This Dungeon Grew Mushrooms - Chapter 606

The massive silhouette of the Jishen Unit slowly withdrew into the snowstorms of the far north. From beginning to end, to the soldiers of Puji Fort, it had been nothing more than a vague yet awe-inspiring shadow within the blizzard.

As the soldiers cradled steaming bowls of mushroom porridge garnished with a few precious strands of dragon meat, the most heated topic—aside from the red dragon itself—was the mysterious colossal figure they had glimpsed only briefly.

Unfortunately, the few who knew the truth kept silent, while the vast majority could only argue based on speculation. In the end, that shadow in the storm joined the ranks of Puji Fort’s unsolved legends—alongside the infamous “D-class personnel.”

As for the Jishen Unit, the power of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon was more than sufficient. Even sturdy Puji Fort would likely be half-ruined if struck by a single shot.

But it still had many shortcomings. Or rather—perfection was impossible.

First was the terrifying energy consumption. Although the Jishen Unit’s torso and lower limbs were composed entirely of specialized Magic-Storage puji units, functioning like a massive mobile mana reservoir, a single Ultimate Resonance Cannon shot drained nearly half of its total reserves.

In ideal conditions, that meant at most two full-power shots in a short time. After that, it would be reduced to close combat—or sitting on the fungal carpet slowly recharging.

Second was the contradiction between attack speed and mobility. The magical torrent fired by the Ultimate Resonance Cannon was not slow, but for top-tier experts requiring that level of firepower, detecting the attack, judging its trajectory, and evading it left more than enough time.

Compared to the flight speed of a vampire prince, for example, such an opponent could completely escape the blast radius after noticing the cannon.

Even this time, had the Sword Saint not struck first to blind the dragon and Four not locked it in place, the shot might very well have missed.

Conditions that perfect would not occur every time.

Third, the effective strike distance heavily relied on the fungal network. This successful beyond-visual-range snipe had depended entirely on Lin Jun’s global vision through the fungal carpet.

Outside its coverage, the cannon’s range would shrink dramatically.

Thus, if the goal was to hunt the continent’s top individual powerhouses, the optimal strategy remained righteous ambush and surprise attacks—and one could not expect success every time, especially after the Jishen Unit’s existence became known.

However, as a strategic battlefield suppression weapon, its value was entirely different.

Against immobile fortresses or large-scale formations lacking high mobility, the Ultimate Resonance Cannon was an undeniable and terrifying threat.

Of course, precisely because the threat was so great, unless an opportunity like this—shutting the door and beating the dog—arose again, Lin Jun had no intention of revealing the Jishen Unit anytime soon.

After all, a trump card only counts if it remains unplayed.

…

“Oh… ah… sunlight… ravage me…”

“Ahhh! It burns! Spare me, please spare meee—!”

Listening to the two distinct wails, the mushroom citizens who had just reinstalled the decorative “gate greeters” lingered for a while before returning contentedly to the city.

The red dragon’s threat had come swiftly and vanished just as quickly, leaving many feeling oddly unreal.

Under the soldiers’ direction, the citizens who had hurriedly taken shelter underground gradually returned home, somewhat dazed.

Many hadn’t even understood what had happened.

They remembered only the “diwu” alarm echoing in their minds, the soldiers urging them to move, nearly a day of anxious hiding, and distant thunderous booms.

Just as they prepared for a long and brutal siege, everything abruptly quieted. They were told they could go home.

What puzzled yet reassured them was that the soldiers maintaining order looked tired—but not seriously injured.

Moreover, their posture and expressions were different from before the alarm. Gone was the tense vigilance. Instead, there was something hard to describe—ease. Confidence, even.

As though they had completed an incredibly difficult task—and won decisively.

Occasionally, laughter echoed through the fungal network as they mocked a certain cowardly deserter.

A young lizardkin child, whose scales had not yet fully hardened, tail swishing restlessly, squeezed through the crowd and edged up to Norris, who was eating by the roadside.

Tilting its head upward, pale yellow slit pupils filled with curiosity—and longing—it asked in a childish voice:

“Uncle! They said… you killed a really, really big dragon! And… and ate it too?”

Its gaze clung to the steaming bowl in Norris’s hands. It swallowed unconsciously. Its tail wagged faster.

Norris looked down at the little one.

Uncle?

And the child kept sneaking glances behind him before quickly looking away.

Norris rolled his eyes and deliberately put on a stern face.

“What did you just call me?”

The little lizardkin shrank back and hurriedly corrected itself:

“B-Big brother!”

Norris said nothing more and handed over the bowl.

The child accepted it joyfully and gulped down a mouthful despite the heat. As expected, confusion soon crossed its face.

After all, the so-called dragon-meat mushroom porridge tasted no different from ordinary delicious mushroom porridge. No special flavor. No surge of strength.

The soldiers’ excitement was purely emotional value—we won, we killed a dragon, we even ate it!

In practical terms, it wasn’t even as useful as getting a few extra sips of the boss’s special Life Water.

That stuff tasted weird—but its effects were real.

During the battle, Norris had only fired a few shots from the wall. His involvement was no greater than that of the average soldier.

Yet he was exhilarated.

But unlike others who were thrilled by the feat of dragon slaying, Norris’s excitement lay elsewhere.

He had witnessed the Jishen Unit’s devastating strike firsthand.

Most could only speculate about the shadow in the storm—but Norris was among the few who knew the truth.

In his eyes, that was the ultimate form of the Jida he piloted daily!

After seeing that earth-shattering blow, even knowing his mental strength was far from enough to control such a behemoth, Norris couldn’t help imagining himself seated at its core—moving mountains and reshaping land with a gesture.

The mere thought made his heart race.

“If I could pilot it just once… even dying would be worth it…”

One defense of Puji Fort—and everyone had found something.

Norris found a new dream.

Little Pig validated the reliability of Puji Fort’s defenses and secured some dragon blood.

The Sword Saint tested his swordsmanship as a puji.

Even Four discovered a new way to fight…

Everyone had a bright future.

Even Yellow Book—

…

Empire, Giant Beast Bone Grounds. A modest mercenary lodging.

Deep into the night, an invisible knight puji slipped silently into the crude quarters of the horned demon Kruma.

It approached the bedside, gently flipped open the yellow-covered book with a tendril, and awkwardly scratched a few crooked characters onto the page:

Well done.

[?]

It had only just begun—how was that “well done”?

The sudden praise from the boss left Yellow Book suspicious.

Yet its emotional perception told it the praise was genuine.

Unfortunately, the knight puji slipped away immediately, offering no chance for questions.

The doubt lingered between the pages, leaving Yellow Book quite unsettled.

On the nearby bed, Kruma—Yellow Book’s newly acquired high-quality friend—remained unaware.

He was dreaming ambitiously.

In the dream, he held the mysterious Yellow Book, gathering loyal and powerful mercenaries beneath his banner.

Even his elder brother followed his lead. Even the high and mighty count who ruled Giant Beast Bone Grounds treated him with wary respect.

And that was far from his limit. He would gain even more…

“It will all be mine…”

Hearing the sleep-muttered words, Yellow Book knew its prolonged emotional guidance had finally fully taken effect.

It was time to begin.

Every mushroom has a bright future.