[14th Everdusk, 2103 | CGA Branch, Dyna Crest Country]
Each participant entered the dungeon individually, their progress tracked and displayed on a screen: who had perished, who had advanced, and how long they took to clear each stage.
In my case, the portal closed the instant I landed, sealing me inside—alone.
Being alone as a necromancer isn't especially dangerous here. My class is both offensive and supportive in nature. I can summon undead to fight on my behalf, letting me progress safely while conserving energy.
Compared to my former class—Magic Swordsman—this was far less direct, but also far safer. I had no complaints. Until I was strong enough to charge headfirst into battles again, I'd use this path to rise.
I summoned my sword into my right hand and brought up my system interface to review my current stats and skills.
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[Status]
Name: Evan Ravencall (/Windstone)
Race: Human (100%)
Age: 18
Title: Limit Breaker
Rank: Tier 0
Level: 01
Class: Necromancer (D), Mage (E), Weapon Master (F)
Talent: Plunder, Infinite Evolution & Enchantment, Supreme Adaptation.
HP: 90 (Regen: .45/minute = 9*.05)
MP: 110 (Regen: .55/minute = 11*.05)
STR: 6
AGL: 9
VIT: 9
INT: 11
END: 7
STA: 5
Unassigned Stats: 00
ATK: 18 + 7 {Physical}, MAG: 16/17 {Elemental}}
DEF:12+ 5
Abilities:
[- Elemental Manipulation (SSS)]
Skills: None
Classskills:
{Undead Summon (Lv. 1), Bone Fang Strike (Lv. 1), Shadow Bolt (Lv. 1)}
{Arcane Bolt (Lv. 1), Mana Shield (Lv. 1)}
{Weapon Proficiency (Passive) (Lv.1), Power Slash (Lv. 1), Quick Swap (Lv. 1)}
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Only unlocked skills and items were displayed, as the system neatly filtered out the rest. I tapped on each skill, one by one, to review their descriptions.
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Skill: Undead Summon (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Mana Cost: 30 MP
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
Summons a basic undead creature to serve as a temporary minion. The undead will fight for the summoner until destroyed or dismissed. The creature summoned depends on the user's Necromancer class progression and available materials.
Summon Type: Skeleton Warrior (Basic Tier).
Duration: 20 minutes or died from attacks.
Stats:
Health: 50% of the caster's max health.
Strength: 50% of the caster's Strength stats.
Agility: 50% of the caster's Agility stats.
Defense: 40% of the caster's Defense.
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Skill: Bone Fang Strike (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
Summon a jagged fang of bone imbued with dark energy to strike a target. The attack pierces defenses, dealing both physical and dark magic damage. Upon impact, the bone fang splinters, causing additional damage over time.
Damage:
Physical Damage: 50% of the caster's physical attack.
Dark Magic Damage: 50% of the caster's magic attack.
Effects:
Piercing: Ignores 10% of the target's defense.
Bone Harvest (Passive): If the skill kills the target, recover 10% of the mana cost.
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Skill: Shadow Bolt (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Mana Cost: 20 MP
Cooldown: 8 seconds
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
Unleashes a bolt of concentrated shadow energy at a target, dealing dark magic damage. The bolt carries a chance to inflict Shadow Bind, briefly slowing the target's movement.
Damage:
Dark Magic Damage: 100% of the caster's magic attack.
Additional Effect:
Shadow Bind: Reduces the target's movement speed by 20% for 3 seconds. (Chance: 25%)
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Skill: Arcane Bolt (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Mana Cost: 15 MP
Cooldown: 6 seconds
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
Fires a concentrated bolt of pure arcane energy at a single target. The bolt homes in on its target, ensuring high accuracy. Ideal for finishing weaker enemies or dealing consistent damage in combat.
Damage:
Magic Damage: 80% of the caster's magic attack.
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Skill: Mana Shield (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Cooldown: 12 seconds
Mana Cost: 30 MP (initial activation)
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
Creates a protective barrier of condensed mana around the user, absorbing incoming damage by converting it into mana consumption. Ideal for mitigating physical and magical damage in critical situations.
Effect:
Damage Absorption: Converts 1 point of damage into 2 mana consumption.
Duration: 10 seconds or until the shield absorbs damage equal to 50% of the caster's maximum mana.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Skill: Weapon Proficiency (Passive) (Lv. 1)
Type: Passive
Cooldown: N/A
Mana Cost: N/A
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
A passive skill that increases the user's effectiveness with all weapons, providing enhanced accuracy, damage, and speed based on the weapon type currently equipped.
Effect:
Accuracy Boost: Increases hit chance by 5% with all weapon types.
Damage Boost: Increases weapon damage by 10%.
Attack Speed Boost: Increases attack speed by 5%.
Weapon Proficiency:
One-Handed sword: F (1%)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Skill: Power Slash (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Mana Cost: 15 MP
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
A powerful, wide slash that channels the user's strength into a single strike, dealing heavy physical damage to all enemies in its path. Ideal for breaking through defenses or clearing multiple weaker enemies.
Effect:
Damage: 120% of the user's physical attack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Skill: Quick Swap (Lv. 1)
Type: Active
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Mana Cost: 5 MP
Proficiency: 0%
Description:
A swift ability that allows the user to instantly switch between equipped weapons, enhancing their versatility in combat. Ideal for adapting to changing battle conditions or combining weapon types for various effects.
Effect:
Weapon Swap: Instantly switches between the user's currently equipped weapons (melee, ranged, or magic).
Speed Boost: Reduces the time it takes to switch weapons by 50%.
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Gazing at the array of skills, I was already formulating possible combos and battle tactics.
But before I could even test anything—
WHAM!
A violent impact struck my gut.
I doubled over and vomited on instinct. It wasn't poison—I would've sensed that immediately. No, this was just the infamous teleportation sickness.
It seemed my body had taken longer to adjust than most. My mind had been prepared, but my gut… not so much.
"Ugh… damn," I muttered, taking deep breaths to stabilize myself. The air was fresh enough, though the taste of bile lingered.
Still, there was no time to dwell on it.
"Let's move before more monsters show up," I said aloud, more to push myself than anything else. The mana here was thick—alive with hostile intent.
Some might ask why I didn't join the other teams.
Sure, they were skilled, but… sharing EXP would slow my growth. I'd need to kill far more monsters to make the same progress.
So I chose the solo route—at least until I reached a level where it no longer mattered.
Besides… with the help of summoned skeletons, I wasn't truly alone.
"Let's test it out," I said with a grin, activating my first true necromancer skill.
A dark formation flared beneath me, and a skeletal warrior rose from its center. Rusty sword in hand, garbed in tattered scraps, it stood ready.
It may have been basic—but its presence was solid.
I checked its stats out of curiosity.
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Status
Name: Skeleton
Familiar Type: Undead Creature
Grade: Basic
Level: 1
Stats:
[Health]: [45/45]
[Mana]: [0/0]
[Strength]: 3
[Agility]: 4.5
[Intelligence]: 0
[Vitality]: 4.5
[Attack Power: 7/8]
[Defense: 3]
Skills: None
Undead Constitution: Passive
Increases resistance toward poison, curse, and status effects by huge amount.
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"...That's it?" I sighed.
Its stats were garbage. Honestly, even a goblin could probably win a fair fight.
But cannon fodder was still useful. And more importantly, it could grow. Just like me.
I'd strengthen them with time—one summon at a time.
I was still navigating the system interface when a noise broke my focus.
Rustling.
I tensed, eyes scanning the surroundings.
Something was coming.
I turned—ready to fight.
And the figure finally stepped into view.
To be continued…
Which monster will appear first? A slime? Or perhaps… a monkey?Stay tuned.