The Academy bustled with activity as students hurried to their classes or practiced combat in the training grounds. Despite the lively atmosphere, John Snow kept his head low and his hood up, navigating the corridors like a shadow. His objective was clear: stay unnoticed, learn all he could, and grow stronger in secret.
By day, he was just another probationary student struggling to keep up with the Academy's grueling regimen. By night, he ventured into the hidden corners of the grounds, honing his abilities as a Necromancer.
This delicate balance had worked so far, but John knew it was only a matter of time before something—or someone—threatened to tip the scales.
The Taskmaster
The day began with a new challenge: a practical class on dungeon combat. The students gathered in an underground training facility designed to simulate the conditions of a dungeon. Artificial mana crystals illuminated the stone walls, casting eerie shadows that made the air feel oppressive.
The instructor for the session was a man named Taskmaster Zoran, a grizzled veteran with a missing eye and a scar that stretched from his temple to his jaw.
"Listen up, rookies!" Zoran barked, pacing in front of the group. "You're here to learn how to survive in a dungeon. That means working as a team, thinking on your feet, and knowing when to fight and when to run."
His gaze swept over the students, lingering on each face as if to assess their worth. When his single eye landed on John, it narrowed slightly, but Zoran said nothing.
"The rules are simple," Zoran continued. "Each team will be sent into the simulation room. Your goal is to retrieve the artifact at the center and make it out alive. Fail, and you'll wish you hadn't shown up today."
Lucas leaned over and whispered to John, "Why do I get the feeling 'fail' means more than just a bad grade?"
John didn't answer. His focus was on the challenge ahead.
Into the Dungeon
John's team—comprising Lucas, Kara, and the hulking boy named Brant—entered the simulation room together. The environment shifted as they stepped inside, the stone walls morphing into the moss-covered corridors of a dungeon.
A faint, ominous growl echoed through the air, and the flickering torchlight added to the tension.
"Alright," Kara said, her twin daggers already in her hands. "What's the plan?"
Brant cracked his knuckles. "Smash anything that moves."
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Great strategy. How about we actually think this through?"
John stayed quiet, observing the layout. The corridor branched into three paths, each shrouded in darkness. He could feel the faint pull of mana from the center, where the artifact likely lay.
"Middle path," John said finally. "That's where the artifact is."
Kara raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
"Just a feeling," John replied. It wasn't entirely a lie—the Abyss whispered to him, faint but clear.
The team moved cautiously, their weapons drawn. John stayed at the back, his senses on high alert.
The first threat appeared almost immediately: a group of dungeon goblins armed with crude weapons. They screeched and charged, their glowing red eyes filled with malice.
"Here we go!" Brant roared, swinging his warhammer with devastating force. The goblins were no match for his brute strength, but their numbers made them dangerous.
Kara darted forward, her daggers flashing as she struck with precision. Lucas provided support with his short sword, cutting down any goblins that got too close.
John hung back, pretending to fumble with his shovel. In reality, he was channeling his mana, ready to summon his undead if things went south.
The fight ended quickly, the goblins reduced to lifeless bodies.
"That wasn't so bad," Lucas said, wiping sweat from his brow.
John didn't respond. His eyes were on the corpses, his fingers itching to raise them. But he couldn't risk it—not here.
The Artifact Room
The team pressed on, encountering more traps and enemies as they moved deeper into the dungeon. Finally, they reached a large chamber where the artifact sat on a pedestal in the center.
It was a small, glowing orb, pulsating with faint blue light.
"That's it," Kara said, her voice hushed. "Looks easy enough."
John's instincts screamed at him to be cautious. "Wait," he said. "This feels like a trap."
Brant snorted. "You're paranoid. Let's just grab it and get out of here."
Before John could stop him, Brant marched forward and reached for the orb.
The moment his fingers touched it, the ground shook violently. Stone walls cracked, and a deafening roar filled the chamber.
A massive golem emerged from the shadows, its body made of jagged rock and its eyes glowing with molten energy.
[Dungeon Guardian: Molten Golem]
Level: 15
Threat Level: Extreme.
"Of course there's a guardian," Lucas muttered, gripping his sword.
"Spread out!" Kara shouted.
The team scrambled as the golem lumbered toward them, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
Brant charged, swinging his warhammer with all his strength. The impact barely left a scratch on the golem's rocky hide.
"This thing's tough!" he shouted, dodging a massive fist that crashed into the ground.
"Keep it distracted!" Kara said, darting around the golem and aiming for its joints.
John stood at the edge of the chaos, his mind racing. He couldn't reveal his Necromancer abilities here—not with the instructors watching. But without them, his team might not survive.
He took a deep breath and made a decision.
A Hidden Talent
John gripped his shovel tightly and charged toward the golem. It raised its fist, ready to crush him, but he slid under its arm and struck its leg with the shovel.
To everyone's surprise, the golem staggered slightly.
"Did he just..." Lucas stared in disbelief.
"Focus!" John shouted, his voice carrying authority. "Aim for the joints! That's where it's weakest!"
The team followed his lead, targeting the golem's knees and elbows. With their combined efforts, they managed to slow it down, but the fight was far from over.
The golem roared, releasing a burst of molten energy that forced the team to scatter.
"We're not going to last much longer!" Kara shouted, her daggers barely leaving a mark on the creature.
John clenched his fists. He couldn't hold back any longer.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Bond]
A faint, dark aura surrounded John as he tapped into the Abyss, channeling its energy without summoning his undead. His movements became faster, his strikes more precise.
He darted around the golem, using his shovel to deflect its attacks and create openings for his teammates.
"What the hell's gotten into him?" Lucas muttered, but he didn't question it further.
Together, the team managed to weaken the golem enough for Brant to deliver a crushing blow to its core. The guardian crumbled into rubble, its glowing eyes fading.
[Dungeon Guardian Defeated: Molten Golem]
EXP Gained: 500
Soul Fragment Collected (1).
Kara retrieved the artifact, her hands trembling slightly. "We did it," she said, her voice filled with relief.
"Yeah," John said, wiping sweat from his brow. "We did."
Suspicion and Recognition
When the team emerged from the simulation room, they were met with scattered applause from the other students.
Taskmaster Zoran stood at the front, his arms crossed. His single eye locked onto John, a flicker of curiosity in his expression.
"You," he said, pointing at John. "Step forward."
John's heart sank, but he obeyed.
"You showed impressive leadership and adaptability in there," Zoran said. "But there's something... unusual about you."
John forced a smile. "I just got lucky, sir."
Zoran's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before he nodded. "Luck or not, keep it up. The Academy needs Hunters like you."
The praise earned John a few curious looks from the other students, but he kept his head down, determined not to draw more attention.
Secrets in the Shadows
That night, John returned to his secluded spot near the outer wall. He summoned his undead, the skeletons and Shadow Wolf emerging silently from the ground.
The fight with the golem had pushed him to his limits, but it had also shown him how much he still had to learn.
[Skill Leveled Up: Shadow Bond (Level 2)]
[New Skill Acquired: Abyssal Veil]
Effect: Cloak yourself in shadows, increasing stealth and reducing damage taken.
John clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest.
"I'll master this power," he whispered to himself. "And when the time comes, I'll show this world what it means to rise from the grave."
In the distance, the Academy's bell tower chimed, marking the start of a new day. For John Snow, it marked the next step in his journey—a journey shrouded in darkness and ambition.