The dungeon quaked violently. The walls trembled, the ceiling groaned under the stress, and jagged spikes of stone broke free, plummeting like deadly spears. Keon barely had time to react before several crashed down on him.
A deafening explosion swallowed all sound, a force so overwhelming that Keon's ears rang painfully. If not for his current state of invulnerability, he would have been skewered a dozen times over. Instead, the spikes passed through him harmlessly, but that didn't stop the sheer panic from gripping his chest.
His body remained eerily unfazed, but his mind?
If I wasn't short on water, I'd have pissed myself.
Shaking off the initial shock, Keon walked out of the debris with practiced ease, using his ghost-like phasing to step through shattered stone and rubble. He forced his expression to remain calm, controlled—but inside, his nerves were on fire.
From the abyss below, the Dungeon Lord's presence flared, the overwhelming aura of the ancient being radiating rage.
"Humans… again. And those wretched elves. Always they come, always they disrupt!"
A furious growl followed, shaking the chamber even more. Dust rained down like a storm of ash.
Keon took a step back, blinking in surprise.
Wait—elves? Humans? Invading?
His mind reeled. He had assumed this dungeon was some long-abandoned, forgotten ruin. But if there were people actively trying to break in…
Then what the hell was that explosion?!
It hadn't sounded like magic. It hadn't sounded like just another battle.
No, it had sounded like something much worse.
Like a bomb.
Like a nuke.
Keon clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay steady.
This just went from bad to catastrophic.
The Dungeon Lord let out a low snarl, and Keon felt its immense presence shift. The pit itself rumbled as if something ancient and colossal had stirred in agitation.
"They dare… to bring such weapons to my domain?"
Another explosion rocked the dungeon. This time, it was closer—too close. Keon barely had time to brace himself before the entire chamber tilted, as if the ground itself had been punched by a giant.
The walls cracked. Chasms split open. Loose debris tumbled into the abyss. But despite the damage, the dungeon held firm. The entrance had not been breached.
And that was what made it all the more terrifying.
Keon's instincts screamed. If the invaders were using weapons strong enough to shake the entire dungeon… but still hadn't gotten in…
Then just how much stronger were they planning to go?
The Dungeon Lord's voice turned to a menacing growl.
"Foolish mortals. You think brute force will grant you entry? You think your so-called weapons of war will break me?"
Keon felt a chill crawl up his spine. He wasn't sure if the Dungeon Lord was speaking to him, or to the unseen enemies above.
Another tremor. This time, Keon swore he could hear something—faint, distant.
Muffled voices. Commands being shouted. Orders being given.
The outside world was preparing for an all-out assault.
And for the first time since arriving here, Keon realized—
They weren't just attacking a dungeon.
They were waging war against something they feared.
The tremors subsided briefly, but the air remained thick with tension. Dust swirled through the cavern as the Dungeon Lord's deep, resonant breath echoed from the abyss. The ancient being let out a long exhale, its irritation evident.
"Contractor, I must apologize for such disturbances. These pests are persistent."
Keon's face remained unreadable. His posture didn't shift, his arms still crossed, his gaze steady.
Internally?
Disturbances? Keon thought, staring blankly into the abyss. You call near-apocalyptic explosions… disturbances?
Another distant impact shook the cavern walls, the muffled echoes of arcane destruction resonating through the underground. The Dungeon Lord, however, seemed entirely unconcerned.
"Their efforts are meaningless. My domain has endured for ages, and it shall endure long after their mortal ambitions have crumbled."
Keon exhaled slowly, adjusting his coat. "Good to know."
He still had no idea why they were attacking in the first place, but at the very least, the dungeon wasn't on the verge of collapse.
Then, to Keon's surprise, the Dungeon Lord's aura shifted—not with rage, but something close to satisfaction.
"Despite their foolishness, this time, I am prepared."
The abyss trembled, and for a moment, Keon saw something—glowing runes flickering to life, ancient inscriptions along the walls pulsing with eerie energy.
"Contractor," the Dungeon Lord continued, "it is thanks to you. The Rebirth Elixir you provided restored what was once lost. And the soul of that wretched beast you delivered…"
The air crackled. A deep, unnatural hum resonated through the chamber. From the abyss, movement stirred.
Keon tensed.
Dark silhouettes rose from below.
Tall, armored figures emerged from the pit, their skeletal frames wreathed in flickering ghostly fire. Ethereal chains clanked as they ascended, gripping rusted weapons imbued with cursed energy. Undead warriors—restored, rearmed, and awaiting command.
Keon's face remained unreadable.
Inside?
…Oh, okay. That's a thing that's happening now.
The Dungeon Lord let out a low chuckle. "My army awakens once more. The time of retreat has passed—now, I shall crush these invaders beneath the weight of the grave itself."
Keon's lips parted slightly, watching as dozens—no, hundreds—of undead continued to rise, spectral energy wrapping around them like a growing storm.
"…Neat."
The Dungeon Lord misinterpreted Keon's reaction entirely.
To it, this was not surprise. This was not shock.
This was expectation.
The calm acceptance, the unshaken posture—Keon had foreseen this outcome.
He knew this would happen.
No… The Dungeon Lord corrected itself. He orchestrated it.
After all, what kind of being offers the exact resources needed to restore an undead legion… unless he intended for this very moment to arrive?
The Dungeon Lord's respect for Keon deepened.
Keon, still staring at the glowing undead soldiers, simply sighed. "Well… have fun with that."
The Dungeon Lord rumbled in approval. "Indeed. They will know their folly soon enough."
Another explosion shook the outer barriers of the dungeon, but this time, the undead army responded. Arcane barriers flared, spectral weapons ignited, and the darkness itself seemed to rise in defense.
The siege was far from over. But now… the dungeon had teeth.
And Keon?
He simply adjusted his cloak again, watching the ancient war machine reactivate, wondering how in the world he ended up in the middle of all this.