Before I continue the story I sadly gotten sick after starting this story and while I could wait, my inpatient but didn't wana stay still so I will be releasing up to 9 chapters today and a scene before chapter 10. Anyways this is why some chapters may be short or longer just a warning! ) Chapter 6
After getting up and leaving my dungeon core room, I stepped out into the large but empty cave. Well, empty if you didn't count the crystal spikes jutting from the walls and ceiling, giving the cavern an almost otherworldly glow. The space was vast—too vast to leave defenseless.
I turned to Nike, who stretched his arms above his head before cracking his neck. "Alright, where should I start?"
He paused, tapping a finger against his chin as he considered my question. "First, you need to build some rooms leading to the dungeon entrance. Then, we summon mobs to defend those rooms. Second, you need to pick a class so you can fight if the mobs fail."
That last part made me frown. "Wait, I have to pick a class? I thought I was just managing the dungeon, not fighting on the frontlines."
Nike smirked. "You are managing it, but you're also its heart. If someone breaks through all your defenses and reaches this core room, you need to be able to protect yourself. That's just common sense."
I sighed, rubbing the back of my head. "Yeah, okay, fair point. What about you? Are you picking a class too?"
He nodded. "Yep! But we're a bit special when it comes to choosing classes."
That made me pause. "What do you mean special? Don't we just pick from stuff like Warrior, Mage, Monk, and so on?"
Nike shook his head. "Nope. See, there are mortal classes and monster classes. Let me give you an example. Mortals get Warrior, but monsters get Raider—both focus on combat, but they function a little differently. Another example is a Paladin, which uses holy magic and defensive combat, while a Primalist is more like a barbarian with an elemental twist. The list goes on and on."
I crossed my arms, processing that. "So I need to pick a class that works well for me and complements our dungeon's needs."
Nike grinned. "Exactly! And I'll pick something that makes us a good team."
I couldn't help but smile back, happy to see his mood had improved since earlier. "Alright, if I had a choice, I'd want to be a magic caster of some kind. What would you recommend?"
Nike's tail flicked as he thought for a moment. "Well, there are five options, but only three that really suit you. Warlock, Witch Doctor, and Dark Shaman. The other two don't fit what I think you're going for. Hemomancer is powerful, but it has some serious downsides for your race. And Voidwalker, while strong, is more of an assassin-type class, focused on melee and illusions."
I raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar term. "Wait, what's a Hemomancer? Never heard that word before."
Nike's expression darkened slightly, like he was about to explain something unpleasant. "Hemomancy is blood magic. It could work for some people, but for demons and vampires, it's... addictive. And I don't mean 'oh, I enjoy this kind of magic' addictive. I mean 'I need more blood, more power' addictive. For those who take it too far, it stops being a magic class and turns into a full-blown obsession. Either they start eating people to fuel their spells, or they treat blood magic as an art form—one that leads to the vilest kind of monsters."
A shiver ran down my spine. "Yeah… that definitely doesn't sound like something I want."
Nike nodded. "Good. It's strong, but the cost is too high for someone like you."I looked back at Nike, nodding, though still a little confused. "I'll trust your judgment, but why would blood magic be addictive for demons? It's not like I feel the need to drink blood."
Nike snorted before breaking into laughter. "No, you're right—we don't. The addiction isn't about drinking blood. It's about what mortals believe is in it. Most of them think a person's soul is tied to their blood, and when it's drained, a piece of them is taken away. And for demons? Souls are the ultimate drug. The highest high, the finest wine, the most intoxicating of spirits."
Yeah… no thanks. That was definitely not the kind of life I wanted. Sure, the power might be tempting, but I wasn't about to end up like some crazed, soul-drunk monster. And besides, I didn't want Nike to see me that way.
"So that leaves the other three. What makes them good for me?" I asked, shifting the topic before I got too deep into that mental image. "I think I get Shaman—since I have a crystal dungeon, it's basically an earth dungeon—but what about Witch Doctor and Warlock?"
Nike nodded, biting his lip in thought. Then, instead of answering immediately, he walked over to the crystal he had been lounging on yesterday and flopped onto it again.
"Well," he started, propping himself up on his elbows, "Witch Doctor is more of a support class—half healer, half curse-slinger. As you get stronger, you can make pacts with spirits—dead ones or things that don't have physical forms. Warlocks, on the other hand, make pacts with powerful, godlike beings that grant them power as they grow in tiers. Those beings could be from the Four Elemental Gods, the Gods of Order, or the God of Chaos. Your spells would match whoever you made a deal with."
I frowned. "That sounds useful, but what's the downside?"
Nike sighed. "The problem is that some of those gods have morals, and others demand certain things in return for their power. The rewards might be worth it, but the price could lead to all sorts of problems."
That made sense. I wasn't sure I wanted to be tied down by some divine contract. "So the best options are Dark Shaman and Witch Doctor?"
Nike nodded. "Yep. Now, while you think it over, go build your rooms. I'll get my class sorted!"
Before I could say anything else, he ran back toward the core room, practically vibrating with excitement. Seeing his cute little—uh, squishy—buddy run like that sent a weird shiver down my spine. I quickly shook the thought away.
I noticed he didn't really go over Dark Shaman in detail, but he didn't seem to have a bad opinion of Witch Doctor either. Honestly, Shaman made sense—it would synergize well with my dungeon—but I was already going to be throwing around rocks and crystals. If I wanted to have more interesting days with Nike, maybe playing a support role would be the better choice.
Either way, I needed to focus on building my dungeon first.
I moved to a nearby crystal and sat down, closing my eyes to concentrate. With a little effort, I felt my awareness shift, leaving my physical body behind. I floated around my dungeon—not quite like a ghost, but more like when I had first awakened as a core. It felt right and wrong at the same time, like my mind existed in two places at once. I still didn't have the words to describe it properly.
I started shaping the cavern, filling in the vast open space while making sure to leave a clear path leading back to my core room. I had considered beginning with the entrance, but I realized that if I messed up, I could accidentally open my dungeon before it was ready. Since I was still new to this, slow and steady seemed like the safest approach.
I expanded Room 3 first, making it wider and more structured. It was hard to judge exact measurements while in this state, but I figured I'd get the hang of it over time. After an hour or two of sculpting, I heard something strange—a faint buzzing noise. I glanced around, but I didn't see anything, so I brushed it off and kept.Once I had an empty chamber ready, I focused my mana, spending 20 points out of my 100 to spawn a mix of large and small crystals throughout the room. Not only did they add light and texture to the environment, but they also served as potential traps—if adventurers weren't careful and rushed ahead, they could easily trip or get impaled. At least, I hope they'll work like that.
Next, I used another 20 mana to summon my first real monsters: five snakes.
I didn't get a detailed description of what they looked like, but—wow—they were shiny. Their scales shimmered under the crystal light, reflecting different hues as they slithered around their new home. I made a mental note to check on them later, but for now, I had to finish my work before I burned through all my mana.
Moving on to the next room, I noticed something interesting—mushrooms growing near a small cave-in. Inspecting them revealed their name: Mana Bonnets.
Unlike my crystals, they gave off a soft, colored glow—green, blue, and red. Each variety had a simple description labeled "Unknown."
I wonder if I could grow more of these? Or maybe even use them for potions?
The thought brought a smile to my face. The more I learned, the better Witch Doctor was starting to sound.Well, until I choose my class, I might as well make more of these shrooms.
Spending a bit more mana—12 points out of my remaining 60—I focused on spreading the mushrooms further throughout the rooms. The glowing clusters multiplied, creating an eerie but mesmerizing ambiance. Then, to add some life to the space, I summoned eight crystal mice into the mushroom-filled chamber.
The result? Breathtaking.
The mice looked stunning in the bioluminescent glow, their crystalline bodies reflecting the shrooms' soft light. Unlike Room 3, where the crystal snakes blended in with the jagged terrain, the mice enhanced the glow, scattering it across the room like tiny, moving prisms. The interplay of colors made it harder to focus on any single creature, almost like a natural illusion.
I couldn't wait to see how well my ambushes would work in action. Just imagining the fights ahead sent a thrill through me.
With that done, I turned my attention to Room 1, though I was starting to cut it close on mana—I only had 38 points left out of 100. It would've been lower, but thankfully, my mana was regenerating slowly over time.
That's when I noticed something strange.
A new stat had appeared: CP.
It wasn't there before, not until I started summoning monsters. CP… Command Points? Control Points? I wasn't sure, but it was something I'd have to ask Nike about when I got back to the core room. For now, I needed to finish up without burning myself out completely.
Since I didn't have much mana left, I kept the first room simple—just a few mushrooms near the entrance, acting as a subtle warning to adventurers about what lay ahead. Then, with what little I had left, I summoned two snakes and two mice into the room.
The moment I did, a wave of exhaustion hit me. My vision blurred, my mind wavered, and I felt myself sway as if I were about to pass out.
Yeah, it's time to stop.
Pushing through the dizziness, I slowly floated back to where my body rested. As soon as I re-entered it, I sucked in a sharp breath, my chest rising as I gasped for air. My limbs felt heavy, my head foggy.
Mana starvation…
I had assumed it would feel like hunger or maybe stamina drain—but this? It was worse. It was like every part of me had been drained dry, leaving my body sluggish and my thoughts slow.
I needed to rest before I pushed myself any further.