Chapter 61: Growth?
"You heard correctly."
"I’ll be able to teleport into the dungeon?"
"Yes."
Tolu’s eyes widened.
"From anywhere?"
"Not anywhere."
She sounded almost amused.
"Do not become excited before hearing the limitations."
"Fine."
"At Level Two, you will be able to teleport to the dungeon from designated locations connected to your authority. As your dungeon develops, that restriction will become less significant."
Tolu nodded slowly.
"That’s already incredible."
"It is only the beginning."
"There’s more?"
"Much more."
The heart continued.
"At Level Two, your control over the dungeon’s environment will increase. You will be able to create and modify basic dungeon structures, expand its territory, improve its ecosystem and nurture stronger creatures."
Tolu’s mind immediately started racing.
"So I could make actual rooms."
"Yes."
"Different areas."
"Yes."
"Monster habitats."
"Yes."
"Farming areas."
"Yes."
Tolu smiled.
"That’s more like it."
"You will also gain greater access to dungeon energy."
"How much greater?"
"Enough to begin making meaningful changes."
Tolu nodded.
"And Level Three?"
"When you reach the Advanced realm, the dungeon will unlock its third-stage authority."
"What does that give me?"
"Greater control over dungeon energy. Advanced environmental manipulation. The ability to nurture more powerful creatures. Greater territory. More complex dungeon structures."
Tolu listened carefully.
"And?"
"You will gain the ability to create specialized environments."
Tolu frowned.
"Specialized?"
"An underground forest. A swamp. A cavern. A volcanic chamber. An underground lake. Any environment compatible with your dungeon’s energy and available resources."
Tolu’s eyes widened.
"So eventually I can build an entire world underground."
"Not a world."
The heart corrected him.
"A dungeon."
"Same difference."
"It is not."
Tolu laughed.
"Fine."
He thought for a moment.
"What about Master?"
"Level Four."
The voice became more solemn.
"At that stage, your authority over the dungeon becomes considerably stronger."
"How?"
"You will be able to establish multiple major regions within the dungeon. You will gain greater control over dungeon creatures and their development. You will be able to create stronger defensive mechanisms and manipulate dungeon energy on a larger scale."
Tolu’s smile faded slightly.
"So that’s when it starts becoming dangerous."
"Your dungeon will become dangerous long before then."
"Fair."
"And you will gain the ability to establish a direct communication network with creatures under your authority."
Tolu paused.
"I can communicate with my monsters?"
"With those capable of receiving your thoughts."
"That would be useful."
"It would."
Tolu leaned back.
"And Grandmaster?"
"Level Five."
The heart became quiet for a moment.
"At Level Five, your dungeon will no longer be considered a minor dungeon."
Tolu swallowed.
"What is it considered?"
"A major dungeon."
"What’s the difference?"
"Everything."
That answer made Tolu smile.
The heart continued.
"Your dungeon’s energy capacity will increase dramatically. Its territory can expand substantially. Its ecosystem can support creatures of far greater strength. You will be able to establish multiple dungeon cores within the same domain."
Tolu immediately frowned.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Multiple dungeon hearts?"
"No."
The heart’s voice became firm.
"Do not misunderstand. The Dungeon Heart remains the central authority."
"Then what are the other cores?"
"Extensions of your authority."
Tolu nodded slowly.
"Like organs."
"An acceptable comparison."
"And what else?"
"You will gain greater authority over the dungeon’s laws."
Tolu’s expression changed.
"Laws?"
"Gravity. Environment. Energy flow. The behavior of dungeon creatures. Certain spatial properties."
Tolu stared into the darkness.
"So at Level Five..."
"You will begin approaching the point where the dungeon itself becomes a weapon."
He smiled.
"That’s exactly what I wanted to hear."
"You should not."
"Why?"
"Because weapons attract people who wish to possess them."
Tolu’s smile disappeared.
He knew she was right.
He had already learned that lesson with Bolaji.
Power attracted attention.
Wealth attracted attention.
A dungeon capable of producing valuable resources?
That would attract considerably more.
"Then what does Venerable give me?"
"Level Six."
The heart’s voice became quieter.
"At that stage, the boundary between you and the dungeon will become increasingly insignificant."
Tolu frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You will be able to perceive your dungeon from vast distances."
"Like seeing through it?"
"More than seeing."
"You’ll let me control everything?"
"Not everything."
"Of course."
"But your authority will become profound."
Tolu waited.
"You will be able to move through your dungeon almost instantaneously. Your influence will extend throughout its territory. Your dungeon energy reserves will become immense. You will be able to nurture creatures capable of reaching extraordinary realms."
Tolu slowly nodded.
"And Divine?"
The heart went silent.
Longer this time.
Tolu waited.
Eventually, she spoke.
"Level Seven."
"And?"
"At that stage, your dungeon will possess authority beyond anything you can currently comprehend."
Tolu smiled.
"That’s a terrible explanation."
"It is an accurate one."
"You’re telling me nothing."
"I am telling you that you are currently incapable of understanding what the seventh level means."
Tolu sighed.
"Fine."
He lay back down.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then another thought entered his mind.
"You said something earlier."
"What?"
"About my partners."
The heart became silent.
Tolu frowned.
"The others."
"Yes."
"You said they could contribute something to the dungeon."
"Not something."
"What then?"
"Themselves."
Tolu sat up again.
"Explain."
"Those who have formed a true bond with the Dungeon Lord may become recognized as Dungeon Lord Partners."
Tolu’s eyes widened.
"Partners?"
"Yes."
"Ore, Akin and Temi?"
"No just partners as in lovers." It replied.
"So you’re saying my partner ore can add her wind attributes to the dungeon?" He asked.
"If they accept the bond. And as a dungeon lord you’ll have tohave multiple women. Only then can you gain attributes of other elements. "
" One step at a time. What bond?"
"Their blood."
Tolu stared.
"Blood?"
"A single drop placed upon the Dungeon Heart."
Tolu frowned.
"That’s it?"
"That is the ritual."
"And what happens?"
"The dungeon recognizes them."
"As what?"
"Partners of its Lord."
Tolu thought carefully.
"Do they become servants?"
"No."
"Subordinates?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"Individuals whose attributes may contribute to the dungeon."
Tolu’s expression changed.
"What kind of attributes?"
"Affinity."
He immediately understood.
"Fire."
"Yes."
"Earth."
"Yes."
"Ice."
"Yes."
Tolu looked down at his hands.
"And mine?"
"Your affinity is already deeply integrated into the dungeon’s authority."
He ignored that.
"So if Ore gives the dungeon her blood, her wind affinity can influence it?"
"Correct."
"Ore’s..."
"Her affinity can influence the dungeon. Yes."
Tolu’s mind began racing again.
"So I could eventually have different parts of the dungeon influenced by their affinities."
"That is possible."
"A wind region."
"Yes."
"An ice region."
"Yes."
"Earth..."
"Yes."
Tolu smiled.
"That could be incredible."
"It could also be dangerous."
"How?"
"Their attributes do not simply disappear into the dungeon."
Tolu’s smile faded.
"What happens?"
"The stronger their bond becomes, the more closely their attributes interact with the dungeon."
"So if something happens to them?"
The heart was silent.
Tolu immediately understood that there was something she wasn’t telling him.
"What?"
"The bond has consequences."
"What consequences?"
"You will learn them when necessary."
Tolu sighed.
"Again?"
"Again."
He rubbed his face.
"Fine."
He thought for a moment.
"Do they have to agree?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He didn’t like the idea of forcing anything on them.
"Would it make them stronger?"
"Not directly."
"So what’s the benefit to them?"
"The dungeon may provide them with nourishment."
"Nourishment?"
"Dungeon energy."
Tolu’s eyes widened.
"So they could cultivate faster?"
"Potentially."
"How much?"
"That depends on their compatibility, their cultivation methods and the dungeon’s strength."
Tolu smiled.
"That sounds useful."
"It is."
"Could it hurt them?"
"If the bond is formed correctly, no."
"And if it isn’t?"
"Do not attempt to force the ritual."
Tolu nodded.
"I won’t."
Silence returned.
Tolu looked toward the window.
The city beyond it was quiet.
Tomorrow would be another day of training.
Another day of learning.
Another day of becoming stronger.
But now, for the first time, he had something that felt like a destination.
He wasn’t simply surviving anymore.
He had a path.
Novice.
Adept.
Advanced.
Master.
Grandmaster.
Venerable.
Divine.
And with every step forward, the dungeon would grow alongside him.
Level One.
Level Two.
Level Three.
Level Four.
Level Five.
Level Six.
Level Seven.
He smiled.
"How difficult is it to advance?"
The heart answered immediately.
" The first three somewhat easy. The next three Very. The last step, almost impossible."
"Good."
Tolu’s smile widened.
"I’d have been disappointed if it was easy."
"You should be more concerned with what happens if you fail."
Tolu’s expression became serious.
"What happens?"
"You remain weak."
He frowned.
"That’s it?"
"No."
The heart’s voice became unusually cold.
"Your dungeon remains weak."
Tolu stared into the darkness.
"And a weak dungeon..."
"...is a dungeon waiting to be conquered."
The words lingered in his mind.
Tolu slowly nodded.
Then he smiled again.
"Then I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen."
He closed his eyes.
This time, when he went to sleep, his thoughts weren’t about surviving the next month.
They were about Level Two.
Adept.
Teleportation.
A growing dungeon.
Stronger monsters.
Rare resources.
And eventually, something far greater.
For the first time since becoming a Dungeon Lord, Tolu finally understood what he was supposed to do.
He had spent too long trying to keep his dungeon alive.
Now it was time to make it grow.