Chapter 33: Prototype

"That was amazing!" Brent's excitement was infectious as he showered his minions with praise. "I have to admit, there were moments when I thought the new track might be too challenging, but those adventurers really stepped up their game. That's how a team should work! And all of you... I couldn't be prouder to be a Dungeon Core."

"Aww, come on, boss, you're gonna make us blush," Ferron said, rubbing the back of his metallic head with a sheepish grin.

"I'm dead serious. You all went above and beyond. Your hard work is paying off and just look at those adventurers lining up. They're excited to face your challenges, and that's because of you," Brent said, his gaze moving warmly from one minion to the next.

"It is an honor to be your minion," Kagejin said, his stoic expression softening just a bit.

"New Illusion Room good... need more to torment," Shadow said, a wicked grin spreading as he rubbed his clawed hands together with anticipation.

"I wanted to smash the lizard," Ignarok grumbled, crossing his massive arms in mock sulking.

"There'll be plenty more adventurers to smash, I promise," Brent said with a laugh. "But you were incredible, Ignarok. The look of terror when you burst from the lava? Priceless!"

"I was truly terrifying, wasn't I?" Ignarok's eyes gleamed as he reminisced, his chest puffing out with pride.

"Absolutely terrifying. Perfection, big guy," Brent said, a wide smile plastered on his face. His gaze lingered on each of them again, pride radiating from him. "You all have made this dungeon something special."

"Indeed. This was a massive success, which is rare when making such drastic changes to a dungeon layout," Emil said, stepping forward with a proud nod. "Also, Brent, I've been speaking with Mechard, and I believe he has some exciting news."

"Really? Oh, man, I can't wait!" Brent's core vibrated with anticipation as he turned to Mechard.

"If you would indulge me for a moment, mast... I mean, Brent," Mechard corrected himself, stepping back with a slight bow. He disappeared down a hallway, leaving the others buzzing with curiosity.

Moments later, a whirring noise echoed from the corridor, and suddenly, from the doorway to Ignarok's room, a small cart sped into view with Mechard seated in it.

"SHUT UP!" Brent yelled, bouncing with joy in his Dungeon Eye form.

"But... no one was speaking," Emil said, tilting his head in confusion.

"Sorry, it's just an expression from my world," Brent explained, his excitement uncontainable. "But, seriously, Mechard, you did it!"

The small vehicle was a marvel. Four rubber-coated wheels on sturdy metal rims supported the low-riding frame, preventing it from flipping. A softly glowing pink motor sat at the rear, humming quietly, while a metal seat was situated in front. The cart had an aerodynamic design, angled slightly at the front for a sleeker look. Mechard gripped a tubular steering wheel that matched Brent's sketch etched into the dungeon wall.

"Check out these pedals," Mechard said, tapping one with his foot. "Go and stop, as requested."

At the front, two glowing orbs mounted on a metal bumper gleamed like headlights. Long, thin metal rods ran down either side, providing protective barriers against collisions.

"It's beautiful," Brent said, his voice soft with awe as he floated around the cart, examining it from every angle. "It's perfect."

"Not quite perfect," Mechard said with a hint of pride. "But it works, and with some fine-tuning, it will be ready for adventurers."

Brent hovered closer. "Fine-tuning, schmine-tuning. This is already incredible. You’ve outdone yourself."

"All in a day's work," Mechard said, trying—and failing—to hide his pleased smile.

"I mean it, Mechard. You did something I was genuinely worried might not be possible with this world's technology. And you absolutely knocked it out of the park! This is going to elevate the dungeon to a whole new level!" Brent continued, his voice brimming with excitement and admiration.

"So, does this mean we get rid of all the tracks now?" Ferron asked, his metallic brows raising.

"Eventually, yes. But we need to have enough carts first. Not just for the adventurers, but also for backups if any break down," Brent replied, already envisioning the possibilities.

"You do realize you only need to absorb this one to be able to create more, right?" Emil interjected, a hint of amusement coloring his tone.

"Wait, what?!" Brent blurted out, disbelief coming through in his voice.

"Just like with the bodies of adventurers and the items they drop, you can absorb items your minions create to gain the ability to make more of them. This way, production is both fast and efficient, and Mechard can return to inventing new creations. I'm sure building the same thing repeatedly would bore him to death," Emil explained with a smug smile.

"He's absolutely right," Mechard added, a spark of excitement in his mechanical eyes. "Inventing is my passion, so I'd rather not be stuck in mass production."

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Brent nodded, taking a moment to process the information. He concentrated on the cart in front of him, initiating the absorption process he'd used before on fallen adventurers. Slowly, the cart began to dissolve, merging with the ground beneath it until it disappeared entirely. As it did, a notification flashed in Brent's vision.

New Item Available - Mechanized Cart

 Description: You have successfully unlocked the Mechanized Cart. This item can now be crafted using gathered materials and incorporated into your dungeon as part of unique challenges, race tracks, or other interactive features. Additionally, it can be offered as a reward or prize to adventurers who successfully navigate your dungeon's trials.

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 Crafting Requirements: Utilize collected materials and energy reserves to create Mechanized Carts tailored for dungeon use or adventurer incentives. Adjust design elements and functionalities based on available blueprints and customizations.

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Let your imagination race to new heights!

"That was… weird." Brent thought to himself. The System messages were usually so generic, but this one felt tailored specifically to him. Even the closing line seemed like a playful nod to his unique dungeon design. He made a mental note to discuss it with Emil later. For now, there were carts to be made.

With the blueprints for the Mechanized Cart appearing clearly in his mind, Brent focused. Opening his eyes, he navigated to the items page in his menus. The Mechanized Cart was now listed, complete with the required materials for its creation. However, the cost was steep—each cart demanded a hefty five hundred Dungeon Points to produce.

"Why are these so expensive? Most items cost way less," Brent whined, scrutinizing the costs with a furrowed brow.

"These are specialized items. If you want something that unique, you have to pay for it," Emil replied matter-of-factly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You knew this was coming, didn't you?" Brent accused, narrowing his eyes.

"Of course I did. It's just the way things work. But trust me—it'll be worth it to make your dreams for this dungeon come to life," Emil reassured him with a warm smile.

"UGH! Fine. I'll pay the damn costs."

Grumbling, Brent selected the Mechanized Cart option and reluctantly spent four thousand DP to produce eight of them all at once. One by one, the carts began to materialize, gleaming as they took form in the dim light of the dungeon. Each cart was an exact replica, shining metal frames and rubber wheels glistening as if newly polished.

When the process was complete, the Mechanized Carts stood neatly in a row. Brent admired them, a sense of pride swelling as he examined their flawless craftsmanship. He ran a critical eye over every detail, noting how they had turned out just as he imagined.

"So, are we closing the dungeon again to swap out the tracks?" Ferron asked, shifting slightly, metallic arms crossed in anticipation.

"Nope, not yet. That wouldn’t go over well. We already made everyone wait, and doing it again would dampen the enthusiasm. We’ll keep things running as is for now, and use this opportunity to gather even more Dungeon Points," Emil interjected, practical as always. "We’ll need them for what comes next."

"Emil's right. It's time to implement phase two," Brent said.

"Phase two?" Ferron raised a brow, his gears whirring faintly. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"With the last adventurer run, I hit level fifteen," Brent announced, his core glowing a little brighter. "That means we unlock a second floor for our dungeon!"

The minions exchanged glances, intrigued. "A whole new level of fun," Brent continued enthusiastically. "The idea is to keep running this floor while I work on designing the next one."

"Are you planning on continuing the existing track on the new floor?" Ferron asked, clearly invested in the logistics.

"No, no, I’ve got something even better. We’ll have multiple tracks. The upper level will be for lower-level adventurers or those just looking for a good time, while the second floor will be for advanced teams. Bigger challenges, more danger, and all the excitement they can handle. We’ll be able to run multiple races simultaneously, which should boost our popularity and capacity," Brent explained, grinning to himself.

"But how are adventurers supposed to get to the second level with the first one in the way?" Kagejin, ever the strategist, questioned.

"We’ll create a waiting room that’s accessible at all times. From there, they’ll enter a secondary staging area where they can prepare for their runs. And we’ll use a portal system to transport them directly to the second floor," Brent said, his excitement building as he spoke. "Plus, we can introduce entertainment options to keep people engaged while they wait. Something to make the dungeon experience unforgettable."

"So, you're planning to keep people in the dungeon at all times?" Ignarok grumbled, his discomfort clear.

"Not quite. The waiting area will be a special space that’s connected, but not truly part of the main dungeon in terms of the System’s parameters. We can still close for renovations or updates whenever necessary," Brent reassured him.

"And what kind of attractions are you thinking for this waiting area?" Ferron asked, curiosity lighting up his eyes.

"Games," Brent declared confidently.

"Games?" The minions repeated in unison, their confusion evident.

"Yes, games! Back on Earth, we had places called arcades filled with different games. While we can’t replicate everything, we can adapt some of the physical games. Things like Bowling, Shuffleboard, Pool, and Foosball."

"You can’t just make up words and hope we get it," Ferron said, crossing his arms with exasperation. "What in the world are Bowling, Shuffleboard, Pool, and… what did you call it? Foos-something?"

Brent laughed. "Fair point. I’ll show you all soon enough. Trust me, you’re going to love it."