Chapter 76: Web of Malfunctions
The spiders finally stopped climbing, and Karl calmly watched as the last of the spectral spiders, summoned by his Soul Weave skill, dissipated into nothingness. He ordered his golem, "Stand down, Corpse King." The colossal golem’s rage subsided, its hulking form ceasing to twitch, its purple eyes dimming to a faint glow.
Leo arrived with the reinforcements, his gaze sweeping over the scene of destruction. "My lord, what has happened here?" he asked, his voice a low hum. He peered down at the spider corpses scattered on the ground, his metallic eyes scrutinizing their torn chitin and missing limbs.
Karl walked to the other side of the bridge, a casual swagger in his step that hid his recent internal panic. He joined Rook and Schalezusk, who were now standing side-by-side. "Malfunctioning dungeon security," he explained, his voice even. "These spiders are supposed to be part of the security, a defensive measure. But when I reactivated the lower floors, their systems didn’t respond correctly. My theory is that it’s due to a lack of maintenance over countless ages. But I bet there’s more of them down there."
Leo peered into the dark pit, the light from the lights barely penetrating the inky blackness. "But how do we get down?"
As if in answer, Karl’s 3D map interface showed a platform rising from the darkness below. A low, grinding sound of gears turning and old stone scraping against metal filled the air, alerting everyone to its ascent.
As soon as it ascended, Karl said, "That’s our ride." The platform stopped, its edges perfectly aligning with the narrow bridge. A subtle click echoed through the hall as it locked into place. A metallic pedestal rose from the platform’s surface.
Karl stepped onto the platform, its surface cold and hard beneath his feet. Leo, looking around with a puzzled expression, followed, "I thought there were only four floors. What exactly is this place?"
Karl smirked. "That’s what we’re about to find out. Get in, and let’s clear these floors of hostile security forces. Maybe we can find some clues about the purpose of these levels. I suspect there might be more than just spiders down there."
Rook, ever the commander, barked a sharp command to the thirty-five skeleton soldiers, including the elites. "Men! Fall in!" The soldiers marched onto the platform in a crisp, disciplined formation.
The Corpse King however, made a low groaning sound, its massive body shifting as if wanting to get on the platform.
Karl addressed the golem. "Stay there and make sure to eliminate any stragglers that we might miss. You are our rearguard." The golem growled in what Karl could only assume was a sign of disappointment, but then its shoulders slumped, and it turned away, taking up a silent watch over the bridge.
Leo, his voice softer, said, "My lord, I’m glad Mr. Corpse King is on our side. I don’t even even have a slightest clue on how to fight him."
Schalezusk, who had been admiring the golem with a mix of awe and terror, agreed. "I wouldn’t want to fight that guy. I might be large but that thing scares me." Rook, though he didn’t say anything, felt the same. The raw, unrefined power of the abomination was unnerving to the meticulous commander.
Leo added, "I thought for sure we were done for when I first saw it, but when I realized it was you, my lord, I was relieved."
Karl, feeling a familiar surge of pride, simply said, "I want to have fun at least for once. Now, let’s stop babbling and get ready." Leo nodded, his analytical mind already preparing for the unknown.
Karl turned to the pedestal, looking at the interface that seemed to pulse with an inner light.
[ C- Floor: -4 Select Floor: Available Floors -4 to -10 ]
He selected the -5th floor, and as he pressed the button, the sides of the platform disengaged. The platform slowly descended into the dark, and as it did, a string of torches activated on the pit walls, illuminating their descent. It was a strange journey, a silent ride into the heart of the dungeon’s unknown.
A few moments later, it arrived. The doors on the -5th floor were already open, but the soldiers at the vanguard were ready for anything. The platform engaged its locks, seamlessly integrating with the walls. Without the pedestal, it looked as if it had been a part of the floor all along.
Rook sensed something beyond the open doors and shouted, "Men! Assume battle formations!" The soldiers formed a tight shield wall, their spears at the ready, a bristling line of defense.
Then, the sounds of bone clattering and chittering were heard. Hordes of hostiles with red eyes dashed toward them in the dim halls. As the first enemy was illuminated by the torches, Karl was surprised to see that not only were there spiders, but also skeletons. Their eyes glared with a hateful red light as they sprinted toward them. It felt wrong to attack a fellow undead, but their berserk behavior and red eyes made it clear they were beyond salvation. Rook, however, never cared for such things. To him, they were nothing but malfunctioning units, a threat to be neutralized.
As the horde of skeletons and spiders approached the doors, the soldiers, in sync, eliminated them with surprising ease. They were easy to fend off due to their erratic and berserk behavior.
Rook shouted, "Move forward!" The soldiers in their shield wall moved slowly but surely through the hall, a disciplined wave of bone and steel. Karl, Leo, and Schalezusk followed behind, their positions secure.
As they walked, there were rooms in the distance. Rook shouted again, "Continue and secure the rooms in groups of five!" As they passed the first room, they found it contained mostly spiders creeping on the walls, but the skeletons easily detected and slayed them. When the rooms were cleared, the groups fell back into line.
Schalezusk, witnessing the terrifying efficiency, said, "This is easier than I thought. I would’ve thought the fight here would be more exciting."
Karl said, "Efficiency makes it all easy, Mr. Schalezusk. But don’t worry, this is just the -5th floor. There are still four floors remaining. There might be stronger enemies as we go further down."
They continued down the straight hall, which was lined with more decent-sized rooms. At the end of the hall was an expansive area with broken benches, large broken eggs, and some still intact. A large dead tree stood at the center. It looked like a spot where one could sit down and relax.
Then, on the ceiling, a very large spider, twice their size, was sticking. Rook shouted, "Phalanx formation!" The soldiers quickly prepared their shields and spears, pointing them at the ceiling, ready for the spider to jump down.
But it never jumped down. Instead, it spat a stream of green acid. Rook shouted, "Watch out!" Most of the soldiers were able to avoid it, but three skeletons at the center were too late to move. They used their shields, but the acid was so strong that it melted through their shields and eventually them.
On Karl’s notification, it said, [ x3 Level 8 Soldier Eliminated ]. It wasn’t a problem for him, as he could just buy additional skeleton packs from the system, but Rook was enraged. Perfection in combat was his goal, as was the care of his men. The loss was a blot on his perfect record, a failure of his strategy to properly assess the threat.
With his katana, he dashed up the wall, using his blade to get a better foothold. The spider, sensing this, spat acid at him, but he avoided it. He continued, and the spider panicked, spitting three more streams of acid, but he easily dodged them. He leaped, but his jump was off, as the spider slowly ascended. His sword, however, still made contact, cutting off the spider’s head near the tip.
As Rook landed and efficiently swung his sword, the blood flew to the floor as he sheathed the katana smoothly onto the scabbard on his hip. The spider’s huge body fell down with a thud. Schalezusk, amazed, clapped. Leo was indifferent, already analyzing the acid’s composition from the holes on the floor.
Rook then ordered the soldiers, "Destroy the eggs!" As the soldiers moved and destroyed the eggs around the area, some spiders attempted to latch onto them, but due to the soldiers’ training and quick reflexes, they were quickly eliminated.
With their mission on the -5th floor complete, they began their walk back to the platform. The silence was now absolute, broken only by the light clatter of skeletal remains and the crunch of shattered chitin from the enemies they have eliminated.
Leo, walking beside Karl, broke the quiet. "My lord," he began, "what could be the purpose of this floor? The structure... it feels more functional than a mere lair."
Karl’s gaze swept over the hall, taking in the cleared rooms and the cavern at the end. His corporate mind was already at work, mentally rearranging the space. "My guess is, this floor was for sleeping quarters," he mused. "Maybe a barracks for the residents, or a communal living space. But if I were to repurpose this, I’d make it into an office floor. Each of your departments—Administrative, Accounting, Marketing—could have its own dedicated space. A command hub for our company." He smiled at Leo, the gesture cold but sincere.
Leo’s posture straightened. "I am thankful for the opportunity, my lord. I would not have it any other way. It would be a monumental improvement in our efficiency."
Karl’s expression turned thoughtful as he continued their walk. "Though, I’m still puzzled about what could have happened to the people who originally inhabited this place. This entire dungeon, with its intricate systems and advanced security, feels like an underground facility of some sort. This could be a very ancient dungeon, far older than we imagine."
Leo considered this. "Hmm... could this be connected to the beastkin’s legends of the undead legion? The legends speak of a fortress rising from the north, ruled by an ancient Lich."
Karl shook his head. "I don’t think so. This entire dungeon is too advanced, too logical in its construction to be a place of myths and legends. My guess is an advanced civilization, like the one I remember, died out from a self-inflicted plague or a resource war. Your standard classic science fiction. But I think there’s more to the story than we can imagine. The sheer scale and complexity of this place suggests a purpose far beyond a simple hideout."
Leo nodded, his metallic gaze fixed on the floor. "I would agree, my lord. The presence of the hidden core and the specialized security we encountered on this floor confirms that this place is more than it appears."
As they neared the platform, Karl added, "After we clear the other floors, I want you to assign a few men to this level. They are to investigate the rooms and chambers, searching for clues we might have missed. I want every bit of information we can get before we begin renovations. If we are to open up more floors, I want to be ready of what we will encounter. This unprepared decision, nearly cost us the entire dungeon. I don’t want us to be surprised by anything, anymore."
Leo bowed his head. "As you wish, my lord. I will have it done."
They arrived back at the platform, its metallic surface clean in the lights. Karl stepped onto it, his skeletal hand resting on the pedestal. "Is everyone in?" he asked, glancing at Rook and Schalezusk.
Rook gave a sharp nod.
"Now, let’s move on to the next one." Karl selected the -6th floor. With a soft click and a low hum, the platform disengaged and began its smooth, silent descent into the unknown depths of the dungeon.