[Dungeon Overview:]
Core Level: 1
Core Energy: 100/100 (Replenished from absorbed monster essence.)
Defensive Rating: 20 (Moderate. Improved with minion deployment and traps.)
Mana Reserves: 200/200 (Fully restored through Soul Drain and ambient absorption.)
Current Minions: 5/15 (Gloomfang Spiders x3, Shadow Imps x2)
Territory Size: 1 Floor (100m radius)
---
Cale stared at the glowing interface floating in the air, his brow furrowing as he reviewed the stats.
"Hmm... not much progress," he muttered as his have swept through the numbers.
Sure, his personal stats had seen some improvement, it was hard to complain about that, but the dungeon stats? Stagnant, aside from a small bump to the defensive rating.
And that was nowhere going to be enough.
Cale sighed, leaning back against the throne. He’d focused on building himself up, which made sense. Strength was survival, after all. But this wasn’t just about him anymore. His strength as a Dungeon Master was tied to this place, this living, breathing dungeon that now served as both his weapon and his shield.
And he had bigger goals than just surviving.
He had to get back.
Back to the world where betrayal had cast him out. Back to the world where his so-called comrades would never see him coming.
And beyond that? Maybe, just maybe...
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut: Home.
The real one.
His chest tightened as memories came rushing back.
A world without magic. Without monsters. Without dungeons or Demon Kings. Just peace. The hum of machines, the chatter of people. A world where innovation and comfort reigned instead of chaos.
He swallowed hard. How long had it been since he’d been dragged from that life? Since he’d been tossed from one brutal world to another, forced to fight battles he never asked for?
A bitter laugh escaped him. "Yeah. And now I’m running a dungeon."
His fingers clenched into fists. If this place could truly bridge worlds, like the Core said, then this wasn’t just about revenge anymore. This was his ticket home.
His gaze flicked back to the stats, landing on a notification he hadn’t noticed before.
[New Reward: +50 Dungeon Points Earned.]
“Dungeon points,” the Core’s voice purred beside him, silky and sharp, “are your most valuable resource. Consider them currency for improving the dungeon. But they are rare, Master. Spend them wisely.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Cale glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. She was lounging against the wall like she had all the time in the world, her glowing tattoos casting faint patterns on the stone.
“Got it,” he muttered. “Rare. Valuable. Don’t blow it all at once.”
Her smile widened, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “Precisely.”
He stared at the numbers again, his mind churning. It reminded him of those mobile games he used to play back home, the ones where you’d waste all your early-game resources like an idiot, only to realize later how badly you’d screwed up.
Yeah, he wasn’t making that mistake here.
After a moment of deliberation, he allocated 30 points to Mana Reserves.
It was an easy decision. He’d learned the hard way during the fight at Black Hollow Village just how quickly the dungeon’s mana could drain.
Every minion he summoned wasn’t just a free soldier, they consumed mana constantly, siphoning it straight from the reserves.
That was why he hadn’t summoned more during the horde attack. Sure, he had space for ten more minions in his current cap, but draining the reserves too much would cripple the dungeon.
Efficiency mattered more than raw numbers.
“Thirty points,” he muttered to himself, nodding as the mana reserves updated. “That should give us some breathing room.”
Satisfied for now, he moved on to the next task.
Minions.
If he was going to prepare for whatever danger lurked in those ruins, he needed to make sure his forces were ready.
The summoning ritual unfolded instantly. On the cold stone floor of the throne room, glowing circles flared to life, their intricate runes crackling with energy.
Moments later, four Gloomfang Spiders materialized, their massive, armored forms towering over the space. Their sharp, serrated legs clicked against the floor, and a faint, poisonous mist leaked from their mandibles.
The pressure in the room spiked as their ominous presence filled the air.
Cale crossed his arms, studying the creatures with a satisfied smirk. These were his killing machines, the perfect tools for the mission ahead.
The Stonefang Ruins were said to be riddled with dangers that had driven seasoned adventurers to paranoia. If the rumors were true, he’d need every edge he could get.
Still, he wasn’t reckless. He trusted his own skills, but a bit of overwhelming force never hurt.
The summoning circle glowed once more, and this time, a single Shadow Imp emerged from the haze. Its wiry frame and glowing eyes contrasted starkly with the bulk of the Gloomfang Spiders.
Cale’s decision to summon it wasn’t purely practical, he considered it a small token of gratitude.
The Shadow Imps had proved their worth during the Black Hollow horde attack, not just through brute force but with their cunning and ruthless efficiency. Their versatility was unmatched, capable of performing utility tasks in the dungeon, and most importantly could also be used to torture invaders with brutal creativity.
Besides, what they lacked in raw combat power could be compensated with Commanding Presence, his cheat-like ability. Of course, the real challenge was ensuring the damn thing activated when he needed it most.
Cale did a quick mental tally. His minion cap now sat at 10/15. That was enough for this mission, he didn’t want to overextend.
Satisfied with his preparations, he exited the dungeon.
---
The forest air hit him like a refreshing wave. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling the ground in gold. He emerged into the open clearing surrounded by the jagged stone spires as his dungeon’s entrance dissipated behind him.
Adventurers were still there, milling about in small groups, their conversations hushed and serious. The tension in the air still rained as palpable as ever, most of them were clearly deliberating whether to brave the gates ahead.
Cale barely spared them a glance. Adjusting his gear, he strode toward one of the massive gates at the far edge of the clearing.
It loomed with an ancient and intimidating presence, its surface inscribed with runes that pulsed faintly.
He wasn’t the first to enter alone, but he was one of the few.
Crossing the threshold, his vision twisted. The world warped and spun, a sensation that felt both familiar and disorienting, like entering or exiting his dungeon.
“A warp gate?” Cale muttered, bracing himself as the dizziness subsided.
“Yes, you guessed correctly, Master,” the Core’s voice purred in his mind, yet, her tone carried a faint mocking edge.
“That was a rhetorical question, you know,” he replied dryly, rolling his eyes.
Her smug tone set his teeth on edge, but he let it slide. He’d experienced warp gates before in that other world, they were artificial constructs and their complexity made them rare. Their creation required an absurd amount of resources and knowledge.
“Oh, really? I thought I might let you know, in case your vast intellect failed you,” she added, her sarcasm seemed to cut deeper this time.
“Why are you being a pain right now?” Cale asked, narrowing his eyes.
The Core didn’t reply immediately, but he could almost sense her smirking. Her behavior was… odd. He’d been trying to understand her better, but she gave off conflicting vibes, half loyal companion, half mischievous tormentor.
He bit back a sharp retort, reminding himself that now wasn’t the time for petty arguments.
---
When his vision finally stabilized, the scene before him left him momentarily stunned.
The landscape stretched endlessly, looking ancient and desolate.
Crumbling buildings and half-toppled structures dotted the area, their stone walls eroded by time. Vines and moss crept over broken pillars, and a thick silence blanketed everything.
It felt like a city—a once-thriving civilization long abandoned. As if everyone had vanished one day, leaving behind only traces of their existence.
A chill ran down his spine. The place felt... wrong.
“Why do I feel like I’ve stepped into a completely different part of this world?” he muttered, frowning.
“You’re perceptive, Master,” the Core’s voice replied, her tone more serious now. “This place... while connected to this region, does not have a fixed location.”
Cale’s brow furrowed. “What are you implying?”
The Core’s presence grew heavier, her voice low and deliberate. “The people of this world might not understand it, but shouldn’
t you be able to tell, Master? The one who ruled this place wasn’t an ordinary being. He may have been like you.”
Cale stiffened. “A Dungeon Master?”