---
Chapter 41: Into the Forgotten Depths
---
The storm howled above them.
Rain hammered the rocky ground, soaking them to the bone.
The entrance to the hidden dungeon yawned before them — a thin crack in the earth, like the mouth of some forgotten beast.
Lucian stood at the threshold, feeling the weight of the moment.
This wasn't a simple raid.
It was a step into the unknown.
A place where one mistake could mean death.
---
[System 17]:
> "Dungeon Detected: [Whispering Tombs].
Difficulty: B+ Rank.
Reward Potential: High.
Warning: Entities inside are... not fully dead."
Lucian smirked.
"Perfect."
He turned back to his small team — Finn, Mira, and Dorian.
Their faces were grim, but their eyes burned with excitement.
Each of them had felt it too —
that hunger, that thrill for the impossible.
---
Preparing for the Descent:
They double-checked everything.
Mana potions secured.
Weapons sharpened.
Emergency scrolls activated.
Lucian summoned his small undead army —
a pack of skeletal wolves padded silently at his heels,
their hollow eyes gleaming in the stormlight.
Finn whistled.
"You're becoming a creepy bastard, you know that?"
Lucian grinned.
"Better creepy than dead."
---
The Descent:
One by one, they squeezed into the crack.
Inside, the temperature dropped instantly.
The walls were slick with moss and strange runes glowed faintly in the dark.
[System 17]:
> "Warning: Spatial Displacement Active.
Return path will shift every 30 minutes."
Lucian cursed.
They couldn't just run out if things went bad.
They would have to push forward —
fight their way through.
---
First Chamber:
They emerged into a vast hall.
Dozens of stone sarcophagi lined the walls, their lids carved with strange sigils.
At the center stood a giant statue of a knight —
its sword plunged into the ground, head bowed as if mourning.
The air was heavy... too heavy.
Mira whispered,
"This place... it remembers death."
Dorian muttered,
"And it's hungry for more."
---
First Battle - The Awakened Knights:
With a grinding screech, the sarcophagi lids slid open.
Rotting knights in blackened armor staggered out.
Their eyes burned with ghostly blue fire.
Lucian felt their killing intent crash over him like a wave.
[System 17]:
> "Entity: Deathbound Knight.
B-Rank Undead Soldier.
Special Ability: Life Drain Slash."
Finn cursed loudly.
"Of course it's life drain! Can't anything just stab us normally?"
The Deathbound Knights charged.
Lucian raised his spear.
"Formation Alpha! Wolves, flank left! Mira, Dorian, protect Finn!"
They moved like a well-oiled machine.
---
Epic Fight Scene:
Lucian danced between the knights, his spear flashing like silver lightning.
Finn weaved spells, blasting enemies with compressed air bullets.
Mira flickered between shadows, her daggers seeking weak spots.
Dorian swung his greatsword with brutal strength, smashing undead back.
The skeletal wolves ripped into the enemy's flanks, slowing their advance.
Lucian's heart thundered in his chest.
Sweat mixed with blood.
His muscles screamed.
But he grinned like a madman.
This was life.
This was real.
---
Mid-Fight Feeling Moment:
At one point, a knight slammed Lucian into the wall.
His spear clattered from his hands.
The knight raised its rusted sword—
—and suddenly, Mira was there, driving her dagger into its exposed neck joint.
The knight shrieked and crumbled.
Lucian stared at her, panting.
Mira just smirked and winked.
"Focus, Captain Dumbass."
For a second — despite the danger, despite the death swirling around them — Lucian laughed.
He wasn't alone anymore.
---
Victory:
One by one, the knights fell.
Lucian drove his spear into the last one's skull, shattering it into fragments.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Their breaths came in ragged gasps.
Lucian's body ached.
Blood trickled down his arms.
But they were alive.
---
Loot Time:
[System 17]:
> "Loot Dropped:
1x Deathbound Core (B-Rank)
1x Blacksteel Sword (Rare)
500 God Points."
Lucian whooped.
Finn collapsed onto the floor, groaning.
"I am marrying my bed after this."
Mira was already inspecting the sword.
"Ooh... this one's mine."
Dorian just grinned.
"You earn it, you keep it."
Lucian stored the core carefully.
Maybe he could create a new elite soldier with it later.
His undead army...
would grow.
Slowly, steadily.
---
Next Chamber:
Ahead, a pair of massive stone doors loomed.
Ancient glyphs pulsed along their surface.
Something big waited beyond.
Lucian wiped the sweat from his brow.
He glanced at his friends.
All battered.
All smiling.
"Ready for Round Two?" he asked.
Mira spun her daggers.
Finn groaned but nodded.
Dorian cracked his knuckles.
Lucian stepped forward.
The adventure was just beginning.
And this time—
He wasn't walking it alone.
---
[Chapter 41 End]
------
Chapter 42: The Garden of Forgotten Seeds
---
The massive stone doors creaked open.
A gust of cold, stale air slammed into Lucian's group.
Inside, a strange blue glow illuminated the chamber —
and what they saw next made them freeze.
A forest.
A real forest... underground.
Towering trees with blackened bark and silver leaves filled the cavern.
Strange fruits pulsed on the branches — some looked like they were breathing.
In the center, rising high above the others,
was a monstrous Bone Tree —
its trunk made entirely of fossilized skeletons.
Roots twisted across the ground like pale snakes.
---
[System 17]:
> "Location Identified:
[Garden of Forgotten Seeds].
Origin: Failed God's Domain Fragment.
Warning: Many entities here are... dormant, but unstable."
Lucian's eyes widened.
A fragment of a God's domain?
That meant... artifacts, monsters, and rare resources beyond imagination.
He felt his heart pound harder.
---
Surveying the Forest:
They advanced cautiously.
Mira kept low, daggers ready.
Dorian guarded their rear with his massive shield.
Finn muttered detection spells under his breath.
As they moved deeper, Lucian noticed different types of strange trees:
New Beast Trees Discovered:
1. Bonefruit Tree:
Small bone-like fruits hang from the branches.
When eaten or planted, they birth skeletal beasts loyal to the planter.
2. Bloodsap Vine:
Twisting vines that feed on blood and mana.
Once bonded, they create parasitic beasts that heal their master by draining enemies.
3. Spiritbark Tree:
Trees that trap wandering spirits.
With the right ritual, Lucian could summon these spirits into ethereal beasts for his army.
4. Ironroot Tree:
Its seeds sprout beasts with metallic hides —
heavy, tank-like creatures perfect for frontline combat.
Lucian's system started glowing with notifications.
[System 17]:
> "Eligible for Domain Integration.
Choose up to 2 Trees to transplant into your Domain."
Lucian grinned wildly.
His army was about to evolve.
---
Danger Awakens:
Just as he reached toward a Bonefruit Tree,
the ground shook.
From between the trees, monstrous figures rose.
Creatures stitched from bones, vines, and rusted armor.
Eyes gleaming with madness.
[System 17]:
> "Elite Dungeon Guardians Awakened:
Rank: Mid B+.
Quantity: 7."
Lucian tightened his grip on his spear.
"Battle formation! Wolves upfront! Mira, take the Bloodsap!"
The battle began instantly.
---
Long Battle Scene:
Lucian's skeletal wolves clashed against the vine beasts, bone crunching against root.
Mira flickered through the battlefield, slashing at weak points.
Dorian absorbed blows that would've killed any normal man, his shield glowing with Finn's magic reinforcement.
Lucian summoned undead arrows raining from above, while commanding wolves to tear into exposed joints.
At one point, a bloodvine beast wrapped itself around Finn.
Lucian roared,
driving his spear clean through the creature's core.
Blood splattered across them.
Finn gasped for breath, grinning wildly.
"Remind me never to complain about boring days again!"
---
Emotional Moment:
One wolf fell —
shattered under the claws of a bone brute.
Lucian winced.
Even though it was "just" a summon,
he could feel its death echo in his soul.
These weren't tools.
They were comrades.
Another reason to grow stronger.
To protect them better.
---
Victory:
With a final coordinated strike,
Lucian and Dorian crushed the last guardian.
The forest grew still again.
They stood panting among the carnage.
---
Claiming the Trees:
Lucian moved quickly.
Under System 17's guidance, he cut special golden branches from the Bonefruit Tree and Spiritbark Tree.
Their energy flowed into his storage ring,
ready to be transplanted into his Domain.
[System 17]:
> "Congratulations!
[Bonefruit Tree Seed] and [Spiritbark Tree Seed] acquired!
Domain Expansion Available."
Lucian's fingers trembled slightly as he held the seeds.
Power.
Future comrades.
Weapons against fate itself.
---
Team Rest Scene:
They collapsed by a small spring at the edge of the hidden forest.
Finn immediately faceplanted into the soft moss.
"I am a human pancake now," he mumbled.
Mira laughed quietly, bandaging Dorian's arm.
Lucian sat back, gazing up at the strange silver canopy.
Despite the pain.
Despite the exhaustion.
He smiled.
This was what he had always dreamed of.
Adventure.
Comrades.
Growth.
And it was just the beginning.
------
Chapter 43: Seeds of a New Army
---
The air was heavy with mana.
Lucian stood at the center of his hidden domain,
the two seeds clutched in his hands —
the Bonefruit Seed and Spiritbark Seed pulsing with eerie life.
His heart raced.
This was it.
The beginning of his real army.
[System 17]:
> "Initializing Domain Expansion...
Required Resources: 2000 Mana, 3 Beast Cores.
Proceed?"
Lucian didn't hesitate.
"Do it."
---
Domain Transformation:
A deep rumble shook the ground.
Cracks spread out in glowing blue patterns,
forming strange runes across the earth.
The first Bonefruit Tree burst from the soil,
its trunk twisting together from hundreds of white bones.
Pale fruits — tiny skeletal creatures — dangled from the branches, twitching gently.
Nearby, the Spiritbark Tree rose,
its silver leaves shedding ethereal mist into the air.
The atmosphere thickened —
it felt like hundreds of unseen eyes opened, watching him.
---
Summoning New Beasts:
[System 17]:
> "First batch ready.
Bone Wolves (Tier F+): 6 Summoned.
Spirit Foxes (Tier E-): 3 Summoned."
Lucian watched in awe as skeletal wolves crawled from the base of the Bonefruit Tree,
their eyes glowing faintly.
Beside them, three shimmering foxes with translucent bodies yawned into existence.
Each fox's body flickered like smoke.
One brushed against his leg, purring.
A grin broke across Lucian's face.
His army was no longer just a dream.
---
Sudden Attack:
Just as he was admiring his new army,
the ground trembled violently again.
From the far side of the domain,
something massive broke free.
A hulking creature —
twisted together from corrupted roots, broken armor, and shattered bones —
charged at them, roaring.
It was the Guardian Beast of the Forgotten Garden,
awoken by the Domain's expansion.
[System 17]:
> "Warning:
Boss-Class Entity Detected.
Rank: Peak E+.
Title: 'The Failed Garden Keeper.'
Objective: Destroy intruders and reclaim the seeds."
Lucian's hands tightened on his spear.
There was no choice.
They had to fight.
---
Battle Begins:
The monster attacked without warning.
Massive vine-whips lashed toward Lucian —
he barely dodged, rolling sideways,
his wolves immediately lunging at the creature's legs.
The spirit foxes darted around the battlefield,
leaving trails of shimmering illusions that confused the monster.
Mira leapt from a rocky outcrop, daggers flashing.
She slashed a glowing weak point at the creature's knee —
sparks flying as her blades bit deep.
Finn started chanting complex reinforcement spells,
his voice steady even as the ground shook.
Dorian stood like a wall between Lucian and the beast,
deflecting attacks with his shield.
---
Long, Detailed Battle Description:
Lucian fought with everything he had:
First Phase:
The wolves targeted the creature's joints,
tearing ligaments of roots and bone apart piece by piece.
Second Phase:
The Keeper released toxic spores.
Mira nearly collapsed from the poisonous mist,
forcing Lucian to summon a wind elemental from the Spiritbark Tree to clear the air.
Third Phase:
It regenerated horrifyingly fast,
pulling new materials from the very domain soil.
Lucian gritted his teeth.
If they didn't find the core hidden inside it,
this fight could go on forever.
---
Team Strategy (Inspired by RWSS / Solo Leveling):
Lucian shouted:
"Mira, create an opening!
Finn, shield the wolves!
Dorian, with me — we'll strike its heart together!"
The team moved like a single organism.
Mira's blades flashed, cutting through the regenerating vines.
Finn cast barriers and illusions to shield their forces.
Dorian charged alongside Lucian, shield forward.
Lucian's spear ignited with necrotic energy, glowing black-green.
At the last moment,
Lucian saw it —
a throbbing, sickly green core buried deep within the monster's chest.
He roared.
This ends now!
---
Final Strike:
With Dorian deflecting a monstrous vine-swipe,
Lucian leapt high, using a summoned Bone Wolf as a stepping stone.
He drove his spear directly into the creature's core,
channeling every ounce of mana he had left.
CRACK!
The core shattered.
The creature froze,
let out a mournful, broken screech —
and then crumbled into dust and shattered wood.
---
Aftermath:
Silence fell.
Only the heavy breathing of the team filled the air.
Lucian dropped to his knees, exhausted but triumphant.
[System 17]:
> "Boss Defeated.
Rewards:
[Guardian Beast Core] x1
[Broken Garden Fragment] x1
[Unique Artifact Seed] x1
[Domain Growth Unlocked]."
Lucian blinked tiredly.
Artifact seed?
He opened his hand.
Inside glowed a tiny golden seed, pulsing with power.
This could grow into a powerful relic inside his Domain.
Another step closer to his dream.
---
Emotional Ending:
Lucian gathered his surviving wolves and foxes around him.
He gently patted their heads,
whispering thanks.
Each beast nuzzled against him,
acknowledging the bond they now shared.
This wasn't just an army.
It was a family.
A family he would fight to protect —
no matter what monsters, gods, or destiny tried to tear them apart.
---
[Chapter 43 End]
---
Highlights Added:---
Chapter 34: New Bonds, New Dreams
---
The morning sun bathed the village in golden light,
but Lucian's room was still cloaked in a lazy, sleepy haze.
He yawned, stretching his arms out wide—
and immediately fell off the bed with a loud THUD.
[System 17]:
> "Host, even gravity rejects your laziness."
Lucian groaned from the floor.
"Shut up, Seventeen... it's still early..."
[System 17]:
> "It's 9 AM.
Half the world has already killed monsters, completed quests, and evolved their bloodlines."
Lucian mumbled something about "hardworking fools" under his breath.
---
Family Breakfast:
Downstairs, the kitchen smelled of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat.
His mother, Yuna, bustled around, humming cheerfully.
His little sister, Lily, sat at the table swinging her legs back and forth,
while his father, Marcus, read the village bulletin.
As Lucian stumbled in, still half-asleep, his mother turned with a wooden spoon in hand.
"You're finally awake, sleepyhead!"
Before he could dodge, the spoon flicked against his forehead—
Pak!
like a teacher scolding a naughty student.
"Ow!"
Everyone laughed.
Lucian pouted, rubbing his forehead dramatically.
His father set the bulletin down.
"Lucian. There's been an announcement."
Lucian blinked, suddenly awake.
"What kind?"
Marcus smiled.
"A new Trial of Growth has opened near the southern forest.
It's the perfect chance for young ones like you to train and earn blessings."
Trial?
Lucian's heart raced.
Adventure.
Combat.
Loot.
It was like music to his ears.
---
First Domain Upgrade Quest:
[System 17]:
> "Notice: Trial of Growth detected.
Linked Quest:
— Complete the Trial
— Obtain first [Beast Core Token]
— Reward: Domain Feature 'Spirit Pool' unlocked."
Lucian's hands clenched into fists.
This was it!
The first real step toward building his Domain.
His own army.
His own kingdom.
His own — cough — harem of beasts and soldiers, if destiny allowed.
---
Preparing For Adventure:
Lucian ran out after breakfast, gathering his team:
Mira — swift, dagger-wielding warrior girl
Finn — cheerful mage specializing in support magic
Dorian — tanky boy who loved swinging a hammer bigger than himself
They met under the old oak tree near the edge of the village.
"Everyone ready?" Lucian asked.
Mira twirled a dagger.
"Always."
Finn gave a thumbs-up.
"Adventure time!"
Dorian yawned.
"As long as there's food later."
Lucian chuckled.
This team...
this feeling...
it was already becoming precious.
---
Comedy Moment — Team Dynamics:
As they started their walk toward the forest,
Finn couldn't stop talking about the "new special underwear" his mother made him wear for good luck.
"It's supposed to ward off evil spirits!" he said proudly.
Mira rolled her eyes.
Dorian nearly tripped laughing.
Lucian smirked and said,
"Finn, if you flash your 'blessed underwear' at the enemy, they'll either die laughing or run away screaming."
Even the serious Mira giggled.
Their laughter echoed through the trees,
weaving a bond stronger than steel.
---
Entering the Trial Grounds:
The Trial of Growth was hidden inside a thick grove of blackwood trees.
An ancient stone gate stood cracked and mossy,
guarded by two massive stone beasts —
silent statues of wolves and lions merged together.
The gate opened with a low, rumbling GRRRRRR.
[System 17]:
> "Warning:
Trial Difficulty — Medium-Hard.
Solo survival rate: 27%.
Team survival rate: 72%."
Lucian grinned.
With his team?
They had this.
They stepped through the gate together,
ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
---
End of Chapter 34
---
Summary What We Added in Ch 34:
Slow but emotional family bonding
Light-hearted comedy scenes (classic fantasy humor)
Setup for Trial Adventure and Domain feature unlocking
Team formation with growing friendship
Proper novel-like flow (System POV + Strongest Necromancer inspired)
------
Chapter 35: Trial Grounds, Treasure Dreams, and Crazy Ideas
---
The ground crunched beneath Lucian's boots as he and his party ventured deeper into the Trial Grounds.
Massive trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches twisting like the arms of sleeping giants.
Insects buzzed lazily in the humid air, and somewhere far off, a beast roared.
It felt like stepping into another world —
raw, wild, and teeming with life.
Lucian grinned.
Adventure!
Loot!
Danger!
The Holy Trinity of Fun!
---
Comedy Break — Team Nonsense:
Dorian, the hammer boy, stopped to wipe sweat from his forehead.
"I swear, if one more mosquito bites me, I'm going home!"
Mira smirked.
"You're too fat, Dorian. They think you're a walking buffet."
Finn, grinning like an idiot, added,
"Maybe they'll suck out all his fat and make him skinny!"
Dorian turned red.
"You little —"
Lucian laughed so hard he nearly tripped over a root.
[System 17]:
> "Host, would you like to purchase a 'Mosquito Repelling Underwear' from the God Shop?"
Lucian snorted.
"Seventeen, if you keep joking like this, I'll need Mental Health Potions."
---
First Battle:
Suddenly, the ground ahead rumbled.
A group of Rock Boars charged toward them —
massive, tusked beasts with hides like stone!
"Positions!" Lucian shouted.
Mira dashed forward, knives flashing.
Finn raised his staff, chanting spells.
Dorian hefted his hammer with both hands, roaring back at the boars.
Lucian summoned his Beastlings —
small, undead wolves with bone armor, products of his early Domain powers.
The battle was chaotic.
Dust, blood, spells, and growls filled the air.
Lucian personally darted through the gaps, slicing at the Boars' vulnerable joints.
CRASH!
Dorian's hammer smashed down, cracking one beast's skull like an eggshell.
---
Loot System:
As the last Rock Boar fell, their bodies shimmered —
releasing glowing Beast Cores and various loot.
[System 17]:
> "Loot Obtained:
— Rock Boar Core (Common) x4
— Stonehide Boots (Rare)
— Beast Fang Necklace (Uncommon)
— Broken Artifact Piece x1."
Lucian's eyes gleamed.
"Jackpot!"
Finn was already dancing around like a maniac.
"We're rich! We're rich! I'm gonna buy ten meat pies and a magic ring!"
Mira rolled her eyes.
"You'll spend it all on food and still stay ugly."
Even Dorian couldn't help but chuckle.
---
Auction Idea Born:
Lucian pocketed the loot thoughtfully.
"Guys," he said slowly,
"what if... after the trial... we set up a small auction back in the village?"
The others stared at him.
"An auction?" Finn asked.
"Yeah!" Lucian grinned.
"Think about it — the rich brats who can't fight will pay huge money for stuff like this!"
Mira's eyes gleamed with dollar signs.
Dorian nodded vigorously.
"Money means more meat," he said simply.
Lucian laughed.
"And money means upgrading our gear, getting artifacts, buying better potions, maybe even Domain items."
[System 17]:
> "Host's Greed Level +10."
---
Deeper into the Trial Grounds:
They pressed onward.
Every few minutes, a new challenge appeared:
Poison Fang Lizards lurking under fallen logs
Vine Serpents that tried to strangle them
Even a mini-boss — a Silverclaw Panther, fast and vicious
The fights were hard, dirty, and exhausting.
Everyone got scratched, bruised, and muddy.
But slowly, they grew stronger —
their teamwork sharper,
their reflexes faster.
Lucian's Beastlings also evolved mid-battle,
their bone armor thickening, their eyes glowing faint blue.
---
Special Domain Gain:
After slaying the Panther, a silver token floated up.
[System 17]:
> "Congratulations!
— Domain Feature Unlocked: 'Spirit Pool (Lesser).'
— Spirit Pool Capacity: 1000 units
— Functions: Beast Summoning Efficiency +10%, Passive Healing Aura in Domain."
Lucian almost cried tears of happiness.
Finally!
The Domain wasn't just empty land anymore.
It was growing — piece by piece.
---
Resting — Funny Moments:
That night, they made camp in a hollow cave.
Lucian set up a small fire while Dorian tried (and failed) to cook meat.
The burnt remains were so disgusting even wild beasts wouldn't touch them.
Mira threw a pebble at him.
"Congratulations, Dorian. You've invented Culinary Poison."
Finn looked dead serious.
"If we ever get attacked, we can throw your food at the enemies. They'll die instantly."
Lucian laughed so hard he almost fell into the fire.
This...
This kind of life — laughter, fighting, dreaming —
it was exactly what he'd missed in his previous world.
No longer alone.
No longer a nobody.
Here, he could become someone.
---
End of Chapter 35