_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 6]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 5]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 07, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 6]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, slain by Verdenkind, Rogue, Level 7]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 07, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Rogue, Level 7]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
***
As time went by, more invasions occurred, just as I had anticipated. The invaders grew stronger with each wave, and it became evident that my initial strategy wouldn't suffice. I had no other choice but to adapt to the ever-increasing challenges.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification
Intrusion Report:
Fourteen entities have invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised.
Suggestion:
Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion.
Intercept and Slay the invaders
Estimated Reward:
557.7 G.P
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 15]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 15]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 13]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 13]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Shadow Specter (Spawning Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 12]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Shadow Specter (Spawning Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 14]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 15]
_____________________________
***
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
As I waited, constantly improving my spawns and fortifying my dungeon, Armand, the elusive knight who had managed to escape me twice, never returned. It was a curious development, and I found myself both relieved and disappointed. Relieved because it spared me the potential challenge of facing a more experienced adversary, and disappointed because I had been preparing for that very confrontation.
However, life—or whatever this existence was—went on in the dungeon domain. The invaders continued to come, and I continued to adapt and grow stronger. While invasions became a common occurrence, my spawn levels increased steadily, and I expanded the size and altered the shape of the dungeon as much as my resources allowed. I even went as far as finally acquiring a spawn designed to be my dungeon guardian. In spite of the heavy cost it came with, it was well worth it, given the stat increase it seemed to be providing to my other spawns.
Apparently, that's how it works. By designing a spawn expected to be the strongest among my spawns as the dungeon's Guardian, it provides the other spawns with a stat increase in the form of enhanced defense and offense, especially onto spawns sharing the characteristics, in this case, being the undead type. Though I came to acknowledge it quite late, I had no choice but to accept it. I had grown fond of undead-type monsters, mostly because of the favorable ratio of offense and defense to G.P cost these kinds of monster tend to have. So, most of my spawns were of that kind, and they were all enhanced by my newly appointed guardian.
***
Each invasion was a test of my preparations, and I faced them with a mix of anticipation and caution, knowing that each battle brought new lessons and challenges.
***
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
Since I assigned one of my spawns as the dungeon’s guardian, my domain has been invaded several dozen times, and I've yet to find a chance to utilize my guardian for anything other than its property of increasing stats.
The requirement for a spawn to be chosen as a guardian is that it must be the strongest, or to be exact, the one with the highest G.P, which roughly translates to being the strongest. I couldn't use it as I did with my other spawns. Unlike normal spawns, guardians could only be assigned two fixed behaviors: "spawning behavior" and "guarding behavior"; they simply couldn't be assigned a patrolling behavior.
So, being someone who believes in efficacy and efficiency, I decided to station the guardian at the deepest corner of my domain. The reason was simple—while I could have placed it at the very entrance, the spot where invaders usually spawn, it didn't seem like a smart idea given how valuable a dungeon boss is. It's better to keep that as a fine line of defense and use my normal spawns as fodder to thin the ranks of invaders. Under that premise, it happened—no invaders ever made it to my guardian. Sure, it's a good thing, but I wanted to try something different with my dungeon Guardian. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity. It's a shame, truly a shame.
***
“Aaaaaaannnnnnd, that’s another job well done.”
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
At this point, I found myself asking questions, primarily the 'why' behind the continuous invasions by those Verdenkinds. While I'm pleased to see my G.P increase, I'm starting to question the intelligence of these invaders. They keep sending wave after wave, and they keep meeting their demise. Granted, each wave becomes stronger with more powerful invaders in their ranks, but I'm fairly certain I've offed at least several hundred of them by now.
Could it be that the people in this world are not as intelligent as those in my former world? Despite their archaic attire, fighting with swords, shields, and clubs, it doesn't excuse their repeated mistakes. Even our ancestors, in their glory, were smarter than this.
There's no way any sane mind would persist in something knowing their actions would ultimately lead them to their demise, like did the individuals before them. Right? Right?! I feel like I just shot myself in the foot with these questions. Let's set them aside for now and focus on harvesting those poor souls and their equipment.
***
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
???
[Rename]
Harvest [0.037 GP]
Store
???
[Rename]
Harvest [0.022 GP]
Store
???
[Rename]
Harvest [0.12 GP]
Store
Brown Sister
[Rename]
Harvest [0.32 GP]
Store
SkullBreaker
Harvest [0.13 GP]
Store
???
[Rename]
Harvest [0.42 GP]
Store
『Expand』
Harvest All Now [64 GP]
Harvest Later [64 GP]
Exit
_____________________________
Having repulsed numerous invasions, I found myself amassing a collection of various equipment left behind by the invaders. These items, much like the bodies of the fallen, could be harvested and converted into G.P, which was quite convenient. The loot mostly consisted of swords, daggers, and shields—items of little use to me or any. It appeared that the weapons in this world developed some sort of enhancement, particularly an undead-slaying enhancement. Although I couldn't accurately gauge the effectiveness of this enhancement, these weapons consistently held a high G.P value, making it satisfying to salvage them from the invaders' corpses.
Initially, I harvested all of them in exchange for G.P, but perhaps in hope of finding better use to them, I started conserving at least one weapon from each harvest, resulting in a substantial accumulation. While I could store them in my spawns or even my guardian, there were simply no added benefits—no enhancements, no improvements. Consequently, the weapons piled up, awaiting a purpose beyond their immediate G.P value.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Now that I think of it, I should really harvest most of these they’re really piling up.”
I took a peek at the seemingly endless list. “Nah, it’s nice to behold the way it is. Let’s leave this like this for now.”
To pass time between invasions, I usually engage in various activities. I am either meticulously skimming through the seemingly endless lists of acquirable spawns or planning to increase the dungeon spawn levels to anticipate the strength of the next wave of invaders. I was well aware that they would return—they always did. I also dedicated some of my free time to designing my dungeon to be a formidable challenge for any invaders that'd be daring enough to enter my domain, making strategic adjustments for enhanced defensibility.
As I was about to dive back to that routine I quite easily adjusted myself to, a notification abruptly interrupted my routine, signaling the onset of another invasion.
"Already?" I couldn't help but exclaim. It seemed too soon, considering I had just repulsed an invasion and the three spawns I lost had yet to respawn.
However, my bewilderment deepened as I gazed at the interface before me. The information it presented left me utterly perplexed—this time, there was only a single invader, the fewest I had encountered since the initial duo. Additionally, the reward offered for defeating this lone invader was something that left me simply perplexed.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification
Intrusion Report:
One entity has invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised.
Suggestion:
Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion.
Intercept and Slay the invaders
Estimated Reward:
- 529 G.P
- Authority: Otherworldly Synergy
_____________________________
“Huh?”
Aside from the abrupt nature of the invasion notification and the surprising presence of a lone invader, what immediately caught my attention were the rewards. Until now, all the rewards presented by the interface were in the form of a GP value, calculated based on what could be harvested should all the invaders be defeated and their items harvested. However, this time, things were different. The reward included an additional element, labeled as "authority."
________________________
Name: Christian
Level: 23
Race: Verdenkind
Class: Mage
Title: Monster Slaughterer / Elemental Arcanist / Runic Caster
Experience: 10378 / 121684
[Status]
- H.P: 420 / 420
- M.P: 1225 / 1400
- S.P: 300 / 300
- Fatigue: 12%
- Defense: 340
- Offense: 920
[Skills]
- Anti-Appraisal: Level 10
- Appraisal: Level 10
- Earth Magic: Level 7
- Elemental Arcane: Lvl 10
- Elemental Infusion: Level 9
- Elemental Protection: Level 10
- Elemental Resistance: Level 7
- Fire Magic: Level 8
- Ice Magic: Level 7
- Identification: Level 10
- Lightning Magic: Level 7
- Light Magic: Level 9
- Shadow Magic: Level 8
[Abilities]
- Elemental Enhancement: Unlocked
- Elemental Infusion: Unlocked
- Enhanced Cognitive: Unlocked
- Runic Casting: Unlocked
[Authorities]
- Otherworldly Synergy
『Expand』
_____________________________
"This is..." I muttered, my gaze fixed on the screen. No matter how I analyzed it, there was something disproportionately alluring about that 529 G.P reward. Sure, there were instances when I dealt with a group of invaders offering rewards close to that amount, but they were numerous, ranging from level 12 to level 15. Here, it was a lone invader, and the offered G.P seemed extravagant. Something felt off.
Then there was this new addition: the "authority" section in his stats. None of the previous invaders had possessed such a section. They had attributes, skills, and abilities, but nothing like this "authority." Unlike the others, it seemed acquirable, and despite not knowing what it was and what it does, an instinct within me urged me to obtain it. I couldn't precisely articulate why, similar to my penchant for hoarding GP, but I desired it. I had within me an innate drive pushing me to acquire “it”, and recalling my encounter with Mighty K.R.U.L, our conversation and the task he gave me, I promptly acted upon that instinct.
As with the invaders before him, I observed the lone intruder advancing further into my dungeon domain. Initially, I had stationed two spawns with guarding behavior near the entrance—two level 14 Spectral Reavers. Unfortunately, they had fallen to the previous invaders and were yet to respawn, granting the current intruder an unhindered passage deeper into my domain. However, I wasn't about to let this continue for long.
Four blue dots swiftly closed in on the lone red dot representing the invader. "Get him, boys," I muttered, eager to repel the invader and claim whatever bounty awaited me, especially that mysterious "authority" that beckoned to me from the interface.
Eager anticipation filled me as I awaited the clash between my spawns and the lone invader. However, what happened next was so anticlimactic that it felt like having a bucket of cold water suddenly pour over me.
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
"Eh?"
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced)), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced)), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced)), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
"Seriously?" I muttered, disbelief coloring my tone. On the screen, the four blue dots representing my patrolling spawns vanished almost simultaneously. It was as if some devastating attack had obliterated the poor souls in one swift stroke.
I watched with a mix of frustration and admiration as the lone invader effortlessly made his way even deeper into my domain. A smile formed on my face, and then laughter escaped me. "Hahaha, I guess that 529 G.P reward was justified. They clearly know what they're doing.But let's see how you handle my Death Paladins."
Recognizing the increasing threat posed by the invaders, especially as their levels entered the two digits, I knew that relying solely on leveling up my Spectral Reavers wasn't going to cut it anymore. While in the lower levels, a Spectral Reaver could outshine a Verdenkind, as they both progressed, Verdenkinds were catching up and, in fact, outperforming my sweet Spectral Reavers, especially those with titles such as "undead slayer."
So, I decided to acquire something new. But not wanting to deviate from my usual strategy, I decided to acquire another undead and spectral-type spawn called Shadow Specter. These creatures, similar to Spectral Reavers but with the added ability to manipulate shadow elements and higher combat proficiency, promised to be a valuable addition. However, I soon began to feel that even with Shadow Specters, it might not be enough.
Thus, I expanded my arsenal by acquiring another type of spawn, Death Paladins. These undead creatures boasted high combat proficiency, a trait that the system seemed to identify through their offense and defense stats. With the right investment and leveling up, I believed they could stand toe-to-toe with Verdenkinds and provide a more formidable line of defense.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
"Get him, boys!" I cheered as I watched my patrolling spawns, mainly my Death Paladins, closing in on the lone invader, locking onto him as their primary target. However, the sight before me suggested that my cheers had no effect.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 67%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 23%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 00%
Status: Defeated
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
“Eh. Maaan, this isn’t fair."
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
I watched as my level 15 Death Paladins underwent the same fate as my level 15 Spectral Reaver, though this time their defeat wasn't as instantaneous as it had been with them.
The red dot representing the invaders continued to penetrate deeper into the domain, encountering even more Death Paladins along the way, engaging them and ultimately overpowering them. Currently, my Death Paladins' levels ranged from 15 to 18. I had planned to level them up after my latest invasion, which was primarily composed of level 16 invaders. However, with the sudden invasion by this particular adversary, I didn't get the opportunity to do so. I was about to level them up, but circumstances didn't allow for it.
I watched calmly but helplessly as the invaders broke through my line of defense, slaughtering my poor level 16 and 17 Death Paladins here and there.
I couldn't help but metaphorically sigh. "What a merciless asshole. At least this time, you don't seem to have it so easy anymore, do you?"
While it didn't seem like he was having it easy anymore, it was an undeniable fact that he was tearing a path through nonetheless."
"At the rate it's going, he's going to make it to them," I thought to myself. "Well, good luck, hahaha."
By "them," I meant my final line of defense before the Dungeon Guardian. The last line of defense consisted of level 18 Death Paladins, and the invader walking down a winding aisle was heading straight for them. He seemed intent on engaging with them, but I wasn't going to allow that to happen.
While it was true that I mainly dedicated most of my G.P spending to acquiring spawns and leveling them up, I also allocated a small but nonetheless considerable minority of my G.P to designing my domain. The concept of "designing one's domain" might sound silly, especially considering my lack of sight. However, I understood that the special section dedicated to it existed for a reason, and I was about to make use of it. Designing the dungeon involved mainly two things: expanding the domain in terms of area or surface and modifying the existing boundaries.
By default, I was given a U-shaped domain, and U-shaped it was no more, for I decided to evolve its structure. I elongated the U, creating a more extended shape that served as the foundation for my next move. Ingeniously, I added what appeared to be external bubbles to my domain—bubbles within which were tiny blue dots. While they seemed like separate compartments from the outside, they were, in fact, internal chambers within the extended U. Why would I waste my precious G.P doing that? For a simple reason: because I was a genius. "Just kidding." The brilliance behind this design was straightforward. If I had to categorize my spawns, I had two kinds: spectral types, to which my Shadow Specters and Spectral Reavers belonged, and the others, to which my Death Paladins belonged.
Since I couldn't see how the battle was unfolding and gauge their performance on the field, with my information limited to literal dots on the interface, it was challenging to pinpoint exactly how my spawns were utilizing their skills and abilities. However, if there was a skill I was pretty sure wasn't being used to its full potential, or at least I could imagine not being utilized effectively, it was my specters' "intangibility" skill.
Such a skill sounded perfect for a hit-and-run strategy and surprise attacks, being the ideal component for the latter. However, the initial shape of my domain didn't allow for such tactics, as there were no walls or barriers for my spawns to pass through. This realization led to the creation of the seemingly external bubble design. It was a great design for one crucial reason: it allowed my spawns, particularly my Shadow Specters, to utilize their spectral nature to its fullest potential.
The spawning behavior offered some semblance of taking advantage of the element of surprise, but it was more of an “on sight” thing than an actual surprise attack, it simply couldn't compare to the impact of having twenty shadow specters seeping through the walls around you.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
As the invader passed a certain threshold in the corridor in the middle of which the bubbles were located, I had them aggro him. Blue dots escaped their bubbly confines and entered the main domain, cornering the lone invader from both the back and the front.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 19
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 19
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat
_____________________________
"Guys, spare me total humiliation. Make this the last time I say this. Get him, boys."