Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



The Dungeon Laplace was a place that exceeded all expectations, brimming with adventurers seeking treasures, monsters waiting to be defeated, and extraordinary items waiting to be discovered.

Each floor became increasingly abundant with wealth and power, offering a tantalizing reward for those brave enough to explore its depths. However, all of these changes were just something that was born out of the outcome of overflowing mana and meticulous management of the dungeon.

The true marvel of Dungeon Laplace lay inside its special floors. like the [Workshop], [Training floor], [Forest Spring Sprit Village] and [Main floor].

The [Main Floor] in particular, being the heart of the dungeon and where the dungeon core was located, was a realm of extraordinary beauty and grandeur, overflowing with all manner of mystical wonders.

Here, the mana was dense and potent, providing a source of power and vitality that permeated throughout the entire dungeon. With its enormous area now enveloped in mystical clouds that gently rained down an abundance of mystical energy, it nurtured an extraordinary grove of Mana Crystal trees that had reached adulthood, their radiant light illuminating the landscape.

The air was imbued with a sweet, floral fragrance, carrying the essence of magic that seemed to invigorate all who breathed it in. The sight of the mountains, with their groves of Mana Crystal trees stretching as far as the eye could see, was truly a sight to behold.

These trees that stood tall and proud, their trunks sturdy and their branches extending towards the sky like outstretched arms, sparkled with an otherworldly brilliance, with mana crystals embedded within their branches and leaves, casting a mesmerizing glow upon the surrounding area.

Teeming with life, many mystical creatures like the Dryads and Sprites found solace within its sanctuary. The presence of these fully matured Mana Crystal trees was a testament to the accelerated growth and evolution of Dungeon Laplace, a feat made possible by the assistance of Cecilia, the Forest Spring Royal Spirit.

With her ability to control and manipulate nature itself, Cecilia played a vital role in nurturing and expanding the complex network of mystical veins that ran beneath the Main Floor. These veins, now transformed into heart veins, served as conduits for the flow of mystical energy, further enhancing the power and potential of the dungeon.

While Dungeon Laplace, was designated as a [C] tier intermediate ranking dungeon, its true capabilities far surpassed that classification. Even when compared to some [B] tier dungeon or even a high ranking dungeon, Simon reckoned that his place would not lose in certain aspects.

In any case, unlike many others who had to worry about the scarcity of high-grade Mana Crystals, Simon as the Dungeon Master of Dungeon Laplace had an abundant supply of high-grade crystals.

That was even after deducting the amount needed to run the numerous arrays and other functions of the dungeon.

With the abundant supply of high-grade crystals at his disposal, Simon could focus on his personal growth and the development of his dungeon without worrying about anything.

And so, seated atop a huge rock near the pond of serenity, Simon thanked a Dryad who passed a space ring full of mana crystals to him.

The Dryads and the other mystical creatures that were living on the Main floor, were Cecilia's subordinates. They do not have much combat abilities, but were adept in manipulating nature and nurturing the resources of the world.

Thus Simon tasked them with the maintenance and collection of the resources produced on the Main Floor. The beautiful Dryad, bowed her head towards Simon before going on her way.

With the backdrop of the Serenity pond and the sounds of the nature, Simon looked at the space ring in his hand and after inspecting its contents, he nodded his head.

"There are exactly a thousand Grade [4] and a hundred Grade [5] mana crystals inside it" This was exactly the amount he asked them to bring, there was not even a single crystal extra or less. This went to show how diligent the dryads were.

Satisfied, Simon took out the crystals from the space ring. As he held the grade [4] and grade [5] mana crystals in his hands, he could feel their immense power resonating through the container.

For Simon who had reached a level that would classify him as a powerhouse in the outside world, mana crystals below grade [4] were useless for him. Even if he absorbed the energy from them, his body was so resistant to their effects that hardly any changes would occur to his level.

In gaming terms, it would be more like grinding on mobs that offered you a negligible amount of experience points. The same was the case here, the energy that the current Simon required, was so large that even tens of thousands of grade [3] crystals wouldn't be able to fill that up.

However, Grade [4] crystals were different. Each grade four crystal possessed ten times more purity and energy than the grade three crystals, making them an invaluable resource for his growth and advancement.

The Grade [5] crystals, being even more potent, held the potential to allow him to reach even greater levels.

Simon took out exactly a hundred grade four crystals and ten grade 5 crystals and carefully arranged them around him. Next, he took out a small oval white stone from his inventory and crushed it with his hand.

Immediately a transparent dome like energy surrounded him and covered him with a serene and tranquil aura. This was the effect of the Serenity Stone, an item that created an impromptu effect of increasing one's concentration and focus for a short period of time.

In other words, it allows one to reach the self transient state of mind.

Taking a deep breath, Simon sat down on a relatively large rock and began the intricate process of absorbing the energy contained within each crystal.

He released his mana and branched it into many mana strands using [Mana Flow] and slowly enveloped each of the crystals with it. When touched by his mana, these mana crystals started pulsating before releasing vibrant mystical energy all around him.

These pale blue energy haze were the purest mystical energy capable of increasing one's strength and was no different than the energy transferred when one defeats a foe.

Ordinarily, these purest forms of mystical energy once realised from their container, would immediately dissipate in the air and become one with the mana particles present in the surrounding.

However, Simon was already prepared for it. Manipulating his branched mana strands using the [Mana Flow], Simon immediately grabbed hold of them and pulled them all towards him.

Thanks to the effects of the Serenity Stone which allowed him to achieve a state of heightened concentration and focus, Simon could manipulate these many mana strands without straining his mind.

As all the energy from mana crystals gathered around Simon, he looked like a person covered in a pale blue haze. Each strand and thread of this pure mystical energy was meticulously pulled towards Simon, absorbed through the pores of his body before harmonizing with his own strength.

That was not all, Simon's mastery over [Mana Lines] allowed him to guide the energy strands with precision. He directed the influx of energy into specific channels within his body, ensuring a smooth and efficient absorption process.

The pure and concentrated nature of the mystical energy within the crystals resonated with his own mana, enhancing his innate capabilities and strengthening his connection to the mystical energy.

As the energy continued to flow into him, Simon could sense his own power expanding and deepening. It was as if every fibre of his being was being infused with the essence of the mana crystals, their energy integrating seamlessly with his own.

He could feel his physical and magical attributes surging, his senses sharpening, and his consciousness expanding to new levels. Otherwise also known as level up.

Time seemed to blur as Simon continued to absorb the pure mystical energy pouring inside his body. Soon his mind got attuned to the subtle vibrations and fluctuations of the energy and he reached a realm where all side thoughts vanished from his head.

New understanding descended onto him, allowing him to fully grasp and utilize the potential of these pure mystical energies. As they flowed through his veins, filling him with vitality and strength, Simon could feel his own power surge and expand.

Level 537… Level 538… Level...

Simon continued to absorb the energy released from these crystals and soon many of them were turned into empty husks.

It needs to be mentioned that previously, Simon could only absorb one crystal at a time. However, that process was too time consuming and if he were to consume hundreds of these crystals that he laid around him, who knew how long it would take him?

It was not like Simon did not have any other task than this. As a dungeon master, he had many tasks pending, waiting for him to complete them.

Since he cannot just devote all of his time to training, he needed to allocate his time wisely. And so, he came up with this idea.

After he learned [Mana Flow] and [Mana lines], Simon devised a more efficient method to absorb the energy from the mana crystals. By extending his mana outside his body and manipulating it as if they were his own limbs, he could simultaneously interact with multiple crystals, greatly reducing the time required for absorption.

With a focused mind and precise control, Simon guided the mana strands to envelop the remaining crystals, creating a network of mana connections that linked them together.