A chilling void surrounded Oscar.
His last memories were hazy—blood, betrayal, the sharp pain of a blade piercing his chest. He had been a man once, a master of war and strategy, a general whose name echoed across battlefields. Yet, even the most brilliant minds fall when the blade comes from behind.
Now, he felt nothing. No body. No heartbeat. Only an eerie awareness of his existence.
Then, a voice echoed in the abyss.
[Initializing… Dungeon Core System activated.]
A flood of information crashed into him, a tide of knowledge both foreign and familiar. He was no longer human. He had become something else entirely—a Dungeon Core, the heart of an underground labyrinth.
---
[Welcome, Dungeon Core Oscar. You are the heart of this dungeon. Your existence is tied to the dungeon's growth and defense. Should you be destroyed, you will cease to exist.]
---
Oscar's thoughts sharpened. So, I'm a Dungeon Core… but why? Who did this to me?
His surroundings became clearer—a vast cavern, dark and lifeless. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and damp stone walls enclosed him. He could feel the space as though it were part of him, every crack in the rock, every shift in the mana flowing beneath.
A core menu materialized in his mind.
---
Dungeon Core Status:
Core Rank: F (Newborn)
Mana Pool: 100/100
Dungeon Points: 0
Current Floor: 1 (Cavern)
Available Commands: [Expand Dungeon] [Summon Creature] [Create Trap]
---
A system. A way to grow.
Oscar analyzed his options. He could expand the dungeon, summon creatures, and create traps—but with limited mana. He needed a plan. A strategist never rushes blindly into battle.
First, defense. If I'm the core, I'm the target. I need something to guard me.
He focused on the Summon Creature command. A list appeared, displaying weak creatures that required minimal mana.
Slime – 10 Mana (Basic, weak, but can multiply)
Goblin – 20 Mana (Small, intelligent, can wield weapons)
Rock Golem – 50 Mana (Slow but durable)
Oscar had only 100 Mana. Slimes were too weak. Golems were too costly. Goblins were a balance of intelligence and strength.
[Summoning Goblin (20 Mana)…]
A glow filled the cavern, and from the ground, a small, green-skinned creature emerged. It had yellow eyes, crude fangs, and a sharp bone dagger in its hand. Unlike mindless beasts, this one knelt before him, awaiting orders.
"Master…" the goblin whispered, its voice hoarse.
Oscar's mind spun. He had minions now. He could issue commands, build defenses, and lay traps. He was no longer just a helpless entity waiting to be destroyed.
He was the Dungeon Core. The mastermind of this domain.
A slow smirk formed in his mind.
This world had taken everything from him once.
Now, it was his turn to take from the world.
The First Command
The goblin knelt in silence, its yellow eyes glowing faintly in the dim cavern. It was small, barely reaching the height of a child, but Oscar could sense its potential. This creature was not just a beast—it was his first soldier.
He needed to test its intelligence.
"Stand."
The goblin immediately obeyed, rising to its feet. It held the crude bone dagger in both hands, watching him with unblinking loyalty.
Good. It understands commands.
Oscar had no voice—at least, not in the traditional sense—but through his will, he could communicate with his minions. He decided to push further.
"Explore the cavern. Report anything unusual."
The goblin hesitated for only a second before darting off, moving with a mix of caution and excitement. Oscar observed through his Dungeon Sense, a passive ability that allowed him to feel every movement within his domain.
As the goblin scurried into the shadows, Oscar turned his attention back to his status menu.
---
Dungeon Core Status:
Core Rank: F (Newborn)
Mana Pool: 80/100
Dungeon Points: 0
Current Floor: 1 (Cavern)
Creatures: [1x Goblin]
Available Commands: [Expand Dungeon] [Summon Creature] [Create Trap]
---
His mana had dropped after summoning the goblin. It seemed that regeneration was slow, but he could sense a faint trickle of ambient mana seeping into him from the surroundings.
Not enough. If I want to grow, I need a better source of energy.
Oscar recalled the system's earlier words: Survival is dictated by power, mana, and the strength of the creatures under your command.
If he wanted to expand, he needed to lure in adventurers.
Their deaths would fuel his growth.
Before he could consider his next move, the goblin returned, panting.
"Master… found something!"
Oscar focused, pulling up his Dungeon Vision. The goblin had discovered an opening—a natural tunnel leading deeper underground. But that wasn't what caught Oscar's attention.
It was what lay inside the tunnel.
A glowing crystal, pulsing with mana.
The First Resource
The mana crystal pulsed softly, illuminating the rough stone walls with a faint blue glow. Even without touching it, Oscar could feel the energy radiating from within.
A natural mana source… this could be my first advantage.
Oscar's Dungeon Sense analyzed the crystal, and a new notification appeared.
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[You have discovered a Low-Grade Mana Crystal.]
Effect: Slowly regenerates mana over time.
Absorption Possible: Convert into Dungeon Mana.
Warning: Crystal depletion will permanently remove its energy.
---
Oscar immediately saw the dilemma.
If he absorbed the crystal, he would gain a one-time boost in mana, but the natural regeneration would be lost forever. If he left it intact, he would have a steady flow of mana over time.
A strategist always thinks long-term.
"Do not touch it," he commanded the goblin. "This crystal is our lifeline."
The goblin nodded, stepping back obediently.
Now… how do I protect it?
A dungeon needed layers of defense—traps, guardians, and deception. Right now, he had one goblin and zero traps. He needed something more.
---
[Available Trap Options:]
Pitfall Trap (10 Mana): Creates a hole that can trap or injure enemies.
Poison Spikes (20 Mana): Spikes coated in weak poison.
Illusionary Wall (30 Mana): Creates a false wall to hide passages or treasures.
---
Oscar considered his options.
A pitfall was simple but effective. It could buy time. The illusionary wall was expensive but perfect for hiding the mana crystal.
"I'll invest in deception."
He selected Illusionary Wall.
---
[Illusionary Wall created! 30 Mana consumed.]
Remaining Mana: 50/100
---
The air shimmered as the entrance to the mana crystal chamber vanished, replaced by a seamless rock wall. To the untrained eye, the tunnel no longer existed.
Now, unless someone knows exactly where to look, they won't find it.
Satisfied with his first true act of dungeon defense, Oscar turned his focus to the next step.
He had a goblin. He had a hidden resource. Now, he needed to expand.
It was time to build his first true dungeon floor.