บท 23: Recoil
Two heads are always better than one.
As for the defensive mode, the cost is the highest, dropping me 50%. My Mana regeneration is crazy, and worse yet, I don't know how long I'd be in it, nor do I know what it offers."
The dungeon immediately tried to convey what the defensive mode offers, but he didn't plan on going defense though, so he waved it off.
"As for the last, the Mana vein, the one with more advantages and even more risks.... What would It take me to wave out these risks or at least some of them?" He asked himself.
[Dungeon Status]
Rank: C+
Core Integrity: 100% (Stable)
Mana Reserves: 280/1000 MP
Mana Regeneration: 100 MP per hour
Creatures: Greater Shade, Elite Shade Stalker, Tier 3 Slime
Traps: Spiked Pit (Reinforced), Poison Gas Chamber (Active), Stone Grinder
Mana Vein: Stabilized
Boundaries: Reinforced
Seth's eyes flicked over the status screen, absorbing the updated information.
His mana reserves were still recovering, but the expansion had opened up a wealth of possibilities.
He couldn't afford to wait and see what the other dungeon master might do.
He needed to fortify now.
"Tap into the Mana vein," Seth commanded mentally.
[Command Accepted: Attempting to establish Connection with mana vein]
A low hum vibrated through the core chamber as energy surged outward, Little tendrils of mana were directed outward onto the southern room.
Trying to merge itself, as though it were veins being attached to a blood vessel.
[-200 MP]
[Mana Reserves: 80/1000 MP]
A wave of exhaustion hit him, not physically, but a reminder that he was dangerously low on mana.
[Mana vein connection established]
[Prepare for recoil]
"Recoil?"
Without even finishing his statement, a sense of goosebumps washed over him, and in a moment, a sense of fullness and dizziness hit him.
Without even thinking twice he ran to the side and threw up, nonexistent bile from his stomach in large quantities impossible to him.
After about a minute of throwing up, headache and migraines piled in.
He looked pale, and for the first time in a while, he had the thought of when last he had ever eaten.
As his body settled down he fell into slumber.
...
Some time later.
Seth opened his eyes, and he felt energetic, as though he could punch through steel.
He was so energetic he felt he had used up all his sleep bundle for the week at least because when last did he have such a nap?
Slowly, events of what happened before he passed out settled in, and Along with that were a few system notifications.
'I have probably missed a lot,' he guessed before opening up his panels.
[Recoil Damage: Debuff -20% Mana Efficiency]
[Connected to Mana's vein at 1% use]
[Mana Regeneration is now 200/hr]
[Recoil Damage contained
[Mana Reserve: 1000/1000]
Shocked? No
Happy? Yes
This was Seth's reaction to this news; who wouldn't be?
The sensation he felt when he connected to the mana vein was as though he now had an extra limb attached to him, except this limb was metaphysical and only connected to the dungeon.
This means the dungeon is more connected to him than he thought, and his puking was...
"I'll leave that for later thoughts"
The thought of eating stepped in, and though he felt full, he had not eaten for long.
'So that explains why' he thought
He is so connected to the dungeon that it wouldn't be far off to say he is the dungeon.
In that case...
Let's focus on the main task ahead first.
"Expand the boundaries," Seth commanded mentally.
[Command Accepted: Enhancing Dungeon Boundaries]
A low hum vibrated through the core chamber as energy surged outward again, reinforcing the dungeon's outer perimeter.
Seth could feel the dungeon's influence expanding, pushing further into the surrounding terrain.
The sensation was exhilarating, like stretching muscles that hadn't been used in ages.
[-200 MP]
[Mana Reserve: 800/1000]
A thought came to him then; he was sure he slept for more than 5 hours, so why didn't his mana reserve go beyond a thousand?
[C rank mana reserve is capped at 1000]
[Once full, passive Mana regeneration goes into a dormant state and Mana stagnates around ]
Simple but understandable to Seth.
The dungeon's boundaries were stronger now, better equipped to fend off attacks.
"I'll need more power soon," he muttered to himself, knowing he couldn't remain vulnerable for long even though unknown to him, he wasn't exactly vulnerable.
The rival dungeon's presence still loomed a silent challenge that could strike at any moment.
His mind quickly shifted to the other options.
The Tier 4 creature was a tempting choice.
Summoning it could be a gamble, but he needed to balance strength and resources.
Seth weighed the risks and made his decision.
"Summon Tier 4 Creature."
[Command Accepted: Summoning Tier 4 Creature]
[-150 MP]
[Mana Reserves: 650/1000 MP]
The dungeon trembled as the summoning process began.
Mana funneled from the core into a forming vortex near the creature's chambers.
Shadows twisted, coalescing into a large, intimidating shape that seemed to breathe darkness itself.
Slowly, the figure took form, solidifying into something far more powerful than his Elite Shade.
The creature stood nearly twice the size of the Elite Shade, its skin made of shadowy tendrils that flickered like flames.
Its eyes glowed with an ominous red, a predator waiting to strike.
"Dark flame Wraith," Seth murmured, recognizing the creature from the dungeon archives.
A formidable Tier 4 entity known for its speed and devastating fire-based abilities.
The wraith bowed its head slightly, acknowledging Seth as its master before silently retreating into the shadows of the dungeon.
"Well, that's one thing covered," Seth exhaled, feeling a slight sense of relief.
The Dark Flame Wraith was now a powerful addition to his growing army, and its abilities would be invaluable against any threats from rival dungeons.
Just as he finished his adjustments, the dungeon's awareness pulsed again, this time sharper, more immediate.
Something had crossed the outer boundary.
Seth's instincts flared.
ของขวัญ
-- ได้รับของขวัญแล้ว สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง