The Salt Emperor
I relayed the salt field details I'd heard from Granite Fist to Joodak.
I thought I'd nailed the optimal setup. No clouds over the salt fields, ever.
Salt fields: eternally sunny.
Basic weather like that, I can tweak.
Ah… got it. That's her point.
An environment beyond what life can handle. Pure extreme.
I could probably make Joodak's salt desert idea work: super-arid basin, no seawater flow, no rain, temps way off the charts.
But I can't.
Dungeons have basic environment presets. Can't stray too far.
Minimum viable seems to be "life-sustainable." That's why even bare deserts always had an oasis slapped in…
Whoa…!! More methods?
…5x?
Minimum 5x? Come on. Maybe 2-3x tops, exaggerated? Still insane, but Joodak's track record has me hoping.
That pitying tone stings…
Oh, right—mages…
Forgot they exist. Only dwarves and Elise here, never seen real magic.
Dwarves lighting fires was it… Elise just tortured…
Hmm… Yeah. Mages are elite. Rare even among explorers…
Quit a cushy gig for backbreaking sun-blasted labor? Giant fields mean endless walking.
Salt's pricey, but rich folks buy it anyway…
…Huh? Never heard the second one.
What…
Handled the annoying part already…!
Competence maxed!!
Dimly lit room of Magic Tower Lord Evangeline.
"Well, I just boss people around too."
Just lean on shelter upper brass to spin up a new agency for salt field admin.
Plenty of idle hands in the shelter anyway.
"Hmm… No rush on deepest layer raids anymore. Could pull that guy out?"
Fellow dimensional transferee like Dungeon Master. Fire mage who's shone in monster wars.
"He could solo half a salt field. Better there than deepest layer."
Deepest raids were about stockpiling high-diff resources early due to shortages. Dungeon Master's here now—no rush.
The layer called the dungeon's deepest.
Vast crystal cave.
-Fwoooosh!
A house-sized earth dragon swings its tail to pulverize foes.
-KABOOM!!!
Shattering nearby rocks, the tail halts against one figure.
A man firmly planted, gripping a massive shield.
Golden glow on the shield; impact fully shunted to the ground—earth upheaved behind him.
"Now!"
Dragon stalled, a beastkin woman dashes from the side, greatsword carving a deep gash in its thick leg.
-GRRROOOARRR!!!
"Tch, too shallow!"
She retreats instantly from the writhing dragon.
"Haa… Blade's dull again? Tough bastard…"
"Lejeta… That's why I said maintain your weapon."
Shield man chides the beastkin called Lejeta.
"No distractions mid-fight!"
Rear: elf archer unleashes arrows at crystal bats pouring from the ceiling.
Not physical—mana-formed with embedded spells.
They split midair, birthing a storm that sweeps the bats.
But more pour from ceiling holes, filling gaps.
Each bat man-sized; nasty with big monsters. Crystal bodies—no food value.
Used to fetch premium for glowing crystals, now worthless.
Only 7 teams hit deepest—no low-layer hordes, but monsters overflow. Too brutal for most.
"Ready. Fall back!"
Middle-aged mage signals spell complete.
But no outward blast. Nothing around him.
-ROOOAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dragon thrashes in agony.
Protein-roasting scent wafts from inside.
-Sizzle…
Smoke from jaws; crimson glow between scales like molten iron.
Spell manifested inside—cooked from within, colossal body collapses.
-Thud!
"…Every time, why 'fall back' if it's internal?"
"Dramatic."
Bats cleared. Dismantling time.
Message received.