So I'm a Bat, Big Deal

I spat out enough corrosive poison to do the job, and that was that. Wishing them peace, I hopped back onto Lyra's back, and we set off toward the next door, drawn by the sounds echoing from behind it. As I approached another door further down the hallway, the loud clanging intensified. I paused, trying to glean what was happening inside without stepping in, but it was futile. With a resigned sigh, I pushed the door open, and my eyes widened in disbelief at the scene that unfolded before me. 

Right next to the door I was about to charge through, the wall shimmered like a glitch in reality, revealing a doorway that had been hidden from view. No doorframe, just a glowing archway that vanished as quickly as it appeared. I reached out, and the archway felt dense, almost like it was trying to solidify, but something was off, keeping it from becoming real. With determination, I thrust my hand into the thickened air, feeling resistance, but my arm slipped through with a surge of force. Once I was inside, the air returned to its normal state, as if I had crossed into another realm.

I found myself once again in a massive chamber, its walls, floors, and ceiling all gleaming with a cold silver metal sheen. The starkness of the place was almost overwhelming. Lining the walls were transparent, tubular vats brimming with liquids of various vibrant hues. Each vat was a machine, sporting labels that hinted at their mysterious functions. One read "Air Mana Infusion," while another proclaimed "Earth Mana Infusion," and yet another blazed with "Fire Mana Infusion."

But then, my gaze fell upon a sinister sight—a poison infusion vat housing a grotesque creature that resembled a zombie troll. Its eyes were shut tight, and a mask floated within the chamber, unattached to the test subject. Nearby, a machine buzzed with the words "Essence Combination and Sample Addition Ready."

In the heart of the room lay oval pods, resembling futuristic beds with transparent domes, cradling creatures in a deep slumber. I could see them visibly growing, and not all were zombies. This was clearly a breeding ground for the dungeon's new creations. But who was orchestrating this bizarre operation, and how had I managed to slip inside?

As I ventured further back, the vats shrank in size, resting on metal shelves protruding from the walls, each no larger than a basketball. In the final machine, a light green liquid swirled ominously, and to my shock, there was Biter!

I zeroed in on the machine, scrutinizing every inch for a way to crack it open. "Small pod Infusion of earth mana," I muttered, my eyes locked on a green light bar at the bottom, steadily climbing. As I watched, Biter grew slightly larger, her teeth elongating menacingly. I glanced at the instructions etched at the bottom of the pod, realizing the door would only unlock once the infusion was complete. If I dared to open it prematurely, the specimen inside could be ruined. I could hang tight for a bit while Biter finished up, but I hoped no one would stroll in before I made my escape.

Then a spark of inspiration came to me. I stashed the pod with the zombie into my storage bracelet and pulled it right back out. The pod remained active, and the zombie was thankfully undisturbed.

I zipped through the lab, scooping up every pod and piece of equipment I could find—who knew what might prove useful later? I even snagged the massive zombie in its pod; as long as I didn't keep it in there for over twenty-four hours, I'd be in the clear since the pod wouldn't finish with the zombie for another seventy hours. I cast one last glance at Biter, then decided to toss the whole pod into my storage. I'd take her out later for another inspection, but with the uncertainty of who was running the show and when they might return, it was best to play it safe.

My little fox buddy let out a sharp "Meew!" and I soared over, spotting a massive woven basket perched on a metal counter, brimming with mana cores of all sizes and colors.

"Wow! What a score!" I swooped down, stashing the basket of mana cores into my storage. Then, my eyes landed on a collection of jars filled with all sorts of mysterious items—strange plant bits, seeds, glowing liquids, and odd rocks. I had no clue what any of this stuff was, but it had to be linked to monster creation. Without wasting a second, I decided to grab everything in the room that I could get my hands on.

[Oh joy, the moment has arrived! You can now stake your claim on some poor, unclaimed land. Bravo! You're just a hop, skip, and a malevolent laugh away from being a Dark Lord. Just keep in mind, every dungeon you conquer and creature you bend to your will is just another notch on your belt of evil. Keep it up, and soon you'll have a whole empire of darkness!]

"I'll pick a spot to stake my claim the moment I break free from this dungeon!"

[Maybe if you weren't dragging your feet like a snail on sedatives, you might actually escape this dungeon before the next ice age.]

"Alright, time to move!" I leaped onto Lyra's back, and she bolted out of the room like a shot. The moment we crossed the threshold, the archway vanished behind us, as if it had never existed. I felt a twinge of unease without Biter by my side, but I knew she'd be with me soon, and according to the pod, she'd be tougher than ever.

"With no reason left to explore the other rooms, it was time to head back downstairs and hunt for an exit from this place."

"Meew!" [Alright Master!] She happily bounced through the air heading back down the hallway and towards the stairs.

This time was way quicker than before when my wings were weighed down by that nasty gunk. Just as we made our way to the stairs, the thunderous sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind us, sending a jolt of adrenaline through my veins.

Coming Next Time: Escape into Greater Danger

Just how big is this level?!