With my goal clear, there was no reason to hesitate. The tower stood before me, an imposing presence on the horizon. Something inside me called me there. Perhaps it was instinct, perhaps a force I had yet to understand. But I couldn''t ignore it.


    I adjusted my spear in my hand and moved forward, attentive to the path. The terrain was rugged, covered in dry vegetation and scattered rocks. As I advanced, more putrid rats crossed my path. But now, they were just a passing nuisance. My strikes were faster, my battle efficiency had improved. They barely had a chance to react before being eliminated. Each fight made me feel more agile, more prepared.


    But then, when I had already traveled half the way, something different appeared.


    At first, I thought it was another rat, but a distinct sound echoed through the air: metal scraping against stone.


    My hollow eyes fixed on the figure emerging from the shadows.


    Another skeleton.


    It looked like me, but carried no traces of clothing or equipment, only a worn-out shield and a rusty sword. Its posture was erratic, but its empty eyes seemed locked onto me.


    I could have avoided the encounter, but I decided to face it. I kept a firm step, not hiding my presence, prepared to react to any hostile movement.


    As soon as it saw me, it attacked without hesitation. Its sword cut through the air, a direct and brute strike.


    My instincts kicked in. I raised my spear and intercepted the attack. The impact of metal echoed through the dry field.


    Its attack was strong but predictable. With each exchanged blow, I realized the big difference between us.


    I thought. It didn’t.


    Its attacks were repetitive, without strategy. It didn’t dodge, didn’t vary its movements. It was like the rats, attacking purely on instinct.


    I took advantage of that.


    With a precise spin of my spear, I struck its sword, disarming it. The skeleton staggered backward, vulnerable. Without giving it space to recover, I knocked it down and attacked.


    My spear pierced its chest. But it still moved.


    "So, piercings aren’t effective..."


    I gripped my spear tightly and aimed directly at the skull.


    With a strong and precise strike, I pierced its head. Its body trembled for a moment before crumbling into dust.


    A notification appeared before me:


    [You have defeated: Skeleton.]


    [Experience acquired.]


    [You leveled up.]


    A slight tingling sensation ran through my body. Level 3.


    I picked up the loot—another green crystal, slightly larger than the previous ones. I still didn’t know what they were for, but something told me they were important.


    I moved forward.


    As I advanced, I spotted other skeletons in the distance.


    But something was wrong.


    They weren’t fighting each other.


    On the contrary, they wandered in pairs and trios, moving in sync. If they were like the one I had just defeated, they shouldn’t have enough intelligence to act in groups.


    But there they were, moving together as if following an invisible command.


    That worried me.


    "If one was already a balanced challenge... facing two or three at the same time could be a problem."


    I would need a strategy.


    If I wanted to face them, I would have to use the terrain to my advantage. Separate them, create opportunities for quick and precise attacks.


    For now, I kept my distance. The goal was still the tower.


    And it was getting closer and closer.


    As I approached, the calling intensified.


    It was as if something inside me was reacting to the presence of that ancient structure.


    The tower was immense, made of dark stones covered in moss. Its cracks revealed its age, a relic forgotten by time.


    But up close, I noticed something unsettling.


    Its presence was suffocating.


    There was power inside. Something dormant, waiting.


    I circled the structure cautiously. I needed to understand what awaited me before entering. Then I found the entrance.


    It was a stone arch adorned with ancient runes. The passage opened into darkness, a corridor deep as an endless abyss.


    I took a step forward.


    The moment I crossed the entrance, a new notification appeared.


    [You have entered a Dungeon.]


    My hollow eyes widened.


    So that was it...


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    This tower wasn’t just an abandoned ruin.