The dungeon feels smarter, but not like it learned anything new. How smart is the dungeon now? Is there any way to test?

> Intelligence is at 31

Is that a lot?

> No

> The average human intelligence is around 50, with an infant having 25. You are equivalent to a child.

Words better stick to making dungeon smarter, since dungeon is still in charge of monsters.

> I am trying my best to accommodate-

Wait, floating words need to be quiet now. Dungeon hears something new… it’s… words? The dungeon hears mana. It must find the source.

It’s one of those challengers that just entered the dungeon. Taller than most with red armor, but also dungeon understands their words, but how?

“I don’t care how dead the tree is. Do we really want to poke around this place after seeing what happened to Findol?”

The others were talking. A group of five, most of them mumbled and conversed in languages the dungeon didn’t know, but that didn’t matter. This one was speaking with mana. Its very words held power and flavor the dungeon craved to get close to. It needed more of this… but how… After a lot of thought; the dungeon came up with a solution.

Violence.

Birds were easy to mobilize and could be there in under a minute. Dungeon’s size was good and made it strong, but also made it take time for monsters to get where they needed to be. As the flock took to the sky, dungeon realized they were down a few. Most haven’t respawned since their attempts to interact with the tree. A tree with a glowing nest in it. Well, birds had been successful, also dungeon has found Shimmer.

Challengers are quick to notice the birds overhead. One of the smaller people somehow takes to the sky on ugly wings that creak with each flap. Dungeon didn’t know some people could fly, but it seems to do little as birds tear holes into the fragile wings. They fall like all birds should, but throw a curved stick that swings through the air. Several birds die, but that’s fine.

To the dungeon’s disappointment, the bird person doesn’t go splat against the ground. It was rude for their friend to catch them, because dungeon wanted them to die. Now it just has to attack again with the rest of- where did the birds go?

They all just fell over dead? There is an odd smell in the air, like pollen from plants. Did the flying challenger run forward so others could make use plant air to kill the birds? What type of magic just kills stuff?

> Answer: The avian’s sickly nature makes them weak to airborne toxins. Please gather a sample so I can conduct further research.

Slimes can clean up birds later. Dungeon has no time to dwell, for they have noticed the tree. They must cower in fear of the strongest monster in the dungeon! Its ability to kill is unrivaled- why are they approaching it? Do they know that’s a bad idea?

They slowly encircle the glowing tree that has grown to be significantly bigger than they are. Do they think numbers can win? They must be stupid, but dungeon would be happy if they all die, so this is fine.

The tree takes notice and swings its branches at them. It’s size means it has a very long reach. The challengers can never get close to the tree! To…. Echo? How long has it had a name? Wait, now is not the time to get distracted. There is a fight to focus on.

One of the pointy-eared people throws several vials at Echo’s stump, shattering to leave a weird liquid that… burns the tree? Without fire? These people are weird. Someone in big metal armor throws a bunch of rocks at the barkless section of tree to hurt it. The armored one must be the strongest of the group. Dungeon is learning.

Echo’s movements have slowed, and its leaves wilt. Each swing of the branches aren’t as strong. Did something happen from the rocks? Did the not-fire do this much damage? No time to think, the challengers have grouped up. It looks like they are going to throw the half sized person with broken wings?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Thrown into the air on stuttering wings, dungeon isn’t sure if they are flying or falling. Tree tries to swat them out of the air like it does with birds, but is too slow. Echo only grazes their leg as it pushes them off balance, but quick wind magic from someone on the ground corrects their course. They weave through branches that want them dead, and use quick hands to steal a bundle of grass as they make a quick escape with their reward: Shimmer.

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Shimmer made new friends after they helped her get unstuck. A halfling on weird wings, who had a grin on his face when he saw her. Once they landed, he was quick to run away from Echo. After they got some distance, the entire group sat down to relax.

So now Shimmer got to relax in a nice warm bath, that slowly came to a boil. It didn’t matter since all slimes have really good temperature resistances, besides; they were feeding Shimmer the best of new foods. Of everything she tried, the dried leaves were her favorite.

> Understanding Increased: Herbs - plants with a beneficial use

> Understanding Increased: Tea - herbs boiled in “Shimmer”

She wasn’t a tea slime yet, but since it had to do with plants, she liked the idea. This knowledge of future possibilities was too distracting. She had to enjoy the now!

Surrounded by new people, she was happy they all chatted away, but Shimmer only understood one of them. As the day went on, though, she realized it wasn’t just one. She had learned their language!

“I knew it would work, but I’m still a little amazed at how well you can keep those bugs away.”

“Yup, natural pesticide thrown in to the tea to saturate the air, though I didn’t expect it to be this potent. Anyway, that’s not the only one fun thing to throw into this mana soup. Should we?” He held up a bag of stuff Shimmer didn’t recognize, but the others did as some leaned in close while others backed away. They must have done this before and knew how far away they wanted to be.

And then the alchemist person threw a funny mix of herbs into Shimmer. She chewed and chewed on it, trying to figure out what it was. Tasted new, it was dried; it made her feel warm… like really warm. The dull glow she emitted brightened as the herbs evaporated into the cheerful faces of the new friends.

> Understanding increased: recreational poison - a series of herbs that people enjoy because of the negative afflictions it applies.

Shimmer didn’t know the word ‘alcohol’ before now, but she was sure happy she knew it now. It made people buzz and glow, and happy, and she had no idea why she was so happy. She felt alive, and at peace, and couldn’t help but giggle with all the laughing people around her.

> Answer: because you have become a distillery for these people, who, might I add, have become far too relaxed inside of the dungeon.

Shimmer was pretty sure System was just sad he didn’t get to experience the same stuff. Could she help him?

> System is a non-binary binary entity that is without gender. I am not a ‘he,’ for it would serve no practical purpose, or enhance my function in any way.

Well, Shimmer was a slime without gender at first, but happily became a ‘she.’ A ‘she’ that is happy to be in the tub, or would have fallen over by now. It was getting hard to think straight or stand up. But the more Shimmer thinks, the more she realizes System is avoiding the question? Are they hiding something?

> Minor title acquired: apprentice alchemist - showed by a master of the craft what is safe to eat.

> That is all I’m obligated to do. I’m now leaving this conversation for unrelated reasons.

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> Understanding Increased: Language

The dungeon has learned how people from the outside communicate. It will use this knowledge to spy and learn their secrets as they sit around the fire in the dungeon safe zone.

“This place is more than just weird.” Their speech had small bouts of laughter, but had mostly calmed down. “Its full of magic, but no theme. It’s nothing like the valley of mirrors, or the forest of golems, it’s just… mountains with creatures that look sick, ya know, man?”

They were all lying in a circle, with some very much asleep. It was at the outer ring that some of them were lucid enough to ponder. How were these people challengers? They didn’t feel very challenging.

“Heard from my cousin about this place and everything, got here before the guild posted his maps. Shouldn’t that make us rich? “

“There are plenty of things, like the grass, tree sap, and bird feathers. They just aren’t the payday you want.”

“Did you see the eggs those birds were sitting on? They looked wrong… like someone tried to recreate them without knowing what they look like. Is that proof of a god, or just a stupid one?”

What’s wrong with the dungeon’s eggs? Are the birds not strong enough to produce good offspring?

> Do you even have to ask?

No. Normal non-monsterious birds migrate through dungeon all the time, but they are weak. Upgraded monster birds are strong and better. They just don’t live long enough to lay healthy eggs. Is it possible to infuse mana into them and create egg monster?

> Food Node Created - Infertile eggs.

“Wait, guys, did you feel that?” The challengers were still talking. Can’t they see dungeon is busy? They should just sit there longer and keep being weird while they make mana.

“Talk about a prayer, since this might just be that payday. Anyone got a shovel? I feel something under us radiating magic.” The others weren’t happy to wake up, but begrudgingly did so.

Challengers do have the shovels they talked about. See, dungeon can learn things without System. Dungeon is smart. Wait, why are they digging? Nothing is below them except for…

The Dungeon’s Core…