Chương 647: All Dungeons Open. Visitng an Old Friend.

Visitng an Old Friend.

Time went by quickly, and two years also passed in a flash. In Ceperet, the last two Dungeons that were still in the evolution process finally opened their portals and realms. The Origin Water Continent, previously known as the Abyssal Void Nexus Continent, awoke like a sleeping beast. The [Rumbling Earth Domain], where the Earth Dragon was located, was an open dungeon that covered most of the continent. During its evolution, the spatial layer around it had become untouchable, prohibiting any entry.

However, together with the worldwide commotion, those nearby noticed the weakening of the dungeon's protective coating.

"What is happening?"

"Wasn't this location the one of the mystical <Earth Rumbling Dungeon>? I heard that no one managed to overcome it before it closed down."

"Yes, even one of the army's leaders, General Hua Edharen, failed the expeditions and lost elite members. The Boss Monster inside is too terrifying."

"Oh? Look, the Dungeon's page is available again!" Everyone was surprised and looked over.

Dungeon Name: Rumbling Earth Domain. Dungeon Level: 75~149. Difficulty Rating: Thornbound~World Heart Epic. Unique Traits: Monster Domain, Atemporal.

They were instantly stunned.

"Wasn't this a Level 25 to Level 99 Dungeon? What happened for it to evolve so absurdly?"

"Level 149… Doesn't that mean that the Boss Monster is now Level 149? It was already a nightmare to deal with it when it was Level 99; now it is fifty levels higher!"

"That's not all. The Boss Monster has gone through an Ascension now."

"Mommy, I don't want to enter here. It is too scary." In the Golden Sap Continent, a similar event was ongoing. In the Blooming Aether Swamp, previously known as the Dark Aether Swamp, energy was surging with only slightly less intensity compared to the <Rumbling Earth Domain>. Almost everyone knew about what Dungeon was opening. After all, this <Dungeon> was part of the history books taught in school.

"The <Blood Curdling Cave> dungeon is opening?"

"Impressive! The historic dungeon that appeared where the previous Terragore Empire stood is going to open!"

"I can't wait to explore it. While this one is also unbeaten, I heard that the first few levels were far from punishing. Veterans quite liked entering, always recommending staying far away from the last few layers." Those who were hunting nearby went over, quickly finding the entrance portal toward the dungeon.

Dungeon Name: Blood Curdling Cave. Dungeon Level: 75~149. Difficulty Rating: Thornbound~Sylvan Crucible. Unique Traits: Atemporal.

Liu Shu also noticed and went to look.

"Hm… They are finally open. I wonder how strong the monsters inside have become." Unlike normal people, Liu Shu's <Dungeon System> allowed her to peer into the details of the dungeons. Once she looked, their stats pages appeared in her eyes.

Dungeon Name: Rumbling Earth Domain. Current Status: Open. Dungeon Level: 75~149. Difficulty Rating: Thornbound~World Heart Epic. (Difficulties: Sproutling, Easy, Normal, Thornbound, Hard, Sylvan Crucible, World Heart Epic, Corrupt Nightmare, and World Tree Withering difficulties). Number Of Floors: 2. Dungeon Reputation: Planetary. Dungeon Alignment: Pride, Avarice. Dungeon Theme: Free Hunt. Dungeon Type: Open Dungeon. Boss Character Sheet: <Level 149 Young Earth Dragon (Mythical)>.

Unique Traits: Monster Domain, Atemporal. Adventurer Log (Click to Expand).

Dungeon Name: Blood Curdling Cave. Current Status: Open. Dungeon Level: 75~149. Difficulty Rating: Thornbound~Sylvan Crucible. (Difficulties: Sproutling, Easy, Normal, Thornbound, Hard, Sylvan Crucible, World Heart Epic, Corrupt Nightmare, and World Tree Withering difficulties). Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Number Of Floors: 9. Dungeon Reputation: Planetary. Dungeon Alignment: Wrath, Pride. Dungeon Theme: Monster Extermination.

Dungeon Type: Layered Cave Nest. Boss Character Sheet: <Terragore Striker King Level 99 (Super Rare)>, <Terragore War Queen Level 120 (Ultra Rare)>, <Terragore Oracle Queen Level 149 (Legendary)>. Unique Traits: Atemporal.

"Wow~." Liu Shu was impressed. She had not expected them to grow so much.

"That Oracle Queen is now a real deal. I wonder if her precognition powers are as strong as those of the Star Chart Newts… Perhaps they are stronger. After all, she is a Legendary class monster! Just one level below the Young Earth Dragon." Speaking of that dragon, Liu Shu recalled how she made friends with it during her first ever personal Dungeon Exploration. Not to mention her excitement when she rolled it in the species selection. She really had some fun back then.

'Should I visit him?' With that thought, Liu Shu's dormant roots inside the Dungeon reactivated, and she detached part of her consciousness to enter the <Rumbling Earth Domain>.

"Oh, wow. I didn't expect such a large change." The Rumbling Earth Domain fostered diverse terrains with quite linear, easy-to-understand monster types. One area had poisonous monsters, another wind-type monsters, etc. This was done to make it easier on the explorers who entered to hunt. The only place she decided not to control was the central area, where the dragon resided. The new Rumbling Earth Domain was not much different from the past.

However, looking at it with her gaze made her appreciate how neatly everything was separated. You could stand in a scorching desert, yet a few meters away, enter a freezing tundra. The environments didn't mix or transition; it was a direct and forceful change. Everywhere except the center was separated into similar layers, all incredible looking. Once she arrived at the center, the voice of the dragon reached her with a teasing tone.

"Look who it is. My good wooden friend." Annoyed at the dragon's tone, Liu Shu harrumphed.

"Who are you calling wooden? Your whole head is wooden!" The Dragon laughed, and Liu Shu finally found him.

"... I didn't expect you to grow so large. Aren't you larger than me?" In front of her gaze lay a gargantuan dragon. His surface was rocky, perfectly imitating that of a mountain. It wasn't only the skin that imitated a mountain's, as his height while lying down was probably over 5, 000 meters. Moreover, this stature was while he lay down! The dragon's body resembled a mountain chain, with the spikes along his spine resembling mountain peaks. The only part that didn't look so much like a mountain was his head.

After he raised it, rocks and other debris falling off him revealed the relatively smooth underbelly. Smooth compared to the rest of his huge body, but still rugged and rocky. The dragon looked down, his golden dragon eyes shining with both ancient wisdom and some playfulness.

"It has been over 2000 years. I thought that this dungeon had been lost in the dimensions."

"Two thousand!?" Liu Shu was flabbergasted.

"How can that be?" Then, she remembered the attribute she infused the <Dungeon> with.

"Ah." The unique quality <Atemporal> sped up time inside the Dungeons. Because Liu Shu never really thought of the monsters inside as proper living beings, as they were all tied down to her <Dungeon System>, she never considered how time passed for those inside. A trace of guilt appeared in Liu Shu's heart.

"That… sorry. I didn't know that you would suffer because of this."

"Suffer?" The Dragon blinked and then laughed.

"While I am glad you are worried, I actually wouldn't mind if time stretched further. I like peace and quiet, so sleeping here and becoming one with the mountains doesn't sound that bad."

"It doesn't?" The dragon asked back.

"Would you feel bad if you could merge with nature and become one with it?" Our World Tree pondered, imagining that scenario. She couldn't really answer, her mind a bit confused.

"It doesn't feel entirely right. It might sound strange, but I feel as if my existence transcends nature in a way."

"Oh?" The dragon's scaly eyebrow raised.

"What is the name of your species now?" Feeling no necessity to hide it, Liu Shu shared it with him.

"Sapling Eternal Universal Tree." The dragon was struck speechless. Looking at the roots that tilted to the side, showing confusion because of his reaction, the Earth Dragon didn't know how to react.

"You are really… something."

"Hehe. I know!" The dragon pondered for a few seconds.

"Universal Tree lineage. I underestimated your potential even while thinking of overestimating it. I bet your enemies suffer quite a bit because of this."

"Hmph. How could that be?" Liu Shu spoke, both a bit glad and dissatisfied.

"All my enemies underestimate me! They think too lightly of me." The dragon would sweat if he could.

"No, no. I bet that they try to put you in high esteem. However, you are so out of normal boundaries that even their overestimations fall short."

"I don't believe it!" Liu Shu harrumphed. Hearing that answer, the dragon lit a mental candle for this World Tree's enemies.

'If they give her a few centuries to grow, thinking that she won't amount to anything, her enemies might find that even their sewers will be invaded by her roots.'

"Ah, right!" Hearing his friend World Tree's exclamation, the dragon looked down with a smile.

"What's wrong?"

"I came to speak with you and warn you that the <Dungeon> is open once again. Although only a few decades have gone by outside, you must be careful. There are many <Fifth Energy Cycles> that might want to challenge you." A trace of amusement and gentleness flashed in the dragon's eyes.

"What? You first put me as your Boss Monster, and now you worry that I will die?" Liu Shu spoke timidly.

"That… well… You are different! Although I know that your consciousness will not really reset after death, I don't really want you to suffer too much." The dragon shook his giant head with a laugh.

"Don't worry. Didn't I tell you that I didn't mind? I even promised to spare geniuses when I see them! You are contradicting yourself too much."

"Ugh… It's difficult to balance things." Hearing her grumble, the dragon smiled.

"Alright, don't worry about those things. I am glad to become the Boss Monster, and nothing will happen. At least, I can live for as long as you live, right? That's a big plus."

"For as long as I live?" Liu Shu was surprised when she heard that. However, after thinking about it, his words did make some sense. The dragons were part of the System, which was in turn part of herself. So, even when her lifespan was eternal, the dragon's existence and everything else would follow. The dragon noticed that Liu Shu was in deep thought, so he didn't bother her and waited patiently.

'Should I become friends with other Boss Monsters with intelligence?' Liu Shu muttered to herself, her mind spinning with many different thoughts.

"Dungeon System, if the dungeon is destroyed, do I lose the summoned Boss Monster?" [Dungeon System: The <Boss Monster> is an individual and special entity tied to the <Dungeon Archive>. Their experiences gather and are part of their existence. Longer-living <Boss Monsters> are more dangerous, not because of their strength increase, but because of their experience. The difficulty of a <Dungeon> can even change because of events when the <Boss Monster>'s intelligence or tactics develop significantly.] Liu Shu was stunned, and a strange emotion flared in her heart, one that quickly faded as she shook off the thought.

"It doesn't matter for now. I am still too young. Be patient. Still…" Liu Shu trailed her words.

"I should visit the Oracle Terragore Queen. As a Legendary creature, she should have enough intelligence to communicate, right?" The thought lingered for a bit before she left it for later. It was not something that she should do now, as her consciousness was focused on developing herself so that she could grow unimpeded.