Fenrir

Things go back to normal over the course of the next few months as I spend most of my time cultivating while the intruders continue to enter my dungeon.

I am suddenly interrupted from my cultivation by a strange, but welcome disturbance in my soul.

When I focus on it, I quickly find my soul trembling in place before growing in size as a loud snap resonates throughout my fifth floor.

System Notification:

Congratulations!

You have reached both EXP Level 5 and Cultivation Level 5!

You have now unlocked a new secondary tab: Starter Environments!

"It's about time," I mutter before checking my status.

Name: Fenrir

Race: Dungeon Core

Element: Void

EXP Level: 7

EXP: 46/80

Cultivation Level: 5

Cultivation to next Level: 0%

Mana: 68/70

Secondary Tabs: Dungeon Status, Skills List, Talents List, Achievements List, Starter Environments

The orb that I was given by the shady person turned out to be incredibly helpful in raising my cultivation.

"Did you finally reach CL 5?" Dawn asks me as her flames glow orange in anticipation.

I turn to look at her to answer, only to find her sitting on top of Ashina's head.

Uh, what's she doing up there?

Actually, never mind.

As soon as she finished telling me about the World Ore that she had found in the spiders' hive, she began avoiding speaking as much as possible for over an entire week, so it's good to see her so enthusiastic again.

I never would have guessed that Dawn would hold a grudge over such a small thing...

"Yeah! I also just got access to the Starter Environments secondary tab!" I answer her before opening the tab.

As soon as I do so, a Dungeon Notification pops up for the first time ever since I started my dungeon.

Dungeon Notification:

Choose your first starting environment.

Note: You will be able to select a new environment at every ten levels. Each time you select an environment, all of the knowledge of that environment will be given to you, along with any required patterns to make it.

Environment Description Jungle A jungle is a forest thick with large trees, other plants, and various animals, such as tigers and snakes. It is generally located in a warmer climate with high amounts of rainfall. Swamp A swamp is an area of land full of trees that is permanently saturated with water. They often have many types of bugs living in them thanks to the wet and humid atmosphere, along with animals such as alligators and snakes. Taiga A taiga is a forest located in a cold climate, oftentimes covered in snow. The forests themselves generally contain animals such as gray wolves, reindeer, bears, and moose. Ocean An ocean is a continuous body of salt water. They contain various types of plant life, as well as animals such as sharks, whales, and various types of fish.

"Only four options?" I mutter in disappointment.

"Unfortunately," Dawn says, "whether or not you get a useful environment for your dungeon is in the luck of the draw."

I glance from the boxes to Dawn as I ask, "Wait, so the environments I am offered are random every time?"

"Well, sort of. The first draw is completely random, while each draw after that has the same options as the previous draw except with the one you chose being replaced by a randomly selected environment," Dawn explains to me as she floats off of Ashina's head.

"That's interesting, but regardless, my choice should be obvious," I say before selecting the Taiga biome without a hint of hesitation.

"Oh? And which environment are you-" Dawn starts before I am assaulted by a sudden burst of pain as information begins to fill my mind.

Several seconds pass as the new knowledge settles into my mind before I mutter, "That hurt."

"You already selected the environment, didn't you?" Dawn says while turning a greenish yellow out of what I can only guess is annoyance.

I guess she didn't like me selecting it without talking to her first...

"Yeah, I did," I answer her before reading a notification that replaced the starter environment selection.

Dungeon Notification:

You have selected the Taiga environment.

The secondary tab: Starter Environments has been locked until you reach EL and CL 10.

Dawn gives a mental sigh before asking, "Which one did you select?"

"I chose the Taiga environment. It was the only one that listed wolves as an inhabitant," I answer Dawn before focusing on the wall behind my core.

"Well, at least you chose a good environment. I am going to go try possessing some monsters now!" Dawn says before teleporting away from my core.

I glance at her as she stares at a random wolf before turning back to the wall.

It's about time I started working on the sixth floor.

Lord Frost

"-orcs don't appear to be making any sudden movements, aside from their agreement with the Dungeon City of Wolfdenn," my assistant finishes his report from his place on the other side of my desk.

My fist unconsciously tightens at the mention of Wolfdenn as I say, "That city is starting to become a hinderance."

John looks down for a second before asking, "If I may?"

I just nod my head in response.

"Wolfdenn appears to be developing into a neutral city, so why don't we use that?" he suggests as he puts his hands behind his back.

"Oh?" I wave my hand for him to continue.

"Well, I hear that Lady Fox has made a deal with him, and that the son of Lord Gray is in the City Lord's mercenary party, so why don't we just send a delegate to make our own deal with him? From what I have heard so far, he doesn't appear to be the disagreeable type, so it's possible that we could just get his permission to cross over through his mountains," John continues, proposing an interesting idea.

I look at him for a second before turning to the window behind me.

It's not a bad idea.

Plus, if we play our cards right, then we might be able to make a beneficial trade deal with Wolfdenn at a later point in time.

Assuming this plays out as we expect.

I turn back to John.

"What if the Orcs try to do the same thing?" I ask my assistant.

He looks surprised for a second before he says, "Then we station men in Rockfall to defend against the possibility."

I grab the glass of wine on my desk and take a sip before saying, "In that case, let's send a delegate to the Dungeon City of Wolfdenn."

John falls to his knees and says "Yes, my Lord!" before rushing out of the room to relay my orders.

I turn back to the window with the glass still in my hand.

This is going to be interesting.