The Runesmith

An emerald light descended into a dense patch of forest, hidden deep within a secluded part of the valley. It blended with the green of the foliage and touched down gently, without making a sound. The animals nearby didn’t react at first. Only after the mana concealing its true form faded did they notice the man stepping forward.

‘This looks peaceful enough. If there are regular animals here, there can’t be many monsters around.’

Roland had arrived from the mountain top. He stood in a calm and seemingly untouched part of the land. It showed no signs of adventurers or dangerous creatures. He wasn’t sure why, but it seemed nothing had any interest in this area. A preliminary scan confirmed it. Few high-level monsters roamed nearby, and there were no signs of adventurers pursuing them.

‘This isn’t a good place to hunt monsters, that must be it.’

That could explain why adventurers stayed away. With no threats and no valuable treasures to be found, there was little reason to come here. The local wildlife was small and unremarkable, consisting of rabbits, frogs, and the occasional lizard. Most dungeon settlements were built in places where larger game, like deer, were available. Some dungeons offered that kind of wildlife, making long-term survival more feasible for human life.

‘But the main reason no one is here…’

Roland exhaled slowly, drawing in the forest air through the filters in his armor. The runic enchantments detected the hidden particles in the atmosphere and blocked them before they could affect him. There was something in the air, a toxin that did not bother the local animals but would harm any ordinary person who entered this place. It would serve as a natural barrier, a deterrent for anyone who might stumble upon the hidden lair he intended to build.

The source of the toxin was the strange and unassuming plants growing nearby. They appeared to be ordinary mushrooms at first glance. Nestled among the undergrowth and close to the trees, they blended perfectly with the forest floor. However, a closer look revealed their true purpose. Roland knelt beside one of the trees and picked one of the mushrooms. Its coloring was peculiar, mostly brown with a few thin blue stripes across the crown.

He crushed the mushroom in his gauntlet to test it. As he did, a cloud of spores burst into the air. His armor and a thin layer of mana shielded his body, keeping him safe. A normal person, however, would not be so lucky. Inhaling or ingesting the spores would likely lead to paralysis or even death.

‘I would have to ask Rastix to be sure, but these seem to be spores that cause sleep paralysis.’

Roland was familiar with several types of spores, and most operated in a similar way. Once a person was affected, the spores would use them as a host. While the victim remained asleep, the spores drained nutrients from the body to grow and eventually spread further. In some cases, the effect was only temporary and could be resisted, but even then, it would leave the victim vulnerable. Any nearby monster would likely attack the moment the spores took hold. Sometimes the hosts were turned into a mushroom-like zombie, losing their humanity. 

He was not entirely certain which outcome applied to the mushrooms in this area, but he had a strong suspicion. Adventurers probably avoided this part of the valley because of this natural trap, and he could use it to hide his presence. 

‘The best spot is probably there…’

Just as he had done with previous hidden chambers in other dungeons, he planned to conceal this one completely out of sight. In the past, that usually meant breaking through a dungeon wall to create a secret compartment. This time, however, he intended to dig underground. The runes on his armor began to glow as he activated more spatial magic. A moment later, several of his golems appeared. 

These were not his usual golems. Instead, they were repurposed ones he had acquired from the dungeon. They had humanoid forms and carried tools like shovels and pickaxes rather than weapons such as spears or swords. Some even pushed wheelbarrows to move the sand. He had assembled an entire construction crew equipped with ordinary tools, and their task was to dig a large enough hole to create something similar to an underground bomb shelter.

Once summoned, the golems immediately began their work. They had been pre-programmed with a specific design for the underground structure. There were not many design options available, so their job was to excavate the exact layout, then assemble and weld the metal components using magic. This magical welding would prevent the dungeon from sealing itself back over the structure. After everything was prepared and he had established a noise-canceling barrier, the real work began.

The shovel-wielding golems moved in first. Their enhanced strength and oversized shovels allowed them to function much like modern excavators. As dirt was unearthed, it was transferred to the side and deposited into a specialized container marked with spatial runes. In most dungeons, debris and surface flaws would eventually be erased or absorbed, but this super dungeon operated on such a massive scale that those effects were largely reduced. To avoid leaving traces of the excavation, he needed to remove all excess soil so as not to give away his safe spot.

For a moment, he watched the golems move about their tasks and estimated that, at their current pace, it would take roughly an hour to complete the small underground chamber for his teleportation gate. While they worked, he sent his floating golems to different positions around the area. Through their eyes, he gained a clear aerial view of the surrounding land and could spot the tiny figures representing the monsters roaming nearby.

‘Is it a Wyrm, and is it coming this way?’

Most of the creatures were simply wandering, but one larger figure appeared to be heading directly toward him. Monsters within dungeons usually followed predictable movement patterns, and it was possible he had chosen a spot that intersected one of those paths. If that were the case, he would be forced into a fight before the construction was complete.

Roland wanted to stay hidden for now, as he still didn’t fully understand the situation within this dungeon ring. However, he had to deal with the approaching threat before it reached his golems, which were ill-suited for battle. The Wyrm was slithering straight toward him, so it made more sense to intercept it and prepare some countermeasures.

He soon rose into the air, using wind magic instead of a propulsion unit. Although a propulsion system was faster and placed less strain on his mana reserves, it created more noise and left a visible trail. Wind magic, on the other hand, allowed him to remain far more concealed from sight.

After landing in a denser part of the forest, he began preparing his trap. Before doing anything else, he brought out a circular device. With a press of a button on its side, he quickly hid it inside the trunk of a nearby tree. Once secured, it released an invisible burst of energy in all directions. To the naked eye, nothing seemed to happen, but from that moment on, sound would no longer travel beyond the affected area. To any monsters outside the zone, the forest would appear silent and undisturbed.

With the sound barrier in place, he started setting traps throughout the area. Some were his old scroll-based types, while others were leftover bombs and mines, which he buried under loose dirt with the help of his mage hand spell. These precautions might have seemed excessive given his current strength, but conserving mana was essential in this environment. 

It was wiser to rely on pre-prepared tools first. For all he knew, killing the monster might attract more, or worse, alert high-level adventurers. If anyone close to or beyond tier four took notice of him, he would need every bit of mana and every resource he had just to escape.

‘That should be enough.’

The monster was in no hurry, but once it began to move, it was easy to track. The trees along its path shifted and bent, straining under the force of its massive body. Although it slithered around the trees like a snake, every time it bumped into a trunk, the tree was nearly uprooted. Birds and other forest creatures fled in every direction, and soon, a pair of yellow eyes appeared in the distance.

‘So this is a Wyrm.’

It was Roland’s first time seeing such a creature, and it was immediately clear that this was no ordinary serpent. What emerged from the treeline was enormous. Although its movement mimicked that of a snake, there was something more to it. The Wyrm had a snake-like form, but the similarity ended with its shape.

Thick, draconic scales ran down its entire length, overlapping perfectly in rows that shimmered slightly in the filtered forest light. Each scale was the size of a grown man’s fist and bore deep grooves and ridges. Their dark, purple-gray color blended well with the valley’s shadows, but in motion, they reflected just enough light to make the creature visible.

Along its back, two wings extended outward. They were draconic in shape but clearly too small to lift such a massive body into the air. Rigid and sharp-edged, the wings had a membrane-thin structure with claws at each joint. They did not move or retract, instead clinging tightly to the serpent-like body as it slithered toward the area where Roland had prepared his traps.

Its head was unmistakably dragon-like. Unlike a serpent’s narrow snout, the Wyrm’s face was broad and angular. Horns curved backward from above its eye ridges, and its jaw was thick, with rows of pointy teeth barely visible beneath a heavy lip.

With a quick identification spell, Roland confirmed it. This was the right place for leveling. The monster’s level exceeded his own, which meant it would yield a large amount of experience. He readied himself as the creature approached the outer edge of the trap field, but then, out of nowhere, the monster did something unexpected. 

Just as it was about to trigger the first mine, the Wyrm stopped. Its nostrils flared, drawing in the air with a hiss, while its breath released thin gusts of purplish smoke. A low growl rumbled from its chest as it paused, its forked tongue flicking out, as if testing the air for any sign of danger.

‘Can it tell?’

Roland knew that draconic creatures were said to be far more intelligent than ordinary beasts, but he had assumed that those created by the dungeon would be less capable. Somehow, this one had sensed the presence of traps ahead. It was possible that it could detect the faint traces of mana emitted by his runic devices, subtle as they were.

The monster let out a roar, as if irritated by the blocked path ahead. It opened its massive jaws, revealing rows of dagger-like teeth. Then, without hesitation, the Wyrm released its breath.

A surge of violet energy gathered deep in its throat before erupting into a torrent of unnatural flame. This was no ordinary fire. Roland had read about it in obscure bestiaries, but witnessing it firsthand was something entirely different. The flames were a seething, toxic purple, thick with venomous fumes and corrosive energy. They didn’t simply burn; they melted everything they touched, dissolving trees, soil, and stone in a wave of acidic destruction.

The first of Roland’s mines didn’t even have a chance to detonate. As the Wyrm’s breath swept over them, the enchanted casings began to melt and dissolve with alarming speed. Metal turned to sludge, and the runic components failed to activate as their pathways were broken and consumed in an instant. What remained was a trail of ruin, a scorched path the Wyrm now considered safe to travel, having cleared it of all hidden threats.

Yet, for all its perception, the creature still failed to detect its true enemy. Roland remained concealed above, hidden among the branches of an undamaged treetop, silently watching and waiting. 

He didn’t move. Not yet. From his vantage point above, hidden by both the dense canopy and a layer of illusion magic, Roland carefully observed the Wyrm’s movements. The creature slithered forward, seemingly convinced that it had neutralized any threats in its path. Despite its intelligence, it was now moving directly beneath him. Its massive body even brushed against the trunk of the tree he was hiding in.

‘It’s cautious, but it still has its limitations.’

His visor pulsed with a brief glow, and in the next instant, concentrated beams of light shot out from various positions around the clearing. They struck the Wyrm’s thick scales, doing little damage but forcing it to turn away from his location.

Roland’s floating golems emerged from their hiding places, coordinating in a precise assault designed to draw the monster’s attention. The Wyrm let out a furious roar and unleashed its breath once again. A wave of violet mist surged forward, but the small, agile constructs darted to the sides with ease. The toxic breath melted through a massive boulder and tore through several trees. It left scorched earth and liquefied debris in its wake.

Now fully engaged in chasing down the elusive golems, the Wyrm was distracted. This finally gave Roland the perfect opportunity to strike. Gale forces erupted as he revealed himself, in his hands a large hammer with a tip covered in runes, radiating a massive amount of energy. 

Without hesitation, he dove from the treetop like a meteor, wind mana coiling around his body in thick, spiraling streams. The emerald glow intensified, pulsing erratically as it gathered at the head of his massive hammer. Then, just before the weapon struck the Wyrm’s skull, a second energy flared to life, this one a deep crimson.

The two forces clashed and intertwined, forming a chaotic burst of yellow light that surged around the hammer. In the next instant, the weapon crashed into the monster’s cranium with more than just wind force.

CRASHHH!

The hammer struck the monster’s head with a thunderous crack that was concealed within the sound bubble. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. The ground beneath the Wyrm buckled and split, and trees nearby swayed violently. The creature’s massive head snapped to the side, and a scream of agony escaped from its massive jaws.

Even with its thick, scaled skull, the Wyrm could not withstand the sheer force of the blow. The combination of aura and magic bypassed its natural defenses. Fractures spread across its cranium like spiderwebs, and in the next moment, its body slammed into the earth. The forest fell silent. One strike had been enough. The Wyrm lay motionless, killed by the a surprised attack.

‘That went better than expected.’

Roland glanced at his status screen and checked his experience bar. The monster had been five levels above him, and after its defeat, the bar jumped up by nearly half in an instant. This was exactly what he needed. The creatures in this dungeon were stronger and possessed rarer evolutions, making them ideal targets for accelerating his progress. With this test complete, one thing was clear. Gaining five more levels was no longer a distant dream.

To make things even better, the monster’s body held plenty of value. Roland approached the fallen creature and grabbed hold of one of the partially shattered scales. Even with his enhanced strength, it was difficult to pry loose, but after a few moments of effort, it finally snapped free.

The scale felt like solid metal, denser and harder than most materials he had worked with and comparable even to mithril. He did not doubt that some lesser dragons had evolved to possess defenses tougher than the metals he used in his constructs. These scales could be repurposed for future upgrades. If he found a more advanced drachinid, he might even be able to craft an entirely new suit of armor.

‘I would need one that is over level two hundred fifty.’

Even though he had the funds, materials like these were rare and difficult to acquire. His thoughts drifted to the large drakes he had seen while landing, as well as the hidden leviathan resting in the lake. One of the drakes was larger than the others, likely the alpha of the herd. 

Both were potential targets for the future and could serve as direct upgrades to his armor and weaponry. He would need those improvements soon. His future was still uncertain, and he would not rest until he had explored the entire region and claimed every valuable resource it could offer in support of his cause.

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