The chest sprung open in what was quickly becoming the spinning kaleidoscope of color and the party’s look sprang into existence above it. What I at first thought was a hockey mask resolved itself to be something much, much better.

Punisher’s Ballistic Mask (Epic)

+25 Armor

+25% Kinetic absorption

+10% Energy absorption

+10 Perception

Ability: Air Filtering, negates all airborne toxins while properly equipped and sealed.

I snatched the mask out of the air and quickly gave it the once over like I did anytime I found an Amazon package on my door. I ran my fingers along the smooth exterior lovingly. It was the same color as my ballistic shield and tac vest, it literally had the same white skull painted on it from the comic books, but was made of a lighter material that had the texture of plastic though it rang like steel when I rapped it lightly with a knuckle. Inside was what appeared to be a leather wrapped silicon pad that would assist with creating an airtight seal and absorbing impacts. It was shaped to fit a human type face on the inside with a hollow area for my nose, a small series of holes at the bottom where the air filters would be. I smiled as I pulled it on my face and felt it adjust automatically. FUCKING BAD ASS!

I looked back at my party and they smiled at my antics, even Junipher seemed to approve of the new look, though the other naked woman flinch and curled into Junipher’s shoulder who’s humming hadn’t stopped, seemingly soothing the woman enough to allow the plant woman to provide direct comfort.

“Now you’re starting to look as terrifying as you say I am.” Alyssa smirked then stepped up to the chest and retrieved her own reward.

While it didn’t look as impressive it no doubt was significant because Alyssa’s eyes lit like a kid in a candy store when she took it into her hands. She had been awarded a pitch black cloak with a gray fur lined hood. The cloak was large enough that it hung to the back of her calves when she put it on and was so black it was hard to look at. Small gold colored metal clasps attached to the upper edges of her corset. I focused my attention on the details of her new cloak.

Battle Cloak of the Night Raven (Epic)

+50 Health

+20 Armor

+10 Strength

+10 Agility

Ability: Misdirection, your ability to avoid enemy attacks is significantly increased while wearing this cloak.

She drew the hood up over her face and only a single shock of bright purple hair poked free. When she looked at me the light managed to catch a smile on her face before she stepped back and let Johnny claim his prize.

A pair of moccasins formed in the air for Johnny, he took them gently, looked down at his battered and shredded and chuckled. “I was just starting to think I should have worn better shoes. It seems the spirits provided.” I smiled and analyzed the simple looking moccasins.

Moccasins of the First Mystic (Epic)

+100 Mana

+25 Health

+10 Intelligence

+10 Wisdom

Ability: Quick Casting, all channeled spells have their casting times reduced by 50% while wearing these moccasins.

Johnny stepped away wearing his new shoes and I turned to deal with the red glowing dungeon core when another item appeared above the chest. A long thin spear hung in the air waiting to be claimed. I reached out and was rebuffed by a wall of energy. Not for me, I can take a hint fucker. “Uh… Johnny? Alyssa?”

They both turned to the spear and both were rebuffed as I was.

Junipher stopped humming “May I?” I nodded back “Sure, knock yourself out.”

Alyssa took Junipher’s place comforting the woman and pulled her inside her cloak with her. Junipher stepped up to the chest and grasped the shaft of the spear with no difficulties. “Seems the system credited me with participation in the fight for healing you.” She smiled at the spear in her hands. It’s tip was made of the same dark iron metal all the other weapons were constructed from in the dungeon though wasn’t shaped like a typical spear head. The blade was as long as my forearm with a flat edge and a cutting edge that ended in a wicked point. Rather than lashings of rope or twine to hold the blade in place, tiny green tree roots gripped it tightly and twined themselves down the 2 meter length of the unpolished shaft.

Spear of the Tree Maiden (Epic)

+50 Mana

+50 Health

+15 Strength

+15 Agility

Ability: Flexibility, While using this spear your ability to dodge is increased due to the unnatural way you move and bend your body.

She hummed to herself and her too black eyes seemed to sparkle a little. Beautiful flowers quickly bloomed across her “hair” and on her shoulders and hips.

Alyssa and the other naked woman gasped and for the second time in the last 5 minutes I felt a hard on forming unwillingly. It’s like I’m 13 again! FUCK!

Junipher dipped her head in embarrassment “I am very happy.”

As I moved to the dungeon core again, the chest didn’t seem to be done. CHRIST! “VEEP! THIS SHIT GONNA END ANYTIME SOON!?!?” I barked, then lowered my voice realizing I was letting my impatience get the better of me “I mean, it’s not like I don’t love free loot as much as the next guy but we got shit to do.”

“I think this should be it. This dungeon was meant for a party of 5 to 7, you smashed it with three and what the system considers ‘pets’. It had enough mana built up to award twice your number.”

I thought about that as three sets of what appeared to be horse barding appeared in front of me. I grabbed one and examined it. Barding of the Alpha Coyote. “Shit, this is armor for our coyotes, Kaia stepped forward with his tongue out and tail swishing about furiously. He licked me on the neck and ear and I laughed and pressed the armor to his face. It slid on its own to cover the top of his skull and muzzle in dark iron pates. Straps held it in place that wrapped around the bottom of his jaw but managed not to restrict his movement in any way.

Lulu and Alyssa came up and grabbed one of the remaining sets and Lulu happily accepted the armor being placed on her face. Barding of the Shadow. Johnny took the one meant for Brother Coyote and placed it in his storage for when we rejoined the others back in the intersection.

I turned to the still glowing chest. “Can I fucking go now?” It pulsed twice then dimmed. “Good.”

“Now what to do about this, we still haven’t gotten the completion notice so I assume we need to either destroy this or ‘claim’ it for its resources, of which I assume are those dark iron ore deposits.”

“Your assumptions are correct, Karl.” Veep said bobbing lazily in my vision.

“So what happens if we claim the dungeon? Don’t do us much good if all the murdery rat fucks come back in 48 hours.”

“By claiming the dungeon you are able to interact with the AI that controls the dungeon directly. It basically becomes subservient to you. You designate how the dungeon grows and what not. You can set it up so it only creates resources or is only a training dungeon for adventurers to get levels, experience and gear.” Alyssa and Johnny conferred with their AI’s to confirm what Veep was saying. Junipher continued quietly singing to the traumatized woman in her arms.

“Ok, I don’t think I really want to manage a dungeon, I don’t even want to manage a settlement but I do see the need for it.”

“You can also designate a manager, or even lease access to the dungeon with another party.”

“That sounds better, I just like killing shit.”

“We know!” Alyssa and Johnny said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed at my expense.

“What if I destroy it?”

“You get about two weeks before the mana released from the destruction of the core recondenses and a stronger dungeon takes its place. Most sapient beings don’t destroy the dungeons closest to their settlements. Doing so subjects them to greater and greater danger about every month after they destroy the dungeon. Also, destroy a dungeon enough times and a sapient dungeon can be created. Basically someone who has recently died within the system will have their consciousness transplanted into the dungeon to guide it.”

“THE FUCK!?!?”

“Your AI is correct Karl, it is why I am here, you may not know it yet but when the system opens up in a new world it sometimes sends refugees from worlds that have lost control of the dungeons on their own worlds. Which is how I came to be here.”

I looked at her carefully, she took that as a signal to continue with her explanation “My people destroyed our dungeons whenever they cropped up. For a time this worked, we grew stronger as the dungeons did. Then for a while there was no dungeon activity. Then one night we started losing communication with distant settlements. The dungeons had gained sapience and held their forces in until they were too many to fight back, they swept the land like a plague of locusts.” A honey colored tear formed in her eye and she shuddered with the memory. It was the first time I saw anything other than a smile on her face.

“I get it, don’t break the shiny rock.” She nodded solemnly at that statement.

“Guess that decides that.” I muttered. I reached out and touched the red crystal. A notification appeared in my vision “Claim Lvl 20 Dungeon Core? (Yes/No)”

“Yes”

The core glowed brightly for a moment then settled back in its perch, then I received the notification I had been waiting for.

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE QUEST: CLEAR KOBOLD DUNGEON. You have chosen to claim the dungeon as your own. Your party has been awarded a 500 XP bonus! You have saved 4 sapients for 1000 XP bonus each!

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE GAINED THE TITLE: DUNGEON MASTER! You are the first to claim a dungeon on your planet. +10 Wisdom (This title can be gained multiple times but bonus attributes are only awarded the first time gaining this title.)

That’s not good. Gonna have to put the word out.

“I think we’re done here. Lets get the fuck out.”