Uno

It was only a solid few hours later that sounds of battle quietened and then slowly faded to nothing.

Non had successfully escaped after exacting her revenge if the dark faces of the returning soldiers were any indication. Unlike before the sentients were concentrated strictly on guarding the entrance room, their sentries comprised mostly battered and bandaged people. No more forays in the dungeon and no loud, haughty conversations told the story of a dire defeat.

At the same time, my Decapitator was up and running again, his thirsty blades etching scar after scar in the stone tunnels just behind a corner. There wasn’t much in this bile-brain of his, but I clearly felt the desire for revenge. To rip and tear.

Yet for now, there was no chance to do so.

I gathered the contents of the hushed whispers that sentients shared over smoldering campfires. It quickly became clear that most of the battle-capable soldiers remained on the surface. Ergo - the threat up there was much greater than underground. Something was coming, I could feel it.

But, like before, I had no reasonable options to interfere with the outside world. Because of that life in my halls returned to its earlier tranquility, interrupted only by the workers' relentless digging.

It was calm if one ignored the Dungeon Core's ethereal body currently bashing his head against the wall. It was a futile endeavor, seeing as the walls were “real” while I was not.

The reason for such behavior?

I was lamenting my totally unnecessary cockiness.

It was just like me, trying to look cool, only to get kicked in the balls.

Why did I send that last mental comment into Non’s mind?!

All this time I endured and let Guardian do the honors. He was leading the revenant in and cajoling her until the girl was convinced that every step she took was out of her own volition. The trap was set, ready to snap. And in the last possible moment, I just had to fuck myself over!

Yes, I was giddy, everything was going my way for once, and now somebody knew I was a sentient dungeon!

Goddammit!

Why did I do that?!

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Ugh…

...

..

.

*sigh*

Let’s calm down.

Maybe the situation wasn’t that bad.

The undead girl only knew that someone other than Guardian had the ability to communicate mentally in my dungeon. At least I wasn’t dumb enough to actually introduce myself. Non’s ability to speak was pretty non-existent too, so the chance for her to slip up and divulge my existence was minimal. Who knew however if this would change with time.

The next problem - she was bound to encounter some powerful individuals in her quest for vengeance. I was certain that both nobles and royalty had capable bodyguards in their employ, not to mention some of them being powerful warriors and mages themselves was a distinct possibility. I still remembered that the people who managed to conquer my first floor were a royal princess, a noble, and their retainers.

This meant she could get easily captured.

Another unpleasant notion.

There might be ways to extract knowledge from the undead, just like I did with Guardian.

Stupid! I once again bashed my ephemeral head against the wall.

There was also a chance of betrayal, changing sides, as she wasn’t one of my creations after all, and her blatant disregard of our “deal” only reinforced that notion.

Ah… all this thinking was giving me shivers.

Whatever!

I don’t care!

Out of sight, out of the heart!

Whatever happens, happens!

Let’s just focus on more important and interesting tasks - namely that, without any fanfare or cultivation-like epiphany I had gained a level.

Yup. All these weak soldiers killed by the rampaging undead weren’t that filling, but be it bread or rice a sheer number of the dead carved by Non’s blackened blades was more than enough to push me over the threshold.

And because of that, I could gaze at my new status with pride.

Like so:

Race

Dungeon core

Name

Uno

Dungeon core level

2

Affinity

Electricity

Element

Anima

Location

Henrik Waltzer ruined Castle - Dungeons

Magic

None

Skills

None

Innate Abilities

Mana sight, Anima manipulation, Electricity Encroachment

The empty Magic and Skills parts were hurting my gamer soul… yet there was little I could do to fill them. The only speech-capable monster in my dungeon, Guardian was clueless when it came to such things (which may or may not have stemmed from thorough brainwashing I put him through). And there was no way in hell I would ask the sentients for help!

But then again - nothing that some kind of torture wouldn’t solve, now that I had a willing mouthpiece to ask questions.

These were plans for the future though, and there was no time like the present!

My first instinct was to dig, to burrow deeper and further away from the greedy sentients. I fought that feeling with all my might, barely stopping myself from ordering my sturdy Stone Drones. The usually calm stone dolls seemed a bit more active right now, likely sensing my excitement.

Unlike most of my creations, these guys were only useful when another level was being excavated. I had no ability to dig on my own but somehow managed to easily maintain my tunnels and caves. I guess that was what happened when every stone and brick wall was part of a giant organism.

Anyway, I managed to suppress my innate desire to burrow and decided to focus instead on the creation of another subordinate core. While I wasn’t using them much in the past the recent incident involving Tinna… or rather Non clearly proved their worth. They had a different skillset from mine and it was time to use them for something else than dungeon-slavers bait. At least the new one.

I summoned my mana and forced it into an already familiar shape. It was easier this time, just filling the gaps between reality and slowly feeding the emerging monster. I stared at the newborn core with a strange sense of comradery and innate understanding. It was my servant, bound and ready to fight. I knew that it would look just like me, with an onyx-like smooth surface and the darkest blackness swirling inside.

Except it didn’t.

Or rather there were notable differences between my shape, the other sub-core, and this newcomer. The aura that swirled around it reminded me of old, crusty blood...

[Analyze.] I whispered quietly.

Mechanical Core Gem (Curse)

This mechanical creation is indistinguishable from the real dungeon core for the sapient races. It has the ability to give orders to dungeon creations and even attack and defend on its own. The communication ability is restricted to at least part-mechanical creations.

It can be subordinated to the dungeon core or left to its own devices after giving orders. As such it allows growing the dungeon's influence even outside its normal borders. The additional effect is cleansing the surrounding mana while converting most biological and mechanical lifeforms to dungeon-created ones.

This specific gem has been changed by the residual energies of the souls devoured by the Dungeon. Because of this, a new ability to create cursed equipment has been added. Unlike its creator and predecessor, this gem also produces an unhealthy, reddish glow.

Threat level: D--

Oh.

Ooooooh. That was new.

Did that mean that my actions had consequences even when creating new minions? Would that mean that I could force some evolutions on my Lebirs or Ratlings? Or maybe even Bile-brain Golems?

I already started to experiment in this direction, but seeing no results I simply abandoned this venue of research…

Should I try to create a Kodoku? A space that was filled with poisonous worms that would devour each other until the strongest one remained? Metaphorically speaking of course…

Let’s keep that thought.

But… cursed weapons, you say, Analyze. I could work with that.

From what I gathered listening to sentients conversations most of the dungeons had some kind of a trial in which a challenger had to prove themselves worthy and then receive a prize. Said prize being often a weapon, armor, or otherwise magical item.

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A foolish notion, but one I couldn’t escape in my pursuit to grow less conspicuous. As in I’m not a sentient dungeon, folks! way. One could, of course, say that my uniqueness was already set in stone, but I desperately wanted to remain as standard as I could, since unremarkable was already out of the question.

Yet it just didn’t sit right with me to simply bestow my enemies with weapons or armor, be it of an average quality that I was capable of... Thus with this ability to create cursed armaments, I had another avenue to choose.

Lovely.

There were also other things to consider.

For one I forcefully switched Guardian’s position with the enhanced Golem that earlier guarded the underground Core Room. The fake one, of course, as my own position remained entrenched on the first floor, in the isolated chamber.

The big guy whimpered for a bit, unwilling to leave his home, but I quickly managed to convince him that the whole Dungeon was something akin to his manor now. Only then he moved to the underwater tunnel and further down - into the lonely room that guarded one of the two planned ways down.

While he moved I closed the ceiling trenches, effectively confining him to his new place. The plan was to lead him even deeper, but that had to wait. I felt nearly a physical need to dig down, but…

NOT YET!

Not yet, Uno!

Stay strong!

Instead of going down, I ordered my Stone Drones to dig east from the Rat Beast holding pen. They ran towards the place in a nearly rabid fashion, zealously scratching at the stone and dirt, their moves more similar to how animals tore their victim’s flesh apart than calm construction workers building a new annex.

Large, gorilla-like Rat Beasts growled at the sudden intrusion but considering that the newcomers weren’t made from edible material they just let it go. An instinctive feeling of belonging, which usually connected the dungeon residents helped too.

Not even an hour passed when my little minions managed to excavate a sizable room.

[Good.] I sent and despite not understanding me in the slightest the Drones rejoiced. Was it me, or were they looking a bit more… alive right now?

No matter.

I smiled and sent a few of the Lebirs to fetch the Flamecaller, Ironflame Rat King.

He normally lounged in the south part of the dungeon, the place which Ironflame Rats turned into something like a combination of a temple and training grounds. They sparred there constantly, slowly building up an organized and bloody structure.

Now that I think about it wasn’t that a clear indication that the surroundings had a direct effect on the individual’s evolution paths…

How did I not notice it earlier?

Was I growing dumber?

Haaaaaah.

No matter.

The hulking three-meter tall Flamecaller arrived, flanked by his two Ironflame Rat Temple Warriors and about ten simple Lesser Demonic Ironflame Rats. He barely squeezed through the tunnels dug for much smaller beings. At least the newly dug room was nice and spacious, easily capable of holding rat king and his retinue.

It was the right time to introduce them to the visiting adventurers or soldiers. Or anybody else stupid enough to invade my dungeon.

The system calling him the King really did the giant rat warrior justice. He looked a bit like the Rat Beasts that were currently busy trying to meld into the walls while whimpering in fear. His two massive clawed fists were used to lumber from one place to another. He looked powerful but slow, yet I knew that these looks were deceiving. Not once or twice I saw him soaring through the air, like death incarnate. On the top of his head, a red crest stood proudly, while the rest of the rat’s face and body was covered in sturdy scar tissue and natural leather armor.

Seeing that both of my chosen entrance points were secure I let it all out and ordered Stone Drones to dig. They reacted without hesitation and I felt another barrier crumble as two downstairs were being made - one near the underwater tunnel and the second one behind Rat Beasts Pens.

I willed them to converge in one position and they did, thanks to the savant genius of the Stone Drones. A third level was being made and my head was already full of ideas to implement.

My minions created a “safe room” with two stairways descending inside. They were ending on the west and east side of the room. This way anyone dumb enough to check the second one would have to contend with the boss. I also ordered the Drones to carve four statues in the corners of the room.

They froze, not understanding what the order meant.

I sighed, sharpening my image.

Sentient, with a magic staff, one hand lifted in the air.

Sentient, with a bow, ready to strike an unseen foe.

Sentient, with a large mace and tower shield.

Sentient, with two daggers and hunched posture.

The diggers threw themselves at the work, full of fervor.

Too bad that their skills were lacking.

What I ended up with were four statues of… something. From an objective standpoint, they looked more like prisoners half-plunged into the earth, trying desperately to claw their way out. Their faces were indistinct but open in silent screaming, weapons no more than broken and rusted sticks, deformed flesh slowly being devoured by the greedy earth.

I could work with this ambiance.

Behind each statue, I ordered an alcove to be dug out and then a rock lid to be fitted, creating a small empty space. Ratlings were already digging through the third floor, spreading their network of tunnels, so it took a little nudge to lead them toward this room. In a few more minutes levers and mechanisms were fitted by their tails and claws, similarly to how the spear traps on the first room worked.

Only instead of the spears, I had hidden Lebir Exploders in the alcoves.

I had finished the preparations and was going to give out orders when a blue box appeared before me.

[Fuck.] I cursed, seeing its contents.

You have created a Statue Entrance Room!

This room, unlike most entrances, is fitted with deadly traps and was thus converted into a variable trap room.

The rules of the trap activation are as follows:

* an adventurer attacks the statue in the room

* an adventurer attacks another adventurer in the room

* an adventurer attacks a non-aggressive monster in the room

Yeah, fuck you too, Gangria.

Then again… monsters that were not aggressive? I had a ton of these. Immediately one of the Stone Drones was chosen and ordered to stay in the entrance room.

After a minute of thought, I ordered it to carve into the surrounding walls and even allowed the Drone to gather materials from the surroundings. It nodded gently. The “drone” wouldn’t fit anymore, so I decided to simply call it Sculptor.

And then…

Nothing happened.

Duh.

It was not like a simple naming ceremony was that big of a deal.

I mean, yeah, it was important, but the name came after purpose. It was the purpose that led to the process of evolution. A need to acquire something. An individuality. That's what I was thinking right now, anyway. The flow of life would surely verify my knowledge.

The next room came to life pretty fast too.

And the next eleven rooms with it.

Only a few days passed, but I was so enthused that I hardly noticed. An obvious advantage of becoming a Dungeon Core. No more piss breaks and an annoyingly growling stomach. Goodbye, sleep and tiredness!

The rock was harder down here, with less soil present, more disparate stone, and even some ores present. Nothing special was found, though - copper, iron, some coal. No hidden hoard. No skeletons.

In the end, I waited for the Drones to finish and started working on the smallish room south of the entrance. After a second I filled it with Devileyes, their half-mechanical eyes tracking any movement. From my earlier experiences, I knew that these plantlike cameras were considered sources of the curse and bad luck by the sentients.

This little psychological play was however only a prelude. A large door was carved in the stone and then covered in a thin layer of gold and a few precious stones I could scramble. Probably a useless gesture as sentients were sure to steal anything not nailed to the floor.

But it fit.

That was also why I ordered my freshly minted Sculptor to start working on the two blocks of stone standing near it. I had it focus on the simple expression.

Greed.

Sadly the newly made individual was lost, just like his brothers before. I guess it was too much to expect from him right now.

A fat merchant clutching the bag of gold, coins spilling.

Sculptor started moving a bit, yet still looked shocked if a faceless stone doll could have any expressions anyway. Then I sent another image and it once again stood there, overwhelmed.

A woman, pointing at the merchant, armored guards running from behind her.

I chuckled for a bit.

I guess all these new words: fat, merchant, bag, gold, coins, woman, guard, armored… these new concepts and the information that came with them were a bit too much.

I left the pondering creation alone, smoothing the rooms and connecting them with similar doors. The Drones worked and I put in the finishing touches. One room on the left and one room on the right.

Repeat.

Chamber of Daggers.

Chamber of Swords.

Chamber of Axes.

Chamber of Spears.

Chamber of Maces.

Chamber of Shields.

Chamber of Helmets.

Chamber of Gauntlets.

Chamber of Breastplates.

Chamber of Greaves.

The Great Greed Hallway.

In each of these a Bile-brain Golem.

And, as a finishing touch - a larger room, with a larger Bile-brain Golem. Unlike the others, this creation of mine had six arms, three on each side, and a special chamber hollowed in its chest.

My newest fake core was implanted within… And the Golem changed.

[Analyze.]

Bile-cursed Golem

This creature is a fusion of bone, dead flesh, metal, and stone created to do its master's bidding. The metal parts - breastplate, greaves, gauntlets, helmet, and a mace are magical items carrying various curses in exchange for destructive power. While strong and robust it’s not very intelligent, but due to being made partially from earth, it retains its stubbornness. Given any task, the golem will try to finish it to the best of its abilities.

The large mass and slow movements make this being a perfect shield for the others. It is however slow to heal as the material it was made from is somewhat rare. At the same time due to its rarity knowledgeable adventurers will hunt it down to the end of the world, especially because of the magical items it’s wearing.

Threat level: D++

It growled. A curious sound, considering the lack of a mouth. The items it wore languished with other sounds - screams of tormented souls, fiery auras, cold crystals materializing from the thin air. The Cursed Golem just stood in the middle, eyes aghast with red color.

I smiled as another sound of notification resounded through the air.

I was right.

A trial was created!

The trial of Greed has been created!

Your dungeon has become a host to a first trial.

The trial encompasses the Hall of Eyes, Chamber of Daggers, Chamber of Swords, Chamber of Axes, Chamber of Spears, Chamber of Maces, Chamber of Shields, Chamber of Helmets, Chamber of Gauntlets, Chamber of Breastplates, Chamber of Greaves, The Great Greed Hallway and Cursed Golem Enclosure.

The rules of the trial are as follows:

* the challengers are allowed into The Great Greed Hallway unless they damaged anything in the Hall of Eyes

* the challengers are allowed to enter any of the Chambers while defeating the Golems inside

* the Golems are armed with one piece of cursed equipment each

* each defeated Golem adds its piece of equipment to the Cursed Golem

* the main trial begins when the challengers open the Cursed Golem Enclosure or eliminate all auxiliary Golems

* once challengers enter The Great Greed Hallway they cannot escape

Hahahahaha!

Yes, yes, that’s what I was talking about!

That’s some bullshit difficulty! And the reward for all this hard work was a cursed magical item.

Perfect.

Now I only had to order Sculptor to work a bit on these carvings to actually represent the pieces of equipment.

I felt like singing.

[My lord?]

A sour voice interrupted my little self-congratulatory session.

[What is it, Guardian?] I sighed, expecting another complaint about his new home.

[I think something is not right.] He answered hesitantly.

[Huh?]

My mind snapped back to the dungeon, noticing the now fully staffed and guarded complex on the first floor. The civilians were in the middle of the evacuation.

I moved my attention towards the surface, searching the surroundings through my few remaining cameras.

And, as I thought, there were people standing in the shade of the walls. Soldiers, adventurers, mages. All of them clutched their weapons, cold sweat visible on their faces. Their stillness was foreboding, the silence - full of tension.

I followed their gaze and looked towards the treeline.

There were monsters.

Various races squirming and roaring, their deformed silhouettes emanating bloodlust and desire to kill and devour.

I could recognize small and hunched goblins, armed with sticks and stones, muscular and fang-faced orcs, boulder-like trolls, centaurs with vicious features, goat-legged and hairy satyrs, giants, werewolves, lizardmen, nagas, and more.

A horde was approaching.

I should be afraid, but instead, the only feeling I felt was… hunger.

For their bodies and souls.