Chapter 13: City of Liejieing – The Dungeon Heart
"Zangika… you can stop walking now."
Karn slowed down, stretching his shoulders slightly.
"Ok."
Karn's voice came with a soft tone.
"So… you think I was cool and all?"
Zangika smirked.
"Yeah. You were."
A pause.
"That water thing… kinda overkill though."
Zangika it was intentional to farm aura and all
"I liked it."
Karn looked ahead.
The carriage was still moving far in the distance.
"Should we trail them? Just to make sure they're safe?"
Zangika replied instantly:
"That's the good decision."
Karn sighed.
"Yeah yeah… let's go."
---
Three Days of Travel
They followed from a distance.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Karn mostly stayed in Shadow Nexus, moving silently across terrain.
At night—
He slept inside a materialized cocoon-like structure Zangika created.
Warm.
Soft.
Almost like someone hugging him.
Zangika:
"Comfort level do you feel good?"
Karn:
"...Yeah."
--
Meanwhile—
Inside the carriage.
The merchants were still shaken.
Merchant Conversation
"Did you see that?"
"Of course I saw that, I'm not blind."
"How does someone even move like that…"
"None of the bandits could even touch him…"
Another one added:
"And that attack… that mountain… it was cut like butter…"
Silence.
One of them spoke slowly:
"I didn't feel any mana from him."
That changed the mood.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly that. No aura. No magic. Nothing."
"But that's impossible."
"Exactly."
--
Another merchant leaned forward.
"He must be a noble."
"That's the only explanation."
"But nobles don't help people like us."
"...Some do."
Pause.
"I heard some princes are different."
"...So you think he's a noble prince?"
Silence.
Then one of them sighed.
"Doesn't matter."
"We're alive. That's enough."
After following them they finally arrived
Arrival – Liejieing
Three days later—
The city appeared.
Massive.
Layered.
Alive.
Karn stopped on a hill.
"...Damn."
Zangika scanned everything instantly.
"This is not a normal city."
--
City Structure
Liejieing was built in layers.
Like a fortress merged with a marketplace.
Outer Walls: Massive stone, reinforced, heavily guarded
Inner Layers: Organized in rings
Zangika projected a map:
Layer 1 (Center)
Duke's residence
High nobles
Government control
Layer 2
Elite merchants
High-ranking adventurers
Wealthy traders
Layer 3 / 4 / 5
Common people
Shops, taverns, blacksmiths
Dense population
Karn:
"So basically… rich at center, poor outside."
Zangika:
"Classic hierarchy system."
Then—
Karn noticed it.
At the center of the city.
A massive structure.
Like a tower… but broken.
Surrounded by barriers.
Energy radiating from it.
"...What the hell is that?"
Zangika zoomed in.
"That… is the dungeon."
--
Karn: care to tell me about it
"Explain."
Zangika:
"Dungeons are… anomalies."
Pause.
"They are not natural."
A projection appeared.
Dungeon Core Concept:
A dungeon is a self-contained dimensional structure
Exists partially in another space
Generates:
Monsters
Resources
Rare materials
Energy (mana)
Zangika continued:
"Think of it as a… living system."
"It produces enemies… and rewards."
Karn:
"So like a game?"
Zangika:
"...Yes."
More i should know
Zangika zoomed further.
"Each dungeon has levels."
Floor 1 → Weak monsters
Deeper floors → Stronger entities
Final floors → Boss-level threats
It has 100 floors approx
"Also…"
"Time behaves differently inside."
Karn raised an eyebrow.
"Meaning?"
"You could spend hours inside… and only minutes pass outside."
Why City Built Around It
Karn looked again.
"So they built a whole city around it?"
Zangika:
"Yes."
"Because this dungeon is… extremely valuable."
In the dungeon you can find
Monster cores = energy sources
Rare metals = weapon crafting
Herbs = medicine
Artifacts = unknown tech/magic
Zangika:
"This city is rich because of this dungeon."
Karn:
"Anyone can enter?"
Looks like there is guards
So
"No."
"Controlled access."
--
She displayed guards at the dungeon gate.
"Adventurers need registration."
"Rank system exists."
F Rank → beginners
E / D → normal
C / B → skilled
A → elite
S → monsters
Karn just curious.
"Where do we rank?"
Zangika:
"...Error. No category available."
Ok let's try getting in
Karn walked toward the gate.
Guards stopped him.
"Identity?"
Zangika instantly forged it again.
Karn handed over a stone-like card.
Guard checked it.
Looked at Karn.
Paused.
"...You may enter."
They bowed slightly.
Karn walked in.
Zangika whispered:
"They're already cautious of you."
After getting in the city
Karn looked around.
Everything felt alive.
Blacksmiths hammering weapons
People shouting deals
Adventurers walking in groups
Armor shops shining under sunlight
Magic users demonstrating spells
"Damnn…"
Karn let's try something of new world
Karn entered a tavern.
Sat down.
A man approached.
"You're new."
Karn:
"Yeah."
The man smiled.
"Name's choke. Adventurer."
Karn nodded.
Choke leaned closer.
"You here for the dungeon?"
Karn:
"Maybe."
Choke laughed.
"Everyone is."
Dungeon Stories
Roke spoke:
"Last week… a B-rank team got wiped."
Karn:
"What happened?"
"Floor 7 boss mutated."
Pause.
"Half the team didn't even make it out."
And evry floor has its dedicated monster with each floor having boss roam
Another adventurer joined.
"You going in solo?"
Karn:
"Yeah."
They both laughed.
"Kid… you'll die."
Zangika:
"I like them."
After getting out the tavern there was a Black Smith shop and let's see
Blacksmith Scene
Karn visited a weapon shop.
Blades everywhere.
Heavy.
Crude.
Zangika scanned.
"Midevil."
Blacksmith spoke:
"You looking for a weapon?"
Karn:
"No."
Pause.
"I already have one."
Decision
Karn walked out.
Looked at the dungeon again.
"So… what do you think?"
Zangika:
"We go in."let's check it out
Karn smiled.
"Thought so."
Zangika let me check
Preparation
Zangika checked systems:
Shadow Nexus → stable
Galaxy Nexus → still repairing
Spear → active
Energy → sufficient
"Ready."
Dungeon Entrance
Massive gates.
Guards everywhere.
Energy thick in the air.
Karn stepped forward.
One guard spoke:
"Name?"
Karn paused.
Then smiled.
"Karn."
They opened the gate.
Darkness inside.
Cold air rushed out.
Zangika whispered:
"...Interesting."
Final Line
Karn stepped in.
"Let's see what this world has."
Darkness swallowed him.
End of Chapter 14