Authors Note | I know the length isn’t that long, and the story isn’t progressing that fast, but considering this is just starting, and mechanics are being explained, as well as lack of things for Dran (therefore me, as the writer) to do, creates a lack of things to expand on. But don’t worry! Once the boring stuff is done, we’ll be getting onto some more exciting stuff. Or at least I hope it is exciting.
!!!WARNING!!!: Some of the content in this can be rather explicit descriptions of gore and death, so those who aren’t quite accustom to such things, you have been warned.
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Chapter 02 - Realization
It’s been probably around 30 years since I became a dungeon. It seems that the perception of time for me is different according to how much I focus. At first, I was studying my information quite intently, and realized that roughly a day had passed since doing so.
It felt fast, yet slow at the same time considering the volume of information I had to look at. All my monsters were fully spawned, so there was no need to spawn any more. The only thing that was continually spawning even now were the territorial monsters outside.
While anticipating the arrival of adventurers, nothing occurred and so I quickly got bored, waiting to be the evil overlord of the Dungeon to terrorize adventurers. As I lost focus, I zoned out for what I thought was only a couple of hours.
When I re-focused my attention, twenty years had passed by! Too fast! I could have achieved so much! And not only that, where were those damn adventurers! The last bastards.
It was so incredibly boring. Stretching my non-existent limbs, I decided to play around with my monsters. As they were rather willing to listen to me, I began experiments to find my limitations.
Thinking of creating an army, I tried sending monsters out of the dungeon. That failed. Monsters are restricted to inside what is defined as the ｢Dungeon Zone｣. They cannot leave this Zone unless some unknown requirements are met. My guess is the Creators are the ones who decide.
As before, different monster types are restricted to different floor ranges. For example, my wolves can freely move between floors 1-5, but cannot enter the lower floors. On the other hand, the Ogres are able to move between floors 4-8.
I’ve also noted that my Rare Monsters are capable of moving anywhere within the dungeon as they see fit, but it leaves their areas unguarded and reduces the amount of my own dungeon I can see.
I’ve divided the floors into 3 sets of 5:
The ｢Upper Floors｣ consisting of floors 1-50, divided every 10 floors into a separate stage.
The ｢Intermediary Floors｣ consisting of floors 51-100, similarly in 5 stages.
And the ｢Lower Floors｣ consisting of floors 101-150.
There is also a hidden floor, floor 0, just underneath floor 150, where the greatest treasure is. It could be called the Treasure Room, but guarded by my strongest Rare Monster available.
I’ll eventually explain more about the Rare Monsters and individual monsters out there, as well as the traps like the one that sends someone from the upper floors to the lower floors, but it would be too long. Instead, I’ll probably explain it when someone encounters them.
Or rather, I’m still lazy, and don’t want to monologue and bore myself when I’m only talking to this black void in front of me.
I truly am a sorry excuse for a remnant of humanity, aren’t I?
Sighing to myself, I look at the dungeon projection.
The ｢Upper Floors｣ are what I call the ”Feral Zones” due to the gathering of more instinctual monsters. Wolves, Ogres, Bears, oversized Rabbits, Werewolves, Bats, Snakes, you name it. Even the standard slims are there, though I personally find it hilarious that they are level 89 on average. Monster levels range from 50 – 200.
The ｢Intermediary Floors｣ I have dubbed as ”Fallen Zones” because most of the monsters there are things that have lost their previous glory as what they once were. Undead and Fallen beings like Necromancers, Skeletal Warriors, Plague Warriors, Fallen Angels, Corrupted Spirits, Deformed Spectres, and other such monsters. Monster levels range from 150 – 300.
Finally, the ｢Lower Floors｣ are probably the toughest. I call them the ”Demonic Zones” due to the fact that majority, if not all monsters on this floor are self-aware and have their own hierarchy. I’m truly thankful for having ｢Monster Loyalty｣ after I learned of this. Monsters that are on these floors are from many different races seen in Aetheria, as well as some that are created based on my mind, but all have been demonized. There are Succubi, Spirits, Beastmen, Demi-Humans, Aquatic Races, Avian Races, Vampires, you name it, I got it. Monster levels range from 250 – 500.
The levels are crazy. Despite not having Elites, Commanders and Bosses, my lower floors are, by nature, hierarchal. Why? Because it’s a survival of the fittest environment. Though there have been no conflicts this far. If anything, my Dungeon is stagnant because of the lack of adventurers.
I apparently have a huge mana capacity under Dungeon Resources, separate from the automatic monster spawner, which I am sure is used for skills. Maybe that ｢Dungeon Craft｣ skill has something to do for it, but I don’t have access it. Which is quite the shame.
*****
Another 20 years have gone by. And at this time, I have my first customer.
My above ground monsters spotted humanoid figures approaching and began stalking them silently like the predators they are. After all, the wolves are the mainstay of my Dungeon, especially the upper floors, so they are the ones to spawn outside at weaker levels.
If the population of the first 50 floors was around 1000 monsters per floor, given that each floor is probably 5km in diameter, this is probably an average population. As a side note, the first five floors are networks of caves, with floors 6-10 being forest areas.
The population that spawns outside is roughly the same as a single floor, but the spawn rate after it reaches 200 is very slow. Currently, after 50 years, there are only around 300 wolves out there called ｢Wolf Scouts of ???｣.
With an average level of 35, a vast difference to the minimum level 50 inside, they are pack wolves. Upon stalking their targets, a group of what looks like 12 adventurers approach.
From my observer’s view in the abyss, overlooking the projection and zooming in on this, I curiously watch them approach and scout for a dungeon. Given their look, they seemed a bit flashy for what I would expect, considering the amount of adventure styled web novels I’ve read.
The moment around a dozen of my wolves were within 50m of them, they suddenly dashed away from each other. What were they doing? Well, that was obvious, they were targeting my wolves. Deciding to watch how this would play out, I was shocked by the results.
No, literally. I was shocked.
Pain wracked my body as the wolves of mine were struck down in rapid succession. What is this? Why?
After all the surrounding wolves were slain, the adventurers grouped together again with puzzled expressions. Mostly because of the unknown names.
As for myself, I was gritting my teeth. For every death of a monster under my dominion, I felt like someone was slowly pushing a serrated knife into my body and pulling it out. It was agonizing.
Needless to say, I didn’t want to feel this pain, and apparently all my monsters responded to this overpowering feeling of mine.
With bloodlust filling the forest my Dungeon was in, the Adventurers were quite spooked. Within minutes, howling filled with rage echoed everywhere. And then moments later, they were being charged at by around 250 wolves went to feast.
With more pain, I was unable to coherently understand the situation or guide my wolves. Out of my sight, the wolves were learning and adapting to their targets, avoiding strikes which cut down the one in front of them, coping better the longer the fight dragged out. But it still wasn’t enough.
In the end, all the monsters were dead, and I was left motionless as a lot of different feelings mixed and flooded into my mind.
If there were 1000 monsters per floor, and each death caused this across the 150 floors, how many more times would I have to experience this pain? 150 thousand times. It may also be more painful with higher level monsters being killed.
I don’t want this. I don’t want any adventurers to show up. I have to keep them out. I won’t let them in. I don’t want anyone to find me! I hate the adventurers. I want to kill them. But… I’m also afraid of them. If I fight them and lose, I’ll experience this pain again.
As they approached the entrance, I panicked. Responding to my will, the monsters willingly gathered on the first floor as droves of wolves packed the tight cave network, waiting with rage and bloodlust to kill the intruders that caused pain to their master.
*****
The party of adventurers stepped through the threshold of the Dungeon. They were arrogant and elated over their victory outside and the fact that they were entering a never before seen dungeon.
The average party level was around 60, with the lowest level being 51. The highest, the party leader, was level 86. Because of this, they had an overwhelming victory outside and were now gloating over the fact they had a whole dungeon to themselves to explore.
On top of it, they received a notification indicating they would receive an experience bonus for two weeks. Should they all die before the two weeks was over, the experience bonus would be given to the next group to enter.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Without delay, they continued inside, still full of vigor after the adrenaline from outside. Upon walking onwards, the caves were pitch black with not a single light. They could still see well enough, though, to get around the place.
What stopped their advance was the thickness of bloodlust, rage, and the visible red eyes around them. With the mage in the group in the center, they used a light spell to create some visibility. What they found were two passages ahead of them, and the one they had come from, filled with wolves that were watching them.
Startled, they looked at the level of the monsters. They were stunned. Level 50 being the lowest, even though the ones outside were level 30 at the lowest? It was a trap! This wasn’t a regular dungeon, it was at least ｢B+ Rank｣!
The group of 12 were ｢B Rank｣ collectively, and there was a large difference between ｢B Rank｣ and ｢B+ Rank｣. Similarly, there was another gap in power between the ranks of ｢B+ Rank｣ and ｢A Rank｣. To note, a ｢-｣ on a Rank indicated it/they had degraded in comparison to something/someone of the same rank.
Their only advantage they could see was their levels. After all, the beasts in front of them were instinctual monsters. All they had to do was display their power and make them realize who was stronger so they could backtrack.
With the party leader, an upcoming talent in the Adventurers Guild, he stepped forward and activated a skill which would demoralize opponents and instil fear and confusion on all targets. With a smug look, he watched the wolves take a step back.
But that’s all they did.
Confused, and worried, he watched the wolves shake off the fear and become more enraged. From the look in their black eyes with a red iris, the party finally understood what those eyes meant.
“We’re not letting you leave here alive, even at the cost of our own.”
What followed was a bloodbath. The monsters slowly approached carefully, before one ran forward as the others watched. It charged at the Leader, causing him to raise his greatsword in both hands and swing horizontally while sidestepping. A wise choice.
The wolf was struck down in the one hit. Fatal Blow popped up as the head went flying. Seeing this, the rest of the wolves snarled, and this time two approached slowly. Once within range, the first pounced high whilst the second kicked the ground as hard as it could, dashing past the Leader.
Caught off guard, the Leader was forced to block the incoming attack as the second one got past him. The others, unprepared, took a step back unconsciously as the wolf dashed between them and bit the mage who had casted the spell for illumination.
Within moments, the man was writhing as his arm was being used as a chew toy, and the others scrambling to kill the beast. But taking too long, the light went out. At this moment, although the two had died, the rest of their brethren howled while rushing forward.
After a short struggle, close to 100 wolves swarmed the cave passage and pinned the 11 adventurers, jaws around their heads to force them to the ground and to watch what was ahead.
And so, they could only watch their Leader who was encircled like prey before predators. With the cave walls suddenly illuminating, they were granted a means to watch the carnage as wolf after wolf pounced on the guy.
Despite the metal cuirass, greaves and bracers, the man was quickly torn apart. Teeth sunk into the upper arms, parts of the leg, tearing off skin and muscle bits at a time.
“Feel our master’s pain.”
That was what the beasts were wishing for, but the adventurers were too horrified by the sight in front of them to understand.
One arm was torn out of its socket and eaten, while another was left dangling, barely attached by a flap of skin. Bite marks were sunken into his armor with blood pouring out of them. Not satisfied, one wolf bit off the man’s jaw. The deafening screams of pain made a glimmer of pleasure show on the wolves’ faces.
As the last attack on the man sprawled on the dungeon floor, a single wolf tore into the man’s throat. As the gargling of blood continued for a minute or so, the man died painfully while the others watched. And then, they met a similar fate.
The only saving grace, was that they weren’t subject to the death and mental torture that the lower floors would have done. Some of the demons would have some really deadly things for them, after all. Their body violated before being restored and continuously tortured.
*****
Having watched the scene with hazy vision, I felt relief at the fact my intruders were dead, and that I wouldn’t have to experience any more pain.
With no monsters outside, I could no longer see my surroundings. I needed to prepare. If this was going to happen repeatedly, I need to be ready. No more pain.
With this in mind, I set out to first recover mentally and eventually another five years passed before I realized it.
By now, the initial 200 monsters outside had respawned and were scouting out a maximum 5km in any direction. They were quite spread out, but by my will, they didn’t advance, and kept a sort of border patrol on rotation with 100 out so I had another 100 on standby for rotation and emergency action.
I needed them to be stronger. Much stronger. If I wanted to forego pain, I needed to avoid the death of my monsters. To do this, I needed higher levels. Better tactics and understanding. It was time for training.
*****
100 years since I became a dungeon. In the last 45 years or so, I’ve been discovered by a search party that went looking for the missing adventurers within a year of their disappearance. They must have stated where they were exploring, and only now did people get this far.
My monsters outside were hunted every now and then, but it seemed as long as I didn’t provoke them, they left my patrols alone. As long as they were hidden well enough.
But there were still those who went hunting to raise their levels. In cases like this, the one detected willingly drew them away from the rest while I re-organized the patrols to avoid them.
The first discoverers never entered and instead set up a guard post after returning with the soldiers of the territory’s governing country. And after this, many attempted to explore the dungeon.
Needless to say, I never let them escape the first floor. And so, given the difficulty, I was labelled as an ｢S Rank Dungeon｣, though I was declared as…
Dungeon Without A Name
A Dungeon discovered 50 years ago famed for having never been explored past its upper floors. Labelled as ｢S Rank｣ due to the difficulty. Befitting its unique Rank, this dungeon has no Name.
Adventurers are warned that the monsters are intelligent and get progressively stronger and enraged with the more that are killed.
I had to admit, I liked the description. Thanks to it, not many entered. Though, this also brought more trouble as only the strong willing to risk the death would appear, either alone or as a group.
Adventurers of ｢S Rank｣ appeared and challenged it solo, but only 10 floors. That was their limit. For parties, they could only manage floor 25. As for a battalion that entered, they barely managed floor 35.
Fatality rates were high, and risk of major injuries were extremely high too. The rumors were that any who tempted the Dungeon would find themselves being pulled further to their death with every step.
To get to this point, there was a lot I had to do. On all floors, I had my monsters form groups of 12 and had them combat each other. On the upper floors, I focused on killing each other so that the winners learned how to survive against numbers and let them gain wisdom.
The intermediary floors were focused on utilizing their numbers and skills since they were less instinctive and followed orders more. The stronger ones were designated party leaders and the floor focus was on group combat, multi-group combat, and war. I nurtured as much intelligence as I could for them to make them tougher opponents.
As for the lower floors, I combined both the previous lessons and had them establish a survival of the fittest rule so they would constantly be fighting with each other. They were to band together should adventurers approach, and they were under strict instructions that while aiming to kill each other, they were to forgive and forget. If they could not do this, they would not survive war on multiple fronts when adventurers arrived.
And to add a cherry on top, I ordered all my Rare Monsters to level up and attack other monsters as they saw fit. As long as they obeyed and protected their areas, they could do as they willed, devastating established battlegrounds and encampments everywhere.
With 50 years having passed since my discovery, Rank Assignment and knowledge of my existence spreading, a peculiar, and possibly life changing thing occurred.
One of my patrols encountered another Dungeon Monster.
Lamia of Eclarsyte: Level 41
A Dungeon Monster originating from Eclarsyte, the ｢S Rank Dungeon｣ famous for monsters sporting humanoid features.
And what did this Lamia say upon meeting my own Wolf?
”I, the Dungeon named Eclarsyte, invite you to the Dungeon Master’s Conference.”
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