Shun POV:
The dark clouds let enough light through to illuminate the degraded infrastructure left behind. Layers of debris piled along either side of the fragmented road that was cut off by a deep crater wider than its width. Beyond that, the road continued but so did the destruction.
I turned around to observe the remains from a different angle. Based on my current hypothesis, the entire scenery would be reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic event with the catastrophe being the Sentri.
There was also no Safe Zone upon entry.
Whether this was a feature unique to Arcane Dungeons or not, it worked out in my favour.
“Map.”
It was as I expected. The sheer size of the Floor made entire B Rank dungeons look like a nursery playground. Its intricacy was akin to a subway map, forming a network of lines that often overlapped.
Aside from the Floor’s scale, since no party formation occurred, I also couldn’t view their positions on the map.
‘Divide and conquer.’
It was plausible. No Safe Zone didn’t automatically mean separation, but it did mean a lack of time to make any last-minute adjustments.
“Codex.”
I flipped through the massive book in my mind. A second later, I arrived on the page with the ability most suitable to use here.
“Rise.”
Hundreds of white soldiers, cloaked in the darkness of the light, emerged from my shadow. They organised themselves into their appropriate units while I finished sorting out the information I had obtained.
[Reaver]
Swirling black streaks sliced through the light blue colour of the system window. Below it stood a Shadow Imminence Reaver, overflowing with power. His unit was comprised of Tunnelmen, Reavers, and Lanwa. Each of them numbered 40 and obeyed Reaver’s orders without question.
The recon unit specialised in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. They served to make up for the area I was lacking in by providing a constant stream of updates.
Reaver took a step forward before dropping to his hidden knee.
“Command me, my liege.”
[Ki Artifact: Zero Sword (Legend)
Ownership: Reaver
Durability: 170/190
Description: What does the number zero represent? Come, let this blade introduce you to the darkness within its bordered frame. It boasts immense power but zero speed.
• When held by an amateur, all physical attributes are reduced by half.
• When held by a skilled wielder, all physical attributes are doubled for 15 minutes. (Cooldown: 5 minutes)
• When utilised with the Wind Ki Nature, all damage is doubled and perception is tripled.
• When utilised with the Fire Ki Nature, all damage is doubled and perception is tripled.
• Triples the power of chain strikes within a 0 second window. (Cooldown: 1 second)
• A ‘Zero Grade Slash’ can be used after 5 consecutive chain strikes land on the target within a 5 second window.
• When alone and in the darkness, accuracy is enhanced.]
My lips curved upward at the Zero Sword he flashed through a thin opening of his cloak. Unlike other Imminence Reavers, he was respected by his peers that I slaughtered.
He was also the only monster to come close to killing me.
[Shadow Ultimate Fishnin (Female)]
I shifted my attention to an Ultimate Fishnin, folding her arms with a proud smile. Behind her stood the Warrior Unit: Skeleton Knights, Troll Guardians, Ogres, Bloodied Deadmin, and LizardFish riding Warhogs.
‘It’s too annoying to call her by such a long-winded name.’
I walked over and placed my hand on her head. Her eyes curved into soft arches, encouraging a faint shade of red to colour fair cheeks.
“Fishy.”
Her smile vanished.
[A new name has been successfully assigned.]
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Her eyebrows twitched.
“...Are you serious?”
She scratched the back of her head and coughed once she saw the darkness within my pupils.
“Master’s naming sense is supre—“
“Shut up.”
Fishy sealed her lips before throwing the key away. Unlike Reaver, Fishy didn’t use any Ki Artifacts. She was strong enough to make the hundreds under her control submit, but it was strange.
The first time I summoned the shadows to make them fight amongst themselves, Fishy fought in a way that wasn’t like an Ultimate Fishnin. Positioning, strategy, timing, control, and her output potential: none of them made any sense for a monster at upper Monzen.
‘...’
Rise.
It was an ability that allowed me to raise monsters I killed with my own two hands from the dead. If a monster’s Ki Stage was higher than mine, then I would suffer from three penalties proportionate to the difference.
The first penalty was the Ki Cost. It was calculated by multiplying the battle time by the difference in Ki Stage, then doubling it. However, the cost itself wasn’t accurate. With all variables the same, sometimes a monster’s Ki Cost would be much higher.
I surmised that numbers weren’t being used, but a record of the amount of Ki I utilised during the fight. In other words, the battle time started from the moment I engaged the enemy with Ki. I verified this hypothesis later on, proving that the less Ki expended, the lower the Ki Cost, but there was also a minimum threshold that had to be reached in order for the ability to activate.
The second penalty was the Stamina Cost. A monster’s size and weight affected how much this would drain me. If I wasn’t careful, I would die from overexertion.
The third penalty was the Rise Field. There had to be no living monsters, animals or human beings present within a 50-metre radius. If the length of my shadow wasn’t double my height, the ability would also fail to activate.
Shadow Monsters were only strengthened based on my current Ki Stage. That was why Fishy’s strength was abnormal.
‘Have I trained an Ultimate Fishnin before?’
This was starting to annoy me.
“Title window.”
[Title: Destroyer of the Ultimate Fishnin’s Dreams (Max)
Effect: The fish tank is your home too.
• What wondrous powers shall be bestowed upon the one responsible for the destruction of a dream?! Why must we be relegated to this way of life?!
• AARRGHHH!!! I PASS MY POWER ONTO YOU, HUMAN!!!
• Your love for the Ultimate Fishnin has reached its limit.]
[Title: The Ultimate Fishnin’s Protégé (Max)
Effect: The secrets of the Fishnin have already entered your mind. Behold THE POWER OF A FISHNIN THAT HAS GONE BEYOND THE ULTIMATE LEVEL!!!
• Harness it. Fuel it. EXPLODE IT, MY PROTÉGÉ!
• Your love for the Ultimate Fishnin has reached its ultimate limit.]
“...”
I still couldn’t figure out the reason for this result, but it didn’t matter anyway. Once I was done here, I’d go back and kill them again.
[Talky]
A female Goblin Warlock kneeled in an elegant manner before rising. The white shadows formed parts of her cloaked attire that still made her look like some sort of princess.
Talky opted to keep her hair slicked back into a large bun. It was kept in place with the same emerald pin she loved to wear while two white bangs framed the sides of her face, accentuating the softness of her thin eyes.
Most of the male shadow monsters stared at her in a trance, unable to look away from the aura she emitted.
Talky opened her mouth, and my eyes narrowed. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she took a few seconds to think about what she should say next.
“My liege, I have learned my lesson...”
After the Warrior Unit was the Tactical Unit. Aside from a small number of Fishnin, the rest of the monsters weren’t known for their intelligence. However, 500 idiots became 500 knights under Talky’s command.
She was that impressive.
I moved back and observed the Shadow Monsters stand to attention.
“The reason I have summoned you all today is because I won’t be using you again.”
They muttered amongst themselves at this revelation. My lips curved into a smile that threatened the borders of my eyes.
“Today, I will improve.”
Their bodies stiffened. They understood the weight of my words, and that was why they fell to their knees. An announcement of this magnitude required this kind of reaction.
All of them had a faint memory of the past, but a clear view of the future. Rise didn’t impose loyalty; the shadows themself did.
“It has been an honour, my liege!!”
I sat down and rested an arm over my knee in the middle of the destroyed street.
“Use as much Ki as you want. Bring me the Floor Boss immediately.”
“Yes, my liege!!!”
The ground split apart from their united roar. It shook the fragile infrastructure nearby and sent a warning to anyone within earshot.
The Dungeon Maniac had arrived.
The shadows scattered like fragments of a fleeting dream. Their approach to other variables would be based on the unit they belonged to. Despite this, my Ki Reserves remained the same due to the shadows prioritising stealth.
I made sure to drill that into them and also made it clear that I didn’t want carcasses; I wanted them alive.
How else would I train dungeon monsters?
Since Dungeon Lover tripled my Ki recovery rate, I could exploit certain abilities of the Codex to a degree. I took advantage of this after I broke through to Shin. The following month was a test period that I used to go through as many abilities as possible.
I compiled my findings of each one into its own category, taking note of every restriction or penalty that I came across. Among the abilities tested, some were limited further due to my Ki Stage, while others refused to activate at all.
That was one reason why growth was so important.
The Dungeon System.
It featured many differences compared to The System, but there were many similarities as well. The former claimed my understanding of the latter was abysmal, but what it failed to realise was that I already met The System’s supposed creator.
There was nothing else for me to understand.
Both HP and KP bars responded to your intention to view them. They would flicker into the most optimal space within your vision before fading once you no longer needed them.
It was the same for monsters; they didn’t walk around with HP bars or nametags hovering over their heads like some damn NPCs. They had their own lives the same way animals did.
‘...’
A few dust clouds flipped over the wide street, spreading the debris they carried to the other side.
‘A city.’
What monsters lived in a city?
If the Sentri were conquerors, then who did they conquer here?
It was a pointless thought, but I backlogged it anyway. Time continued to roll on, and my patience evaporated with it. Veins popped down the sides of my forehead once the 30-minute mark came and went.
“Have any of you encountered my party members?”
“...None so far. I suspect they aren’t on this Floor, my liege.”
“Your reasoning?”
Reaver’s somewhat deep voice flickered into a solemn silence. He took a few seconds to formulate an adequate explanation, or maybe he was thinking of a respectable way to express his thoughts.
“I can’t hear their footsteps or breathing. The sound... you humans make is distinct to me, my liege.”
It wasn’t what I expected. Reaver’s range shouldn’t have increased that much from my breakthrough to Monzen.
“Are you reading the flow of the wind?”
“...That is what you beat into me, my liege.”
“...”