> [Alert – Dungeon Signature Detected Nearby]
[Warning: Another Core is expanding into your territory.]
Riku stood in the Command Room, eyes narrowed. The dungeon pulsed with tension.
A red mark blinked on the map—deep in the east tunnel.
"A rival dungeon?" Fio muttered. "Already?"
Goru growled. "They want war."
---
Riku stared at the glowing core in front of him. "How close is it?"
> [Est. Distance: 3.4 kilometers underground]
[Type: Aggressive Expansion – Monster Raids Imminent]
"We're being tested," Riku said. "That core wants to devour us."
---
Elinor stepped forward, her face pale but determined.
"What do we do?"
Riku turned to her. "We prepare."
He raised a hand—and the dungeon shook.
---
> [Core Energy Used – 300]
[New Traps Activated: Acid Pit, Blade Wall, Illusion Mist]
[New Room Created: War Hall – Allows real-time command during attacks.]
---
Blobby turned into a spiky slime.
Yuki howled and doubled in size—white fire flickered from her paws.
Fio sharpened daggers with poison.
Goru trained recruits made from stone and shadow.
---
Later, Riku stood with his human form outside the core.
"If that enemy wants to fight…"
His crimson eyes glowed.
"…Then we'll show them what my dungeon can do."
> [Enemy Raid Detected – 23 Hostile Creatures Approaching]
[Wave 1 Begins]
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The ground trembled as claws scratched stone and growls echoed through the lower tunnels.
Fio appeared beside Riku in the War Hall. "Scouts report fast movers—goblins and burrow wolves. No leaders yet."
Riku nodded. "Just testing us. Don't use our elites. Let the defenses handle this wave."
---
The enemy charged through the eastern tunnel.
Suddenly—
CLANG! A steel wall slammed shut behind them.
SHHHH! Acid rained from above.
SWOOSH! Blades sliced across the narrow hallway.
Screams echoed as the traps activated in perfect timing.
Of the 23 enemies, only 7 made it past.
---
"Release Blobby and the stone soldiers," Riku ordered.
Blobby bounced forward—then split into five mid-sized slimes.
Each one swallowed a goblin whole.
The stone soldiers crushed the wolves like hammers on fruit.
---
> [Wave 1 Complete – No damage to core.]
Riku stood calmly, arms folded.
"That was just the beginning," Goru muttered.
"I know," Riku said. "The real enemy is still watching."
---
Far below, hidden behind crimson crystals, a red core glowed.
A female voice whispered:
"So… you're the new dungeon. Let's see how long you survive."
> [Enemy Raid – Wave 2 Begins]
[Elite Monsters Detected – 1x Ogre, 2x Fire Hounds, 10x Dark Goblins]
Riku stared at the alert.
"Now they're serious," he said. "Deploy Yuki, Fio, and Goru. I'll support with traps."
---
In the main tunnel, the floor shook.
A massive Ogre roared as it charged, flanked by flaming hounds and sneaky Dark Goblins that darted through shadows.
"Come on then," Goru growled, stepping forward.
He blocked the ogre's club with his axe, their blows shaking the hall.
"Don't fall behind!" Fio shouted, vanishing into mist. She reappeared behind a hound and sliced its throat.
Yuki dashed between goblins, tearing them apart with icy fangs.
---
Elinor stood in the sanctuary, hands shaking.
She heard the battle above.
The roars. The clash of blades.
"…I can't just sit here," she whispered.
She placed her hand on the wall—and her body glowed faintly.
> [Light Affinity Unlocked – Skill Gained: Sanctuary Blessing]
[Effect: Boosts all allies' defense and healing for 30 seconds.]
---
A soft golden light filled the dungeon halls.
Fio gasped as her wounds closed.
Yuki howled with fresh strength.
Even Goru's muscles swelled, letting him overpower the ogre with a single blow.
BOOM! The ogre hit the ground—dead.
---
> [Wave 2 Complete – Minimal damage taken.]
[New Support Skill Registered: Elinor – Blessing Mage (Light)]
[Dungeon Morale Increased]
Riku smiled.
"She's one of us now."
The battle was over, but the war wasn't.
Riku stood before the glowing core, reading the latest report.
> [Scout Slime Returned – Enemy Core Identified: Core #77 – Crimson Queen]
[Known Traits: Aggressive, Ruthless, Specializes in Fire and Domination Magic]
Fio's face darkened. "The Crimson Queen… she's one of the oldest cores. A tyrant."
"She's probably targeting us because we're new," Goru muttered.
Riku clenched his fist. "Then it's time we show her… I'm not just another weak dungeon."
---
> [New Feature Unlocked – Mirror Room]
[Use: Allows teleportation between dungeon layers. Can be linked to enemy dungeons once explored.]
Riku smirked.
"If she wants war, we'll bring the fight to her."
---
Elinor stepped beside him. "You're not afraid?"
"I was once," Riku said. "But now I have allies. I have strength. And this dungeon… is my home."
---
Far away, in a crimson crystal throne, the Crimson Queen leaned back with a sly smile.
"So… the little blue core has teeth."
She raised her hand, summoning a flaming knight.
"Let's see how long he lasts."
---
> [End of Chapter 4]
Next: Chapter 5 – Dungeon Invasion: Strike the Crimson Queen