With the 1st floor stabilized, I turned my attention to the other 30 floors. They were barren for now, empty canvases waiting to be filled.
The challenge was creating a gradual increase in difficulty that would keep Heroes motivated while still deterring weaker invaders.
'I will mix a handful of orcs on the third floor,' I mused, tapping my chin thoughtfully. Their rapid breeding rate meant that only a few would be needed to maintain the population.
On the fourth floor, I planned to install kobold and goblin leaders—organized and commanding presences that could transform the otherwise chaotic mobs into a disciplined threat.
The leaders of the various creatures were more organized. I should be choosy.
The leaders were much better than the others in their species. They were smarter, stronger, and significantly more resourceful than the average members of their species.
They were perfect for complex tasks, but they came at a cost.
'100,000 points will fly away in an instant.'
I bought them in bulk so all the points seemed to evaporate in an instant.
I sighed as I allocated the points. The holographic interface before me displayed the rapidly dwindling total: 440,722 pt.
Watching it shrink was painful, but every point spent now was an investment in the dungeon's future.
---
'The Demon World auction is held in 4 months. I need to buy things from there. It will be good to have more points.'
440,000 points was insufficient for what I wanted to buy. At least 1 million points would be good.
Slaves were available at the Demon World's auction. Creatures purchased at the auction could be imported into the dungeon. Sometimes the Guardian of the Dungeon Core would come out.
The Dungeon Core was the most central and important thing in the dungeon. Of course an outstanding Guardian was required to defend it.
The auction at the Demon World was in four months. It was the most anticipated event of the year, held under the auspices of the Death Bringer. Unlike the items found in stores, the auction offered rare and priceless treasures—artifacts, creatures, and resources that couldn't be acquired anywhere else.
I needed to save points.
'At least 1 million points would be good,' I thought grimly.
My sights were set on a specific prize: a *half-dragon*.
Half-dragons were among the most powerful creatures available at the auction. With the blood of dragons coursing through their veins, they were unparalleled in strength and resilience. One in particular stood out—
'In particular, purchasing a half-dragon is necessary.'
A half-dragon had the blood of a dragon running through it!
---
In my previous life, Krasla was infamous. He had served as the Guardian of a Grand Duke's Dungeon Core, wielding his spear with terrifying precision. His hatred for humans was legendary, and his brutal efficiency in battle made him a spectacle even among demons. Krasla's strength wasn't just a rumor; it was palpable, like the oppressive weight of a storm on the horizon.
I remembered seeing him in action. His spear cut through the ranks of human Heroes like a hot knife through butter. The memory alone sent a shiver down my spine.
Krasla was one that especially killed humans brutally. He poured his boundless hatred towards humans. Cruel demons would watch him with eyes filled with admiration. He wielded a spear and took the lives of countless brave humans.
That guy would be emerging in this auction. I couldn't remember the winning price but it was considerable. 440,000 points was probably not good enough.
If I could acquire Krasla, my dungeon would gain an edge that even other Dukes would envy.
'A creature measured among the strongest,' I thought with a grin.
He was violent but all slaves had marks on them that wouldn't allow them to betray their masters. A Guardian of a Dungeon Core would get plenty of exercise.
But the price would be steep. Half-dragons didn't come cheap, and Krasla was no exception. Even with all my points, I doubted I could outbid the wealthier demons at the auction.
'I need more points…'
If I could get my hands on Krasla then I could get the 1st ranking. Even if I had to use all the points in my hand.
'I wish I can earn more points….'
Points could be earned by the creatures in my dungeon defeating invading Heroes, but that method was too slow in the early stages. Most of the human invaders were weaklings, barely worth the trouble of killing. Their deaths brought in only a trickle of points—hardly enough to prepare for the auction.
Doesn't that mean I need to kill a lot of them? The thought was laughable if I asked that question. I needed to wait for the golden goose to lay its egg.
No, I needed to find another way. Achievements were the key.
'Can I achieve something right now?'
Things like combining a unique skill combination for the first time or clearing out the training room. In addition, I needed to trade with some demons but the 4 Grand Dukes are so hostile that demons won't want to do business with me.
Accomplishing significant feats in the dungeon would yield point bonuses. I had already gained points for clearing the training room and combining a unique skill. However, the most substantial achievements often required bold or creative actions.
'Beginner's Protection Period….hrmm.' Something like wiping out all the monsters on the 1st floor might emerge. I never heard stories about things obtained from the Beginner's Protection Period. This was a busy time where demons were adapting. But I could still gain achievements.
This grace period prevented demons from attacking humans directly, ensuring a fair start for both sides. However, it also came with hidden opportunities. Few demons bothered to take full advantage of it, seeing it as a time to adapt rather than excel.
But I knew better.
What if I wiped out all the monsters randomly summoned to my dungeon during the Beginner's Protection Period? It was a gamble—there were no guarantees of a reward—but the possibility of earning a substantial point bonus was worth the risk.
---
The holographic display of my dungeon glowed softly as I surveyed the 1st floor. Hundreds of blue dots marked the locations of kobolds, goblins, meat rats, and other low-level creatures.
Meat rats were particularly troublesome. They were aggressive, cannibalistic creatures that would overrun the ecosystem if left unchecked. To control their numbers, I had already released *1,000 Ale Snakes*, their natural predators. It was a necessary investment to balance the 1st floor's ecology.
Now my skills hadn't died. My bad lucks means something like a Black Warrior or Dark Knight might be summoned.
Right now my skills were high ranking among the demons. The effect of the performance and title from the training room was enough to make me even with a Duke. Of course, they would become stronger as time passed but I had the upper hand for now.
'I might not necessarily be first.'
The result at the beginning might not carry through. However, first time achievements were valuable. It would give benefits.
Dukes and Grand Dukes were in a different position and didn't need to think about their 1st floor being wiped out. Their capacity at the starting point was different from others. Of course, they could easily wipe out the randomly summoned monsters.
If they didn't like adventures then there would be no need to leave and other demons couldn't touch them.
Now, it was time to go a step further.
There was no time left. The Beginner's Protection Period only lasted for 15 more days.
'I have 15 days left. If I move quickly, I can accomplish this.'
I made the decision to exit Domestic Mode and moved to the 1st floor of the dungeon, determination hardening my resolve. .
----
The air on the 1st floor was damp and heavy with the scent of earth and blood. The tunnels were dimly lit by glowing moss, casting an eerie greenish hue over the stone walls. The distant scuttling of meat rats echoed faintly, accompanied by the occasional growl of a goblin or the high-pitched squeal of a kobold.
I stepped forward, my iron sword gleaming faintly in the dim light.
The dungeon's 1st floor was silent and foreboding. I stepped into its depths with steady resolve, my iron sword gleaming faintly in the dim light. The air was heavy with mana, thick with an unnatural tension that prickled at my senses.
This wasn't the usual horde of kobolds or goblins. There was no swarm of meat rats or oversized earthworms. No, this was different.
I could feel it in my bones. The 1st floor had been repopulated entirely with Black Warriors.
They were elite creatures, far more powerful than any low-level minion. Their obsidian armor gleamed with a dark, malevolent energy, and each one carried a massive greatsword that seemed to hum with restrained power.
A single Black Warrior was a formidable challenge for any ordinary fighter. But here, the dungeon had thrown caution to the wind, filling its halls with these relentless monsters.
I tightened my grip on my sword, determination burning in my chest.
"Bring it on," I muttered, stepping forward into the unknown.
The first Black Warrior emerged from the shadows, its fiery eyes locking onto mine. It let out a low, guttural growl, raising its greatsword in a menacing display.
It charged.
The ground trembled beneath its heavy footsteps as it closed the distance with surprising speed. I sidestepped at the last second, its massive blade carving through the air where I had been standing.
Before it could recover, I struck. My sword found a gap in its armor, cutting deep into its side. The Black Warrior roared in pain, swinging its blade in a wide arc to force me back.
But I was faster. I ducked under the swing and delivered a decisive slash to its exposed neck. The creature froze for a moment before collapsing, its body shattering into shards of mana.
One down.
The sound of my victory must have alerted the others because more Black Warriors emerged from the shadows.
Two this time, their heavy armor clanking ominously as they approached.
They moved in unison, coordinating their attacks to box me in. One struck high while the other aimed low, their massive blades carving through the air with lethal precision.
I activated Keen Insight, the skill enhancing my perception and allowing me to read their movements.
[Name: Black Warrior]
[Base Stats]
Strength: 65
Intelligence: 40
Agility: 50
Stamina: 60
Magic Power: 30
Potential Level: (250/250)
[Uniqueness: Temporary dungeon guardians. Fierce loyalty to the leader.]
[Skill: Cleave (Normal)]
[Description: A devastating wide-area attack that deals heavy damage in a 180-degree arc. Slow cooldown but highly lethal.]
I grinned. The Black Warriors were strong, but their movements were predictable.
I dodged their first coordinated strike, the sheer force of their blades carving deep grooves into the stone floor. Before they could recover, I surged forward, driving my blade into the gap beneath one warrior's arm.
It roared, stumbling backward as dark mana poured from the wound. The second warrior lunged at me, but I twisted out of its reach and retaliated with a precise strike to its knee.
The fight was brutal and exhausting, but I emerged victorious. Both Black Warriors collapsed into shards of mana, their defeated roars echoing in the empty halls.
The battles continued.
As I ventured deeper into the floor, the number of Black Warriors increased. Sometimes they came in pairs, other times in groups of three or four.
Each encounter pushed me to my limits. Their strength, stamina, and coordination were relentless. But I adapted, using the narrow corridors and my superior agility to outmaneuver them.
Their Cleave attacks were deadly but predictable, and I exploited every opening they gave me.
My sword never stopped moving, each strike precise and deliberate. The 1st floor became a battlefield, and I was both predator and prey.
Days passed in a haze of blood and mana.
By the 14th day, the dungeon's population of Black Warriors had dwindled. Only a handful remained, but I knew the final challenge awaited me.
And on the last day, it came.
The Black Warrior Leader.
The chamber was vast and ominous, the air heavy with a suffocating pressure.
At the center stood the Black Warrior Leader, towering over its brethren. Its obsidian armor was adorned with jagged spikes, and its greatsword radiated a dark, pulsing energy.
The leader's fiery eyes locked onto me, and it let out a deafening roar. The sound shook the walls, and the mana in the room trembled in response.
This was no ordinary Black Warrior. Its presence alone was suffocating, and I could feel the raw power emanating from it.
Without hesitation, it charged.
The battle was unlike anything I had faced before.
The Black Warrior Leader was faster, stronger, and more aggressive than its subordinates. Its strikes were heavy and relentless, each one capable of cleaving me in two if I wasn't careful.
I dodged the first strike, the ground splintering beneath the force of its blade. Before I could counter, it followed up with a spinning slash that forced me to retreat.
Its attacks were relentless, leaving me no room to breathe. But I refused to back down.
I activated Keen Insight, scanning its movements and looking for openings.
[Name: Black Warrior Leader]
[Base Stats]
Strength: 80
Intelligence: 50
Agility: 65
Stamina: 75
Magic Power: 45
Potential Level: (300/300)
[Uniqueness: Leader of Black Warriors. Commands lower-ranked Black Warriors.]
[Skill: Wrathful Cleave (Rare)]
[Description: A devastating attack that combines raw strength and magic. Deals massive damage in a wide arc, with a chance to stun enemies.]
'Wrathful Cleave…that's trouble,' I thought grimly.
I had to end this quickly.
The battle was a blur of movement and violence.
The Black Warrior Leader unleashed its Wrathful Cleave, the attack carving through the chamber like a hurricane of destruction. I narrowly avoided the blast, the shockwave sending me sprawling across the floor.
I pushed myself up, pain lancing through my body. My stamina was waning, but I couldn't afford to falter now.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I dashed forward, ducking under the leader's next swing. My blade struck true, driving into the gap in its chest armor.
The Black Warrior Leader roared in pain, its fiery eyes blazing with rage. It swung wildly, but its movements were slower now, the damage taking its toll.
I pressed the advantage, delivering strike after strike to its vulnerable spots.
Finally, with a powerful upward slash, I severed its head from its body.
The leader let out one final roar before collapsing, its body shattering into shards of dark mana.
[-Unbelievable achievement! All monsters summoned during the Beginner's Protection Period have been struck down! 100,000 DP will be paid.]
I collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily as the notification flickered before my eyes.
"It's done," I murmured, a sense of relief washing over me.
The 1st floor was silent now, the air still and heavy with the remnants of battle. I had wiped out every Black Warrior, earning a point bonus and clearing the way for the dungeon's future.
As I returned to the Dungeon Core, I reviewed my progress.
[Points Remaining: 540,722 pt]
It wasn't enough for Krasla, but it was a step in the right direction. I had 14 days left to prepare for the Demon World auction, and I intended to make the most of them.
"This is just the beginning," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips.
In the quiet of the dungeon, a low hum resonated from the core. It was a reminder of the power I held—and the power I still sought to claim.