Chapter 57: A Much Deserved Break

  Brent floated in the Core Room, his Dungeon Vision active as he replayed scenes from the Iron Resolve’s complete run. Emil stood nearby, scrolling through a manifest of adventurer interactions and dungeon activity. The run had been nothing short of impressive—despite the chaotic first lap, Iron Resolve had adapted quickly to the challenges and conquered all five laps with grit and teamwork.

  “Not bad,” Brent mused aloud. “They got better with each lap. Their lines were tighter, their timing improved, and even Mitch managed to stop crashing into everything.”

  Emil chuckled. “It’s a testament to their adaptability. And honestly, a win for your dungeon design. If they can learn the course and get through it, others will see that it’s challenging but doable. That’s a big draw for adventurers.”

  Brent nodded to himself, his light pulsing faintly in agreement. “Yeah, but we need to make it even better. The second floor is solid, but the first floor still feels… underwhelming in comparison.”

  “Well,” Emil began, arching a metallic eyebrow, “are you finally going to update it to match your vision? You’ve been talking about replacing those minecarts for weeks now.”

  Brent sighed. “Yeah. It’s time. The minecarts have their charm, but they’re outdated compared to the mechanized carts. If we’re going to build on this momentum, the first floor needs to be just as exciting as the second.”

  He glanced toward the nearby projection where Ferron, Vulcanis, Kagejin, and Shadow were gathered in the forge area. The minions had been summoned for a strategy session to discuss the upcoming changes.

  “Alright, Emil, let’s call it. I’m closing the dungeon for a week. We’ll make the announcement now so people know what’s coming.”

  Emil tapped at a glowing panel, and the dungeon-wide announcement system came to life. A calm, melodious female voice filled the halls.

  “Attention, adventurers: The Golem’s Gambit will be closed for one week for enhancements and reconstruction. We look forward to unveiling exciting new challenges when we reopen. Thank you for your patience and continued interest in our dungeon.”

  As the announcement echoed through the dungeon, Brent floated over to the forge area, where the gathered minions turned their attention to him.

  “Alright, team, we’re officially closed for renovations. Let’s talk about what’s next for the first floor,” Brent began, his voice brimming with energy. “The biggest change is obvious—no more minecarts. It’s time for a real race track with mechanized carts like the second floor. But I don’t just want to copy-paste the second floor’s design. The first floor should have its own identity.”

  Ferron crossed his arms, his metallic fingers tapping against his forearm. “I like the idea of making it feel distinct. Maybe more branching paths? Something that forces racers to think about strategy instead of just speed.”

  “Good point,” Brent said, nodding. “We could add shortcuts or hidden routes that reward risk-takers. Maybe even have hazards that only appear on the faster paths to keep things balanced.”

  Vulcanis, hammer in hand, spoke next. “What about the room themes? Are you keeping them the same or introducing new ones?”

  “I’m thinking a mix,” Brent replied. “Some of the existing rooms can be adapted for the new carts, but I want to add at least a couple of new ones. Something with more dynamic elements—like shifting platforms or sections that change layout mid-run.”

  "Just remember, it's the first floor, so the challenge should be lighter than the second. That way, adventurers of all levels can join in," Emil added.

  As the conversation continued, Kagejin suggested adding stealth challenges, while Ferron pitched a room with rotating obstacles. Even Vulcanis had ideas for integrating molten elements into the track. Shadow, however, remained unusually quiet, perched in the shadows of the room with his arms crossed.

  Brent noticed and turned his gaze toward him. “Shadow? You’ve been pretty quiet. Got anything you want to add?”

  Shadow’s eyes glimmered faintly, his expression unreadable. “The plans seem fine as they are,” he said, his tone distant. “You’ve got it handled.”

  Brent frowned slightly, noting the lack of enthusiasm. “Alright, if you’re sure. But let me know if you think of something. Your input is always valuable.”

  Shadow simply nodded, retreating further into the shadows. The others exchanged glances, but the moment passed quickly as Brent turned back to the group.

  “Alright, everyone. We’ve got a lot of work ahead, but I know we can make the first floor something incredible. Let’s take a break and regroup tomorrow to start brainstorming room layouts.”

  As the minions dispersed, Brent floated beside Emil, his glow dimming slightly. “Shadow’s not himself lately. He’s usually the first to jump in with ideas.”

  Emil gave a thoughtful hum. “It could just be the stress of recent events. The invasion rattled everyone, even if they won’t admit it. Keep an eye on him, though. If something’s bothering him, it’s better to address it sooner rather than later.”

  Brent nodded, his core glowing faintly. “Yeah, you’re right. For now, let’s focus on the changes. The adventurers are going to love what we’ve got in store.”

  As the forge quieted, the faint sound of Shadow’s metallic claws tapping against stone echoed in the distance, unnoticed by all but the shadows themselves.

  The next morning came early, and Brent was brimming with excitement over what was to come. He floated in the Core Room, glowing with excitement. The first floor redesign had consumed his thoughts, and he felt like he might explode with ideas. Today was the day his plans would truly take shape. As he surveyed the dungeon, he couldn’t help but feel like a kid in a candy store, eager to see what the day would bring.

  Ferron, Vulcanis, Shadow, and Kagejin gathered around, their curiosity piqued. Mechard, Brent’s resident tinkerer, had prepared a special presentation to showcase some of his latest inventions.

  “Alright, Mechard,” Brent began, his voice practically humming with enthusiasm. “Show us what you’ve been cooking up.”

  Mechard stepped forward, his lithe mechanical frame buzzing with energy. He tapped on a glowing panel, and a series of blueprints illuminated the wall.

  “Ladies and gentlemen… and dungeon core,” Mechard began with a dramatic flourish, “I present to you my five newest innovations, each guaranteed to revolutionize our dungeon experience!”

  “First on the list,” Mechard said, pointing to a blueprint of the new cart design, “an upgrade to the Mechanized Carts. I’ve made them faster, lighter, and stronger.”

  “How exactly did you manage that?” Ferron asked, crossing his arms skeptically.

  “I infused the frames with reinforced alloy, making them both durable and lightweight. Then, I recalibrated the engines to increase their output by twenty-five percent. Finally, I added a suspension system to absorb impact from bumps and minor collisions. Adventurers will still feel the danger, but the carts won’t fall apart as easily.”

  “Faster carts mean more exciting races,” Brent said, glowing brighter. “What do you think, everyone?”

  Kagejin tilted his head. “Faster carts might make it harder for some traps to hit them.”

  “Not if I add better traps,” Mechard said with a sly grin.

  Next, Mechard revealed a glowing, treasure chest-shaped object. “These are magical item boxes. Once placed on the track, they will grant adventurers temporary abilities and items when they drive through them.”

  He tapped the box, and a projection displayed the items available:

  ? Mounted Crossbow : A deployable weapon that allows drivers to fire at minions or obstacles.

  ? Speed Booster : A short burst of extreme speed, lasting three seconds.

  ? Magnetic Mass : Temporarily increases the cart’s weight, providing resistance against magnetic effects.

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  ? Trap Jammer : Deactivates a nearby trap for a short period.

  ? Protective Shield : A glowing barrier that lasts for ten seconds, shielding the driver from harm.

  “Each item is activated by a button on the cart’s console,” Mechard explained. “Drivers won’t know what they’re getting until they activate the item box.”

  “That’s clever,” Brent said. “It adds an element of strategy.”

  Vulcanis grunted, hammer resting on his shoulder. “I’d like to see them try to shield themselves from my fireballs.”

  “They’d have to time it perfectly,” Mechard replied. “But isn’t that part of the fun?”

  “For our traps,” Mechard continued, “I’ve designed a few new options to spice things up.”

  He displayed diagrams of three traps:

  ? Spinning Saws : Circular saws that move across the track at random intervals.

  ? Shock Panels : Electrified floor panels that activate when a cart drives over them.

  ? Ethereal Claws : Ghostly hands that rise from the ground, grabbing at the carts to slow them down.

  “Shadow would probably like the claws,” Ferron said with a smirk.

  Shadow grinned from his perch in the shadows. “I approve.”

  Mechard held up a metallic contraption. “This,” he said dramatically, “is a snow and ice machine. It creates icy terrain and blizzards.”

  “I can already imagine the chaos that will cause,” Brent said. “A whole room dedicated to wintery madness.”

  Vulcanis scoffed. “Snow and ice? Sounds ridiculous.”

  “Not every room has to be molten, Vulcanis,” Ferron said dryly.

  Finally, Mechard brought up the last blueprint—a towering structure with conveyor belts and assembly lines. “This is my dream project,” he said, his voice tinged with excitement. “A minion factory. It will allow us to mass-produce base-level minions.”

  “How would that work?” Brent asked, leaning in.

  “Simple,” Mechard replied. “It’s a fully automated system. Feed in the raw materials, and it assembles minions based on preloaded templates. We could restock our defenses in minutes.”

  “That’s ambitious,” Emil said, appearing in the corner. “But it would require a massive amount of energy.”

  “I’m aware,” Mechard admitted. “It’s not something we can build right now. But it’s something to think about.”

  Brent floated closer, his light pulsating with curiosity. “We’ll put it on the long-term list. For now, let’s focus on the upgrades we can implement.”

  The room buzzed with energy as the minions discussed Mechard’s inventions. Ferron joked about rigging the traps to only target reckless drivers, while Kagejin proposed ways to make the item boxes harder to reach. Shadow, as usual, offered cryptic comments about the unpredictability of chaos.

  Brent hovered in the middle of it all, his excitement palpable. “These upgrades are going to be amazing. The adventurers won’t know what hit them!”

  “Literally,” Mechard added with a grin.

  “Alright, team,” Brent said. “We’ve got a lot to do. Let’s start brainstorming how to incorporate these into the new first floor. This is our chance to make the first floor something truly special. Remember, it’s for lower-ranked adventurers, so it doesn’t need to be overwhelming, but we still want it to be fun and memorable.”

  “Let’s hear the ideas, then,” Ferron said, waving a metallic hand. “Mechard’s got that snow machine. What are we doing with it?”

  Mechard stepped forward, tapping the glowing panel to display a frosty room concept. The image showed a shimmering ice track winding through a snow-covered forest, with crystalline icicles hanging from overhead cliffs.

  “This is the Winter Wonderland room,” Mechard announced proudly. “We’ll use the snow and ice machine to create a slippery, frozen track. Drivers will have to navigate tight turns while avoiding ice spikes that jut out of the walls.”

  “Icy terrain, eh?” Ferron said, scratching his chin. “It’ll force them to focus on precision driving. I like it.”

  Vulcanis, however, scowled. “Snow and ice? It’s too... cold. Why not fire traps instead?”

  Brent chuckled. “It’s the first floor, Vulcanis. We’re trying to mix things up and keep it less lethal.”

  “Fine,” Vulcanis grumbled, folding his massive arms. “But I still think fire’s better.”

  Mechard continued, undeterred. “We can also add snowball launchers—mechanized cannons that hurl icy projectiles at the carts. They’ll slow down the adventurers but won’t cause major damage.”

  Kagejin finally spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. “And what about minions? Ice golems, perhaps? They could create temporary barriers to block the track.”

  Brent’s light pulsed brightly. “Now we’re talking! Ice golems would fit perfectly with the theme.”

  Ferron leaned forward. “What about a jungle-themed room? We could have overgrown vines, swinging logs, and pits of quicksand. Drivers would have to dodge obstacles while the track twists through a dense, vine-filled landscape.”

  “That could work,” Brent said. “And we could add those Trapvine Creepers we’ve used before. They’d make a great challenge for lower-level adventurers.”

  “I’ll design a mechanism to have logs swing across the track at random intervals,” Mechard offered. “Simple, but effective.”

  Shadow’s voice cut through the chatter. “What about traps that aren’t so obvious? Something hidden to keep them guessing.”

  “Ambushes from the creepers, maybe?” Brent suggested. “They could drop from the trees above the track.”

  “What if we had a carnival-themed room?” Ferron proposed with a grin. “The track could loop through a giant, clockwork funhouse. Spinning platforms, bouncing ramps, and maybe even a giant mechanical clown to scare the adventurers.”

  “I can already hear the screams,” Mechard said with a chuckle. “I like it. I could build a few spring-loaded panels that launch carts into the air briefly.”

  Brent nodded. “A room like that would definitely stand out. Let’s keep it lighthearted but still challenging.”

  Vulcanis finally spoke up. “If you must have your ice, at least balance it out with some heat. A smaller version of the Magma Chasm, perhaps? Lava pools, narrow tracks, and maybe a few flame jets. Nothing too dangerous, of course.”

  “That could work as a contrast,” Brent admitted. “A hot and cold dynamic between the rooms.”

  “And I can make sure the fire jets are more of a scare than a true hazard,” Mechard added.

  Emil stepped forward, his calm demeanor a steadying presence. “All these ideas are fantastic, but remember—this is the first floor. It’s meant for lower-ranked adventurers. The challenges need to be manageable, not overwhelming.”

  “So, tone down the difficulty?” Ferron asked.

  “Precisely,” Emil said. “Make the traps more forgiving, the track easier to navigate, and the minions less aggressive.”

  Brent floated closer to the center. “Good point, Emil, that I already brought up. Let’s focus on fun and creativity for this floor. The second floor can remain the tougher challenge.”

  “Do we keep the racing theme for the whole floor?” Kagejin asked.

  “Yes,” Brent replied. “The track will loop through all the rooms, but each one will have its unique theme and challenges.”

  "As long as I get to keep my shadowy fear room," Shadow piped in.

  "Of course, Shadow. We wouldn't take that from you," Brent assured the minion.

  As the meeting wound down, the group buzzed with ideas and enthusiasm. The Winter Wonderland room remained the favorite, with Mechard already sketching out additional details for the snow machines and ice golems. Ferron brainstormed jungle obstacles, and Shadow quietly mused on ways to make the traps more deceptive.

  Brent couldn’t help but glow brighter. “This is going to be amazing. Once we’re done, this floor will be the perfect introduction to Golem’s Gambit.”

  “And the adventurers won’t know what hit them,” Ferron added with a grin.

  “Let’s get to work,” Brent said, his voice filled with excitement.

  The planning was just the beginning, but the team was ready to bring their ideas to life.