Linden

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Linden (林珺 / Lin Jun)
Alias(es)	Boss; Fungal Lord
Species/Race	Sentient fungus; later operates through Puji and Mushroom Man bodies
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Mushroom Garden; Fungal Fortress
Occupation/Role	Fungal Lord; commander and creator of Pujis
Status	Active

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
LV60	272	Reaches level 60 through sunlight exposure and management of the expanding Fungal Carpet.
LV69	515	Approaches Lord-level after the decomposition of corpses from the Three Mountains City campaign; gains the titles Weapon Master and All-Element Mastery.
LV70	620	Reaches Lord-level and receives a new skill-selection opportunity.
LV77	806	Gains four levels at once, from LV73 to LV77, after Kees is defeated and decomposed.

Background

Linden initially survives by maneuvering between monsters and adventurers within the Dungeon. He uses Pujis created through his skills as familiars, scouts, combat units, and extensions of his will, while relying on the Fungal Carpet and Mycelium Network to expand his perception and influence. 69 157

He gradually develops the Mushroom Garden from a hidden dungeon force into a wider organization with controlled Pujis, modified subordinates, settlements, military forces, and Fungal Fortress. His expansion is driven by a mixture of survival, experimentation, resource acquisition, and a desire to understand the world beyond the Dungeon. 220 414 620

Linden eventually reveals himself to human leadership as the Fungal Lord “Boss,” judging that his forces are secure enough that secrecy is no longer necessary. 811

Later discoveries lead him to question his own origin. He learns of the Shared Dream project, suspects that he is a patched-together soul, and concludes that the Self-Study Phenomenon occurs when an individual's soul reconnects with a corresponding fragment in his Soul Sea. 875 896

Appearance

Linden's main body is a Cyan Mushroom. He can act through Puji bodies and can transform into a humanoid Mushroom Man form. 457 811 884

• A mushroom cap is repeatedly described as part of his visible form. 782 875
• His Mushroom Man form has a human-like torso and limbs with a mushroom head. 280
• He can use Knight Pujis and other familiars to transport or represent his main body. 69 241

Personality

Linden is cautious, curious, and highly strategic. He prefers indirect control, gathering intelligence through scouts, mycelium, subordinates, and experiments before committing his main body or forces. 159 194 528

He is also pragmatic to the point of ruthlessness. Linden uses captives as test subjects, manipulates allies when useful, and treats dangerous beings such as the Yellow Book as tools to be restrained, punished, or repurposed. 194 235 457 623

Despite this, he values capable subordinates and invests resources in those who prove useful, including Norris, Eiding, and the wider Puji forces. 202 273 548

Abilities & Skills

Fungal Carpet and Mycelium Network

Linden spreads fungal growth across the Dungeon and beyond, using it to generate magic, extend his senses, communicate, and coordinate forces.

• Absorbs sunlight through the Fungal Carpet for magic generation. 241 272
• Expands his field of vision across areas occupied by the Carpet. 158
• Uses the Mycelium Network for remote communication and command. 140 194
• Mycelium Network LV8 unlocks Vision Sharing. 343
• Can perceive emotions more clearly from Self-Study Phenomenon patients than from ordinary Fungal Citizens. 834

Puji Creation and Familiar Control

Linden creates, modifies, and remotely controls Pujis, using them as scouts, soldiers, workers, and vessels.

• His familiars' attributes cannot exceed Linden's own level. 69
• Can load combinations of skills into Pujis and allow Puji Masters to develop their applications. 324
• Gains the Familiar Creator achievement, allowing rapid Puji creation, though its use has a five-day cooldown. 414
• Can use the Sun Stone to place souls into Puji bodies. 519
• Revives Marshal Puji, Cave Four, and the Sword Saint in mushroom bodies. 642

Greed of the Seven Sins

Linden's Greed allows him to plunder skills from decomposed targets.

• Acquires skills including Precision, Archery Mastery, Wind Magic, and Common Human Tongue from Gnolls and a mage. 22
• Can obtain languages and magic-related skills through Plunder. 22 292
• Uses Plundered skills to build an extensive skill library. 324
• Cannot rely on Greed alone to rapidly raise certain combat-technique skills. 324
• Envy, another Sin-related power, can impose costs such as randomly losing skill levels. 806

Mental Integration

Linden can directly control and enhance large numbers of Pujis.

• Mental Integration LV7 is tested by placing it on Norris after his modification. 202
• Mental Integration LV8 doubles his direct-control limit to 5,000 Pujis. 306

Inspiration and Soul Research

Linden uses Inspiration to perceive and investigate souls.

• Develops Inspiration rapidly through extensive decomposition and reaches LV3 shortly after regaining access to the surface. 241
• Distinguishes between monsters that leave soul cores and those whose souls dissipate. 241
• Uses Inspiration together with Soul Touch to remove the Mark of Vengeance from his own soul. 642
• Determines that the world consists fundamentally of data, souls, and magic/Mist. 883

Soul Touch

Soul Touch permits Linden to affect souls directly.

• Chooses Soul Touch LV1 upon reaching LV70. 622
• Covers Norris's soul for protection during an initial test. 623
• Successfully destroys a captive D-Rank individual's soul, killing them. 623
• Initially considers the skill insufficient to threaten the Sacred Tree Dungeon's boss. 623

Magic and Formations

Linden studies magic, arrays, Abyss magic, and divine artifacts to compensate for gaps in his natural abilities.

• Creates his first spell-casting Puji with an Illumination Art formation. 140
• Recognizes formations as expensive but useful for supplementing weaknesses such as teleportation. 140
• Learns low-level spells from magic books, with Mud Swamp Art being his most practiced spell. 247
• Gains Abyss Magic LV4 and intends to experiment with it. 371
• Studies the Book of Miracles, which includes ritual construction and Abyss Beast summoning methods. 548

Life Essence

Linden produces a transparent liquid from his Cyan Mushroom cap that appears to be pure life energy.

• The liquid heals, boosts attributes, and grants experience. 457
• Uses a captive to test its effects. 457
• The test subject becomes a Mushroom Guard after drinking it and fighting off captors. 457
• Linden intends to use Life Essence to accelerate his own leveling. 457

Equipment and Artifacts

• Sun Stone — Divine artifact that converts sunlight through Photosynthesis into large amounts of mana; its complete form greatly improves magic production. 76 220
• Thirst-Seeking Wood Core / Life-Seeking Wood Core — Divine wood-related artifact retrieved from the elven battlefield and hidden in an Abyss Space beneath the Divine Tree. 392
• Book of Miracles — Contains knowledge of rituals and Abyss Beast summoning. 548
• Scepter of the Ocean — Obtained following Kees's defeat. 806
• Binding Ring — Repaired for use against the Frost Elemental Lord, though its attempted sealing operation fails. 627

Relationships

• Dylan — Early associate and subordinate; Linden accompanies him through a Familiar and later worries about his safety. 69 157 241
• Norris — Modified subordinate and frequent test subject; Linden strengthens him repeatedly and later deliberately connects his soul through the Self-Study Phenomenon. 202 548 896
• Inanna St. Clair — Duke's daughter and valuable ally; Linden leverages her status, resources, and sympathy while cooperating with her on dungeon-related matters. 194 273 397
• Eiding — Reliable intelligence operative within the Adventurer Guild; Linden rewards his efficiency and uses his reports for skill research and external information. 236 273
• Yellow Book — Dangerous sentient magic item held under Linden's control; repeatedly punished for deception, disobedience, and its Demon King-related agenda. 58 158 235
• Little Black — Dragon-associated subordinate and companion to Norris; assists in exploration and is trusted with dangerous mobility-based missions. 642 895 896
• Sword Saint Elwin — Initially observed as a powerful outsider; later resurrected as a Puji and cooperates with Linden. 106 642 811
• Sirian / Divine Tree — Tense bargaining counterpart; Linden secures coordinates and Magic Arrays for an independent Abyss Space fragment in exchange for helping locate Vera. 563
• Kees — Major adversary whose defeat grants Linden immense experience, skills, and the Scepter of the Ocean. 806

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dungeon Expansion

Linden establishes fungal surveillance outside the Dungeon, investigates Cave Dwellers, reclaims his old Mushroom Garden, and develops the Pujis into a growing organized force. 134 159 202

Conflict with the Adventurer Guild

When Chairman Fahr threatens the Pujis, Linden uses Inanna and a Gem Dagger capable of controlling monsters to create the appearance that Pujis are controllable, buying time for his own plans. 194

Surface Expansion

After gaining security and access to the surface, Linden expands the Fungal Carpet, harvests sunlight, seals major rifts, and extends his influence through the Dungeon's upper floors. 241

Fungal Fortress

Linden oversees the development of Mycelium Puji Fortress/Fungal Fortress, expands its defenses, gathers specialists, and prepares for threats from surrounding tribes and the Empire. 414 548 572

Soul and Ark Investigation

Linden investigates the Seat of Navigation, the Shared Dream project, and the Ark's soul-powered core. These discoveries cause him to question his memories, identity, and possible connection to the gods. 875 883 884

Self-Study Phenomenon

Linden studies the connection between Fungal Citizens and his Soul Sea, eventually learning to induce soul reconnections for core subordinates such as Norris. 834 896

Trivia

• Linden cannot taste food, despite acquiring or encountering skills such as Delicious. 134
• He initially finds prolonged surface sunlight uncomfortable despite possessing High Temperature Resistance, attributing the discomfort to racial instinct. 241
• He considers the Yellow Book too dangerous to entrust to Dylan, partly because the book knows many languages and may be able to charm others. 58
• Linden's first direct contact with humans as “Boss” occurs only after he decides there is no longer any need to hide his identity. 811