Moments ago, the chamber had been filled with screaming steel and snarling beasts.
But now it's silent and only blood was dripping on the floor.
TIP... TAP...
Broken swords lay scattered across the floor.
A cracked shield rested beside the lifeless body of an adventurer.
The wolves moved first.
One stepped forward slowly but cautiously, nose twitching. It sniffed the corpse before ripping a part of the cloth from the man's armor.
Another wolf circling the battlefield.
GRRR....
The goblins were slower to move.
Three of them crouched in the shadows, clutching their crude daggers and rusted spears.
Their yellow eyes darted across the carnage.
One goblin scratched his head.
"We... win?"
Another poked a corpse with his foot.
"Human not moving."
The third goblin suddenly grinned.
"Food!"
The wolves immediately growled at that suggestion.
The goblins quickly backed away.
High above the cavern ceiling, unseen by any living creature, something was watching.
Deep beneath layers of stone, inside a chamber filled with glowing crystal veins; the dungeon core glowed with faint blue light.
For the first time since its creation…
It was thinking.
The dungeon replayed the battle again and again.
The wolves attacked from behind with their tails tucked, shadows created by goblins dropping down from above; adventurers breaking up into small groups to fight them...viciously and fiercely.
Even though the monsters they faced in the battle were not stronger than the adventurers who fought them, because they acted in unison as one, the monsters won the battle.
That thought fascinated the dungeon.
Within the depths of the tunnels, the creatures living within the tunnels were always simple - hungry, violent things with very small brains.
But during the battle, they followed the dungeon's instructions.
The dungeon focused its mind's attention to the remaining creatures still alive.
There were three goblins and four wolves. And farther within the depths of the dungeon, there was still an ogre sleeping in his den.
Although the dungeon had few defenders remaining, it had enough.
The dungeon sent a wave of mana through the cavern...a gentle, curious wave.
Immediately, the wolves reacted - their ears began to twitch. One of the wolves lifted its head, looking out into the darkness and softly growled.
As the wolves felt the mana, so did the goblins.
One of them shivered.
"Grrk?"
The goblin holding the dagger glanced at him.
"What wrong?"
The first goblin scratched his ear nervously.
"Feel... strange."
The third goblin snorted.
"You always strange."
But the dagger goblin had gone still.
Something was watching him.
He could feel it.
Slowly, he turned his head toward the dark ceiling.
"...Boss?"
The other goblins blinked.
"Boss?"
Something moved deep within the center of the dungeon.
To the goblin, that word had a meaning.
Hierarchy. Leadership.
That was very interesting. The dungeon had attempted something different.
Suddenly, a more powerful surge of mana moved through the room. And this new surge also had a purpose.
Move.
The dagger goblin's eyes were filled with shock.
"I hear... something."
"What?"
"Voice?"
The other goblins looked around nervously.
"There no voice!"
The signal was pushed again.
'Move.'
Slowly but cautiously, the goblin began walking across the battlefield.
The others followed.
"Where going?"
"I don't know."
"You stupid."
One goblin suddenly found a leather pouch on a fallen adventurer.
He opened it.
Inside were several glowing blue crystals.
The goblin's eyes widened.
"Ooo. Pretty."
He stuffed one in his mouth.
The dungeon immediately sensed the mana disturbance.
The goblin gagged.
"BLEGH!"
He spat the crystal onto the floor.
"Bad rock!"
The other goblins burst into laughter.
"PA... haha"
The dungeon processed the information quickly.
Humans collected these crystals for mana and energy. But monsters couldn't consume them.
Useful knowledge.
The dungeon shifted its attention back to the dagger goblin.
That creature was different.
During the battle, it had waited above the cavern before striking with precise timing, and it had awareness of its surroundings.
The dungeon sent another signal.
Up.
The goblin blinked.
Then slowly raised his head.
Above the cavern, thin stone ledges ran along the ceiling as they were perfect ambush points.
The goblin grinned.
"High place good."
Without another word, he began climbing the jagged rock wall.
The other goblins stared.
"What doing?!"
"You fall!"
But the goblin reached the ledge easily.
He crouched there, staring down proudly.
"See?"
The wolves noticed the movement but didn't attack.
The dungeon felt something unfamiliar as if it was satisfaction.
This creature understood positioning, which was rare.
Very rare.
The dungeon sent a small ripple of approval.
The goblin froze as it felt that strange warmth again.
He looked around slowly.
"Hello?"
One goblin whispered to another.
"He talking to air."
"Maybe dungeon spirit."
The dagger goblin tilted his head.
"Dungeon... spirit?"
Before the dungeon could experiment further, a surge of energy rushed into its core. Mana flooded the crystal chamber.
New information appeared inside its awareness.
- Raid Repelled.
- Adventurers Eliminated.
- Mana Absorbed.
The dungeon stared as something new had awakened inside its consciousness. Something like structure like a system.
Invisible threads of mana connected every tunnel, every monster, every trap.
And within that structure, options appeared.
- Spawn Monster.
- Expand Tunnel.
- Enhance Creature.
The dungeon analyzed them carefully.
Spawning monsters required large amounts of mana.
Expanding tunnels cost even more.
But enhancing creatures were cheaper... Much cheaper.
The dungeon focused on the goblin standing above the cavern.
The mana threads tightened as a surge of energy flowed into the creature.
The goblin suddenly screamed.
"GRAAAH!"
He fell from the ledge and hit the ground hard.
The other goblins jumped back.
"What happened?!"
The goblin clutched his chest as his body twisted violently.
Bones shifted.
Muscles expanded.
Green skin darkened into a deeper shade.
After several agonizing seconds, the creature slowly stood.
The other goblins stared in shock.
"You... bigger."
The transformed goblin blinked as his arms were thicker now, posture straighter, and eyes sharper.
Nearby, an adventurer's sword lay abandoned.
The goblin walked over and picked it up.
The blade was heavy. But he could lift it although barely.
A new label appeared within the dungeon's awareness.
Goblin → Goblin Fighter.
Success.
The dungeon studied the result with growing curiosity.
Perhaps monsters could grow stronger.
Perhaps they could become more than mindless beasts.
The Goblin Fighter looked around proudly.
"Boss make strong."
One goblin clapped excitedly.
"Boss good!"
Another nodded eagerly.
"Boss very good!"
The dungeon processed the conversation.
These creatures were primitive.
But they could communicate, organize, and follow orders.
A new idea formed slowly within the dungeon's mind.
What if monsters could become something greater?
A tribe or maybe civilization?
Before the thought could fully form, the wolves suddenly lifted their heads.
Their fur tingled as they sensed footsteps which the dungeon felt too.
Far above, near the dungeon entrance.
The dungeon extended its awareness through the winding tunnels.
As torches flickered in the darkness, and armor gleamed in the firelight, voices were heard down the stone corridors.
"Looks like the first party failed."
A tall knight knelt beside a dried bloodstain.
"Something wiped them out."
A robed mage frowned.
"Strange. Monsters shouldn't be capable of that."
Behind them, twenty heavily armed adventurers prepared their weapons.
The knight stood.
"Doesn't matter."
He drew his sword slowly.
"We finish the job."
Deep underground, the dungeon core flashed as cold calculation replaced curiosity.
This group was stronger, and more organized.
If they reached the lower chambers…
The monsters would die again.
The dungeon focused on the Goblin Fighter.
Mana threads tightened.
For the first time, it issued a clear command.
Guard the tunnels. Protect the dungeon. Prepare for war.
The Goblin Fighter suddenly straightened as he felt the order burning inside his mind.
His grin widened.
He raised the stolen sword high.
"Boss say fight!"
The other goblins cheered wildly.
"Fight!"
The wolves began moving silently into the shadows.
Traps were be set.
Ambushes were prepared.
And deep beneath the earth, the dungeon began planning its next evolution.
Because the war had only just begun.