Despite not having a method to tell time yet I believe its been 3 days since the door was opened, during which much has happened. Most important of which being the evolution of my creatures. Evolution seems to be one of the key mechanisms involved in dungeon growth and management going forward. The most mundane of these evolutions had been the Small Cave Slime evolving into a standard “Cave Slime”. Evolutions seem to be offered after enough time in the dungeon or enough fights won. Other factors likely exist and I’ll be looking out for them in the future. I now possessed the capability to create the Cave Slimes over their pre evolved forms, with the tradeoff for slightly more powerful slimes being an increase in mana cost. A price not worth paying right now given my frugal spending habits.

My Red Mushrooms evolved into two different species. The first batch evolved into Slime Shrooms and the second into Vampiric Shrooms. The Slime Shrooms mycelium had seemingly absorbed the gelatin from the original slime’s body and used it for nutrients. In contrast the Vampiric Shrooms have absorbed the blood of rats and become predatory.

Slime Shrooms are still red and white in color but with a thin layer of green mucus overtop the bulb. The slime the shrooms are named after is used to trap small creatures, mostly insects like flies and the occasional roach, and then small roots will sap the target of nutrients once they grow in. Other than the insects they entrap, small animals up to the size of rats can still be halted if enough shrooms are latched onto the target at once. When combined with the Vampiric Shrooms they were a welcome addition to my forces.

Vampiric Shrooms are a much deeper shade of red with several black stripes that race along their bulbs. Small “teeth” across the entirety of the mushrooms will inflict damage overtime to any living thing touching them. The damage itself is slow and would hardly prove useful against larger prey but when the target is squirming against the mucus covered Slime Shrooms and bumping against several different Vampiric Shrooms the damage builds up. Sharing the nutrients in the mycelium down below the Mushrooms, a symbiotic relationship had begun to form in my small grove. When they evolve further I hope to nurture it.

Speaking of, the rats that have become my best source of mana since opening the door. Typically they come in waves and in response my Cave Slime and Living Shadow get to work. The small swarms of about 4-5 rats were completely helpless against my creations and are little more than mana batteries. Of course, I’d long added these rats to my [Creature Creation] list, but I couldn’t see any benefits to making any, given I was trying to save up mana. Besides, the human part of me just found them gross. This dungeon will be my home for the foreseeable future and I’d rather not have one of humanities oldest enemies as a prominent feature.

My patience has been rewarded, as my mana capacity is currently at 474. Meaning that I only needed one more swarm of about 3-4 rats before I could level up and hopefully gain some new skills. The best-case scenario would be if I could begin expanding my dungeons boundaries. From the wildlife of rats and the occasional slime I was confident I wasn’t terribly far underground. Further supporting this was the man I had absorbed. Unless he was a hermit it’s doubtful he lived terribly far from some kind of settlement and thus, the surface.

While pondering my future growth plans that awful naked feeling of having my core exposed suddenly struck my entire being. Uncomfortable as it was, having the warning of an intruder was very welcome while the core was still so vulnerable. Focusing my attention, I assumed I would find another rat swarm or perhaps a lone slime as per usual but was met with something entirely new. What came into my shack was a small salamander.

Excited by the new animal I decided to analyze a bit more closely. It had a light blue underbelly contrasting a bright orange top with black spots. Only about 6 inches long the amphibian didn’t look very strong, but instead very fast, easily making it to my table in seconds. Just like the creatures over the last few days it was being drawn in by the mana my core was generating.

Coming out of my curious haze I ordered my favorite creature, the Living Shadow, to move in on the salamander. While it crept out of its corner the salamander reached the mushrooms. It didn’t even slow down as it entered the unexpectedly dangerous toadstools, finding itself stuck halfway through the small grove, on one of the Slime Shrooms. It began to panic, red pupils searching wildly for an escape while thrashing wildly. Long tail bumping into several Vampiric Shrooms wearing it down by a little more every time the small creature brushed against their dangerous spores.

The thrashing slowed as the salamander began to pant after its struggle while a silent shadow passed underneath the stalks. The amphibian didn’t even have time to register the new threat before my shadow’s clawed hand grasped around the salamander’s waist and squeezed. The Salamander’s eyes bulged but in its already weakened state it didn’t take long for the creature to succumb to the lack of oxygen.

My Living Shadow retreated back to its corner, and I began absorbing the salamander. Excited to create one after my level up I went over what this creature’s existence meant. My Salamanders are amphibians and tend to live near water, at least back on Earth they did. Add the cool temperatures and moist atmosphere that boosted my mushroom’s growth and I’m near water!

Interested as I was in making some cool salamanders getting my level up is more important. So I anxiously awaited the voice as I absorbed the animal.

*ABSORPTION COMPLETE 23 MANA COLLECTED

*NEW CREATURE HAS BEEN ABSORBED, SUN SALAMANDER ADDED TO CREATE CREATURES LIST

‘Really... 3 mana off...’ I thought, my excitement deflating.

Grumbling to myself I settled down to wait the remaining time when another notification came across my mind.

*YOUR LIVING SHADOW HAS REACHED THE EVOLUTION THRESHOLD! 1 OPTION AVAILABLE WOULD YOU LIKE TO EVOLVE YOUR LIVING SHADOW INTO AN APPARITION?

Yes/No

Grief immediately forgotten I let out an excited yell beyond ecstatic. My first and favorite monster was finally going to evolve. As much as I’d like to say I love all my creations equally, that would be a bare faced lie. Living Shadow was by far my favorite. Sure the competition wasn’t exactly grand, but it was just so consistently dependable in these circumstances that I’ve quickly become attached. Suspension Bridge effect and all that. I watched as its corner began to glow in orange light, anxious with anticipation.

After the light faded I asked the new Apparition to show themselves so I could see their changes. Now much longer, the shadowy circle traveled silently to my table. Then it began emerging out of its hole. A pitch-black head without any facial features emerged, flowing hair trailing behind. Next came a neck and that gave way to a full human torso the exact same pitch-black obsidian color as the rest. Attached to the torso were the familiar clawed hands, and long reaching arms to go with them. The Apparition seemed almost 2d, as if they were a shadow being projected onto a wall. Reaching 5 ½ feet the shadow easily looked down over my table.

Impressive as their size now was certain features grabbed my attention straight away. With such a thin waist and long hair despite their 2d nature, it was obvious this Apparition was female! I feel slightly guilty I didn’t know that...

Actually... do all my creatures have genders? I mean, if this Apparition is female what about the slime or future salamanders? Slimes are usually depicted as androgynous Now that I know she’s a female I should probably give her a name other than “Apparition”. But I’ll hold off on [Naming] until after the level up just in case.

Finishing up our little checkup I asked her to show me any new abilities. Retreating back into her corner the Apparition vanished from sight. For a brief moment I was filled with disappointment as I assumed that meant there was nothing left to show. Seconds later though a voice echoed through the shack from her location.

“Is someone there? Can you help me?” the Apparition said mimicking the voice of a scared young girl.

A deep chill ran through me at the purpose of such an ability. It was meant to lure people into the darkness where she waited, claws at the ready. Definitely unnerving as a former human but her trap would undoubtedly prove effective. That is if I ever need to fight off human invaders.

Will the time come when I need to kill a human?