Malgorath stood at the threshold of his new dungeon site, horns tilted back in pride as he surveyed the raw void before him. The space was an empty realm of pure magical potential — a canvas of darkness broken only by the faint hum of arcane power. His black cape billowed dramatically in a nonexistent breeze as though it had its own heartbeat. Beside him, Splurg the goblin aide chirped with excitement, clutching the glowing System Screen like a prized gem.
"This shall be glorious!" Malgorath thundered, nostrils flaring. "Behold, Splurg! Our dungeon — no, our nightmare's foundation. I, Malgorath the Horrible, have arrived to claim dominion!" He struck a defiant pose atop a small rise, cape fluttering. As a newly graduated Demon Lord, he brimmed with over-the-top confidence.
Splurg grinned and nodded vigorously. The goblin's eyes sparkled with loyalty and mischief as he tapped the System Screen hovering in midair. A menu of floor creation options appeared. The goblin, who had memorized all the dungeon-building tutorials, helped his lord navigate the holographic list.
The Undead Biome
The menu glimmered with floor themes. Splurg and Malgorath read the shimmering options:
Volcanic Abyss: A hellscape of bubbling lava and brimstone geysers.
Goblin Bazaar: A chaotic market of cursed trinkets and overcharged wares.
Undead Biome: A cursed cemetery forest under pale moonlight. (This one exudes gloom and ominous vibes.)
Jellyworm Jungle: A dense jungle where giant, gelatinous worms lurk among sticky vines.
Crystal Cavern: Glittering stalactites and sparkling crystals reflecting eerie light.
Malgorath's eyes gleamed at Undead Biome. "Cursed cemetery forest under pale moonlight," he read, picturing twisted black trees and fog-shrouded gravestones. "Yes — that shall be our first floor's theme." He tapped it emphatically.
Instantly, the ground trembled. Brilliant light spiraled around them as the System conjured the environment. Malgorath cracked his knuckles. "Excellent! The atmosphere is forming!" he boomed.
The void exploded into a haunted forest. Pale moonlight filtered through skeletal branches as gray mist curled around mossy tombstones. An iron gate with bent spikes stood crooked at the entrance. Splurg cheered as a spectral owl hooted overhead and phantom vines crawled over cracked headstones. Even will-o'-the-wisps flickered in the air. "Our cemetery forest is complete!" Malgorath declared with a grin.
He surveyed the scene with satisfaction. Twisted black trunks loomed above with a ghostly sheen. Even the distant howl of an imagined wolf seemed to answer his call. "Perfect," Malgorath murmured, smiling at the flickering blue flames among the graves. This would terrify any foolhardy adventurer. He paced atop a new mossy platform, imagining frightened knights facing his traps. But every dungeon needed guardians.
Summoning the Elite Guard
Malgorath eyed the DP (Dungeon Points) counter on the System Screen — his precious currency for creations. "Now, the grand unveiling," he proclaimed. "I will summon our first guardian — an elite skeletal guard!" He pointed a clawed finger toward a pile of bones at his feet. Splurg watched, suppressing a giggle at Malgorath's theatrics.
"By the bones of ancient kings and darkness of night,Skeleton champion, arise and fight!" Malgorath chanted in a booming voice. Purple runes writhed above him. A glowing necromantic circle cracked into the earth around his feet.
In the center of the circle, bones clattered together. The Demon Lord braced for a towering skeleton warrior to emerge. Instead, one long bone wobbled. A spindly skeleton hopped on one foot for a second — and promptly tumbled into a heap, its skull bouncing twice on the grave-soil before coming to rest.
"Whoops," the skeleton muttered in a rattly voice as it lay sprawled on the tombstone, dropping its sword.
Malgorath's triumphant grin froze. SYSTEM:Summon complete. 50 DP used. The DP bar on the screen plunged. He had spent fifty DP for… this? The scrawny skeleton soldier, thighbone sticking out askew, finally sat up and looked around with vacant eye-sockets.
"By the flames of Gehenna…" Malgorath groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Only fifty DP for that abomination?" The skeleton flopped an arm in annoyance. "An elite guard should bow to me — not flop on its face!" He bellowed, face crimson. "You, skeleton! Get up and show some respect!"
The skeleton, sword still half-buried in the moss, gave a sloppy salute. The salute misfired — its helmet spun off like a top. Malgorath lunged forward. "Nonsense!" he spat at the bones. "I incanted perfectly. This is your fault, you impertinent undead fool!"
Splurg quickly stepped in front of the demon lord, hands placating. The goblin shook his head with good humor. "Master, perhaps we try again with a slight adjustment?" he suggested gently. Malgorath huffed, eyeing the prone bones.
"All right, try again!" he growled, standing back. Splurg leaned down, whispering the correct pronunciations. Malgorath took a deep breath, turned, and declaimed once more:
"From restless grave and ancient soil,A guardian of bone, do not recoil!Rise again with spear and shield,Stand by me on this cursed field!"
A blast of green light shot from the earth. This time, a tall Skeleton Warrior shot up. Fully formed and impressively robust, it stood at attention clutching a gleaming spear.
SYSTEM:Skeleton Warrior summoned. 20 DP used.
Splurg exhaled in relief. "There we go, Master — a true guard." The skeleton warrior straightened, menacingly alert.
Malgorath crossed his arms. "Only twenty DP this time?" he remarked, voice grudgingly impressed though he'd never admit. "Hmph, well done. Much better than the last one." He leaned forward and patted the warrior's shoulder plated with bone. "Protect this floor with your unlife. Any hero who trespasses will know true terror!"
The Skeleton Warrior saluted crisply and flashed its sword in agreement. Splurg patted Malgorath's back. The little goblin had already calculated the DP difference.
"Good. Now on to grander creations!" Malgorath declared, eyeing the remaining bones at his feet. "We shall craft a monster of legend!"
The Bone Dragon Debacle
Malgorath's eyes gleamed. "Behold! An ancient recipe for the Bone Dragon," he proclaimed. He swept the scattered bones into his arms. "Gather these remnants! We will bind them with magic and forge something fearsome!"
Splurg edged back, unsure. "A dragon, Master? That—" he began.
"Silence!" Malgorath snapped, pointing theatrically. He tossed skulls, ribs, and femurs into the air. "Witness me!" he cried.
With a command, he chanted:"Bones of mortal kind,Twist and twine and merge and bind!By my will, dragon be formed!"
The bones obeyed for a heartbeat. They twirled and snapped, assembling into a massive skeletal shape: a long spinal column, stubby rib wings, and a jutting jaw. Malgorath stepped back in triumph. "It's alive! A fearsome Bone Dragon!" he exclaimed.
The skeleton-turned-dragon sniffed (oddly dusty) and opened its jaw. Then it happened: an errant nasal bone dislodged. The dragon's brow wrinkled. A huge sneeze erupted from its ribcage: "A-CHOO—!!!"
The beast jerked violently. Its skull popped off and spun through the air before thunking on a gravestone. In an instant, the rest of the dragon collapsed. The bones tumbled in a heap to the ground, and the assembled monster was no more than a pile of bones once again.
Malgorath stared in stunned silence. The pile of bones rattled like angry maracas. Splurg, hiding a laugh, pinched his arm.
"By the Dark Throne," Malgorath groaned. "A dragon… that sneezed to death. This is insulting!"
He jabbed a finger at the bones. "You had one job!"
The goblin stepped forward, sheepish. "Uh, well… at least we didn't lose any DP on that one," he pointed out with a grin. "It only sneezed itself to bits." He started picking up the bones and stacking them neatly.
Malgorath crossed his arms, deflated but trying not to show it. "Fine. These experiments are… premature, I suppose." He sniffed and tried to shake it off.
Splurg cleared his throat. "Master, perhaps we should be mindful of our Dungeon Points," he suggested quietly. "We had about a hundred DP to start. After those two summons, not much remains. We have this floor and its skeleton guard now, but spending DP too fast will leave us dry. Remember — every stronger monster will yield more DP from the heroes' victims. Right now, wasting points is expensive."
Malgorath waved a dismissive hand and paced away. He tapped a finger on his chin, still exuding confidence. "Hmm. Valuable lesson, yes. But grand visions wait for no one!"
He turned back with a charismatic grin. "Let it be known: Malgorath's ambitions are not chained by mere points. I will attract countless heroes; their blood will fill my coffers. These minor hiccups are but the first steps to greatness!"
Splurg kept a steady, reassuring smile. "Of course, Master. Absolutely."
Around them, the undead forest lay silent under the pale moonlight. The well-armed Skeleton Warrior stood guard at the gate, boots planted firmly. Splurg, however, was already mentally rehearsing trap layouts for future floors. For now, though, he simply believed in his Demon Lord's confidence.