 points total.”

Moira nodded.

“Seems that you are already above average for an Initiate.”

Gene grinned smugly.

“I like this new economy.”

The Caretaker tilted his head slightly.

Gene pointed at him.

“Question. Can I upgrade him?”

Moira hesitated.

“You refer to your summon as if it is equipment.”

“Just so you know I refer to everything as equipment. My doctor told me it is a coping mechanism.”

The interface responded.

⸻

SUMMON ENTITY: THE CARETAKER

AVAILABLE UPGRADES:

• Persistence Extension (300 Points)

• Fear Radius Increase (150 Points)

• Target Mapping Enhancement (200 Points)

• Physical Regeneration Level (300 Points)

⸻

Gene nodded slowly.

“Okay, now this is getting interesting.”

He tapped the first option.

A confirmation prompt appeared.

PURCHASE PERSISTENCE EXTENSION?

“Yes.”

The screen flashed golden as the points were deducted from Gene’s total.

A wave of energy surged outward.

The Caretaker’s body began to shimmer faintly, like heat distortion in cold air.

Moira observed the upgrade very carefully.

“You altered his persistence function.”

Gene blinked.

“How can you tell?  I’m actually wondering what that mean in normal people’s language?”

Moira flipped her pad to another page, “It looks like…. Ah! It seems that he will now continue operating under conditions that would normally terminate your summon.”

Gene paused.

“So… that makes him harder to kill.”

“Yes.”

Gene smiled faintly.

“That was definitely a good investment then.”

Moira studied him.

“You seem to be adapting quite quickly.”

“I write monsters for a living,” Gene said. 

“Well I used to… Anyway I guess I am now just outsourcing the scares now.”

The interface chimed again.

POINT ACQUISITION SYSTEM 

UNLOCKED

You can now earn Points via:

• Survival Duration

• Domain Stability

• Summon Activity

• External Conflict Engagement

⸻

Gene frowned.

“External conflicts?”

Moira’s expression hardened slightly.

“That refers to the other summoners.”

The air in the room seemed to cool.

Gene looked at her.

“There are fights?”

Moira nodded.

“As I said earlier, that is the most common way to gain points in this world. I am honestly beginning to think that talking to the Caretaker would probably be more fruitful.” 

Gene stopped looking at the screen as he turned to look at Moira, “ Sorry I got distracted, what were you saying?”

The Caretaker tilted his head in what Moira guessed as a show of sympathy.

She took a deep breath, and gestured towards one of the corridors labeled MARKET ACCESS.

“Speaking of other summoners, it looks like it is time to show you the market.”