《The Dungeon That Started It All》 Chapter 01 – Reborn… as a Cave? This Has to Be a Bug. He was a man in his mid-twenties who had just taken shelter after returning from a failed interview. Finding a job was tough these days. He had applied to dozens, yet only landed three interviews. From the looks on the interviewers'' faces, he already knew¡ªanother rejection. Now, stuck beside his motorcycle as the rain poured, he scrolled through his phone, escaping into isekai stories. "Reincarnated as a vending machine? Man, they¡¯ll isekai anything these days," he muttered, scrolling past another novel. Lightning flashed. Thunder growled. The air smelled of wet asphalt and fried bananas from the vendor next door. "Guess I¡¯ll read one more chapter¡­" The roadside shelter was packed with people waiting for the rain to pass. Office workers checked their phones, students slurped instant noodles from a stall, and an old man muttered complaints about the weather. The air was thick with the scent of wet clothes, fried snacks, and exhaust fumes from passing cars. Near the edge of the shelter, a young woman around his age stood with two small children pressed against her. They clung to her jacket, their faces half-hidden as she murmured reassurances. She gave them a small, tired smile, gently rubbing their backs. He glanced at them briefly, then returned to his phone. ¡®Damn, my friend had a kid now, and here was a woman his age already taking care of two.¡¯ He thought. Meanwhile, he thought himself that couldn¡¯t even land a job. A bitter chuckle almost escaped him, but he swallowed it down, shoving the thought aside. No use dwelling on it. He glanced at his phone again, scrolling mindlessly. Another isekai story popped up¡ªsome guy getting reborn as a powerful noble. Must be nice, he thought. Outside, the rain kept falling, the world moving forward while he remained stuck in place. A loud screech tore through the air, followed by the deafening roar of an engine. His head snapped up just in time to see it¡ªa massive truck skidding out of control on the slick road, heading straight for the shelter. People screamed, scattering in all directions as tires screeched against the pavement. His instincts kicked in, and he moved without thinking, already stepping toward safety. He was young, fast¡ªhe could avoid it. But just as he turned, his eyes caught a small figure on the ground. One of the children had fallen, frozen in terror as the truck barreled toward them. His body moved before his mind could catch up. He lunged back, arms outstretched, grabbing the child and shoving them toward safety. Relief barely had time to settle in his chest before¡ªimpact. A crushing force. A flash of pain. Then, nothing. Nothing. No light, no sound, no sensation. Just a vast, endless void. So that¡¯s it, huh? he thought. Maybe there really is no afterlife¡­ He wasn¡¯t sure how long he drifted in that emptiness. Minutes? Hours? An eternity? He had no body, no breath, yet his mind remained, thoughts spiraling in the silence. Was this all that was left of him? A lingering consciousness floating in the dark? Then¡ªsomething. A feeling. A shift. Slowly, his awareness sharpened, and for the first time since the accident, he saw something. A faint light flickered in the darkness, like a notification on a screen. Then, a voice¡ªno, not a voice, but words forming directly in his mind. [Congratulations, you have become the first dungeon to be granted to the world.] ¡­What? [Welcome to the Dungeon System.] Wait. Hold on. Dungeon? His thoughts raced. This had to be a mistake. He had read enough isekai novels to recognize a system message, but those guys always got reborn as overpowered heroes, demon lords, or at least a damn human! Sure, there were some absurd reincarnations¡ªpeople turning into swords, vending machines, or even slimes. But a dungeon? That wasn¡¯t just weird, that was straight-up unfair! How was he supposed to do anything without arms or legs? Without even a mouth to scream in frustration?! A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Desperately, he tried to move, but there were no arms, no legs¡ªnothing. Instead, his vision expanded, stretching unnaturally, as if his very existence had changed. He could see the rocky cavern around him, the damp walls, the eerie blue glow of crystals embedded in stone. A terrifying realization hit him. He hadn¡¯t been reincarnated as a person. He had become a cave. No, no, no. This has to be some kind of joke. He tried to move¡ªnothing. Tried to breathe¡ªnothing. He didn¡¯t even have lungs to inhale with! Panic surged through him, but what was he supposed to do? He was just here, existing. Okay, calm down. Let¡¯s think this through. He had died. That much was obvious. But instead of disappearing into nothingness, he was¡­ what? A dungeon? A cave? What even was a dungeon in this context? Wait. If this is a system thing, there has to be a way to check my status, right? In every isekai story he had read, the protagonist always had some kind of status screen. Maybe if he just¡­ Status? [Displaying Dungeon Status.] Oh. That actually worked. [Dungeon Status] Name: Ordis Type: Primordial Dungeon (First of Its Kind) Rank: 1 Core Integrity: 100% Mana Reserves: 0 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Territory: 3 Floors (Expandable) Dungeon Energy: 0 (Accumulates Over Time) Dungeon Abilities: "Wow, it''s really here. Huh... I really was reborn as a dungeon." The words hung in his mind, surreal yet undeniable. Floating before him, as clear as day, was his Dungeon Status. The proof that this wasn¡¯t a weird dream or some bizarre near-death hallucination. This was real. "I often read isekai stories, but I never thought I would experience something similar. And not as a hero, a noble, or even a damn slime¡ªbut as a cave. I even have a new name." He sighed, or at least, he tried to. But there was no breath, no chest rising and falling, no mouth to let out the frustration building inside him. Just thoughts, raw and unfiltered, bouncing endlessly in the void of his mind. "I don''t know if I should be happy about this¡­ since, well, I''m really dead." That thought stung more than he expected. There was no going back, no waking up in a hospital bed to find out it was all some near-death experience. His body¡ªhis human body¡ªwas gone. Flattened, even. He should have been terrified. He should have been grieving. And yet¡­ "Hah¡­ Mom¡¯s gonna be sad, huh?" His mother. His family. The people he left behind. He could picture her now, her tired but warm smile, the way she¡¯d always nag him about eating properly, about getting a stable job. She had already worried so much about him when he was alive. Now, he''d gone and died before her. "Sorry, Mom. I really am the worst." There was a pang of guilt. But at the same time, something strange stirred inside him. Something¡­ exciting. "But¡­ to be honest, I¡¯m kinda thrilled about this." He hesitated, as if admitting it was some kind of betrayal. But there was no denying it¡ªthis was fantasy made real. A world of magic, of systems, of something beyond the mundane struggles of job hunting and paying rent. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt free. The weight he had carried for years¡ªthe silent, exhausting burden¡ªwas gone. Before he had even started his desperate search for a job, he had spent years tending to his sickly father, watching over him, caring for him, all while knowing deep down that no matter how much effort he put in, the outcome would never change. His father had fought bravely, but illness was a cruel opponent. And in the end, it took him. That was why his r¨¦sum¨¦ had that glaring gap. Why every interview felt like an uphill battle. Nobody cared about the struggles he went through¡ªonly that he had been inactive for too long. But now? Now there were no r¨¦sum¨¦s. No hiring managers sizing him up like he was already a failure. No more waking up every day feeling like he had already fallen behind. No more rejection emails. No more awkward interviews where the interviewer already looked bored before he even introduced himself. No more pressure from society to get a stable job, climb the corporate ladder, and pretend to enjoy it. No more bills. No more rent payments looming at the end of every month like some executioner¡¯s blade. No more stressing about whether he had enough money left for decent food or if he¡¯d have to settle for instant noodles again. No more pointless social obligations, fake smiles, or distant relatives asking him, ¡°When are you getting married?¡± "Hah. I don¡¯t even have a body anymore, Auntie. What do you say to that?" The past still lingered, a shadow in the back of his mind, but¡­ for the first time in years, he didn¡¯t have to carry it anymore. He was free. He wasn¡¯t some nameless cog in a machine anymore, just another faceless worker struggling to make ends meet. He wasn¡¯t even human anymore! He was a dungeon. A primordial one. The first one. There was no boss above him, no bills to pay, no expectations to meet. He could do whatever he wanted¡ªgrow stronger, shape his own world, maybe even mess with the humans that wandered in. For the first time, life wasn¡¯t about survival. It was about possibility. Chapter 02 – Hah… At Least I’m Not Completely Helpless "Alright¡­ I¡¯m a dungeon now. No use moping forever. I need to figure out what I can actually do." He focused, trying to feel his surroundings. There was no body, no hands to move¡ªjust the rocky cavern that was¡­ well, him. "Maybe I should start by what I became?" The moment he had the thought, something clicked. A map appeared in his mind¡ªthree floors, rough tunnels, and empty chambers. It was like an overhead blueprint, detailing every inch of his territory. "Whoa¡­ okay, that¡¯s actually kind of cool. So this is me now, huh?" A strange sensation washed over him, like stretching a limb he never knew he had. His awareness shifted, pulling him downward¡ªdeeper into himself. Suddenly, he felt it, a presence unlike anything else in this empty cavern. His vision settled in a chamber on the third floor, and there it was¡ªthe core. A massive, bluish crystal pulsating with an eerie glow, radiating energy that sent faint ripples through the air. It was beautiful, almost mesmerizing. Looking at it, a memory surfaced. Magic stones, mana crystals, dungeon cores¡ªhe had read about things like this in countless isekai stories. And now, he was one. "So this is my heart, huh?" He couldn''t feel a heartbeat, but somehow, he knew¡ªthis core was his very existence. If anything happened to it¡­ well, he doubted it would be pleasant. Yet, as he focused, he felt it¡ªraw, pulsing energy surging from the core, flowing through his entire being. It was vast, untamed, and his. Unlike his weak human body, constantly tired and limited, this new form held power. Real, tangible power. A thrill ran through him. He had no idea what he could do yet, but one thing was certain¡ªhe wasn¡¯t helpless. Not anymore. So all this energy is just enough to keep me running? Great¡­ that means if I want to do anything, I need to find a new energy source. No freebies, huh? He shifted his focus back to the floors he had, trying to get a better sense of his own structure. Almost immediately, a realization made him feel a little¡­ hollow inside. His first floor wasn¡¯t much of a dungeon at all¡ªit was just a cave. Not some grand labyrinth with twisting corridors or menacing monster lairs. Just a small, barebones cave. It reminded him of those cramped tunnels carved out during World War II, the ones used for hiding or supply storage. Dark, damp, and unimpressive. If some adventurer or random explorer walked in right now, they¡¯d probably just assume it was a natural cave and leave. At the very least, there was a door. A proper dungeon-like door made of aged stone, leading further inside. Small stairs descended beyond it, winding down toward the second floor¡ªthe largest area he had. Finally, something that actually feels dungeon-like. It wasn¡¯t much, but compared to this pathetic excuse of an entrance, the second floor had to be an improvement¡­ right? The second floor unfolded before him¡ªa vast, open cavern stretching far beyond his entrance. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and uneven rock formations jutted from the ground. Pools of still water reflected the faint glow of luminescent minerals embedded in the walls. It was¡­ just a cave. A big, empty cave. The kind that cave divers and explorers would love to map out, but hardly the kind of place anyone would call a dungeon. Seriously? This is it? Ordis groaned internally. Where are the ominous corridors? The twisting passages? The eerie atmosphere that screams ¡®adventurers beware¡¯? This is what I¡¯m working with? I don¡¯t even have a proper entrance gate, no eerie atmosphere, no menacing aura. Just a glorified hole in the ground. He let out a mental sigh. Alright, let¡¯s not get discouraged. It¡¯s not like every dungeon starts off as some grand fortress. I¡¯ll just have to build it up from here¡­ somehow. This is just a hole in the ground! The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The third floor was noticeably smaller than the second, consisting of only three chambers. At its heart stood the dungeon core, a massive bluish crystal pulsing faintly with energy. Its glow cast soft, wavering reflections on the surrounding stone walls, giving the chamber a strangely serene atmosphere. Despite everything, Ordis couldn¡¯t help but be a little awed¡ªthis was his core, the very thing keeping him alive. Beyond this room, however, were two completely empty chambers. No decorations, no eerie ambiance, not even a hint of something interesting. Just plain, untouched rock. So¡­ that¡¯s it? Ordis groaned internally. A glowing rock and two useless rooms? Come on, if I¡¯m going to be a dungeon, at least give me something cool to start with! So that¡¯s me¡­ A small cave for an entrance. A vast but empty cavern for a second floor. And finally, a third floor with nothing but his glowing core and two empty rooms. That was all he had. That was what he was. Not exactly an awe-inspiring start¡­ He had hoped for something grander. Mysterious ruins, eerie tunnels, ancient corridors steeped in history. Instead, he was basically an abandoned mineshaft with extra steps. But still¡­ this was his domain. His body. His existence. It wasn¡¯t much now, but maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe could turn it into something great. ¡°Well, I mean, I¡¯m a Primordial Dungeon, so I must be a big deal, right? The system even said I was the first of my kind, the origin of all dungeons. That had to mean something! Maybe I just hadn¡¯t unlocked my true potential yet. Yeah, that was it. No way a Primordial Dungeon was supposed to look this pathetic forever. For now, though, staring at my barebones layout wasn¡¯t doing me any favors. I needed to stop moping and start doing something. If this was my new reality, I had to figure out the basics. First things first¡ªmovement. Could I even move? Or was I just a fixed chunk of land, forever stuck in place? And what about my eyesight? Right now, I could somehow see my entire dungeon at once, like an overhead map, but could I focus on specific areas? Maybe even zoom in on details? It was time to experiment.¡± Ordis had such a long string of thoughts that he almost forgot to actually do something. Enough standing around¡ªmetaphorically, at least. He needed to figure out how his vision worked. Could he only see everything from above, like some game map, or was there more to it? As he focused, his perspective shifted effortlessly. He could zoom in on specific areas, sharpening details as if his eyes were right there. At the same time, he could pull back, taking in his entire dungeon at once. It was like being in a high-tech security room filled with countless monitors, each one showing a different part of his domain. Even more surprising, he wasn¡¯t limited to just one view at a time. He could watch multiple areas simultaneously, observing the entrance while also checking his dungeon core room. It was an eerie feeling¡ªlike having a thousand invisible eyes¡ªbut strangely, it didn¡¯t overwhelm him. It felt¡­ natural. The level of detail was incredible. If he focused, he could even make out the faint moisture on the cave walls, the tiny cracks in the stone, and the way light from his mana crystal reflected faintly across the floor. Hah, take that, security cameras. I don¡¯t even need electricity. Hm, this is quite something. Ordis marveled at his newfound ability. Not only could he see within his own dungeon, but his vision extended beyond the entrance as well. He hadn¡¯t expected that. It was like having an invisible security camera mounted right outside his doorstep, letting him take in the world beyond his rocky walls. He focused, stretching his awareness as far as it would go. The first thing he noticed was the wide, open grassland that spread out before him. It stretched for about half a square kilometer, roughly the same size as his second floor. Tall grasses swayed gently in the breeze, their green and yellow hues shifting under the sunlight. A few scattered trees dotted the landscape, their twisted branches reaching toward the sky. But what really caught his attention was what lay beyond the grassland. A dense rainforest loomed in the distance, its towering trees forming a thick, green wall. The canopy was so packed that barely any sunlight reached the forest floor, and the deeper he tried to see, the darker it became. He could hear the distant calls of unseen creatures, the rustling of leaves, and the faint sound of water flowing somewhere within. A rainforest, huh? That¡¯s way better than a barren wasteland¡­ at least it means there¡¯s life around here. His gaze shifted back to the grassland, and a realization dawned on him. It was as if a chunk of the rainforest had been erased from existence, leaving his dungeon entrance standing alone in the middle of an open field. There were no signs of gradual clearing, no transition from dense vegetation to grassland¡ªjust an abrupt, gaping cave mouth where trees should have been. Yeah¡­ definitely feels like I was just dropped here by some higher power. Still, he wasn¡¯t complaining. At least he had a good vantage point. With such an open landscape in front of him, he could easily spot anything approaching his dungeon. No surprise attacks from lurking predators or unsuspecting adventurers stumbling in just yet. But that also meant he was easy to find. If someone wandered too close, they¡¯d spot his entrance almost immediately. Not exactly the most inconspicuous start for a dungeon, huh? He sighed¡ªor at least, he would have if he had lungs. Well, whatever. I¡¯ll deal with that later. Right now, I should focus on what I can actually do. He had his vision, he had his awareness of his surroundings¡­ now it was time to figure out what else he was capable of. Chapter 03 – Wait, I’m Actually on Earth, Not in Another World Ordis finally grasped the terrain surrounding him. His dungeon sat in the middle of a vast grassland, bordered by a dense rainforest. He had no idea how he had ended up here, but the more he observed, the clearer it became¡ªthis place wasn¡¯t some fantasy world with floating islands or magical beasts. Everything looked¡­ familiar. Too familiar. The trees, the sky, even the way the wind rustled through the grass. It was the kind of scenery he had seen before, something he could recognize rather than the surreal landscapes often described in stories. As he scanned the area, his vision picked up movement¡ªsmall animals scurrying through the grass and darting between the trees. They weren¡¯t strange, mystical creatures or anything out of place. Birds perched on branches, chirping in a way that didn¡¯t sound alien at all. In the distance, he could make out a few mammals that he instinctively recognized, ones that had no magical aura, no extra limbs, nothing unnatural. Just normal wildlife, the kind that would belong in a world he understood. A strange feeling settled in his core. ¡°This¡­ this isn¡¯t how I imagined things would be,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°No strange moons in the sky, no floating ruins, no fire-breathing lizards prowling around. This place¡­ it¡¯s too normal.¡± This realization made him somewhat disappointed. If this wasn¡¯t some grand fantasy realm, then where exactly had he ended up? After he focused on his surroundings, he became aware of something else¡ªhis dungeon was changing. Or rather, it was adapting. Air was slowly filtering in through the entrance, seeping deeper into the underground space. Microscopic life, the kind that thrived in every crevice of nature, was beginning to settle in. Bacteria, tiny spores, the kind of things no one thought about but were essential for life. He could feel it happening, like his body was no longer just a hollow cave but something¡­ alive. ¡°Wait¡­ am I breathing? No, not exactly, but it feels like I am,¡± Ordis muttered to himself. ¡°So this is what it means to be a dungeon, huh? I¡¯m not just a chunk of rock; I¡¯m an environment. A real, functioning space that interacts with the world.¡± The thought sent a strange thrill through him. If his dungeon could take in air and support tiny life forms, then maybe¡­ just maybe, he could become something much greater. "I won¡¯t get sick or anything, right?" Ordis muttered to himself, watching as microscopic organisms drifted into his dungeon. It wasn¡¯t like he had a body anymore, but the thought of bacteria and other tiny lifeforms invading his space sent an uncomfortable shiver through his core. He didn¡¯t exactly want to become the world¡¯s first dungeon to die from an infection. Ordis immediately received a response from the system. [Dungeon will not get sick.] Well, that was direct. He wasn¡¯t sure if the system was just lazy or if it simply didn¡¯t bother with explanations. Still, as blunt as it was, it was reassuring. "Alright, I¡¯ll take that as a good thing," he muttered to himself, deciding not to dwell on it. It wasn¡¯t long before Ordis received another series of messages from the system. [Mosquitoes have entered the dungeon.] [Flies have entered the dungeon.] [Ants have entered the dungeon.] [Beetles have entered the dungeon.] [A lone butterfly has entered the dungeon.] Ordis blinked¡ªwell, mentally. "...Great. My first visitors are bugs. But why they entered to this place?" Ordis was a little surprised. How were these insects even surviving inside him? The first floor was completely barren¡ªnothing but rock and air. The second floor had some water pooled in certain areas, but that was it. Besides, these bugs hadn¡¯t even managed to get past the first-floor door. Yet, they had still found a way inside, crawling and buzzing through his tunnels like they owned the place. He let out a mental sigh, feeling a bit frustrated. He couldn¡¯t exactly shoo them out, and he had no way to stop more from coming in. The only thing he could do was rely on the system¡¯s map, which at least gave him their exact positions and numbers. It was oddly detailed, showing even the smallest creatures scuttling about. "Oh, well. At least this is a good learning process," Ordis muttered to himself. Experimenting with the map, he found he could filter what he wanted to see, zooming in and out with ease. Every function responded just by thinking¡ªno need for gestures or commands. At the very least, this proved he had some level of control. "I wonder if there''s something else I can do?" Ordis mused, directing the question toward the system. If it could track insects so precisely, maybe it had more functions he hadn¡¯t discovered yet. [Failed process task.] The blunt response appeared instantly, and Ordis couldn''t help but feel a little disappointed. So, the system wasn¡¯t some all-knowing guide that would answer every curiosity he had. It seemed only capable of responding to specific actions or events. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Great. Guess I¡¯ll have to figure things out on my own," he muttered, already trying to think of another way to test his abilities. In the end, there was little Ordis could do except watch the movements of the insects that had managed to enter the first floor. They wandered aimlessly, crawling along the rocky surface, completely unaware that they were inside a living entity. It was frustrating how powerless he felt¡ªhe couldn''t interact with them, couldn''t stop them, just observe. Occasionally, he shifted his focus outside, peering beyond the entrance. The vast grassland stretched before him, but his vision had limits. He couldn''t zoom out beyond a certain point, as if an invisible boundary defined the edges of his awareness. It was as if the world beyond his immediate surroundings was just out of reach. "Hm, this is kinda boring," Ordis muttered to himself. Watching insects crawl around and staring at the same stretch of grassland wasn¡¯t exactly thrilling. He was starting to wonder if this was all there was to being a dungeon when, suddenly, a new message popped up. [ Mana Reserves increasing: +1 after converting microorganisms, oxygen, and other ambient elements. ] Ordis blinked¡ªwell, if he had eyes, he would have. So he could gain mana just by existing? That was¡­ interesting. It wasn¡¯t much, but at least something was happening. Ordis mulled over the message. Just by existing, he could generate mana¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t as simple as that. The system specifically mentioned converting microorganisms, oxygen, and other tiny things from the air. Did that mean he was taking them from his surroundings? Would the insects inside be fine if he kept absorbing these things? "Hm, can you explain more about this conversion process?" Ordis asked, hoping for a clearer answer. [ The Dungeon converts living beings and ambient elements into Mana at a rate of 1 Mana per 2 hours. ] "Oh¡­ When I look at it, that feels kind of slow, doesn''t it?" Ordis mused. [ What are you saying? We¡¯re generating Mana from nothing. This is quite generous. ] Ordis couldn¡¯t argue with that. Another message popped up, giving Ordis an important piece of information. [ We are also taking all small insects into account, as their bodies can be converted into Mana as well. ] "Wait, isn''t this something you should''ve told me earlier?" Ordis protested, but the system remained silent, offering no further explanation. He sighed. At the very least, he now had a clearer understanding of how his Mana generation worked. It reminded him of those fantasy stories where the bodies of creatures mysteriously vanished inside dungeons. Now, it made sense¡ªdungeons weren¡¯t just swallowing them up for no reason. They were absorbing them, breaking them down, and converting them into energy¡ªMana that fueled the dungeon¡¯s very existence. And now, it was happening to him too. Whether all dungeons functioned this way or if he was special, he had no idea. Ordis let out a sigh, feeling somewhat disappointed by how little he could do with just 1 Mana. ¡°Is there even a point in having this much Mana?¡± he muttered before directing the question to the system. [With this amount, there isn¡¯t much we can do. However, the system recommends using it to accelerate the growth of mushrooms, small grasses, and other plant life on the first floor. This could also help attract more animals into the dungeon. We have already detected some seeds that have made their way inside.] ¡°Oh? That actually sounds useful. How much Mana would I need for that?¡± Ordis asked, his interest piqued. [At least 5 Mana would be required for a reasonable rate of growth. With such an amount, we can double the speed those small plant.] ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go with that. So, I¡¯ll need to wait another eight hours to gather enough Mana,¡± Ordis mused, resigning himself to another stretch of idle observation. Unexpectedly, while Ordis was waiting, another message popped up from the system. He noticed notifications informing him that mosquitoes and flies were leaving the dungeon, while the ones that had died inside were being absorbed. Their tiny carcasses vanished as they were broken down and converted into Mana. It was a strange feeling¡ªknowing that even the smallest creatures could be a source of energy for him. However, that wasn¡¯t the most surprising part. As he observed the process, he realized something even more significant. The system wasn¡¯t just passively absorbing dead creatures¡ªit was actively analyzing and breaking them down, ensuring that nothing went to waste. But what truly caught his attention was the unexpected discovery that came with it. As he read the new messages from the system, his curiosity grew. [Successfully analyzed the body of a mosquito. You can now summon mosquitoes as minions.] [Successfully analyzed the body of a fly. You can now summon flies as minions.] Ordis blinked, stunned. "Wait¡­ I can summon mosquitoes and flies now?" [Your level is still too low. Your Mana reserves are insufficient.] ¡°Ahaha, that¡¯s too bad. But my focus this time is to use this growth spurt for small plants. System, do it!¡± [Yes... Growth Supplement exclusive for small plants released inside the dungeon.] Ordis watched closely as the system executed his command. This was his first time actively using Mana for something, and he could feel a faint energy pulse as it spread through the first floor. A fine, glowing powder materialized in the air, shimmering like stardust before gently settling onto the ground. He was mesmerized by the sight¡ªit was as if he were casting a spell, even though he wasn¡¯t the one directly wielding the magic. ¡°This is... pretty amazing,¡± Ordis murmured in fascination. He had never been able to use magic, skills, or Mana before, but now, as a dungeon, it was an integral part of his existence. Just as he was about to admire the effects, a new notification from the system interrupted his thoughts. [Achievement unlocked: ¡®Mother of Mana.¡¯ Achievement reward: 50 Mana.] ¡°What!? That¡¯s amazing! That¡¯s the same amount as five days of Mana regeneration!¡± Ordis exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over. He hadn¡¯t expected to gain so much Mana in an instant. If achievements could grant such rewards, then perhaps there were more ways to speed up his growth. ¡°Hahaha, I wonder what kind of achievement this even is.¡± He eagerly checked the details, only to be left speechless at the system¡¯s explanation. [Mother of Mana is an achievement for someone who introduces Mana into the Earth.] ¡°Hm... wait... Earth... Earth...¡± Ordis repeated, his mind racing as he processed the words. ¡°So we¡¯re not in a fantasy world or an isekai... we¡¯re still on Earth?¡± Chapter 04 – Congrats, Me! Survived My First Day as a Dungeon! 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¡ªbut 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¡ªjust maybe¡ªthere 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¡ªhe was still on Earth. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± That was all he could say. Ordis took a deep breath¡ªnot 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¡ªhe was something entirely new, an anomaly in a world that had never seen anything like him before. Ordis wasn¡¯t just an anomaly¡ªhe 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¡ªmicroscopic organisms, insects, and whatever else entered his dungeon¡ªand 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¡ªboth 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¡ªnothing 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." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. 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¡ªit 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¡ªabout 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¡ªthis was just the beginning of his journey as a dungeon, and he had a long road ahead. Chapter 05 – Ding! Level Up! …Wow, Took You Long Enough? On the second day, Ordis stuck to a simple routine. He used the Growth Supplement, this time testing its effects on small animals instead of plants. After that, there wasn¡¯t much to do except wait for time to pass. With nothing but his own thoughts and the occasional system message to keep him company, he focused on observing his surroundings. He watched as insects buzzed around, some unknowingly drifting into the dungeon¡¯s influence. A few small animals cautiously approached the cave entrance, sniffing around before scurrying off. It was a slow, uneventful process, but every little detail helped him understand how the dungeon interacted with the world outside. Surprisingly, after using the Growth Supplement, Ordis noticed a change in his Mana regeneration. Instead of gaining 1 Mana every two hours, the rate had improved to every one hour and forty-five minutes. A mere fifteen-minute difference might not seem like much, but over time, it was a definite win. At this point, Ordis had only gained 12 Mana on his first day, plus the unexpected 50 Mana from the achievement. He spent 5 Mana at midnight as the day reset, and with his slightly improved regeneration rate, he managed to accumulate around 14 Mana throughout the second day. Mana Reserves: 71 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) ¡°Hm, 2 Mana more per day¡­ I guess that¡¯s a good rate? Probably?¡± Ordis muttered to himself. He still had no clue how much Mana he actually needed to expand or alter his dungeon. But come on, he was only level one¡ªhow hard could it be? Then again, this wasn¡¯t a game where early levels were a breeze. He was an entirely new kind of existence, an anomaly on Earth. If dungeons were meant to be massive, mystical structures filled with traps and monsters, then leveling up was bound to be an expensive ordeal. Ordis couldn¡¯t help but feel impatient. His Mana regeneration was improving, his Growth Supplement was working, and things were slowly progressing¡ªbut not fast enough. He wanted results now. The thought of waiting three more days just to finally accumulate enough Dungeon Energy was frustrating. Still, he knew he had to be patient. Once he had enough Dungeon Energy, he could test if leveling up was possible or if there were other ways to grow stronger. For now, all he could do was watch, wait, and keep pushing his limits bit by bit. By the third day, Ordis noticed another improvement in his Mana regeneration. Now, he gained 1 Mana every hour and a half, bringing his total daily gain to 16 Mana. However, after using 5 Mana for Growth Supplement, he was left with only 11. It was progress, but it still felt painfully slow. The wait was the worst part. If he could sleep or speed up time, maybe it wouldn¡¯t feel so agonizing. But no¡ªhe was stuck watching time crawl by, waiting for his resources to build up. Patience, it seemed, was going to be his greatest challenge. At least there was something to watch. Ordis slowly noticed mold and mildew spreading across the first floor, a small but tangible sign of change. Strangely, seeing that kind of growth improved his mood¡ªproof that his dungeon was becoming more alive. Plus, new insects were starting to wander in, drawn by the presence of edible things like spiders. At some point, a notification popped up, instantly lifting Ordis'' mood. [ Successfully analyzed the body of an Ant. You can now summon Flies as Ant. ] ¡°Hm, not bad,¡± Ordis muttered, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. He noticed deer and other small wild animals cautiously approaching the dungeon, grazing on the grasslands near the cave entrance. Their presence signaled that the environment around him was becoming more inviting to wildlife. Some sniffed the air curiously, while others hesitated at the cave¡¯s edge, sensing the faint traces of Mana. Ordis watched with interest, wondering if, over time, his influence would attract even larger creatures. Ordis could hardly wait for that moment to come, but for now, all he could do was be patient. Growth took time, and rushing wouldn¡¯t change anything. He just had to keep expanding his influence and let nature take its course. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. By the fourth day, Ordis had grown accustomed to the feeling of being a dungeon. After using the Growth Supplement once again, he barely even reacted when his Mana Regeneration sped up even further, now reaching one Mana per hour. At this rate, he was finally approaching the moment he had been waiting for¡ªthe chance to convert his Mana Reserve into Dungeon Energy. As night approached, anticipation built up within him. This was it. The moment he had been preparing for. "Oh, finally, it''s here!" Ordis thought, barely able to contain his excitement. "Now, let¡¯s see what actually happens when I do this!" "Convert Mana Reserve to Dungeon Energy!" Ordis commanded the system, his anticipation reaching its peak. At his words, a strange sensation washed over him. It was subtle, yet distinct¡ªlike a shift deep within his core. His Mana Reserve drained, and in its place, something denser, more potent, took form. Dungeon Energy. His first step toward true growth had finally begun. "Oh¡­" Ordis murmured, feeling the change within him. The weight of Dungeon Energy was different from Mana¡ªit felt more solid, more significant. Curious, he turned his attention back to the system. "Alright, System, what kind of stuff can I do with this Dungeon Energy?" He needed to know his options¡ªafter all, this was his first real step toward becoming a true dungeon. Dungeon Expansion Costs

Environment Manipulation Costs Ordis let out a sigh. "Resource Generation, huh? That¡¯s definitely the most tempting option¡­ but damn, it''s way out of my budget right now. Still, looking at all these functions, I can already tell what my next step should be." Even at level one, the dungeon held plenty of potential. The options before him weren¡¯t just about survival¡ªthey were about growth. And if he played his cards right, he could slowly build something truly powerful. With only one Dungeon Energy and zero Mana Reserve, Ordis had to make his next move count. The best option was to use Alteration on his dungeon, specifically to open the sealed door leading to the second floor. Without access, the lower level remained lifeless, cut off from the natural processes that had already begun on the first floor. That door was more than just a barrier¡ªit prevented insects, small animals, and even the natural spread of mold and fungi from reaching deeper into the dungeon. Only air and microscopic organisms could pass through, making it impossible for life to take root as fast as first floor. The door itself wasn¡¯t anything special¡ªit could be opened by animals if they knew how. But so far, only insects and small creatures roamed the area, none of which had the ability to push it open. Since there were no signs of humans or large animals wandering near the dungeon yet, Ordis figured it was safe to leave it open for now. Letting life spread to the second floor would only benefit him in the long run. "Alright, no point in keeping it sealed at this moment," Ordis decided. "System, use Dungeon Energy to open the first-floor door." As soon as Ordis gave the command, he felt the Dungeon Energy drain from his core. A subtle shift rippled through the dungeon, and the sealed door at the end of the first floor creaked open. Though it wasn¡¯t a grand sight, for Ordis, it was a significant moment. The second floor was finally accessible, allowing the spread of life beyond just one confined space. He had taken the first step toward true expansion. A notification appeared before him, and his anticipation surged. He quickly turned his focus to the system, eager to see the results of his efforts. And then¡ª [ Congratulations! You have leveled up! ] Ordis felt a rush of excitement at the sight of those words. He had finally done it. It had taken days of waiting, observing, and carefully managing his limited resources, but now, progress was undeniable. Leveling up as a dungeon was no simple task, and even though it had taken time, it proved that his actions were leading somewhere. ¡°Hah! Finally! Wow, that¡¯s took so long. If this is a game, I might already gave a negative rating.¡± Ordis couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. With a new level, new possibilities awaited him. What kind of upgrades would he get? What new functions would unlock? He couldn''t wait to find out. Chapter 06 – At Last, Minions! …Wait, It’s Just a Mosquito and Ants? Ordis barely had time to process his excitement before a system notification popped up before him, drawing his attention immediately. Ordis eagerly scanned the system notifications, his excitement growing as he realized he had unlocked new abilities. [Summon Minions] ¨C Insect [Trap Creation] ¨C Small Spit "Finally, minions! ¡­Wait, just insects?" Ordis muttered, though he quickly realized why. So far, he had only successfully analyzed small creatures like mosquitoes, ants, and flies. It made sense that his summoning ability would be limited to them for now. At least it was a step in the right direction¡ªhaving minions, no matter how small, was still something. As for Small Spit, it sounded underwhelming, but perhaps it had some use. Maybe he could upgrade it later? ¡°Well, this is good enough.¡± He smiled. Still, progress was progress. Now, he just had to figure out how to use these abilities effectively. "Alright, for now, my focus is on Summon Minions. I don¡¯t think I need Trap Creation just yet." Ordis carefully examined the newly unlocked [Summon Minions] ability, eager to see what it offered. [Summon Minions] ¨C Insect "Hah¡­ I should¡¯ve expected this," Ordis muttered. Since he had only successfully analyzed small insects like mosquitoes, ants, and flies, it made sense that those were the only creatures he could summon. No wolves, no bears, no cool monsters¡ªjust bugs. As he kept reading, he noticed another restriction. At level 2, he could only maintain up to four minions at a time. That was a bit disappointing, but at least he had minions now. It was better than nothing. "Well, I guess this is just the start," Ordis sighed. "Even the greatest armies began somewhere¡­ even if mine consists of bugs. Hm, can I see what they look like?¡± Name: Dungeon Mosquito Level: 1 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 24 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon)

Attributes:

Abilities:

Name: Dungeon Fly Level: 1 Rank: Lesser Bug Mana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 24 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon)

Attributes:

Abilities:

Name: Dungeon Ant Rank: Lesser Bug Level: 1 Mana Cost: 2 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 3 days (unless sustained by the dungeon)

Stats:

Special Trait:

Abilities:

"Oh, this is a lot of information to take in¡­ and I still have to wait for my Mana Regeneration before I can summon anything," Ordis muttered to himself. Looking over the details, he quickly realized that mosquitoes and ants would be his best choices for now. "Yeah, two mosquitoes and two ants should be a solid start. They had decent damage, which made them my main focus," Ordis thought. Then, another thought crossed his mind. "Not to mention¡­ I can enhance their size. If I make them bigger, they¡¯ll be even stronger. Now that would be interesting." If he could enhance their size, these mosquitoes and ants would become even more viable to his plan. Bigger mosquitoes meant stronger piercing attacks, and larger ants could carry heavier loads or bite even harder. Ordis could already see the potential, but for now, he had to work with what he had. Adn those minions will be important to get more bodies, if he wanted more variety, he needed to find other insects and those minions might be helping. The system required an actual body to analyze before granting him the ability to summon new minions after all. That meant he had to attract or discover more creatures. "Guess I¡¯ll have to wait and see what wanders in¡­ or maybe I can use my minions to lure in other creatures, like frogs or lizards," he mused. If Ordis thought about it, those creatures like frog, lizard, and were a staple in dungeon stories. Since he could already enhance mosquitoes and ants, his next priority would be acquiring spiders¡ªone of the deadliest insects he could get at the moment since some of them already in here. With their natural ability to spin webs and ambush prey, they could become valuable assets in his growing dungeon. After two hours of waiting, Ordis finally had enough Mana Reverse to summon two mosquitoes. As soon as they materialized, a familiar notification popped up¡ªhe had earned another achievement from the system. [Achievement Unlocked: ¡®Rise of the Army.¡¯ Achievement Reward: 20 Mana.] Ordis received a system notification, confirming his first successful minion summon. However, an unexpected bonus followed¡ªsince his first summoned creatures were insects, he earned the title. [ Crawling Abyss. This title granted a 15% experience boost to all insect-type minions ] ¡°Oh, this is good.¡± Ordis couldn''t hide his excitement after reading the system announcement. Without hesitation, he immediately summoned the ants as planned. Now, with his first set of minions taking shape, his dungeon was finally starting to resemble the dungeons from fantasy stories¡ªhe finally had his own minions. He still had enough Mana to use the Enhance Enlargement powder, which could boost the size of small animals. However, he quickly realized a limitation¡ªit only worked on a single floor at a time. That meant if he wanted to enhance his minions properly, he had to consider the cost. Using the enlargement ability required 5 Mana¡ªor in other words, five hours of waiting just to strengthen these insects. To make things trickier, his summoned minions appeared on the third floor, right in the same room as him. "Ugh, everything about this is so inconvenient," Ordis muttered in frustration. He had only ever used the powder on small plants in the first floor, so he never really noticed its limitations. Since there had been no other living creatures around before, it never occurred to him that the effect was restricted to just one floor. ¡°Oh, well¡­ It might be change after I leveling up.¡± Even so, Ordis is still very optimistic about his new life as a dungeon. Chapter 07 – Ants, Mosquitoes, and Minion Mayhem: The Grand Plan Begins Ordis blinked in surprise as he noticed something new in his minions¡¯ status. ¡°Oh? There¡¯s a new trait here,¡± he muttered, focusing on the details. [Enhance Size Bless: Effect: Increases the minion''s size by 10% upon leveling up. Stack Limit: Can stack up to 5 times with next time became 5 % per each stack.] Note: Growth is permanent and affects overall strength and durability. Seeing this, Ordis couldn''t help but smirk. "So they naturally grow bigger just by leveling up? Now that¡¯s what I like to see." The idea of his once-tiny insects slowly transforming into massive, nightmarish creatures thrilled him. If he nurtured them properly, his dungeon could one day be home to truly fearsome beasts. ¡°At this point, Earth must be cook at some point with this Mana stuff¡­ but what actually happened to the Mana I released?¡± Ordis mused, his curiosity growing. He hoped the system would provide some kind of response¡ªafter all, that much Mana dispersing into the world had to cause some kind of effect. Was it strengthening the local wildlife? Awakening something unexpected? [The most likely outcome is an alteration in the local wildlife surrounding the dungeon. Exposure to Mana may lead to accelerated growth, mutations, or the emergence of new traits in nearby creatures.] "Yeah, that¡¯s what I figured¡­ Oh well, not my problem. More like humanity¡¯s problem," Ordis muttered with a shrug. In the end, there wasn¡¯t much he could do about how Mana affected the world or its people. All he could do was focus on growing his dungeon and strengthening his minions. Ordis had fully embraced his new existence as a dungeon, where only the strong could survive. The law of the wild dictated his path¡ªgrow stronger or perish. After all, he had no guarantee of a second chance if he died again. This was his one shot, and he intended to make it count. Ordis frowned as he observed his dungeon¡¯s layout. ¡°Hmm¡­ Since I don¡¯t have a transfer portal between floors yet, my minions can¡¯t move freely,¡± he muttered. Without a proper way to relocate them, they were effectively trapped on their current floor. However, after scanning his options, he realized he could manually transfer his minions using Mana. It wasn¡¯t the most efficient solution, but it would have to do for now. He sighed, imagining how long it would take for his two ant minions to crawl all the way from the third floor to the first. There was no way he had the patience to wait for that. If he wanted them to be useful, he¡¯d have to spend Mana to teleport them. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a small price to pay for efficiency,¡± he reasoned. At least now he had a way to make his forces more mobile¡ªuntil he make transfer portal. Before using his Mana to transfer them, Ordis figured it would be smart to test what kind of commands he could actually give to his insect minions. Could they follow complex orders, or were they limited to simple tasks? He needed to understand their capabilities before relying on them too much. With that in mind, he focused on issuing various commands, eager to see how well they would respond. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with something basic,¡± he mused. He ordered one of the mosquitoes to fly in circles, watching as it buzzed around in a looping pattern. Satisfied, he turned to the ants, commanding them to dig into the dirt and gather small debris. The little creatures immediately got to work, carrying tiny clumps of soil in their mandibles. Ordis smirked. ¡°Not bad¡­ Looks like I can actually direct them properly.¡± This experiment was already proving useful and was something he had expected would happen. As boredom crept in, Ordis found himself wondering about his connection with his minions. Watching over the dungeon without direct interaction was starting to feel dull. His thoughts drifted to a curious possibility. "I wonder¡­ can I send my mind into one of my minions?" he asked the system, intrigued by the idea of experiencing the world through their tiny bodies. If he could, it would make things far more interesting. Or he might be feel a bit crazy here. [ System Response: No. Current level, Mana capacity, and affinity with Insect Minions are insufficient to establish a mental link. Requirements not met. Upgrade necessary. ] "Haa¡­ I figured as much." Ordis let out a sigh, not too surprised by the system''s response. It seemed like he still had a long way to go before he could moving around in his own dungeon. Shaking off his disappointment, he focused on the task at hand. Without wasting more time, he used his Mana to transfer all of his minions from his room on the third floor to the first floor, where they could finally begin their proper work. Ordis tapped his metaphorical chin in thought. "Well, their job is to grow stronger, and from what I can tell, the only way for them to level up is by killing other creatures¡ªjust like in any fantasy story or LitRPG." It made sense; experience had to come from somewhere. In other words, he needed his minions to hunt. But what could they realistically fight and win against? Especially without risking their lives unnecessarily. His gaze flicked to his summoned mosquitoes and ants. "The safest option would be to target other insects, particularly those of the same species. Ants and mosquitoes are already part of the dungeon, so they should exist naturally around here. If my minions take them out, they can gain experience without too much danger." He wasn''t about to waste precious Mana summoning replacements every time one of them died. To ensure their safety, he devised a simple but effective strategy. "I''ll have them hunt in pairs¡ªtwo versus one. That way, they can overwhelm lone enemies without taking too much damage. They¡¯ll only attack isolated targets like flies, mosquitoes, and ants. Yeah, this should work." With his plan set, Ordis felt more confident. He might not be able to fight personally, but he could still guide his growing dungeon to victory. "At least with this, I don¡¯t have to blindly send my minions wandering around." Ordis let out a small sigh of relief as he glanced at the system¡¯s map. The map displayed most of the insects within his dungeon, giving him a clear idea of where potential prey lurked. However, the sheer number of tiny creatures crawling around made it hard to process everything at once. "Good thing I can filter the information¡­ Otherwise, I¡¯d probably get a headache." With that, he focused only on the creatures he wanted his minions to target. As he examined his ant minions more closely, he realized something odd. Their status didn¡¯t specify a species¡ªjust [Dungeon Ant]. "Huh¡­ Does that mean they¡¯re a completely new type of ant? If that¡¯s the case, will other ants treat them as their own¡­ or as invaders?" That was a question he didn¡¯t have an immediate answer to, but he knew there was only one way to find out. "Well, there¡¯s no use overthinking it. I¡¯ll just have to experiment." With a simple command, Ordis directed his ants toward a nearby group of wild ants on the map. If they were accepted, great¡ªhe¡¯d have a way to blend his forces with the local insect life. If not, then he¡¯d have his first real battle on his hands. Either way, this was an important test for his growing dungeon. Chapter 08 – Quality Time… with My Tiny Terror Squad "Okay, attack." Ordis commanded his D.Ants, sending them to ambush lone foraging ants. Whether these targets had simply wandered too far or were naturally solitary, he didn¡¯t care¡ªhe had never been one to like watch nature documentaries, after all. Now, however, he had a front-row seat to the brutal reality of insect combat. His two ants clashed against their lone opponent, mandibles locking as they wrestled for dominance. The wild ant thrashed and bit back fiercely, but with the advantage of numbers, Ordis¡¯s minions quickly overwhelmed their prey. Watching the skirmish unfold, he couldn''t help but feel a spark of satisfaction¡ªIt was surprisingly fascinating to watch his D.Ant swiftly and efficiently take down its prey. "Hmm, no wonder some people have a hobby of watching animals and insects fight each other." Ordis observed the status of his D.Ant, noticing a subtle but significant change. One of them had apparently gained something new after the battle. It seemed like the system had acknowledged the kill¡ªor at least the final attack¡ªas an achievement toward leveling up for his minion. Curious, he focused on the updated status. [ Level: 1 ( 10 % ) ] "It looks like my D.Ant needs to kill ten ants to level up. That¡¯s actually much more reasonable than how I gain levels as a dungeon. This must be thanks to the 15% experience boost from my title, " Ordis muttered, analyzing his surroundings. Nearby, he spotted various small insects¡ªbeetles, tiny spiders, and even a newly entered small animal which a centipede. However, those creatures were still far from his D.Ant¡¯s current position of strength, making them less immediate targets. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll keep targeting lone ants until these two level up,¡± Ordis decided. ¡°After that¡­ I can let them fight one-on-one.¡± His current strategy was simple¡ªhave the ants that were already close to leveling up finish off their targets. It was the most efficient way to strengthen them without unnecessary risk. However, even with a clear command, Ordis quickly realized that his minions¡¯ intelligence was still far from ideal. Their fighting seemed instinct-driven, and it was possible that the heat of battle pushed them to act purely on survival instincts, striking down their enemy in the moment of intense combat, sometimes failing to execute his orders perfectly. Which it make seemed that precise tactics were difficult for them to grasp, making him wonder if they would improve as they leveled up. "That should definitely be the case, considering the various fantasy stories I''ve read. Otherwise, I''d be in real trouble if they didn¡¯t get any smarter." After observing his ant minions efficiently hunting down lone ants, Ordis shifted his attention to his other minions¡ªhis D. Mosquitoes. Unlike the ants, their task was much simpler. Since they were flying, their only real threat in this dungeon was spiders. They didn¡¯t need to engage in drawn-out battles or struggle against larger foes. Ordis gave them a straightforward command: stay clear of areas where spiders lurked and focus solely on eliminating regular mosquitoes. It was an easy job for them, and if they kept at it, their would grow stronger without putting them in immediate danger. Especially after he noticed that regular mosquitoes seemed slower than ants when it came to sensing danger from his D. Mosquitoes. It was possible that they didn¡¯t recognize them as a threat, perhaps mistaking them for just another mosquito. Or maybe, their survival instincts weren¡¯t as sharp as ants, which constantly faced rival colonies. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Ordis didn¡¯t know the real reason behind this, but honestly, who cared? It only made his job easier. With regular mosquitoes being easy prey, his D. Mosquitoes could level up without much trouble. However, things weren¡¯t as simple when it came to flies. Unlike mosquitoes, flies were far more alert and had quick reflexes, making them much harder to ambush. Even though his D. Mosquitoes were agile, the flies matched their speed¡ªperhaps even surpassing them. After several failed attempts, it became clear that flies weren¡¯t worth the effort. In the end, Ordis accepted that his D. Mosquitoes¡¯ best targets would be regular mosquitoes. Ordis observed his two D. Mosquitoes as they ruthlessly hunted down ordinary mosquitoes, their prey offering no resistance. One would swiftly tear through the fragile wings, leaving the target helpless, while the other wasted no time plunging its needle-like proboscis into the immobilized victim. Their teamwork was efficient, almost mechanical, ensuring a quick and effortless kill. ¡° Attributes: ¡° At Level 2, the Dungeon Mosquito now measured around 5.9mm. While the growth was noticeable, it was still a long way from becoming anything intimidating. At this rate, it would take several more level-ups just to reach a mere 1cm in size. Ordis sighed, realizing that growing his minions into something formidable would be a slow and gradual process. [System Response: Increasing a minion''s rank requires a combination of experience, evolutionary triggers, and dungeon influence. Conditions may include absorbing specific nutrients, accumulating enough battle experience, or being exposed to unique dungeon energy. The exact method varies by species.] ¡° ¡° Ordis felt confident that he could get all his minions to level three within a day. Chapter 09 – Leveling Up Is Hard Work (For Them, Not Me) Yet, a quick glance at his system map reassured him. There were still plenty of ants scattered throughout the dungeon, far more than he initially estimated. For now, he didn''t need to worry about depleting his food chain. His minions could continue their hunt uninterrupted. "Could it be because of my Crawling Abyss title?" Ordis mused, watching the influx of insects with curiosity. If his title truly influenced them, then it made sense why they entered so easily. With this realization, he shifted his focus to his D Ants, eager to see how they were progressing amidst the growing ecosystem in his dungeon

Level: 3 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 2 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 48 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon)

Attributes:

Abilities:

"At this rate, in three more days, their total size increase should reach 25% when leveling up," he noted while observing one of his Dungeon Ants. Despite its recent growth, it was still only about 4mm. A long way to go before it became truly intimidating for him at least. "Hm, since you''ve already reached level 3, I suppose it''s fine to let you hunt on your own," Ordis decided. This was a necessary step to optimize the leveling process for all his minions. If they continued working in pairs, they''d have to compete for experience, slowing down their growth. By hunting individually, each minion could maximize its gains without interference. After observing their previous battles, Ordis was confident they could handle lone prey without much risk. They had shown no real difficulty in taking down their usual targets, so there was no reason to hold them back. Letting them fight solo would not only speed up their progression but also test how well they could survive without direct oversight. After careful observation, Ordis made a decision that could be considered risky. He applied the Enhance Size blessing across the entire first floor of his dungeon. This meant that not only his minions but also all the other insects in the area would benefit from the same effect. It was a gamble, but Ordis reasoned that his minions had been developing well so far. If they continued to level up steadily, they wouldn¡¯t fall behind their newly empowered competition. Unlike ordinary insects that only hunted for survival, his minions operated under his direct command, constantly seeking out weaker prey to kill. This relentless hunting pattern gave them an edge, ensuring that they would grow stronger at a faster rate than the naturally occurring insects. Ordis reassured himself that, even if the other insects became larger, his minions would eventually reach a level where they could compete against them. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. However, he was well aware of the risks. If the affected insects grew too strong, some might even leave the dungeon and he didn¡¯t reap his reward. While those insect could make problem to wildlife outside. That possibility might concerned him, even so he believed that a significant number of them would remain within the dungeon¡¯s boundaries, providing a continuous source of experience for his minions. In the long run, this experiment could determine whether his dungeon could sustain itself and thrive. If his minions succeeded in dominating the dungeon¡¯s ecosystem, then this risk would be worth taking. But if things spiraled out of control, he would have to find a way to adapt before it became a real problem. Ordis grinned, feeling quite pleased with himself. "Well, this is a very reasonable plan," he muttered, admiring the simplicity and brilliance of his own idea. The risk was undeniable, but so was the potential reward. If his minions thrived under these conditions, his dungeon would flourish faster than he had originally expected. As someone who had spent countless hours playing gacha games in the past, he was no stranger to high-risk, high-reward gambles. This, too, was a bet worth taking¡ªone that could either accelerate his growth or backfire spectacularly. Ordis commanded his minions to hunt their designated prey before turning his attention to observing all four through his system. Within half a day, Ordis witnessed firsthand the significant difference between level one and level three. His minions, now stronger, had no trouble hunting the same prey as before. Regular ants, mosquitoes, and even flies fell easily to them. Even when facing slightly larger insects of the same species, they could secure victory on their own. This improvement wasn¡¯t just due to their enhanced status. Ordis noticed that their attacks seemed to hit harder, sometimes dealing more damage than expected. There were moments when a single strike was enough to finish off an opponent, something that hadn¡¯t happened before. Among his minions, D. Ant showed the most noticeable growth and this change. Their bites landed with greater force, allowing them to take down prey much faster. Compared to D. Mosquito, whose strength increase was more subtle, the ants had developed a far deadlier offensive capability. This progression reassured Ordis. If his minions continued improving at this rate, they would soon be strong enough to take on even tougher foes. "Yeah, this is amazing." Ordis finally began to grasp why his minions¡¯ attacks had become so much more effective. D. Ant had finally gained magic, even if their magic stat was only at 2. That small change was enough to enhance their attacks, allowing them to eliminate prey more efficiently¡ªespecially against creatures without magic. It became clear that magic-based attacks inflicted far greater damage on non-magical opponents. This explained why his D. Mosquitoes had seemed so ferocious from the very beginning. Unlike the ants, they had access to magic from level one, giving them an advantage in battle that he had only now come to fully understand. As he pieced together this realization, Ordis found himself growing more invested in his role as a dungeon master. What had initially felt overwhelming was now starting to resemble a strategy game¡ªone where he had to carefully manage his units and plan ahead. Still, he wasn¡¯t exactly confident in his abilities. In his past life, whenever he played games like this, he often needed walkthroughs or guides from video-sharing websites to avoid making costly mistakes. Unfortunately, the system didn¡¯t offer much in the way of guidance. Since there was no step-by-step guide to follow, he had to figure things out on his own. That meant ensuring his plans were as reasonable and efficient as possible. Even though he felt a bit lost at times, the thrill of discovering new strategies and watching his minions grow stronger made the experience genuinely enjoyable. And so, within just half a day, his D. Mosquito minions had reached level 5, while his D. Ants were still at level 4. Their rapid progress was encouraging, though the difference in leveling speed made Ordis realize just how crucial magic was in his minions'' growth and combat effectiveness.

Dungeon Mosquito ¨C Level 5 Name: Dungeon Mosquito Level: 5 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 24 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon) Attributes: Abilities:

Dungeon Ant ¨C Level 4 Name: Dungeon Ant Level: 4 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 24 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon) Attributes: Abilities: Ordis carefully observed these improvements, feeling both excited and curious about what new changes higher levels would bring. However, his mana regeneration was still limited to just one mana per hour, which made him realize the need to manage his resources wisely. His minions were growing stronger, but sustaining their growth required careful planning. Meanwhile, life had started to emerge on the second floor of his dungeon. To ensure its development, he needed to provide Growth Supplement for the small plants there as well. With his current mana reserves stretched thin, he had to carefully balance his priorities to maintain steady progress. Chapter 10 – My Dungeon Minions Are Getting Smarter… for Bugs, at Least. By the end of the day, all of Ordis¡¯ minions had successfully reached level 6, with D. Ant managing to level up just before the day ended. This brought him a sense of relief, proving that his decision to let them hunt individually had been the right call. By avoiding shared experience, each minion was able to grow at a steady pace. He was pleased to see that their leveling speed hadn¡¯t slowed too much compared to the previous day. The results reassured him that his strategy was working, at least for now. Watching his minions steadily grow stronger gave him a small sense of accomplishment as a dungeon master. However, he couldn¡¯t ignore the reality that leveling up would only get harder as time passed. The experience required for each level would keep increasing, and soon, his minions might struggle to progress as quickly. If he wanted them to keep growing at a decent pace, he could only hope that his plan enhanced by the Size Blessing to other insects and small animals would work in his favor. ¡°Either way, I¡¯ll continue applying the Enhance Size Blessing on the first floor and the Growth Supplement on both the first and second floors,¡± Ordis muttered, committing to his plan. He spent 15 Mana to do so. After ranking up, his Mana regeneration had remained stagnant for two days. It was likely a side effect of the rank-up process, but finally, his regeneration had begun to accelerate once again. With the second floor now officially open, even though life there was still sparse, it was already contributing to his regeneration. The ecosystem was slowly taking shape, reinforcing the dungeon¡¯s Mana regenaration. Previously, his Mana regeneration was stuck at one per hour, but now, thanks to these changes, it had improved¡ªalbeit slightly. Instead of taking a full 60 minutes to recover one Mana, it now only took 55 minutes. It wasn¡¯t much, but every bit counted. Ordis concluded that the first floor had likely reached its limit for Mana regeneration, capping at one Mana per hour. If he wanted to accelerate the process further, he would need to ensure that life thrived on the other floors as well. The presence of living creatures seemed directly linked to his dungeon¡¯s ability to recover Mana. With his recent rank-up and the emergence of life on the second floor, he speculated that his maximum potential regeneration rate could eventually reach one Mana every 30 minutes. This assumption followed a clear pattern he had noticed in his Dungeon System. If his theory was correct, then expanding life on each floor would be crucial. More creatures meant faster Mana recovery, and faster recovery meant more flexibility in developing his dungeon. ¡°Well, I guess this makes perfect sense,¡± Ordis muttered, reflecting on his dungeon¡¯s progress from the beginning until now. ¡°What do you think, System?¡± [ Dungeon growth and mana regeneration are tied to each floor, with each having its own regeneration cap. The more floors unlocked, the greater the overall mana regeneration. Additionally, the presence and activity of living organisms within each floor will further enhance regeneration, allowing for even greater efficiency over time.] "Just as I thought¡­ Okay then," Ordis mused, feeling more certain about his next step. "My focus now should be reaching 500 mana and creating a new floor. If my assumptions are correct, ranking up is most likely tied to dungeon expansion." The logic seemed solid¡ªsince his first rank up happened after he finally make a slight change in his dungeon. Despite having been a dungeon for less than a week, Ordis found himself adapting quickly to this strange new existence. The patterns in dungeon growth, mana regeneration, and evolution were becoming clearer. He had a strong hunch that his instincts were leading him in the right direction. Somehow, he was starting to grasp what it meant to be a dungeon. It was almost as if he might knew system¡¯s mechanics without questioning him. ¡°So we¡¯re continuing hunting like always.¡± Ordis sent his minions back out to hunt, expecting another routine day of leveling. However, he quickly noticed something different. Up until now, he had meticulously micromanaged their hunts, carefully selecting their targets through his system¡¯s map to ensure they only engaged in battles they could win. But this time, his minions had much better movement. Instead of waiting for his direct commands, they instinctively sought out appropriate prey, almost as if they had learned from experience. Their movements were more efficient, their attacks more decisive. Had they simply adapted from doing the same thing over the past two days, or was there something else at play? This unexpected development left Ordis both impressed and slightly happy. Were his minions developing their own instincts? Or better¡ªwere they getting smarter? "Either way, this works out better for me." Ordis, still curious about the change in his minions'' behavior, decided to observe without micromanaging. Instead, he simply designated a hunting area and let them act on their own. To his surprise, D. Ant remained within the assigned zone and seemed to know exactly what to expect. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. D. Ant primarily hunted regular ants of similar size, never picking fights with creatures that posed a significant threat. What impressed Ordis the most was how efficiently D. Ant handled multiple opponents. At times, he even took on two enemies at once, cleverly ambushing one and eliminating it in a single attack before engaging the other. "Hm, I wonder if they can sense something I can¡¯t," Ordis mused. There was something unnerving about the way D. Ant selected his targets. It wasn¡¯t random¡ªhe always seemed to pick the weakest ones. At one point, Ordis noticed D. Ant attacking a larger opponent. However, the fight ended quickly with a well-placed surprise attack. Somehow, D. Ant knew the bigger ant wasn¡¯t as strong as it looked. That realization filled Ordis with excitement. His minions weren¡¯t just growing stronger¡ªthey were becoming smarter and more capable on their own. His minions weren¡¯t just getting stronger; they were making better decisions than he was. They could assess their enemies far more accurately than he could through his system¡¯s map. ¡°I wish I could do something like that too¡­ Like in games, where you can see enemy stats, conditions, and weaknesses¡­ Hm,¡± Ordis muttered. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll unlock something like that after I rank up.¡± [Successfully analyzed the body of the Parasitic Wasp. You can now summon the Parasitic Wasp as a minion.] ¡°Hm? What¡¯s this?¡± Ordis muttered as a new system message appeared before him. He had been too focused on observing D. Ant¡¯s behavior when he suddenly received an alert that a new minion type was available for summoning. The last time something like this happened was days ago when he first unlocked D. Ant. Since then, no new minions had appeared, so he assumed that his starting three had been a special bonus. Perhaps that was true, but now it seemed like he had to rely on his minions actively hunting and defeating other creatures to unlock new ones. Curious, he quickly checked the battlefield and noticed that one of his D. Mosquitoes had managed to bring down a Parasitic Wasp. His tiny flying minions weren¡¯t just flitting around aimlessly¡ªthey were actively fighting and even taking down new enemies he hadn¡¯t considered before. The realization made him pause. The Parasitic Wasp itself was nearly the same size as his D. Mosquito. But in the end his minion unlike regular insects, it possessed a degree of magical ability. This likely made its attacks stronger than an ordinary Mosquito thanks to magic, so at the very least, the attack stronger than most common insects. So his D. Mosquitoes had managed to eliminate it without any input from him. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ actually kind of impressive,¡± Ordis admitted, his tone filled with surprise. ¡°I never would¡¯ve thought a mosquito could take down a wasp, but here we are.¡± He realized that his human biases had been limiting his expectations. In his mind, wasps had always been terrifying predators compared to mosquitoes, but clearly, his dungeon minions didn¡¯t share the same assumptions. Instead of seeing threats based on human perceptions, his minions seemed to instinctively know which enemies they could handle and which they should avoid. Their ability to recognize weak targets and strike efficiently was a skill Ordis hadn¡¯t taught them¡ªit was something they had learned and adapted to on their own. Thinking about it, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. Curious about his new minion, he immediately checked the stats of the Parasitic Wasp, eager to see what it could bring to his dungeon. Name: D. Parasitic Wasp Level: 1 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 8 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 3 Days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Attributes: Abilities: ¡°Uwa¡­ It¡¯s really expensive¡ªfour times the cost of an ant!¡± Ordis muttered, his gaze fixed on the summoning menu. However, as he examined the Parasitic Wasp¡¯s abilities, he couldn¡¯t deny its incredible potential. The skill Parasite Domination particularly stood out. Normally, parasitic wasps would inject their eggs into caterpillars and other small insects, using them as living incubators. But as a dungeon minion, this ability had evolved into something even more sinister¡ªit could take over the bodies of small insects and turn them into subordinates. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a bit pricey¡­ but in exchange, I can gain extra minions,¡± Ordis reasoned. His minion limit was already restrictive, so the ability to indirectly expand his forces was invaluable. Even if these controlled creatures weren¡¯t true dungeon minions, having extra bodies to use in battle was an undeniable advantage. Watching his minions adapt and evolve, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride. It was becoming clear that his insect minions were far more intelligent than he had initially given them credit for. They were learning, strategizing, and even assessing threats on their own. D. Mosquito had already proven that by taking down a Parasitic Wasp without his intervention. But with this new opportunity came a difficult decision. He didn¡¯t have enough minion space to summon the Parasitic Wasp without making a sacrifice. Ordis hesitated, weighing his options carefully. In the end, he made up his mind. ¡°Sorry, little guy¡­ but I need to see just how valuable this new minion is.¡± With a reluctant sigh, he dismissed one of his D. Mosquitoes, freeing up the resources needed to summon his newest and most unique minion yet. Chapter 11 – My New Wasp Minion Doesn’t Just Kill… It took over! Ordis was no stranger to gacha games, and one of their core mechanics immediately came to mind¡ªfusion. In many games, players could sacrifice duplicate characters to power up one, either enhancing their stats or boosting their levels. It seemed his Dungeon System had a similar mechanic, allowing him to merge his minions. This was a pleasant surprise, especially since his number of minions was still quite limited. If the system let him fuse them to maintain balance, then he wasn¡¯t going to complain. Deciding to test this feature, Ordis chose to fuse two of his Dungeon Mosquitoes. He selected the weaker one, sacrificing it to strengthen the mosquito with the most experience. The moment the fusion was complete, the remaining D. Mosquito¡¯s strength noticeably surged. To his amazement, the boosted D. Mosquito immediately jumped from level 6 to level 10. That was a massive increase, much more than he had expected. If this was how things worked, then leveling up his minions might be easier than he initially thought. ¡°Well, that¡¯s pretty reasonable,¡± Ordis muttered to himself, feeling satisfied. If he could keep summoning and fusing weaker minions, he might be able to accelerate their growth far faster than through hunting alone. This was a game-changing discovery, and he couldn''t help but feel pleased as he looked at his first level 10 minion.

Dungeon Mosquito ¨C Level 10 Name: Dungeon Mosquito Level: 10 Rank: Common Mana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summon (Lv 1) Lifespan: 48 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon) Attributes: Abilities: ¡°Oh...¡± Ordis couldn¡¯t help but feel a swell of pride as he examined his minion¡¯s new status. It was like watching a beloved game character level up or a child growing stronger before his eyes. The thrill of seeing progress, of watching his minions evolve, was something he hadn¡¯t expected to enjoy this much. Even so, he couldn¡¯t ignore the small pang of loss¡ªD. Mosquito had fought alongside its counterpart, and now one was gone. Still, the gains far outweighed the loss, especially with the new abilities that had emerged. The most significant upgrades were the venomous bite and a radar-like detection ability, both of which would make D. Mosquito far deadlier in combat. With enhanced perception and a more potent attack, its effectiveness as a scout and a hunter had skyrocketed. These weren¡¯t just minor improvements; they were game-changers, allowing it to outmaneuver and strike with greater precision. However, the most shocking development was the rank-up. Reaching level 10 had elevated D. Mosquito from Lesser to Common, and the boost was far from ordinary. Instead of just a minor increase, the minion had received a substantial bonus¡ªits overall stats had doubled, making it significantly stronger than before. Yet the most absurd part was its size. With the Enhance Size Blessing boosting it by 15%, Ordis had expected D. Mosquito to be around 1.2 cm¡ªbut instead, it had ballooned to a staggering 2.5 cm. It had already surpassed the largest mosquito species on Earth. If things kept going at this rate, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªjust how massive could his minions become? Or maybe there were other path with his minion. Well, times would tell. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "Ha... If I were still human, I wouldn¡¯t even want to imagine a mosquito this big flying in my face." Ordis shuddered at the thought as he observed the newly evolved D. Mosquito. While it was still tiny compared to larger creatures, its size was already beyond that of any mosquito on Earth. More importantly, this was no ordinary insect¡ªit was a dungeon-born minion, capable of leveling up, evolving, and potentially growing into something even more terrifying. If things kept progressing like this, who knew what it would become in the future? "Hmm... Somehow, I can''t wait to see how far this little guy will go," Ordis muttered, his excitement building. He recalled all the games and fantasy stories he had consumed as a human¡ªwhere weak creatures evolved into absurdly powerful beings. If those trends held any weight here, then this mosquito wouldn¡¯t just stop at being large. Maybe, just maybe, it would evolve into something truly monstrous. A humanoid mosquito that appeared in that hero-themed manga, which look quite capable of annihilating foes but still lost to OP MC which one slap¡­ She was still strong enough that the thought could have minion like her sent a thrill through him. "Guhehehe... I can¡¯t help thinking like that." Ordis chuckled darkly to himself. It was a ridiculous thought, but also an entertaining one. Either way, what really intrigued him now was the fusion ability. He had already tested it by merging weaker minions into stronger ones. But was that truly the only function? "Maybe it¡¯s because I played too many gacha games, but I wonder... can I do more than just fuse them? Could I break them down into raw Mana for myself?" Ordis pondered aloud before shaking off the thought. "But I don¡¯t think that would be efficient¡­" A sigh escaped him as he glanced at the empty space where his sacrificed minion once existed. It felt a little disappointing to lose one of the creatures he had spent the last two days watching grow. Even if they were just dungeon minions, they had still been his first companions. "Well, no point dwelling on it. It¡¯ll all be worth it once I summon a new minion." Resolving himself, Ordis activated his summoning ability. In an instant, a surge of energy coursed through his core, and the dungeon trembled ever so slightly as glowing threads of Mana weaved together, forming the shape of his newest recruit¡ªhis first Parasite Wasp. A small but sinister dungeon minion, the Parasite Wasp measures around 7mm in length, with a sleek black exoskeleton and translucent wings that shimmer in the light. Its most notable feature is its barbed stinger, not meant to just for kill, but could do an inject a parasitic influence into weakened hosts. ¡°Oh... this minion looks really good. Alright, now let¡¯s see how the Parasite Wasp works.¡± Ordis watched closely as the newly summoned minion fluttered its delicate wings. Without hesitation, he sent it to the first floor, just as he had done with the others before. He was eager to see how it would operate in the field. With the D. Mosquito now larger and stronger and the Parasite Wasp added to his ranks, Ordis felt more confident in his dungeon''s minion offensive power. These two flying minions were now durable enough to handle most threats, at least against common insects. As long as they avoided predators like spiders, there wasn¡¯t much to worry about. So far, none of the true dangers to his minions¡ªfrogs, bats, or lizards¡ªhad wandered into the dungeon. That meant it was the perfect time for his new minions to hunt, fight, and level up without major risk. This time the two flying minions need not only prey on flying insects, but small insects on the ground as well. Ordis reviewed the movements of D. Wasp who was flying at an agile speed hunting for prey, of course her speed could not be compared to D. Mosquito who was already at level 10. However, she was still faster than level 1 D. Mosquito. He naturally wanted to see what Parasite Domination was capable of, but he thought it would be a good idea to raise it to level 2 first, especially when his minion could level up by killing ten prey. As Ordis suspected, it didn¡¯t take long for D. Wasp to level up to level 2. However, since she was summoned after Ordis had already given the Enhance Size blessing, she wouldn¡¯t receive any additional growth when leveling up. It was a bit disappointing, but for now, Mana Reverse was still too low to justify used those blessing again for her. Instead, Ordis shifted his focus to testing out D. Wasp¡¯s special ability¡ªParasite Domination. Back when he was human, Ordis never really studied insects like the Parasite Wasp, so he didn¡¯t fully understand how they worked. However, thanks to analyzing its body, he had gained a bit of knowledge. The Parasite Wasp used caterpillars as living incubators, laying its eggs inside them and letting its offspring hatch and consume the host from within. A gruesome but effective survival strategy. If Ordis wanted to make full use of this ability, he could have tried targeting other small insects as hosts. However, rather than experimenting with stronger prey right away, he decided to play it safe. He had already spotted a few caterpillars around, and they seemed like the easiest targets for D. Wasp¡¯s first test. With a plan in mind, Ordis directed D. Wasp toward the unsuspecting caterpillars. If things went well, this could be the start of a new method of growing his forces¡ªand this D. Wasp could be control more insect in the future when she rank up. To be honest, the battle was rather anticlimactic. The caterpillar had no real chance of fighting back. It struggled briefly when D. Wasp struck, but its movements soon became sluggish and awkward. It could be because the parasite try move this caterpillar body rather than itself. Ordis observed closely, noticing that while the caterpillar didn''t immediately obey his commands, as this insect counted as D. Wasp Grunt. If he issued an order to D. Wasp first, the command would then transfer to the infected caterpillar, making it follow his will. ¡°Well¡­ this is pretty nice, I guess,¡± Ordis muttered, in the end, he was quite happy to see he get another body in his dungeon. Chapter 12 – Dear Spiders, It’s Not Personal… Okay, Maybe a Little Half a day had passed since D. Wasp successfully took control of the caterpillar. Since it wasn¡¯t a dungeon-born creature, Ordis doubted it had any magic or notable abilities. Its stats were likely much lower than his summoned minions, making it less useful in combat. Watching it move, he noticed how stiff and unnatural its motions were¡ªeither the caterpillar was still resisting, or the parasite hadn¡¯t fully adapted to its new host. "Yeah... I don¡¯t think this little guy is going to be much help right now," Ordis muttered, his excitement fading as he observed the sluggish creature. It wasn¡¯t surprising, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit disappointed. He had imagined something more dramatic¡ªmaybe a parasite-infested caterpillar that could move with terrifying speed or release toxic fluids. But instead, all he got was a wobbly, barely functional bug. Thinking back to fantasy stories, he remembered caterpillars often had special traits, like spitting sticky silk to trap enemies. Unfortunately, real-life caterpillars weren¡¯t that convenient. This one was just... a slow, possessed worm. "Well... this is a little disappointing," Ordis muttered, still feeling underwhelmed by the caterpillar¡¯s lackluster performance. His attention soon shifted to D. Wasp, though, and his mood lifted. In just half a day, the wasp had already reached level 3¡ªa rate of growth that he could only describe as astonishing. Seeing this, his next course of action became obvious. "I guess it''s time to hunt for a real powerhouse to add to my minions, huh?" Ordis mused, accessing his system to search for the perfect target. His mind immediately settled on one creature in particular. Spiders. As someone who had spent his previous life enjoying anime, manga, and web novels, Ordis knew that spiders were practically a staple in dungeon stories. They were classic monsters¡ªversatile, dangerous, and often the first real challenge adventurers faced. Not to mention, there were plenty of famous isekai series featuring spider protagonists. Just thinking about it made him excited. "Man¡­ the idea of a spider evolving into an Arachne is exactly the kind of thing an isekai fan like me would love to see¡­ Guhehehe..." Ordis chuckled to himself, already picturing a powerful, humanoid spider minion under his command. If things went well, this hunt might just be the start of something incredible. "Oops, I shouldn''t let my imagination run wild," Ordis muttered, shaking off his excitement. He focused back on his system, scanning through the available information. "Hm... looks like there are several types of spiders in this place. But damn¡­ this one has a leg span of about 30 cm!" Just the thought of it made him pause. "If I were still human, I''d be running for my life right now. But as a dungeon¡­ this thing looks awesome. I want it." However, a hint of hesitation crept into his thoughts. The spider looked powerful¡ªmaybe too powerful for his current minions. As much as he wanted to recruit it, he couldn¡¯t ignore the risk. His minions weren¡¯t infinite; he had to cultivate them, level them up, and spend mana to summon replacements. Losing them carelessly would be a huge setback. He had been so focused on strengthening them that he hadn''t truly tested their capabilities against stronger enemies yet. His past human instincts told him the bigger animal meant more dangerous they were. But was that really the case? Ordis realized that despite all his planning, he hadn¡¯t once relied on the system for direct battle assessments. Maybe it was time to change that. "System," he called out, bringing up the details of the spider he had set his sights on. "Can D. Mosquito and the others even handle something like this?" [Based on current stats: D. Mosquito''s speed exceeding 20 grants exceptional agility, allowing it to evade most threats with ease. D. Wasp, with a speed surpassing 10, possesses sufficient mobility for rapid maneuvers. Risk assessment: minimal for both in open areas, but caution advised in confined spaces or against web-based entrapment abilities.] Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Is that so?" Ordis nodded as he processed the information. From what the system reported, his two flying minions were simply too fast for a spider of this size to catch. Their agility alone gave them a major advantage, making this hunt far less risky than he initially feared. Thinking about it, he realized something. "If level one minions start off at the same level as ordinary insects, then by leveling up and ranking up, they should already be far beyond their natural counterparts. Especially if they''re of the same species." His muttering carried a sense of newfound confidence. Not only had he underestimated their physical growth, but he also hadn''t factored in their magical abilities. If his minions'' skills and spells were taken into account, their combat potential was even greater than he''d thought. "Hm¡­ What about D. Ant?" he asked, shifting his focus. While his flying minions had clear advantages, his ground troops were another story. [Not recommended to let D. Ant engage the spider in direct combat. While D. Ant possesses strong mandibles and teamwork potential, its speed and agility are far inferior. The spider¡¯s natural ability to weave silk, ambush prey, and its venomous bite pose a significant threat. D. Ant lacks sufficient mobility to evade such attacks from big opponent,] "Hm, I wonder what would happen if I fused my D. Ants and ranked them up to Common." Ordis mused, a new idea forming in his mind. If he combined his two D. Ants, he could strengthen his forces significantly. To set up the perfect opportunity, he planned to use the P. Caterpillar as bait while summoning a new D. Mosquito as a decoy. With this strategy in place, he could maximize his minions'' efficiency and minimize danger to his beloved minion. "Yeah, this sounds like a solid plan." Ordis nodded to himself, deciding to go through with the fusion. As soon as he combined the two D. Ants, the resulting minion instantly shot up to level 10 and ranked up to Common. Just like with D. Mosquito¡¯s evolution, the increase in status was nearly double, but what stood out the most was the drastic size boost. Unlike the mosquito, whose growth was relatively moderate, the D. Ant¡¯s body expanded significantly, reaching a full 5 cm in length. "Whoa... This is insane. Almost a tenfold increase in size!" Ordis marveled, watching his newly evolved D. Ant. It was no longer just an ordinary insect¡ªthis was a miniature monster in term Ant size, a true soldier among his minions. If he wasn¡¯t so focused on his upcoming spider hunt, he would have spent hours simply observing its behavior and testing its newfound strength. Regardless, one thing was clear¡ªthis D. Ant had evolved into something far beyond its former self. Its stats were remarkable, its size intimidating, and Ordis couldn''t wait to see how it would perform in real combat.

Dungeon Ant ¨C Level 10 Name: Dungeon Ant Level: 10 Rank: Common Mana Cost: 2 Mana Reserve per summon (Lv1) Lifespan: 72 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon) Attributes: Abilities: With his plan set in motion, Ordis quickly summoned a fresh D. Mosquito and sent it to the first floor. The new minion buzzed to life, its tiny wings vibrating at an incredible speed. While individually weak, its role as a distraction was crucial. If the spider focused on swatting it away, even for a second, that would be enough for his stronger minions to strike. "Alright, everything''s in place. Now, let''s see how well this plan plays out," Ordis muttered, excitement bubbling inside him. This would be his biggest battle yet¡ªa true test of strategy, coordination, and the strength of his evolving minions. If they succeeded, not only would he gain a powerful new minion, but he¡¯d also confirm something important¡ªhis dungeon, especially the first floor, had truly become his minions'' playground, a place where they could grow, hunt, and dominate. Chapter 13 – Eight Legs, Eight Eyes… and Congrats me, it’s a been week since I became a dungeon’s Ordis watched as his minions moved into position, executing his plan with precision. P. Caterpillar was carried effortlessly by D. Ant, whose newly enhanced body made lifting the squirming bait an easy task. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the area where their chosen target¡ªa sizable spider¡ªlurked. As planned, D. Ant carefully set the caterpillar down in an exposed spot before retreating, leaving it to wriggle in place like an easy meal. While the caterpillar slowly made its way forward, Ordis issued his next command. D. Ant quickly activated its Burrow skill, vanishing underground as it dug a concealed tunnel toward the designated ambush site. The idea was simple¡ªcatch the spider off guard and strike from an unexpected angle. Ordis had considered a direct assault, but the cautious side of him insisted on taking extra precautions. After all, this was their first time dealing with a spider, and he didn¡¯t want to underestimate it. ¡°Technically, my minions supposedly already had the advantage. D. Mosquito and D. Wasp had speed on their side, while their magic attacks could likely overpower the spider in a straight fight.¡± Still, Ordis had no intention of taking unnecessary risks. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that fighting smart was just as important as being strong. At the end of the day, Ordis was someone who preferred a meticulous approach. He would rather take the long, safe route than rush in recklessly and regret it later. If that meant over-preparing for a simple battle, so be it. At this moment, Ordis had no reason to act recklessly or rush things. Every decision he made needed to be calculated¡ªespecially since he still didn¡¯t fully understand the true capabilities of spiders. Fiction often portrayed them as terrifyingly intelligent hunters or monstrous predators, but Ordis wasn¡¯t an expert on insects or animals. That lingering uncertainty gnawed at him, making him all the more cautious. Still, his plan was unfolding smoothly. P. Caterpillar continued moving, slowly inching toward the designated ambush site. It took some time, but eventually, the spider stirred. ¡°Huh¡­ that¡¯s good.¡± Watching from his vantage point, Ordis felt a small sense of relief. If the spider had chosen to stay in its web and wait for prey to stumble into its trap, his bait might have been ignored entirely. That would have forced him to rethink his approach. ¡°Well, I guess I still have a bit luck.¡± Ordis commented as luckily the worst thing, that didn¡¯t happen. The spider finally reacted, creeping closer to investigate the seemingly weak and defenseless caterpillar. From the way it moved, it had taken the bait without much hesitation. Ordis watched intently, his anticipation growing. The spider struck swiftly, snaring P. Caterpillar with ease. Not that it was much of a challenge¡ªafter all, the caterpillar had no real means of defending itself. Even as a parasite controlled by D. Wasp, it was still just an ordinary caterpillar in every other aspect. Its sluggish movements only made it seem like an even easier meal. It didn¡¯t take long for the spider to capture P. Caterpillar and attempt to carry it back to its web. That was exactly what Ordis had been waiting for. The moment the spider began moving, he commanded his newly summoned level-one D. Mosquito to fly in and cause a distraction. The small flying minion buzzed dangerously close, weaving erratically in the air, forcing the spider to split its attention. ¡°Okay, I think finally it happen¡­¡± Through the system, Ordis could see the spider reacting aggressively to the interference. It repeatedly swiped its legs in an attempt to catch D. Mosquito, its movements jerky and unfocused as it tried to multitask between handling its prey and fending off the aerial nuisance. Seeing this, Ordis grinned. The plan was working perfectly. With the spider thoroughly distracted, Ordis gave the signal. From beneath the ground, his first D. Ant emerged from the tunnel it had carefully dug, surfacing near P. Caterpillar¡¯s position. The ambush was executed flawlessly¡ªbefore the spider even realized what had happened, D. Ant had already dashed forward and clamped its mandibles down on one of the spider¡¯s long, spindly legs. With a single snap, the fragile limb was severed. The spider recoiled, but D. Ant was relentless. Its movements were swift and precise, darting around and striking again before the spider could properly react. Another leg was severed, then another. The spider was quickly losing its balance, forced to stagger backward. ¡°Ahahaha, that¡¯s amazing.¡± Ordis observed with interest¡ªhe had expected D. Ant¡¯s Strength stat of 18 to be effective, but witnessing it in action was truly satisfying. Add in the magic attacks from his other minions, and the battle was one-sided. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Still, a small part of Ordis remained curious about D. Ant¡¯s defensive capabilities. However, he wasn¡¯t about to let his minion take an unnecessary hit just to test it out. The moment the wounded spider retaliated, attempting to strike D. Ant with a desperate counterattack, Ordis gave his next order. His level-one D. Mosquito immediately swooped in, intercepting the attack and keeping the spider from properly targeting its attacker. ¡°I need to do that later. Anyway, it¡¯s time to finish this fight.¡± Before the spider could even attempt to recover, Ordis¡¯ two strongest flying minions joined the fray. From a slightly greater distance, both D. Wasp and the level 10 D. Mosquito finally made their move. D. Wasp dove straight toward the spider¡¯s head, focusing its attacks on the creature¡¯s many eyes, forcing it into a panicked frenzy. Meanwhile, D. Mosquito latched onto the spider¡¯s body, piercing through its exoskeleton and injecting its potent venom while also draining its blood. The sight of his minions relentlessly ganging up on a single creature was almost brutal. Ordis couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty since to be honest he was quite enjoyable scene to see. "I never thought I''d be so fascinated watching my own minions fight, kill, and even dominate like this. It¡¯s like witnessing an isekai protagonist in a manga, rising to power one battle at a time," Ordis mused, observing the clash unfold before him. Still, it was a necessary step for the dungeon¡¯s growth. His earlier concerns about underestimating the spider¡¯s strength had completely vanished. Seeing how his minions coordinated their attacks reassured him. D. Ant¡¯s overwhelming strength, combined with the speed and venomous strikes of his flying minions, proved that his strategy was more than effective. Within moments, the battle was over. The spider, having suffered multiple crippling attacks, could no longer stand. Its body twitched weakly before collapsing entirely. Ordis watched as his minions backed away, uninterested in consuming the corpse. Unlike regular creatures, dungeon-born minions didn¡¯t need to feast on their prey¡ªthey relied on the dungeon¡¯s mana for sustenance, and defeating enemies only recover some mana or magic. As expected, the dungeon quickly claimed the remains of the fallen spider. Its lifeless body began to disintegrate, breaking apart into shimmering particles before being absorbed into the dungeon. Ordis knew what was happening¡ªthe system was analyzing the creature¡¯s structure, processing its data so that he could summon his own version of the spider in the future. It didn¡¯t take long before a familiar notification appeared before him. [Successfully analyzed the body of a spider. You can now summon a spider as a minion.] ¡°Oh? I can finally summon spiders¡­ Ugh¡­ I can¡¯t wait.¡± Ordis grinned, his excitement bubbling up as he eagerly pulled up the status of his newest minion. Name: Dungeon Spider Level: 1 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 10 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 30 Days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 40cm (including Legs)

Attributes:

Abilities:

Ordis was thoroughly pleased with the Dungeon Spider''s status. Its summoning cost was higher than his other minions, but given its abilities and versatility, it was well worth the investment. Without hesitation, he decided to summon his first D. Spider, eager to see it in action. To make room for his new minion, he sacrificed the level-one D. Mosquito by fusing it with his level-10 D. Mosquito. Unfortunately, there was no noticeable increase in stats or abilities, which Ordis found disappointing. However, it made sense¡ªafter all, the sacrificed mosquito had only served as a distraction and had barely contributed in combat. With D. Spider now officially part of his forces, Ordis spent the rest of the day observing its hunting behavior. The spider moved with eerie silence, relying on its webbing and venom to subdue prey. Unlike his other minions, which mostly relied on direct attacks, this one had a more tactical approach, making it a valuable addition to his growing army. At the same time, Ordis sent his other minions to scout and hunt different types of insects. He wanted to expand his catalog of summonable creatures. He focused on capturing various caterpillars and other small insects within the dungeon''s first floor, hoping they would provide useful evolutionary options in the future. His mana regeneration of 55 minutes per point meant he could accumulate 26 mana per day, allowing him to maintain his growing army. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to sustain his dungeon''s expansion. As the day ended, Ordis realized something significant¡ªit had been a full seven days since he had awakened as a dungeon. A whole week had passed, and despite the challenges and he was still at rank 2. He was happy to see his minion was growing well. Chapter 14 – Welcome to Ordis’ Bug Nest! Warning: Ant Infestation in Progress. As the days passed and he had been a dungeon for a week, it seemed that Ordis was getting used to being a dungeon so his status even changed a little. In addition, he also as usual used enchance size bless and growth spurt for small plants to give the first floor and second floor more life. The situation on the second floor still didn''t look any different. However, the first floor was already practically filled with grass, mushrooms, and moss. Some of the plants even have flowers, which is a remarkable growth rate. It was therefore not strange that many insects entered this first floor dungeon. A prey to level up for the minions Ordis had. Currently, his minions were like this: D. Mosquito LV 12 D. Ants LV 12 D. Wasp LV 5 D. Spider LV 2 Ordis was very happy with what happened plus the current mana regeneration to 50 Minutes per Mana. It still felt like a long time to be able to Rank-Up as a dungeon because if he calculated that when he reached 30 minutes per mana he still had to spend a week before he could rank-up by making a new floor for him. ¡°Well, it seems like a long journey.¡± Ordis said as he looked at the status that had changed after a week. [Dungeon Status] Name: Ordis Type: Primordial Dungeon (First of Its Kind) Title: Crawling Abyss Rank: 2 Age: 7 Days Core Integrity: 100% Mana Reserves: 32 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Mana Regeneration: 1 Mana/ 50 Minute Territory: 3 Floors (Expandable) Dungeon Energy: 0 (Accumulates Over Time) Minion: Dungeon Abilities: Dungeon Expansion Costs

Environment Manipulation Costs [Summon Minions] ¨C Insect [Trap Creation] ¨C Small Spit [System Achievement Unlocked! Bug Collector Extraordinaire ] Reward: ¡°Oh, this is amazing,¡± Ordis muttered as he read the latest system announcement. After analyzing a wide variety of small insects, he had earned yet another achievement¡ªone that provided a small boost in mana and a passive skill that increased experience gain for insect-type minions. Given that his entire army consisted of insects, this was a significant advantage. Watching how easily his D. Ant had handled the battle with spider, Ordis realized that acquiring small creatures like ladybugs, beetles, moths, and butterflies would be no challenge. With D. Spider naturally preying on flying insects, gathering these minions was almost effortless, and it hadn¡¯t taken long for him to accumulate enough for this achievement. ¡°Hm, achievements and titles seem to offer powerful bonuses¡­ Maybe I should focus on unlocking more of them.¡± Ordis stroked his metaphorical chin, contemplating the best approach. If simply collecting a variety of insects had rewarded him with passive buffs, then what other benefits could he unlock? There had to be achievements related to combat, evolution, or even dungeon expansion. The system clearly encouraged variety and strategic growth, so if he played his cards right, he might unlock even greater perks. Still, what intrigued him most right now was the addition of butterflies to his roster. ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s any connection between caterpillars and butterflies¡­ Not that I really need to care.¡± He shrugged, dismissing the thought. More importantly, butterflies were clearly support-type minions, something his dungeon had been lacking. With their unique abilities, they could enhance his forces in ways none of his other minions could. Studying the butterfly¡¯s status closely, Ordis couldn¡¯t help but feel excited¡ª since it¡¯s abilities sound really amazing. Name: Dungeon Butterfly (D. Butterfly) Level: 1 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 6 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 14 days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 5 cm

Attributes:

Abilities:

¡°It feels like I¡¯m becoming a Pok¨¦mon Master or something,¡± Ordis muttered, watching his ever-growing swarm of minions terrorize the various insects they encountered. His dungeon had essentially turned into a hunting ground, filling his catalog with all sorts of summonable insect minions. If not for his mana limitations, he would have summoned them all just to see the chaos unfold. Still, his ambitions weren¡¯t just about quantity¡ªhe had bigger plans. Looking at the massive D. Ant, now far stronger than any normal ant, Ordis decided to put his theory to the test. He directed it toward the ant colony that had recently formed within his dungeon¡¯s first floor. If what the system hinted at was true, this wasn''t just a random encounter¡ªhe had the potential to take over an entire colony. ¡°If I can actually control a colony... this could be an amazing way to farm EXP,¡± Ordis mused. The thought of commanding an entire army of ants was thrilling. His 6cm-long D. Ant, already towering over the regular ants, had entered the nest of the Giant Forest Ants¡ªa species that had established a solid foothold near the dungeon¡¯s entrance in a surprisingly short time. Ordis had no doubt that his D. Ant could overpower them. As he observed, he considered his next moves. He had just acquired D. Spider and D. Butterfly, giving him a mix of attack and support units. However, with the colony conquest in progress, he realized he still lacked a proper ground-based force. Most of his minions were either fliers or solitary hunters. If this worked, even if he couldn¡¯t command every regular ant¡ªhe still have an army with minimal effort. ¡°The best part? I wouldn¡¯t even have to micromanage them,¡± Ordis chuckled. If his D. Ant successfully became the colony¡¯s ruler, he could sit back and let nature take its course. More ants meant more resources, more battles, and ultimately, more power for his dungeon. ¡°I¡¯m confident in D. Ant¡¯s strength¡­ but can he really handle an entire colony?¡± Ordis muttered to himself, watching his minion make its way toward the ant nest. Sure, D. Ant was stronger than any of the regular soldier ants, but numbers could be a terrifying advantage. If they swarmed him, even a powerful minion could get overwhelmed. His system map provided a clear layout of the colony, and with it, he could easily order D. Ant to launch a direct attack on the queen. But was that really the best way to take over? After all, the queen was the heart of the colony¡ªeliminating her might cause the ants to scatter instead of submit. ¡°Oh well¡­ Let¡¯s just see what happens,¡± Ordis decided, opting for a more strategic approach. Instead of charging in blindly, he had D. Ant use its tunneling skill to carve out a new entrance into the nest. This would allow for a surprise attack while also providing a convenient escape route if things went south. Better yet, he positioned a D. Spider near the exit, ready to ambush any ants that might try to retaliate. As D. Ant finally entered the colony¡¯s tunnels, the difference in power became obvious. Towering over the regular soldier ants at twice their size, and boasting superior defense, strength, and magic, D. Ant was an unstoppable force. With a single snap of its powerful mandibles, it crushed two, sometimes three ants at once. The battlefield turned into a massacre, with lifeless ants piling up as D. Ant bulldozed its way through the colony. ¡°Wow¡­ that¡¯s brutal.¡± Ordis whistled in awe as he watched the scene unfold through his system. He had expected D. Ant to be strong, but this was on a whole other level. The soldier ants tried to retaliate, biting and swarming his minion, but their attacks barely left a scratch. The difference in stats was simply too overwhelming. Even as more ants rushed in from deeper within the nest, the outcome didn¡¯t change. D. Ant tore through them like a predator among prey. The only question left was whether the colony would recognize its new ruler¡­ or if he¡¯d have to wipe them out completely. For now, Ordis sat back and enjoyed the spectacle. Even though D. Ant was overwhelmingly powerful, he couldn¡¯t fight endlessly without rest. After enduring continuous attacks from the colony¡¯s defenders, he finally retreated into the tunnel he had dug earlier. Ordis had assumed his minions didn¡¯t require food or sleep, but it seemed they still needed to recover their stamina and magic over time. Letting D. Ant rest for a bit was a wise decision¡ªafter all, this battle wasn¡¯t a mere skirmish but a war of attrition. As D. Ant exited the colony to recover, Ordis observed the aftermath of the battle. The tunnels were littered with ant corpses, yet despite the overwhelming losses, some of the surviving soldier ants still pursued D. Ant out of sheer instinct. Unfortunately for them, they ran straight into D. Spider, who had been waiting at the tunnel¡¯s exit. The moment they emerged, the ambush began¡ªD. Spider made quick work of them, turning the colony¡¯s last-ditch effort into a feast. Once D. Ant had recovered, he dove back into the tunnels to continue the assault. It became a drawn-out process of attacking, retreating, and letting the enemy exhaust themselves. With each return, D. Ant carved through the remaining defenders, slowly but surely establishing dominance. It was a war of patience, and Ordis had all the time in the world. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of battle, Ordis received a system notification. [D. Ant has successfully taken over the Forest Giant Ant Colony.] A victorious grin spread across Ordis¡¯ nonexistent face. ¡°Well¡­ that took a while, but I guess I have my own ant army of ant for now.¡± Chapter 15 – Help! There’s suddenly a Giant Hairless Ape in My Dungeon! Not long after, Ordis received another notification from the system. [Achievement Unlocked: Kneel Before Your New Ant Overlord!] Effect: ¡°Oh, more good stuff...¡± Ordis muttered, scanning the announcement with satisfaction. The once-thriving Giant Forest Ant Colony had practically been reduced to rubble. From thousands of ants, only a few hundred remained, forced into submission after the relentless slaughter. As the dust settled, another notification popped up. [You Gained First Colony!] [New Ability Learned: Environment Manipulation ¨C Colony Sanctification (7 Mana per week)] Effect: Colonies under Ordis'' control are blessed by the dungeon¡¯s mana, evolving into magically enhanced versions. Instead of mass-producing countless weak ants, the colony now lays only 1 egg per week, but each newborn hatches with stronger base stats, latent magical potential, and accelerated growth. ¡°Oh, another kind of blessing, huh¡­¡± Ordis mused, intrigued by this new ability. He had seen Enhance Size Blessing and Growth Spurt for small plants before, but this one required a weekly mana upkeep rather than a daily sacrifice. That was a relief. The trade-off was well worth it¡ªfewer but far superior ants, magically empowered from birth. Without hesitation, Ordis activated Colony Sanctification, feeling the slight drain of 7 Mana from his reserve. The Giant Forest Ant Colony would no longer be a weak, mindless swarm but a specialized force of elite minions. Now, all that was left was strategic placement. ¡°Alright, time to move,¡± Ordis decided, instructing D. Ant to relocate the colony. Instead of keeping it near the entrance, he chose a central position on the first floor, optimizing the ants¡¯ ability to patrol, defend, and expand. With the colony now a permanent stronghold, Ordis could finally begin shaping his dungeon. As noon approached, Ordis realized that today marked exactly one week since he had become a dungeon. And for the first time, he noticed something new¡ªsmall animals that thrived on insects had started wandering into the first floor of his dungeon. Lizards, toads, and other opportunistic insect-eaters had begun to make themselves at home, drawn by the abundant prey and the thriving plant life and fungi that had taken root in the humid environment. His primordial dungeon was finally coming to life in a more natural way. The once barren underground cave had transformed into an ecosystem, a miniature food chain forming right under his control. It was a fascinating development¡ªbut also an annoying one. ¡°Ugh¡­ I just finished growing my minions, and now these freeloaders show up to snack on them?¡± Ordis grumbled. While his insect army had grown significantly, these new intruders posed a threat. He immediately ordered his minions to avoid hunting near any of the predators roaming the dungeon. With the system¡¯s map, he could track their movements, ensuring his minions didn¡¯t wander too close to their natural enemies. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Still, despite the new dangers, Ordis was pleased with the progress of his minions. ¡°Although my bugs have grown quite a bit, I still have to be careful,¡± he mused. His D. Ant, for example, had made massive strides in power. ¡°Look at this beauty!¡± Ordis chuckled, watching D. Ant move confidently across the dungeon. After single-handedly massacring an entire ant colony, the little warrior had reached Level 15 and had grown to 9 cm in size¡ªnearly three times larger than even the biggest Giant Forest Ant soldier. The sight of D. Ant, now marching at the head of a squad of ten soldier ants, was both impressive and hilarious. His minions worked efficiently, hunting small insects and dragging a little of their prey back to the colony. Of course, 90% of the spoils went straight to Ordis, converted into Reverse Mana. Even so, Ordis knew D. Ant¡¯s evolution was far from over. While it had grown stronger, frogs and lizards posed a whole new challenge. Bigger, faster, and with a hunger for insects, they were a serious threat¡ªbut also a new opportunity. Ordis smirked. ¡°Guess it¡¯s time to see how far my minions can evolve.¡± However, Ordis'' attention was immediately distracted when he saw a sight that made him stammer. Because he could indeed see various deer, deer and also herbivorous animals roaming around the dungeon and eating the grass around the entrance of the dungeon. Because there were no large trees and the like, almost a half kilo radius in a circle was an arid grassland favored by grass-eating animals. Only they were never interested in entering the dungeon. However, there was a strange movement of the beast running away and not long after that two humans appeared walking from the wilderness and were seen entering the grassland area which indicated the boundary of the second floor of the Ordis dungeon so when in that area. If he focuses then he can listen to the sound of the system. ¡°Hm, just like you said, Mr. Rizwan!The animals are gathered here.¡± One of the humans who was practically dressed as a hunter spoke a language that Ordis was familiar with, as it was a local language with a strong accent from the country where he lived when he was a human. Ordis was so lost for words that he didn''t believe it until he needed to listen to the conversation of the two humans to confirm that what he was hearing was a familiar language. The local language of the country of Marupaya which was the country of his birth when he was still human. A small archipelago with three main islands located in the South China Sea right between various countries such as Fillipinya, Vietnom, Malaywah and the like. ¡°Wait, so I''m not only still on earth, but I''m in the same country I lived in as a human... from their language and dress it looks like I''m on this Gantalahon one of the three main island...¡± Ordis commented while looking at the human whose language, accent, and clothing could tell him where he might be. [Achievement Unlocked: Know Your Place!] Effect: ¡°Oh... this is amazing. Wait¡ªif they come in now, I don¡¯t have anything to protect myself!¡± Ordis muttered, a rising sense of panic creeping into his thoughts. He had a massive door blocking the path between the second and third floors, so he was technically safe¡ªfor now. But the fact remained: his dungeon was becoming more conspicuous. If humans discovered this place, what would they do? Worse, what if they realized the dungeon could accelerate plant growth and enhance the size of insects? ¡°That kind of discovery would make them go crazy... And if they somehow force their way to the lower floors and find the crystal on the third floor... That thing is me, damn it!¡± Ordis groaned, the thought sending shivers down his nonexistent spine. He had barely begun building his forces, yet humans were already knocking on his doorstep. His mind raced through possible solutions. He had just gained 25 Mana Reverse from his latest achievement, and his passive regeneration provided him with a steady trickle of 1 Mana every 50 minutes. But that wasn¡¯t nearly enough. To make any major changes to his dungeon, he needed at least one Dungeon Core¡ªsomething he didn¡¯t have at this moment as he only have precisely 66 Mana Reverse. ¡°Ugh¡­ There has to be something I can do about this¡­¡± Chapter 16 – Wait, What’s Happening… This Is Amazing… Humans, Please continue come inside Me More! A few days ago, Rizwan had scoped out this area from a distance. Now, standing before the entrance of a newly-formed cave, he turned to his younger colleague, Jomar. ¡°I came here to check things out because Anisa said something felt different after that big earthquake last week. He wanted me to investigate, and sure enough, I found this¡ªan entire cave system that wasn¡¯t here before, along with a strangely lush grassland.¡± Rizwan¡¯s gaze swept over the landscape. ¡°It¡¯s a new place, and it seems animals like deer have already started moving in. But the predators haven¡¯t caught on yet. That won¡¯t last long. So, Jomar, I want you to remember this place well.¡± He placed a firm hand on the young man¡¯s shoulder, his tone carrying the weight of experience. Jomar nodded with a serious expression. ¡°Understood, Mr. Rizwan.¡± He pulled out a folded map from his pocket, studying it closely before pointing to a location. ¡°So¡­ we¡¯re in this area, right?¡± Rizwan leaned in, nodding in approval. ¡°Good. That means you¡¯ve been paying attention. Now, you see why this place is odd, don¡¯t you? It¡¯s not just a new cave¡ªthis entire landscape has changed drastically. And that¡¯s the strange part.¡± ¡°Strange?¡± Jomar tilted his head. ¡°Yeah. If a cave this big formed because of an earthquake, the surrounding area should be a mess. There should be cracks in the ground, fallen trees, and visible root systems where the land split apart. But look around¡ªthis place is just an open, lush grassland. No broken roots, no evidence of trees being torn down, nothing.¡± Jomar furrowed his brows, glancing around with fresh scrutiny. ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ that is weird.¡± Rizwan crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. ¡°Exactly. A natural disaster should leave chaos in its wake, not a perfectly manicured field. Something unnatural happened here.¡± The realization sent a shiver down Jomar¡¯s spine. He had a feeling this investigation was about to get a lot more interesting. As the two men continued chatting, they scanned the grassland, carefully observing the landscape before finally approaching the cave entrance. From the outside, it looked like any other cave¡ªnothing particularly unusual. There was no elaborate stone archway, no ominous glow, just a dark, rocky opening leading underground. Jomar hesitated slightly. ¡°Are we¡­ actually going inside?¡± he asked, watching as Rizwan switched on his flashlight and aimed it into the depths. To him, this was just another cave formed by the recent earthquake¡ªnothing more, nothing less. ¡°Hm, I think it should be safe,¡± Rizwan muttered as he reached out, pressing his palm against the rough stone wall of the entrance. His fingers ran along the surface, his trained eye inspecting its texture. Then, with the careful precision of someone used to fieldwork, he pulled out a tool and gave the wall a few deliberate scrapes. Chip! A small fragment of stone broke off. Rizwan¡¯s brows lifted in mild surprise. ¡°Huh. This rock is harder than I expected.¡± He rubbed the chipped piece between his fingers, analyzing it with a thoughtful expression. Meanwhile, deep inside the dungeon, Ordis watched in absolute horror. Owooo¡­ THIS HUMAN¡­ HOW DARE HE DO THAT TO ME?! It wasn¡¯t pain¡ªhe didn¡¯t feel pain¡ªbut it was something worse. A violation. A blatant act of disrespect. No creature had ever damaged his dungeon before, not even the insects that built their nests inside. They adapted. They lived alongside him. But these humans? They were tampering with him. For the first time since his rebirth, Ordis felt something new: rage. This was the first time Ordis had felt this way¡ªviolated, disrespected, utterly offended. But in the end, there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. His mood soured, but attacking humans outright was a terrible idea. He wasn¡¯t ready for that kind of conflict, not yet. So, all he could do was sulk and act like a petty villain. "Ugh¡­ I will remember this¡­ Next time, you will pay for this¡­" He muttered dramatically, despite knowing full well that he had no way of enforcing that threat. Meanwhile, the two humans continued chatting, completely oblivious to the dungeon¡¯s growing resentment. ¡°Yeah, I guess it¡¯s fine to take a quick look around before I report back to Anisa,¡± Rizwan said, finally stepping forward, passing through the dungeon entrance. The moment he did, a sudden system notification popped up in Ordis¡¯s mind. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. [Achievement Unlocked: First Contact!] Effect: ¡°Oh? Free Mana? Sweet!¡± Ordis perked up immediately. The earlier insult to his body¡ªer, dungeon¡ªwas quickly forgotten in favor of this unexpected windfall. ¡°Alright, my dude¡­ You¡¯re forgiven for chipping my wall.¡± He then skimmed through the rest of the achievement effects and let out a laugh. ¡°Wait, does this mean I¡¯ve basically turned into a Venus flytrap for humans?¡± As Ordis pondered this revelation, Jomar followed Rizwan into the dungeon. However, much to Ordis¡¯s disappointment, no new achievement popped up. ¡°Huh¡­ so only the first human counted? That¡¯s a bit sucked¡­¡± Jomar, like Rizwan, swept his flashlight across the cave walls, scanning the dungeon¡¯s first floor while tossing a question at his mentor. ¡°Wait, are you talking about Anisa? The one working with that forest conservation group?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s with the Rainforest Alliance. They collaborate with people all over the world, and it¡¯s not unusual for them to stay in touch with earthquake monitoring groups. Apparently, they noticed some weird changes in the forest, which is why they sent me to check it out,¡± Rizwan explained. ¡°Oh, so Mr. Rizwan is part of that organization too?¡± Jomar asked, sounding intrigued. ¡°Hah! Of course not,¡± Rizwan scoffed. ¡°But those kinds of people love roping in locals like us for help. It makes things easier for them. Anyway, look at this place¡ªthe walls are oddly smooth, and the cave is surprisingly spacious. I''d say the ceiling is about three meters high, and the entrance is around six meters wide. It even expands the deeper you go.¡± He moved his flashlight around, taking in the bizarrely clean and structured interior. ¡°Huh, now that you mention it¡­ This cave does seem unusually clean,¡± Jomar muttered, his gaze drifting across the cave floor. Small plants and patches of fungi grew in scattered clusters, thriving in the dim light. ¡°And there are so many mushrooms¡­ They even sprout outside. Were they always like this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s weird,¡± Rizwan said, rubbing his chin. ¡°For a cave that supposedly formed from an earthquake, this place is way too alive.¡± His voice trailed off as he noticed something else¡ªmovement. The further they walked in, the more he realized just how many insects were crawling around. And not just on the ground¡ªmosquitoes swarmed in the air. Way too many mosquitoes. ¡°Damn it¡ªthese bugs are relentless!¡± Rizwan grumbled, swatting at the tiny bloodsuckers as they buzzed around his head. Jomar chuckled nervously. ¡°Yeah¡­ Something about this place feels a little too natural, huh?¡± Ordis watched closely as the two humans continued their exploration. His minions¡ªespecially D. Mosquito and D. Ant¡ªwere under strict orders not to go anywhere near them. Both had already grown unnaturally large for their species, and Ordis didn¡¯t want to risk the humans freaking out. While he was gaining mana from their presence, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure if letting them roam freely was a good decision¡ªespecially with his massive Mana Crystal sitting completely unprotected on the third floor. Still, he had left the gate between floors open, meaning the two explorers had nothing stopping them from advancing. ¡°This is¡­ a staircase?¡± Rizwan muttered, shining his flashlight over the carved stone steps leading downward. His brows furrowed. ¡°This place is way too artificial¡­ Maybe it¡¯s some old war bunker? A hidden military outpost from decades ago that got sealed off until the earthquake reopened it.¡± He stroked his chin, mulling over the idea. A heavy silence lingered between them before Rizwan finally exhaled. ¡°I don¡¯t know about this¡­ I think it¡¯d be smarter to head back and return with better equipment. We should also inform people about this place¡ªjust in case something happens.¡± Jomar, who had been quietly following his mentor¡¯s lead up until now, suddenly spoke up. ¡°Wait, Mr. Rizwan¡­ but this is a rare opportunity! Who knows what we might find? Treasure? Artifacts? I mean, this cave literally just appeared. Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste to leave without taking a proper look?¡± His eyes gleamed with excitement. Rizwan hesitated. He had a point. As much as his rational side told him to be cautious, there was something infectious about Jomar¡¯s enthusiasm. Damn it¡­ He¡¯s got that reckless newbie look in his eyes. ¡°¡­Fine,¡± Rizwan sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll keep going. But we stay together, and if we see anything weird, we turn back immediately.¡± ¡°Nice! Thanks, Mr. Rizwan!¡± Jomar grinned, practically bouncing on his feet. As they descended the staircase, Ordis silently observed them. Tch. So they¡¯re still going deeper¡­ For some reason, Jomar¡¯s eagerness unnerved him. It wasn¡¯t normal curiosity¡ªno, there was something else pulling him forward. Ordis had a sneaking suspicion that this strange phenomenon had something to do with him. However, he quickly noticed a difference in how Rizwan and Jomar reacted. Rizwan, being more experienced, seemed wary but controlled, while Jomar, less accustomed to such environments, appeared more affected by the dungeon¡¯s influence. Perhaps, Ordis mused, the dungeon¡¯s pull worked more strongly on those who were less grounded. He observed the two of them descending carefully down the stairs, their flashlights flickering across the stone walls of the second floor. The moment their feet touched the ground, Ordis felt a sudden jolt¡ªthen, a system notification popped up. [Achievement Unlocked: Descend Into the Unknown!] Effects: Ordis couldn''t help but grin internally. "Oh, this is amazing. I never thought I''d be this happy to have humans enter me¡­" He paused. "Wait. That sounded weird. But still! More humans, more rewards! Keep coming in, fools!" Chapter 17 – Humans Came, Humans Left—For Now ¡°Wait a minute¡­ if I can manipulate the second floor¡¯s structure, then stopping these humans from reaching the third-floor entrance should be easy, right?¡± Ordis muttered, his thoughts racing. His Mana Reserve sat at 101, just enough for some significant changes. A plan formed in his mind. He could block off the pathway leading to the third-floor door with a large wall, but instead of making it completely solid, he¡¯d leave small holes¡ªjust large enough for insects and tiny creatures like mice or rabbits to pass through. That way, his minions could move freely, but humans? Not a chance. But then, another thought struck him. ¡°Wait¡­ but what about the actual dungeon door? Can¡¯t they just open it anyway?¡± He turned his focus toward the second-floor door, a massive stone gate embedded into the cavern wall. It looked ancient, sturdy, and unmoving, radiating an air of mystery. His past life as a human had conditioned him to expect that dungeon doors would open automatically under certain conditions¡ªdefeating a boss, solving a puzzle, or something along those lines. Still, that was just his human logic talking. ¡°Hm¡­ System, how do floor doors actually work?¡± Ordis asked, wanting to confirm his suspicions. [No. At this moment, every floor door can only be opened by pouring magic into them or by eliminating all of your minions on that floor. You can modify this function in the future as your dungeon evolves. At this moment, humans still cannot open it.] ¡°Huh¡­¡± Ordis processed the information. ¡°So unless I willingly leave it open, humans are stuck unless they either figure out how to use magic or wipe out all my minions.¡± That was¡­ actually reassuring. But one more concern lingered. ¡°What if they blast the door open? Like¡­ what if they bring dynamite or drills or something like that?¡± [At this moment, your dungeon can only be destroyed by an explosion equivalent to an atomic bomb from World War II. As for floor doors, each one has a different level of durability. The second-floor door requires 20% of the power of an atomic bomb to be completely destroyed.] ¡°...Oh.¡± Ordis fell silent for a moment. 20% of an atomic bomb? That was still insanely strong by human standards. No normal explosives, hammers, or drills would even make a dent. Unless humanity was willing to drop a nuclear-level blast, his dungeon is fine and were practically indestructible. As for the doors, he felt like those 1/4 power of an atomic bomb still something difficult to get by this civil person. ¡°Tch¡­ well, that¡¯s good news, at least.¡± Ordis let out a sigh of relief. Ordis let out a sigh of relief knowing that his main mana crystal and the second-floor door were both incredibly durable. For now, humans had no means to force their way through. ¡°Looks like I don¡¯t have to worry about them breaking in anytime soon,¡± he mused. Still, a sense of unease lingered. Even if his core was safe, the constant human presence made him uncomfortable. If more of them came, his limited number of minions would be forced into hiding, unable to hunt freely. That would slow his growth, something he couldn¡¯t afford. His gaze shifted back to the two humans currently exploring the second floor. Unlike the first floor, which was relatively smooth and spacious, this area was a true cavern, filled with uneven terrain, hollow passages, and treacherous footholds that made movement tricky. The entire floor spanned nearly one and a half kilometers, and the third-floor entrance was located at the far end. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Reaching it wouldn¡¯t be easy. Ordis doubted these two would venture that far, but the dungeon¡¯s influence had a way of tugging at human curiosity¡ªpulling them deeper even when logic told them to turn back. Then, a wicked thought crossed his mind. ¡°Wait¡­ right now, they¡¯re on the second floor, and I have just enough mana to seal off the first-floor entrance¡­¡± He trailed off, his mind racing. If he closed the only exit, they¡¯d be trapped with no way out. Judging by the supplies they carried, they didn¡¯t have enough food and water to survive long. ¡°They¡¯d eventually starve and die¡­ and I could gather valuable analysis on humans.¡± A low chuckle escaped him as he entertained the idea. ¡°Not a bad plan¡­ Hahaha¡­¡± But then, a flaw in his scheme became glaringly obvious. ¡°Wait, wait¡­¡± Ordis paused, recalling something crucial. There was a woman named Anisa¡ªsomeone who knew where these two had gone. If they disappeared, it wouldn¡¯t take long for rescue teams to start searching. They¡¯d find the dungeon, and expose his existence to even more humans. ¡°¡­That would be a disaster,¡± he muttered, his excitement fading. Worse yet, if he scared people off too soon, no more humans would come inside. That meant no more mana gains for him. ¡°Tch¡­ trapping them might not be worth the risk after all.¡± With a reluctant sigh, Ordis abandoned the tempting plan. He needed to be smarter about handling humans¡ªnot just killing them outright. For now, Ordis decided to let them explore. Killing them outright wasn¡¯t worth the risk¡ªnot yet. If he started antagonizing humans too soon, they might bring in stronger forces. He needed to be smart about how he handled intruders. As he had predicted, the difficult terrain of the second floor soon wore the humans down. ¡°This floor is¡­ completely different from the first one,¡± Rizwan muttered, taking a moment to catch his breath. He shone his flashlight around, observing the surroundings. Unlike the lush greenery of the first floor, this one felt harsher¡ªthe ground was uneven, the walls jagged and rough. While there were patches of moss and small plants, most of the space was dirt and stone, making it inhospitable for anyone traveling on foot. Jomar, however, was reluctant to turn back. His eyes gleamed with an almost obsessive curiosity as he scanned the cavern. ¡°But¡­ I can¡¯t shake this feeling¡­¡± he muttered. ¡°Like there¡¯s something hidden here. Treasure, maybe?¡± Rizwan gave him a look of disbelief. ¡°What are you even saying? You¡¯re exhausted.¡± He shook his head. ¡°And unlike you, I feel¡­ uneasy. There¡¯s something off about this place.¡± He hesitated, glancing upward. ¡°For one, the air down here¡ªit¡¯s too fresh. We went deeper underground, but somehow, it feels just as breathable as before.¡± Rizwan frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not normal.¡± Jomar blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. ¡°¡­Now that you mention it¡­¡± He rubbed his temple, suddenly aware of how strange everything felt. ¡°Exactly,¡± Rizwan said firmly. ¡°We should go back. We can return better prepared, and maybe Anisa will be interested in investigating this place.¡± With that, Rizwan grabbed Jomar¡¯s arm and led him back toward the stairs. Reluctantly, Jomar followed. Before long, they ascended out of the dungeon, leaving Ordis behind. As Ordis watched them leave, he found himself analyzing their behavior. ¡°Hm¡­ this Rizwan guy has a sharp mind,¡± Ordis mused. ¡°He wasn¡¯t as easily affected by the dungeon as Jomar. Interesting¡­¡± The encounter had been brief, but it had given Ordis valuable insight into how humans reacted to his presence. Still, one thing bothered him¡ªthe mention of Anisa. If she truly was part of a nature conservation group, she might bring researchers or even government officials to investigate. That could be dangerous. ¡°I wonder¡­¡± Ordis muttered. ¡°¡­Will they come back?¡± Ordis observed the two humans as they left, already predicting that they would return. And when they did, they wouldn¡¯t come alone. Next time, they would likely bring more people, better equipment, and perhaps even a plan to explore deeper. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a problem for future me,¡± Ordis muttered, shifting his focus back to his dungeon. Through his map system, he could see the steady increase of small creatures entering the first floor. Lizards, frogs, and rodents had begun to explore the area, settling into their new environment. The first floor was slowly developing a natural ecosystem, just as he had hoped. The second floor, however, remained mostly barren. Its larger size made it take longer to attract wildlife, and the staircase posed a challenge for non-flying insects. For now, only winged bugs had managed to make their way down, while other creatures hesitated at the steps. Still, things were progressing. As Ordis watched over his growing domain, the seventh day came to a quiet close¡ªwithout any unexpected surprises. Mana Reserves: 116 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Chapter 18 – Plotting Again?! New Minions, New Prey, Same Dungeon Shenanigans! Part 1

Dungeon Ant ¨C Level 16 Name: Dungeon Ant Level: 16 Rank: Common Mana Cost: 2 Mana Reserve per summon (Lv1) Lifespan: 24 Days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 10.8 cm

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Ordis couldn¡¯t stop staring at the status screen. He had summoned his first true minion, and now, that minion had gained its first magic-based skill. "This Acid Bites... it wasn¡¯t just an ordinary attack¡ªit was a true magical offense." Ordis read the skill''s description, his voice filled with excitement. The Dungeon Ant¡¯s mandibles now secreted a potent corrosive acid, capable of burning through flesh and chitin alike. To test its effectiveness, the ant had bitten into a relatively small spider¡ªthough "small" was relative, as it measured about 20 cm in length, legs included. The result? Instant kill. The spider¡¯s body convulsed briefly before melting under the corrosive bite, its exoskeleton sizzling away into nothingness. "However, there was a clear limitation¡ªthe skill had a cooldown of one hour per use." Ordis sounded slightly sulky, speculating that this drawback was likely due to the low ambient mana on Earth¡ªperhaps if magic was more abundant, the ability could be used more frequently. Still, even with that restriction, Acid Bites elevated D. Ant beyond the realm of ordinary insects. "I mean, just look at this. Thanks to the leadership of the Dungeon Ant, a small squad of five Giant Forest Ants has formed under its command," Ordis remarked, watching as his D. Ant marched forward, followed closely by the five giant ants. Normally, this species was not particularly aggressive, preferring to mind their own business. However, now that they had a leader¡ªone blessed by Ordis himself¡ªtheir behavior had completely shifted. They had become a relentless force, acting with precision and coordination beyond that of typical insect swarms. Ordis observed with amusement as D. Ant led its squad on a ruthless conquest of the first floor. They clashed with other ant colonies, their superior coordination and new abilities giving them an overwhelming advantage. Even larger creatures were no match for them. Ordis watched as his minion hunted down formidable opponents such as the Giant Asian Mantis, the Goliath Beetle, and even the mighty Hercules Beetle. These creatures ranged from 12 cm to 17 cm in size, but against D. Ant¡¯s enhanced abilities, they stood no chance. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "Hohoho! This D. Ant is unstoppable!" Ordis chuckled, watching his minion dominate the battlefield. With every victory, Ordis felt an odd sense of satisfaction, as if he were making real progress in his strange new existence. [Successfully analyzed the body of a Mantis. You can now summon Mantis as minions.] Another addition to his growing army. The mantis was an intriguing minion choice¡ªfast, deadly, and efficient. However, Ordis felt that his current roster was already too insect-heavy. He wanted something different, something that wasn¡¯t just another bug. As he scanned his surroundings through his system, he noticed an abundance of small reptiles. "Geckos, in particular, seemed to be everywhere¡­ If I remember correctly, I used to hear their loud calls echoing in the bathroom when I stayed at my grandfather''s house as a kid." Ordis mused, reminiscing about his childhood in the mountains, where these reptiles were a common sight during his playful days. Back when ORrdis was human, he often saw them clinging to walls, darting away when startled. He recalled that most were between 7 to 15 centimeters long, though some could grow up to 30 centimeters. If he could summon a lizard-type minion, it would open up new strategies, especially since they were natural predators of insects. For now, though, his attention was drawn to another encounter unfolding before him. D. Ant, his strongest minion, had set its sights on an unfamiliar insect¡ªone that Ordis had yet to analyze. The creature in question was a Thorny Devil Stick Insect, a formidable-looking arthropod that stood out from its more delicate relatives. Unlike ordinary stick insects that relied purely on mimicry, this one was a heavily armored behemoth. It could grow up to 15 centimeters long, its thick, spiny body blending seamlessly with rough bark. Its most impressive feature, however, was the sharp, thorn-like spines on its legs¡ªperfect for fending off predators. "Hah¡­ but against D. Ant? That defense meant nothing." Ordis remarked, watching the scene unfold with unwavering confidence. The battle was brief but fascinating. The Thorny Devil Stick Insect reacted quickly, realizing that its camouflage had been seen through. It lashed out, using its spiked legs to strike at D. Ant, attempting to wound or deter it. Unfortunately for the stick insect, D. Ant¡¯s body was far tougher than the average insect. Its exoskeleton, reinforced by Ordis¡¯s enhancements, was nearly impervious to physical damage from creatures of the same tier. In a swift counterattack, D. Ant struck with brutal efficiency. Its powerful mandibles clamped down on one of the stick insect¡¯s thorny legs, shearing it off in an instant. The Thorny Devil Stick Insect thrashed in pain, but it was already too late. Another bite, and its thick, armored body was crushed with disturbing ease. Ordis winced slightly. ¡°Oof¡­ that¡¯s got to hurt.¡± As the remains of the defeated insect twitched on the ground, Ordis¡¯s system responded. [Successfully analyzed the body of a Stick Bug. You can now summon Stick Bug as minions.] Another species added to his growing list. Watching events unfold like this only made Ordis'' confidence in D. Ant soar to new heights. ¡°Yeah, I think it¡¯s time for D. Ant to try hunting something other than insects.¡± Ordis mused, scanning the dungeon for potential targets. Among the various creatures that had entered, geckos stood out. It made sense¡ªsmall insect-eating reptiles would naturally follow the influx of bugs that had been drawn in by the dungeon¡¯s passive abilities. However, there was a small problem. Unlike most other creatures, geckos weren¡¯t roaming the dungeon floor. Instead, they clung to the walls, just like the house lizards Ordis remembered from his childhood. He could almost hear the loud calls they made whenever he visited his grandfather¡¯s house in the mountains. This battlefield favored them more than D. Ant, who, while capable of climbing, wasn¡¯t as naturally suited for the vertical terrain. ¡°Hm¡­ should I send D. Butterfly to assist in the fight against the geckos?¡± Ordis pondered aloud. His D. Butterfly had already reached Level 4, and it currently hovered near D. Mosquito and D. Parasite Wasp, who were actively hunting together as a group. It was clear that his minions were starting to organize themselves into squads, with D. Ant leading the ground forces while the airborne minions worked together separately. At the same time, Ordis had two D. Spiders that also hunted in pairs, their levels close enough that they worked well together. They weren¡¯t quite as independent as D. Ant, but they were efficient. ¡°Well, that just leaves P. Caterpillar¡­ and I still have no idea what to do with it.¡± Ordis sighed. Unlike his other minions, he couldn¡¯t command it from afar, and its movements were painfully slow. For now, it simply stayed near the ant colony, feeding on fallen leaves while benefiting from their protection. If anything, it served as a natural defense, acting as a potential shield if the colony was suddenly attacked. With everything in place, Ordis prepared himself for another battle. He had gained several new minions so far, but he wasn¡¯t done yet. If D. Ant could take down a gecko, that meant he¡¯d soon unlock the ability to summon reptiles¡ªand that was an opportunity he wouldn¡¯t let slip away. Time : 8 Day 6 Hour Mana Reserves : 114 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Chapter 19 – Plotting Again?! New Minions, New Prey, Same Dungeon Shenanigans! Part 2 Ordis leaned back, observing his minions with a sense of satisfaction. ¡°Well, in the end, I think D. Ant is already strong enough to fight large insects with ease. In other words, this minion of mine should be able to take down a gecko without needing D. Butterfly¡¯s support.¡± He muttered while glancing at D. Butterfly¡¯s status. To be fair, D. Butterfly¡¯s stats were quite good. Its magic and intelligence were particularly impressive for a Lesser-ranked minion. However, the issue wasn¡¯t with its raw abilities but rather their impact¡ªor rather, the lack of it. Most of Ordis¡¯ insect minions were already far stronger than the average dungeon insect, making the buffs provided by D. Butterfly feel negligible. The debuffs it inflicted were even harder to notice since Ordis barely notice, except when they were fighting a big enemies. He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°The stats are solid, but it just doesn¡¯t feel like it makes a difference¡­ I wonder if I need to see in much bigger fight.¡± Name: Dungeon Butterfly (D. Butterfly) Level: 4 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 6 Mana Reserve per summon (lv1) Lifespan: 18 days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 7 cm

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Even with such a supportive skillset, Ordis decided that for this battle, D. Ant alone would be enough. The gecko was likely one of the weakest reptiles in the dungeon, so overwhelming it with sheer numbers seemed like the best approach. To ensure victory, he instructed D. Ant to take additional reinforcements¡ªfifteen soldier ants¡ªto act as backup. As Ordis watched, D. Ant and its squad scurried up the dungeon walls with practiced ease. The vertical climb posed no challenge to them, despite the uneven and rugged nature of the stone surface. The dungeon walls weren¡¯t smooth or artificial but rough and jagged, filled with natural crevices and protrusions that made movement both easier and more challenging depending on the creature. ¡°This should be an easy hunt,¡± Ordis murmured, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Soon, another minion type would be added to his growing army. With its Coordinated Assault passive skill, D. Ant ensured that all fifteen soldier ants moved in unison. Ordis watched as the ants encircled their target, executing the plan he had relayed to D. Ant. The gecko, now surrounded, twitched in alarm, realizing too late that it had fallen into a carefully coordinated ambush. Despite their numbers, the ordinary ants lacked the sheer strength to pose a real threat individually. Every time the gecko lashed out¡ªwhether with its sticky tongue, powerful legs, or flicking tail¡ªit sent some of the smaller ants tumbling down the dungeon walls. But they were relentless, clinging back onto the surface, unfazed by their comrades being gulped down one by one. Ordis had no idea how intelligent the gecko was, but he had instructed D. Ant to create an intentional opening in their formation. A gap that, at a glance, looked like an escape route. However, the gecko wasn¡¯t so easily fooled. Instead of taking the bait, it continued its natural attack pattern, snatching up another ant with its tongue. ¡°Tsk. If it were normal ants, your strategy might work¡­ but these ones don¡¯t know fear,¡± Ordis mused, watching the battle unfold. Unlike wild ants that might hesitate or scatter in the face of danger, D. Ant¡¯s control ensured its soldiers acted like a single, disciplined unit¡ªundaunted, unwavering, and willing to sacrifice themselves for victory. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Then, the decisive moment arrived. With the gecko distracted by the swarm, D. Ant finally made its move. Its Speed 18 stat allowed it to dart across the wall with precision, closing the gap in an instant. Even if the gecko realized the danger, Ordis was certain¡ªit was far too late for the reptile to escape its fate. What happened next was exactly what Ordis had expected. D. Ant, now measuring 10.8 cm with 1.1 cm-long mandibles, was a predator far beyond the limits of an ordinary insect. With a Strength stat of 25 and enhanced by both magic and skills, its Acid Bites attack added an extra layer of lethality. The moment it lunged, its mandibles clamped down right at the gecko¡¯s neck with terrifying precision. The result was brutal. A single, decisive strike was all it took¡ªthe gecko¡¯s head was severed cleanly. ¡°Oof... yeah, I figured that¡¯d happen,¡± Ordis muttered, watching the aftermath. ¡°D. Ant is really strong against small reptiles, huh?¡± It made sense when he thought about it. Ordinary ants were already capable of burrowing through solid wood and building colonies inside trees. Their mandibles alone were powerful enough to break through tough material. Now, add magic, skills, and dungeon enhancements into the mix, and the result was a creature far beyond what Ordis had originally imagined. Still, despite how powerful his minions had become, Ordis remained a pragmatist. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that one wrong move could cost him his best units. That was why he always played things as safely as possible. Maybe even too safe. If only he could see the status of other creatures like in a game, comparing them against his own minions would make everything so much easier. Instead, he had to rely on observation and strategy, hoping that his cautious approach would keep his dungeon thriving. [Successfully analyzed the body of a gecko. You can now summon geckos as minions.] [Title Unlocked: Serpent¡¯s Nest] Effects: ¡°Oh, I got another title, huh¡­¡± Ordis muttered, glancing at the newly acquired abilities. The effects felt similar to the insect-focused title he already had, though specialized for reptiles. However, before he could dwell on the possibilities, a notification popped up in his system. [You can only use one title at the moment. If you wish to use multiple titles, you must rank up. Do you want to switch titles now? This first change is free! Future changes will require a mana cost.] ¡°Ck¡­ what a cheapskate¡­¡± Ordis clicked his tongue in annoyance. He decided not to switch for now. At least he had the reassurance that he could activate it later when needed. Still, the new title confirmed what he already suspected¡ªhis dungeon was evolving. With D. Ant proving itself against small reptiles, his confidence grew. If his ants could handle geckos, then perhaps they could take on something bigger. ¡°Hm¡­ how about we go after a Sun Skink next?¡± he mused, checking the system for potential new prey. His dungeon naturally attracted various creatures, and it seemed that tree-dwelling reptiles were no exception. A visual appeared before him, displaying a sleek, agile Sun Skink lizard. Unlike the small gecko D. Ant had just defeated, this small reptile just a bit different, but still big enough differences. ¡°Oh, most of these lizards are around 40 centimeters¡­¡± Ordis noted. That was four times the size of D. Ant. He thought back to the spider he had fought earlier¡ªits total size had been around 40 centimeters, but that was mostly due to its long legs. Its actual body had been much smaller, roughly 7 to 10 centimeters. But this Sun Skink? It was all muscle. ¡°Well, even without a specialized reptile title, my dungeon¡¯s natural insect population is bound to lure in more predators like this¡­¡± Ordis smirked, already planning his next move. Either way, there was a significant difference between the spider and this Sun Skink. Unlike the spider, which had long, spindly legs making up most of its size, the lizard was solid muscle from head to tail. Not only was its total length greater, but its weight far exceeded that of the spider. Once again, Ordis found himself hesitating. His overly pragmatic nature screamed at him to reconsider. Even though he had clear proof that D. Ant was a powerful minion, he couldn¡¯t shake the fear of making a mistake and losing something that had taken a full week to reach this level. ¡°I could lose myself¡­¡± he muttered, recalling a painful memory. He had once rage-quit a roguelike game after his favorite character perished, wiping out all his progress. If losing a game character had been enough to send him into a fury, he couldn¡¯t imagine how much worse it would feel to lose a minion in real life. With a deep sigh, he reconsidered his options. ¡°Ha¡­ maybe I should just find another gecko. Or perhaps I should focus on something different¡ªsmall snakes or maybe frogs¡­¡± Ordis mused, running through the list of potential prey. For now, he would set his sights on something more manageable. He wasn¡¯t about to let recklessness cost him everything. Age : 8 Day 9 Hour Mana Reserves : 118 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Chapter 20 – My Minions Rule the Skies! (And Annoy Everything Below) Ordis finally allowed D. Ant to continue hunting small animals like geckos and insects while waiting for the rest of his minions to catch up in strength. Among his forces, D. Ant had clearly surpassed the others, standing at a different level entirely. The only one who came close was a minion created around the same time as her¡ªD. Mosquito. Name: Dungeon Mosquito Level: 15 Rank: Common Mana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summon (lv1) Lifespan: 48 Hours (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 7.5 cm Attributes: Abilities: With its enhanced body size, D. Mosquito now had a wingspan of around 12 cm, making it a dominant force in aerial combat. Small flying insects, especially those under 10 cm, were easy prey. However, some creatures still posed a challenge¡ªsuch as Stag Beetles and Longhorn Beetles, which had powerful mandibles and tough exoskeletons. Fortunately, D. Mosquito did not hunt alone. It formed a hunting group alongside D. Parasitic Wasp and D. Butterfly. Together, they patrolled the first floor, eliminating weaker airborne creatures like ladybugs, fireflies, locusts, and grasshoppers. Even armored beetles and small spiders struggled against them, though they could put up some resistance. The group¡¯s superiority in the air was undeniable, but they were not invincible. Ordis sighed, realizing how much stronger D. Mosquito had become compared to his other minions. ¡°It¡¯d be great if D. Parasitic Wasp had better stats,¡± he muttered, glancing at its status. The gap between a Lesser-ranked minion and a Common-ranked one was undeniable, and it made him curious about what would happen when his minions ranked up further. D. Ant and D. Mosquito were the closest to hitting level 20, and Ordis couldn¡¯t wait to see the changes that awaited them. Name: D. Parasitic Wasp Level: 7 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 8 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 5 Days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 2 cm Attributes: Abilities: Despite its new ability and enhancements, D. Parasitic Wasp still lagged behind D. Mosquito in both raw power and versatility. However, Ordis was hopeful that ranking up would give it a significant boost. He also turned his attention to P. Caterpillar, a minion that hadn¡¯t contributed much so far but held potential for future evolution. If it could rank up, it might become a valuable asset. ¡°Yeah, if that happens, I¡¯ll be happy,¡± Ordis muttered. However, something still bothered him. While his three aerial minions had absolute dominance over other flying insects¡ªand they could easily dispatching small spider which actually their natural enemies like Jumping Spiders, Crab Spiders, Orb-Weaver Spiders, and even Wolf Spiders¡ªthey struggled against larger and deadlier opponents. Huntsman Spiders, for example, required the help of D. Ant to be defeated. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Additionally, there was a growing concern¡ªreptiles and amphibians. Many of them, such as lizards and frogs, were natural predators of insects. While his flying minions had the advantage in aerial combat, they were not safe from these lurking dangers. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to rule the skies,¡± Ordis mused, ¡°but that doesn¡¯t mean we can fly wherever we want.¡± His minions had superior air dominance, but they still had to be cautious. If they strayed too close to reptile or amphibian hunting grounds, they would quickly become prey instead of predators. For now, Ordis had to carefully manage his forces, ensuring they hunted efficiently while avoiding unnecessary risks. The dungeon¡¯s food chain was still in flux, and his next priority was pushing his strongest minions toward ranking up. Still, one question lingered in his mind¡ªhow would his flying minions fare against their natural predators? ¡°I think with their size, they should be able to handle small frogs and reptiles, right?¡± Ordis mused as he used the system to locate potential prey. A small gecko or frog seemed like a reasonable challenge for his airborne squad. After some searching, he found a common tree frog roughly the same size as D. Mosquito. Ordis felt confident. The frog lacked the jaw strength to deal with an insect as large as his minions, and with their combined skills, they could easily overwhelm it. As the battle commenced, Ordis quickly noticed a stark difference between fighting small insects and tackling amphibians. His minions'' usual engagements were fast and decisive, but this time, something changed. The frog relied on camouflage and ambush tactics¡ªan approach that might have worked against lesser insects but was useless against foes equipped with sensory-enhancing skills. When D. Butterfly released its debuff ability, the impact became evident. The frog, once agile, moved with sluggish, heavy jumps. Swarmed by D. Mosquito and D. Parasitic Wasp, it panicked, trying to escape. But with D. Butterfly¡¯s influence weighing it down, the frog''s movements became erratic and ineffective. ¡°Yeah, D. Butterfly¡¯s skill works best against larger enemies like this,¡± Ordis noted, watching as the mosquito¡¯s venom and the wasp¡¯s neurotoxic sting further crippled the frog. Its struggle quickly turned desperate¡ªuntil, at last, it fell limp. Victory belonged to his minions, and Ordis couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. His flying squad wasn¡¯t just dominant in the air¡ªthey were proving to be a lethal force, even against creatures that were supposed to prey on them. ¡°With these three helping, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s impossible to defeat those Sun Skink lizards,¡± Ordis muttered, watching his minions work together. Just as he was considering their next target, a familiar notification popped up in his system. [Successfully analyzed the body of a frog. You can now summon frog minions.] ¡°As expected,¡± Ordis sighed, rubbing his metaphorical temples. ¡°It¡¯s always the first creature analyzed that I can summon, no matter how many other frogs I might encounter in the future. Kind of a shame... or maybe that restriction will change once I rank up?¡± He was still contemplating the limitations of his summoning ability when another notification arrived. [Title Unlocked: Swamp Sovereign] Effects: ¡°Another title, huh?¡± Ordis mused, feeling a sense of satisfaction¡ªthough not without some lingering greed. ¡°I wish I could get another achievement too... maybe with some bonus mana or something useful.¡± It was meant as an offhanded comment, but just as the words left him, another system notification lit up in his mind. ¡°¡­Wait, seriously?¡± Ordis blinked. ¡°Did the system just take that as a prayer?¡± [Achievement Unlocked: Three Kingdoms!] Congratulations! You have successfully expanded your dominion to command three distinct minion factions¡ªInsects, Reptiles, and Amphibians! True diversity breeds strength. Effects: ¡°Oh, this is amazing.¡± Ordis grinned, mentally reviewing the effects of the new achievement. ¡°Somehow, I feel like achievements are the only thing that makes this dungeon feel more¡­ alive.¡± Most of his previous achievements had come from battles, surprising developments, or major milestones¡ªlike the arrival of humans. But this one was different. It wasn¡¯t just about fighting stronger enemies but about building something new. It made him wonder¡ªwere there other hidden achievements waiting to be unlocked by experimenting with dungeon mechanics? ¡°You could say this system is still learning, just like me,¡± Ordis mused. His gaze shifted to a neglected menu¡ªTrap Creation. Until now, he had dismissed it as a waste of mana. But if achievements rewarded experimentation¡­ perhaps it was worth a try. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see if I can bag a Sun Skink with this.¡± With renewed determination, Ordis prepared to set his first trap, eager to test whether innovation could bring even greater rewards. Age : 8 Day 10 Hour 30 Minute Mana Reserves : 149 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Chapter 21 – Traps Are Just Fancy Pranks, Right? Part 1 ¡° ¡° ¡°I mean, just look at these stats!¡± Ordis muttered, examining D. Mantis¡¯s profile. Mantises were ambush predators, striking with terrifying speed when their prey wandered too close. Their bright green coloration made them blend effortlessly with dense foliage, making them deadly hunters in forests and gardens alike. Level: Rank: Mana Cost: Lifespan: ¡°Ah¡­ those were the good times.¡± Ordis allowed himself a brief moment of reminiscence before snapping back to reality. Shaking off the nostalgia, he turned his focus back to the battlefield. Since he had two spider he could fuse them and have another empty slot. ¡°For that last minion slot¡­ I want a snake,¡± he mused. A reptile minion would add more balance to his growing army. But for now, his attention was on something else¡ªhis trap creation skill. ¡°System, can you give me a detailed explanation of the Trap Creation skill?¡± If traps could prove to be a reliable strategy, then mastering them would be the next step in strengthening his dungeon.

¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 22 – Traps Are Just Fancy Pranks, Right? Part 2 As his commander ant lunged into action, Ordis made a mental note. Trap reset function... manual for now. That would be something to refine in the future. The 10.8 cm Dungeon Ant landed with a solid thud on the Sun Skink¡¯s back, its Hardened Carapace absorbing the force of the impact. The lizard screeched, its body twisting and thrashing, but D. Ant had already sunk its serrated mandibles deep into its flesh. A sizzling hiss filled the air as corrosive acid seeped into the wound, burning through the lizard¡¯s thick scales like molten fire. Panic set in. The Sun Skink whipped its tail violently, trying to shake off its attacker, but D. Ant¡¯s grip was ironclad. Its carapace absorbed the shock, allowing it to press its mandibles even deeper into the wound. The lizard¡¯s instincts flared, and in desperation, it rolled onto its back, attempting to crush the Dungeon Ant against the hard ground. A dull crack echoed as the impact reverberated through D. Ant¡¯s body. A direct hit. For a moment, its world spun¡ªthe force was enough to stun it slightly. But thanks to its reinforced armor, it endured. The Sun Skink took this brief opening to scramble away, its back bleeding profusely. But D. Ant was not one to let its prey escape. With a burst of speed, D. Ant lunged forward, its mandibles clamping onto the lizard¡¯s exposed throat. Acid surged, seeping into the weaker flesh with ruthless efficiency. The Sun Skink let out a final, strained hiss, its body convulsing before falling limp. Its once-pristine scales were now corroded and melted, the fatal wound marking the end of its struggle. Victory belonged to D. Ant. It wasn¡¯t the clean, decisive win Ordis had hoped for¡­ but a win was a win. The lizard had struggled, fought back, and even attempted to escape, yet in the end, the dungeon¡¯s strategy had prevailed. Just as Ordis was reflecting on the battle, a new notification popped up. [Achievement Unlocked: The First Step to Master Trapper!] Congratulations! You have successfully defeated an enemy by the help a trap for the first time. A true hunter knows that brute force isn¡¯t always the answer¡ªsometimes, cunning and preparation pave the road to victory. Effects: So the system really did recognize his efforts. A small sense of satisfaction welled up within him. This wasn¡¯t just about brute strength¡ªit was proof that traps could become a crucial weapon in his arsenal. Skimming through the effects, Ordis noted the mana reward and the new Trap Insight (Lesser) ability, which promised to improve his understanding of traps. That alone was useful, but the Trap Efficiency Boost caught his attention. Even if it only applied to small traps, a 5% mana reduction and a 10% trigger speed boost were nothing to scoff at. And Hidden Threat? That could be a game-changer against smarter prey. ¡°A small haul, but still a worthwhile one,¡± Ordis mused. His dungeon was evolving, and this was only the beginning. With better traps and better planning, future battles would be even more efficient. ¡°Okay, so we can reset it, right?¡± Ordis muttered, confirming the trap¡¯s functionality as he paid 1 mana to reset the used pitfall. Immediately, the ground shifted, reconstructing itself as if the trap had never been triggered. Satisfied, he watched as D. Ant casually walked across it without issue. It seemed the system had some built-in friendly fire prevention¡ªan incredibly useful feature. ¡°I wonder¡­ will this trap trigger on something as small as an ant? That wouldn¡¯t be worth it,¡± Ordis mused, checking the system for settings. If tiny creatures kept activating it, it would just be a waste of mana. ¡°Can I set this trap to only activate for creatures bigger than 50 centimeters?¡± [Affirmative.] ¡°Huh, I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡± A grin formed on his metaphorical face. With this control, he could optimize trap usage and prevent unnecessary activations. Now, he just needed to make sure something actually fell into it. ¡°Maybe I should position D. Mantis and D. Spider nearby. If something gets caught, they can have a feast waiting.¡± He gave the command, sending the three hunting minions into their respective areas while ensuring they all had the trap as their meeting point. With luck, something would wander in soon. But a lingering thought struck him¡ªwould just waiting be enough? This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Do I need bait?¡± He pondered aloud. Luring in prey would be much more efficient than waiting for something to stumble in by chance. The problem was, what could he use? He had no meat, no strong scents¡­ Then, his eyes landed on a specific creature in his system. ¡°Oh¡­ this could work.¡± His gaze settled on P. Caterpillar, a sluggish, unimpressive creature under D. Parasite Wasp¡¯s command. It had no special combat abilities, nor did it contribute much to dungeon efficiency. However, it was durable. Despite being slow and seemingly defenseless, even spider attacks had trouble killing it. That durability was likely due to its diet¡ªfed consistently by the ant colony and bolstered by the dungeon¡¯s blessings, it had grown into a massive 6-centimeter caterpillar. Larger than its natural counterparts, it now looked plump and juicy¡ªa tempting treat for hungry frogs or lizards. ¡°Yeah¡­ this might actually work.¡± Ordis chuckled to himself. A live, wriggling bait would be far more effective than any random scraps. All he had to do was set it up, sit back, and let nature take its course. ¡°Either ways, this D. Spider status already amazing.¡± Name: Dungeon Spider Level: 5 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 10 Mana Reserve per summon Lifespan: 30 Days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 45cm (including Legs) Attributes: Abilities: Ordis grinned as he watched D. Spider effortlessly take down large insects like mantises and stick bugs. With a precise Silk Shot, the enhanced webbing¡ªbolstered by magic¡ªcompletely immobilized its prey, rendering them defenseless. Within seconds, D. Spider would strike with its venomous bite, paralyzing its victims before finishing them off with swift, calculated attacks. ¡°Well, thanks to Silk Shot, hunting has become much easier and faster,¡± Ordis mused, observing how the Dungeon Spider fired its web through its spinnerets, located at the rear end of its abdomen. ¡°Its stats are also amazing¡­ It¡¯s almost comparable to the Common-rank Dungeon Ant at this point.¡± He couldn''t help but feel excited about its potential. With every successful hunt, his minions grew stronger, and his dungeon ecosystem flourished. Meanwhile, D. Mantis silently lurked, its sharp gaze scanning the area for prey. Above the trap, P. Caterpillar continued munching on leaves. When it wasn¡¯t eating, it aimlessly wandered in circles near the trap¡¯s edge, its sluggish movements mimicking an easy meal for predators. Eventually, when exhausted, it would simply lie down and wiggle slightly¡ªjust enough to attract attention. And soon, a predator came. A Sun Skink Lizard, the same species as before, noticed the unprotected caterpillar. Drawn by what appeared to be an effortless meal, it cautiously approached. The moment its tongue flicked out, testing the air, its instincts didn¡¯t warn it of any danger. With a quick step forward, the lizard lunged¡ªonly for the ground beneath it to suddenly collapse. Snap! The trap activated instantly, and the lizard tumbled into the one-meter-deep pit, its claws scraping against the dirt as it tried to stop its fall. Ordis smirked. ¡°Hook, line, and sinker.¡± ¡°Oh? There¡¯s a difference with this trap¡­¡± Ordis muttered, watching the scene unfold. Unlike the previous encounter, where the Sun Skink Lizard immediately reacted and tried to escape, this time, it seemed¡­ stunned. It lasted only three seconds, but even that brief delay was enough. Those three seconds gave his minions the extra time needed to arrive at the edge of the trap. The lizard twitched, shaking off the stun before attempting to scramble up the dirt walls. But something was off¡ªit couldn¡¯t climb out. Ordis narrowed his gaze, noticing how the lizard¡¯s claws failed to find proper traction. ¡°Ah, I see¡­ the trap walls must be too smooth or loose for it to grip.¡± Twenty seconds passed, and the lizard still struggled to escape, slipping back down every time it tried to climb. An easy prey. Level 5 D. Spider was the first to act, launching a Silk Shot straight at the lizard. Strands of enhanced webbing wrapped tightly around its limbs, further restricting its movements. Then, Level 3 D. Spider and D. Mantis descended into the pit. More Silk Shots fired. One, two, three¡­ five in total. The lizard¡¯s frantic movements grew sluggish under the continuous bombardment, layers of silk trapping its limbs and snout. The five Silk Shots were more than enough. The Sun Skink Lizard was completely immobilized, wrapped in layer upon layer of sticky webbing. D. Spider (Level 3) seized the opportunity, scuttling forward and delivering a venomous bite. The lizard twitched, its body slowly succumbing to paralysis. D. Mantis followed immediately, its scythe-like forelimbs striking down. Unlike the spiders, the mantis had no venom¡ªbut its attacks were brutal. Each slash not only inflicted deep wounds but also triggered its Bleeding debuff, making the lizard¡¯s condition even worse. Ordis smirked as he watched the execution unfold. This is going smoother than expected. It was an effortless kill. More importantly, this test proved something: the trap wasn¡¯t just a simple pitfall. For a few seconds, it actually stunned its victims. And beyond that, there seemed to be an unseen time limit¡ªeven if the prey struggled, it simply couldn¡¯t escape before that timer expired. "...Isn¡¯t this kind of broken?" Ordis muttered. A trap that stunned enemies and prevented escape? That was practically a cheat ability. Not that he was complaining. If anything, this was an amazing feature. He never realized just how effective traps could be. Maybe he needed to start using them more¡ªwho knew what other achievements he could unlock? Unfortunately, no new Achievement popped up for this kill. ¡°Tch. That¡¯s too bad¡­¡± Ordis grumbled. Still, his eighth day as a dungeon ended on a productive note. As usual, he spent 15 Mana to bestow his daily Dungeon Blessing as a new day came. Thanks to his previous achievement, he also received +5 Mana per day, leaving him at 143 Mana Reserve. Not a bad way to end the day and welcome another new days. Age : 9 Day Mana Reserves : 128 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) Chapter 23 – Amphibians and Reptiles Have Arrived… But D. Spider Reigns Supreme! Name: Dungeon Frog ¨C Level 3 Level: 3 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 8 Mana Reserve per summon (lv1) Lifespan: 14 days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 7.9 cm Attributes:

Abilities:

Name: Dungeon Gecko ¨C Level 3 Level: 3 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 9 Mana Reserve per summon (lv1) Lifespan: 15 days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 12.1 cm Attributes:

Abilities:

¡°These guys have decent stats¡­ but aren¡¯t their abilities kind of underwhelming?¡± Ordis muttered, eyeing his two newest minions¡ªDungeon Frog and Dungeon Gecko¡ªas they roamed the dungeon floor. Despite being mere reptiles and amphibians, their base stats rivaled the highest-leveled insects he had so far. However, their abilities didn¡¯t seem all that impressive. Even so, Ordis could tell that his dungeon¡¯s blessings, combined with various achievement effects, had significantly sped up the growth of his minions. Compared to the early days, leveling them up was almost effortless now. Beyond his minions, the dungeon itself had undergone a remarkable transformation. After nine days, the entire surface of the first floor had become a lush ecosystem, filled with plant life, fungi, and moss creeping up the walls. Thanks to the dungeon¡¯s blessings, some of these plants and mushrooms had grown to abnormally large sizes¡ªmuch bigger than their counterparts outside. The same applied to insects. Ordis had started noticing that various small bugs were now about 10-20% larger than their wild counterparts, a clear sign of how much his dungeon¡¯s influence was altering the ecosystem. This made him wonder¡ªwhen humans finally stumbled upon this place, how long would it take for them to realize something unnatural was happening? ¡°Hm¡­ When people show up, they¡¯re going to notice something¡¯s off right away,¡± Ordis mused, shifting his focus away from the first floor and onto the second. The second floor had only recently begun showing signs of life, and with it being twice the size of the first floor, its development was naturally slower. However, near the stairway leading deeper into the dungeon, Ordis could already sense creatures settling in. Unlike the first floor, the second floor had something that made it unique¡ªan abundant water source. Small streams trickled along the rocky terrain, feeding into pools of clear water. This alone would allow an entirely different set of creatures to thrive here compared to the floor above. With the environment rapidly evolving, Ordis couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°This place is coming together nicely,¡± he thought. The Dungeon Spider had proven itself to be one of Ordis¡¯ most effective minions. It wasn¡¯t the strongest in raw damage¡ªthat title still belonged to the Dungeon Ant¡ªbut what it lacked in brute force, it made up for in versatility. With its ability to fire Silk Shots and immobilize enemies, it acted as both an attacker and a valuable support unit. However, its main limitation was that it could only fire five Silk Shots before needing nearly an hour to replenish them, averaging one shot every twenty minutes. A strategic tool, but not an infinite one. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. At level 7, Ordis decided to do something he hadn¡¯t attempted since his early days¡ªfusion. By combining two of the same minion species, he had previously managed to rank them up, unlocking greater potential. Now, he planned to do the same with his Level 7 Dungeon Spider and a Level 5 counterpart. This would push the result to Level 10 and elevate its rank to Common, making it significantly stronger. More than just increasing power, this fusion would free up a minion slot¡ªone he intended to use for something new. A snake. While he hadn¡¯t successfully analyzed one yet, Ordis was confident that his upgraded minions could take on a small snake in battle. With the right strategy¡ªlike creating a pitfall trap to stun it¡ªvictory would be all but assured. Through careful observation, he had discovered that creatures falling into a magically reinforced pit remained trapped for thirty full seconds, unable to escape. That alone would give his forces plenty of time to strike. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what we get.¡± Ordis muttered as he activated the fusion process. Dungeon Mosquitoes had doubled in size upon ranking up. Dungeon Ants had grown nearly five times larger. But the Dungeon Spider? At Level 7, it was already an imposing 60 cm in size. If its growth followed a similar pattern¡­ Would it reach 90 cm? Or perhaps even double in size? A massive spider over 180 cm¡ªincluding its legs¡ªwould be a true fantasy monster, the kind found in terrifying dungeon stories. The mere thought sent shivers of excitement through Ordis. Then, as the fusion completed, the newly ranked-up Dungeon Spider emerged. And it did not disappoint. It was beautiful. Not in the conventional sense, but in the way that a true dungeon horror could be¡ªa perfect fusion of power, elegance, and fear. Its body gleamed with a hardened, near-metallic sheen, and its many legs moved with eerie, predatory grace. The patterns on its body pulsed faintly with mana, proof of its enhanced magical abilities. It no longer looked like a mere oversized spider¡ªit was a true dungeon beast, a nightmare given form. Ordis grinned. ¡°This¡­ this is what a dungeon minion should look like. And don¡¯t forget with the status she had.¡± Name: Dungeon Spider Level: 10 Rank: Common Mana Cost: 10 Mana Reserve per summon (lv1) Lifespan: 45 Days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 181cm (including Legs)

Attributes:

Abilities:

The newly evolved Dungeon Spider was nothing short of terrifying¡ªat least, to anyone but Ordis. To him, she was a masterpiece. With a total body length of 80 cm, her cephalothorax¡ªthe upper body and head¡ªmeasured around 35 cm, while her abdomen stretched to 45 cm. But it was her eight long legs that truly made her monstrous, each reaching 50 cm in length. When standing at full height, she nearly reached a meter tall. Combined with her weight of 42 kg, she was no longer just a large spider¡ªshe was a dungeon predator of nightmarish proportions. Her exoskeleton gleamed under the dim dungeon light, a hardened chitinous armor with a dark, glossy finish. The jagged black and red patterns running across her body only added to her menacing presence. Designed for durability, her shell could withstand slashing attacks with ease, turning her into a living fortress of fangs and silk. Her eight eyes¡ªfour large, four small¡ªgleamed with an eerie intelligence. But the most striking feature? Her fangs. Serrated, razor-sharp, and each measuring a staggering 15 cm in length, they dwarfed even the teeth of the largest crocodiles in this world. If a human were to see her, they wouldn¡¯t think of her as just a big spider. They¡¯d see a monster. But to Ordis, she was perfection. With her alone, his dungeon had found its apex predator. A creature that could kill deer and rabbits with ease. A true ruler of his domain. "Yeah, at this point, she¡¯s more than capable of hunting a snake on her own..." Ordis mused, watching his newly evolved Dungeon Spider move with confidence. Initially, he had planned to target small, harmless snakes like the paradise tree snake, which measured between 70 to 120 cm and had no venom. But now, he could afford to set his sights higher¡ªtoward more dangerous prey. Fortunately, the dungeon had yet to attract massive serpents like the Reticulated Python or the King Cobra. However, medium-sized snakes had already begun to appear, including the sunbeam snake and the green pit viper. Both presented unique challenges. The sunbeam snake, ranging from 120 to 180 cm, was non-venomous but large and powerful. Meanwhile, the green pit viper, though shorter at 60 to 90 cm, carried a potent venom that could incapacitate its prey with a single bite. Ordis weighed his options carefully. In the end, he chose to prioritize size over venom. His reasoning was simple¡ªthrough his dungeon''s analysis system, he had noticed that even creatures without inherent venom sometimes gained poison-related abilities upon leveling up. If that trend continued, his minions would eventually develop toxic traits regardless of the species he summoned. But size? That was something he couldn¡¯t create through skill upgrades alone. With his decision made, Ordis focused on the unfolding hunt. His beloved D. Spider was already making her move, her eight legs moving silently toward her target¡ªa sleek, iridescent sunbeam snake, a full 180 cm in length. This was going to be interesting. Age : 9 Day 40 Minute Mana Reserves : 129 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) 1 Mana per 40 Minute Chapter 24 – Who Needs a Guard Dog When You Have a Giant Murder Spider? ¡°Well, this is interesting especially to me, not to others especially the earth.¡± Ordis muttered as he watched the massive D. Spider prowl across the first floor. Despite her enormous size, she moved with eerie speed, a silent predator that defied expectations. Spiders weren¡¯t the type to chase¡ªthey were ambush predators. And now, she was proving exactly why that strategy worked. The moment she located the sunbeam snake, she immediately scaled the dungeon walls, her legs clinging effortlessly as she crept toward the ceiling. Then, without hesitation, she positioned herself directly above her prey, ready to strike. Ordis watched in anticipation as she fired her first Silk Shot¡ªonly this time, something was different. Instead of the usual web thread, the shot was thinner but had a much wider spread. As it expanded mid-air, it became clear¡ªthis was an AOE web blast, covering an area nearly 30 to 50 centimeters wide before landing squarely on the snake. The poor reptile barely had time to react before it was caught, its movements restricted just enough for what came next. Ordis barely had time to process the implications before D. Spider unleashed her follow-up attack. This time, instead of a spread-out web, she fired a thick silk spear, nearly five centimeters thick and up to two meters long, slamming mercilessly into the snake¡¯s head. But she didn¡¯t stop there. Another silk spear struck the midsection. Then another, pinning it in place. And finally, the last one nailed the tail to the ground. The result? Absolute stillness. Ordis stared in awe. The once-writhing snake was now completely immobilized, locked in place like some twisted art installation. It was a simple yet terrifyingly efficient strategy¡ªstun the target with a wide web blast, then pin every vital point with silk spears to ensure total immobilization. "Yeah¡­ she''s not just big. She''s tactical. That¡¯s way more terrifying," Ordis muttered, both impressed and very happy with this situation. Before D. Spider even descended from the ceiling, its hunt was already over. With eerie precision, the massive arachnid positioned itself directly above the immobilized snake, its eight glossy eyes locked onto its prey. Then, like a horror movie monster making its grand finale, it plunged its serrated 15 cm fangs straight into the most vulnerable spot on the snake¡¯s body. If the silk hadn¡¯t already rendered the poor reptile completely helpless, the venom would have sealed its fate. Not that Ordis could even see a reaction¡ªbecause, well, the snake wasn¡¯t moving at all. It had been gift-wrapped and frozen in place like some kind of exotic museum display. What a poor, unfortunate serpent. But in the end, his body eaten by Ordis¡¯s dungeon. [Successfully analyzed the body of a snake. You can now summon Snake as a minion.] Name: Dungeon Snake Level: 1 Rank: Lesser Mana Cost: 15 Mana Reserve per summon (Lv1) Lifespan: 30 days (unless sustained by the dungeon) Size: 150 cm Attributes: Abilities: ¡°Hah! Just like I thought!¡± Ordis grinned, barely able to contain his excitement. ¡°Even though I analyzed a non-venomous snake, the system still gave me poison abilities. Genius! Absolute genius!¡± He chuckled to himself, patting his metaphorical back. He was truly a visionary. A mastermind. A pioneer in dungeon biology! Then reality hit. ¡°Wait¡­ 15 mana per summon?¡± His excitement fizzled as he stared at the Dungeon Snake¡¯s cost. He quickly did the math. Right now, he had eight minions in play¡ªthough, thanks to his achievements, he had extra special slots: three for insects, one for reptiles, and one for amphibians. Merging his D. Spiders had freed up one more regular slot, which was perfect for his new snake minion. Still, mana management was becoming a serious pain. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s break this down,¡± he muttered, entering full accountant mode. ¡°I regenerate one mana every 40 minutes, plus an extra five mana per day from achievements. That¡¯s a total of around 41 mana per day if I include natural regen. But then there¡¯s the daily dungeon upkeep¡­¡± His metaphorical eyebrows furrowed. Blessing each floor used to cost only 15 mana per day, but now that the second floor was coming to life, it had jumped to 20 mana per day. Small insects had started showing up, which was great for dungeon biodiversity¡ªbut terrible for his energy economy. ¡°Wait, that means after covering dungeon upkeep, I¡¯ll only have 20 mana left per day to spare¡­ And if I need 5 Dungeon Energy to create a new permanent minion¡­¡± He trailed off, slowly realizing the horrifying truth. ¡°Damn it! That¡¯s gonna take me nearly 20 days just to build up enough mana! To rank up.¡± Ordis groaned dramatically. Being a dungeon was supposed to be cool and exciting, but the growth was kinda slow. ¡°Ugh¡­ in other words, I need another achievement.¡± Ordis groaned, rubbing his metaphorical temples. ¡°The fastest one I can think of is analyzing ten types of reptiles or amphibians¡­ just like I did with insects.¡± Great plan, in theory. The problem? He had no idea where to find that kind of diversity. Using the system, he tried scanning for potential targets. But as expected, he got nothing new. Not even the sun skink lizard counted, meaning the system must have lumped it together with his already analyzed reptiles. ¡°Gugugu¡­ nothing! No new reptiles, no new amphibians!¡± Ordis grumbled, feeling a little frustrated. The only ones he could think of were turtles, crocodiles, and possibly monitor lizards. None of which lived anywhere near his dungeon. Nope, those beasts preferred rivers and wetlands, not a dry underground cave in the middle of nowhere. He¡¯d have to send his minions on a grand adventure just to track them down, and that was way too much effort right now. ¡°Ah¡­ forget amphibians entirely.¡± He sighed. ¡°There¡¯s only frogs in this area.¡± That left only one viable option: mammals. Turning his focus to the dungeon entrance, he noted the lush grasslands stretching over 500 meters. A perfect feeding ground for herbivores. And judging from the system¡¯s observations, they weren¡¯t just passing through anymore¡ªno, they were coming here regularly. Rabbits, deer, squirrels, rats¡­ even curut (shrews). It almost felt like the local wildlife was becoming more abundant over time. Ordis had a sneaking suspicion that the dungeon¡¯s mana might be subtly influencing the environment. Maybe it wasn¡¯t dispersing randomly but instead sinking into the soil, enriching the plants. If that were the case, it would explain why herbivores kept flocking to this place like it was some kind of five-star buffet. But for now, it was just a hypothesis. The real takeaway? ¡°If I can analyze just one of them¡­¡± Ordis¡¯ eyes gleamed. ¡°That¡¯s 20 or even 25 mana¡ªa huge boost for me!¡± His excitement skyrocketed. Forget chasing after river monsters. If he wanted a quick power-up, all he had to do was catch a bunny! ¡°Honestly, catching a small mammal shouldn¡¯t be that hard.¡± Ordis mused, watching his swarm of D. Mosquitoes and D. Butterflies flutter through the dungeon. Their ability to weaken and debuff prey made them excellent support for a quick hunt. Once a target was slowed, D. Spider could finish the job in no time. Right now, it was still the middle of the night¡ªperfect hunting conditions. But something nagged at the back of his mind. ¡°¡­Would it be a problem if a human saw D. Spider?¡± He glanced at his massive arachnid minion, standing tall at 181 cm in length. Its sheer size made it comparable to a large dog¡ªexcept, well, way scarier. Yeah. People would absolutely freak out. ¡°Oh well, not my problem.¡± Ordis shrugged. He already knew that destroying the dungeon core required an absurd level of power¡ªsomething on par with an atomic bomb. And thanks to his reverse mana, he could just close the door in the first floor and people didn¡¯t have a way to even breaching the dungeon¡¯s first-floor door since it would take an explosion equivalent to 20% of an atomic bomb¡¯s power. Not exactly something a small Southeast Asian country had just lying around. Besides, if people did stumble upon a giant spider? Maybe Gantalahon Island¡ªwhere his dungeon was located¡ªwould turn into a scientific tourist attraction. Like Komodo Island, but instead of dragons, it had monstrous dungeon creatures. ¡°¡­Actually, wait. Why stop at mammals?¡± A realization struck him. ¡°D. Spider can probably hunt birds too! That¡¯s another 20 to 25 mana bonus from an achievement! How did I forget that?¡± His giddy laughter echoed through the dungeon. With that, Ordis gave the order. His minions would leave their nest¡ªjust for a little while. Age : 9 Day 1 hour 20 Minute Mana Reserves : 130 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) 1 Mana per 40 Minute Chapter 25 – Dungeons Are Cozy, the Outside World Is Not. "Hm, I hope nothing happens," Ordis muttered as he ultimately decided to send out only D. Spider, leaving the rest of his minions within the safety of the dungeon. The main reason was simple¡ªwhile Ordis could observe the outside world and even zoom in and out, his vision remained frustratingly rigid and limited. Unlike inside the dungeon, where he had a near-omniscient view of every movement, his external map function was disappointingly basic. Thanks to an achievement, he had gained a digital-style map of the surrounding area, but in practice, it wasn¡¯t much different from a glorified Google Maps. He could see the terrain, but not the real-time movements of animals or other potential threats. Because of this, Ordis hesitated to deploy his smaller flying minions. They were still tiny compared to the bats and birds that likely hunted in the area. Those aerial predators hadn¡¯t entered the dungeon yet, which meant Ordis had no information about them¡ªsomething that made him uneasy. Instead, he put his faith in D. Spider, who, at least in terms of size and strength, could handle itself far better. "The massive spider crept along the ceiling of the dungeon entrance, its movements eerily reminiscent of a horror movie creature. Reaching the opening, it paused, scanning the surrounding grassland. Even though D. Spider only had decent night vision, it could still easily hone in on the slightest flickers of movement¡ªtiny mammals skittering about in the dark." A perfect example was a lone rat, scurrying along the edge where the grassland met the wilderness. It searched for food, completely unaware of the monstrous predator observing it from above. Though Ordis held no authority over the grassland itself, he had noticed an odd correlation¡ªthe meadow had seemingly appeared alongside the dungeon¡¯s birth. Perhaps it was a side effect of the dungeon¡¯s influence. Either way, D. Spider remained unaffected, blending seamlessly into the night as it prepared to strike. As before, D. Spider fired a thin but wide silk shot, expanding to nearly 30 cm in diameter. The spread easily engulfed the entire body of the forest rat, which was barely 20 cm long. With a single shot, the rodent was rendered completely helpless, struggling futilely against the sticky threads. Wasting no time, D. Spider plunged its large fangs into the immobilized prey before carefully carrying the limp carcass back into the dungeon. The moment D. Spider crossed the threshold, the rat''s body slowly began to dissolve, vanishing as the dungeon absorbed it for analysis. Unlike smaller insects, creatures of a larger size took noticeably longer to process. Still, the difference was marginal¡ªafter all, it had only taken Ordis about a minute to fully analyze and absorb a 150 cm snake. Compared to that, a measly rat was barely a challenge for the dungeon¡¯s digestion. [Successfully analyzed the body of a Rat. You can now summon Rat as minion.] [Title Unlocked: Beastlord¡¯s Domain] Effects: ¡°Huh¡­ ¡®Beastlord¡¯? Just from catching a tiny rat?¡± Ordis blinked in disbelief, staring at the notification. Then, after a beat of silence, he chuckled. ¡°This feels a little excessive. What¡¯s next? ¡®Rodent Overlord¡¯ for catching a second one?¡± He had half-hoped for something more useful¡ªmaybe a free mana bonus¡ªbut unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t unlocked the ability to summon rodents. A bit of a waste, really. ¡°Ugh, this wasn¡¯t quite what I was expecting. I was hoping for an achievement like Start of the Animal Kingdom or something grand like that,¡± Ordis muttered. ¡°But I guess four species just isn¡¯t enough¡­ Maybe I need a bird? That would give me five different species. Yeah, that sounds about right! That could be my ticket to free mana!¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He quickly shifted his focus back to D. Spider, excitement bubbling up again. ¡°Alright, buddy. Keep hunting. We¡¯re not stopping at just one rodent since we need 10 mammal-type species to get the Mammal Collector achievement.¡± Ordis watched as D. Spider took another silent step, its sharp senses locking onto movement in the distance. Despite its massive size, the spider remained as agile as its smaller counterparts. Without hesitation, it fired another silk shot, but due to Ordis¡¯s limited vision outside the dungeon, he couldn¡¯t immediately tell what it had captured. Only when D. Spider began carrying its prey back did Ordis realize¡ªit was the same type of rat as before. ¡°Hm, just as I thought. This feels inefficient without the filter function from my dungeon map.¡± Ordis sighed. Inside the dungeon, the system provided him with an organized layout of creatures, allowing him to track movements and identify targets instantly. But out here? It was like flying blind. He had enhanced night vision, far superior to what he had as a human, yet it still wasn¡¯t as clear as the system-assisted view inside the dungeon. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much of a crutch the system had been. The outside world had moonlight, yet the darkness still felt more oppressive compared to the pitch-black dungeon interior. That was strange. Inside, there was no light at all, yet he could see perfectly. It was likely the system compensating for the unnatural darkness, making his vision sharper within his domain. He let out a dry chuckle. ¡°Ahaha¡­ So this is what people mean when they say you don¡¯t appreciate convenience until you lose it.¡± The realization hit him harder than expected. Out here, where he had no authority, everything was unpredictable. His control was limited, his senses weren¡¯t omnipotent, and for the first time, the vastness of the world outside his dungeon felt daunting. Ordis was fortunate that the D. Spider possessed exceptional hunting instincts. Without the aid of the system¡¯s detailed mapping and filters, he found himself struggling to track anything in the pitch-black night. His vision outside the dungeon was limited to a rigid zoom-in and zoom-out function, making it far less effective than the omniscient view he had within his domain. Still, D. Spider remained unfazed. Once again, it shot out a web toward a distant target¡ªthis time, beyond the grassland, near the tree line. The dense rainforest beyond the meadow was completely outside Ordis¡¯s influence, meaning he had no way of observing what lay within. The thick canopy blocked even the faintest moonlight, making it impossible for him to see what his minion had set its sights on. ¡°Hm, he¡¯ll be alright¡­ right?¡± Ordis muttered, his confidence wavering. Allowing D. Spider to venture into the forest meant letting it step completely beyond his control. Even though the meadow near the dungeon still seemed to provide some sort of subtle support to his minions, the deeper forest was a complete unknown. For the first time, Ordis truly felt a sense of unease. Outside the dungeon, he had no way of sensing danger, no system notifications to warn him of a predator¡¯s approach. His minions, which he had painstakingly nurtured, were stepping into uncharted territory. ¡°Ugh¡­ is this what being a parent feels like?¡± he groaned, rubbing his metaphorical temples. As a human, he had never married, nor had he ever thought much about raising children. Now, watching his minions take risks, he suddenly understood why parents worried so much. His thoughts spiraled further into paranoia. What if D. Spider got ambushed? What if there were hidden predators in the rainforest? Gantalahon Island was home to a dwindling population of tigers and leopards¡ªrare, yes, but not impossible to encounter. ¡°¡­Crap, I really hope I¡¯m just overthinking this.¡± "However, that doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t exist. Hau..." Ordis muttered, feeling a growing sense of hesitation. His uncertainty seemed to transfer to D. Spider as well. Even though the minion had already fired a silk shot, it didn¡¯t immediately subdue its target. Instead, it stood frozen, mirroring Ordis¡¯s indecisiveness. The spider could have easily secured its prey, but instead, it hesitated¡ªalmost as if waiting for permission. Ordis sighed, rubbing his metaphorical temples. ¡°Hu... But in the end, it¡¯s a chance to get something valuable.¡± He still wasn¡¯t comfortable letting his minions completely cross the dungeon¡¯s boundary, but he knew he had to take the risk. After a brief internal debate, he relented, giving D. Spider a firm command. ¡°If anything strange happens, return to the dungeon immediately. Don¡¯t take unnecessary risks, even if it means leaving your prey behind.¡± With that clear order, D. Spider finally resumed its hunt. However, because it had stalled for too long, its prey had almost escaped. Ordis could see through his limited vision that D. Spider had to fire several more silk shots before it managed to properly ensnare the fleeing creature. Once it was secured, the spider swiftly injected its venom before carrying the limp body back into the dungeon. ¡°Hm¡­ feels like another small rodent,¡± Ordis muttered, observing the prey as it was analyzed. However, upon closer inspection, his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Oh, this is¡­ something you don¡¯t see every day.¡± It wasn¡¯t a rat. ¡°This is a Large Flying Lemur¡­¡± Ordis realized, recognizing the exotic creature. As someone who had lived in the city, he had rarely seen them in person. The only time he had ever encountered one was when a former neighbor had kept one as a pet. [Successfully analyzed the body of a Flying Lemur. You can now summon Flying Lemur as a minion.] ¡°Oh? So you count differently from a rat, huh?¡± Ordis chuckled, already thinking about how this new minion could be useful. Age : 9 Day 2 hour 40 Minute Mana Reserves : 132 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) 1 Mana per 40 Minute Chapter 26 – Note to Self: Stick to the Dungeon. [System Achievement Unlocked! Venturing Beyond the Nest] You¡¯ve taken your first steps into the great unknown¡­ Well, your minions have. Baby steps! Reward: ¡°Oh, I never expected to get something just for sending my minions outside,¡± Ordis mused as a notification from the system popped up. The message had only appeared after he successfully analyzed the flying lemur, meaning this achievement was a direct result of his decision to let his minions hunt beyond the dungeon for the first time. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t complain about free rewards. Ah¡­ now I¡¯m curious about something.¡± Feeling a bit experimental, Ordis issued a command to D. Spider, directing it to leave the grassland and enter the deeper wilderness. The large arachnid moved swiftly, its eight legs gliding effortlessly over the terrain. Since Ordis was paying close attention, he noticed something strange the moment D. Spider fully exited the meadow. ¡°I think¡­ something just changed.¡± A new system warning flashed before him. Alongside it, a countdown timer appeared on D. Spider¡¯s status screen¡ª45 hours remaining. ¡°Wait, is this¡­ a survival limit?¡± Ordis muttered, rubbing his nonexistent chin. ¡°So, my minions can¡¯t just stay outside indefinitely without consequences.¡± Not only that, but he also noticed a new function on the map. Unlike before, when he had no visibility beyond the dungeon¡¯s immediate surroundings, he could now track D. Spider¡¯s movement as a small icon moving through the terrain. The simplified map displayed different shades of green, seemingly indicating the density of the forest, with darker areas representing thick jungle and lighter patches signifying open spaces. A small blue winding line marked the presence of a river nearby. ¡°Huh, it¡¯s like a real-time strategy game,¡± Ordis remarked. ¡°I can see its general location, but I can¡¯t actually see what¡¯s happening there in detail.¡± Despite having night vision, his ability to observe outside the dungeon was still limited. D. Spider¡¯s dark coloration, combined with the dense forest and the dim early-morning light, made it impossible to track visually. Once it left his domain, it effectively disappeared from view. ¡°Tch. So, I really can¡¯t micromanage them out there. Guess I¡¯ll have to trust D. Spider¡¯s instincts.¡± With that realization, Ordis watched the moving icon on the map, eager to see what his minion would encounter in the untamed wilderness. ¡°Especially if she could catch some birds,¡± Ordis mused, watching the simplified map displayed in his system. ¡°That¡¯d be ideal.¡± He could see the river on the map, but it felt too far from his dungeon¡¯s territory. He had no idea what lurked around those waters¡ªmonitor lizards? Crocodiles? There were too many unknowns. Besides, his dungeon wasn¡¯t exactly suited for aquatic creatures. Hunting near the river might bring some interesting species into his minion catalog, but the risks outweighed the rewards. ¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± he muttered. Instead, he focused on commanding D. Spider to hunt closer to the dungeon, shifting her priority from rodents to birds. If he could add another species type to his growing collection, maybe he¡¯d unlock another achievement. As he observed the map, he noticed something odd. The tiny 2D spider icon moved erratically¡ªdarting forward, then abruptly backtracking, even making strange zigzag motions. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on now?¡± Ordis frowned. ¡°Is she fighting something? Or did she just catch something big?¡± The lack of direct visuals frustrated him. If only the system provided something as simple as HP and MP bars, like in a proper game, he¡¯d have an idea of how the battle was going. Instead, he was left to rely on the cryptic dance of a moving icon on what felt like a fantasy version of Google Maps. Still, he had to trust D. Spider. She was a predator, a master hunter. If anything, she had the upper hand in most fights¡ªunless, of course, she accidentally ran into something way out of her league. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Then, after a few moments of chaotic movement, the icon settled. The erratic shifting stopped, and D. Spider began making her way back to the dungeon. ¡°Ah, I wonder what she caught this time¡­¡± Ordis muttered, narrowing his eyes toward the entrance. At first, there was nothing but the still, consuming darkness beyond the meadow. Then, something stirred. A pair of glinting, unblinking eyes pierced through the void, reflecting an eerie, ghostly light. More followed¡ªeight in total¡ªglistening like cold, predatory stars. They hovered motionless for a second, just long enough for a creeping dread to settle in Ordis¡¯ chest. Then, the hulking form emerged. D. Spider¡¯s body slid out of the shadows with an unnatural smoothness, her elongated limbs moving with slow, deliberate grace. The way she crept forward¡ªsilent, calculated¡ªsent a chill down Ordis¡¯ nonexistent spine. It was the kind of approach one would expect from a monster lurking in a horror movie, not from his own minion. The darkness clung to her form as if reluctant to let her go, her silhouette shifting between the moonlight and shadows, making her seem almost unreal. Then, the rest of her massive body came into view. Hanging from her monstrous fangs was her latest prey¡ªa limp, lifeless carcass, its wings still partially outstretched as though it had only just stopped struggling. Strands of silk clung to it like the last remnants of a futile escape. Ordis involuntarily tensed at the sight. The way she carried her victim, her eight gleaming eyes fixed forward with cold, unwavering intent¡ªit was nightmare fuel. If he were still human, he would have bolted in the opposite direction, screaming like a terrified child. In fact, he cringed as he imagined his past self encountering something like this in real life. ¡°Ugh¡­ I used to freak out over a single cockroach crawling on my wall,¡± he muttered. ¡°If something like this came at me back then, I¡¯d have a heart attack on the spot.¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t deny it. As terrifying as she looked, D. Spider was damn impressive. ¡°Oh, you got something different this time.¡± Ordis commented cheerfully, catching sight of a wing sticking out from the carcass D. Spider carried. At first glance, he assumed it was a bird¡ªhis anticipation rising for a moment¡ªbut as D. Spider lowered her quarry, he immediately realized his mistake. It wasn¡¯t a bird at all. It was a bat. The creature had a wingspan of roughly 30 centimeters, with a compact body about ten centimeters long. Its lifeless form hung limp in D. Spider¡¯s grasp, its membranous wings partially outstretched as though frozen in its last attempt to escape. ¡°Huh¡­ too bad. Not a bird.¡± Ordis sighed, slightly disappointed. Still, he couldn¡¯t deny that this was an impressive catch. ¡°I suppose it makes sense why D. Spider looked so busy earlier.¡± The erratic movements he had seen on the map started to make sense. Unlike rodents scurrying along the ground, this prey had the advantage of flight. Ordis imagined the struggle¡ªD. Spider likely climbing trees, lunging from branches, spinning silk traps, and repositioning herself mid-hunt to corner the bat. It might have even fought back, swooping in to harass her before finally being caught. In the end, the battle must have been more intense than the usual hunts. ¡°Hm, I¡¯d say she did well, right?¡± Ordis mused, closely observing his minion. Despite the supposed struggle, D. Spider looked perfectly fine¡ªno visible injuries, no damaged limbs, nothing to indicate she had taken any real hits. That could only mean one of two things: either she was agile enough to avoid the bat¡¯s counterattacks entirely, or her natural defenses were tough enough that the bat simply couldn¡¯t hurt her. Either way, it was reassuring. ¡°Right now, her intelligence is at 27. That should be enough to recognize danger, right?¡± Ordis thought aloud, feeling a little more confident in his minion¡¯s instincts. ¡°As an animal, she should naturally know how to avoid ambushes and avoid other unnecessary risks.¡± Still, he wished he had a more concrete way to measure her condition. ¡°It would really help if I had HP as an indicator.¡± He sighed. ¡°I mean, is there a feature like that if I rank up?¡± As if responding to his concerns, the system promptly sent him a notification. [Successfully analyzed the body of a Bat. You can now summon Bat as a minion.] Ordis barely had time to process that information before another message popped up. [You do not have these features. Need to rank up to get more reliable features.] ¡°Oh?¡± He blinked, then smirked. ¡°At least that sounds promising.¡± Even if he didn¡¯t have HP bars or direct battle logs yet, the system had just confirmed that more advanced features would eventually unlock. That was enough motivation for him to keep going. For now, though, he had a new species in his arsenal¡ªa flying minion. And that opened up a whole new range of possibilities. ¡°If I can get more slots¡­ that would be nice,¡± Ordis muttered. ¡°Ah, I wonder if something will happen if my minions stay outside too long¡ªother than dying when their lifespan runs out?¡± It was a valid concern. The countdown he had seen earlier made it clear that his minions couldn¡¯t survive indefinitely outside his dungeon¡¯s range, but was that the only consequence? [Minions that remain outside the dungeon for extended periods will suffer debuffs. Status attributes may decrease by 10¨C20%, awareness will slow, and skill cooldowns¡ªsuch as Acid Bite and Silk Shot¡ªwill lengthen. It is not recommended to stray too far from the dungeon, as you may lose access.] ¡°Hm, that¡¯s reasonable¡­¡± Ordis nodded to himself. It made sense that his minions, being essentially constructs of the dungeon system, would be heavily reliant on it. However, one part of the message stood out to him. ¡°Wait¡ªloss of access?¡± [Minions that travel more than two kilometers away from the dungeon will lose all blessings granted by the dungeon. This results in the loss of enhanced senses, buffs, and size modifications.] Ordis blinked. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that too harsh?¡± The realization hit him immediately. If D. Spider ever strayed too far, she wouldn¡¯t just be weakened¡ªshe would revert to an ordinary spider. No enhanced intelligence, no predator instincts, no special skills. Just a mindless, tiny insect. ¡°Well, at least I know now¡­¡± He sighed, shaking off the uncomfortable thought. ¡°For the time being, I can¡¯t send my minions to explore the river or hunt too far from the dungeon.¡± Even so, he wasn¡¯t too discouraged. Even small bits of information like this helped him understand his limits. ¡°I guess this means I¡¯m learning more about myself as a dungeon¡­ and my minions.¡± Age : 9 Day 3 hour 20 Minute Mana Reserve : 148 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) 1 Mana per 40 Minute