After solving the second-floor puzzle, the chest appeared before me in a magical glow. Even before opening it, a notification popped up before my empty eyes:
[Skill Upgraded : Mana Manipulation.]
A slight satisfaction grew within me. I had already noticed that manipulating mana during meditation accelerated my regeneration, and now the system acknowledged my progress. This meant I was improving not only physically but also in my control over magical energy.
I turned my attention to the chest and slowly opened it. Inside, a pair of lightweight metal gauntlets rested.
Their surface was dark, engraved with subtle arcane inscriptions that faintly glowed. As soon as I picked them up, I felt a flow of mana emanating from them.
"This equipment is enchanted."
Without hesitation, I put the gauntlets on.
The moment I equipped them, a tingling sensation ran through my arms. My connection to mana became clearer, more natural.
I tested my Magic Missile and immediately noticed: the mana cost had been slightly reduced.
It wasn’t an absurd improvement, but it was noticeable. With this, I could cast more spells before exhausting my reserves.
Satisfied with my new acquisition, I proceeded to the third floor.
As soon as I climbed the stairs, I noticed an immediate and drastic change.
The atmosphere became more oppressive.
The walls seemed narrower, the shadows denser. The very air was thick with malevolent energy.
The message was clear: the dungeon’s difficulty had increased.
I walked slowly, keeping my senses sharp.
Then, I entered a massive hall.
Before me, the ground was littered with ancient corpses fallen warriors, skeletons still gripping their rusted weapons.
At the far end of the hall, a massive door stood sealed with arcane markings.
"This is definitely a trap."
And as if to confirm my suspicion, the bodies began to move.
Skulls lifted. Bones realigned. Armor groaned as the dead returned to "life."
Armed skeletons emerged in droves some wielding basic weapons, while others carried sturdier swords and armor.
I could defeat them… but something was wrong.
As soon as I cut down the first group, they simply stood back up.
"So that’s how this room works. They just keep coming back."
Looking around, I noticed the arcane seal on the door.
Necromancy.
That meant someone or something was sustaining this resurrection magic.
I kept fighting, cutting down more and more skeletons, until I noticed a pattern.
The enemies weren’t just rising randomly. They resurrected in a specific rhythm.
Every few seconds, necromantic energy flowed across the floor, reanimating the fallen.
I followed the mana flow until I found a hidden rune among the remains of a fallen warrior.
"This is the source."
Without hesitation, I channeled Magic Missile and fired directly at the rune.
On impact, a pulse of dark energy surged through the hall, and all the skeletons collapsed at once.
The room fell silent.
I had won.
The sealed door slowly opened.
Before leaving, I picked up the shattered necromantic rune.
It still radiated a faint energy.
"This might be useful later."
With that, I continued exploring the dungeon.
The corridors grew even darker, and the malevolent presence intensified with each step.
Something was waiting for me.
I arrived at a vast circular chamber.
And there, at the center of the room, it was waiting.
A floating black armor wielding a spectral longsword.
The Phantom Knight.
The mere presence of this entity brought an invisible pressure to the room.
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There was no body inside the armor only a blue-green glow emanated from the empty helmet.
The air turned cold.
It moved.
The Phantom Knight wasted no time.
In an instant, it lunged toward me, its sword flickering through the air.
"Fast!"
I tried to dodge, but its movement blurred through space.
A sharp pain pierced my chest.
I looked down and saw a translucent mark where its sword had struck.
Soul Cut.
The attack ignored armor and struck directly at the target’s essence.
That meant my physical resistance was useless.
"If I don’t find a way to counter this, I’m dead."
I stepped back, gripping my spear tightly.
The Phantom Knight vanished again.
But this time, I was ready.
I focused and fired a Magic Missile the exact moment it reappeared.
The projectile exploded against its chestplate.
It staggered slightly a sign that magic worked against it.
"So that’s how I defeat it."
I used my mana to fire Magic Missiles in quick succession, forcing it to keep its distance.
But it wasn’t just a strong enemy it was intelligent.
Sensing my attack pattern, it used its Phantom Charge to quickly circle around me.
Before I realized it, I was being forced against a wall.
It raised its sword for a final blow.
"Now."
Instead of retreating, I advanced.
I dodged at the last second and used my spear to push it against the wall.
The ghostly armor triggered one of the room’s traps.
Energy lances shot up from the ground, piercing its mana-based body.
It screamed in fury, struggling.
I didn’t waste time.
I charged my final attack.
"Magic Missile!"
The projectile fired, striking its empty helmet.
The glow within its helmet slowly faded… and the armor fell to the ground, empty.
The room fell silent.
The oppressive pressure vanished.
I had won.
Suddenly, system notifications flooded my vision.
[You level up.]
[You level up.]
[Level 5.]
[Level 6.]
[New Skill Acquired: Inspection.]
Inspection: Allows analyzing creatures, objects, and magic. The greater the level difference between David and the target, the fewer details can be seen.
[New Skill Acquired: Necrotic Touch (Active).]
Necrotic Touch: A sinister ability allowing David to channel necromantic energy through his touch. Depending on the type of target, the effect varies.
Once I regained my bearings, I was thrilled with my new rewards and eager to test them out.
But first, I had to defeat the boss.
The door at the end of the room slowly opened, revealing the entrance to the final boss chamber.
The ultimate challenge of the third floor stood before me.
And I was ready to face it.
The door creaked open, revealing a vast circular hall.
The floor was polished stone, covered in scars from ancient battles, as if countless warriors had perished here.
At the far end, atop a throne of time-worn bones, a towering figure waited patiently.
I used Inspection but it only showed the name. That meant he was far too strong.
[The Unholy Commander.]
Even seated, his presence exuded authority and absolute control.
His blackened, corroded armor bore signs of long-forgotten wars. A faded emblem on his chest suggested that, in life, he had been a feared leader. Now, even in death, his influence persisted.
His hollow eyes glowed faintly as he gazed at me.
He did not move immediately. Instead, he raised his hand, and in that instant, metallic echoes filled the room.
This wasn’t a direct battle. He wouldn’t fight alone.
I was facing an army.
The moment he lifted his hand, armored skeletons emerged from the shadows.
Skeleton Knights, clad in ancient steel plates, each wielding heavy swords and impenetrable shields.
Behind them, Spectral Archers, their translucent figures gripping shadowy bows glowing with necromantic energy.
This was a full-scale battlefield.
"Damn. He’s not messing around."
The first arrow sliced through the air.
I barely dodged in time. Before I could recover, the knights were already upon me.
The fight had begun.
The first strike came from a skeletal knight, his sword descending toward my head.
I swung my spear horizontally, parrying the attack with a deafening metallic clang.
At that moment, another enemy lunged from the side.
There was no time to dodge.
I raised my newly acquired gauntlet and blocked the blow with my forearm. The force of the impact made my bones vibrate.
I needed to counterattack.
I spun my spear in a sweeping arc, aiming for the joints of one of the knights'' armor.
The spear’s blade slid across the steel and found a gap under the armpit.
With a strong thrust, I pierced through his lifeless body and sent him flying backward.
But before I could continue, the archers fired again.
This time, I was hit.
A spectral arrow embedded itself in my shoulder, sending a cold, numbing sensation throughout my entire body.
"Damn it. If this keeps up, they''ll kill me."
Looking at the Commander, I noticed something.
He wasn’t just waiting.
He was directing the battle, giving orders to his soldiers like a strategist in the midst of war.
"So that''s it... He''s not just a warrior. He''s a real commander."
If I wanted to win this fight, I needed to dismantle his forces little by little.
I had to take out the archers first.
I quickly channeled my mana.
"Magic Missile!"
Two blue projectiles shot from my palm, striking the spectral archers.
The first was destroyed on impact. The second was forced to retreat, giving me space to advance.
But the knights wouldn’t let up.
Two of them surrounded me again.
Feigning a frontal attack, I took a step back at the last moment.
The two knights lunged together, and without balance, they crashed into each other.
I seized the opportunity.
With a spinning strike, my spear pierced through the joint of the first knight''s helmet, and with a second thrust, I impaled the skull of the other.
Both collapsed in a cloud of dust and bones.
That left only two archers and three more knights.
The Profane Commander didn’t seem troubled.
On the contrary… he was studying my fight.
As soon as the last archer was destroyed, something changed.
The Profane Commander rose from his throne.
His presence intensified.
The dark aura around him expanded violently, making the remaining skeletons roar with newfound strength.
He was sacrificing his own energy to strengthen them.
The remaining knights became faster, more aggressive.
I could no longer afford to wait.
If I didn’t finish this fight now, I’d run out of mana before reaching him.
I took down the last knight with a precise strike to the spine.
Now, only he remained.
The Profane Commander slowly raised his sword and pointed it at me.
At that moment, I felt a crushing force invade my mind.
It was as if invisible tentacles were trying to wrap around my thoughts, dragging me into darkness.
He was trying to dominate me.
Control Aura.
"You are inferior."
His voice echoed inside my head, reverberating with overwhelming weight.
My vision darkened for a moment.
My body froze.
My very being was starting to be dragged into his will.
The sensation was suffocating.
If I gave in… I would become just another of his soldiers.
But…
I am not just any undead.
I am no one’s slave!!!
And no one controls my mind.
With all the strength of my will, I resisted.
Slowly, I broke free from his hold.
The connection shattered, and the glow in the Commander’s eyes flickered for a moment.
That was enough.
With all my remaining mana, I fired one last Magic Missile.
The blue sphere shot straight into his chest.
The impact was devastating.
His armor cracked.
His body trembled.
He tried to raise his sword once more…
But I was already upon him.
With one final strike, my spear pierced through his armor and impaled his spectral core.
The entire hall trembled.
The light in his eyes faded.
His body crumbled into dust and steel.
Silence filled the room.
I stood there, motionless for a few seconds, feeling the weight of the battle.
I looked at my body. I was in ruins.
But I had won.
Before me, where the Commander had fallen, a magical chest began to take shape.