Valens sighed heavily as he continued to expand the twenty-third floor. He was getting close to done but the grind was starting to get to him. Dune, another dune, cactus, more sand, over and over and over again. Granted he did have the occasional oasis and the river running through the center of the floor but he was still bored out of his mind. It didn’t help that there hadn’t been any good adventurers either. Just the same few idiots over and over again, at least it wasn’t all tier one adventurers.

His chimera was getting steadily more proficient at killing stuff and was a terror to anything in its tier. The humans had taken to combining groups to take her down. Sure they got less of a reward, but they all survived at the very least. He still hadn’t come up with a good name for his boss, he was being a little lazy about it. He couldn’t help it though the core was terrible at names. He had tried brainstorming names with Magnus but the drake’s ideas were even worse than his own. Who would name their boss Killer, Ripper, or Sanguine? He wondered if the drake was just messing with him, he’d named the core Valens after all and he was perfectly happy with that name.

Seriously though, Ripper? They were naming a chimera boss that would eventually be as intelligent as any person, not a vicious dog. Would dogs make good dungeon monsters? Valens lost his train of thought as he thought about the canine companions to humans. He hadn’t actually seen a dog yet, but apparently, they were a rather popular human pet. Based on the impressions he had of the creatures he concluded they’d just be a less effective version of his wolves. Disappointing yet not that surprising if a species lets itself be domesticated by humans.

Anyway still no name for the chimera and it was starting to bother Valens, he’d be sure to name the boss properly, soon. Grumpily he turned back and began expanding the twenty-third floor again. Sand, sand, surprise more sand, cactus, more sand, the core could feel his sanity slowly leaking away as he continued.

Valens, Valens come on snap out of it.

The core snapped out of his creation fugue as he looked over at the drake curled up smugly in his room. What is it, Magnus? I’ve got stuff to do, this floor isn’t going to build itself.

Man, you must be really out of it if you even have to ask that. The drake gave a Cheshire grin and looked expectantly towards the core.

Getting slightly annoyed Valens snapped back. I have enough to be doing without you messing with me Magnus, now what is it?

Well, you’re in a bad mood, maybe you should check on Aspen, might cheer you up.

The drake seemed unbothered by the core’s outburst and Valens suspiciously looked over at his fairy boss. Only to find his boss was no longer a fairy, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed before but Aspen had evolved. What in the world? How did I not notice that?

The drake shrugged lazily. No idea, to be honest, I’m not sure when she evolved either. I was just looking over the floor and couldn’t find her anywhere. I thought she was just being lazy so I checked the boss room and low and behold she was being lazy, but she also evolved so I figured it was fine.

The core nodded mutely to himself. Evolving was certainly a good reason to have some time off, it wasn’t like she could get any more levels right now anyway. Still, though last time I checked she had like fifteen more levels to go. Wait you know what, actually that seems like it could be enough time, still can’t believe I didn’t notice though.

Well not like it matters too much right now, it wasn’t like Aspen evolving was dangerous to you or anything. Also just to check but what did she evolve into?

Let’s see, she is now a level zero fae. Aspen had grown a little bit but not that much, she had gone from a few inches tall humanoid to now a few feet tall. It looked like she’d be about the height of a human knee from what he could tell.

Oh good, I didn’t think there were any different evolutionary paths for fairies but I wanted to be sure. The drake fell silent as they both watched Aspen fly around her boss's room playfully chasing falling leaves and the occasional bug.

How is she flying so well, Magnus? Birds I understand, they’re aerodynamic and all that but it doesn’t seem like Aspen should be able to pull it off. And yes I know magic, but it's not any kind of magic she’s using consciously.

I don’t know Valens, things with wings can usually just fly. It doesn’t always make sense from a physical standpoint but it can. My previous evolution was a wyvern and I could fly then. Sure my wings were big, but not actually big enough to fly something as heavy as I was.

Valens made a mental note about the dragon evolutionary line. Now he only had one tier he wasn’t sure about, take that stupid information withholding lizard. Humm interesting, do you miss flying very much? The core asked totally not in a distracting manner.

The drake slumped a little and laid his head flat on the floor. Yes, I miss it quite a bit. There’s nothing like it, Valens soaring through the heavens without a care in the world.

Magnus sighed again in discontent and the core felt a little bad for upsetting his friend. Well, you’ll be able to fly again once you evolve right? You’ve got all the time in the world now, you’ll be flying before you know it.

Thank you Valens. I appreciate it. The drake picked himself back up and stretched. Also, I think I figured out what new affinity Aspen got from evolving.

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Really, what is it?

Well before she had water and air right? Valens nodded that was correct. Well, I think she has an earth affinity now. She was making a few pebbles float around earlier and I’m pretty sure she wasn’t using wind to move them.

Interesting, she’s getting quite a few affinities. Do you think she could learn to use any compound affinities yet? That would really boost her combat power. The core liked the sound of the fae boss throwing around lightning or something equally threatening.

I doubt it, it takes her a bit before she can even use her normal affinities in battle. I don’t think she’s smart enough to figure out compound affinities even if she’s taught.

Well, that’s a little disappointing, I might still try though.

Be my guest, just don’t expect much. Who knows though maybe Aspen’s smarter than I think. They watch as the fae boss slipped on a branch and banged her head against a tree. Or maybe not. Again I wouldn’t expect much until she’s tier five and becomes a true sentient.

You’re probably right. Aspen wasn’t exactly stupid but she was inquisitive with a short attention span. That was probably not a conducive mindset to learning stuff. He sighed deeply if only all of his bosses could be as focused as Sora.

Well, that’s about all I wanted to show you, anything else you want to talk about. Magnus yawned hugely as he spoke, showing off his impressive collection of fangs.

I suppose. It was kind of embarrassing though he wasn’t sure how to talk to the drake about it.

Come on what is it, I’m not going to bite your head off Valens.

I’m just a little bored. Building floors takes so long, and I know I need to keep doing it but it's just getting boring. The words flooded out of the core once he started talking.

Huh, well I could see why especially since building desert floors wouldn’t be the most fun. Valens chuckled darkly as he thought about how much sand he had made. But you also need to keep building so we can both grow. The core nodded, he understood that very well.

I know there’s nothing really to be done about it, I could take a break but there’s no real point. I think I’ll change biomes at least a little when I start on floor twenty-six.

Well, there’s something else you could try as well, architecture.

Architecture, what do you mean?

You know buildings and stuff, or just add stuff in general that you might have fun making. You could make it look like a lost ancient ruin overrun by monsters, or even build villages things like villages for the goblins.

Villages for goblins seem a little far-fetched there Magnus.

You’d be surprised by a few of the goblin evolutions then, and no I’m not going to tell you what they are.

I got most of the drake evolutionary tree out of you. I'll figure it out eventually.

A likely story. The drake intoned ominously before they both started chuckling.

Alright then mister dramatic, I’m going to keep expanding. I’ll try and make a few ruins or something to spic things up though, thanks for the idea.

No problem. Magnus settled down to go back to sleep as the core’s attention turned away. Valens took one last look at his latest tier three monster before returning to the third floor. So much sand, well nothing to be done about it, for now at least.

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“Our gamble to take over the new dungeon failed.” Over a dozen figures sat in the inky darkness, their barely visible shifting shapes the only hint the room was occupied.

“Maybe, but it was a long shot anyway the Bancrofts have been in decline for centuries.” Fred Bancroft held himself studiously still even as he flinched internally at the criticism. Normally he would not have allowed such insults to pass uncontested but the last few days had shown him quite clearly that his hosts were not to be trifled with. Best to let the petty jabs slide, it was better for everyone that way.

“What is our next move though if we don’t do something the entire northern expansion might be lost to us. The Storms are growing too powerful, and they are on guard against infiltration.” A refined and feminine voice came drifting out of the darkness not a few feet away from the head of the Bancroft family. Again he had to stop himself from reacting, squirting into the black void of the underground room trying to discern who was right next to him.

The darkness shifted as indistinct shapes moved in the shadows, a muffled scream rang out and was swiftly silenced. “Maybe so, but this isn’t all bad. We can take advantage of this just like every other opportunity that has come our way.” A new voice deep and baritone rumbled throughout the room.

“You’re being purposefully vague now. No one likes dramatic fools now tell us what you have in mind or shut up while we figure it out.” This voice was shrill and harsh scratching at Fred’s ears like tiny needles.

“I will not be questioned by one such as you, an accounting is due.” The baritone voice replied, Fred, shivered unnerved. The voice wasn’t angry or even upset, it had a flat quality like someone bored with the world. There was a flurry of motion, and shifting clothes, a scraping sound like metal against stone, a hollow crunch, and then silence. The nobleman shivered as he realized what was missing, there had been no cries of pain at all.

“You’re getting slow in your old age, maybe you should take a good long nap. I would be quite happy to help you with that.” There was a sickening snap and a wet squelch. Fred didn’t even try to hide his flinch this time as he began to shiver.

“Enough let him go, you’ve made your point and I think we’d all like to hear what his plan is.” The first voice rang out with an undercurrent of command ringing through it. There was a dissatisfied sniff and then nothing.

“Thank you for that underhanded barbarity old friend.” It was the deep voice again, sounding annoyed.

“It was you who started it, old fool, I just finished it.” The shrill voice replied. “Now tell us what you’ve been scheming or do I have to beat it out of you?”

“Fine, here’s what we should do.