Agu's POV
The jungle loomed ahead, thick with tangled roots and towering trees, their canopies blocking out most of the sun. It was a familiar path, but today, it felt different.
Today, they weren't hunting.
Today, they were walking into the unknown.
Agu adjusted the strap of her bow as she led the group forward. She had chosen five for this first delve—each one tested and capable, but not reckless. The elder didn't want an army marching into the dungeon, just enough to probe its defenses and bring back a report.
"Stay sharp," she muttered, her red eyes flicking over the path ahead. "We don't know how this dungeon fights yet."
Behind her, the team moved in practiced formation.
Grekka, an orc warrior, broad-shouldered and clad in hardened leather. She carried a heavy iron club, her preferred weapon for smashing skulls.
Druzz, a bugbear scout, large and silent, his fur blending into the shadows as he moved effortlessly through the underbrush.
Tikk, a goblin rogue, small and wiry, twin daggers strapped to her thighs. She'd been eager to join, but Agu made it clear—this isn't a treasure run.
Borik, a hobgoblin shield-bearer, his round shield strapped tightly to his arm. He was their frontline defense, slow but steady.
And finally, Chak, a gnoll shaman, draped in bone charms, his staff decorated with dried herbs and fetishes. His job wasn't just magic—he was their link to the spirits, to warn them if they stepped too far.
The team moved swiftly, silent but alert.
"This thing really let Rikka walk out?" Grekka muttered after a while, breaking the silence.
Agu smirked. "That's what she says."
"She could be lying."
"She could," Agu admitted. "Or she could've been let go on purpose."
The thought unsettled them.
Dungeons weren't known for their mercy. If this one had chosen to let Rikka go, it meant it was thinking. And anything that could think could strategize.
"Maybe it wants us to come," Druzz rumbled.
Tikk snorted. "Then it's gonna regret it."
No one laughed.
The hours passed, and the jungle gave way to rocky hills. The deeper they went, the quieter the world became. The sounds of birds and insects faded, replaced by an eerie stillness.
Then, finally, they saw it.
A massive stone archway carved into the earth, its edges jagged and raw, as if the ground itself had been torn open. Crystalline formations pulsed faintly within, catching the dim light. The entrance was wide—large enough to fit a warband through—but something about it felt… wrong.
Chak gripped his staff. "The air here hums. It is not natural."
Borik frowned. "Means the dungeon's awake."
Agu studied the entrance, eyes narrowing. This was unlike any dungeon she'd ever seen before.
"We camp here," she ordered. "Druzz, mark the area. Tikk, check for traps. Chak—see if the spirits want to talk."
She didn't say it, but she knew the others felt it too.
Something was watching them.
Something inside.
And as they prepared to step forward, deep within the dungeon, a single notification appeared.
[Notice: Delvers have arrived.]
Azazel's POV – [Before the Delver Alert]
After my talk with Nike, we both went our separate ways. He focused on training his skills while I turned my attention back to my monsters, specifically Hydra and Dream. I needed to understand what their fangs could do in battle, giving me time to strategize and possibly push one of the other snakes toward evolution.
It didn't take long before something wandered into the dungeon—a lone creature, unimpressive and weak. At first glance, I almost ignored it. It looked vaguely like a dog-sized rabbit, but with deer-like antlers sprouting from its head. The sight reminded me of myths from my past life.
Hydra and Dream didn't hesitate. The fight was over before the others even had a chance to react.
Dream struck first, sinking his fangs into the beast. It faltered—not paralyzed completely, but slowed—its movements sluggish as it tried to flee. That was all the opening Hydra needed. His fangs sank in next, and almost immediately, a hissing burn spread across the creature's wound. A red and green reaction took place—acid, I realized.
Paralysis and acid.
Dream's fangs slowed the prey. Hydra's finished the job.
"Well done, you two. That was a fast kill." I praised them, watching as they hissed in acknowledgment before slithering back toward the others.
The rest of the snakes remained close to my Cobra guardians, but none of them seemed ready to evolve just yet. However, one of my other creatures was—the first Crystal Drone I had assigned to mining.
Over time, it had uncovered two more ore veins, its body methodically digging out the minerals. Now, I could feel its energy shift—it had reached the threshold for evolution.
A notification appeared.
New Evolutionary Paths Available – Crystal Drone
Greater Crystal Drone (Combat-Oriented Evolution)
All attacks deal double damage compared to standard drones.
Detection radius increases significantly.
New Requirement: A drone of this level requires a Queen or a connection to a Hive Mind. Without one, it risks becoming rogue and attacking other dungeon monsters.
Crystal Drone Queen (Residential Evolution – Two Forms Unlocked)
Form One: A larger, more resilient queen capable of leading a hive from a safe distance.
Form Two (Unlocked due to Demon Core Influence): Takes a humanoid bee-like form, allowing her to command drones remotely and summon additional crystal drones as needed.
I hesitated. Both options had clear advantages.
The Greater Crystal Drone would enhance my combat force, making individual drones stronger and more efficient. But if I evolved one without a queen or hive structure, it might turn hostile.
On the other hand, the Crystal Drone Queen offered a way to expand my resource production, organizing and multiplying my drones' efficiency. The second form was particularly intriguing—taking on a humanoid appearance meant possible direct communication, which could open up more complex roles in the dungeon.
I needed another perspective.
Shifting my focus, I reached out to Nike, who was still training, his gauntlets whipping through the air with sharp bursts of force.
"Hey, Nike—can you help me decide on an evolution path for my Crystal Drones? I honestly can't decide which way to go."
Nike paused mid-swing, his gauntlets crackling with faint magical energy as he looked up. A thin sheen of sweat clung to his forehead, his breathing controlled but slightly heavier from exertion.
"You need help picking an evolution for a bug?" He scoffed, shaking his hands out before rolling his shoulders.
"It's more than just a bug." I countered, amused by his reaction. "This could shape how my dungeon grows. A stronger combat drone means better defense, but a queen means long-term stability. If I screw this up, I might end up with a rogue drone attacking my own forces."
Nike huffed, crossing his arms. "So, let me get this straight. You're telling me the stronger version might betray you unless it has a queen to keep it in line?"
"Yeah, something like that."
A thoughtful look crossed his face. "Then why not go with the queen first? You already have some solid fighters. If you evolve her into that humanoid form, you might get something that's actually useful for more than just digging."
I considered that. "You think the second form would be more useful than the combat drone?"
"Depends." Nike shrugged. "You've been talking about making this dungeon more than just a death trap. If you want it to function long-term, having an actual organizer for your workers could free you up from micromanaging every damn thing. Plus, if she can summon more drones on her own, you'd be multiplying your workforce without wasting your own energy."
"And if we get attacked?" I asked.
Nike smirked. "That's what the cobras, golems, and whatever else you've got cooking are for. You don't need to turn every creature in here into a killer. Besides, once you've got a queen set up, then you can make stronger combat drones under her control. You'd be covering both bases."
I tapped my chin, mulling over his point. He wasn't wrong. Building up my resource production and management now would give me a foundation for the future. I could always create combat drones later, but having a queen meant I wouldn't have to oversee every single mining operation myself.
"Alright, you've convinced me." I sent my decision through my connection with the dungeon, locking in the evolution.
Crystal Drone is evolving into a Crystal Drone Queen – Form Two unlocked.
A deep pulse resonated through the dungeon as the transformation began.
Nike raised an eyebrow. "That it?"
"For now. She'll take time to fully develop. But once she's done, I'll finally have a proper system in place."
He smirked. "See? I do have good ideas."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Now get back to training before you start slacking."
Nike laughed, flexing his fingers before launching back into his drills. I, on the other hand, kept my attention locked on the evolving drone. This was a small step, but an important one.
And just as I was about to shift my focus elsewhere—
ALERT: DELVERS HAVE ENTERED THE DUNGEONS INFLUENCE.
I straightened immediately, my senses sharpening.
Nike noticed my reaction. "What? What happened?"
"We've got company."
His smirk widened. "Finally."