Drum... Drum Drum Boom! Labyrinth Day 77
Duum... Duum duum boom...!
Labyrinth Day 77. Hwang Mi-reu's coin support had stopped.
To be precise, she wasn't sending coins directly anymore. Instead, Earth's other helpers were receiving funds from her and proxy-supporting in her place.
PLATINUM-grade helper 'Pruru' has sent 3,000 coins!
GOLD-grade helper 'Yumi' has sent 2,000 coins!
GOLD-grade helper 'Mysticism' has sent 1,900 coins!
GOLD-grade helper 'Luna-chan' has sent 2,500 coins!
Hwang Mi-reu's helper rank was already maxed out. She figured there'd be no big merit in her sending coins directly, so she'd delegated proxy support to raise the other helpers' ranks.
TRINITY-grade helper 'Rise Nova' has sent 5,000 coins!
PLATINUM-grade helper 'Pruru' has sent 15,000 coins!
The proxy supports kept rolling in. In the end, Pruru reached Diamond grade, while Mysticism, Yumi, and Sage rose to Platinum.
With that, coin support time wrapped up. I thanked the helpers, then activated the warp device to check the undersea village construction site, stepping through the portal.
Even as I did, the chat kept buzzing.
I lowered the chat opacity and tucked it into the corner of my vision.
I brought a few monsters through the portal. The Necro Puppeteer I'd appointed as undersea village manager was there to greet me.
[You're late.]
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"
[I didn't wait. I just got here too.]
The warp device was near a door connected to the machine graveyard passage. The construction site wasn't far—close enough to see from here.
Anyway, we followed Necro to the site.
Under Omega's lead, undersea village construction was progressing smoothly.
Unlike the desert village's mostly wooden buildings, these used stone as the main material.
Stone, but not ordinary stuff. The machines were quarrying seabed bedrock and processing it with Omega's tech.
Ancient Labyrinth seabed rock had superior durability anyway.
Ping ping. Gauntlet, when'd you arrive?
As I toured the site, Omega floated down from on high.
"Just got here."
Say hi when you arrive. Rude, ping ping.
"You looked busy."
No need for that. Anyway, control devices are all installed as discussed. Now just focus on building, ping ping.
The control devices were circular machines scattered around the village, regulating gravity and water pressure while circulating fresh air from above the sea.
I thanked Omega, then slowly toured the site.
"No separate walls here either."
"Security's no issue. Tame a few more Deep Guardians and station 'em overhead."
I glanced up at the sky.
Shooo!
A Deep Guardian swimming overhead locked eyes with me just then.
Oh! Gauntlet's here?
It descended carefully, avoiding buildings, and nudged its head at me—begging for pets.
I stroked its head gently.
"Guarding the village well?"
Yessir! Banish anyone who approaches right away!
This Deep Guardian was the village's deputy manager, doubling as protector. I'd have it lead the others I'd tame later.
I chatted briefly with the Deep Guardian, then encouraged Necro's puppets and the machines helping with construction as I toured.
Quick check of the undersea village done, I warped back to the shelter.
"Huh? What's this?"
The remaining monsters were clustered around something, all looking grave.
Why the fuss all of a sudden? You sick?
Sruung, sruung...
Niara Nephensis and Black Magma Slime sounded worried. I hurried over.
"Kids, what's wrong?"
"Yangyang... Our Dochi-yang suddenly got weird just now..."
Merino stepped aside, pointing at what they were watching.
"Look at this-yang."
Duum...
It was the Hedgehog Summoner God they surrounded. Its back spines bristled sharply, head shaking wildly back and forth. Eyes unfocused.
"Dochi, what's wrong? Hurt?"
Duum duum...
"Dochi?"
Duum duum duum duum...
My words weren't registering. Something was definitely off, but Medical Angel wasn't doing anything.
As I went to ask why no healing fluid...
Duum, duum duum duum boom...
Hedgehog convulsed harder.
Duum... Duum duum boom...!
Then its hips started shaking—dozens of times faster than usual. Blurring afterimages, flashy hip dance.
Finally.
Duum duum duum duum boombaaaah!!!
Fwosh—!
A roar shook the Central Chamber. Intense light burst from Hedgehog's body.
When it faded, Hedgehog was gone. Just a large egg left in its place.