The Ice Queen

Eventually, after realizing he could not in good faith send anyone inside the dungeon, Giony contacted his guild branch to request more high-ranking magic casters. The plan was simple, barrage the dungeon with magic in hopes of killing something. This only worked because of one thing, it was common knowledge that no matter what happened to them or what was in there, as long as the dungeon didn't surge, the monsters couldn't attack them, the same force keeping the monsters inside also diffused any strength behind an attack if it left the bounds of a dungeon, magical or otherwise.

The most major problem however would be dealing damage over a significant area. In nature, AOE attacks were hard to maintain, meaning they weren't really viable to use unless you were born with the ability to use one, or were of a higher level. Secondly was a kobold's natural fire resistance. By nature, all draconic beings had a resistance to either fire or whatever their specialized element was. However, lesser species, that had draconic scales and can breathe fire are just naturally adapted to it. However with kobolds, this wasn't as much of a problem since their scales were only fire-resistant for the same reason metal doesn't burn, their skin just isn't flammable. Yes, it still can get hot eventually killing the kobold, but unlike all other monsters of the same caliber, it'd take a lot more fire to kill a kobold.

But this still posed a problem, as fire magic was one of the first magic trees to get spells with significant AOE but even then their mana cost and damage output simply wasn't worth the time and effort for the mages who would use them, they alone wouldn't be enough.

"Alright it is day 6 and you have all been doing great, it is time for another spell barrage. But today is a little different the Queen of Ice Ms. Anna Frozenwing has finally arrived and brought with her tons of supplies, so for the time being she and anyone with Ice-type magic ability shall barrage the dungeon with magic. For the most part, Ms. Frozenwing will be using her power to attack as deep into the dungeon as possible, while everyone else will use their powers to maintain a low temperature as well as reinforce the ice magic closer to the entrance of the dungeon. This operation will begin in one hour so, for now, all ice mages eat an energy and mana-rich meal, and everyone else keeps guard. Like we've been doing."

Meanwhile, Smaug was in the back of his dungeon preparing for the inevitable, tomorrow was the big day when he'd be able to surge if he reaches the unknown amount of monsters he needs.

"Ha ha, fools. I realized what you were doing after the first day, at this rate the number of deaths per day far outweighs the gains. Sure after that second raid I accidentally scared you away making me lose out on tens of thousands of DP but the 20k I got day one plus what I've been getting every day leaves me with about 24k. Now how should I…"

[congrajulations! 10 kobolds and 10 wyverns have been promoted* to "kobold-wyvern jockeys". While still two separate monsters, a kobold-wyvern jockey can be bought as one unit in the store while being capable of both acting independently. However, due to the kobold's promotion, they have unlocked a new kobold job class "kobold rider" which grants the kobold new abilities on top of the abilities granted by its current evolution.]

[as a jockey-type unit, this unit can work together seamlessly. In times when being one unit is better this monster is only one D-ranked unit, however, if the situation calls for it, they can be separated in order to maximize the potential of one kobold and one wyvern in a situation being a kobold-wyvern jockey wouldn't be helpful. There is also the benefit of dual evolution, while the paths may be limited both monsters will evolve together as long as they stay together, and as their master, you can direct both as individuals and their skillsets will adept to work together accordingly, the possibilities being much higher than two individuals simply working together. One of the only drawbacks being the increase in the need to evolve as well as both needing names if they were to earn one, of course, the chance of one earning a name without the other is slim to none]

[*Promotion: unlike evolution, sometimes a monster rises the ranks without breaking any barriers. This is called promotion, promotion can happen in countless different ways for every monster. From blessings from the gods to finding legendary equipment. Many promotions act much like a job class for the monsters. This is very different from evolving to fill a specific role like a magic caster. For example, a goblin mage isn't actually a mage, it is a kobold with the innate genetic ability to use magic, while a goblin is promoted to the sword master after binding to a sword that will make you a master swordsman by granting the goblin skills is still a regular goblin and if you were to sever the connection the goblin would later be demoted back to a regular goblin, however, if the goblin were to achieve evolution they may become a goblin swordsman with sword skills of their own regardless if they have the sword or not.]

"Oh? That is pretty cool, I see those kobolds must have spent so much time with their partners that they must have all promoted themselves. I'll have to experiment with this as it seems like this could have tons of potential."

"But before that what the fuck are they doing now? OH! Oh no, 'everyone escapes the icy frost, it seems they have a high-level ice wizard or something. They are trying to freeze us out, come towards the entrance to floor two.'"

For the next hour or so ice would creep through the dungeon and a few unlucky kobolds were frozen solid many others almost sickly due to the cold.

However deep underground something was happening, there was a small cavity in the ground with no way in or out, however, in the center was a lone pillar that went from roof to floor. In the middle was a clear black crystal and inside a black flame. But unlike the flame of darkness from Smaug, which was purple so dark it was black with licks of purple, this flame was instead white where the purple in Smaugs' breath was.

Then something happened a root-like structure glowed and it spits out pale blue energy. Once dispersed the structure turned away an almost imperceptible amount. However, this energy was sent towards the crystal, where a fraction was consumed by the flame like a black hole, while the rest circled around the crystal slowly changing and eventually it became a deep almost black purple when it then rose to the surface of the crystal and once it pierced through the soft glow of the energy faded away benign replaced by a rough piece of the same crystal that of which wasn't there before.