{Argus's POV}
The fight dragged on as Argus focused on each enemy. Every gold orb monster demanded his full attention. He had to be patient and precise, waiting for the right moment to strike. The undead's skillful fighting, along with their ability to use class-based skills, meant Argus had to constantly adjust his strategy.
The battles continued, testing Argus's endurance and skill. He found himself in a constant struggle, having to defeat each enemy one by one while avoiding being overwhelmed. The gold orb monsters fought back with coordinated attacks and powerful skills, making the fight longer and more challenging than he had anticipated.
Argus was initially caught off guard by the gold orb skeletons. They were not just powerful, but also surprisingly smart. They seemed to sense his intentions right away. When he targeted one, it quickly signaled the others to block his way. The skeleton knight he focused on hid behind its comrades, commanding them to attack Argus while it stayed out of reach.
"Tch, it's smarter than I thought. It's not going to let me get close." (Argus)
Whenever Argus tried to move forward, the skeleton knight would retreat, using the other undead as shields. The weaker skeletons charged at him, trying to slow him down, while the knight stayed back, moving skillfully among its troops to avoid getting hit. Argus had to fight off multiple enemies at once, keeping his attention on the knight, who kept barking orders to its minions.
'It's running... but I can't let it keep doing this. If I don't take it out, they'll just keep working together against me.'(Argus)
Argus swung his scythe, cutting through the weaker skeletons that blocked his path. He tried to predict the knight's movements, but it was agile and quick, darting between its troops and staying just out of reach. It was clear that this skeleton was not only tough but also strategic, commanding its forces with precision and avoiding his attacks.
'I'll need to force it into a corner and make it think it has nowhere to escape.'(Argus)
With this strategy in mind, Argus began to change his approach. He started to drive the skeletons toward one side of the battlefield, trying to limit the knight's options for movement. Despite his efforts, the knight was not easily trapped. It kept directing the other undead to block Argus's attacks and buying time as it searched for another escape route.
The battle turned into a complex chase. Argus realized that defeating this clever and coordinated enemy would be far more difficult than he had expected. The gold orb skeletons proved to be a serious challenge, pushing Argus to adapt his tactics and stay on his toes.
Argus quickly realized that targeting the commanding skeleton was proving to be a losing battle. The undead's coordination was more advanced than he'd anticipated. Every time he tried to get close, the skeleton knight used its allies to block his way and keep itself safe.
'This is not working.'(Argus)
He found himself constantly fighting off the other undead, unable to get a clear shot at the knight. The undead were working together too well, and the knight kept moving behind its minions, making it nearly impossible to reach.
'I need to change my strategy. I can't get through their defenses like this.'(Argus)
Argus knew he had to adapt. Instead of focusing on the knight, he started to fight through the ranks of undead, hoping to reduce their numbers. He swung his scythe, taking down as many as he could. The undead were relentless, and their coordination made every attack a challenge.
As he fought, Argus began to feel a growing sense of unease. The ominous feeling he'd sensed earlier was becoming stronger, a looming threat that made him increasingly anxious. The more he fought, the more he felt the pressure mounting.
He continued to battle, focusing on diminishing their numbers. The idea of catching the commanding skeleton seemed less and less feasible. It was clear that the undead's coordination was too strong to break through easily. Instead, Argus concentrated on thinning their ranks, hoping that reducing their numbers would weaken their defense and give him a chance to push forward.
'I have to get through this. The danger is getting stronger, and I can't afford to waste time.'(Argus)
The fight was intense and draining. Argus was determined to keep moving, driven by the growing sense of urgency. He knew that if he didn't clear the undead soon, the threat he felt would only become more dangerous.
The number of skeletons continued to be replenished, but not as quickly as before. It seemed that the skeletons being produced were stronger, making each fight more challenging. Argus began to think that this might be because he was on the right path toward the dungeon core.
"Maybe this is happening because I'm getting closer to the core. The dungeon must be increasing the difficulty to protect it."(Argus)
He fought with all his strength, trying to reduce their numbers faster than they could be replaced. The slower rate of replenishment suggested he was moving in the right direction, but it also meant the enemies were tougher.
"If this is true, I need to keep pushing forward. The more I delay, the more they'll throw at me."(Argus)
Argus remained focused on advancing toward the core, cutting down skeletons and pressing through their defenses. The higher quality of the undead meant longer, tougher battles, but he was driven by the knowledge that reaching the core would stop the endless waves of skeletons.
'If I can just get to the core, I can end this endless fight.'(Argus)
As he fought, Argus felt a growing urgency. The idea that he was moving closer to the core fueled his determination to break through the skeletons' defenses and continue his journey deeper into the dungeon.
As Argus continued to fight, he noticed something strange about the defeated skeletons. Unlike before, their corpses didn't disappear right away. Instead, they remained on the ground for several minutes before slowly vanishing.
"This is odd. Usually, the dungeon absorbs the corpses immediately. Why are they lingering?"(Argus)
He began to think about this unusual pattern. After a few minutes, it dawned on him that the skeletons he was facing might not be simple dungeon creations. Some of these monsters seemed to be real, not just summoned by the dungeon. This explained why their bodies weren't disappearing as quickly as he was used to.
"These monsters must be real, not just created by the dungeon.That's why their bodies stay here longer."(Argus)
Argus realized that the dungeon might be using real monsters, not just its own creations. The grudges and energies from these real monsters were being absorbed into the space inside his ring. This was similar to the energy he had encountered in the village, but he hadn't noticed it happening here.
"This means something else must be happening below, something I don't know about yet." (Argus)
His deduction was correct. There was likely a significant event or change occurring deeper in the dungeon that he had yet to discover. The strange behavior of the corpses was a sign that something more important and potentially dangerous was unfolding beneath him.
***
Let's go back for a bit to the dungeon core chamber. While Argus fights, something strange is happening here. The chamber has gotten bigger, but the core itself looks about the same. Even though the dungeon core finished its upgrade, it keeps absorbing Mana, showing that something is still happening.
Below the core, a large formation is laid out with the core in the center. The formation has complex symbols and runes arranged around the core, glowing with dark energy.
The atmosphere in the chamber is different now. The busy undead are gone, and the place is eerily calm. There's no noise or movement, just a heavy silence.
A cloaked figure appears, breaking the silence. As the figure walks toward the formation, their footsteps make a soft, steady tapping sound. The quiet of the room makes the tapping seem louder and more important.
The cloaked figure stops near the formation and looks at it closely. They seem pleased with what they see. The calmness of the chamber adds to the figure's presence, making the moment feel even more significant.
{???'s POV}
The cloaked figure is not calm as they gaze at the formation. They are tense, their eyes fixed on the core.
"It should work just like I calculated. The dungeon core will keep absorbing mana nonstop while it's upgrading. As long as the upgrade isn't finished, the core will be a continuous source of energy."
The figure studies the formation carefully.
"Using this endless mana absorption to power the formation. Once I activate it, I'll direct 90% of the mana being absorbed by the core to the formation. It's a perfect plan."
The atmosphere around the core is eerily calm, devoid of the usual bustling undead. The figure's footsteps make faint tapping sounds against the cold floor as they move closer to the formation.
"This setup will ensure the core remains a powerful energy source. The formation will harness that power, creating the desired effect."
With a final, approving glance, the figure watches the core continue its relentless absorption of mana.
"Everything is going according to plan. Soon, the core's power will be fully utilized."