The interface glowed faintly in front of him, its layout familiar but overwhelming. Cale had skimmed through it before, but now he focused on the section marked "Master's Abilities."
---
[Abilities - Dungeon Master:]
Dungeon Overview: Access detailed stats and manage your dungeon.
Master's Abilities: Skills and attributes unique to you as the Dungeon Master.
Intruder Detection: Track, analyze, and respond to enemies within your domain.
Expansion Mode: Unlock new dungeon floors and environmental biomes.
Dungeon Store: Exchange resources for advanced traps, monsters, and upgrades.
Nexus Control: Directly manipulate the World Nexus, adjusting dungeon links.
—
Cale's eyes paused on one particular ability. Nexus Control.
"What's this about Nexus Control?"
"The Nexus governs the entrance to your dungeon," the Core replied, her tone patient, like a teacher to a student.
"It is the bridge between the Abyss and the world from which intruders arrive. You may strengthen or sever the link as you see fit."
Cale's brow furrowed. "Can I connect it back to my world?"
The Core's glowing eyes narrowed slightly. "No. Not yet."
Cale clenched his fists, irritation bubbling under the surface. "Then how do I get back there?"
A world he had suffered and bled for. He couldn't just ignore that world, not after what he had heard from them, those snakes who had betrayed him.
Who knew what they were going to turn that world into in his absence?
"You can," she said calmly, "but the location of your old world is far from this dungeon. Establishing a connection requires immense energy, which you currently lack."
"So, getting stronger is the only way," he said, more to himself than her.
"Exactly. Build your strength, Master, and the connection may one day be within your reach."
Her words grated on him, though he knew they were true. For now, he was stuck here, and that meant playing by the rules of this world.
He inhaled deeply, forcing down the frustration. "And if I sever the Nexus?"
"Your dungeon becomes isolated—safe from intruders but also cut off from opportunities. The choice is yours."
"Safe but stuck," he muttered.
"Precisely."
Cale let the interface fade, his mind racing. The Abyss was dangerous enough on its own, but now he had to contend with invaders from a completely different mortal world?
And yet, a flicker of anticipation stirred in his chest.
Every adventurer who set foot in this dungeon brought risks, sure, but also rewards—power, knowledge, leverage.
The Core's voice interrupted his thoughts. "What will you do, Master?"
Cale scanned the chamber: the glowing Rift humming with magic, the skittering spiders in their nests, the sharp tang of mana in the air.
"We build," he said finally, his voice steady. "If this world wants to send its best, let them. This dungeon will be more than a fortress—it'll be a kingdom. And I'll be ready for anything."
The Core involuntrilly grinned brightly at his response, her voice filled with approval. "Very well, Master. Let us continue."
At this point, Cale felt something other than anger or despair. It wasn't peace—no, not yet. But it was purpose.
And that was enough.
—
A while later, Cale stood in the gloom of a vast chamber. The lair of his newly summoned Gloomfang spiders.
The massive arachnids rested in their nests, their many eyes glittering like black jewels in the low light. Nearby, the Core stood beside him, her sharp gaze fixed on the iron cage in the center of the room.
Inside, a man sat slumped against the bars, gripping them tightly. Kain. His glare burned with resentment.
Cale broke the silence first. "You keep glaring at me like this is my fault."
"Because it is," Kain spat. "Let me out, and I swear, I'll never come back."
Cale smirked. "Yeah, no. You know too much, and frankly, I don't trust you not to talk. Don't push your luck."
Kain's knuckles whitened as he gripped the bars. "I'm not staying in this dungeon, you bastard."
"Big talk for someone in a cage," Cale said, his tone casual. He flicked a glance toward the shadows.
"Since youre unwilling to do what i said, then i guess i should use my minions to give you a little… persuasion."
Just as Cale spoke he cast a mental command to his minions. Instantly, two small small figures moved. They had been by his side, following him the whole time since he arrived in the minion lair.
They had a pitch black appearance and small frame that only permitted them to reach up to his knees in height.
They had a little bit of reptilian details with scaly skin and long, pointed tails. Their hands and feet were clawed coupled with their large eyes with sparkled with a mischievous glint, etched on grotesque faces, with large, pointed ears, sharp teeth, and small horns protruding from their heads.
These godforsaken creatures were Shadow Imps, listed among the creatures he had available for summoning. He had summoned two of them just before coming to this place.
Their grotesque faces lit up with glee as they scampered forward, dragging spiked iron rods that looked far too big for their scrawny frames.
"Hehehe… hehehe…"
The Imps giggled, their laughter high-pitched and chilling.
"Wait," Kain said, his bravado slipping. "You're not serious."
Cale shrugged. "Serious enough. Let's call this a team-building exercise."
Kain's eyes shone with terror at the sight of these devilish creatures approaching him.
"Wait, what… dont come any close, Arrrghhh!!"
Kains screams pierced through the walls of the cavern as the Shadow Imps poked at him repeatedly with their spikes.
The scene mirrored like a niddle piercing through hot buns. It was just enough to inflict an intense amount of pain while bruising him just slightly.
Cale watched impassively. The Imps were disturbingly efficient—too efficient, really. Each jab mirrored the last, as if the creatures had spent their entire existence perfecting the art of torment.
'So devious' Cale thought, suppressing a shiver.
Their giddy cackling, like nails scraping glass, was enough to make his skin crawl. He had wondered during their summoning if these creatures had crawled directly out of hell, and watching them now, he felt more certain than ever.
When Kain's wails began to verge on pitiful, Cale sighed and issued the mental command. The Imps froze mid-jab, their heads snapping toward him as if disappointed.
"Enough."
The Imps scurried back to his side, grinning from ear to ear, their claws twitching with lingering excitement. Cale ignored them and turned his attention back to Kain.
Kain slumped against the bars, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
"So, will you strip naked or not?"
The reason why Cale had asked him to do this earlier, was because this guy seemed all fully geared, equipped to the brim with all sort of devices hanging from him.
Well, it matched his class as a scout, but Cale was still new to this world, he didnt know what sort of device this guy might possess now that might implicate him, perhaps relaying information about this dungeon to whoever had sent him.
It was better safe than sorry.
Kain was still quite reluctant. Although he absolutely didnt want to continue experiencing the turture from those godforsaken little devils, the major issue was…
He glanced at the enchantilngly beautiful woman standing beside Cale.
Why was she staring at him like that?
Her unblinking gaze carried a hint, as if she had some long unresolved grudge against him.
That aside, he couldnt quite deny her enchanting beauty that seemed to mirror the description of a goddess. Due to his dignity as a man, he was really hesitant to go buck naked under her scrutinizing gaze.
But what choice did he have?
From the corner of his eye, he could see the little devils twitching eagerly to continue their inhumane turture.
***
A moment later, Cale stepped through the Rift, his vision blurred slightly as the dungeon dissolved into light.
The transition was brief but disorienting, leaving him blinking under the open sky of the world before him.
His appearance had shifted noticeably from before.
Gone was the imposing white armor he had worn right from the Demon King's throne room. In its place, he now donned a sleek black bodysuit-style armor adorned with intricate, vine-like patterns. A dark cape with fur-lined shoulders draped elegantly over his back.
He looked far less eye catching now, which was the point of the change.
This new outfit was practical. Most importantly, it made him appear like a typical adventurer, significantly reducing the likelihood of drawing unwanted attention.
Just at that moment, the syten notification chimed as it appeared in his vision.
—
[You have exited your Dungeon for the first time. Master's Abilities have been sealed.
Personal Stats unlocked.]
Right then, the system window rolled, displaying a host of information.
Name: Cale Evander
Class: Dungeon Master
Level: 1
Health: 60/60
Mana: 30/30
Stamina: 40/40
Strength: 12
Agility: 16
Endurance: 15
[Abilities - Personal Mastery]
These abilities function outside the dungeon and reflect your growth as an individual.
Domain (Active): Marks an area equal to your current dungeon size. Within this domain, you have access to some of your dungeon abilities. You can also summon, banish, or reorganize your dungeon monsters. (Cooldown: 12 hours, Lasts 20minutes)
Recall Core (Active): Instantly teleports you back to your Dungeon from anywhere. (Cooldown: 24 hours)
Beast Trait (Passive): A slight chance to inherit abilities from beasts or monsters you eat.
Dungeon Seed (Passive): Enables you to reposition your dungeon to wherever you stand. (Cooldown: 5 days)
Commanding Presence (Heroic):
When active, it exerts an undeniable pull on those around you. There is a compelling urge to do your bidding. Allies who follow your direct commands experience increased strength and faster growth rate.
Secondary Effect: Following your orders grants slight resistance to fear, confusion, and mental effects. There is a chance of triggering the blessing of luck.
—
Cale's eyes widened as he read through the list, his gaze lingering on the final ability.
"I still have it?"
He muttered the words under his breath, his pulse quickening.
He had assumed that his old abilities were gone—left behind when he became a Dungeon Master. But if Commanding Presence was still with him…
His mind raced. Plans he had dismissed before now seemed possible.
No, not just possible.
Necessary.