Damien went over and shook his hand as I took my time getting out of the car, taking in the changes to the site since the last time I’d been there weeks earlier.

A tall wall had been erected around the site, with nearly medieval fortifications. The gate, rather than just a token to mark a barrier to entry, looked like it was made to withstand a siege. A criss cross of metal bars provided a limited view inside, but it looked like a military checkpoint beyond it with barbed wire and sandbags interspaced to inhibit anyone trying to cross the difference. Above the gate stood a tall guardhouse that was manned by at least four guards that I could see.

As I observed them Jacques pulled out his holophone and spoke to someone through it. There was movement above and then the gate slowly opened, receding into the wall on either side enough to allow us through.

Jacques waved me over and I approached.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to walk from here, no unauthorized vehicles are permitted to enter.” He explained as he led the way through the gate.

“You’re taking security very seriously,” I noted.

“We’re investing a lot into this project, and competition in this city can be cutthroat. Sometimes literally.”

I suppressed a shiver at the reminder of the contained violence just below the surface of our “society”. Power meant nothing if you couldn’t hold onto it. It was an important reminder of how vulnerable I was at the moment. I needed the power to control my surroundings. Only then would I be safe.

Moving past the fortifications and guards sporting a variety of modern and archaic weaponry, revealing something of their classes, we shortly arrived at the site where the dungeon would be built.

“Do you have the materials?” I asked, not wasting any time.

Jacques gestured at a large, hardened looking man who had followed us at some point as we entered. The man gestured and a large, angular looking fiery gem appeared on the ground along with a pile of various other supplies. I realized the man must have had a spatial storage device and marveled for a moment at the expense, before shaking my head. Compared to the cost of buying this much space in the Industrial District, the cost of a storage ring or something else was chump change.

I observed the items on the ground. The core looked like it had come from a sizeable Monster. Next to it was a bloody organ that I took to be the heart of a Hell Hound, though I’d never seen one so I could only assume. Also on the ground was a strange, small glittering bead that I did recognize from my foray into the market: the small marble left behind by a Water Sprite.

“What about the Sky Filter?” I asked. Jacques pointed up and I noticed for the first time something floating in the sky above.

“How’d you manage that?” I couldn’t see anything supporting the device as it floated there.

“We have a very good enchanter on retainer,” Jacques smirked. “Not only is it enchanted to float there. but there’s a teleportation rune engraved in the collection chamber that is set to activate when the water reaches a certain threshold. The matching rune is in a specially designed cistern in the facility, so collection is automated.”

I shook my head, amazed at both the ingenuity and the expense.

“In that case, I’ll get started. You all should back away as the dungeon will form around us here.” When I got a nod of approval in response and observed them removing themselves a suitable distance I activated my Create a Dungeon skill.

My surroundings faded away as I found myself in that strange, but now familiar blue space. Everything was placed on a grid. The boundaries of the compound glowed distinctly and I marveled at the ability of the skill. It almost seemed to function based on intent, as though there was some guiding intelligence behind it.

I dismissed the distracting thoughts. Unlike last time there was no message from Janus. I guess it was expected that I would know how to do things after using the skill once. Remembering the experience from last time, I began thinking about the design I had built out.

Slowly but surely it took shape in front of me. I set the lake at the back of the dungeon and the lava fields at the front, so that it would be easier to give the Hell Hounds food. I populated the lake with Water Sprites and saw the circles marking their area of influence appear. I continued adding more Sprites until their influence spread onto the shore enough that I was confident that the Hell Hounds would be able to get to them.

Then I turned to creating the Hell Hounds. I had to be careful here. If I made too many Hell Hounds it might breed territorial conflicts between them as they formed distinct packs. I wasn’t sure exactly what the pack size would be, as there was some variation, but luckily thanks to the skill I could see the areas of conflict highlighted in red as the circles of influence of competing beings overlapped. I created their den towards the back so they’d be able to reproduce safely and continue the cycle.

I continued to add Hell Hounds until I hit the maximum for the pack, about 20. I fine tuned their area and placement until their influence began to push up against the lake.

Looking for that telltale red to appear, I continued to adjust the size of the lava fields until I discovered a problem: even as their influence encroached on the lake their circles of influence weren’t turning red.