'The end of the Beginner's Protection Period is approaching.'
The Beginner's Protection Period was nearing its end. Eight months seemed like a long time, but it had passed in the blink of an eye.
Between the grueling trials of the training room and preparations for the dungeon, the days had slipped by faster than I anticipated.
With my training completed and new abilities unlocked, it was time to refocus on the dungeon. My first order of business was assessing the internal situation. Using the Dungeon Core, I projected the holographic map of the dungeon in front of me.
The sight was both satisfying and troubling.
I stood before the Dungeon Core, its steady blue glow illuminating the surrounding cavern. As always, the core hummed with an energy that filled me with both pride and responsibility. It was the heart of my domain, and its survival depended on the decisions I made now.
I examined the internal situation of the dungeon using the Dungeon Core. Everything was empty except for the 1st floor but I still needed to determine the status.
'I think the situation should be fine despite my neglect.'
I couldn't manage the domestic affairs when stuck in the training room. Looking at the status of the 1st floor, it seemed like it would endure for another few months.
'But I can't neglect it.'
There was a need to raise the dungeon guards and make them stronger. In order to do this, I needed to go through each floor organically.
"Domestic Mode."
Syuong!
[-Entered Domestic Mode.]
The Dungeon Core emitted a hologram.
The air shimmered as the Dungeon Core projected a holographic map of the dungeon. The 1st floor was alive with activity, teeming with dots representing the countless creatures that roamed its depths.
It was a small sized model of the dungeon. There was a total of 31 floors and everything was empty except the 1st floor. In contrast, the 1st floor had countless small, blue dots.
Some red dots were visible at the entrance which meant humans had entered the dungeon.
The hologram shifted, zooming in on the 1st floor. Small blue dots represented the creatures, and the density was staggering.
*79,144 Kobolds.*
*87,112 Goblins.*
*12,246 Earthworms.*
*400,000 Meat Rats.*
The 1st floor was teeming with creatures—kobolds, goblins, earthworms, and the ever-prolific meat rats. In contrast, the remaining 30 floors were barren, waiting to be developed. The 1st floor had survived without much interference during my time in the training room, but the imbalance in its ecosystem was glaringly obvious.
I grimaced. "400,000 meat rats? That's unsustainable, too many meat rats. Too many mouths to feed."
Meat rats were ferocious and indiscriminate, attacking everything in sight, including their own kind. If left unchecked, they would overrun the dungeon and starve themselves into extinction. That wasn't just bad for the ecosystem—it was a waste of resources.
If I didn't act, the meat rats would consume everything, leaving nothing for the other creatures to thrive on. An imbalance of this scale could collapse the dungeon's ecosystem, making the 1st floor less effective at stalling intruders.
'That is too many. I need to reduce it.'
I needed to properly control the ecology of the dungeon. In particular, the meat rats were ferocious creatures that would attack all living things in the area due to hunger. They would even eat their own kin.
'There isn't a natural enemy. But the number can't increase.'
If the meat rats were installed on the 1st floor then they would be the only creature remaining there. It was an unhealthy phenomenon.
"Yihi," I said, glancing at the fairy snoozing on my shoulder. "What is the natural predator of the meat rats?"
I pondered for a moment before asking Yihi who was snoozing on my shoulder.
"Huup! Yihi wasn't asleep!" she exclaimed, wiping a strand of drool from her mouth. Her wings fluttered nervously as she tried to regain composure.
"Predators of meat rats? Yihi knows! Cats, snakes, and weasels!"
I considered her response.
The creatures would also cost dungeon points. Especially when needing a considerable number of predators. I needed to release something that could suppress the meat rats.
Cats and weasels were viable options but likely too weak to survive against kobolds or goblins. That left snakes—low-maintenance predators capable of thriving in this environment.
"What's the cheapest snake we can get?"
"The Ale Snake!" Yihi chirped. "It's only 20 points each. A bargain!"
The Ale Snake was a lowest-grade creature, but it had qualities that made it ideal for controlling the meat rat population.
Instead, it could quickly adapt and assimilate into the surrounding environment. They were suitable rivals for the meat rats who had poor eyesight.
They were also suitable opponents for brave warriors who entered.
"How many would it take to restore balance?"
Yihi tapped her chin, thinking. "Hmm… Yihi thinks 1,000 should do it!"
I nodded. The cost—20,000 points—was steep, but this investment would ensure a healthier ecosystem on the 1st floor and provide an engaging challenge for intruding Heroes.
"Buy 1,000 Ale Snakes," I commanded.
A message window came up at the same time.
[-1,000 Ale Snakes have been purchased for 20,000 pt.]
Specify a location to release within the dungeon.
"Randomly on the 1st floor," I replied.
[-1, 000 Ale Snakes have been randomly placed.]
As soon as the message window disappeared, the number of blue dots on the hologram increased.
Purchasing large quantities of lowest grade creatures was very efficient. Their intelligence was too low and they wouldn't follow the Dungeon Master's command. They would just proliferate and die.
The hologram adjusted as the Ale Snakes were deployed. Small blue dots scattered across the map, blending seamlessly into the chaotic landscape of the 1st floor. With this, the population of meat rats would gradually decrease, stabilizing the ecosystem. The 1st floor had been tidied up.
This investment was used to defend the dungeon from warriors.
Satisfied, I turned my attention to the rest of the dungeon.
---
The 1st floor was only the beginning. The other 30 floors were empty, waiting to be shaped. The challenge was to build an engaging and rewarding experience for intruding Heroes while maximizing the dungeon's efficiency.
I tapped my forehead and started to worry about the positioning of the creatures. The difficulty couldn't climb too rapidly. The stairs needed to be placed step by step in order to be a benefit.
If the difficult increased too suddenly then the Heroes might not climb the dungeon or would wait until they became stronger.
The key was pacing. The difficulty needed to rise incrementally to keep Heroes motivated. If the challenge escalated too quickly, they might abandon the dungeon, returning only when they had grown significantly stronger. On the other hand, a slow difficulty curve risked wasting my resources.
'I need to adjust the difficulty of the 4th floor to make it slightly trickier. This will allow the sense of accomplishment when getting stronger. Adventures, exploration…releasing a few magic goods will release more motivation to become stronger.'
By placing treasures and magical tools at strategic points, I could entice Heroes to climb deeper into the dungeon. Each reward would come with increased danger, fostering a sense of growth and achievement.
I intended to help them on various fronts.
A plan to cultivate the Heroes! This was one of several plans I set up.
This would take too much time. In addition, I couldn't get the points if the creatures were too strong. The points invested could be reclaimed.
The idea of cultivating Heroes wasn't new, but my approach would be unique. By guiding them through a balanced series of challenges, I could shape them into stronger opponents. Stronger Heroes meant more points when they fell, and every creature they defeated would regenerate with increased strength.
This wasn't just about defense—it was about creating a cycle of growth and reward.
I activated the hologram again, reviewing the plans for each floor. The creatures' positioning, the placement of traps, and the scattering of rewards—all needed to be perfect. The stakes were high, but with careful planning, I would create a dungeon that balanced challenge and opportunity.
The first step would be released right now.
"Yihi," I called, tapping my forehead as I thought.
"Yes, Master?" she replied, perching on the Dungeon Core with an eager smile.
"We'll need to set up gradual obstacles. Nothing too overwhelming, but enough to test their skills. Spread the rewards evenly. They should feel like they're earning their victories."
"Yihi understands! Master wants to make them work hard for their shinies!"
---
The 1st floor was stabilized. The 4th floor would be adjusted next. Gradually, I would fill the remaining floors, each one a step in the ladder that Heroes would climb toward their ultimate failure.
I smiled, glancing at the points I had earned in the training room. With 500,000 points in reserve, I had the resources to turn this dungeon into an impenetrable fortress.
"Let's begin," I said, the Dungeon Core glowing brightly in response.
Yihi fluttered by my side, her enthusiasm infectious. "Yihi will help! Let's make it the best dungeon ever!"
As the Beginner's Protection Period neared its end, I prepared to unveil my masterpiece.
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