The warehouse was silent except for the drip of water from the broken ceiling. Dust hung thick in the air, and the faint metallic smell of decay lingered.
Kael Vale stepped forward. Shadows coiled behind him like obedient serpents. Three skeletal warriors knelt at his side, waiting for his command.
E-Class… but even this is enough for now.
He raised a hand. Bones rattled across the floor, lifting and forming skeletal figures under his control.
A low growl echoed from the far corner. Red eyes glinted in the darkness.
A massive creature emerged—its skeletal frame twisted unnaturally, limbs bending in ways no human or monster should move. Its speed was far greater than Kael expected for a C-Rank dungeon boss.
The system pinged:
[ENEMY DETECTED: C-RANK BOSS – NIGHTMARE WRAITH]
[DANGER LEVEL: HIGH]
[REWARD: XP +1.5x]
[UNUSUAL ENERGY DETECTED]
Kael studied it carefully, calm as ever.
"Grum, take the front. Veysh, flank from above."
The largest skeleton surged forward, colliding with the Wraith's torso. The creature twisted violently, but the skeleton held its ground.
Veysh struck from above, cutting off escape routes with precision.
Kael didn't move. He analyzed. Every strike, every dodge, every weak point of the creature.
"Bind."
Chains of shadow erupted from the floor, wrapping the Wraith in tight tendrils. It shrieked—a sound like metal tearing—but could not break free.
Control first. Destruction second.
The Wraith thrashed violently but eventually stilled. Kael exhaled lightly and stepped forward, skeletal minions kneeling again, awaiting his next command.
A system ping appeared as he absorbed the experience:
[LEVEL UP: 2]
[SKILL ACQUIRED: NECROTIC BINDING]
A subtle ripple ran through the warehouse walls, almost imperceptible. Something beyond the dungeon, otherworldly, was watching.
Kael didn't flinch. Calm, strategic, ruthless, he surveyed the room.
This is only the beginning.
The shadows shifted behind him, ready to obey. The dungeon trembled faintly, as if acknowledging the rise of a new master.