Just like taking your first hit of an addictive drug, every Core he absorbed after the original didn’t feel the same. It was lacking something from that first high.

Absorbing the Core was still great, and there were many benefits, but it just wasn’t as good.

This one was a somewhat plain-looking cloudy, gray Core. Rick thought it tasted a bit like cream soda and wished he had more. He even leveled up to Level 6. Unfortunately, there weren’t any new skills to celebrate along with the level. Not even an assigned skill. There was a boost of 300 Energy and 300 Challenge points that were most welcome, though.

While he savored the taste, he felt a change in the Kaiju Egg.

Penny, who had been lying down and recovering near the egg, jumped up and began sniffing it.

Rick inspected the egg to see if anything had changed.

Enhanced Obsidian Chiroptera Kaiju Egg - (269:04:25:16)

Note: An Obsidian Chiroptera Kaiju will need a minimum of 10 cubic miles of living space. Chiropteras are nocturnal.

The word “Enhanced” now appeared at the forefront, but it didn’t explain what that meant. The description also added that the Kaiju would be nocturnal. While it was valuable information, he didn’t know exactly how consuming the Core changed the Kaiju Egg. It did, however, remind him to continue growing the first floor as much as he could before it hatched.

This was a bit of a problem in Rick’s opinion. Adam told him how valuable it was and even suggested that someone with a Kaiju could take over the planet. If that were the case, nobody would want to come and Challenge him and he’d stagnate. Perhaps he could grow the floor with the Yellow Noctiluca on it which also preferred darkness.

If he had to switch gears, that’s what he would do. Growing the first floor the way he did wasn’t a waste when he thought about it. He evolved a skill, gave room for the wolves to run, and even built what would be a nice source of Energy generation.

That got Rick thinking about the people Jimmy had employed to bring trash to him to burn up. If they were too scared to bring him more, he’d have to either build another stream or find something else to generate some resources to burn.

“Jimmy, is there any way you can find out whether or not the scavengers are still working for us or not?”

Jimmy had taken Kara into the Auxiliary Room where they were eating a plate of braised lamb shanks with winter fruits. Of course, Rick found and absorbed the ingredients in the mountains of trash, but Jimmy and Kara didn’t need to know that. Once he produced the food, it was as fresh as could be and likely much better than the original dish.

Instead of eating in a penthouse, Rick had hastily made a couple of hobbit homes. He also planned to move Penny in there with the Egg but hadn’t found a good way to move it yet. Burning some Energy and using his willpower on it might work, but he just wasn’t certain how safe it was. Adam was currently taking a nap before the System Shop opened, leaving Billy still idling at respawn.

“I probably should take a quick peek outside,” Jimmy groaned. Once he got to the door, he cracked it open a smidge and wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, looks like they’ve continued piling it on. Maybe the Eagle Empire hasn’t found us yet.”

“Are you comfortable moving some in?” Rick asked.

“Yeah, I’ll go slow and steady. As long as I can before I get too tired. And only because those lamb shanks were the fuckin tits.”

Kara looked up at Jimmy sharply, “Do you two really talk to each other like that all the time?”

Jimmy’s forehead glistened as a nervous sweat began, “Uh, yeah?”

Her expression softened and laughed, “He’s right, Rick. Those lamb shanks were the fuckin tits.”

Rick laughed and spoke to Jimmy, “Only you would find the perfect woman in a time like this.”

“I’m so glad she can’t hear you, but you’re right,” Jimmy said, not giving any more away for Kara.

She narrowed her eyes at Jimmy, “What did he say?”

Jimmy acted surprised, “Who, Rick? Can’t remember.”

“Whatever. I’m going back to sleep,” she said. Kara still had shrapnel stuck in her until Penny recovered enough to remove the rest. She was still weak but didn’t seem to be in too much pain at least.

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Alright, on to the next Core, Rick thought. He had to decide between what appeared to be a ruby and one that looked like a sapphire.

The sapphire looked a little more impressive as if a jeweler had cut the Core into a Briolette cut. Briolettes were difficult to do, requiring eighty four triangular shaped facets on the surface to make a gem resembling a pear. In this case, a startlingly beautiful sapphire pear.

“Screw it. I’m not saving the best for last. Let’s see what this baby can do,” Rick said to himself and absorbed the sapphire. It didn’t taste nearly as delicious as it looked. The flavor was actually quite unpleasant. The only way he could describe it would be if you were to rub your tongue on a dish towel.

Bracing himself for another level up, he was momentarily disappointed when it didn’t come. Instead, there was an Alert waiting for him.

—Alert—

Challenge Broadcast Unlocked

Challenge Broadcast: When a Challenger enters the dungeon, the Challenge is broadcast through the eyes of the Challengers and that of your minions and floor bosses. When a Challenge begins, the denizens of Earth will receive an Alert.

“I’m not sure I want that,” Rick said as he read the Alert.

“Want what?” Jimmy asked as he tossed a couple of trash bags across the floor.

“Check this out,” Rick said and repeated his Alert word for word.

Jimmy scratched his chin, “Why wouldn’t you want that? That will draw a ton of Challengers here, especially if they know what they’re dealing with.”

“Yeah, but if everyone is prepared anytime they come in, wouldn’t they just roll me constantly?” Rick argued.

“Maybe, but that’s why you have to change it up, my dude. Throw in a surprise here and there. Y’know?”

“Fair. I just don’t like the idea of everyone being able to see my shit, I guess.”

Jimmy laughed at that, “You’ve never been one for the spotlight, but this could be a huge break for us, man.”

As usual, Rick felt better after talking to his buddy and absorbed the last Core that Adam gave him.

The ruby Core tasted much better than the sapphire. It reminded him of having a cherry flavored snow cone on a hot day when he was a kid, melting in his mouth. A wave of comfort washed over him, making him forget all the shitty things that had happened — just for a moment.

He leveled up one more time, putting him at a respectable Level 7 Challenge Dungeon, giving him another 300 Energy and 300 Challenge points. The same as reaching Level 6.

—ALERT—

Resource Added:

Red Clover: These clovers can be harvested by an alchemist to create healing potions and cannot be added to registry.

Select Floor in which the Red Clovers will grow naturally.

WARNING: This could potentially change the environment of the dungeon floor.

Rick read the Alert and his first thought was that he had another source of free Energy. Although, he imagined the Red Clover wouldn’t grow fast enough for it to be a viable option. And since he couldn’t add it to his registry, it would be incredibly stupid to waste the resource like that.

But healing potions? That would likely give Jimmy and the Cartel an edge over the Eagle Empire. They’d need to ask around for an alchemist. Rick promised himself that he’d pay one handsomely to work for him.

His first thought was to put them on the floor where the Yellow Noctiluca was. Maybe the insect could pollinate them or the Kaiju would like the clovers. But, he didn’t even know if it could grow in the low light. Probably not.

He didn’t really care about the warning too much. He could just burn them all out if it became a problem. With a mental “fuck it”, he chose the main floor with Billy and the wolves as the designated red clover field.

Immediately, red clovers began to populate the grass. They didn’t completely overtake it, but spread out through the entire floor. Wolves and bargles alike investigated the new plant, even chewing on a couple. The wolves were delighted with the taste while the bargles spit them out.

Rick could sense something drifting off of the clovers and swirling upwards toward the ceiling. He tried to focus on it and get a sense of what it was, but couldn’t. Maybe because the System blocked it from his registry. It was so small that he figured it was the aroma that the clovers gave.

Jimmy interrupted Rick’s attempts at studying whatever was wafting off the clovers, “Alright, I’m clocking out. Going to get some rest before the shop opens.”

“Good call, won’t be long,” Rick said as he admired the impressive mountain of trash that Jimmy had hauled in for him.

He quickly began expanding the Yellow Noctiluca’s floor and decided to just call the bug boss “Luca” for short. It had done an impressive job with the place already. Webs streaked from floor to ceiling. Unfortunately for the bug, Rick ripped them apart as the walls expanded.

That’s when he felt the bug attempting to communicate with him. It was quivering in rage and made a chittering sound. The strangest thing was that Rick could soon understand it, even though it certainly wasn’t speaking English.

“Why-y-y-y. All my precious work. Mean Dungeon. Stupid Dungeon.”

“Woah, this is fucked up,” Rick said as he listened. “Hey, you. I’m pretty sure you can understand me. Don’t you want your place bigger so more Challengers can come in and walk into your pretty webs?”

More chittering, “Y-y-yes. Warn. Next.”

“Yeah, will do. I’m just trying to do what’s best for you anyway,” Rick said, wondering if this is what it was like to have kids.

He spent the rest of his time burning trash and expanding the floor until finally, the Alert came, rattling everyone out of their naps.