Ch 2 - Dungeon Seed

- [Upgrade] 0-0? [100 UP]

- [Tools]

- [Misc.]

- [Random Body Part] Cost - 10/30/50 UP

- [Lead Boot] 0.0.0 1/2/5

- +10 strength

- +5 Agility

- [Blacksmithing] 0? 3/6/10 UP

- Stats

- Strength - 5

- Perception - 6

- Endurance - 8

- Agility - 3

- Charisma - 7

- Mental - 9

- Soul - 11

'Hmm, so the 0's must denote the current level of each item listed. I will need upgrade points to level them up, if I don't want to do it myself. Well, at least I can be lazy.'

13 UP gained…

'Wait, why are my stats so low? If these are the same stats like in the games then I am useless. Well I am strong enough to fend off the scorpions so it isn't too bad.'

'Beasts are rated by their potential destruction output now.'

- Primal

- Common

- Uncommon

'The Scorpions should have been primal class. The gold one looks like it was on the cusp of evolving. If it evolved beforehand things could have gone south quickly. Although they are low level, black energy is very corrosive.'

'This [Lead Boot] skill is pretty effective. I should learn a leg-based martial art to partner with it. Maybe I can increase its effectiveness.'

As Donny began to make his way back to the village. He also took the time to familiarise himself with his skill. Using the strength and agility with the skill allowed Donny to increase his movement speed greatly. Which impacted his overall travel speed.

Soon he came across a Primal Level Rabbit.

[Danger Close]

[Danger Close] Rabbits have tremendous speed and if they can get within 5 meters of their prey they are near unstoppable for their level.

'Oh, no. It isn't gonna attack me because of these dead scorpion bodies I have been carrying, is it?'

After the fight earlier, Donny decided that it may be a good idea to take back the bodies to sell, but without a team it could be dangerous to carry them alone in a danger zone. There have been many cases of even large teams becoming entrenched in a never ending bloodlust led siege.

'I can't believe Greg betrayed me.'

In order to make more money to keep his sister in school Donny began to go on hunts as a glorified pack mule. It was the only job that afforded enough money. His older sister disappeared in a dungeon raid 3 years earlier.

Monia signed up for an experiment early on during the beginning of this new stage, although the tests were said to be gruelling, she endured and was one of the first awakened in this part of the world.

Humans still lacked understanding of the dungeons, and with the added development of the dungeon the nests originated from, the planet began to try to clear any dungeon that appeared.

Monia's disappearance was one of many.

As they drew closer Donny prepped his [Lead Boot] for the fight to come.

Yet, right before they were close enough for contact, the hare simply ran past. Caught off guard Donny had nowhere to vent his growing anxiety. Still, he was curious.

What could be more alluring than beast corpses to beasts?

'I will just follow from a distance, maybe it is something good.'

Along the trail he came across many other corpses. Seemingly from the rabbit running past.

'Why would the rabbit only attack these beasts? Why weren't they also drawn by what's luring the rabbit? Why didn't you attack me?'

Ignoring his current confusion, Adonis began to round up as many bodies as he could, placing the better grade ones in his pack. Although humans haven't found a standard to rate themselves yet, beasts and creepers have been heavily researched, documented, and categorized.

In fact, geno research is the most prominent area of study currently. By using mutated beasts and plants from around the world and dungeons many advancements have been made.

Some of the beasts that have been slain by the rabbit were even evolved common grade beasts.

- [Eleven]

- Mole type beast

- Primal - med

- [Dune Badger]

- Badger type beast

- Common - High

- [Blind Yote]

- Coyote Type beast

- Common - med

Recalling the level of some of these beasts, Adonis couldn't help but be thankful he didn't engage the [Danger Close]. From what he saw online [Danger Close] should have been at most a medium level Common tier beast.

For it to do this much carnage is near unbelievable.

'With the world the way it is now, it shouldn't surprise me. But this will be a great haul if I make it home safe.'

Continuing along the trail of dead bodies he finally came into a clearing where the bunny seemed to be interacting with a shiny stone. From the way it looked it seemed the rabbit was being absorbed by the stone in a way.

Although there were no physical signs, there was a feeling that Donny couldn't explain.

'I should definitely grab that stone. No that's stupid. Eh, too late.'

Before he could take the time to question himself on the peculiarities of his current situation he already had the stone in hand.

- [Dungeon Seed]

- Unclaimed

- Claiming in progress…

'Woah, is this how a dungeon starts? The rabbit must be attempting to claim it.'

[Lead Boot]

'Darn it's still alive. This thing is tough.'

[Lead Boot]

[Lead Boot]

[Lead Boot]

…..

[21 UP] gained...

After a flurry of curb stomps the rabbit finally gave up the ghost and to reassure himself, he checked the stone once again.

- [Dungeon Seed]

- Unclaimed

(Would you like to claim the seed?...)

'Wait, what was that voice? I can understand the prompts that come up as a result of my ancestral sea interacting with my soul sea, but I have never heard a voice like this before.'

'Yes, I would'

(Accepting Soul Brand...)

A vortex appeared in his soul sea that began to absorb his soul energy at an astronomical rate. With the appearance of this strange vortex, Donny began to panic.

'This is definitely a pickle, but will I die?'

Slowly but surely the sea of soul energy slowly drained a way. Over time Donny began to accept his fate.

'I guess this is the way I go out, huh?'

Accepting his fate Donny took a seat in the middle of the desert in front of this tree. He then took out his phone and texted his sister that he might not make it home tonight.

Very soon there were only 3 drops left in his soul sea.

(Absorption Complete...)

'Whew, that was too close. I thought I was a… aaaaarrrgggghhh'

Before he could pull himself from the ground to stand an excruciating pain ran through his body from head to toe.

The stone was consuming him in his entirety.

(New Dungeon Master Accepted...)

When he awoke, there was only a plateau, a shack and infinite darkness surrounding the 'dungeon'. Where the light came from he couldn't tell but the area of the plateau radiated with a bright light.

"Hmm, you must be a native of this world. I am surprised you can already claim a dungeon at your age. Excuse my manners, I am the [Dungeon Shop] manager 3507 you can call me seven for short." The man who spoke was a well dressed clerk in an all yellow suit.

"What are you?" Although in appearance the man appeared to be human, he was constantly giving off a yellow hue from his skin.

"I...just said I am you [Dungeon Shop] manager. Here to help you grow your dungeon."

"What is the point of a dungeon?"

"Ooo, good question. Hahaha, your world isn't currently at the level where I can tell you more, but let's just say the dungeons help worlds prepare for entry to the greater world." As he spoke a knowing light flashed across his face.

'Wait, greater world? Isn't that the place King Audronaut was referring to. If it is truly so scary how will earth survive? I need power.'

The man then began to dissipate. As his presence vanished, the shack began to glow.

[Dungeon Shop] Open

'Wait I can interact with all of this using my Upgrade ability? I need to figure out the dungeon's functionality in order to figure out its usefulness to me.'

When he walked into the [Dungeon Shop] he became confused only for a moment. All that was on display were a few beasts and weapons.

'If this is anything like the games, then I should be able to arm my dungeon with this stuff, but first I will need a beast in order to scour the dungeon for resources and protect it.'

"Hi, nice to see you again Donny. What can I do for you?" The man wore the same gracious smile he appeared with, yet now it seemed more professional in nature.

"I would like to get the dungeon started. Can you explain to me the rules?"

"Sure, it is pretty simple. The dungeons exist on a separate plane of existence so it is able to manifest across many worlds and dimensions. You are able to use the resources from your own world and the world of the dungeon in order to develop it. Every creature that dies here will benefit the dungeon and some of those same benefits will come back to you."

"What do you get out of this?" 'Although I expected such a response I am still lost.'

"I am afraid I can't tell you that. But do note that my presence is not malicious in any way. I am only here to help you get things moving along."

"Hmm, any suggestions?"

"Well you should start by purchasing your first beastial protector."