Core 1
Finally, that Tree is gone. Core thought.
It had taken him over three hundred years to build his Dungeon. Currently it was a place he was confident even a S+ Rank Adventuring party could die in it.
Centuries of timeless mana manipulation, the gathering of rare species, and multiple purchases from the Dungeon Store.
All of it almost going up in smoke due to a single Mana Tree.
That thing is as much a Mana Tree as I am a pacifist. Core thought in anger.
Clearly something at the Divine level was being used to conceal the Tree’s true powers from others. There was no other way Appraisal MAX could be deceived in Core’s own Dungeon no less.
Core shuddered to think what might have gone down if the thing masquerading as a Mana Tree had made it past the 50th Floor. Since he’d already thrown everything from the Deeps at the creature, he’d have been totally undefended.
Thankfully that Foxkin lured him away. Note to self, make sure Foxkin do not die in my depths unless it is from pure stupidity. No way to know if they might be family of hers. Core thought, engraving the principle in his mind.
Now that the main threat had been removed, Core started moving his pets down from the upper levels. There was no need to scare off the mana meatbags with the Tree gone.
Although, it wasn’t all bad.
That Tree certainly understood the Flame and Lightning Dao to the absolute peak. If I was strong enough to be sure I could chat without being obliterated, I’d definitely have a few questions for such a powerful entity. Core thought, regretting his weakness had prevented him from doing so.
Weakness brought on by the destruction of his previous dungeon core during a cultivation session.
Since he was connected to the Labyrinth, it wasn’t a huge loss. Drawing on the massive magical construct that spanned every universe, Core had needed to pay a price to regrow the dungeon core. It wasn’t a massive expenditure, yet it was one that lowered his strength at a critical time.
Well, as long as I can Ascend to the next tier, perhaps we can talk another time. Core thought, turning his attention back to the badly mauled Dungeon.
