Valens had been steadily expanding the dungeon, the new ecosystem was working quite well. However, as he had feared it wasn’t doing the best job of actually protecting him. At least Magnus followed through on his protection, the creatures who had made their way through the dungeon usually didn’t even have time to regret their foolish decision. The core was starting to get used to Magnus a little bit as they spent more time around each other, the spirit bond was probably helping that along as well.

Expansion had been going very well for the dungeon and it was here that the ecosystem idea showed its worth. There was a trickle of experience flowing into the core almost constantly. Valens' dungeon had expanded by almost another mile in diameter, and he had even got another new pattern. It was just the rabbit pattern but he had been experimenting with it to see if it would be worth adding to the ecosystem. As it turned out rabbits were a preferred food of foxes, but they also competed with the mice for some of the same food. Valens eventually just allowed the population to die out as they weren’t worth the effort since the snakes couldn’t eat them.

Even with the expanded dungeon I still didn’t need to create that many new creatures. Once again the system Magnus had devised had shown its worth, all Valens had to do in the new areas of the dungeon was to grow more grass, and then its creatures would naturally expand into the new area. He didn’t even have to order them to go there just naturally went into the new area.

That wasn’t to say though that the dungeon didn’t have issues, one of them being invaders. Several wild cats had come through the dungeon since it had opened up again and all of them had torn through his defenses like tissue paper. He just didn’t have a way to orchestrate their deaths without being able to ambush the invaders, and the cats were large enough to shrug off the snake venom for long enough to get through the dungeon. Fortunately, nothing was getting by Magnus anytime soon, the drake might be lazy but he was a veritable font of knowledge and was proving to be a fantastic last line of defense. He was still a little annoyed at not getting the wild cat pattern yet, attacks by the creatures were rather sporadic.

Back to work then I guess. Valens had been getting a lot of practice so he was now pretty good at supercharging his aura growth with extra mana. It also helped that falling asleep wasn’t as dangerous as before with Magnus around, and so the core had eventually gotten very proficient at expanding as quickly as possible. Pumping mana out massive amounts of mana Valens’ aura jumped outwards expanding rapidly in all directions. He continued for several long minutes before gradually halting to wait for more mana.

However, there was a problem. Why is my mana still draining? I stopped expanding. Slightly worried in his state of critically low mana Valens frantically inspected his aura, had he expanded onto the surface without noticing? Black started creeping around his senses and a slightly panicked Valens decided to default to what had worked before in this situation. Taking a firm grip on the edges of his aura and pulled inwards, the edges of his domain folded in on themselves. The amount of mana he was bleeding also started to slow as his aura contracted in on itself, it was not a pleasant experience but it was working. Valens managed to get rid of the drain but he was left with the absolute dregs of his mana capacity and with absolutely no idea what had just happened.

Hey Magnus, quick question for you. Valens was going to have to get over his slight fear of the drake eventually, they were going to be spending upwards of centuries together barring any disasters.

Yes, Valens. Magnus carefully shut his book and tucked it under his claws, fixing the core in the golden light of his reptilian gaze.

I think he’s trying to be nice but being stared down by him is kind of unnerving. I just ran into an issue with expanding and I was wondering if you could help.

Certainly, my friend, that's what I’m here for. So what happened? Magnus patiently said he was trying to put Valens more at ease.

I can’t grow the dungeon anymore. When I started expanding I started leaking water like a sieve. Valens had never even seen a sieve before but the analogy seemed appropriate from the memories he had.

Magnus consulted his trusty tomb making Valens wonder once again what was up with that book. It seemed to have the answer to almost any dungeon-related question and it wasn't even that large of a book, it was a rather skinny book, to be honest. Hmmm, wait no this is not a problem this is good.

How could this be considered good at all? He couldn’t expand anymore even if he got all the experience in the world he wouldn’t be able to put his power to good use if he didn’t have a large enough dungeon.

It means that you are ready to start on your second floor. Magnus’ tail started to twitch in excitement. And this means that you’ll be able to make your first boss too.

That was exciting, Magnus had been going on and on about how important bosses were ever since Valens had known him. It also seemed like the choice of boss would be the most important decision of his life. Choosing a starting template didn’t count, he didn’t pick anything and he still hadn’t been able to use goblins yet. Maybe it could use one as his first boss, or maybe a fox or snake would be best.

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First, you need to move your core room down below the first floor. Magnus gesticulated wildly with his claws just as excited as the core about this. I know you’ll start losing mana quickly so pay attention to this next part. Once you move below the first floor you need to pinch off the aura above you. This will make the upper floor into basically an insulating layer above you holding in your mana and letting you continue to expand.

Alright, here we go. The floor of the core room dropped out as Valens expanded his aura straight down. It was rather easy to expand such a small area and it took him very little time to arrive beneath the first floor. Magnus was lying flat on the ground in a bit of an undignified heap he hadn’t been prepared for the sudden elevation change. Valens winced internally hoping he wasn’t too upset then set about trying to establish the second floor. He was losing mana quickly but he had time and it wasn’t draining him too quickly yet.

Focusing carefully on the shaft that now occupied the former core room Valens took a hold of his aura. Being careful not to shrink it which would probably defeat the purpose he squeezed on the edges of the aura trying to separate it into distinct layers. This is hard but if I wait too long mana deprivation is going to knock me out and who knows what’ll happen then. Taking a risky gamble Valens called upon his mana further draining his dwindling strength, using the mana to augment his focus he seized his aura again. The core used his mana like a blade and cut the connection between the two floors.

The two severed ends of the aura roiled and thrashed but eventually settled the top protecting and containing the lower aura. Valens heaved a sigh of relief as his mana stopped draining, Magnus stopped rubbing his head and looked around. I assume you’ve done it, how’d it go?

Fine, the second floor is established. Will I be able to make this floor larger now?

Magnus looked a little uncomfortable and confessed, No, this floor will be about the same as the first as will the rest of the first ten floors. After you get past that then they will get bigger. He was probably trying to cheer Valens up but it was okay he wasn’t that upset about the floor size.

So are we doing anything different for this floor? Just bring down the same ecosystem? I kind of wanted to try planting some bushes this time. Do you think that would be fine? Valens was excited to begin carving out the new floor and was only half paying attention to what Magnus had to say as he started slowly expanding.

That shouldn’t be a problem but aren’t you forgetting something? Magnus looked slyly up at the faintly glowing core.

What?

Didn’t I tell you? It's time to make your first boss monster.

Valens’ plans for the new floor came to a screeching halt. I forgot about that, how do we get started?

Pleased with the now undivided attention of his pupil Magnus continued in a lecturing tone. Making the boss is relatively straightforward. You just choose a monster that you want to make the boss and create a stronger link with them. That's all there is to it.

Valens wasn’t sure if it was quite as easy as Magnus made it sound but he was too excited to care. So which monster should I pick, how about a fox, or a snake, or how about a goblin? Valens wanted to get some use out of his goblin template; this might be just the opportunity to do so.

None of them, you're going to use the lizard template.

That was very abrupt, and Magnus seemed to be missing several important details. I don’t have the lizard template Magnus and even if I did your memories don’t paint a very flattering picture of their combat abilities.

Yes but it's not about how strong a creature is currently is about what they will evolve into as they become stronger. Magnus was unfazed by the core’s reluctance to go along with the drake’s plan.

Valens decided to humor him at least long enough for him to make his point, Magnus had been right about ecosystems being convenient. Okay then what do lizards evolve into if they are so great and you still haven’t told me where I’m supposed to be getting this pattern from. I haven’t even seen an actual lizard before.

You should be able to get the lizard pattern from me just focus on trying to understand me through the spirit link. Magnus had a ready answer again; it almost made Valens wish that he would be wrong about some things, at least every once in a while. More importantly, with my help, a lizard will eventually evolve into a dragon. Very pleased with himself the drake settled back as if he had already won the argument.

Biased much? Valens appreciated all of Magnus’ advice but he needed actual advice not the drake’s narcissistic fascination with his species. Magnus, I trust you and I don’t want to be rude but would you please put some actual thought into this. It's an important decision and I would like to make the best possible choice for my dungeon. I’m sure this won’t blow up in my face, he needs me and definitely won’t shatter me, right?

Magnus dug his claws into the ground drawing jagged lines in the stone like butter. Just as the poor core was starting to hyperventilate, he relaxed. That seems reasonable enough, and I’m glad you're trying to plan for the best future for yourself without just blindly following what I tell you to do. Magnus paused and gathered his thoughts before continuing. Fine then I’ll give you a breakdown of the future evolutions of all species you are considering, and once I’m done you will agree with me. It was not a question merely a statement of fact, and the core settled in to hear the drake’s pitch, this was going to be a long conversation.