Before I could stop him, the man launched in a well-prepared discourse, going from advanced science that went over my head, to words that simply bounced off my skull like eigenstates, harmonic oscillator and angular momentum. After ten minutes of speaking and waving his hands, the man stopped and concluded. "Well, I made it as simple as possible, so you can see for yourself the importance of our research..."

Instead, I went to examine his buddies and their mecha suits, a wonder of engineering and material science. Thus, of course my finger tore through the triple-layer crystal nano-armor like paper, revealing an underlayer of solid state circuitry and flashing lights.

The Academy was fairly advanced it seemed, yet still way less advanced than they needed to be to counter the Dungeon and it's magical monsters.

"The armor can barely block Level 15 monsters. I bet Minotaurs and Ligerfangs can tear it apart." I mused gently, since I wasn't risking anything at all with my bet.

"...We try to keep our distance, Dragonslayer." the pilot in the damaged suit muttered in a less gentle voice.

Angry perhaps. Ah right, I damaged his suit.

'Say yes, but warn them about the danger of digging.' Lisa told me in a mental voice.

"You have big brains in the Academy. I'm sure you understand that digging into the Earth is different from trying to scoop out a multi-dimensional entity that's only partly touching the material reality. At best you will provoke an immune response, unleashing deeper level monsters into the outer world." I added in a thoughtful tone.

Yes, don't be so surprised. I can think sometimes. And my IQ is about 280 now, if the game system is correct. It probably over-estimates me, but what can I do? I think, therefore I am. Or Lisa can think for me in dire straits. I did pick a smart wife for myself.

Serena seemed quite impressed though, and came to hug my side while glaring daggers at the Academy teacher. Or maybe administrator. It has been some time since I dealt with higher learning institutions. What was the normal ratio, 60 % administrative staff, 30% support and 10% teachers? Something like that.

The robbed man faltered, perhaps re-thinking his offer. "You're different from our estimations...but perhaps your Chi also increases the intellect to some degree, not only combat abilities."

I sighed inward. "The Dungeon is sentient, you know? It's a bad idea to discuss such topics while inside it's belly."

My cat came around to sniff at the broken armor bits, then began chewing the durable metal like it was chewing gum.

Lisa tapped her temple and began a mind conversation with our guest, sometimes stopping to let me know their wants and needs.

About 50 scientists and researchers to base themselves in Rivera on a seasonal basis, much like they did in Antarctica. Or perhaps the same people, if Beasts rose from the penguin population and forced them to flee.

As for the rest, some combat instructors from the Academy needed to climb levels and then provide safe passage to the surface and back for the next groups, some gifted students to receive a baptism of monster combat and so on.

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

Well, I can't say I would mind the comforts of civilization and a giant digital library like the Academy had. On the other hand, baby-sitting students was a bit much.

'I can level up their combat guys today. Or tomorrow rather, since I need to welcome Serena.' I sent towards Lisa, then smooched and kissed my girlfriend for a few minutes as a preview.

Then I stole Serena and hid ourselves in my tent, and proceeded to welcome her thoroughly for a few hours. As I expected, she became my Companion after this, and thus gained my Endurance stats as a welcome gift. Much safer for her, and my own peace of mind.

Monsters below Level 40 would find it hard to even scratch Serena now, leaving only the Bosses as a threat to her life. Much like the Bosses were a threat to my own life, but I could resurrect and the girls couldn't.

As the girls gathered to gossip and then sleep, I renewed myself and grabbed two combat instructors from their tents, then walked towards Floor 19 for a quick training session.

Unlike me, these guys did have plenty of training and combat experience, albeit with caveat of fighting human enemies and not 7 meter monsters.

As my ghosts kept kidnapping Lizardmen and boars for a quick experience boost, their levels grew from 7 to 23 in a single hour.

A bit late for their wasted free points, but I wasn't trying to min-max their stats now. They did have big brains at the Academy, so they could surely figure it out too.

By the time the girls woke up, I was finished upgrading the combat instructors to their new levels and took them all to train with Minotaurs in melee.

It was good practice for my Chi healing, and even the Chant healing magic when they got too injured.

The girls arrived as well when we returned to Rivera, just in time to intercept the re-spawned Goliath Boss.

While a dozen level 23 combat masters were quite powerful for these early days, the Goliath would have minced them all in a minute. Even with their fancy guns extracted from inventory, shooting lasers, lightning arcs and napalm, the Boss was well-beyond their means.

I stood back with my shield in hand and tried to practice Deflection, basically intercepting the Boss and saving people as needed, while the girls practiced their Magic and other Skills. Lisa could kill the Boss quite easily by herself, but Alicia and Serena had trouble doing damage, even though they were quite resilient and bounced back when the Goliath hit them.

Then Alicia managed to sneak a Potion inside the Goliath's mouth and Serena ignited it with a Fireball, blowing up the monster's head.

While they cheered happily, the Goliath didn't die and grabbed them both at once in his clawed hands.

Mystic flashed by before I could react, slicing off the Goliath's hands and then his legs, leaving only a dismembered body trashing about, yet still not dead.

The Dungeon was also learning and adapting...or maybe the Goliath itself did. This was the fourth time we fought him, but also the first time with such a big group.

While Mystic chewed the Goliath's limbs as his well-earned prize, the girls came out with a different plan and began testing more Potions and Skills on the crippled Boss. It had no head or mouth to scream now, but I'm sure it would have, from such torture.

Was it torture to experiment on Dungeon monsters? The Academy instructors began performing more science on the Boss torso, using dozens of different weapons and arcane devices.

Eventually, the Academy guy arrived as well, with a few scientists and they poked the Goliath with more instruments and weapons, until finally the robed man took out a Green Dragon claw mounted on a pole and stabbed the Boss in a dozen places until it died.

Sadly, the loot was ruined by the robed guy, only dropping another Goliath Nail which he grabbed without asking permission.

I mean, as an ultimate weapon the Dragon claw served quite well, being sharper and more durable than anything made on Earth, and he did kill the Boss, after a fashion.

And now I had two claws from Amphisbaena and three more Green Dragon claws from further encounters. It was time to forge myself another Spirit Weapon, and then check on the Cerberos again. Without people that were not my companions, that is.

The Goliath Blood was precious for granting +1 to all stats, but nobody else had the Dungeoneer Job to make it drop like I could.

No matter, there will be more Boss fights in the future.