Hello, everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter. đ
I'd love to hear your thoughtsâlet me know in the comments if you liked the writing style! I've used some tools to refine the structure, but rest assured, the storyline is entirely my own creation.
Looking forward to your feedback! đ.
__
While the dungeon lay in silence after Evan had completed the raid and used his VialâŠ
Some time agoâŠ
Before the dungeon was cleared, an official who had previously tried to stop Evan paced anxiously in front of the barricaded entrance, waiting for someone. The area was secured to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
The kid who had slipped inside against his warnings was still inside, and his condition remained unknown. As the official was about to run a hand through his hair in frustration, a figure suddenly appeared before him at blinding speed.
"Oh, Sir Darian! I'm so grateful you came. I fear something terrible is about to happen," the official said urgently. "A kid named Evan Ravencall, who registered to raid this dungeon, entered without knowing about this gate's high mutation rate. Despite my warnings, he still went in while I was distracted speaking with another officer. His current status is unknown, and if he does make it out alive, I'm certain the situation will be critical. Please, you have to do something!"
Darian, deep in thought, instantly recognized the name.
"What? That Evan kid⊠the necromancer who just got his class a week ago?"
"Yes, sir. I have his full details. He's a Level 41 D-rank Necromancer. He took this gate for a raid without realizing its condition, and even after I advised him not to enter, he ignored me."
Darian let out a sigh. "That kid⊠always causing problems for me. But don't worry. If he went in solo, then you should knowâthose who take on dungeons alone aren't ordinary hunters. And that boy⊠he might be in a league above even the strongest solo hunters."
He turned to the official with a firm gaze. "Just make sure no one interferes with the formation I'm setting up. Keep other hunters away from it. I'll handle the rest."
With that, he stepped toward the dungeon, which was radiating an immense amount of mana, as if on the verge of a dungeon break. Taking out his book, he began layering formations upon one another, slightly stabilizing the dungeon's mana. However, the situation was still dire.
He could only hope that the kid would clear the dungeon. Otherwise, his family's benefactor would meet a tragic end today due to his own failure.
Nodding to the officer, he turned and left, heading to an urgent meeting in the Branch Manager's office.
Inside, representatives from multiple high-ranking guildsâeven those listed in the global rankingsâhad gathered, all vying to recruit the Necromancer Prodigy. They were pressuring Lilia for information on him, but what could she do when even the association branch had no records?
Their desperation stemmed from two reasons. First, his exact class rank was unknownâhe could be SS or even SSS rank. But even if he were merely an S-rank Necromancer, such a class was in extreme demand. Necromancers were legions unto themselves, capable of handling Tier 2âno, even Tier 3âmonster raids without sacrificing a single life.
Guilds highly valued such hunters, whether for their massive armies of summons or sheer destructive power. Unique S-rank and above-class hunters were treasured assets. However, this Necromancer Prodigy was beyond what they had expectedâexcelling in both quality and quantity, while most Necromancers only specialized in one.
As the meeting continued, Lilia was repeatedly questioned about the hunter's identity, though she had no answers to give.
Then, without warning, the atmosphere shifted.
All tension in the Branchâand even across the cityâwas abruptly silenced.
The dungeon, which had been on the brink of collapse just hours ago, had calmed. The officer who witnessed it was both stunned and relieved. Not only had the dungeon crisis been resolved, but a low-ranked hunter had cleared itâagainst all odds.
But before he could take action or inform Darian of the good news, a sudden burst of aura erupted from the dungeon, engulfing the entire dungeon area. The overwhelming energy spread rapidly, flooding the city center before expanding even further.
In an instant, the entire city was blanketed in the aura. Even veteran hunters outside the cityâbusy hunting monstersâfelt the suffocating pressure, as though a terrifying monster had awakened within the city itself.
Panic set in.
All monsters within miles of the city's outskirts fled in terror, their instincts screaming at them to escape. It was as if they had witnessed death itself. However, amidst the chaos, an unknown danger still lurked in the shadows, its intentions unclear.
The Hunter Association, the very pinpoint of the aura's emergence, was thrown into turmoil. High-ranking hunters, guild masters, and top guild executivesâwho had remained passive until nowâsprang into action.
Their destination was clear.
The dungeon.
They assumed some catastrophic event was unfoldingâa disaster capable of leveling the city. Yet, when they arrived, only a single dungeon stood before them, radiating unimaginable power.
All hunters stationed near the dungeon collapsed under the crushing weight of the aura. Only a handful remained conscious, but even they were unable to stand.
The aura blanketing the city was thick and oppressive, carrying the suffocating presence of death itself.
And the dungeon responsible for this?
The Ember Caverns.
Inside, where Evan was using the vial just now.
"Mr. Darian, do you have any idea what the hell is happening here?!" Lilia shouted as she rushed toward the dungeon gate, where Darian was struggling to suppress the overwhelming energy surging from the dungeon.
Darian gritted his teeth, his formation barely holding. "No, Manager. My formation wasn't supposed to fail like this. The aura is seeping out like air, completely bypassing my restrictions. Stopping it would require at least a Tier 4 formation master, andâ"
"But we don't have one!" Lilia interrupted; her frustration clear. "If this keeps going, countless lives will be at risk! What the hell is happening inside that dungeon?! Do you have any idea what's causing this?"
Darian hesitated, his expression conflicted. He clearly knew something but was reluctant to speak. However, under Lilia's intense gaze, he finally responded.
"Branch Manager, don't worry. Once this is over, I'll tell you everything."
Without waiting for a response, he refocused on containing the aura, though his efforts seemed futile.
Meanwhile, hunters near the dungeon, whether entering or exiting, collapsed to the groundâsome barely conscious, others completely out cold.
The city trembled under the weight of an unprecedented force.
Lucas and Ilya remained conscious for some reason, while Tess and the new guy had been completely knocked out ever since the pressure was released.
'What's happening right now?' Lucas thought, his gaze darting between his fallen teammates. 'Both Tess and Ilya are in bad shape from this overwhelming pressure. Where is it coming from? Even my system is screaming at me to run.'
Looking up, he spotted members of the association, and several other hunters gathered near the dungeon. At the center of it all, Darian was struggling to stabilize the dungeon's mana fluctuations.
"I need to do something," Lucas muttered, clenching his fists. "If this keeps up, Tess and Ilya might not make it."
Summoning all his strength, he forced himself to stand against the crushing aura. His passive Dragon Fear clashed with the oppressive force, allowing him to stay on his feet.
But moving forward was another challenge entirely.
Just as he struggled to take a step, his system suddenly activated.
__
[The system has detected the host's will to save his loved one even against the odds of 0%.]
[A new mission is being provided; clear it and move closer toward the Dragon God's path.]
[Quest: Dragon's Will
Quest Type: Solo | Difficulty: SSS-Rank |Â Time Limit:3 Hours
Description: An unfathomable aura has erupted from deep within a dungeonâso powerful that even the system could not recognize its origin. It is neither dragon nor demon, yet it carries an overwhelming sense of death and dominion.
The host has been tasked with stopping this force before it spreads beyond control. However, with no knowledge of what the hosts are up against and the system itself failing to analyze the source, the odds of success remain a mere 0.1%.
A force beyond comprehension has begun to awaken, and the host must stand against itâno matter the cost.
Objective: Suppress or eliminate the unknown presence, releasing the aura from the dungeon.
Rewards:
- +5% Dragon Bloodline Awakening
- New Dragon Bloodline Skill
- +150 Unassigned Stat Points
- Unique Equipment
- Mystic Pet Egg
- Ă15 Level up.
Failure Penalty:
-40% to all stats for 24 hours.
Do you accept the quest?
ⶠ(Yes/No)]
"Wow, system, what a generous gift. With this much on the line, I might as well be preparing to face a god in return." Lucas smirked, a newfound determination surging through him as he accepted the quest.
Despite the oppressive aura threatening to crush him, he pushed forward toward the dungeon, which radiated a chilling energy that seeped into his bones.
"Miss Lilia, do you need help with anything?" he asked, stepping closer.
Lilia turned to him and immediately encased him in a mana barrier. "Are you trying to die, kid? Back off! Standing near this thing is a death sentence. We don't know what's happening inside, but a hunter is in there. Either he's doing something insane, or something terrible happened to him."
Now shielded by Lilia's barrier, Lucas took another look at the dungeon, activating his talent. But to his frustration, he found nothing out of the ordinaryâat least, nothing visible. The dungeon itself seemed stable, yet something within it, something not part of the dungeon, was causing the disturbance.
He needed to complete the quest, but no one was willing to let him get closer. Even other experienced hunters had tried and failed.
Still, Lucas persisted. He argued, insisted, and after relentless urging, they finally allowed him to approachâthough only up to a certain point.
He called upon his system to scan the dungeon, but the results were empty. Whatever was inside was beyond his system's reach.
Just as his hope began to fade, he had an idea.
If he couldn't analyze the problem, he could end it.
A last-resort option formed in his mind: using his Dragon Flame Orb, a skill he could only use once a week. If he unleashed its full power, he might be able to obliterate the dungeon completelyâsacrificing one hunter to save an entire city.
The decision was swift.
A massive orb of searing flames, unaffected by the eerie aura, materialized in his hand. Before anyone could react, Lucas hurled it straight at the dungeon.
"You moron! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Darian roared, watching in horror as the blazing sphere shot toward the dungeon, its terrifying energy sending chills down everyone's spine.
Darian couldn't stand by and watch a kid like Evan die such a tragic deathâespecially without knowing the reason behind the disaster.
Without hesitation, he dispelled the aura-restricting formation and swiftly constructed several layered barriers in seconds. If it had been an ordinary fireball, he could have neutralized it with ease. But the sheer power radiating from Lucas's Dragon Flame Orb wasn't something to take lightly.
He reinforced the defenses, ensuring the dungeon remained unharmed.
Yet, the moment the blazing orb touched the formations, they shattered instantlyâas if they were nothing but glass in a storm. The orb continued its trajectory toward the dungeon gates, poised to obliterate them just as easily.
But thenâit stopped.
Without warning, the attack dissolved into nothingness, vanishing into thin air as though it had never existed. No explosion. No destruction. Just⊠silence.
Lucas and Darian stood frozen, staring at the impossible sight.
Lucas, having poured everything into the attack, felt an intense backlash rip through his body. The overwhelming aura from the dungeon pressed him to the ground once more, leaving him gasping for breath.
Darian, still standing, turned his focus back to containing the dungeon's aura. Strangely, it was beginning to stabilize as if whatever had nullified the attack was now suppressing the energy leak as well.
Then, Lilia stepped forward, the reason behind the attack disappearing, her sharp gaze fixed on Lucas.
Darian didn't hesitate to voice his frustration.
"Manager, arrest this fool. He just tried to destroy the Association's property and put countless lives at risk. If you let this slide, I'll have to report your bias to Headquarters."
Lilia exhaled sharply, clearly irritated. The last thing she needed was Darian dictating her actions.
"Shut up, Darian. Don't tell me how to do my job," she snapped. "I didn't become Branch Manager through connectionsâI earned it. And since you want to question my fairness, I'll make things crystal clear with my actions."
She turned to Lucas, her expression cold.
"Lucas, for attacking Association property without my permissionâor that of the Branch ManagerâI'm placing you under custody for two days. Once this situation is resolved, I will personally review your case."
Two officers, still standing despite the lingering aura, stepped forward. Without hesitation, they clasped mana-restricting cuffs around Lucas's wrists.
"Wait! Miss Lilia, listen to me! I was trying to help! This is a misunderstandingâlet me explain!" Lucas protested, struggling against the cuffs.
But Lilia ignored him. Responding now would only make the situation worse, especially in front of the high-ranking guild executives gathered around.
The surrounding hunters and guild members merely watched in silence. None of them moved to helpâafter all, without a reward, why get their hands dirty?
Lilia, standing beside Darian, noticed his stamina waning after deploying multiple formations to block the attackâonly for them to prove meaningless.
"Vice Manager, go rest. I'll handle the situation here," she said, stepping forward and reinforcing the dungeon gate with her skill.
Darian, breathing heavily, gave a slight nod before moving to sit nearby, exhaustion evident in his posture.
Hours passed as they took turns maintaining the barriers around the dungeon, a task that was gradually becoming easier. The guild executives, though unwilling to directly assist, remained on standby in case a monster emerged from within.
After ten grueling hours of continuously suppressing the dungeon's unstable aura, a flicker of light appeared.
The oppressive energy that had blanketed the entire city began to recede. Officers monitoring the readings confirmed that the dungeon was stabilizing. The chilling pressure that had seeped through the streets dissipated within a few hoursâas if it had never existed.
On the surface, everything returned to normal. But deep inside the dungeon, an extraordinary transformation was unfolding.
Evan, encased in a black, tar-like cocoon, was undergoing immense changes, entirely oblivious to the chaos he had unknowingly caused.
Even more shockingâthe fifteen skeletal summons that should have perished due to his transformation remained standing.
They surrounded him in a silent, unwavering formationâas if guarding something of immeasurable importance.
Their appearance had altered drastically. Their bones had taken on a new structure, their formerly tattered robes now fused with the same black substance that enveloped Evan.
The sheer power they radiated was enough to stand against the world itself.
But Evan would never witness this masterpiece.
At the moment when the dungeon's all-encompassing aura collapsed back into his cocoon, the skeletal guardians crumbled into dust, their newfound strength vanishing in an instant.
The vial's contents had fully integrated into his body, triggering a fundamental shift within him.
A fragment of his consciousness flickered awake.
And thenâhe heard it.
The long-awaited notification.
The one he had endured unbearable agony forâthe unending cycle of being torn apart and rebuilt over and over again.
[The system has detected that the host has consumed an unidentified vial substance.]
[Body readjustment has been confirmed by the effect of the substance.]
[Host is entering a temporary dormant state to stabilize the transformation.]
[Warning! Full-body reconstruction process has begun.]
[Prepare for extreme pain. Countdown: 3...2...1...]
[CRITICAL WARNING! Host's life is in danger of being consumed by the unstable transformation.]
[Reconstructing host's body... ERROR! Physique is not suitable for the host. Process is being terminated...]
[System is experiencing interference from an unidentified force.]
[Host's body reconstruction is proceeding through an unnatural and unknown method...]
[System has regained control from the unknown source.]
[Physique suitability confirmed.]
[Many Hours Later...]
[Host's entire status is being consumed in the transformation process.]
[All talents, secondary classes, and non-class-affiliated skills are preserved.]
[All other aspects are being reforged into the host's body.]
[Stats Compression Initiated!]
[Excess stats are being absorbed by the physique, strengthening its foundation.]
[System Alert: Host's soul is critically damaged.(System Note: System is unsure how host is alive with such damage on soul.)]
[Primary class bound to the host's body is being consumed.]
[Soul experience is being converted into Soul Essence to repair the host's soul.]
[WARNING! All experience points depleted. Physique formation is directly affecting the host's soul.]
[Physique has detected instability and is linking with unknown relic fragments within the host's soul.]
[Few Hours Later...]
[Host's soul is fully restored.]
[Full synchronization achieved between physique, soul, body, and spiritual mind.]
[Status restoration complete.]
[Caution! Host's level, stats, and experience have been reset to the lowest possible state.]
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Physique Acquired: Death Monarch Physique]
[A new [Physique] tab has been created.]
[Special Privilege: Host's Primary Class is being selected.]
[Selection process initiated... Please wait.]
[System has detected a relic within the host's body.]
[Physique and relic (Status: Broken) are synchronizing.]
[Relic restoration process initiated...]
[Energy restoration detected: Utilizing Physique as a fuel source.]
[Restoration Progress: 1%... 3%... 6%... 8%... 11%... 32%... 45%... 66%... 71%... 86%... 99%...][ERROR! Insufficient energy detected. Relic awakening incomplete.]
[Additional energy required to fully restore the relic.]
[Few Minutes Later...]
[New Titles Acquired!]
[Primary Class Obtained: Necromancer (?)]
[Class selection finalized.]
[Host's body is entering an unconscious state for adaptation.]
[Estimated Adaptation Time: UNKNOWN]
-
What happened, everyone? If you want to see the grade of the Necromancer, make sure to come back later for the next chapter.Â
Now, the real power leveling of a Rising Monarch will begin. So, say goodbye to the old Evan, who was fearful of everything, and say hello to the new Evan, who will be quite different. But don't worry; I promise I won't make him too heartless, so you'll still like him!