Chapter 276: Conquering The Dungeon

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After defeating the Swamp Witch and her loyal Slime and fully conquering the Dungeon, Riven now stood before two choices.

"I could let her soul go and help her find peace, or I could keep her as a boss... and maybe she and Swampy may respawn eventually..." he murmured to himself thoughtfully, staring at the glowing core that floated just above the ruined ground.

"Riven, are you ok?" Daniela asked with a worried expression, stepping a little closer.

"I’m fine," he smiled faintly at her, the expression carrying both exhaustion and quiet resolve. "Ah, I can’t waste time here. Let’s leave her here for now... I want to apologize to her, if she ever returns."

Ding!

[Congratulations, Ascendant. As the one who carries the {Sovereign Codex}, you have been chosen as a Lord.]

[Using your Authority of Pride as a Lord, you have taken over the D-Rank Gate "The Rotting Orchard."]

[The Former Gate Ruler "The Swamp Witch" has been slain and is unable to wrestle control over it. You have won over the Gate.]

[Former Gate Ruler "The Swamp Witch" now serves you. Once she respawns, you can issue special commands to her.]

[You can now Summon the Believer Race "Swamp Dryad".]

[You gained +100 GP.]

"It’s done," he nodded with quiet finality. "Let’s move."

Riven felt the Dungeon now existing within his own soul. It was a rather unique and strange sensation, like carrying an entire living world inside himself, but one he did not dislike. The faint pulse of the Rotting Orchard settled somewhere deep within his Spirit Heart, a quiet reminder of the lonely witch and her loyal slime. He could sense the ruined trees, the still waters, and the empty throne where the Witch had once ruled. The domain was now his, and with it came both power and a new kind of responsibility.

They left the dungeon under the cover of Riven’s Veil of Invisibility while Noir hid in his shadows, carrying everyone else safely through the fading mist. The gate closed behind them without kicking anybody out. Nobody else had entered the gate this early except for them. The city outside still lay under the pale light of early morning, the streets mostly empty except for a few delivery trucks and the distant sound of waking traffic.

Riven moved through the city with his Veil of Invisibility still active, remaining completely undetected by everyone. The cool morning air felt clean after the heavy atmosphere of the swamp. Once they were far enough away from the gate site, he entered his Spirit Dungeon Realm for a brief moment of safety, checking that the newly claimed Rotting Orchard sat quietly within the expanding network of domains he now controlled.

Once there, he walked back home. It was around six in the morning. The sky had begun to lighten with shades of gray and pale gold. He noticed Elisa was still fast asleep in their bed. Her face looked calm, free of the pain and frustration that had marked so many previous mornings. The faint rise and fall of her chest was steady, and a small strand of hair rested across her cheek.

She usually woke up around ten or eleven, so they still had plenty of time before she would wake up. The quiet of the house felt almost sacred after the violence of the dungeon.

"Alright, Daniela, do you want to go back to sleep or...?"

"I’m plenty awake now so I’m willing to go for another round!" she answered with bright energy, her earlier sleepiness completely gone after the intense dungeon run. Her eyes still held the excitement of battle and the satisfaction of another successful clear.

"Alright, let’s make this time count then, before your mother wakes up."

Riven smiled and quickly moved through the city once more with Noir’s super-fast shadow movement. The shadows carried them across rooftops and empty streets in near silence, reaching the abandoned area and the gate site where the next dungeon waited. The industrial zone around the Crimson Marsh gate already showed signs of activity. Temporary lights, supply crates, and the low murmur of voices filled the air.

This time the dungeon already had quite a few hunters going inside and others preparing outside. After all, it was of a much bigger scale than the previous ones. Groups of D-Rank and C-Rank Hunters stood around in clusters, checking equipment, sharing last-minute strategies, or simply waiting for their parties to assemble. Some adjusted armor straps. Others counted potions or inspected the edges of their weapons under the morning light. The atmosphere carried the familiar mix of tension, excitement, and professional caution that always surrounded a mixed-rank gate.

"What dungeon is this?" Daniela asked from within the protective shadows, her voice kept carefully low.

"It’s the Crimson Marsh," he said. "It only has two floors, but the first floor is D Rank and the second is C Rank. It’s a mixed dungeon where both D and C Rank Hunters can go together and learn side by side. It’s a perfect transition point where an established D Rank can slowly move up to C Rank by hunting and leveling here. Let’s go."

They entered the Crimson Marsh without making a single noise. The entrance cave was cooler and damper than the outside air, the walls lined with reddish stone that seemed to sweat a thin layer of moisture. Once they were deep inside the entrance cave, Riven carefully unveiled himself from the Veil of Invisibility. Noir then brought Daniela and Vladimir out into the open air again so they could move freely. The shadows retreated, and the three of them stood in the dim red-tinted light of the marsh’s threshold.

"I’ve heard they extract plenty of Mana Stones and Blood Crystals from this place," Vladimir said, his voice kept low and cautious. His sharp eyes scanned the tunnel ahead as if expecting traps or watchers. "Claymore might already have some buildings established on the second floor. Do you think it’s safe for us to push this far?"

"I am well aware of that," Riven nodded with calm certainty. The faint pulse of the Rotting Orchard still echoed in his Spirit Heart, a reminder of what he had already claimed and what more he intended to take. "And that is exactly why we must strike while the iron is hot, Vladimir."

"What? What are you planning this time?!" Vladimir asked, narrowing his eyes with clear suspicion. His hand rested near the handle of one of his axes, ready for whatever answer Riven might give.

Riven already knew that on the second floor there was a small Mana Reactor that helped fuel several machines and two separate factories. There were also around a hundred people working there every day. He had no intention of targeting innocent civilians, of course. The thought of unnecessary bloodshed against workers who simply needed jobs never crossed his mind as a serious option.

However, he was sure as hell going to take this dungeon away from Claymore control and kick their people out later when the time was right. The Crimson Marsh would become another piece of the growing territory under his Authority. Every gate he claimed brought him closer to the power and independence he needed. Every resource he seized weakened the hold of the families that had shaped and damaged so many lives, including his own.

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