Kael's senses had grown accustomed to the subtle shifts of energy across realms, but today the alerts came like a tidal wave crashing into his consciousness. One moment he was meditating in the shadowed ruins of a forgotten realm, reviewing the progress of Brown's undead legions; the next, his Ultimate Supreme System screamed at him in urgent bursts.
SYSTEM ALERT
Dungeon Emergence Detected – Location: REF Outskirts
Threat Level: Severe
Target: Mutated Goblin Horde & Warlord
Recommended Action: High Priority Intervention
Potential Reward: High EXP, Skill Acquisition Opportunity
Kael's eyes snapped open. His hand instinctively brushed against the hilt of his mana-infused sword. He rose, the aura of his Domain Protector class flaring around him, almost suffocating in its sheer intensity. The ambient light of the ruined realm warped around him as the system's energy coursed into his body.
PERSONAL STATS WINDOW
[ STATS WINDOW ]
NAME: Kael
CLASS: Domain Protector
RANK: Unique
STRENGTH: 425
SPEED: 310
EXP: 48,750
MANA: 2,150
HP: 4,600
TITLE: Domain Protector
STORAGE: Infinite
SKILLS: Mana Blade Extension, Element Slash, Arcane Sword Dance, Spell Parry, Dual Mana Burst, Void Edge, Sword Aura Field, Limit Breaker, Identify, Item Sub-space, Copy, Domain Domination, Tamer Park
INTELLIGENCE: Supreme
The system's notifications continued to ping, each a sharp needle of urgency. Kael's mind raced. "Mutated goblins… REF… Level 78 Warlord… severe threat… Hidden danger…" He recited the alerts silently, already calculating tactical responses.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. Finally, something worthy.
Kael extended his senses across the veil of worlds, reaching for Brown. His undead general responded immediately, a legion of shadowy figures rising from the ground like black waves. Forty Death Knights, forty Shadow Mages, and a hundred Skeleton Warriors—each responsive to Kael's precise mental commands. The liche's presence radiated a cold, strategic intelligence as it coordinated the legions for rapid deployment.
SYSTEM ALERT
Brown's Legions Ready – All Units Deployed
Targeting REF Outskirts Dungeon Emergence
Suggested Strategy: Divide and Contain; Minimize Civilian Casualties; Prioritize Warlord
Kael's mind flickered to Ember, sensing her holy aura amid the chaos. The knight was holding her own, but alone she would not survive the full force of the mutated horde. He activated Tamer Park, opening a spatial pocket around the immediate battlefield. Out of this unseen dimension, Brown's legions began materializing, appearing simultaneously in multiple alleys and streets.
MONSTER STATS
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ALERT ]
IDENTIFY: Mutated Goblin Warlord
LEVELS: 78
STRENGTH: Extreme
SPEED: High
RANK: Boss
ITEM DROP: Warlord's Fang, Rare Mana Crystal, Dungeon Key Fragment
EXP: 4,500
SKILLS: Berserk Fury, Venomous Strike, Corrupt Aura
WEAKNESS: Light and Holy Magic
SYSTEM REWARDS: EXP ×3, Rank Upgrade if defeated efficiently
Kael's fingers brushed the hilt of his sword. He could feel the dungeon's influence spreading like ink through water, corrupting not only the goblins but the very streets of REF. Every building, every stone vibrated with residual energy. He needed control, and fast.
"Deploy Shadow Mages on the rooftops," he commanded mentally, "Death Knights engage directly. Skeleton Warriors flank. Maintain spacing, use Ember as a focal point, she's drawing aggro correctly."
Within moments, the undead obeyed. Shadow Mages perched above, hurling spectral bolts that intercepted goblins attempting to flee or regroup. Death Knights collided with the Warlord, their massive swords piercing corrupted armor, forcing it to stagger. Skeleton Warriors moved with uncanny precision, cutting off escape routes and herding smaller goblins toward zones where Ember's radiant attacks could eliminate them efficiently.
Kael focused on the Warlord. Identify activated automatically, pulling every detail the system could offer.
MONSTER STATS
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ALERT ]
IDENTIFY: Mutated Goblin Warlord – Target Confirmed
LEVELS: 78
STRENGTH: Extreme
SPEED: High
RANK: Boss
ITEM DROP: Warlord's Fang, Rare Mana Crystal, Dungeon Key Fragment
EXP: 4,500
SKILLS: Berserk Fury, Venomous Strike, Corrupt Aura
WEAKNESS: Light and Holy Magic
SYSTEM REWARDS: EXP ×3, Rank Upgrade if defeated efficiently
The Warlord's Corrupt Aura began to expand, knocking several Skeleton Warriors off their feet. Kael frowned, channeling Mana Blade Extension. His sword lengthened, flowing with raw mana, slicing through multiple goblins in a single swing. The spectral energy connected with Ember's holy light, creating a dazzling fusion that burned corrupted flesh and dispelled minor magical contaminations from the surroundings.
He then activated Dual Mana Burst, combining ice and shadow elements to restrain the Warlord's movements temporarily. The monster howled, slamming its fists into the ground. The tremor cracked pavement, sending debris flying, yet Kael stood unfazed.
SYSTEM ALERT
Hidden Threat Escalation Detected
Dungeon Influence Rising – Potential Abyssal Corruption
Kael's eyes narrowed. A pulse of darkness emanated from the center of the battle, a subtle distortion that indicated the dungeon itself was aware of him. He didn't panic. Instead, he tapped into Domain Domination, subtly influencing the battlefield's flow. The Shadow Mages moved more efficiently, Death Knights intercepted attacks preemptively, and Ember's strikes landed with even greater precision.
Brown's voice echoed mentally: Master, this dungeon is more aggressive than predicted. Recommend containment strategies only, avoid prolonged exposure.
Kael nodded internally. Acknowledged. Prioritize boss. Keep civilians safe. Full containment if possible.
With precise timing, Kael combined Arcane Sword Dance with Spell Parry, deflecting a poisoned swipe from the Warlord and countering with a spinning strike that cleaved through its arm. Ember seized the opportunity, channeling Oathbound Charge, ramming into the Warlord with her holy energy reinforcing the attack.
The Warlord shrieked, staggering backward, and for a brief moment, Kael allowed a small smile. This was exactly the kind of combat he craved—real-time strategic execution across multiple forces, terrain manipulation, skill synergy, and system-driven precision.
Yet, he couldn't ignore the creeping dread: the dungeon's influence had only begun. The Hidden Threat had not revealed itself fully. Somewhere, in the shadows between realms, a greater danger waited—watching, feeding, and preparing for its moment to strike.
Kael glanced across the battlefield, calculating the next moves. "Brown, maintain formation. Shadow Mages intercept any reinforcements from the north alley. Skeleton Warriors hold the flanks. Ember, focus on the Warlord's weak points. I'll handle its core."
As he activated Void Edge, phasing through the corrupted armor to strike directly at the Warlord's chest, the monster's corrupted energy flared violently. System alerts blared in Kael's mind, feeding him real-time feedback on damage, weaknesses exploited, and potential loot drops.
SYSTEM ALERT
Warlord Weakness Confirmed – Light and Holy Damage Amplified by 250%
Skill Copy Potential Detected: Poisoned Claw & Corrupt Aura
Kael's grin widened. Soon, he would not only defeat this Warlord, he would copy its abilities, adding its powers to his already formidable arsenal. But for now, he focused on containment, synchronization, and keeping the battle under control—a symphony of strategy, power, and precision unfolding across REF's streets.
And somewhere above, in the twisting shadows of the city, the dungeon pulsed. It had noticed him. And Kael knew, without a doubt, that this was only the beginning.