A week passed since Riku defeated the Crimson Queen.
His dungeon expanded—blue slime paths now glowing with flickers of red flame.
Goru trained new fire golems.
Fio patrolled the halls with elite shadow wolves.
Yuki slept on a lava rock like a cat.
But peace was short.
---
> [Urgent Message: Core Council Summons All Dungeon Cores]
"What's the Core Council?" Riku asked, confused.
Elinor frowned. "The leaders of all cores. Old ones. Powerful ones. If they've summoned you… it means trouble."
---
That night, a black mirror formed in the air.
Fio read the words that appeared:
> [Only Riku may enter. Violation will result in dungeon collapse.]
"Charming," she muttered.
Riku stepped through—and everything went dark.
---
He opened his eyes inside a grand black palace.
Floating cores surrounded him—each with an illusionary body.
Some looked human, others beastly, or even godlike.
In the center, a tall man with silver eyes and a black coat spoke.
"You are Core #301, correct? The one who broke Crimson Queen."
Riku nodded. "Yes. And I'm not here to bow."
Murmurs spread among the gathered cores.
---
The man smirked.
"Then let's see… if you're ready to survive what comes next."
> [End of Part 1]
Next: Riku is tested by the council—and discovers a traitor among the cores.
The council chamber darkened.
A giant stone hand rose from the floor—palm open, glowing with runes.
"Step on the Trial Platform," the silver-eyed man said. "Show us your strength."
Riku walked forward calmly. "What kind of test is this?"
---
> [Core Trial – Phase One: Mental Strength]
[Survive Illusions for 1 Minute]
Suddenly—Riku was alone.
Cold. Weak. Trapped.
He saw Elinor dying. Fio betraying him. His dungeon destroyed.
A voice whispered, "Give up. You're just a slime."
---
He gritted his teeth. "No. I'm not the same anymore."
> [Mental Fortitude: Passed]
The illusions shattered.
The cores watched him with interest.
---
> [Phase Two: Physical Resistance]
[Endure Impact from Titan Core's Fist]
A massive golem appeared—twenty meters tall.
"Brace yourself," it rumbled.
BOOM!
The fist slammed down.
Riku teleported at the last second, reappearing behind the giant's head.
> [Teleport Cooldown: 3 seconds]
The council gasped as he landed safely.
> [Physical Trial: Passed]
---
Then came the final phase.
> [Phase Three: Heart Trial – Detect the Traitor Core]
Riku blinked. "Wait… traitor?"
The silver-eyed man smiled. "One among us has allied with humans. Find them—or die."
---
Riku stepped forward slowly. His slime senses expanded.
He studied their auras, emotions… cracks in their disguise.
Then—he pointed.
"That one."
A small green core tried to run.
> [Traitor Detected – Human-aligned Core]
[Council Verdict: Destruction]
The traitor was erased instantly.
---
The silver-eyed man clapped slowly.
"Well done, Core #301. You may live another day."
Riku narrowed his eyes. "You say that like it's a threat."
The man smiled. "Because it is."
After the trial, Riku was led into a private chamber—walls made of black crystal.
The silver-eyed core sat across from him.
"I am Core #001. They call me the First Core," he said. "And you've made quite the stir, Riku."
"I didn't come here to impress anyone," Riku replied.
The First Core smirked. "Good. Because we don't care about pride—we care about power."
---
He tossed a small glowing shard onto the table.
> [Core Memory Fragment – Restricted Access]
Riku leaned closer. "What is this?"
"Proof," the First Core said. "That the humans plan to wipe us out. All cores. Even newborns like you."
---
Riku clenched his fist. "Why tell me this?"
"Because I want to offer you something… dangerous."
He leaned forward, voice low.
"Join my side. Build a faction of rogue cores. And when war comes, don't hide—conquer."
---
Before Riku could answer, the doors slammed open.
A woman entered—tall, graceful, with glowing white eyes and silver hair.
Unlike the other cores, she looked… kind.
"Enough, Core #001. You try to poison every new core with war."
She turned to Riku.
"My name is Lyria. Core #12. And I offer you a different choice."
---
Riku raised an eyebrow. "What choice?"
Lyria smiled. "Peace. Alliance. A future where dungeon cores and humans don't have to be enemies."
He looked between them.
War… or peace.
Both powerful. Both dangerous.
And both watching him carefully.
Riku stood between Core #001 and Lyria.
Two paths. Two futures.
War… or peace.
But Riku shook his head.
"I choose neither," he said.
Both leaders frowned.
---
"I won't be a puppet," Riku continued. "I'll build my own path—one that protects my dungeon, my allies… and myself."
Lyria looked surprised—but smiled.
"You're bold. I hope that strength lasts."
Core #001 chuckled. "Interesting. Let's see how long you survive."
---
> [Core Council Meeting Concluded]
[Warning: Unrest Among Dungeon Cores Increasing]
Riku returned through the mirror to his dungeon.
His team greeted him—Fio, Goru, Yuki, and Elinor.
"What happened?" Fio asked.
Riku gave a tired smile.
"Nothing yet. But something big is coming."
---
Meanwhile… in the human capital
A secret lab hummed with magic.
Scientists observed a captured core fragment.
"We're ready," said a man in a black uniform. "Soon, all dungeons will fall."
Behind him, a tank held a strange blue creature.
"Activate Project Devourer."
> [Human Weapon Deployment – Countdown: 30 Days]