_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 6]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 5]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 07, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 6]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 05, slain by Verdenkind, Rogue, Level 7]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn), Level 07, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Rogue, Level 7]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
***
Though I couldn’t say exactly how much time had passed, the steady rise in my M.A left no doubt—it had been a while. Not the most precise estimation, sure, but hey, we work with what we’ve got. Anyway, that time brought more invasions, and the enemies weren’t just increasing in number—they were getting stronger, forcing me to adapt to the ever-increasing challenges.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification
Intrusion Report:
Fourteen entities have invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised.
Suggestion:
Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion.
Intercept and Slay the invaders
Estimated Reward:
457.7 G.P
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 15]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 15]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 13]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 13]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Shadow Specter (Spawning Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 12]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Shadow Specter (Spawning Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Barbarian, Level 14]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 17, has slain Verdenkind Intruder, Knight, Level 15]
_____________________________
***
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
As much as I waited patiently for his return—like a damsel in distress awaiting her prince charming—all while tirelessly improving my spawns and fortifying my dungeon to give him a proper welcome, Ralgar, the elusive knight who had escaped me twice, never came back.
It was a disappointing development. I had been preparing for that confrontation, eagerly anticipating the moment I would finally harvest him. But it never came.
Seventeen invasions.
That’s how long it had been since his last visit. At this point, I was starting to think I’d never get my chance. A tragedy, truly. I had been looking forward to that day.
The invaders kept coming, which, honestly, was good for business. While invasions became a common occurrence, my spawns steadily grew stronger and more varied, and I expanded and reshaped the dungeon as much as my resources allowed. I even went so far as to finally acquire a spawn fit to be my Dungeon Guardian. The cost was steep, but it was well worth it, given the stat boost it provided to my other spawns.
Because yes, apparently, that’s how it works. By designating a spawn—ideally the strongest available—as the Dungeon Guardian, it enhances the rest of my spawns, granting them increased MP, SP, and HP, along with stronger defenses and offense. This effect is especially potent on spawns that share similar characteristics—in my case, the undead type.
Though it’s probably not a good idea to bring emotions into this, I have to admit—I’ve grown quite fond of undead-type spawns. Mostly because their cost-to-resource ratio is far more efficient than other types. So, naturally, the majority of my spawns fell into that category, and they all benefited from the enhancements granted by my newly appointed Dungeon Guardian.
***
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
Since assigning a guardian to my dungeon, my domain has been invaded dozens of times, yet I’ve never had the chance to actually use my guardian for anything beyond its stat-boosting properties.
The requirement for choosing a Dungeon Guardian is simple—it must be the strongest spawn available. Or, more precisely, the one with the highest GP cost, which roughly translates to being the strongest.
But unlike my regular spawns, a guardian isn’t something I can just deploy at will. It has no patrolling behavior, and instead, it can only be assigned to one of two fixed behaviors: Spawning Behavior and Guarding Behavior
The moment a spawn is promoted to guardian status, it gets locked inside something called a Sanctum—a mini-domain within my domain. This space is inherently separate from the rest of my dungeon, meaning the guardian cannot leave, and my other spawns cannot enter.
Two entirely separate spaces.
I chose to station my guardian in the deepest part of my domain.
I could have placed it at the entrance, where invaders first spawn, but that didn’t seem like a smart idea. A Dungeon Guardian is far too valuable to risk right away. Instead, I use my regular spawns as fodder, thinning out the invaders before they ever reach the guardian.
Under that setup, something unexpected happened—
No invaders ever made it to my guardian.
On one hand, that was a good thing. It meant my defenses were working.
But on the other hand?
I had been looking forward to testing my Dungeon Guardian in battle. And so far?
No such luck.
A shame, truly a shame.
***
“Aaaaaaannnnnnd, that’s an invasion taken care of.”
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
“Good work everybody even though that’s ju—” I began, interrupting myself at the sight of quite an unexpected but not so foreign notification.
_____________________________
[ Dungeon Core Interface ]
System Notification:
Congratulations, 「???」. Another cycle has run its course.
Harvest Successful.
+122 G.P earned.
_____________________________
“Hehehe, now that I think of it, it’s been a while since the last cycle, or not. Anyway, that is some GP I’d be more than happy to invest.”
***
At this point, I couldn’t help but start questioning things—mainly, why do these Verdenkinds keep invading my dungeon?
Don’t get me wrong—I'm more than happy to watch my G.P steadily increase, but at some point, I reached a stage where I started questioning the intelligence of these invaders.
They just keep coming.
Wave after wave, they charge in… and die.
Sure, each wave grows stronger, bringing tougher enemies into the fray, but by now, I’m fairly certain I’ve wiped out hundreds of them.
That begs the question—why?
Could it be that the people in this world aren’t as intelligent as those from my former one?
Yes, they’re living a primitive lifestyle—still fighting with swords, shields, and clubs—but even that doesn’t excuse their repeated stupidity.
There’s no way any sane person would keep throwing bodies at a problem that has already cost hundreds of lives.
Right?
Right?!
"Arrgh… thinking about this is giving me a headache. I feel like I just shot myself in the foot with these questions."
Yeah, best not to dwell on this.
"It is what it is." That mindset has worked well for me so far—no need to change it now.
Shoving those thoughts aside, I turned my focus back to harvesting the fallen—and, of course, claiming their equipment.
***
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
_____________________________
Having repelled countless invasions, I had amassed quite the collection of equipment left behind by the fallen. Much like their lifeless bodies, these items could be harvested and converted into G.P, which was incredibly convenient.
Most of the loot consisted of swords, daggers, and shields—nothing of particular use to me or my spawns. However, I did notice something peculiar. The weapons in this world seemed to possess enhancements, particularly ones designed for slaying the undead.
I had no way of accurately gauging just how effective these enhancements were, but one thing was certain—these weapons which bore these traits consistently held a high G.P value. That alone made it satisfying to strip them from the invaders' corpses.
At first, I harvested every single one without a second thought. But, perhaps out of curiosity—or a vague hope that I might find another use for them—I started keeping at least one from each batch.
Before I knew it, I had a ridiculous stockpile.
Theoretically, I could equip my spawns or even my Guardian with these weapons… but that turned out to be pointless. At least for the spawns I’m using. No boosts, no enhancements, no added benefits whatsoever. Just a growing pile of weaponry, waiting for a purpose beyond being converted into G.P.
"Now that I think about it, I should probably just harvest most of these. They're really piling up."
I opened the inventory list and took a long look at the endless rows of weapons stacked within it.
"Hm… you know what? Nah, it’s nice to behold the way it is. Let’s leave it like this for now."
With no immediate threats, I went back to my usual pastime between invasions.
Sometimes, I’d spend hours sifting through the endless list of potential spawns, deciding which ones to acquire next. Other times, I’d strategize ways to increase my dungeon’s spawn levels, trying to anticipate the strength of the next invading wave.
Because they would come back.
They always did.
And when I wasn’t planning, I was refining my dungeon’s layout—tweaking its design to make it even more lethal, ensuring that any would-be invader would regret ever stepping foot in my domain.
Just as I was about to dive back into my routine, a notification abruptly flashed before me.
Another invasion.
"Already? The last invasion was just two M.A units ago!" I exclaimed.
That was fast—too fast. I hadn’t even finished respawning the three spawns I had lost in the previous battle.
However, my confusion only deepened as I looked at the interface before me.
This time, there was only one invader—the fewest I’d seen since the very first duo.
And the reward for defeating this lone enemy?
Now that… left me utterly perplexed.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification
Intrusion Report:
One entity has invaded your dungeon domain. G.P safety compromised.
Suggestion:
Secure G.P, put an end to the invasion.
Intercept and Slay the invaders
Estimated Reward:
- 1229 G.P
- Authority: Otherworldly Synergy
_____________________________
“Huh?”
Aside from the abrupt nature of the invasion notification and the surprising presence of a lone invader, what immediately caught my attention were the rewards. Until now, all the rewards presented by the interface were in the form of a GP value, calculated based on what could be harvested should all the invaders be defeated and their items harvested. However, this time, things were different. The reward included an additional element, labeled as "authority."
________________________
Name: Christian
Level: 23
Race: Verdenkind
Class: Mage
Title: Monster Slaughterer / Elemental Arcanist / Rune Caster
[Status]
- H.P: 420 / 420
- M.P: 5225 / 5400
- S.P: 182 / 192
- Fatigue: 12%
- Defense: 640
- Offense: 6220
[Skills]
- Anti-Appraisal: Level 10
- Appraisal: Level 10
- Earth Magic: Level 6
- Elemental Arcane: Lvl 9
- Elemental Infusion: Level 8
- Elemental Protection: Level 9
- Elemental Resistance: Level 6
- Fire Magic: Level 7
- Ice Magic: Level 6
- Identification: Level 9
- Lightning Magic: Level 6
- Light Magic: Level 8
- Shadow Magic: Level 9
[Abilities]
- Blessings of the Elementals: Unlocked
- Elemental Enhancement: Unlocked
- Elemental Infusion: Unlocked
- Enhanced Mana Sense: Unlocked
- Runic Codex: Unlocked
- Rune Casting: Unlocked
[Authorities]
- Otherworldly Synergy
『Expand』
_____________________________
"This is..." I muttered, my gaze fixed on the screen. No matter how I looked at it, there was something disproportionately alluring about that 1229 G.P reward. Sure, there were instances when I dealt with a group of invaders offering rewards close to that amount, but that reward was for a whole group of invaders. Here, it was a lone invader, who was just what level 22? A Verdenkind spawn of that level wouldn’t remotely cost 1229 GP. Something felt, no, something was definitely off.
Then there was this new addition: the "authority" section in his stats. None of the previous invaders had possessed such a section. They had attributes, skills, and abilities, but nothing like this "authority."
From the look of it, this “authority” seemed acquirable, and despite not knowing what it was and what it does, an instinct within me urged me to obtain it. I couldn't precisely articulate why, similar to my penchant for hoarding GP, but I wanted it. It ushered within me an innate drive pushing me to acquire “it”, and recalling my encounter with Mighty K.R.U.L, our conversation and the task he gave me, I promptly acted upon that instinct.
As with the invaders before him, I observed the lone intruder advancing further into my dungeon domain. Initially, I had stationed two spawns with guarding behavior near the entrance—two level 14 Spectral Reavers. Unfortunately, they had fallen to the previous invaders and were yet to respawn, granting the current intruder an unhindered passage deeper into my domain. However, I wasn't about to let this continue for long.
Four blue dots swiftly closed in on the lone red dot representing the invader. "Get him, boys," I ordered, eager to repel the invader and claim whatever bounty awaited me, especially that mysterious "authority" that beckoned to me.
Eager anticipation filled me as I awaited the clash between my spawns and the lone invader. However, what happened next was so anticlimactic that it felt like having a bucket of cold water suddenly pour over me.
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
"Eh?"
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced)), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced)), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Spectral Reaver (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced)), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
"Seriously?"
On the screen, the four blue dots representing my patrolling spawns vanished almost simultaneously. It was as if some devastating attack had obliterated the poor souls in one swift stroke.
I watched with a mix of frustration and admiration as the lone invader effortlessly made his way even deeper into my domain. A smile formed on my “face”, and then laughter escaped me. "Hahaha, I guess that 1229 G.P reward was justified. The interface clearly knows what it’s doing. But let's see how you handle my Death Paladins."
Recognizing the increasing threat posed by the invaders, especially as their levels entered the two digits, I knew that relying solely on leveling up my Spectral Reavers wasn't going to cut it anymore. While in the lower levels, a Spectral Reaver could outshine a Verdenkind of a same level threshold, as they both progressed, Verdenkinds were catching up and, in fact, outperforming my sweet Spectral Reavers, especially those with titles such as "undead slayer."
So, I decided to acquire something new. But not wanting to deviate from my usual strategy, I decided to acquire another undead and spectral-type spawn called Shadow Specter. These creatures, similar to Spectral Reavers but with the added ability to manipulate shadow elements and higher combat proficiency, promised to be a valuable addition. However, I soon began to feel that even with Shadow Specters, it might not be enough.
Thus, I expanded my arsenal by acquiring another type of spawn, Death Paladins. These undead creatures boasted high combat proficiency, a trait that the system seemed to identify through their offense and defense stats.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 100%
Status: On Patrol, Enhanced
_____________________________
"Get him, boys!" I cheered as I watched my patrolling spawns, mainly my Death Paladins, closing in on the lone invader, locking onto him as their primary target. However, the sight before me suggested that my cheers had no effect.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 67%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 23%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Death Paladin Level 15
Health: 00%
Status: Defeated
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
“Eh….”
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
“Maaan, this isn’t fair."
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Death Paladin (Patrolling Spawn, Enhanced), Level 15, slain by Verdenkind, mage, Level 23]
_____________________________
I watched as my level 15 Death Paladins met the same fate as my level 15 Spectral Reavers before them.
This time, however, they lasted longer.
Yet, just like before, the red dot representing the invaders pushed deeper into my domain, encountering more Death Paladins along the way. One by one, they engaged in battle. One by one, they were overpowered.
Currently, my Death Paladins range from level 15 to level 18. I had planned to level them up after my previous invasion, which had mostly been level 16 enemies. But with this unexpected intrusion by "Julian," I never got the chance.
I watched calmly, yet helplessly, as the invaders broke through my first line of defense, cutting down my poor level 15 and 16 Death Paladins along the way.
It wasn’t until they encountered my level 17s and 18s that I felt it—they were finally being slowed down.
Not stopped. Not repelled. Just slowed down.
Still, progress.
"What a merciless asshole," I muttered, shaking my nonexistent head. "At least this time, you don’t have it so easy anymore, do you?"
At this rate, he’s going to make it to them, I thought.
Well. Good luck with that.
By "them," I meant my third and final line of defense before reaching my Dungeon Guardian’s sanctum—the level 18 Death Paladins stationed at the end of a long, winding corridor.
While most of my G.P spending went toward acquiring and leveling spawns, I had also allocated a decent portion toward designing my domain.
Now, the idea of "designing a dungeon" might sound ridiculous—especially when considering what my first layout had looked like. But since there was an entire section of the interface dedicated to dungeon design, I figured it had to be important.
And now, I was going to prove it.
Designing my dungeon came down to two main aspects: Expanding the domain which is all about increasing its size and area and modifying its structure which involves reshaping its boundaries.
By default, I had been given a U-shaped domain.
Not anymore.
I elongated the "U," stretching it out to serve as the foundation for my next move. Then, I added what would appear on a map as small external bubbles—each containing tiny blue dots.
To the untrained eye, they might look like separate compartments outside the main structure.
But in reality, they were internal chambers—cleverly positioned within the extended U-shape of my domain.
Why did I spend precious G.P on this?
Because I’m a genius.
…
"Just kidding."
The brilliance of this design was actually very simple.
If I categorized my spawns, I had two main types: Spectral Spawns—like my Shadow Specters and Spectral Reavers. Corporeal Undead Spawns—like my Death Paladins.
The problem?
I couldn’t see how battles unfolded.
My interface only displayed literal dots moving on a map, making it impossible to gauge how effectively my spawns were using their abilities.
But if there was one skill I was fairly certain wasn't being used to its full potential, it was my Specters’ "Intangibility" skill.
On paper, it was perfect for hit-and-run tactics and surprise attacks.
But in practice?
My original U-shaped domain offered no walls for them to phase through. No structures for them to utilize their spectral nature.
So, I fixed that.
These newly designed "bubble chambers" weren’t just for show—they were integral to my entire strategy.
Now, my Shadow Specters could slip through walls and ambush invaders from behind.
Before, they were limited to "spawning behavior," which allowed for some surprise tactics—but it was more of an "on-sight" reaction than a true ambush.
Now?
Imagine walking down a long, winding corridor… and suddenly, twenty Shadow Specters phase through the walls behind you.
Now that was true horror.
And Julian?
He was about to experience it firsthand.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: En guarde, Enhanced
_____________________________
As the invader passed a certain threshold in the corridor in the middle of which the bubbles were located, I had them aggro him. Blue dots escaped their bubbly confines and entered the main domain, cornering the lone invader from both the back and the front.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 18
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 19
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat, Enhanced
_____________________________
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification:
Spawn: Shadow Specter Level 19
Health: 100%
Status: In Combat
_____________________________
"Guys, spare me total humiliation. Make this the last time I say this. Get him, boys."
