Close Combat Summoner: The Way Of The Unrivaled

{Argus's POV}

"They are endless. Sigh..."(Argus)

An hour had already passed, and Argus was now on the third floor of the dungeon. Throughout his journey, he had faced and defeated every undead that came his way. He made sure to kill them all, as he did not want any of these creatures escaping the dungeon and causing trouble elsewhere.

Despite their large numbers, these undead were not a significant threat to him with his current stats, they were merely cannon fodder. However, the sheer volume of them had consumed a lot of his time. Each battle, though not particularly challenging, slowed his progress as he needed to cleared each floor.

As Argus ventured deeper into the dungeon, an uneasy feeling settled over him. The air had grown thick with Mana, almost suffocating in its intensity. He could sense the shift in the atmosphere, as if the dungeon itself was alive and reacting to some unseen force.The stone walls that had been solid and unchanging now seemed to pulse with energy.

Argus noticed subtle changes at first, small cracks forming in the walls, a faint tremor beneath his feet. But as he moved forward, the changes became more pronounced. The corridors he had just passed through now appeared different when he glanced back, as if the dungeon was subtly rearranging itself.

"The dungeon… it's expanding."(Argus)

Argus murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing as he tried to gauge the extent of the transformation. He could feel the Mana in the air growing denser, almost tangible, like a heavy fog pressing against his skin.

Argus continued forward, his senses on high alert. The once-familiar layout of the dungeon was now unfamiliar. As he rounded a corner, the ground beneath him rumbled, and the walls beside him groaned as they slowly pushed outward, making room for the dungeon's expansion. He paused, watching in silent awe as the dungeon seemed to grow right before his eyes.

Argus's heart pounded as he noticed that the undead were reacting to the changes in the dungeon. The orbs they carried had shifted to a new color, a sign that their power was increasing. This kind of upgrade only occurred when a dungeon was evolving itself, indicating that he was about to face much more formidable enemies than before.

Argus gaze swept over the newly-formed passages, each one beckoning with an ominous sense of foreboding. He slowed his pace, eyes narrowing as he noticed subtle differences around him. The stone walls, once solid and unyielding, now seemed to shift subtly, almost as if they were breathing. The ground beneath his feet trembled lightly, and the sound of stone grinding against stone echoed faintly in the distance.

Argus moved forward cautiously, and the path ahead began to diverge. Where there had once been a single, clear route, the dungeon now branched into multiple directions. New corridors split off from the main path, winding into darkness, their origins seemingly formed out of nowhere.

'Master! What's happening!'(Astrea)

'The Dungeon was undergoing an upgrade.'(Argus)

The sudden division of the path was more than just a physical change. It was a sign that the dungeon itself was evolving, growing more complex and dangerous. Argus paused at the mouth of the newly created paths, his mind racing as he considered his options. The original path, now lost among the new path that emerged. Even if he find the original path, Argus is not even sure if the way inside didn't change.

"So this is the reason Awakeners hate clearing a Dungeon during its Dungeon Break."(Argus)

***

Information about Dungeons:

There are two types of dungeons:

1. Labyrinth Dungeons:

These dungeons are intricate mazes filled with twisting corridors, hidden rooms, and dangerous traps. Designed to disorient and challenge those who enter, the deeper you venture, the more difficult the monsters and obstacles become. Labyrinth Dungeons are known for their complexity and the sheer difficulty of navigating through them.

2.Domain Dungeons:

These dungeons create their own unique theme or environment, such as volcanoes, ice palaces, dense forests, or underwater realms. Each Domain Dungeon reflects a specific theme that influences everything within it, including the monsters, treasures, and challenges. For example, a volcanic domain might feature lava rivers, fire-based monsters, and heat-resistant treasures, while an ice palace domain might include icy winds, frost creatures, and treasures with cold-based enchantments. The entire dungeon, from its environment to its inhabitants, is shaped by its theme, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.

A Dungeon Break is when a dungeon absorbs a huge amount of Mana to upgrade itself. The Mana is gathered through the dungeon's portal and then moved through the walls, which act like veins, carrying the energy toward the dungeon core. The core takes in this Mana, and as it does, the entire dungeon starts to change.

As the core absorbs more Mana, it begins to evolve. If there's too much Mana for the core to handle, the extra Mana isn't wasted. Instead, the dungeon uses it to create new monsters or to make the existing ones stronger, including the powerful guardian beast in the Boss Chamber. The treasures in the chests also become more valuable, enhanced by the excess Mana.

During this process, the dungeon portal, which normally holds the monsters inside, starts to open up, allowing the monsters to go out and potentially cause destruction beyond the dungeon's walls. As long as the dungeon is still upgrading and has enough Mana, it will continue to create new monsters and upgrade the existing ones, making the dungeon increasingly dangerous.

This is why every awakener needs to clear a dungeon within a certain amount of time. If a dungeon is left unchecked and allowed to keep absorbing Mana, it will continue to strengthen its monsters and eventually release them into the outside world, leading to a catastrophic situation. Clearing the dungeon in time prevents this danger and keeps the surrounding areas safe.

Meanwhile, the dungeon itself starts to grow larger. The chamber where the core is located expands to hold the increasing energy, and the walls stretch outward, making the entire dungeon bigger. The whole place seems to come alive as it absorbs the Mana, turning into a more dangerous and powerful structure, ready to challenge anyone who dares to enter.

***

"This is bad. This dungeon is a Labyrinth Dungeon. I don't have time to navigate through it."(Argus)

Argus started to wonder how he could reach the lower floors faster. Suddenly, his intuition warned him about enemies coming from all directions. He felt that while all the paths were dangerous, one path seemed especially risky but also promising.

"I don't have time to kill all these undead."(Argus)

He was looking at the approaching enemies.

"I need to get to the lower floors quickly."(Argus)

He looked at the horde of undead and realized he couldn't possibly kill them all in time. The thought that the undead might soon escape crossed his mind, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it right now. Argus had a strong feeling that if he didn't hurry, something even worse might happen.

With no time to waste, he headed straight down the path that felt the most dangerous, trusting his intuition to guide him to where he needed to go, even though he had no idea where it would lead. He decided to trust his intuition, believing it would guide him to where he needed to go.

Argus rushed into the dungeon, and not long after, he encountered the first batch of undead. The room was filled with a variety of skeletal warriors, each with a distinct role.

Skeleton Swordsmen stood at the front, their bony frames wielding rusted swords with surprising skill. Behind them, Skeleton Archers nocked arrows to their bows, their aim steady and deadly. Further back, Skeleton Knights, clad in tattered armor, raised large shields and heavy swords, ready to defend their position. Skeleton Assassins, agile and swift, moved in the shadows, their daggers gleaming with a faint, eerie light. Finally, Skeleton Spearmen, with their long, jagged spears, positioned themselves to keep any intruder at a distance.

As Argus faced this formidable array, he could feel the aura of each type of skeleton. The Swordsmen exuded a fierce, aggressive energy, while the Archers' presence was sharp and precise. The Knights radiated a heavy, defensive aura, the Assassins seemed to blend into the darkness with a sinister, stealthy edge, and the Spearmen carried an intimidating, extended reach.

'This is a lot more complicated than I expected.'(Argus)

Argus muttered, feeling the combined pressure of their auras. As Argus fought the undead, he realized their strength was far beyond what he had encountered before. The difference in power was clear; these enemies were stronger than the ones he had faced previously. Each skeleton was now at level 50, the maximum level for their current realm, a sign of their recent upgrade.

Their combat skills were also more refined, making them much more challenging to defeat. Argus struggled to keep up with their improved fighting sense and coordination.

"These undead have an orange core."(Argus)

He deduced, struggling against the relentless assault.

"They've been upgraded to elite category. This explains why they're so much tougher."(Argus)