Through the map he had gained from an achievement a few days prior, Ordis had spent the night observing D. Spider tirelessly prowling the grasslands. Her hunting efforts had been relentless, yet the spoils were... underwhelming. Rats, bats, and other small rodents made up the bulk of her catches.
“That’s kind of annoying,” Ordis grumbled. He wished the system allowed him to filter out different types of creatures in his dungeon could be used in other place, but unfortunately, his map only displayed the island’s terrain and his minions’ movements—it lacked the finer details he desperately wanted. It wasn’t D. Spider’s fault, though. She was simply doing her best with what was available. Maybe the nighttime limited the variety of prey she could find.
Still, despite the meager haul, Ordis had gained a title and an achievement just for having his minions successfully hunt outside the dungeon for the first time.
“Hunting without the system’s help feels so random... I’m basically just fumbling around in the dark,” Ordis sighed. He wasn’t a seasoned hunter, nor did he have the skills to navigate a forest at night. Without the dungeon’s influence, he would be completely clueless when it came to tracking and capturing prey.
In the end, everything relied on D. Spider’s hunting instincts—he had barely contributed at all. The realization left him feeling somewhat helpless, a stark reminder of just how powerless he truly was outside the safety of his dungeon.
Turning his attention back inside, he decided to check on his minions’ progress. With the various buffs and experience boosts he had acquired, they were leveling up faster than before—but even that had its limits.
“Hm, leveling up is definitely getting harder,” Ordis noted. D. Ant had finally reached Level 17, but even with all the extra effects helping out, it still felt like an uphill battle. “At this rate, it’s going to take all day just to get to Level 18.”
As the sun continued its slow ascent, Ordis watched his minions scurry about, the grind of survival ever-present. The higher their levels got, the more effort it took to push forward. But at least now, he had a better grasp of his dungeon’s capabilities—and that knowledge was worth something.
His D. Ant was still at this number [Level: 18 (20%)]
For some reason, Ordis couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. A vague sense of unease prickled at him, but he pushed it aside.
“Oh well… at this point, my minions are strong enough to handle things on their own,” he muttered, shifting his focus back to the meadow.
He hadn’t paid much attention to this area until now, too preoccupied with monitoring his minions’ progress. The meadow had always seemed like a poor hunting ground for his insect minions—too open, too full of fast-moving mammals and alert birds that could easily evade them. But now, with his minions growing stronger, he had a reason to reconsider.
What caught his interest was the fact that one of his minions, D. Spider, had developed the ability to at least hold its own against the creatures lurking near the dungeon’s entrance. That alone made the meadow worth a second look.
“Morning’s coming… which means a different set of animals will start showing up,” Ordis mused. He had observed the cycle before—at sunrise, the meadow would come alive with herbivores. Deer, mouse-deer, and other grazing animals would arrive, drawn by the fresh grass and morning dew.
“Yeah, things are definitely easier in the morning or afternoon,” he muttered. Unlike at night, where only nocturnal creatures roamed, daylight meant a wider variety of prey. Of course, that also meant more eyes watching for danger.
He turned his attention back to D. Spider, ensuring she remained well hidden. For now, she was perched in the trees bordering the grassland, an ambush predator lying in wait. Her dark body blended seamlessly with the foliage, her many eyes scanning the meadow below with cold precision.
Ordis was hoping for one thing: birds.
If D. Spider could capture a bird, it might unlock another achievement, potentially earning him a free slot to summon a new minion type. Last night’s hunts had been limited to small mammals—bats, rats, and lemurs. While useful, they weren’t quite what he wanted.
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“At a time like this, I should get lucky…” he muttered. “Why I don’t see any owl… last night? Aren’t owls supposed to be active at night?”
He could only grumble in frustration. There wasn’t much he could do as a dungeon, after all.
“Either way,” he sighed, “we’re making birds the main focus today.”
As the morning sun bathed the meadow in golden light, the first groups of deer and mouse-deer began to emerge from the trees, cautiously stepping onto the grass. Soon, the field would be full of grazing herbivores, completely unaware of the silent predator lurking above.
All Ordis had to do now was wait.
As the morning light spread across the meadow, Ordis observed a growing number of animals venturing into the open grassland. Birds fluttered between trees, small mammals scurried through the underbrush, and reptiles basked in the warmth of the sun. Amidst this lively scene, D. Spider remained perched high above, her many eyes scanning for potential prey.
Whenever a small creature—a lizard, frog, or insect—caught her attention, she struck with precision. From above, she would fire a near-invisible silk thread, snaring her unsuspecting target before swiftly wrapping it in a cocoon. Her trap, a carefully woven web hidden between branches, was surprisingly effective. Though barely visible to the naked eye, it was strong enough to entangle anything that strayed into its reach.
Ordis had been waiting for something bigger, and it didn’t take long before his patience was rewarded. A small bird, no larger than 12 centimeters, found itself ensnared in one of the larger net traps D. Spider had constructed. The web stretched up to 10 meters in diameter—an impressive structure that had already captured several other small creatures overnight. But Ordis only had eyes for the bird.
"Guhehehe… My luck is here!" Ordis chuckled in delight, watching as D. Spider moved with deadly efficiency. This time, she didn’t even need to fire another silk shot. Instead, she simply crawled across the web, effortlessly approaching the struggling bird. With a swift, lethal bite, she ended its resistance, then cocooned it in layers of silk.
However, this time was different. As D. Spider descended from the tree, she carried not just the bird, but multiple prey wrapped in silk. A collection of unfortunate creatures had fallen victim to her traps.
"Oh… a lot of them scattered when they saw her," Ordis noted, watching as the surrounding wildlife reacted in fear. Deer, mouse-deer, and other herbivores that had wandered into the meadow suddenly bolted, startled by the sight of the massive 181 cm spider moving through the trees. It was clear—nothing in this area was accustomed to such an unnatural predator.
D. Spider, however, remained focused on her objective. She paid no attention to the fleeing animals, prioritizing her master’s command: to secure a bird for the dungeon.
[Successfully analyzed the body of a songbird. You can now summon songbird as minions.]
[Title Unlocked: Echoes of the Skies]
Effects:
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Aerial Mastery (Passive): All bird-type minions gain a 15% increase in flight speed and maneuverability, making them more efficient hunters and scouts.
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Coordinated Flock (Passive): When at least three bird minions attack the same target, their precision increases, granting a +10% critical hit chance.
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Sky’s Vigil (Passive): Bird minions expand the dungeon’s awareness, detecting intruders or prey within a larger radius. Their sharp vision allows them to spot concealed enemies more easily.
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Hunting Instinct (Passive): Raptors and other predatory birds receive an additional 10% attack boost when striking smaller prey.
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Windborne Adaptation (Passive): All bird minions require 20% less energy when flying, allowing them to stay airborne longer without tiring.
[Achievement Unlocked: Six Lords of the Wild!]
Congratulations! You have successfully expanded your dominion to command five distinct minion factions—Insects, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds, and Mammals! Your dungeon has become a thriving microcosm of nature… but with more teeth, talons, and venom.
Effects:
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+50 Mana Reward – For achieving an ecosystem that even Mother Nature would find questionable.
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New Ability Unlocked: Quintuple Synergy (Lesser) – Minions from different species instinctively work together, granting a +5% combat efficiency boost when at least three factions are involved in battle.
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Ecosystem Stability (Passive): Your dungeon’s aura now passively maintains harmony among the five factions, reducing infighting and encouraging better cooperation.
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Predator’s Balance (Passive): Prey and predator minions instinctively regulate their behavior, preventing unnecessary overhunting and ensuring a stable dungeon ecosystem.
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Lord of Beasts (Passive): When all five species are present as minions in the dungeon, all minions gain a +3% boost to all attributes due to the strengthened and balanced hierarchy.
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? Expanded Roster: Gain +1 additional minion slot for each newly acquired species type (Bird, Mammal). This bonus applies only once per species category, meaning previous bonuses from Three Kingdoms (Insect, Reptile, Arachnids) do not grant additional slots. No stacking allowed.
"Finally! And I got more than I expected!" Ordis grinned, feeling triumphant. His dungeon was growing stronger, and with every successful hunt, he was inching closer to the rank-up he eagerly awaited. If this pace continued, by the end of the day, he would already be halfway there.
Age : 9 Day 8 hour 20 Minute
Mana Reserve : 206 / ??? (Capacity Expanding) 1 Mana per 40 Minute
Regular updates will resume soon, so thanks for your patience and support! Wishing a blessed and joyful Eid to those celebrating!