The air in the core room was thick with tension as Ryo floated in his crystal, still processing the fact that he had managed to negotiate a truce with the novice adventurer. "This is a good start," he thought, but he knew it was far from a sure thing.
The adventurer, still eyeing him with skepticism, lowered her sword and took a cautious step back. "What's your name, dungeon core?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with curiosity.
"I… I don't have a name," Ryo admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. "But you can call me Ryo. It feels fitting."
"Ryo, huh? Nice to meet you, I guess. I'm Mira." She sheathed her sword, though her posture remained guarded. "So, what's this vision you have? You want to build a better dungeon?"
Ryo felt a spark of excitement. "Exactly! I want to create a dungeon that's not just a place for adventurers to plunder, but a realm where powerful beings can thrive and grow. Together, we could take on the strongest adventurers and rival dungeons!"
Mira crossed her arms, contemplating his words. "That sounds ambitious. But how do you plan to do that? You're just a rock with a crystal inside."
"I may be just a core now, but I can summon monsters, create traps, and manipulate the environment! I can grow stronger if I level up, but I need your help."
Mira raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "And what's in it for me? I could have easily smashed you into pieces and taken whatever treasures you had."
Ryo could sense her hesitation and decided to appeal to her sense of adventure. "You get a chance to become stronger! Instead of just raiding dungeons, you could help create something amazing—a stronghold that could stand against the best of them!"
Mira studied him for a long moment, the gears in her mind clearly turning. "Alright, Ryo. I'll give you a chance. But you need to show me what you can do."
Ryo felt a wave of relief. "Great! Let's start by expanding the dungeon. I can create new rooms and summon stronger monsters."
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
As Ryo's mana began to regenerate, he focused on expanding the dungeon's layout.
"I want to create a training area where you can practice and grow stronger. It will also help defend the core!" he declared, feeling the anticipation build.
Creating Room
• New Room: Training Room (50 Mana)
• Effect: Provides a space for training and leveling up. Can summon training dummies and low-level monsters for practice.
Ryo felt the energy surge as he spent his mana, transforming a section of the dungeon into a spacious training room. The room was illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls, and several wooden dummies appeared in the center, ready for use.
"There! Now you have a place to practice!" Ryo said, pride swelling in his chest.
Mira walked into the training room, examining her surroundings. "Not bad," she admitted. "But I hope you can do better than this when it comes to defenses."
"I can create traps and summon stronger monsters! Just give me time to build up my mana."
She nodded, stepping closer to a training dummy. "Let's see what I can do." With a determined expression, she pulled out her sword and began striking the dummy, practicing her swings and footwork.
Ryo watched her, impressed by her dedication. "You're really good!"
Mira paused, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I've trained for years. But I'll need to get even stronger if I want to survive out there."
"Then let's work together to make that happen! The stronger you get, the more I can evolve my dungeon."
A New Threat
As they trained, Ryo felt a familiar disturbance—something was approaching. The warning flared through his mind.
[Warning: Intruders detected!]
"Mira!" Ryo shouted, urgency lacing his voice. "We have company!"
She whipped around, her expression shifting from relaxed to alert. "What do you mean? More adventurers?"
"Yes! I can sense them coming! We need to prepare!"
Ryo focused on the dungeon layout and felt the mana he had been regenerating. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
Preparing Defenses
• Create Room: Trap Room (20 Mana)
• Summon Monster: 2 Goblins (40 Mana)
Ryo spent his mana, creating a Trap Room filled with basic traps like pits and swinging logs, and summoned two goblins to patrol the areas.
"I've set up traps and summoned some goblins to help defend," Ryo explained. "They should slow down the adventurers."
Mira's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This is what I'm talking about! Let's make sure they regret coming here!"
As the adventurers drew closer, Ryo felt a mix of nerves and anticipation. "Remember, we can't let them get to the core!"
The Ambush
The first adventurer—a burly man in heavy armor—burst through the entrance, his sword drawn. Behind him, a lithe woman with a bow nocked an arrow, scanning the room.
"Another dungeon! Let's take this one down quick!" the burly man shouted.
Ryo could feel Mira tense beside him. "Ready?"
"Let's show them what we can do!"
As the adventurers stepped into the trap room, they triggered the first trap—a hidden pit opened beneath their feet. The burly man stumbled, falling into the hole with a loud crash.
The archer shot an arrow towards the goblins, but they dodged nimbly, closing in on her position.
"Come on, goblins! Attack!" Ryo commanded.
The goblins charged at the archer, who quickly turned her attention to them, drawing another arrow.
"Focus on the man!" Ryo shouted. "He's the bigger threat!"
Mira sprang into action, rushing forward. With swift movements, she engaged the archer, deflecting arrows with her sword while keeping her distance.
Ryo could see the burly man struggling to climb out of the pit. "We can't let him get up!"
Dungeon Core Status
• Core Level: 1
• Mana: 15 (Regenerating)
• Current Layout:
• Room 1: Entrance (Plain Room)
• Room 2: Narrow Hallway with Slippery Floor (10 Mana)
• Room 3: Training Room
• Room 4: Trap Room (Traps Active)
• Abilities Unlocked: Basic Room Creation, Summon Slime (Tier 1), Illusory Treasure Chest, Falling Rocks Trap, Goblin Summon
Ryo felt the adrenaline rush through him as he concentrated on his core. He could see the goblins working together to hold off the archer, while Mira skillfully dodged and countered her arrows.
"Come on, just a little more mana!" Ryo urged himself.
Just as the burly man finally climbed out of the pit, Ryo's mana hit 20 points, allowing him to summon another creature.
Summon Monster
• Monster: 1 Giant Rat (20 Mana)
Ryo summoned a Giant Rat, a creature known for its agility and surprising strength.
"Go help Mira!" Ryo commanded, and the rat darted towards the archer, distracting her just long enough for Mira to close the distance.
With a swift strike, Mira landed a blow on the archer, forcing her to stumble back.
"Nice!" Ryo cheered, feeling a surge of pride.