Chapter 27 - Dungeon, Evolution and Success (1/2)

In Artpe’s past life, the hero’s party was the first to explore the Slime Dungeon first.Afterwards, the Dungeon became popular amongst the adventurers.

First, the Dungeon produced only Slimes.This was why the danger to the adventurers was very low, and there weren’t that many traps present.Moreover, when one killed a certain amount of Slimes, random treasure chests appeared when the Mana within the Dungeon was activated.This was why one could expect a decent amount of profit in this Dungeon.

“Basically, this is the best place for a beginner adventurer to grow.Moreover, it is also a great place to learn about Dungeons.”

“So why are there so many Slimes-ahhhhhhhhk!”

“Tsk.He looked like he was going to die, yet he isn’t dying.”

“Who was it right now!Who clicked their tongue at me-ahhhhhhk!”

Silpennon was fighting hard.Normally, a talent bloomed the brightest in brutal situations rather than a relaxed surrounding.A single misstep would allow the group of Slimes to swallow him, and he would be digested by them.This was why he was squeezing out his abilities, and he was able to push himself past his limit.

When the two daggers danced in the air, the severed portion of the Slimes were sent flying.Silpennon’s battle capability was increasing in real-time.As expected, a genius was a genius.

“It seems one doesn’t need a coach in battle.”

“Is that so?Why is he moving like that?I have questions….”

“You can’t use yourself as the standard, Maetel.If so, everyone will be disqualified in the preliminaries.”

“Too many!There are too many of them!Damn Slimes!”

The Slime Dungeon was different in many ways to the first Dungeon entered by Artpe and Maetel.The previous Dungeon had a limit as to how many monsters could form.This Dungeon created new monsters every time it had any spare Mana.

It didn’t matter how many monsters were still left within.It spawned them as if it wanted to make the monsters explode out from the Dungeon!

The monsters spawned within the Dungeon was influenced by the Record and the Mana.These components were unique to each Dungeon.This was why an adventurer was unable to claim to be an expert after exploring one or two Dungeons.

“That is why the rooms are infested with Slimes.Well, the Slimes are activating all the traps, so at the very least, we don’t have to worry about him dying from the traps.”

“This is all thanks to the Slimes!”

“Ooh-ohhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Silpennon frantically swung the daggers in each hand as he cut into the Slimes.His Dual Wielding had evolved into level 2.His growth couldn’t compare to what Maetel went through when she fought monsters for her first time in a Dungeon.Still, he wasn’t too bad.

However, the Slimes overcame the death of their comrades as they kept coming.Their main objective was to eat Silpennon.The Slimes charged forward without looking back.Inevitably, the stronger ones started to show up.

“Stop!Don’t come here!”

“Oh oh oh.”

The sight reminded Artpe of the time when the combined forces of all the countries on the continent were sent towards the Demon King’s army.If a hundred of such group continued to come at him, Silpennon would succumb to them eventually!

“Eeeek.Help me before I fall!”

“I’ll bury you in a sunny place, your highness.”

“How can you call yourself a guardian knight!You're fired!Ooh-gahhhhhhhh!”

Silpennon’s struggle continued.He had been a level 7, but at some point, he had reached level 18.As he moved deeper into the Dungeon, the level of the Slimes continued to creep upwards. However, Silpennon was slowly getting a feel for fighting against a large group, so a good fight ensued.

Maetel tilted her head in confusion as she watched the life and death battle between human and Slimes.

“Artpe, didn’t the Skeletons retreat when they were at a disadvantage?Why do these monsters continue to charge forward?”

“Silpennon looks beatable compared to us.These guys are constantly hungry.They’ll keep attacking unless their opponent is stronger than them by a fair amount”

“Why don’t they eat each other?”

The question was very well-timed.

“Slimes don’t eat those that are from the same race as them.However, it isn't prudent to view monsters through common sense.An exception always exists.”

Artpe gave his explanation as he pointed towards Silpennon.

Silpennon had just killed a group of Slime, and he was wiping slime off of his body.

“Even if they are monsters from the same race, their behavior pattern changes depending on the Dungeon, environmental factors and other variables.Amongst the monsters, the change that the Slime undergoes is very well-defined and simple.Moreover, most Dungeons evolve to match the behavior patterns of the monsters.”

“So the Dungeons and monsters live and breathe together?”

“That’s right.Maetel is smart.”

“Hoo-hoot.”

It was a rare praise, so there was a bright smile on Maetel’s face.However, the only ones to laugh in an easygoing manner were the heroes.

“Your explanation makes me feel uneasy….It is as if you are trying to say our mere presence will cause changes in the behavior pattern of the Slimes.”

Leseti made a pretty sharp observation. When he heard her words, a chill went up Silpennon’s spine.He quickly turned towards Artpe to shout at him.

“I want to leave this crazy place!”

“It is too late.It has already started.”

After Artpe finished speaking, an ominous sound of Slimes moving across the floor was heard.The sound was amplified by several degrees.

“The Slimes….They are retreating?”

“It isn’t just the monsters.The Dungeon is really changing…..!”

There was a room at the end of the hallway that had been sealed.The room collapsed.It continued onto the next one and so forth.When a change occured within a Dungeon, the most common phenomenon to occur was the collapse of the strict boundaries that kept the rooms separate.

It also meant that the Dungeon was becoming more dangerous, and the monsters would become stronger.In turn, the reward would also be greater.When an adventurer feels the change in the Dungeon, one would have to make a quick decision and act on it.

Silpennon had two choices.He could go forward or retreat.

“As I’ve said before, I’m getting out of here!”

“I have to express my regret to you.There are two type of changes that may occur within a Dungeon.There are the Dungeons that allow the adventures to retreat when they desire it.Then there are the ones that allow you to come in easily, but it won’t let you go easily.”

Artpe pointed back at the sealed entrance of the Dungeon, and he smirked.

“This Dungeon is the latter type.”

Silpennon’s face crumpled.

“My god…..Doesn’t this basically impose a death sentence on the adventurers!”

“Are you under some kind of delusion?Dungeons aren’t here to help develop adventurers.The Dungeons aren’t here to give them treasures.The Dungeons merely exists.The danger and opportunity is distributed equitably to all.”

Of course, Artpe’s Read All Creation ability allowed him to see what changes were occurring within the Dungeon.At its heart, this was a Slime Dungeon.Even if it evolved in innovative ways, the only one in danger would be Silpennon.

“The prerequisites that causes the change in the behavior pattern of the Slimes is very simple. First, the intruders has to be strong enough that the Slime can’t win in a direct confrontation.Secondly, the intruder has to show no signs of retreating.The intruder has to rush forward continuously.Third, there has to be an overwhelming number of Slimes present.When all of these conditions are met, they start eating each other to become stronger.”

“That’s what’s happening right now!”

Silpennon screamed those words out.The Slimes were wriggling around, and they were combining to become larger.Moreover, the walls of the Dungeon continued to collapse.The Slimes that were on alert within these rooms came forward.They kept rushing towards the Slime that was eating its own brethrens!

“Oh oh.It is rare to see one that can eat so much.If we are lucky, this might ratchet up a level.”

In many ways, the current situation was good for them.First, the Slime Dungeon hadn’t been found yet, so a lot of Slimes had amassed within.Their party including Silpennon was overpowered in terms of martial strength(Silpennon would disagree with this point).Then there was the massive amount of Mana in reserve that would allow the Dungeon to make changes alongside the monsters.

This was how Artpe changed history once again.The Slime Dungeon would never be a beginner’s Dungeon from this point forward.This was the start of a hellhole that was now under the rule of the evolved Slime!

“Up a level?What do you mean by up a level?Are you perhaps talking about a high rank Class!Tell me it ain’t so!”

“It can't be, your highness.As you’ve seen, the Slimes are the lowest ranked monsters that range from level 5 to level 10.The probability of these monsters combining to form a monster over level 50 is…...”

“Ah.The Dungeon is collapsing.”

“Ooh-ohhhhhhhhhhhh!?”