_____________________________
Name: Tusko Vagar
Level: 30
Race: HighBreed
Class: Barbarian
Title: Frenzied Berserker / Champion / Kinslayer
Experience: 27000 / 1750000
[Status]
- H.P: 1100 / 1100
- M.P: 250 / 250
- S.P: 800 / 800
- Fatigue: 29%
- Defense: 600
- Offense: 1300
[Skills]
- Berserker Rage: Level 10
- Bloodlust: Level 9
- Cleave: Level 11
- Frenzied Assault: Level 12
- Intimidating Presence: Level 10
- Rampage: Level 10
- Raging Roar: Level 8
- Reckless Swing: Level 12
- Whirlwind Strike: Level 11
- Tactical Awareness: Level 10
[Abilities]
- Cannibalism: Unlocked
- Feral Instincts: Unlocked
- Unbridled Fury: Unlocked
- Indomitable Will: Unlocked
- Raging Bull: Unlocked
- Resilient Endurance: Unlocked
- Bloodthirst: Unlocked
『Expand』
_____________________________
At this point, surprise had become a distant companion.
Following a notification signaling the arrival of a new intruder, I witnessed the red dots representing the previously lone Paladin transform into yet again those of another class—this time, a barbarian.
A barbarian had full health, mana, and stamina, as if he were an entirely new person, but clearly he wasn’t. The only constants were the name that persisted as "Tusko Vagar," a name I can imagine being forever etched in my memory, the accumulating fatigue level from his Swashbuckler time until now, and of course the still missing Authority.
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Guarding Spawn, Enhanced), Level 31, slain by HighBreed, Barbarian, Level 30]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Guarding Spawn, Enhanced), Level 31, slain by HighBreed, Barbarian, Level 30]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Guarding Spawn, Enhanced), Level 32, slain by HighBreed, Barbarian, Level 30]
_____________________________
In the current scenario, with the majority of my spawns decimated first by the swashbuckler and predominantly by the paladin—whose proficiency in slaying my ranks, owing to his title, was evident—the remaining spawns, primarily consisting of high-level Death Paladins, were not without putting up a resistance before succumbing to the now-transformed Barbarian.
As I observed this grim spectacle through my interface, I was reminded of a crucial detail that may have slipped my mind. While a Death Paladin was inherently superior to a verdenkind or Highbreed of the same level in terms of Base Strength, expressed through offense and defense, the addition of variables such as skills, abilities, and titles—which I've discovered vary both individually and in numerous forms—could result in a seemingly one-sided massacre, like this one.
"Poor spawns of mine. I really should ponder this thoroughly when this is over," I couldn't help but sigh. Returning to the pressing issue at hand, it was evident that this invader wasn't going to be halted by my spawns. So the looming question was: What would be his next move?
***
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Guarding Spawn, Enhanced), Level 32, slain by HighBreed, Barbarian, Level 30]
_____________________________
_____________________________
Name: Tusko Vagar
Level: 30
Race: HighBreed
Class: Barbarian
Health: 63%
Status: In Combat
『Expand』
_____________________________
After some time, he was finally done; all my available spawns in the area were defeated, leaving only him—the invader, represented by a red dot on the map. Unlike before, where he charged forward with a hint of fear, he instead remained on the spot momentarily. I envisioned someone standing in the midst of a mountain of corpses, though I wasn't even sure if my spawns left behind corpses. For dramatic effect, I pictured him out of breath, surrounded by several fallen foes, but it was merely my imagination.
After a while, as I began to wonder about his next move, I noticed some movements from him.
_____________________________
Name: Tusko Vagar
Level: 8
Race: HighBreed
Class: Mage
Title:
Experience: 2890 / 7650
[Status]
- H.P: 220 / 220
- M.P: 380 / 380
- S.P: 110 / 110
- Fatigue: 15%
- Defense: 90
- Offense: 120
[Skills]
Fire Magic: Level 2
Lightning Magic: Level 2
- Elemental Infusion: Level 3
- Healing Magic: Level 2
- Mana Shield: Level 2
- Restoration: Level 4
- Mystic Barrier: Level 5
- Identification: Level 5
- Appraisal: Level 3
[Abilities]
- Arcane Insight: Unlocked
- Enhanced Learning: Unlocked
- Arcane Precision: Unlocked
- Acolyte's Grace: Unlocked
『Expand』
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'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:
- 27087 G.P
- Authorities: Authority Gathering
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
/ Ethereal Echo
_____________________________
"Tsk, again?" I couldn’t help but complain at the sight. Just how many alternative classes do you have? At least it was a title-less class at a level my spawns could easily defeat. Unfortunately, I no longer had any spawns available within reach.
I watched with great confusion as the lone invader went about his business, whatever it was. "What is he doing? Huh? Is he...." In that moment, through Otherworldly Synergy, I understood he did something that had a direct result on his H.P, causing it to increase. Since his H.P was full, the increase went nowhere.
But just as I was about to deem whatever he was up to useless or, at the very least, confusing, he did it again. He shifted classes, reverting to the Paladin class, and his health, which my spawns had managed to bring down by 20%, healed from it. "Hell no, hell no, this is cheating! How is this fair?" I watched helplessly as the Paladin's health increased.
After making roughly a 7% health increase, the lone invader switched back to his Mage class, seemingly to renew the spell used for healing. He did this three times, managing to nurse the paladin's health back to 41% when the healing suddenly stopped. I briefly wondered why, and then it hit me: the mage was out of M.P.
"Hahaha, serve you right." I wasn't even sure why, but that realization brought a smile to my face. Well, I did know why. Initially, I was very afraid that using this method, the lone invader would completely heal not only the paladin and the barbarian but the swashbuckler as well. That would be beyond cheating and in the realm of hacking if that were true.
With caution and apprehension regarding the invader's next course of action, I watched as he reverted to the Barbarian class, the class he used to finally move forward, proceeding deeper and deeper into my domain. "Pfffiou." From the look of it, he doesn't have any other healing alternative, or at least I hoped he didn't, because nothing laid deeper into my domain in the direction he was heading to except one thing: My domain guardian.
***
One thing that is to be known about a dungeon guardian is that, unlike any other spawn chosen from, there can only be one. While there can only be one, there are only two behaviors that can be assigned to them: guarding or spawning behavior, with the latter involving mostly immobile behavior. With these choices, a perimeter, a mini-domain, is established inside my domain.
For my dungeon guardian to be able to do anything, that mini-domain must be invaded by the invader, something that my lone invader was, I believed, a few steps away from doing. But for some reason, he didn't. He stood there as if contemplating his next course of action. Watching this through the interface, there isn't much I could do except to pray that he would take that step forward into the dungeon mini-domain, for us to put an end to this all.
A tense while went by of complete stillness. "What are you doing?" I began to seethe, "waiting to recover some of your H.P? If you wait, you'll not be the only one recovering; my spawns will respawn, so do it. Take that step. Do it."
At that moment, as if hearing my taunting words, a move was made. Fortunately, it wasn't one in which he turned his back after his rampage, but rather a bold move that brought him into my domain. "Hahahaha, you're brave, I'll certainly give you that, hahahaha," I laughed frantically as a notification popped up in front of me.
___________________________
Dungeon Core Interface
System Notification:
[ Guardian Room Invasion Detected ]
Level: 30
Invader Race: HighBreed
Class: Barbarian
Warning: Boss room integrity compromised. Dungeon core defenses activated.
Defensive Countermeasures:
- Spawn Dungeon Guardian
Yes
No
___________________________
“Hahaha, yes!”
----------------------------------------
As a man of order, I, in my past life and even now firmly believe that life's better when it follows the plan. Chaos just messes things up—and there’s nothing that I hate more than a messy canvas. As a dungeon master, I had a simple way of doing things in this domain. While initially reluctant to make use of my first GP, the 90 GP I was born—or spawned—with, I changed my mind. I began to see G.P as it truly is: an asset, a form of currency, albeit a very vague one. Currency that I could invest in what I, as a dungeon master and dungeon core, am clearly most expected to do—harvest as much G.P as I can.
I don't know how much of it is expected by Mighty K.R.U.L, but I will harvest as long and as much as I can if that's what's expected of me. But for now the optimal way to use G.P to acquire spawns with it—spawn that I'll scatter around in my domain, a domain that I occasionally increase the size of. I level up my spawns' levels so they can keep up with the level of my invaders. That's how I figured G.P has to be used. But that being said, it's not because I came to that conclusion that I decided to dedicate 100% of my available GP to acquiring spawns and leveling them.
No, perhaps it's a bad habit from the old world, but I have this feeling that G.P, being money, it's always best to have some of it within reach. This is why I came up with the 76-24% ratio. Why that ratio exactly? I wouldn't have logical reasoning to explain it, so let's say I just liked these numbers. Seventy-six percent of my available GP would be dedicated to my dungeon upkeep, whether spawns-wise or domain-wise. The remaining 24% would remain available for me to use, like money hidden in a safe beneath my old mansion's basement.
While this ratio might be questionable for the entity that will literally be my final line of defense, I was very much fine with it. Besides, I'd grown fond of that ratio, and this is the Guardian I got with it.
____________________________
[ Regent of Putrescence ]
Level: 39
Type: Undead Ruler
Class: Necrotic Overlord (Regent of Putrescence)
Title: Plaguebearer Supreme / Dungeon Guardian
[Status]
- H.P: 2800 / 2800
- M.P: 2500 / 2500
- S.P: 1200 / 1200
- Defense: 1770
- Offense: 2720
[Skills]
- Corruption Infusion: Level 15
- Evasion of Shadows: Level 8
- Summon Pestilence: Level 7
- Toxic Immunity: Level 11
- Elemental Immunity: Level 5
- Elemental Magic: Level 7
- Grasp of the Abyss: Level 10
- Undead Summoning Magic: Level 11
[Abilities]
- Necrotic Wave: Unlocked
- Pestilent Aura: Unlocked
- Decay Touch: Unlocked
- Cloak of Shadows: Unlocked
- Toxic Barrage: Unlocked
- Putrid Ground: Unlocked
- Summon Plague Minions: Unlocked
- Necrotic Dominion: Unlocked
- Plaguebearer's Blessing: Unlocked
____________________________
One of the conditions for the acquisition of a dungeon guardian is that the dungeon has to have a higher G.P than any of the available spawn. So, here it was—my strongest spawn and my greatest investment to this day. The existence alone of a dungeon guardian grants enhancements to all the entities of the domain, but under the lone condition that the spawn is of the same category as the dungeon guardian. Naturally, my dungeon guardian was yet another undead entity.
___________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
[ Guardian Room Invasion Detected ]
Level: 30
Invader Race: HighBreed
Class: Barbarian
Warning: Acquired GP’s integrity compromised. Dungeon core defenses activated.
Objectives:
- Ensure the survival of the dungeon core to prevent permanent damage.
- Ensure the safety of acquired G.P
- Gather enough G.P to reach [Vessel of Godhood]
Defensive Countermeasures:
- Spawned Guardian
- Enhance Guardian abilities
- Strengthen environmental hazards
____________________________
It was a sad thing that most of my forces were defeated by the lone multi-classed invader. Forced to resort to my last line of defense, my domain guardian. At the same time, it would be a lie for me to say that I didn't feel a certain satisfaction. The lone invader was the first person to have made it this far into my domain since I acquired my dungeon guardian. In fact, no one had ever done so from the very beginning. So, yes, I was eager to finally get the opportunity to try it.
____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Enhance Guardian abilities
[YES] [NO]
____________________________
“Yes.” It’d come to do this. All my spawns were gone, defeated, it was now up to my Dungeon Guardian to defeat this invader, or else—I actually don’t know much of what will happen to me if the invader were to defeat my dungeon guardian but I had the feeling that it’ll impact that one skill called Champion of his, and most importantly it might me the loss of the G.P I’ve so hard-earneadly worked for, so no, I was not pulling any punches.
____________________________
[ Regent of Putrescence ]
[Status]
- H.P: 2800 / 2800
- M.P: 2500 / 2500
- S.P: 1200 / 1200
- Defense: 2470 (+700)
- Offense: 3820 (+1100)
____________________________
____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Strengthen environmental hazards
[ ???'s Interface ]
Option: Strengthen Environmental Hazards
Description: Unleash the latent power of the dungeon's surroundings to bolster your Dungeon Guardian's defenses. By allocating a significant portion of available G.P, you enhance the environmental hazards within the dungeon, creating a formidable battleground for any invader foolhardy enough to trespass.
Effect: In exchange for a gauge of all available G.P, your Dungeon Guardian gains a substantial boost in H.P, M.P, and S.P. The enhanced resilience makes the Guardian a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Subtle Constraint: In exchange for all available G.P as a token of guarantee, environmental hazards intensify, a subtle shift occurs in the fabric of the dungeon. The invader, while not explicitly confined, will sense an unspoken connection to the impending battle. Attempts to depart will encounter an invisible resistance—an unseen force compelling them to remain and confront the escalating challenges. The very essence of the dungeon will subtly bind them to the unfolding conflict, crafting an environment where escape becomes a mysterious and elusive endeavor.
『Collapse』
[YES]
112883 G.P
[NO]
____________________________
In spite of the feeling of wonder I felt reading the advantage of Strengthening Environmental Hazards, the sight of the colossal amount the interface was suggesting I put in made me instinctively recoil. All the G.P involved in this enhancement was literally all the GP I'd managed to gather since those initial 90 GP I spawned up with, and seeing it being concentrated in one place made me feel like I was making a bet. In spite of having been many things in my past life, one thing I've never been is a gambler.
It was then in that moment, as "Enhance Guardian abilities" began to take effect, I experienced something that didn't fail to bring a smile to my face—tridimensionality. The interface before me that had thus far shown things in the form of either words or dots, now displayed a 3D visual of things. Fundamentally, it wasn't really my first interaction with tridimensionality; after all, there were things I could see in 3D generally—the remains of the invaders my spawns had fended off, the spawns that I could get a visual of before acquiring, the tools these invaders leave. Actually, there was plenty of it now that I think of it.
However, so far, each confrontation, which I knew happened in 3D like anything in the real world, was shown through a cold interface in the form of a dot, either red or blue. But today was different. Like a chessboard before a chess player, the domain—or at least the mini-domain that belonged to the Dungeon Guardian—manifested itself through the interface, granting me something that I could finally rightfully call a sight.
In the dim-lit cavern, a monstrous yet clearly humanoid figure loomed. Most would describe it as casting shadows that seemed to devour what little light dared to approach. Draped in tattered robes, the Regent wore a crown of thorns that seemed to writhe in perpetual decay, with long, bony fingers tipped with razor-sharp claws hanging at its sides—ready to deliver a touch that promised nothing but decay. It was a conventionally fearsome-looking entity, but I couldn't see anything but something to witness with pride. "Beautiful, these 20591.76GP were really not wasted on acquiring and leveling you up."
Standing across from my dungeon guardian, on the other side of the chessboard-looking arena, a lone figure stood—a short silhouette that, compared to my dungeon, resembled a toddler standing beside a grown-up adult. Because of Otherworldly Synergy, just like anything in the vicinity, countless glyphs and symbols oozed out of him, barely allowing me to make out his face. Yet, I could discern what appeared to be a youthful face, barely above twenty.
_____________________________
Name: Tusko Vagar
Level: 31
Race: HighBreed
Class: Barbarian
Health: 63%
Status: In Combat
『Expand』
_____________________________
He stood tall and fair-haired, adorned in a worn tunic that left his upper body exposed. In his grip, he brandished a substantial axe—more aptly described as a battle axe—and a scabbard adorned his back. In essence, he embodied the quintessential image of what one might conjure when envisioning a medieval fantasy brute.
“So you’re Tusko Vagar, huh?”
Perhaps it was because I'd gotten too used to seeing nothing but interfaced cadavers, but to be honest, there was something unsettling about seeing a face so alive with expressions. Calmly, as I came to associate the expression of his face with a known emotion, I no longer hesitated.
____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Strengthen environmental hazards
『Expand』
[YES]
112883 G.P
[NO]
____________________________
“Yes!”
____________________________
[ Regent of Putrescence ]
Level: 39
Type: Monster
Class: Necrotic Overlord (Regent of Putrescence)
Title: Plaguebearer Supreme / Dungeon Guardian
[Status]
- H.P: 4000 / 4000 (1200)
- M.P: 3700 / 3700 (+1200)
- S.P: 1920 / 1920 (+720)
- Defense: 2470 (+700)
- Offense: 3820 (+1100)
____________________________
____________________________
[ Regent of Putrescence ]
Countdown to Combat Initiation: 15 seconds / Initiate now
____________________________
“Initiate now.”