As we landed back at Epicentre Base, the Academy involvement had become clear and obvious.

A hundred mecha suits of different types, barriers and security gates around the Dungeon, as well as thousands of cheerful young students going in and out, probably just to get the initial quests from killing a monster, and likely only a goblin.

Then more troops and mechas escorting out crates and body bags. The deeper you went, the deadlier the Dungeon became.

I sighed. Sure, the infinite resources of the Dungeon could eventually support a post-scarcity economy, but goblin crystals didn't have enough energy in them. It was probable that Dragon crystals could power an entire city, and rare minerals like adamantite, mythril and orichalcum could create durable suits and even spaceships...

The potential was there and exactly the reason I had chosen this world change. And the same about the growth of the human race, as level ups and increased stats would increase lifespan and the quality of life.

But most importantly, it was to give humanity an external enemy. We were quite adept at war and killing, but also too efficient. Wild animals have become endangered or even extinct, and then humanity had turned on itself. The Beasts will ensure that humans will have a constant enemy to war against, while the Dungeon will provide a far more dangerous enemy to focus research and bright minds to defeat it.

While the news cheerfully reported about the Second Emu War in Australia like it was a fun throwback to the last century, machine guns would not cut it versus a Beast Emu the size of a truck.

Another robed man waited at the first gate, and nodded politely towards the Alchemist. "Madame Devoinne, it is a pleasure and a surprise to meet you here. Just be warned, on Floor 11 we have encountered a large Dragon that destroyed 96 suits with ease."

I smiled inward while Lisa snickered in my mind.

"There is an easy way to defeat the Infant Dragon, by exploding it from the inside. But all the monsters below that will be just as durable anyways." Lisa provided with a peaceful voice, making the man turn and stare at her with his grid eyes.

"Lisa Wildbourn, Esper rank 4. It seems the Ecole Phenomenale has received quite a boost to their strike team." he noted in a cold voice.

"Anyways, do not try to reach Floor 27 without us. The twin Dragon there is about a million times stronger than this Infant Dragon on the lower Floors." I added with a careless voice, and took point while crossing the gate and being scanned by dozens of devices.

"...the Dragonslayer." the man whispered to himself, possibly wary of me.

Alicia summoned a titanium shark suit from her inventory as we reached the first Floor, as well as a wide shield and a deadly-looking spiked mace. It was quite overkill for mere goblins, but she didn't have cheat powers either. It was probably safer this way, at least until her stats reached higher levels.

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Lisa and I simply stored our clothes, and remained only in our underwear. No point splattering new clothes with blood, but there were also students and soldiers around for the first Floors. The naked fun will come later.

"Uh, no armor at all?" Alicia asked a bit confused at our state of undress.

'Switching to secure comms inside the Dungeon.' Lisa spoke in my mind, and likely the same for Alicia as she shut up.

As expected, goblins were easy enough to kill by our over-prepared Alchemist, but she soon gave up on collecting trash crystals from goblins, likely also from Lisa's advice.

The inventory will make exploring the Dungeon far easier for the new adventurers, as crystals and materials could be stored in great quantities without carrying a giant sack or backpack.

By the fifth Floor, Alicia was getting tired and bashed around by frogs, and on Floor 6, her nice titanium suit got shredded by War Shadows, as did her flesh. Reduced to her underwear and a battered shield, we sped through towards Floor 7, where Alicia will need to receive her immunization against abnormal effects like poison.

While the game system didn't show anything, a mild adaptation did happen, as well as an Endurance increase, until Alicia stumbled over a rare monster that didn't attack her. A Blue Papilio, or a butterfly with healing powers! This was quite a nice tamed monster to have, unlike my useless cat.

Alicia glanced at Lisa then took out a small crystal as an offering for the rare monster. "Here, pretty butterfly. You can eat crystals, right?" she offered with a hopeful voice. The crystal was a bit large for a butterfly though. Mystic slapped my face, and stuck out his tongue.

'Blood vial' I sent towards Lisa, and she grinned back at me.

Soon after, Alicia gained the second Dungeon pet which she promptly named Blue.

'I want one too!' Lisa complained in my mind, and so we searched Floor 7 for an hour without finding another one. Perhaps they were actually rare.

Then we sped up to reach Floor 11, where scattered bits of Academy mechas surrounded a proud Infant Dragon. The pilots were eaten already as monsters were known to do.

My Black Ghost easily dispatched the Dragon and then collected the remains, including some sci-fi guns and a few intact suit parts.

An inquiring look from Alicia made me shrug and get slapped by the cat in turn. Damn it, Mystic!

"You can walk from here, lazy cat! Don't go too far." I demanded with a growl, at which my cat growled back and walked proudly ahead.

Instead Blue flew around from Alicia and Lisa and even me, scattering healing pollen from its blue wings and then landed on Mystic's head, riding the green cat like a mount. I mean, it was likely the safest place to stand for a weak pet like the butterfly, so I could only admire Blue for being so smart.

"Our pets make quite the pair..." Alicia noted with a smile towards the proud cat and his new companion.

I just took her in my arms, and sped towards Rivera. Should have been an easy run, but on Floor 15 we encountered another Dragon called a Wyvern.

If it wasn't pink, the new Dragon might have been impressive. Instead I just burst into laughter while Lisa secured the kill and the new loot after a minute of psychic blasts.

"Stop laughing, idiot! The Wyvern was very strong." Lisa yelled at me, breathing hard and clenching her fists.

Right, my wife was only Level 21 and this pink Dragon was probably a strong Level 3 Boss in Orario terms.

Then again, Lisa failed to use the Pef Maneuver, grinding through the strong scales and defenses instead of blowing it up from the inside.

The pink vial of Wyvern Blood drew both pets towards Lisa, begging for a taste.

'The insides are always softer.' I muttered inward, and ran forward with my Black Ghost in front to take any traps or hidden monsters.

Just as well, since before reaching the stairs an ugly worm monster full of teeth jumped from the ground to eat me and Alicia.

My ghost shredded it from inside out, and collected a pair of worm teeth looking wicked and sharp. Digging through the Dungeon walls wasn't easy.

Perhaps these teeth will make for a good weapon.