Clyde POV

Immediately upon entering the dungeon it's clear that it has not been idle. Again, it shows signs of at least some intelligence. Honestly If I didn't know better, I'd think some other group found the dungeon. However, dungeons tend to dispose of anything that doesn't belong as soon as you leave. That's why one of the first things you're taught about dungeons is to never set anything down and walk away lest you forget to pick it back up. They could be deeper in but that doesn't make any sense though because listening closely I can still hear the lone rat scurrying around in each of the three rooms that branch off from this one.

After allowing everyone a few minutes to look around I quickly gather their attention. "Alright listen" I begin "we only have enough rations to stay here one night. We might be able to stay here longer depending on the loot drops we get. That said based on the previous two delves it seems like only the level 1 rats have a chance to drop meat meaning that what rations we do get from loot are going to be extremely low quality." Everyone nods in agreement remembering how bad the rat meat was. I mean it was still food and likely did save our lives but still.

I continue by revealing that I'm close to reaching level 2 and guessing the others are as well, which they say they are. Well except Lily who is already at level 2. We all agree that we will do our best to reach level 3 before leaving. "Remember everyone, according to the guild, the level cap for creatures on first floors is always 5. So, we likely haven't even gotten close to the core yet." I say as we prepare to enter one of the newer rooms. "Are you really planning to try talking to the core" Lily asks after clearing the first room. "Well ya" I respond. "Dungeons are supposed to be living being." "Well technically the core is alive, everything else is just the shell it builds to feed and protect itself." "Ya I get that" she says trying to look stern. "But most dungeons have at least 50 floors before they're capable of even the most basic dialog."

After clearing another room and giving myself a minute to think I decide to just be honest. "I feel like this dungeon is older than it looks. Most dungeons begin to get a steady stream of delvers as soon as they are formed. This dungeon is so isolated though it could have been here for years possibly decades without anyone knowing. Hell, our second trip here it took us almost a day to find it and we already knew it was here. On top of that there is absolutely no research on how fast dungeons can develop without delvers. The point being I think this dungeon despite only having one floor may be smarter than dungeons with 50+ floors." "I feel like I should mention" Cole cuts in. "The idea that this dungeon only has one floor is still just an assumption until we actually reach the core." "Either way I'd like to reach the core and if possible, establish a bond with it before a stream of delvers start coming through" I say to answer the question that was on everyone's mind.

Dungeon POV

I can already see remarkable improvement. They may still be level 1, mostly, but these are not the rookies that stumbled into my entrance so long ago. The fact that they have at least some decent equipment helps, I'm sure. They manage to complete two delves before nightfall. The first time they stayed outside for nearly an hour before coming back in for another delve. I guess to give me time to reset everything and expand. Although I've already decided to wait until they leave for good to expand. That way I can work in piece without worrying about my controls greying out when I'm in the middle of something. After the second delve though they stayed in the entryway for the rest of the night.

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Cole opts to sleep on the floor since he claims the bed is too small for him anyway. He's not wrong honestly. Darrel takes one of the beds while Lily and Clyde share the other. They're a couple apparently. I never would have guessed. At any rate they manage to complete another eight delves over the next two days. They manage to reach level 2 after only a few delves and by the end they are all level 3. Lily just gains general improvements to her healing and restoration spells. Darrel learns Ice missile. Cole learns the taunt skill. Clyde doesn't seem to gain any skills or spells at least I haven't heard him activate any yet. They may just be passive buffs though. The only thing checking their stats shows me is their level, how much health/mana they have left and any active buffs/debuffs. Passive buffs are invisible to me at the moment. As far as other skills I can only see them when they are used.

The last two delves they even managed a full clear, except for the boss room. Now they are gone and it's time to get to work. Counting up everything, including the water that was drank or collected in waterskins I gained enough mana to trade for 1988 world energy. I say drank or collected because apparently bathing in it doesn't count as harvesting it. Disappointing but adding what I just got to what I already had that's still 2030 world energy. I'm almost giddy with excitement as I begin to place down more rooms.

Eight rooms branch off from the room with the four level 3 rats, with six of them going south in a straight line before I place the other two east of that last room. nine would extend north of the room with the three level 3's and a level 2. With the first seven heading straight north and the last two going straight east of that seven room. I repeat this pattern for the room with the two level 3's and two level 2 except the rooms go off to the east starting at the eighth room.

Starting at the room with the three level 2 rats and one level 3 rat the rooms go straight south with the last four going off to the east instead of the last two. I Continue that pattern for the next three branching paths. Although in the case of the latter two the rooms went north initially instead of south. Starting in the room with the three level 1 rats and a level two rat I create A line of rooms going south nine rooms then turning and going east six rooms starting at the ninth room. for the rooms with just four level 1's and three level 1's respectively I just went straight south with the extra rooms, ironically to change things up a bit.

For the room with just two level 1 rats, I decided to mix things up completely and have the rooms start from the eastern wall and go east, north, west, north, east, north and so on until we got enough rooms to place four level 5 rats following the established pattern. For the room with just the single level one rat I made a branching path that went north ten rooms west one room then south eight rooms.

As for the two side paths that branched off directly from the entry way, I didn't plan to do too much with them. It was just the first floor after all. I did however have the side branch that started along the west wall continue west another three rooms then north with the last room to the east that way delvers won't see it unless they go all the way down that hall of rooms. I plan to add a treasure chest there later but for now I need to wait for my mana to build back up so I can exchange it for more world energy. Until then it's back to placing rooms.

Now I add my first side branch of a side branch starting from the west side branch. At the room with the two level 3 rats and the two level 4 rats I create a line of five rooms to the east. As for the path leading south from the entryway, I continue it south four another eight rooms. Then I set three rooms to the west and another five rooms to the north. For the finishing touch I placed three rooms to the east of the room with the three level 4 rats and one level 5 rat with two being in a straight line and the third facing north from the second room. The last two I place to the west of the room with the two level 4 and two level 5 rats. With that the first floor is officially done. I'll probably do a bit of fine tuning and redecorating once I get more experienced at running a dungeon and get more things from the shop, but as far as rooms it's as complete as I plan to make it.