Demonic Po*nstar System

Chapter 436: Dungeon Theme

—

Core Status: STABLE

Previous Administrator: Calypso

Authority Transfer: COMPLETE

You have inherited the administrative rights of this domain.

Dungeon Master Points Available: 10000

You may allocate Dungeon Master Points to:

– Structural Reinforcement

– Monster Population

– Defensive Arrays

– Environmental Alterations

– Core Evolution

Kaiden’s eyes narrowed at the screen. ”This is really in depth, it seems... Do all boss monsters also get to allocate their points like this?”

He then shrugged his shoulders. ”Probably not the wilder ones, some can’t even stop themselves from drooling on the ground. The dungeon might’ve come with all points spent for them... or something like that. Well, it matters not.”

The blue glow shifted again. A simplified map appeared, showing circles, lines, and shapes representing tunnels, mountains, and many other notable landmarks. Each section had symbols next to it: Locked, Upgradeable, Empty Node.

The map flickered all of a sudden.

Then, without warning, it blurred. The glowing lines melted into each other before vanishing completely.

”What’s going on?” Kaiden frowned, reaching out instinctively to the floating image. He tried to swipe, zoom, anything, but the entire projection went pitch black.

A second later, text appeared in cold, robotic clarity:

—

[Error: No Current Structure Assigned.]

[Notice: A new Dungeon Master must forge his own domain from the ground up.]

—

”So you only showed me a peek at what it used to be...” Kaiden muttered as realization dawned on him. His chest tightened as another, far more pressing thought struck him. ”Wait! My lovers are still inside the dungeon! What happened to them?!”

He frantically looked around, looking for any way to get back to them or reverse the change. But before panic could take root, another line of text appeared before him:

—

[For the duration of the administrative inheritance process, time has been suspended within the domain.]

[Maximum stasis period: 24 hours.]

—

Kaiden paused mid-breath. ”... I see.”

Relief flooded his veins, and his shoulders loosened. He slowly exhaled, forcing his heartbeat to steady.

Alright. No one was in danger. They were just... paused.

He looked at the empty black around him again, his soon-to-be dominion, and grinned widely. His pulse began to quicken, not from fear this time, but anticipation.

It was safe to say that Kaiden was excited, judging by the grin that refused to leave his face. ”Alright then. It’s time to set up the most badass dungeon of all time.”

Just as he said that, a new window blinked into existence:

—

[Current Theme: Abyssal]

[Would you like to change it?]

—

”Hm...” Kaiden rubbed his chin. ”Show me the options.”

The darkness around him shifted, and rows of glowing icons appeared, each with a moving image and a price tag underneath.

[Theme Options]

Forest Grove – Peaceful green environment, natural terrain, and beasts. (100 DMP)

Volcanic Depths – Fiery caves, magma rivers, fire-element monsters. (100 DMP)

Frozen Tundra – Icy peaks and frost-bound enemies. (100 DMP)

Cursed Ruins – Haunted fortresses and restless undead. (250 DMP)

Celestial Sanctum – Divine marble halls, radiant angels. (1,000 DMP)

Mechanical Citadel – Gears, golems, and techno-magic defenses. (5,000 DMP)

Fairy Tale Realm – Bright forests filled with laughing fairies and singing birds. (100,000 DMP)

Kaiden blinked. ”A hundred thousand?”

The image of smiling fairies in feminine clothes waving at him was almost insulting. ”Yeah... I’d rather not rule over Twink Haven or whatever that is.”

Kaiden didn’t doubt the power of the fairies; he just felt his masculinity recede into the negatives at the mere thought of his badass dungeon transforming into a fairy land of giggling childlike beings. If his girls saw the hellish landscape brimming with epic monsters become filled with laughing fairies, some uncomfortable questions might be sent his way.

Well, not that it really mattered, truth be told. He only had 10,000 DMP.

The list went on, but it seemed that after the fairy land, nothing was readable.

Kaiden flipped through the rest. Every strange, exotic option. There were many to choose from. ”Endless Void,” ”Nether Library,” ”Dream Sea,” ”Chrono Garden,” and more. But these ones didn’t even display the cost in DMP.

After a long, thoughtful pause, he glanced back at his current option.

Abyssal Theme.

The preview displayed a world wrapped in crimson skies and black stone, with rivers of molten light cutting through jagged terrain. In the center of it, a large, demonic monster stood on four legs, looking a bit like how Kaiden imagined a demonic dragon might look. From its open maws, a lava-like beam shot forward, incinerating a mountain in front.

The image radiated power and dominance. Kaiden felt drawn to the image on an instinctive level.

”It’s free and perfect for a dungeon meant to defeat invaders and serve as my base of operations.”

He was the Paragon of Sin. A demon-themed dungeon suited him perfectly. Besides, Calypso’s monsters were no joke, and they seemed to be nothing close to the giant monster he saw in the image of the theme.

There was clearly more to this theme than Winged Ravagers and other simpler beasts.

The screen pulsed once, then rippled outward like a stone cast into water. The void around Kaiden shuddered, expanding and deepening.

A faint outline of terrain appeared before him, displaying rough sketches of plains, cliffs, and mountains drawn in lines of blood-red light.

As the terrain stabilized, text appeared:

—

[Terraforming Interface Activated]

[Default Dungeon Layout: Branching Pathways - Multi-Route Access]

[Would you like to retain the previous structure?]

—

Kaiden studied the projection. He could see it: Calypso’s design philosophy was laid bare before his very eyes. Multiple routes winding through the dungeon, all connecting to a single heart at the center. Each path had its own traps, monster sets, and some even had a slightly different biome.

”This must’ve been what her old layout looked like,” he mused. ”Different paths leading to her demonic fortress.”

The more he examined it, the more the logic behind her structure revealed itself. Each corridor and battlefield wasn’t meant to stop an intruder; it was meant to test them.

”Every path leading to the same goal...” Kaiden muttered. ”It’s like she was saying: ’If you’ve made it this far, you deserve the right to face me.’”

A smirk crept across his lips. He respected Calypso deeply, but her mindset was far too noble for his liking.

She was a demoness through and through, proud and mighty.

”But that’s not how I’m doing this.”

The words carried weight in the darkness, and the map reacted. The glowing lines trembled as if awaiting command.

Kaiden clenched his fist, his crimson irises flaring with the faintest glimmer of wrath. ”You wanted to test the brave, Calypso. But I’ll torture and murder anyone who dares to invade what is mine.”

He raised his hand, and the void stirred.

”There won’t be any fair paths.” His lips curled into a cruel, demonic smirk. ”No easy routes, no ’all roads lead to the core.’ I’ll build true hell. I’ll break minds and bodies alike.”

It was time to terraform!