Oscar pulsed with cold determination.
The adventurers had proven dangerous. Even with his traps, his monsters, and his careful planning, Ethan had still managed to kill one of his wolves.
If he left them alive, they would return stronger.
Oscar refused to let that happen.
It was time to evolve.
A system prompt flashed in his mind, the three evolution paths still hovering before him.
---
[Choose an Evolution Path]
Mutated Dungeon Core – Unlocks unique dungeon abilities, intelligent traps, and unpredictable evolutions.
Predator Dungeon – The dungeon becomes a living organism, feeding on adventurers and adapting to their strengths.
Abyssal Core – Unlocks eldritch magic, summoning horrors from beyond reality.
---
Oscar considered his options carefully.
If he chose Mutated Dungeon Core, he could become smarter—a dungeon capable of countering every adventurer's move with unpredictable tactics.
If he chose Predator Dungeon, the entire cave system could become his body, feeding on those who entered, growing stronger with every soul it consumed.
But then… there was Abyssal Core.
A path that led to the unknown. To powers not meant for mortals.
Oscar pulsed.
He wanted power.
And there was no power greater than the abyss.
---
[Evolution Confirmed: Abyssal Core Chosen]
WARNING: This path is irreversible.
WARNING: Contact with the abyss may lead to… unforeseen consequences.
Oscar didn't care.
His core shook violently as energy from beyond reality poured into him.
Darkness spread across his dungeon like a living shadow. The walls began to twist, growing veins of black stone that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Something whispered in the depths of his consciousness.
Something… watching.
But Oscar wasn't afraid.
He embraced the abyss.
---
The Dungeon Transforms
Ethan felt it immediately.
The air in the dungeon changed.
It became heavier, colder. The torches along the walls flickered, their flames dimming to a sickly blue hue.
Gregor shivered. "What… what is this?"
Lara, still struggling against the poison, whimpered. "This place… it's wrong."
Ethan clenched his sword. "It's changed." His warrior instincts screamed at him. They needed to leave.
But there was no way out.
The dungeon was awake.
And it was watching them.
---
[New Dungeon Abilities Unlocked]
Abyssal Corruption – Adventurers trapped inside for too long will begin to lose their minds.
Shadow Gates – Oscar can create hidden doors leading to unknown depths.
Abyssal Summoning – He can now call forth creatures from beyond reality.
---
Oscar felt stronger than ever.
The adventurers were weak, trapped, and running out of options.
It was time to finish them.
Time to consume them.
---
The Abyss Stares Back
Oscar pulsed, his core vibrating with newfound power.
The dungeon was no longer just a collection of tunnels and traps.
It was alive.
The walls pulsed like veins in a monstrous beast. The air grew thick with an unnatural darkness, shifting and writhing like unseen hands grasping at the edges of reality.
The adventurers had no idea…
They were already inside a nightmare.
---
[Oscar's Status]
Dungeon Type: Abyssal Core
Mana: 10 (Gains +5 per minute due to Abyssal Influence)
New Abilities:
Abyssal Corruption: Adventurers begin to lose their minds over time.
Shadow Gates: Oscar can create hidden doors leading to nightmare realms.
Abyssal Summoning: Summon creatures beyond mortal understanding.
---
Inside the Dungeon…
Ethan wiped cold sweat from his brow. The walls had changed.
Before, they were rough stone, natural formations. Now? They were unnatural, shifting subtly when he wasn't looking.
"Stay close," he ordered, his voice steady despite the dread sinking into his bones.
Lara, barely standing, let out a weak breath. "This place… it's trying to kill us without lifting a finger."
Gregor, still trying to climb out of the pit, stopped moving. His eyes widened in horror.
"I hear something." His voice was barely a whisper.
The others turned.
There was a whispering sound.
At first, faint. Like the rustling of wind in distant corridors.
Then… it grew louder.
And louder.
Until it became voices.
Many voices.
Whispering. Chanting. Calling.
Lara clutched her head. "MAKE IT STOP!"
Ethan spun around, gripping his sword. "Who's there?!"
The whispers didn't answer.
They only grew closer.
---
Oscar's Next Move
Oscar pulsed with satisfaction. The adventurers were breaking.
His power over the dungeon had grown.
With his increased mana generation, he could now do one of three things.
Summon an Abyssal Horror (10 Mana) – A creature from beyond reality, something no adventurer could comprehend.
Expand the Dungeon (10 Mana) – Create a new abyssal floor, trapping the adventurers in even deeper horrors.
Activate Full Abyssal Corruption (10 Mana) – Increase the whispers and break their minds completely.
Oscar considered his options.
If he summoned a horror, the battle would be over quickly.
If he expanded the dungeon, he could trap more adventurers in the future.
If he activated corruption…
He could watch them tear each other apart.
Oscar pulsed darkly.
And he made his choice.
---
Descent into Madness
Oscar pulsed with dark amusement.
Why end things so quickly?
Killing them now would be merciful.
But mercy had no place in his abyssal domain.
Instead, he chose the slow, creeping horror of madness.
---
[Ability Activated: Full Abyssal Corruption]
The whispers grow louder.
Reality within the dungeon begins to warp.
The adventurers' minds begin to break.
Mana: 0/10 (Regenerating…)
---
Inside the Dungeon…
Ethan's breath came in ragged gasps.
The torches flickered violently, casting elongated, twisting shadows that seemed to move on their own. The stone beneath his feet felt soft, like flesh, and every step made a sickening squelching noise.
Gregor was muttering to himself, his wide eyes darting from shadow to shadow. His hands trembled, gripping his axe so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Lara…
Lara was crying.
"No… no, no, no," she whimpered, backing against the wall. "It's not real. It's not real."
But it was.
The whispers were inside her head.
Calling her name.
Laughing.
Begging.
---
Oscar Watches
Oscar pulsed with pure satisfaction.
They were breaking.
Gregor's sanity was shattered—he was mumbling nonsense, staring into the darkness as if something unseen was speaking directly to him.
Lara was on the verge of complete collapse.
Only Ethan still had some semblance of control. But even he was starting to crack.
How long before they turned on each other?
How long before the whispers drove them to madness?
Oscar didn't need to lift a finger.
The abyss was doing the work for him.
---
A Choice for the Adventurers
Ethan gritted his teeth, trying to shut out the whispers.
They needed to move.
Staying in one place would only make things worse.
But where could they go?
Press deeper into the dungeon? The only way out might be forward.
Try to escape back the way they came? Risky, but possible.
Wait and endure? Hope the dungeon's effect weakens over time.
His decision would determine their fate.
And Oscar…
Oscar was watching.