Ordis was utterly speechless. He had braced himself for some grand revelation, maybe even a twist about being in a hidden realm or a parallel fantasy Earth—but no. Just plain old Earth. The same sky, the same trees, the same familiar insects buzzing around. There wasn’t a single floating island, two sun or two month or a dragon in sight.

“Is this the same Earth as I know?” Ordis couldn't help but ask, hoping—just maybe—there was some kind of catch.

[ Affirmative. This is the same Earth you are familiar with. ]

Silence.

Ordis had no words. No counterargument. No way to deny it. He had been thrown into a completely different existence, expecting some grand adventure in an unknown world, but no—he was still on Earth.

“…Huh.” That was all he could say.

Ordis took a deep breath—not that he needed to, but it helped him process things. “Alright, fine. I’m still on Earth. Then where exactly am I?”

[ You are located in the rainforest region of one of the three main islands of Bayanglupa. ]

Bayanglupa? That was his country… or at least, the country he had lived in before becoming a dungeon. His mind raced, trying to recall maps, geography, anything that could pinpoint his location. “A rainforest, huh? That explains the humidity…” He muttered. “

If he was still on Earth, then it was no wonder he had become the first dungeon. After all, dungeons weren’t supposed to exist here in the first place. It wasn’t like he had competitors popping up left and right—he was something entirely new, an anomaly in a world that had never seen anything like him before.

Ordis wasn’t just an anomaly—he was a game-changer. His very existence brought something entirely new to Earth: Mana. A concept that had only ever existed in fantasy stories was now a reality, flowing through him and slowly seeping into the world. If he thought about it, this was no small thing. This was the birth of magic on Earth.

And the strangest part? He was the source. Just like plants absorbed carbon dioxide and released oxygen, he was taking in life—microscopic organisms, insects, and whatever else entered his dungeon—and converting it into Mana. That energy didn’t just stay within him. It spread, subtly changing the world around him.

It was a weird thought. The first dungeon… the first Mana provider… Wasn’t that basically like being some kind of ancient, mythical being? A primordial force of nature?

“Hah, imagine that,” Ordis chuckled to himself. “I was just some guy, and now I’m apparently the world's first magical ecosystem.”

Well, Ordis could simply choose to never use Mana, letting the Earth remain the same as before. But honestly, at that point, what was the purpose of his existence? If he was here, if he had this power, then wasn’t he meant to use it?

After all, Ordis had once been human. He understood that introducing Mana to Earth could bring massive changes to human life—both good and bad. But no matter how much he thought about it, the truth remained the same. He was no longer human. He was a dungeon now.

And as a dungeon, he had to live as one. There had to be a reason he was born this way. Evolution, change—nothing happened without meaning. So rather than dwell on what-ifs, he would embrace what he had become and see where this path would take him.

"Maybe… this could be the new path Earth was meant to take," Ordis mused. "A world where Mana exists, where dungeons are part of the ecosystem… If I’m the first, then maybe this is just the beginning."

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Ordis pondered how to make the best use of the 50 Mana he had. The 5 Mana he had spent to accelerate the growth of small plants was part of a dungeon ability called Environment Manipulation. It seemed like a fundamental skill, one that allowed him to influence the ecosystem within his domain.

"What other Environment Manipulation abilities do I have at this level?" Ordis asked the system.

The system responded promptly.

[ You currently have access to two Environment Manipulation abilities. The first accelerates the growth speed of small plants. The second allows you to use a magical powder that can enhance the size of small animals. ]

"Hm, I wonder why you recommended small plants rather than the latter?" Ordis couldn't help but ask the system.

[ Because increasing plant growth stabilizes the environment and attracts more creatures naturally. Enlarging animals directly may cause unpredictable consequences. ]

[ Enlarging animals could extend their lifespan, making them live longer than usual. However, if they die outside the dungeon, you won’t be able to reap any rewards at this moment. ]

Ordis frowned. “So basically, I’d just be throwing away my investment if they wander off and die somewhere else? Yeah… that doesn’t sound ideal.”

Ordis had to admit, the system was proving to be incredibly useful. It provided him with crucial information, helped him manage his abilities, and even guided him toward efficient decisions. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was a bit too rigid in its explanations. Instead of proactively telling him important details, it only answered when asked directly.

“If you’re going to be this helpful, at least try being a little more talkative,” Ordis grumbled. It would’ve saved him a lot of time and confusion if the system simply explained things upfront instead of waiting for him to figure everything out on his own.

Ordis finally decided to ask the system the most important question. "Hey, System, how do I level up?"

[ The dungeon levels up by accumulating Dungeon Energy. ]

"Oh, right! Dungeon Energy! I totally forgot about that. So, what’s the deal with it?"

[ Dungeon Energy is obtained by converting 100 Mana Reserve into 1 Dungeon Energy. ]

"Hm… Wait, then what's the difference between Mana Reserve and Dungeon Energy?" Ordis asked, trying to wrap his head around it.

[ Mana Reserve is the raw energy generated by the dungeon through conversion. It is used for various abilities, such as Environmental Manipulation, Summoning Minions, and Trap Creation. ]

[ Dungeon Energy, on the other hand, is a higher-tier resource used for Environmental Manipulation that directly alters the dungeon itself. By accumulating enough Dungeon Energy, the dungeon can expand in size, unlock new floors, increase structural complexity, and enhance its overall capabilities, ultimately leading to level-ups. Leveling up allows for greater resource generation, stronger minions, and more advanced features. ]

"Ugh, that sounds way too tempting," Ordis muttered to himself. The idea of expanding his dungeon was incredibly appealing. It was like a game progression system, except he was the dungeon itself.

"But isn’t 100 Mana for just 1 Dungeon Energy a bit too expensive?" Ordis grumbled. "I only generate 12 Mana per day, so it’d take me around ten days just to get a single Dungeon Energy… and that’s if I don’t spend any of it. But that sounds way too boring. I’d rather use my Mana to speed up plant growth—it feels like a better long-term investment."

He sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and determination.

Curious about his options, Ordis pondered for a moment before asking, "Still, what would happen if I used most of my Mana to boost the growth of small plants?" He wasn’t against the idea, but he needed to know if there were any downsides. If he spent too much, would it slow his progress, or would the benefits outweigh the cost?

The system responded with a firm recommendation. [ It is not efficient to use most of your Mana for growth supplementation. The optimal approach is to apply it once per day. There are no additional benefits to excessive use. ]

Ordis sighed. “So, no stacking buffs, huh? Well, that’s a shame. But I guess a steady, daily boost is still better than nothing.”

And so, Ordis’s first day as a dungeon came to an end. He had learned a lot—about Mana, Dungeon Energy, and even his strange role as the first and only dungeon on Earth. It was overwhelming, but at the same time, oddly exciting. He wasn’t just some passive cave; he had the power to shape his surroundings, to influence the world in ways no one had before.

As he settled into his new reality, Ordis couldn’t help but wonder what the future held. Would more creatures stumble into his depths? Would his abilities continue to evolve? One thing was certain—this was just the beginning of his journey as a dungeon, and he had a long road ahead.