Encounter
Seth's eyes moved to the new command that had appeared after the recent upgrade.
[New Command: Tap into Mana Vein for Future Upgrades (Warning: High Cost)]
His fingers twitched.
It was tempting.
The power locked within the mana vein could change everything, but the warning was clear: using the vein would come with a steep price, not just in mana but potentially in the dungeon's stability.
The surge might spiral out of control, undoing everything he'd fought to build.
"No, not yet," Seth muttered.
He couldn't afford to take that risk right now.
First, he had to deal with the adventurers.
He pulled his focus back to the immediate threat.
His mana was high, but so were the stakes.
The last group had barely made it through his defenses, and from what he could gather, this new wave would be even tougher.
They'd learned from their predecessors' mistakes.
The dungeon was ready, but so were they.
Seth mentally activated the final few traps.
[30 MP Used. Stone Grinder Activated.]
[Mana Reserves: 400/500]
It wasn't a flashy trap, but the sheer brutality of it gave Seth a dark satisfaction.
Adventurers rarely expected something so mechanical and simple, just gears and sharpened stone grinding them into paste if they misstepped.
The psychological pressure alone made it valuable.
With the traps primed, Seth moved to check on his creatures.
The Greater Shade, now fully upgraded, loomed by the dungeon's entrance, its shadowy form more imposing than ever.
It was no longer just a lurking figure but a visible menace.
Its power radiated through the corridor, intimidating even to Seth.
[Creature Upgrade Complete: Greater Shade]
[Abilities: Shadow Strike, Ethereal Form, Fear Aura (New)]
Seth's grin widened.
The Fear Aura was exactly what he needed.
Adventurers might be physically strong, but fear could unbalance even the most seasoned warrior.
As the first line of defense, the Greater Shade would be perfect for throwing the intruders off their game.
The Shade Stalker, now upgraded to an Elite, clung to the ceiling in the next chamber, its movements impossibly quiet.
It had grown deadlier, faster, and could now strike with pinpoint accuracy.
The upgrades had also given it a new ability: Phase Strike, allowing it to slip through physical defenses momentarily, hitting enemies where they least expected.
He glanced at the time.
[Adventurers Detected: Estimated Arrival – 5 minutes.]
There was little else to do but wait. Seth's mind kept drifting back to the southern room and the dormant mana vein.
He had only managed to stabilize a small part of it, but the surge was like a coiled snake, waiting to strike.
If it went out of control again, it could unleash untold chaos within the dungeon, maybe worse.
He didn't trust it to stay stable forever.
"Later," he muttered to himself.
"Focus."
The adventurers were almost here.
The first sign of their arrival was the sound of boots crunching against the dungeon's stone floors.
Seth activated his dungeon's senses, projecting his awareness to the entrance.
Three figures moved cautiously into view, their postures tense, their movements deliberate.
Unlike the last group, these adventurers were veterans.
The leader was a tall, armored knight wielding a sword that shimmered faintly with enchantments.
His armor was thick and ornate, the kind of protection meant to tank anything a dungeon could throw.
Behind him was a slim archer, her eyes scanning the darkness, her fingers already nocking an arrow.
Beside her, a robed figure trailed his fingers across the wall, muttering spells of detection.
"Magic users," Seth whispered.
"Just great."
He could see them communicating silently.
They moved with precision, with no wasted steps and no noise beyond the necessary.
This was a well-trained group.
Seth's mind raced.
He had to break their coordination, split them up, and pick them off one by one.
The Fear Aura from the Greater Shade would help, but he needed more.
The adventurers entered the first chamber, where the Shade Stalker waited, hidden in the ceiling.
Seth held his breath.
As expected, they moved cautiously, checking every corner, every shadow.
The mage cast a faint light spell, illuminating the room.
The knight moved forward first, his sword raised, ready to deflect any sudden attack.
Seth sent the command.
The Shade Stalker dropped from the ceiling, phasing through the knight's raised shield and striking at his exposed side.
The man let out a grunt, stumbling as blood splattered the stone floor.
Before he could react, the Shade was already gone, retreating into the darkness.
The archer fired an arrow blindly into the shadows, but it clattered harmlessly off the walls.
"Keep calm," the knight growled.
"It's just playing with us."
Seth smirked.
They didn't know the half of it.
The adventurers pressed forward, wary now, but the damage was done.
The knight was bleeding, and they were on edge.
The mage cast a healing spell, but for reasons unknown, it only stopped the bleeding.
They entered the second chamber, where the Greater Shade waited.
The Fear Aura hit them like a wave.
The archer faltered, her hands shaking as she tried to pull another arrow.
The mage's spell faltered, his lips stuttering on the incantation.
Only the knight held steady, though Seth could see his breathing quicken.
The Greater Shade didn't wait
It lunged forward, its shadowy claws slicing through the air.
The knight barely raised his shield in time, the force of the impact sending him skidding back.
Seth watched, grinning. The adventurers had walked right into his trap.
The next few moments were chaos.
The archer, already rattled by the Fear Aura, misfired her next arrow, grazing the mage's arm.
The mage's spell shattered as he cried out, clutching his wound.
The knight, though stopped bleeding with little energy, managed to fend off the Greater Shade's relentless attacks, but he couldn't hold out forever.
It was time to end it.
Seth activated the poison gas chamber.
[50 MP Used. Poison Gas Released.]
[Mana Reserves: 380/500]
The chamber filled with a thick, toxic mist, catching the adventurers off guard.