The next morning came far too quickly for John. The rising sun cast long shadows across the cemetery, its warmth doing little to ease the chill that had settled into his bones. The events of the previous night felt like a fever dream, but the faint, glowing interface hovering before his eyes reminded him that it was all too real.
John stood in front of the grave he had dug the night before, now filled and covered. His shovel rested against the tombstone, but his mind wasn't on his usual work. Instead, his thoughts churned with questions.
What comes next? What happens to me now?
[Daily Quest Unlocked: Strengthen the Abyssal Bond]
Objectives:
Practice Necromancy (Summon at least 3 undead).
Collect 10 Soul Fragments from lesser creatures.
Survive combat for at least 10 minutes.
Rewards: 100 XP, Random Item (Tier 1).
The glowing text flickered in the air, and John frowned. "Daily quests, huh?" he muttered. It reminded him of the video games he used to play, back when life was simple. But this wasn't a game.
His gaze shifted to the edge of the village, where the forest loomed like a dark wall. Dungeons often spawned in wilderness areas like this one, and although the Bandit's Lair had been cleared, there were undoubtedly more waiting to appear.
"Well," he sighed, grabbing his shovel and slinging it over his shoulder. "Let's see if I can get this quest done without getting myself killed."
Into the Woods
The forest was quiet, unnervingly so. John walked carefully, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of movement. His skeletal minion, summoned with a flick of his hand, trailed silently behind him.
[Skill Activated: Raise Dead (Level 2)]
Minion Summoned: Skeletal Soldier.
The notification faded as John's second skeleton rose from the undergrowth, its hollow eyes glowing faintly. It joined the first, forming a small but loyal squad.
John glanced at them, feeling a strange mix of pride and unease. "Guess it's just us for now," he said, mostly to himself.
The deeper he ventured into the woods, the heavier the air became. The sun's rays barely pierced the canopy, and an unnatural chill clung to the ground. John tightened his grip on his shovel, his senses on high alert.
A rustling noise broke the silence.
John froze, his heart pounding. He gestured to his skeletons, and they moved forward, their bony feet crunching softly against the underbrush.
From the shadows, a low growl emerged, followed by the glint of sharp teeth. A pair of red eyes blinked in the darkness, and then a creature leapt into the clearing.
It was a wolf—but not an ordinary one. Its fur was blackened and matted, and its eyes burned with an unnatural light. Faint wisps of energy radiated from its body, marking it as a dungeon creature.
[Lesser Dungeon Beast: Shadow Wolf]
Level: 3
Threat Level: Moderate.
The wolf snarled, its gaze locked on John. He took a step back, his palms sweating.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what you can do."
The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping shut inches from John's face. He ducked, barely avoiding the attack, and pointed toward the creature.
"Get it!"
The skeletal soldiers charged, their claws clattering against the wolf's dark hide. The beast howled in rage, swiping at one skeleton and sending it crashing into a tree.
John cursed under his breath. The wolf was faster and stronger than his minions, and it was quickly gaining the upper hand.
[Skill Activated: Soul Drain]
A dark tendril shot from John's hand, striking the wolf mid-leap. The beast howled, its energy siphoned away, but it didn't fall. Instead, it turned its glowing eyes on John and charged.
"Crap!" John stumbled back, raising his shovel just in time to block the wolf's attack. The force of the impact nearly knocked him over, and the beast's snarling face was inches from his own.
"Not today!" John shouted, summoning all his strength. He swung the shovel with all his might, striking the wolf's head. The beast yelped and staggered back, giving the skeletons time to close in again.
This time, they didn't hold back. Claws and bones tore into the wolf's flesh, and finally, with a sickening crunch, the creature collapsed.
[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Wolf]
EXP Gained: 200
Soul Fragment Collected (1).
John fell to his knees, gasping for breath. The skeletons stood motionless, their task complete.
"First kill," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "And it nearly killed me."
He stared at the wolf's lifeless body, then raised his hand.
[Skill Activated: Raise Dead]
The wolf's corpse twitched, then rose shakily to its feet. Its glowing red eyes had turned green, matching the faint light of John's undead.
[Minion Summoned: Shadow Wolf Thrall]
John grinned despite himself. "Looks like I've got a new recruit."
The wolf growled softly, but it wasn't directed at him. It stood obediently at his side, ready for his command.
The Hunters
John's victory was short-lived. As he prepared to leave the clearing, a sudden burst of energy rippled through the air. He turned, his heart sinking as he spotted a group of figures emerging from the trees.
Hunters.
There were five of them, each armed with weapons that glowed faintly with magical energy. Their leader, a woman with a sharp gaze and a scar running down her cheek, stepped forward. She wore light armor and carried a spear, its tip crackling with electricity.
"Well, well," she said, her voice cold. "What do we have here?"
John's instincts screamed at him to run, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"I was just... hunting," he said, gesturing to the wolf.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "That's not just any wolf. It's a dungeon beast. And judging by the green glow in its eyes, I'd say you're the reason it's still moving."
Her companions tensed, their hands hovering over their weapons.
John swallowed hard. "I'm not your enemy," he said carefully. "I just—"
"You're a Necromancer," the woman interrupted, her tone accusatory. "And unregistered, by the looks of it."
John's blood ran cold. Hunters were required by law to register with the Murim Empire, and Necromancers—rare as they were—were watched closely. Unregistered users of dark magic were often labeled as criminals or threats.
The woman took a step closer, her spear crackling ominously. "You've got two options. Come with us peacefully, or we take you down right here."
John's mind raced. He could try to explain, but would they even listen? The odds of fighting his way out were slim, but he wasn't ready to give up his freedom.
The Shadow Wolf growled, sensing his unease. The skeletal soldiers shifted, ready to defend him.
"I don't want to fight you," John said, raising his hands. "But if you force me, I won't hold back."
The woman's eyes hardened. "Then you've made your choice."
She thrust her spear forward, sending a bolt of lightning hurtling toward him. John barely managed to dive out of the way, the bolt scorching the ground where he had stood.
"Attack!" he shouted, and his undead surged forward.
The clearing erupted into chaos. The skeletal soldiers clashed with the Hunters, their claws scraping against enchanted weapons. The Shadow Wolf leapt at one of the men, its fangs sinking into his arm.
John focused on the leader. She was fast—faster than he had expected. Her spear blurred as she struck, forcing him to stay on the defensive.
[Skill Activated: Berserker's Fury]
A surge of energy flooded John's body. His movements became quicker, his strikes stronger. He swung his shovel with newfound ferocity, catching the woman off guard.
She stumbled back, her armor dented where the shovel had struck. Her expression shifted from confidence to something closer to respect.
"You're stronger than you look," she admitted. "But you're still outnumbered."
John gritted his teeth. She was right. His minions were holding their own, but the Hunters were experienced, and they were starting to gain the upper hand.
Desperation clawed at him. He needed more power—something to turn the tide.
[Skill Activated: Gravekeeper's Domain]
The ground beneath him darkened, and an unnatural chill spread through the clearing. His minions glowed brighter, their movements becoming faster and more fluid.
The Shadow Wolf lunged at the leader, forcing her to block with her spear. The skeletal soldiers overwhelmed the remaining Hunters, driving them back.
For a moment, it seemed like John might actually win.
But then, reinforcements arrived.
The Edge of Defeat
More Hunters poured into the clearing, drawn by the commotion. John's heart sank as he realized he was hopelessly outnumbered.
The leader smirked. "You gave us a good fight, but it's over."
John's mind raced. He couldn't fight them all, but he couldn't let himself be captured either. His gaze flicked to the Shadow Wolf.
"Go," he whispered. "Distract them."
The wolf growled but obeyed, charging into the group of reinforcements. Chaos erupted as the Hunters tried to subdue the beast.
John used the distraction to retreat, his remaining skeletons covering his escape. His breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled through the forest, the sounds of battle fading behind him.
When he finally stopped, he collapsed against a tree, his body trembling with exhaustion.
[Daily Quest Complete: Strengthen the Abyssal Bond]
Rewards: 100 XP, Random Item (Tier 1).
A small, glowing object appeared in his hand—a simple ring etched with faint runes.
[Item Acquired: Ring of Shadows]
Effect: Increase stealth and speed when in darkness.
John slipped the ring onto his finger, its cool metal a small comfort.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered, staring into the dark forest. "If the world wants to treat me like a threat, then that's exactly what I'll become."
His journey was far from over. In fact, it was only just beginning.