The Jungle Room was next on Brent's ambitious reconstruction list for the first floor, and he had gathered his minions to discuss the details. Hovering in his Dungeon Eye form above the blank, earthy canvas that would become the room, he turned his attention to his assembled team. Ferron stood with his arms crossed, Kagejin crouched in the shadows nearby, Vulcanis was present but clearly still irritated from the Winter Wonderland debacle, and Emil, ever the voice of reason, stood calmly beside Brent's core.

  “So, a jungle,” Brent began enthusiastically. “I’m thinking towering trees, thick vines, maybe some tropical flowers, waterfalls, and dense undergrowth that gives adventurers a real sense of getting lost in the wild.”

  Ferron nodded, the metal joints of his shoulders creaking slightly. “Sounds like a regular forest to me. Oak trees, birches, a bit of moss, maybe a log or two.”

  Brent blinked, his light flickering briefly in confusion. “Uh, Ferron, that’s... not quite a jungle.”

  “I’ve seen plenty of forests,” Ferron continued confidently. “Big ones, small ones. Forests are forests. They’re all the same.”

  “Not exactly,” Brent said with a laugh. “A jungle isn’t just a forest. It’s more... tropical. Think lush green plants everywhere, trees with huge leaves, orchids, and maybe even bananas hanging from branches. The air is humid, and there’s this wild, untamed feeling to it.”

  “Bananas?” Kagejin asked, leaning slightly out of the shadows. “Is that some kind of trap?”

  “No, it’s a fruit,” Brent explained. “Long, yellow, delicious.”

  “Doesn’t sound real,” Ferron muttered. “Probably something he’s making up again, like the arcade. ”

  “Hey, the arcade turned out pretty great, didn’t it?” Brent shot back, a playful edge in his voice. “Trust me on this one. Jungles are incredible and way different from what you’re describing.”

  Vulcanis, who had been listening quietly, spoke up with a gruff tone. “If this room is meant to be hot, humid, and overrun with plants, I approve. At least it won’t be freezing like that cursed ice room.”

  “See? That’s the spirit,” Brent said encouragingly. “Think of it as the opposite of Winter Wonderland. Warm, vibrant, and teeming with life.”

  Emil cleared his throat. “Brent’s right. The jungle needs to feel alive and chaotic. It should evoke the sense of danger lurking around every corner. Dense foliage, hidden pathways, and maybe some animatronic or magical wildlife to keep adventurers on edge.”

  “Animatronic wildlife?” Kagejin repeated. “Like Clockwork Beasts?”

  “Exactly,” Emil confirmed. “Something that blends with the environment but still provides a challenge.”

  Shadow, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, chimed in from his perch on a stone outcropping. “If it’s meant to confuse and disorient adventurers, I like it. Shadows under the canopy, unseen threats. This could be... fun.”

  “Great!” Brent said, his core glowing with excitement. “Then let’s get started. I’ll guide the design, but you’re all going to help. Trust me, once you see the room, you’ll understand what a jungle really is.”

  Ferron shook his head. “I’m still not convinced about this... tropical nonsense, but you’re the boss. Just tell me where to put the traps.”

  Brent couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ll see, Ferron. You’ll see.”

  Brent floated to the middle of the room, hanging suspended by his Dungeon Vision power. His glowing Dungeon Eye pulsed with excitement as he envisioned the centerpiece of the room: a winding river that would cut through the lush greenery. It would be deep and wide enough to hold flowing water and mechanical wildlife, creating both a challenge and an immersive experience for adventurers.

  He began by focusing on the layout, tracing the path of the river in his mind. “Let’s make this as natural as possible,” he muttered to himself. “Winding curves, some gentle bends, maybe even a fork somewhere. A real jungle river.”

  With a pulse of energy, he activated his dungeon-shaping magic. The dirt trembled and shifted beneath his command as he outlined the river’s course. The earth seemed to roll away like waves parting, leaving a shallow trench that followed the design he had envisioned.

  “This is the easy part,” Brent thought aloud. “Time to get into the details.”

  He concentrated again, this time focusing on the depth. The trench deepened in sections, forming a gradual slope from the banks to the riverbed. Brent took care to make the slope even, ensuring that water could flow smoothly without pooling in awkward spots.

  “Let’s make the banks sturdy,” he said, sending another pulse of energy into the surrounding dirt. The walls of the river hardened, compacted with layers of earth and stone to prevent erosion. “We’ll need some plants here later to keep it looking natural. Maybe reeds or ferns…”

  As he worked, the bottom of the trench transformed under his careful direction. Smooth stones of various sizes appeared, nestled into the riverbed as though they had been there for centuries. Some were dark and glossy, others lighter with streaks of quartz running through them. Brent took extra time to scatter the stones evenly, ensuring a natural look.

  “This feels right,” he said, hovering lower to inspect his work. “Adventurers will love the detail.”

  Next, Brent turned his attention to the flow of water. Summoning a faint blue glow from his core, he channeled elemental magic into the riverbed. A soft hum filled the air as clear, sparkling water began to materialize at the far end of the trench. It poured into the river like a spring bubbling to life, cascading gently over the smooth stones.

  “Let’s get this moving,” Brent murmured, shaping the flow of the water with careful precision. He adjusted the slope in places to create a steady current, ensuring the water would meander naturally around bends and curves. The sound of the flowing water was soothing, a gentle burble that echoed through the empty room.

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  He paused to admire the effect, then turned his focus to the banks. With a few pulses of energy, he softened the transition between the river and the surrounding earth. Grass sprouted along the edges, its vibrant green contrasting beautifully with the sparkling water. Further up the banks, he added patches of soil for larger plants. “We’ll need some jungle flowers here,” he said, imagining vivid blooms that would complement the scene.

  As he worked, his thoughts drifted to the wildlife he would eventually add. “Mechanical fish are a must,” he mused, shaping small inlets and coves where they could hide. “Maybe some turtles too. Oh, and a crocodile or two for a real sense of danger. Something for the adventurers to watch out for.”

  In the middle of the river, he created a small island—a cluster of smooth stones and dirt topped with a single, gnarled tree that leaned over the water. He placed roots in such a way that they dipped into the river, giving the appearance of a natural outgrowth that had thrived there for years.

  Satisfied with the overall structure, Brent hovered back to admire his work. The river was coming to life, a centerpiece that would define the Jungle Room. Its winding path, clear water, and carefully crafted details already looked like they belonged to another world.

  “This is going to be amazing,” Brent said with a proud glow. “Now we just need to bring in the rest of the room.”

  Hovering at the edge of his newly carved river, Brent admired the sparkling water as it stood in the newest addition to the room.

  "Something’s missing," Brent murmured, his glowing Dungeon Eye narrowing in thought. “This water isn’t really flowing. It’s just kind of… existing.”

  Mechard clanked into the room at that moment, his mechanical frame gleaming from a recent polish. “Admiring your work, Brent?”

  “More like critiquing it,” Brent replied. “The river looks great, but it’s just sitting here. I need it to actually flow—movement, circulation, the works. You know, make it feel alive.”

  Mechard tilted his head, gears in his mind already spinning. “Hmm. You’ve got a point. Water sitting stagnant like this doesn’t quite sell the whole ‘natural jungle’ vibe.”

  “Exactly!” Brent floated closer. “So, what do we do? Can we make it flow?”

  The mechanical minion tapped a finger on his metal chin, the soft clinking of metal on metal echoing in the chamber. “We’ll need a circulation system. A pump to move the water around. And we can’t let the adventurers see it—takes away from the magic if they spot a big ol’ machine humming away in the corner.”

  “Right,” Brent agreed. “How do we keep it hidden?”

  “Easy enough,” Mechard said with confidence. “We install a grate at the far end of the room where the water will ‘disappear.’ From there, it’ll flow into a hidden tunnel you’ll carve behind the walls of the dungeon. I’ll set up a mechanical pump to recirculate the water back to the start of the river. To anyone walking through, it’ll look like the river just flows naturally.”

  Brent’s glow brightened in excitement. “That’s brilliant, Mechard! How long do you think it’ll take to build?”

  “Not too long,” Mechard replied with a shrug. “The pump’s design is already in my head, and I’ve got most of the parts. I’ll just need to tinker a bit and make sure it’s quiet enough not to alert the adventurers. Can’t have them poking around.”

  “Perfect,” Brent said. “Let’s get started.”

  Mechard immediately began outlining his plan, sketching the pump design on a glowing interface Brent provided. The pump would consist of rotating gears and pressure plates, designed to mimic a natural flow pattern. Mechard paced around the room, pointing at the river’s endpoint and calculating how much water would need to circulate to keep the flow consistent.

  Brent watched with fascination. “You really do love this kind of work, don’t you?”

  “It’s my passion,” Mechard replied, bending down to inspect the riverbed. “Creating machines that work seamlessly with the dungeon is my life’s calling. Speaking of which, you’ll need to monitor this system regularly. Water pressure, flow rate, and temperature, mana intake—it’s all got to stay balanced.”

  “You’ve got it,” Brent promised.

  As Brent began carving the tunnel, Mechard started setting up the base for the pump. When he finished the tunnel, a light feat compared to the river work, Brent floated upward to inspect the ceiling of the room. The river was coming together beautifully, but the lighting was still dim, casting shadows over the carefully crafted banks and water.

  “This room needs a light source,” Brent mused aloud. “Something to simulate sunlight so the plants I add can thrive.”

  Mechard, still engrossed in his work, didn’t look up. “What about a magical sunstone? We can suspend it from the ceiling, and it’ll give off the same kind of light you’d get from the sun. Shouldn’t be too hard to rig one up.”

  “That’s a fantastic idea,” Brent said. “I’ll need to place it just right, though. I want it to cast light evenly across the whole room.”

  He turned his attention to the center of the chamber. A high point on the ceiling seemed perfect for the sunstone. Focusing his energy, Brent began shaping the stone above, creating a small platform that could hold the glowing orb.

  “Mechard, any thoughts on where to get a sunstone?” Brent called.

  “Check the dungeon inventory,” Mechard replied, still tinkering with the tunnel’s entrance. “If we don’t have one, we can trade for it at the guild’s supply depot. They usually stock magical items like that.”

  Brent opened the dungeon interface and scrolled through his inventory. A grin spread across his glowing form as he spotted a single sunstone listed among the magical items. “Looks like we’re in luck. I must have found one when I was expanding.”

  Pulling the stone from the inventory, Brent watched as it materialized in front of him. The orb was a radiant golden-yellow, pulsating with soft light that felt warm even from a distance. Carefully, Brent floated it up to the platform he’d created and nestled it into place.

  The effect was immediate. The room brightened, bathed in a gentle, natural glow that shimmered off the water and cast beautiful reflections onto the walls. Brent hovered back to admire the scene, his excitement growing.

  “This is going to be incredible,” he said. “The adventurers won’t know what hit them.”

  “And neither will those mechanical fish you’ve been dreaming up,” Mechard added with a chuckle, glancing up from his work. “Just wait until this place is teeming with life.”

  Brent laughed. “I can’t wait. Let’s finish this up and make it happen.”