In the bedroom, Labrynth was curled up on the soft, large bed, holding a white, round cushion in her arms, her chin resting on top of it, her tail swaying gently behind her.
The holographic projection hovered half a meter in front of the bed, the light screen clearly displaying the scene of Herman's team departing.
Five adventurers, accompanied by two Dolls–one large and one small–walked briskly along the white stone slab path, their expressions as if they had stumbled upon a treasure.
Labrynth watched the scene, a slow smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"Hehe, it worked!"
She rolled over, lying flat on her back, her white hair spread out around the pillow.
The Puppet Mark: this was the new toy she had spent two whole days figuring out.
In principle, it wasn't complicated. The core was the Soul Brand, the same thing she had previously asked Allen to reveal, which she had now fully mastered.
This Skill was originally intended for forcibly controlling targets, just as she had done with Allen–carving a mark in their minds and threatening to detonate it if they disobeyed.
However, that crude method was far too wasteful.
Labrynth lifted the cushion above her head, talking to the ceiling as if to herself:
"The essence of the Soul Brand is to turn the target into one's own unit–a Silver City Unit.
"Meanwhile, the Mind Node establishes an anchor point on the target's Spirit. Combined with other Spirit-related Skills, this anchor point can transmit commands and information!"
She narrowed her eyes, recalling the thought process behind designing this System.
Step one: Use the Soul Brand to turn the adventurers into Silver City Units, initially making them low-authority nodes of the "reward."
As long as Labrynth didn't perform any additional operations, the adventurers would have no idea they had become Silver City Units; they would only notice a silver crack on their faces and then discover they had gained the miraculous ability to "control Dolls."
Step two: Connect this anchor point to the Silver Castle's Mental Node Network.
This was the key.
Labrynth's Mind Node Skill allowed her to designate trusted individuals as Secondary Nodes, sharing partial management authority, while Arianna and Arias were the highest-level nodes.
As for the adventurers?
They were merely the lowest-level Terminal Nodes, with such limited authority that they could only see the few lines of text above the Dolls' heads and issue simple commands to individual Dolls.
Step three: The process of adventurers "contracting" with Dolls.
Labrynth tossed the cushion aside, sat up, and gestured with her hands.
The so-called "contract" was essentially attaching the control of a Doll unit to the adventurer's low-level node.
Every Pure White Doll was originally part of her Mind Node Network, and all similar Dolls possessed basic intelligence; Through Vision Sharing, Dolls could also learn Skills that other Dolls possessed.
For example, if one Doll knew how to make desserts, theoretically, all Dolls could learn dessert-making through first-person Vision Sharing.
Compared to sci-fi races like the Insectoids or collective minds like Cupids' tower-like collective mind, the Dolls' psychic network was still a simplified version; even so, within the Dungeon, it was already an incredibly powerful advantage.
The adventurers didn't need to know any of this.
In their eyes, each Doll was an independent individual with different aptitudes, different Skills, some strong and some weak, some rare and some common.
These differences were deliberately created by Labrynth.
She randomly assigned different "panel data" to each Doll, just like...
Labrynth's eyes suddenly sharpened.
Just like Pokémon!
Memories from her past life surged in her mind–encountering wild Pokémon in the grass, throwing Poké Balls, capturing, training, and battling–all as vivid as if it were yesterday.
"An otherworldly version of Pokémon, hehe~"
Labrynth hugged her knees, gently swaying on the bed, the curve of her smile growing wider and wider. "Adventurers are the trainers, the Dolls are the Pokémon, and the Puppet Marks are the Poké Balls."
She imagined the future scene in the Labyrinth.
Adventurers would rush into the ivory Labyrinth, competing to complete various tasks and puzzles to obtain Puppet Marks.
After acquiring the marks, they would search everywhere in the Dungeon for scattered Dolls, hoping to encounter a "Rare Puppet" with excellent aptitude and rare Skills.
Then they would compare and show off to each other.
"My Doll can fight, while yours was born just to sweep the floor."
"I heard someone caught a Doll with exceptional aptitude, with four Skills in its skill slots."
"It's said there are hidden Elite Puppets deep in the Labyrinth, with Legendary Grade aptitude."
The more Labrynth thought about it, the more excited she became, rolling around wildly on the bed, her limbs flailing in the air.
"And they have no idea that they are my units, connected to my Mental Node Network. Wherever they go, I can perceive.
"Everything they say and do, I know it all."
This was the core value of the Puppet Mark: not to give adventurers benefits, but to turn every adventurer who obtained a mark into her mobile surveillance probe.
As they traveled through the Dungeon and across the surface world with their Dolls, her perception network would spread to every corner of the Dungeon and every town on the surface.
Just as Labrynth was immersed in her grand blueprint, a new cursor suddenly popped up on the holographic projection.
It was Arias.
A video unfolded on the screen, showing the spring monument she had recently discovered.
As soon as Herman and the others left, Arias dispatched a group of Dolls to conduct systematic tests on the spring water.
Labrynth propped her chin on her hand, watching the test footage intently.
In the first test, a piece of cloth soaked with Monster Blood was immersed in the spring.
In three seconds, the bloodstains on the cloth disappeared, and the fibers returned to their fresh white.
In the second test, a metal plate corroded by corrosive venom was thrown in.
As the spring water came into contact with the corroded surface of the metal plate, a faint hissing sound was heard. The corrosion layer peeled off layer by layer like skin, revealing the intact metal beneath.
In the third test, a small vial of crimson energy fluid extracted from a skeleton was dripped into the spring.
The moment the crimson liquid entered the water, the runes on the spring platform glowed faintly. The dark blue spring water instantly enveloped and purified the red liquid, and the surface returned to calm.
Seeing this, Labrynth sat up straight.
Arias's report followed the video, concise in wording.
"The spring possesses powerful purification capabilities, capable of removing Mana Pollution, toxin erosion, and aberrant energy adhesion. It is recommended to classify it as a strategic-grade resource rather than ordinary trap material."
Labrynth nodded.
Hmm... Arias is right!
The value of this spring far exceeds that of a simple "Healing Pool."
If those skeleton armies really attack in the future, this spring will be the ultimate weapon against the Crimson Energy Pollution.
Labrynth isn't entirely sure what exactly that crimson energy is, but her body instinctively feels both desire and revulsion toward it.
On the light screen, Labrynth made a mark, prioritizing the spring monument to the highest level.
After dealing with the spring matter, Labrynth was in an exceptionally good mood.
The Puppet Mark plan had smoothly launched, the value of the spring monument exceeded expectations, and the numbers in her Emotion Points account were steadily growing.
She felt she should celebrate.
"Upgrade the furniture."
Labrynth opened the Furniture Blueprint page in the System Store, her eyes scanning through the dazzling array of options.
She wasn't short on Emotion Points now, nor was she lacking materials–what she lacked was prestige.
Although the bedroom was safe, its decor still lingered at the "livable enough" stage, which severely clashed with her status as the dignified Silver Castle Lord.
"This one," she clicked on a blueprint, "Chandraglier."
The blueprint depicted an extravagantly shaped chandelier. The dragon's head took the form of a Western dragon, with a rounded, upturned snout and yellow-green vertical slit eyes. The middle section was composed of pearl chains connecting to the candelabra body below.
The structure featured multi-layered disc-shaped candelabras, holding black candles, each carved with skull ghost-face patterns. The candle flames took on a ghostly form, transitioning from cyan-blue to orange-yellow.
Between each candle were silver wings, and the edges of the candelabra were linked by pearl strings, from which teardrop-shaped crystal pendants hung.
[1000 Emotion Points]
"Buy."
Labrynth flipped through a few more pages, her gaze settling on the second blueprint.
[Stovie Torbie]
A metal furnace, with the door area featuring a warm yellow glowing hearth, marked by two vertical golden slit-eye patterns in the middle.
Below the furnace door was a black iron grate, pierced by several spike-like metal rods. Flames surged between the grates, while spiked metal crossbars extended from both sides, stretching outward like weapons.
[1000 Emotion Points]
"Buy."
The third blueprint made Labrynth look twice.
[Cooclock]
A deep brown wooden floor-standing clock, styled as a classic European grandfather clock, its body adorned with intricate carvings and curves.
The clock face was a circular dial with twisted, skewed hands. On either side of the face were circular eye-shaped decorations with black pupils, giving the clock a facial appearance.
Atop the clock was a golden diamond-shaped ornament. Below the clock body, a small window emitted a warm yellow light, faintly revealing the internal pendulum structure.
[1000 Emotion Points]
"Buy, buy, buy."
Labrynth purchased all three blueprints in one go and began constructing.
The Mental Visualization Skill activated, and a three-dimensional model of the core bedroom appeared on the holographic projection. She dragged the furniture positions on the light screen with her fingers, repeatedly adjusting them as if playing a decoration simulator.
The Chandraglier hung directly from the center of the ceiling, right above her large bed.
The Stovie Torbie was embedded into the northern wall, facing the center of the room, its magical fire's warm glow covering the entire bedroom.
The Cooclock stood to the right of the bedhead, allowing her to see the time while lying in bed–though this wasn't particularly meaningful.
Ten minutes later, all three pieces of furniture were completed.
Labrynth jumped off the bed, her bare feet stepping onto the warm floor as she looked up at the Chandraglier overhead.
Labrynth looked around with satisfaction, then scurried back to bed, wrapping herself in the blanket until only her white eyes were visible.
"Comfy."
She kicked her legs under the covers, then remembered that these blueprints weren't single-use–they could be reused.
"Arias." She called the steward through the mental link.
"Yes, My Lord." Arias's voice was as calm as ever.
"Distribute the blueprints for these three types of furniture and install them at key locations in the Labyrinth. Hang the Chandragliers at the intersections of the main passages, install the Stovie Torbies in the rest areas, and as for the Cooclocks... place them in those dead ends where adventurers are prone to getting lost."
Labrynth imagined the expressions on adventurers' faces when they heard demonic laughter in a dead end and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Understood."
Arias paused briefly. "Additionally, Castle Lord, a party of adventurers has just entered the sixth floor from the surface entrance."
"Hmm? Is there anything significant about this?" Labrynth poked her head out from under the covers.
"A four-person party, Bronze rank, average equipment.
"The topic they were discussing in the entrance passage was the Dolls' hostility toward Skeletons."
Labrynth blinked. "Dolls' hostility toward Skeletons?"
"Yes, it seems adventurers on the surface have already noticed the conflict between our Dolls and the undead."
"Let them talk." Labrynth retreated under the covers. "More importantly, how is Arianna doing?"
"Lady Arianna has led fifty Pure White Dolls deep into the bones plain, the territory of the Skeletons, and is currently carrying out a reconnaissance mission."
Labrynth rolled over and switched the holographic projection to the direction of the bones plain.
On the light screen, Arianna's green cursor was steadily advancing across the grayish-white map, followed by fifty densely packed white dots.
The bones plain, the largest open area in the eastern part of the sixth floor, was also the former core territory of the Skeleton Lord.
Since the Skeleton Lord's disappearance, undead activity there had become abnormal. Arianna had been the first to notice the irregularities.
After that came a prolonged, eerie silence toward Labrynth's side, followed by sporadic, abnormal Skeletons appearing on the outskirts of the ivory Labyrinth.
The Skeletons with crimson patterns encountered by Herman's squad had come from the direction of the bones plain.
Labrynth had to find out what was happening there.
The fifty Pure White Dolls were deployed in squads of five.
Ten squads advanced in alternating cover, with the front squads scouting, the rear squads providing security, and the flanks spread out–the entire formation resembled a slowly unfurling fan.
This was quite different from the loose formations used during patrols on the outskirts of the Labyrinth.
Arias had preset multiple tactical plans before departure, and Arianna only needed to select and execute them based on battlefield conditions.
The ground of the bones plain was littered with countless shattered bones–some were naturally weathered Monster remains, while others had clearly been violently crushed.
Grayish-white mist flowed close to the ground, reducing visibility to less than thirty meters.
Arianna walked at the forefront of the formation, the Jade Loop held firmly in her hand, her steps steady as her gaze swept across the mist ahead.
Suddenly, she stopped.
From within the mist ahead came the sound of dense skeletal collisions, as if hundreds or thousands of bones were striking the ground simultaneously.
The sound grew closer and louder.
Then, a dark red wall of light emerged from the mist.
No, it wasn't a wall of light–it was the densely packed eye sockets of skeleton soldiers. Hundreds of dark red points of light ignited simultaneously in the fog, like a sea of burning stars.
An undead army marched out from the depths of the mist.
Leading the way was a skeleton knight riding a skeletal horse, its entire frame covered in dark red patterns, gripping a bone lance longer than its own body.
Behind the knight stood neatly arranged Skeleton Infantry Phalanxes, at least a hundred strong, each skeleton crawling with dark red patterns.
Skeleton Knight.
Seeing this scene from her bedroom, Labrynth sat up from under the covers.
"Over a hundred?" She frowned. "Do they have corresponding contingency measures too?"
"More than expected," Arias's voice echoed through the Mental Link. "Activating preset tactical plan: Pincer Offensive."
On the holographic screen, fifty Pure White Dolls swiftly shifted formation.
Twenty Dolls formed a frontal phalanx, arranged in two horizontal rows, Arm Blades extended, facing the charging direction of the skeleton army head-on.
The remaining thirty split into two groups of fifteen each, rapidly flanking from both sides, weaving through the Stone Crusher cover of the bones plain toward the skeleton army's rear and flanks.
The Corrupted Skeleton Knight raised its bone lance, letting out a silent roar as dark red light erupted from its skull, enveloping the entire undead army.
The Skeleton Infantry Phalanxes began their charge, skeletal feet stomping across the bone-strewn plain with a deafening cacophony of cracks.
The twenty Pure White Dolls at the front did not retreat a single step.
They raised their Arm Blades and charged forward at the same speed.
The two forces collided in the mist of the bones plain, the impact thunderous.
Bone spears stabbed fiercely into the pale chests of the Dolls, producing harsh, grating sounds, yet failed to inflict any substantial damage.
Amidst the shower of sparks, the sturdy stone bodies of the Pure White Dolls remained completely intact.
They swung their sharp Arm Blades, instantly shattering the hard skulls of the first row of skeletons, their movements clean and precise.
Labrynth excitedly kicked her little legs on the soft bed, her long white hair dancing along, her mood soaring.
"Fight well! Slash them hard! Let these bone piles know who the real boss of the sixth floor is! Teach them a lesson!"
(≧∇≦)ﾉ
In my past life, I was just a miserable office worker working overtime every day, unable to even afford the latest holographic game. How pitiful.
Now, after reincarnating, I'm finally getting my fill as a real-time strategy player. Fate is such a strange thing, truly unpredictable.
Isn't this way more satisfying than those grindy, pay-to-win gacha mobile games? My Doll army is the best in the world!
Hugging a soft white cushion, she watched the holographic screen with a smile, thoroughly enjoying the one-sided slaughter unfolding before her.
"Arias, immediately record the Dolls' combat loss data. I want to see how well this new batch holds up."
"Castle Lord, our current combat losses are zero. The Dolls' Silver Armor has resisted the enemy's physical attacks. Their condition is excellent. Please rest assured."
From the thick mist on both flanks, thirty Dolls surged forth with sharp whistles, bursting out of the dense fog.
They slammed fiercely into the vulnerable flank of the skeleton army, shattering countless bones on the spot. The once orderly formation instantly collapsed.
Arianna suddenly turned her head, her gaze locking onto the knight on the skeletal horse, her expression indifferent.
"The Castle Lord's enemies must die."
Her body sank slightly, adopting an offensive stance.
The next moment–
She twisted her body, her arm swinging violently as the ring rail left her hand.
The launched ring rail tore through the air, its green blades forming a high-speed rotating wheel of green light, madly surging toward the skeleton knight–the skeleton knight hastily raised its spear to block, but the thick bone spear shattered into fragments upon contact!
Arianna took a step forward, sinking her body to gather strength, her calf tensing.
In the next instant, the ground beneath her feet exploded, plowing open a deep, long trench.
She leaped high into the air, her taut right leg like a battle axe. She pivoted her hips and delivered a side kick, concentrating all her strength into a single point, brutally striking the knight's broad ribcage!
Boom!
A burst of sound spread outward from the skeleton knight's chest, a circular white ripple floating in the air.
The knight's massive body was sent flying by the kick, soaring dozens of meters backward before crashing into a pile of skeletons.
The red light in its eye sockets flickered rapidly as it struggled to rise.
Nonetheless, Arianna paid no heed to its struggles. She flipped and landed steadily, then pushed off the ground and charged forward once more.
She raised her arms overhead, then brought them together like a hammer, smashing down fiercely onto the massive skull.
Thud!!
The sturdy skull was completely shattered. A wisp of Crimson Mist rose from the broken bones, darting like lightning into Arianna's head and leaving a faint red mark.
"Greeny, are you alright?"
"Consciousness is clear, no significant impact," she touched her face, her expression unchanged, her tone calm.
"Greeny, use that spring to purify yourself when you return." Labrynth's voice carried a hint of concern–Greeny was the first "Blessed One" she had created.
...
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