The air in the chamber was cold, sending a shiver down Kai’s spine. He had no idea how he got here or why, but Nex’s words were weighing on him. Dungeon master? Gods? This had to be some kind of twisted dream. But the hard stone beneath his feet and the unsettling echo of Nex's voice told him otherwise.

“You expect me to believe I’m in a dungeon?” Kai asked, incredulous. His voice echoed off the stone walls.

“Yes. And it’s yours to command,” Nex said, gesturing toward a stone pedestal that stood in the center of the room. “This is the control core. From here, you can build, manage, and defend your dungeon. Fail, and your soul will be forfeit.”

Kai’s stomach churned. Forfeit? That didn’t sound good at all. “So, what’s the point of all this? Just survive?”

Nex floated closer, its form flickering. “Your role is to expand and defend your dungeon. There are enemies out there—many who will seek to destroy you and claim your core for themselves. You must gather resources, build your defenses, and grow stronger if you wish to survive.”

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Kai swallowed hard. The words sounded eerily similar to the tutorials in RPGs he used to play. But this was different. This was real.

“Fine. So how do I start?” Kai asked, resigning himself to the situation.

A series of panels materialized in the air before him, each displaying a different part of the dungeon. Rooms, traps, monster lairs—it was all there, like a complex strategy game interface.

New Skill Unlocked: Dungeon Management.

* Effect: Allows the player to manage, expand, and defend their dungeon using available resources.

“Let’s start by gathering resources,” Nex instructed. “There’s a nearby goblin camp that should provide what you need to begin.”

Kai hesitated, unsure. “And how exactly am I supposed to do that? I don’t exactly have a weapon, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Nex’s eyes gleamed. “I can provide you with basic tools. But you must earn the strength to protect yourself.”

A wooden staff appeared in Kai’s hand, its weight familiar, but not particularly reassuring. He looked at it skeptically. “This is it?”

“Trust me, Master. You’ll need more than a weapon to survive in this world.”

With a resigned sigh, Kai followed Nex’s guidance toward the exit. His mind raced with the sheer absurdity of everything, but deep down, a small part of him was... excited. It was as if all the games he had played were suddenly happening for real. And now, it was up to him to figure out how to survive.