Day 4
At the training grounds in the dungeon, Dungeon Master Isao, Joanne the Hero, and the 13 Dungeon Apostles gathered there early in the morning.
"We already had a stable source for manpower; however, we ourselves are no better than fresh recruits," Isao stated with such authority, his voice echoing through the training grounds.
Joanne was impressed by Isao's commanding presence and thought to herself, 'Isao only shows his leadership skills when he is working.' Though usually he was reserved and timid—and weird—but when it came to important matters, he transformed his meek and somewhat feminine voice into a powerful and authoritative one.
"I want to see what everyone is capable of first, so we'll be holding a mock battle against monsters spawned in our dungeon," Isao continued, his tone exuding confidence. "And as dungeon master, I'll lead by example and be the first to hold a battle with these monsters. I expect each of you to give it your all so I can train you as best as possible." With a determined expression on his face, Isao inspired his team to push their limits and embrace their potential.
'Hopefully, unlike monsters spawned by the dungeon, the monsters I created as the dungeon master have better growth potential,' Isao was deep in thought while looking at his Dungeon Apostles, the monsters he created himself with meticulous planning and careful consideration.
According to the guide, even if they are monsters in his dungeon, their origin would make a difference. Before that, one must know how a monster becomes a dungeon monster to know the difference.
There are six ways for a Dungeon Master to obtain monsters for his or her dungeon, according to the guide.
- DP Store or DP Catalog. The Dungeon Master can add pre-designed monsters to their dungeon, which can be purchased from the Dungeon Points (DP) Store or browsed through the DP catalog, enhancing the dungeon's overall strength.
The most dependable way to obtain wise and obedient monsters is by using Dungeon Points to purchase them from the DP store or catalog. These creatures are useful both within and outside the dungeon since they possess intelligence, knowledge, and adequate combat skills.
- Creation. Either by alchemy or Dungeon Synthesis, the Dungeon Master can create their own monsters to populate their dungeon.
Dungeon monsters created through alchemy or Dungeon Synthesis were obedient but lacking intelligence and combat skills compared to monsters from the DP store. But on the bright side, dungeon masters could customize these monsters to suit their specific needs and strategies within the dungeon.
- Monster houses, or simply spawners, are where most of the monsters in the dungeon, whatever their alignment might be, come from. These spawners act as breeding grounds for the monsters, constantly producing new ones to replenish the dungeon's population.
Building "Monster Houses" or "spawners," which produce monsters below average stats on a regular basis, is one way to get dungeon monsters. These facilities deliver a consistent flow of manpower for defense.
- Summoning. By offering mana, any mage could summon a monster with the appropriate amount of mana.
Monsters from other realms could be summoned by dungeon masters via summoning magic, and their power varied according to the master's mana supply and skill. Summoned creatures could only be used inside the confines of the dungeon or near the dungeon master and were only effective for those with a lot of mana or a mana vein.
- Contract. This method is used to employ monsters from outside the dungeon. Either by taking an oath with contract magic or by signing a contractual paper, for a monster to be employed in the dungeon, they must agree to the terms and conditions set forth in the contract.
- Taming. It was the most unreliable way to acquire monsters for a dungeon. Taming involved attempting to subdue and gain the loyalty of wild monsters, which often proved to be a challenging and unpredictable task. This method required a great deal of patience, skill, and luck, making it less favored among dungeon masters.
Dungeon masters could use contract magic or taming to recruit wild monsters as minions, but these methods were deemed unreliable for enhancing the dungeon's defense, as intelligent monsters could exploit contract loopholes and only weak monsters could be tamed and lack sufficient strength.
'Oh well, not the time to be lost in thoughts.' Shaking his head, Isao refocused his attention on the task at hand. "Open the gates!" With a hand signal, Isao commanded the gates to slowly creak open, revealing the monsters produced from Monster Houses in his dungeon.
These aren't monsters from spawners with the DNA of his synthesized monsters, but rather Monster Houses set to produce common monsters found in the wild. For the mock battles, Isao wanted to test his and Joanne's performances and those of his Dungeon Apostles against them. The dungeon master knew that facing these common monsters would provide a more realistic challenge and allow him to assess their skills in a practical setting.
"Time to test my skills and see how I fare against these wild monsters," Isao thought to himself as he awaited the monsters to emerge from the gates.
After activating his Dragonification skill, he transformed into a humanoid dragon covered in scales with wings and a tail on his back. Isao also manipulated his blood with his Blood Manipulation skill to add a layer of hardened blood for more protection.
"Graah!" Just as Isao finished setting up his defenses, a lupine howl echoed through the training grounds. Using their agile and swift movements, a pack of wolves were the first to charge towards Isao, leaving the other monsters behind.
Dungeon Master Isao from a few days ago might have been overwhelmed by the speed and ferocity of the wolves. But after fighting the horde of monsters on Day 1, the training he subjected himself to at dawn and dusk, and the new skills he bought at the DP store, Isao was more prepared than ever.
Before the wolves could reach him, they got entangled in the Drake Iron Wire that Isao had strategically set up earlier. These wires were as thin as thread yet strong enough to hold anything weighing several times their own weight. This is due to the magic metal Drake Iron, crafted from Lesser Drake DNA and iron ingots.
Pulling on the wires, Isao cut the wolves to shreds, their bodies falling to the ground lifeless. The Drake Iron Wire had sliced through their flesh effortlessly, showcasing its incredible sharpness and durability.
However, how did Isao set up these wires in an open area such as the training grounds? There weren't any trees or structures to attach the wires to. The answer: Isao had devised a clever solution, suspending the wires with his Blood Manipulation skill. Using his control over blood, Isao formed intricate tendrils of his own blood, suspending the Drake Iron Wire in mid-air.
His new skills—Parallel Processing, High Speed Processing, and Astral Projection—that he bought in his free time allowed him to multitask and manipulate his blood from a bird's-eye view. With his skills, Isao was able to maintain precise control over the intricate tendrils of blood that suspended the Drake Iron Wire.
'That's enough for now, I guess.' Isao thought to himself as he used his Blood Manipulation skill to recover his Drake Iron Wire. The viscera of the dead wolves lay scattered around him, evidence of his encounter. Isao took a moment to catch his breath and assess the situation.
He looked in the direction of the gate and saw that the other monsters left behind by the wolves were finally upon him in a mad rush. Their eyes glowed with hunger, and their fangs dripped with saliva, eager to sink into Isao's flesh.
With a wave of his hand, his Drake Iron Wire flew through the air, cutting down the approaching monsters one by one. Isao didn't even break a sweat as he skillfully dispatched each creature. Every monster that came out of the gate was swiftly dealt with, their bodies falling to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Another wave of monsters emerged from the gate, and this time Isao changed his approach. Starting now, he would use his Blood Manipulation and Blood Magic, using the skills in tandem to fight them from close range to midrange.
The Blood Magic that Isao bought yesterday didn't just allow him to use all of the elements by manipulating his own blood; its main use was actually to strengthen his and his allies' physical abilities. Augmenting his speed and strength, Isao swiftly dodged the monsters' attacks and delivered clawing strikes from his draconian arms.
'I'm surrounded.' From his Astral Projection, Isao noticed that he was at present cleverly surrounded by a group of monsters. Their numbers were overwhelming, and even if they were just common monsters, their combined strength could pose a serious threat.
And so, Isao took to the skies with his wings spread wide, soaring above the monsters' reach. From his elevated position, Isao flapped his wings strongly, and each beat sent hardened blood in the shape of needles raining down on the monsters below.
These needles also contained poison from his Poison Generation skill, so that even if the monsters were only nicked by the projectiles,the poison in it would kick in and serve its purpose.
Poisoned blood needles weren't the only thing Isao unleashed upon the monsters. As he continued to fly above them, Isao also used elemental magic to cast beginner spells. Those who had Blood Magic like Isao could only use the Create Level of elemental magic. Which meant he could merely summon a spark of fire, a gust of wind, a modest splash of water, or a small patch of earth.
Despite their lack of power, Isao strategically used these spells to distract and disorient the monsters, making it easier for him to land precise strikes with his poisoned blood needles. The combination of poison and elemental magic created a deadly and unpredictable assault that kept the monsters on their toes.
"Hmm, it seems I finally tried all of my skills. Time to end this, then." Isao confidently muttered to himself as he surveyed the battlefield, his eyes gleaming with determination. Manipulating the Drake Iron Wire with his Blood Manipulation skill, he formed a dome of interwoven wires around the monsters, trapping them within its confines.
"Die." Pulling the wires with Herculean Strength activated and Blood Magic strengthening him, Isao tightened the dome, cutting up and shredding the monsters with the razor-sharp wires. The creatures let out agonizing screams as they were torn apart, their bodies falling lifelessly to the ground.
""Woah..."" Joanne and Dungeon Master Isao's 13 Dungeon Apostles watched in awe as the massacre unfolded before their eyes. Three days had only passed since the Philippines had been sent to another world, but what Isao had shown them was beyond anything a Level 1 or Rank I Player could accomplish.
But, even if the Hero and his Dungeon Apostles were amazed by his performance, Isao was far from satisfied.
For the first time in a while, Isao looked at his own stats.
ＳＴＡＴＵＳ
Name: Isao
Designation: Village Facility Administrator (Life Mode Player Character)
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Dragonoid
Class: Dungeon Master
Title: First Filipino Dungeon Master
Gift: □□□□□□□’s Blessing
Rank: I
Unique Skills: Dragonification
Skills: Limit Break, Devour, Presence Concealment, Echolocation,
Thermal Vision, Poison Creation, Poison Resistance, Herculean Strength,
Swift Foot, Danger Detection, Enhanced Senses, Mana Manipulation,
Mana Absorption, Auto-Regeneration, Blood Manipulation, Blood Magic,
Parallel Processing(NEW!), High Speed Processing(NEW!), Astral Projection(NEW!),
Thread Manipulation(NEW!)
ＤＵＮＧＥＯＮ
Abilities: Synthesis, Emotion Conversion
Equipment: Drake Iron Wire
'Can't say I got stronger,' Isao muttered to himself as he reviewed his list of skills and abilities. 'I have no way to see my stats or gauge my progress. It's frustrating not knowing if I'm actually improving or not.'
The mock battle against the monsters in his dungeon had left Isao feeling uncertain about his growth. Indeed, he wiped out the monsters with ease since they were just a bunch of low-level creatures.
And not to toot his own horn, his clever way of using Blood Manipulation to control his Drake Iron Wire demonstrated his strategic thinking and adaptability. Moreover, the reason he picked up Blood Magic and Thread Manipulation was because he knew close combat was not his strongest suit.
But he noticed many of his abilities had remained unused or underutilized. For example, his Enhanced Senses skill had gone largely untouched during the battle. Isao couldn't help but wonder if he was truly making progress in his overall development as a dungeon master and as a warrior.
'Argh! Not the time for this!' Isao thought to himself, shaking off his doubts and refocusing on the present situation. "Joanne! Your turn!" Isao called out to Joanne, hoping to distract himself from his concerns.
Joanne replaced him in the center of the training grounds and drew Night the Intelligent Weapon that Isao had crafted for her. The flintlock pistol gleamed in the sunlight as Joanne took aim at the monsters—goblins—prepared for her.
Bang-bang-bang! The sound of gunfire echoed through the training grounds as Joanne fired off round after round, each shot hitting its mark with deadly precision. The goblins fell one by one, their bodies crumpling to the ground. She flitted across the battlefield, dodging their feeble attempts to retaliate.
Even if the goblins managed to get close to her, her Heroic Constitution skill that she gained after she was blessed in a chapel—a lower-grade facility of a church—allowed her to fight like a warrior possessed by supernatural strength and endurance.
Much faster than Isao had done his, she dispatched the remaining goblins with ease. Her movements were fluid and graceful, regardless of her lack of training, as a testament to a Hero's natural talent and innate abilities.
"This is absurd," Isao muttered to himself, astonished by her incredible display of skill. As he reflected on this, he remembered Joanne's stats that he showed him after they came out of the Chapel that he built just for her.
ＳＴＡＴＵＳ
Name: Joanne De Rizal
Designation: Life Mode Player
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Human
Class: Hero
Title: Moonlight Hero
Gift: Goddess of War and Beauty, Mayari’s Blessing
Rank: I
Unique Skills: Moon Magic, Heroic Constitution
Skills: Limit Break
Equipment: Intelligent Weapon (Gun)
ＳＴＡＴＵＳ
Name: Night
Race: Intelligent Weapon (Gun)
Rank: I
Unique Skills: Mana Conductivity
Skills: Bullet Creation
'She had only three skills and was in Life Mode like me, but...' Dungeon Master Isao thought with a bit of envy. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as he compared his own diverse but less impressive skill set to Joanne's natural talent. It was clear to Isao that her abilities were far superior, even with her limited skills.
Her gift, Goddess of War and Beauty, Mayari’s Blessing also caught his eye. Unlike his gift which is concealed and unknown to even him, Mayari's Blessing was a visible and tangible power that radiated from Joanne. The combat prowess she displayed and the enhanced aura of beauty that surrounded her surely came from the divine gift bestowed upon her by Mayari.
Meanwhile, he didn't even know what effects his own gift had, let alone how to control or utilize it. Isao couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy towards Joanne and her clear understanding of her abilities. It was a constant reminder of his own limitations and the potential he had yet to unlock.
And then there's her Intelligent Weapon in the shape of a flintlock that she named Night. He was the one who created it, but he was surprised when he saw how effortlessly Joanne wielded it, as if they were one entity.
Isao had Drake Iron Wire that he had crafted himself as well, and he believed it was cool to have a weapon that only a few could master. However, as a man, using a gun feels more empowering and appealing to him.
'I'm a Dungeon Master, though. No sense in comparing the two.' Isao reminded himself, focusing on the fact that his role as a Dungeon Master wasn't for the battlefield. And as the Dungeon Master, he had the duty to train himself, the Hero Joanne, and his Dungeon Apostles.
'I wonder how my Dungeon Apostles would fight against the mass-produced monster from our dungeon. ' Isao pondered, contemplating the potential outcome of a battle between his Dungeon Apostles and the monsters from the Monster Houses as he signaled to replace Joanne at the center of the training ground.
