I groan and slowly open my eyes. Where am I? I push myself up and glance around the small cave I find myself in. The light at the entrance beckons me forward.
"What the..." I mutter, stepping outside. An expansive forest stretches out before me, nothing like the familiar cityscape I expected. My heart races as I take it all in.
A rabbit hops by, but there's something off about it - a strange horn protrudes from its head. I rub my eyes, certain I'm seeing things. Cautiously, I pinch my arm, wincing at the sharp pain.
"Okay, so this is real..." I breathe, mind spinning. How did I end up here? The last thing I remember is heading home from my part-time job.
I run a hand through my hair, trying to make sense of this bizarre situation. A fantasy world? Am I dreaming? Hallucinating? My eyes dart around, searching for any signs of familiarity, but there's nothing. Just the looming trees and this strange rabbit creature.
I hurry back into the cave, my heart pounding. Okay, Rai, calm down. Think this through.
I take a few deep breaths, trying to slow my racing thoughts. Right, the last thing I remember was heading home from my part-time job. There was an earthquake, and then...nothing.
I squeeze my eyes shut, desperately trying to recall what happened. The floor caved in, and then everything faded to black. How did I end up in this strange place?
I open my eyes, surveying the small cave once more. It's the only shelter I can see, so I decide to stay put for now. Sitting down, I hug my knees to my chest, wracking my brain for any clues.
"What is going on?" I mutter, frustration seeping into my voice. One minute I was in the city, and the next I'm in some kind of fantasy world. The rabbit with the horn only adds to the surreal nature of this situation.
I let out a heavy sigh, trying to stay calm. Panicking won't do me any good right now. I need to figure out what happened and how I can get back home. Glancing around the cave once more, I notice a faint glow emanating from the corner.
Curious, I crawl over to investigate. As I get closer, I realize it's some kind of glowing crystal. Reaching out, I gently touch it, and a strange sensation washes over me. It feels...familiar, almost like it's calling to me.
I gasp as a flood of information rushes into my mind. Dungeon Master? Dungeon Core? What is going on?
"Okay, okay, let me try to make sense of this," I mutter, running a hand through my hair.
Apparently, this glowing crystal is my Dungeon Core - the very heart of the dungeon I'm now responsible for. If it's destroyed, I'll die along with it. That's certainly not good news.
I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. As a Dungeon Master, I have the ability to create and customize my dungeon using something called Dungeon Points, or DP for short.
"DP, huh?" I mutter, studying the crystal more closely. "Looks like I can use these to expand my domain and make it more...entertaining."
According to the information in my head, I can gain DP in a few ways. The more people and stronger beings that stay in my dungeon, the more points I'll earn each day. I can also increase my DP by killing intruders, sacrificing corpses, and offering treasures.
"Huh, so basically a standard dungeon building," I chuckle, the idea slowly sinking in. "I wonder what kind of stuff I can create with these DP..."
The list of possibilities is extensive - from creatures and traps to structures, floors, and even items. The only catch is that I can only create things that already exist in this fantasy world. No modern technology or conveniences, it seems.
I stare at the glowing blue screen that suddenly appears before me, my eyes widening in surprise.
"What the..." I mutter, reaching out to tentatively touch the interface. As my finger makes contact, a flood of information rushes into my mind, and I can't help but let out a low whistle.
[Name: Rai
Race: Dungeon Master
DP: 1000
Shop
Customize
Map]
"Dungeon Master, huh?" I say, a small grin tugging at the corners of my lips. "Well, this is certainly an interesting development."
I study the options presented to me, my mind racing with the possibilities. The Shop is where I can use my DP to summon creatures and items and obtain abilities. The Customize tab allows me to tweak and enhance anything within my domain.
"Hmm, this could be fun," I murmur, already mentally cataloging the kinds of things I could create.
But first, I need to get a better handle on the layout of my domain. Tapping the Map option, a detailed overview of the area appears before me. It's just the small cave for now, but I can already see the potential for expansion.
"Alright, let's see what I can do," I say, determination filling my voice.
According to the information in my mind, if I want to expand my domain, I'll need to have my followers occupy the land for at least 14 days. That means I'll need to start building up a presence in this strange new world.
I glance back down at the DP counter, my brow furrowing in thought. A thousand points to start with, huh? That's not a bad foundation, but I'll need to find ways to increase it if I want to truly make my mark.
I let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through my hair as I stare at the glowing blue interface before me. As a newly minted Dungeon Master, I have a lot to learn, and the prospect of expanding my domain and increasing my Dungeon Points (DP) feels daunting.
According to the information in my mind, I only gain 2 DP per day. That's not a bad start, but if I want to truly make my mark, I'll need to find ways to boost that income. Hunting monsters could be an option, but the thought of leaving my Dungeon Core unattended makes me uneasy. I can't risk its destruction.
I could try killing monsters and offering their corpses as sacrifices, but the idea of that doesn't sit well with me. I was just an ordinary person a little while ago, and I don't know if I have it in me to start killing without remorse.
Frowning, I tap my chin in thought. There has to be a way to increase my DP without resorting to violence. My gaze drifts to the map displayed before me, and an idea slowly starts to form.
"Gathering followers," I murmur, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "That's it!"
If I can attract more people or monsters to my dungeon, the DP should start rolling in. But first, I need to explore the area and get a better feel for my surroundings.
Steeling my nerves, I step out of the small cave, my eyes scanning the lush forest before me. The unfamiliar sights and sounds have my heart racing, but I push forward, determined to make the most of this unexpected situation.
As I carefully pick my way through the undergrowth, I suddenly feel something squishy beneath my foot. Startled, I take a quick step back, my gaze immediately drawn to the strange creature before me.
It's a slime - a clear, gelatinous blob with a circular shape as it crawls along the ground. I can't help but stare, fascinated by the small marble-like object I can see within its body.
"Huh, so this is what the local wildlife looks like," I murmur, crouching down for a closer look. The slime seems unharmed by my misstep, and I can't help but wonder if it could be a potential ally.
Reaching out cautiously, I poke the slime, watching as it wiggles and pulses in response. A grin slowly spreads across my face as an idea takes root in my mind.
"Well, hello there," I say, my voice soft and inviting. "How would you like to join me?"
I watch in fascination as the slime wriggled, a small tendril reaching out to me. Hesitantly, I reach out and touch the tendril with my finger. To my surprise, a small aura of light emanates from the point of contact.
"Huh, what was that?" I mutter, brow furrowing in curiosity. Glancing down at the glowing blue interface before me, I tap the new "Servant" option, my eyes widening as I see the slime now listed as one of my followers.
[Servant: Slime x1]
[Daily DP Increase: 3]
"Well, would you look at that," I murmur, a grin spreading across my face. "Looks like I've made my first recruit."
I turn my attention back to the slime, which is still pulsing and wiggling before me. Feeling a surge of excitement, I gesture towards it.
"Hey, little guy, do you think you could show me where some of your friends are?" I ask, my voice soft and encouraging. "I'd love to meet them."
The slime seems to hesitate for a moment, then suddenly bounces away, beckoning me to follow. I quickly scramble to my feet and hurry after it, my heart racing with anticipation.
As I follow the slime through the forest, I can't help but marvel at the strange and wondrous sights that surround me. The trees are taller and more vibrant than anything I've ever seen, and the air is filled with the chirping of unfamiliar birds.
I follow the slime eagerly, my curiosity piqued. As we move through the lush foliage, I notice more and more of the gelatinous creatures, hiding in the grass, between the rocks, and even clinging to the trees.
"Wow, there are so many of you," I murmur, my eyes wide with wonder. Reaching out, I gently touch one of the slimes, watching as it wiggles and pulses under my fingertip. A small glow emanates from the point of contact, and I feel a surge of excitement as the slime is added to my list of followers.
[Servant: Slime x2]
[Daily DP Increase: 6]
Encouraged by my initial success, I continue to seek out and gather the slimes, my small entourage growing with each new recruit. I'm amazed at how easily they seem to accept me, almost as if they can sense that I'm their new master.
As the sun starts to dip below the horizon, I finally pause, taking a moment to survey the 100 slimes that now surround me. A grin spreads across my face as I realize the implications of my newfound army.
[Servant: Slime x100]
[Daily DP Increase: 100]
"Whoa, a hundred slimes," I breathe, my eyes sparkling with delight. "This is incredible!"
I can hardly believe my luck. In just a single day, I've managed to amass a sizable following and significantly boost my Dungeon Points. With this kind of DP influx, I'll be able to start expanding my domain and creating all sorts of wondrous things.
Glancing up, I'm surprised to see the sun dipping below the treeline. Time really does fly when you're having fun, I suppose.
"Alright, my little slime friends," I say, gesturing towards the cave. "I think it's time we head back for the night."
The slimes eagerly follow me, their gelatinous bodies pulsing and wiggling as they move. As I step into the cozy cave, I can't help but wonder if there's a way to make the space a bit more comfortable.
"Hey, do you think you guys could help me out with something?" I ask, turning to the slimes. "I'd love to have a nice, soft place to sleep. Do you think you could, I don't know, combine or something?"
To my amazement, the slimes immediately begin to merge, their bodies blending together to form a large, cushiony surface. I stare in wonder as they create a makeshift bed, the surface smooth and inviting.
"Whoa, you guys are amazing!" I exclaim, carefully lowering myself onto the slime bed. It's surprisingly comfortable, and I can't help but sink into the soft, squishy surface.
Letting out a contented sigh, I lie back, my eyes drifting closed. The day's events have left me feeling both exhausted and exhilarated, and I can't help but marvel at how quickly my life has changed.
As I drift off to sleep, the soft glow of my Dungeon Core providing a comforting ambiance, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement for what the future holds. With my new slime army and a steadily growing DP income, the possibilities are endless.
I can't wait to see what I can create and how I can shape this strange new world.