Rael hit the ice floor in a controlled roll, absorbing the impact through his shoulders. The sound of his landing, drawing the attention of all three Ice Knights. Their featureless helmets.
"Hey, frozen fuckheads!" Rael called out, rising to a combat stance with the energy baton humming in his grip. "Pick on someone who isn''t already bleeding out."
The knight that had been about to deliver the killing blow hesitated, its ice-blade suspended mid-swing. The fallen exile—a woman, Rael now saw—lay motionless in a spreading pool of crimson that steamed against the cold floor.
[TACTICAL COMMAND ACTIVATED]
[AVAILABLE MANEUVERS: FLANK ATTACK, DEFENDER''S STANCE, TAUNT]
The interface appeared in his peripheral vision, oddly intuitive despite being completely new. Rael selected without hesitation.
[TAUNT SELECTED]
[TARGET: ALL ENEMIES]
[EFFECT: AGGRO GENERATION +200%]
[COOLDOWN: 30 SECONDS]
"That''s right," Rael continued, feeling the command take effect. "Fresh meat over here. Come get some."
All three knights abandoned the fallen woman, ice-armor creaking as they advanced on Rael. They moved with surprising fluidity for constructs made of frozen water, their weapons—a sword, an axe, and a spear—held with unmistakable skill.
"ARIA, tactical assessment?" Rael murmured, slowly circling to keep all three knights in view.
"Ice Knights appear to be training-level dungeon guardians. Physical structure suggests concentrated mass in the torso area—likely a core. Recommend targeting joint areas and head for maximum damage efficiency."
The knight with the spear lunged first, the ice-tipped weapon thrusting toward Rael''s chest with surgical precision. He pivoted, letting the spear slide past him before swinging the energy baton down onto the extended weapon shaft. The baton''s energy field collided with the ice, sending crystalline fragments flying as the spear fractured at the impact point.
[CRITICAL HIT: 28 DAMAGE]
[ICE KNIGHT SPEAR: WEAPON DAMAGED]
The knight staggered back, its damaged weapon significantly shorter. The sword-wielder attacked next, a horizontal slash aimed at Rael''s midsection. Rael ducked under the swing and delivered a counter-strike to the knight''s knee joint.
[HIT: 12 DAMAGE]
[ICE KNIGHT SWORD: MOBILITY REDUCED]
The third knight, wielding its axe two-handed, brought the weapon crashing down. Rael dodged, but not quickly enough—the edge caught his shoulder, tearing through the thermal bodysuit and into flesh beneath.
[HIT TAKEN: 15 DAMAGE]
[HEALTH: 45/100]
[BLEEDING EFFECT APPLIED: -1 HP/10 SECONDS]
Pain lanced through Rael''s left side, his arm momentarily numbing. He gritted his teeth, using the momentum of the blow to spin away into a defensive position.
"Commander, your vitals are spiking," ARIA warned. "Recommend using healing injector."
"Not yet," Rael grunted, assessing the three knights now spreading out to surround him. The formation left him exposed, vulnerable to attacks from multiple angles.
[FLANK ATTACK AVAILABLE]
Rael tapped into the tactical command, focusing on the knight with the damaged spear.
[FLANK ATTACK SELECTED]
[TARGET: ICE KNIGHT SPEAR]
[EFFECT: +100% DAMAGE, POSITIONING ADVANTAGE]
[COOLDOWN: 45 SECONDS]
Time seemed to slow as the command activated. Rael saw the pattern of movement required, the system highlighting the optimal attack vector through his target''s blind spot. He moved with sudden speed, feinting toward the sword-wielder before darting around behind the spear-knight.
The energy baton connected with the back of the knight''s helmet, the impact sending cracks spiderwebbing across its icy frame. A second strike to the same location shattered the helmet completely, revealing a pulsing blue core inside the otherwise hollow construct.
[CRITICAL HIT: 30 DAMAGE]
[WEAK POINT EXPOSED]
"ARIA, the cores—they''re control centers!"
"Confirmed, Commander. Destroying the core should neutralize the construct."
Rael thrust the baton directly into the exposed core. The energy field made contact with the glowing blue sphere, causing a reaction like water hitting superheated metal. The knight''s entire form convulsed, ice cracking along every seam before collapsing into a pile of frozen fragments.
[ENEMY DEFEATED: 25 XP GAINED]
[LEVEL PROGRESS: 25/100]
No time to celebrate. The remaining knights closed in, their attacks becoming more coordinated, as if adapting to the loss of their comrade. The sword-wielder feinted while the axe-knight swung for Rael''s legs.
Rael jumped the low attack but couldn''t avoid the sword that followed, the blade slicing across his chest. Only the thermal bodysuit prevented a fatal wound, the material hardening on impact to disperse some of the force.
[HIT TAKEN: 18 DAMAGE]
[HEALTH: 26/100]
[CRITICAL CONDITION WARNING]
Blood seeped through the torn bodysuit. Rael''s vision wavered, the chamber seeming to tilt around him. He fumbled for the healing injector in his pocket, nearly dropping it before pressing it against his thigh. The device hissed as it delivered its contents directly into his bloodstream.
[HEALING INJECTOR USED]
[HEALTH: 26/100 → 76/100]
[BLEEDING EFFECT REMOVED]
Warmth flooded Rael''s body as the pain receded. Whatever was in that injector, it worked fast. He tightened his grip on the baton and reassessed.
"Two left. Let''s even the odds."
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
The sword-knight lunged, its damaged leg causing a slight hesitation in its movement. Rael spotted the vulnerability and sidestepped, bringing his baton down onto the knight''s sword-arm with enough force to shatter it at the elbow. Ice fragments scattered across the floor as the construct stumbled off-balance.
Rael pressed the advantage, delivering a series of rapid strikes to the knight''s torso until the outer armor cracked enough to expose the core. One final thrust of the energy baton, and the second knight collapsed into frozen debris.
[ENEMY DEFEATED: 25 XP GAINED]
[LEVEL PROGRESS: 50/100]
The axe-knight, seemingly learning from its fallen companions, approached more cautiously. It held its weapon in a defensive position, ice armor thickening visibly around its torso—protecting the core.
"It''s adapting," ARIA observed. "Increasing defensive capabilities at the cost of mobility."
Rael circled the knight, looking for an opening. "Any weak points?"
"The adaptation appears to be drawing energy from extremities to reinforce the torso. Head and limbs should be more vulnerable."
[DEFENDER''S STANCE AVAILABLE]
Rael activated the command, feeling his posture shift into an optimal defensive position.
[DEFENDER''S STANCE SELECTED]
[EFFECT: DAMAGE REDUCTION 30%, COUNTER-ATTACK OPPORTUNITY ON BLOCKED HIT]
[DURATION: 10 SECONDS]
[COOLDOWN: 60 SECONDS]
"Come on," Rael taunted, deliberately leaving an opening in his guard. "Take your shot."
The knight took the bait, swinging its axe in a powerful overhead strike. Instead of dodging, Rael raised his baton horizontally, catching the axe handle just below the blade. The impact vibrated through his arms, but the defensive stance held.
[ATTACK BLOCKED]
[COUNTER-ATTACK OPPORTUNITY]
In one fluid motion, Rael twisted the baton, redirecting the axe''s momentum to the side while stepping inside the knight''s guard. With the construct momentarily off-balance, he struck at its neck—the thinnest point connecting the reinforced torso to the head.
The energy baton sheared through the ice, decapitating the knight in a single blow. The head crashed to the floor and shattered while the body remained standing for several seconds before collapsing.
[ENEMY DEFEATED: 25 XP GAINED]
[LEVEL PROGRESS: 75/100]
[FROST LABYRINTH: FIRST CHAMBER CLEARED]
Rael stood amid the scattered ice fragments, breathing heavily as the adrenaline ebbed. His body ached from exertion and injury, but the rush of combat—the way the tactical commands had enhanced his fighting ability—left him feeling almost euphoric.
"That was..." he began.
"Efficient," ARIA finished. "Your combat performance exceeded predicted parameters by 22%."
"I was going to say ''fun,'' but efficient works too." Rael turned his attention to the fallen exile. "Let''s check if she''s still alive."
The woman lay face-down in a pool of frozen blood. Her prison bodysuit was torn in multiple places, revealing deep lacerations beneath. Rael gently turned her over, finding a young face—mid-twenties perhaps—with sharp features and close-cropped black hair. Her skin had an unhealthy blue tinge from cold and blood loss.
Rael pressed fingers to her neck, feeling for a pulse. "She''s alive, but barely. ARIA, can I recruit unconscious people?"
"Affirmative, Commander. Recruitment does not require consent, though loyalty metrics may be affected upon awakening."
Rael frowned at that. Forcing someone into his "army" seemed ethically questionable at best. But leaving her to die wasn''t an option either.
[RECRUIT SOLDIERS]
[AVAILABLE TARGETS: 1]
[EXILE (UNCONSCIOUS) - RECRUITMENT COST: 0 COMMAND POINTS]
[RECRUIT? YES/NO]
"Yes," Rael decided. "She fought well enough to survive this long. That''s someone worth having on my side."
Blue light flowed from his hands into the woman''s body. Her most severe wounds began to close, the bleeding slowing to a stop. Her breathing strengthened as color returned to her face.
[RECRUITMENT SUCCESSFUL]
[UNIT ADDED: SERRA KAI (INFILTRATOR)]
[ARMY SIZE: 2/3]
[UNIT STATUS: CRITICALLY WOUNDED - REQUIRES MEDICAL ATTENTION]
"Serra Kai," Rael read from the status window. "Infiltrator class? That could be useful."
"Commander, her vital signs are stabilizing, but she requires additional medical treatment beyond what the recruitment process provided."
Rael looked around the chamber. Three passages led deeper into the dungeon, each identical to the others. "We need to find more supplies. Medical equipment, weapons, maybe even a proper base."
A soft groan came from the woman—Serra—as her eyes fluttered open. They were a startling amber color, alert despite her injuries.
"Who the fuck are you?" she rasped, immediately trying to push herself up. "And what did you do to me?"
"Easy," Rael said, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "You were about to become knight-chow. I stepped in."
Serra''s gaze darted around, taking in the scattered ice fragments and Rael''s blood-stained bodysuit. Her expression remained guarded, suspicious.
"You''re System-activated," she stated rather than asked. "I can feel it. You did something to me just now."
"I recruited you," Rael admitted. "It healed the worst of your injuries."
"Recruited?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "You mean you bound me to your service without asking? You Imperial piece of shit!"
Despite her weakened state, Serra''s hand moved with blinding speed, producing a small blade from somewhere in her torn bodysuit. She slashed at Rael''s face, missing by millimeters as he jerked back.
"I''m not Imperial!" Rael protested, raising his hands non-threateningly. "I''m an exile, same as you. The recruitment was the only way to save your life!"
Serra paused, blade still poised for another strike. "Prove it. Show me your prisoner collar marks."
Rael tilted his head, revealing the raw, reddened skin where the tracking collar had been. "Satisfied? I was dropped here to die, just like you. The difference is I got lucky with this Commander class."
Serra lowered the blade slightly, though wariness remained in her posture. "Commander class? Never heard of it."
"It''s new to me too. Apparently, I''m supposed to build an army. You''re my first human recruit."
"Your first?" Serra''s expression shifted to something calculating. "What''s my designation in your system?"
"Infiltrator," Rael replied. "Though I don''t know what that means yet."
A slight smile crossed Serra''s face. "It means I''m very good at getting into places I shouldn''t be and acquiring things that don''t belong to me. Advanced scout, spy, thief—pick your terminology."
She tucked the blade away, wincing as she shifted position. "I don''t appreciate being conscripted, but I''ll acknowledge you saved my life. For now, we have aligned interests."
A distant rumbling shook the chamber, ice dust falling from the ceiling.
"What was that?" Rael asked.
"The dungeon is evolving," Serra explained, struggling to her feet. "The longer we stay in one place, the more difficult it becomes. We need to keep moving."
"Can you walk?"
Serra gave him a flat look. "I''ve survived three days in this hellhole with nothing but a shiv. I can manage."
Rael respected her resilience, even if her attitude needed work. "ARIA, which passage is most likely to lead us to the core chamber?"
"Analyzing temperature variations and air currents... the rightmost passage appears to descend more steeply than the others."
"Downward it is," Rael decided, offering Serra his arm for support. She ignored it, taking a few testing steps on her own before nodding.
"Who''s ARIA?" she asked as they approached the passage.
"My other recruit. AI tactical specialist."
Serra snorted. "An army of two misfits and a talking computer. Very impressive, Commander."
As they entered the descending passage, the temperature dropped noticeably. The walls transitioned from clear blue ice to something darker, with strange patterns visible beneath the surface—almost like frozen circuitry.
"We''re getting closer to something important," Serra murmured. "The patterns change the deeper you go. This dungeon isn''t natural."
"None of this is natural," Rael replied. "The System, the thralls outside, these knights—something fundamental has changed about reality itself."
Serra gave him a sidelong glance. "And you plan to build an army to face it? Pretty ambitious for a disgraced Imperial officer."
"How did you—"
"Your stance, your speech patterns, the way you handled yourself in combat. Standard Imperial Fleet training." Serra shrugged. "Infiltrator, remember? I notice things."
The passage widened into another chamber, this one dominated by a frozen pool in its center. The liquid within wasn''t water—it was too viscous, too darkly blue, with occasional sparks of energy visible beneath its surface.
[MANA POOL DISCOVERED]
[FUNCTION: CLASS ENHANCEMENT, SKILL ACQUISITION]
"Well," Rael said, staring at the strange liquid. "This looks important."
Serra''s amber eyes gleamed with sudden interest. "Oh, it is. It definitely is."