Seo Hyun slowly pushed himself up, ignoring the sharp pain that still lingered in his chest. The dungeon felt wrong. Too quiet.
He turned his head, searching for familiar silhouettes. Shields. Spells. Anyone.
Nothing.
The torches along the stone walls flickered weakly, casting long, distorted shadows. Broken weapons lay scattered across the floor. A few shattered goblin cores glimmered faintly, already looted.
"They… left?"
The realization settled heavily in his chest.
He staggered forward, scanning every corridor, every corner. No bodies. No signs of a retreat being organized. Just empty paths and fading mana traces—proof that the raid had moved on without him.
Seo Hyun clenched his fists.
They hadn't even checked if he was alive.
As an E-rank Hunter, he was expendable. A burden. Someone not worth dragging out of a dungeon.
The truth was cold and simple.
In this world, the weak were abandoned first.
Green text flickered into existence before his eyes, almost mocking him.
[Warning: Dungeon still active.]
[Exit unavailable.]
Seo Hyun exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down.
Alone.
Wounded.
Trapped inside a dungeon.
Then his gaze drifted back to the goblin corpse nearby.
And for the first time since he woke up, fear gave way to something else.
Opportunity.
Seo Hyun stood still, staring at the goblin corpse before him.
The system window hovered patiently, as if waiting for his decision.
[Activate: Raise Dead?]
His throat felt dry. He had killed monsters before. That was normal. This wasn't.
Raising them was different.
He inhaled slowly and spoke, his voice low but steady.
"…Answer."
The word left his mouth—and the dungeon reacted.
Mana surged through the air, cold and heavy, flooding the stone chamber like a tide. Green light burst from the floor, spreading through cracks and pools of dried blood. One by one, the goblin corpses scattered across the battlefield began to move.
Bones snapped back into place. Torn flesh reknit itself with eerie precision. Empty eye sockets ignited with a dull green glow.
One goblin rose.
Then another.
And another.
Dozens followed.
Fifty. Sixty. Every goblin that had fallen in this dungeon dragged itself upright, their green skin now veined with glowing mana. They stood in silence, weapons forming in skeletal hands, bodies stiff but obedient.
Then, as one, they dropped to a knee.
The sound echoed through the dungeon like a verdict.
Seo Hyun's breath caught.
They weren't rampaging. They weren't resisting.
They were waiting.
A new window appeared before him.
[Undead units successfully raised.]
[Command authority confirmed.]
Seo Hyun looked at the kneeling horde. At the monsters that had slaughtered humans without mercy—now bowing their heads to him.
Slowly, deliberately, he spoke again.
"You are not monsters anymore."
The goblins remained motionless.
"You are my army."
The system pulsed, reacting to his intent.
[Undead Army Name: Unassigned]
Seo Hyun's eyes hardened.
"…You are The Answered."
The dungeon trembled faintly, as if acknowledging the name.
[Army Name Registered.]
[The Answered – Bound to User: Seo Hyun]
The goblins lifted their heads in unison, glowing eyes locked onto him. No hunger. No rage. Only absolute obedience.
Seo Hyun exhaled.
In a world where the weak were abandoned, where death was the end—
He had found his answer.
And now, so had they.
A sharp chime echoed in Seo Hyun's mind.
A translucent screen unfolded before his eyes, far more detailed than the simple prompts he'd seen earlier.
At the very top, written in bold, dark-green letters:
NECROMANCER SYSTEM
The screen felt heavy. Authoritative. As if it wasn't just information, but judgment.
At the center:
User: Seo Hyun
Level: 1
Below it, a full status panel appeared, numbers neatly aligned.
HP: 72 / 72
MP: 110 / 110
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 14
Perception: 11
A faint note flickered beside Intelligence.
(Primary Attribute – Necromancer)
Seo Hyun narrowed his eyes. His physical stats were still low. Barely better than before.
But his mana.
That had changed.
Scrolling further down, more details appeared.
Mana Regeneration: Above Average
Necromancy Efficiency: High
Undead Control Capacity: 60 / 60
He glanced instinctively at the goblins kneeling before him.
So that was the limit.
Not infinite.
Not free.
Good.
At the bottom of the screen, several icons materialized.
[Skills]
Raise Dead (Lv. 1)
[Inventory]
Slots: 30
(Empty)
A separate panel sat beside them, locked and dimmed, a warning symbol pulsing softly.
[Store]
Status: Locked
Unlock Requirement: Level 50
Seo Hyun let out a slow breath.
A store.
Not now.
But eventually.
This system wasn't just power—it was progression. Structured. Ruthless.
At the very bottom, a final line appeared, almost easy to miss.
[Note: Undead units consume MP continuously. Loss of control will occur if MP reaches zero.]
Seo Hyun looked up at The Answered again.
Fifty to sixty undead goblins.
All kneeling.
All bound to him.
He clenched his jaw.
So this wasn't a free miracle.
It was a contract.
And if he wanted to survive—if he wanted to grow stronger—
He would have to earn every level.
Another chime rang out.
The system screen shifted, the numbers dimming as a new panel slid into view.
[Level-Up Conditions Detected]
Seo Hyun's eyes locked onto the text.
Current Level: 1
Required to Level Up:
Souls Collected: 10 / 100
Confirmed Kills (User or Undead): 0 / 20
His breath slowed.
So it wasn't just experience points.
It was souls.
And kills.
A faint pressure settled in his chest, not pain, but weight—like the system was reminding him what path he had chosen.
The panel expanded.
[Soul Collection Rule]
•Souls are acquired when a target is killed under the user's authority.
•Higher-grade entities yield higher-quality souls.
•Souls bound to the Necromancer cannot be released.
Seo Hyun swallowed.
No recycling.
No forgiveness mechanic.
Death under him was permanent.
Before he could process it fully, another warning appeared.
[Notice]
Dungeon Threat Level: Uncleared
Active Hostiles Detected
His gaze snapped up.
The dungeon wasn't empty.
The goblin corpses he had raised were only the ones that had already fallen. That meant others were still alive—deeper inside.
Monsters that would attack him on sight.
Monsters that now represented something else entirely.
Progress.
Seo Hyun looked at The Answered, their glowing eyes fixed on him, awaiting instruction. He could feel the steady drain of MP, slow but constant, like a clock ticking in his veins.
If he did nothing, he would run out of mana.
If he dismissed them, he would be alone again.
If he fought…
He would grow.
Seo Hyun raised his hand.
"Move," he said calmly.
The Answered stood in unison.
"Clear the dungeon."
The undead army surged forward, weapons raised, silent and relentless.
As they vanished into the darkness, Seo Hyun felt it—something subtle but unmistakable.
A thin green thread connecting him to every undead unit.
And far ahead, as the first goblin screamed before being torn apart—
The counter changed.
Confirmed Kills: 1 / 20
Seo Hyun's lips curled into a slow, controlled smile.
This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was leveling up.
A sudden system alert cut through his thoughts.
Not a chime this time.
A deep, hollow tone, like a bell rung in a crypt.
The Necromancer System screen forcefully expanded, overriding every other panel.
At the top, the letters were sharper than before.
NECROMANCER SYSTEM — CORE LAW NOTICE
Seo Hyun frowned.
"Core… law?"
The text scrolled on its own.
[Rank-Based Undead Authority Rule]
Upon reaching A-Rank:
•All undead units below the user's authority threshold will be automatically dismissed.
The words sank in slowly.
Dismissed.
Not stored.
Not sealed.
Not transferred.
Gone.
The screen continued.
[Details]
•Undead classified as Low-Grade will lose binding
•Souls bound to dismissed undead will be consumed by the system
•Authority cannot be overridden
Seo Hyun's fingers tightened.
Consumed.
That meant every weak undead he relied on early.
Every goblin.
Every disposable shield that helped him survive his lowest moments.
Temporary.
A final line appeared, colder than the rest.
[Necromancy is not accumulation.]
[It is refinement.]
The message lingered for a long moment before fading away.
Seo Hyun looked at The Answered, still fighting deeper in the dungeon, still obeying every command without hesitation.
They were strong enough now.
But later?
When he reached A-rank…
when the system decided he had outgrown them…
They would be erased.
Not by enemies.
Not by betrayal.
By progress.
Seo Hyun exhaled slowly.
So this system wasn't built for hoarding armies.
It was built to force evolution.
"Fine," he murmured.
If the weak dead couldn't follow him forever—
Then he'd make sure every undead he commanded in the future was worth keeping.
And every soul he claimed…
Would matter.
The dungeon shook.
Stone cracked as screams echoed from deeper within the tunnels. The Answered moved like a tide of death, their rusted blades tearing through goblins that never stood a chance. Traps meant for the living were ignored. Fear meant nothing to the dead.
Seo Hyun stood at the rear, watching through the faint green threads tethered to his undead.
Each kill sent a pulse through his chest.
Cold. Heavy.
Confirmed Kills: 7 / 20
Souls Collected: 38 / 100
His MP dipped steadily.
MP: 62 / 110
Too slow.
Too inefficient.
Seo Hyun raised his hand.
"Divide," he ordered. "Hunt in groups of five. Surround. Don't rush."
The Answered reacted instantly. The horde split, moving with unnatural coordination. Ambushes became executions. Escape routes vanished.
The numbers climbed faster.
Confirmed Kills: 12 / 20
Souls Collected: 64 / 100
Then—
A presence.
The green threads trembled.
Seo Hyun felt it before he saw it. Something heavier. Denser. A goblin far larger than the rest, its body etched with crude runes, mana boiling around its frame.
A Goblin Captain.
It roared, smashing two undead into fragments with a single swing.
The MP drain spiked.
Seo Hyun's eyes sharpened.
"Contain it," he said calmly. "Break its legs."
The Answered obeyed.
Ten undead rushed in. Five fell instantly. The rest dragged the creature down, blades hacking at joints, mana-infused bones cracking under pressure.
The captain howled.
Seo Hyun stepped forward, staff shaking in his grip.
"Answer," he whispered.
The goblin captain froze.
Its eyes dimmed.
Its soul tore free.
The system screamed.
Confirmed Kills: 20 / 20
Souls Collected: 101 / 100
The dungeon fell silent.
Then—
[Level-Up Quest Complete]
The Necromancer System erupted in green light, flooding his vision.
[Level Increased!]
Level: 2
Power surged through him—not explosive, but deeper. Denser. Like roots spreading underground.
MP Increased
Undead Control Capacity +5
Necromancy Efficiency Improved
His breathing steadied.
The Answered turned toward him, kneeling once more.
Seo Hyun looked at the shattered battlefield. At the fallen undead. At the souls bound permanently to him.
This wasn't victory.
It was proof.
He had crossed the line.
From prey—
To predator.
And this was only the first level.
The green light slowly faded.
Seo Hyun steadied himself, feeling the aftershock of the level-up ripple through his body. His mana settled into a deeper, calmer flow—less wild, more obedient.
The system responded immediately.
[Undead Control Capacity Increased]
60 → 70
Seo Hyun's eyes widened slightly.
Ten more.
Not just numbers.
Options.
His gaze shifted to the massive corpse sprawled across the shattered dungeon floor.
The Goblin Captain.
Even in death, it was monstrous. Nearly twice the height of a normal goblin, its body thick with muscle and scarred from countless battles. Crude runes were carved into its green skin, still faintly glowing, etched directly into flesh like brands of authority. One of its horns was broken, the other jagged and curved forward like a blade.
It radiated power.
Seo Hyun could feel it.
A higher-quality soul.
The system reacted before he even spoke.
[High-Grade Corpse Detected]
[Classification: Dungeon Boss]
Raising this unit will consume significant MP
Proceed?
Seo Hyun didn't hesitate.
"…Answer."
The dungeon trembled.
Mana surged violently toward the corpse, far denser than before. Green light exploded from beneath the Goblin Captain, flooding the chamber. Cracks spread across the stone floor as the body jerked once.
Then again.
Bones snapped back into place. Torn flesh sealed itself, not crudely, but with deliberate precision. The runes carved into its skin flared bright emerald, burning like molten symbols.
Its chest rose.
Empty eyes ignited.
Not dull green like the others—
But a deep, radiant emerald, sharp and aware.
The Goblin Captain pushed itself upright, towering over the rest of The Answered. A massive axe formed in its grip, forged from condensed mana and bone. Green energy rolled off its body in slow waves, making the air feel heavy and cold.
Then it dropped to one knee.
The impact cracked the stone beneath it.
Every other undead followed suit, kneeling in absolute silence.
A new window appeared.
[Boss Undead Successfully Raised]
Designation Available
Seo Hyun looked up at the glowing giant before him.
This wasn't a disposable soldier.
This was an anchor.
A pillar of power.
"Stand," he commanded.
The Goblin Captain rose, emerald light blazing brighter.
From this moment on, Seo Hyun understood something clearly.
He wasn't just commanding death.
He was refining it.
And this—
This was the first undead that would survive beyond the weak.
The system screen shifted again, lines of text assembling beneath the towering undead.
Not ceremonial.
Informational.
Cold.
[Boss Undead Status – E-Rank]
Seo Hyun's gaze moved carefully, reading every line.
Type: Undead – Commander-Class
Former Rank: Dungeon Boss (E-Rank)
Abilities:
•Enhanced Strength: Physical power exceeds standard E-rank parameters.
•Mana-Hardened Body: Reduced damage from physical and magical attacks.
•Fear Suppression: Nearby undead units gain resistance to disruption and loss of control.
•Command Relay: User commands may be transmitted through this unit to lower undead
Weapon Manifestation: Can generate mana-based armaments.
Seo Hyun felt it immediately.
The drain.
Not overwhelming, but constant. He could sense this undead anchoring the rest, stabilizing the flow of mana like a core. The goblins around it seemed… steadier. Their movements sharper. Their presence heavier.
The emerald glow surrounding the boss pulsed slowly, rhythmically, like a heartbeat that wasn't supposed to exist.
This wasn't just a stronger soldier.
It was infrastructure.
A moving command point.
Seo Hyun lifted his eyes.
The undead boss met his gaze without hesitation. No hunger. No rage. Just obedience, refined and absolute.
At the bottom of the panel, one final line appeared.
[Note: Boss-class undead are exempt from low-grade dismissal protocols.]
Seo Hyun exhaled.
So this one would stay.
Not forever.
But longer.
He looked at the dungeon ahead, corridors still uncharted, mana signatures still flickering in the dark.
Then he raised his hand.
"Advance," he said calmly. "You lead."
The boss undead turned, emerald light flaring brighter, and stepped forward. The Answered followed behind it, silent and relentless.
Seo Hyun walked after them, green threads tightening around his heart.
This was no longer a desperate escape.
It was a march.
And for the first time, the dungeon itself felt afraid.
As the undead army advanced, Seo Hyun felt it again.
That pressure.
Not mana.
Not fear.
Presence.
His steps slowed.
You are adapting faster than expected.
The voice echoed directly inside his mind, dry and unhurried, like someone commenting from a high seat.
Seo Hyun froze.
"…You again."
A familiar sensation followed. The world didn't change—but his perception did. It felt as if someone far above him had leaned forward to get a better look.
Relax, the voice said. If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have reached Level Two.
Seo Hyun clicked his tongue. "That's not comforting."
A pause.
Then, faint amusement.
Mortals are always dramatic.
The Necromancer System screen forcibly opened, glowing brighter than before.
At the top, a new symbol appeared. A simple crest shaped like an inverted crown.
[System Authority: Death]
Listen carefully, Seo Hyun, the god continued. The system you possess is not static. It will grow only if you do.
The screen shifted.
[Quest Framework Initialized]
I will issue quests, the god said plainly. Not suggestions. Not favors. Tasks.
Lines of text formed beneath.
Each completed quest will increase your attributes. Strength, mana, efficiency, authority. The more difficult the quest, the greater the growth.
Seo Hyun narrowed his eyes. "And if I ignore them?"
A beat.
Then you stagnate.
The voice leaned closer, metaphorically speaking.
And stagnation is just another form of death.
Seo Hyun exhaled slowly. "Figures."
The screen scrolled again.
[Quest Rewards Scale With Difficulty]
Stat Increases
Necromancy Efficiency
Undead Control Capacity
Authority Expansion
Yes, the god added casually, that includes your control over the dead. Higher quests mean more bodies answering you.
Seo Hyun glanced at the glowing boss undead leading his army.
"…So you're basically turning my life into a to-do list."
A soft scoff echoed in his mind.
Think of it as guidance. I am very generous.
Seo Hyun looked upward, even though there was nothing to see.
"Since you're talking so freely," he said, "what's your name?"
Silence followed.
Long enough to be uncomfortable.
Then—
Names have power, the god replied. And you are still fragile.
Seo Hyun smirked. "That's a no, then."
You may call me what mortals always do, the voice said.
The pressure suddenly shifted.
For just a moment, Seo Hyun felt it.
A vast presence looking down on him.
Not menacing.
Not awe-inspiring.
More like… mildly amused.
Like a god watching a stubborn insect trying to lift something far too heavy.
God of Death will suffice.
The pressure vanished.
The system chimed once more.
[First Official Quest Pending]
Status: Locked
Unlock Condition: Exit Dungeon Alive
Seo Hyun stared at the words.
Then he smiled faintly.
"So even the tutorial wants me alive."
Do not disappoint me, the god said lightly. I dislike wasted investments.
The connection severed.
The dungeon sounds returned.
The march of The Answered continued.
Seo Hyun adjusted his grip, eyes steady.
Quests.
Growth.
Authority.
Fine.
If death itself was watching—
Then he'd give it a story worth following.
Seo Hyun stepped out of the dungeon gate as it collapsed behind him, the shimmering light folding in on itself until nothing remained.
The air outside felt… lighter.
He exhaled slowly and looked down at his body.
The wounds were still there.
Deep gashes where claws had torn through flesh. Cracked ribs that should have made breathing impossible. Yet none of them were bleeding anymore. A faint green seal lingered over each injury, thin lines of mana stitching his body together just enough to keep him standing.
Not healed.
Preserved.
He clenched his fist. It responded.
"Good enough," he muttered.
With a thought, the system responded.
One by one, the goblins froze.
The green glow in their eyes dimmed as their bodies stiffened, as if time itself had stopped around them. Symbols surfaced beneath their feet, circular runes carved from mana and death authority.
They did not resist.
They simply bowed.
[Returning bound undead to the Gravebound Archive]
The ground swallowed them without a sound. No shadows, no smoke. Just a quiet pull, as if the world itself accepted their return.
Fifty. Sixty.
Every last one of The Answered vanished, leaving the dungeon floor empty and silent.
Seo Hyun stood alone.
The system window flickered into view one last time.
[Active Undead: 0 / Dead Control Capacity]
[Gravebound Archive: Stable]
He stared at the screen, then looked up at the sky beyond the gate's former position.
Fifteen years ago, dungeons had invaded the world.
Today, for the first time, one of them had answered him instead.
Seo Hyun straightened his back and took his first step forward, exiting the dungeon as a hunter.
And returning as something else.
The hospital room smelled like disinfectant and recycled air.
Seo Hyun lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling while a faint hum of mana-restraining equipment filled the silence. Transparent seals hovered around the room, standard procedure for any hunter pulled out of a dungeon in critical condition.
The doctors had stopped asking questions after the first hour.
None of his injuries made sense.
Bones that should have been shattered were intact. Wounds that should have reopened under movement stayed sealed, wrapped in thin layers of green mana that refused to dissipate under medical scans.
"He's stable," one of them finally said, confused. "But we don't know why."
Seo Hyun didn't explain.
He didn't need to.
The door slid open without a knock.
Five men walked in.
No lab coats. No hospital badges.
Black suits reinforced with mana-thread. Each of them carried an insignia on their chest.
Hunter Association.
The one in front pulled out a chair and sat down slowly, eyes sharp and practiced.
"Seo Hyun," he said calmly. "E-Rank Hunter. Cleared for participation in the Seongbuk Dungeon raid."
He tapped his tablet once.
"You were declared missing. Presumed dead."
Another man spoke from the back. "Yet the dungeon closed."
Silence filled the room.
Seo Hyun turned his head slightly, meeting their gazes one by one.
"They ran," he said.
The men paused.
"My teammates," Seo Hyun continued, voice steady. "When the boss appeared, they retreated without warning. No signal. No fallback. They left me behind."
One of the agents narrowed his eyes. "And you survived."
"Yes."
"And defeated the dungeon boss alone?" the seated man asked.
Seo Hyun didn't answer immediately.
He looked down at his hands.
"I don't know how," he said. "But the dungeon collapsed after I regained consciousness."
That wasn't a lie.
Just incomplete.
The room grew heavier.
Another agent stepped forward. "Are you aware that abandoning a raid member is a Class-A criminal offense under Association law?"
Seo Hyun nodded. "I am."
"Good," the man said. "Because their statements will be reviewed."
The lead interrogator leaned back slightly.
"One more question," he said. "Did you encounter any abnormal phenomena inside the dungeon? New magic beasts. Unknown relics."
Seo Hyun felt it.
A presence stir quietly in his mind.
Amused.
Watching.
"No," Seo Hyun replied after a moment. "Nothing unusual."
The man studied him for a long second longer than necessary.
Then he stood.
"For now, you'll remain under medical observation," he said. "Your hunter license is temporarily suspended pending evaluation."
The men turned and left without another word.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Then, a voice echoed softly inside Seo Hyun's mind.
Calm.
Ancient.
Entertained.
"You answered well."
Seo Hyun closed his eyes slowly.
"…So you're still watching," he thought.
A faint chuckle followed.
"Of course. A necromancer without pressure would be dreadfully boring."
Seo Hyun exhaled.
Outside the hospital room, the world believed he was just another lucky survivor.
Inside, death itself was already planning his next test.