Dungeon of Niflheim

Findlay and Khuno who the question was directed to looked at one another before Khuno replied.

“Isn’t it a bit early milord?” Khuno replied while frowning.

The drawing before the three of them was the layout plan for the external camp. Frost wanted to begin construction of the outer walls and internal buildings within the next 12 hours or so despite the late stages still being fully underway.

“Really? I don’t think so.” Frost replied with a disagreeing opinion causing Findlay and Khuno to once again look at one another.

“Please elaborate master.” Findlay spoke this time.

“The last wave was what roughly 18 hours ago correct?”

“Correct.”

“And that said wave was smaller than the last ones, containing less than 55 monsters right.”

.....

“....That’s true.

“Ok then from that and what we know about the monster stampede as a whole we can surmise that the B-rank monsters the ones with the ability to retain their intelligence and control the lower ranked monsters under the stampede’s influence have likely started moving in earnest.” Frost stopped tapping the table and leaned forward as he began explaining his reasons.

“The 2nd last wave though on time was also slightly smaller than the previous ones holding around 70 monsters instead of 80 thus there’s a definitive pattern. The number of monsters being attracted to the dungeon over the urging to head south is dwindling, supporting the idea of either the south being more tantalising and or the presence of something actively encouraging their direction.”

“Couldn’t it just be that the monsters themselves are less populous. We have killed an awful lot after all and I’m sure Furano and the other bastion towns have had similar if not even greater effects on their numbers.” Khuno spoke of another possibility.

“Not likely, the number of monsters present in the glacial mountains exterior regions alone likely number in the millions let alone the inner regions. No matter how many we kill there will always be more to replace them while the monster stampede is in effect.” Frost instantly shot down Khuno’s argument. He’d done a lot of research on the monster stampede during the days leading up to it.

Ending the monster stampede early was an impossibility. Only when the corruption in the mana vein had been completely expunged would things return to normal.

Khuno was silent in response.

“So you believe that the dungeon is now in a state of safety master?”

“If another wave with at least 50 monsters doesn’t arrive within the next 12 hours then yes..... I believe the war for the dungeon is over.” Frost spoke with confidence, completely sure of his theory.

The dangerous waves that the dungeon had faced over the past month were now over, they could truly breathe and start work on the next stage of their future plans, the external camp.

“I believe that the remaining hordes will now be under the full control of the B-rank monsters and march solely south towards Furano and the other bastion towns. Leaving the dungeon free to pursue our other endeavours.” Frost tapped on the drawing before him once again.

He wished to start construction as soon as possible, creating the external camp and have it up and running before others set their sights on his dungeon. It was effectively a large piece of meat in the eyes of the nearby Northrend empire after all. He needed to act fast to ensure his complete control over the area and those who entered it.

“As you are aware I promised my blade to Furano during the late stages of the stampede, and I plan to make good on that promise. Therefore to make it in good time Kiba and I will be leaving once everything here is settled i.e. once the external camp’s construction is underway.” The late stages had been up and running for the past 5 days meaning for Furano the situation should still be in the relative early phase, they shouldn’t be stretched thin quite yet but that could change in the next few days. The lightening load on the dungeon meant a greater threat for Furano, the B-ranks were heading in that direction after all.

Findlay and Khuno both clenched their fists; they couldn’t leave the confines of the dungeon thus only Kiba could fight by Frost’s side, a frustrating situation given that the battlefield there would be far more intense that what they’d recently faced together.

“Very well master you’ve made a convincing argument; I agree with your thoughts. If nothing happens within the next 12 hours we’ll start construction of the external camp.” Findlay let out a small sigh before agreeing to follow through with Frost’s plan. Khuno also ended up agreeing thus the three of them began discussing the overall planned layout as well as the teams required for such work. It wouldn’t be the fighting they’d gotten used to, but it was work that would benefit Frost all the same.

The dwarven smiths especially should be quite excited by the prospect of construction, same with the ronsos who were designed to be quite skilled with their hands.

Hours passed without a single sign of any monster wave happening anytime soon, strengthening Frost’s hypothesis.

After not a single wave for 24 hours the idea that the long war was finally over filtered through the dungeon bringing bright smiles to all of the residents. Many cheered and hugged their comrades, thankful that they could be sure that they’d be able see each other tomorrow and the day after that.

Orders went down through the chain of command telling everyone of their next task, a massive construction plan and as expected the dwarven smiths couldn’t help but joyously cheer, excited by the prospect.

Frost shared with them the plans he, Nanna, Loki and his two generals had come up with for the camp’s layout.

The external section of the dungeon was currently 5kms by 5kms spanning quite an area. Frost didn’t plan on using the entire 5km in the beginning, but he also wanted a decent size area to start with therefore a wall was planned to span around the 1km mark highlighting the inner workings of the camp and the initial space. Over time additional walls would be added 1km apart to increase the size of the camp.

This job involved a lot of forest clearing given that the majority of the 1km would be within the Northrend forest. The harvested lumber would thus be used to construct buildings within the 1km wall, hoping to not waste a single piece of free material.

The wall came first so as to serve as protection against the natural fauna and to cement the idea of territory, next would be the integral buildings that would be needed to support people.

Shelter in the from of inns, cabins and dorms focusing mainly on quantity rather than quality given that the primary dwellers would be adventurers.

Food resources such as restaurants and butchers (farming areas to be built in the future likely within the dungeon).

Shops ranging from everyday items to weapon and armour vendors focusing mainly on the needs of adventurers.

After that was the idea of permanent residences, bars as well as empty dwellings to be used by approved businesses such as foreign merchants and hopefully the adventurers guild.

Frost had quite a thorough plan for the external camp over the next 12 months. There was also the restructuring of the dungeon itself and assigned safety areas that could form internal camps and or be used for recreational activities. But all these things would be gradual, the first thing to do was to build the external camp’s wall and cement his territory before the sharp eyed vultures moved in.

Unfortunately when everyone was getting on board with this construction plan, forming teams and preparing their assignments an unexpected situation arose.

It started with Frost and Findlay suddenly feeling a strong sense of unease and nervousness before Maya spoke through the dungeon menu.

“Looks like your luck isn’t that great young master, you better take a look outside.” She spoke with a tone that desperately hinted that she wished to say, ‘see I told you this would happen’. Frost’s heart lurched as he heard what she said before he brought up the dungeon menu and scanned the vicinity near the dungeon.

“Fuck!” He couldn’t help but curse when the screen showed a certain object quickly making its way towards the dungeon, emitting a heavy pressure as it did.

“Findlay! Khuno! With me!” He urgently shouted as goosebumps grew on his arms, the three swiftly teleported to the winter highlands section, near the dungeon’s entrance.

Outside of the dungeon.

“Hoh so this is what’s been drawing away multiple hordes over the past few days. It certainly does have an interesting feel about it. What do you think Dulan?” The speaker asked the beast that he was riding upon.

The beast was easily 8 metres tall while on all fours, covered in dense brown hair that skilfully hid its powerful body and was armed with deadly looking tusks. A warrior mammoth, an upper C-rank monster that unlike its more passive kin was a territorial bull that served to protect the other mammoths from predators.

This Dulan grunted in response, but it couldn’t help but feel a strange attraction to the dungeon that was before it.

“Interesting, very interesting.”