---
Chapter 52: The Root of Dreams
The moment Ray touched the glowing Domain Seed, a shockwave of warm energy wrapped around his soul.
System Notification:
> [Domain Link Established: Twilight Grassland (Fragmented Form)]
[Current Status: 100 meters radius | Desolate State | Growth Rate: 1% per day (base)]
[Special Feature Unlocked: Domain Management Panel.]
---
Inside his mind, a new panel opened.
---
> [Twilight Grassland Domain Status]
Territory Size: 100 meters radius (Upgradeable)
State: Barren Field (Upgradeable)
Special Structures: None
Maximum Beast Capacity: 0/5 (Based on terrain)
Passive Energy Regeneration: +1 Unit/day
Resources: 0 Twilight Energy Units
---
Ray's eyes widened.
It was like owning a miniature world — small, broken, but full of infinite potential.
Seventeen floated beside him, smug.
> "Congratulations, King of Pebbles.
Now, your task is simple: Grow this into an empire."
Ray couldn't help but laugh.
"An empire, huh? From this... barren field?"
Seventeen nodded solemnly.
> "Every legend starts with a speck of dust."
---
System Notification:
> [First Mission Unlocked:
"Root of Dreams"]
Mission Objective: Plant your first Tree of Origin.
Reward: Unlock Passive Domain Healing + 5 random Twilight Resources.
---
A small panel blinked again, showing options:
---
> Available Starting Trees:
Twilight Grass Tree (produces healing grass daily)
Bone Vine Sapling (produces bone materials)
Shadow Bush (produces low-grade shadow herbs)
---
Seventeen's voice was serious.
> "Choose wisely.
Your first tree will shape the early growth of your Domain."
Ray thought hard.
Twilight Grass Tree meant stability — healing and steady passive recovery.
Bone Vine meant early crafting materials for undead armies.
Shadow Bush meant boosting magical potential.
After a few seconds, Ray clenched his fists.
"I choose... Bone Vine Sapling!"
---
The Domain shuddered.
In the center of the barren land, a small twisted black vine erupted from the soil, curling like a skeletal hand reaching for the sky.
It pulsed with deathly energy.
System Notification:
> [Bone Vine Sapling Planted!]
[Daily Resource Production: Bone Fragments (5 Units/day)]
[Maximum Harvest Storage: 20 Units.]
[Beast Attraction: Minor undead beasts may wander into your Domain.]
---
Ray stared, mesmerized.
His world had truly begun.
A single black vine... but it was alive.
It was real.
It was his.
Seventeen floated lazily.
> "Now, you need to feed your Domain.
Resources, monsters, soil, mana — whatever you find."
Ray cracked his knuckles.
"Good.
Because the Academy just announced a mission, right?"
Seventeen chuckled.
> "Correct.
And it's the perfect hunting ground."
---
System Notification:
> [New Academy Mission: Dimensional Rift Exploration - Level 1]
Description: Explore a newly opened F-Rank Gate.
Objectives: Kill beasts, gather resources, survive.
Rewards: Academy Points, Contribution Medals, Special Loot.
Entry Cost: 10 Academy Points.
Time Limit: 7 Days.
---
Ray's smile grew sharp.
Finally.
A real battlefield.
A place to hunt beasts, harvest bones, earn points, and feed his Domain.
Seventeen whispered darkly:
> "The hunt begins, Ray."
---
Later that Night
Ray lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling restless.
His mind buzzed with excitement.
Visions of an endless undead army dancing across endless green fields.
Skeletal wolves running beneath a dark sky.
Bone trees towering into the mist.
Fields of shadow grass whispering secrets.
A Kingdom.
His Kingdom.
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, it would begin.
The first expedition.
The first conquest.
The first blood.
---
To be
---
Chapter 53: Into the Rift
The academy square buzzed with excitement.
Hundreds of students gathered near the giant stone gate — a Dimensional Rift, glowing with deep blue light.
Above it floated massive golden letters:
> [F-Rank Rift: Whispering Deadlands]
Danger Level: Low to Moderate
Mission Time: 7 Days
Ray stood among the crowd, wearing his simple black combat outfit, a sturdy leather bag slung across his shoulder. His new Academy Badge shone on his chest — proof he was officially part of the first-year cadets.
Seventeen floated invisibly at his side, snickering.
> "Look at them, Ray.
Half excited. Half terrified."
Ray smirked.
He was neither.
He was hungry.
For loot.
For bones.
For power.
---
System Notification:
> [Mission Objective: Survive and harvest resources from the Whispering Deadlands.]
> [Bonus Objective: Kill 50 Rift Beasts.]
> [Secret Objective (Hidden): Claim a Rift Core Fragment.]
---
"Team up in squads of five!"
An instructor's voice thundered across the field.
"Remember, survival is more important than kills. Work together, or die alone!"
Ray narrowed his eyes.
He already knew who he'd work with.
Across the square, Lucas waved at him — the boy with the giant shield.
Beside him stood Ellie — the twin-sword fighter, her ponytail swaying.
Behind them was Mina, a petite girl with bright green eyes, holding a spellbook.
And finally, Kai, a short archer with deadly precision.
Ray jogged over.
Lucas grinned. "You're late, Captain Ray!"
Ray snorted. "Had to polish my bones."
The group laughed.
They were ready.
---
[Squad Formation Complete: Ray's Squad]
Ray: Necromancer (Hidden) | Fighter (Public)
Lucas: Shield Bearer
Ellie: Dual Sword Specialist
Mina: Support Mage (Healing + Buffs)
Kai: Archer
---
One by one, groups stepped through the Rift.
Blue light swallowed them.
It was their turn.
Ray took a deep breath.
Seventeen whispered:
> "Good luck, little king."
And they stepped forward—
—and the world changed.
---
Whispering Deadlands
The air was cold, heavy with the stench of rot.
Gray mist clung to the ground.
Crumbling ruins and twisted trees stretched as far as the eye could see.
Ray immediately activated his Necromancer Sense silently.
A black ripple spread out from his feet.
Hidden from the others, small black dots lit up in his vision.
Rot Hounds.
Bone Crows.
Hollow Wolves.
And somewhere deeper... something big.
Seventeen floated lazily.
> "Welcome to your playground."
---
"Stay together," Ray ordered calmly.
"Prioritize scouting, then loot gathering."
Everyone nodded.
They advanced cautiously.
After fifteen minutes, a low growl echoed from the mist.
Rot Hounds.
Five of them, gnashing yellow teeth, burst from the fog.
Lucas immediately raised his shield.
CLANG!
The first hound slammed into it, bouncing off.
Ellie moved like lightning, slicing the second hound across the side.
Kai's arrow whistled, piercing the third beast's eye.
Mina chanted softly, a green healing glow surrounding Lucas.
And Ray—
Ray stepped forward, clenched his fist—
Rise.
A black chain shot from his shadow, wrapping around the injured hound.
[Skill: Rise Undead - F Rank Beast]
The dead hound's body twitched—
—and stood up, black mist leaking from its wounds.
His first undead minion of the Rift.
The others blinked in shock.
"Did... did you just tame that thing?!" Mina gasped.
Ray just smiled coldly.
"Let's keep moving."
---
System Notification:
> [Beast Killed: Rot Hound]
[Domain Twilight Energy +5]
[New Minion Acquired: Rot Hound (Undead - Level 1)]
---
For the next hour, they swept through the ruins.
Ray kept harvesting bodies silently.
1 Rot Hound.
1 Bone Crow.
2 Hollow Wolves.
His undead army was growing, hidden under the fog.
Lucas and Ellie focused on clearing enemies.
Mina healed everyone.
Kai sniped any creature trying to flank them.
Perfect teamwork.
Seventeen hummed.
> "You're building your foundation, Ray.
Brick by bloody brick."
Ray's fingers itched.
He wanted more.
He wanted stronger beasts.
He wanted corpses for his Domain.
---
Later
After three hours of battle, they stumbled upon an ancient stone monument.
It pulsed faintly with violet light.
System Notification:
> [Rift Core Fragment Detected Nearby.]
Ray's heart skipped.
"This is it," he whispered.
Seventeen grinned.
> "Now, the real fight begins."
Because from the mist...
A massive figure emerged.
A beast made of stitched corpses.
Grave Abomination
Level: F+ Rank
Ten feet tall.
Rotting. Growling.
Its body stitched together from dozens of dead beasts.
A mini-boss.
Ray's smile sharpened.
"Get ready," he growled to his team.
"This one's mine."
---
To be continued in Chapter 54: Grave Battle
---
Bhai agla chapter full high-octane boss fight hoga!
Ray apna pura undead army use karega.
Thodi strategy aur teamwork dikhayenge.
Aur agar jeet gaya... Rift Core Fragment milega jo
---
Chapter 54: Grave Battle
The Grave Abomination stomped forward, every step shaking the cracked ground.
Its stitched flesh oozed black blood.
In its massive hands, it wielded a tree trunk like a club, swinging it lazily through the mist.
System Notification:
> [Warning: Grave Abomination - F+ Rank - Minor Boss]
[Weaknesses: Fire, Decapitation, Core Damage]
Seventeen's voice was sharp in Ray's ear.
> "If it hits you even once, you're dead.
No playing hero. Command your army."
Ray's eyes sharpened.
He raised his hand.
"Undead — ATTACK!"
From the shadows, his hidden minions surged out:
2 Rot Hounds (Undead)
1 Bone Crow (Undead)
2 Hollow Wolves (Undead)
The team gaped for a second—
then remembered to move.
"Formation Echo!" Lucas shouted, slamming his shield into the dirt.
A wide barrier shield extended around their group.
Kai darted to the side, arrows already flying.
Mina began her chant of strengthening, buffing everyone's speed.
Ellie unsheathed both swords, moving like a silver blur.
---
The battle exploded.
CRASH!!
The Grave Abomination swung its massive club—
—smashed two undead hounds into pulp instantly.
Ray's expression didn't even flicker.
Undead were expendable.
"Flank it!" he barked.
Bone Crow swooped down, scratching at the beast's stitched face.
The Hollow Wolves leapt at its legs, snapping at its rotted tendons.
Lucas held the front, absorbing shockwaves with his shield.
Ellie targeted the beast's arms, slicing tendons to slow its swings.
Kai kept firing, aiming for the creature's exposed joints.
Mina's buffs kept them moving fast, even dodging blows by inches.
---
Ray moved behind the chaos.
Whispering low:
"Rise — strengthen — shatter."
Three black chains snaked from his shadow, piercing the ground.
[Skill: Necrotic Boost] Activated.
His surviving undead started glowing with black mist, their strength increasing by 30% for a short time.
The Hollow Wolves bit deeper, making the Grave Abomination stumble.
The Bone Crow tore out one of its eyes.
The beast roared — a wet, gurgling sound — and thrashed wildly.
It swung again—
BOOM!
Lucas was sent flying, crashing into a crumbled wall.
"Lucas!" Ellie shouted, moving to cover him.
But Ray was cold, focused.
He saw it.
A small, pulsating blue gem embedded in the beast's chest.
The Core.
---
Seventeen's voice sharpened.
> "That's the target!
Break it, and you win."
Ray didn't hesitate.
He sprinted forward.
Black mist gathered in his palm.
[Skill: Necro Claw]
He ducked under a wild swing—
—jumped—
—and slammed his clawed hand straight into the beast's chest!
CRACK!
The flesh tore.
The blue core gleamed.
The Grave Abomination roared, grabbing for him.
Ray gritted his teeth, pouring more necrotic energy into his claw.
The Core cracked further—
Suddenly, Kai's arrow — shining with Mina's spell — whistled past.
It struck dead center.
BOOM!
The Core shattered.
---
The Grave Abomination froze.
Its body convulsed—
Then it collapsed in a heap of rotting flesh.
The ground shook.
Silence fell.
Everyone panted heavily.
Ray stood atop the corpse, chest heaving, hand still smoking from dark energy.
Victory.
---
System Notification:
> [Boss Defeated: Grave Abomination]
[EXP +150]
[Rift Points +20]
[Loot Acquired: Grave Abomination Core Fragment]
[Bonus: You have qualified for hidden reward selection.]
---
"WE DID IT!" Ellie laughed, almost collapsing from exhaustion.
Lucas stumbled over, bruised but grinning.
Mina gave a thumbs-up, her healing spells already patching wounds.
Kai casually picked up one of his bloodied arrows, whistling low.
Ray smiled faintly.
This was just the beginning.
Seventeen floated down smugly.
> "Good job, little king.
But you've barely scratched the surface."
Ray knelt, touching the shattered core.
A ripple of energy ran through his palm.
Inside his mind, a soft voice whispered:
> [Do you wish to absorb the Rift Core Fragment into your Domain?]
Ray's eyes burned.
"Yes," he whispered.
System Notification:
> [Absorbing... 10%... 30%... 70%... Absorption Complete!]
[Domain Upgraded: Beast Growth Speed +10%]
[New Option Unlocked: Minor Rift Tree Planting Available.]
---
The others didn't notice the strange light flicker around Ray's body.
But Ray knew.
His hidden Domain had just become stronger.
And this was only the first Rift.
More battles, more cores, more power awaited.
Seventeen chuckled.
> "Grow, Ray.
Until the world kneels."
Ray turned to his teammates, smiling slightly.
"Let's keep moving," he said.
"There's still a lot more to conquer."
---