The adventurers who survived Ethan's mercy barely stopped to catch their breath after leaving the dungeon. They ran into the woods, looking over their shoulders as if the dungeon itself would grow legs and chase them. It was only when they reached a nearby clearing in safety that they finally collapsed onto the grass, gasping for breath.
The silence was broken by the young woman healer, Lirien. "That wasn't normal." Her voice was trembling, her usually steady hands shaking.
The tank, Garren, grunted, his shield lying discarded beside him. "No kidding. Dungeons don't talk, and they sure as hell don't let you go.
Alayna adjusted her crooked glasses, her face pale. "What was it, then? Some kind of cursed artifact? A lich pretending to be a dungeon core?"
Garren shrugged, wiping soot from his face. "Doesn't matter. We're alive. That's all I care about right now.
Lirien frowned, her gaze drifting back toward the direction of the dungeon. "It matters. If that dungeon is different. we need to figure out why. And what it wants."
Rumors Spread
The story of the encounter spread rapidly. By the next week, tales of the "Merciful Dungeon" had reached taverns and guildhalls across the region. Some called it a hoax, a tall tale spun by a group of lucky adventurers. Others were more curious, seeing it as an opportunity to explore a dungeon with reduced risk.
Ethan sat cross-legged in his core chamber, listening to the whispers of the system-the information from his domain filtering back, pieces of conversations spoken by adventurers who traveled within earshot.
"I heard the dungeon gave someone treasure just for solving a puzzle."
"No way! My cousin said it let a group leave alive after they were beaten."
"What if it's a trap? Some kind of lure to draw in stronger adventurers?"
Ethan sighed. "You try to show a little humanity, and suddenly you're a marketing ploy."
Mira chuckled from her seat on a nearby stone. "What did you expect? Adventurers are greedy, but they're not stupid. They'll test the waters before throwing themselves into the unknown.
"Let them," Ethan said. "I've got plenty of surprises waiting for anyone who thinks this is going to be easy."
The Rainbow Spin's Promise
Ethan's thoughts turned back to the gacha spin that had granted him a human form. It had been weeks since he'd received the ability, and he still wasn't entirely comfortable with it. The system's flexibility was both exhilarating and unnerving.
The final spin had hinted at even greater changes. The rainbow of lights, the surge of energy-it felt like a promise of potential.
"System," Ethan called out. "What else is possible for me?"
"Query: Please specify desired parameters."
He frowned. "I mean. can I expand my influence outside the dungeon? Can I. build something bigger?
The response came in an instant. "Expansion of the Dungeon core is possible at Level 20. External influence includes outpost and resource gathering zones, extended territory control."
Ethan's mind started to spin. He really was not sure about this whole business of turning into some kind of territorial overlord, but the idea of constructing more than what was within those walls definitely interested him.
The Next Adventurers
Not long afterward, another group came into the dungeon. This time, they were unmistakably better prepared. Their gear shone, their actions exact.
Ethan watched from the core chamber, Mira at his side.
"They look serious," she said, observing the adventurers navigate the early traps with ease.
"Guild members," Ethan said. "They've got experience, but they're still testing the waters. Let's see how far they get."
The group consisted of four: a heavily armored paladin, a nimble rogue, a staff-wielding mage, and a priestess. They communicated in short, efficient bursts, navigating traps and dispatching weaker monsters without breaking stride.
When they reached the shadow wolf chamber, things changed.
The wolves, now more coordinated and territorial than ever, struck with precision. While the paladin held the front line, the mage laid down barriers of flame; however, the wolves adapted quickly, dodging around in an agile manner that completely outmaneuvered the party's strategy.
Ethan felt a strange mix of pride and anxiety as he watched the battle unfold. The wolves fought smart, but the adventurers were relentless. When the last wolf fell, the paladin's armor was dented, and the rogue's left arm hung limp, but they were still standing.
"They're good," Mira said, her tone admiring.
"They'll need to be," Ethan replied. "The flame drakes are next."
A New Face in the Dungeon
The adventurers had spent a little time in that safe room when Kaela, the quest-giving NPC, appeared before them.
The entrance was grand, with Kaela stepping through a glimmering portal of light. "Greetings, brave adventurers! I see that you have survived the early trials of the dungeon."
The paladin did raise an eyebrow. "And who are you?
Smiling, undeterred by their disbelief, Kaela told them, "I am Kaela, an envoy of this dungeon. I offer quests to those seeking greater rewards. and greater challenges."
The rogue raised an eyebrow. "What's the catch?
"No catch," Kaela said suavely. "However, the dungeon does have rules. When a quest is accepted, it means committing to the terms involved. If that happens, succeeding may bring more treasure than they can conceive. Failing to." She trailed off, leaving it to hang there.
The priestess took one step ahead. "What kind of quests?"
Kaela unrolled her scroll, her voice light, almost lyrical. "Escort a lost soul to safety. Retrieve an artifact from the depths. Or face the dungeon's champion in combat."
The adventurers looked at each other, deliberating.
Ethan smirked, still observing through the core's vision. "Let's see what they choose."
A Changing Vision
After the adventurers made their decision, Ethan leaned back in his chair-like perch beside the core. Mira looked at him curiously.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "Maybe. It's different now. I'm not just throwing monsters at people—I'm creating something. alive. Dynamic."
She smiled faintly. "You're not like any dungeon I've ever heard of."
"Good," he said firmly. "Because I'm not just a dungeon anymore. I'm something new."
The core pulsed softly in seeming agreement as Ethan's gaze turned toward the future. What exactly would the future be, he was unsure, but for the first time since his beginning as a dungeon, he was ready for whatever came his way. With Mira by his side, along with the evolving creations that called him master, together they would shape a destiny totally his own.