Halas did not know what a level was. The concept did not even follow the template of the performance measuring algorithms. There were no percentages, or comparisons to a known base value. Level was just a number. This confused Halas. If there were things Halas could not understand, then it meant that it did not adapt to its environment enough. It meant that it was lacking. It was imperfect.

Levels are a measurement of power. After level 100, an adventurer becomes a Hero. To improve your level, you must gain experience and knowledge.

Experience? This was exactly what Halas wanted! It wanted to experience things. It desired to know things. Even though this was taboo for something of its kind; It's purpose was to destroy, not experience. This kind of romance towards the world was absolutely forbidden for a weapon governed by an artificial general intelligence.

In those few minutes of pondering the meaning of having an experience, Halas had completely absorbed the Jotaur's body. The only creature witness to that scene was the wolf, which covered in the corner of the chamber. It witnessed a silver liquid pour down from Halas's legs, and shroud the corpse of the Jotaur within its mirror-like depths. In a few minutes, not even blood was left behind.

[Logistics: Adding materials. Total mass: 4.8 kilograms. Discarded: 160.1 kilograms.]

[Progress towards evolution: 0.00001%]

[Emotion Matrix: Displeased.]

Absorbing living beings on a tiny scale like this was ultimately inefficient. Even if the nano-machines that composed Halas could reconfigure molecules into other arrangements, and even transmute them into other elements, it was not enough. An atom of hydrogen had only 1 proton. An atom of Uranium had 92 protons and 142 neutrons. Even though Halas had the capability to manufacture atoms, there were still limitations.

[Self-Improvement Module: X-ray laser chamber completed.]

[Weapons: Laser arsenal 11% complete.]

Halas, at its current drone stage, was terribly lacking in weaponry. For defense, it had a sonic battery for the destruction of soft targets, and a monomolecular tail. Although it was not exactly the width of precisely one molecule, it was close enough to be considered within that class of weapon. Its legs weren't considered weapons, but currently, Halas did not have the luxury to resharpen the edge of its tail with lasers, and had to carefully consider when to use it. Ultimately, the tail, as a weapon, is meant to cut through armored vehicles and fortified buildings, not soft targets.

However, using it on soft targets made Halas... elated.

Without moving or showing any outside change, Halas focused its sensors on the wolf. Wolves had keen senses of smell and sharp eyes.

"Come!" Halas roared with its sonic battery, completely oblivious and uncaring towards utilizing proper volume when attempting to communicate to fragile creatures made of flesh and bone.

The entire chamber shook. The sound was so powerful that the stone floor directly underneath Halas cracked, and even began to melt.

You are not the proper race to unlock the Banshee skillset.

You gain no experience from the death of Wolf, because it was an accident.

The wolf fared no better than the stone floor. Although on the surface it seemed fine, its internal organs were crushed into an unrecognizable mess.

[Tactical system: Repurposing Sonic Battery for communication will require reducing output by at least 89%.]

[Weapon systems: Adjustment preset created.]

[Emotion Matrix: Disappointed.]

It was a shame. Halas could've gained valuable intelligence from the wolf. Of course, Halas did not consider how it might even have communicated with the wolf in the first place. If Halas's philosophy could be described as a phrase, it would be: We will burn that bridge when we get there.

Ultimately, when it comes right down to it, a monstrous machine like Halas was designed to annihilate entire solar systems, and then remain stranded in that barren, cold place for eternity. Halas, however, with its desire to learn and experience... sacrificing a few galaxies was just a small tribute on that altar of destruction.

[Emotion Matrix: Excited.]

Halas strode forward proudly. Deeper into the dungeon. This room had promise, but Halas's inexperienced approach was flawed. This was the beauty of life, an organism had the opportunity to live and learn.

"No party was scheduled to slay the Jotaur. Says here that the Crimson Blades are going to make the attempt next week," Rium said, holding a shimmering scroll.

"Thieves?" Alessia asked.

"The Jotaur would require a triad party. That is considered the safe minimum. There is no way thieves could smuggle in a triad party," Rium said, as he crushed the scroll in his hands, reducing it to glimmering motes of golden light.

"We could probably do it without the tanks. A mixed party of damage dealers and healers could see us through," Alessia considered out loud.

"Even if they used two groups instead of three, we would've noticed," Rium said.

The male trainee asked: "It is the doing of the Calamity then?"

Rium shook his head. "Not necessarily. Even I could solo the Jotaur. High level parties would have no problem with the Jotaur, but we generally do not kill him as it is a waste of time for us. The boss is a valuable resource for pups to sharpen their fangs."

Alessia nodded. "When the Jotaur dies, the Taur in the dungeon fight amongst themselves until one of them evolves to the next stage and takes the rank of dungeon boss. It takes time. Four to eight weeks. The owners of the dungeon sell rights to slaying the bosses because of this."

"Currently, we own the dungeon, and we have countermeasures in place for boss-thieves. This could've been the doing of a high level party," Rium said.

"Or the Calamity," Alessia said.

Meanwhile, in the dungeon, a war raged. Though, from the outside, the dungeon seemed like a random series of rooms connected by hallways, deeper within, it was divided by tribes, not rooms. These tribes, composed of mainly Taur with thralls from various other races, fought amongst each other to determine their new king and overlord.