A sharp, metallic taste filled Reo Kanzaki's mouth. His body was cold—no, weightless. Floating in an abyss of darkness. His last memory was of betrayal. The glint of a knife, the laughter of his so-called teammates.
Then—pain. Endless, searing pain.
"Dungeon Core Synchronization… Complete."
A voice echoed through the void, ancient yet mechanical.
"Designation: Dungeon Master. Identity Confirmed."
Reo's eyes snapped open.
He was no longer in his apartment, nor the VR gaming pod where he had spent countless hours strategizing, analyzing enemy patterns, and leading his guild to dominance.
Instead, he stood in a massive underground chamber, its ceiling hidden in a swirling abyss of blue mist. Towering obsidian pillars stretched into infinity, inscribed with glowing runes pulsing like veins.
At the center of the chamber, embedded into the stone floor, was a crimson crystal the size of a human heart.
Reo knew what it was. A Dungeon Core.
And somehow, he was its master.
He instinctively reached out.
The moment his fingers brushed the Dungeon Core, a flood of information crashed into his mind.
World Setting: A realm where dungeons were not just battlegrounds, but living fortresses that warred against the gods and kingdoms.
Dungeon Master Privileges: He could shape this labyrinth to his will—create monsters, design floors, and alter reality itself.
Current Dungeon Status: Ruined. Defenses broken. Mana depleted. Monsters? None.
His frown deepened. A broken dungeon? That meant he was vulnerable.
Then came the final message:
"Emergency Protocol Activated: First Wave of Invaders Approaching."
Reo's heartbeat spiked.
His dungeon was already under attack.
A deep rumbling echoed through the cavern. A giant stone gate at the far end began to creak open.
Through the mist, figures emerged—human adventurers. Five in total.
Bronze-rank scouts. Light armor. Basic weapons. Weak, but still a threat to an empty dungeon.
Their leader, a blonde swordsman, carried a guild crest. The symbol of the Kingdom of Eldoria.
Reo clenched his fists. So the outside world already knew about this dungeon.
The adventurers moved cautiously, torches raised.
"Looks abandoned," one muttered.
"No monsters? Maybe it hasn't awakened yet," another whispered.
Reo smirked. Wrong.
The moment they crossed the threshold, he willed the Dungeon Core to respond.
"New Resource Detected: Human Souls."
A notification pulsed in his vision. His Dungeon Points skyrocketed as his power absorbed the life energy of intruders.
His mind raced. He had enough energy for a single summon. Something simple. Something… efficient.
"Summon: Shadow Stalkers."
Darkness twisted at the edges of the chamber. From the walls, two black, panther-like creatures slithered into existence, their forms flickering between reality and the void.
The adventurers froze.
Then—chaos.
The Shadow Stalkers struck, silent and merciless. One leaped onto the scout at the rear, tearing out his throat before he could scream.
The blonde swordsman swung his blade in panic, only for his sword to pass through the stalker's shadow-like body.
Reo watched it all unfold with cold calculation. He had no weapon. No magic. But he had the dungeon.
And in this place, he was God.
The battle ended in less than a minute.
The last surviving adventurer—the blonde swordsman—crawled backward, gasping.
"W-Who… are you?" he stammered.
Reo stepped forward, his voice even.
"Your conqueror."
Then he gave the final command.
The Shadow Stalkers finished the job.
Reo exhaled slowly as he felt pure energy surge into the Dungeon Core.
Dungeon Level Up!
New Features Unlocked: Trap Creation, Basic Floor Expansion, Low-Tier Monster Spawning.
Mana Restored: 20%.
He clenched his fist. This was just the beginning.
If humans thought they could raid his domain freely, he would make them fear even stepping near it.
He turned his gaze toward the dark abyss of the dungeon halls. There was much to build. Much to conquer.
And in the end, he would turn this labyrinth into something far greater than a mere dungeon.
It would become a fortress. A kingdom. A sovereign empire beneath the earth.