As Ordis had predicted, all his minions eventually reached level 3. However, the process wasn't as simple as before. Each level-up required more kills—first ten, then twenty, and now forty per minion. This increasing demand made him wonder whether his dungeon's regur ants and mosquitoes would eventually run out. The thought was slightly concerning.

  Yet, a quick gnce at his system map reassured him. There were still plenty of ants scattered throughout the dungeon, far more than he initially estimated. For now, he didn't need to worry about depleting his food chain. His minions could continue their hunt uninterrupted.

  After reaching level 3, the D. Mosquitoes finally became fast enough to chase down and kill flies, expanding their list of viable prey. However, their capabilities were still limited. They struggled against other flying insects that occasionally entered the dungeon, such as butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and grasshoppers, which were either too agile or too sturdy to be easily hunted by them.

  As time passed, more and more insects found their way into the dungeon. The blooming pnts scattered throughout certain areas seemed to be one factor, drawing in pollinators and other creatures. However, Ordis had a feeling that there was something more at py—something beyond just natural attraction.

  "Could it be because of my Crawling Abyss title?" Ordis mused, watching the influx of insects with curiosity. If his title truly influenced them, then it made sense why they entered so easily. With this realization, he shifted his focus to his D Ants, eager to see how they were progressing amidst the growing ecosystem in his dungeon

  Name: Dungeon AntLevel: 3Rank: LesserMana Cost: 2 Mana Reserve per summonLifespan: 48 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon)

  Attributes:Strength: 4 (Can now bite through softer materials like leaves and weakened wood)

  Speed: 3 (Faster movement and improved reaction time)

  Defense: 3 (Chitin exoskeleton slightly hardened, can endure minor attacks)

  Magic: 2 (Slightly attuned to dungeon energy, minor resistance to environmental magic)

  Intelligence: 2 (Can understand slightly more complex orders and tactics)

  Abilities:Basic Attack: Mandible Bite (Deals slightly more damage, capable of severing small insect limbs)

  Special Trait – Cooperative Instinct: Gains a minor combat boost when fighting alongside another Dungeon Ant

  Enhanced Size Blessing: Size increases by 15% with each level-up (Stacks up to 5 times)

  Tunnel Sense: Slightly improved ability to navigate underground and locate weak points in the terrain

  Dungeon Link: Can rey sensory information to Ordis

  "Hm, next, I should focus on raising them to level ten or fifteen to see if their rank changes," Ordis muttered, deep in thought. The Enhance Size Blessing was another factor to consider—it could stack up to five times, and today’s blessing had already increased their growth by 15%. If he continued applying it, his minions would see a noticeable difference in just a few days.

  "At this rate, in three more days, their total size increase should reach 25% when leveling up," he noted while observing one of his Dungeon Ants. Despite its recent growth, it was still only about 4mm. A long way to go before it became truly intimidating for him at least.

  "Hm, since you've already reached level 3, I suppose it's fine to let you hunt on your own," Ordis decided. This was a necessary step to optimize the leveling process for all his minions. If they continued working in pairs, they'd have to compete for experience, slowing down their growth. By hunting individually, each minion could maximize its gains without interference.

  After observing their previous battles, Ordis was confident they could handle lone prey without much risk. They had shown no real difficulty in taking down their usual targets, so there was no reason to hold them back. Letting them fight solo would not only speed up their progression but also test how well they could survive without direct oversight.

  After careful observation, Ordis made a decision that could be considered risky. He applied the Enhance Size blessing across the entire first floor of his dungeon. This meant that not only his minions but also all the other insects in the area would benefit from the same effect. It was a gamble, but Ordis reasoned that his minions had been developing well so far. If they continued to level up steadily, they wouldn’t fall behind their newly empowered competition.

  Unlike ordinary insects that only hunted for survival, his minions operated under his direct command, constantly seeking out weaker prey to kill. This relentless hunting pattern gave them an edge, ensuring that they would grow stronger at a faster rate than the naturally occurring insects. Ordis reassured himself that, even if the other insects became rger, his minions would eventually reach a level where they could compete against them.

  However, he was well aware of the risks. If the affected insects grew too strong, some might even leave the dungeon and he didn’t reap his reward. While those insect could make problem to wildlife outside. That possibility might concerned him, even so he believed that a significant number of them would remain within the dungeon’s boundaries, providing a continuous source of experience for his minions.

  In the long run, this experiment could determine whether his dungeon could sustain itself and thrive. If his minions succeeded in dominating the dungeon’s ecosystem, then this risk would be worth taking. But if things spiraled out of control, he would have to find a way to adapt before it became a real problem.

  Ordis grinned, feeling quite pleased with himself.

  "Well, this is a very reasonable pn," he muttered, admiring the simplicity and brilliance of his own idea. The risk was undeniable, but so was the potential reward. If his minions thrived under these conditions, his dungeon would flourish faster than he had originally expected.

  As someone who had spent countless hours pying gacha games in the past, he was no stranger to high-risk, high-reward gambles. This, too, was a bet worth taking—one that could either accelerate his growth or backfire spectacurly.

  Ordis commanded his minions to hunt their designated prey before turning his attention to observing all four through his system.

  Within half a day, Ordis witnessed firsthand the significant difference between level one and level three. His minions, now stronger, had no trouble hunting the same prey as before. Regur ants, mosquitoes, and even flies fell easily to them. Even when facing slightly rger insects of the same species, they could secure victory on their own.

  This improvement wasn’t just due to their enhanced status. Ordis noticed that their attacks seemed to hit harder, sometimes dealing more damage than expected. There were moments when a single strike was enough to finish off an opponent, something that hadn’t happened before.

  Among his minions, D. Ant showed the most noticeable growth and this change. Their bites nded with greater force, allowing them to take down prey much faster. Compared to D. Mosquito, whose strength increase was more subtle, the ants had developed a far deadlier offensive capability.

  This progression reassured Ordis. If his minions continued improving at this rate, they would soon be strong enough to take on even tougher foes.

  "Yeah, this is amazing." Ordis finally began to grasp why his minions’ attacks had become so much more effective. D. Ant had finally gained magic, even if their magic stat was only at 2. That small change was enough to enhance their attacks, allowing them to eliminate prey more efficiently—especially against creatures without magic.

  It became clear that magic-based attacks inflicted far greater damage on non-magical opponents. This expined why his D. Mosquitoes had seemed so ferocious from the very beginning. Unlike the ants, they had access to magic from level one, giving them an advantage in battle that he had only now come to fully understand.

  As he pieced together this realization, Ordis found himself growing more invested in his role as a dungeon master. What had initially felt overwhelming was now starting to resemble a strategy game—one where he had to carefully manage his units and pn ahead.

  Still, he wasn’t exactly confident in his abilities. In his past life, whenever he pyed games like this, he often needed walkthroughs or guides from video-sharing websites to avoid making costly mistakes. Unfortunately, the system didn’t offer much in the way of guidance.

  Since there was no step-by-step guide to follow, he had to figure things out on his own. That meant ensuring his pns were as reasonable and efficient as possible.

  Even though he felt a bit lost at times, the thrill of discovering new strategies and watching his minions grow stronger made the experience genuinely enjoyable.

  And so, within just half a day, his D. Mosquito minions had reached level 5, while his D. Ants were still at level 4. Their rapid progress was encouraging, though the difference in leveling speed made Ordis realize just how crucial magic was in his minions' growth and combat effectiveness.

  Dungeon Mosquito – Level 5Name: Dungeon MosquitoLevel: 5Rank: LesserMana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summonLifespan: 24 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon)

  Attributes:

  Strength: 2 (Now able to pierce slightly tougher skin)

  Speed: 7 (Even faster, making it harder to track and hit)

  Defense: 1 (Still extremely fragile)

  Magic: 4 (Slightly improved magical influence, minor mana flow control)

  Intelligence: 2 (Basic tactical awareness, improved coordination)

  Abilities:

  Basic Attack: Blood Needle (Enhanced bite, deals minor magic damage)

  Special Trait – Blood Drain: Absorbs a small amount of nutrients and mana from prey

  Dungeon Link: Can rey sensory information to Ordis

  Evasion Instinct: Unpredictable flight patterns make it harder to hit

  New Ability – Blood Infusion: Stores a small portion of drained mana, increasing endurance slightly

  Dungeon Ant – Level 4Name: Dungeon AntLevel: 4Rank: LesserMana Cost: 1 Mana Reserve per summonLifespan: 24 hours (unless sustained by the dungeon)

  Attributes:

  Strength: 3 (Stronger bite force, capable of tearing through soft exoskeletons)

  Speed: 4 (More agile in movement, slightly faster response time)

  Defense: 3 (Tougher exoskeleton, slightly more resistant to physical attacks)

  Magic: 2 (Basic magical influence, unknown application)

  Intelligence: 2 (Better instincts, able to follow slightly more complex orders)

  Abilities:

  Basic Attack: Mandible Bite (Stronger bite, minor piercing damage)

  Special Trait – Cooperative Tactics: Works better in groups, increasing efficiency in combat

  Dungeon Link: Can rey sensory information to Ordis

  New Ability – Hardened Carapace: Briefly strengthens its exoskeleton when threatened, reducing damage from weak attacks

  Ordis carefully observed these improvements, feeling both excited and curious about what new changes higher levels would bring. However, his mana regeneration was still limited to just one mana per hour, which made him realize the need to manage his resources wisely. His minions were growing stronger, but sustaining their growth required careful pnning.

  Meanwhile, life had started to emerge on the second floor of his dungeon. To ensure its development, he needed to provide Growth Supplement for the small pnts there as well. With his current mana reserves stretched thin, he had to carefully bance his priorities to maintain steady progress.

  Mana Reserves: 35 / ??? (Capacity Expanding)