In front of a massive, swirling portal stood a group of armed military personnel. Their uniforms were reinforced with combat-grade armor, and their eyes constantly scanned the area. Some carried rifles slung over their backs, while others kept their hands on the grip, ready for anything.
A line of nervous students stood behind them, clad in beginner-grade armor issued by the academy. Some fidgeted, others whispered among themselves, their nerves on edge.
"Man, I'm really nervous. I can't believe I'm going to enter a dungeon today," one student muttered, eyes fixed on the glowing gate.
"Me too. I've only heard and seen dungeons online. I can't believe we're actually going in," another replied, voice tinged with disbelief.
"All of you, calm down," said a soldier at the front, his voice firm but measured. "This is an awakening dungeon. It only contains goblins and slimes. We've cleared dozens of these before. As long as you follow our lead and don't stray, you'll be fine."
Among the students was a boy named Henry—black-haired, brown-eyed, dressed in silver, body-fitting armor that shimmered slightly under the morning sun. Though his expression was calm, the subtle tremble in his hands betrayed the storm within.
> "I can't believe I'm finally going to enter a dungeon... I've been waiting for this day for years."
---
Five Years Ago...
On what began as a normal day, the skies tore open as colossal portals appeared across the globe. From them emerged horrifying creatures—monsters that shattered cities and defied all known science. Firearms and nuclear weapons were powerless against them. Humanity stood on the brink of extinction...
Then, something changed.
Humans began to awaken supernatural powers. These empowered individuals—called Awakened—fought back and slowly reclaimed ground. They were classified by rank, from [E] to the godlike [SSS], with [E-Rank] being the weakest and [SSS-Rank] the rarest and strongest.
The only way to awaken… was to enter a dungeon.
---
> "I'm a student of Valeriae Academy," Henry reminded himself, staring into the pulsating gateway. "This is it. My one chance to awaken… I need a good talent. I need to protect my sister."
"You all! Stop standing around like ragdolls!" the soldier barked. "Enter the dungeon—quickly! We don't have time to waste!"
One by one, the students stepped forward and vanished through the gate. Henry took a deep breath and followed.
---
Dungeon Interior
As Henry crossed the threshold, the world around him shimmered. The brightness vanished. In the next blink, he was standing in a cold, damp cave dimly lit by glowing fungi. The air smelled of moss and rot.
Suddenly, a chime echoed in his mind like a whisper from the void.
> [Ding!]
[Congratulations to user for awakening the Necromancer class with the SSS skill: Undead Dominion.]
Henry's heart skipped a beat.
> "Wait... Did I just awaken an SSS-rank skill? That's... unheard of! Talent determines everything in this world—this means I can reach the top!"
His face filled with disbelief. He rubbed his eyes, but the message remained.
A grin slowly spread across his face as joy surged through his chest.
> "Finally... Looks like all those years of training paid off. I can finally protect Mom and my sister. I can give them a real life."
> "They said you could check your stats by saying 'Status Window,' right?"
"Status Window!"
---
[Status Window]
[Name: Henry]
[Level: 1 (0/30)]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Necromancer]
[HP: 60]
[MP: 110]
[Strength: 10]
[Speed: 11]
[Intelligence: 16]
[Perception: 9]
[Stamina: 10]
[Skill: Undead Dominion]
Undead Dominion is the supreme authority over death, allowing the user to raise and control the dead by sheer will. It revives not just bodies, but souls—creating intelligent, loyal undead. It's more than magic; it's a sovereign power that imprints essence onto the dead, forging an empire beyond life.
[Other skills: Locked]
---
"Wow... So I really can raise the dead. This is basically a cheat ability!" Henry chuckled, awe in his voice.
Just then, sharp screeches echoed through the cave. Several goblins appeared—vile, green creatures with jagged teeth and beady red eyes. Some wielded chipped knives, others carried spears or broken swords.
> "Looks like food delivered itself. Perfect time to test this out."
Henry drew his sword. It gleamed faintly in the dim light. Without hesitation, he charged.
One goblin lunged at him with a rusted dagger, but Henry twisted his body, avoiding the strike, and brought his sword down in a clean, brutal arc—splitting the goblin in half.
The others hissed and surged forward, but Henry was faster. He dashed in, his blade flashing as he beheaded two more in rapid succession.
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Level Up: Level 2]
[Host has gained 2 Attribute Points]
Henry exhaled, flicking the blood from his blade.
> "Now… how do I turn them into undead? The system didn't say."
> [Host must choose a command phrase to summon undead.]
"Hmm... How about 'Come forth'?"
> [Command phrase registered: 'Come forth.']
Henry faced the three goblin corpses. He extended his hand and spoke in a solemn tone.
> "Come forth."
The bodies began to twitch. Wisps of pale energy floated up like mist. Moments later, three translucent goblin phantoms stood, kneeling before him—eyes glowing with spectral loyalty.
"So... these are my summons," Henry whispered, a mix of wonder and anticipation in his voice. "Time to test them out."
---
Minutes Later...
Swarms of goblins came in waves, but Henry didn't lift a finger. Instead, he stood behind his undead vanguard, directing them with calm precision.
"Flank left. Block that spear. Now strike!"
His summoned goblins obeyed without hesitation, moving with unnatural speed and coordination. The enemy didn't stand a chance.
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Host has killed a goblin +10 EXP]
[Level Up: Level 3]
[Host has gained 2 Attribute Points]
Henry leaned casually against a stone wall, watching as the final goblin fell under his minion's blade.
"I've already reached Level 3… and I barely did anything. This is awesome."
A smile crept onto his lips.
> "This is only the beginning."