{Argus's POV}
Argus kept his focus on the eerie gate, his intuition already warning him of danger. The unsettling feeling he sensed earlier wasn't from the gate itself, but from whatever was lurking beyond it. The gate remained closed, but Argus knew something dangerous was on the other side.
As he continued to observe, the gate began to creak open, slowly revealing a dark figure stepping through. The atmosphere grew heavier as the undead emerged. Argus narrowed his eyes, immediately recognizing its presence. It wasn't like the lesser undead he had fought before. This one was stronger, far more dangerous.
'Another one of those special undead.'(Argus)
Argus ignored the cloaked figure's words, keeping his attention on the gate and the emerging threat.
The newly emerged undead walked steadily out of the gate and immediately joined the formation of skeletons that stood before Argus. It moved with precision, lining up with the others as if awaiting orders.
Argus paid no attention to the cloaked figure on the throne. He sensed no real threat from it. His body, now fully healed, still bore the marks of battle. The bloodstains clung to his damaged clothes, a reminder of the fight he had endured, but Argus's mind was focused elsewhere. His eyes scanned the chamber, taking in every detail, noting the positions of his enemies and the layout of the room.
'Destroy the gate, huh? And I need to keep an eye on that butcher-wielding undead.'(Argus)
The cloaked figure, noticing that its guest was blatantly ignoring its presence, grew frustrated. It had been waiting for some sort of recognition or fear, but none came.
"You dare ignore the person who will become the strongest necromancer?!" the figure shouted, its voice rising in anger.
Argus continued to disregard the figure's words, a look of disdain now flickering across his usually stoic face. The cloaked figure's hands clenched as its frustration turned to rage, gnashing its teeth in fury.
It was just about to command its undead army to attack when Argus suddenly acted. Without warning, he launched himself forward, his scythe gleaming in his hand.
"Strongest necromancer?"(Argus)
Argus scoffed.
"I know someone who can reach that... and it's not you."(Argus)
With those words, Argus dashed forward, his eyes fixed on the large summoning formation below the dungeon core. He already had an idea of its function.
'It can randomly generate or summon undead, huh.'(Argus)
Argus knew that if left unchecked, the gate might eventually summon a Unique Class undead, and even though the chances were slim, he wasn't going to risk it. There was already a Unique Class undead by the cloaked figure, as his notification had confirmed. He couldn't let another appear.
The undead army reacted as he charged, weapons raised and ready to strike. Argus wasn't focused on fighting them directly; he was trying to avoid unnecessary confrontations. A skeleton with a shield stepped in his way, swinging its sword at him. Argus dodged to the side, moving quickly without losing momentum. He ducked under a spear thrust from another skeleton, his eyes still on the formation.
'Destroy the gate first....'
Argus reminded himself, dodging another attack. His scythe remained ready in his grip, but he wasn't wasting energy on them just yet.
The butcher-wielding undead at the back noticed his movement and began advancing. Its oversized knife dragged along the ground with a loud, grinding noise. Argus felt the floor tremble slightly as the heavy creature moved faster than its size should allow. It was getting closer, but Argus had no choice. He needed to take out the formation before anything worse came through that gate.
A skeleton lunged at him, sword raised. Argus sidestepped, slicing with his scythe just enough to push the attack away without slowing down. His focus stayed on the formation, and he could see the glowing runes clearly now, pulsing with eerie energy. The gate was faintly open, and the dark power coming from it made his skin crawl.
The butcher undead was nearly upon him, its knife raised for a devastating blow. Argus didn't waste any more time. He leaped toward the formation, landing in front of the glowing runes. He raised his scythe, ready to strike at the source of the summoning.
Argus paused, sensing the imminent danger from the incoming attack. His instincts screamed at him to stop.
"It's stats are higher after all. Black Orb, is it?' he thought, eyes narrowing as he kept his focus on the incoming butcher undead.
He hadn't yet activated his Eyes of Twilight, so he didn't know where the weak points of the formation were. His previous strike had been more of a test to gauge the reaction of the cloaked figure. It seemed clear now that the figure wouldn't just sit by and let him destroy the formation.
Argus found himself surrounded by the undead army. He stood at the very center of them, but despite the odds, he wasn't afraid. His expression remained calm, his mind calculating his next move. The tension hung in the air, and the fight had reached a stalemate once again.
Suddenly, an annoying laugh echoed through the chamber.
"Zehaha! You dare ignore me, you puny Beginner Realm?"
The cloaked figure sneered, still seated on its throne.
"You dare deny my claim and even attempt to destroy my hard work?"
The figure's voice was filled with arrogance as it continued, unmoving from its seat of power.
"As if l'd let you do whatever you please! I've been watching you. You're far too strong for a mere Beginner Realm Awakener. How perfect! After I kill you, I'll turn your body into an undead, and you'II serve me for eternity, witnessing the day I become the strongest necromancer!"
Argus remained silent, but a flicker of disdain crossed his stoic he stood surrounded by the undead army, his eyes scanning the formation. The cloaked figure's monologue had given him precious moments to activate his Eyes of Twilight skill. His heterochromatic eyes began to shine slightly, though the light was subtle and unnoticed by everyone else.
As he focused on the formation, he started to see the structure more clearly.
Astrea, who was in the Soul Se, was deeply concerned for her Master.
'Wait for a while. You are my trump card after all.'(Argus)
Argus reassured her, his voice calm and resolute despite the surrounding danger.
The cloak figure continued its arrogant taunts, but Argus remained focused. The cloak figure's frustration boiled over as it roared.
"Kill him! Make sure to kill him cleanly as the chances of Awakening him to a higher class undead would be higher!"
The undead army surged forward, surrounding Argus from all sides. Argus quickly shifted his focus from the formation, preparing for the oncoming assault.
Among the enemies, Argus noticed the Unique Class undead—the one wielding the massive dark butcher knife—moving towards him. He could sense the higher threat level from this undead.
As the undead closed in, Argus deftly dodged their attacks, using his scythe to deflect and cut down those in his path. Despite their numbers, he moved with precision and agility, his experience from days of dungeon diving evident in every strike.
Argus fought fiercely, his scythe flashing through the ranks of undead. He avoided the butcher knife-wielding undead, knowing it posed a greater threat than the others. The massive knife, swung with a powerful arc, could easily overwhelm him if he got too close.
He used the attacking undead as shields, deflecting blows and letting the weaker foes absorb the impact meant for him. Each swing of his scythe was a calculated move to keep the dangerous undead at bay while he sought an opening.
The butcher knife undead was relentless, swinging its weapon with brute force. Argus darted around, slipping past the undead's strikes and occasionally using the butcher's attacks to clear a path through the swarm. He kept his movements sharp and deliberate, avoiding the heavy blows and countering with swift, precise strikes.
Despite the pressure, Argus managed to create some distance from the butcher knife undead. He glanced briefly at the formation, noting that his previous assessment was correct—the gate was indeed summoning more undead, but he had to focus on surviving this immediate threat first.
With a surge of determination, Argus launched a fierce counterattack, aiming to reduce the number of opponents surrounding him. His eyes, now slightly glowing from the activation of his skill, gave him a clear view of his enemies' movements, helping him to stay one step ahead.
The battle raged on, with Argus skillfully maneuvering through the undead ranks. He was bruised and battered, but his resolve remained strong. He knew he had to defeat the butcher knife undead and disrupt the summoning process to turn the tide in his favor.
Argus was juggling three critical tasks amidst the chaos of battle:
1. Observing the Formation: He closely studied the formation's intricate design, searching for any weaknesses. His goal was to disrupt the summoning process and prevent more undead from appearing. He noticed that the formation's structure seemed complex, but with focused observation, he aimed to pinpoint any flaws that could be exploited.
2. Being Wary of the Butcher Knife Undead: The Unique Class undead wielding a massive butcher knife posed a significant threat. Argus kept a careful eye on it, avoiding its powerful swings and using the undead's attacks to his advantage. The butcher knife's high stats made it a formidable opponent, so Argus maneuvered strategically to prevent being hit while using its aggressive strikes to clear out other undead.
3. Clearing the Undead: Amidst the battle, Argus fought off the waves of lesser undead that surrounded him. His scythe swept through the enemies with precision, reducing their numbers and creating openings for himself. Each attack was a calculated move to maintain control of the battlefield while keeping the formation and the Unique Class undead in check.
Despite the odds, Argus's skills and slight experience allowed him to manage these tasks simultaneously, maintaining a delicate balance between offense and strategy, though not perfectly.