The morning sun pierced through the thin forest canopy, casting dappled golden light across the damp earth. Birds chirped in cautious melody, sensing the unnatural presence lingering in the woods. For Kaelen, the tranquility outside his hut was a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside him.
The encounter last night had awakened more than just a sense of danger—it had stirred the deeper instincts of survival and conquest. The taste of battle, even in trial form, had been enough to show Kaelen a sliver of the future. He needed to grow, faster and smarter.
But growth came at a price.
The Tier-C core he'd gained sat on the pedestal before him. Its dark luster pulsed with complex energy—he could feel something within it, whispering, tempting, calling.
"This one is different," Kaelen murmured, brushing his fingers over its uneven surface. "It's more than just power… it's an invitation."
As if answering, the System pulsed.
System Notification
New Summoning Skill Unlocked:🔹 Pharaoh's Tomb [Tier 1 - Evolutionary]— A divine Necromantic Domain Skill— Stores the souls and bodies of the dead or near death— Souls can be converted into various undead or monstrous species based on sacrificial materials— Evolution: Increases capacity, conversion rate, and control range— Named Creatures can be formed from unique soul-material combinations🔸 Current Storage Capacity: 5 Souls🔸 Sacrifice Conversion Options: Bone, Shadow Dust, Monster Cores, Elemental Residue
Kaelen's hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the weight of what he'd just received.
This wasn't simply a combat skill. It was an entire realm of power. A Necromancer's legacy… no, a Sovereign's Forge. The tomb could become a sanctuary, an arsenal, a prison, or a fortress, depending on how he shaped it.
"Pharaoh's Tomb," he whispered. And as he did, the very space around him shifted.
The candlelight dimmed. The wind outside stopped.
A faint whisper echoed from the air.
"Claim what lies below…"
Kaelen blinked. The System hadn't spoken this time.
"Below?" he murmured, eyes narrowing.
He remembered the abandoned crypt mentioned in passing by an old villager when he'd first arrived. It was said to be sealed beneath the outskirts of the forest—a forgotten tomb of warriors who once defended the northern provinces centuries ago. Rumors called it cursed. But Kaelen now suspected otherwise.
"A whisper from the System itself... no, something tied to it."
He couldn't ignore it. This was how legends started: a path unwalked, lit by echoes.
[Location Update: Whispering Vault – Hidden Dungeon Discovered]
🔸 Dungeon Type: Soulbound Crypt🔸 Restriction: Only Necromancer Class Users🔸 Entry Requirement: At least 1 Named Creature🔸 Danger Level: Moderate to High🔸 Potential Rewards: Soul Fragments, Relics of Binding, Unknown Summon Contracts
"We're going," Kaelen said aloud.
Bahlor, already at his side as if sensing his master's intent, nodded once—his violet eyes flaring brightly.
They set out immediately. It took them two hours of traversing through tangled brush and shadowy roots before they found it.
The entrance was subtle, almost hidden. A half-buried stone slab, cracked with age, sat in the side of a hill. Vines covered its surface, but the etchings beneath the moss revealed an archaic glyph—an open eye within a coiled serpent.
"Ancient Runeblood insignia," Kaelen whispered. "This tomb isn't just any grave… it was royal."
With a pulse of mana, he activated Pharaoh's Tomb. The glyph responded—glowing faint gold before receding into the stone. A low rumble shook the forest floor as the slab shifted, revealing a dark staircase that spiraled downward.
They descended.
The air grew thick with old magic. Dust and death lingered like old perfumes.
Torches on the wall flickered to life as Kaelen passed, responding to the presence of the Pharaoh's aura.
Click.
They stepped onto black marble, etched with worn depictions of kings, beasts, and battles fought in forgotten times.
Suddenly—
Dungeon Initiated: Whispering Vault
— Objective: Locate the Throne of Rest— Sub-Objective: Absorb at least 3 Soul Fragments— Hidden Objective: ???— Time Limit: None
A group of skeletal warriors rose from the shadows at the hall's far end. Their armor was broken, but their coordination was not.
"They're bound to the Vault," Kaelen muttered. "Guardians."
"Bahlor—draw their attention."
The named creature roared, activating Vanguard Taunt, charging into the formation with shield raised.
Kaelen flanked left, commanding two skeletal archers to pin down enemy flankers. He drew mana into his hand, activating Dark Arrow — the upgraded form now pulsing with corrupted essence from the Pharaoh's Tomb domain.
One by one, the guardians fell.
But they didn't fade. Instead, dark mist rose from their broken forms—glowing Soul Fragments.
Kaelen instinctively raised his hand, absorbing them into Pharaoh's Tomb.
Soul Fragments Acquired: 3
🔹 Analysis: Ancient Warrior Tier🔹 Potential Conversion:— Bone Warden— Shadow Blade— Revenant Beast (requires Shadow Beast Core)🔸 Named Evolution Path Available (Locked)
"So this is how I expand the Tomb," Kaelen muttered, breath quickening. "Each soul, a path. Each death, a chance to grow stronger."
They continued deeper.
Eventually, they reached the Throne of Rest—a massive obsidian seat surrounded by skeletal remains and twisted relics.
Kaelen placed his palm on the armrest.
The moment he did—
Whaaaaaooooommm...
A massive influx of information surged through his mind. History. Wars. Betrayal. Loyalty. Kings who sacrificed their humanity to preserve their will in death.
And then—**
The Pharaoh's Message**:
"You who claim my throne… forge not armies of decay, but legacies of devotion. Let your creatures be more than pawns. Let them rise."
Named Summon Slot Unlocked:
🔹 Category: Spectral Beast🔸 Requirements Met: 3 Soul Fragments + Beast Core🔸 Material Bonus: None (Randomized Trait Application Enabled)🔸 Summon Initiate?
Kaelen exhaled. He had the Beast Core stored from a direhound he'd felled days ago.
"Do it."
The Tomb glowed behind him, and the fragments flew into its center. The Beast Core followed—and for a moment, silence reigned.
Then, light exploded outward. A glowing spectral form emerged—canine in shape, massive, sleek, and flickering between states of material and immaterial.
Named Creature Summoned:
Nyxa, the Twilight Fang🔹 Class: Phantom Direhound🔹 Special Traits:— Phase Shift (Can become intangible briefly)— Howl of Dread (Reduces enemy morale and mana regen)— Shadow Step (Short-range teleport in shadows)🔸 Loyalty: Bound to Pharaoh's Tomb🔸 Unique Trait: Can summon Shade Hounds (weaker phantoms) during battle for Kaelen's defense
Kaelen stared in awe as Nyxa padded beside him, eyes glowing silver.
"A beast of shadows," he whispered. "And yet… a protector."
He now had two Named Creatures—Bahlor the Warden and Nyxa the Phantom Fang. His Pharaoh's Tomb had been awakened. The crypt had offered secrets only the worthy could claim.
And Kaelen had proven himself worthy.
"This is only the beginning," he said, turning toward the rising tunnel behind him.
Unseen by him, the throne pulsed once… and a pair of ghostly eyes blinked open beneath it.