Recovering from the sudden shock of hearing a monster talk, I imdiately summoned a dozen chains to constrict the armadillo, leaving the pointed ends right near its neck. The creature squeaked in surprise, before starting to shiver in fear.
P- please, dont hurt it spoke.
Or rather, it communicated, because I couldnt actually see its snout move to produce the sounds. In fact, I could hear the voice appear directly in my head, aning that the monster had access to telepathy of so kind.
What are you? I asked, deciding to start at the beginning. As far as I knew, there werent any sentient species of monsters. Not at lower tiers, anyway.
B- before we talk, do you mind? he trailed off, staring at the chains wrapped around him, keeping him in place.
I do mind, actually. Talk. Or die, I suppose. Whichever option you prefer. I threatened, hoping that could convince the creature to part with its secrets. I lacked the sympathy to care about its ntal well-being. After all, we had been fighting to the death but monts earlier, the strange room I found myself in attesting to the fact that this little armadillo had been controlling the golem from the very start.
Ill talk, talking is fine! he hurriedly assured , before trailing off. What did you want to know again? I forgot
I sighed, lanting the creatures terrible short term mory.
What are you?
Uh cant you see? Im a garbador! Surely youve t my kind on the higher levels up above?
I looked him up and down. You seem to lack certain distinctive properties that the others had, though.
Just cause Im tiny doesnt an Im not a garbador! Out of all those lumbering giants, the dungeon made the boss, didnt it? Im better than them! he practically snarled, his precarious situation all but forgotten.
Looks like I struck a nerve
So I see. I acknowledged. Were you born here, in the dungeon? I continued.
No, I was born in the deeper part of the tunnels that the dungeon hasnt got to yet. I joined up pretty early on in life, though. Thats why Im so small, yknow? Never got the chance to grow up! he replied rrily.
I took note of that comnt, wondering whether dungeon creatures could grow or not, as the garbador before seed to imply. Still, its story did explain its frightening intelligence. Dungeon creatures were always born without sentience. Even the intelligent ones that could craft things and cast spells typically lacked a personality, only behaving like mindless drones. Dungeons were, after all, classified as hive minds. They didnt typically tolerate free will.
The dungeon allowed you to keep your free will? How? I asked, hoping to get so answers.
Huh? Whadaya an? he asked confused. I sighed, wondering what to do. He didnt look like he was lying about that, and this wouldnt be the first odd dungeon I delved But sothing still bothered .
Then it struck . For all intents and purposes, the armadillo in front of had surrendered. Yet the system hadnt given a battle over notification yet. At first, I wondered whether this was because I hadnt technically killed anything yet, but when I rembered that destroying a golem counted as experience too, I understood that I was facing a different problem.
Either A, there was another monster laying in wait nearby to ambush or B, the garbador before was lying.
Considering the ample opportunity any hiding foe might have had to strike until now, the latter was more likely to be true. With that in mind, I decided to stop the farce.
Youre not, are you?
Im not what? Youre not making much sense right now-
Youre not a garbador in the first place. Good job, you had going there
What are you talking about? I an- look at ! I look exactly like one! I get that Im small-
Youre the dungeon itself. Thats why your voice is directly entering my mind.
The creature stilled, its beady eyes transfixed on mine. Gone was its cheery body language, ant to put at ease. Instead, the creature hung limply as I kept it suspended in the air with my chains.
So youve figured it out after all, have you? It wouldnt be the first ti for that trick to work, either the voice spoke lazily. The puppet before didnt even bother to act like it had been the one to speak. You had questions, didnt you? Since you impressed , Ill answer two. It proposed.
I snorted, but decided to stay quiet, considering my questions. Eventually, I settled on two.
How can you speak to ? I began. This question was carefully crafted in hopes of getting two answers. One was, naturally, related to how a dungeon could communicate at all. Secondly, I wanted to know how the dungeon had gotten intelligent enough to gain sentience in the first place. This was only a tier 4 dungeon, after all!
Was that ant to be a two-sided question? Too bad, youll only get one answer. The [telepathy] skill tree, combined with so clever puppeteering. Gas arent fun if you can only watch others play, after all. Next question.
I cursed myself ntally, being so easily seen through. My second question would have to be more open-ended. More specific questions were all well and good, but only if you knew exactly what information you were looking for. Which, for the record, I didnt.
What are you? I tried again.
The voice snorted. Good one. I saw it coming, but nonetheless I could answer this by simply saying that I am a dungeon, but Ill do you one better, just because. I am a multi-floor dungeon. I have multiple bios, structured into different floors. Each floor corresponds to a tier and has a boss a the end. What youve just faced is only the first floor, actually. Congratulations, I guess!
My eyes went wide as I considered the implications of that. Multiple floors? This dungeon would be a national treasure if it was located in Roa! The sheer amount of experience
Does Dalius know? I found myself wondering aloud. If he did, would he ever have sent here?
Who? Whoever it is, I doubt it. Its been centuries since soone found my second floor, after all. The dungeon responded lazily. Ah, but that could be a lie, since your both of your questions have been used up. It added as a sudden afterthought, making hopeful about the veracity of its earlier statent.
I see. Goodbye, dungeon. Ill return to find your second floor once I am strong enough to face it. I concluded, not bothering to thank it for the information.
I clasped my hands into a fist, directing the chains wrapped around the floor 1 boss to skewer their victim. The small armadillo exploded into an equally small fountain of blood, dying without a sound.
Ding! Combat finished. Congratulations on reaching [Hollow essence Knight] level 100!
TIER 3 MAX LEVEL REACHED
Advance to tier 4?
Calculating dungeon floor clear award....Awarded the [Mana control panel].
[Mana control panel]
Tier 4 artifact.
This artifact, when connected to a formation or array, allows you to modify and adjust customisable paraters.
Finally the system prompt appeared, though I waved away the tier evolution, postponing it until I reached a safe location.
I took only a few monts to consider the reward I had gotten. It seed useful and was probably involved in the golems creation, but I hadnt a clue how to operate it. Maybe it would work well in conjunction with the giant gem I had recently gotten my hands on?
There was no point in dwelling on it, though. For now, I wanted to get out of here.
I didnt waste any ti and headed back to the surface, swerving through the winding tunnels as I flew to get there. While the dungeon stayed silent throughout my journey, it saluted monts before I reached the exit.
Until next ti, challenger Co prepared, as my next floors wont be so simple.
I didnt grace it with a reply. No matter how much it acted like it, that dungeon wasnt human. The only reason why it warned , was because it enjoyed seeing struggle for a longer period of ti, no doubt.
Back out in the open, I noticed that night had fallen. The full moon was reflected on the calm ocean surface, creating the illusion of a second moon being hidden under the shimring water. As the sound of small waves crashing onto the rocky protrusions near the edge of the island filled the otherwise quiet night, I took a good look at the rest of my surroundings.
The shape of the mountaintops and the cliffs, other landmarks I would co back here eventually, but I didnt dare ask Dalius people for the location. If they took note of my sudden interest, they might investigate the dungeon more closely. Maybe that was an unnecessary worry, but I didnt want to take the risk. I would have to find this place again with the help of so people back ho.
After giving the proper signal, the portal reappeared where it had dropped off a few days ago. A mont later, I stepped through and arrived back at Dalius hideout, where the sa old lady from before awaited , looking at expectantly.
Well? How did it go? You managed, I take it?
I did. I answered dryly. Is Eri back yet?
No, I shouldnt think so. Shell be a while yet, in fact. Her dungeon, an undead one, is useful for experience gain but terribly tedious and slow. Without cheating like you did, there is no way for her to be done within the week. Best get comfortable while you wait.
I nodded, seeing her point.
Do you mind getting a portal to the dry lands, then? I have so business there.
She eyes carefully.
The dry lands? Do you an the between lands? Whatever compels you to go to that hell hole?
Yes, those. Dont bother asking why.
She scoffed, giving the side-eye. I can see a young man excited to tier up from a mile away. She teased.
R- regardless, can you get there? I stamred sheepishly, frustrated at being so easily seen through.
After chuckling a bit, she nodded. I cant see why you would choose to tier up in the between lands of all places, but if you know soone there that you trust, I suppose its fine The mont she finished her sentence, a purple portal appeared. Startled but impatient, I said my goodbyes and hurriedly stepped through, not even taking the ti to thank her.
When I stepped out on the other side and found myself in the middle of a dirty alleyway, surrounded by the sound of a busy city, I realised that I really should have specified where in the between lands when I had asked
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