The steel-clad boot was followed by a leg clad similarly. With a single stride the rest of the body followed by a steely torso and helm with thin slits for eyes. In one hand a large, flanged mace was held and in the other a painted white shield bearing an emblem that depicted a golden-robed figure projecting a shield in front of the figure’s body.

The first figure was followed by another wearing an identical get-up but slightly shorter. The knight was followed by an elderly man in a white robe who was followed by two more knights. The party of five stood together in the first room silently until the.

“Priest.” Elvinia cut in as Unbound stared at the first sentient invaders within his dungeon. “And four church knights, they are raised to defend the faith they serve. Based on the shield emblem it is the main church religion, The Goddess of Protection and Purity. They are probably here to make sure the dungeon is ‘Pure’ so I am glad you haven’t spawned any undead in the dungeon proper.” On the thought, as the party started to march into the first room, he turned his attention back to the spider breaking off the skeleton’s limbs.

The tearing spider’s claws wrenched the skeleton’s claws off at the joint. As the claws skittered across the fighting room's floor the spider tore at the undead with its claws. Without the threat of the dangerous bone claws, the spider was able to strike at the weaker joints of the main body with its forelimbs. It pulled off ribs and leg bones until it eventually pulled off the skull from the spine. The moment the skull parted from the spine dungeon mana swelled around the spider and forced a change. Its front limbs grew longer and thicker and its hooked feet dug deeper into the stone floor, resembling a miner’s pickaxe. The dark black chitin of the spider shifted to grey, incorporating the strong bone of the skeleton’s claws.

“That is our second strongest monster in the dungeon,” Elvinia said as the pattern knowledge waited for a name. “Quickly name it and spawn one in the core room.” As the church party moved into the first room, the knights cutting down the two spiders and the sole wildcat, he named the spider a Bone Tearing Spider and spawned one in the core room.

“Push as much mana as you can into it and think about tying the monster to the first floor.” Trusting the fairy Unbound did so, pumping his entire mana pool into the spider and thinking about tying it to the first floor.

As he did so the spider's body shifted, its back six legs worming into the ground like tree roots, and its tearing limbs changed to resemble a long-barbed whip. The spider’s body sunk closer to the ground with its chitinous armor plates thickening and growing as small spikes grew upon its body.

“And that is a dungeon boss,” Elvinia said happily. “You make them each floor, changing to better suit their purpose, you will be able to make stronger ones every ten floors.” Unbound couldn’t help but send warm feelings to his bound partner, happy with her optimism and joy of seeing their dungeon grow. He grew more seriously quickly and turned his attention to the church-sent party, he felt Elvinia’s attention follow as the knights moved into the first tunnel slowly. They tested the floor to make sure it could take their weight as they moved slowly.

“They are probably used to exploring new dungeons for the church, new dungeons always one way or another have a pitfall trap.”

“Are pitfall traps useless then?” Unbound asked back. “If everyone expects them no one will fall into them.”

“That is if you only consider their potential to kill.” The void fairy said. “They also cause people to go slowly in case they fall into one and can be upgraded later with various magical effects. The humanoid races grow far too tough to die via a fall eventually and pitfall traps need magic to stay lethal then.” Unbound felt massive anticipation then, eager to eat, consume and grow. To challenge and to dare all who entered within. That reminded him of the second achievement he had gained.

Achievement: Adventurer’s Beacon

All who march off into the unknown and proclaim themselves an adventure thirst for danger, to walk along the knifes edge and come out of a battle stronger than before. All of those like-minded people will feel a pull to explore the depths you have created and return home with riches and strength.

Awarded due to the presence of sentient beings in the dungeon body.

Awards Dungeon skill: Loot spawning

Dungeon skill: Loot spawning

‘The way to compel people to face the jaws of death. Money.’

The First Dungeon

Gain: Ability to link spawn of items with the death of defender

Gain: Ability to create item patterns found

“Elvinia?” The core spirit asked nervously.

“Yes.” The fairy replied, having not seen the description of the dungeon skill.

“Why would there be a quote on a dungeon skill?” He asked.

“Huh. What quo... How the hell do we have a description listing the First Dungeon’s speech?” Her expression was panicked. “Maybe it's because you are a legendary dungeon. They are rarer and closer to the First.”

“The First?” Unbound prompted.

“The original dungeon. A dungeon core with a dungeon specialty. Able to everything a dungeon can that a different specialty may lockout. For example, you will never be able to compete with an Undead Dungeon’s manipulation of unlife. They have the ability to command huge armies that roam anywhere, part of the reason the church wipes them out.” The reference to the church made him glance over at the party, currently searching through the sixth room, them noting the pool of water and copper mine.

“He is the First, survive long enough and we will meet him, his own fairy takes trips to instruct newer fairies before they bond with a dungeon.” Anticipation burst into life then, to meet a dungeon that could be an epitome. A desire burst into life, if The First could be the best dungeon in reality, maybe he could follow his affinity and go outside of it.

He then turned his attention to the church party that had blocked the copper spikes with their large shields and then the priest muttered something causing a glowing white shield to block the incoming rockfall. After preventing the traps in the tunnel outside of the core room, they proceeded to fight the boss.

Upon seeing the spider monster, the cleric scrunched up his brow, noting the bone-like color of the beast, he then ordered the knights to fight the monster.

The front two knights charged at the stationary creature, with shields held high. As the spider lashed out with its whip-like appendages to catch and rip away the knight’s shields, they took the chance to cut at the lightly armored =, flexible appendage.

One knight’s shield was ripped away and their sword missed the flickering whip, the other held fast to the shield. The shield was drawn into their body as the knight’s sword flickered out like a tongue, slicing through the front two inches of flesh.

With one of the knights exchanging with one protecting the priest the Bone Tearing Spider: Boss Variant was slowly worn down. Quickly after the defender was slain and the party moved forward to inspect Unbound’s core. He felt vulnerable and almost instinctively attacked the party with the hidden elemental before Elvinia’s influence calmed any irrational decision.

The priest cast a spell and Unbound watched the mana weave into position, seeing that the spell’s mana seemed inquisitive rather than destructive he allowed it to hit his core.

The priest’s aged face relaxed but then furrowed again in curiosity.

“Dungeon, a gift for you, a hope to cleanse the troubled land outside this place, upon a second entrance away from The Deadlands the church will petition the adventurer’s guild to support your growth.” Unbound, unknowing if he was meant to respond stayed silent and allowed the party to leave a small pack of items before his core. The priest then gathered up the nights before leaving with the same caution but more haste than before.

“Well, you have passed the church’s judgment.” The fairy seemed pleased. “But we are going to have to look out what the priest meant by Deadlands.” Unbound gave a mental nod before punching on the pack with glee, almost mentally salivating, the patterns.