If there was one good thing that they came out of the whole one person invasion on their Dungeon, it was the unlocks. Oh god, the unlocks. There were just so many of those that it must have taken them hours to sift through.
To begin with, they’ve unlocked a lot of decorations and items. All of them were categorized as belonging to [North Vestirian Tribes]. The decorations included a lot of primitive looking furniture and a lot of random clutter.
Everything from a bed made from a sturdy frame, rough looking pillow and a net of tightly woven leather straps between the frame, to a meat drying rack. No, they had no idea how a meat drying rack would be useful to them, but it was still there.
In between there were chairs, tables, campfires, torches and torch stands, doors and so on. All of that made from wood and leather primarily.
In short, they could now make their cave look as if some primitive tribesmen lived there. They had everything needed to achieve that. Why would they do that? They had no idea… as of yet, that is.
That was for the [Decorations]. Onwards to Items.
From the Items panel they could create a wide-array of weaponry once again marked as belonging to [North Vestirian Tribes]. This included knives, daggers, one-handed axes, spears, shields, swords and clubs. There were also ranged weapons, namely a single type of a shortbow and some javelins.
It was a bit similar with her outfit. It was in the system, marked down as [Tribal Outfit] of the [North Vestirian Tribes] category. It could be to some slight degree customized - which made sense as not all outfits in a tribe were going to be identical.
Similarly, they could also recreate her whole outfit with a single decision or go into details and create only a single piece of it. That was a running theme for most of their designs. It was the same with Decorations - they could create a whole bed or, say, only a pillow.
The [Entities] tab was expanded by exactly one entry, the [Karadian Beastkin, Cat-Morph], in the [Sapient Species] category. It allowed them to create a cat beastkin of both genders and varied age and size, however it also specified that creating a soul-bearing species required a soul to be put inside them.
They had no idea how to obtain or create souls, meaning that in the near future, they were forced to rely on the ones they already possessed.
[Skills and Abilities] expanded by far as well. It turned out that the system allowed them to assimilate most of the notable skills that their victim had in life. The category was divided between several parts.
First one was [Skills], which seemed to involve all sorts of passive skills that one could possess. There were a lot of those in the system. They were further divided between [Combat Skills], [Crafting Skills], [Magical Skills] and [Other Skills].
And yes, those subcategories had their own subcategories. Hot damn, just how detailed was that part of the system?!
The dead catwoman offered them the following skills in following subcategories.
In [Combat Skills/Weapon Proficiencies] they had a single entry, titled the [Dagger Proficiency II]. Which seemed to involve relatively basic knowledge and experience with using, well, daggers and knives.
In [Combat Skills/Martial Arts] they had the [Tiger Claw School I]. According to the general vibe the name was giving them, it seemed to involve the general concept of adding magic to melee combat in a way that made natural go into supernatural.
In [Crafting Skills/Raw Resources] they had [Butchering III]. That much was self-explanatory, just the ability to butcher animals for pelts, meat and bones.
In [Crafting Skills/Processing] they had [Basic Leatherworking II], [Basic Bone Carving II] and [Basic Cooking II], which seemed to be directly connected to the [Butchering III] above and allowed to take advantage of everything that was produced out of butchering an animal.
In [Magical Skills] they had only one subcategory [Mana Circulation], and in it [Mana Pathways I], which seemed to be a necessity for allowing someone to use martial arts. Or at least the one martial art they’ve learned thus far.
In [Other Skills] they had three open subcategories.
In [Other Skills/Communication] they had [North Vestirian Language, Spoken VI] which implied that the catwoman was fairly skilled in speaking her language (and that X was likely the highest level for a skill to have), but couldn’t actually write or read it.
In [Other Skills/Survival] they had [Tracking II], [Hunting II] and [Temperate Forest Survival II]. This made sense for someone who seemed to be living close to nature, yeah.
In [Other Skills/Crime and Trickery] they had [Sneaking III], [Pickpocketing III], [Trapping II]. Was that woman a criminal? That would explain a lot in how she immediately decided to kill them and profit off their corpse.
The [Abilities] tab seemed to cover everything that had to be consciously activated and/or was toggleable. To go down the list of subcategories and skills, it went as follows:
[Martial Arts Technique/Offensive] included a whole one thing, titled [Sharpen Claws I]. It apparently allowed the user to - for a very brief duration - empower one’s limb and amplify their effective strength and speed for increased damage and armor penetration.
Likely what that woman used to both stab their slime and shards more effectively and throw knives with such deadly efficiency.
[Martial Arts Technique/Footwork] included [Cat Leap I], which seemed to be a more general body strengthening technique for faster movement. Unlike Sharpen Claws, it seemed to work less intensively but was more of a toggleable skill that could be used for a prolonged period of time.
Both techniques required [Tiger Claw School I] to be usable.
Then they’ve checked the Entities creation menu and… yes. They could pick the species, pick the soul, then pick the character class and level, a number of skills and abilities they had and then spawn it by using their Residual Mana.
The number and strength of skills you gave a character translated into the Ambient Mana Level that was required to let them live somewhere. In short, while they could exist and fight in the areas with lower AML, that would end up exhausting them eventually, forcing them to retreat to a higher AML area to recuperate.
Also, Character Classes apparently weren’t a restrictive system. There didn’t seem to be ‘character levels’ or ‘character classes’ existing mechanically in this universe. so perhaps it wasn’t a full litRPG aside from how Dungeons seemed to operate.
What character classes were to them was best described as a template containing [Skills], [Abilities] and appropriate equipment for more efficient spawning of characters and perhaps some synergy among their characters. Levels in the meantime seemed to be subtemplates of that particular character class - the higher you went, the more Residual Mana and the higher Ambient Mana Level they required.
The list of classes available to them was extremely limited. It was literally just a [Barbarian Rogue]. And they didn’t have enough of a choice of skills and abilities to have a lot of subtemplates, leaving them with literally just a [Barbarian Rogue level 11].
Now, check this out
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
HAHAHAHAHA!
So, when you pick a species and a soul, you get to see how the end-result will look, and it seems that the soul influences the default character look
That was the gravity girl from your class, with catgirl species on but without any equipment
And check this out!
I can alter it further!
This is the gravity girl but much… larger on the upside
You asshole.
You dare?!
You actually dare?!
What are you going to do in response to it, huh?
Oh, check this out.
Catboy Dabi, completely naked.
FUCK
FUUUUCK
MY EYES
MY NON-EXISTENT FUCKING EYES
WHERE’S THE CLOSE BUTTON
WHERE IS IT
OH MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS
You know exactly why I did it.
Okay
Okay, I closed it down
I will never do it again but just please don’t do this again in return
Your terms are acceptable.
It actually took Tomura a while to recover from what he was made to witness. In all honesty, it also took Izuku a while to recover from what he was made to witness. And yet, he is certain that the memory will stick with him.
For better or for worse.
Alright
so we probably need a miniboss, especially as we have no idea how to add a second level to the dungeon
And how do we get that done?
We need to do as follows:
1. Expand the dungeon some more
2. Build a node room
3. Place a miniboss in said node room after deciding what person we want to be there
What if another person shows up before we get that done?
Then we die
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Good news is that woman was definitely prepped for a longer journey, and only stopped in our cave because it started to rain, so the chances of someone living close by are relatively small
So, timeskips?
Timeskips
Ugh.
***
It took them several timeskips that took who knows how much time has passed, but eventually, they did manage to achieve points 1 and 2 from Tomura’s list. The tunnel heading from the entrance cave to the dungeon core had been greatly expanded in length.
They’ve left the second hidden narrow crevice for potential future attacks on the enemy’s back, right when and where they didn’t expect it.
They’ve also managed to set up a basic Node Room right in front of the dungeon room, which has improved their ability to generate and store Residual Mana. It also improved the AML level of the Node Room from one to one point two which was narrowly more than the one point two needed for a Level 11 Barbarian Rogue to exist in.
The Node itself resembled a glowing crystal. They’ve put a small room next to it, with a bed, a wardrobe, a table and a chair, all of their only available tribal style. After all, they planned to make someone live there, right?
Naturally, there was also a torchstand or two, to illuminate the entire room into a more or less visibility.
Due to being close enough to the main Node Room and there being no door to the small living space, it counted as a part of said Room and had the same Ambient Mana Level. Which wouldn’t work if the room was large enough, but in such a small setting, it was fine.
image [https://i.imgur.com/Tm5eD9S.png]
1. Entrance, 2. Narrow Passage, 3. Secret Passage, 4. Servant Quarter/Node Room, 5. Dungeon Core.
Alright, so now we gotta decide who to put there
And I already have a candidate
I know that you haven’t expected that
but
It’s Himiko Toga, am I right?
… literally how
You want someone ready to kill intruders and we can only create a character that’s essentially a sneaky type with a knife.
How many knife-wielding killers with sufficient level of skills do we both know?
Okay
Good deduction
Although I’m not entirely sure if you’re not doing this because you want to see Himiko Toga with cat ears and a tail.
And probably peep on her while she’s changing, like the villainous creep you are.
First of all, rude
Second of all, I won’t peep on anyone
Will you instead peep on everyone?
No
I have standards
You literally just showed me Uraraka-san, naked, with breasts larger than her head.
And you responded by showing me a naked Dabi, meaning that you also had to see naked Dabi
And
OH GOD IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME
STOP
If I ever catch you peeping on anyone, invader or not, you’re going to finish every timeskip with a HD picture of naked Dabi with cat ears and tail on displayed right in front of you.
Consider this a warning.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
ALRIGHT
ALRIGHT!
YOU’VE WON!
NO PEEPING
Not if there would be any even without that threat, obviously.
Obviously.
So, we’re perfectly recreating that catwoman, just with Himiko Toga’s soul inside and her face on, and place her as our first miniboss, right?
Yes.
I also immediately have to state that the next character we’re going to bring is going to be my choice.
Sure, sure
Bring your girlfriend in, whatever, Toga is going to love having you both around
Gi-gi-girlfriend?!
Fucking normies everywhere.
***
“H-huh?” Is Himiko Toga’s initial reaction to, you know, existing. “Where am I? What happened? What are those clothes?! And…” She looks down on her own chest before adding one more sentence. “Wait a moment, why do I feel as if they’ve grown when I wasn’t looking?”
Are you being serious right now?
An absolutely minimal change because I wanted to see if it’s actually possible to apply any changes to character bodies whatsoever
we can reset it next time, because eventually someone is going to kill her and then we’ll get to respawn her, right?
If I were to choose someone to be trapped within one body with for the rest of forever, you’re my third last choice.
Wait, so there’s definitely All for One there, but who else? Overhaul?
Nedzu, he scares me a little.
Overhaul is somewhere around your level, though.
That hurt me more than I expected it to.
That was my intention.
Wow, that was mean. Anyway.
Toga, do you hear me?
“Huh?!” Toga takes a step back and looks around, her eyes stopping for a second on the glowing crystal at the other side of the room. “Shiggy, is that you? Why do I hear your voice in my head? Are you in my head? I didn’t invite you there!”
And here I am, finding myself agreeing with Himiko Toga.
What a trip my second life is.
Oh, shut up there. Let me talk to my minions.
Toga, do you remember those weird isekai power fantasy games and stories that Spinner was all about?
“Uhm, yeah?” Toga replies, still trying to find Tomura around her. “What about them?
Really? That’s what Spinner’s into?
So your villain crew was reduced to:
1. Gamer with hygiene issues.
2. Blood-drinking yandere high schooler.
3. Guy who was clearly overcompensating for something with the size of his initial sword design AND is a terminal otaku.
4. Kleptomaniac circus clown.
5. Pyromaniac who thinks he’s cool because he’s wearing a leather coat, but it actually makes him look like an exhibitionist preparing to expose himself to random people on the street.
6. Twice.
What, no sassy line about Twice?
No? Why would I have any?
what the fuck
NOT THE POINT, back to Toga
So, yeah, we’ve apparently became part of a similar story, except I got reincarnated as a manager of a dungeon and you’re my first miniboss
“Huh, I definitely didn’t expect that to happen when I got off my bed this morning.” Toga scratches the side of her head. “If that’s a dungeon, then where are all the chains, paddles, collars, whips and…”
NOT THAT TYPE OF A DUNGEON, THE ONE WHERE ADVENTURERS GO TO
“Well, duh?” Toga rolls her eyes around. “You obviously have adventurous people visit such dungeons, isn’t that kinda the point?”
The League of Villains seems to be losing its intimidating image more and more with every second I get to know you closer.
Midoriya, shut up, please
“Eh, Izukun is there too?!” That immediately captures Toga’s attention and makes her wave in the crystal’s direction. “Hi there! Uhm, where’s Ochako-chan? Is she there as well? It has to be really tight and warm inside it if she’s there. Is it all tight and warm inside there?”
No.
“Eeeh.” Toga deflates a bit. “Will it get tight and warm if I join you inside that crystal?”
No, look, I’ll quickly explain the situation to you, so listen closely, okay?
We’re now in a different world, a fantasy one
The two of us can alter the cave we’re in and create stuff and creatures here, like that Mimic guy but on steroids, but we’re locked in a crystal
Not the one in your room, the one in the room behind you
If someone destroys it, we’re all dead
If you die, we can resurrect you
Following it thus far?
“Yepyep.” Toga nods. “It feels a bit weird, but I’ve seen enough weird things while being part of the League so I’m fine with that. Go on.”
Okay, so you’re the first person from our world we’ve managed to make exist.
We’ve given you skills, equipment and a species from the woman that tried to kill us and got killed for it
That’s why you have cat ears and a cat tail and quite a lot of fur on your back and sides, and legs and arms, even if your front is mostly furless
“Cat ears?” Toga raises her hands and touches them. “Oh, I really have cat ears! Do I look cute? Do Izukun and Ochako-chan like cat ears?”
Yes.
On cats.
Midoriya is in the crystal as well, and we’ll likely be bringing Uraraka next, so you’ll be able to ask her yourself
Anyway
The room next to you is where you can sleep and rest and store your stuff
If someone enters your room, kill them
Got it?
“Sure!” Toga salutes, still towards the wrong crystal. “Kill everyone that walks in. But, wait, am I just supposed to be here? Alone? All that time? That sounds boooring!”
You can wander around this place, just come back to the room regularly to recharge
We should give her a pet slime.
Just saying.
Are you serious?
“Izukun wants to give me a pet?!” Toga grins. “I’d prefer a pet name, but we can start with a pet! Is it cute? Tell me it’s cute!”
Alright, alright
Here’s the ‘pet slime’ from your dear Izuku
have fun
The moment a newly materialized slime falls to the ground, Toga immediately looks in its direction, clearly surprised by how it looked… until it begins to move around. That immediately draws a reaction.
“It’s so cuuute! ” Toga jumps towards it, grabs it and raises it up in the air, the slime clearly doing its best to stay in one piece and fighting against the gravity. “Can I hug it? Actually, don’t answer that. I’m gonna hug it!”
And she hugs the slime. That’s… okay. At least she was clearly enjoying herself.
Right.
So, it just occurred to me.
She has to come back to the node room to recharge herself, right?
Yes
But can she actually leave the dungeon for as long as she returns regularly to recharge herself?
She’s definitely more of a wandering boss either way, right?
Oh
Ohhh
We can definitely try
If it works, we’ll have someone to investigate the surroundings of the dungeon… and maybe kill something and bring it back for us to assimilate!
Yes.
…you’re considering killing the locals for their skills, aren’t you?
Yes
If I had that idea earlier, I’d insist on bringing a hero first.
Too late for that
At least have her check out her new skills first. Speaking of, I wonder how her new cat eyes are working and
WHAT ON EARTH
What?!
WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE THINGS WE CREATE!
I just saw the dungeon through her eyes and it’s sooo weird.
Shit, really?
Oh, shit, really.
When seen through her feline eyes, the dungeon was somewhat lighter, yes, but also had all of its colors shifted into yellowish ones. Her eyes were now literally those of a cat. So, good perception of yellows and blues, pretty bad of other colors, great ability to spot movement up close, but everything beyond a certain distance was just going to be a blur.
When Izuku focused on it further, he discovered that he can actually hear and smell things she did, just as she was playing with a slime. He had no idea that there were so many noises audible in the dungeon, he was fairly sure that he could hear a slime doing its own slimy things despite it being around the hidden passage, that was far away and the sound was rather faint. Smell was massively better as well.
This is so weird
Why is she not pointing out that it’s weird
Why is she acting like it’s perfectly normal thing for her
Do you REALLY want to know the answer to that question?
…
You know what
you have a point
Let’s just ignore it like she did
And get ready for our potential first look on the world outside