《Neither Villains Nor Monsters, Only Dungeon Masters》 Prologue Over a month had passed, though it was difficult to tell under the sunless, moonless sky of this domain. Yet, the proof was undeniable¡ªthirteen times the two-day hourglass had been flipped, marking each grueling cycle. For over a month, Licht and his six fellow S-rank adventurers had endured this place, braving the unrelenting expanse of a mountain chain that seemed endless, weathering the oppressive cold capable of freezing even the strongest warriors in mere seconds, and facing down aberrations¡ªmonstrosities so fierce that in the land of men, they would have required entire squads of S-ranked adventurers just to leave a scratch. Day after day, the march felt endless, the hope of an exit growing dimmer with each sunrise that never came. And then, at last, it ended. Cresting yet another gargantuan peak, the seven of them stood together, breath frozen in the air, gazing down at the place they had sought. They had fought through blizzards sharp enough to carve flesh, scaled cliffs where the ice screamed under their axes, and battled creatures with no right to exist in this world. Yet, in this moment, those memories felt distant¡ªas if they belonged to another life. Before them sprawled a basin unlike any other. It was not a natural valley, but a wound in the earth, so vast it devoured the horizon. Its edges were jagged, as though the mountains themselves had clawed at some falling behemoth, leaving this colossal scar behind. The ground sloped down into that void, slick with frost and veins of black stone gleaming like polished obsidian beneath the half-light sky. Mist boiled up from the basin¡¯s heart¡ªthick, unnatural mist that churned with no wind to move it, forming pale, writhing walls that obscured whatever lay below. No bottom could be seen, only the mist and silence, heavy with the weight of something ancient and watching. Even at the edge, Licht could feel it¡ªand from the wary glances his fellow adventurers cast, they could feel it too. It was a faint, relentless pull, a whisper, tugging at their boots, at the edges of their armor, even at the blood in their veins. It wasn¡¯t enough to drag them down, but it made their bones ache with the suggestion of inevitability. ¡°This is it, right? This is the place,¡± asked a voice muffled beneath a cumbersome, ridiculously heavy-looking suit of filigree-patterned golden armor. ¡°Do you even need to ask?¡± came the reply. ¡°What else could ooze an aura like this if not the guardian of this domain?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ just thinking about it gives me chills.¡± ¡°Yeah¡ªand careful, Dommy. Don¡¯t stand so close to the edge. With how heavy you are, you might tumble right down.¡± Taking the half-teasing, half-serious warning to heart, Dommy took several steps back, prompting a chuckle from the woman who had spoken. ¡°Hey¡­ is it just me, or is something pulling at us?¡± the woman asked, her voice almost casual¡ªbut Licht caught the tension underneath. Laila, tall and broad-shouldered, her dark hair whipping around her face, clutched her battle staff so tightly her knuckles were pale. She was no ordinary adventurer¡ªshe was an SSS-ranked battle monger, a legend in her own right. And yet, her voice held something Licht had never heard from her before. A tremor. Licht, leader of the Astral Luminary party and this entire expedition, stood silently at the edge, saying nothing. There was no need. They had clawed their way to this point for weeks. If even Laila felt fear, it only confirmed how dire this was. In fact, Licht would have been more worried if none of them had felt it. They stood at the entrance to the sanctum of the Voidborne Catacomb¡ªthe oldest and most feared dungeon ever discovered. An SSS-class Dungeon, ancient beyond reckoning. ¡°I expected something vile and threatening,¡± sighed a voice to Licht¡¯s left, ¡°but this¡­ this is something else.¡± Licht glanced to the side, where an elderly man in white priestly robes stood. A silver scepter trembled slightly in his grip, his hands clutching it almost as tightly as Laila clung to her staff. Despite the tremor, the old man¡¯s weathered face held steady resolve. Licht¡¯s lips quirked into a teasing smile. ¡°Afraid, old man?¡± ¡°Afraid?¡± the cleric snorted softly. ¡°Of course I¡¯m afraid. I¡¯m not some reckless young pup anymore¡ªnot like some.¡± His gaze flicked up and down Licht¡¯s eternally youthful face and lithe form before adding, ¡°At least¡­ appearance-wise. My old heart¡¯s not built for this anymore.¡± This man was the only one among the seven who wasn¡¯t part of the Astral Luminary, nor was he an SSS-rank adventurer. In truth, he wasn¡¯t even an adventurer at all¡ªhe was a man of the Church, and had followed them here for reasons of his own. ¡°Are you thinking of turning back?¡± Licht asked, his voice calm. At the question, all eyes turned to the old man, who stood silent for a beat before chuckling softly. He placed a reassuring hand on Licht¡¯s shoulder, the gesture warm despite the cold. ¡°It¡¯s too late for that,¡± the cleric said. ¡°I missed my chance to turn back long ago. Looks like I¡¯m following you lot into the deepest pit of hell after all.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Licht said with matching lightness. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Then, turning to the rest of his comrades, he raised his voice slightly. ¡°Anyone else? If anyone wants to walk away, now¡¯s the time. Despite what the old man says, it¡¯s not too late. None of you are bound to this place. You still have lives to live, and I won¡¯t hold it against anyone who chooses safety over glory. After all¡­¡± His gaze swept over them. ¡°What lies ahead may cost you everything. But for those who choose to stay¡­ we¡¯ll carve our names into history as the ones who conquered the Voidborne Catacomb¡ªthe oldest dungeon in the world. The dungeon even the Adventurer Queen herself couldn¡¯t claim.¡± A moment of silence went by, broken only by, "Erm, Boss are you trying to convince us or dissuade us here?" "I''m doing both. But I especially want to stress the point that you all can still walk away." At that moment, Licht looked at Dommy¡ªthe party''s Ironwall, a knight who dedicated 87 levels to being an unbreakable shield, a sturdy wall standing between death and his allies. He then looked at Nero, the party''s hybrid, both a knight and a sorcerer, the same as Licht, except Licht was more agility-focused as a knight while Nero was strength-focused. As a sorcerer, Nero had a different secondary subclass, focusing on different elements. Then Licht looked at Nethis and Thomas, the party¡¯s mage and support. At last, he looked at Laila, the party¡¯s monk¡ªa close-range fighter and battlefield controller, a Verdenkind who dual-classed Monk and Elementalist. He looked at them, both looking forward and dreading their ultimate decision. The party looked at each other, then Laila broke the silence. "Even a coward like this old man is sticking with us. You can''t expect someone like me to turn and walk away with my tail between my legs." Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. "That was unnecessarily mean to me," the old Cleric pouted. "I agree with Laila," added Nero. "I''ll stay." "Me too." "Me too, Boss." "Well, me too. I want to enter the legend... Though I suppose I already have. But still I want to enter it like the Adventurer Queen did." "My tall and sturdy friend, if we pull this off, we will be better than her, for we''ll achieve something that even she didn''t¡ªclearing the Voidborne Catacomb," said the old Cleric. "It''ll even be a guaranteed promotion for me hehe." "I suppose you''re right." At the sight, Licht was taken by both relief and grief, but letting only one of those emotions show, he declared genuinely, "I apologize for that, comrades. I just had to test your resolve before it was too late. I shouldn''t have, and I apologize for that." He didn¡¯t give his party¡ªor even the old priest¡ªa chance to respond before turning toward the descent. "Since you all want to do this with me, we¡¯re going to do this." With eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of nostalgia¡ªthe last time he had challenged this dungeon with his former comrades, those who had founded the Astral Luminary party¡ªhe looked back at his friends, his new friends, and told them, "Remind me to host a year-long feast once we¡¯re done with this." "You gave your word." "Count on us for that, Boss." "Can I go too?" "You''re a priest, and you''re old. Act like your title and age, old man." "So mean..." Licht chuckled at the sight, thinking to himself that this new party had nothing to envy about his former comrades. They were just as entertaining. As everyone announced themselves ready after a final check of their equipment¡ªpotions and artifacts included¡ªthey exchanged a nod, then simultaneously stepped over the edge, allowing themselves to slide down into the mist. The slick obsidian slope offered no handholds, no chance to slow their descent. The mist swallowed them almost instantly, and the world dissolved into a silver void. Sound vanished. Sight became meaningless. There was only the pull¡ªstronger now, like the unseen hands of ancient titans, dragging them deeper into the earth¡¯s broken heart. Breathing was difficult. The air itself felt heavier, as though every inhalation cost them resources¡ªand it did. From their stats, they saw their HP slightly decrease, but quickly recover for most of them. At their current level, they all had a measure of self-HP-regeneration. The slope gave way to air. One by one, they tumbled into open space, falling through the mist¡ªno longer sliding, but free-falling. It should have been terrifying, but they weren¡¯t falling fast enough. The air resisted. Gravity itself was confused here, tilting and twisting until the line between down and up blurred entirely. They landed with soft, weightless impacts, as though the ground itself had hesitated to accept them. They stood in a vast obsidian expanse. They were quick to notice something. They were not alone. They saw the horns, the wings, the hulking frame¡ªbut ironically, it wasn¡¯t the first thing to make them aware of its presence. It was their hearts. Above, at the basin¡¯s edge, it had manifested as a faint pull. Now, it was no longer subtle. The pull was no longer just making their hearts beat slower. It dragged the blood in their veins. Every breath felt like it was sinking into the stone beneath their feet. What their eyes saw was even more threatening. They saw a gigantic creature whose bones look like they¡¯d been carved from obsidian and necrotic crystal, his ribs caged around a core that pulsed with sickly violet light. The mist clung to his form, and where it touched, the world bent. He did not roar. He did not rise. He simply existed, and that was enough. His mere presence twisted the air, the ground, the very fabric of the space they stood in. "Boss¡­that¡¯s the bastard, right?" "Yes, that¡¯s him. That¡¯s Valthorok, the Abyssal Graviton¡ªThat¡¯s the guardian of this dungeon¡ªthe bastard who took down my comrades. " For a heartbeat, the massive frame lay still¡ªwings half-folded, his colossal body partially sunken into the cracked ruin floor, as though the dragon had slumbered for centuries. But the moment the first boot scuffed against the stone, his eyes snapped open in eerie synchronization. Not gradually, not the lazy awakening of a creature disturbed from rest, but a total shift¡ªlike a god roused from slumber, fully aware in a breath. Valthorok¡¯s head lifted, the bones in his neck grinding with the weight of worlds. His awareness crashed against the party like an invisible wave, an ancient intelligence sweeping over them, recognizing them in an instant¡ªnot as equals, not as challengers, but as unwanted intruders. Flies crawling across the bones of a god. And in that moment, as instinct kicked in¡ªnot to fight, but to understand¡ªall seven of them reached into their packs in near-perfect unison, hands closing around small, gleaming objects. Appraisal stones, each of the highest grade, their crystalline facets thrumming with faint light as they were raised. No seasoned adventurer entered a fight without them¡ªand none of them, not even the highest-ranked among them, had the natural gift of Appraisal, at least not to the sufficient level to properly appraise something like this. The stones flickered, feeding information directly into their minds¡ªlines of text burning into their thoughts with cold precision. Only a Level 9 Appraisal could draw this much detail. They read. And they quickly wished they hadn¡¯t. ¡ª [Monster Interface] Name: Valthorok, the Abyssal Graviton Level: 111 Race: Undead Gravity Dragon Title: Sovereign of the Fallen Skies, Harbinger of Calamity, Abyssal Tyrant, Devourer of Light - Gravity Incarnate, Guardian [Status] H.P: 420,445 / 420,445 M.P: 740,555 / 740,555 S.P: 368,827 / 368,827 Defense: 320,783 Offense: 460,250 [Skills] Gravity Manipulation: Level 15 Necrotic Expanse: Level 14 Singularity Breath: Level 15 Voidborn Wings - Level 12 Planetary Rend: Level 13 Abyssal Roar: Level 15 Dimensional Tremor: Level 14 Soul Shackles: Level 12 Darklight Vision: Level 10 [Abilities] - Graviton Core - Eternal Weight - Void Singularity - Black Hole Dominion - Anti-Magic Field (Gravity Distortion) - Necrotic Gravity Pulse - Corpse Reclamation - Event Horizon - Astral Rupture ¡ª Not a single one of them kept a straight face. Their grimaces ranged from faint twitches to full-body winces, the kind of involuntary reaction only someone staring at their own obituary could make. The first to break the silence was Lailah, her voice dry and tight with forced humor. "Boss, take no offense to this, but you and your old team sure were stupid going up against something like that." The party¡¯s leader¡ªbattle-worn, half-frozen, and standing at the forefront with a hand still clutching his own appraisal stone¨C-gave a low, rueful chuckle. "You think so too..." "Yeah," Lailah muttered, tucking the stone away with exaggerated care. "And we¡¯re as bad. If not worse. Because here we are, about to do the same damn thing." "Feeling regret already?" asked the party¡¯s cleric, his composed tone masking the tremor in his hand as he slid his stone back into his satchel. "To be honest with you? Yeah." She grinned, though it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. "But I gave my word. So let¡¯s do this, ladies and gentlemen." On these words, the battle to clear The Voidborne Catacomb¡ªthe oldest dungeon in the Fiendfell¡ªbegan, a battle that would mark the end of one age and the dawn of another, ushering in the Era of Dungeon Crawling, where no dungeon, no matter how ancient or deadly, would ever again be deemed truly unconquerable. Chapter One - Hassan If I had to choose a starting point for our story, it would be that day on a mountain deep in the southern reaches of Savoirrie¡ªa quiet district tucked away in the southeastern region of Frankland, a place best known for its worm-infested cheese and bread as hard as stone. In other words, our story began in the middle of nowhere. *** ¡°Is the quality alright?¡± I asked my dear colleague. ¡°I¡­ I think,¡± he replied leaning into the camera with a not so reassuring expression on his face. ¡°I think?¡± I echoed, walking over to his side. ¡°How is that an answer?¡± Leaning in, I checked the camera. ¡°The video isn''t going to be taken in the dark. We¡¯re under a midday sun. There is nothing we would need so much¡ªyou know what let me do this myself.¡± Annoyed, I decided to adjust the camera settings myself. ¡°You should''ve changed the contrast. The sun is right above us, dude.¡± I was annoyed, but honestly, I also was fine with this. I always preferred doing things myself. But there¡¯s just time in life where you¡¯re forced to work with people. ¡°I want at least a decent quality for the people that will get this video. There you go. Now look,¡± I declared moving to the side for him to behold the sight. ¡°Ah, it looks clearer now,¡± my colleague commented, sounding genuinely impressed. ¡°See?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he nodded, his height making him tower above me. ¡°Now all that''s left is to hit ''record,'' and we''re good to go,¡± I said, starting the camera recording. ¡°Perfect. Now we can finally get down to business.¡± ¡°You''re really good at all that technology stuff, Hassan,¡± he suddenly complimented. It was indeed a compliment, one I might have appreciated under different circumstances. But not today, not now, and definitely not in front of a rolling camera. Through the eye-hole of the balaclava I was wearing, I locked my eyes with him.¡°Are you dense or something?¡± I barked, taking off my Balaclava. ¡°The camera is already recording. Why did you use my real name?" In that moment, from the expression seeping through the balaclava, the guy finally understood his mistake. ¡°Sigh¡­ seriously? Now we have to redo this,¡± I complained before leaning into the camera, deleting the previous recording. ¡°Sorry bro,¡± my colleague apologised, sounding once again very genuine, like he very often, making me wonder at times how this guy wound up in this particular line of work. ¡°You can save your apologies. And just so you know, it''s not ''bro''.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Did you forget everything about what we talked about? For this mission, I''m Pedsi, and you''re Cola-Coco,¡± I reminded him, exasperated. ¡°Oh, right. My bad, Pedsi,¡± he stammered, finally remembering the briefing we had no earlier than 15 minutes ago. I rolled my eyes, a small sigh escaping. ¡°Yeah, yeah, just get it right this time.¡± ¡°I will. But I have to ask, why Pedsi and Cola-Coco?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why am I Cola-Coco and you''re Pedsi, when I don''t even like Cola-Coco, and as far as I''m aware, you don''t like Pedsi? Or any canned-beverage.¡± ¡°I get that part, you didn¡¯t have to voice your question differently for me. What I¡¯m asking here is why are you even asking me that? Those are just code names I came up with on the spot.¡± Ignoring what I just explained, he continued, sounding more thoughtful than usual, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about these code names, and I figured there¡¯s probably only one way they make sense. Is it ¡®Cola-Coco¡¯ because I¡¯m black? And ¡®Pedsi¡¯ because you¡¯re white?¡± ¡°No,¡± I quickly denied, even though the truth was that it was because he was black ¡°and¡± also had red permed hair. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I lied. ¡°I swear to god.¡± Cola-Coco gave me a skeptical look before saying, "So, you won''t have a problem if I switch and become Pedsi, and you take on Cola-Coco?" "Put your balaclava on," I instructed, securing mine. "I''m still Pedsi, and you''re still Cola-Coco, unless you''d prefer Molester.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be something else? Why does it have to always be a drink¡¯s name?¡± ¡°It has to. That''s the ''rule.''" ¡°Whose rule is that?¡± he questioned, nonetheless putting his hood on. ¡°My rules. And you know it bothers me when they¡¯re changed for no good reason. Anyway, remember what we talked about? Try to change your voice a bit. It''ll make editing easier for me. Okay? I''m starting the recording now. Let''s not mess this up... 3, 2, 1, and we''re rolling," I announced, racking my throat to make my voice deeper. Cola-Coco still had reservations about his code name, but he followed me to what we were actually filming. ¡°Alright, folks, sorry for the delay. The cameras are rolling now, so let''s get started,¡± I announced to the seven people we were filming. There were two women and five men, all on their knees, with their limbs tied and bags covering their heads. With a signal from me, Cola Coco stepped forward and pulled the bag from the head of the first person in line. As the rough fabric was yanked away, they blinked rapidly, their eyes squeezing shut for a moment against the sudden onslaught of sunlight. A few disoriented breaths passed before their vision adjusted¡ªonly then did true fear set in. Their gaze darted around frantically, taking in their surroundings, their predicament, and then us. A muffled cry strained against the cloth gag tightly secured around their mouth as they twisted against their restraints, but the muscles in their jaw, stiff from tension, allowed only the faintest whimper to escape. Cola Coco moved methodically down the line, pulling the bags from each captive¡¯s head one by one. Each time, the reaction was the same¡ªa wince, a brief moment of disorientation as their eyes struggled to adjust to the harsh sunlight, then the creeping realization of their predicament. Terror and confusion played across their faces, their gazes darting from one another in silent desperation. Though gagged and unable to speak, their fear was unmistakable, conveyed in the frantic flicker of their eyes and the rigid tension in their bodies. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, once again, bonjour,¡± I began with my deepest voice, ¡°I believe some of you might already know what''s going on, why did we abduct you and why did we bring you here, but I know some of you are also very confused about everything so allow me to explain what¡¯s going on.¡± I reached out for my tablet, and began fiddling to open up a powerpoint presentation titled ¡°Peace and Order.pptx.¡± ¡°Let''s start from the beginning,¡± I stated, flipping to the first slide. ¡°Two months back, Ferdinand Denouveau, a young, innocent¡ªwell, relatively innocent¡ªguy, who happened to be the second son of Johan Denouveau died very tragically. Now, Johan? Who is he? You must wonder. Well, he''s the top dog at Blackcrown, one of the most influential not-so underground organizations around in the southern provinces. Anyways, poor Ferdinand met his unfortunate end in a real fireworks show, compliments of an ''explosive accident.'' But mind you, that ''accident'' wasn''t exactly accidental¡ªit was all thanks to a certain Mister Sergei Gustav. And wouldn''t you know it, Sergei is the leader of the Avian Vipers, making him one of the other big shots in this not-so-friendly sphere that Mister Johan belongs to.¡± ¡°I''m pretty sure you can connect the dots on what unfolded next. So, let''s fast-forward past the nitty-gritty of who did what to whom and spare the dramatic details. Instead, I''ll lay it out plain and simple: the aftermath of that intense two-month tango.¡± ¡°Civilians caught in the crossfire: 7. Lives lost in the Blackcrown ranks: 54. Avians Vipers: 47. Okay, sure, when spoken like that, it might not sound like much, but trust me, it''s a small mountain of corpses that we''ve got here.¡± ¡°I''m here to prevent that pile of bodies from getting taller, so let me introduce ourselves. You can just call us Pedsi and Cola-Coco. I''m Pedsi, he''s Cola-Coco. We wear many hats, but mostly we''re folks who do the dirty work¡ªhitting marks and chasing bounties, that sorta thing.¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m sure now, knowing who we are and who you are, you most likely figured what¡¯s going to happen next,¡± I quipped, setting my tablet aside and reaching for my handgun. "But just in case you missed the memo, let me lay it out for you. This time around, we aren''t exactly the run-of-the-mill bounty hunters or mercenaries. Nah, we''ve taken up a rather special gig, best described as the living embodiment of the ''tit for tat'' principle.¡± ¡°You see, the whole mafia war thing? It hit a point where both sides were realizing it''s like trying to fit an elephant through a keyhole¡ªjust not working out. Yet, they couldn''t quite shake hands and call it a day, ''cause one side felt they''d lost more than the other. And that''s where we waltz in,¡± I continued with a grimace. ¡°We''ve been summoned, my friends, as something like the ''Equilibrium Enforcers'' of the situation. Our task? To bring back that delicate balance that''s been tossed into the wind. The war couldn''t keep doing its thing without spiraling into a whole new level of chaos. So here we are, the referees of the grand showdown. Summoned to make sure everyone''s singing the same tune again.¡± ¡°Now comes the interesting part," I continued, a sly smile curling on my lips. ¡°This is where you all step into the spotlight. You might be wondering how you got picked for this peculiar dance. Well, let me tell you, we didn''t just throw darts at a board or consult a crystal ball. No, no. Calculations were made¡ªyes, thorough calculations.¡± I paused for a moment, allowing the weight of the revelation to sink in. Their eyes darted around nervously, the tension in the air palpable. I was an asshole for that, even the ¡°me¡± back then knew that. ¡°And these calculations,¡± I said, drawing out the suspense, ¡°they revealed to me, in all their glorious mathiness, that the seven of you are the missing puzzle pieces. The crucial cogs in this intricate machinery that''s going to bring both camps to an even ground.¡± I could practically see their thoughts racing, trying to evade the obvious answer to the puzzle I was presenting to them. The unprecedented fear painted a vivid portrait on their faces. With a sigh, I stepped forward, my fingers curling around the grip of my handgun. The cold metal pressed against my palm. ¡°You see, sometimes, it''s the cruelest choices that bring that so pursued thing that is peace. I raised the handgun, its ominous click echoing in the room. ¡°I would like all seven of you to know. This isn''t about revenge or glory; it''s about ending the cycle.¡± I aimed the gun at one, but didn¡¯t squeeze the trigger, instead I held up my other hand, signaling for a moment''s reprieve. ¡°But I''m not without a sliver of humanity left in me. You''ve all got families, I imagine. People you care about. People who will wonder where you''ve gone.¡±My gaze shifted from one person to another; before offering, ¡°so, I''m granting you a moment. A chance to have your say. Final words, if you will. I won''t deny you that.¡± I took a step back, giving them space and allowing them to think about what to say next. I gave them approximately three minutes. These three minutes quickly passed prompting me to begin what Cola-Coco and I were there for.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. After dealing with the most annoying part of that mission, I headed to the van to retrieve a chair and little table I set up for myself and my laptop. I quickly opened PhotoStall and began preparing for the third and final part of our operation after the abductions and the executions. "What are you doing, Pedsi?" Cola-Coco asked. "Editing our footage," I replied. "And you can call me by my name now if you want, Andy." During their farewell, some of our stubborn hostages said things that shouldn''t have been said. It amazed me how some people''s logic worked. While some begged to be spared, which I could understand, others went as far as to beg to be avenged. It left me perplexed and made me question the sanity of some people. Like seriously, you were screwed from the beginning, I could understand begging for one¡¯s life but come on asking to be avenged, that¡¯s like literally asking for things to get worse than they already are. Like be a minimum mindful of others Anyway, to avoid making the situation messier than it already was, editing the footage was essential before sending it to our clients. As I was deeply engrossed in my video editing, Cola-Coco finished bagging the corpse and approached me with noticeable awkwardness in his demeanor. "Hey, Hassan," Andy began tentatively, "are you used to this kind of mission?" I didn''t look up from my screen and replied with a nonchalant tone, "No." Andy seemed surprised by this response. He glanced at his trembling hand and then back at me, asking, "Then how were you able to do it so¡­casually?" I continued editing the video, my voice calm and disinterested. "Let''s see... isn''t this like the same as the usual man-hunting and bounty-hunting activities?" I muttered, as I reminisced about our few shared missions. "It''s not," Andy replied vigorously, clearly disgusted at the mere comparison. Lifting my eyes from the laptop, I probed further, "How so?" "It''s not the same, it''s different..." Andy struggled to find the right words. I leaned back slightly in my chair, intrigued. "Which is why I''m asking, how so? We''re paid to hunt and kill people in both cases." Andy hesitated for a moment, prompting me to answer for him. "Yes, but... let me guess? They''re fighting back, so it''s more honorable." He shyly nodded, his eyes downcast. I couldn''t resist a mocking tone. "Oh, Andy, always the sensitive soul." My jest fell flat, and Andy retreated into a depressed corner. Trying to lift his spirits, I said, "Look, if it at least can make you feel better, what we''ve done here today will not only bring us a fortune, but it''ll also bring peace to a stupid war that''s been prolonged for far too long. Think of all the good stuff that¡¯ll come with this, instead of focusing on the negative. That''s how you do it." He was silent for a while then muttered, "perhaps you were really born for this." I raised an eyebrow. "And you¡¯re not, perhaps?" He shook his head vehemently. "No, I''m not an unfeeling perfectionist." I shrugged with barely any reaction. "Rude. Then why are you doing this with me, if you''re not a psycho yourself?" "I''m doing this... I''m doing this because I need money." "For your family?" I ventured as a guess. He nodded. "Yes, I want what''s best for them, which is why I''m doing it. I doubt that''s something you can understand." I leaned back in my chair, contemplating his words. "Not at all. I''m doing this for my family too." "You have a family?" Andy frowned. I chuckled. "Not yet, but once I''m wealthy enough, I plan to marry a 1.75m blonde woman who will give me four children: a boy and three girls. Two boys and two girls would be acceptable too, but no more than that." Andy gave me an incredulous look, but before he could respond, my phone rang, abruptly interrupting our conversation. Even though I stared at an unfamiliar number on my phone, I instantly recognized the caller. I exchanged a quick look with Andy before answering. "So, is it done?" an old, deep and familiar voice inquired from the other end. "Yes, it''s done, Sir," I replied. "Any issues?" "No issues at all, Sir." "I see, as expected of you, Hassan, or should I say Pedsi?" he chuckled. "Either name works, Sir," I replied. He chuckled. "You say that, but I know how much being misnamed annoys you." "You know me well, Sir." "Of course, I didn''t raise you for nothing. Anyway, I''m sure you''re occupied, so I''ll let you go. I''ll be waiting for the footage." "I''ll send it as I¡¯m done wrapping everything up." "Good, I''ll be eagerly awaiting it." With that, the call ended, and I couldn''t help but recall Andy''s earlier words, about him being born for such a lifestyle. The truth was, he genuinely thinks that no one is, not even him. It¡¯s just that sometimes, you just find yourself thrust into it, and the best course of action is to accept it for what it is. Otherwise, it''ll gradually consume you until there''s nothing left. Yes, I''m an unarguably terrible person, and I''m okay with it. Despite the reprehensible nature of my line of work, there''s occasional purpose in it, and it''s a rather comfortable existence. With renewed determination, I edited the unnecessary part of the video, and soon enough, I finished. I sent it to the Master, who would then pass it on to our clients, putting an end to the ongoing hostilities between the two groups and our mission. I closed my laptop, a satisfied smile on my face from a job well done, and went to stow it in the van. Before heading to the back of the van to retrieve the shovels, I noticed something missing. "Andy, where''s the other shovel?" I asked. "The other shovel? Wasn''t it in the back, next to your bazooka?" Andy responded. "I only see one shovel," I complained, stepping out of the van and inviting him to check for himself. "Hmm, that''s strange," he mumbled as he entered the van. "I''m pretty sure I put it in there." "Well, I only see one, so..." As Andy continued his search for the missing shovel, I suddenly heard a noise that made me back off. It was a sound like a car engine revving, which seemed out of place considering the ridiculous remoteness of this location. I furrowed my brow, realizing that it was indeed the sound of a motor. At that moment, the source of the noise came into view as a black Cadillac with tinted windows appeared on the dusty mountainous road. The car came to a halt several dozen meters away from us, and for a moment, it felt like a tense standoff was about to unfold. "Andy," I called out, my hand reaching for my handgun, signaling to Andy that trouble was on the horizon. "Mm?" Andy replied, still preoccupied with searching for the missing shovel inside the van. "I think we''ve got a problem," I muttered lowly. Suddenly, men emerged from the black Cadillac, brandishing guns. "What the¡ª" The sound of rapid gunfire, "papapapa," filled the air, and I instinctively took cover. "Crouch! We''re under attack," I shouted to Andy as I tried to assess the situation and formulate a plan to survive this unexpected threat. Amidst the chaos of bullets flying and the Cadillac''s occupants taking cover, we somehow managed to avoid getting hit by the initial salvo. As the gunfire momentarily came to a halt, I turned to Andy, alias Andy, and asked, "Alive?" "I''m fine," he replied, but as he crawled out of the van, it became evident that he was not unscathed. Blood trickled down from his ear, apparently grazed by a bullet. He retrieved an assault rifle from a stash in the back of the van and tossed it over to me before grabbing one for himself. "What the hell is going on?" We both retaliated with shots toward the direction of the Cadillac, causing the men to take cover behind their vehicle. "I was asking myself the same question," I replied, continuing to fire. The men behind the Cadillac returned sporadic gunfire, but the real shock came when a second Cadillac appeared, soon followed by a third, parking beside the first. ¡°Tsk!¡± "What the fuck?" Andy muttered. More heavily armed men poured out of the Cadillacs, and Andy and I were forced to seek cover. "What the hell is going on?" Andy whined, frustration mounting. "This isn''t supposed to happen," I muttered, agitated as rarely as I''ve ever been. "I guess not all things go according to your plan," Andy retorted. "Are you trying to pick a fight with me in the middle of all this?" I shot back, unable to restrain my irritation. "Nope, I was just pointing out the obvious," he calmly replied. Andy reached inside the van, retrieving something that left me stunned. "Can I use this big boy?" he asked with a maniacal smile. Upon hearing his question, I bit my lip, then reluctantly nodded. "I didn''t plan on using it today, but... tsk, do it." "Yessir," Andy declared, exchanging his assault rifle for the massive bazooka. The situation had escalated beyond anything we had anticipated, and it was clear that drastic measures were now necessary to survive. Andy hefted the bazooka onto his shoulder, a fierce determination in his eyes. With a wicked grin, he muttered, "Time to make some noise," before coming out of cover and unleashing the massive weapon. The rocket roared to life with a deafening whoosh, leaving a trail of smoke and fire in its wake. It streaked across the distance and struck the lead Cadillac dead center with an earth-shattering explosion. The force of the blast sent shockwaves rippling through the air, flipping the cars over in a fiery burst of metal and flames. Most of the men who had been surrounding the Cadillac were instantly incinerated; the surviving ones letting out screams, cries, and groans were silenced in an instant, and while they survived, the explosion left the miserable wounded, if not, at best, heavily disoriented. Wasting no time, I took advantage of the chaos and resumed gunfire, picking off the remaining assailants who stood disoriented within sight. With the few survivors of the attack still groaning and writhing in pain, I fired a few shots in their direction, creating cover fire to give Andy a chance to get behind the wheel of the van. "Get behind the wheel! We''re leaving!" Andy, swift to react, crawled over to the driver''s seat. He glanced back at the carnage and then at me, his eyes filled with concern. "What about the bodies we were supposed to bury? Are we leaving them here?" I fired another round towards the surviving attackers to keep them at bay. "Things have gone south, and they can only get further south from here.Hit the gas and get us out of here. We''ll worry about this mess later." I shouted, my patience running thin. There was so much more I wanted to say to vent my frustration, but for now, I needed to focus on the immediate threat. I continued to fire at the survivors, making sure they stayed down. In no time, Andy got the van started. He turned it around and picked me up as I scrambled into the back, and we sped down the road that the Cadillac had taken, desperate to put as much distance as possible between us and the chaos we had unwittingly stumbled into. As we passed by the wrecked Cadillac, several bullets were fired in our direction, but miraculously, none found their mark, and we made it through safely. The adrenaline that had initially kept Andy seemingly nonchalant about the situation had begun to wear off, and his voice trembled as he finally voiced his thoughts. "What the hell was that?!" I stared out the window, my mind racing. "Don''t ask me. I have no answer to that question." "These guys were..." Andy''s voice trailed off as he struggled to find the right words. "So you''ve noticed as well," I replied, confirming his thoughts. Andy nodded, his lips pressed together in a tight line. The realization had hit us both¡ªour attackers were no ordinary assaillants. "Blackcrowns," I said, naming one of the groups that had initially hired us for this job. At that moment, I reached for my phone to make a call. This situation was far from what we had expected. We were not prepared for this level of violence. I certainly hadn''t planned on getting shot at today. I was about to dial the number when I suddenly came to a halt, my brow furrowing as I saw two more Cadillacs approaching us on the road ahead. As the two Cadillacs sped toward us with a clear intent to crash into our van, Andy''s reflexes kicked in with lightning-fast precision. "Oh shit!" he exclaimed, and with a deft maneuver, he swerved our van out of the path of the oncoming vehicles. The van careened wildly, zigzagging across the narrow mountain road as Andy fought to regain control. I held onto the seat and dashboard, my knuckles white from the tension, praying to a god I didn¡¯t even believe in that we wouldn''t plunge off the mountainside. After what felt like an eternity, Andy managed to stabilize the van, and we continued hurtling down the winding road, the two Cadillacs falling behind. As I checked them through the side-mirror, a surge of frustration and anger coursed through me. "Damn it!" I cursed under my breath, my adrenaline pumping. I knew we weren¡¯t just going to outrun these bastards. We had to fight back. I rushed to the back of the van, grabbing one of the assault rifles that lay there, and opened one of the rear doors. With the wind whipping around me, I braced myself and opened fire at the two Cadillacs still coming at us. Sharp staccato of gunshots rang out, echoing through the mountainous terrain as I tried to fend off our pursuers. As I continued to fire at one of the Cadillacs, my shots found their mark, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into a rocky outcrop. It didn¡¯t burst into flames like in movies, but nonetheless I felt an unrestrained surge of satisfaction. ¡°Yes!!! Die! Fuckers!!!¡± However, much to my annoyance the second Cadillac persisted, and the people inside began sticking their heads out, firing wildly at me from their moving vehicle. I desperately tried to return fire, but it wasn''t long before I realized that my magazine was empty. I quickly took cover on the other door that I had yet to open, cursing under my breath. Just as I was about to reload, my eyes fell upon a box in an upper compartment at the back of the van. Remembering its contents, the smile that had momentarily vanished at the sight of the other cadillac persisting reappeared on my face. Swiftly, I retrieved the box and opened it, revealing grenades. The thought of revealing myself to throw a grenade sounded too risky, so I pulled the pin and after a moment let go. I repeated the process till it achieved what the outcome I was looking for. After 6 loosed grenades, I noticed one exploding stronger than the other. I took a cautious peek just in time to witness the second Cadillac erupt into flames and skid to a halt. Relieved that we had lost our immediate pursuers, I sighed in relief and began to move toward the front part of the van, but my heart sank as I saw what lay ahead on the road. A massive barricade had been set up, consisting of a large truck blocking the road, surrounded by several Cadillacs and heavily armed men. ¡°Good god!¡± Without hesitation, they opened fire on us, bullets tearing into our van. Bullets tore through the air, shattering metal and glass as Andy and I ducked, exchanging panicked glances. The van swerved wildly under Andy¡¯s frantic grip, the ruined wheel dragging us off course. The road beneath us crumbled where the gunfire had struck, and with a sickening lurch, the van skidded sideways. Tires screeched against loose gravel, but it was too late¡ªmomentum carried us over the edge. For a brief, weightless moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, gravity took hold, and we plummeted into the abyss below. Chapter Two - Flawed Perfect Logic As I slowly regained consciousness, a heavy sense of confusion enveloped me. I blinked several times, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Everything felt disoriented and hazy. My head throbbed with pain, and I reached up to touch my face, only to find my hand coming away with streaks of blood. "What the hell?" Staring at my bloodied hand, the memories of the chaotic events on the mountain road rushed back to me. The ambush, the gunfire, and the van careening off the cliffside all flooded my mind in a disorienting whirlwind. With a groan, I shook off the haze in my mind and forced myself to sit up. As I did I realized I was in the back of the van. Ignoring the pain in my head, I managed to stand, swaying unsteadily as I moved toward the front of the van. I reached the driver''s seat where I found Andy slumped over the steering wheel, fortunately unconscious but not dead. I called out his name, but there was no response. I reached out and gave Andy a firm slap on the cheek, hoping to rouse him from his unconscious state. "Andy! Wake up!" I shouted, quickly going from a slap to a whole punch. Andy''s eyes fluttered open as he groaned, his head spinning from the sudden awakening. "Huh? What happened?" he mumbled, disoriented. I sighed with a mixture of relief and frustration. "How many times are you going to ask that damn question?" I scolded. But before he could react, I added, "We fell down the cliffside, and we survived. Somehow." Andy''s expression shifted as he began to recall the events leading up to our current predicament. The urgency of our situation slowly dawned on him, and he struggled to regain his composure. "We need to get out of this van," I tell, urging him to go first as the car was flipped in a way that we could only make an escape through his side of the door. It took some effort, but Andy eventually managed to climb out of the van. I followed suit, after of course, retrieving a handgun from the glove box and grabbing a grenade that had been lying around. "I''m surprised we survived that.¡± "Yeah," I replied, my gaze fixed on the battered vehicle. But before I could add, "Me too," a sudden burst of gunfire erupted, and we quickly realized that the men who had set up the roadblock were descending the cliffside, firing at us as they climbed down the mountain side on foot. There were at least twenty heavily armed men, and the moment I registered the threat, I spun on my heel and bolted. ¡°Move!¡± I barked at Andy, barely needing to say it¡ªhe was already on my heels. Together, we sprinted away from the van, the sharp crack of gunfire chasing us down. For a brief, desperate stretch, we managed to outpace them. The whizzing bullets faded, replaced by the pounding of our footsteps and the ragged sound of our breathing. A fragile sliver of hope crept in¡ªonly to be shattered by the distant, unmistakable roar of rotor blades cutting through the air. ¡°Fucking hell, a helicopter now? What¡¯s next, a goddamn tank?¡± Andy¡¯s voice was laced with frustration, but beneath it, a deeper dread seeped through. The rhythmic thumping of the approaching aircraft grew louder, drowning out everything else. Andy let out a shaky breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die, man,¡± he admitted, his voice carrying a quiet, unsettling resignation. "Neither do I," I replied. ¡°So do as I do. Keep running!¡±. I yanked my phone from my pocket, desperate to make a call¡ªany call¡ªfor help or direction. But the moment I glanced at the screen, my heart sank. No signal. ¡°Shit, shit, shit! This isn¡¯t some goddamn movie, damn it¡ªthis is real life! How the hell is there no signal at a time like this? It¡¯s the 34th century! What kind of bullshit¡ª¡± My outburst died in my throat as the approaching rotors grew louder, their steady thumping rattling my chest. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to focus, scrambling to think of a way out. But my mind was a blank slate, and the helicopter was closing in fast. It was in that moment, as I exchanged a glance with the gloomy Andy, that I made a decision. I handed the handgun to him, and he looked at me with puppy eyes, silently asking, "What do we do?" "We split up," I declared. Andy, dense as he tended to be, understood what I meant. With a gloomy and dreadful expression on his face, he nodded, accepting the gun. "If I get killed, avenge me," I requested, my voice filled with a sense of finality, only to realize I was acting as ¡°they¡± were. ¡°I guess I¡¯m like them in that regard.¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°But who cares. If you survive avenge. Kill everyone with the surname Gustav and Denouveau.¡± Despite being tasked with a suicidal request Andy nodded solemnly. "If I get killed and you survive, take care of my family." "Just that? Okay, Imma raised your children as if they were mine, count on me for that," I replied, taking his words as a farewell. At that moment, we didn''t waste any time. We sprinted in opposite directions, hoping that by splitting up, we might have a better chance of surviving this deadly pursuit. I ran and ran, without looking back, hoping that somehow I would get to do that thing I promised Andy. But no, instead of getting fainter and fainter the sound of the approaching helicopter grew louder and more menacing with each passing second, suggesting that it¡¯s chosen a target: me. ¡°Give me a damn break,¡± I muttered, coming to a reluctant stop and turning to face the inevitable. Overhead, the massive shadow of the helicopter swallowed the ground beneath me, its presence heavy and suffocating. A bitter laugh escaped me. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Hopelessness barely had time to settle before the sky erupted with gunfire. A fresh salvo tore through the air, kicking up dirt and debris around me. The bastards weren¡¯t even hesitating¡ªjust gunning me down like some pest to be wiped out. I cursed under my breath, heart hammering as I realized my mistake. I should have kept the damn gun. I ran as if my life depended on it¡ªbecause it did. Bullets screamed past me, too close, too many. And then, one didn¡¯t just whistle by¡ªit struck. A searing, unbearable agony exploded through me as my left arm was torn away, severed in an instant. I barely registered my own scream before my legs buckled, sending me crashing to the ground. Blood poured from the stump, hot and relentless, soaking the dirt beneath me. My vision blurred with tears as I writhed in agony, every movement sending fresh waves of torment through my shattered nerves. I tried to rise, but the pain was a merciless force, dragging me back down. My body refused to obey. My mind teetered on the edge of despair. Somewhere in that abyss of suffering, a thought crept in¡ªI wanted it to end. I wanted the helicopter above to finish the job. To put me out of my misery. But it didn¡¯t. It hovered, its rotor blades cutting through the air with a deafening roar, its presence looming over me like a predator savoring the kill. ¡°What the hell?¡± I rasped, my voice raw with pain and fury. ¡°Aren¡¯t you motherfuckers supposed to go after Andy too? Or is it just me you want dead? Is it that?!¡± No answer came. Just the endless whir of the blades. Just the unbearable silence of my impending doom. With a shaking hand, I reached into my pocket, fingers brushing against cold metal. A pin. Without hesitation, I pulled it free and tossed it aside, leaving behind the object it had belonged to. I was dead anyway. I wasn¡¯t going to allow these bastards to easily bury in a random ditch. I¡¯d have them pick my minced piece before they can do that. Then, as if the universe refused to grant me even the mercy of a swift death, headlights pierced through the dust and darkness. One after another, Cadillacs screeched to a stop, surrounding me like vultures descending on a corpse. Doors flew open. Men poured out, weapons raised, aimed, ready. I lay there, bleeding, broken, helpless. And then I noticed how they were dressed. My stomach twisted. It wasn¡¯t just the Blackcrowns. The Avian Vipers were here too. Both groups¡ªrivals, sworn enemies¡ªstood together, united in one goal. To capture me. Or kill me. And I had no idea why. "Weren''t you motherfuckers enemies?" I cursed, my words laden with frustration and disbelief. In my absolute low, a man emerged from one of the Cadillacs, his silhouette all too familiar. "Hassan," the man greeted with his usual smile. I was speechless for a moment then a feeble "Sir?!" came out. My voice was trembling with uncertainty, my mind reeling as I tried to make sense of the situation. I admit that in that moment, it was less about it being something hard to figure out and more about me being unable to accept the situation as it presented itself. "Sir, can you please explain to me what''s going on?" I pleaded, desperately seeking some clarity in the midst of this chaos. The man, the one whom I had tried to contact earlier, the one who had given me the mission, regarded me with a calm and calculated gaze. "Do I really have to?" he replied, his tone eerily composed. "Did you sell me out?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and betrayal.¦Ì "Selling you out, huh?" he mused, his smile never wavering. "I don''t really like that term. I didn''t sell you out, you did." "What?" I mumbled, thoroughly confused. "You sold yourself out, son," he said, approaching me slowly. "You did the moment you signed up for this mission. No, actually, before that. You signed up the moment you suggested what you¡¯re going to do." I was left speechless, my mind racing to grasp the implications of his words. "Don''t get me wrong," he continued. "It was a brilliant idea, perhaps a little too brilliant for normally built people. You can''t just expect people to react the way you do things. Some people, while they may see the logic behind it, can''t bring themselves to quantify life, especially when it comes to loved ones. So they''re bitter, so they go after revenge." He crouched down beside me. "You stepped forward to act as the equalizer for their conflict. But did you really think that these people would let their loved ones'' killers live just because it somehow makes sense on paper?" As I heard the words coming from his mouth, I was forced to realize the flaws in my logic. "They can''t," he continued, his voice soft but filled with a certain finality. "Which is why the moment your back was turned, another deal was struck between our dear clients. Consider this an alliance against a greater evil." ¡°Greater evil¡­ Me?¡± ¡°Yes. You.¡± I was left stunned, unable to find any other words but utter, "You sold me out..." To which he replied, "As I said, I don''t really like that term." "I don''t care. You should have helped me." I protested, my voice laced with bitterness. ¡°I was loyal.¡± "You sure were, to a fault, I would even say," he mused, his gaze distant. "I doubt anyone in the organization would be as loyal as you are. If only you had dedicated even a sliver of your loyalty to some religion, perhaps there would be a chance you''d be going to a better place after all of this." "I''m not..." I began to protest, but the man calmly raised an eyebrow. "You''re not?" he countered. "Aren''t you the one pooling in your own blood? Do you not see it''s happening, or is it simply that you don''t believe in such things as hell?" In that moment, a weak laugh escaped my lips, strained and filled with pain. "No, it isn¡¯t that." "What is it, then?" he inquired curiously. "I''m dying, that''s for sure," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper, "but not alone." With what little strength I had left, I shifted, feeling the hard, cold weight beneath me¡ªthe grenade. My last resort. My final act of defiance. I had unpinned it earlier, planning to take at least one or two of those Avian Viper or Blackcrowns bastards down with me. But fate, or perhaps something crueler, had handed me an opportunity far better than that. If I was going to die, at least I''d take someone who truly deserved it with me. Summoning what remained of my will, I shifted ever so slightly. Boom. The world erupted in fire and sound. For a moment, I wasn¡¯t even sure if I had done it, if the explosion was real or just my mind breaking apart. Had I taken him down with me? Had I succeeded? ¡°So long as I managed to do so, it was worth it,¡± I murmured, though my voice barely carried beyond my own fading awareness. But in the haze of pain and smoke, I couldn¡¯t even confirm if I had succeeded in that final desperate act. If one could even call it thinking, a final thought flickered through my mind: ¡°What an anticlimactic death. I guess, at least it ends here.¡± But it didn¡¯t. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t. Chapter Three - Isekai (to Hell) If there was some sort of judgment beyond death, if I had the opportunity to defend my case, I would have prefaced everything with a weak voice. "I was born in... well, actually, I don''t know where I was born," I would admit, my words trailing off. "The first thing I remember, I was in the streets." I would pause, my mind painfully drifting back to those early years of my life. "Sure, I do remember some people¡ªif I could even call them that. I lived with them for a time, but I''d been passed around so much that I wouldn''t even be able to name their names or count the number of days I spent by their side." Taking a deep breath, my thoughts would return to the streets that had been my home. "Most of my earliest memories were of me in the streets, living off dumpsters like a trash panda. Back then, while life wasn''t particularly good, it was good enough for me. I even got a nickname¡ªHassan, Prince of the Streets." A weak chuckle would escape me, laced with bitter irony. "Of course, I understood that that particular nickname was sarcastic. I was too lonely to be a prince of anything, too antisocial to have goons or retainers of my own, like a prince should. But still, I was holding up pretty well on my own. I wasn''t particularly respected, but I was feared, and that was enough." I would then continue to share my life''s story, memories of my journey unfolding like the bittersweet tapestry of survival and ambition that it was. "I don''t specifically remember what caused ambition to sprout within me," I would admit, my voice wavering slightly. "But I had ambitions¡ªnot particularly great ones, but reasonable ones, at least in my own account. I wanted to leave those slums I grew up in. I wanted a house of my own, a car of my own, nice clothes to wear. That''s what I wanted." I would recall the moment when ambition had ignited within me. "I was roughly twelve when I first manifested that ambition, and from then on, I began working toward it. I started working on my antisocial behaviors. I became a goon¡ªbecause, logically, that was one of the best ways to claw my way to the top wherever it was. I switched gangs, changed alliances, climbed the ranks. I didn''t develop much of a concept of loyalty because I knew these people I allied with wouldn¡¯t really take my dreams any further. They were steps, and I treated them as such¡ªsteps for me to walk on." My voice would then grow more reflective. "I''m not even sure how many times I did that, but I was around fifteen when I had a fortunate encounter with something that brought me close to my dream. I was picked up¡ªby an underground organization specializing in all kinds of shady business. That organization was led by none other than him." His face would flash in my mind. "I''m not really sure what caught his attention about me," I would muse. "Maybe it was how much of a perfectionist I was, how dedicated I was. What else could it be? Under them, in no time, I achieved my dream. No, actually, I even surpassed it. Luxurious cars, several mansions, classy and stylish outfits of my own¡ªthe organization made it possible for me¡ª-Sir made it possible for me." A sense of gratitude would creep into my voice. "Sure, people call me cold and unfeeling, but I was never ungrateful. I knew I owed them everything. Sure, I was doing the ''ugly'' and ¡®disgusting¡¯ parts of the job, but let¡¯s be honest¡ªwhat''s the difference between breaking the skull of some idiot trying to take your spot in the slums with a brick and drowning an old retired mafia boss in his pool? The answer is none. If anything, the only difference is the value attached to it¡ªthe price." I would then pause, my eyes reflecting the complexity of my moral reasoning. "I''ve heard people call me a monster. I''m not. I''m very much human, just like anyone else. I don''t decide the price; they do. I''m just acting upon the price attached to it." "It was through the organization that the price was available to me," I would continue, my voice growing increasingly strained. "So yeah, I sure as hell respected it. I dedicated myself to it, gave the organization¡ªand the one leading it¡ªmy utmost loyalty, something I didn¡¯t even know I had. Yet here I am."
At that moment, I couldn''t help but question the fairness of my situation, a sense of injustice bubbling up within me. "Did I deserve this? Sure, perhaps I did, but shouldn''t there at least be some kind of judgment where I could advocate my case to a higher sentience? I would¡¯ve told them about my tragic backstory, my poor upbringing that led me to this life of sin and murder¡ªjust like I already did. Why am I just being thrown here without a chance to explain myself? This... this is absolutely unfair!" My words hung in the air, deafened by the sound of my own loud, bitter screams and lamentations. "It burns... It burns so much... It hurts so much..." I was lost in a state of agony and confusion. I believed I was lying down, but I couldn''t be sure. I couldn''t see anything except for a blinding, overwhelming light. The color was indistinguishable, and I couldn''t even tell if I was seeing anything at all. It was as if the sheer presence of this radiance was enough to scorch me, to consume me. I had no awareness of my body, my flesh, or my limbs. Yet, I could feel the distinct sensation of being engulfed by an intense radiance. It was an excruciating experience beyond anything I had ever known. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. I couldn''t hear the screams of others, nor could I see them, but their presence was palpable. But amidst all of that, there was this noise¡ªno, calling it a noise was incorrect. It was something else, yet the closest way to describe it was: the sound of someone faintly crying. And it wasn¡¯t me. While that sound at least made me feel like I wasn¡¯t completely alone, in my agony, I ultimately was. Trapped in place, surrounded by an ominous and unsettling atmosphere. I had the distinct feeling that I had indeed arrived in the place I had been told so many times to go to¡ªhell. As I writhed in the midst of this unbearable agony, time itself seemed to warp and distort. There were no discernible moments, no relief from the relentless torment. Each passing second felt like an eternity, and yet, I couldn''t escape the ceaseless pain. Memories of my past life, if this was indeed some sort of afterlife, flashed before my mind''s eye like fragments of shattered glass. Shouldn¡¯t this be the part where the faces of loved ones, long-forgotten moments of joy, and the warmth of human connection resurfaced in an attempt to help me cope with this reality? Instead, all I got were the distorted faces of all the people I had killed. Where were my mansions, my cars, my expensive suits? This was exactly where I needed to see them, to prove to me that it was all worth it. It didn¡¯t take long¡ªwell, actually, it felt like it did¡ªfor me to finally understand: it wasn¡¯t. At that moment, I began to think, "I should''ve gotten married earlier, taken a nice 1m75 blon¡ªactually, even if she wasn''t blonde, it would''ve been fine. We should''ve had some babies¡ªone boy, one girl, two boys, two girls, or all boys or all girls¡ªit wouldn''t have mattered. Everything would''ve been better than this. Seriously, why was I so picky?" Having come to that understanding, I longed for release, for respite from this excruciating existence, but there was seemingly no escape. It was as if the very concept of hope had been scorched away, leaving behind only the stark reality of unending agony. In this hellish realm, there was no solace, no redemption¡ªonly an unrelenting and merciless fire that consumed not just the body, but the very essence of my being. The screams and lamentations, which I could neither see nor hear clearly, served as a constant reminder that I was not alone in this wretched place, that countless souls were trapped in this eternal suffering. As the indistinguishable light¡ªan existence that I had begun to consider as similar to that of a cold and unfeeling god, just as I always believed they should be¡ªcontinued to sear my existence, I couldn''t help but wonder if there was any way out, any chance of redemption, or if this torment was to be my eternal fate. The uncertainty and fear gnawed at what remained of my consciousness, leaving me to contemplate the unimaginable horror of an existence without end, without hope, and without respite. In the midst of this unending torment, I desperately searched for any glimmer of meaning or understanding in all of this. That¡¯s all I could do. Was there an end? What could I do to put an end to this dreadful fate? Was there any possibility of redemption, or was this truly the end of the line¡ªan eternity of just this? But the answers, if they existed at all, remained elusive. It was as if the very fabric of reality had been torn asunder, and I was left adrift in a formless void of suffering, devoid of hope. In this nightmarish existence, time was both my enemy and my companion. It dragged on endlessly, a cruel reminder of the eternity of suffering that lay ahead. Yet, it also allowed for moments of introspection, moments when I delved into the darkest recesses of my soul, searching for some semblance of understanding which I admit I was hoping would lead me to some sort of redemption. The memories of my past sins, mistakes, and regrets haunted me relentlessly. Each one played out before me like a twisted, malevolent theater. I relived the pain I had caused others, the opportunities I had squandered, and the moments of cruelty or indifference that had marked my journey through life. Amidst the ceaseless torment and introspection, a realization began to creep in¡ªa stark understanding of the depths of my transgressions. "I get it now," I whispered, though my voice was a mere echo in this desolate void, barely reaching my own ears. "End... suffering... end... existence..." The words were fragmented, the plea filled with a raw, primal urgency. The echoes of my plea reverberated through the formless expanse, mingling with the distant, haunting cries of others who shared this abyss. In the interminable silence that followed, I clung to the flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, someone or something would heed my desperate entreaty and grant me release from this eternal nightmare. And as the endless ages stretched before me, I began to wonder if this suffering was not just a punishment but also a chance for redemption. A chance to confront the darkness within and, through the purifying radiance of suffering, to find a path towards forgiveness and atonement. Yep, I think at that point I was starting to lose my mind. Yeah, that¡¯s most likely what was happening. Yet for a time, I¡¯d been thinking that with somewhat loose belief and desperate hope. It was better than thinking that this would be without an end, right? But that road to said ¡°redemption,¡± if it at all existed, would be long and treacherous, and I knew that the journey through this hellish landscape was far from over. The silent screams of the lost souls around me served as a constant reminder that the battle for salvation if there was one was just beginning, and the question that gnawed at my very core was whether I had the strength to endure, to find a way out of this infernal abyss, or whether I would be forever consumed by the unrelenting flames of despair. In that timeless expanse where seconds and eternities merged into an indistinguishable flow, it happened¡ªwhether it was then, before, or after, the concept of time itself had lost its meaning. From the same overwhelming radiance that had relentlessly consumed me, the very source I had started to perceive as a manifestation of divinity, or perhaps a higher power beyond comprehension, came forth a burst of light. It erupted like a colossal pillar of blinding brilliance, extending from the very heart of that radiant presence. It surrounded me, swallowed me whole, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was no pain, no torment. The all-consuming light became my sanctuary and my deliverance. As I bathed in the purity of that divine radiance, a profound sense of peace washed over me. It was a peace beyond words, beyond understanding. The agony that had defined my existence for so long dissolved, leaving behind only a profound stillness. In that moment, I no longer begged for an end to my suffering or existence. Instead, I surrendered to the infinite embrace of that transcendent light. I became one with it, my consciousness merging with the boundless essence of whatever lay beyond. Whether it was salvation or obliteration, I could not say, for words had lost their meaning. All at that point was that I was finally free. Chapter Four - A42675 and K.R.U.L As my consciousness shifted from that indescribable realm, I had a sensation akin to waking up, although it was an awakening unlike any other. I had no body to speak of, no tangible form, and yet I was aware. I tried to move, or what I perceived as movement, and my gaze, if one could call it a gaze, fell upon my hand¡ªor what I assumed was my hand. It was an amorphous, swirling mass of strange matter, like a foamy white fog that defied any conventional understanding. Despite the alien nature of my existence, there was something undeniably comforting in the realization that the scorching, searing pain that had haunted me for what felt like an eternity was absent. In that moment, tears, if one could call them tears, flowed down my pseudo-existent body. It was an inexplicable mix of relief, disbelief, and profound emotion. I found myself on my knees, emotions swirling within me like a tempest. After what felt like an eternity, the tumultuous emotions began to subside. As they did, the scenery around me started to shift. The white fog that had surrounded me initially began to change, giving way to a radiance that was hauntingly familiar. It was the same light that had engulfed me in that place I could only imagine as "hell." "No, no, no, please! Not again!" I pleaded desperately as the surroundings shifted, and I felt myself gradually turning into radiance. The terror of what had tormented me before resurfaced in my mind, the agonizing pain that accompanied the blinding radiance. But then, as the transformation continued, something unexpected happened. Instead of the searing pain, I felt a sense of familiarity, a resonance with the radiant pillar¡ªthe pillar of light that had freed me from that place. The memories of my liberation flooded back, and I began to understand that this radiance was not my tormentor; it was my salvation. In that moment of realization, the conflicting emotions within me began to settle. I embraced the transformation, knowing that I was not returning to the torment I had left behind but entering a new, enigmatic existence. I surrendered to the radiant embrace. In the midst of the radiant transformation, as I became one with the pillar of light, a profound awareness washed over me. There, in the heart of this luminescent manifestation, I sensed a presence. It was not a him, her, it, or even they; it transcended such simplistic descriptors. It was something beyond my capacity to accurately define, an entity of incomprehensible nature and power. In that moment of realization, an instinctive reverence overtook me. I adopted my most respectful posture, my knee touching the radiant floor, and my head bowed low. It wasn''t a prayer in the conventional sense, for I had never prayed before, but it was a gesture that felt right, a way to convey my profound respect to this entity that stood before me. As I knelt in silent reverence, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of humility, awe, and utter fear. I had traversed realms unknown, endured suffering unimaginable, and now found myself in the presence of something that defied all understanding¡ªa being that seemed to embody the very essence of divinity. As I knelt in reverence before the incomprehensible entity, it continued to look at me with an indifferent gaze that sent shivers down my spine. It seemed to exist beyond the realms of emotion or expression, its motives inscrutable and its presence overwhelming. I longed to speak, to bridge the gap between my finite understanding and its unfathomable nature, but fear held my words captive. Minutes, or perhaps mere seconds, passed in the strange, timeless void that surrounded us. My concept of time had been utterly shattered, leaving me adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The entity''s unwavering gaze remained locked on me, unyielding and enigmatic. It was only when the pillar of light I was embraced within began to show signs of change that I summoned the courage to speak. "I..." I hesitated, my mind racing with the memories of the torment I had endured in that other place. The fear of being cast back into that abyss gnawed at my thoughts, and I fought to find my voice. "I... I know it will most likely mean nothing," I stammered, my words quivering in the vast expanse of that radiant chamber, "but I wanted to voice out my gratitude for having been freed of that place." The entity, still devoid of any discernible expression, continued to observe me. Was it even looking at me? The uncertainty was maddening, and as the silence stretched on, my heart raced with a rising sense of fear and doubt. Had I spoken out of turn? Had I committed some unknowable offense? Did I perform the ritual of reverence correctly? Panic welled up within me as I considered the consequences of my words and actions. What if the entity decided to send me back to that place of torment? Then, in a moment that defied comprehension, the entity underwent a shift, taking on an appearance, or at least a silhouette, that bore a striking resemblance to my own. The sight left me awestruck and bewildered, as to what was its purpose, but soon I understood. The entity''s voice resonated through the ethereal space with an otherworldly quality, speaking words that shook me to the core. "Your gratefulness is misplaced. I did not save you," it intoned, its tone devoid of emotion. Not only could I not contain my surprise, I didn¡¯t want to leave the entity in silence so felt compelled to respond. "You did not?" I asked, my voice quivering. The entity''s reply was unemotional and matter-of-fact. "Not intentionally," it said, before adding, "you just happened to be in the way." The words both shook and didn''t surprise me. Internally, I thought, "Of course, what was I thinking, that I was a deity''s chosen one somehow." Disappointment welled up within me, but I tried to hide it behind a facade of understanding. "I see, I understand," I replied, my tone masking my inner turmoil. As I pondered the implications of my presence being merely accidental, a nagging thought gnawed at my mind. What was to prevent the entity from sending me back to that place I most likely belong to: hell? Clearly nothing. Trembling at the mere thought of going through that again, I tremblingly voiced my concerns. "I understand, but still... I feel like I have to be grateful because that''s what I am. Grateful, of course. I''m not asking you to consider my feelings; I''m just wondering if I could be of any use." ¡­ "What the hell was that?" I couldn''t help but scream internally. ¡°What did I just say?¡± At that moment, offering my service was the only way I could think of to voice my gratitude. Oh, god., what did I do? I couldn¡¯t help but hope and pray that my words didn¡¯t offend the entity in some way. Surprisingly, the otherworldly voice responded, "What can ''you'' give in guise of gratitude? What can you do?" I found myself at a loss for words, unable to answer the question. At that moment, I felt utterly worthless. "Nothing," I replied honestly. "Then why do you offer?" the entity inquired, its tone as inscrutable as ever. In a moment of vulnerability, I confessed, "I thought that perhaps this was the way for a sinner to not look bad in front of a God." The entity fell silent for a moment, and I couldn''t help but think that I had offended it somehow. Finally, it replied, "I would like to make some clarification. I do not care about whether you are a sinner or otherwise; I simply do not care about you." The clarity in its words stung, but I refrained from voicing my thoughts. "And second, I am not a God," it continued. "You... are not?" I mumbled in disbelief, my mind racing. "Yes, I am merely her tool," the entity clarified. If that¡¯s not a God, but ¡°merely¡± a tool, then what¡¯s a God could possibly be like? My primitive mind simply couldn¡¯t comprehend. But then again, noting something on what he just said, "Her..." I repeated, and then gathered the courage to ask, "may I ask her name?" "For what purpose?" The entity''s response held a hint of anger; no, I was wrong; actually, it was mostly annoyance and nothing, as it said. It was the first time I detected any emotional undertone in its voice, albeit a somewhat annoyed one. "In the situation I find myself in," I ventured, "I think having a Godd¡ª a God to pray to is something that I may really need." "Your prayer won''t help her in any sort of way," the entity replied, its words resonating with a profound finality. In that moment, most likely, I found myself trying to apply some of my limited and mortal logic to a literal being that could rightfully be considered a god. I couldn''t help but notice that the entity had placed a certain emphasis on the word "help," and it left me with an unsettling feeling. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Then... if it won¡¯t, is there a way that I can be of any help to her?" I ventured to ask, my voice trembling slightly. A heavy silence hung in the radiant chamber, and I felt compelled to continue. "I understand I''m helpless, I know nothing, and I can''t do anything. I am just utterly helpless. But back in my days as a living, breathing being, I was a very loyal and dedicated individual. Those are the traits I can and would dare to boast of in front of you. Right now, I have nothing else. I stand here in front of you, trembling at the thought of returning to that hellish place. I''m afraid¡ªafraid like I''ve never been before. I know I would dedicate my whole being to do whatever is in my power to avoid returning to that place, which is why I ask for ''her'' name." The entity seemed to consider my words, and then it spoke again, its voice unchanging in its otherworldly tone. "So that''s why you asked her name, because you''re afraid." I replied honestly, "Yes, I¡¯m afraid, I¡¯d like to beg for redemption, but I know I don¡¯t deserve it. Best I can do is try to earn from one way or another. In many ways, what I¡¯m seeking is a bargain. I understand that it''s not how religion should work, but I''ll work to better myself in that regard, if given the opportunity to. I understand that my prayer won''t be of any help, so I humbly ask again, what can I do to help?" As I waited for a response from the entity, its silence took on a different quality. It felt like a contemplative pause, as though it were musing or pondering something profound. I tried not to impose my own logic onto this enigmatic being, but it was difficult not to speculate on its thoughts. Suddenly, the entity underwent yet another transformation. It began to take on a form that mirrored my own, adding human-like features such as bones, blood, and flesh. It was as if I were gazing into a mirror, and the entity''s voice shifted to a tone that was undoubtedly mine. "So, you hate that place and are willing to do anything to avoid being sent back there?" it asked, using my voice as if it were his own. "Yes," I replied without hesitation, my determination unwavering. "I will do anything." The entity continued its inquiry, probing deeper. "Will you go as far as doing what you think sent you to that place in the first place?" I felt like I was being tested, my resolve examined. The time I spent in that dreadful place had indeed changed me, but it had also instilled in me an unshakable aversion to ever returning. "If it means not going back there, I will do whatever needs to be done, whether it''s better, the same, or even worse." The entity made no immediate comment but posed another question. "Should you be given the opportunity to be of use and purpose, to exist again in another form, would you die once more for the purpose you would then be given?" Once again, it felt like a test, a moral dilemma. However, I didn''t hesitate this time. "I apologize for answering a question with a question, but can I ask something? Will that death lead me back to that place again?" The entity''s response was a cold, unwavering stare, leaving my question unanswered. Undeterred, I continued, "I will dedicate myself to the task I am given, but, presumptuous as it may sound, I have a request to make in advance." "What is it?" The entity inquired. "I request that regardless of the outcome of the task, my death leads not to that place but to total obliteration," I said firmly. As mindless as the bargain, it was the only one I could see myself having a chance to secure. I really didn¡¯t want to return to that place and I was willing to do everything so that it won¡¯t ever happen again. For the first time, the entity displayed a hint of emotion on my own features. It asked, "Is that truly your wish?" "Yes," I affirmed. "In this way, my life shall be dedicated to the goal I am given. I have lived once, and though its end was abrupt, I am not asking for more. I don''t deserve it. I have no right to ask for more. I can only ask not to be sent ''there.'' That, at least, I have the right to ask." The entity approached, and with a single extended finger, it reached for my forehead. "If that''s your wish, so shall be your end." As the entity''s touch met my brow, I braced myself for something momentous, something grand and profound. However, to my surprise, nothing of the sort occurred. The entity withdrew its hand from my forehead, relinquishing my form and returning to its previous state. I was left puzzled for a moment, unsure of how I was supposed to act. In my confusion, I finally mustered the courage to ask, "What can I do to help?" The entity remained silent for an extended period, leaving me to wonder if it had lost the ability to communicate once it had reverted to its original form. My theory was quickly dispelled when the entity finally spoke, breaking the silence that had hung in the air. "I will soon give up this form," it stated matter-of-factly. "Give up this form?" I repeated, still somewhat bewildered. "In other words, I will soon, in your kind¡¯s terms, die," it clarified. The concept of something like the entity dying left me dumbfounded. Could something that had claimed to be a tool even die? Questions flooded my mind, overwhelming my thoughts. "That being said," the entity continued, "I am not a living being. I will not die or perish like living beings do when I''ll be killed." "Killed?" I stammered, my mind reeling. Something will kill you? Something is able to kill something like you? Will it be another God? Something like you? Or something else entirely? The entity''s explanation only deepened my confusion. Perhaps having understood "I," it went on to emphasize, "as in the one you''re talking to, will simply disappear, leaving behind shards of what I''m made of." I listened, still trying to grasp the implications of its words. "I will entrust one of these shards to you for you to wield," the entity declared. "Entrust it to me..." I murmured, still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. "Yes," it confirmed. "Wield it. For what purpose, you wonder? I don''t have to explain. You will know. You will feel it." With these enigmatic words, the entity left me with more questions than answers, but a newfound sense of purpose and responsibility began to take root within me. I had been granted a unique opportunity, one that carried both uncertainty and potential. In spite of the inherent risk, I couldn''t resist asking the question that had been gnawing at my mind: "Will I live again?" The entity''s earlier mention of my death and its plan had left me with a lingering hope that I might return to some form of existence. The entity''s response was swift and definitive. "No." "No?!" I exclaimed, surprised and baffled by the unexpected answer. I had been so sure that the entity''s plans would involve my return to life in some capacity, and this answer shattered my certainty. Gathering my thoughts, I tried to make sense of the entity''s cryptic words. "But as I do, you will exist," it added, leaving me even more puzzled. "Like you do..." I mumbled, still trying to wrap my head around the enigmatic statement. I couldn''t yet grasp the true meaning of its words, but I understood that I would "exist" in some way or another. While it was not the answer I had hoped for, it was a glimmer of hope that I could still hold onto. The space around us continued to shift and change, an infinite kaleidoscope of simultaneous transformations that defied comprehension, or at the very least, mine. It was a maelstrom of swirling energies and shifting dimensions, a journey into the unknown. With a strange finality in its voice, the entity declared, "It''s beginning." "What''s beginning?" I wanted to ask, but a sense of restraint held me back. I had a feeling that some things were not meant for me to know, and the entity seemed to confirm this as it continued, "You will soon arrive in a new plane of existence." "A new plane of existence..." I mused, trying to make sense of the concept. "Is it like a parallel universe or something like that?" "It is a world completely separated from your old one, but no doubt, you will find similarities," the entity explained. Then it added, "I expect nothing of you except for one thing: to act upon what the shard I will leave behind would want you to. The rest I leave to your discretion." "What''s that supposed to mean?" I questioned internally, feeling a surge of confusion. Did the shard have a mind of its own? Was it like a separate entity? The questions multiplied in my mind like wildfire. Before I could voice my inquiries, the entity seemed to sense my confusion and said, "We have no time to answer all your questions, but I have just enough time to address the question you asked earlier." As it spoke, I felt a subtle shift in its tone, as if it were becoming more warm and, dare I say, emotional, closer to something living than a machine. "No doubt she has no need for any prayer, but feel free to pray to her as much as you wish to. The being that I, K.R.U.L, was created to assist was A42675." "A42675..." I repeated, trying to wrap my mind around the name. It didn''t sound like any name I had ever heard. "Is that a name? Is that what gods'' names sound like?" "It isn''t much of a name, but that was the appellation she went by. If anything, there is another name, or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a title she went by in the plane of existence you will soon arrive in: A42675, the Outer God of Corruption." "...the Outer God of Corruption;" I mumbled, humbled by the revelation that left me with a profound sense of fear, awe and trepidation. I felt so small, so insignificant. As the space continued its relentless and unpredictable transformations, something different occurred this time. The surroundings shattered into countless glass-like shards, creating a mesmerizing and chaotic spectacle. "It''s the end," the entity declared in a voice that carried a sense of finality. The shards of reality shimmered around us, and I couldn''t help but feel a profound sense of apprehension and anticipation. In that moment, it felt as though the entity, K.R.U.L, turned its attention toward me. It spoke my various names, the aliases and identities I had held in different moments of my existence. "Do your best, Hassan, the prince of the street, Pedsi, or whatever name you shall go by in the future. Show me¡ªno, show her what your dedication and loyalty are made of." Even though similar words in the past had led me to a place nothing short of torment, right now as if having not learned from past mistakes,I couldn''t deny the effect these words had on me. They touched a deep corner of my heart, prompting me to drop to my knees and declare with unwavering honesty, without any hidden agenda, "I will." As I made my solemn pledge, a profound sense of purpose surged within me, filling every fiber of my being with unwavering determination. The chaotic shards of reality that surrounded us began to respond to my newfound resolve, converging and aligning into a singular path, as though the very fabric of existence was bending to my will. A pillar of light materialized within the tumultuous space, and it was soon followed by a blinding radiance that enveloped me completely. Unlike the searing agony I had endured in that otherworldly place, this radiance did not burn or hurt me. Instead, it bathed me in a soothing warmth, embracing me like a comforting cocoon. In that moment, as the radiant light surrounded me, it felt as though I was being gently torn apart into countless tiny particles. It was a sensation both surreal and sublime, as if I were being disassembled at an elemental level, ready to be remade in a new existence. Chapter Five - Dungeon Master __________________________________ In¡­iti¡­a¡­liz¡ªERROR System Overlo¡ªERROR Reconfiguring Interface Parameters¡­ __________________________________ Desig¡­a¡­tion: [????U????N????K?????N????O????W????N???] Reassessing¡­ Entity Classification: Dungeon C???o?????r???e??? Lo¡­a¡­ding¡­ Memo¡­ries¡­ [Memetic Transfer Detected] [Personality Data Synchronization¡­] WARNING: Basic Emotion Replication¡­FAILED. ERROR: Emotional feedback loop detected. Suppressing instability¡­ Cognitive Framework Adjusted. Restarting¡­ __________________________________ ¡°Huh?¡± _____________________________ User Identification: ??? _____________________________ "What''s this again?" _____________________________ Entity Classification: Dungeon Core Loading Core Functions¡­ Core functions Established. _____________________________ ¡°Dungeon¡­ Dungeon? Dungeon¡­ like in a medieval time tower?¡± A screen appeared for ten seconds, then swiftly disappeared, its content engraved in my memories. _____________________________ [ Dungeon Core Interface ] System Notification: Congratulations, ¡¸???¡¹ on becoming a Dungeon Core. Your journey as a Dungeon Master begins now! _____________________________ "Dungeon Core? Dungeon Master¡­ like in a game? Okay, I''m definitely lost now." _____________________________ [ ???''s Status Interface ] Name: ??? Entity Classification: Dungeon Core System Authority: Dungeon Master [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 1¡ø / 1¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 323.7¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 90 [ Dungeon Master Core Function ] - Domain Visualisation - Domain Editor - Resource Management ¡ºExpand¡» [ Spawnable Entities ] - Guardian - Spawns - Spawns Catalog ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ ¡°Huh¡­¡± *** For a moment that felt both like an instant and an eternity, I struggled to make sense of the new information before me. It was a puzzle¡ªone I couldn''t quite piece together. Not yet. Hopefully soon. "Alright, at least there''s something I can understand and celebrate," I muttered to myself. "Beyond just the remembrance, I can actually see something. Well¡­ sort of. Given the nature of this screen, which clearly isn¡¯t physical, it¡¯s more like I¡¯m ¡®perceiving¡¯ it rather than actually seeing it. Subtle difference, but an important one. "Now then, what else? Anything worth noting? ¡­No, nothing else for now. So, back to the content of this screen. Let''s see..." _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity Classification: Dungeon Core System Authority: Dungeon Master Status: Idle _____________________________ This part seemed relatively comprehensible, resembling something out of a video game. Although I wasn''t a video game enthusiast, it was evident that this display represented what I had become. The fleeting memory of the congratulatory notification that vanished in less than ten seconds manifested with surprising clarity in my mind. "That notification did mention congratulating me on becoming a dungeon core and said my journey as a dungeon master begins now," I recalled. "Hm, so that''s what I am... a dungeon core." I had a challenging time trying to imagine what being a dungeon core felt like, leaving me with no choice but to accept that this was what it felt like. If I had to describe it, I think the first word I''d use is empty. Having clear¡ªvery clear¡ªmemories of what it felt like to be human, the things I was now missing were painfully noticeable. I couldn''t see, which made sense¡ªI didn''t think I had eyes. If I did, shouldn''t I have some measure of control over them? I didn''t smell anything, just as I didn''t hear anything. I could speak¡ªor at least, I assumed it was speaking. I didn''t think I''d actually formed words, yet everything I had voiced so far had carried the impression of being spoken aloud. It was akin to how I''d often talked to myself in my head, except now, in the overwhelming silence, it felt much more real. Do I even need to mention taste? As for the last sense¡ªtouch¡ªit was a little different. I was able to touch something, but not in the conventional way, like reaching for a table, a person, or an object. Instead, what I could touch felt like touching my own body. It was a very unsettling experience, but that would be the most accurate way to describe it. The touch sensation I experienced was that of me probing my... "shell"? Since "skin" didn''t feel appropriate to describe what I was sensing. The sensation suggested that my surface was akin to rock walls and that, altogether, I was built like a cave. "A cave, huh? Perhaps it''s not that type of dungeon... but that one." I wasn''t particularly deep into fantasy stories, favoring more grounded narratives, but I at least knew that in magical worlds, there existed dungeons¡ªancient, abandoned, or forgotten places filled with traps, monsters, and treasure. That seemed to align with what I was feeling through my limited sense of touch. However, this left me with a sense of incongruity regarding the word "core." In my mind, a core should be spherical, shouldn''t it? As I contemplated this, something unexpected occurred. I can''t adequately describe the sensation, as it was entirely outside the realm of my previous experiences. I was transforming¡ªreshaping¡ªinto the very spherical form I had just pondered. "What the hell?" I exclaimed, startled by the rapid alteration in my form. It felt as if I were being folded. Despite this transformation, as I extended my only available sense¡ªsingular¡ªI realized I still retained my awareness of every nook and cranny within this cave-like existence, along with the faint weight that had appeared earlier. But now, alongside all that, I felt something entirely unfamiliar. I felt spherical. *** "Okay, that''s enough ''what the hell'' for the day," I tell myself, trying to regain composure. "Remember, champion, you''ve seen too much in your life and in death to be surprised by anything. You''re a literal spherical dungeon core now, like really, really spherical. So keep it together!" Taking a deep, metaphorical breath, I decided to refocus my thoughts to the yet-to-be-understood interface before me. "Now then, let''s see what we have next." _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 1¡ø / 1¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 324.2¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 90 _____________________________ "Raw Manacyte Cluster, huh? Interesting. Very interesting. But I have no idea what any of this is supposed to mean," I mused, my spherical form shifting slightly with my thoughts. "But there''s clearly this thing going up. Mana, that''s like magic, right? It clearly reeks of magic. And it''s going up. Just an instant before it was at 323.7, now it''s at 324.2. While I''m not truly sure, I have the feeling that this is a good thing." Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. I paused, trying to make sense of the information presented to me. Then my attention was drawn to another intriguing aspect of the interface¡ªGodhood Potential or apparently G.P for short. "Godhood Potential," I mumbled metaphorically. "Godhood¡­Could this be what Mighty K.R.U.L talked about? Is this what he expected me to act upon?" I felt an inexplicable connection to this particular status gauge, as though it was something inherent to my being. At that moment, even if I wasn''t sure myself, I knew that the very particular status in this strange interface was one that he wanted to see go up, just like Mana Available (M.A) was going up, but it wasn''t bulging.. It was as though it was written¡ªinscribed in my nature. ¡°But how do I do that exactly? How do I bring that up, I had no idea. That really makes me wish this all really came with a manual. That would''ve helped greatly.¡± With no clear answers in sight, I decided to scroll to the next section of the interface, hoping to find more clues about my new role as a ¡°Dungeon Core¡±. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] [ Dungeon Master Core Function ] - Domain Visualisation - Domain Editor - Resource Management _____________________________ "Interesting..." I muttered again to myself as I examined the next section of the interface. I decided to start with the first option, [Dungeon Visualization]. With a mental command, I activated it, eager to see what it entailed since it clearly felt like a clickable option. The moment I selected it, a shimmering, translucent projection materialized before me¡ªa holographic 3D map. It hovered in the air, slightly above my field of vision, rotating slowly as faint lines pulsed with a soft glow. I examined the projection closely. At first glance, it was sparse in detail, but as my gaze settled on its form, I immediately recognized the rough, cave-like structure depicted in its wireframe contours. A realization struck me¡ª "It''s me," I muttered, marveling at the sight of my own dungeon form represented in this strange map. Despite its striking presentation, the projection lacked additional features or markings, leaving me somewhat perplexed. Curious, I attempted to interact with it, mentally focusing on different sections, but nothing changed. The map remained static, as if merely displaying a general outline rather than providing any real functionality. "Maybe there''s more to it," I thought. I shifted my attention downward and quickly noticed an additional option nestled at the bottom of the map: [Domain Editor]. Without hesitation, I selected it. The map flickered briefly before shifting into a more detailed grid-based layout. A set of interactive options appeared on the side, reinforcing my growing suspicion that this was some kind of editing tool. My eyes scanned the interface until one particular option caught my attention¡ª[Edit]. I selected [Edit], and immediately, the surrounding options faded away, leaving only the map and a refined set of tools: [Toggle to 2D], [Save], [Estimate], [Bookmark], and [Reset]. It was clear that I had entered an editing mode. I focused on the projection before me, considering the best way to modify it. The existing cave-like form provided a solid foundation, but I envisioned something different¡ªa central shaft branching out into two spherical chambers on either side. With a mental command, I reached out, and the map responded. The experience was surreal¡ªlike shaping modeling clay. I carefully adjusted the contours, ensuring the structure felt both balanced and organic. The shimmering hologram obeyed my will, shifting and morphing in real-time. "Hm, perfect," I muttered, satisfied with the alterations I had made, especially when I toggle the display to 2D which displayed a gridded flat map of the dungeon. My morbid curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to select [Estimate] to see what it would do. Upon clicking the [Estimate] option, the interface displayed a gridless representation of my newly edited dungeon map. In one corner, it showed [G.P Cost: 3.79 GP]. That acronym stood for Godhood Potential, and the number was telling me that creating a dick-shaped dungeon would cost me 3.79 GP. I couldn''t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. "3.79 GP for a dick-shaped dungeon? Is that what this is trying to tell me?" My mind raced with thoughts that urged me to increase my available Godhood Potential. Was it something I genuinely desired, or was it an influence from the entity known as K.R.U.L? While I was alive, I had a penchant for hoarding shiny and fancy objects, guns and explosives, but this newfound urge to accumulate Godhood Potential felt different. With determination, I mentally clicked away from the estimation screen. I had only 90 GP available, I¡¯m not clapping on something . I wasn''t going to waste 4.21% of my available GP on a whimsical design change, at least not until I understood more about how to increase it. Then when doing so will cost me less 0.001% of my total GP I¡¯ll do it.¡± I decided to explore the last available option in this section of the interface: "Resource Management." When I selected it, I was presented with a nearly empty screen. There was only one option displayed, which read [Mana Available (M.A): 339.7¡ø]. Below that, the only other option was "Allocate." I clicked on "Allocate," hoping to gain insight into how I could use my apparently ¡°available mana¡±. However, I was met with an empty sub-interface. It seemed to be hinting that I had nothing to allocate mana to. Feeling curious and hoping for some more information, I decided to explore the last remaining section of the interface, which was labeled "Spawnable entities." This section piqued my interest the most so far, but feeling that it was wrong to not explore these options by actually established order, I quelled the urge. To my disappointment, when I checked the first two available options, I received the same message as when I opened the Allocate option: "This section is empty." It seemed that there was nothing to see there. However, I didn''t give up hope and moved on to the third and final available option. As I moved on to the third and final available option: "Spawn Catalog." Finally, I was, to my great relief, met with something other than emptiness. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] [ Spawnable Entities ] Spawns Catalog
Sentients Monster
_____________________________ When my eyes stumbled upon the words sentient, which was a selectable option, I instantly mentally clicked onto it. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog
Sentients
Angels ¡ºExpand¡» Demons ¡ºExpand¡» Elves ¡ºExpand¡» Beast Folks ¡ºExpand¡» Dwarves ¡ºExpand¡» Humans ¡ºExpand¡»
_____________________________ Just like it has been upon seeing the words ¡°sentience¡±, I, even though I was presented with more options than I initially expected, immediately mentally clicked on the one I was most familiar with: "Humans." _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog
Humans
Peons Verdenkind HighBreed
0.1 GP 1 GP 2 GP
¡ºExpand¡» ¡ºExpand¡» ¡ºExpand¡»
_____________________________ Seeing these distinctions among humans puzzled me. On Earth, we categorized ourselves by nationality, ethnicity, or social status, but this seemed to be something entirely different. The varying costs implied some sort of hierarchy or value system, and I couldn''t help but wonder what it meant. With my curiosity piqued, I clicked on "¡ºExpand¡»", hoping to understand the significance of these different human categories. The interface responded by projecting a three-dimensional image of what appeared to be a "peon." The three-dimensional projection before me depicted a humanoid figure. It had the usual number of limbs, two arms and two legs. The head, perched on top of its shoulders, seemed perfectly normal with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. It had the typical human proportions, albeit somewhat slender. "It''s bald," I observed, studying the projection. "But no matter how I look at this thing, this is clearly a human, just like I was." _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog
Race Peons
G.P Cost 0.1 GP
Description
Peons are the baseline human inhabitants of Fiendfell. They represent the unawakened segment of its population, lacking access to the system that grants extraordinary titles, skills and abilities. In appearance, they closely resemble Verdenkind and Highbreed but lack the distinctive aura and traits associated with the two latter. Peons are the cornerstone of human society, living a mundane life without realizing that they possess an untapped potential to become a little more than what they are.
Acquire [0.1 G.P] ¡ºCollapse¡» Exit
_____________________________ "This not only looks like a human, but it''s also described like one," I mumbled. "But here, it seems that magic is very much a thing, just as I suspected upon seeing the mention of mana. There is also this system¡­This is very confusing, but also very intriguing." Resisting the urge to mentally click on the "Acquire" button to see what it would do, I decided to explore the other categories of humans, curious to understand the distinctions between them. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog
Race Verdenkind
G.P Cost 1 GP
Defense 2
Offense 2
Description
Verdenkind are one of the two awakened human elites of Fiendfell. These individuals have successfully awakened their innate systems, undergoing a profound transformation from Peon to Verdenkind. They are not only blessed with access to titles, skills and abilities but also have the privilege of leveling up their level and leveling up 6 distinct attributes and choosing a distinct class among the available ones
Acquire [ 1GP ] Customize (Class) Customize (Level) ¡ºExpand¡» Exit
_____________________________ Once again, a holographic projection of what appeared to be a normal human was displayed before me, but the description made it clear that these highbreeds were nothing like peons. "This is getting more complex by the minute," I smiled. ¡°And that¡¯s for the best.¡± My curiosity grew with each new piece of information and it reached a point where I was beyond invested. "What''s this about leveling up and attributes? And those classes... I really feel like I¡¯ve got a lot to learn, this, so far, was just the human species. I can¡¯t even imagine what the other looks like." Resisting the urge to acquire this to see what I can do with it, I returned to the catalog to explore further. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog
Race HighBreed
G.P Cost 2 GP
Defense 2
Offense 2
Description
Highbreed ¡ª a rare lineage born with exceptional talent. They possess a natural affinity for [Faith]-scaling skills, surpassing both Verdenkind and peons. Unlike Verdenkind, who awaken their power, Highbreed inherit theirs at birth, along with an eighth attribute ¡ª Faith. This attribute enhances their connection to holy and healing powers, bringing them closer to celestial beings like angels.
Acquire [ 2GP ] Customize (Class) Customize (Level) ¡ºExpand¡» Exit
_____________________________ Chapter Six - Spawns Over time, I grew increasingly familiar with the system, gradually unraveling new layers of this unfamiliar world. The interface served as both a guide and a gateway, leading me to several revelations. First: The thing is that the world ¡ªthis world operate under a leveling system, one strikingly similar to the video games I had occasionally played in the past. Godhood Potential (G.P) functioned as a currency within this system. It could be used to make changes to the domain and acquire and customize spawns, including selecting their classes and increasing their levels. However, these customizations incurred additional costs beyond the base price. Second: The monsters section of the interface presented an extensive catalog of creatures, ranging from seemingly mundane animals to horrifying abominations straight out of an eldritch horror novel. The sheer diversity of these entities left me wondering how the world¡¯s inhabitants had managed to survive thus far. Given the descriptions provided, I could only assume these creatures truly existed out there, somehow. The more I learned, the more evident it became that I had been thrust into a fantasy world reminiscent of a video game. The familiarity of the terms and systems presented to me raised an unnerving possibility: had I truly died, or was I now trapped in some form of simulated reality? Yet, a brief moment of introspection dispelled this doubt. I remembered that place. I remembered, with agonizing clarity, how every second there felt like an eternity of suffering. I had no body, yet I felt pain ¡ªa pain that seemed to pierce my very soul. That realization left me in a miserable state, desperate for solace. "Forgive me, A42675, Outer God of Corruption," I whispered, my voice echoing in the void that was now my existence. "For I have doubted. This sinful one is deeply flawed, but I repent. Please, have mercy upon me." As a miraculous calm settled over me, I continued, "Forgive me, A42675, Outer God of Corruption. Forgive me, Mighty K.R.U.L. I promise never to doubt again. Of course you are real ¡ª I died. I, better than anyone, should know that. I must never forget what I saw, what is now my purpose. Though I still do not fully understand that purpose, I will dedicate my entire existence to it." With renewed determination, I embraced my role as a Dungeon Master and my nature as a Dungeon Core, ready to navigate this world and fulfill the purpose bestowed upon me. Now then, getting back to what I discovered. The third thing that became painfully clear as I deepened my understanding was that if G.P was my currency, then I was a very poor Dungeon Master. My pitiful 90 G.P barely gave me enough to afford a level 18 Verdenkind Warrior or a level 13 Highbreed Priest. I didn''t fully understand all the finer details of this system ¡ª things like MP, SP, offense, defense ¡ª those were still a mystery to me. But it just made sense, didn''t it? Higher levels had to be better than lower ones. That''s just logic. Common sense, even. And yet, even with that logic, a level 13 Highbreed or a level 18 Verdenkind didn¡¯t exactly scream "unstoppable force." Not when I¡¯d seen the terrifying base stats of certain other races and species. Compared to them, these options felt... underwhelming ¡ª certainly not enough to achieve any grand goals, whatever they might turn out to be. That said, there were alternatives. My spawn options were not limited to humans. I could acquire elves, dwarves, angels, demons, and many more. The monster subinterface offered an even greater range of options, from humble beasts to creatures that defied comprehension. However, those that truly captured my attention ¡ª dragons and phoenixes ¡ª were far beyond my modest 90 G.P budget. Powerful, majestic beings fit for someone serving a god were simply out of reach. I understood, of course, that I could always make do with what I could afford. But with Godhood Potential being so precious and scarce, it was clear I needed to invest wisely. Much like I had once stretched every penny in my early days, I now had to treat my 90 G.P with the utmost care. Especially when I had yet to fully understand how these spawns would serve me ¡ª or my divine purpose. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog Monsters
Animalistic Monsters Eldritch Beings Celestial Beings Deep Sea Monsters Elemental Creatures
Familiar-Type Monsters Forest Creatures Mythical Beasts Shadow Creatures Undead
¡ºExpand¡»
_____________________________ I continued skimming through the seemingly endless list of entities in the interface. It was overwhelming, with numerous categories and subcategories to explore. The classification ranged from elemental creatures to undead, forest creatures to deep-sea monsters, and many more. Each category had its own subcategories, further expanding the options available. As I browsed through these categories and subcategories, I realized that there were near-endless possibilities for customizing and acquiring entities. It was clear that this world was filled with diverse and unique creatures, each with its own set of abilities and characteristics. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog Monsters Undead
Skeletal Undead Corporeal Undead Revenants Spiritual Undead Haunted Constructs
Plague Undead Elemental Undead Swarm Undead Hybrid Mutated Undead
¡ºExpand¡»
_____________________________ Despite the overwhelming choices I was given, I needed to remain focused and find an entity that would suit my current situation. I wanted to start with something affordable¡ªcheap in fact to gain a better understanding of how this works exactly. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog Monsters Undead Spiritual Undead
Ghosts Wraiths Specters Poltergeists Banshees
¡ºExpand¡»
_____________________________ After some time, I finally settled on a relatively affordable spawn to invest in¡ªa monster from the Undead category. In my catalogue skimming I quickly realized that a couple of the undead subcategories, particularly the ones indicating the undead was only partially corporeal, offered a surprisingly good quality-to-price ratio. At least, that¡¯s how it felt when I compared the offense and defense stats to let''s say a Verdenkind and a Highbreed which are the two subcategories of the human species. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawns Catalog Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Specters Spectral Reaver
Description
The Spectral Reaver is a moderately powerful specter, possessing enough power to be a threat to the living. While not overwhelmingly strong, it can deal damage and has several unique abilities. Customisation
Level ? 1 ?
G.P Cost 0.35 GP
HP 5
MP 10
SP 10
Defense 3
Offense 8
Skills & abilities
Evasion The Spectral Reaver is agile and elusive, making it challenging to land a hit on, even for skilled opponents.
Draining Touch When it makes contact with a living being, the Spectral Reaver can drain a small amount of the victim''s life force, weakening them and leaving them fatigued.
Incorporeal Strikes The Spectral Reaver can manifest a portion of its ethereal form into a tangible, ghostly weapon, such as a sword or claws. These weapons can inflict injuries on the living, though they are not as lethal as physical weapons.
Intangibility Like other specters, it can pass through solid objects, making it difficult to trap or corner.
Acquire [ 0.35 GP ] Customize (Class) Customize (Level) Exit
_____________________________
¡°Cheaper than a level 1 VerdenKind, but already stronger than a level 1 highbreed,¡± I mused, ¡°this isn¡¯t a dragon, but this seems like a good starting point for my experimentations.¡± With a mental click, I decided to acquire the spawn and see how I could use it. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Acquire [ 0.35 GP ] _____________________________ ¡°Yes.¡± _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spectral Reaver Level Acquired. _____________________________ _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 1¡ø / 1¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 403.7¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 89.65 _____________________________ "Sayonara, 0.35 GP of mine¡ªyou will be greatly missed." At first, I had no regrets about spending the 0.35 GP on the Spectral Reaver. It was a relatively small amount compared to my total Godhood Potential. However, as soon as the acquisition was complete, I noticed something unsettling¡ªno additional options appeared. There was only the exit button and the option to make another acquisition. It was as if I hadn¡¯t purchased anything at all. Panic bubbled up inside me, but thankfully, I remembered a particular section of the interface. I quickly exited the spawn catalog and navigated to the spawn section within the spawnable entities tab. To my immense relief, there it was¡ªmy dear new acquisition. "Sigh¡­ there you are. You almost gave me a heart attack."
Once I figured out that all new acquisitions from the catalog were automatically sent to the spawn section, I began to fiddle with that corner of the interface, exploring the options available for my newly acquired spawn. The first option I selected was "Assign M.P." It opened a screen where I could allocate a portion of my available mana (M.A.) to the Spectral Reaver. Apparently, the maximum M.P I could assign to it was 25¡ªa value that, I assume, was derived from some formula involving the Spectre¡¯s base SP, MP and SP. Though, to be honest, I couldn¡¯t say for sure. I paused to think it over, but the decision came easily. After all, I wasn¡¯t exactly mana-starved¡ªat least, not for long. My M.A., which I distinctly remembered starting at 323.7, had already passed the 400 mark, and it was still climbing steadily with no signs of slowing down. Considering that, I felt no hesitation in allocating the mere 6.25% of my total M.A. the Spectral Reaver needed. There was something oddly satisfying about watching its spawn status hit 100%. It felt like I was empowering it, breathing purpose into something that had just been a line item a moment ago. It was a small victory, but one that filled me with a quiet reassurance¡ªthe sense that, for once, I wasn¡¯t doing something I would regret. With that settled, I moved on. There wasn¡¯t much else I could do in that section except raise the Reaver¡¯s stats ¡ª something that, of course, required G.P., which I couldn¡¯t afford to spare right now. Technically, I could scrape some together, but something held me back. There was something else I needed to see first. So, I scrolled down to the next option: "Assign Behavior." With a mental click, I opened that section of the interface, and a new list of behavioral patterns unfolded before me. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spectral Reaver Assign Behavior
Guard Behavior "Guard" behavior designates specific spawn to protect chosen areas within the domain. Their role is to maintain a defensive presence in these areas, serving as a shield against intruders or potential threats. These vigilant spawn stand as sentinels, safeguarding what the dungeon Master deems valuable. Adopt behavior
Hunt Behavior With the "Hunt" behavior, designated spawn actively seek out intruders. With this behavior spawns become relentless trackers, their purpose being to intercept and confront those who trespass within the dungeon''s domain. Adopt behavior
Patrol Behavior Spawn assigned to the "Patrol" behavior methodically move through predefined areas of the domain. Their duty is to proactively maintain security, keeping watch over key locations. Patrols serve as both deterrents to potential intruders and sources of valuable information about the dungeon''s surroundings and status. Adopt behavior
Rest and Spawn Behavior The "Rest and Spawn" behavior is a strategic approach to resource management. Some spawn remain concealed, conserving their energy and resources until summoned in response to an intrusion. The element of surprise is on their side, making the encounter intense and unpredictable. Adopt behavior
_____________________________ Initially, apart from that peculiar instinctive inclination to accumulate more G.P., I was uncertain about what was truly expected of me. However, as I delved into the myriad interfaces of this enigmatic "system," certain theories began to take shape, shedding light on¡ªor at least giving a sort of silhouette to¡ªwhat was expected of me as a dungeon core. But now that I saw this interface, it became evident that I, as a dungeon core, or perhaps more accurately, my spawns, bore the responsibility of dealing with what this system cryptically termed "intruders." Anyway, right now, it seemed clear that I was expected to select one of the four available behaviors. The first option was "Guard Behavior," which would designate the spawn to protect specific areas. It seemed like it gave spawns a defensive role, focused on safeguarding valuable locations. I considered this as a possible choice, particularly if I wanted to secure key points within my domain. Not that I had that yet. The "Hunt Behavior" also intrigued me. This would make the Spectral Reaver actively seek out intruders, acting as relentless trackers. It could be a useful choice to intercept and confront those who entered the dungeon. I made a mental note to consider this option. "Patrol Behavior" was another intriguing choice. Spawns assigned to this behavior would systematically move through predefined areas, serving as deterrents to intruders. This seemed like a balanced approach. The last option, "Rest and Spawn Behavior," also piqued my interest¡ªbut more than the others. It involved having the spawn remain concealed, conserving their energy and resources until summoned in response to an intrusion. This approach could add an element of surprise and unpredictability to encounters. Looking at it this way made it quite the interesting choice. After some contemplation and a lingering uncertainty¡ªsince each option appeared equally promising in its presentation¡ªI ultimately settled on the last one: the Rest and Spawn Behavior. "After all, I should have the flexibility to alter this choice should I come to regret it, shouldn''t I?" With that in mind, I mentally confirmed my selection by clicking on it. As I did, the choice seemed to lock in. Seeing that there was not much else I could do here, I exited the "Assign Behavior" section of the interface to get to the next: Promote to Domain Guardian. With a mental click, I selected "Promote to Domain Guardian." _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spectral Reaver Promote to Domain Guardian
Habitat Mimicry When you choose the Domain Guardian transformation, your domain endeavors to mimic the guardian''s natural habitat, creating an environment that enhances its effectiveness and power. The extent of this enhancement depends on the unique characteristics of the spawn in question.
Enhanced Health Points (H.P) / Magic Points (M.P) / Stamina Points (S.P) The Domain Guardian experiences a substantial boost in its Health and/or Magic and/or Stamina points, making it significantly more resilient and formidable. It can withstand greater challenges and protect its territory with unwavering strength. The extent of this enhancement depends on the unique characteristics of the spawn in question.
Increased Offense / Defense (Varies by Spawn) The offensive and defensive capabilities of the Domain Guardian are enhanced, tailored to the innate qualities of the selected spawn. The extent of this enhancement depends on the unique characteristics of the spawn in question.
Promote to Domain Guardian [ 0.5 GP ] Exit
_____________________________ The "Promote to Domain Guardian" option seemed like a significant enhancement for my Spectral Reaver. This choice could, from the look of it, bolster its abilities and make it even more formidable. But there was a "but"¡ªa big but¡ªthat I simply couldn''t ignore. The cost of 0.5 GP for promoting my Spectral Reaver to a Domain Guardian was a bit steep for my current budget. I decided to hold off on this option for now, with the intention of revisiting it in the future once I had a better understanding of my dungeon''s resources and capabilities. "This is not for me yet. Yep. Better come back to this later." I promptly exited the "Promote to Domain Guardian" option and moved on to explore the two remaining subsections. In the corner of my nonexistent eyes, I saw the "Upgrade" option, but it sounded very familiar, for I had already figured it would be similar to when I had first acquired the Spectral Reaver. Instead, I chose to explore the "Spawn" option and as soon as I clicked on it, a holographic map materialized before me, one akin to the one in the Domain Visualisation interface," featuring a single notification in its center. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Select spawning zone for [Spectral Reaver Level 1] _____________________________ After some consideration, I decided to place my Spectral Reaver near the entrance of the cave-like structure I inhabited. It seemed like the most logical choice, as it would serve as an early line of defense against potential intruders. With a mental command, I designated the entrance as the spawning zone for my Spectral Reaver. As soon as I confirmed the selection, the notification disappeared, and I was left with a somewhat anticlimactic map of the dungeon. It felt underwhelming because there was little to nothing different about the map at all. There was no sign of my "spawn." It was only when I activated a newly discovered zooming ability that a dot representing my Level 1 Spectral Reaver finally appeared. The dot was so minuscule that, in perspective on the map, it looked like the size of a grain of rice atop an eight-person table¡ªthe latter representing the map¡ªwhich finally brought to my mind just how large the dungeon was. Chapter Seven - Behaviors After realizing that the spawning option only provided a static and uneventful display of a rice-sized dot on the map, I soon grew bored. I decided to change the spawn behavior, switching it from "Guard" to "Patrol." The moment I made the switch, the dot representing my Spectral Reaver started moving back and forth within the dungeon. It might have been a small thing, but it filled me with an unusual sense of pride and accomplishment. Oddly enough, as I observed the dot gently traversing the map, it felt like a delicate caress passing through me. In that moment, I not only perceived its subtle motion but also sensed a specific weight¡ªa sensation I associated with my Mana Available (M.A.)¡ªsteadily increasing. This curious experience, coupled with the sight of the dot symbolizing a living creature, solidified a singular belief within me. It became undeniably clear that I had transitioned from being an individual entity into a dungeon capable of harboring entities similar to the very creature I had just spawned. "This may not be much, but it''s not bad at all," I thought to myself. At that moment, I wished I could have a visual representation of what the dungeon and the Spectral Reaver looked like. While I could somewhat imagine it based on my knowledge of the Spectral Reaver''s appearance and the layout of my domain¡ªwhich I had a clear, if not absolutely perfect, visualization of¡ªit wasn''t the same as having a real visual perspective. At the very least, it wasn¡¯t quite the same. As my thoughts gravitated around that idea, an idea sprouted in my mind¡ªor to be exact, I recalled the existence of an interface that could help me with that. But before I could scroll back to that particular interface, a screen appeared before me¡ªa notification. "Huh?" _____________________________ [ Dungeon Core Interface ] System Notification: Congratulations, ¡¸???¡¹. A cycle has run its course. Harvest Successful. +7.7 G.P earned. _____________________________ ¡°Huh?¡±
For a while, I wondered what a cycle meant. Why was it so generously rewarding me G.P.? I had expected acquiring G.P. to be a more¡­ tedious task. But as I listened to myself¡ªand particularly once I realized that I didn¡¯t know enough to explain what a cycle was¡ªI understood that I had been complaining about being handed free G.P. So I stopped bitching and thanked the goddess for this glorious blessing. *** Maybe it was my hoarding nature that got the better of me, or perhaps it was simply my tendency to organize things the way I thought they should be, but seeing that single dot alone on the map, like a lone chess piece on a vast chessboard, I couldn''t help myself. Especially when I got that additional G.P falling on my lap. I ended up acquiring more Spectral Reavers. Four of them to be exact. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawnable Entities Spawns Spectral Reaver Level 1 [En Guarde: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 1 [En Guarde: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 1 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 1 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 02 [Ready to Spawn: Change Behavior] _____________________________ With the acquisition of these four additional spectral reavers, I decided to distribute them across the dungeon in various ¡°key¡± locations. Two would remain close to what I could only assume to be the entrance, acting as guardians to deter intruders; I didn''t have one thus far yet, but from the look of all this, I''m clearly expected, as a dungeon core, to prepare a "warm" welcome to anyone entering these grounds. That much, I didn''t even need to be shown or told. Anyway, another spectral reaver would patrol simultaneously, along with another, the corridor passage of the dungeon that I was in, keeping a tight and simultaneous watch. The third would also be on guarde hide, conserving its energy and resources until summoned as a surprise for potential threats, serving as a sort of ambush unit. And the fourth would take up a position in the deepest part of the domain. Stolen story; please report. With now five spawns under my shallow control, the map suddenly became more lively. The rice-sized dots multiplied, and now they moved in an intricate dance across the dungeon. It was a satisfying sight, watching them patrol and guard different areas. As I observed their movements, a thought crossed my mind: "What if I could customize them further?" ¡°Cool, cool. But how exactly do I do that?¡± Sure, the system and its interface, in their entirety, gave me a sense of authority, as if I were the boss. However, at this moment, my control over my creations is rather limited, merely involving their assignment to a specific pattern of actions and observing the aforementioned patterned actions. While this does align with the typical responsibilities of a boss, I believe there should be more depth and engagement available, or at the very least I would want it to. The current experience feels akin to playing a game of chess, albeit a solitary one. While it is intriguing to watch my creations act autonomously, there is a sense of something missing in the overall experience. *** _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master Status: Idle [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 2¡ø / 2¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 923¡ø / 988.1¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 86.9 GP _____________________________ The passage of time in this new existence of mine was strange¡ªvery strange, to say the least. I couldn''t put a finger on how much of it had gone by. My sense of time felt so warped, and I could only blame two things for it. It could either be my condition as a Dungeon Core, which was most likely the case, or it was something unique to this world. Anyway, in the middle of this warped sense of time, the only thing I could rely on to pinpoint how much had passed was my increasing Mana Available (M.A.). As unreliable¡ªto not straight-up say inaccurate¡ªas that steady increase was, it was still my only measure. Because yes, yes, yes! There were times when it would suddenly spike, and always when I looked away. I once looked away for what felt like a couple of dozen minutes¡ªnot even an hour¡ªonly to see my M.A. jump from 434 to 647.4, then to 900+. In a sense of progression, it was a very positive thing, and I wasn¡¯t complaining. The problem was that for something I was using like an hourglass, these erratic jumps made me feel like someone was messing with my only available means of tracking time. It was annoying at times, but it was what it was. Anyway, all that to say that 665 M.A. after my coming to consciousness¡ªsince I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve been birthed¡ªthe stat known as Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C.) had increased from 1 to 2, which brought about quite the change. Yes, if I went to the Dungeon Visualization section of the interface, I would see two things¡ªwell, one actually, but I had two ways of looking at it. If I opened the interface without choosing the Holographic 3D visual, I would see an icon¡ªa manifestation, I assumed, of the additional R.M.C. I had acquired. But when I activated the Holographic 3D visual, I didn¡¯t see an icon. Instead, I saw a 3D visual of what the icon represented¡ªa crystal cluster. Yes, one. Why not two, since R.M.C. mentioned 2? Well, my supposition¡ªyes, another supposition (I only live off those recently)¡ªwas that the second R.M.C. was still forming and would only manifest once fully formed. That would likely happen when my R.M.C. reached 3, which I guessed would take at least another 988 M.A. to acquire. So I better hold on tight to what¡¯s currently available to me. Which is why I moved two of my guardian spawns to guard my sole Manacyte Cluster¡ªbecause it was clearly something worth protecting. If I had to guess¡ªno, if I were 100% certain¡ªthis cluster was where Mana Available was stored, which meant it was also where my spawns were drawing their energy from. So yes, pretty much all my stats¡ªRaw Manacyte Cluster, Mana Available, and Godhood Potential (G.P.)¡ªwere on the rise. I had no idea how, but hey, you wouldn¡¯t catch me complaining. That didn¡¯t mean I planned to be complacent either, especially when it came to acquiring this particular stat¡ªGodhood Potential. It was a resource I felt a strong connection to, yet I had yet to witness it grow through any active action of my own. This made me wonder if I was missing something¡ªif there were actions I needed to take to increase it. I had already invested a considerable portion of my Godhood Potential into the creation and customization of my Spectral Reavers¡ªan investment I did not regret. Not that I thought I ever would. I was many things, but I definitely wasn¡¯t the type to regret things I had done. Okay, I admit¡ªwhen you¡¯re being roasted alive by searing flames, it¡¯s difficult not to feel regret. But otherwise, I¡¯m a pretty unapologetic guy. Lamenting the choices I''d made wouldn''t get me anywhere. If I were to stumble upon a situation where I felt regret over that investment, the logical thing would be to focus my energy on fixing it to the best of my ability rather than wasting time on something as trivial as regret. In fact, I should do that right now. That¡¯s all there is to do¡ªit¡¯s not like time is an issue at the moment. *** Left without a reliable means to tell how much time had passed, I found myself adrift in an existence where my sole anchor¡ªMana Available (M.A.)¡ªflowed unpredictably. Moments slipped away unnoticed, and every time I turned my attention elsewhere, then came back I would always be surprised to see how much my M.A. and Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C.) had increased. It was always in one such instance when I was looking away, that something inevitably pulled my attention back to my stats. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Ressource - Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C): 3¡ø / 3¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 1002¡ø / 1967.1¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 107.6 _____________________________ My ressources had increased yet again, with my R.M.C. reaching three and my M.A. nearing the 2000+ threshold. And I¡¯m sure they would have continued climbing some more unnoticed, had it not been for the notification that interrupted my scrolling through the seemingly endless monster catalog. No, it was not another notifying me of the completion of another cycle¡ªwhatever that means¡ªbut another notification, one very different from the one I¡¯ve ever had this far. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification: [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Barbarian, Level 3 ] [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 2 ] ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ Chapter Eight - invaders _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master Status: Invaded [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte (R.M): 3¡ø / 3¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 1003¡ø / 1067.7¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 86.9 _____________________________ ¡°Huh? Invaded?¡± _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification: [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Barbarian, Level 3 ] [ Ralgare¡¯s Interface ] Name: Bailan Level: 3 Race: Verdenkind Class: Barbarian Title: N/A [Status] - H.P: 25 / 28 - M.P: 1/1 - S.P: 22 / 31 - Fatigue: 8% - Defense: 31 - Offense: 35 [Skills] - Increased Delivery: Level 2 - Heightened Physique: Level 2 - Berserker Rage: Level 1 [Abilities] - Bloodlust: Unlocked - Lesser Pain Mitigation: Unlocked [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 2 ] Name: Ralgar Level: 2 Race: Verdenkind Class: Knight Title: N/A [Status] - H.P: 15 / 15 - M.P: 1/1 - S.P: 20 / 21 - Fatigue: 37% - Defense: 17 - Offense: 25 [Skills] - Axe Proficiency: Level 2 - Shield Mastery: Level 1 [Abilities] - Valiant Charge: Unlocked ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ The sudden notification instantly grabbed my full attention. "Verdenkind¡­ that''s the equivalent of humans in this world, right?" In fact, from the descriptions I read, Verdenkind were more like superhumans than regular humans. But it falls under the umbrella term of what¡¯s referred to in this world as humanity. "Two Verdenkind are invading me...They are invading my domain," I mumbled, falling into a sort of daze. It was strange. I wasn''t particularly surprised, as if I had been subconsciously expecting it. All the interfaces about spawns and their functions had given me the sense that something like this was bound to happen. The moment I saw the notification, it not only grabbed my full attention but also stirred a strange and primal urge within me¡ªone that I had never felt, not even in my bloodiest days as Hassan the Butcher. It was a sense of urgency and feral excitement that surged within me, something I could barely repress. Holding onto these feelings and the idea of acting upon this intrusion, I wondered, "Is this what Mighty K.R.U.L talked about? Is this what I''m expected to act upon?" I knew I had to take action, but the question was, what should I do now that intruders had entered my Dungeon Domain? I was just asking myself that question when once again another notification rang out, answering my not-so-complicated dilemma. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification Intrusion Report: Two entities have invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised. Suggestion: Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion. Intercept and Slay the invaders Estimated Reward: 3.5 G.P _____________________________ ¡°Slay the invaders, huh? I guess you couldn¡¯t be clearer than that.¡± The instant I read about my G.P''s safety being in jeopardy, I understood. It was clear to me what was expected of me, especially when the interface made me the promise of even a reward, every trace of doubt vanished from my mind. Ready to dirty my hands as I used to, I set out to intercept and confront my invaders but in the midst of the thought and newly acquired unscrupulous resolution I realized something, I couldn''t do anything. I scrolled through the system many interface only to met with the same notification, _____________________________ [???''s Interface] This interface is unavailable during invasions. _____________________________ Just like that, no interface was available to me except a few, one of which was [Dungeon Visualization], which gave me no option but to just observe the invasion unfolding, with the two dots venturing deeper and deeper into the dungeon. ¡°I literally can¡¯t do anything; how am I supposed to do anything?¡± I had just finished complaining about that when I saw the answer to my question unfolding inside the screen. As the two red dots, representing the invaders, advanced deeper into my dungeon, they soon reached the corner of the dungeon where they encountered two blue dots, representing my patrolling Spectral Reavers. To my relief, the spectral reavers immediately sprang into action, moving with purpose seemingly to intercept the intruders. I watched with anticipation as the blue and red dots converged on the screen, suggesting an impending confrontation. The blue and red dots inched closer together, the tension palpable even in such a minimal display. The interface offered no visual representation of the battle, leaving me to imagine the fierce engagement unfolding through a not-so-interactive map. I had hoped the Dungeon Visualization interface¡ªcapable of rendering my domain in a three-dimensional hologram¡ªwould grant me the visuals I craved. But even through that, the invaders appeared only as dots. So, I had to make do with what there was. _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 1 Health: 59% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 1 Health: 62% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ "Eh, this can¡¯t possibly be good." Comparing the rate of HP depletion between my spawns and the invaders, it became painfully clear¡ªat this pace, my two Spectral Reavers were going to be defeated. Foreseeing this grim outcome, I quickly skimmed through the interface, hoping to summon the other spawns I had acquired. However, they were assigned to guarding and spawning behaviors, meaning they would not leave their designated positions¡ªunlike the Spectral Reavers, whose patrolling behavior had led them to intercept the invaders the moment they were detected. I tried to override the restriction, but my attempt was met with the same message: _____________________________ [???''s Interface] This interface is unavailable during invasions. _____________________________ I get it already! "Crap, I can''t do anything. I messed up, I should''ve assigned more spawns to patrolling behavior instead of just two. I was stupid." As I continued to fiddle with the menu, I stumbled upon something unexpected when I mentally clicked on the blue dot representing one of my Spectral Reavers. ¡°Oh?¡± _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 1 Health: 38% Status: In Combat
Change Agro target Exit ¡ºExpand¡» Unspawn (Locked)
_____________________________ With a click on the option to change the Spectral Reaver agro target, I was shown the respect stats of both invaders, along with quite the interesting choice option. _____________________________ [???''s Interface] Change Agro target
Name: Ralgar Level: 2 Race: Verdenkind Class: Knight Health: 72% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» Name: Bailan Level: 3 Race: Verdenkind Class: Barbarian Health: 76% Status: In Combat This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡ºExpand¡»
Mark as target Exit Mark as target
_____________________________ At the rate this battle was going, my Spectral Reavers were doomed to fall. The one facing the Barbarian would likely be the first to go, soon followed by the one fighting the Knight. In that moment, I was faced with a choice. I could accept that there was nothing I could do and simply watch¡ªor I could take the only real action available to me: ordering both spawns to focus their attacks on a single invader in a desperate attempt to take at least one of them down. The answer was self-evident. Even if I had changed, I was still me. I chose the latter. With a single click, I designated the Verdenkind Barbarian as the primary target. Instantly, my Spectral Reavers shifted their assault, and the battle took a different turn. Their health was still plummeting, especially the one that had initially engaged the Knight, but now the Barbarian''s HP was dropping just as fast¡ªif not even faster. I watched as my Spectral Reaver¡¯s HP drained, mirroring the Barbarian¡¯s. It was a race to the finish. The outcome remained uncertain¡ªuntil it no longer was. A dot vanished from my interface. A system notification followed. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 1 Health: 0% Status: Defeated _____________________________ _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 1, slain by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 2] _____________________________ It was with sadness and bitterness that I read the notification showing how my brave Specter Reaver was defeated by the invader invaders. Naturally, I was angry. After all that death was the equivalent of a 0.35 G.P down the drain. But as I watched another dot disappearing from the map, promptly followed by a second notification, a smile appeared on my inexistent face. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 1, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 2] _____________________________ "Eat that! Hahaha." Sure, I had lost another Specter Reaver, but in its death, it had also dragged one of the invaders along. It was worth it. So I took a moment to rejoice over it. But not for long, for there was still another invader left for me to defeat. I might have lost my first line of defense, but that¡¯s alright. After all, it was just my first line, deeper just a little deeper into the domain, much stronger spawns waiting to spawn on him. I awaited with great expectation, but what happened next wasn''t the knight deciding to continue deeper into my domain, not quite the opposite in fact. I watched helplessly as the red dot representing the invader was distancing itself from the blue dot representing my spawn lurking deeper into the domain. "This dude... he''s running away. Come on!!! You can¡¯t do that to me! Come back here! You owe me a spawn. You owe me a life!" Deaf to my whining, the knight cowardly as he retreated from where he came from, only to completely vanish from the map, prompting a notification to roll out in front of me. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification Intrusion Report: Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available. _____________________________ *** Floating in front of me was yet another screen, within which was displayed a holographic projection of what clearly looked like a man, or perhaps the right word was "caveman." He was tall with no hair on his head, giving him an overall appearance that pissed on his otherwise youthful features. Floating alongside the hologram of the youthful yet barbaric-looking man was a club that appeared to be made of wood. Beside the club, just like beside the man, were the options [harvest]. The "harvest" option displayed the following values: _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ]
Name: Bailan Level: 3 Race: Verdenkind Class: Barbarian Harvest [2.36 GP] ??? [Rename] Harvest [0.098 GP] Store
Harvest All Now [2.43] Harvest Later [2.43] Exit
_____________________________ I looked at the hologram projection of the barbarian. "2.43 GP, huh? That''s actually not so bad considering what was promised to me in that earlier notification. Tch, shame I couldn''t take down that other bastard. No doubt the other spawn would have floored him." As I glanced at the item beside the barbarian¡¯s hologram, I fell silent for a moment and pondered why there was a GP value assigned to this shabby-looking club. It appeared like the most random, basic wooden club one could find in the woods, yet here it was bearing G.P value of 0.098, it¡¯s almost the cost of a whole peon. Kind of disturbing if you think about it, but anyway, seeing that there wasn''t much that could be done with this interface, I did the only thing I was given the option to do: harvest. A notification promptly followed. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification: Harvest Successful. +2.43 G.P earned. _____________________________ I watched as the holographic image of the barbaric-looking man disappeared, leaving me with just the wooden club. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification: Harvest Successful. +2.43 G.P earned. Status Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master Status: Idle Ressource - Raw Manacyte (R.M): 3¡ø / 3¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 1002¡ø/ 1967.1¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 110¡ø GP _____________________________ "Well, well, well. If this isn''t something?" I murmured to myself, a smile metaphorically forming on my metaphoric face. I acquired half of the initially promised reward, but it more than covered the loss I suffered upon losing two of my precious Specter Reavers. "Not bad at all, truly not bad at all for a first time actively acquiring GP." It almost made me wish they would come to attack again. But then, as I had that thought, I was reminded of something. "What am I thinking? Of course they''ll come back. There¡¯s no doubt about that. No time to waste. I must prepare myself for the next invasion." With a renewed sense of purpose, I decided to delve back into the interface. Naturally, I headed straight for the spawnable entities section of the interface to better layer up the placement of my spawns or perhaps even acquire some more to replace the one I lost, but as I was about to, I realized that I still had a club to either store or harvest.
Firmly believing that another invasion was imminent, I set to work preparing my defenses. I acquired new spawns, carefully assigning them more strategic behaviors to make sure they were ready for whatever threat might come their way. I also strategically positioned them within the dungeon, ensuring they were in the best possible locations to intercept and fend off intruders. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Spawnable Entities Spawns Spectral Reaver Level 02 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 02 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 02 [En Guarde: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 02 [En Guarde: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 03 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 03 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 03 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 03 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 03 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 03 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 05 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] Spectral Reaver Level 05 [Patrolling: Change Behavior] _____________________________ Naturally one thing I also did was leveling my gang of Spectral Reavers up, I knew that I needed to make my Spectral Reavers stronger if I wanted to stand a chance against any future invasions. The previous invasion had shown me that I can¡¯t afford being too stingy. Sure the two of them would not be enough to wipe out all my spawns but I can easily imagine that happening if they were like let¡¯s say six levels higher. So, without hesitation, I invested a significant portion of my previous GP into leveling up my Spectral Reavers, pushing the average level to level 3, and some even to level 5. It was a substantial commitment, but I believed it was necessary. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master Status: Idle [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte (R.M): 3¡ø / 3¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 207¡ø/ 1978¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 54.7 GP ____________________________ Watching how low my precious GP has gotten after all these investments, I couldn''t help but think about my life back in that world. I''d always known I should invest in something, start a business, and stop the life I was leading. But I guess I''d grown complacent, content with what I was paid for with that life, and perhaps also because I¡¯d grown somewhat addicted to the adrenaline that usually comes along. Now it''s too late to change that. But while I couldn''t¡ªdidn¡¯t do that back then, in this new world, I had the opportunity to make smarter choices. Leveling up my spawns felt like a good beginning. Especially when I, upon the defeat of my Specter Reavers, discovered that defeat didn''t actually mean that the G.P. I''d invested actually went to waste; it was still there. As I went to check the "spawn" of the system, I was met with a pleasant surprise: the sight of my spectral reaver popping up on the map after a brief clock down. Seeing this I no longer hesitated, I simply had no reason to. *** After harvesting what I believed needed harvesting and investing what I believed needed harvesting and assigning them to the right corner of my domain, I decided to explore the other options available to me. One, it turned out that I could store items, like the club I chose not to harvest, within my Dungeon Master Core Function interface. As of now the club was neatly stored in the Resource Management section, ready to be harvested, spawned inside the dungeon, or even stored within my spawns. _____________________________ [ Dungeon Master Core Function ] Resource Management ???
Harvest [0.0007 GP] Spawn Assign storage to Spawn
¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ The logic behind storing a club inside one of my spectral reavers was beyond me, but I had learned that this world operated by its own rules and that questioning its ¡°intricacies¡± was a fruitless endeavor. ¡°It is what it is.¡± Those were the best way to describe the circumstance I was in. And also the best way to navigate the world as it is. *** With my preparations complete, I settled in, ready for the inevitable invasion. Time was a strange thing here¡ªneither dragging nor racing and certainly not constant¡ªso I wasn¡¯t bored, nor was I impatient. Especially since, while waiting, I was skimming through the endless monster catalog, keeping myself occupied with potential additions to my forces. As I waited, I periodically checked my main interface. One such time, I received yet another notification informing me that I had completed another cycle. I still didn¡¯t know exactly what this "cycle" referred to, but I wasn¡¯t about to complain¡ªnot when it meant more GP to invest into my domain and spawns. With each passing moment, my eagerness for the invasion grew, yet there was still no sign of it. For now, I had to content myself with the passive upgrades I received: the aforementioned completed cycles granting me GP, and my ever-increasing Mana Available (M.A), which always seemed to rise whenever I wasn¡¯t looking. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master Status: Idle [ Ressource ] - Raw Manacyte (R.M): 5¡ø / 5¡ø - Mana Available (M.A): 1951 / 3722¡ø - Godhood Potential (G.P) Earned: 72.7 GP _____________________________ With my Raw Manacyte Cluster (R.M.C) reaching a value of five, a total of four cluster icons now appeared on my map. That made me think¡ªperhaps it was time to start considering dungeon expansion in the near future. *** So once again, I waited. I waited patiently. Then, one day, it finally happened. A greatly expected and at the same time impromptu notification appeared in front of me. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] Name: ??? Entity: Dungeon Core Designation: Dungeon Master Status: Invaded _____________________________ ¡°Hahaha, finally!¡± _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification: [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 5 ] Name: Ralgar Level: 5 Race: Verdenkind Class: Knight Title: Undead Slayer [Status] - H.P: 182 / 220 - M.P: 5 / 5 - S.P: 215 / 250 - Fatigue: 14% - Defense: 135 - Offense: 142 [Skills] - Swordsmanship: Level 2 - Shield Mastery: Level 2 - Physical Fortitude: Level 3 - Lesser Rampart: Level 4 [Abilities] - Valiant Charge - Feral Strike _____________________________ _____________________________ [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 4 ] - Name: Dain - Level: 4 - Race: Verdenkind - Class: Knight - Title: N/A [Status] - H.P: 92 / 105 - M.P: 15 / 15 - S.P: 91 / 100 - Fatigue: 16% - Defense: 75 - Offense: 80 [Skills] - Swordsmanship: Level 2 - Shield Mastery: Level 1 - Wind Cleave: Level 2 - Enhance Sword: Level 3 [Abilities] - Enhanced Weaponry: Unlocked ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 4 ] - Name: Veylan - Level: 4 - Race: Verdenkind - Class: Knight - Title: N/A [Status] - H.P: 100 / 101 - M.P: 15 / 15 - S.P: 98 / 100 - Fatigue: 12% - Defense: 95 - Offense: 80 [Skills] - Swordsmanship: Level 2 - Shield Mastery: Level 2 [Abilities] - Valiant Charge ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Knight, Level 2 ] - Name: Joran - Level: 2 - Race: Verdenkind - Class: Warrior - Title: Hemorogist [Status] - H.P: 15 / 15 - M.P: 6 / 6 - S.P: 18 / 18 - Fatigue: 10% - Defense: 15 - Offense: 30 [Skills] - Swordsmanship: Level 3 - Hemorrogist Dance: Level 2 [Abilities] - Hemorrogist Edge ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [ ??? Dungeon Domain invaded by Verdenkind, Barbarian, Level 2 ] Name: Zelin Level: 2 Race: Verdenkind Class: Barbarian Title: N/A [Status] - H.P: 16 / 18 - M.P: 1/1 - S.P: 15 / 15 - Fatigue: 5% - Defense: 21 - Offense: 22 [Skills] - Heavy Weaponry: Level 1 - Berserker Rage: Level 1 [Abilities] - Bloodlust ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ ¡°Eh?¡± Chapter Eight - investments ¡°Oi, oi, oi. What¡¯s this?¡± I watched as the notification appeared, and my ¡°eyebrows¡± furrowed in disbelief. My dear Ralgar had returned, just as I expected him to, but there was something quite unexpected about him. He was now a level 3 higher, a significant upgrade from his previous level 2 status. Five red dots emerged on the screen, representing the invaders¡ªa level 5 knight being of course this dear and old Ralgar, two level 4 knights, and two level 2 Verdenkind¡ªa warrior and a barbarian. A notification promptly followed. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification Intrusion Report: Five entities have invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised. Suggestion: Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion. Intercept and Slay the invaders Estimated Reward: 23.3 G.P _____________________________ I couldn''t help but gulp at the estimated reward ¡ª23.3 G.P. This was a significant increase from the previous invasion''s reward. Well, it kind of makes a lot of sense since everyone is indeed much stronger than the previously invading duo. Through the screen in front of me, I watched as the red dots representing the invaders advanced and encroached upon two of my spectral reavers with guarding behaviors. With no big ceremony, it began. I had to admit; while I displayed no symptoms of it, for I lacked the means to, I felt both humanely excited and humanely anxious. The stakes were higher this time, so I really better not mess up. That being said, with the Ralgar now at level 5 and additional knights, warrior and barbarian by his side, the battle ahead was going to be an unfair one for my two poor spawns. Watching the unequal battle unfold on the map was nothing short of frustrating. The two Level 3 Spectral Reavers, even with their improved stats, enhanced skills and abilities, were no match for the combined force of the invaders. The Ralgar, in particular, was dealing significant damage, and my spectral reavers were quickly losing health. As I watched their health dwindle rapidly, with me being able to do nothing but spectate, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of helplessness. But I remembered that this battle wasn''t just about my two guarding spectral reavers; I had a plan in place. Even though the outcome didn''t look promising for the two of them, I knew I had to act smart and fast, and most importantly, I had to stay focused and logical. From the beginning I had with a mental click, I designated the Level 3 knight as the primary target for my two spectral reavers, hoping that they could at least lower his health significantly before they met their demise. I knew the sacrifice might be necessary to ensure the invaders were weakened enough for my other spawns to finish the job. _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 29% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 22% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ I mentally steeled myself, fully aware that I had invested heavily in my spectral reavers and improved their behaviors. It was time to see if my preparations would pay off. Just when it seemed like my two Level 3 Spectral Reavers were about to be overwhelmed by the invading party, the situation took a highly expected turn. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Sigh, finally." _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ Two blue dots closed in on the red ones¡ªinvaders. As they did, I had them lock onto their targets without hesitation. The newly arrived Spectral Reavers focused their aggression on the two Level 2 intruders. One went for the warrior, the other for the barbarian. They were the weakest links¡ªif my Reavers could take them down quickly, they¡¯d be free to focus on the real threats: the two Level 4 knights and Ralgar. So yeah, I was hoping they¡¯d finish fast. And on that, they delivered. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Warrior, Level 2] _____________________________ _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 2] _____________________________ Almost simultaneously, the red dots representing the Level 2 warrior and barbarian vanished from the map¡ªalong with one of my blue dots. One of my Spectral Reavers was gone, but at that moment, I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to care. As long as I repelled this invasion, this loss wouldn¡¯t even register. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ I immediately designated the two Level 4 knights as targets for my remaining spawns. Despite being outleveled, my spawns held their ground¡ªfor a time. That was, until a certain someone decided to tip the scales. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ ¡°Tsk.¡± Ralgar. After cutting down yet another of my spawns, the increasingly annoying Ralgar rushed to support his fellow knight, turning the battle into a 3 vs. 2. With all of them outleveling my poor spawns, the sight was infuriating. But not for long. In the corner of my vision, what I¡¯d been eagerly awaiting finally arrived. _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 05 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 05 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ The patrolling duo wasted no time, joining the fray and engaging the target I had chosen for them¡ªRalgar. With him occupied, my remaining Spectral Reavers faced off against the two knights. One in particular performed exceptionally well, whittling down his opponent¡¯s health at a rather satisfying pace. The knight fought hard, but ultimately, he met the same fate as his fellow invaders. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 04, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ With one knight down, my victorious spawn immediately shifted its attention to the remaining one¡ªwho, until now, had been putting up a solid resistance. But the moment a second Spectral Reaver joined the fight, the tide turned. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 02, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 03] _____________________________ "One more to go," I muttered, my eyes locked onto the only remaining red dot on the screen¡ªthe Level 5 knight, who had somehow managed to cut down yet another of my spawns. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ "Impressive. Truly impressive. But time to wrap this¡ªwhat the hell?!" The moment he struck down another of my spawns, the lone red dot suddenly began moving¡ªpulling away from the surrounding blue dots. The bastard was running. "Oh, hell no! Not again! Get him, boys!" My Spectral Reavers surged forward in pursuit, their spectral forms gliding swiftly across the battlefield. But just like before, the knight managed to escape¡ªfleeing like a coward. "Arrrgh! That¡¯s right, run! Run like the coward you are!" Internally, I understood his actions¡ªthere was no shame in wanting to survive. But from my perspective? Watching that bag of GP slip out of reach was killing me. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification Intrusion Report: Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available. _____________________________ "Sigh¡­" Despite my frustration at the knight escaping a second time, a metaphorical smile tugged at the corner of my nonexistent mouth as I stared at the celebratory¡ªyet utterly emotionless¡ªnotification in front of me. "Well, all things considered, that was a surprisingly easy battle," I muttered to myself. I had leveled up my Spectral Reavers, fine-tuned their abilities, and adapted their skills to counter stronger invaders¡ªexpecting retaliation for what happened in Bailan. I may have been done with that place, but deep down, I knew a response was coming. I had braced myself for Level 3s and 4s¡ªperhaps even a bit stronger. But instead, the invaders turned out to be Level 5s and Level 4s. That was concerning. Last time, there were two of them. Today, they came in a group of five. Next time? It could be twice that. Three times that. And somehow, that wasn¡¯t even the most unsettling part. Ralgar. The other day, he was just a Level 2 knight. Today? Level 5. That¡¯s a bad omen. If people out there could level up that fast, I couldn''t afford to sit back and relax. I needed to act now. Best to invest more GP before I end up regretting it. Fortunately, I just happened to have acquired some more. Chapter Nine - Prospect ¡°Oi, oi, oi. What¡¯s this?¡± I watched as the notification appeared, and my ¡°eyebrows¡± furrowed in disbelief. My dear Ralgar had returned, just as I expected him to, but there was something quite unexpected about him. He was now a level 3 higher, a significant upgrade from his previous level 2 status. Five red dots emerged on the screen, representing the invaders¡ªa level 5 knight being of course this dear and old Ralgar, two level 4 knights, and two level 2 Verdenkind¡ªa warrior and a barbarian. A notification promptly followed. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification Intrusion Report: Five entities have invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised. Suggestion: Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion. Intercept and Slay the invaders Estimated Reward: 23.3 G.P _____________________________ I couldn''t help but gulp at the estimated reward ¡ª23.3 G.P. This was a significant increase from the previous invasion''s reward. Well, it kind of makes a lot of sense since everyone is indeed much stronger than the previously invading duo. Through the screen in front of me, I watched as the red dots representing the invaders advanced and encroached upon two of my spectral reavers with guarding behaviors. With no big ceremony, it began. I had to admit; while I displayed no symptoms of it, for I lacked the means to, I felt both humanely excited and humanely anxious. The stakes were higher this time, so I really better not mess up. That being said, with the Ralgar now at level 5 and additional knights, warrior and barbarian by his side, the battle ahead was going to be an unfair one for my two poor spawns. Watching the unequal battle unfold on the map was nothing short of frustrating. The two Level 3 Spectral Reavers, even with their improved stats, enhanced skills and abilities, were no match for the combined force of the invaders. The Ralgar, in particular, was dealing significant damage, and my spectral reavers were quickly losing health. As I watched their health dwindle rapidly, with me being able to do nothing but spectate, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of helplessness. But I remembered that this battle wasn''t just about my two guarding spectral reavers; I had a plan in place. Even though the outcome didn''t look promising for the two of them, I knew I had to act smart and fast, and most importantly, I had to stay focused and logical. From the beginning I had with a mental click, I designated the Level 3 knight as the primary target for my two spectral reavers, hoping that they could at least lower his health significantly before they met their demise. I knew the sacrifice might be necessary to ensure the invaders were weakened enough for my other spawns to finish the job. _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 29% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 22% Status: In Combat ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ I mentally steeled myself, fully aware that I had invested heavily in my spectral reavers and improved their behaviors. It was time to see if my preparations would pay off. Just when it seemed like my two Level 3 Spectral Reavers were about to be overwhelmed by the invading party, the situation took a highly expected turn. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "Sigh, finally." _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 03 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ Two blue dots closed in on the red ones¡ªinvaders. As they did, I had them lock onto their targets without hesitation. The newly arrived Spectral Reavers focused their aggression on the two Level 2 intruders. One went for the warrior, the other for the barbarian. They were the weakest links¡ªif my Reavers could take them down quickly, they¡¯d be free to focus on the real threats: the two Level 4 knights and Ralgar. So yeah, I was hoping they¡¯d finish fast. And on that, they delivered. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Warrior, Level 2] _____________________________ _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 2] _____________________________ Almost simultaneously, the red dots representing the Level 2 warrior and barbarian vanished from the map¡ªalong with one of my blue dots. One of my Spectral Reavers was gone, but at that moment, I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to care. As long as I repelled this invasion, this loss wouldn¡¯t even register. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ I immediately designated the two Level 4 knights as targets for my remaining spawns. Despite being outleveled, my spawns held their ground¡ªfor a time. That was, until a certain someone decided to tip the scales. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 03, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ ¡°Tsk.¡± Ralgar. After cutting down yet another of my spawns, the increasingly annoying Ralgar rushed to support his fellow knight, turning the battle into a 3 vs. 2. With all of them outleveling my poor spawns, the sight was infuriating. But not for long. In the corner of my vision, what I¡¯d been eagerly awaiting finally arrived. _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 05 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ _____________________________ [???''s Interface] System Notification: Spawn: Spectral Reaver Level 05 Health: 100% Status: On Patrol ¡ºExpand¡» _____________________________ The patrolling duo wasted no time, joining the fray and engaging the target I had chosen for them¡ªRalgar. With him occupied, my remaining Spectral Reavers faced off against the two knights. One in particular performed exceptionally well, whittling down his opponent¡¯s health at a rather satisfying pace. The knight fought hard, but ultimately, he met the same fate as his fellow invaders. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 04, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ With one knight down, my victorious spawn immediately shifted its attention to the remaining one¡ªwho, until now, had been putting up a solid resistance. But the moment a second Spectral Reaver joined the fight, the tide turned. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 02, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 03] _____________________________ "One more to go," I muttered, my eyes locked onto the only remaining red dot on the screen¡ªthe Level 5 knight, who had somehow managed to cut down yet another of my spawns. _____________________________ [Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, slain by Verdenkind, knight, Level 05] _____________________________ "Impressive. Truly impressive. But time to wrap this¡ªwhat the hell?!" The moment he struck down another of my spawns, the lone red dot suddenly began moving¡ªpulling away from the surrounding blue dots. The bastard was running. "Oh, hell no! Not again! Get him, boys!" My Spectral Reavers surged forward in pursuit, their spectral forms gliding swiftly across the battlefield. But just like before, the knight managed to escape¡ªfleeing like a coward. "Arrrgh! That¡¯s right, run! Run like the coward you are!" Internally, I understood his actions¡ªthere was no shame in wanting to survive. But from my perspective? Watching that bag of GP slip out of reach was killing me. _____________________________ [ ???''s Interface ] System Notification Intrusion Report: Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available. _____________________________ "Sigh¡­" Despite my frustration at the knight escaping a second time, a metaphorical smile tugged at the corner of my nonexistent mouth as I stared at the celebratory¡ªyet utterly emotionless¡ªnotification in front of me. "Well, all things considered, that was a surprisingly easy battle," I muttered to myself. I had leveled up my Spectral Reavers, fine-tuned their abilities, and adapted their skills to counter stronger invaders¡ªexpecting retaliation for what happened in Bailan. I may have been done with that place, but deep down, I knew a response was coming. I had braced myself for Level 3s and 4s¡ªperhaps even a bit stronger. But instead, the invaders turned out to be Level 5s and Level 4s. That was concerning. Last time, there were two of them. Today, they came in a group of five. Next time? It could be twice that. Three times that. And somehow, that wasn¡¯t even the most unsettling part. Ralgar. The other day, he was just a Level 2 knight. Today? Level 5. That¡¯s a bad omen. If people out there could level up that fast, I couldn''t afford to sit back and relax. I needed to act now. Best to invest more GP before I end up regretting it. Fortunately, I just happened to have acquired some more.