Chapter 11: Dungeon of Slime Kings and Dumb Decisions
The sun had barely risen when Lucian snuck out of the house, his Feral Pudding bouncing behind him like a hyperactive ball of chaos.
Seventeen's voice buzzed in his ears like an overexcited tour guide.
[System 17]:
"Destination: Forest of Whispers! Danger level: Mild! Death possibility: Only 48%!"
Lucian stumbled.
"Wait, what?! 48%?! You said it was a basic quest!"
Seventeen laughed mischievously.
"It is basic... for people who like living dangerously!"
Lucian facepalmed.
Still, excitement raced through his veins.
His first real dungeon!
[System Notification]:
> [Hidden Dungeon Entry Detected: Slime King's Tomb]
Before him stood a creepy hollow tree, its roots twisted into an archway like a natural portal.
The inside pulsed with faint green light, and a foul, slimy smell hit his nose so hard he almost fell backward.
"Pudding," Lucian whispered, "if I die, you have permission to eat Seventeen."
The Feral Pudding burped proudly.
---
Inside the Dungeon
The first room looked... disgusting.
Slime oozed from the ceiling. The walls squelched when Lucian touched them accidentally.
He wiped his hand on his pants, gagging.
"Ughh, it's like walking inside a troll's armpit!"
Seventeen chirped.
"Focus! First wave incoming: Slime Minions! Estimated IQ: 2!"
A dozen jelly-like creatures popped out from behind rocks, jiggling menacingly.
Lucian cracked his knuckles.
"Alright, bring it on."
He pointed at the nearest one.
"Pudding, Pudding Slam!"
The Feral Pudding roared (or at least tried to) and body-slammed the first slime so hard it splattered like an overripe tomato.
Lucian laughed.
"This is way easier than I thought!"
Two minutes later—
Lucian was running for his life.
Apparently, slimes multiplied when you smashed them wrong.
Now fifty tiny slimes chased him across the dungeon, looking angrier with every bounce.
Seventeen gave running commentary.
"Excellent, excellent! Very educational! Next time, use fire instead of creating an army of angry jellybeans!"
"YOU COULD HAVE WARNED ME EARLIER!"
---
Mid-Dungeon: Trap Time
After barely surviving the slime stampede, Lucian stumbled into the next chamber.
At its center floated a golden slime crown — glistening under a shaft of magical light.
Lucian's eyes sparkled.
"Treasure!"
Seventeen immediately yelled,
"WAIT, IDIOT, IT'S A TRAP!"
Too late.
The moment Lucian touched the crown, the entire floor rumbled.
A massive slime descended from the ceiling with a sickening splorch, shaking the ground.
It was five times bigger than any slime he'd seen — with a jagged crown embedded into its gelatinous head and a huge slimy mustache.
Lucian gaped.
"...You're kidding me."
[System Notification]:
> [Boss Monster Appeared: Slime King — Level 20!]
[WARNING: Recommended Party Size — 5 Players.]
Lucian stared at his only party member: a pudding with no brain.
He screamed inside.
---
The Epic (and Very Dumb) Fight
The Slime King roared.
Lucian roared back, mostly out of terror.
"Pudding! Pudding Slam, gooo!"
The Feral Pudding charged heroically... and bounced off harmlessly, landing face-first into the wall.
Lucian cursed.
"Seventeen! Tips, please!"
Seventeen's advice was... questionable.
"Aim for the butt! All slimes have their cores at the back!"
Lucian blinked.
"...I'm about to commit slimicide by punching a monster's ass, aren't I?"
Seventeen was laughing too hard to answer.
Bracing himself, Lucian sprinted around the Slime King, dodging slimy tentacles, and leapt high—
—straight into the gooey monster's rear.
SPLAT.
The slime jiggled violently as Lucian stuck his arm inside, gagging.
He groped blindly until his fingers touched something solid — a hard, smooth core!
"GOT IT!"
With a yell, Lucian yanked the core free.
The Slime King convulsed — then exploded into a rain of colorful, stinking goo.
Lucian hit the floor, completely drenched.
The Feral Pudding licked his face happily.
[System Notification]:
> [Boss Defeated!]
[Loot Acquired: Slime King's Core x1, Slime Crown x1, Hidden Beast Egg x1!]
Lucian sat there for a long moment, covered in goo, processing everything.
Then he smiled wide.
"I did it."
Seventeen snickered.
"Congrats, my Lord! You officially beat your first boss by fisting his ass!"
Lucian threw a slime at the floating screen.
---
Aftermath: New Treasures
Lucian inspected his loot.
Slime King's Core: Glows faintly. Can be absorbed by Beast Tree!
Slime Crown: Grants +5 Charisma against slime-type beasts.
Hidden Beast Egg: ??? (Sealed)
Seventeen buzzed excitedly.
"The Beast Egg is rare! We can hatch it once you strengthen your Beast Tree a bit more!"
Lucian held the tiny silver egg close, heart pounding.
Adventure.
Power.
Family.
He was going to conquer everything.
But first...
He needed a long, long bath.
And maybe several buckets of soap.
---
[Chapter End]Chapter 12: Return of the Slime Champion
Lucian trudged back toward the village, dripping with half-dried slime, smelling like a rotting swamp.
Birds flying overhead actually changed direction to avoid the stench trail he was leaving behind.
Seventeen's voice rang gleefully in his ears.
[System 17]:
"Congratulations, Master! You now hold the official world record for Worst Smelling Child!"
Lucian groaned.
"If you don't shut up, I'm using you as laundry detergent."
"Hmph! You would lose your only chance at Supreme Dominance!"
Lucian rolled his eyes.
---
At the Village Gate
The two gate guards spotted him approaching.
One of them immediately clutched his nose and staggered back, retching.
The second one, tougher-looking, squinted.
"Oi, is that the village brat? Or some kind of mutant sewer goblin?"
Lucian waved a slimy hand.
"Hi!"
Both guards fainted on the spot.
Lucian sighed.
"...Yeah. Might need two baths after this."
---
At Home
Lucian kicked open the door, triumphant.
"I'm back, family! Your future legend has returned!"
His mother, Liana, dropped the basket she was holding.
His little brother, Arin, screamed like he'd seen a ghost.
Even his father, Reyn, a sturdy man who'd once fought a bear barehanded, recoiled dramatically.
"WHO LET A WALKING SEWAGE PIT IN HERE?!" Reyn yelled.
Grandfather grunted from his rocking chair.
"Hah. I fought in wars nastier than that smell. Boy, you smell like victory... and horse diarrhea."
Lucian gave a slimy thumbs-up.
Mother Liana pinched her nose with two fingers, her eyes watering.
"Bathroom. Now. Or I'll burn those clothes and you inside them."
"On it!"
Lucian sprinted upstairs, leaving a trail of slime drops behind.
The family stared at the trail in horror.
---
One Hour Later...
After two intense baths, half a dozen buckets of soap, and aggressive scrubbing by his mother (which felt more like an exorcism), Lucian finally sat clean at the dinner table.
In fresh clothes, with his hair still dripping water, he grinned.
Father Reyn leaned in.
"So... tell me, son. How the hell did you end up looking like you lost a fight with a giant snot monster?"
Lucian puffed his chest.
"I beat a Slime King!"
Everyone froze.
Mother's spoon clattered onto the table.
Arin gaped, eyes shining like stars.
Grandfather's old eyes gleamed with interest.
"You beat a boss monster? Alone?"
Lucian nodded proudly.
"And I got loot!"
He slapped down the slime crown onto the table with a flourish.
Arin immediately tried to grab it, only to be smacked away by Mother.
"Careful! It might still be cursed!"
Seventeen popped up.
[System 17]:
"Master also acquired a Hidden Beast Egg and a Slime King's Core! Potential: EXTREMELY HIGH."
Grandfather's thick eyebrows rose.
"A Beast Egg, huh... haven't seen one of those in years."
Father Reyn whistled low.
"Kid's gonna cause trouble one day. I can already feel it in my bones."
Lucian beamed wider.
"I plan to!"
---
After Dinner: Private Time with 17
Lucian sat on the rooftop under the stars.
Seventeen materialized beside him in the form of a tiny floating cube.
"Master, based on today's performance, you have officially unlocked System Upgrade Option 1!"
A golden screen appeared.
> [System Upgrade Available!]
Unlock Weapon Tree (Stage 1) — Create primitive weapons automatically.
Unlock Beast Tree Evolution — Allows feeding cores to the tree to grow new Beast Branches.
Unlock Mini-Forge — Craft low-level artifacts and equipment!
Choose one upgrade!
Lucian's heart thumped fast.
Weapons?
Beasts?
Artifacts?
He rubbed his chin, thinking.
Seventeen added cheerfully:
"If you pick Beast Tree Evolution, you can hatch the Hidden Beast Egg faster!"
Lucian grinned.
"I choose Beast Tree Evolution!"
The screen flashed brightly.
[Upgrade Confirmed!]
> [Beast Tree Evolution Stage 1 Unlocked!]
[Feed Beast Tree to hatch Hidden Beast Egg.]
Lucian's Feral Pudding, sensing excitement, bounced up and down like crazy.
Lucian laughed.
"Alright, Pudding. Tomorrow we plant the seeds of domination!"
Seventeen buzzed.
"World domination, beast armies, artifact forging, godlike weapons... all before puberty! This is gonna be fun!"
Lucian leaned back against the roof tiles, staring at the stars.
Family.
Adventure.
Power.
He was just getting started.
And the whole world would soon know the name—
Lucian Daragon.Chapter 13: Beast Tree — The First Sacrifice!
The sun rose lazily over Daragon Village, painting the sky with orange and crimson hues.
Lucian woke up early, stretching his arms wide.
Today wasn't just another training day.
Today was Beast Tree Feeding Day!
And according to Seventeen — if he did it right, the Hidden Beast Egg would hatch!
Lucian jumped out of bed, almost landing face-first on the floor.
"Ow—dammit!"
Seventeen's screen flashed cheerfully.
[System 17]:
"Master's bones are now 0.3% tougher after yesterday's fall experience! Congratulations!"
Lucian grumbled, getting up.
"At this rate, I'll evolve into a punching bag."
"That's the spirit!"
---
In the Forest — Quest Begins
Lucian stood before a small patch of dark soil, where a tiny, weird-looking tree grew.
Its trunk was black and twisted, its leaves a deep, dark green, and glowing runes circled the bark.
At its base sat the Hidden Beast Egg — a football-sized, dark silver egg with tiny claw marks forming on the shell.
Lucian crouched and patted the egg.
"Don't worry, buddy. Big bro's gonna feed you until you pop out stronger than a dragon!"
Seventeen floated beside him, sparkling.
[System 17]:
"Feeding Instructions: Kill beasts, absorb Beast Cores, and plant them here!"
Lucian cracked his knuckles.
"Time to go hunting!"
---
First Target: Horned Rabbits
The forest outside the village teemed with low-level beasts.
The first unlucky victims: a group of Horned Rabbits.
These were big, angry rabbits — about the size of large dogs — with sharp horns that could pierce wood.
Lucian crouched behind a bush, grinning.
He picked up a rock and threw it.
BANG!
It bounced off one rabbit's head.
The rabbit turned, furious — and charged!
Lucian smirked.
"Just as planned."
With a swift dodge, he sidestepped and swung a sturdy branch he'd grabbed earlier.
THWACK!
Rabbit down!
Another rabbit leapt at him.
Lucian kicked it mid-air.
BAM!
Victory!
Seventeen's voice chimed.
[System 17]:
"Horned Rabbit x2 Defeated! Cores Obtained!"
Lucian picked up the small, shiny cores — about the size of marbles — and jogged back to the Beast Tree.
---
Feeding the Tree
Lucian held out the cores.
The Beast Tree's runes glowed brighter.
"Eat up, buddy."
The ground trembled slightly as the roots shot up and yanked the cores into the soil.
The leaves shimmered, and a faint hum filled the air.
Seventeen buzzed.
[System 17]:
"Feeding Successful! Growth Rate: 2%!"
Lucian's face fell.
"ONLY TWO PERCENT?!"
"Heh. No one said raising beasts was easy, Master!"
Lucian sighed, putting his hands on his hips.
"Looks like I'm gonna need a lot more rabbit butts."
---
Second Hunt: Sneaky Foxes
Lucian decided to up his game.
Deeper in the woods lived Sneaky Foxes — fast, wily creatures with silver fur.
Catching one wasn't going to be easy.
Lucian set a trap — a simple pit covered with leaves and baited with a chunk of meat.
He waited.
And waited.
And waited...
Hours passed.
Lucian nearly fell asleep.
Then — a soft rustle.
He peeked.
A silver blur dashed toward the meat.
SNAP!
The fox fell into the pit!
Lucian fist-pumped the air.
"YES!"
Seventeen giggled.
[System 17]:
"Master, your IQ is now temporarily above average!"
Lucian made a smug face.
"Bow before my genius, Seventeen."
He retrieved the fox's core after a quick battle — the fox put up a good fight — and raced back to the Beast Tree.
---
More Feeding
More cores were fed.
The Beast Tree grew taller, and the Hidden Beast Egg trembled slightly.
[System 17]:
"Feeding Progress: 35%!"
Lucian wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Holy crap. Raising a beast is harder than raising a kid."
Seventeen chirped.
"Correct! But the rewards, Master... ohhh, the rewards~!"
Lucian grinned tiredly.
"Yeah, yeah. I better get a flying dragon that spits lasers."
---
Comedy Break — Family Interruption
As Lucian fed the Beast Tree, Grandfather strolled over with a fishing rod.
He watched Lucian shoveling dirt and glowing cores.
Grandfather squinted.
"You digging a grave or growing a girlfriend?"
Lucian nearly choked.
"WHAT?! Grandpa!"
Grandfather scratched his beard.
"Back in my day, we didn't waste time feeding trees. We fed women and made armies of kids."
Lucian turned beet red.
Seventeen howled with laughter.
[System 17]:
"Master, System Advice: Perhaps you should consider growing a girlfriend too—"
"NO THANK YOU!"
Lucian threw a rock at Seventeen, who dodged.
Grandfather chuckled and wandered off to fish.
Lucian muttered under his breath.
"Old man needs a hobby... besides traumatizing me."
---
Night Falls — A New Pulse
As the sun set, Lucian finally planted the last of the day's cores.
The Beast Tree shimmered.
The Hidden Beast Egg cracked slightly, a faint light spilling out.
Seventeen's voice trembled with excitement.
[System 17]:
"Warning! Imminent Egg Awakening Detected!"
Lucian stood up, heart racing.
The soil glowed.
The tree's roots vibrated.
And a small growl echoed from within the egg.
Something... was about to be born.
Lucian took a deep breath.
"Here we go."
Tomorrow...
The true journey would begin!Chapter 14: Birth of the Hidden Beast! First Battle Together!
---
The night was thick and heavy, stars twinkling like tiny diamonds scattered across black velvet.
Lucian sat cross-legged in front of the Beast Tree, staring at the cracking egg like a hawk.
Each tiny crack made his heart pound louder in his ears.
[System 17]:
"Master, stay alert. Hidden Beast Birth detected. High chance of beast going berserk during awakening!"
Lucian swallowed.
"Berserk? You could have mentioned that earlier!"
Seventeen's voice was way too cheerful.
"Surprise builds character, Master!"
Lucian muttered darkly under his breath.
The egg cracked again — a deep, resonant CRRRRK — and finally...
a claw punched through the shell!
A dark silhouette wriggled free, landing on the soft grass with a wet plop.
Lucian leaned forward, eyes wide.
---
The First Look — His Hidden Beast!
The creature shook itself dry, standing up shakily.
It was... weird.
It had dark silver fur, smooth and glossy like polished metal.
Two short black horns curled from its forehead, and its tail was long, tipped with a sharp spike.
Its eyes — huge and luminous — glowed deep blue.
It looked part wolf, part panther, part nightmare.
And it was barely the size of a puppy.
Lucian's mouth fell open.
"...you're so damn cute."
The baby beast snarled weakly, baring tiny, sharp teeth.
Seventeen beeped.
[System 17]:
"Congratulations! You've obtained: [Hidden Beast: Abyssal Fang Pup]!"
- Rank: Unique
- Growth Potential: Mythical!
- Special Trait: [Evolution Path: 12 Variants Available]!"
Lucian gawked.
"Mythical growth?! Are you serious?!"
Seventeen's text flashed smugly.
"Did you think your dear 17 would hand you a cabbage for a partner? Hmph!"
Lucian laughed, reaching out carefully.
The Abyssal Fang Pup sniffed his fingers... then licked them.
A warm, tingling bond formed between them, a golden thread connecting heart to heart.
Lucian's chest tightened — not from pain, but from overwhelming happiness.
He had a partner now.
A real one.
---
Sudden Danger!
Just as Lucian started celebrating —
the ground rumbled.
A massive shadow loomed over the trees.
[System 17]:
"Warning! Wild Beast Detected: Mutant Boar King! Level: F+ Rank!"
Lucian's face paled.
A Mutant Boar King?!
That thing could flatten trees like grass!
The trees parted violently — and the Boar King stomped into the clearing, snorting steam from its nose.
It was massive — easily the size of a truck — with ugly gray fur, long jagged tusks, and bloodshot red eyes.
Lucian's knees shook.
"Seventeen! What the hell! I'm only Level 1!"
Seventeen buzzed.
"Exactly! Time for your Trial by Fire, Master!"
Lucian almost cried.
"WHAT KIND OF PARENT THROWS A BABY INTO A VOLCANO?!"
The pup growled beside him, stepping protectively in front of Lucian.
Lucian clenched his fists.
"No choice... If we don't fight, we'll die!"
---
First Battle — Teamwork
The Boar King charged.
Lucian rolled to the side, grabbing a fallen branch as a makeshift spear.
The Abyssal Fang Pup darted forward, much faster than Lucian expected.
It sank its tiny fangs into the Boar's leg.
The Boar roared, kicking wildly — but the pup held on grimly.
Lucian seized the moment.
"NOW!"
He sprinted forward and jammed the sharp branch into the Boar's other leg joint.
SHLUNK!
The Boar staggered, enraged.
It spun around, trying to crush Lucian.
Seventeen yelled in his mind.
[System 17]:
"Master! Use your Soul Link! Channel Mana to the Pup!"
Lucian instinctively pushed energy through the golden bond.
The pup's body glowed — its fangs enlarged, its claws shimmered with dark energy.
It leapt —
and sank its boosted fangs deep into the Boar's throat.
SKREEEEE!
The Boar thrashed — then collapsed.
Dead.
Lucian dropped to his knees, gasping for breath.
He looked at his little partner — who wagged its tail proudly, blood dripping from its muzzle.
Lucian laughed weakly.
"Good boy... Good freaking boy."
Seventeen beeped.
[System 17]:
"Enemy Defeated! Loot Dropped!"
A glowing F-Rank Beast Core rolled out of the Boar's body.
Beside it — an old, cracked weapon: a rusty dagger.
Lucian crawled over and picked it up.
Seventeen scanned.
[System 17]:
"[Rusty Relic Dagger] obtained! (Upgradeable!)"
Lucian smiled tiredly.
"One step closer... to being a real fighter."
He looked at the pup, who blinked adorably.
"And you, my badass little monster, are getting steak tonight."
---
Family Aftermath
Hours later, Lucian limped home, carrying the pup wrapped in a cloth.
As he stumbled through the door, his father looked up from polishing a sword.
He stared at the dirty, bloody mess that was Lucian.
Then at the strange little beast wagging its tail.
Then back at Lucian.
And with complete seriousness, Father said:
"...You finally went outside to get a girlfriend, huh?"
Lucian tripped on the doorstep.
Mother burst out laughing in the kitchen.
Grandfather added from his chair:
"Well, it's uglier than expected, but at least it has more teeth than you."
Lucian sat down on the floor, defeated.
Seventeen's text popped up.
[System 17]:
"Master's Ego Damage: 9999. Emergency Recovery Initiated."
Lucian covered his face with his hands.
"God... just kill me now."Chapter 15: Awakening of the Chosen — The Birth of a Hidden Domain!
---
Early Morning – Lucian's Room
Lucian tossed and turned in his sleep.
The pup (newly named "Abyss") was curled against his stomach, snoring softly.
Suddenly —
A sharp, burning sensation tore through Lucian's chest.
His body stiffened.
[System 17]:
"Master! Initiating Forced Awakening! Brace for impact!"
Before Lucian could even curse —
a golden magic circle bloomed under his bed, and his body vanished from the room like a sucked noodle.
---
Somewhere Beyond Reality – Awakening Grounds
Lucian landed hard on his back.
THUD!
He groaned, sitting up.
"Why does everything magical hurt?"
He looked around.
The world was pure white — endless clouds stretching forever.
Before him floated a massive golden gate.
Its surface shimmered, filled with mysterious symbols.
Twelve small slots were carved into it — but only one was glowing faintly.
[System 17]:
"Welcome, Master, to the [Class Awakening Gate]!"
Lucian squinted.
"This looks like it costs premium membership."
Seventeen beeped proudly.
"Naturally! Only the chosen ones get access here!"
[Class Awakening Options Detected]
> Normal Paths:
Swordsman
Mage
Beast Tamer
Ranger
> Hidden Path (Locked for Commoners):
Necromancer: Child of Ashes (Awaken?)
Lucian's mouth fell open.
"Holy— Necromancer class!!"
Seventeen confirmed.
"Because of your Soul Quality, Bloodline Mutation, and First Kill Achievement, the Hidden Path is unlocked!"
Lucian's hands trembled.
He didn't even hesitate.
"AWAKEN NECROMANCER CLASS!"
The golden gate flared blindingly bright —
and Lucian's body lifted into the air.
---
Class Awakening
Chains wrapped around Lucian's soul —
then snapped one by one.
A massive torrent of black and silver energy flooded into him.
Pain. Power. Madness. Hunger.
All emotions swirled inside him like a violent storm.
[System 17]:
"Master... hold on! Your mind is expanding! Your soul is forming the foundation of Necromancer Sovereign Path!"
Lucian gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead.
The storm slammed into his chest —
and something awakened deep inside him.
A black crown of bones formed above his head for a split second.
His shadow twisted —
turning into countless writhing arms before settling down.
Finally, he fell to the ground, gasping for air.
[System 17]:
"Class Awakened! New Skills Unlocked!"System 17]:
"Class Awakened! New Skills Unlocked!"
---
[Awakened Class: Necromancer: Child of Ashes]
Basic Skill:
Raise Undead (Lv.1): Turn any corpse into your servant.
Hidden Skill:
Punarjanam (Lv.1): Revive your undead again after death.
Soul Steal (Lv.1): Absorb fragments of soul to empower yourself.
Trait:
Abyssal Domination (Passive): Lower-ranked beasts instinctively fear you.
Lucian blinked, dazed.
"I'm... I'm a real Necromancer now."
He looked at his hand — faint black mist coiled around his fingers.
He could feel it.
The endless world of life and death bending slightly to his will.
---
Sudden Event — Domain Awakening!
Before he could celebrate, Seventeen screamed:
[System 17]:
"Warning! High Compatibility Detected! Force Domain Awakening!"
Lucian's body floated again.
His consciousness was pulled deep into his soul.
Inside him —
a massive black seed floated, wrapped in golden threads.
Seventeen's voice echoed.
"Plant it! This is your [Necromancer's Domain Seed]!"
Lucian gritted his teeth, grabbing the black seed and slamming it into the soul floor.
The ground trembled.
A tree — black, leafless, covered in faint green crystals — burst out.
Its roots tore through the soul plane, expanding crazily.
The black landscape shifted, shaping itself.
---
[Domain Awakened: Garden of the Forgotten]
Size: 50 meters (Expandable)
Feature 1: Beast Tree planted (Can grow new beasts).
Feature 2: Grave Soil formed (Corpses buried here spawn stronger undead).
Feature 3: Weapon Tree available (Locked until upgrading).
Special Rule:
"Only Master can summon, command, and empower armies inside."
Lucian fell to his knees, panting.
Seventeen congratulated in his mind.
"You've done it, Master. You now possess a living Domain! You are no longer bound by the world's rules. You… are your own King!"
Lucian looked up at the strange twisted sky above his domain.
A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips.
"For the first time... I feel alive."
---
Final Event:
As Lucian stood there, soaking in his new powers —
a system window popped.
[Hidden Quest Started: First Command!]
Objective:
Kill 10 beasts inside your Domain.
Expand Domain by +20 meters.
Reward: First Domain Guardian Summoning Skill.
Lucian's eyes burned.
"Bring it on."