Argenti and Eddie 'Bones' Malone shared a moment of quiet. Argenti, his curiosity piqued by Eddie's unorthodox use of magic, posed a question that had been on his mind.

"So, Eddie, how did you learn to use magic?" Argenti inquired, tilting his head slightly.

Eddie chuckled, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "Ah, magic, huh? Well, it ain't exactly like the magic here. Back in my day, my old boss, Big Tony, he taught me the 'magic' of the streets. He was the one who showed me how to handle a piece, you know, a gun."

Argenti's eyes widened, misunderstanding Eddie's reference. "A gun? Is that a kind of ancient, powerful wand?"

Eddie burst into laughter, the idea amusing him greatly. "Nah, man, a gun ain't no wand. It's a tool, a weapon. But hey, I guess you could say it's got its own kind of magic. The magic of making problems disappear, if you catch my drift."

Argenti nodded, though he was clearly still a bit confused. "So, this 'gun' taught you fire magic?"

Eddie, realizing the depth of the misunderstanding, decided to roll with it. "Yeah, sure, let's go with that. My gun taught me fire magic. Bang bang!" he said, mimicking a shooting action with his fingers.

Argenti seemed to accept this explanation, though his expression suggested he was trying to piece together how a weapon could teach magic. Eddie found the demon's naivety both endearing and amusing.

"Anyway," Eddie said, changing the subject, "I've got some credits to burn. Let's head over to the dungeon core and see what upgrades we can make."

Together, they walked to the glowing heart of the dungeon. The core's interface flickered to life as Eddie approached, displaying his available credit balance.

"Alright, we got 1600 credits. Time to go shopping," Eddie declared, rubbing his hands together.

Eddie considered enhancing the abilities of his skeleton crew. "Maybe give the boys a little boost. They've been doing good work with those buckets," he joked.

Purchase: Skeleton Enhancement (800 Credits)

Next, Eddie focused on the dungeon's defenses. "Gotta keep things interesting for our uninvited guests."

Purchase: Advanced Trap Mechanisms (400 Credits)

Eddie also wanted to add a bit of flair to the dungeon. "Let's spruce up the place. Give it some pizzazz."

Purchase: Mystical Lighting and Decor (200 Credits)

With their purchases made, the dungeon began to transform. The skeleton crew appeared more formidable, the traps more cunning, and the aesthetic changes gave the crypt a more mystical and ominous ambiance.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Looks like The Forsaken Crypt just got a major upgrade," Eddie said, satisfaction evident in his voice.

Argenti, marveling at the changes, nodded in agreement.

With the new upgrades in place, Eddie and Argenti continued their stroll through the evolving corridors of The Forsaken Crypt. The atmosphere was alive with a blend of eerie mystique and newfound vitality, reflecting the changes they had just implemented.

As they walked, a skeleton awkwardly shuffled beside them, attempting to balance a tray with a couple of dusty, empty goblets. Eddie had taken to calling this particular skeleton 'Jeeves' and had humorously assigned it the role of his personal butler.

"Jeeves here might not be the best butler, but he's got spirit," Eddie remarked with a chuckle, watching the skeleton struggle to maintain its balance. "Ain't that right, Jeeves?"

The skeleton made no response, its jaw fixed in a perpetual silent clack.

Eddie turned his attention back to Argenti, his expression growing more thoughtful. "You know, Argenti, being here, doing all this... it got me thinking. Back where I’m from, I never really had a chance to be anything more than a small-time guy. But here, it feels like I can really make something of myself."

Argenti listened intently, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding. "Sometimes, a change of scenery is what one needs to discover their true potential," he replied.

Eddie nodded. "Yeah, and it's not just about me anymore. It's about this place, this crew," he gestured to Jeeves and the other skeletons, "and you, buddy. We're building something here."

As Eddie and Argenti delved deeper into the capabilities of The Forsaken Crypt, Eddie stumbled upon a new aspect of the dungeon core's interface that he hadn't noticed before. It was labeled 'Achievements,' a section filled with a list of tasks and goals, each with its own rewards.

"Huh, what's this?" Eddie mumbled, his bony finger hovering over the new section. "Achievements... Looks like a bunch of challenges or goals."

Argenti peered over Eddie's shoulder, his eyes scanning the list. "It appears to be a set of tasks that, when completed, grant you rewards. This could be your path to unlocking new skills and abilities."

Eddie's interest was piqued. He started scrolling through the list, noting the variety of achievements. Some were straightforward, like 'Defeat 100 Intruders,' while others were more complex, such as 'Create a Labyrinth that Confounds Ten Adventurers.'

"Here's one," Eddie said, pointing to a specific achievement. "'Unleash the Elements: Use magic in creative ways to overcome different challenges.' The reward is a new skill unlock. Looks like this is my ticket to learning some new magic."

Argenti nodded. "That makes sense. By using your current skills in diverse situations, you'll not only improve but also unlock the potential for new abilities. It's like testing your magical aptitude."

Eddie grinned, the prospect of a challenge stirring the excitement within him. "Alright, time to get creative with this fire magic of mine. Let's see what kind of trouble I can stir up."

Eddie and Argenti spent the next few hours discussing potential ways to achieve this goal. They brainstormed ideas ranging from setting up intricate traps that required the use of fire magic in unexpected ways to creating illusions with flames to confuse and mislead intruders.

"I could use the fire to trigger other traps or maybe create a maze of flames that shifts and changes," Eddie mused, his mind buzzing with ideas.

Argenti, impressed by Eddie's enthusiasm and creativity, added his own suggestions, focusing on how to incorporate these ideas in a way that was challenging yet safe for the dungeon's integrity.

With a plan in mind, Eddie set out to rework parts of the dungeon. He designated an area where he could safely experiment with his fire magic, integrating it into the existing traps and defenses.

As he worked, Eddie felt a rush of excitement. This was more than just about unlocking a new skill; it was about pushing his limits and seeing what he was truly capable of as a dungeon master and a mage.

Argenti watched with interest, offering advice and feedback. Together, they fine-tuned the mechanisms, ensuring that each trap and illusion was a test of Eddie's growing magical prowess.