Floor 6: The Hunting Grounds
Overview
Floor 6 is a vast jungle world where alien hunters are actively released to pursue and kill crawlers. Unlike previous floors, the threat is not just dungeon monsters — it is coordinated hunters with alien technology, sponsors, and a 30-hour grace period before they are released.
At a Glance
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Time to Level Collapse | 17 days |
| Starting Crawlers | 85,223 |
| Starting Hunters | 360 |
| Hunt Grace Period | 30 hours |
| Hunters at Masquerade | ~75 |
| Final Surviving Hunter | Zabit |
World Description
A round world, mostly jungle. Before "Scolopendra's nine-tier attack" it was half-metropolis, half-jungle. The attack killed most of the population centuries ago; survivors have slowly rebuilt. The world layout is consistent across dungeon seasons, though the specific monsters within vary.
The River winds through the middle of the map. The naiads live within and are extremely dangerous.
Key Zones:
- Zockau (north) — The named metropolis. Hunters take control at floor start; the crawlers' leader kills the NPC head and becomes "Grand."
- Kapok District — Jungle zone, home to bugbears and ursine. Carl's main operational area.
- Fort Freedom — Naiad castle on the river. Liberated by Signet in Chapter 28.
- High Elf Castle (southeast) — Queen Imogen's stronghold. Site of the Butcher's Masquerade. Teleported to Floor 9 during the final battle.
Settlement Guards
The smaller settlements are protected by Funeral Bells — Level 95 mushroom-men guards that operate day and night with no sense of humor. Larger towns have their own internal guard structure.
The Hunt Mechanic
- 360 hunters are locked in Zockau during the 30-hour grace period.
- Hunters arrive with alien technology (pulse rifles, anti-air guns, ceramic plate armor) and receive sponsor upgrades from home planets.
- Crawlers who kill hunters earn trophies. Hunters who kill crawlers earn scalps. Both are redeemable at the Butcher's Masquerade prize booth.
The Brambles
A slowly advancing wall of thorns progresses across the floor as the collapse timer runs down. By Chapter 74, the brambles had filled the entire world and formed a dome over the Masquerade battle site.
Factions
| Faction | Role |
|---|---|
| High Elves (Imogen) | Ruling power; threw the Butcher's Masquerade |
| Naiad Confederacy | Underwater; formerly held Fort Freedom |
| Ursine | Major land faction; allies to crawlers |
| Bugbears | Engineers; Kapok district residents |
| Were-Castors | Signet's allies; beaver-form creatures |
| Changelings | Shapeshifters; aided the castle assault |
| Dark Hive | Mantis faction; Vrah's affiliation |
| Hunters | 360 alien hunters; antagonists |
Appearances
- Book 5, Chapters 1–74 + Epilogue