Countermeasures (2)

"Now, what should I do to make mu dungeon impossibly hard to clear?"

Currently, I am inside the <Dungeon Core Room> trying to figure out the best way to protect my dungeon from intruders. For those wondering why I am in here instead of anywhere since I can open up the <Dungeon Menu> anywhere is because in here, I can work without being disturbed.

"Hmm…"

I'm struggling to find a way since just putting in monsters willy nilly isn't going to fortify my dungeon to its best. I have to find a good combination of monsters to put, also some traps that complements with the monsters. There is also a need to add more floors and maximize the number of monsters that I can summon.

Dungeon Master: Gren --- Drake Wota

Dungeon Level: 4

Type of Dungeon: Void

[Market]

[Customization]

[Statistics]

[Community] (Available at Dungeon Level 5)

[Set Dungeon Portal] [1/3 Used]

[Residents]

I opened the <Dungeon Menu> earlier, but I am still having trouble finding the correct combination of monsters, as well as finding the best way to customize the floors complementing the monsters and traps.

"But what's more troubling is this…"

MP: 315 (1225 – 1000 + 120 – 30) [1000 – Invulnerability; 120 – 3 F-ranked Adventurers; 30 – food Mari Bought]

With this low amount of MP, I can't get any significant work done. All I can do is make one more floor and put it with monsters filled to the brim. Since there is only one floor in my dungeon, I was planning to add one more, and it looks like now is a good time.

"The only problem is the MP, I don't know if I can handle the MP cost of creating a new floor."

[Add Floor] – 100 MP

'Yeah… This is going to put a dent in my MP reserves…'

Without further ado, I added one more floor, deducting 100 MP from my total MP. Since my monsters are all still intact, all of them numbering 40, I split them into two groups equally, and had the other group move to the second floor of the dungeon.

By the way, here are monsters inhabiting my dungeon.

Void Horned Rabbits: 10

Void Horned Boars: 10

Void Night Wolves: 9

Alpha Void Night Wolf: 1

Void Iron Golem: 8

Giga Void Iron Golem: 1

Void Iron Golem (Skin-Tight Suit): 1

Total: 40/40

Since the Void Iron Golem (Skin-Tight Suit) is still a monster summoned using the dungeon, I guess it is included in the total number of monsters. And since the dungeon is still level 4, I can only have maximum of 40 monsters.

"Let me check the new monsters I can summon…"

Monster Species: Goblin

Special Ability: Handiwork (Low)

Threat Level: F (E-C in groups)

Cost: 10 MP

Influence from the Dungeon: Gains the special ability <Void Handiwork (Low)> and increases agility and intelligence. Raises <Threat Level> by 3 ranks.

Additional Cost: 40 MP

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Monster Species: Slime

Special Ability: Dissolve

Threat Level: G

Cost: 5 MP

Influence from the Dungeon: Gains the special ability <Dimension Dissolve> and increases resilience. Raises <Threat Level> by 4 ranks.

Additional Cost: 50 MP

When I saw the <Influence> option, my jaw dropped.

Void Handiwork – grants the user to create items with the void element.

Dimension Dissolve – grants the user to dissolve a target including its dimension.

For void handiwork, it means that I can create weapons that has skills like [Phasing Blade] or others, but for the [Dimension Dissolve] skill, it allows them to attack an enemy who is also in another dimension. For instance, say that a person hides within his own dimension using a barrier. This skill allows a person to attack him while ignoring the dimension difference. It's like attacking the Heavens while still being in Earth.

"This slime… I'll take advantage of it right away once I level up my dungeon."

With this, if a person has a [Dimension Barrier] skill (I found out about it in the market), if there are any, I have a countermeasure against it. For the [Void Handiwork] though, I can create a workshop using the goblins to create weapons and armor to equip my other monsters.

I can equip the Void Iron Golems with weapons that have the [Phasing Blade] skill, and equip them and some other monsters with armor that has a skill which has the [Dimension Barrier] skill to negate certain attacks.

With this, my dungeon will be leagues higher than my current dungeon.

"I don't want to recall my current monsters, so I guess I'll have to level up my dungeon…"

With that, my next goal was made, and it was to hunt monsters, or lure them into my dungeon so the monsters can get kill them in my stead.

If I'm talking about MP efficiency, it's best to kill monsters that are within my dungeon, so luring monsters is my best bet.

"But for now… I need to rest…"

It's been a long day, registering at the guild, my first quest, indirectly killing heroes, and coming up with countermeasures.

"I hope one day I can take it easy and let my dungeon handle the rest…"

While wishing for a day that may never come, I went back upstairs and slept with Mari, of course by slept, I mean literally slept, nothing happened so don't get any ideas.

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~ Third Person POV ~

Back at the castle far West of Frenia, Kawasaki was meeting with the whole student body that was summoned to this other world known as Andeght. The meeting was held right after he parted ways with a mysterious youth known as Gren.

By using a skill known as [Teleportation], all of them were able to meet back at short's moment notice.

Kawasaki brought the news about the death of some of the students, as well as their helplessness against their enemy.

Of course, not all of them were shocked, but most of the students who heard about it had their jaws dropped to the floor. There was slander about the hero not being able to protect them, or even some saying that Kawasaki was not fir to be the leader, the students saying this were only able to say it since they weren't subjected to the strength of the golem.

Others were sympathizing with Kawasaki and trying to cheer him up, while others just didn't care.

"This is all my fault…"

The guilt Kawasaki had about not being able to protect his friends hit him hard. A being who had a diamond spoon in his mouth, faced his very crisis in his life, and it led to his defeat. It's safe to say that this is the first time this ever happened to him in his lifetime.

"No, it's not your fault Kawasaki-san…"

"No, it is all my fault… If I just had more strength… If I was just stronger…"

Yanahiro was trying his best to cheer Kawasaki up, but it only led to Kawasaki berating himself more and more. Yanahiro was at a loss on what to do, so there was only one method left.

In all of his life, Yanahiro was known to be a close friend of Kawasaki. He was overprotective, and when Kawasaki was about to do something bad, Yanahiro was there to put him back. Now is not any different.

*Slap*

Kawasaki went wide-eyed at the action of Yanahiro.

"Y-Yanahiro-san…?"

"You, do you know why I slapped you?"

With a hint of rage in his voice, Yanahiro glared at Kawasaki.

"Pathetic… do you know you are incredibly pathetic right now?"

"…"

Kawasaki just speechlessly stared at Yanahiro. The other students as well did the same as Kawasaki.

"Listen here… You failed to protect because you are weak… You failed to save them because you are weak… But that does not mean you should give up…"

"..."

"You should know better than everyone here why you are our leader. It is because you are weak and the type that does not give up."

Yanahiro recalled the days back in Japan.

"When there was low-budget during a festival, who was the person that made it possible to hold a grandiose festival? You… When there were students who were suffering from low grades, who made it possible for them to climb back up? You… Do not show your back to the dangers ahead."

Even though it was just trivial problems compared to now, the concept was the same.

"You are our leader who can guide us back. So don't show weakness now."

"… You're right…"

Everyone was stunned speechless. That speech was whacky as hell, but it helped bring Kawasaki back.

"Sorry for showing you this sight, everyone."

Kawasaki resolved himself for the future that has yet to come. Be it deaths of his companions, or a loss of his limb, he would press on and try his best to bring everyone back home to Japan.

"For now, let's start with a serious discussion…"

This marked the day when the heroes were reminded of reality and the start of their serious endeavors in subjugating the Demon King.