Chapter 3: The Grinding Starts_Marcus Dungeon

Chapter 3: The Grinding Starts

It had been a day since Chase had become a dungeon. With the memories of his former life still intact, he arduously tried his best to strengthen himself. He, after all, cannot afford to die so soon.

Chase glanced towards the marble-sized orb at the corner-most part of his petite cave. He had seen such a thing before back when he was still human. Without a doubt, it was what humans called as the Dungeon’s Core.

The tiny little pebble glowed a dim yet regal light. Its round appearance complemented its smooth almost-unparalleled flawless texture. With its dim azure-crimson hue creating a subtle light at the back-most portion of his body, Chase stared at his core in a sentimental, yet jubilant manner.

[This is the one thing I need to protect the most! Adventurers would want to acquire a core no matter how small it is. After all, just a tiny single piece costs around 10,000 gold coins.]

Dungeon Cores were one of the highest ingredients available for magical weapons creation. With its unfathomable capacity to store mana, its value had reached sky-high, especially when the number of dungeons had dwindled in number.

Marcus, by now, had gathered twenty seven biologicals. Twenty of which were mosquitoes, five were ants, and the remaining two were centipedes. His acquisition of such number of minions made him lose a total of thirty Miasma. As he thought, taking over the will of other creatures was no joke.

After extended exposure to miasma, the creatures inside your dungeon had gained the abilities to be converted into [Dungeon Lurkers]. Miasma would be gathered every time these creatures died. Amount of miasma gathered varies per creature.

A new skill has been added.

Dungeon Lurker EvolutionMiasma: varies per monsterAfter a certain amount of time, those that come into contact with miasma will lose their sanity. After being fully transformed into [Dungeon Lurkers], [Marcus Dungeon] has the option to fully convert them into its very own minions. Miasma used to convert strengthens the monsters. Miasma used varies per monster.

Without further ado, Chase willed all of his biological to be converted into [Dungeon Lurkers]. Flying and scurrying towards the core, they were then embraced by a greenish hue that screamed of the word regal. The weak-willed creatures then transformed into larger-sized monsters compared to their former selves.

Chase was agitated. Though his body had transformed into a completely different being, his sense of curiosity remained the same, just like how he had longed for the missing history of his world. With newfound vigor, he scrutinized the status of each of his creatures.

He inwardly willed the plate to appear before him.

Name:Voracious MosquitoLevel:1Number of Species:20A voracious blood sucker. Transformed into a monster by [Marcus Dungeon], the little mosquito that was formerly unnoticeable by humans had become a feared creature of the night.Effects:Weak Paralysis

Chase inwardly smiled. The mosquitoes that were formerly almost naked to the human eye had now transformed into a 2 inches large blood sucking monsters. He felt a heightened sense of reassurance after he viewed the status panel of the said creature. Though weak, it was still better than none.

He viewed the panel of the other creatures as well.

Name:Needle AntLevel:1Number of Species:5A formerly peaceful species of ant that scavenged for nearby food. With extended exposure to miasma, [Marcus Dungeon] had successfully made it into its minion. Its sharp needle-like legs could pierce through even the bulky muscles of adventurers.Effects:Ant Strength

Marcus had become even more pleased with the status panel of the ants. [Ant Strength] gave the monsters a temporary boost in overall capacity. Their bodies experienced a transient surge of strength that made them perform around fifty times the norm. It was an innate mechanism for all of the ant species. Five of those 4 inches sized creatures were now inside his dungeon.

With his excitement still at its peak, Chase viewed his last creature’s panel.

Name:Crunchy CentipedeLevel:1Number of Species:2A monster with a thousand legs. Formerly a slithering creature normally found underneath the roots of the trees, [Marcus Dungeon] transformed it into a creature of the dark that would unquestioningly do his bidding.Effects:Light Carapace

The centipede was by far the largest of all his newly acquired minions. Its skill [Light Carapace] enabled it to have its entire body be enclosed by a light armor that was as strong as a rock. With a body that encompassed eleven inches, its triad of canines were menacingly sharp.

Seemingly satisfied, Chase viewed his dungeon’s status panel. He wanted to check the amount of Miasma he had left.

Dungeon OverviewName:Marcus DungeonLevel:1Number of Floors:1Miasma:67Pulse:3%Biologicals:27Non-Biologicals:0SkillsWill of the DungeonPassiveAllows [Chase Marcus], master of the dungeon, to manipulate miasma. Enables the master to control all of the dungeon at will.Floor CreationMiasma: 1750Creates another dungeon floor.

Miasma consumed increases per level.

Variety of floors that can be created increases per level.ReconstructMiasma: 3/meterAllows [Chase Marcus] to reconstruct the dungeon at will.Dungeon Lurker EvolutionMiasma: variableAllows [Chase Marcus] to transform those inside the dungeon into [Dungeon Lurkers]. Consumed miasma varies per monster.

Just as he had suspected, his miasma had plummeted after he converted 27 of them into [Lurkers]. Though the act gave quite the desirable result, the dwindling number of miasma gave him a great sense of discomfort. Surprisingly, his ‘pulse’ went up from zero to three. From the basic dungeon knowledge instilled into him by Fate, he knew that once his ‘pulse’ went to 100%, his dungeon level would be increased by one.

[Those animals with higher intelligence do not seem eager to enter. They must have felt the subtle aura from the ominous miasma.]

Chase realized this fact after some animals dallied by the entrance. Unfortunately, each and every one of those creatures which have a bit higher intelligence than insects refused to enter his petite cave.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

[No choice but to entice them to go inside.]

Chase willed one of the Voracious Mosquitoes to go outside. He wanted to test out some things. After five minutes, he received a message.

[/tr][/tr]

A Voracious Mosquito has died!

[I see. At such a level, the creatures last only five minutes outside the dungeon huh? In short…I need to capture those animals during that exact duration.]

Chase constructed his plan. To him, a moment of mistake could lead to his death. Right now, he does not have a definite source of miasma. For a dungeon such as himself, miasma was synonymous to life force. Miasma was akin to mana.

[Let’s roll.]

Chase placed fifteen of his Voracious Mosquitoes near the entrance. Brilliantly hidden inside the cracks of the cave, he patiently waited for his prey. He had seen one before. Surely, another one would definitely appear.

After a few hours, two rats lingered near the entrance of his abode. Not wasting his chance, Chase ordered for his army of Voracious Mosquitoes to assault their prey. All fifteen of his minions charged towards the mortified animals.

~Bite

~Suck

The mosquitoes bit and sucked at the rats that desperately tried to scurry away. Unfortunately for the two, the mosquitoes were too numerous for them to handle. After two and a half minutes of chase and struggle, the two rats were successfully killed. Chase used his almost a foot sized centipedes to move the bodies inside the dungeon.

You have acquired two bodies!

Chase used his innate identification skills towards the dead bodies of the rats.

[/td3]

Name:Dead RatA rat that was killed by [Voracious Mosquitoes]. Due to the miasma that was ever present inside [Marcus Dungeon], it is possible to extract the bodies of their mana, converting it into miasma.Potential Miasma:2

Chase chose not to convert the dead bodies of the rats into miasma. Instead, he blatantly left the dead bodies of the two further inside his cave. He planned to use the smell of blood to attract other animals inside.

Due to your further experience in handling [Dungeon Lurkers], it is now possible to create a nest for the monsters.

The new skill [Nest Creation] has been learned!

Chase was still waiting for the other animals of the forest to pick up the bait. While doing so, he willed for the dungeon overview window to pop up inside his head.

Miasma consumed increases per level.

Variety of floors that can be created increases per level.ReconstructMiasma: 3/meterAllows [Chase Marcus] to reconstruct the dungeon at will.Dungeon Lurker EvolutionMiasma: VariableAllows [Chase Marcus] to transform those inside the dungeon into [Dungeon Lurkers]. Consumed miasma varies per monster.Nest CreationMiasma: VariableAllows [Chase Marcus] to create a nest for his [Dungeon Lurkers]. Consumed miasma varies per nest.

Chase inwardly nodded in approval of his newly acquired skill. It would be surely be an indispensable asset during times of peril. If his previous knowledge of dungeons were correct, the [Nest] was the spawn point of monsters. In short, he would be able to spawn his own monsters at will. It was a step higher than forcefully transforming normal animals into dungeon lurkers.

Chase waited. He knew that sooner or later, the blood stench would attract the other animals of the forest. The only question was when.

After an hour, a wild dog sniffed at the entrance of the cave.

[There!]

Chase could hardly contain his excitement. A wild dog was by far the largest animal he had encountered. Eyeing his new found prey with greedy gaze, he patiently waited for it to come inside. After a few more minutes, the dog eventually decided to go inside his petite abode.

Reconstruct has been activated!

Thirty miasma was used for the skill.

Chase did not waste any time and immediately used his skill [Reconstruct] to block the potential exit of the wild dog. Though he did not have the option of closing his only entrance, he made sure not to let the prey get away by immediately creating a partition. A wall that had a height of two meters immediately formed across the five meters wide entrance.

Though thirty miasma was used for the skill, he had no qualms regarding the cost. To him, what mattered the most was that he acquired larger and stronger monsters. Confident that the dog would no longer be able to escape, he ordered his monsters to assault the trapped prey.

~SCREECK

~SUCK

The ants, mosquitoes, and the centipedes simultaneously attacked the 1.5 meters large wild dog. The monsters inside Marcus Dungeon were being decimated one after another. After a struggling half an hour, the dog was successfully restrained. The poison from the mosquitoes had finally taken effect. The loss of 5 mosquitoes and 2 ants had finally paid off.

Marcus ordered his monsters to retreat for a moment. He would let the miasma embrace further the injured dog. After another half an hour, Chase Marcus successfully invaded the animal’s mind—transforming him into another [Dungeon Lurker].

Marcus, jubilant, expectantly viewed the status panel of the creature.

Name:Canine of the NightLevel:3Number of Species:1An animal that was formerly a member of the wild dogs of the forest. After searching for food, it was successfully restrained and converted by [Marcus Dungeon]. Belongs to the upper tier of the dog family. Due to its agile nature, an additional effect has been added.Effects:Rabid Bite

Swift strike

Chase was more than satisfied by what he saw. The creature by far was the strongest he currently had. With a whopping level of 3, the creature had the convenient bonus skill [Swift Strike]. Without a doubt, the newly acquired monster was a ferocious hunter.

With his mind still in silent euphoria, he planned his next actions.

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Had mapped the start to finish of the entire story already. Suggestions are welcome, but it may not go your way.

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Thanks to the guy that rated this 0.5 star. May the troll be with you.

Chapter 3: The Grinding Starts

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