Orkesh, Mina, and Manicia stepped through the grand, newly forged metal gate, their eyes wide. They had thought the exterior transformation was astonishing, but nothing prepared them for what lay within. Their jaws dropped, a collective gasp escaping them.
The entire main floor had changed. Gone was the familiar, somewhat cluttered canteen and the temporary guest room near the dungeon entrance. Instead, the space opened into a vast, expansive hall, forming a huge square layout. The very air felt different here – cleaner, subtly warmer, infused with a faint, pleasant scent of polished stone and something indefinable, something magical.
In the exact middle and center of this grand hall stood a colossal stone pillar, intricately carved with swirling patterns that seemed to pulse with a faint, internal light. Around its base, artistic stone benches curved gracefully, inviting rest, surrounded by lush, vibrant plants that seemed to thrive in the dungeon's ambient glow.
As they slowly walked further inside, their footsteps echoing softly on the polished stone tiles, they realized the canteen was now an open, bustling space, located on the center right. The savory aroma of cooked meals, richer and more complex than anything they'd smelled before, wafted towards them, making their stomachs rumble. This open canteen subtly divided two distinct types of guest rooms: three rooms with shared bunk beds, their wooden frames gleaming, and six beautifully carved, closed wooden doors that hinted at private, luxurious rooms beyond.
On the left side of the grand hall, three distinct stores beckoned. One was an open-space stall displaying an array of iron weapons: swords, blades, knives, daggers, shields, and polished armor. Another stall, equally impressive, showcased steel weapons, including more swords, blades, and daggers. But the true icon, displayed prominently, was a slightly curved sword made of that weird, flowing patterned steel, its small guard and unique grip design attached to the far side of the wall. A sign, elegantly carved, declared: "Accepting Custom Orders."
The second store sold the wooden carved figurines, toys, puzzes and the popular chess set, now arranged on tiered shelves, alongside life-sized wooden statues that seemed to breathe with a silent artistry.
Another store, filled with artistic wooden furniture, each piece a testament to meticulous craftsmanship, stood nearby. Each stall was staffed by silent, efficient skeletons, their empty eye sockets fixed on the displays. All other spaces along the edges of the hall were empty, marked with small, discreet signs that Orkesh remembered reading on the stele: "For Rent," a clear invitation for future trading partners.
At the far end of the hall, a large double door, intricately carved with more of the swirling patterns, stood guarded by two more armored skeletons. These guards were even larger than Rook, their forms imposing.
The double doors swung open, seemingly of their own accord, and a small figure rushed out. "Mama! Mama! Mama!" Kiki, the small kobold child, darted across the polished floor, her tiny legs pumping, her furred face alight with joy.
Mina knelt, tears welling in her eyes, and scooped Kiki into a tight embrace. "Kiki! My little one!"
Kiki, clutching a newly carved wooden bird, wiggled excitedly. "Isn't this place beautiful, Mama? Me, Mimi, Lakrak, and Cucu saw the room spinning! I had so much fun with the room spinning! Lila also had fun too!" she chattered, oblivious to the dizzying transition they had experienced when Karl had moved the rooms without knowing they were still inside.
Just then, Rook appeared beside them, his cloaked form materializing silently. "The Lord has requested your presence," he intoned, his deep, synthesized voice cutting through the reunion.
They followed him, a mix of awe and trepidation, towards the large double doors. The armored guards bowed their heads as Rook led them through. They descended a set of newly carved stone stairs, their surfaces smooth and cool beneath their feet, the metal railings gleaming under the ambient light. What they saw was another vast, sprawling hall below, a hive of ceaseless activity.
This was the new industrial zone, now a lot busier than when they had left. Misha, Monique, Aisha, Nona, and Lisa, the kobold hunters, slumped tiredly against a wall, holding their bows, their fur matted with sweat and grime. They had been keeping up with the skeleton hunters, after an almost endless night of hunting. They barely acknowledged their fellow kobolds passing by, too exhausted to speak.
In the center of the hall, a massive pile of dead animals lay, and skeletons, their bony frames splattered with blood, worked with brutal efficiency, butchering the game. Nearby, more skeletons hauled piles of glowing magic stones towards a new, dedicated room. They paused, peering inside. It stunned them.
This new room, the Elemental Infusion Crucible, hummed with a low, arcane energy. It showed how important it was to the future of Necro Corp industries. Raw magic stones were piled in a corner, but at the center, a large, ornate pedestal held three magic stones resting in glowing slots. Five skeletons, their forms rigid, chanted something in a low, guttural, synthesized hum, their bony fingers tracing patterns in the air above the stones. As they chanted, each raw magic stone slowly transformed, its dull red turning into a vibrant, distinct color: one glowed a fiery orange, another a cool, deep blue, and the third a rich, windy green. After a moment, the skeletons carefully removed the infused stones and took another three raw magic stones from the pile, repeating the mesmerizing process.
Orkesh, Mina, and Manicia watched, utterly transfixed. "They're… they're making elemental magic stones," Mina whispered carrying Kiki, her voice filled with disbelief.
"It's only been six days!" Manicia breathed, her eyes wide. "The place has changed so much!"
They moved on, following Rook, who was already far ahead. The next room was different; it had a heavy stone door, sealed tight. As they went near it, they felt a sudden, profound chill emanating from within. Butchered meat, perfectly preserved, was stored inside. It was the Coldcell Ice House.
Next to it, a line of barrels stored water. A large, clear pit of water, impossibly pristine, shimmered within the Pureflow Filter Hub. Orkesh almost wanted to jump into it, it looked so inviting. They watched as barrels of dirty water were poured into one end of the pit, and slowly, the impurities vanished, leaving only a clean, sparkling pool. A skeleton, its movements precise, opened a wooden plate, and the purified water gushed on the stone canals towards a line of empty barrels, which it then lifted and placed into a storage area where sixteen filled barrels already stood.
"Clean water… and cold storage," Orkesh murmured, a dawning realization in his eyes. "The Lich… he really thinks of everything."
They went on to follow Rook, who was already far ahead. On the other side of the hall were the Metallurgy and Artisan Centers, both bustling with their own specialized work, the clang of hammers and the tap of chisels a constant, industrious symphony.
Next to them was a large storage room, from which builders constantly popped out, moving materials with incredible speed. Another new room, its door slightly ajar, revealed the wools they had bought from Stonehorn Crossing being hauled inside. Orkesh peered in, seeing a large, intricate machine already weaving the wools into fine cloth, its spindles whirring with magical efficiency. They also saw two more rooms already under construction, their outlines shimmering faintly, hinting at unknown future products.
Orkesh, Mina, and Manicia saw, for the first time, the true inner workings of how the Necro Corp operated with its undead efficiency. Upstairs was the beauty of it, the polished facade of commerce and hospitality. But down here, on this bustling, tireless level, was the backbone of it all, like a large machine, ceaselessly working, churning out the future of the Necro Corp.