Dungeon Tycoon Awakening
You have entered the 10th Floor Boss Stage.
Unlike the other floors, the interior of the 10th floor wasn't all that spacious.
There was just one large clearing, and nothing else existed on the floor.
"This feels similar to the Hell Beast fight. It's designed purely for the boss battle. Are floors 20 and 30 like this too?"
-There are a lot like this, but not all of them. Sometimes you have to complete special missions on boss floors. And some floors feel like they were made just to drive people insane.
"Really? Sounds like you know your stuff. Must be pretty tough then."
-Eh, it's all far in the future, so no need to stress. And it probably won't be hard for you anyway.
And that held true for this 10th floor as well.
Considering Carpe's current power, a mere 10th-floor boss couldn't stir any excitement.
'Kobold Chieftain' will appear in 1 minute. Prepare for battle.
-It's a level 60 boss monster. In terms of difficulty... probably weaker than the White Tiger you fought during that ordeal quest. The White Tiger was lower level, but it was tied to the Magic King questline.
"Sounds easy then. Smash it quick, update the record... wait a sec."
Carpe was about to go for a time attack record when he changed his mind.
There was a quest perfect for this situation, after all.
"Mukhyang's evolution stage 2 mission. I can knock one out here."
-Good call. Perfect conditions.
Mukhyang's stage 1 missions had all been cleared back in Ramark's underground labyrinth.
And once stage 1 was done, stage 2 missions had unlocked.
Evolution Quest (Epic) - Stage 2
📍 Objective: Defeat a boss monster higher level than the player without the player participating in combat (0/3)
In short, it meant taking down boss monsters using only his retainers.
"Think we can pull it off?"
-What a pointless question. Even just Mukhyang and Tina alone could handle it.
"Yeah, and we've got Gillian too."
Of course, Gillian's level had reset when he became a homunculus, but he was still overwhelmingly powerful.
Normally, four retainers under level 30 couldn't take on a level 60 boss, but that was just the norm.
It meant nothing to Carpe, whose entire retinue was Epic grade.
"Oh, any rewards for topping the time attack?"
-Nope. Just your name on the stone tablet. That's it.
"Cool. Passing on the 10th-floor time attack then."
Carpe had no reason to chase records when his life wasn't on the line for honor.
"Alright, leaving this one to you all."
"Kyukyu kyukyu!"
"Leave it to me, my liege. I shall present the enemy's head upon my return!"
"Yeah! I'll do my best this time, Master."
Heh heh heh! Leave the front to me! Not a single one shall pass!
Boss monster has been summoned!
The magic circle on the floor flashed briefly, summoning the kobold.
Its red eyes gleamed ferociously as it glared at the retainers, as if ready to tear them apart right then.
"Kieeeek!!"
The Kobold Chieftain let out a guttural roar and charged.
* * *
You have defeated the 'Kobold Chieftain'.
There were no surprises.
The Kobold Chieftain was literally torn apart by the Epic retainers' combined assault.
"Heh heh. The free ride feels fantastic."
-...Your freebie build is fully online now. The heavens must be blind to bless a guy like you with this luck!
"That's why you gotta live right every day."
Your current clear record has been saved to the tower. Next entry will start from floor 11.
"Ah, so it updates every 10 floors."
-Yeah. Starting from floor 1 every time would be brutal.
If you gave up on 8 or 9, you'd restart from 1, but clearing 10 let you pick up from the next. One reason players pushed for 10, 20, etc.
-Already-cleared floors give no EXP or items from monsters. Hidden chests don't respawn either.
"Obviously."
Infinite farming would break everything—endless loops from 1-9, quitting on 9. Exploits everywhere.
"Wait, no? Exploits could work here. It's a free zone—if high-floor users bus lowbies from 1..."
-Nope. Once you're past 11, you can't go back down. Same for 21, 31, etc.
"Got it. RaSe's got exploits locked down tight... wait. Does that mean I can't go back down?"
-Probably.
"Then how do I meet Dretsch again? That's underground floor 1."
-Hm. Maybe re-entering sends you to the hidden stage?
"Yeah, that ma—"
You are the tower's sub-administrator. You may freely travel to any floor you have cleared.
-...Super account perks. Go anywhere you want.
"Kuh! Of course. Can't have limits on the admin!"
Wooong.
Two portals appeared before Carpe—one to floor 9, one to 11.
"Gotta see Dretsch first."
Carpe stepped into the floor 9 portal, and the scenery shifted instantly.
You have completed a quest.
Sub-administrator's 10th floor clear confirmed. You now acquire 'Facility Placement' rights for areas floor 10 and below.
Would you like to check installable facilities on the current floor?
-Facilities out of nowhere? Never heard of that in the Red Tower.
"No way..."
Carpe nodded knowingly.
'Administrator', 'facility', 'install'. Only one conclusion.
"Check."
Magic Tower Floor 9 area facility window activated.
Facility List
• Magic Shop (Installable)
• Fountain of Recovery (Installable)
* More facilities unlock as cleared stages increase.
* First-opening bonus active. Initial facility installs are free.
"Yes! It's a real dungeon management sim!"
Clear the dungeon, decorate it, advertise, then squeeze loot from visiting heroes!
One old game studio drew inspiration for a legendary title: Dragons Make Nests or something.
-Was there a game like that?
"A cosmic masterpiece everyone knows. Anyway, not the point...
Free first facility? Do that now.
Two options: Magic Shop and Fountain of Recovery. Simple, intuitive names.
"Simple and straightforward is best for these. Decided. Magic Shop it is."
He lacked talent for management games, but knew the basics: secure profits first.
Can't expand without cash.
Install Magic Shop in Floor 9 area?
"Yes. Install."
The vast 9th-floor area began to change the moment Carpe confirmed.
Rumble rumble rumble.
"Wh-what?!"
"Earthquake?! Everyone, stay steady!"
"Is the tower collapsing?!"
The sudden shaking panicked the players on floor 9.
And it didn't take long for panic to turn to shock.
"Huh? What's that?!"
A player pointed—one direction where a massive building was slowly rising from the ground.
"What the...?"
"Event? Never heard of events in Red Tower... Oh, I got it!"
"What? Spill!"
"Cheongeom cleared floor 30! First clear triggered an event!"
"Whoa, yeah! How'd you figure that, genius?"
"Heh. That's why I'm rank 100-something. Sharp analysis."
As players piled on the misunderstanding, the Magic Shop fully emerged.
"Uh... can we go in?"
"Might be a trap. Instant death."
Most stayed cautious at first, but not everyone.
"Screw it! YOLO!"
"First-come-first-served event maybe?"
A few rushed in from curiosity, and soon others followed.
Carpe blended into the crowd and entered.
Not as huge as Ruana's auction house, but big enough for hundreds.
"It's a shop? Items on stalls like a market."
"No NPCs? Unmanned system?"
Large tables dotted the interior, laden with goods.
Players swarmed to inspect.
"Pfft, mostly potions."
"Dig deeper. Might be hidden stuff."
"Eek?! Low HP potion for 10 gold? Highway robbery! Four times shop price! Who'd buy?"
"Cheaper than porters, though..."
Reactions were mostly negative—basic stuff, overpriced.
-What now? Doomed before opening.
"Hmm. Not what I wanted."
Carpe checked the facility window—no price tweaks available. Probably impossible or low perms.
"No choice."
-What're you planning?
"Watch. People always follow the first mover."
Carpe stomped loudly toward a stall, picked up a potion, and muttered—loud enough for others.
"Expensive? Seems normal. Summit water's always 3,000 won for 500ml, right?"
Floor 9 was a free zone. Leaving meant restarting from 1.
No potion runs outside before the floor 10 boss.
"Potions almost gone—perfect timing. Pricey, but way better than reclimbing."
Carpe paid 10 gold for one.
Low HP Potion sold from Magic Shop managed by administrator.
1% of sales paid to administrator as tax.
You acquired 10 silver.
Yes! That's the stuff!
-...This is beyond ridiculous.
Carpe swore he heard a sigh nearby.
"True. Prices match the situation."
"Yeah. Short supply jacks 'em up."
"Ugh, my potions are low too. No confidence reclimbing... Screw it! Five potions!"
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Low HP Potion sold.
5 Low HP Potions sold...
10 silver acquired.
50 silver acquired...
The sound of incoming riches rang endlessly in Carpe's ears.