Chapter 65 - Dungeon

[You entered the Ant Queen Lair #5]

[Mission: Find and neutralize the Ant Queen!]

[Leaving the Dimension is only possible inside a Rest Area]

[Rest Areas are hidden across the whole Dungeon]

[Inside Rest Areas, you can also leave the Dungeon, saving your progress at that point. If you decide to return, you'll start inside that Rest Area]

[A minimap has been provided. However, you need to uncover the path and map it yourself]

[Reward upon completion: 10,000 IDLE Points, Grade 2 Weapon]

-

[Ding!]

[Feature requirement met: Enter a 'Dungeon']

[Host has unlocked a new feature: Idle Storage]

-

"This is a Dungeon?" Aldrin looked around with definite interest as he took in the interior of the place.

He'd played a lot of games that involved dungeons and it's already common sense that there were clear conditions and separate rules inside.

However, thinking back to the scouting trips his Shadow Clones did... the place he should've arrived at was the area beyond the gaping hole, a part of the Small Insect Colony and the Royal Ant Colony.

Those clones he sent to scout back then failed to trigger this prompt about the Dungeon and they managed to scout ahead, even seeing the Ant Queens and the Broodmothers in the flesh.

Think about those open-world games where caves served as some kind of instance dungeon but ultimately, they're still part of the world and could be accessed easily by venturing through its entrance.

Contrary to that, Aldrin suddenly found himself and his clones in a bigger place than his Shadow Clones scouted.

Reading further down the notifications he received... a new feature was unlocked.

Although it didn't provide an initial explanation, just by its name, he could make a guess.

"It's a storage. But by attaching 'Idle' to it, it's safe to assume that it featured another Idle Game mechanic. Too bad I can't access it while I am here."

Putting that feature to the back of his mind, he began looking around him, inspecting everything his eye caught.

"This..."

He found out that the ground they're standing on was glowing in green, possibly indicating that it's a safe zone or a Rest Area in this Dungeon's terms.

While inside, like a knowledge suddenly implanted to him, he knew that apart from absorbing the everpresent Dimensional Energy in the surrounding, he wouldn't be able to use any Concept or even the unlocked Skill of Striker; Ripple.

Behind him, the gaping hole he entered from disappeared, in place of it was just a dead-end but while standing inside this green Rest Area, he only needed to think about leaving and they'd be teleported outside.

"If I went by the logic of Dungeons from those games I played before and not think about the true existence of this Lower Dimension then... we're teleported to another place different from the lair my Shadow Clones scouted."

Aldrin took his time to set in the current reality in front of him.

A while later, he stepped out of the green circle and his refined energy churned, giving back his ability to use his Concepts as well as Striker's Skill.

He looked to his left and right and all he could see was the dark winding path of this Dungeon leading to the interior where the ants could probably be seen.

The Dungeon possessed an entirely eerie atmosphere that could most likely give a normal guy a chill. Perhaps if he's here with his real body, he could hear his own breath.

"The only explanation I can think of about this is... IDLE Database created an entirely new area somewhere in the vast Dimensional Space. But then again, it's already mysterious enough with all of its features and the fact that no one could see it except me. I better check this place first. No matter what, clearing this dungeon was in line to conquer this Lower Dimension."

Aldrin then summoned two Shadow Clones and sent them in different directions, scouting ahead, uncovering and mapping the minimap that's existing at the corner of his eyes.

With his current progress, two Shadow Clones is his limit. He believed that if he reached late or peak Stage 1, that would increase once more.

In any case, that's enough.

While he paid attention to the Shadow Clones who were escaping any enemies they encountered to continue going as far as their feet could take them, he controlled the three Dimensional Clones behind him and put them into position.

They're all wearing Battlesuits so, at the moment, he felt like they're a group of super soldiers raiding an alien hideout. They looked imposing enough compared to when they're just covered with leather armors.

A few minutes later, one of the Shadow Clones disappeared. The last thing he saw from it was the trap it set off. A large boulder crushed it to oblivion.

"Well then, this way first," Aldrin commanded the Dimensional Clones, taking the path that the Shadow Clone took.

As he ventured towards it, Tank was always on the lead, watching out for a sudden ambush that the Shadow Clone previously ran away from.

"Shrieeek!"

And as he expected, more than ten ants dropped from the ceiling, aiming their spears at the four of them.

[Level 10 Royal Soldier Ant]

[Level 15 Elite Royal Soldier Ant]

"Their levels are boosted this much... Will they give me IDLE Points?"

As he wondered about that, Hitter immediately moved, pulling the string of its bow and activating its unlocked Skill: Barrage!

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

While still in midair, Energy Arrows accurately hit the ants' bodies, breaking their momentum.

Aldrin then kicked the ground and the sixth piece of armor behind him boosted his jump.

While the ants he aimed at were still wincing in pain from Hitter's arrows, Aldrin's Shadow Blade swept past them.

Shrieks once again filled this dark corridor as insect juices showered them.

[IDLE Point +5]

[Royal Soldier Ant corpse has been sent to Idle Storage]

[IDLE Point +5]

[Royal Soldier Ant corpse has been sent to Idle Storage]

[IDLE Point +5]

[Royal Soldier Ant corpse has been sent to Idle Storage]

[IDLE Point +10]

[Elite Royal Soldier Ant corpse has been sent to Idle Storage]

Before Aldrin's eyes, he saw how the ants' corpses suddenly disappeared as soon as they dropped to the ground. Only their juices that probably served as their blood remained.

"So that's the point of Idle Storage?" Aldrin wondered. "But what for?"