Capítulo 5: Chapter 5: Above God's expectations
The air in the dungeon was thick with moisture, as if the walls themselves were sweating from the weight of the water that coursed through them. Every now and then, a droplet would fall, splashing onto the stone floor with a resounding echo that seemed to stretch endlessly through the corridors. Aiden stood at the threshold of the second floor, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the Lizardmen tribe before him.
The Lizardmen were unlike any monsters he had encountered in the dungeon so far. Their scales glistened in the dim light, reflecting the eerie glow from the dungeon's walls. Their eyes, narrow slits of burning yellow, watched him warily, as if measuring the strength of the Dungeon Master standing before them. Their bodies were muscular, perfectly adapted for combat in wet and slippery environments, and their claws looked sharp enough to tear through steel.
Aiden's thoughts raced. He could feel the presence of the system, quietly observing the encounter. It was clear to him that this meeting was critical. These creatures could either be his greatest allies or a significant threat to his domain. He couldn't afford to be too lenient, but neither could he afford to antagonize them unnecessarily.
The leader of the tribe stepped forward, his massive frame towering over Aiden. His scales were a deep blue, marked with countless scars that told stories of battles fought and survived. In one clawed hand, he held a jagged spear, and in the other, a chain of bones that rattled as he moved. His presence exuded authority and strength.
> "We are the Lizardmen of the Dark Waters," he rasped, his voice low and rumbling like a distant thunderstorm. "We have wandered for long. Our people need a home...and this dungeon shall be ours."
Aiden held his ground. Despite the tension in the air, he kept his voice steady. "This dungeon already has a master," he said, his gaze unwavering. "But I can offer you something better than conquest. I can give you a home here, under my command. You will guard the second floor, and in return, you will be protected, and your tribe will thrive."
The Lizardman leader's eyes gleamed with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. He seemed to consider Aiden's words for a moment, his tail flicking behind him. The other Lizardmen remained silent, their eyes locked onto their leader, awaiting his decision.
Finally, the Lizardman leader lowered his head in a sign of respect. "I am Ragnar, chief of the Dark Waters. We will accept your offer, Dungeon Master, but know this—we are warriors. We will not bow to weakness."
Aiden nodded. "Then you will never have to."
The integration of the Lizardmen into Aiden's dungeon was not without its challenges. The second floor, with its dark, narrow passageways and the constant sound of running water, was a perfect environment for the Lizardmen. They quickly established their dominance, navigating the waterways with ease and setting up defensive positions in key areas.
He was now level 5
Aiden used his(DP) to improve the environment even further, adding hidden mechanisms within the walls. Pipes carried water through the floors and ceilings, creating natural traps that could flood rooms or create difficult terrain for intruders. The air on this floor was cool and humid, making it difficult for any normal adventurer to breathe for extended periods of time.
Ragnar, the Lizardman leader, was given his own lair at the far end of the second floor—a massive chamber with an underground lake. The water in this chamber was deep and clear, filled with shimmering stones and aquatic plants that glowed faintly in the dark. It was a perfect domain for the Lizardmen, and they quickly began to thrive under Aiden's watchful eye.
Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. For the first time, his dungeon had an organized force to defend it. The Lizardmen were strong, intelligent, and fiercely loyal to their leader. With Ragnar at the helm, Aiden felt confident that his dungeon's defenses were stronger than ever.
In a nearby town, rumors had begun to spread about a growing dungeon deep within the forest. It was said that this dungeon was different from the others—more dangerous, more cunning. And with these rumors came a group of adventurers, eager to test their skills and claim whatever treasures lay hidden within.
The adventuring party consisted of four members: Thane, a confident swordsman with sharp blue eyes and a reputation for being one of the best in his guild; Saria, a quick-witted rogue with a knack for disarming traps; Lira, a skilled mage who specialized in elemental magic; and Drake, a stoic archer who rarely missed a shot.
As they made their way into the dungeon, the air grew colder, and the sound of dripping water filled the corridors. The walls of the second floor were damp and covered in moss, the stone beneath their feet slick with moisture.
> "This place feels different," Thane muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with here."
The rogue, Saria, smirked. "Relax, Thane. I've been through dungeons before. Traps are my specialty."
As they moved deeper into the dungeon, they encountered several fake traps—obvious pressure plates and tripwires that Saria disarmed with ease. But Aiden, watching from his Dungeon Core, smiled. These were only decoys, meant to lull the adventurers into a false sense of security.
The real traps were far more insidious. Hidden pressure plates, triggered only after a certain number of steps, released streams of water that could knock an adventurer off balance or flood a room entirely. The adventurers soon found themselves wading through waist-deep water, their movements slow and cumbersome.
> "Something's not right," Lira, the mage, said, her eyes darting around the darkened corridors. "This place is...alive."
And it was. Aiden's presence could be felt throughout the dungeon. The adventurers were not just fighting monsters—they were fighting the dungeon itself.
As the adventurers reached the final chamber, they were met with a sight that took their breath away. The room was enormous, dominated by a massive stone dam that held back an underground lake. Water cascaded down the walls, filling the chamber with the deafening roar of waterfalls. At the center of the room stood Ragnar, the Lizardman chief, his massive frame silhouetted against the backdrop of rushing water.
> "Prepare yourselves!" Thane shouted, drawing his sword. "This is it!"
The battle that ensued was brutal. The adventurers fought with all their might, but the environment was against them. The ground beneath their feet was slippery, the constant rush of water making it difficult to maintain balance. Saria, the rogue, tried to find higher ground, but the slick stones provided no safe footing.
Ragnar, wielding his massive spiked club, fought with a ferocity that matched the roaring waters around him. He moved with surprising speed for his size, his club smashing through stone and steel alike. Thane, the swordsman, barely managed to block one of Ragnar's strikes, the force of the blow sending him skidding backward.
> "We can't hold him off like this!" Lira cried, her hands glowing as she prepared a fire spell. "We need to take control of the water!"
But the Lizardmen had the advantage in the water. Aiden, watching from his core, realized that the adventurers were adapting too quickly. He needed to intervene.
In an instant, Aiden transferred his consciousness into Ragnar, taking control of the Lizardman chief. The world around him shifted—the roar of the waterfalls became deafening, the weight of Ragnar's body heavy and powerful. Aiden could feel the water against his scales, the strength of Ragnar's muscles as he swung the club.
> "So this is what it feels like," Aiden thought, a thrill of excitement running through him.
With his new Player's POV skill activated, Aiden could see the battlefield as if he were playing a game. His movements were precise, his strikes calculated. He could see the adventurers' weaknesses, their patterns of attack. And he exploited them mercilessly.
Thane lunged at him with a desperate strike, but Aiden saw the attack coming. He sidestepped and brought Ragnar's club down with bone-crushing force, smashing the swordsman's blade in two. Thane was thrown back, bloodied and gasping for breath.
The mage, Lira, unleashed a torrent of fire, but Aiden moved Ragnar into the shadows, using the water to douse the flames. He was in complete control, and for the first time, he understood what it meant to truly be a Dungeon Master.
One by one, the adventurers fell. Saria, the rogue, was the last to stand, her arrows useless against Ragnar's thick scales. With a final swing of his club, Aiden ended the fight. The rogue collapsed into the water, her body sinking
aftermath of the battle with the adventurers left Aiden feeling an unexpected rush of power and satisfaction. The last echo of Saria's body hitting the water still reverberated in the chamber as he pulled his consciousness back to the Dungeon Core. He allowed himself a moment to revel in the victory, the pulse of his dungeon beating stronger than ever.
But just as the euphoria of triumph settled over him, a familiar chime rang in his mind.
Ding!
A golden window materialized before Aiden's eyes, its glowing edges sharper and more vibrant than any system notification he'd seen before. This one felt different—grander, more ominous.
|==============================|
|System Notification: |
|You have exceeded the expectations of the |gods.
|*Congratulations, Dungeon Master. Your survival was not anticipated. The gods had orchestrated this trial to eliminate you. However, your skills, intelligence, and tactical brilliance have forced them to recognize your power. You are no longer a mere experiment. For surpassing the divine challenge, you are to be rewarded—and perhaps, forgiven. The following features and skills will now be unlocked in your dungeon:
|1. Divine Dungeon Layer Unlocked: A secret floor below your dungeon that channels raw mana directly from the earth's core, allowing you to create the most powerful and rare creatures.
|2. God's Eye Skill: Gain the ability to oversee any part of your dungeon from a third-person perspective, giving you complete omniscience within your domain.
|3. Monster Evolution System: Your monsters can now evolve after battles. Through combat experience and exposure to the dungeon's mana, they will gain strength, new abilities, and even intelligence.
|4. Soul Binding: You can now bind the souls of adventurers who die in your dungeon, transforming them into elite guardians bound to your service for eternity.
|5. Dungeon Expansion (Tier 2): Your dungeon is now capable of expanding into the surrounding territory. Create new floors above ground or tunnel deep into the earth, adding labyrinthine complexity and new environments.
|==============================|
Aiden blinked, the weight of the new information settling in. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. The gods themselves had tried to orchestrate his demise, setting him up for failure by sending waves of stronger enemies. The realization hit him like a cold gust of wind: the entire dungeon, from the moment he was placed here, had been a test. A trial by gods—one that he was never meant to survive.
His thoughts swirled. A cruel smile tugged at his lips as he mused on the audacity of the divine beings. They had underestimated him. Now, instead of perishing, he had ascended.
> "So, they wanted to get rid of me…" Aiden muttered to himself, his voice echoing through the core chamber. "But now, they've made me stronger than ever."
The system notification faded, but a new sensation began to course through Aiden's Dungeon Core. He could feel it—a deep, primal energy surging beneath the floors of his dungeon, like the heartbeat of the world itself. This was the Divine Dungeon Layer, the system's gift—or perhaps its bribe.
With a mere thought, Aiden activated his God's Eye ability and projected his consciousness downward. His vision shifted, and soon he found himself gazing at a vast, pulsating cavern, located deep beneath the second floor where the Lizardmen now ruled.
The walls of the Divine Layer were unlike anything Aiden had seen before. Instead of stone, they were made of pure crystalline mana, glowing with an ethereal light that flickered like the surface of a lake at dawn. The ground beneath was a mixture of dark obsidian and veins of liquid magic, shimmering with power.
In the center of this new layer stood a massive, ancient tree—its roots burrowing deep into the earth, drawing from the planet's core. This was the source of the dungeon's new power, a tree of life and mana, pulsing with energy.
> "With this..." Aiden mused, "I can create monsters that even the gods would fear."
He instinctively knew what this layer represented: it was a place where he could forge the most powerful creatures, ones that were imbued with divine energy and raw mana. With this new power, he could create dungeon guardians of unimaginable strength—monsters that could challenge even those sent by the gods.
Curious about the new Monster Evolution System, Aiden's gaze shifted to the Lizardmen on the second floor. Ragnar and his warriors were already settling in, but now Aiden had the ability to take them beyond their current state.
Focusing his mind, he activated the evolution process on Ragnar.
---
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|Monster Evolution System Activated.
|Monster: Ragnar, Lizardman Chief
|Current State: Lizardman
|Evolution Options:
|1. Lizardman Berserker – Focus on brute strength, sacrifice intelligence for overwhelming power.
|2. Abyssal Guardian – Infused with dark magic, enhancing defense and resistance to elemental attacks.
|3. Hydra Warlord – Grow additional heads and limbs, allowing for multi-faceted attacks and increased regeneration.
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Aiden didn't hesitate. The Hydra Warlord evolution intrigued him the most. Ragnar's imposing size would increase even further, and his ability to regenerate would make him nearly indestructible. Additionally, having a multi-headed guardian patrolling the second floor would provide an even greater deterrent to would-be adventurers.
> "Let's see how far you can grow," Aiden muttered, selecting the Hydra Warlord option.
A surge of energy coursed through Ragnar's body as the evolution began. His scales darkened, turning from a deep blue to almost black. His muscles bulged, expanding in size. Two additional heads sprouted from his shoulders, each one armed with fangs and keen yellow eyes. His claws lengthened, and his entire form radiated raw power.
Ragnar roared in triumph, his voice echoing through the chamber as he embraced his new form. The other Lizardmen cowered in awe, bowing before their evolved leader.
> "This... this is power," Aiden whispered. "And I'm just getting started."
As Aiden reveled in his newfound strength, a thought crossed his mind—a warning, perhaps.
The gods had not expected him to survive, but now he had not only survived, he had thrived. The rewards they offered were not out of generosity; they were a desperate attempt to contain him, to prevent him from growing too powerful too quickly.
But it was too late. The Divine Dungeon Layer, the Monster Evolution System, the Soul Binding—all of these were tools that would allow him to surpass even the gods themselves.
> "They'll come for me again," Aiden said, his eyes narrowing. "They'll send something stronger next time. Maybe even divine champions."
He clenched his fists. "But now, I'll be ready."
Aiden's dungeon was no longer just a sanctuary for monsters. It was becoming a fortress—a kingdom. And he, its ruler, would ensure that no god, no adventurer, and no divine being would ever threaten him again.
As the system window finally faded, Aiden allowed himself a small, defiant smile.
> "Let them try."
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