Inside the dungeon.

This must be the boss room. The door is quite huge and it seems it’s made from precious stone.

The moment I entered this dungeon, the entrance was blocked by some sort of barrier. It was a powerful barrier that would take me at least five minutes to break. I was then attacked by hellhounds which are monsters that resembled dogs but instead of a dog, they were huge, black and had fire covering some parts of their bodies. There were also cracks of lava appearing on the monsters’ skin.

I managed to defeat them easily and after that, I was met with sonic bats. They were much bigger than your typical bats and produced sonic waves which were really bad for the ears. Using mindscape to block off my hearing, their attacks were ineffective on me so I managed to defeat them. Who knew those guys travelled in a colony like actual bats.

I fought with other monsters who were much stronger than the flame tiger and the king tiger. I managed to learn a lot while I was fighting these monsters. It turned out that monsters killed in a dungeon disintegrate into energy which is then re-absorbed by the dungeon.

I guess that is how the dungeon core sustains its energy.

I open the door of the boss room. The door seems to not need a lot of force to have it open. Just a nudge and it opens itself after. In the centre of the room sleeps a huge dog-like monster.

Is it a hellhound? But it has two heads.

That’s a Cerberus, kid.

But it has two heads?

Look closely.

The third head emerges from underneath the other two heads. And just like that, the other two heads wake up as well. It stands up and purple flames arises from its body. The purple flames centralise from its back and spread out to the necks of each heads. They halt at the top of their head like a horse’s hair.

“Purple flames?”

Purple flames.

“Why the heck does it have purple flames?”

Like I would know, kid. But if I were to guess, maybe it evolved over time due to this dungeon not being challenged for more than two hundred years. Or it could be the effects of the demonic energy since this dungeon is found in the area that was infected by demonic energy.

“But I don’t sense any demonic energy coming from it.”

Then it’s the former one.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anyways.”

I instantly retrieve Ashes from my storage space.

“Are you ready to have some fun Ashes?”

“Urgh, why can’t you take Saber? I’m really not in a mood to fight.”

“Well, I don’t care about that, you cheeky sword.”

*Roar*

The Cerberus roars before charging at me. Its claws digging into the well paved floor of the room. The ground quakes as it advances at me at breakneck speeds. It attacks me with a stomp from its gigantic paw but I manage to block it with Ashes. The ground cracks below my feet due to the force of its attack. I smirk and push it back. It stumbles. I take the chance to jump up into the air. I swing Ashes as a dark slash appears, hurtling at one of its heads.

*Boom*

The dust clears and it is unscathed. The three heads open their mouths and releases a breath of purple flames. I manage to counter by releasing my own magic attack.

“Hellfire Flare.”

A torrent of flames shoots out of my palm as they hurtle to the attack the Cerberus has just made. The two attacks cancel each other out.

I don’t want to be here for long so I should probably finish this now.

I land swiftly on the ground and take a stance.

“Dark eclipse style: Dimensional thrust.”

A powerful thrust that seems to warp space itself shoots out of Ashes. The Cerberus’s leg is blown off as it collapses to the ground. I could see the look of confusion on its face. It looks up into the air and roars.

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The powerful roar is followed by pillars of spiralling purple flame as they emerge from the ground up. The pillars of fire converge as they merge together forming a giant cyclone of purple fire which engulfs the entire room.

This is probably one of the Cerberus’s trump cards. If it was someone else who was blasted by this attack, there is no doubt that they would have perished especially since this is an enclosed space. Me on the other hand just shielded myself with a multi-layer barrier which managed to negate the attack.

This move is quite amazing. I’m kinda reluctant to kill this guy now but I can’t be sure that this guy will follow me as its master.

You can make it your familiar.

Familiar? Like the slave contract?

Something similar. Since in order for a slave contract to be initiated, the other party has to agree otherwise the contract won’t take effect. Monsters, especially monsters that cannot communicate can’t be put under a slave contract. Which is why people usually use slave collars to control them. However, if a monster approves of you or you make it yield with force, then you can make it your familiar with the Bond contract.

Wow, Ray. You know your stuff don’t you. Well, I guess I better use that suggestion then.

I raise my hand towards the Cerberus which is starstruck by the fact that I am unscathed. I cast a spell.

“Gravity control: Gravitational pressure.”

The Cerberus is flattened to the ground by the gravitational pressure so immense that the ground cracks. The Cerberus couldn’t even move a finger under the gravity I am releasing.

“Yield.” I say as I look at it with cold eyes.

*Roar*

Huh, it seems it doesn’t want to.

I increase the pressure even more and its bones begin making sounds.

“Yield.” I say once more as my glare becomes more intense.

It roars in disapproval again.

“I see. Then try saying no after this.”

I increase the gravity even more and the Cerberus is completely crushed into the ground. Purple blood starts spewing from its body. Its flames start to dim.

“I can heal your wounds. The only thing you have to do is yield. If you don’t, the next time I increase the gravitational pressure, you’ll be completely crushed. If you yield, at least you’ll live rather than die here and be forgotten because of your pride.”

The Cerberus finally whimpers in submission.

“I guess that means you yield.”

I cancel my magic and heal it with high-heal. All its wounds disappear. Even its blown off leg regrows back. The Cerberus stands up with confusion on its face. It then bows its heads in submission. White particles of energy emanate from the Cerberus’s body and enters in mine.

What the hell was that?

The contract is done. The Cerberus now acknowledges you as its master. That light right now was its soul brand. You now basically have its life in your hand.

Huh? It was easier than I thought. Well, I didn’t come here for this guy so where’s the dungeon core?

I look around the room but I couldn’t find the core. I let out a sigh.

“Why is everything never easy?”

It probably hid itself, kid.

“Hid itself? How?”

I’m sure you have realised by now that a dungeon isn’t just a structure. In fact, it is also conscious. It probably hid its core after you arrived here at the boss room.

“Annoying bastard.”

I stretch out my hand and a big fireball appears.

“I guess I’ll just have to destroy the entire dungeon then. Of course, if the core shows up, then I won’t need to.” I shout at the empty room.

Nothing happens.

“Since you’re so shy, maybe you’ll change your mind after a few blows.”

The big fireball grows bigger and bigger as its glow illuminates the entire boss room. The air shudders because of the intense heat. The walls of the room vibrate due to the intense energy surge my fireball was releasing. In response to my threat a slot appears on the wall. In that slot, the dungeon core can be seen.

“Now, was that hard? We could have skipped all of this you know.”

With a slight tilt of my hand, the fireball disappears from it. I walk towards the core and held it in my hand. It is beautiful. It fits my hand nicely. It radiates a rainbow colour that makes it look even more majestic.

I can feel the magic power fluctuating from within it.

Should I absorb it? Maybe it could recover some of my golden energy. No. Its better if the dungeon remains intact for the mining of raw materials and training.

“Hmm, I wonder what would happen if I discharge some of my energy into it?”

I pour out my energy into it satiating my curiosity. It starts glowing as if accepting my energy. I start pouring more and more and after an hour, the core couldn’t absorb any more of my energy.

I wonder what type of monsters will this core make now that it has my magic?

After thinking that, I feel a sensation within my body and for some reason I think of those hellhounds I fought at the start of the dungeon. And just like that, a hellhound appears before me.

I am surprised by it but the hellhound didn’t show any hostility towards me. In fact, it showed obedience.

“What the hell just happened?”

Need me to explain, kid?

“Yeah. Why would you even ask me that?”

I swear, at this point I’m just your google or whatever you call it.

“You are exactly right Ray so, talk.”

Sigh, is this how overworked employees feel? Anyways, you are now a dungeon master. By injecting your energy within the dungeon core and having it accept your energy, you became in charge of the dungeon. You can now create monsters of this dungeon with just a thought.

“Dungeon master? Wait I can create monsters with a thought?! Can I create a flame tiger? “

…

Huh? Nothing happened?

You can only create monsters of this dungeon. Like the hellhounds, the sonic bats etcetera. Of course, you can’t create a Cerberus since there can’t be two bosses existing inside a dungeon.

“Cool.”

I wave my hand slightly and the boss room reverts back to normal.

I see. Not only do I have control over the monsters but I also have control over the dungeon itself. Well, I’ve learned a lot today. I should go back now. It’s probably already dark out.

The Cerberus looks at me with puppy dog eyes.

I guess I should give this guy a name, huh?

“Sid. You’ll be Sid from now on. Now stay here. I’ll come to see you again.”

I teleport back to the castle.

I’ll bring Sid here in the castle some other day. I wonder how Sara… I mean Ruri is doing? I should go check up on her.