The adventurer stood poised at the entrance to Ryo's core room, her eyes narrowed in determination. She had just defeated his one and only defense—a slime that hadn't even been able to land a hit.
"What do I do now?" Ryo thought, anxiety bubbling within him. "She's almost here, and I can't let her break my core!"
He quickly scanned his limited options once more.
Dungeon Core Status
• Core Level: 1
• Mana: 60
• Current Layout:
• Room 1: Entrance (Plain Room)
• Room 2: Narrow Hallway with Slippery Floor (10 Mana)
• Room 3: Treasure Room (Empty Chest)
• Abilities Unlocked: Basic Room Creation, Summon Slime (Tier 1)
Ryo could see the adventurer's resolve, and panic surged through him. "Think, think, think! What can I do to turn this around?"
Then it hit him. He had a Treasure Room—even if it was currently empty. He could create something to distract her. But he had to act fast.
"I need to create something that will buy me time!"
Ryo focused his thoughts on the empty room and drew on his mana.
Creating Room Item
• Item: Illusory Treasure Chest (20 Mana)
• Effect: Creates an illusion of a treasure chest that emits sparkling light and sounds of gold.
With a pulse of energy, Ryo conjured an Illusory Treasure Chest in the center of the room. The chest shimmered, casting reflections that danced across the stone walls. It looked enticing, almost as if it were filled with gold and jewels.
"Come on, take the bait!" Ryo willed, his focus entirely on the core room.
The adventurer stepped into the room, her gaze immediately drawn to the shining chest. Her expression shifted from determination to curiosity.
"What's this?" she murmured, lowering her sword slightly as she approached the illusion.
Ryo could feel her energy fluctuating, a wave of intrigue washing over her. "Yes! Open it!"
As she reached out to touch the chest, Ryo felt the power of the illusion swell. The chest clicked open, releasing a brilliant light and the sound of clinking coins.
"Whoa!" The adventurer gasped, momentarily captivated.
Ryo seized the moment. "I have to act fast! I'll summon another slime!"
Summon Monster
• Monster: 1 Slime (20 Mana)
Ryo spent the last of his mana to conjure another slime, this one slightly larger than the last. As it emerged from the ground, it plopped onto the floor with a satisfied jiggle.
"Go, little guy! Attack!" Ryo urged, willing the slime forward.
Just as the adventurer pulled her hand away from the chest, the slime lunged toward her, knocking her off balance. She stumbled back, sword clattering against the ground as she fell to the floor.
"No way! Get off me!" she shouted, flailing as the slime enveloped her legs.
"This is it! You can do it!" Ryo cheered internally.
The adventurer finally regained her composure and kicked the slime away. But it was enough time for Ryo to act again.
Creating Trap
• Trap: Falling Rocks (30 Mana)
• Effect: Triggers a rockslide from above to block an exit or stun the intruder.
Ryo couldn't afford to miss this chance. He gathered what little mana he had left and prepared to trigger a rockslide from above the core room.
As the adventurer stood, panting and furious, Ryo focused all his energy into the ceiling. The rocks trembled, then came crashing down.
"Watch out!" she yelled, but it was too late. The rocks fell around her, narrowly missing her head but trapping her in the corner of the room.
"I did it! I actually did it!" Ryo shouted mentally, the thrill of victory rushing through him.
But the moment was fleeting. The adventurer was already scrambling to her feet, brushing dirt from her armor with fierce determination.
"You think you can keep me trapped?" she snarled. "I'll break this dungeon apart if I have to!"
Ryo's heart sank. He had to end this quickly before she could escape or call for help.
Dungeon Core Status
• Core Level: 1
• Mana: 0 (Regenerating at 5 per minute)
• Current Layout:
• Room 1: Entrance (Plain Room)
• Room 2: Narrow Hallway with Slippery Floor (10 Mana)
• Room 3: Treasure Room (Illusory Treasure Chest)
• Abilities Unlocked: Basic Room Creation, Summon Slime (Tier 1), Illusory Treasure Chest, Falling Rocks Trap
"I need to level up fast!" Ryo thought. "If I can just hold her off long enough…"
The adventurer looked around wildly, searching for an escape route. Ryo felt a flicker of hope. "Maybe I can convince her to leave?"
He focused on his crystal core, channeling his thoughts outward.
"Wait! You don't have to do this! There's nothing for you here!" he projected, using the remnants of his mana to speak through the dungeon.
The adventurer paused, glancing at the crystal that pulsed at the center of the room. "You can talk?" she said, disbelief in her eyes.
"I can! I'm more than just a dungeon! I'm… I'm a being of great power!"
She hesitated, uncertainty creeping into her expression.
"Why should I believe you?" she demanded, still holding her sword tightly.
"Because if you leave now, you can live to fight another day! You're not strong enough to defeat me—yet."
Ryo watched as the adventurer considered his words, her grip on the sword wavering.
"What's it to you? You're just a dungeon core!"
"I'm a dungeon core with a vision. Help me grow, and I'll let you leave safely. You can come back stronger—perhaps even as an ally!"
The words hung in the air, heavy with potential.
"An ally?" she echoed, suspicion still etched on her face.
Ryo had no mana left to summon another creature or create more traps. "Yes! Together, we can take on stronger adventurers and maybe even rival dungeons!"
The adventurer's eyes narrowed, weighing her options.
"Fine," she finally said, lowering her sword slightly. "I'll give you a chance. But if you try anything funny, I'll come back and destroy you!"
Ryo felt a wave of relief wash over him. "You have my word!"