Another Upgrade
He thought little of their inconvenience and realized some things aren't in his favor.
Formulating a plan, he made note to ask about the redhead and if possible, the outside world.
Information was crucial, especially for his growth
.....
The mana surge, the anomaly…something deeper was at play.
Something he needed to uncover.
Seth paced back and forth in front of the core, replaying the aftermath of the last two battles in his mind.
The adventurers had been a challenge, but they were nothing compared to the bigger issue still looming, the mana surge in the southern room.
It wasn't just a random spike.
There was something more to it, something that needed his full attention.
He glanced at the dungeon's status screen, which popped up as a mental command.
[Dungeon Status:]
[Rank: D]
[Core Integrity: 99%]
[Mana Reserve: 35/500 MP]
[Guardian: Elite Shade (Active)]
[Creatures: Shade Stalker (Active)]
[Traps: Spiked Pit (Inactive), Poison Gas Chamber (Inactive)]
[Expansion Potential: Locked]
The core integrity was almost at full capacity, just 1% away from a significant change.
The whole dungeon felt as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Seth knew this moment would bring more than just a boost in strength, it was going to reshape everything.
His attention shifted back to the mana surge in the southern room.
Ever since he had expanded the room, the anomaly had been growing stronger.
He had thrown countless theories around in his head, but nothing seemed to stick.
The dungeon suggested it could be an untapped resource or perhaps a deeper connection to the world's mana flow.
But none of the options were certain.
He stood at the southern corridor, staring into the vortex of mana that swirled in the center of the room.
It was mesmerizing and dangerous.
He needed answers.
Before diving in, he checked his remaining resources.
His mana reserves were holding steady at 35, and he wasn't about to waste it without a plan.
The Elite Shade was stationed at the entrance, watching for intruders, and the Shade Stalker blended into the dungeon's shadows, ready to strike.
The defenses were set.
But Seth needed to uncover the mana surge mystery. He had options, and he wasn't the type to take the easy route.
[Notification: Core Integrity at 99%. Upgrade Available.]
Seth blinked as the message appeared in his vision.
The moment had come.
With a deep breath, he allowed the dungeon to begin its upgrade process.
The core began to glow brightly, and the walls around him trembled.
A low hum reverberated through the halls as the entire dungeon felt the impact of the upgrade.
[Rank Increase to C in Progress...]
Mana surged through the dungeon, and Seth could feel the changes already taking place.
The traps, the creatures, the walls themselves, everything seemed to gain an edge, a sharper presence.
But it wasn't over.
The core pulsated again, pushing itself further as the integrity pushed again at 99%
[Core Integrity: 99%]
A wave of energy rippled through the dungeon.
The walls brightened, the creatures shifted, and Seth could feel a fundamental change within himself.
His connection to the dungeon deepened.
It was no longer just a structure that obeyed his commands, it was alive, sentient in its own right.
[Full Dungeon Upgrade Triggered]
[Perks Activated:]
>Mana Regeneration Unlocked: 50 MP per hour
>Guardian Upgrade Available: Elite Shade → Greater Shade
>Summons Strengthened: All creatures now gain 10% increased stats
>Environmental Control: New skill unlocked for battlefield adaptation (Mana Cost: 50 MP per use)
Seth absorbed the changes, his mind buzzing with new possibilities.
The dungeon now had a regenerative capacity, and the mana reserves would no longer be a constant source of stress.
However, he also noted that environmental control could be a game-changer in future battles.
The ability to adapt to the dungeon's terrain at will would give him a tactical advantage.
But there was no time to revel in the upgrades.
The mana surge still pulsed in the southern room, stronger than ever. It wasn't a threat, but it had become a mystery he couldn't ignore.
He made his way back to the vortex.
This time, there was more clarity.
The upgrade had expanded his understanding of the dungeon's functions, and the surge now seemed less chaotic and more purposeful.
But what was causing it?
Seth activated Interact, focusing on the swirling energy.
Information flooded into his mind, not in the form of words but sensations and patterns.
It wasn't a random surge, something was amplifying the dungeon's mana flow.
"The tear anomaly," Seth whispered. "It's connected to this."
He recalled the space tear anomaly from earlier, the strange disturbance that had appeared out of nowhere.
It hadn't been fully explained, but now, standing in front of this mana surge, it made sense.
The southern room's surge was being fed by residual energy left behind by the tear.
But what did that mean?
Was there another plane of existence connected to his dungeon?
Was it a breach he could exploit for more power or a danger he needed to seal off?
The dungeon, with its semi-sentience, offered suggestions, but Seth had learned not to rely solely on its input.
He had to think strategically.
"I could harness this," he mused.
"If I reinforce the room and channel the energy correctly, it could power the entire dungeon, But... if I don't control it, it could tear the dungeon apart."
The options floated in his mind as the dungeon presented potential solutions:
[Option 1: Seal the Room — Cost: 75 MP, Prevents further mana instability.]
[Option 2: Harness the Surge — Cost: 150 MP, Increases mana flow but risks instability.]
Seth had 35 mana left, not enough to make the riskier choice just yet.
He would need more time, more mana, and more information before he could decide.
For now, the best move was patience.
Let the dungeon regenerate some mana, continue fortifying his defenses, and keep a close watch on the southern room.
The answer would come eventually, but not today.