Chapter 4: My dungeon boss wants to kill me!
System Notice
Dungeon Boss will be appearing in five seconds.
5…4…3…2…1
I could hardly contain my excitement as a flash of light illuminated the core room. The system said that the selection was randomized but personally my inner nerd was hoping for a dragon to be my new dungeon boss. I mean sure having demons as my monsters was pretty cool but the thought of having a huge ass dragon sleeping on a pile of treasure while guarding my dungeon core just sounded amazing. Though considering my luck I would probably get something common like a goblin or just another demon. It was as these thoughts were going through my head that the light faded, and I had my first look at my new dungeon boss.
The first thing that was noticeable was the looming size of the armor that my new boss was wearing. It was the typical holy armor you would expect to see on paladins or angels in video games with a white coat with gold trim. The weapon my new boss had clipped to their belt was a huge ornate mace that had obviously seen battle from the obvious still wet blood on the end. I wonder if my boss had just been summoned from a battle when the system summoned them. I decided to analyze my new minion and what I saw shocked me to my core.
Serapheim El Araiel
Female High Celestial
Level 30
Class: High Paladin Champion
Profession: Legionnaire
Titles: Adept of Order
Holy cow this hunkering monstrosity was a girl! She had to be at least seven feet tall judging by her armor plus she was level thirty! I doubted anyone on my planet would have a chance against her if they went one on one against her. The fact that she was a high celestial didn’t bode well though since a race like that sounded like it wouldn’t be too keen on working with the demons who stuffed my dungeon. Apparently, she had felt me analyze her because the soon whirled around and analyzed my dungeon core in turn.
“Die Corruption!” She shouted out loud as she unclipped her mace from her belt and immediately swung it towards my dungeon core.
“STOP!” I mentally shouted at her luckily right before her mace connected to my core. That was close one, another second and all that would be left of me would have been shattered bits of core on the floor. It worried me that my dungeon boss had immediately attempted to kill me the second she realized what I was. The system’s warning of being a dungeon that the rest of the universe actively hunted and culled was no joke. I was going to seriously need to find a way to disguise myself and my information if I wanted to have a chance of survival.
As I was musing on how best to increase my odds of survival Serapheim continued to struggle against the dungeon magic that held her in place. For a second, I thought my magic was holding her completely, but I could already notice that slowly she was moving and resisting my power. This probably was due to the huge level gap between us with me being a measly level one dungeon and her being a level thirty walking tank. I immediately ordered her to move away from me and she did while struggling and cursing at me the entire time.
“Release me you fowl creation so that I may purge you from existence! You are an unclean abomination that’s taint cannot be allowed to continue to threaten this world.” She was going on a role talking about how evil I was and that for the greater good I should allow myself to be cleansed. Personally, I was pissed off at this high celestial talking as if she knew what was best. She had no idea the world that she was in and that crap about the greater good, no person who talked about destroying something for the greater good was ever actually good.
“I think its interesting that you believe I should be purged just for existing little high celestial. After all I have only just become a dungeon and haven’t even attempted to corrupt anyone’s soul yet. I would think you would instead be attempting to convince me that I should change my ways of corrupting.”
At my words the high celestial stopped struggling. “How are you sentient when you are only level one! This shouldn’t be possible; corruption dungeons only begin to become sentient when they reach the second tier. What have you done to yourself to become sentient already!”
“Done I have done nothing but accept the changes that were forced upon me and try to survive. I never asked for this system to arrive on my world or be killed by its monsters without a chance to defend myself. You know nothing of what has happened to me, so I think you’re in the wrong to judge me without hearing my side of the story! Are you so blinded by your self-righteousness that you are unable to be levelheaded. I saw that your title calls you an adept of order but if you are so stubborn and quick to judge then any order you have must in fact be tyranny!”
At my comment Serapheim seemed to bristle with anger. “You think you’re innocent but the fact that you’re a dungeon of corruption shows that you are willing to cause misery for others in order to achieve your own ends! The people on this planet are innocent beings that you have no right to harm.”
I had to laugh at her obvious naivety. Human’s innocent beings, the thought of it caused me to chuckle. They were beings that were in constant conflict with themselves who were willing to exploit and harm each other in various and creative ways just to gain the smallest advantage over others. Were there some individuals in the world that were truly good, certainly, but they were few and far between with the vast majority. I had to wonder if this high celestial even knew what planet she was on or the history of the human race for that matter, so I decided to ask.
“Serapheim, you seem to believe that the creatures on this planet are innocent and should be protected. Do you even know what planet you’re on right now?”
“Do not use my name so casually you spawn of corruption and if I had to guess we are on the planet Zareth since I was fighting against cultist there. They must have done something and imprisoned me here. They must have been serving you!”
“Wrong on every assumption you have made my little high celestial. You are on planet Earth a planet that has just been integrated into the system.”
“That is not possible.” She laughed while shaking her head, “if you’re going to lie at least come up with something plausible. Everyone knows that it is impossible to enter a newly integrated system until the system seal is removed. Earth was integrated a year ago and I know that the seal still has ten years on that planet before others can gain access to the planet. Obviously, this is trickery on your part. There is no way to trust anything you say to me!”
I was confused about her statement about the integration starting a year ago. It didn’t make any sense since I had started my system quest almost immediately after becoming a dungeon. Was I dead for just a long time before the administrators gave me my second chance at life? I would need to investigate this to learn more later but first I needed to find some way to convince my new dungeon boss to work with me. Otherwise, I would have to watch out for adventurers as well as my dungeon boss potentially stabbing me in the back.
“What I’ve said is the truth, you are here due to a quest of the system that gave me the option of a random creature as my dungeon boss. Besides completing my quest to open my dungeon to the world. Besides that, I have nothing to do with you before you came here.”
“Even if what you have said is the truth then while you may be a unique dungeon the fact that you are a dungeon of corruption means that you must be destroyed. Release me from your fowl magic dungeon so that you may be purged. Do this now and I promise to make your destruction as pain less as possible.”
Like hell I was going to do that, this chick was so narrow minded I was wondering if it was worth the effort in trying to convince her to be my dungeon boss. She seemed to be hell bent on shattering my dungeon core no matter the cost. Maybe I should restrain her and let my dungeon monsters just attack her until they beat her. Though since she had already become linked to my dungeon through the system, I doubt that would do much and just cause her to respawn angry and pissed off. What could I do to at least convince her to work with me and defend me from those who wanted to kill me.
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I continued to muse over it as Serapheim continued to struggle against my dungeon magic, forcing me to reapply it to her. That was when it hit me that I had the perfect bait to convince her to work with me. However, the idea was risky in that if it failed, I would be killed either by her or the adventurers who would no doubt come to end me. I was hesitant to do this but, in the end, I had been taking risks constantly since I had been brought back from the dead. Adding one more to the pile wasn’t really going to change my situation that much.
“Serapheim how would you like to make a bet against me?”
“Why would I do anything with you?!” she shouted, renewing her struggle against the dungeon magic that let me control my monsters and minions. For a second, I thought she was going to be able to break free and attack me again, but my dungeon magic held against her.
“Even if the reward if you win is getting me to break my dungeon core?”
At this she stopped her struggle against my magic and studied me. No doubt she was trying to figure out what my angle was in giving her a chance to end me. From her shouting and obvious hatred towards me and my kind it was clear I was going to have to play it straight with her. At least until I had her firmly under my thumb. After that I should be able to freely work without worrying about her attempting to slam her mace into my core again.
“What is this bet you’re offering me demon scum,” She growled at me as she stopped struggling. Internally I was ecstatic since the bait was tempting enough for her to shut up and listen. I was worried she would just reject my offer before I even had a chance to pitch it to her.
“It’s simple really you believe the natives of this planet are innocent, correct?”
“Obviously they are which is why you should allow me to purge you before you can bring harm to them.”
“Well then let’s put your faith in them to the test. Eventually humans, the natives of this world, will eventually come into my dungeon halls. My first floor’s theme centers around greed and allowing these adventurers a choice in what they can do. I promise that I will not force these individuals to fall for these options I will give them. In fact, I will even tell them a way to reach the floor boss room without even having to fight the dungeon creatures. If five out of ten adventurer’s parties do not give into my tempting rewards, then you win.”
This seems to be a very one-sided bet against you what are you aiming for?” she asked suspiciously.
“I’m getting to that don’t you worry about it. As I said you just need half of the adventures to resist my temptations of wealth and you will win. However, if more than five adventurer’s parties give into my temptations for riches then you will agree to serve me willingly until such a time comes when I release you.”
“Ahh, I see so your aim is to ensure that you will have a loyal dungeon boss guarding you. I am willing to take your bet but with some additional conditions being put into place.”
“Sure, I am willing to hear what you want to add to the bet.”
“It’s simple you cannot use your dungeon magic against me during the entirety of our bet against one another and you cannot send me against the adventures to prevent them from resisting your temptations.”
“That’s seems fair, but I have three additions to add to our bet then. First neither of us can inform anyone about the details of our bet.”
Serapheim nodded in agreement probably since it would restrict the both of us from trying to cheat. After all it wouldn’t really be a bet if it wasn’t as fair as possible for either of us to win. There needed to be some chance involved though with my knowledge of humans I would say the odds were in my favor.
“Second neither of us can harm one another, those serving under us or are property while our bet is taking place.”
At this Serapheim clenched her fist in frustration. Hah I knew when she had added that part about me not using my control over my dungeon creatures, she was up to something. I bet that as soon as we had made our bet, she would have immediately swung her mace down at my core and shattered me.
“Agreed,” she spat out sounding none too pleased that I had seen through her little scheme.
“Finally, while I will not send you out to attack adventures, I still need the core room defended. There will be a clear warning on the door telling adventures that to enter this room means death. Should any enter the core room despite this warning they must be killed by you as quickly as your abilities allow you.”
This was the critical point of the bet after all if all my dungeon creatures were eliminated then Serapheim would be my last line of defense. If she rejected it, then my dungeon monsters would need to be more devious and deadly if I was going to survive. I’d rather that I gained a tough but rewarding reputation for adventures instead of a death trap. While I probably could still work with either reputation, I’d be able to grow faster if more people decided to risk my halls knowing they at least had a chance of success.
“What dungeon don’t tell me you doubt your ability to survive some adventures.” The high celestial said mockingly.
“I’d rather see the conclusion of our bet rather than be killed off prematurely. What do you doubt the ‘innocence’ and purity of the people you were so valiantly defending.” I responded in the same mocking tone.
“Very well dungeon I will agree with your terms for our bet as well as my additional terms, I swear by the system. Be prepared for your soul to be purified when I win.”
“You seem to be celebrating a little prematurely miss little celestial but no matter. I agree to the terms that you have added as well as the ones I have listed as well as the additional ones that you have laid out, I swear by the system.” In that moment two system messages appeared in front of me causing me to read them.
System Notice
A Pledge has been made between the individuals known as Malvermeth and Serapheim El Araiel. The terms of the pledge are as followed: Should five of ten human adventurer parties resist the temptations of Malvermeth’s Dungeon then his core will be destroyed by Serapheim. Should six out of ten human adventurer parties give into the temptations of Malvermeth then Serapheim will become totally loyal to Malvermeth until such a time as he releases her. Malvermeth during this time cannot use his dungeon magic in any way to control or restrict Serapheim. Malvermeth will also tell adventures of a way to get to the boss room without combating the dungeon monsters. Malvermeth will not force Serapheim to attack adventures except if they enter the core room despite the warning that he will provide them. Neither individual can harm the other or those that serve them or harm their property. Neither individual will reveal the details of the bet to any other individual. Should either party violate this pledge then they will be acknowledged as the losers of the bet by the system and the appropriate penalty will be applied to them.
Dang the system was no joke looks like the bet was on and there was no wiggling out of it. Not that I was too concerned about losing it mind you. Humans were so inherently greedy and selfish that I had no doubt that they would easily take on my challenges. I couldn’t wait to see how Serapheim reacted when she would be forced to serve a dungeon that she inherently hated with such passion. I decided to look at the additional system promptly and was pleased to see that I gained an additional title.
Title Gained: Oath maker.
Either through ignorance, sheer stupidity or stubbornness you have made a binding oath while invoking the system with a being that clearly overpowers you in strength. So long as you keep your oath people will find any promises you make to be more trustworthy than others. However, should you break any of your oaths then any promises you make will be considered worthless by inhabitants of the system.
Special Notice: Due to the lack of a physical body or avatar additional rewards for the title are currently locked.
Well, this was a pleasant surprise, I had a chance to gain the loyalty of an overpowered dungeon boss and I gained a new title out of it though I could do without the systems sass. I was a little annoyed that my lack of physical form was again blocking me from gaining all the benefits. I was going to have to rectify that eventually so that I could increase my survivability. I felt my dungeon magic instantly evaporate around Serapheim as we had made our bet or pledge as the system called it. I was going to have to be careful making promises in this new world though I snickered internally thinking how people wouldn’t be able to worm their way out of promises if the system enforced them.
“Well then Serapheim, I will finish making the changes so that I’m keeping my word of our little bet. If you want to wander the dungeon and get to know your future home, you might as well o it right now.”
“This won’t be my new home,” she snorted though I did notice her getting up to look around the dungeon. “Anyway, what is your dungeon called?” she asked as she started to make her way out of the core room.
That’s right, I never even thought of a name for this place. Hmm it was going to have to be something cool and maybe a little mysterious. I could feel my inner middle schooler geekiness starting to come out as I thought of some names. I wanted people to know that there was someone or something controlling the dungeon, but I didn’t want them to know it was me, at least not till I was strong enough that no one would risk messing with me. I decided to let my inner nerd shine as I selected my dungeons name and registered it with the system.
System Notice
[Unnamed] Dungeon name has now been registered. Dungeon shall now be known as Trials of the Dark One. System prompts and information of the dungeon will now reflect this.
Finally, now I just had a few modifications to make to my dungeon and then I would be all set. Then everything would be ready for my first victims oh I meant guest. Though there were some things that still bothered me about my situation. Why was I the person that was resurrected by the administrators and what did Serapheim mean when she said that a year had already passed since my death as a human? I might not get the answers now, but I will one day discover the answers to my questions.