Uno

The little rat scurried away with two pieces of ore - I already used the lightning energy on these, yet somehow achieving the effect similar to mana crystal still eluded me.

I accepted giving them away since it was clear to me that this Ratling was a disabled specimen. Without working spear thrower its usefulness to the colony would be minimal. Because of that the rat was probably abandoned and was wandering the tunnels, all alone.

It’s face, while far cry from a human, had an unmistakable sad expression carved into it. One that was a result of many disappointments.

I simply felt pity and wished it would continue its experience, no matter how hard it was.

Live on, little Ratling!

Sigh.

Returning to the problem at hand.

What did I manage to accomplish? Not much. I produced something called energized metal, which exhibited a strange visual effect - blue motes of light, but nothing else I could immediately use. The name changed, adding another word to an already long designation. Meteoric iron turned into energized meteoric iron, while black iron changed into energized black iron.

What were the effects? Special characteristics?

Who knows.

My Analyze didn’t provide an answer. Question marks everywhere - it was not so useful now. I guess for it to work the target would need to be a creature or a magic tool? That begged another question - from where all this knowledge was coming from? Was it somehow connected to Gangria? She said something about the System…

Whatever. Let’s focus on the present.

The new metal wasn’t completely useless. Since few of the Lebirs seemed to be due for an upgrade I decided to duct tape plates of it to their front and back. A new kind of armor was born! Who knew if it was better or worse than before? Who knew if it even works?

Not me.

That’s what made it an interesting experiment.

These new Lebirs were also promptly dumped in the Food Hall - this way the adventurers advancing into the complex would first encounter the “normal type” Lebirs. And only then the “blue” ones.

Why do so and not annihilate them all at once?

I was still mimicking the normal - stupid - dungeons, which did things according to pre-programmed motions. Slowly raising the difficulty level was one of these. Of course, the Decapitator kinda went against that notion, but I was banking on being unique and all that jazz. Going out of the way to destroy the invaders would break my cover though. At least I think so.

The whole dilemma pisses me off, so let’s get back to the experiments on uncommon metals.

They soothe my soul.

As a next step in the process, I decided to not only use my Anima, but also electrical affinity, yet the final product was less than satisfactory.

The damn thing was still not alive.

Or rather I ended up with something looking like a “wet metal”, which pretty much instantly hardens when exposed to air, creating a piece of iron…

Wait.

Did I just create a solder? For use in a soldering iron?

Or maybe a super glue?

It fit the bill. There were of course problems with delivering the said product, but my copper arms were pretty versatile. A glue pistol of solder iron wasn’t out of the question.

Or maybe...

I’ll just upgrade them to cast iron? It should be good enough material.

It turned out I had another tool added to my arsenal... except that it was pretty useless.

My mana, the Anima and electrical energy were able to somehow act as a bonding agent even without this solder-like substance.

It was redundant.

That was the word.

Another failure then.

I was getting more and more angry at the fact that there was no way to get the red crystal back from the Ironflame Ratling. It was such a unique thing and I simply wasted it. Really, fate had cast pearls before a swine.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Why I couldn’t just butcher the rat and retrieve it? Mostly because its insides no longer contained the red crystal. It enhanced the final product - a Ratling - by becoming one with the body. Dissolving. I ended with an ability to reproduce the creature, but not the mana crystal which allowed it’s evolution.

Not that it was an easy task to devour and reproduce it in the first place. My ability to deconstruct was limited to things that were either already dead or those who were never alive in the first place. And far away from sentients - that too seemed to be a condition.

And yes, it was none of these things.

So I screwed up.

But as soon as more adventurers would grace my halls with their presence…

Let’s just say I would await a bountiful harvest.

Oh! Yes, adventurers.

They were trying to run, right?

I changed my focus immediately. But not before summoning a few of the Ironflame Rats and throwing them into the Ratling Warrens.

There was some kind of a commotion, but I already moved my consciousness away.

Running away from problems? Nope, it was just a strategic relocation.

Nothing to see here.

Anyway, the adventurers were preparing to leave. A large team, about thirty people in total. I was tempted to block the entrance and devour them all but managed to stop my impulses in time.

One survivor would be enough to ruin my perfect image.

No need to be impatient.

More will come.

The half-elves were busy packing. Not even a trace of blood remained of their former companions, so the room looked pristine. They gathered whatever water my bone lichen did produce and cured the rat meat.

Most of them looked nervous, constantly readying their weapons and checking fletchings for lasting damage. In a few minutes, a smallish looking half-elf with a young face stood upon an improvised platform. His name was Rikr, I think? Everybody called him the Captain, though.

As he appeared the slow murmur of voices quietened down and people started to listen. There was no impatience in their movements now, only focused attention.

Rikr coughed softly and took a long look around. His eyes were piercingly blue and he focused them on each and every one of them. Under his gaze rangers stiffened up, courage and confidence surging. After a minute of silence, he started his speech.

“Brothers and sisters! Rangers! Defenders of Luna! A great duty lies upon our shoulders. A knowledge that we must share with the rest of the world! That mustn’t be forgotten!” He breathed in and out, presence sharp like an arrow in flight. “Many of you may soon breathe your last, and many more may find their end in the badlands.” The murmurs started, every single ranger was suddenly aware of their mortality. “However!” Rikr mature voice stopped their hesitation. “We will be remembered! We will save our friends and lovers! Our families!” He continued quietly. “The information about this dungeon will save lives! The Forgotten Dungeon is a danger to all! Ever so more in the hands of reckless humans, arrogant elves or mad dwarves! We must deliver the message to the Council! One survivor will be enough. So run! Run and remember! It! Must! Be! Destroyed!”

The people around him cheered, chanting “It must be destroyed!”, while I was processing the whole speech.

WAIT A MOMENT!

What the hell, man! What did I ever do to you?!

Shit. The situation was looking really bad.

No choice and no time for hesitation.

Lebirs - advance, Decapitator, get out of these tunnels and mow them down!

Quickly!

Before they all…

Yes.

Before they all march out in an orderly fashion and leave the dungeon…

Just like that.

Fuck.

What now?

Did I just screw up?

Again?

The rangers were long gone when my warriors arrived at the entrance.

For some reason, my whole existence was unforgivable for these people - who knows why. And they would even murder their companions for that reason. They would also gladly lose their lives in order to make sure that information (what information?! I don’t understand!) will reach the right places.

It was bad. Really bad.

Who knows how much time I have.

But not all was lost!

I had a plan! Well, parts of one...

Firstly - I was blind when it came to the entrance. Unacceptable. There was something white and circular above the stairs, but trying to extend my feelers out there ended in failure. Each time.

But as they say… using a hammer will make every problem look like a nail.

If something wasn’t working it was time for a change.

I decided to slowly tighten the entrance, adding dungeon-influenced dirt to the equation. This resulted in a smaller way in (the circle was still about two to three meters in diameter) and a chance I was aiming for. While the dirt wasn’t enough to create a normal-sized tunnel a Ratling one was still okay.

Straight to the surface and then back into the ground, but still above the invisible barrier stopping me from expanding upwards. Lovely.

Since I remembered that the Ratlings were able to survive beyond my dungeon limits (and Lebirs and my other creations did not) they were the only choice for the scouting and defense mission. Not the sturdiest of walls, nor the brightest, but it will do.

Not to mention I didn’t really have the ability to give them orders or get back intel after they went outside…

Who cares. It was for survival!

Immediately a Ratling Queen, few basic rats, and three Ironflames were summoned to the entrance room. As they appeared a simple command was all that I managed - something that I had to work on in the future.

Because of that, I asked the group to go to the surface, create a nest and defend both it and the entrance from sentients. Yet somehow I think that they heard a bit more hardcore version of it…

Something like: “Go forth and breed in my name, create a nation and devour my enemies. Leave none alive!”

Their reaction and enthusiasm was a bit of an indication.

I was not taking any responsibility for their future actions.

Nope.

Not my business.

I was busy surviving after all.

And digging the second level of the dungeon.

Which was currently being flooded, due to the underground lake my Drones found.

Never a dull moment, eh?