"What.....?"
The warning continued sounding in my ears, making it impossible to think.
So to make it stop, I pressed [Yes]
Immediately after pressing the button, a burning sensation filled my chest, like eating a super hot ghost pepper burger using the entire jar of sauce.
I was dying... for sure... Flames were burning out from my flesh... a strange mist of blue and purple formed a weird sphere of crimson that suddenly fused itself with my melting flesh. The scent was disgusting, but the pain made me cry... embarrassing.
The two women were speaking slightly away from me.
"Master accepted the dungeon's baptism!?" Muru seemed shocked, but her eyes sparkled with admiration and delight.
"Ah, this is strange. First, he is kind to you and doesn't try to touch my tits... Now he's going to accept his role?"
"Ugh..."
I might have complained about my predecessor's useless attitude if my chest wasn't being burnt.
[Detected Host Soul]
[Fusing Remnant With New Owner]
[Welcome, Dungeon Master Asmoedus]
The mechanical voice was like those Vtubers who used the soundboard to change their voices and was irritating and a little scary that it could play with my soul so easily; one wrong move, and wouldn't I be dead once again?
[Measuring Dungeon size and rooms to customise]
[Activating Time-Stop]
[Time stop is a rare magic that all Dungeon Masters can use whenever they are invaded for a maximum of 10 minutes BEFORE any combat has started]
[00:10:00]
[Would you like a tutorial on how to build dungeon features?]
"Woah... woah!"
Suddenly both my two cute attendants stopped moving, even the strange particles of blue and red that flickered from my body once that strange gem stopped.
It was suddenly like I pressed paused and cheated when playing "They are trillions." on the last round.
Normally I would say no.
But let's be real for one second; what do I know about being a dungeon master?
"Yes! Show me the tutorial!"
[00:09:58]
[Tutorial Mode will help you deal with the first invasion!]
Once the mechanical voice ended, it suddenly transformed a holographic panel ahead of me.
It showed a large square room with a path leading straight forward for two squares, then split into another two that went 4 spaces forward.
Like a 2 pronged fork.
The large square was labelled [Throne]
While the double room outside was labelled [Boss Room]
There was no connection between the two narrow paths, so one chose left or right.
Under the holograph was a small interface with a few images.
The first image was a picture of a flame with the words [Summon Monster] written in a strange glyph or rune, but my head translated it.
The second was an image of a hammer with the words [Build], and then the last was a spiked fence which was similar to the previous but said [Create Traps]
[00:08:56]
[Do you want to start with Traps or Monsters? Both are a good choice, but monsters cost a DP up front and then DP to upkeep.]
I was happy for the information, but the summon page was blank—hello, tutorial, are you trying to kill me? No... calm me down.
Isn't it weird to use my old name now? What if it triggers these two minions to doubt me and lose trust... "You are Asmodeus—you are Asmodeus."
Taking a moment to calm myself, I opened the [Create Trap] Page.
[Spike Trap] - 50 DP
[Spike Trap (Pitfall)] - 100 DP
[Arrow Trap] - 30 DP
Only three traps showed on the screen. I noticed it was like playing a mobile game... I just had to click the trap and then the point I wanted it to go. "Kinda interesting..."
"How much DP do I have and how can I earn DP, and how much do traps take to repair?"
[Activate DP Metre?]
"Yes!"
The moment I spoke, a burning sensation began to tear the back of my hand apart before a strange number hovered over the flesh that began to heal rapidly.
[450 DP]
[All traps and buildings will self-repair.]
[Repair cost is free and uses the dungeon excess Mana to repair. It takes 1 hour after combat ends.]
[00:07:36]
My eyes were sore from focusing on the map—this holo map was awesome, showing that the enemy had split into 2 groups.
One with 4 party members and the other with 3. It couldn't show me their abilities or class, but I assumed each had a tank, damage dealer and healer.
"Can I put a spike trap under the arrow trap to stop them from disarming?"
My fingers acted my thoughts, placing two arrow traps, one square apart, one on the left wall and the other on the right, in both tunnels. (-120 DP)
[DP: 330]
Tapping the square under the arrow traps, I made four Spike traps and felt my spending was too lavish. (-200 DP)
[DP: 130]
All four points were trapped after entering the third block of each tunnel, right before the boss room.
[00:05:32]
[If you wish to move around the dungeon at any point, press a title 3 times and click confirm. As there is no specified boss monster, please designate one now.]
Suddenly a strange image appeared with a silver border and the words [First Floor Boss] beside it.
A drop-down box appeared with three faces...
The super handsome me! It kind of feel's nice being attractive, though.
Muru with a strangely erotic pic showing her breasts pushed together... I wish I had my D drive still!
Finally, the maid, with a cold stare.
My mind was racing as the timer continued to count down, although I didn't know how to fight.
Sending Muru to fight each time was just like that damn Playboy.
There was a desire for me to learn...
Maybe I overlooked something in the game, or there was a way to fight for me.
Is it conceited to want to be able to fight my own battles?
[Would you like to try the battle tutorial? It will take 3 minutes and leave you with a few seconds of Active Time Stop left.]
Without wasting time, I shouted because this was more important than anything. Would it be like the game, or would there be differences because it's real life?
My heart was racing despite being a demon as I noticed that the red gemstone was no longer hurting and instead seemed to create Mana constantly...
"Strange..."
How can Demons absorb the planets Mana if I create it from my own body?"
[...]
For the first time, I felt a sense of fear.
There was no voice from the machine, and a slightly eerie sound played like the one from the survey... The sound which Caused my choices to be reversed!
"Fuck..." I felt a slight disturbance before clicking my portrait as the boss monster for the first floor, and suddenly, my body vanished in a strange blue light!
I warped!!
The boss room was quite big, around 10 metres wide and 25 metres long, and a slightly ugly throne that was broken and damaged from wear and tear.
Thankfully I could still see the Holo Map and sat in the horrid chair. It was black, wet and smelt like moss.
Now free, I began to brace myself for the tutorial while looking at the dim dungeon; it was a cave type with water trickling down the black walls—the floor was loose mud with a few hard places conveniently within range of most archers most likely.
[Please check the Holo Map for 2 New additions]
"Oh? It's true!"
Now there was a picture of a rather handsome guy closely resembling Asmodeus as the fifth button was labelled [Status], and the fourth button was a picture of a sword and shield [Equipment].
"Oh!? How amazing!"
The Status screen was just for me now, but I could see the grey portrait of the sexy shortstack and the tsundere maid.
"I can see my subordinate's attributes from here! Good."
[00:02:15]
[Please check your Attribute's effects. You must know exactly what each one does as they might differ from the game.]
Like a good novice Dungeon Master, I checked it as the voice told me because I needed to know how to cast the spells!
STR|Strength would provide physical power and bonus damage with melee weapons. It also boosted physical defence.
VIT|Vitality increased the number of hit points and disease resistance, but as a Dungeon Master, this was useless due to the boost to HP in traits.
INT|Intelligence Increases Mana and Damage done by Magical spells
AGI|Agility increases both movement and dodge speed and improves dynamic vision.
DEX|Dexterity improves skill with weapons, tools and women. (Important)
Although they seemed simple enough, I was rather sceptical about the last one... But I couldn't deny keeping your lover happy was crucial to avoid bad ends.
I opened my Status and decided how to allocate my attributes best, although it would be cool to make myself full STR as Asmodeus. It would be stupid!
"Because I cannot use any weapons... damn, it's still here!"
[Name: Asmodeus
Race: Dungeon Master/Incubus
Level: 8
Class: Not Chosen
HP: 300/300
MP: 100/100
STR: 3
VIT: 3
INT: 33
AGI: 3
DEX: 10
DEF: 3
Unused Points: 40
(Average Adult Male: 20 points at Level 5)]
Below was the skills panel... even more depressing.
[Asmodeus Available Skills-
Level 1 Fireball 10 MP, Level 1 Super Fireball 20MP, Born of Fire, No Weapons, Flame Tempered]
"Haa.... well, the two skilled that seem to have been hidden in the game was amazing..."
Born of Fire caused me to absorb all fire damage and replenish my Mana and HP, and Flame Tempered improved my fire magic proficiency endlessly.
Proficiency increased damage and sometimes helped evolve spells like the [Super Fireball] in my skills.
[00:01:24]
[Bestowing Knowledge to cast and create spells and use abilities! 60 Seconds Remaining]
Bang!
Suddenly, my head felt like someone was hitting it with a metal bat!
Thanks to the black Throne, I could grab the stone and let tears ooze from my eyes as millions of runes and words flooded my mind.
I tried my best to distribute my Status while suffering this agony.
[Name: Asmodeus
Race: Dungeon Master/Incubus
Level: 8
Class: Not Chosen
HP: 800/800
MP: 100/100
STR: 8
VIT: 8
INT: 33
AGI: 8
DEX: 30
DEF: 8
Unused Points: 0]
[00:00:05]
The time began to slow down—as the clock reached zero, everything began to move again, my eyes glued to the tunnels as they progressed cautiously.
My heart was racing because no matter how much I became a demon or dungeon master... I was human until a few moments ago.... and...
*Swoosh! Thud!*
"SUSAN!!!!!"
"GREG!!!"
I looked at the tunnels and found the party of 3 was now a single red dot... two slowly went orange, then grey...
[Level 2 Human Died: +10 DP]
[Level 2 Human Died: +10 DP]
The traps worked... Human life was worth a mere 10 DP.
"Mother... Your son killed a man..."
[Level 2 Human Died: +10 DP]
[DP: 160]
Then even more screams sounded, the anger, hatred and sorrow echoing in my chamber, yet I must stay strong.
I am no longer a human; these feelings must be surpassed.
That is why I put myself here today!
To kill my human self.
For survival!