Morning arrived faster than Jiwon expected.
The notification hit almost immediately.
[New Dungeon Detected]
[Distance: 3.5 km]
[Risk Level: Moderate]
He glanced at Haein, who was already stretching her arms, sword on her back. "Ready?" she asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Jiwon replied. The skeletons stirred quietly behind him, awaiting orders.
The city felt alive. People were unaware that gates could appear anywhere, that life and death were balanced by threads they didn't see. Jiwon and Haein didn't have that luxury. Every step counted.
They reached the gate in a narrow alley near the old city library. Unlike the last two gates, this one pulsed irregularly—its light jagged, almost violent.
Haein narrowed her eyes. "Unregistered again. That's not good."
Jiwon examined it briefly. [Environmental Scan Complete] — the system gave little detail. He sighed. "Only one way to know."
The gate rippled as they stepped inside.
The world twisted, and they landed in a dense forest. Mist curled around gnarled trees. The ground was wet and soft, and faint noises echoed from all directions.
"Enemy density seems high," Haein muttered. She drew her sword and moved cautiously.
Jiwon raised his hand. "Skeletons, follow. Form a perimeter."
Three skeletons assembled behind him, each moving in precise formation. Their movements were sharper than yesterday's training.
A rustling sound came from the undergrowth. Eyes glinted red in the mist.
[Enemy Detected: Forest Creatures]
[Quantity: 8]
Eight wolf-like creatures lunged at once, jaws snapping. Haein spun, cutting two down immediately, but six more surrounded them.
"Skeletons, intercept!" Jiwon commanded.
Bones rattled as the skeletons surged forward. Two blocked incoming attacks, one flanked a creature from behind.
The system chimed. [Battle Efficiency +5%]
Jiwon concentrated, sending mana through the skeletons. They moved as one unit, anticipating every strike. Haein moved in perfect rhythm with them, slashing, dodging, and keeping the creatures off balance.
One wolf broke through. Jiwon extended a hand. [Bone Spike Lv.4] — spikes erupted from the damp earth, piercing the creature and pinning it in place.
[Enemy Defeated]
[EXP Gained: 35]
The remaining wolves hesitated, snarling. Haein took advantage, cutting three down cleanly.
Jiwon's mind raced. This dungeon was different—denser, faster, and more dangerous. But for the first time, he felt the thrill of controlling the battlefield fully.
"Good control," Haein said, her breath steady. "Your skeletons… they're learning fast."
Jiwon nodded slightly. "They're not just learning. We're adapting together."
Mist curled around them, hiding more eyes, more danger. And deep inside, Jiwon knew—this forest was only the beginning.