“……”
The new pop-up window instantly rendered Li Xiuman speechless.
Was he... being kidnapped and forced to work as a Demon King?
And his current condition didn't look like he could fight at all!
At least restore his missing Constitution and Strength first!
Otherwise, once the seventy-two hours were up and the dungeon opened, wouldn't he be completely steamrolled?
Li Xiuman sized up his surroundings.
The place he was currently in was likely the deepest floor of this dungeon—the twenty-third floor underground.
In the dead center of the dungeon, a pale blue crystal ball floated, looking exceptionally eye-catching.
Using his wand as a cane to support his weak body, Li Xiuman walked toward the orb.
As the saying goes, "a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit." This time, Li Xiuman did not touch it directly with his hands.
He tried poking it with his wand.
No response.
Steeling his nerves, Li Xiuman gave it a quick tap with his fingertip, like a dragonfly skimming the water's surface.
Still no response.
Finally growing bolder, Li Xiuman tapped it with his finger, then fully placed his hand on it.
He tried casting [Appraisal].
[Dungeon Core] The core of a dungeon. It can only be controlled by the dungeon's Demon King.
[Quality]: Blue (Upgradeable)
[Special Effects]: 1. Teleportation (Allows teleportation to any location within the dungeon). 2. Projection (Reflects real-time images of any floor of the dungeon). 3. Terrain Modification (Allows changes to the terrain of any floor).
“Good stuff!”
Li Xiuman gripped the crystal ball and tried to operate it.
Soon, a god's-eye view was projected onto the smooth surface of the crystal ball, showing the first floor of this dungeon.
He then went through every single floor, checking the entire layout of the dungeon.
From the first floor to the twentieth floor, it was all a labyrinth.
Beyond the twentieth floor—meaning from the twenty-first to the twenty-third floor—lay the Bone Forest.
White bones and bone trees littered the ground, with various toxic gases drifting through the air.
And at the deepest part of the twenty-third floor was the private chamber where he, the boss, resided.
The entire dungeon was filled with various skeleton monsters, designed completely in a skeletal theme.
After all, this dungeon had been generated based on him.
To this moment, Li Xiuman couldn't fathom how pressing his hand into a simple groove had turned him into a dungeon Boss.
He had to find a way to get out.
Who cared about this crappy dungeon? Let someone else deal with it.
Li Xiuman activated the Dungeon Core, teleporting himself to the first floor of the labyrinth.
He then walked toward the exit.
[Ding! You cannot walk out of the labyrinth.]
“……”
“You've got to be kidding me! Who wants to be this crappy Demon King?!”
Li Xiuman tried to step toward the exit, but in an instant, he was teleported back into the Boss chamber on the twenty-third floor.
“……”
“What complete BS.”
Li Xiuman sat cross-legged.
Feeling agitated, his current frail frame couldn't handle the strain.
Right now, his health was as delicate as a glass doll.
With a Constitution of only 2, he couldn't even match a human toddler.
He had to find a way to leave. If he stayed here acting as a Demon King, he would eventually be subjugated sooner or later.
Teleport back to the White Bear City dungeon.
However he came, that was how he would go back.
Li Xiuman didn't know teleportation magic. It was said that very few Mages did.
But he could learn.
He had memorized about seventy to eighty percent of the magic circle that had teleported him here.
After all, he did possess photographic memory.
Flipping open The Skeleton's Magic Book, while his memory was still fresh, Li Xiuman drew most of the black teleportation magic circle based on his recollection.
Next, he took out the Dungeon Core again.
This core possessed the [Teleportation] ability, though it was restricted to teleportation within the dungeon.
Still, it was [Teleportation] nonetheless. He could study the underlying principles.
He teleported himself to a random spot, committing the active magic circle and his sensations to memory.
Just like that, a day passed.
Several pages of The Skeleton's Magic Book were now densely filled with magic circles and annotations.
Meanwhile, Li Xiuman held the Memory Crystal, searching for the magical knowledge he needed.
The memories of a Tier 6 Mage were a massive asset that might allow Li Xiuman to master teleportation magic.
Aside from that, he also had to raise [Magic Analysis] to Lv.3.
It would be best to also raise [Golem] to Lv.3. After all, mastering one concept often meant mastering them all.
These two skills were both research-supporting abilities. They complemented each other, enhancing his comprehension and memory.
“I can't just tunnel-vision on this.”
Li Xiuman looked at the countdown on his panel. There were only forty-eight hours left until this dungeon opened.
When that time came, adventurers would definitely come in to explore.
He had to be prepared.
Of course, no amount of preparation would matter if bad luck struck.
For instance, if a powerhouse like Ilu passed by, spotted a new dungeon, and felt overjoyed...
...only to charge in and slaughter the dungeon Boss just to satisfy a whim...
Well, in his current state, if someone wanted to satisfy a whim on him, they would probably only get enough to make a soup.
Li Xiuman took out his wand and the Dungeon Core.
With the power of the Dungeon Core, he could create a Unique Variant.
This was also the quest issued by the Demon King Panel.
In order to maximize his chances of preventing the adventurers from conquering the dungeon, Li Xiuman had to create an insanely powerful Unique Variant.
He retrieved a pile of molten fine iron, a head-sized piece of Red-Faceted Square Gold, and two rare Nonagonal Fire Crystals.
In short, it was incredibly painful to part with them.
But now was not the time to be stingy with resources.
“Golem, create!”
An earthy yellow magic circle expanded over the small pile of resources as Li Xiuman focused entirely on the creation.
Next, Li Xiuman activated the Dungeon Core again, pouring its power into this Golem.
An exaggerated skeletal frame began to grow inside the Golem.
The forces of both sides worked together, influencing each other as they created.
Ultimately...
[Name]: Skeleton Golem Li
[Level]: Lv.23
[Class]: Swordsman
[Skills]: Swordsmanship Lv.3, Bone Manipulation Lv.3, Great Strength Lv.3, Hard Bone Lv.3, Resilience Lv.3, Fire Infusion Lv.3, Swiftness Lv.2, Close Combat Lv.2, Elemental Resistance Lv.2, Bone Hyperplasia Lv.1, Flame Devouring Lv.1
[Status]: bone decay
[Description]: A Unique Variant monster residing in the Bone Dungeon. Possesses terrifying strength and incredible defense. A dangerous reaper.
Standing before him was a massive skeleton clad in dark red armor, its eyes glowing with an eerie red light.
It held a pair of crimson swords in its hands; the blades were scalding hot, as if invisible flames were burning along the edges.
On its head grew a pair of horns—the signature mark of a Unique Variant.
It was a combination of a skeleton and a Golem.
Its armor and dual swords were not actually external gear, but rather pieces that grew directly out of its skeleton, forming a natural part of its body.
“So strong.”
“With you here, I can put my mind at ease.”
“You must defend the dungeon.”
Having handed down his orders, Li Xiuman resumed his research on teleportation magic. No matter what, he had to find a way out.
Otherwise, he would eventually be subjugated sooner or later.
Rate on N.U.
