The forest floor was damp under Manicia's clawed feet, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling the air. She moved with a hunter's quiet grace, her bow held ready, but her thoughts were far from the rustling leaves. Beside her, Orkesh, his own movements equally silent, scanned the undergrowth.
"Don't you find it… weird?" Manicia whispered, her voice low, barely disturbing the morning quiet. She didn't look at Orkesh, her gaze fixed on a distant patch of shadow. "This… Lich. Wanting to set up his own business? It just… doesn't fit."
Orkesh sighed, a soft puff of air that ruffled his furred snout. He kept walking, his eyes sweeping the treeline. "We can't judge them by what we think we know, Manicia. But if I were to guess, I'd say… maybe he's just tired of all the killing. Wants to try a peaceful route instead?" He offered a shrug, a small, hopeful gesture.
Manicia finally turned, her eyes narrowed, a flicker of disbelief in their depths. "Peaceful? Have you ever seen a Lich go peaceful, Orkesh? In fact, any undead?" She watched him, waiting.
Orkesh paused, his brow furrowed in thought. He tapped a clawed finger against his chin, a habit he had when deep in contemplation. "Hmmmm…" The silence stretched, broken only by the chirping of unseen birds.
Manicia pressed, a dry, knowing tone in her voice. "Not one, right?"
Orkesh let out another sigh, heavier this time. He looked at her, his small eyes filled with a weary pragmatism. "Look, Manicia, if you have someone, anyone, who will feed us and give us shelter, and in fact, good food… then we'll move out of the dungeon. But we don't. Do we?"
Manicia's shoulders slumped. "That's the thing. We have no choice." The words were a bitter admission.
Orkesh reached out, patting her arm. "We just have to endure. And hope that… the Lich doesn't have a change of heart. I feel that he's different. There's something… methodical about him. Not just evil."
Manicia sighed again, a long, drawn-out breath. "I hope you're right." Her thoughts drifted, a wistful expression crossing her face. "But that roasted rabbit, though… the taste was heavenly. I want more." She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining the savory meat, the rich aroma. "I wonder what beef tastes like? Or boar?"
Orkesh chuckled, a dry sound. "Let's hunt, and we'll figure it out." He gestured deeper into the forest.
Manicia's gaze sharpened, a flicker of concern. "What about the others, who went the other way? What if the orcs will find them?"
Orkesh shook his head, a dismissive gesture. "It's impossible. No one but a fool would dare venture into the dungeon, we just stayed. And well, let's just say, if they saw us venture into that dungeon, they'll assume we're dead. Or became undead ourselves."
Manicia gave a wry, humorless laugh. "Yeah, right. That's why I said it's weird we haven't died yet." She tightened her grip on her bow, the hunt a welcome distraction from the unsettling reality of their new patron.
Back in the dungeon, the air thrummed with the low, steady pulse of industry. Karl surveyed his domain. The Tannery, despite its constant hum, still felt sluggish.
"The tannery only produces leather at a slow rate," he observed, its output barely a trickle. The Metallurgy Center, however, showed promising signs. "Now, it produces five steel and five iron ingots at their rate of pace, now that I added two more workers." The Workshop, a flurry of silent activity, impressed him most. "The workshop produces an extremely rapid rate when it comes to carved woodworks. The artisan I tasked is working well, happily working with the furniture and unlike normal ones." He leaned closer, examining a finely carved chair leg. "These ones are extremely precisely carved with intricate details, with the help of some creative suggestions I imparted." A faint sigh escaped him. "Though there's no varnishes, which is a bit of a let down." He dismissed the thought. "Doesn't matter for now. Let's actually buy some blueprints to produce first, and upgrade our production buildings."
He browsed the shop, his empty eye sockets scanning the glowing categories. Nothing immediately caught his eye in the blueprints section. He switched to "Upgrades," and there, a list of interesting possibilities unfolded, promising to boost production and streamline other aspects of his growing enterprise.
🐂 Tannery Upgrades
[ Stretched Rack Frames ] – 70 NP → +10% Drying Speed → Better airflow and structure support [🟢 Purchase]
📦 Distribution Center Upgrades
[ 🦴 BoneWagons Upgrade ] – 150 NP → +20% Carrying Capacity → Reduces return trips [🟢 Purchase]
🍲 Canteen Upgrades
🥣 [ 🧂 Enhanced BoneBroth Mix ] – 140 NP → Adds "Satisfying" status to meals → Slight stamina boost for guests [🟢 Purchase]
🥣 [ 🎭 Diverse Recipe Book ] – 140 NP → Enables racial food preferences → +20% Happiness for Kobolds, Goblins, etc. [🟢 Purchase]
⚒️ Metallurgy Center Upgrades
🔩 [ 🔥 Forge Bellows Boost ] – 120 NP → +15% Smelting Speed → Minor increase in coal consumption [🟢 Purchase]
🔩 [ 🛡️ Mold Precision Toolkit ] – 140 NP → +25% Gear Crafting Speed → Slight quality boost on weapon outputs [🟢 Purchase]
Karl's gaze lingered on his current NP balance: 375. I only have 375 NP. I need the ones that'll help me immediately, the most impactful upgrades for my current bottlenecks. His skeletal fingers hovered, calculating. The "Diverse Recipe Book" would boost guest satisfaction, which meant more mana. The "Mold Precision Toolkit" would speed up his crucial steel weapon production. And the "Stretched Rack Frames" would directly address the slow Tannery. These were the priorities.
He mentally selected them:
🥣 [ 🎭 Diverse Recipe Book ] – 140 NP
🔩 [ 🛡️ Mold Precision Toolkit ] – 140 NP
🐂 [ Stretched Rack Frames ] – 70 NP
A dry, rattling sigh escaped him. Now I only have 25 NP left. The familiar phantom ache of financial strain returned, a dull throb in his non-existent chest. As soon as he confirmed the purchase, a wave of magical energy rippled through the dungeon. All the selected buildings immediately shimmered, entering their upgrade phase. A System notification appeared, indicating a 10-minute upgrade time for most, but the Tannery, with its more complex process, would take 15 minutes.
Karl sighed again, a sound of weary satisfaction. Now, time to do my creative suggestions. His mind, free from the immediate concerns of NP management, began to conjure new blueprints, grander designs. He envisioned a structure that could manage and automatically build and design the place with the existing resources and production buildings. He focused, visualizing the concept, pushing the idea into the System.
A chime, sharp and clear, resonated through the dungeon.
[ Ding! You have created a new Custom Structure! ]
[ Blueprint: Auto-Architectorium ]
"The dungeon evolves itself. All you do is think."
🧠 Type: Autonomous Planning & Construction Nexus 🏗️ Function: Automatically manages design, layout, and construction based on dungeon needs and existing resource chains.
⚙️ Features:
🧱 Self-Building Infrastructure: Detects unoptimized layouts and expands corridors, rooms, or access routes without player input.
🪵 Smart Material Use: Pulls materials directly from stockpiles (e.g., Rough Stone, Wood Logs, Iron Ingots, Bone, Leather) Prioritizes surplus resources to minimize bottlenecks.
🧭 Production-Driven Expansion: Recognizes active buildings (Tannery, Metallurgy Center, Workshop, etc.) and expands based on volume/load:
More ovens for metallurgy? It'll add them.
Need more drying racks? Auto-installs.
Cramped canteen? It renovates.
🎨 Auto-Styling Engine: Uses aesthetics from dyes, processed bone/wood, and leather to upgrade visual environment (if Dye & Finish Tables are present).
🧞 No Design Orders Required: Fully integrated into the [🧠 Lich-Network Uplink™]. Responds to general thoughts and detected inefficiencies.
🔒 Requires:
At least 5 existing facilities (e.g., Workshop, Metallurgy, Distribution Center, etc.)
🎁 Bonuses:
+10% Efficiency to all buildings adjacent to newly created spaces
Unlocks New Layout Modes: → Grid Efficiency → Organic/Natural Cavern Look → Fortified Defensive Network
[ You earned +180 NP ]
Karl threw back his skull, a booming, triumphant laugh echoing through the stone halls. "HAHAHA! I got it! This is exactly what I need right now!" He rushed towards an empty room beside the workshop, his skeletal feet clattering with excitement. He mentally tapped on the hammer icon and then on "Auto-Architectorium." A transparent outline, smaller than he expected for such a powerful concept, appeared. He mentally tapped "check," bracing for another NP-consuming list of requirements.
🧱 Raw Materials:
Rough Stone x30 → Foundation, walls, and structural frame.
Wood Planks x20 → Internal framework, furniture base, and flooring.
Clay Bricks x30 → Interior surfaces, supports, and partition walls.
🧰 Tools Required (One-Time Use, Provided or Already in Use):
Stonecutter's Tool Set (Shared) → For shaping bricks and stone slabs.
Hammer & Saw Kit (Shared) → Woodworking and assembly.
Drafting Board & Measuring Rope (Optional but speeds build) → Used by skeleton planners for basic layout precision.
"Huh… that's surprising," Karl mused, a dry whisper. "All I need to buy now is Clay Bricks, and how much is that? 1.5 NP each. And the Drafting Board & Measuring Rope and Stonecutter's Tool Set… that'll cost me like 120, give or take." He glanced at his remaining NP.
"I also have a pile of concerning planks, so that'll remedy that." Karl quickly purchased the necessary requirements. The builders, already waiting, immediately took their tools and hurried to the outline Karl had placed, beginning their task with practiced efficiency. Karl smiled, a dry, satisfied breath escaping him. Now that'll take the huge burden of designing the dungeon off my shoulders. I just need to do two more creative suggestions.
He focused again, envisioning a building dedicated to shaping bricks and stone slabs, but also capable of more creative orders – carving figures, ornate stone tiles, custom orders. Cause why the f** not?*
A chime, clear and resonant, rang out.
[ Ding! You have created another custom structure! ]
🧱 Stonecrafters' Atelier – "Where rock meets refinement."🏗️ Blueprint Type: Structure
Category: Workshop Add-on / Specialized Production Function: A dedicated facility where raw stone is shaped into usable forms (bricks, slabs), ornate décor, carvings, statues, custom furniture bases, and tiles. Accepts creative, aesthetic, or functional orders—manual or automated from Auto-Architectorium.
⚙️ Core Capabilities:
🪨 Raw Material Processing: → Shapes Rough Stone into:
Bricks
Stone Slabs
Stone Tiles (Plain)
🎨 Creative Stonecrafting(Optional Orders): → Produces:
Ornate Tiles (Inlaid / Decorative)
Statues / Busts
Engraved Wall Panels
Alcoves, Pillars, Fountains, etc.
🛠️ Custom Orders (Queue or Manual Input): → Accepts task sheets from dungeon admin (you) → Can receive requests from Auto-Architectorium for decor or structure detailing
👷♂️ Worker Types:
1x Specialist Skeleton Mason(Mandatory)
Up to 3x Stoneworking Skeletons(Optional for speed)
[ You earned +150 NP ]
Karl smiled, a dry, pleased expression. Okay, that's easy. I also need this in the future. I'll be able to sell ornate slabs, tiles, and custom orders. For now, he needed more hands for these specialized tasks. He quickly navigated the shop.
[ Skilled Worker Pack (x5 units) – 120 NP ]
[ Adds 5 specialized workers to your labor pool. ]
He tapped "confirm purchase," and the NP vanished. Then, the familiar prompt appeared.
[ Please Assign Each worker a Specialized Job ]
[ 1. Specialized Minion - ? ]
[ 2. Specialized Minion - ? ]
[ 3. Specialized Minion - ? ]
[ 4. Specialized Minion - ? ]
[ 5. Specialized Minion - ? ]
Karl assigned three as "Architects," knowing they would be crucial for the Auto-Architectorium. The remaining two he left unassigned for later, their purpose yet to be determined. As soon as he tapped "check," five Level 10 skeletons materialized, three of them with [ Level 10 Architect ] floating above their heads, and two with [ Level 10 ? ].
Karl then turned his thoughts to his last creative suggestion, a building dedicated to military training. He envisioned a structure that could transform basic skeletons into formidable knights, agile archers, or disciplined spearmen.
A chime, sharp and decisive, rang out.
[ Ding! You have created another custom structure! ]
Boneforge Barracks
Category: 🏗️ Structures → Military Facilities Power Source: None – Passive structure Max Capacity: Trains up to 15 skeletons at once
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🔧 Function:
Transforms Basic Skeletons into Combat Units, each type equipped and trained according to dungeon needs.
Once constructed, the Boneforge Barracks grants access to the following training paths:
⚔️ Skeleton Knight (Tank/Frontliner)
Weapon Loadout: Sword & Shield
Armor Requirement: Medium to Heavy Armor
Training Time: 3 days per unit
Stats Boost: +HP, +Defense, +Taunt Capability
🏹 Skeleton Archer (Ranged Unit)
Weapon Loadout: Shortbow or Crossbow
Training Time: 2 days per unit
Stats Boost: +Accuracy, +Attack Speed
Bonus: +15% bonus if stationed on elevated ground
🪓 Skeleton Spearman (Anti-Cavalry/Pike Unit)
Weapon Loadout: Spear or Halberd
Training Time: 2.5 days per unit
Stats Boost: +Range, +Armor Penetration
Bonus: Can form ranks and phalanx-style formations if 3+
[ You earned +200 NP. ]
Karl smiled, a wide, predatory grin. Now that's what I'm talking about! His mind raced, envisioning legions of skeletal warriors. Though as much as I'd like to dress 'em up as Roman Praetorian Guards, I also love dressing them up as World War II soldiers, or maybe elite Navy SEAL units.
He chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. Here's hoping for future customization options. For now, let's just be contented, and do everything step by step. The military might of his Necro Corp was beginning to take shape.