Puji

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Puji
Alias(es)	Mushroom; Mushroom Race; Fungal Race
Species/Race	Mushroom-like fungal creature
Affiliation	Fungal Lord; Mycelium Network
Occupation/Role	Worker, scout, combatant, guardian, and network agent
Status	Extant
First Appearance	Chapter 31

Characteristics

Puji are mushroom-like creatures linked to the Mycelium Network and commonly directed by the Fungal Lord. Individual Pujis can vary dramatically in body type, armament, intelligence, and assigned function.

• Their fungal bodies may be fragile; some frontline Pujis at the valley mouth live only seconds before being destroyed. 468
• Destroyed Pujis can release Mycelium and purple Hallucinogenic Spores, creating persistent poisonous fog around their corpses. 468
• Pujis depend on the Fungal Carpet for magical supply; severing that connection leaves them without their sustaining mana source. 468
• They can emerge directly from the Fungal Carpet or from Mycelium cocoons. 547 683
• Certain Pujis are sentient, communicate through the Mycelium Network, and possess distinct personalities. 477 486 492
• The mushroom race can revive or reconstitute some members in new Puji bodies under the protection of the Will of Great Puji. 502

Known Types

Type	Function / Traits	Chapter
Fatty Puji	Used for storage and trade; their mistreatment can provoke retaliation.	31
Scout Puji	Stealth and exploration units; can use Hallucinogenic Spores and infiltrate hostile areas.	269 282
Hunting Puji	Armed scout variants used for tracking targets.	217
Diving Puji	Underwater exploration units; three exhausted their energy and died while investigating an underwater ruin.	137
Heavy Armor Puji	Armored combat units decisive in Linden's battle against Kees.	192
Knight Puji	Adaptive warrior type; one fought Hand of Passing priests and captured Kuruge alive.	198 655
Bat Puji	A form Linden can possess; used to enter the Demon Descendant tribe and assist its rebirth ritual.	267
Giant Drilling Puji	Tunnel-capable units used to strike enemy supply points.	502
Voice Puji	Capable of speech; one addressed and intimidated a captured Hand of Passing cultist.	683
Pink Puji	A multicolored Puji with the talent Favor of the Elemental Spirit, capable of charming Cold Spirits.	530

Abilities & Skills

Mycelium Network

Puji are connected through a shared fungal network used for communication, coordination, navigation, and control.

• Allows communication between network-connected beings, including sentient Pujis and Fungal Citizens. 547 684
• Enables rapid responses to threats within the network's reach, including the emergence of Pujis from Fungal Carpet. 683
• Supports coordination across large combat and exploration forces. 192 502
• Pujis operating beyond the network's range may lose contact with Linden. 218

Hallucinogenic Spores

Many Pujis employ spores as a battlefield weapon.

• A destroyed Puji can explosively scatter purple spores along with fragments of Mycelium. 468
• Corpses continue releasing the poisonous fog, making simple dispersal ineffective. 468
• Scout Pujis use Hallucinogenic Spores during covert operations. 269

Regeneration and Rebirth

Puji forces can recover from losses through fungal restoration and replacement bodies.

• Mycelial Recombination enables Pujis to self-repair and continue fighting. 35
• Cave Four Ji revived in a new Puji body after being seemingly killed by Xenophon. 502
• Cave Four Ji and Number Ten Ji were reborn after death with tougher bodies and more abundant power. 486
• Human believers may be reborn as Pujis after death, as happened to Will. 684 685

Specialized Energy Functions

Different Puji types can be configured for magical and technical roles.

• Puji clusters can amplify energy-based abilities through Resonance, including Mana Shield and Mushroom Cannon. 275
• Piggy possesses Magic Storage LV7 and Petrification Ray LV3. 220
• Pink Puji's elemental affinity can charm Cold Spirits. 530
• Twelve used Charm to incapacitate guards and prisoners during Julia's prison escape. 547

Notable Individuals

• Piggy — A powerful Puji with Blood Manipulation, Magic Storage, and Petrification Ray; she remained loyal after becoming trapped with the Sun Stone Fragment. 218 220 313
• Number One Puji — The first intelligent Puji created from a fragment of Linden's soul; proud and quick-tempered, later revived and became involved in Mushroom Race leadership disputes. 477 486 554
• Cave Four Ji / Number Four — A straightforward, agile combat Puji noted for reckless bravery, sacrifice, and repeated rebirth. 486 489 502
• Number Nine Puji — A sentient, aggressive Puji that accompanied Fifteen toward Three Mountains City and assessed people as possible targets. 492
• Number Ten Ji — A cautious, strategic Puji assigned alongside Cave Four Ji to protect Inanna. 486
• Twelve — A meticulous, articulate Puji who serves as a guide and messenger for the Fungal Lord; assisted Julia and later helped establish the Great Mushroom Charity. 547 631
• Sword Saint Puji / Number Fourteen Ji — A four-sword-bearing Mushroom Race member associated with the Sword Saint and active against the Hand of Passing. 554 556 703
• Knight Puji — A highly adaptive Mushroom Race warrior who defeated Hand of Passing priests and captured Kuruge. 655
• Pink Puji — A multicolored Puji whose elemental-charming talent made her central to confronting the Elemental Lord. 530

History

Puji initially appeared as Lin Jun's controlled mushroom creatures, acting as storage assets, laborers, and defenders. After Nasa damaged a Fatty Puji, the Pujis captured and tortured him before turning him into a puppet. 31

As their numbers and capabilities grew, Puji became a major dungeon force. They overwhelmed adventurers and monsters through mass attacks, regeneration, specialized bodies, and coordinated tactics. Their threat became significant enough for the Adventurer Guild to issue an S-rank bounty for the Black Puji on the fifth and sixth floors of the Amethyst Dungeon. 35 87

Pujis were later deployed beyond conventional dungeon combat: they explored rifts, searched underwater ruins, pursued fugitives, established observation posts, and entered the Sacred Tree Dungeon. 137 149 217 282

Following the spread of the Fungal Carpet, Pujis became integrated into wider society through Puji Masters. Their use prompted conflict with adventurers, official military recruitment, and the formation of the Puji Master Professional Association. 332 349

During the Human-Demon War, Puji were deployed as a military force. They fell from the sky, detonated into spore clouds, tunneled into enemy positions, disrupted supply lines, and fought in prolonged sieges. 468 502 744

The emergence of intelligent Pujis marked a major shift for the species. Linden split fragments of his soul to create autonomous Mushroom Race members, who subsequently developed individual personalities, formed relationships, and operated as envoys, guardians, warriors, and religious agents. 477 486 547

Relations with Other Groups

• Fungal Lord / Linden — Primary creator, controller, and commander of the Puji through the Mycelium Network. 35 217 477
• Puji Masters — Human and other users who connect to and command Pujis; their profession gained official recognition and military recruitment. 332 349
• Fungal Citizens — Members of different races living within the fungal society; Pujis guide, protect, and connect them through the network. 547
• Demon Descendant Tribe — Accepted Puji assistance during a rebirth ritual and later joined the Mycelium Network through mushroomization. 267 269
• Hand of Passing — Hostile cult repeatedly pursued and attacked by Pujis, including Sword Saint Puji and the Pujis that captured Will's killer. 683 703
• Demon Race — Frequent wartime enemy; Demon forces identified the Fungal Carpet as a critical Puji weakness. 468

Trivia

• The name “Puji” is written as 噗叽 in the original text.
• Some intelligent Pujis are designated by numbers, such as Number One, Number Four, Number Nine, Number Ten, and Number Fourteen. 477 486 492 554
• Twelve arranges objects with extreme precision, including separating hay into two piles of exactly equal height before speaking to Julia. 547
• A Puji can carry weapons; Sword Saint Puji is distinguished by the four swords on its back. 556