With a sense of urgency, I directed my focus towards my skeleton soldier and monitored the hidden room where the dungeon exploration team had come to an abrupt halt. Such a situation had never appeared before and this caused me to panic a little even though the skeletons were not that harmed. Minor injuries had covered their bodies but it was healing in the abundant deathly aura.
I did not have a lot of skeletons, the ranking was getting nearer by the second and if I lost this team, my efficiency of levelling up would drop by more than ninety percent. I wanted to save these skeletons and wanted to check if they still followed my order or not. So, I ordered the skeletons to move. Some kind of force was trying to take away the control I had over the skeletons.
The skeletons were taking some time to move according to my order. Every second of that time felt like an eternity as I awaited any signs of movement or communication from the skeletons. Skeletons moved, every skeleton still followed my orders after giving them some time and I could still feel the magical connection gradually getting stronger that could transfer a part of my conciousness into the skeleton intact.
Gathering my resolve, I decided to peer into the hidden room using the magical connection I shared with my skeleton subordinated. With a command, I attempted to see through their eyes, hoping to gain insight into what had caused their unusual behaviour.
As their surroundings came into view, I was met with a sight both intriguing and unsettling. The hidden room was adorned with ancient runes etched into the walls, pulsating with an eerie glow. At the center of the room layed a pedestel, upon which rested a treasure chest surrounded by a concentrate of deathly aura.
My instincts told me that the treasure chest contained a artifact of immense power, yet its exact nature remained veiled in mystery. I could feel the weight of its presence even through the magical link with my skeletons.
But the truly attention seeking sight in the room were the group of wailing specters standing around the chest. It looked like a bunch of ghosts trying to get to the treasure chest but were being held out by some mysterious powers unable to go near or far from the artifact.
I waited for the specters to react in some way but no reaction other than wails of pain came from the specters. I thought that some kind of conditions must be fulfilled in order for the specters to react and made my skeletons do various things around the room to no avail.
Finally I made a skeleton soldier to cautiously approach the treasure while other skeletons were slowly tagging behind the skeleton soldier. I made them move in such a way that if any of the specters suddenly made any moves, all of the skeletons present there could react on time.
It was clear that this encounter held great significance, potentially shaping the course of my journeys in ways I had yet to comprehend. With caution guiding my every move, I pondered my next course of action.
The awaited reactions from the specters never came. My skeleton soldier had already climbed up the pedestal and opened up the chest but the specters remained the same like something had forcefully bound them with the treasure chest not being able to gain their freedom.
As the presence of the specters posed no threat to my skeletons, I ignored them. My focus went back to the skeleton soldier standing infront of the opened treasure chest looking at the ghastly ring that looked like it belonged to a great evildoer with its hollow eyes.
I found out the culprit that was trying to sever my bond with the skeletons. And the culprit was none other than this damn ring. It was constantly giving off a feeling that it was trying to sever the magical bond between me and my skeleton soldier and control the skeleton soldier. But I was able to stop the skeleton from being freed from my control.
Nothing till now had the ability to ever touch the magical bond between me and my skeletons. Not even the space inside the dungeon or any amount of distance could falter the magical bond. But just looking at the ring wobbled the bond.
I could see the ring but its description could not be seen through the eyes of skeleton soldier. The ring had to be within my own reach to understand the true power it held. But the event that occured just now made me not want the ring.
I had to decide fast whether to bring the ring out or not. As the weight of the decision hung heavy upon me, I knew whatever choice I made would absolutely define my next course of actions that laid ahead. With the countdown to the player ranking looming even closer, time was of the essence, every decision mattered.
With a steadying breath, I prepared to confront the mysterious hidden room and its ring, steeling myself for whatever trails lay ahead. For in this world of uncertainty and peril, it was only by facing the unknown that true could be attained.
With the ring in its hand and all other skeletons acting as an envoy, the dungeon exploration team treaded towards the entrance of the dungeon. They were steadily tracing their steps back and coming out of the dungeon bringing the ring to me.
Weighing out the pros and cons of the situation, bringing the ring out and examining it before making any decision seemed like the best option. I could just make a sacrifice of a skeleton soldier by making it take the ring as far as possible from me if I sensed any danger from it. I had nothing to lose and would gain a very powerful artifact if it proved to be useful.
The dungeon exploration team came out of the dungeon without much harm but they faced a constant harrassment from the dungeon mobs when coming out of the dungeon.
They faced a lot of dungeon mobs and I even levelled up once. Probably half of the mobs that were cleared before respawned again and started attacking the dungeon exploration team but the mobs could not cause any significant damages. Just some extra time was consumed and at this crucial hour, time was my greatest assest and this caused me some loss.
Now clearing this damned dungeon had become personal. After checking out the ring, I would send my whole force to conquer and flatten this dungeon out. New dungeons were popping out here and there as the time of the player ranking steadily decreased so the value this skeleton grotto held had long diminished since the arrival of the map.
As soon as the dungeon exploration team came out of the dungeon, they ran towards me and the skeleton soldier holding the ring came forward showing me the ring.
As I could finally see the ring, a system prompt appeared infornt of me showing a detailed description of the ring.
RING OF RETRIBUTION (GENERAL GRADE) (EVO)
A CURSED RING MADE BY THE GREATEST NECROMANCER BLANE USING THE SOULS OF A MILLION BEASTS.
- DOUBLES EVERY STAT THE RING BEARER HAS MAKING HIM/HER INVINCIBLE WITHIN THE SAME LEVEL
- INCREASES THE LEVEL OF EVERY SKILL THE RING BEARER HAS BY THREE WITHIN THE GENERAL GRADE
- NEGATES THE EFFECTS OF HOLY SKILLS THAT IS ACTIVATED WITHIN 5 METERS OF THE RING BEARER
THE BEARER OF THIS RING IS CONSTANTLY ATTACKED BY LIVING AND NON LIVING ALIKE FOR OBTAINING THE POWER THIS RING
UPGRADE THE RING TO UNLOCK MORE FEATURES...