Bio-Matter: 87/1000
Adrian surveyed his progress with satisfaction. His collectors were busy, darting through the swamp as they gathered dead animals, plants, and other biomass, zipping back to his core at impressive speeds. He could feel the steady trickle of bio-matter flowing into his reserves, slowly replenishing his initial investment.
While the swamp was still sparsely populated in terms of monsters, Adrian was ready to fix that. With his reserves back up, he concentrated on spawning another pair—a Bloodroot Tree and a Flesh Crawler Queen—positioned deeper within the dungeon’s range. As the familiar sensation of spawning washed over him, something unusual happened.
One of the collectors returned, carrying a bundle of mushrooms, and tossed them into the hole in the wall Adrian had identified as his stomach. The mushrooms fell into the grinding pit, and within moments, the system processed their DNA. He felt the familiar sorting and separation of DNA strands—mostly minor features he hadn’t found much use for yet, like insect legs for his Flesh Crawlers, which were weaker than the standard ones.
But the moment the mushrooms were broken down, a new system message appeared:
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System Message
Mycelium resonates with Bio-Mancer class and Parasite Lair theme. New Trap option gained: Corpsecap.
Corpsecap: Corpsecap mushrooms have caps filled with explosive gas. It will explode if a creature gets too close to it, covering the creature in spores. Cost: 5 Bio-Matter. Integrates into the environment.
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Adrian’s thoughts sparked with delight as he read the description of his new trap. The idea of “integration into the environment” piqued his curiosity, though he wasn’t entirely sure what it meant just yet. But that was a question for later—right now, it was time to put his new tool to work.
He spawned a handful of Corpsecap mushrooms throughout the dungeon, placing them near key areas and close to some of the newly added Bloodroot Trees. After that, he added a few more collectors and Flesh Crawler Queens, scattering them in strategic spots to fill out the swamp’s defenses.
As he watched his bio-matter reserves dwindle, nearly empty, he felt a thrill of anticipation. With his dungeon now teeming with a few more creatures and fungal surprises, it was ready to offer a challenge. All that was left was to wait for something—or someone—to trigger his new additions.
With the recent additions to his dungeon, Adrian decided it was time to expand his field of vision. He summoned two more Oculnids and positioned them strategically around the hollow tree. He’d expected the experience of seeing through multiple eyes at once to be disorienting, especially as each Oculnid offered a different angle and perspective of the swamp.
Yet, as he focused on his new “sight,” he felt no confusion or overload. Somehow, his mind processed the multiple viewpoints simultaneously with perfect clarity. It was as though his thoughts had been altered, adapted to handle the expanded sensory input without strain. He could see through every eye, each viewpoint seamlessly integrated into his awareness.
Adrian found himself wondering if this was another adaptation of his race as a Dungeon Heart—a change in his mind’s architecture that allowed him to work with these new, complex perceptions. It was as though the system had taken every aspect of his new existence into account, ensuring that he’d function optimally as the core of this dark and twisted place.
A few hours passed, and Adrian’s collectors returned with something unexpected. As the corpse of a recently slain animal landed in his stomach, the system processed two new DNA strains. The first was just the animal itself—nothing particularly exciting. But the second caught his attention: Lesser Blood Parasite.
His interest piqued as he examined this new strain, recalling how the creature had fallen to his Flesh Crawlers earlier. He’d given them explicit orders to leave the body intact, anticipating that his collectors would handle the retrieval. It had taken two collectors to carry it back, their strength clearly lacking for anything heavier than standard pickups. Adrian made a mental note that while his collectors excelled at gathering bio-matter sacks from the Bloodroot Trees, their carrying capacity was limited. Sadly, DNA could not be extracted from those sacks—only from entire organisms.
The arrival of the parasite strain hinted at something intriguing: there might be more life forms within his dungeon he hadn’t yet detected, hidden parasites lurking in the swamp. This seemed fitting, considering his theme of Parasite Lair. Although no new spawning options were unlocked, the system informed him of a progress marker: Parasite Samples 1/5. It seemed that with time—and perhaps a few more encounters—he’d unlock something valuable.
With a small reserve of bio-matter remaining, Adrian decided it was time for a test. He selected one of the younger Flesh Crawlers, ordering it into the hollow tree where his core resided. Let’s see what this “Bio-Matter Overcharge” can do, he thought, a flicker of excitement sparking through his consciousness as he prepared to push the boundaries of his powers.
Adrian examined the young Flesh Crawler, noting its smaller size compared to the others. It must have just hatched, barely larger than the width of his core’s pulsating chamber. The queens seemed to pump out eggs rapidly, especially until their brood reached the limit of ten additional members—excluding the tree, of course.
“Well, young or not,” he thought with a hint of anticipation, “let’s see what Bio-Matter Overcharge can do.”
As he activated the skill, he watched in astonishment as the little crawler began to transform before him. The creature’s body expanded rapidly, muscles bulging as its tiny frame morphed. Adrian had intended to invest 15 bio-matter points, but as the transformation accelerated, he’d already exceeded his goal—he’d pumped in 19 points before he could stop himself.
The results, however, were impressive. The once-small Flesh Crawler now stood nearly 1.3 meters tall, its neck elongated and thickened, while its mandibles had grown to intimidating proportions. Its face was now protected by a dark gray bone plate, a shift from the lighter bone color it had previously. Armor plates sprouted along its back and abdomen, forming a segmented, nearly enclosed exoskeleton with a slit along the middle, dividing the plates horizontally. Even its legs had toughened, covered with jagged bone plates, and at the tips of its feet, sharp, bony claws jutted out, ideal for gripping surfaces or even delivering quick, lethal stabs.
But the best part? It had arms—or something close. Short, sickle-like limbs protruded from its sides, devoid of hands but deadly in their sharpness. They weren’t tools for grasping, but they’d make for effective slashing weapons.
Adrian’s mind buzzed with satisfaction. The experiment had been a total success.
But then, something unexpected happened.
“Mastaa—” The sound was strange, a mix of clicking noises that seemed to vibrate through the hollow tree.
“Hello… little guy?” Adrian thought, uncertain if the creature could actually hear him.
“Hulu litl guy!” The creature’s clicks responded, somehow repeating his words with eerie accuracy.
Adrian’s focus sharpened on the crawler, and a system message appeared:
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System Message
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Evolved Flesh Crawler. An advanced version of the standard Flesh Crawler. This individual was boosted with Bio-Matter Overcharge and has developed a low level of intelligence. This development was influenced by the mind of the Dungeon Heart.
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Adrian’s shock settled in. Intelligence? Could this creature actually think on some level? As he processed the revelation, a strange realization crept over him—a strange, unsettling warmth.
Did… did I just become a father?
The creature stood before him, its new form glinting in the dim, pulsing light of the tree. The bond was faint, but it was there, tethering Adrian to this bizarre, grotesque, and oddly endearing being.
This experiment had indeed gone far beyond his expectations.
After a few moments of trying to communicate with his new “intelligent” resident, Adrian’s initial excitement began to wane. Intelligence, as he realized, wasn’t exactly what he’d imagined. Chomp was… enthusiastic, sure, but his level of intelligence was closer to that of a dog—an eager dog that could make sounds resembling words, but far from truly understanding complex commands.
Still, Adrian couldn’t deny the importance of this discovery. The clicks and chittering sounds Chomp made were clearly a language of their own. The patterns didn’t match any known language Adrian was familiar with, suggesting that perhaps he had the potential to understand creatures or languages previously unknown to him. It was also possible that his dungeon senses automatically translated his creatures’ languages, while leaving other languages untranslated. Either way, he’d need more examples before drawing conclusions.
Lost in thought, Adrian finally came up with a fitting name for his new companion. “Chomp,” he thought simply. The moment he shared this with the creature, Chomp’s excitement was palpable. The little crawler nearly vibrated with joy, clicking and repeating his name as if it were the greatest gift he’d ever received. Adrian couldn’t help but feel a touch of amusement, though the novelty soon wore thin as Chomp continued bouncing around.
“All right, that’s enough, Chomp,” he said with a hint of frustration. “Go out and explore—but don’t run off too far.”
Chomp chittered happily and practically zoomed out of the hollow tree, leaping and clicking, as if the sensation of movement itself was brand new. Adrian observed the little crawler’s antics and sighed. Now I remember why I never wanted kids, he thought. Still, abandoning his creation wasn’t an option. There was a strange sense of responsibility lingering at the back of his mind.
His musings were interrupted as a sudden, distant sensation prickled along the edges of his dungeon’s range. Heavy, rhythmic thuds echoed through his awareness, five of them in total. The impact was enough to reverberate through his senses, unsettling the stillness of the swamp.
“What could that be?” he wondered, a mix of curiosity and caution sharpening his focus. Whatever was approaching, it was heavy—and it was headed his way.
Ulrick and his team stood at the edge of the caldera, looking down into the swamp below. They’d taken longer than Lukas to get here, unfamiliar with the land and cautious in their approach. Now, seeing the dark, twisted swamp for the first time, they understood what Lukas had meant by "unnatural."
Carefully, they climbed down into the caldera. When their feet finally touched the muddy ground, a shiver passed through each of them. All the experienced members exchanged wary glances, a silent acknowledgment that something was wrong—except for the youngest, Gale, who looked around in puzzlement.
“What’s going on?” he asked, noticing their reactions.
Ulrick took a deep breath, steadying himself before he looked at Gale. “Listen, kid… this just got a lot more dangerous. Do you feel it? That pressure… the heaviness that wasn’t there before we entered the swamp?”
Gale swallowed, his voice uncertain. “Y-Yeah… I thought that was just my nerves.”
Ulrick locked eyes with him, his gaze serious. “No, kid. That’s the aura of a dungeon. But it’s… strange.”
The hunter, Nole, normally cheerful, added in a voice tinged with worry, “The dungeon’s aura… it hits us in waves. I’ve never felt anything like it. If this is a dungeon, it’s unlike any I’ve ever seen. We were in two dungeons together and the dungeon aura is a constant, always!”
Vin, their healer, began muttering in his peculiar, backward way of speaking. “Area too small. Not a field dungeon. Above ground, no typical dungeon. No tower, not a tower dungeon. New type, perhaps. Never heard of a dungeon with a heart. Aura strange.”
Ulrick turned to Gale again, his tone grave. “Kid, I think it’s better if you climb back out. We’re in uncharted territory here, and no one knows what we’re facing. Lukas only mentioned swamp animals, but who knows what’s waiting for us now.”
Gale’s face hardened, a touch of defiance in his eyes. “No! You said we’re a team. We stick together!”
Ulrick let out a resigned sigh. He was known for his loyalty to his word, and Gale’s insistence had struck a nerve. “Alright, fine. You stay in the middle, but when I say you bolt, you run like your life depends on it. Understood?”
“Y-Yeah,” Gale replied, less certain now as he saw the mix of determination, fear, and worry flicker across Ulrick’s face.
Ulrick straightened, taking one last look at each of his team members. “Alright, team, we move out. Eyes open. Always.”
With that, they stepped forward into the swamp, every sense on high alert, each of them feeling the unrelenting pressure of the unknown bearing down on them.
The team moved slowly through the swamp, their eyes darting to every shadow and ripple. Familiar sounds of wetlands filled the air, but interspersed were unfamiliar noises that set them on edge. Each time a new sound emerged, they halted, weapons at the ready. Sweat trickled down Ulrick's brow, the oppressive heat and humidity pressing on his mind like a heavy weight.
In the murky, diffused light, every twisted tree seemed alive, branches appearing to sway unnaturally at the edges of their vision. The gnarled plants looked as if they'd been plucked from someone's nightmare, adding to the eerie atmosphere. As they navigated around a particularly large pool of stagnant water, Ulrick noticed something—a pair of small dots gliding just above the surface.
"Hold up," he whispered, raising a hand.
The dots seemed to track their movement, floating silently before suddenly disappearing beneath the water. A chill ran down Ulrick's spine. He waited, tense, but when nothing happened after a few moments, he allowed himself a slight exhale.
"Probably just swamp gas or some critter," Nole murmured, though her eyes remained wary.
They took another cautious step when suddenly, with a massive splash, a gigantic beast burst from the pool. Its elongated jaws, lined with razor-sharp teeth, snapped inches from Nole's face. She sprang back with lightning speed, her enhanced agility from years of training saving her from a grisly fate.
"What is that thing?" Gale shouted, eyes wide.
Without hesitation, Ulrick charged forward, slamming his shield into the creature's snout. The impact reverberated up his arm. "Its head feels like solid rock!" he thought, gritting his teeth. The beast recoiled slightly but seemed more annoyed than hurt.
As Ulrick retreated a few steps to reassess, two arrows whistled past him, embedding themselves in the creature's flank. Nole had recovered and was firing with precision, but the arrows barely penetrated its tough, scaled hide.
"These scales are like armor!" Ulrick shouted. The beast let out a guttural roar, its eyes locking onto him with primal fury.
"Keep its attention!" Brill yelled from behind.
Ulrick nodded, stepping side to side, waving his axe to draw the beast's focus. He feinted forward, landing a glancing blow on its side, but it seemed unfazed. Suddenly, a torrent of flames erupted over his shoulder as Brill unleashed a continuous stream of fire from his outstretched hands, engulfing the beast in searing heat.
"That should do it," Ulrick thought, shielding his face from the intense heat. But to their horror, the creature shook off the flames and charged straight through, heading directly for Brill.
Brill's eyes widened in panic as the beast closed in. Time seemed to slow. Just as the creature lunged, a figure blurred past. Gale leaped between them, his two-handed sword raised high. With a desperate cry, he brought the blade down in a powerful arc, slicing deep into the beast's snout.
The creature bellowed in pain, thrashing violently. Before it could retaliate or retreat, another arrow flew true, this time piercing its eye. The beast shuddered, its massive form collapsing into the mud with a resounding thud.
Silence settled over the swamp, broken only by their heavy breaths.
Brill sank to his knees, his face pale. "I... I almost lost a limb—or worse," he stammered.
Ulrick placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "But you didn't. Thanks to Gale."
Gale gave a shaky nod, adrenaline still coursing through him. "Glad I could help."
Vin stepped closer to the fallen creature, his gaze analytical. "Unknown monster. Fireproof skin," he stated in his characteristic clipped speech. He turned to Nole. "Nole. Harvest."
She nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. "On it."
As the team took a moment to rest, Nole set to work with her skinning knife. Despite her skill, the beast's hide proved challenging. She managed to extract larger pieces but struggled with the tougher scales.
"This hide is incredible," she mused. "With some additional leather, this could make a fine chest piece." A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "Maybe we can find another one of these beasts?"
The rest of the team stared at her in disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind?" Brill exclaimed. "One nearly toasted us alive!"
Vin, gazing up at the overcast sky as if lost in thought, added nothing.
Nole shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. "What? I was just asking!"
Ulrick chuckled despite himself. "Let's focus on surviving this one first. Then we can talk about hunting more unknown monsters."
The team settled down, the tension easing slightly as they caught their breath. But the encounter had made one thing clear—the swamp was full of dangers they had never imagined, and they would need to stay vigilant.