I trained myself to control the crystal, in addition to learning to push my Circle of Mana Absorption skill to its limit.
At first, it was difficult, but I picked it up quickly, and now I can create all sorts of lovely things in my dungeon.
Actually, I once accidentally opened a hole beneath an explorer's feet, causing him to fall. Unaware, I patched the hole… killing him instantly.
I only realized what had happened when I saw the dungeon notification!
That understandably angered the adventurers, but since it was a rare occurrence, they eventually relaxed—well, as much as one can in such a brutal dungeon.
Still, it had consequences: higher‑rank adventurers started showing up. Ranks C and D are now more common than before! While that brings in more entrance fees, fewer people die, so I actually earn fewer points overall.
It seems Alicia's team has been entering the dungeon more often to spar with the Iron Lizard and train.
It's no mystery—they're clearly preparing for the second floor.
Don't underestimate that level! Even without a mini‑boss, it's brutally hard: element‑infused spiders of every variety, small and mobile, using vines and brambles to hide and strike from cover. Then there are the guard spiders, brutal in melee—devastating damage all around!
This is a different kind of challenge than the first floor, but just as deadly—if not more so.
And if you factor in the spores the vines and roots emit, weakening any adventurer who breathes them… it's a real headache for them.
Especially since Elenya has no spells to dispel that kind of debuff… or at least she didn't show any on the first floor.
But I don't understand why they're training so hard—does getting to the second floor really demand this much preparation?
And why do they insist on exploring every corner of the first floor each time, sometimes even missing the mini‑boss…?
It all smells of trouble. I'd better upgrade both the dungeon and myself.
First, I checked my status.
"System, show me my current progress in the system evolution."
[Dungeon System Evolution: 1/3]
"What? How is that possible?"
[Improvement is tied to the dungeon's rank, which is currently F.]
I thought it over, and an idea struck me.
"It's because the mini‑boss appeared early, right?"
[Yes.]
"I see…"
Normally, without a mini‑boss, my rank would increase based on the dungeon's overall difficulty. At my stage, I shouldn't be F yet. For example, I still need to add more monsters and traps on the second floor—but unlocking the ability to purchase a mini‑boss and having one early bumped my rank up.
Now I have two upgrades ahead: the system evolution and my personal evolution. The problem is, I don't have enough points for both. So I decided to prioritize myself, while planning to beef up the dungeon later with more traps—and maybe some monsters—on floor two.
"System, allocate the 40,000 points to my evolution!"
[Please choose your evolution:
Lady Slime Girl
Fire Slime Girl
Water Slime Girl
Big Slime Girl
Little Demon Slime Girl
…]
I didn't hesitate. I already knew exactly what I wanted: Lady Slime Girl!
[Your evolution begins!]
A white light enveloped me, shining like an over‑decorated Christmas tree!
After several minutes, the light faded, and my new form stood revealed.
Visually, my slime body hadn't changed much—I was just a bit larger than before. But the new racial ability makes all the difference!
[Slime Lady Shape]: Allows transformation into a female humanoid form.
Make no mistake: it doesn't turn me human—only humanoid!
I activated it immediately.
My body trembled, then expanded until I stood two meters tall. My skin remained gelatinous pink‑white, but now I had a distinctly feminine humanoid silhouette.
My hair—long, tied into twin tails that trailed on the ground—makes me look a bit like Hatsune Miku.
And… I'm naked as a worm! I'll have to salvage clothes from fallen explorers, even if everything will be too small…
Why choose a humanoid form rather than new powers?
First, I can now disguise myself among humans when I leave to scout new dungeon sites.
Second, I can combine this form with another skill for a special fusion.
"Activate Mimic of Woman!"
I mimicked the Multivariant Spider Queen's appearance—and became Arachne! A two‑meter‑wide spider, pink and white, covered in matching hairs, crowned by a femme‑fatale humanoid torso and head.
Yes, monster morphs are now humanoid too!
Granted, humanoid isn't always the optimal monster shape, but it offers tactical versatility—and that's priceless.
Whatever Alicia's team plans, at least I can defend myself far better now—and choose from a wider range of tactics.
And my dungeon crystal sits safely inside me; that worry's off my mind for good!
I've gotten used to this humanoid form—and to the humanoid mimics of my monsters—with excitement for what's to come… though I can't deny a flutter of anxiety.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Alicia, has your group found the crystal on the first floor?"
"No, Guild Mistress. The dungeon master either hid it well on the first floor or moved it to the second."
"You must retrieve it. He can now shift the dungeon walls at will!"
"And that's dangerous. Even if we can't wield the crystal, we need to secure it to limit his power!"
"…"
Alicia fell silent, bowing her head. The Guild Mistress realized she'd been too harsh.
"Sorry, Alicia. I didn't mean to snap at you. But this is critically important."
"I understand, Guild Mistress."
The Guild Mistress sighed and shifted topics.
"How's the training going in the dungeon?"
"Very well, Madam."
"Excellent. Your team will spearhead the full assault on the dungeon. You must penetrate the second floor and discover what lies within."
"Yes! We will not disappoint you, Guild Mistress!"