Chapter 6: Next Steps

"Brent," Emil called out, his small voice cutting through the void.

Brent could sense that Emil was nearby, a faint presence at the edge of his awareness, but he was entirely absorbed in the process of expansion. Every fiber of his being was focused on pushing the limits of his domain, stretching its boundaries further with each passing moment. The sensation of growing his dungeon felt almost hypnotic.

"Brent!" Emil's voice came again, louder this time, a bit more urgent.

"What?" Brent snapped, irritation bubbling up from being pulled out of his intense focus. "I'm busy! I need to expand some more!" He could feel the annoyance rising within him; being interrupted while working on something that felt this natural was frustrating beyond words.

"It's been a week, Brent," Emil said calmly.

Brent froze, his mind momentarily blank. "No, it hasn't," he replied, frowning. "I just started expanding a few hours ago."

Confusion swirled around him as he tried to comprehend what Emil had just said. A week? That couldn't be right. He pulled up his System Map, his gaze flickering over the lines and markers that denoted the boundaries of his dungeon. His eyes widened as he saw the full scope of his domain.

The map stretched out in all directions, far larger than he had ever anticipated. The once-tiny Core Room was now a mere dot in the center of a vast expanse, the walls of his domain pushed back farther than he ever imagined possible.

"What the heck, man?!" Brent exclaimed, staring in shock at the sheer size of the space he had created. "I expanded that far?"

"Yep," Emil said, with a tone of admiration. "I told you it would start coming naturally. You’ve really opened this place up. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to go this far in just a week. Your dungeon is at least fifty percent larger than the last core I worked with in the same amount of time."

Brent continued to stare at the map, still trying to process how he had managed to expand so much without realizing it. "Should I... keep going?"

"Absolutely," Emil responded, his small mechanical form bouncing in excitement. "By now, expanding should feel like second nature. You can keep expanding your domain even while focusing on other tasks. Just check in from time to time to make sure everything's on track. But," Emil’s tone shifted slightly, "now’s the time to start thinking about how you want this area to look and what kind of dungeon you plan to build."

Brent took a deep breath, finally pulling his attention away from the map. He glanced inward at his progress report. His mind reeled when he saw that he had reached level eight in just a week, purely from expanding his domain. Multiple prompts flashed in his vision, showing that he had unlocked new minions, access to advanced technologies, new traps to build, and even some special resources he had stumbled upon during the expansion.

"I think I get the gist of some of these notifications," Brent said slowly, "but a few things still aren’t clear. What should we do first?"

"Let’s start with layout," Emil said, his tone matter-of-fact. "The layout of your dungeon is critical. It will determine how adventurers progress through your space. You can set up rooms and floors that will force adventurers to explore, encounter traps, and fight your minions. The trick is, you don’t want the dungeon to be so difficult that it’s impossible, but you don’t want it to be so easy that everyone can complete it with no challenge. The balance will keep them coming back, but it also makes sure you get the kill experience you need."

"Kill experience?" Brent questioned, a sense of unease creeping into his voice.

"Yes," Emil explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "The experience you gain from killing adventurers. It’s by far the fastest way to level up. The more adventurers you defeat, the more XP you get. But be careful—if you kill too many, you’ll make yourself a target. If your dungeon becomes too notorious for wiping out every adventurer that comes through, they’ll band together and come for you."

Brent hesitated, the weight of what Emil was saying sinking in. "I don’t know how I feel about killing people," he said quietly.

Emil paused for a moment, sensing Brent’s discomfort. "Look, I get it. But remember, adventurers go through the reincarnation process just like you did. Death isn’t the end for them. It’s more like... a reset button. It’s part of the cycle here. Besides, this is literally your job. You have to do it to survive."

Brent leaned back, processing the information. "So, they die here, get reincarnated, and just... start over?"

"Exactly," Emil said, nodding. "It’s an accepted part of life here. But that doesn’t mean you can just kill every adventurer that comes through. You’ll need to strike a balance. Right now, expansion is sustaining you, but eventually, you’ll need to absorb the energy from fallen adventurers to keep growing. Without that, you’ll stagnate—or worse, your dungeon will become irrelevant, attracting only the weakest adventurers."

"So, if I don’t kill enough people, I won’t gain enough power. But if I kill too many, they’ll come for me?" Brent asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

"That’s the long and short of it," Emil said with a shrug. "It’s all about finding that sweet spot."

Brent sighed heavily. "That’s pretty bleak. I wish someone had told me this before I signed up for the job."

"Honestly, it probably wouldn’t have changed your decision," Emil said, his tone sympathetic but firm. "Given your options, this is still a better deal than the alternative."

Brent thought about his limited choices before becoming a Dungeon Core. He smirked at the irony. "Yeah, probably wouldn’t have made a difference."

"I know it sounds harsh," Emil continued, "but it’s really not as difficult as it seems. Once we open the dungeon to adventurers, you’ll see how things play out. After a few test runs, you’ll get a feel for the balance."

Brent nodded slowly, accepting that Emil probably knew what he was talking about. "Okay. So, where do we start with the layout?"

"First, let’s look at the rooms available to you," Emil said, clapping his small mechanical hands together. "We need to secure your Dungeon Core Room, and there are other rooms that will help you long-term. You can purchase them in the Dungeon Store."

Brent thought about the Dungeon Store, and a new window appeared in his vision. It was eerily similar to the video game menus he was used to seeing back on Earth. There were several tabs at the top: Rooms, Traps, Technology, and Minions . He selected the Rooms tab.

"Okay, I’m looking at the Rooms screen. What now?" Brent asked.

"Just so you know," Emil said with a smirk, "I can see everything you see if you share it with me. I am your Dungeon Companion, after all."

Brent thought about sharing his view, and within seconds, Emil had access to his screen.

"Perfect! Now, let’s take a look at the tabs on the left," Emil instructed. Brent scanned the options: Entrance, Boss, Mini-Boss, Technology, Living , and Battle .

"Any recommendations on where to start?" Brent asked.

"Let’s start with Technology rooms," Emil suggested. "They’re expensive but crucial."

Brent selected the Technology tab. A list of rooms appeared in the center of his vision, each with a small image and price below it. The available rooms included Research Lab, Alchemy Lab, Trap Engineering Bay, Workshop , and Control Room. Some items were greyed out, with level requirements listed next to them, the lowest being level ten.

"I’d recommend purchasing a Control Room and a Research Lab ," Emil advised. "The Control Room is your command center, where you can oversee everything that happens in the dungeon. It’s usually placed near the Core Room for added protection. The Research Lab will help you unlock new technologies much faster, which will be invaluable down the line."

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Brent scanned the prices. The Control Room was a manageable 500 DP, but the Research Lab came in at a hefty 20,000 DP. His brow furrowed as he considered the cost.

"That’s... a lot. Are you sure the Research Lab is worth it?" Brent asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"I’m absolutely sure," Emil responded confidently. "The Research Lab will more than pay for itself in the long run. It’s an investment, and without it, you’ll fall behind pretty quickly in terms of technology and dungeon upgrades. Trust me on this."

Brent mulled it over for a moment, then nodded. Emil hadn’t led him wrong so far, and it seemed like a necessary step. "Alright, I’ll trust you on this one." He bought both the Control Room and the Research Lab , and a confirmation prompt flashed in his vision.

"Thank you for trusting me, Brent," Emil said, sounding genuinely appreciative. "And just so you know, my fate is tied to yours. If you die, I die too. So, my advice isn’t just for your benefit—it’s for both of us."

Brent blinked in surprise. "Wait, if I die, you’re gone too?"

"Yep," Emil confirmed. "A Dungeon Companion’s life is linked to the core they serve. But don’t worry, if I die, you can still run the dungeon without me—though it’ll be a lot harder. So, let’s avoid that, yeah?" Emil chuckled nervously.

Brent smirked. "Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning on getting rid of you. You’re too useful."

Emil seemed to relax a bit. "Good to hear! I’ll be here to assist you in any way I can, but remember, I’m not going to be in the thick of things. I’ll mostly oversee and guide you, but if it comes down to it, I can help in a fight."

Brent took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the next step. "Alright, we’ve got the rooms. What’s next?"

"Now, we place them in your dungeon," Emil said, his tone instructional. "This part will teach you more about controlling your domain. You’ll need to decide where to position the rooms, ensuring they’re both protected and functional. The placement of rooms can affect how your dungeon flows, so you don’t want to just slap them anywhere."

Brent nodded. "Makes sense. So, do I need to move my Core Room first?"

"That’s right," Emil confirmed. "The Core Room is your most important asset. You’ll want it positioned in a secure area, far from the entrance. You can move it now, and then we’ll work on the layout around it."

Brent pulled up his map again and focused on the Core Room . A green outline appeared, showing where the room could be moved. As he concentrated, he dragged the outline to the farthest corner of his domain, well away from any potential entry points. When he moved it too far, the outline turned red, indicating a restricted area. He adjusted it back until the outline was green again.

"Oh, I get it," Brent said, a grin forming. "This is just like some of the games I used to play. I can do this."

He confirmed the placement, and as soon as he did, the world around him shifted. The ground beneath his core rumbled, and the walls of the dungeon seemed to slide, pulling his Core Room to its new location.

"Whoa! What the hell?" Brent exclaimed as he felt his Core Room physically move across the dungeon. The sensation was disorienting, and a wave of vertigo washed over him as the room settled into place.

"I think I’m gonna be sick..." Brent groaned.

"You can’t be sick," Emil said dryly. "Dungeon Cores don’t vomit. Pull yourself together."

Brent grumbled but pushed through the nausea. "Alright, that was... unpleasant. Now what?"

"Now, let’s place the Research Lab next to your Core Room ," Emil instructed. "Keep it close for protection and efficiency."

Brent opened the map again and selected the Research Lab . He placed the room next to the Core Room in a strategic position. As soon as he confirmed the placement, the space beside the core shifted and molded itself into the shape of a lab. Stone walls rose from the ground, and the room took form, complete with smooth tables and shelves lining the edges.

"Crap," Emil muttered suddenly, "I forgot to mention the walls. We need to make sure the rooms are separated properly so adventurers can’t just waltz through to your Core Room ."

Brent pulled up the map once more, and this time, he focused on building walls. A list of materials appeared—dirt, stone, iron, diamond, and a variety of other resources he had absorbed during the expansion process.

"What should I use for the walls?" Brent asked, scrolling through the list.

"Stone or iron should do for now," Emil suggested. "We have plenty of both, and they’ll provide a decent amount of protection. Stronger materials, like diamond or mithril, can be used later for more critical structures, but for now, focus on something sturdy and practical."

Brent selected stone, visualizing the walls rising between the rooms. As he confirmed his choice, the walls sprang to life, growing from the ground up until they reached the ceiling. The stone was smooth and solid, forming an effective barrier between the Core Room and the rest of the dungeon. Once the walls were in place, another prompt appeared in his vision.

Room Complete

Congratulations, Dungeon Core!

The Core Room has been successfully constructed and is now the central hub of your dungeon. This room houses your physical core, the heart of your domain, and must be protected at all costs.

Core Room Details:

o Location: Secured at the farthest edge of your domain

o Current Defenses: Basic stone walls

o Function: Maintains control over all dungeon activities, stores mana, and serves as the focal point for your dungeon’s power.

Remember: The Core Room is your most important asset. Losing it will result in your destruction. Ensure it is well-guarded and secure from potential invaders.

Next Steps:

o Continue expanding your domain.

o Build additional rooms to strengthen defenses and dungeon functionality.

o Prepare for future adventurer incursions.

Your dungeon’s journey has begun!

"Great," Brent said, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. "What’s next?"

"Now, we need to work on securing the Research Lab and adding in the Control Room," Emil said. "It’s essential to have these rooms protected. If adventurers get in, they can destroy the things you've worked on."

Brent nodded, pulling up the map once more. As he considered the layout, he realized how much planning went into creating a functional and secure dungeon. This wasn’t just about setting traps or summoning monsters—it was a delicate balance of design, strategy, and resource management.

"Okay, I’m starting to see how important layout is," Brent admitted, his voice thoughtful. "If I don’t get this right, it could leave me vulnerable."

"Exactly," Emil said. "But don’t worry, you’re learning fast. For now, focus on securing the important rooms and planning your defenses. Once the layout is solid, we can start thinking about what traps to use and which minions to summon."

Brent felt a surge of excitement. The pieces were coming together, and for the first time, he could see the potential in what he was building. His dungeon was more than just a place—it was a living, breathing entity, one that he could shape and mold to his will.

"Alright, Emil," Brent said, a determined grin spreading across his face. "Let’s make this dungeon something special."