Ordis leaned back, observing his minions with a sense of satisfaction. “Well, in the end, I think D. Ant is already strong enough to fight rge insects with ease. In other words, this minion of mine should be able to take down a gecko without needing D. Butterfly’s support.” He muttered while gncing at D. Butterfly’s status.

  To be fair, D. Butterfly’s stats were quite good. Its magic and intelligence were particurly impressive for a Lesser-ranked minion. However, the issue wasn’t with its raw abilities but rather their impact—or rather, the ck of it. Most of Ordis’ insect minions were already far stronger than the average dungeon insect, making the buffs provided by D. Butterfly feel negligible. The debuffs it inflicted were even harder to notice since Ordis barely notice, except when they were fighting a big enemies.

  He sighed, shaking his head. “The stats are solid, but it just doesn’t feel like it makes a difference… I wonder if I need to see in much bigger fight.”

  Name: Dungeon Butterfly (D. Butterfly) Level: 4Rank: LesserMana Cost: 6 Mana Reserve per summon (lv1)Lifespan: 18 days (unless sustained by the dungeon)Size: 7 cm Attributes:Strength: 4

  Speed: 18

  Defense: 7

  Magic: 24

  Intelligence: 15

  Abilities:Fluttering Grace – Increases evasion for nearby minions by 15% due to its unpredictable flying patterns, making it harder for enemies to nd attacks.Pollen Mist – Releases a fine dust that grants a temporary regeneration effect (+7% HP recovery over 10 seconds) to all allies in a small radius.

  Wings of Serenity – Emits a calming aura that slightly reduces aggression in hostile creatures, potentially deying enemy attacks or causing hesitation.

  Nature’s Blessing (Passive) – Nearby pnt-based or insect-type minions gain a minor boost to defense (+5%) and mana recovery (+2 per minute) when in the presence of D. Butterfly.

  Sacrificial Rebirth – When defeated, D. Butterfly disperses into a healing mist, restoring 20% HP to the nearest ally.

  Even with such a supportive skillset, Ordis decided that for this battle, D. Ant alone would be enough. The gecko was likely one of the weakest reptiles in the dungeon, so overwhelming it with sheer numbers seemed like the best approach. To ensure victory, he instructed D. Ant to take additional reinforcements—fifteen soldier ants—to act as backup.

  As Ordis watched, D. Ant and its squad scurried up the dungeon walls with practiced ease. The vertical climb posed no challenge to them, despite the uneven and rugged nature of the stone surface. The dungeon walls weren’t smooth or artificial but rough and jagged, filled with natural crevices and protrusions that made movement both easier and more challenging depending on the creature.

  “This should be an easy hunt,” Ordis murmured, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Soon, another minion type would be added to his growing army.

  With its Coordinated Assault passive skill, D. Ant ensured that all fifteen soldier ants moved in unison. Ordis watched as the ants encircled their target, executing the pn he had reyed to D. Ant. The gecko, now surrounded, twitched in arm, realizing too te that it had fallen into a carefully coordinated ambush.

  Despite their numbers, the ordinary ants cked the sheer strength to pose a real threat individually. Every time the gecko shed out—whether with its sticky tongue, powerful legs, or flicking tail—it sent some of the smaller ants tumbling down the dungeon walls. But they were relentless, clinging back onto the surface, unfazed by their comrades being gulped down one by one.

  Ordis had no idea how intelligent the gecko was, but he had instructed D. Ant to create an intentional opening in their formation. A gap that, at a gnce, looked like an escape route. However, the gecko wasn’t so easily fooled. Instead of taking the bait, it continued its natural attack pattern, snatching up another ant with its tongue.

  “Tsk. If it were normal ants, your strategy might work… but these ones don’t know fear,” Ordis mused, watching the battle unfold. Unlike wild ants that might hesitate or scatter in the face of danger, D. Ant’s control ensured its soldiers acted like a single, disciplined unit—undaunted, unwavering, and willing to sacrifice themselves for victory.

  Then, the decisive moment arrived. With the gecko distracted by the swarm, D. Ant finally made its move. Its Speed 18 stat allowed it to dart across the wall with precision, closing the gap in an instant. Even if the gecko realized the danger, Ordis was certain—it was far too te for the reptile to escape its fate.

  What happened next was exactly what Ordis had expected.

  D. Ant, now measuring 10.8 cm with 1.1 cm-long mandibles, was a predator far beyond the limits of an ordinary insect. With a Strength stat of 25 and enhanced by both magic and skills, its Acid Bites attack added an extra yer of lethality. The moment it lunged, its mandibles cmped down right at the gecko’s neck with terrifying precision.

  The result was brutal. A single, decisive strike was all it took—the gecko’s head was severed cleanly.

  “Oof... yeah, I figured that’d happen,” Ordis muttered, watching the aftermath. “D. Ant is really strong against small reptiles, huh?”

  It made sense when he thought about it. Ordinary ants were already capable of burrowing through solid wood and building colonies inside trees. Their mandibles alone were powerful enough to break through tough material. Now, add magic, skills, and dungeon enhancements into the mix, and the result was a creature far beyond what Ordis had originally imagined.

  Still, despite how powerful his minions had become, Ordis remained a pragmatist. He couldn’t shake the feeling that one wrong move could cost him his best units. That was why he always pyed things as safely as possible. Maybe even too safe.

  If only he could see the status of other creatures like in a game, comparing them against his own minions would make everything so much easier. Instead, he had to rely on observation and strategy, hoping that his cautious approach would keep his dungeon thriving.

  [Successfully analyzed the body of a gecko. You can now summon geckos as minions.]

  [Title Unlocked: Serpent’s Nest]

  Effects:

  Predatory Growth: All reptile-type minions gain a 15% experience boost, accelerating their development and adaptability.

  Pack Hunter’s Instinct (Passive): Reptilian minions gain a +5% damage boost when attacking alongside at least one other reptile-type minion.

  Cold-Blooded Dominion (Passive): The dungeon’s aura subtly attracts more reptiles, increasing the presence of lizards, snakes, and other cold-blooded creatures within its territory.

  Scaled Fortitude (Passive): Minions with scales develop enhanced durability, reducing physical damage taken by 10%.

  Apex Predator’s Presence (Passive): Reptilian minions become more territorial, temporarily gaining +10% attack and speed when defending the dungeon from intruders.

  “Oh, I got another title, huh…” Ordis muttered, gncing at the newly acquired abilities. The effects felt simir to the insect-focused title he already had, though specialized for reptiles. However, before he could dwell on the possibilities, a notification popped up in his system.

  [You can only use one title at the moment. If you wish to use multiple titles, you must rank up. Do you want to switch titles now? This first change is free! Future changes will require a mana cost.]

  “Ck… what a cheapskate…” Ordis clicked his tongue in annoyance. He decided not to switch for now. At least he had the reassurance that he could activate it ter when needed.

  Still, the new title confirmed what he already suspected—his dungeon was evolving. With D. Ant proving itself against small reptiles, his confidence grew. If his ants could handle geckos, then perhaps they could take on something bigger.

  “Hm… how about we go after a Sun Skink next?” he mused, checking the system for potential new prey. His dungeon naturally attracted various creatures, and it seemed that tree-dwelling reptiles were no exception.

  A visual appeared before him, dispying a sleek, agile Sun Skink lizard. Unlike the small gecko D. Ant had just defeated, this small reptile just a bit different, but still big enough differences. “Oh, most of these lizards are around 40 centimeters…” Ordis noted. That was four times the size of D. Ant.

  He thought back to the spider he had fought earlier—its total size had been around 40 centimeters, but that was mostly due to its long legs. Its actual body had been much smaller, roughly 7 to 10 centimeters. But this Sun Skink? It was all muscle.

  “Well, even without a specialized reptile title, my dungeon’s natural insect popution is bound to lure in more predators like this…” Ordis smirked, already pnning his next move.

  Either way, there was a significant difference between the spider and this Sun Skink. Unlike the spider, which had long, spindly legs making up most of its size, the lizard was solid muscle from head to tail. Not only was its total length greater, but its weight far exceeded that of the spider.

  Once again, Ordis found himself hesitating. His overly pragmatic nature screamed at him to reconsider. Even though he had clear proof that D. Ant was a powerful minion, he couldn’t shake the fear of making a mistake and losing something that had taken a full week to reach this level.

  “I could lose myself…” he muttered, recalling a painful memory. He had once rage-quit a roguelike game after his favorite character perished, wiping out all his progress. If losing a game character had been enough to send him into a fury, he couldn’t imagine how much worse it would feel to lose a minion in real life.

  With a deep sigh, he reconsidered his options.

  “Ha… maybe I should just find another gecko. Or perhaps I should focus on something different—small snakes or maybe frogs…” Ordis mused, running through the list of potential prey.

  For now, he would set his sights on something more manageable. He wasn’t about to let recklessness cost him everything.

  Age : 8 Day 9 Hour

  Mana Reserves : 118 / ??? (Capacity Expanding)