The [Creatures] tab scrolled endlessly, becoming a blur of mundane icons and forgettable names. Kaiden swiped downward until the moment the interface changed.

The pale grey border framing the [Common Creatures] menu suddenly warped into a darker hue. The icons pulsed with deep crimson. Even through the interface, the presence of what lay below felt heavier.

[Abyssal Creatures]

The list reorganized itself with a single pulse. Gone were the direwolves and goblins. The new entries oozed pure menace.

The very first one stole Kaiden's attention.

[Abyssal Salamawyrm]

Base Level Range: 1–99

Cost: 1 DMP (Lvl 1) → 500 DMP (Lvl 99)

Description: A lava-born predator that swims through molten rock as easily as water. Its body is scaled in volcanic minerals, with blood hotter than magma itself. Known for ambushing prey from beneath molten rivers, it devours both flesh and soul alike.

Kaiden's grin spread ear to ear.

"Oh, jackpot already. Or maybe the system showed me exactly what I was searching for?"

Indeed, Kaiden didn't believe that a mere magma river was enough to stop all invaders. He knew that some humans were much scarier than monsters. Furthermore, he was not just dealing with strong awakened, but also great awakened crafters. Maybe one of them could create magma-resistant suits in preparation to invade his land.

He would not permit himself to ruin everything by hubris stemming from underestimating humanity.

Kaiden tapped the entry, and the interface expanded into a detailed display.

Unlike the common creatures, this one allowed manual adjustment. A vertical slider appeared beside the creature's stats, allowing him to increase its level at will. With every notch upward, the DMP cost rose, and the Salamawyrm's outline grew more imposing.

Level 1 – harmless little lizard.

Level 50 – already terrifying.

Level 99 – a living catastrophe.

Kaiden paused with the slider at the maximum. The cost - 500 DMP - flashed a warning red.

He smirked. "You should be worth it."

He confirmed the summons.

The dungeon floor trembled.

With a heavy, wet sound, something big dropped from the air. A creature made of molten scale and obsidian muscle slammed onto the abyssal rock with a hiss, steam erupting as its blazing body met the cold stone. It was serpentine, about the length of a bus but far slimmer, streamlined for movement inside the narrow magma rivers. Rows of glowing teeth filled its maw, and its eyes burned like twin cores of magma.

Kaiden could only imagine what someone might feel when they face this creature here.

Then, the monster... Lost some of its majesty.

The slime-coated slope gave way beneath its weight, and the Salamawyrm let out an offended screech as it slid helplessly downward, flailing its molten claws for traction.

Kaiden blinked, then nearly broke into laughter. "Oh… sorry!"

The beast hit the magma with a thunderous splash. For a moment, Kaiden thought he'd lost it to the depths. Then, a glowing silhouette emerged. Kaiden nearly gasped when he realized that even when the creature was less than an inch from the surface, he could not see its form. It was camouflaged far too efficiently inside the magma.

The Salamawyrm glared up at him.

Even through the haze and the heat shimmer, Kaiden could feel the judgment in its stare. He tilted his head.

"… You look like Aria when I pull out."

The creature hissed, making molten bubbles pop around it.

"You're a female, aren't you? That disapproving gaze of yours is universal, I can recognize it from a mile away."

Kaiden raised his hand slowly and extended it.

His palm hovered, bridging the space until it touched the creature's snout.

The Salamawyrm froze. The fiery glow beneath its scales dimmed for a second, then pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

And then, impossibly, the great beast began to wiggle.

Its long, molten body rippled through the magma, splashing arcs like a child playing in water. Each joyful twist sent waves of lava crashing against the tunnel walls and Kaiden as well, but he realized that while he was in this weird creator mode, he would not sustain damage even from magma.

"Who's a good girl?"

A high, almost chirping rumble rose from the creature as it coiled and uncoiled happily beneath his hand.

The Salamawyrm let out another low purr.

Kaiden grinned at the sight of the molten serpent wriggling like an overgrown puppy. Its joy was almost contagious. The thing was massive, terrifying, and yet somehow adorable in its absurd enthusiasm.

"Alright," he said, his hand still resting against its snout. "You're the first defender of my home. You need a name."

He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers.

"Melty."

The Salamawyrm blinked and gave a soft rumble that sounded approving. The molten ripples around it shimmered like laughter.

Kaiden smirked. "Melty it is, then."

He didn't know if it actually understood language or if it was just responding to tone, but she seemed perfectly fine with it.

"Well, I can't have you all alone down there, can I?"

Without hesitation, he stepped off the ledge. The molten world rushed up to meet him, and though the heat roared, it did not harm him. His creator's authority kept him safe. He plunged into the magma beside Melty.

It was surreal.

The magma burned with silent fury, glowing orange and gold, but to him it felt like warm ocean waves.

"Let's give you some company."

He opened the interface with a thought and summoned two more Abyssal Salamawyrms, each set to level 99, just like Melty. Two distant bursts of light ignited deep within the magma field. Moments later, twin shapes slithered into view, sleek and glowing, their movements eerily graceful as they circled around the first.

Melty gave a triumphant hiss, clearly pleased.

The three Salamawyrms twined around each other in a fiery dance, leaving luminous trails in their wake.

Kaiden chuckled, amazed at the sight.

He raised his hand, summoning the creation interface once more.

"Let's make this place even better."

The magma churned as his will took form. From the molten depths, new tunnels began to bore outward in all directions, hundreds of them. Each passage varied in width, some large enough to swallow a truck, others no more than cracks fit for a Salamawyrm's rather slender and long body to slip through.

The Salamawyrms darted into them instantly, tails flicking with excitement as they explored their new hunting grounds.

Kaiden's mind filled with possibilities. Any fool who dared to dive into this molten labyrinth would be surrounded by unseen threats, creatures perfectly camouflaged in their own element, waiting in silence behind molten walls.

Even worse for the intruders, not all tunnels led anywhere. Some would spiral endlessly. Others would collapse or loop back. And among the chaos, only one true tunnel led deeper into the dungeon's core.

Kaiden floated above it all, watching the glowing network expand beneath him like a living organism.

Melty resurfaced again, her head emerging beside him. She loomed close, with those molten eyes of hers studying him with a warmth that felt outright affectionate.

Kaiden hadn't seen monsters act like this toward their Dungeon Masters. Not Bastet nor Calypso had such a relationship with their underlings.

Perhaps it was a unique bond because the other two weren't as friendly with him. But maybe it had to do with the fact that he inherited this dungeon instead of being a monster ruling over it.

But in the end, such things could be studied later. Kaiden smirked, reaching out to tap her snout again. "Protect this place for me, Melty. You're the boss here."

She rumbled happily, then dove beneath the surface with her kin. The magma parted around her like silk.

Kaiden rose from the molten depths and returned to solid ground.

The first of his deadly zones was complete.

Now, onto the second.

…

Author: How's this dungeon creation? Exciting? Boring? Let me know. I am having great fun, but I could understand if you found it boring.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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