Agya's shriek echoed through the Anchor Chamber, reverberating off its obsidian walls and causing the faint blue mana lights that glowed from the carved runes to flicker like dying embers. The air crackled with raw energy, vibrating with her fury. Her wings flapped in agitation, the leather-like surface casting strange shadows that danced across the chamber’s smooth, dark stone. Her sharp amber eyes blazed with rage as she hurled an ornate candelabra against the wall. It shattered, the silver shards scattering across the stone floor like broken dreams. She grabbed a nearby vial—another empty potion—and flung it, watching it splinter into dust. Her rage roiled inside her like fire contained, threatening to burst out and consume everything.

"All that trouble for nothing!" she screamed, her voice grating against the oppressive darkness. "Those useless adventurers, dead like flies, and all I got was a whimper of mana. Hardly enough to keep the dungeon running, let alone gain any power!"

She paced back and forth, her wings twitching in rhythm with her heavy breathing. The frustration of failure gnawed at her like a starving beast, and she cursed the adventurers for dying too quickly, for not providing enough mana, for not suffering enough. She kicked a book from a nearby shelf, watching it flutter pathetically to the ground, pages crumpling as it fell.

Chuthulga, the shadowy demon seated in the corner of the Anchor Chamber, observed her tantrum without a word. His form shimmered faintly, a mass of darkness with glowing eyes that blinked in a rhythm that was almost hypnotic. Agya glanced at him, her chest heaving with each breath, and the silence emanating from him only seemed to feed her fury.

The chamber itself seemed to drink in her anger, the carved runes in the walls pulsing faintly as if they were responding to her volatile energy. It was as if the very room could sense her rage and resonate with it, amplifying her frustration in an endless loop. Shadows seemed to grow darker, stretching across the chamber as though eager to swallow her whole.

"Say something, Chuthulga! Don't just sit there like some smug spirit," she snapped. "This is all worthless if I can't extract enough mana from them. What's the point of the dungeon if it doesn't yield anything?"

Chuthulga waited for her breathing to slow, his glowing eyes never leaving her. Agya glared at him, her amber eyes daring him to challenge her, to mock her failure. And yet, when he spoke, it was with that same maddening calmness.

"The problem," Chuthulga said, each word deliberate, "is that you placed no treasure in your dungeon. No reward. The adventurers had nothing to gain, no reason to linger."

Agya blinked, her wings stilling slightly. She stared at him, her face twisted in frustration. "Treasure? Why in all the planes would I give treasure to adventurers? I'm not trying to help them; I'm trying to kill them!"

Chuthulga's many eyes blinked in unison, glowing like embers in the gloom. "Killing them is indeed the point, Mistress," he said, his voice low and rumbling. "But adventurers are like moths. You must lure them with a light, with the promise of success. Small victories lead to complacency. They must think they're winning—growing stronger, gaining wealth—before you extinguish their flame. That’s when their mana flows best. When they fall from the height of hope."

Agya stared at him, her hands clenched at her sides. She loathed the idea. Letting them win first? Giving them a taste of success? Everything within her rejected that concept. She wanted them to suffer, to be crushed under her power, to realize they were nothing. And yet... there was a logic to what Chuthulga was saying. A twisted, maddening logic that made her grind her teeth.

"You’re saying I need to let them win first? Make them think they’re triumphant before I crush them?" The idea grated against every malicious impulse she had.

Chuthulga nodded. "Precisely, Mistress. Let them taste victory—small, sweet morsels. Lure them deeper into the dungeon, where they’ll face challenges that seem just within reach. Only then, when they are deep in your lair and believe they are unstoppable, do you truly break them." He paused, his many eyes narrowing. "The mana you desire is borne from despair and shattered dreams, not mere death."

Agya’s teeth ground together. She hated how right he was, hated that she hadn’t thought of it herself. Slowly, the rage in her eyes gave way to something more calculating. She took a deep breath, smoothing down the ragged edges of her emotions. Her wings folded back against her spine, and a smirk returned to her lips.

"Fine," she muttered, her lips curling into a smirk. "If it means I get to break them even harder, I’ll do it." She looked at Chuthulga, her amber eyes glinting. "But I’ll enjoy it my way—and make sure they’re begging for mercy before they realize it’s all gone."

Chuthulga inclined his head. "As you wish, Mistress."

Agya turned and moved to the bookshelf lining the back wall of the chamber. She ran her fingers over the spines until she found the one she was looking for—a book with a golden spine, titled Treasure. She pulled it free, and the book opened in her hands, its pages glowing faintly with potential. Inside were lists of treasures she could place throughout her dungeon—coins, gemstones, enchanted items.

Basic Treasures (Low Cost, Low Effectiveness)

1,000 Gold Coins: 1 Core Power Point

* Commonly placed in early rooms. Attracts low-level adventurers.

Grade D Healing Potions: 2 Core Power Points

* Provides a minor healing effect, making adventurers feel prepared to venture deeper.

Cantrip Scrolls: 2 Core Power Points

* Scrolls with basic spells that encourage adventurers to take more risks.

Mid-Tier Treasures (Moderate Cost, Moderate Impact)

5,000 Gold Coins: 5 Core Power Points

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* A significant lure for adventurers, used to reward completion of tougher rooms.

Grade C Healing Potions: 6 Core Power Points

* Heals moderately, incentivizing adventurers to push on.

Minor Magic Weapons: 8 Core Power Points

* Provides a small enhancement to adventurers, which boosts their confidence.

Mana Crystals: 10 Core Power Points

* Restores some mana, enabling adventurers to continue using magic.

High-Tier Treasures (High Cost, Significant Impact)

10,000 Gold Coins: 10 Core Power Points

* A grand reward placed in deep rooms to lure adventurers further.

Grade B Healing Potions: 12 Core Power Points

* Significant healing, encouraging adventurers to take bigger risks.

Magic Armor: 15 Core Power Points

* Increases adventurer survivability, letting them delve deeper and generate more mana.

Rare Spell Scrolls: 18 Core Power Points

* Allows adventurers to feel powerful, increasing the stakes for their potential fall.

Legendary Treasures (Very High Cost, Max Impact)

20,000 Gold Coins and Rare Gems: 20 Core Power Points

* Meant for the deepest levels, ensuring adventurers are invested in their journey.

Grade A Healing Potions: 25 Core Power Points

* Nearly full health restoration, meant to encourage maximum risk.

Enchanted Relics: 30 Core Power Points

* Items that make adventurers feel nearly invincible, perfect for eliciting the deepest despair when they fall.

Epic Weapons: 35 Core Power Points

* Bestowed as rewards for defeating minibosses, creating a sense of triumph and invincibility.

She grimaced as she skimmed the contents. "A thousand gold coins, Grade D healing potions, Cantrip scrolls." She spat the words, disgusted by their mundanity. "Barely worth the effort. I should have saved some of my core power for more enticing treasures."

Chuthulga spoke again, his voice patient and methodical, each word deliberate, "Mistress, if I may offer some advice," he began, his tone calm but firm. "You need a proper treasure placement strategy to ensure the adventurers remain invested. For the early dungeon rooms, use Basic Treasures—something simple to attract novice adventurers. As they progress to the mid-level rooms, add Mid-Tier Treasures. This will make them feel like they are growing stronger and getting closer to something truly valuable. And for the deepest levels, reserve the High-Tier and Legendary Treasures. This way, the adventurers have a sense of accomplishment and maximum emotional investment before they face overwhelming odds."

Chuthulga paused briefly, then continued, his eyes glowing faintly. "Mistress, there’s also the matter of managing your core power wisely. Balance the strength of your dungeon bosses with the treasures you place. If you spend too much core power on a powerful boss, there won't be enough enticing treasure to lure them in. Conversely, pairing lower-tier bosses with more rewarding treasures can encourage deeper exploration. You can also use a bait-and-switch approach—place High-Tier Treasures in moderately challenging rooms to make adventurers feel confident. They will misjudge the strength of later encounters and push too hard. This will ensure they feel invested before you strike."

Agya’s eyes flicked up from the book, her smirk widening. "I suppose I have only myself to blame for making my dungeon boss so powerful," she admitted. She snapped the book shut and moved to the glass-topped table at the center of the room. Placing her hand over the smooth surface, she channeled energy from her dungeon heart, causing a spectral miniature map of the dungeon to rise from the glass. The glowing image hovered above the table, and she could rotate it at will, each room of the dungeon appearing in vivid detail.

With a flick of her fingers, Agya began selecting where to place the treasure. She pondered each room, considering the traps she’d already set and how best to lure the adventurers deeper.

She placed a portion of the coins in the spider den, scattering them amidst the cobwebs to make it look as though past adventurers had dropped their riches while trying to escape. The glint of gold in the dark corners would surely tempt those foolhardy enough to wander in. She placed another share at the bottom of a poisoned pit trap, just visible through the tainted green mist. The idea of adventurers risking life and limb, climbing down into the poison just for a handful of silver, brought a smirk to her lips.

The majority, however, went into the boss chamber—piles of gold glistening beneath the dark and menacing throne of her dungeon boss. It had to be a prize worth dying for, enough to convince adventurers they were reaching their ultimate goal.

As she examined the spectral map, a new idea sparked in her mind. Agya’s eyes narrowed in thought, and her lips curled into a wicked smile. She used the energy from her dungeon heart to place two gold coins into the core of each whisp hound that patrolled the dungeon. When the hounds were killed, the coins would drop as a reward, tempting the adventurers with small victories, coaxing them ever forward. It was just the right touch—a subtle promise of success to lure them into fighting, until they were in far over their heads.

Her gaze lingered on the spectral map, her thoughts drifting. She couldn’t help but feel the presence of Chuthulga behind her, his eyes ever watchful. She wondered how much he truly understood of her plans, how far his loyalty extended. He spoke of strategies and balance, but she had to question whether he saw himself as the puppet or the puppeteer.

Suddenly, Chuthulga’s voice interrupted her concentration. "Mistress," he said, a hint of amusement lacing his otherwise neutral tone, "it appears not all the adventurers are dead."

Agya turned, her brow furrowing. "What? Show me."

Chuthulga waved a shadowy hand toward the glass-topped table beside him. The dark surface rippled, revealing an image of the malnourished kobold slave who had somehow survived. The Kobold’s eyes were wide and manic, her small body trembling as she straddled the corpse of one of the adventurers who had tormented her. Her dagger moved in brutal, relentless arcs, stabbing the rogue’s already lifeless body over and over again. Blood soaked the ground around her.

Agya tilted her head, her wings twitching in interest. She watched the erratic movements, the pure rage pouring out of the little beast’s every action. There was something captivating about the rawness of it—the brutality, the anger. The desire to destroy. Agya could feel a dark kinship in that rage, an unrefined reflection of her own need to dominate and break.

A slow smile spread across Agya's face. She placed the book on the table and looked at Chuthulga. "I think," she said, her voice dripping with amusement, "it’s time I introduced myself to our little kobold survivor."

She turned toward the chamber’s exit, her stride confident, her wings spreading wide. "Let’s see how I can use her fury. There might be more mana to be drawn from her yet."

Chuthulga’s eyes glinted as he watched Agya leave the chamber, a flicker of approval passing through the gloom. The kobold had no idea what awaited her. And Agya—Agya was ready to make sure her pain served a purpose.