The Academy moved on as it always did, grinding students down with relentless training, demanding challenges, and the constant pressure of competition. John Snow found himself slipping further into his dual life. By day, he was a struggling novice, blending in among the masses of eager trainees. By night, he embraced the shadows, refining his necromantic power in secret.
But as the days passed, his growing strength became harder to conceal. Whispers began to spread—about the quiet student who always seemed to keep up despite his lack of experience, about the unassuming young man who had led his team to victory against a simulation that should have overwhelmed them.
John did his best to ignore the murmurs, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they reached someone he couldn't afford to attract.
A New Assignment
The Academy courtyard was unusually crowded that morning. Students gathered in clusters, whispering excitedly about the announcement. John leaned against a stone pillar, his hood casting a shadow over his face as he listened.
"Did you hear?" Kara said, her voice bubbling with energy. "They're sending us to a real dungeon!"
Lucas, who stood beside her, frowned. "That's insane. We're barely out of the probationary phase."
"It's a low-tier dungeon," Kara replied. "The instructors will be there to supervise. It's probably just a test to see how we handle the real thing."
John's interest piqued at the mention of a real dungeon. This could be an opportunity to strengthen himself further—and to gather more soul fragments for his abilities.
The head instructor, a tall woman with sharp features named Master Elira, stepped onto the podium in the center of the courtyard. Her voice cut through the chatter like a blade.
"Attention, students!" she called, her tone firm and commanding. "You have spent weeks training in simulations and honing your skills. Now it's time to see how you perform in the field. Today, you will enter the Goblin Warren—a low-tier dungeon near the outskirts of Aster. Your objective is to clear it and secure the artifact at its core."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"Teams have been assigned," Master Elira continued. "Your names are posted on the board. Report to the main gate within the hour. Dismissed."
A Dangerous Team
John pushed through the throng of students to find the roster. His eyes scanned the list until he found his name:
Team 7
John Snow
Kara Delmont
Lucas Fenwick
Brant Halloway
Andor Voss
John's brow furrowed at the last name. He had heard of Andor—a noble's son with a reputation for being arrogant and ruthless. This would complicate things.
"Looks like we're stuck with royalty," Lucas muttered, appearing at John's side.
Kara smirked. "Should be fun. Maybe he'll trip on his ego and take out a few goblins on the way down."
John said nothing, but his mind was already working. Nobles were trouble—not just because of their attitude, but because they often had connections that could dig up secrets better left buried.
The Goblin Warren
The dungeon entrance was a jagged hole in the ground, surrounded by dead trees and scorched earth. A faint, foul stench wafted from the darkness, making more than a few students gag.
John stood with his team near the edge, watching as Master Elira gave the final instructions.
"Remember," she said, "this is a real dungeon. The creatures inside are not simulations. They will kill you if you're careless. Stick to your team, follow your leader's instructions, and don't take unnecessary risks."
Her gaze swept over the gathered students, pausing briefly on John before moving on.
"Move out!"
Inside the dungeon, the air grew damp and cold. The narrow tunnels forced the team to move single-file, with Brant leading the way and Andor close behind.
Andor glanced over his shoulder at John. "You're in the back. Keep up, or don't bother coming at all."
John bit back a retort, focusing on his surroundings instead. The Abyss whispered faintly in his mind, alerting him to the presence of lifeforms nearby.
"Goblins," he murmured.
Kara, walking just ahead of him, turned. "How do you know?"
"Call it a hunch," John replied.
The first ambush came quickly. Goblins swarmed from side tunnels, their shrieks echoing off the walls. Brant roared, swinging his warhammer in wide arcs that crushed several enemies instantly.
Andor fought with precision, his enchanted rapier cutting through goblins as if they were paper. Kara and Lucas moved in sync, their teamwork honed through hours of practice.
John hung back, feigning difficulty as he deflected attacks with his shovel. In truth, he was studying his teammates, learning their strengths and weaknesses.
Andor shot him a glare. "Do something useful, Snow, or you're dead weight!"
John clenched his jaw. He couldn't afford to reveal his true power here—not with Andor watching like a hawk.
The Artifact Room
After hours of fighting through goblins and avoiding traps, the team reached the heart of the dungeon.
The artifact was an ornate dagger, its blade shimmering with an eerie green light. It rested on a stone pedestal in the center of the chamber.
"This is it," Kara said, her voice hushed.
Andor stepped forward. "I'll retrieve it. Stay back and cover me."
John's instincts screamed at him. The Abyss whispered louder now, warning of something far more dangerous than goblins.
"Andor, wait," John said, his tone firm. "It's a trap."
The noble scoffed. "A trap? Don't be ridiculous. This is a low-tier dungeon."
"And yet, you've noticed how the traps and ambushes have been more complex the deeper we go," John countered. "Does this look like a low-tier artifact to you?"
Andor hesitated, but his pride wouldn't let him admit John might be right.
"Fine," John said, stepping forward. "If you're so sure, I'll retrieve it. But don't blame me if something goes wrong."
The Guardian
John approached the pedestal slowly, his senses on high alert. The Abyss whispered furiously now, a chorus of voices urging caution.
The moment his fingers touched the dagger, the room shook violently. Stone walls cracked, and a deafening roar filled the chamber.
A massive creature emerged from the shadows—a grotesque amalgamation of goblin and beast, its eyes glowing with malevolent light.
[Dungeon Guardian: Goblin Overlord]
Level: 20
Threat Level: High.
"Damn it!" Andor cursed, drawing his rapier.
"Spread out!" John shouted, taking command without thinking. "Don't let it focus on one target!"
The team moved as one, their previous frustrations forgotten in the face of the new threat.
The Goblin Overlord was fast despite its size, its claws carving deep gouges into the stone floor. Brant's warhammer barely fazed it, and even Andor's rapier seemed ineffective against its thick hide.
John's mind raced. He couldn't keep up the act much longer—his team would be wiped out if he didn't do something.
He glanced at Kara and Lucas, both of whom were struggling to keep the creature at bay.
"Cover me," John said, his voice low.
"What are you—" Lucas began, but John was already moving.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Veil]
Shadows enveloped John as he darted around the Overlord, his movements faster and more fluid than before. He struck at its joints with precise blows, using his shovel to exploit weaknesses in its armor.
The Overlord roared, turning its attention to him.
"Now!" John shouted. "Hit it while it's distracted!"
The team surged forward, their attacks coordinated. Kara's daggers found soft spots in its hide, and Brant's warhammer finally landed a critical blow to its skull.
With a final, ear-splitting roar, the Goblin Overlord collapsed, its massive body dissolving into mana.
[Dungeon Guardian Defeated: Goblin Overlord]
EXP Gained: 700
Soul Fragment Collected (2).
The room fell silent.
Andor glared at John, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "You're full of surprises, Snow."
John forced a smile. "Just doing my part."
But as the team retrieved the artifact and made their way back to the surface, John couldn't shake the feeling that his secrets were no longer as safe as he'd hoped
The team trudged through the dimly lit dungeon tunnels, exhaustion and tension heavy in the air. Brant carried the artifact, the green-glowing dagger sheathed carefully at his side. None of them spoke much as they made their way toward the exit.
John lagged a few steps behind the group, his mind racing. The fight with the Goblin Overlord had been too close for comfort. Despite his efforts to mask his abilities, his performance had already drawn suspicion.
Andor's cold gaze occasionally flicked back at him, as if he were dissecting John's every move in his mind.
"You did well back there," Kara said softly, falling into step beside John.
John glanced at her, surprised.
"I mean it," she continued. "You took charge when things went south. Without you, we might not have made it."
John forced a modest smile. "It was a team effort."
Kara smirked. "Modest, huh? Doesn't really suit you."
Before John could respond, Lucas called out from up ahead.
"Something's wrong," he said, his voice tight. "I don't remember this tunnel."
A New Threat
The team halted, glancing around the tunnel. It was darker than the previous sections, and the air felt heavy, almost suffocating.
"This isn't the way we came in," Andor said sharply. "What the hell happened?"
Brant frowned. "The dungeon must have shifted."
Kara shivered. "I thought this was supposed to be a stable dungeon."
"Stable doesn't mean predictable," John muttered.
Andor turned on him, his expression a mix of frustration and suspicion. "You seem to know a lot about dungeons for someone who's supposed to be a novice."
John held his gaze calmly. "I read a lot. Maybe you should try it."
The tension between them crackled, but before Andor could respond, the ground trembled beneath their feet.
A low growl echoed through the tunnel, followed by the sound of something heavy dragging across the stone.
"Formation!" Kara hissed, her daggers flashing into her hands.
The team moved instinctively, forming a defensive circle.
From the shadows ahead, a hulking creature emerged. It was unlike anything they had encountered so far—a grotesque amalgamation of stone and flesh, its body covered in glowing runes that pulsed with dark energy.
[Dungeon Mutation: Runic Aberration]
Level: 25
Threat Level: Severe.
The team froze, the air around them thick with fear. The creature's glowing eyes locked onto them, and it let out a bone-rattling roar.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Lucas whispered, his knuckles white around his sword.
"Stay calm," John said, his voice steady. "We've dealt with tough enemies before. We can handle this."
Andor sneered. "Handle this? Look at it, Snow. That thing's twice as strong as the Overlord!"
John ignored him, focusing on the creature's movements. Its runes glowed brighter as it stepped closer, and the Abyss whispered warnings in his mind.
"It's charging something," John said. "We need to disrupt it before it finishes."
"Great idea," Brant said, hefting his warhammer. "How do we do that?"
"Hit the runes," John replied. "They're the source of its power."
A Desperate Fight
The team sprang into action. Brant charged the creature, his warhammer smashing into one of the glowing runes on its shoulder. The Aberration roared, swiping at him with a massive claw, but Brant dodged just in time.
Kara and Lucas flanked the creature, their weapons aiming for the glowing symbols on its legs. Each strike disrupted the runes slightly, causing the light to flicker.
Andor stayed back, his rapier darting in and out as he tested the creature's defenses.
John hung back, watching the battle unfold. He could see the cracks forming in their strategy—their movements were uncoordinated, and the Aberration was adapting quickly.
He clenched his fists. He couldn't hold back anymore.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Bond]
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Veil]
Dark energy enveloped John as he surged forward, his movements blurring with speed. His shovel struck one of the runes on the creature's chest, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through the air.
The Aberration staggered, its roar shaking the tunnel.
"What the—" Andor stared at John, his eyes narrowing.
"Focus on the fight!" John barked, his voice filled with authority.
Kara and Lucas rallied, their strikes becoming more precise. Brant landed a devastating blow to the creature's knee, causing it to collapse partially.
The Aberration let out a final, desperate roar, its remaining runes glowing brightly as it prepared to unleash a devastating attack.
"We need to end this now!" John shouted.
He dashed forward, channeling the Abyss into his shovel. The weapon glowed with dark energy as he brought it down on the creature's core.
With a blinding flash of light, the Aberration exploded into fragments, its body disintegrating into mana.
[Dungeon Mutation Defeated: Runic Aberration]
EXP Gained: 1000
Soul Fragments Collected (2).
The team stood in stunned silence, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"That was... insane," Lucas said, his voice trembling.
"We're alive," Kara said, a faint smile on her face. "That's what matters."
Andor's gaze remained fixed on John, suspicion and curiosity warring in his expression.
Escape
The dungeon exit finally came into view, the faint light of the surface a welcome sight. As they stepped out into the open air, the tension began to ease, but John knew the real danger wasn't over.
Master Elira and several other instructors were waiting, their expressions neutral as they assessed the returning students.
"What happened in there?" Elira asked, her sharp gaze sweeping over the group.
"There was a mutation," Brant said, his voice grim. "A Runic Aberration. It wasn't supposed to be there."
Elira's eyes narrowed. "A mutation in a low-tier dungeon? Unusual."
Her gaze landed on John, and he felt a faint pressure, as if she were trying to peer into his very soul.
"You performed well," she said finally. "But be cautious, Snow. The dungeon world is full of surprises, and not all of them will end in your favor."
John nodded, keeping his expression neutral.
The Shadow of Suspicion
That night, John returned to his secluded spot near the Academy's outer wall. He summoned his undead companions—the skeletal warriors and the Shadow Wolf—letting them patrol the area as he sat in meditation.
The fight with the Aberration had pushed him to his limits, but it had also brought him closer to understanding his powers.
[Skill Leveled Up: Shadow Bond (Level 3)]
[Skill Leveled Up: Abyssal Veil (Level 2)]
[New Skill Acquired: Soul Manipulation]
Effect: Convert collected soul fragments into temporary boosts or unique abilities.
John opened his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. His strength was growing, but so was the danger. Andor's suspicion, the instructors' scrutiny—both were problems he couldn't ignore.
But for now, he focused on his progress.
"Soon," he murmured to himself. "Soon, I'll be ready for whatever comes next."
In the distance, the Academy's bell tower chimed, signaling midnight. Shadows danced in the moonlight, and John felt a strange sense of calm.
The world was full of challenges, but he would face them all. After all, the gravebound didn't fear death—they mastered it.