"What about the monsters that have overrun the world—the ones outside the dungeons? Can't someone get stronger by killing them too?" Zach asked, curious.
"No, Darling," Tsunda shook her head. "Those monsters are more like real life training dummies for real combat experience. They help people sharpen their skills and get used to life-and-death battles before stepping into dungeons. But they won't help you grow in power the same way dungeons do."
Zach nodded in understanding. So, they're like practice fights before the real deal.
"I get it now, but how strong can Dungeon Masters and Fortress Masters actually get?" he asked, wanting to know his long-term potential.
Tsunda smiled softly. "If they reach their peak, they can achieve half-immortality, meaning they can live up to a million years. Also, their powers will keep getting stronger and stronger and their armies will grow too."
Zach's eyes widened slightly. A million years? He wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse, but at least it meant he wouldn't have to worry about dying of old age anytime soon and can have all the time he wants.
Now that he had a grasp on the basics, his curiosity pushed him to ask more complex questions. But some of them, Tsunda simply couldn't answer—her memory was locked until he leveled up the dungeon to a higher rank.
Not that it disappointed him. Knowing the basics was already a huge advantage.
"So, for a dungeon to be conquered, what exactly do intruders need to destroy or capture? What's the key thing I need to protect?" Zach asked, his mind already working on ways to defend it.
Instead of answering right away, Tsunda lifted her palm, and a small glowing cube materialized, floating above her hand in eerie silence.
"This is the core, Darling. When people from the fortress come here to kill and grow stronger, if they destroy this cube, it means they've conquered the dungeon. And if another Dungeon Master gets their hands on it, they automatically take control of the dungeon."
Zach's eyes narrowed as he studied the cube. This thing was his lifeline. If he lost it, he lost everything.
"Can I bury it underground? Maybe lock it inside the toughest metal and throw it into the deepest part of the ocean?" he asked, testing loopholes.
Tsunda giggled, shaking her head. "Nope. To make the world more… interesting, the core can't be hidden. If you bury it, it'll float right back up. You can't remove it from the dungeon and move it elsewhere either."
So much for easy solutions.
Zach sighed before moving on to his next concern. "You were created from the dungeon core, right? Doesn't that mean you can't leave the dungeon?"
"That's right," Tsunda nodded. "I'm bound to the dungeon, so I can't step outside of it. But if you conquer more dungeons in the future, I'll be able to teleport between them."
Zach hummed in thought, then smirked as he nuzzled closer to Tsunda's waist, making her squirm shyly.
"Darling… y-you're embarrassing me~" she mumbled, her voice soft.
Zach chuckled. "Really? Come on, it's just the two of us in here. There's no need to be shy. Besides… I'm enjoying this too."
Hearing his teasing words, Tsunda pouted, but the blush on her face betrayed her.
(Author's Note: The real Tsunda wouldn't blush. Heck, she's the true definition of a strong-willed woman. Zach knew he wouldn't be able to handle her if she kept her real personality, so he tweaked her character—making her shy, gentle, and caring instead. XD)
After snuggling for a while, Zach decided to break the silence. The place was too quiet for his liking.
"Tell me in detail—how does a dungeon operate? And how exactly does a Dungeon Master run it?"
Tsunda paused for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts, before answering.
"For a Dungeon Master to grow their dungeon, they first need to buy monsters. These monsters will defend the dungeon, and whenever an intruder steps in and gets killed, the experience gained from their death will help the Dungeon level up."
Zach's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he heard her. "And what do we use to buy these monsters? Money?"
Tsunda shook her head. "No, we use Heavenly Points. Even Fortress Masters rely on Heavenly Points to purchase anything from their system."
Zach's mind instantly made a connection. "So, it's just like an online game or those anime I've watched countless times." Excited, he asked, "How many HP do I have right now?"
"You won't be able to see it until you fully claim the dungeon by giving it a name and creating your personal guard."
Zach hummed in thought. A name for the dungeon… He glanced around the dimly lit space, his mind turning over ideas before he voiced his concern.
"What if I pick a name and someone else has already used it?"
Tsunda shrugged. "Then you'll be told to choose a different one."
"Alright then, I'll go with the name I've always wanted." A smirk played on Zach's lips as he declared, "I shall call it… Shinigami Realm! A place where stepping in without permission means instant death! Hehehe. Death Note has always been my favorite anime, so naming my dungeon in honor of it is a no-brainer."
[Ding! The Dungeon name has been set as Shinigami Realm.]
[Ding! All Level 1 Shinigami Realm Dungeon features are now accessible to you.]
Although Zach hadn't created his personal guard yet, unlocking all the available features made him hum in satisfaction.
"Tsunda, do you like the name?" he asked, clearly proud of his choice.
"Yes, I do, Darling." Tsunda nodded with a bright smile. "Now that you've named your dungeon, I wonder how you'll create your—"
"Forget that for now." Zach cut her off, nuzzling against her lap before asking, "I'm at Level 1, right? What do I need to level up? What are the key requirements?"
Tsunda's expression immediately fell, and she lowered her head with disappointment. "I don't have access to that knowledge yet, Darling," she admitted.
Zach sighed but waved it off. "It's okay, I guess. No need to be sad—it's not your fault."
Being someone who wasn't exactly skilled at dealing with emotional women—or women in general—Zach struggled to come up with a way to change the awkward atmosphere.
After a brief silence, he decided to shift the conversation. "Since you don't know how to level up the dungeon, do you at least know how a Dungeon Master can grow stronger?"
Tsunda had been inwardly blaming herself for her lack of knowledge, but hearing this question, she immediately brightened up.
"Yes, I do!" She nodded enthusiastically, like a chicken pecking at rice, making her boobies sway.
"To grow stronger as a Dungeon Master, you must conquer other dungeons and claim them as your own."