[table=grey]Author note:
Hey folks, sorry for the another delay. But this chapter's length is more than twice than my usual chapters, so hopefully it's worth the two weeks wait (I cant find a good way to divide it into two separate chapters with a relatively-balanced length.)
Anyway, here it is. Hope you like it. And please let me know if you find any mistake[/table]
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“Waaah!”
“Goraaa!”
“No, Orga, wait! Tch! Let’s follow them.”
My consciousness made an imaginary smile seeing the Jowsar-Star members fell to my new trap one after another. Starting with the scouting ahead swordsman Gora, then the axe-warrior Orga, followed by the defender Crystela and the rest. With this, my victory was sealed.
They had been raiding twice since their test-raid three days ago, thrice with now. As expected, when there was no surprise element, they showed the real strength of a B-rank Adventurer Party. They had reached the boss room in both raids, and both had ended up with a narrow escape for me. At the first raid, the new morphers that came late had saved the day, while at the second, it had been nothing but luck that it had ended with a double K.O.
Although the Boss’ core had been intact, fortunately, and I had been able restore his body without problem, it was only a matter of time before they could breach into the second level at such rate. Therefore, I had been experimenting on various new traps since then. The one they fell into just now was the one that came from combining two skills:
(
What so fearsome about the gate traps were the fact that they couldn’t be disarmed. A portal would appear under a target’s feet when he/she was close enough and sent him/her to other rooms of the same level. The worse part, for the adventurers, was that even though they entered the same portal, unless they came together, they would go into separate rooms. And if those weren’t enough, the Boss and his minions would pay a visit to each of them one after another.
No doubt, the adventurers would be wary of the gate traps. At first, they would likely try to avoid them, but they had to dive into the traps eventually if they wanted to go to the second level, as I had placed the last door’s stone slabs in the rooms that could only be accessed through the gate traps’ portals.
Other than that, I had modified the mind-disturber traps too. If before they would cause disorientation to every sentient within its range, which meant the Boss Rowd included, now they would affect every individual except my dungeon’s creatures and people I recognized as friendly. With a core inside, I could tell the new version of mind-disturber a more specific order anytime through our link, like switching between attackable or off-limit of a target. The mana cost had increased because of the modification, but it was worth.
As I watched Tsalja, whom I considered as the most dangerous amongst the Jowsar-Star, fell unconscious in the hand of the fighter golem Boss, I decided I didn’t need to watch the rest. I returned to my Dungeon Lord in the heart chamber, within the third level. The room should be much safer now with the new arrangement. With this, I had secured the time I needed and could finally turned my focus to search for father.
According to the Fantastica’s informant, father had spent his several short hours in [Fierzoa] in a high-class bar called Red’s Heaven. There were many witnesses stating that on that night he had been making a ruckus there, before the bar owner came and talked to him. After that, father was rushing out from the scene and left the town. Because no one had ever seen him since then within the large area under Fantastica’s influence, they concluded he had to have gone to a less populated region.
This was all they could gather so far.
The conversation between father and the owner might hold the key to find him. Unfortunately, for a reason or another, nobody could confirm the content. A barrier of some sort had hindered the witnesses to overhear, while the owner and her employees had refused to speak.
Either way, to keep the adventurers motivated, I had added a hundred gold coins bounty to whoever could pinpoint father’s exact location. The guildsman I had asked to take care of the required administration for the bounty had almost fainted when heard the amount. According to him, even an A-rank quest was rarely had a prize of such amount. Well, since finding father was a priority and money wasn’t an issue, I didn’t mind to throw that much. I even had given a generous tips to the guildsman.
(Now I can move by myself, where should I start?
(Let see… considering father’s speed, he can be anywhere within the empire. No, it’s possible he has even crossed the border.
(Hmm… I’ll let the adventurers check the unpopulated area, I’m more interested with the person who talked last with father.
(The bar owner, Madam Ehrisya, I’m sure I’ve heard the name before somewhere. Where was it? From mother?
(Anyway, I need to think of something so she won’t refuse to meet me too.
(Ah, they said father made a ruckus, didn’t they? I can use apology and goodwill to repay her loss as an excuse, can’t I?
(Alright, let’s do this. But first, I need a preparation.)
I opened two portals, respectively to the room where spidey the lesser tyrantula made its nest and the room where the only tiger in my dungeon stayed. The two would accompany me in my journey for a safe measure.
“Come with me, guys,” I called.
Spidey quickly crawled and climbed to my shoulder. This guy was a weird one. It should have enough accumulated mana to evolve since long time ago, but for some reasons chose to stay in its current form. Many of its kind, with less accumulated mana, had already evolved into tyrantulas, a bigger and stronger version of their lesser pre-evolution form.
The tiger followed, I stroke behind its ear when it had come beside me, which made it to let out a purring sound. “Tig, I need a ride. So I’ll evolve you, alright?” I asked and it replied with a low growl. “Good boy,” I said.
I put my palm on its forehead, feeling the core. The image of the tiger then entered my mind and I began to make adjustments.
First, for my leg not hindering its run while I was riding, I prolonged its legs as a horse’s legs, and the rest of the body was enlarged proportionally. However, becoming too heavy could become a problem in itself. Therefore, I reduced the body mass and condensed the muscles to compensate the loss, until it reached the optimal body shape and weight. It looked less bulky than before.
Next, I hardened its weapons, the claws and teeth, allowing them to slice or tear a rock with ease. Then I ended with improving its vision, hearing and smelling. The tiger’s overall ability, including the strength and speed, rose dramatically as the result.
Satisfied, I released my hand and saw the tiger limped to ground. Not long after, a paw ripped and appeared from under the skin, showing its sharp claws, followed by a peeping nose.
*Ding!*
Requirements meet. New race is acquired!You have successfully created King Tiger race from Tigers
*Ding!*
With your intervention, {Tiger} has evolved into {King Tiger}.
(Hmm, a white tiger? Even though I didn’t do anything to its skin, it still changes color?)
I watched the giant tiger came out from the old yellow tiger skin. Once free completely, it shook its body, revealing the beautiful white fur. I asked, “How does it feel, your new body?”
“ROOAAARRRRR!” it replied loudly, which shook the entire room. Through our link, I could feel it was happy.
“Good for you, Tig. Hmm? What is it spidey? You want me to help you to evolve too? Fine by me, but what kind of evolution do you want? Hmm, same size but stronger and emphasized in speed? I see, you like to play assassin, huh? Is that why you haven’t evolved until now?”
It nodded to my questions. I then touched its body and felt the core, triggering the image of the lesser tyrantula to enter my mind.
The legs were the things I worked on before anything else, as it specifically asked for speed. I increased all eight legs’ muscle size then condensing them until reaching the same size as before and repeated the process several times. Then, I reshaped the most two front legs into two rock-hard and sharp scythes, which would serve as its main weapon for close combat. After that, I added more fur covering those legs, except the sharp part of the two front legs, to muffle its walking sound.
The fang was the second, which I hardened and made to be much stronger than before. I also arranged so it could shoot threads from the mouth now, in addition to the only-from-the-buttock previously. This also meant it could mix the thread with poison in the mouth before it shot it. Lastly, I added a special function to its skin for a stealth purpose, which would help its new role as assassin spider.
“Done,” I said, pulling out my hand. It fell from my shoulder before began shedding its skin.
*Ding!*
Requirements meet. New race is acquired!You have successfully created Terrortula race from Lesser Tyrantulas
*Ding!*
With your intervention, {Lesser Tyrantula} has evolved into {Terrortula}.
(Oh, another white? Is it the trend today?)
“How do you feel? No problem? Alright, it’s good then,” I said. “Now, for the last preparation…”
I opened another portal and a morpher came from it. Then I took off my clothes and had the dungeon absorbed them, took my time to admire my own body, before had the morpher used its hands to shower me with cold water.
(Uwaaahhh, so refreshing… How long has it been since last time I took a bath?)
Afterwards, I materialized a new set of clothes plus a cloak and a staff that would fit my appearance as a mage. Since I would meet a businesswoman, first impression was important. I put on the clothes and rechecked everything
(Hmm. I would prefer my own staff, but a detour to [Rahziel] for a mere staff is too much. Besides, I already have a gun. Where did I put it… Oh, there it is. Let see, what else am I still missing? Right, the antidote! There. Alright, I’m ready.)
“Let’s go guys.”
The white spider climbed back to my shoulder before I jumped to the gigantic white tiger’s back. Once my position settled, I opened up a portal to outside with
It wasn’t connected to the dungeon entrance though, as that place was too crowded with adventurers and merchants. They had built a camp, no, calling it a small settlement would be more appropriate. I wouldn’t be surprised if it grew into a village or even a small town one day. With most of the ones at the entrance being E and D-rank adventurers, they posed no real threat even if I showed up there. Still, I prefer to avoid unnecessary commotion.
Anyway, the portal was to the opposite side of the entrance. I had claimed the 100 meters radius area around my dungeon at the other day, after I had added to the second underground level, or the third level including the original level. Although it was convenience to be able to use
That was the same with additional surface level. Initial 3,000 mana points and 4,000 mana points for a mere basic cave of a surface level was way too expensive. With the same amount of mana, I could get a solid structure, a ruin or two basic caves of underground level. Now I understood why tower dungeons were not popular and almost unheard of.
Thus, we left the dungeon. We managed to avoid the adventurers’ attention by coming out from behind and choosing the mountain path. The tiger was running at full speed, charging against the wind towards our destination, the town [Firzoa]. I checked the map within the link every several minutes to make sure we went to the right direction.
http%3a%2f%2fimg.photobucket.com%2falbums%2f1003%2fZ...narea2.jpg [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Zzzzz/dungeonarea2.jpg]
After several hours of travel, we came out of the forest and the town’s wall entered our sight. It was already past noon by then. The town, being the biggest in the northern part of [[Alishine Kingdom]], which was part of [[Holy Malvice Empire]], was a really busy one. Even from afar, the gate looked full with people coming in and out, either merchants, adventurers, travelers, or simply farmers with their respective business.
“I’ll be walking from here, tig. You wait in the forest, go hunt or whatever you like but stay away from the humans, we don’t want unneeded attention. I’ll contact you later,” I ordered. “And spidey, it’s time to test your new stealth ability. Find a way to sneak over the town’s wall undetected and meet me inside.”
The king tiger growled low before turning back into the forest. In the meantime, the terrortula’s appearance had started to blend with the surroundings view. If not because I already knew it was there and if we weren’t connected through our link, I would probably miss it when the almost transparent thirty centimeters of body diameter spider began to crawl towards the town.
I moved myself to the main road and followed the path to the gate. It should be faster if I jogged or ran, but since I chose to walk, it took me a half hour to reach there. Since the soldiers stationed at the gate would only stop suspicious looking people and I, in any way, looked like a normal mage adventurer, I was able to pass without incident.
Not long after, I spotted still-in-stealth-mode spidey on a rooftop nearby. It opted to follow me from above, lowering the chance of people noticing its existence, which I praised as a wise decision.
Asking for direction several times and making many turns, I finally found the Red’s Heaven in the fifth ward, a commercial district for nobles and rich customers. It was a red and white building that gave a luxurious impression and stood out completely amongst other buildings in the first-class commercial district.
“Excuse me, sir. I would like to meet the owner, Madam Ehrisya,” I asked the black-suited guard standing next to the front door.
He observed me from top to toe. “Are you an adventurer?” he finally asked, obviously not impressed by my humble appearance.
“No, I’m not,” I replied in honesty.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
I scratched my head.
(If answering no will make him chase me away, I need to answer indirectly.)
“I heard my father caused a trouble for the owner before. I’m here to compensate the damage,” I said while shaking the purse of gold coins that attached to my belt.
“Your father?” he asked with sceptical eyes. It seemed my action had only worsening his already bad opinion on me.
“Yes. My name is Arz Mahzason. Could you deliver my request to meet the owner, kind sir?”
“Ah, Mahzason?” his attitude suddenly changed. “Please wait here, I will let her know immediately,” he said and left, but not before making a gesture to his friend to replace him.
Thus, I waited. After for more than an hour, I was still waiting.
(This is strange. Is she not present?)
When he finally returned with another employee accompanying, I greeted him with a smile. “I thought you’ve forgotten about me, sir,” I said half-jokingly.
However, the guard didn’t return my smile. Quite the opposite, as his face was stern. “Please come with me, Mahzason,” he said in cold tone.
He led the way and I followed, while the guy who had come with him earlier was following behind me. The three of us, four with spidey that had slipped in when we entered and followed on ceiling above, passed the bar room and climbed up a staircase, before stopping in front of a fabulous door.
*Knock!* *Knock!*
“I have brought the man,” the guard knocked.
Another employee opened the door from inside and let us in. Again, the spidey was able to slip in before the guy closed the door behind us and, I assumed as I heard a clicking sound, locked it.
Three men - two who had come with me and another who had opened the door, were standing by in front of the door as if blocking my escape. Meanwhile, in front of me, a beauty in a glamorous black dress and jewelries was staring at me from behind a desk. Two men were standing behind her and another beside the desk.
(Six tough looking guys, aren’t they? It won’t turn into a fight, I hope.)
I took a glance at my surrounding, before the man who was standing beside the desk called for my attention and broke the atmosphere.
“*Ahem*. Greetings, guest. Welcome to our Red’s Heaven. In front of you is none other than the owner, Madam Ehrisya herself. As she is very busy, please state your business quickly,” he said.
I made a courtesy bow before replying. “Nice to meet you, milady. I, Arz Mahzason, am looking for my missing father. The adventurers I hired said he was last seen here before leaving the town. Thus, I come here for two purpose: to repay you the damage he did and to find a clue to where he is heading.”
“So you are the one who sent the annoying adventurers… However, although you claimed Master Mahza as your father, he is a grown up man who can take care of himself. What are you planning by chasing him?” the employee from before replied.
I smiled. “To be honest, I won’t bothering myself in a normal situation. However, father probably doesn’t know that he has been poisoned, a very nasty one in that called
The man looked surprise but quickly regained his composure. “Twenty-nine days, so today is the eleventh day since Master Mahza was poisoned? In the same day he was here? Are you accusing us now?”
“No. In fact, it happened in the same day but before he came to [Firzoa]. And I had already dealt with the culprits.”
“... Do you have a proof to support your claim?”
I thought for a moment and answered. “... No, I don’t,” I said.
The man consulted Madam Ehrisya in a whisper before returned to his position. “In that case, we are very sorry to not able to help you. Danz, Jugo, please escort our guest out,” he said, giving order to two men behind me.
*Click*
The door opened behind me and the two who had guided me before were now on my sides. “Please this way,” the man on my right said.
“Hmm. I mayn’t able to proof anything about the poison, but I probably able to proof who I am,” I said and used
All of them immediately lost their balance. Although, except the two who were beside me, everyone could grab on something to hold their fall.
“Stop! What do you think you are doing!?” Ehrisya yelled and stood up, losing the silent-cool image she had been building all the time.
“Just trying to show you my little knowledge in
Ehrisya glared at me while the others, had returned to normal state after I had stopped the mind attack, were unsheathing their weapons.
“So, shall we restart our conversation? What did father say about me?”
“... Mahza said his son is dead, and I have no reason to doubt him and believe you, imposter!” Ehrisya replied in high tone.
“Ah, I figure that’s the case. That conclusion was a bit too rush, you know. No, wait, that was probably the right decision considering the situation by then. Hmm. Where should I start?
“Right, father was under a false assumption that I would revive when he was stabbing my heart. But that’s not how the
“After father mistook a dungeon for a cave and left me there, I took over the dungeon consciousness and then regained a body. If you have heard of Fantastica guild making a pact with a dungeon this week, that was me,” I explained.
“Is there any news mentioning it, Rem?” Ehrisya confirmed with the man beside her desk.
“I think I heard something like that, madam, but I’m not sure. However, how could someone like Master Mahza mistook a dungeon for a cave? It doesn’t make any sense,” Rem replied.
“Hmm, not sure. Probably because he was tired?”
“Not really. Mahza is always a silly blockhead when it comes to dungeons and women's hearts,” Ehrisya said as she sat down. “Please take a seat,” she offered the chair in front of her. It seemed her calm had returned.
“Thank you,” I said and sat down.
Ehrisya leaned forward and looked directly into my eyes for a moment. “Indeed, you resemble Mahza in his younger days... you even have his eyes,” she said. Her sight then moved upward. “And Mirana’s hair,” she added, before she rested to the chair’s back. “Alright, I will believe in you, dear. My apologies for our unpleasant treatment earlier. What would you want to drink?” she asked in a soft tone.
It couldn’t be helped that my lips curled into a smile at hearing that.
(Good, it looks like I have successfully break the ice. Way to go, me.)
“Anything, I’ll leave it to your choice,” I replied.
She smiled cutely with my answer. “Alcohol?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Rem, please bring us two red-tails, with ice. The others, you can leave us. Thank you for your hard work,” she ordered.
“As you wish, madam,” Rem replied, while the five others made a courtesy bow before leaving the room.
“Arz, isn’t it? As you already know, Mahza came a week ago and we have a chat. Although, I am not sure I can help you as I don’t know where he go either,” she said.
“Do you recall what he said? Anything.”
Ehrisya looked she was thinking hard when the man called Rem put two glasses with ices and sliced fruits in front of us. He then poured a red liquid from a bottle before resigned back to the side.
“Thank you, Rem. Please have a taste, Arz, this is one of our best drinks,” she said.
I took my glass and had a sip. It truly was a taste completely new for me, in a positive mean. My head became lighter just with that one sip.
“It’s delicious,” I praised. “Hmm, what? You want some too, spidey? Here,” I let the tugging spider on my shoulder tasted it too. Not long after, its white body turned pink and its grip became loose and unsteady. “Hey, are you drunk already? Then it’s enough. No, I said, it’s enough,” I forcefully separating the glass from its mouth. Through our link I could feel it was pouting, but I ignored it.
I let out a sigh and returned my attention the businesswoman in front of me. “Sorry about that. So, do you recall anything, auntie?”
“Yes. Yes, I remember now. When I asked if there is anything he can do, he made an example with a broken cup beyond repair, saying it won’t be able to hold a content. I spontaneously blurted if he can replace it with a new cup, which somehow rekindled his spirit. He then muttered something... about a person that should be capable to make one, then left in hurry. That is all I can remember, sorry I can’t be much of help to you.”
“A person that can make a new body!? That’s it!”
“Do you know someone like that?”
“No, but it’s a good lead. There shouldn’t be that many persons with such capability, after all. Thank you very much, auntie.”
“Oh dear, I am glad that helps.”
“Yes, that really helps. Now, about the trouble father had caused you, how much was the damage? I will repay you.”
“Silly boy, that is not necessary.”
“No, I’m insist.”
She sighed. “Listen. Your parents and I have always been close like a family. Never mention about it anymore. Consider it my treat, okay?” she said firmly.
I scratched my head again, for god knew how many times already today. “Alright then…,” I replied.
She smiled to my words. “Moreover, you can think of me... as…,” she paused and bit her lips before continued. “As your own mother,” she said while blushing. “I mean, Mirana left us so early. And I thought… Ah… What am I even saying, silly me,” she tried to explain but ended up losing her words in fluster.
(This woman… could it be?)
“I understand. Please take good care of me then, auntie. However, please forgive me for not able to call you mother until you actually marry father,” I teased.
“Of course,” her face was brimming red, reflecting both joy and shyness. If she was of my age, I might have fallen for her.
“I’m afraid I have to go now. Thank you for everything.”
“So fast. Why don’t you stay for the night?”
“I want to look for more while the sun is still up, but I may take the offer if I make no progress today.”
“Please do.”
“I may also leave the town tonight if I find something.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Don’t make that face, auntie. I promise I will return later, with father,” I said and winked, before I stood up.
She chuckled, then stood up as well and said, “I will be expecting, then.”
I made a bow before turning back and left.
(Where should I be heading now? Adventurer admin? Hmm, no. If my guess is right, the person should be a mage. When it comes to a mage, the magic association is the obvious choice, isn’t it? Alright, let’s go.)
Spoiler :
Dungeon OverviewDungeon TypeCaveLevels3Rooms82Biological Types34Non-biological Types7Drops Types20Dungeon Skills5Titles1Mana Points22,620
Biological TypesPlants (2)#N/AFerns, MossesAnimals (16)#N/AAnts, Bats, Centipedes, Cockroaches, Flies, Frogs, Lizards, Monkeys, Mosquitoes, Moths, Rats, Snails, Snakes, Spiders, Tigers, Wildcats, WolvesMonsters (16)#N/A
Ants
Bats
Flies
Frogs
Golems
Lizards
Mosquitoes
Rats
Snails
Spiders
TigersGolems, Morphers
Gi-Ants
Great Bats
S-Flies
Poison-spitter Frogs, Big-eaters
Fighter Golems
Raptors
Mana-suckers
Fierce Rats
Rock-shelled Snails
Lesser Tyrantulas, Tyrantulas, Terrortulas
King Tigers
Non-biological TypesTraps (6)Arrow Traps, Boulder-drop Traps, Drowner Traps, Gate Traps, Mind-disturber Traps, PitfallsOthers (1)Stone Pedestals
Drops TypesWeapons (1)Wind-attributed BroadswordsEquipments (6)Basic Tunics, Basic Trousers, Basic Male-underwears, Redwood Staffs, Mage Cloaks, Traveler BootsBody Parts (12)Antennas, Claws, Fangs, Furs, Legs, Meats, Scales, Shells, Silk Threads, Skins, Tails, WingsOthers (1)Gold Coins
Dungeon Skills
TitlesPet Dungeon of FantasticaA dungeon that allows itself to be a pet of the Adventurer Guild Fantastica.