The day had just begun when the Scout returned with something strange.
It had found a crevice concealed beneath an overgrown hill, flanked by twisted trees and overgrown moss. What had first seemed like a cave radiated an unnatural chill—the air within shimmered faintly, and strange markings pulsed dimly across the stone.
Iden's interface buzzed with recognition as soon as he stepped close.
[Mini-Dungeon Discovered: Buried Root Den]Type: Resource/Combat HybridDifficulty: ModerateKnown Rewards: High-density ores, ancient materials, elevated EXP gainStatus: Unexplored
His heart skipped. Mini-dungeons were rare and valuable—tiny pocket zones loaded with danger and reward. More importantly, they were instanced—no interference from other survivors once entered.
And they respawned resources and enemies on a weekly cycle.
System Quest Generated: "Conquer the Buried Root Den"Objectives:
Clear all hostile entities inside (0/13)
Extract 3 rare resource nodesRewards:
EXP boost
+1 Summon Token
Special Loot Chest
Rare-class Material Discovery Unlock
Iden summoned his full squad. With him marched:
Bladeguard Warrior (Level 3) – Bonefang Edge crackling with energy
Woodcutter (Level 3) – Still a brute in its own right
Scout (Level 3) – Agile, observant, pathfinder
Miner (Level 2) – Equipped with reinforced pickaxes
Builder (Level 1) – Brought along to gather structural insight
Rael joined as well. She was Level 4 now—her healing ability charged with two Sanctum Pulses, ready to be used.
Together, they descended into the mouth of the dungeon.
The interior of the dungeon was tight and root-woven. Bioluminescent fungi glowed along the walls, and the distant scuttling of beasts echoed from deeper within.
The first wave of enemies hit quickly: a trio of Burrowfang Vermin—agile, fast, but lightly armored.
The Scout danced ahead, luring them into the Warrior's reach. A single swing of the Bonefang Edge, followed by Crimson Cleave, tore through two at once in a burning arc.
EXP Gained
Bladeguard Warrior: +80
Scout: +50
Iden: +30
Player EXP: [41% → 50%]
Rael kept her distance but activated Sanctum Pulse when one of the vermin grazed the Woodcutter.
Sanctum Pulse Activated – Heal + Tier Boost (Woodcutter)Result: +20% damage, minor regen (5 minutes)
They moved deeper, facing more resistance—ambush predators leaping from the walls, tougher armored lizards, even root-animated husks.
The Warrior leveled up mid-fight to Level 4, gaining Blade Whirl—a spin-style strike that knocked enemies away.
Near the heart of the dungeon, the Miner detected resonance. It began digging furiously along a glowing wall of crystal-veined stone.
Resource Node Extracted: Radiant Ore x2Resource Node Extracted: Beast-Iron x3Resource Node Extracted: Root Core Gem x1
These weren't normal ores. They shimmered and pulsed—potential catalysts for future summon evolutions, or materials for powerful enchantment gear.
Near the dungeon's end, a guardian beast awaited—a towering creature of wood and stone: the Hollowfang Alpha, its ribcage full of twisting roots and glowing red sap.
It roared and charged.
The Scout lured. The Builder—surprisingly—threw debris to block its retreat. The Woodcutter tanked the first blow while the Warrior used its Crimson Cleave → Blade Whirl combo.
Rael activated Sanctum Pulse on the Warrior mid-battle, pushing its strength to the edge.
The Alpha fell in a blaze of burning bone and sap, its body collapsing into dust and fragments.
EXP Flood Triggered:
Iden: +240 EXP → Level Up: Level 4 → Level 7
Rael: +180 EXP → Level Up: Level 4 → Level 5
Warrior: +1 Level
Scout, Woodcutter, Miner, Builder: Minor Level Gains
Dungeon Cleared: Buried Root DenQuest CompleteRewards:
+1 Summon Token
Loot Chest: Acquired
Recipe Unlock: Evolving Weapon Core (Rare)
Material Database Update: Root Core, Beast-Iron, Radiant Ore
Summon Capacity: 4 → 5
Skill Gained [Iden]: Spatial Sense (Lv1)
Effect: Awareness of minion positions and health in a 20-meter radius
Skill Gained [Rael]: Radiant Veil (Lv1)
Passive: Small heal to nearby allies every 30 seconds
Iden exhaled. The dungeon pulsed once and faded—the entrance sealed until its natural reset cycle.
He looked at Rael, their skeletons, and the loot in hand.
A fortress above.
Power below.
And now… five summons under his command.