Jimbo wished he were a paleontologist so he could know exactly what he was doing. For now, though, he felt more like a mad scientist following a hunch, mixing general pop culture trivia with memorized lessons from the Kard10k historical encyclopedia.
His greatest comfort was that the genetic archive stored within the Dungeon Crystal made the task infinitely easier. The chicken bone had acted as a key, unlocking a whole new tech tree of creatures. Acquiring that new tribe registered to Jimbo as a series of chimes in his ethereal ear, followed by an electric tingle along the right side of his angular body.
Archaeopteryx (The Transitional Beast)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Poor.
Agility: Athletic.
Endurance: Poor.
Description: Crow-sized, but possessing jaws filled with sharp teeth, a long bony reptilian tail, and three killer claws protruding from its black-feathered wings. A stealth assassin that strikes from the canopy. Cannot fly long distances, but glides silently to ambush targets.
The creature materialized as a highly detailed 3D model—Unreal Engine 12 graphics, at the very least. Jimbo zoomed in, rotated it, spun it around, and examined its elegant dark feathers. He nodded in satisfaction before swiping it aside to check his next summon.
Sylviornis neocaledoniae (Giant Hunter)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Immense.
Agility: Athletic.
Endurance: Athletic.
Description: The closest thing to an actual "giant chicken." A massive, heavy, flightless bird, standing roughly 1.75 meters tall. It boasts a thick, powerful beak and a bony crest on its head. Its legs are short but incredibly robust, specialized for digging.
«This thing could crack armor with that beak, or just straight-up stomp mobs.»
Jimbo nodded again and pulled up the next specimen. He actually had to recoil in shock when the animal spawned in, letting out a low whistle of admiration.
Dromornis stirtoni (Demon Duck of Doom)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Colossal.
Agility: Athletic.
Endurance: Colossal.
Description: A behemoth. Stands 3 meters tall and weighs between 500 and 730 kg. Features a long neck, massive hind legs, and a gigantic, deep beak designed for crushing. Its charges inflict profound despair upon its targets.
«It's a literal tank... if tanks had feathers. I bet that beak could snap a tree trunk in half. Or a shield... or a dude.»
He moved on to evaluate the next unlock.
Genyornis newtoni (Thunderbird)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Immense.
Agility: Immense.
Endurance: Athletic.
Description: This bird coexisted with early humans in Australia, part of the famous Pleistocene megafauna. 2 meters tall and weighs between 220 and 240 kg. It has a large beak, flatter than the Dromornis, and powerful legs that grant it immense movement speed.
«It's not as strong as the previous one, but it's also cheaper and apparently easier to handle»
Dealing with the cavemen had taught Jimbo just how grindy it was to tame a summon. There was always the exploit of creating an object and imprinting a deep sense of reverence, fear, or respect toward it into their code. Though that trick might not work forever.
«Especially if my summons start to become intelligent—which, if it happens, I wouldn't know whether it would be good or bad»
He navigated to the next dinosaur.
Pelagornithidae (False-Toothed Bird)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Athletic.
Agility: Athletic.
Endurance: Athletic.
Description: A seabird with a wingspan that can exceed 5 meters, capable of carrying an adult human. Its beak features irregular, sharp bony projections that function like rows of jagged teeth to catch slippery prey. A giant bird whose beak resembles the maw of a skeletal dragon.
Jimbo figured both the Genyornis and the Pelagornithidae could work as solid mounts, though he also felt that spamming these kinds of summons would make his dungeon look like a petting zoo.
«I'd have to respec the whole layout. Figure out how to build higher floors with enough verticality for them to fly and glide.»
Enantiornithes (Sharp-Toothed Bird)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Very Poor.
Agility: Athletic.
Endurance: Very Poor.
Description: Small, highly numerous birds, roughly the size of sparrows. Their beaks are full of sharp teeth and their wings have claws. Despite having reversed shoulder joints compared to modern birds, they are highly capable flyers.
Much to Jimbo's disappointment, there wasn't a T-Rex in the drop pool. The System, reading his mood and uncertainty, popped up with new prompts.
Note: Collecting more samples unlocks further options in the biological and historical library. Another option is to use your base Dungeon skills. Remember that you unlock a new one with every level.
His base spell list populated the screen once more.
-Skill: Dungeon Core Call.
Requirement: None.
Cost: 20 Ether.
Description: Sends out pulses of magical energy to attract affine beings. Can also attract dangerous or non-affine beings with high magical sensitivity.
«A skill I'm literally never gonna use...»
-Skill: Build Avatar #1.
Requirement: LV 5.
Cost: 500 Ether.
Description: Builds an avatar from scratch. If the avatar dies, the Dungeon Core will lose 5 levels and this skill will be locked.
«I'm actually pretty close to unlocking a physical body. To eat and taste, breathe, feel things with my fingers again...» Remembering what it felt like to be human triggered a wave of nausea, a mix of heavy nostalgia and a phantom ache from his lack of limbs or a torso. He opted to stop trying to remember. «Getting a new body would be top-tier loot. The problem is, I don't know how the people in this castle will react, and what if they kill my avatar...»
The System clarified that if his level dropped to 0, the Dungeon Core would automatically self-destruct and the dungeon would collapse. However, as long as he retained at least one level, the Dungeon Core would enter a state of suspended animation until the lost levels were recovered. During that downtime, the dungeon's survival would rely entirely on its active traps and guardians.
«Yeah, better grind to at least level 7 or 9 before I start beta-testing a meat suit.»
But that didn't stop him from fantasizing about rolling an ultra-handsome avatar that would make all the ladies swoon.
«Focus, Jimbo. Stop lagging. It's been forever since you checked this skill tree... Total misplay on my part»
-Skill: Ether Switches Expansion #1 (Passive).
Requirement: LV 2.
Cost: None.
Description: Adds more Ether switches for dungeon traps and mechanisms.
«Useful, but boring AF.»
Then came the skill The System was pointing out.
-Skill: Core Key.
Requirement: LV 3.
Cost: 100, 1,000, or 10,000.
Description: Unlocks a random summon. The more Ether spent, the more powerful the creature or element.
Jimbo's ethereal forehead started to sweat when he saw those resource costs.
«1,000?! 10,000?! Are we crazy?! In this fantasy world, I'm not a millionaire—I can barely scrape together a little extra ether each day.»
He side-eyed his energy tank.
--- Jimbo the Dungeon Core LV 3
Ether: 220/300
The soldiers had been training hard these past few days, which had pushed him very close to leveling up.
«Am I seriously blowing my hard-earned currency on this rigged, abusive gacha mechanic...? I don't even have rate-up odds for a waifu.»
He sighed and paid the fee.
«This better be an SSR pull. I want a kaiju—scales, fangs, the works!»
An orb of light sparked in the ethereal void. It expanded, taking shape. Jimbo managed to make out bipedal claws. Long. Ferocious.
«Yes, yes, yes.»
A curved mouth, looking like it could snap bone.
«Hype!»
And feathers.
«Wait, what?»
The glow faded, revealing the beast in all its glory.
Raphus cucullatus (Stupid Bird)
Tribe: Avian Dinosaur.
Strength: Poor.
Agility: Very Poor.
Endurance: Poor.
Description: Heavy, slow, oval-bodied, and tastes absolutely terrible. Devoid of any self-preservation instinct. A plump creature extinct across all known galaxies.
«REFUND MY ETHER!»
No matter how much Jimbo yells or exaggerates, the system repeatedly emphasizes that there are no refunds.