The Dungeon entrance yawned like a gaping wound in the earth, nestled beneath the twisted roots of an ancient, rotting tree. A stench of sulfur, rot, and blood seeped from within, warning any sane being to turn back. But Alexander was not just anyone—he was the Monarch of the Undead, and the growing pulse of Chaos corruption gnawed at the edge of his instincts.
Behind him stood an organized squad of undead: six bone-plated Warrior Undead, two Builder Undead with sack-like arms filled with stone and mortar, and four Scavenger Undead, cloaked in fungal growths and equipped with oversized mandibles perfect for dissecting corrupted tissue. The forest had grown unnaturally quiet, the wind still, as if the very world anticipated what was to come.
Alexander narrowed his eyes at the Dungeon's mouth. He could feel the surge of unstable dark mana within, pulsing like a heartbeat. This was not a natural Dungeon. It had been seeded. Chaos had begun spreading beneath the land.
He cast Shadow Fog before they entered, cloaking his undead with a veil of dark mist. Their forms blurred and hissed, becoming harder to see, harder to track. The effect amplified their stealth and resistance, and it would be necessary. Whatever lurked within would not be weak.
"Scouts first," he commanded.
The Scavenger Undead scurried forward, vanishing into the dark. Moments later, two returned, their glowing sockets twitching. One of them clicked its jaws and used its claw to scratch symbols on the dirt—a crude map, indicating movement patterns of patrolling Chaos spawn.
Alexander reviewed it quickly, nodding once. "Efficient. Warriors, advance with me. Builders stay back, prepare to reinforce the exit in case of collapse."
They descended into the Dungeon.
---
The first chamber was a pulsating mass of corrupted stone and flesh. Veins of Chaos energy throbbed along the walls. At the far end, a Chaos Spawn, newly birthed, roared as it sensed their presence. It was a quadruped with a chitinous shell and a maw lined with dozens of mismatched teeth. Spines erupted from its back, twitching.
Chaos Beastling (D-Rank)
HP: 1,500
Traits: Rapid Mutation, Acid Spit, Berserk State upon near-death
Alexander stepped forward, extending his hand. Basic Shadow Bullet surged forth, slamming into the beast's side and cracking part of its armor. The Warrior Undead followed, engaging with calculated strikes, distracting the beast while he moved to flank.
The creature shrieked and unleashed a torrent of acid. One of the Warriors was melted down to bone sludge.
"Shadow Fog, again," Alexander muttered, and another pulse of magic spread out.
This time, he targeted a gap in the creature's back plates. Shadow Bolt – Enhanced, a newer spell he'd developed through training, tore into the soft spot. The beast shrieked and began to mutate, gaining an extra arm.
Too late.
Alexander activated Raise Undead III, and from the acid-melted bones of his fallen warrior, a stronger, darker version emerged, pulsing with chaotic resistance.
The creature lunged.
The new undead intercepted it mid-air, shoving a jagged arm through the beast's eye.
It convulsed, then collapsed.
---
After the battle, Alexander approached the crumbling flesh of the Chaos spawn. Dark motes lingered in the air. A flicker of strange heat brushed against his soul.
A whisper.
He knelt and focused. A small pile of ashen particles coalesced—Soul Ash. His second time acquiring it.
He placed the Soul Ash into a small obsidian vial strapped to his belt.
Moving forward, he navigated twisting corridors until they found it:
A large chamber. Runes carved into bone. At the center, floating above a cracked altar, was a Loot Box, glowing faintly with dark purple energy.
Alexander stepped forward cautiously. His mana senses were sharp, detecting no traps—only residual chaotic mana. He reached out, fingers brushing the box.
It clicked open.
Inside lay a necklace, simple and black, with a single pale crystal at its center.
Item Acquired: Mindroot Choker
Type: Rare Accessory
Effect: Boosts Mental Control Capacity by 25%
Passive: Increases resistance to psychic interference.
Alexander placed the choker around his neck. The moment the crystal touched his skin, a jolt of energy raced through him. His mental perception expanded. He could feel his undead more clearly—not just their presence, but their emotions, faint as they were.
He grinned slightly. This... would change everything.
---
On the way out of the Dungeon, the ground trembled. Cracks formed along the wall. Alexander paused.
From the cracks emerged a twisted creature, much smaller than the previous spawn. It looked like a bat, except it had three heads and wings made of pulsing veins.
New Chaos Enemy Discovered: Veinwing Parasite
Rank: E
Traits: Infection Spore, Flight, Bloodsight
It shrieked and flew toward Alexander.
He raised a hand. Shadow Lash burst from his palm, cleaving the creature in half.
A moment later, it regenerated.
He frowned. "Persistent."
He unleashed a wave of Dark Pulse, and the energy annihilated the creature entirely.
He exhaled.
"They're getting smarter. And more annoying."
He turned to his Builder Undead. "Seal the Dungeon entrance. Let it collapse."
The Builders obeyed, using summoned bone and black stone to collapse the tunnel.
As they emerged from the forest, the wind picked up.
Far away, on the horizon, black spores drifted into the sky like ash.
The signs of Chaos were no longer whispers. They were howls.
And Alexander had no intention of staying quiet either.