The ten figures walked into the dungeon without a hint of hesitation. Their heavy boots clanged against the stone floor as they marched forward, already having drawn their weapons. Each of them moved with an air of practiced lethality, cold and calculating.
Ethan watched them from the core chamber, his senses spread throughout the dungeon. There was something wrong about this group, something that made his instincts rise.
"System, identify the newcomers," he ordered.
"Analyzing intruders. Matching profiles. Alert: Intruders identified as the Black Vipers, a mercenary group known for high-profile assassinations. Confirmed deaths attributed to them: 213. Unconfirmed deaths: undetermined."
Ethan's brows furrowed. "They're killers, then. But why would mercenaries be interested in a dungeon?"
Mira stepped into the chamber, her face tense. "I overheard them talking in the outer corridors. They're not here for treasure or glory—they're here to destroy you."
Ethan leaned back, his face setting in a grimace. "So they've decided to take out the dungeon core."
A Reckless Display
Kaela, the quest-giving NPC, appeared before them as they reached the first checkpoint. With practiced elegance, she unfolded her scroll and greeted them in her voice that could put even the cheeriest of people to shame.
"Greetings, brave adventurers! I offer quests to those who seek both challenge and reward. Perhaps you'd like to—
The leader of the group, a tall man with a scarred face, didn't let her finish. With a single swing of his axe, Kaela's form shimmered and collapsed, her essence dissipating into the dungeon walls.
"Enough with the theatrics," the man growled. "Spread out. Destroy anything that moves. We'll find this core and crush it."
Ethan's vision flared red as the system delivered the report. "NPC Kaela terminated. Dungeon integrity compromised by intruders."
Mira clenched her fists. "That's it. They need to die."
Ethan hesitated for only a moment. "Agreed. They've crossed a line, and I won't let them leave here alive."
The Battle Within the Dungeon
Ethan turned the defenses of the dungeon on, full force. The Black Vipers ripped through the dungeon with ruthless efficiency, cutting down monsters and bypassing traps with calculated precision. However, the deeper they went, the more fierce resistance they encountered.
It was in the Illusory Maze that the shadow basilisk ambushed them, its petrifying gaze claiming one of the assassins before they finally managed to kill it. Two more fell in the Blight Marsh to venomous creatures and quicksand-like pits.
Ethan led the battle like a conductor, flowing with their movements and targeting their weak points.
"They're strong," Mira said as she watched the fight. "But they're also reckless."
"They're used to fighting people, not a dungeon that thinks," Ethan replied. "And they've never faced someone like me."
Ethan's Judgment
The remaining six members of the Black Vipers made it to the core chamber, battered and bloody but still determined. Ethan stood in his human form, Mira by his side.
The leader sneered. "So you're the core? I thought you'd be more. intimidating."
Ethan crossed his arms, his voice cold. "You shouldn't have killed Kaela. You shouldn't have come here at all."
The leader laughed. "Spare me the morality lecture. We're just doing what we do best. Killing things."
Mira stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "You're more than killers. You're butchers. How many innocent lives have you taken? How many families have you destroyed?"
The leader shrugged. "Enough to make a living.
And then Ethan snapped, "You have merited your lot."
Then a wave of his hand caused pandemonium in the dungeon. The ground underneath the Black Vipers stirred, splitting into pits with pointed bars. Spectral Wardens sprang from the walls, and in shining blades cut through the whole company.
One by one, the killers fell to their deaths, their arrogance replaced with fear as the dungeon consumed them. When the leader was the last one standing, Ethan stepped forward.
"No mercy for killers," Ethan growled. He raised his hand, and the Void Serpent materialized behind the leader, its jaws snapping shut around him in one swift motion.
The room fell silent.
The Reward for Justice
The system chimed. "Intruders eliminated. Dungeon Core experience awarded. Level increased: 20 → 24. Total gacha spins: 12."
Ethan exhaled slowly, his anger fading as the system's energy filled him. "Four levels. Looks like the world respects those who take out the trash."
Mira smirked. "You've earned it. Now, let's see what those spins bring."
The Gacha Spins: A New Era Outside the Dungeon
Ethan accessed the gacha wheel, spinning all twelve times.
Spin 1: A Tavern Room with a bar, tables, and an NPC bartender.
Spin 2: A Traveler's Lodge outside of the dungeon where adventurers could rest and recover in multi-room fashion.
Spin 3: A Mission Board where adventurers could take quests before entering the dungeon.
Spin 4: A Potion Shop run by an alchemist NPC.
Spin 5: An Observation Tower that commands a good view of the surrounding area.
Spin 6: A Marketplace, where adventurers could trade items and goods.
Spin 7: A Training Ground, where adventurers could spar and hone their skills.
Spin 8: A Guild Hall, a space for adventurer groups to gather and strategize.
Spin 9: An Artifact Appraisal Room, where treasures could be identified and valued.
Spin 10: A Monster Arena, for showcasing creatures in controlled battles.
Spin 11: A Wayfarer Shrine, granting temporary buffs to adventurers for a fee.
Spin 12: A Transportation Hub, connecting the dungeon to nearby regions.
Mira's jaw dropped as Ethan read off the rewards. "You're building a whole adventurer's town out there."
Ethan smiled. "Why not? If I can control the space outside the dungeon, I can draw in even more adventurers. The more they interact with this place, the more power I gain."
A New Frontier
Ethan placed the new structures around the dungeon's entrance, creating a bustling hub for adventurers. The tavern, traveler's lodge, and mission board became immediate attractions, drawing in curious adventurers from nearby regions.
Mira made her way through the new constructions, awed by the change. "It's like you're building a kingdom," she said.
"Not a kingdom," Ethan replied. "A community. One where I control everything."
Mira laughed. "Same difference, really."
Ethan smiled, his eyes drifting to the horizon. "Let's see how big this community can get.