The chamber was colder than before. Candles were low. The same maps were still on the table, but now they were marked—colored thread, charcoal annotations, thin red pins along the vault corridors.
Lucan Ferrow stood straight, cloak still dusted with grey stone from the shaft. His four-man cell stood behind him, silent and still.
Crown Prince Caelen motioned.
"Proceed."
—Crown Prince Caelen
Ferrow placed a leather-bound folder on the table and opened it with practiced precision.
"Confirmed: Created dungeon, now classified as Evolving Type. Current level estimate—between Level 6.8 and early 7. Mana signature fluctuates, suggesting core growth is not yet stable.Probably a new formed"
—Lucan Ferrow
He slid out the first page: a detailed sketch of a clawed creature with gaunt limbs and segmented joints.
"Beast Type: Strain-class Burrow Sentinels. Rigid formation patrols. Unnatural discipline for dungeon beasts. Six confirmed on initial basin—estimated total count: twenty-four to thirty, operating in squads of four to six."
—Lucan Ferrow
Guildmaster Hale leaned in, frowning.
"Burrow sentinels shouldn't operate in rotations. That's military patterning."
—Guildmaster Hale
Ferrow nodded slightly.
"Exactly.There not even wandering pack inside. Likely boss-linked or anchor command."
—Lucan Ferrow
Next, he rolled out a thin parchment laced with ink and mage-script.
"Trap Patterns: Primary zone layered with adaptive magic chains. Not static. Snares shift location after initial detection. Merrin clocked changes on a 37-minute interval."
—Lucan Ferrow
"Magical or mechanical trigger?"
—Commander Veiss
"Hybrid."
—Merrin (from the back)
"They use ambient movement to create false safe zones. Magic patterns read spell pressure and recalibrate where a standard trap master can disable it."
Ferrow laid out a final page—boss chamber sketch.
"Boss class unconfirmed, but based on breath rhythm, chamber structure, and defensive layout, we're looking at a Intelligence Structure Core—likely still forming. If it stabilizes, it could issue commands beyond standard dungeon limits."
—Lucan Ferrow
Lord Kerrel folded his arms.
"Which means it could grow beyond the shaft and start rewriting territory structure."
—Lord Kerrel
Ferrow didn't answer. He didn't need to.
The room was quiet for a long moment.
Then Caelen tapped the table twice with a finger.
"No further probes. Begin preparations for suppression."
—Crown Prince Caelen
Same Command Table – One Hour Later
The room had filled. Not with more maps, but with names.
Scrolls were unrolled, folders opened, crests marked in ink. The Prince stood at the head, sleeves rolled and voice even.
"Ferrow's unit is off rotation. Their part's done. We need strike composition."The dungeon classified name as Hollowspire
—Crown Prince Caelen
Guildmaster Hale drew a crimson seal from his case and pressed it against one of the open folders.
"Confirmed availability: Level 7 – Ysarre Veln, Arcblade Warden, former Bastion of Islen Reach. She answers only in person, but I've sent the summons."
—Guildmaster Hale
Commander Veiss tapped three names below hers.
> "Three Level 6s on-call and combat-ready."
—Commander Veiss
Dorek Emberveil – fire-based weaponmaster, known for structural clearing.
Iven Drost – survival specialist, fought through the Rotdeep fissures.
Maera Linth – stormcaller, siege-trained, excels in multi-front engagements.
> "All three have past experience in unstable dungeons. They've worked together before."
—Commander Veiss
Lord Kerrel raised a finger and passed forward a scroll bearing a sword-and-castle sigil.
"Eastwatch's Ironthorn Order will provide heavy containment. Two dozen knights, formation-linked, anti-burrow equipped. Ser Brennov leads."
—Lord Kerrel
"That's a solid anchor. Good for edge control and collapsing dungeon."
—Guildmaster Hale
"That puts us at one high level leader, three elite cores, and a field-tested knightline."
—Commander Veiss
Caelen looked over the assembled lists, then crossed out a name with a sharp stroke.
"No bait. No exploratory breach. Go straight for the core while it's still forming."
—Crown Prince Caelen
He looked to Hale.
"Tell Ysarre she has full command authority once in-dungeon. Knight line holds the threshold. The rest follow her lead. Clean, fast, no risks."
—Crown Prince Caelen
> "Understood."
—Guildmaster Hale