Chapter 26: Busy Bee
The moment I woke up, I slipped out of my body, leaving Nike behind. A week. That was all the time I had. It wasn't enough. The stronger I became, the harder it would be to level up, and I had no time to waste.
I moved swiftly through the tunnels, heading toward the chamber where my mobs resided. The air was thick with the sound of shifting earth as the mining drones tirelessly chipped away at the walls. I sent a command to the two drones that weren't actively mining or scouting for ore veins, ordering them to start immediately. Every resource counted now.
Pushing past the lesser mobs guarding the chamber, I turned my focus to something new—something stronger. It was time to summon the latest additions to my dungeon's forces.
With a thought, the magic surged, and before me materialized two towering figures—Crystal Golems. One male, one female. Their bodies gleamed like living gemstones, jagged yet smooth, each infused with an inner glow that pulsed with raw energy.
I hovered over their stats, accessing information my human form couldn't normally perceive.
Male Crystal Golem
Combat Style: No magical attacks; relies on brute strength and durability to overpower enemies.
Attack – Crystal Slam: A devastating strike that inflicts both blunt and piercing damage, capable of shattering armor and bone alike.
Abilities:
Elemental Might: Grants immunity to physical damage, poison, slashing attacks, fear, and charm effects.
Female Crystal Golem
Combat Style: Weaker in melee combat but excels in mid-to-long-range magical attacks using earth and crystal-based abilities.
Attack – Crystal Eruption: Channels mana into the ground, causing razor-sharp crystals to explode upward, impaling foes from below.
Abilities:
Elemental Might: Grants immunity to physical damage, poison, slashing attacks, fear, and charm effects.
Crystal Barrier: Summons large crystalline structures to intercept incoming attacks, blocking most magical projectiles unless they have piercing properties.
After reading through their capabilities, I gave them their first order—guard this room. Their sturdy forms shifted slightly as they took their positions, standing like silent sentinels. But I wasn't done yet.
Summoning another pair of golems, I ensured that all four were stationed properly, sealing off this area with a formidable defense. This would protect my mining drones and ensure a secure base for resource gathering.
I paused, letting the weight of the situation sink in. What am I forgetting?
The mice.
Reaching out with my thoughts, I searched for one of my returning crystal mice. It didn't take long before I found a familiar presence scurrying through the tunnels.
"When you and the others return, come to the core room," I instructed through our mental link. The small creature acknowledged my command before scurrying on its way.
With nothing more to do at this moment, I let my consciousness slip back into my body, bracing myself for what came next.
Time was running out. And if I didn't reach bronze tier soon, I wouldn't live to regret it.
After some time, I managed to have my core moved to the main hall, ensuring that when I summoned my dungeon's inhabitants, they could gather around me without issue. It was a precaution—a way to address them all at once.
With nothing left to do for the moment, I let my consciousness slip back into my body. As the real world settled around me again, I found myself still in Nike's arms, his warmth grounding me in the present.
I barely had a moment to breathe before I noticed Nike stirring, his tail twitching slightly as he let out a soft sigh. His golden eyes flickered open, hazy with sleep, before they focused on me.
I didn't give him time to fully wake up. My voice came out quieter than I intended, but it held an urgency I couldn't mask.
"Good morning, Nike. Can we have a serious talk soon? It's important, and I don't think we have time to push it off."
Nike blinked, his ears perking up slightly as he studied me. Then, without warning, his arms pulled me closer.
"You sound tense," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. "Bad dream?"
I swallowed, gripping the fabric of his shirt without realizing it.
"Not a dream," I corrected, voice barely above a whisper. "A warning."
That seemed to wake him up completely. Nike's relaxed grip turned firm, his tail stilling behind him. He didn't speak right away—he just studied me, golden eyes searching for something in my expression. I must have looked shaken because instead of his usual teasing remarks, his tone was carefully measured when he spoke next.
"Tell me everything."
I exhaled sharply, feeling the remnants of Azazel's words digging into my mind like hooks. The memory of the void, of the god's mocking tone, was still too fresh. I felt like I was suffocating just thinking about it.
I hesitated for a second too long. Nike noticed. His tail curled slightly, and his grip on me tightened just enough to ground me.
"Mike," he said gently but firmly. "You're scaring me a little. What happened?"
I forced myself to breathe before answering.
"Azazel spoke to me last night. And he—he wasn't happy."
That was putting it lightly.
Nike stiffened at the name. His claws flexed against my back but didn't dig in.
"What did he say?"
"That I'm too slow. That I've been wasting time. That if I don't reach bronze tier in a week, the gods will label me as a 'starter' dungeon and wipe me out."
Saying it out loud made the fear settle deep in my gut. Nike's expression darkened, his ears flattening slightly. I knew what he was thinking before he even opened his mouth.
"He threatened you."
I nodded. "It wasn't just a threat. It was a promise."
Nike sat up fully now, pulling me with him. His grip on me didn't lessen, but his tail flicked sharply behind him, betraying his frustration.
"Bastard," he muttered, voice dangerously low.
I almost laughed. Nike, pissed off on my behalf? It was comforting in a weird way.
"It's not just him," I admitted. "He said the other gods are watching. If they decide I'm not acting 'dungeon-like' enough, they'll send people after me. Strong ones."
Nike growled at that, ears pinned back. He hated being powerless even more than I did.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The only sound was the faint dripping of water from somewhere deeper in the tunnels.
Then, Nike exhaled through his nose, tail giving one last flick before he met my gaze again.
"Okay. Then we don't waste a single second. Whatever it takes, we're getting you to bronze tier before the week is up."
The certainty in his voice made my heart ache.
"You make it sound easy."
He smirked, though it was sharper than usual. "Not easy. Just possible. And you're not doing it alone."
The warmth of his words settled in my chest. I let out a slow breath.
"Then let's get started."