Returning to the pedestal where his soul glowed red, Dorian placed his hand on the dungeon core. It pulsed beneath his palm, as if it were his real heart—the one he no longer had in this new body.
The rhythm was strong, growing steadier as the dungeon absorbed mana. That pulse assured him—proof that he was on the right path.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to sense the inner workings of his body. Unlike plugging in a device, it wasn't as simple as accessing stored information. Instead, he had to attune both cores—his own and the dungeon's—before they could synchronize.
Then it began.
Mana surged like electricity from the dungeon core into his body. He felt the energy refine as it entered him, heating his chest as it compressed. The small crystal where his heart would be began condensing the mana he'd accumulated. It was like replacing a small battery with a much more powerful one. The dungeon core acted as a reactor, fueling his body's inner core to grow stronger.
With each pulse, his inner mana core, once the size of a golf ball—slowly expanded toward the size of a baseball.
Pain struck him as veins bulged from the pressure. Raw mana coursed through his system.
He felt powerful, like he could level mountains with a thought.
But he held back.
The energy settled. The core in his chest had grown.
His body hadn't changed much, though he stood a bit taller. His hair had returned, nails longer than before. Breathing in and out, he saw red mist begin to coat the room—a reflection of his dungeon core's affinity reshaping the air around him.
He reeled in his emotions. There was no time to indulge in pleasure—and no one around to do so with, anyway.
His lustful nature felt like a curse. Back on Earth, he'd kept it in check, but here, with mana amplifying his instincts, even the color of his soul core burned a vivid red. Dorian knew it would cause trouble sooner or later.
He exhaled deeply and refocused. Eva. He had to bring her back. The longing he felt for her had only grown stronger. If there was one upside to this cursed nature, it was that his memories of her, especially their moments of passion, were sharper and more vivid, helping him focus even more on what he needed to do to revive her.
But before he left the room, he took a moment to glance down at his body. He needed clothes. Proper ones.
His gaze shifted to the two books nearby, and he scoffed lightly.
"You know," he muttered, "I've been talking to you for so long, I should probably give you a proper name. How about... Book of Tutorial, and the new one... Catalog of Creations?"
The so-called Book of Tutorial sprang open, revealing a sketched page with a rather crude drawing of a middle finger aimed directly at him.
"What a graphical little thing you are…" he sighed. "Fine. Tell me what you want to be called."
Words began appearing, forming a single, smug line:
[Tomb of Power]
Dorian chuckled, shaking his head. "What a self-centered object…"
He said no more and turned his attention to the Catalog of Creations. Flipping through the clothing and armor sections, he sifted past dozens of entries. Having already crafted weapons and basic armor, he felt confident he could manage something more functional—and maybe even stylish—without needing supplemental materials.
Page after page turned.
Until finally, he found it.
Something useful and sleek.
Something that suited a beginner dungeon master who needed stealth over power.
- - - - - - - - -
[System: Creation \ Magic Type: Supreme \ Class: Non-organic \ Sub-Class: Armor Set Production \ Name: Shadowveil Raiment
"Born from silence, woven in night, This cloak shields with shadow and fright. Dark threads resist the slashing blade, And near the shade, I shall fade."
Description: The Shadowveil Raiment is a sleek, dark ensemble composed of layered fabrics imbued with mana-infused shadow threads. The set includes:
- A long, tailored coat with a high collar and runic patterns along the hem
- Reinforced leather boots and gloves crafted for silent movement
- A flexible undershirt laced with darkweave alloy mesh
- A detachable half-mask that blends into darkness
Passive Effects:
- Shadowmeld: When standing near or within a shadow, the wearer becomes partially transparent, reducing visibility and detection.
- Silent Step: Dampens noise from footsteps and movement, ideal for stealth approaches.
- Tenebrous Weave: The armor offers moderate physical and magical resistance, especially against light-based spells.]
- - - - - - - - -
Dorian was genuinely impressed with the armor—the design, the effects, everything. Without hesitation, he returned to the forge floor, standing at the center of his workshop. All he really had to do now was perform the chant.
The Catalog of Creations allowed him to visualize the full set with remarkable clarity. It even suggested which enchantments to imbue, streamlining the process of materialization. That guidance made it easier to focus on shaping the mana properly.
Each word spoken felt like a command to reality itself, calling out to the atoms in the air, urging them to converge and form the items he envisioned. This time, it wasn't just about creating clothing—it was about bestowing them with abilities.
A first for Dorian.
Mana began to swirl violently around him, condensing and layering with every completed verse. The chant was long, draining, and truly unforgiving. It took more than ten attempts and immense effort to keep the energy from dissipating mid-casting.
When he finally succeeded, he felt his core pulse—stronger than before. Not by much, perhaps three or four percent, but enough to be noticed.
Dorian looked upon his creation with pride.
The armor was as functional as it was striking. Parts of the outfit flexed with his movements, reinforced with mana-threaded weave that made them stronger than steel. Other segments were supple, adapting like a second skin.
But it was the mask that stole the spotlight.
Crafted to resemble ebony and obsidian, it followed the bridge of his nose in a sleek, pointed arc. Its contours left just enough of his eyes exposed, though even that would vanish beneath the dark hood.
It didn't just feel like clothing—it felt like a persona. A mantle he would wear not only within the area around his dungeon, but also when stepping into the nearby town. Once things stabilized, he definitely wanted to explore the outside world.
An idea sparked. What if he posed as an adventurer? He could claim to have obtained this armor from a mysterious dungeon—his own. That way, he'd stir interest, maybe even lure in early intruders to test his traps and earn some much-needed souls before the knights and mages of the kingdom came.
More ideas flooded in. Maybe he was just high on the success of his creation, the rush of mana still humming in his veins. So he took a moment, closed his eyes, and forced himself to breathe, letting the excitement simmer down.
Then, without another word, he equipped the armor piece by piece. It fit perfectly, almost like the mana had sculpted it just for him.
With that done, Dorian turned his attention to weapons.
He returned to the Catalog of Creations and flipped through its pages, searching for a solid personal arsenal. He decided on three—four, if you counted both blades separately: a dagger for close-quarters precision, a bow for long-range ambushes, and two thin swords that would pair well with his new stealth-based approach.
- - - - - - - - -
[System: Creation \ Magic Type: Supreme \ Class: Non-organic \ Sub-Class: Weapons Production \ Type: Dagger \ Name: Umbral Fang
"Silent as sin, cold as regret, A blade for a kill they'll never forget. Let shadows bite, let silence sting— Form, oh dagger, death's swift wing."
Description & Effect: A matte-black dagger with a serrated lower edge and a smooth, needle-point tip. Its hilt is wrapped in deep violet leather, and a small onyx gem is set into the pommel, glowing faintly when near shadows.
- Shadow Vein: Channels ambient darkness to reduce the sound of movement while held.
- Backstab: Deals critical damage when striking unaware targets.
- Weightless Grip: Almost imperceptible to the hand, perfect for throwing or quick retrieval.]
- - - - - - - - -
[System: Creation \ Magic Type: Unique \ Class: Non-organic \ Sub-Class: Weapons Production \ Type: Longbow \ Name: Nightpiercer Bow
"Night take shape, string be strung, Let silence echo where arrows are flung. Through veil and ward, let nothing impede, Craft me a bow that darkness shall heed!"
Description & Effect: Crafted from blackened yew wood and lined with silver veins of enchanted metal, this sleek, curved bow shimmers faintly when drawn. The string, nearly invisible, resonates only when mana is infused.
- Silent Draw: Arrows released make no sound in flight.
- Piercing Gloom: Enhanced accuracy and armor-piercing against enemies in low-light or shadow.
- Phantom Arrow: Arrows are produced by shadows, creating a spectral arrow that ignores physical barriers.]
- - - - - - - - -
[System: Creation \ Magic Type: Unique \ Class: Non-organic \ Sub-Class: Weapons Production \ Type: Thin Sword \ Name: Whispering Edge – Left
"I call to dusk, to blade refined, A sword as sleek as moonlight's line. Strike from shade and never speak, Grant me a weapon for the silent and sleek."
Description & Effect: A thin, slightly curved blade with a blackened steel finish and a faint gleam along its cutting edge. Subtle runes line the flat of the blade, pulsing with rhythmic energy when swung.
- Flowcut: Increases fluidity and speed of slashes, making each strike hard to predict as shadows help the blade become invisable.
- Shadow Echo: After a successful hit, creates a brief afterimage feint with enhanced hit rate.]
- - - - - - - - -
[System: Creation \ Magic Type: Unique \ Class: Non-organic \ Sub-Class: Weapons Production \ Type: Thin Sword (Off-hand) \ Name: Whispering Edge – Right
"Twin to silence, twin to fate, Strike as one before it's too late. In mirrored motion I wield the pair, Let this second blade fill the air."
Description & Effect: A mirror of its twin, this sword is slightly narrower, with a more aggressive taper near the tip. The crossguard is swept back for optimal pairing with a main-hand blade. The grip is wrapped in charcoal-black cord.
- Parry Pulse: Gains a bonus to deflect incoming attacks, works against magic attacks.
- Dual Fang: When used with its twin, it enhances overall agility and timing, allowing seamless dual wielding.]