Mark gave himself a ntal slap to snap back to reality and stop staring at Aria.
’No, no, focus, Mark. You have things to do, subordinates to et, and a dungeon to manage.’
Mark remained seated on the throne, finishing straightening his clothes, when he looked up and saw Aria.
She was standing in front of him, completely undressed, holding her underwear in her hands.
’Oh, damn.’
Aria looked at him with bright eyes, perfectly aware of how Mark was watching her. Then she smiled.
It was a mischievous, teasing smile.
Instead of dressing quickly, she began to do so slowly.
Very slowly.
Mark cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.
’Alright, this isn’t working. If this keeps up, we’re going to end up having sex again. And I don’t have ti for that.’
"Aria," Mark said, rising from the throne. "Hold on."
Aria blinked, confused, pausing with her white dress in her hands.
"Master?"
Mark closed his eyes and concentrated.
He felt the dungeon’s power flow through him.
’I need a private room. Sowhere Aria can get dressed without... distracting .’
Mark felt that familiar sensation — energy flowing outward, drawn out of him — and heard the sound of stone shifting.
Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.
Then the wall to his left began to change.
Within seconds, a section of the wall retracted, revealing a small room with a mirror and a chair.
"That should do," Mark said, admiring his work.
Aria stared at him in absolute amazent.
"Master, you’re incredible. How did you do that?"
"I own the dungeon, rember?" Mark shrugged. "I can modify the structure. Within certain limits, of course."
Mark pointed toward the room.
"Get dressed in there and be quick about it... I don’t know how long Ely and Yuki will be."
Aria pouted adorably.
"But Master, I thought you liked watching —"
"Aria, you know perfectly well that’s not what I an," Mark cut her off. "So get dressed. Now."
Aria sighed dramatically, but nodded. She gathered the rest of her clothes and walked toward the small room.
Before going in, she turned and blew Mark a kiss.
"Thank you, Master... for everything."
Then she stepped inside, leaving the door slightly ajar.
’Of course she’d do sothing like that.’
Mark shook his head, smiling in spite of himself.
’This woman is absolutely starving for attention.’
Mark leaned back on his throne with a sigh.
Then he felt sothing move inside his cloak.
’What in the...?’
Mark looked down and saw a black gelatinous mass peeking out from inside his robe.
It was the dungeon’s original boss.
’Oh, right... I almost forgot about you.’
The sli slid out of the cloak, taking shape on the armrest of the throne.
Where it had once been enormous, it was now roughly the size of a baseball.
"Master," the sli said calmly. "Have you finished satisfying yourself with your subordinate?"
"Sorry about that — I forgot you were inside my robe," Mark replied, mildly embarrassed.
"You need not apologize to , Master."
Mark observed it for a mont, thoughtful.
"I think you need a na... I can’t keep calling you ’the sli.’"
"A na..."
The sli went still for a mont.
"I understand."
Mark thought for a second, watching the black, viscous mass.
’What kind of na would suit it?’
In the ga there had been a legendary sli boss called "Vorax the Devourer."
A level 95 monster that could absorb anything.
Perfect.
"Vorax," Mark said. "That’ll be your na."
The sli — now nad Vorax — shivered slightly.
"Vorax. It is a good na, Master. Thank you."
Mark smiled.
"Alright, Vorax. Now I need your opinion. This room is too plain. I need it to look more... impressive."
"Now that you are the dungeon’s owner, you may remodel it to your liking."
’Exactly.’
Mark rose from the throne, looking around the chamber with a critical eye.
First, the floor.
Mark focused his power again, and the floor began to change.
Glowing lines appeared, forming a ritual circle around the throne, filled with runes and magical symbols. Then... the torches.
Twisted iron brackets sprouted from the walls, each holding a torch with ghostly green flas.
"A nice touch," Vorax remarked.
And finally... the ceiling.
Mark looked up and concentrated.
Black crystal stalactites began to form, hanging like sharp teeth, each one glowing with red light.
"Perfect," Mark murmured.
"The chamber now reflects your power, Master," Vorax said approvingly.
Mark heard a gasp behind him.
Aria had co out of the room, fully dressed, staring around with wide eyes.
"Master," she whispered. "This is... incredible."
Mark smiled and returned to his throne, sitting back down.
Vorax slid back onto the armrest, settling in beside him like a pet.
From that vantage point, Mark could see the entire chamber perfectly.
’Yeah... this works.’
Aria took her place beside the throne, hands clasped in front of her.
"How do I look?" Mark asked.
"Like a true dungeon lord, Master," Aria replied with a smile.
"Intimidating," Vorax added simply.
Mark nodded, satisfied.
’I could get used to this.’
A few seconds of silence passed before he heard footsteps approaching through the corridor.
Mark sat up straight on his throne.
’Here they co... ti for the show.’
The massive chamber doors began to slowly swing open, revealing Ely.
And behind her, following close, were Mark’s new subordinates.
User Comments
0 comments from readers