At this time an upgrade menu popped up in front of him.
He opened the Dungeon Upgrade menu, staring at the options.
Spiked Pitfall Traps – Create new death traps to impale and incapacitate intruders.
Sentient Dungeon Guardians – Unleash the dormant sentient creatures within the dungeon to defend the core.
Core Expansion – Increase the core's capacity, allowing for greater mana regeneration and advanced commands.
He hesitated, his mind racing through the options.
Upgrading the core would allow him to regain more of his former power faster, but sentient guardians could ensure the dungeon's defenses were far stronger, capable of reacting in real time to the adventurers' strategies.
The adventurers moved closer, their eyes wary, their movements slow as they tried to anticipate his next move.
His choice needed to be perfect.
[Upgrade Activated: Sentient Dungeon Guardian]
In the depths of the dungeon, something awoke. The stone trembled as creatures began to stir within its walls, ancient, forgotten entities that had once defended this place in its prime.
They were not mere summoned creatures, but beings of malice and intelligence, bound to the core but capable of independent action.
The best of it was they did not need Mana to summon; it was more of a dormant being waiting to be activated.
The adventurers would no longer face mindless obstacles; they would face opponents with cunning.
The Architect watched as one of the newly awakened guardians, a shadowy figure with blade-like limbs, emerged from the wall.
Its form was fluid, like living darkness, and it moved with silent, lethal precision.
The Knight raised his shield once more, but the shadow guardian slid past him, aiming for the Cleric.
With a swift strike, the guardian's blade-like arm slashed through the Cleric's robes, severing his staff in two.
The Cleric gasped, stumbling back, blood trickling from a deep cut.
The Ranger let loose an arrow, but the shadow melted into the walls, disappearing before she could make her shot.
Panic set in.
The adventurers were outmatched, their strategies unraveling as the dungeon fought back with intelligence and fury.
They had underestimated its power. And now, it was too late.
The Architect's gaze darkened as the souls of the adventurers began to pulse near the core, ready to be consumed.
The dungeon was finally regaining its strength, bit by bit. But with each victory, a question lingered in the back of his mind.
Who would come next? And how long could he stave off the inevitable?
[Dungeon Core Integrity: 65%]
The Architect smiled grimly as the last of the adventurers fell. His dungeon was growing stronger, but he knew that with greater power came greater threats.
This was only the beginning.
He would need to be ready for whatever the world threw at him next.
The echoes of the battle faded as the last adventurer succumbed to the dungeon's defenses.
The Architect stood at the center of his domain, the oppressive weight of defeat from his former life beginning to lift.
The upgrade menu had appeared as if in response to his need, a flicker of hope in his otherwise bleak existence.
[Dungeon Upgrade Available:]
Spiked Pitfall Traps – Cost: 50 MP.
Sentient Dungeon Guardians – Cost: 100 MP.
Core Expansion – Cost: 150 MP.
He could feel the remnants of power pulsing through him, a legacy from his previous life as a powerful entity.
The idea of upgrading wasn't a surprise but rather an expected evolution, every dungeon thrived and grew stronger through adversity.
The necessity of upgrades was ingrained in his mind, a reflex born from a history of survival.
What was the cost of his actions? He thought, glancing back at the flickering core.
The calculations were constant, a reminder that every move had its price.
[Current MP: 300]
His MP had recharged but...
He noted that summoning a guardian would deplete his resources, but the cost felt justified.
The sudden spike in confidence was an unsettling change.
Where once he was a passive observer of fate, now he felt a hunger for power, an urge to reclaim what had been lost.
This shift in his character was not merely about greed; it was a necessity to survive in a world that had cast him aside.
He understood the fragility of his core all too well.
It pulsed like a heartbeat, its integrity ebbing and flowing with each encounter.
The remnants of the adventurers lingered, spectral energy binding them to the core.
This connection was a gift; their essence would strengthen the core, but only if it remained intact.
Fragile, yet potent, he thought.
The core needed nurturing, not just from the defeat of intruders but from a deeper understanding of its nature.
He sensed that while the core could consume, it needed time to recover before absorbing the souls entirely.
He caught a glimpse of the status screen again, the bar indicating the core's integrity.
[Dungeon Core Integrity: 70%]
His mind raced as he recalled the lessons from his past: every powerful entity had a remnant, a piece of its former self that lingered even after its downfall.
The remnants were whispers of strength, echoing in the shadows of forgotten dreams.
This knowledge gave him confidence; he was not just rebuilding a dungeon but also crafting a new identity, a way to change the rules of this divine game.
CHAPTER 6: BEASTMASTER
As he considered his next move, he felt the need to clarify his thoughts and abilities.
The mechanics of his newfound life had to be crystal clear; he would not let uncertainty cloud his judgment.
[Command Activated:]
[Dungeon Status]
With a gesture, the status panel materialized before him.
[Dungeon Status:]
His fingers traced the options, weighing his next upgrade.
Should he summon more guardians or fortify the dungeon's defenses?
He needed to adapt.
The world outside was dangerous, filled with adventurers seeking fame, glory, or even revenge.
He could not allow himself to falter again.