Dungeon POV

Watching that fight provided a lot of useful information. For instance, I think I will add two level 5 rats. The boss fight seemed a bit too easy. Despite the fact that Lily, their healer, was the only one to come out of it unscathed none of them were seriously injured. The level gap was substantial, but it was also just a single enemy with no actual skills. All that can wait though as I can see the party approaching my core and start to panic in spite of myself. Dungeons it would seem have a strong Instinctual aversion to anything getting close to their core. I still don't think they'll hurt me but it's also too late to do anything about it if they do.

As the party leader reaches out to touch the core, I can feel our minds connect. Judging by the look on his face he feels it as well. "Hello dungeon" he says the same way you'd say hello to a stray cat. Clearly not really expecting me to be able to hold a conversation. For a fraction of a second I consider not responding at all. That would defeat the purpose of waiting for them to reach this point though, so I eventually do respond. "Hello Clyde, took Your Sweet Time Getting here I see." "Wait you know me?" he asks a little taken aback. "Of course, I know you" I respond, a little more dismissively than I actually intended. "You're the only visitors I've had. Watching you delve has been quite entertaining."

"I'm sure it is" he says hesitantly clearly not expecting that response. "You have no idea how boring it is to be alone with your own thoughts for years" I say taking advantage of the fact that they thought I might be way older than I actually am. "That certainly doesn't sound like fun" he says. I can sense him trying to work out how he would have dealt with that and clearly not liking the results. "Watching your party come here once a month to delve is the only entertainment I get" I say doubling down on the guilt trip. I know it's a dirty tactic, but this is a negotiation. Even if I'm the only one who realizes that.

"That's actually why I'm here" he says practically pouncing on the bait. "I'd like to form a bond with you if you'll allow it." "A bond" I say questioningly while pretending to just now be considering the possibility. "What would I have to give up" I quickly add accusingly. "Nothing at all" he interjects. "In fact, you'd actually gain from it" he adds. This having the intended result of putting him in a position of trying to placate me.

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If he actually thought for a moment, he'd realize that I hear everything that happens inside the dungeon. How else would I know his name after all. So, I most likely heard his conversation with the inspector. I don't give him that moment, however. Taking this opportunity, I send a small piece of my mind through the connect made by his direct contact with my core. He is startled for a moment. Soon enough though, he seems to realize what is happening and relaxes allowing that tiny piece of my mind to enter his, and just like that the connection is made.

The bond in question is rather simple. It takes us both a few minutes to fully adjust to him having a tiny piece of my consciousness inside his mind. Due to that small bit of my consciousness inside his mind I now know everything he knows. I can't directly control him. At the same time, he can't lie to me anymore no matter how much he might want to. He could have limited how much of his mind I had access to. He could have even tried to gain access to my mind. I played my part well though and he was so busy feeling sorry for me that he didn't do either of those things. I'm not proud of such a dirty trick. If he actually tried however, and his will was strong enough, he could have subjugated me. Forcing me to build the dungeon how he wanted.

After a few minutes we decide to test the bond. He lets go of my core and we are still able to communicate. After that I can feel him trying to end our mental communication. I stop actively sending out telepathic messages at that time. Allowing him to believe he was successful. Soon they are making their way back through the boss chamber and heading for the surface. Now that that's done, I'm ready to get started on the second floor. I have to admit though it was rather comical looking at the faces of the other party members. They were only able to hear Clyde and so could only imagine the other half of the conversation. I also have a lot of world energy to spend thanks to the last few days.

After they leave, I go ahead and spend a single world energy to purchase a second floor. I can't help but thank that it seems a little cheap but hey I'm not going to question it. What surprises me more than the price is what happens after I buy the second floor.

Congratulations To The Host For Acquiring A Second Floor Portals Now Available New Category Now Available, Loot Ability to Adjust Blueprints Now Available Monster Skills Now Available For Purchase

It would seem the first floor was a sort of test for new dungeons. At least that's how I interpret all this new stuff that didn't even show up as one of the locked options finally becoming available. That certainly changes some things. While I don't plan to let anyone who has beaten a boss skip that floor in the future, at least not right now. I do plan to make it so they can return to the surface without having to backtrack through previous floors. Mainly because the sooner they leave the sooner I can actually use the mana they gave me. It's the last two unlocks that I'm most excited about though.