'Yoshi! Let's see what we have here.'
Seated on his throne, Kai focused his gaze on the multiple system runes playing in front of him.
[Name: Shadow Victim.
Level: ???
Class: Grand Summoner.
Exp: 4500.]
'Hmm…'
He had no way of knowing the initial EXP he had before entering the game, or if he even started with zero. So without thinking too much about it, he decided to move to the next screen.
From afar, he could hear the shimmering sounds of magic happening around him, along with stones falling and walls breaking.
That was Lyra doing the so-called renovation she spoke about.
Not that he cared, regardless. As long as he could spend some time alone to access the system mechanics, she could do whatever she pleased.
[Achievements.]
[1. Lord of the Dungeon: Awarded for wiping out a full party of adventurers.]
[2. First Loyalty: Awarded for securing the absolute loyalty of a Grand Summon.]
{Note: Every time you gain a new achievement, you are rewarded with EXP, skills, or items relating to it.}
Kai nodded. That explained the EXP boost. He scrolled down to the skills tab.
[Skills.]
[-Dungeon Eater: This skill grants you the ability to absorb dead players or monsters before they vanish, gaining their EXP, skills, and other valuables, such as items or memories.]
[-Dungeon Blessing: The dungeon blesses you with a glitched function when it pleases or when you are in dire need.]
[-Grand Summoner: You are capable of summoning beings from different dimensions to serve and fight for you.]
'Hmm… just as I thought, I don't have a single skill here meant for direct combat.'
Kai sighed.
'I have scanned the entire menu, but there is really no way for me to get combat skills. Hell, there is no shop either. That said, I did see something that caught my eye…'
He scooted forward on the throne to get a closer look at the screen.
[Live Chat - Cost: 2000 EXP to be granted access.]
{Note: This feature allows you to access chats from the game's official forums, including news and player reports.}
Kai's eyes widened a bit at the information.
This was good. If he could access the forum chat like the system said, then there was a way he could understand his situation better. He needed to know if others were complaining about similar situations or if he was truly the only glitch in the system.
2000 EXP was nothing if it meant he could access a feature this helpful.
'Don't mind if I do.'
He stretched forth his shadowy finger, about to click on the "Yes" option to finally get the feature for himself.
But just when his finger touched the surface of the rune—
[Insufficient EXP.]
'Eh?'
Kai blinked. He looked at his balance. It was dropping. Rapidly.
[Notice: Lyra has created a new passageway in the dungeon.]
[500 EXP was deducted.]
[Notice: Two floors were added to your dungeon.]
[1500 EXP was deducted.]
[Notice: Seven new rooms and chambers have been added to your dungeon.]
[3000 EXP was deducted.]
Kai stared at the screen for a long period of time.
Not a single word left his mouth. His finger was still hovering in the air where the "Purchase" button used to be.
Slowly, he raised his head to look for Lyra.
He noticed everything around him had changed.
The entire layout now looked like a castle. The ceiling was higher, the ground was paved with obsidian, and the corridors were wider.
Most of all, at the right corner of his eyes, he could see a small mini-map of his dungeon.
It looked big.
Too big.
And even more concerning was the curiosity as to how Lyra was confident she would be able to build a dungeon with his EXP. Not to mention how it was obvious she was trying to make it look like a king's castle rather than a spooky cave.
As though she could tell Kai was thinking about her in that moment, Lyra suddenly walked into the chamber, the giant double doors springing open with a heavy thud.
The sound of her heels slamming against the ground echoed as she walked. When she was finally in front of him, the first thing she did was fall to her knees, her head bowed.
"I have completed the renovation, my Lord. I do hope it is to your liking."
Kai twitched a brow.
'She finished all my EXP points for this stupid dungeon.'
[Congratulations, your dungeon has been upgraded to a C-Rank.]
[A new feature has been applied to your dungeon.]
[Pull for Minions - Cost: 1 EXP.]
'Now I don't know if I should be mad or not. This seems like a major improvement, even if I am broke.'
Kai turned his gaze away from the system and looked at Lyra.
"You did well. Here, I have yet another job for you to handle."
Lyra raised her head, her eyes intense. "What would that be, my Lord?"
Upon hearing her response, he clicked on the new button and summoned the minions the system had issued to him.
Immediately, the ground cracked open. About fifteen Skeleton Warriors grew from the stone floor like twisted plants.
[Skeleton Warriors.
Class: Minions.
Level: 1.]
They stood in a straight line, rattling as they moved, holding different rusty weapons of their choice.
[A new achievement has been unlocked.]
[First Army: Getting your first minions.]
[100 EXP has been received.]
'Skeletons? Not quite what I was expecting. Hmm, I guess I can still leave them in her care, no harm there.'
He pointed at the bony lineup.
"I want you to handle them. They are now part of this dungeon as well. Train them."
Lyra's eyes sparked with adoration.
To think her master, whom she had only just met, would be willing to test her capabilities by seeing how she would handle his weakest forces. He was trusting her with his army.
She didn't plan on failing. No, if anything, she was planning to take on the challenge with open hands.
"If that is what you wish, my Lord, then I shall do so with pride."
Kai smiled internally.
If Lyra and the minions were handling it all, he wouldn't need to stress about anything.
Not to mention, if it gets too tough for them, he can always summon more minions, since the system was showing him other spaces in the dungeon where he could do that.
'This might not be as bad as I expected. I might as well enjoy this new life to the fullest.'
...
A couple of days later…
BAAM!
A Skeleton Warrior knelt before Kai, dropping a severed human hand right close to his feet.
The hand was still twitching slightly, pixels fading off it.
Lyra was standing at the side of the throne, a big, proud smile on her face as she watched the minion present the offering.
Kai, as always, still had his calm, shadowy exterior.
However, on the inside—
'Ah, another day of being inside this damn dungeon. Kill me.'
...
[A/N]
If you have gotten this far, then please support by adding to your library and giving me power stones. Thank you for reading.