The sixth floor of the dungeon never truly slept.
Even in silence it worked. Deep beneath layers of stone and reinforced alloy, the control room hummed with the quiet persistence of machines that had long ago replaced the need for human hands. Thin blue lines of light traced the edges of consoles and embedded circuitry across the floor, pulsing at steady intervals like the heartbeat of a mechanical organism.
At the far side of the chamber, a heavy forge door slid open.
A wave of heat spilled into the cooler air of the control room.
Seth stepped through.
For three days straight he had remained inside the forge.
The result showed.
He wore only a pair of dark cargo pants, the fabric stained with ash and faint streaks of soot. His upper body was bare, his skin marked with dust and the faint sheen of dried sweat. Smithing gloves still covered his hands, the reinforced material smudged with blackened residue from constant work. Heavy boots struck the metallic floor with dull, measured thuds.
For a brief moment after he emerged, thin strands of heat-steam rose from his body.
The temperature difference between the forge chamber and the rest of the floor forced the heat off him in visible waves before it slowly faded.
Across his eyes rested the metallic blindfold.
Unlike cloth, it was a seamless strip of dark alloy wrapped smoothly across his face, secured behind his head by thin mechanical clasps. Embedded along its surface were dozens of microscopic sensors and scanning nodes.
The blindfold pulsed faintly.
Invisible signals spread outward, the chamber responded.
Distance measurements, thermal gradients, electromagnetic reflections, and structural contours flowed back into the device and were converted into neural signals.
Those signals traveled directly into Seth's brain.
To an outside observer, he remained blind.
But within his mind, the room existed in a constantly updating spatial construct.
Edges appeared as lines.
Movement appeared as distortion. Heat appeared as shifting gradients.
He could not see colors, but he could perceive everything that mattered.
Every console, Every drone passing through the maintenance ducts above. Every vibration traveling through the floor.
Seth walked forward.
His steps were relaxed but precise, each movement guided by the quiet stream of information feeding through the blindfold. There was no hesitation in his stride. No searching movements. No extended arms to feel his way.
He moved as naturally as a sighted man walking through his own home.
Perhaps more naturally.
The control platform stood at the front of the room. It resembled a curved command station built around a single reinforced chair, surrounded by layered computing panels that extended outward like petals of metal and glass.
When Seth approached, the seat automatically shifted position.
He lowered himself into it. The chair adjusted instantly to his posture. For a moment he simply sat there, then he exhaled. A long breath followed by another.
Three days of continuous forging had left the muscles across his shoulders stiff and burning.
He tilted his head slightly.
"Aid."
The control room responded immediately.
A calm synthetic voice echoed through the chamber.
"Yes, Seth."
Seth leaned back slightly in the chair.
"Report."
"Report requested," Aid replied. "Time reference: three days, four hours, seventeen minutes since your entry into the forge chamber."
A faint stream of data scrolled across the nearby panels.
Though Seth could not see them, the information flowed through the blindfold's interface and into the simplified neural display Aid constructed within his perception.
Aid continued.
"Workshop production has continued without interruption."
"Autonomous robotic hands remain active across the manufacturing platforms."
"In the last seventy-two hours, the units have completed the following outputs."
A sequence of structured data appeared within Seth's perception.
Mechanical joints. Hydraulic actuators. Circuit components. Armor plating segments. Precision fasteners. Dozens of individual parts, all produced in consistent cycles.
"The production rate remains stable," Aid concluded. "No mechanical faults have been detected."
Seth lifted a hand slowly and rubbed his chin.
"Good."
His voice carried a low roughness.
Three days of working inside the forge had dried his throat.
Aid continued without pause.
"Mineral resources remain within acceptable reserves."
"Current storage capacity still maintains multiple distribution channels throughout the dungeon infrastructure."
The neural display shifted.
Seth perceived the dungeon as a simplified structural model, Ore reserves, Energy routing.
Material transport lines.
All represented as flowing vectors within the internal system.
Aid spoke again.
"Resource flow remains balanced."
Seth gave a small nod.
"Construction progress?"
Aid answered immediately.
"Tunnel expansion operations remain active."
"Current excavation depth: forty feet beyond the previous structural boundary."
The structural model shifted again.
Seth's perception focused on a distant section of rock where automated construction units worked in coordinated cycles.
"However," Aid added, "the excavation has reached bedrock."
Seth's expression tightened slightly.
Aid continued.
"The construction units are currently positioned at a working face and encountering significant resistance."
"The rock formation ahead shows a hardened density beyond normal drilling parameters."
"Progress speed has therefore decreased."
Seth exhaled through his nose.
"Bedrock."
The word carried mild annoyance.
Aid continued calmly.
"Estimated breakthrough time cannot yet be calculated."
"Additional drilling cycles are required to evaluate structural consistency."
Seth leaned forward slightly in his chair.
"Keep the pressure steady."
"Do not burn out the drill heads."
Aid replied, "Understood!"
The system accepted the instruction instantly.
Aid continued with the next report segment.
"The third signal tower has been completed."
This time the structural model shifted toward the surface layers above the dungeon.
"Installation is currently underway."
"Deployment is being carried out by drone units and a mecha carrier as instructed."
"The tower is being installed at the prescribed cell site."
"All movement remains concealed."
"No external detection has been registered."
Seth nodded once.
"Good."
Signal coverage across the region would soon become significantly more stable.
Aid continued.
"Food storage update."
The internal display shifted again.
Stockpile measurements.
Consumption ratios.
Distribution points.
"The available supply is currently at fifty percent of previous capacity."
Seth frowned slightly.
"Half already?"
"Yes." Aid replied and continued.
"Additional consumption has occurred due to ongoing personnel support."
"Recent crafting activities have also required organic materials."
"Following a recent system update, Evelyn completed the fabrication of a Cosette dress and a leather armor set."
Seth blinked slowly.
"…A dress?"
"Yes." Aid paused for exactly half a second.
Seth shook his head faintly.
Aid moved on.
"Security report."
"The first floor remains the only active interception point."
"The remaining dungeon floors have not experienced any intrusions since the previous event."
Seth leaned back again.
"Good."
Aid continued.
"During your absence in the forge chamber, multiple external groups attempted dungeon entry."
Seth raised a hand slightly.
"How many?"
Aid responded immediately.
"A total of four adventurer parties."
"Combined personnel count: twelve individuals."
Seth let out a small murmur.
"Ohh."
"That many."
Aid continued.
"Their attempts resulted in complete operational failure."
"Ten individuals were confirmed deceased during traversal."
"Two individuals survived in an unconscious state."
Seth's expression did not change.
Aid continued.
"As per your directives, all deceased bodies have been preserved."
"They are currently stored within the laboratory for material collection."
"The unconscious individuals have been immobilized and placed under medical treatment."
Seth nodded once.
"Alright."
Aid paused briefly.
Then continued.
"A more recent attempt occurred shortly after."
"A party of three individuals attempted entry into the dungeon."
Seth tilted his head slightly.
"Result?"
Aid replied.
"Two casualties."
"One survivor."
"The remaining individual successfully cleared the first floor."
"Currently positioned at the entrance of the second floor."
For a moment the control room went silent.
Seth slowly rose from the chair.
He stretched his shoulders once, the joints cracking faintly.
Then he spoke.
"There's nothing that necessarily needs to be done about the last one."
Aid waited.
Seth continued.
"He's stuck anyway."
"Understood!"
The system accepted the instruction.
Seth turned away from the control platform and began walking toward the exit corridor.
Halfway there he stopped.
He lifted his arm and sniffed his own shoulder.
His face twisted immediately.
"Yuck."
He sniffed again just to confirm.
The result was worse.
"I really need to take a shower."
He resumed walking.
Then added under his breath.
"…Before she shows up."
And the control room doors slid open.
The corridor beyond the control room stretched long and quiet, illuminated by thin lines of cold blue light embedded into the walls and floor. Every few meters a faint mechanical hum echoed from the dungeon's deeper systems, a reminder that even when nothing seemed to move, the structure itself was always working.
Seth stepped into the hallway.
The heat clinging to his body hadn't fully faded yet. Three days inside the forge room had soaked into his skin and muscles like stubborn fire that refused to die. A faint mist rose from his shoulders and chest as the cooler air of the corridor touched him.
He rolled one shoulder slightly.
The metallic blindfold resting over his eyes hummed softly as its internal systems adjusted to the new environment. Invisible pulses spread outward in quiet waves, mapping the corridor in layers of spatial information before transmitting the signals directly into his mind.
Distance. Structure. Temperature variations. Movement.
To Seth, the corridor wasn't dark or silent.
It was filled with data.
Every wall, every corner, every tiny fluctuation of air pressure painted itself inside his perception.
Which was why he noticed the presence immediately.
Someone stood further ahead.
Not hiding neither moving away.
Seth slowed his steps slightly.
The presence was familiar enough that the blindfold didn't bother highlighting it with alerts.
Instead, his mind simply recognized it.
Agatha.
Even before she came fully into view, Seth exhaled quietly through his nose.
"I spoke too soon," he murmured.
A few seconds later, the figure ahead stepped forward into the corridor's glow, Agatha approached with her usual composed elegance.
Today she wore a gown that looked as if it had been designed for a grand ballroom rather than the depths of an underground dungeon.
The dress was dark green with hints of viridian that caught the soft blue lighting of the corridor and transformed it into deeper shades of forest and emerald. The upper portion was cut into a well-fitted bustier that accentuated her posture and shoulders before narrowing down along her torso.
The silhouette clung smoothly around her hips and thighs before flaring dramatically near the bottom into flowing layers of fabric that brushed the floor as she walked.
A high slit ran along the left leg of the gown, revealing just enough movement with each step to make the garment appear both elegant and deliberate.
The dress extended into a full floor-length gown behind her, trailing lightly as she advanced.
In her right hand she carried an aligned hand fan, its delicate ribs crafted from dark lacquered wood with thin arcane engravings etched between them.
In her other hand she held a plate.
On it rested several neatly arranged pastries.
Agatha continued walking forward until the distance between them shortened to a few meters.
Then she paused.
Her gaze moved slowly over Seth.
From the soot marks along his shoulders.
To the streaks of blackened metal dust across his forearms. To the faint steam still rising from his skin. Then finally to the metallic blindfold covering his eyes.
Agatha slowly opened her fan.
The ribs snapped outward with a soft flap as the fabric stretched into a half-circle.
"I would have complimented your demeanor," she said calmly.
She raised the fan slightly.
The lower half of her face disappeared behind it.
"But…"
Her violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"You stink really bad, aligned with the demonic variants you're emitting."
Seth facing her.
"…That's harsh."
Agatha tilted her head slightly.
The fan remained perfectly positioned to hide the small curve forming on her lips.
She resumed walking.
The soft sound of her gown brushing the floor echoed faintly through the corridor.
Seth folded his arms loosely across his chest as she closed the remaining distance.
"What are you even doing here?" he asked.
"Oh," Agatha replied casually, "I came to say hi."
Seth looked at her for a moment.
"That was not the normal way of doing it."
"That's my own way."
She stopped in front of him.
The plate of pastries tilted slightly in her hand as she shifted her weight onto one leg.
For a moment she studied him again.
Then her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you okay?"
Seth raised an eyebrow beneath the blindfold.
"What do you mean by that?"
Agatha lowered the fan slightly.
Not enough to reveal her full expression, but enough that her voice carried a faint hint of seriousness.
"I know you can feel it."
Her gaze moved toward his chest.
"The larger amount of demonic energy crawling on you."
The dungeon corridor remained quiet except for the low mechanical hum of distant machinery.
Agatha continued calmly.
"You need cleansing and purification or you'll suffer backlashes from..."
She paused.
The sentence stopped halfway, her eyes blinked once. Then she sighed.
"…I forgot that you're abnormal."
Seth frowned slightly.
"What a harsh compliment!"
He placed one hand against his waist dramatically.
"So you were worried about me."
"No," Agatha replied immediately.
"That's only in your imagination."
Seth smirked.
The steam rising from his skin had mostly faded now, but the scent of burnt metal and demonic residue still lingered faintly in the air around him.
Agatha tapped the edge of the fan lightly against her palm.
"Did you manage to do it?"
Seth nodded.
"I did make specific progress."
His tone shifted slightly, becoming more thoughtful.
"Being able to finally bend the corpse, was hard just as I thought it'll be."
Agatha's eyes sharpened with interest.
But she didn't interrupt.
"It's edges are rough at the moment," Seth continued.
"I'll need to refine it later on."
Agatha closed her fan halfway.
"That's good to hear."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You really did take your time."
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the forge sector corridor behind him.
"Perhaps next time you'll take five days."
Seth gave her a sideways look.
"You really do want me gone just after coming out from there, huh?"
Agatha didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she extended the plate in her hand toward him.
"Here you go."
Seth turns towards it.
Then he reached out and took the plate.
The pastries were still slightly warm.
He could feel it through the ceramic.
"After you're done scrubbing yourself," Agatha said casually, "you can relax and help yourself with those."
Seth observed they're fragrance.
"They smell decent."
He raised his head slightly.
"You made these?"
Agatha nodded once.
"Oh why yes, I did."
Seth turns at her for a moment.
Then his head tilted slightly.
"So you're one of the reasons why the food storage is half the amount it was before."
Agatha didn't even hesitate.
"I was making sure none of the food gets spoilt."
Seth immediately replied.
"They can't get spoilt when stored in a cool room."
"They can over time if you don't pay attention to them."
Seth stared at her silently for two seconds.
Then he shook his head with a quiet sigh.
Without saying anything further, he stepped past her.
The soft fabric of her gown shifted slightly as he walked by.
Seth continued down the corridor toward the section that led to his personal chambers.
Agatha remained standing where she was.
Her fan slowly reopened with another soft snap.
After a few steps, Seth spoke again without turning around.
"How's Evelyn by the way?"
Agatha glanced down at the dress she was wearing.
The deep green fabric shimmered faintly under the corridor lights.
"I'm sure you can tell by the dress I'm wearing."
Seth stopped for half a second.
Then resumed walking.
"Are you mocking me?"
His voice carried mild suspicion.
"She must be doing a great job then."
Agatha chuckled quietly.
The fan rose again, covering the lower half of her face.
The sound of Seth's footsteps continued fading down the corridor as he headed tow
ard his chambers.
Meanwhile, Agatha turned around.
Her gown swayed gently as she pivoted.
Without another word she began walking in the opposite direction, toward the control room.
The soft sound of her steps gradually blended with the low mechanical hum of the dungeon.
Seth finally reached his chambers, he removed the soot-stained clothes from the forge and stepped into the bathing room. The hot water washed away the grime of three relentless days spent inside the furnace chamber. For a while the room filled with steam, the heat clinging to his skin as if reluctant to leave.
When he stepped out again, faint wisps of heat still drifted from his body, carrying with them that subtle, unsettling trace of demonic energy that had begun lingering around him ever since the forge work began.
He dressed quickly.
Black pant, White shirt, Black jacket, Boots.
Practical. Unremarkable.
Seth sat at the edge of the bed frame and reached for the metallic blindfold resting beside him. The device slid smoothly into place over his eyes. The moment it settled, a faint vibration pulsed through the alloy as the internal sensors activated, feeding spatial data directly into his mind. The room reconstructed itself in his perception through layered signals and outlines.
He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, a small tray of pastries sitting beside him. One by one he ate them absentmindedly while his thoughts turned over the same problem again.
The demon corpse.
Continue the working on it… or shift focus elsewhere for now.
He chewed slowly, thinking.
For several seconds the chamber remained quiet except for the faint hum of the dungeon systems running through the walls.
Then an idea surfaced.
Seth suddenly stood.
Still holding the remaining pastries, he strode toward the door with sudden momentum.
"Screw it," he muttered under his breath. "The corpse can wait. Time to try something new."
The chamber door slid open and he moved out into the corridor, his steps carrying him deeper into the sixth floor toward the workshop sector.
The massive hall was already active.
Mechanical arms moved with tireless precision across multiple assembly stations. Steel components rotated within clamps while articulated manipulators welded, carved, and assembled parts under the constant supervision of the workshop's automated systems. Sparks flashed intermittently across the wide chamber as machinery worked without pause.
Seth walked straight toward the center of the hall.
At his approach, the workshop responded.
Sections of the metal floor shifted apart with quiet mechanical clicks as control panels and framework screens rose upward from hidden compartments beneath the plating. Holographic readouts and interface grids lit the air around him in pale blue layers.
Seth placed one hand on the primary control console.
"Aid," he said.
The response came immediately.
"Yes, Seth."
"Transport twenty dozen iron ore units to the workshop."
"Understood!"
Deep within the dungeon's transport network, mechanisms engaged.
Moments later, a large pipe opening in the front wall unlocked with a heavy metallic sound. The internal transport tunnel connected directly to the storage veins deeper in the dungeon.
Then the iron began to pour out.
Chunks of raw ore spilled from the pipe in a steady stream, clattering across the reinforced floor as the pile quickly grew.
Seth watched it for a moment through the sensory overlay of the blindfold.
Then he turned back to the control panels.
His hands moved across the interface as the workshop systems activated new design frameworks.
"Alright…"
He murmured to himself.
"Let's build some Golems, shall we."