a week has passed since the first challenger has left the dungeon.
for the whole week, Argholas diligently alter his dungeon as much as possible until the original shape cannot be seen anymore. his dungeon now have so many hidden dead end, covered by buildings or rubbles that the challenger have to spend as much time as possible to check every turn just to find the right way.
on one of the day that week, Argholas asked Dungeon Core something.
"Dungeon Core, how do i increase my Dungeon Dwellers number?
it looks like there is only so few of them to begin with, and become a lot fewer after my hunting session."
"Question Accepted.
Generating Answer.
different Dwellers have different way to increase their number.
in current Dungeon Boss case, Deformed Mutants can only increase their number by infecting other living organism.
Evil Spirits can only increase their number by having living organism with soul to as slowly and painfully as possible."
the answer from shake Argholas to his core. killing challengers is something he know and understand. it is not even something that need a confirmation for him. a challenger that come to his dungeon will either be killed, or run in fear.
but to turn them into a Deformed Mutant, with the outlook that so grotesque and gore that he feel happy to kill them when he hunt. imagine a living being become something like that is felt like a big wrong for his conscience. not even mention turn them into Evil Spirit.
after that Argholas didn't ask about increasing number to Dungeon Core again. but he still think about it. considering if ther is an easier and non gore method to increase his Dwellers number that not rely on gore and pain.
in this week, Argholas also train himself more. mostly just to make sure his current skill is stay in prefect shape, but also to try Aura Wave again. sadly he can't really replicate it yet. first because he don't know how to produce an aura, and second that he don't know how to release it to become a shockwave like before. but Argholas is intelligent enough to create something based on his Aura Wave which he called as Magic Wave, which is creating a tidal wave of pure magic power that strike everything in front of him.
all in all, Argholas satisfied with his growth for the week that when the new Challengers appear at the Dungeon Gate again, he welcome them nicely. no terrifying roar and no excited burst of Aura Wave. just a happy smile, especially since he sees their confused face.
***
in the world outside the dungeon
Major General Lavita is in the middle of briefing her Second Team.
"in conclusion, this is a powerful dungeon that belong to a powerful Dungeon Boss which we don't know about for now.
but this boss have a total control over its dungeon that it can change its land on its will."
"how do we know that it was Dungeon Boss that change the land and not a the land that change itself?" one of the Second Team member ask.
"good question, but it appear you don't really pay attention.
i believe that it is the work of Dungeon Boss because there is no magic power movement in the air when the land changing happen. for the other dungeon, there is only two occasion where dungeon change shape in the floor below 5. one is when battle happen on it and great destruction alter it shape. second is when a huge amount of magic power moved together and change the shape of land. there is no proof of these two things happen, so there must be another way.
now on the higher floor, land change is quite common thing as we have reports about it. and that report is technically what exactly happen in this dungeon. the change of land without any shift in magic power. it happen because Dungeon Boss directly alter it from its Dungeon Core.
so to answer your question. yes we know this is the work of Dungeon Boss because we have seen the same thing happen on the floor above 5. which is also why the dungeon is powerful."
then another one raise her hand.
"do we know anything about Dungeon Dwellers?"
"no, we do not know anything at all about Dungeon Dwellers.
the setting of this dungeon is something we never seen before. it is like a city that is abandoned for thousand or maybe hundred thousand of years. it can be filled either with Skeleton Type, Ghost Type, Beast Type or anything else.
but what we know is the Dwellers is an ambush kind. also something that only been seen on other floor except floor one."
Major General Lavita then look around and see no one raise their hand anymore.
"good, you all know the task.
enter, get as much information as you can. then get out.
your life takes the highest priority of all.
ten of you is a better source of information than just one of you. got it?"
"YES, MAJOR GENERAL!" they said together as they give their salute.
nodding in satisfaction, Major General Lavita is about to dismiss the team. but suddenly the door in front of her burst open.
BRAKKK!!
"i am sorry Major General! this person break in t-"
"YOU HAVE TO LET ME IN TO THE DUNGEON! YOU HAVE TOOOOO!!!"
a man in 40s break into the room, trying to remain in it while two personel trying to drag him out. his clothes indicating that he is often go into the mountain or jungle. his eyes showing a mad obsession of something.
"who are you!! identify yourself before you dare to make demand!" shout Major General Lavita.
her shout is so full of confidence and firmness that it wake the man from his mad outburst. seeing that the man has calm himself and Major General demand him to identify himself, the two personel that hold the man decide to let him go but still in ready position to drag him out if the situation demand.
"i am sorry. i really want to enter when i heard about a gossip regarding this dungeon.
my name is Professor Akira Chimon. you can call me Aki for short.
i am a professor in archeology and history, and based on the gossip i heard, i believe this dungeon have what we archeologist want from this very forest.
i believe this dungeon floor is a ruins of the ancient Metropolis, Zandana"