Mark stood in front of the 7th Floor's third Boss Room.
His body had changed.
Mark's pelt was now red.
His tail was covered by reddish scales.
It was thicker and longer than it used to be.
With an open palm, he pushed the doors open.
A chill-sending screech resonated as Mark's sharp claws scratched the doors.
His ferocious fangs were put on display, as a wide smile refused to leave his face.
Behind him, stood two Underlings.
Light, a Level 12 Shadow Wolf.
Kalès, a Level 2 Orc Of Minos.
Both looked at their Master's back as they followed him.
On that back, were folded Draconic Wings.
The three entered the Boss Room.
'This one is mine.'
Upon hearing their Master's command, the Underlings stopped advancing.
Mark walked forward towards the Guardian.
It was much taller than he was.
The Monster was as big as a Minotaur.
Once again, it was an Undead Monster.
Its skull resembled that of an elk.
Two magnificent antlers stood proud.
Once the Guardian noticed Mark, it extended a hand towards him.
A sphere of green energy appeared in front of its palm.
It was shot a second later.
Mark responded by doing the same.
He extended his right hand.
A red barrier appeared around him.
The green sphere hit the barrier,
Boom-
Cracks appeared all over that barrier
A second attack was about to be shot.
'Not strong enough, huh? I'll use a Skill Point on my Royalty's Barrier Skill.'
[You have used one Skill Point.]
[Your Skill "Royalty's Barrier" is evolving...]
[Your Magic Skill "Royalty's Barrier[D+]" has evolved into "Impenetrable Barrier[C]".]
The barrier that now stood in front of Mark was of a denser red.
The green sphere of energy exploded and smoke covered Mark's location.
The Guardian, noticing movements inside the cloud of smoke, continued shooting.
As the fifth shot was about to be fired, two large wings were spread.
Their sudden movement made the smoke dissipate.
Mark opened his mouth.
The next second, a small Fire Ball appeared in front of his mouth.
Unlike what one might think though, it wasn't a normal Fire Ball. Not only was it a Condensed Fire Ball, but it was covered by an electric aura.
'Let's see which one is stronger.'
The two attacks collided and one of the spheres exploded upon contact.
The remaining one continued, on its way towards the Guardian.
The Boss Monster used its arm as a shield, but the force was too much.
The Guardian had lost an arm already.
'Close combat wouldn't be interesting against him. Skeleton Monsters aren't durable at all.' Mark chuckled.
A second later, the Guardian started sprinting towards him.
'Ugh...'
Not paying any mind to the approaching Guardian, Mark turned around.
He started walking away.
'Kalès, finish him. You should be more than enough.'
The Orc Of Minos intercepted the incoming Guardian just before it could reach Mark's body.
But it's not like a hit from it would have dealt much damage anyways.
'It probably wouldn't be able to break my barrier. After this one, I'll have 3 Skill Points...'
Mark left the room, and Light followed him.
'You haven't been able to shine since these guys have no flesh. Your claws and fangs aren't useful against them. Hope I'll find something to fuse you with soon...'
Just as Mark stood in front of the fourth Guardian Room,
[Your Underling has leveled up!]
[You have defeated a Guardian.]
[You have been awarded 1 Skill Point.]
A couple of seconds later, Kalès stood behind Mark, the Guardian's unmoving body in his hand.
Mark quickly devoured it.
After that, he placed his hands on the doors.
Mark felt a slight chill that made him pull his hands away.
'What's-'
Light growled while staring at the door.
'This guy... Must be pretty strong...'
Mark pushed the doors open. The three entered.
Blue chilling smoke covered multiple spots inside the room.
The three took a few steps forward.
"Looks like you've defeated my Guards, little one." A cold voice resonated inside the room.
Despite his great newly-acquired strength, Mark's hand started shaking as his eyes searched for the source of those words.
"You must be quite the mighty one, to accomplish such a feat."
Mark finally found it.
On a throne made of bones, a Skeleton Monster wearing a dark purple robe was seated.
It was taller than other Skeletons. Its bones looked somewhat sturdier.
Its skull seemed more defined.
One could almost see a face in that collection of bones.
The Monster's jaw moved, and words flowed.
'This is the first time... A Monster... No. The first time anything actually talks in here!'
"Alas, you are but another mindless Monster. Quite the strong one, which is why I will turn you into one of my Guards. Just like I did to the ones that came before you."
A piercing cold wind ruled inside the Boss Room.
'So those Guardians were this guy's Underlings? What is this guy anyway?'
[ The Seventh Floor's Guardian. Undead Lich.]
'A Lich? Wait, this is the first time that I'm told a Guardian's Species... Why now?'
[Special rewards will be given by devouring the Undead Lich.]
'Oh. Huh. Well, that's enough to pull me in-'
Mark's thoughts were interrupted as two sharp ice spikes flew towards him.
"So...One, two, three! Perfect! There are three of you! Just enough to replace my Guards!" The Guardian shouted as it stood up from its throne.
'That's pretty lucky though... The last room I end up entering turns out to be the one where the true Boss Monster resides...?'
[The Undead Lich can use Spatial Magic.]
[No more information will be given.]
'Is that so-'
An ice spike that came from behind the group pierced Light's leg.
'Interesting. I can only shoot Magic Skills from my hands or mouth. He can conjure up those ice spikes from anywhere, huh? Is that Spacial Magic?'
Mark stared at the Guardian.
'I expected more from "Spatial Magic". But if this is all there is to it then... We'll be just fine.'
A series of ice spikes flew in every direction.
Mark, who was now faster than both his Underlings, dodged every attack.
The Guardian, on the other hand, didn't move.
It simply stood tall, in front of its throne.
"Looks like I will have to put some more effort into this." The Undead Lich said.
It raised its arms.
"Rise, my minions. Rise and fight for me. You have died for me already. So now... My minions... Rise... And live for me."
As those words were pronounced, Mark felt multiple presences appear inside the Boss Room.
From below the ground, enemies started appearing.
'What the... Three Royal Minotaur Skeletons? Four Inferior Wyvern Skeletons... Are you for real? Kalès, take care of them! Or rather, try to! Light, dodge while attacking as much as you can! Blunt attacks are necessary so... Focus on dodging! '
The Orc Of Minos ran towards the rising Monsters while Light ran around using his Shadow Betrayal Skill to attack.
Mark turned towards the Guardian.
And he found the Guardian looking straight at him.
"It is surprising to see mindless Monsters teaming up. I wonder if you are smarter than the rest, or the same as vulgar Goblins-"
Before the Guardian could finish its sentence, an electric fire ball was shot towards it.
A wall of ice appeared in the fire ball's way.
But the attack was more powerful than the Guardian had expected.
The ice wall was destroyed and the attack continued on its path.
'Huh? Where is-'
The Guardian had disappeared.
"Don't make me use Mana like that. Teleportation uses a bunch of it, you see..."
From right behind him, the voice resonated.
'I couldn't sense him...'
The Guardian's hand was about to touch Mark's body.
'Because he's a Skeleton!'
And as it touched his body, Mark was launched away.
His back hit the wall.
Cough-
A drop of blood went down his mouth.
'Huh. It can't... Be that strong... Must be a Magic Skill then...'
And just as Mark turned his gaze, it fell on Kalès.
The Underling was down on one knee.
It had lost its right leg.
In front of him, an Inferior Wyvern Skeleton, about to shoot its devastating fire breath.
'KALÈS!!'
The Underling's body was scorched, and Mark's blood started boiling.
He immediately ran towards the Guardian, but before he could reach, a bright light caught his attention from the corner of his eye.
A fire breath was about to burn the Shadow Wolf, Light.
'Run away.' Mark ordered.
Light barely managed to dodge the burning flames.
But that only led to a Royal Minotaur Skeleton's kick hitting his stomach.
'GET OUT! BOTH OF YOU! OUT! NOW!'
The two Underlings couldn't do a thing but obey their Master.
But as they ran towards the doors they had come in from, a Skeleton Monster stood in their way.
[Your Underling has returned to the dead.]
Only one of the two Underlings had managed to escape.
Seeing another one of his Underlings turned to dust, Mark's mind went blank for a moment.
"Hahaha. The fate of the weak, how pathetic! But don't worry. Soon, you'll join me. And you'll forget all about this." The Guardian mocked.
An incredibly calm feeling suddenly washed over Mark.
The three Royal Minotaur Skeletons and the three Inferior Wyvern Skeletons started moving towards Mark.
'So they could only take care of one Inferior Wyvern Skeleton...? I guess if these weren't so numerous, they could have done better.'
Mark changed his path.
Instead of running towards the Guardian, he ran towards the summoned Skeleton Monsters.
'Maybe this is for the best. A change of Underlings has been in order for a while now anyways...'
Mark dodged a Royal Minotaur Skeleton's punch with ease, and gave one of his own.
The Monster's skull was instantly broken.
It fell to the ground.
Two others arrived at once, and Mark deflected their attacks.
Meanwhile, his tail had moved towards the Monster he had just defeated.
And the moment that tail grazed the unmoving Monster's body,
[You have brought back one Monster from the dead.]
"What are you..."
'Mm. This is the way I should fight this guy. I'll make you regret...'
"What is..."
'Touching my army...'
"How can this..."
'By taking your army... And making it mine.'
What had joined Mark's side wasn't a Royal Minotaur Skeleton though.
But a Royal Minotaur.
'I'm a pretty bad match-up for him.'
The Royal Minotaur fought the Inferior Wyvern Skeletons while Mark took care of the rest.
"Don't tell me those were your Underlings. How can a random... How dare you... How... How..." The Undead Lich muttered.
'Random? Don't make me laugh.' Mark thought as he defeated a third Royal Minotaur Skeleton.
The three of them, had now joined his side.
'Now that I have these guys to protect my back...' Mark turned towards the Guardian.
He launched himself towards the Boss Monster with an extremely swift and explosive stride.
Mark's arm was wrapped in a peculiar aura.
It was still blue, but of a much deeper shade than it used to be.
Just before he could hit the Guardian, a black barrier appeared in front of the latter.
Mark jumped back before he was harmed.
'Good. Didn't punch thoughtlessly. I'd say...'
It was his third time encountering such an energy.
'I deserve 1 point for that.'
He, therefore, knew that Mana of such color was dangerous.
Incredibly dangerous.
The black barrier encircled the Guardian.
"What senses you have! To be able to stop your attack at the sight of my deadly barrier. You will definitely make a fine Guard!"
'Tsk. So he's hiding now? Only a couple of things I can do. Apart from... Well, letting him be?'
A black javelin appeared in Mark's hand.
Fwoosh-
Unfortunately, it disappeared right upon hitting the barrier.
'Next.'
His electric fire ball did not make it through either.
'One last option, I guess.'
Even his Staggering Thunder did not make it through.
Mark stood in front of the Undead Lich.
Behind it, were the corpses of Inferior Wyvern Skeletons and Mark's new Underlings.
One of the corpses was lifted into the air.
Its bones were broken and reassembled into a big spike that flew towards the Guardian.
But even that, did not make it through the dark barrier.
"Oh. Fire, Thunder, Corruption, and now Bone Manipulation too. Your appearance is impressive too. Ohh, yes! I definitely want you."
Mark felt a slight chill.
As if he was about to be swallowed.
As if he was about to be devoured.
'That damn barrier...'
Mark jumped sideways.
An ice spike grazed his side.
'Gotta stay focused. I can't harm him for now, but he can't harm me either. All I can do for now is wait for him to... Run out of Mana?'
Mark continued dodging the attacks.
'Wait. Mana, huh? Maybe...'
He dodged once more.
Mark was starting to come up with a plan.
'If I can somehow get a Skill like that one...'
A bit later, he found himself next to one of the dead Inferior Wyvern Skeletons.
As he touched its unmoving body, it turned into a red light.
Mark did the same with the other two.
Three red spheres were now floating above his hands.
"So? Will you use your Necromancer Skill? As an Undead Lich, my Mana Points will run out way after you run out of Endurance Points. My advantage is more than obvious. And that's exactly why..."
Mark smirked.
He threw the three red spheres into his mouth.
"I shall be the victor."
They were swallowed, and a red Aura covered Mark's whole body.
The Guardian stared without attacking.
Surprise? Curiosity? Or was it sensing something approaching?
The Aura faded, and the Guardian could see Mark's changed body.
His Minotaur face was nowhere to be seen.
It now resembled that of a reptile.
Sharp fangs and claws.
His tail got stronger and thicker.
Mark's body was covered by red scales and bones.
A lone horn remained on his head.
'Wyverns have a high Mana Stat. How many Mana Points do I have now?'
[Current Mana Points: 13.900/15.700. ]
'I haven't checked my Stats since devouring that Royal Minotaur Skeleton...'
An ice spike flew directly towards Mark's heart.
Using his tail, it shattered right away.
[Your Passive Skill "Bone Shattering Tail Flick[D-]" has evolved into the Skill "Draconic Tail Flick[C+]".]
A smirk appeared on Mark's face.
'I still can't break that barrier, but...'
He stared at the Guardian.
'Step1: Acquire a shit ton of Mana...'
Mark's eyes shined red.
'Check.'