Chapter 20: Upgrades

The remainder of the day unfolded much like the second run had. Teams of five to eight adventurers entered the dungeon at steady intervals, about an hour after the previous team exited, each eager to try their luck at Brent’s unique race. The air outside buzzed with anticipation as the crowd shared excited whispers, now fully aware of the dungeon’s unconventional format. The news of what lay within spread quickly, and as more people learned about the adrenaline-pumping race, the line to enter grew longer. Adventurers, from rookies to veterans, eagerly awaited their turn, their eyes filled with determination and excitement.

Inside the dungeon, Brent and his minions worked tirelessly to reset traps, reposition obstacles, and fine-tune the course between each team’s attempt. After every run, Brent gathered his minions for quick strategy sessions, discussing what went well and how they could refine their approach to keep the adventurers on their toes. Ferron took a lead role in these discussions, his experience and dry sense of humor providing both tactical insights and some much-needed levity.

Despite the constant action, Brent was relieved to find that the only minions who needed regeneration were the Trapvine Creepers and the Mechanical Mimic. These creatures had taken the brunt of the adventurers' attacks, but it was a small price to pay for the dungeon's overall success. Most adventurers were beginning to realize they didn’t need to kill every monster to advance, which led them to focus more on strategies to finish the race quickly rather than battling their way through each room.

Brent made a point to give special commendations to Kagejin and Ignarok for their stellar performances. Their ability to adapt their tactics and force the adventurers to think on their feet had turned them into the dungeon’s shining stars. He felt a surge of pride as he watched them make each challenger earn their right to progress, their efforts setting a high standard for what adventurers could expect when they entered his domain.

When the day came to a close, Brent had hosted seven full dungeon runs—an impressive feat considering Emil's remark that most dungeons typically saw only about three parties in a twenty-four-hour period due to the time needed to reset traps and recover between runs. The fact that Brent’s dungeon had already become such a hub of activity spoke volumes about its appeal and challenge.

In total, the dungeon had claimed eight adventurers that day, including the party wipe from the first run and three solo casualties from later teams who had underestimated Brent’s cleverly placed traps. The combination of adventurer kills, dungeon completions, and continuous expansion allowed Brent to level up to eleven, gaining a wealth of experience points and resources that far outweighed what he had spent in rewards and minion revivals.

After the seventh group’s run, Brent decided to take advantage of the six-hour downtime granted by the System to let his minions rest and regroup. He initially thought they might be fatigued from the day’s relentless pace, but to his surprise, Emil explained that minions were automatically revitalized at the start of each new dungeon run.

"Unlike adventurers, who can go home and rest between dungeons, minions operate on a different system," Emil clarified. "As soon as a new run begins, the minions get a refresh, as if they’ve had a full night’s rest. It’s the System’s way of ensuring they’re always at peak performance when the dungeon is active."

"That’s good to know," Brent said, nodding thoughtfully. "But what happens if a dungeon isn’t immediately re-entered? Surely minions get tired eventually?"

"If there’s a long break between runs, then yes, minions will need to rest like any other creature. But as soon as a group leaves and the dungeon resets, they’re right back to full strength," Emil explained, his tone patient and instructive.

Brent absorbed this information, processing how the mechanics of his dungeon aligned with the System's rules. "I do have another question, though," he said, his core pulsing slightly as he thought. "When those adventurers died, I got schematics along with their loot. What exactly can I do with those?"

"The schematics are a blueprint of the items they were carrying," Emil replied. "You can use these to craft duplicates of those items to place in treasure chests or give out as end-of-run rewards. It’s a way to entice adventurers with rare or unique loot they might not find elsewhere."

A slow grin spread across Brent's core. "Oh, I’m definitely going to have some fun with that. But first, I think it’s time to look at some upgrades. We earned a ton of Dungeon Points today, and I have a pretty good idea of what we need next."

Emil’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. "And what would that be?"

"A Dungeon Scientist," Brent said, his tone brimming with excitement.

"Excellent choice," Emil responded approvingly. "A Dungeon Scientist will be invaluable in researching new technologies and trap enhancements. The Research Lab already gives us access to new schematics over time, but having a dedicated scientist will speed up that process dramatically."

"Glad you agree," Brent said, feeling a rush of validation from Emil’s praise. "I also want to set up a Workshop to complement the Research Lab. I think if we have those two working together, we’ll be unstoppable."

Emil’s smile widened, his metal face showing a rare expression of pride. "That’s a wise decision, Brent. The Workshop will allow us to produce items at a much faster rate and reduce our dependence on raw materials from dungeon expansion. It will make us more self-sufficient."

"Alright, I'm going to get the scientist now, so we can begin research right away," Brent said, already pulling up his menus to look at the options.

As he scrolled through the pages, looking at a few other options, he found what he was looking for and selected the purchase of a Dungeon Scientist. Motes of light appeared again in front of him, this time, they shone with a brilliant purple light as they coalesced into a tall, slender creature before him.

When it was finished, a being made of metal stood in a white lab coat before him. Its head was slightly elongated into a tall, thin oval with huge glowing eyes. Its hands were delicate, and its feet were small compared to his other minions, a creature clearly not meant for fighting.

"Hello, master. How may I serve you?" The creature said, its voice cold and clinical-sounding with the mechanical tone it produced, hinting at a distinctly British accent.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Okay, first things first—we’re going to have to get you a name. I need someone who can think for themselves, not just another yes-man spouting off titles," Brent said, pondering a suitable name that would fit the creature's purpose in his dungeon. "You’ll be handling mechanical components and you'll essentially be the guardian of knowledge. I think I'll call you... Mechard. It’s got a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

As soon as Brent uttered the name, the creature was lifted a few inches off the ground, surrounded by a surge of light. The glow intensified into a flash, and when it settled, the creature gently touched back down with a new spark of awareness in its now softly glowing purple eyes. He Inspected Mechard to see his details.

Mechard, the Arcane Innovator

 Role : Dungeon Scientist

 Description : Mechard is a tall, slender figure made of polished metal, with visible gears and intricate mechanisms beneath his smooth, silvery surface. He wears a crisp white lab coat, a subtle nod to his role as the dungeon's leading researcher. His head has an elongated oval shape, with large, luminescent eyes that glow softly, shifting in color when he's deep in thought. His fingers are nimble and multi-jointed, designed for delicate work rather than combat, while his feet are small and precise. Mechard's voice carries a distinct British accent, and he speaks with a tone of calm precision, exuding an air of refined intelligence. His demeanor is analytical and thoughtful, driven by an insatiable curiosity to innovate and improve the dungeon's mechanisms.

 Abilities :

o Schematic Synthesis : Analyzes the loot and items obtained from fallen adventurers to create blueprints for traps, minions, and dungeon upgrades, combining magic with mechanical ingenuity.

o Rapid Prototyping : Uses the Workshop to build devices and mechanisms at an accelerated rate, enhancing the dungeon's defenses and trap efficiency.

o Innovative Insight : Continuously researches and develops new technologies, leading to the evolution of traps, room designs, and overall dungeon enhancements.

"Oh, my word," Mechard said, blinking in astonishment. His tone was refined, almost like he’d just stepped out of a British sitcom. "What exactly just happened to me?"

"I gave you a name," Brent replied, smiling. "It seems to do something to you minions—a little personality upgrade, I guess. We’re still figuring out the details, but hey, you sound even more sophisticated now!"

"Fascinating," Mechard murmured, looking genuinely intrigued by the implications. "I must say, this warrants further study. The effect of a name on the cognitive and functional capabilities of a minion—utterly enthralling! Now then, how may I assist you first, master?"

Brent put on a mock-serious face. "Your first task," he said, pausing dramatically, "is to stop calling me master. Just call me Brent."

Mechard tilted his head slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing his otherwise expressionless face. "You want me to call you... 'Brent'?" he asked, as though trying the name on for size.

"Yes, Brent," Brent confirmed with a chuckle. "It’s my name, after all."

"Ah, yes, Brent it is," Mechard said, still sounding a bit uncertain. "Much more... casual, isn't it? Very well, Brent."

"Great! Now for your real task," Brent continued, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I need you to design a cart—like the ones we use in the dungeon, but this one needs to move on its own without a track. It should be steerable and have two foot pedals—one to make it go, and one to make it stop. Think of it as a go-cart."

Mechard’s eyes widened, and if his face could express emotions, it might have been somewhere between bewilderment and curiosity. "You want a self-propelled cart that can steer independently and is controlled by foot pedals? For a dungeon, no less?"

"Exactly!" Brent said, grinning. "I know it sounds crazy, but that’s the challenge. You figure out the mechanics of it, and I’ll help as best I can. It should have some kind of internal combustion engine that powers the wheels... or at least that’s how they used to work back on Earth."

Mechard clasped his hands together, considering the task. "This will be quite the undertaking, Brent," he said, his voice full of measured enthusiasm. "A fascinating problem, indeed, though I must admit, I have several questions about the principles behind internal combustion. I will require significant resources."

Brent’s grin only widened. "That’s what I like to hear! And don’t worry, I’m already setting up a Workshop for you to use. You’ll have everything you need to get started."

Mechard gave a polite nod, the gleam in his eyes intensifying. "Very good, Brent. I shall begin planning the schematics for this... go-cart. A vehicle without tracks—what an intriguing concept. I do hope you’ll be ready to provide more guidance as we delve deeper into this endeavor."

"Absolutely!" Brent said, already navigating his Dungeon Menu to make the purchase. He selected the Workshop, and with a few clicks, set it in place adjacent to the Research Lab. In an instant, the space materialized with an assortment of tools, benches, and magical contraptions designed for crafting and building.

"There you go, Mechard, your very own Workshop!" Brent announced with a flourish. "This should help you bring all those brilliant ideas to life."

"Ah, splendid!" Mechard said, his mechanical eyes gleaming with excitement. "This is most satisfactory. With these facilities, I shall have the means to experiment with various designs and inventions at a much faster pace. I do believe we’ll make quite a mark on dungeon innovation, Brent."

Brent beamed with satisfaction. "That’s the spirit, Mechard! Now, let's get to work. We’re going to revolutionize this dungeon together."