The air around the bone archway felt wrong.
Marcus stepped closer, boots crunching softly against the dry forest floor. The moment he crossed within a few feet of the arch, the runes carved into the massive bones flickered to life.
Cold blue light spread across them like veins.
Then a system window appeared in front of him.
Dungeon Discovered
Dungeon Type: Undead Dungeon
Dungeon Status: Active
Available Difficulties:
• Easy Mode – Recommended Level: 10–15
• Normal Mode – Recommended Level: 15–20
• Hell Mode – Recommended Level: 20+
Marcus whistled softly.
"Well… that's dramatic."
Behind him, the wolves shifted uneasily.
Even the arachne seemed tense.
Undead energy rolled from the dungeon entrance in slow waves.
Marcus could almost smell it.
Rot.
Dust.
Ancient death.
The darkness inside the arch swirled slowly like thick smoke.
Marcus leaned slightly closer to the interface.
Then paused.
Before selecting anything, he turned toward Liliana.
She stood a few steps behind him with her arms crossed, watching calmly.
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"So… quick question."
Liliana tilted her head slightly.
"Yes?"
Marcus pointed at the dungeon.
"Tell me about this place."
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the archway.
"It is an undead dungeon."
Marcus nodded.
"That part I figured out."
Liliana stepped closer to the archway, her expression thoughtful.
"Each dungeon contains waves of enemies."
She gestured toward the swirling darkness.
"This one contains the restless dead."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Skeletons?"
Liliana nodded.
"And worse."
Marcus glanced back toward his group.
The wolf demi-humans stood ready.
The arachne watched the dungeon with glowing eyes.
Lyrielle stood quietly at his side.
Marcus looked back at Liliana.
"Alright."
"So what's Easy Mode actually like?"
Liliana answered without hesitation.
"Level ten to fifteen enemies."
Marcus nodded.
That matched his current level range.
Then she added something else.
"There are at least one hundred undead inside."
Marcus blinked.
"...One hundred?"
Lyrielle shifted slightly.
"My lord… that is quite a large number."
Marcus scratched his chin.
"Yeah."
Then he looked back at Liliana.
"And the boss?"
Her yellow eyes glinted slightly.
"A Lich."
Marcus paused.
"...A lich?"
Liliana nodded.
"An undead spellcaster."
Marcus let out a low whistle.
"That sounds… unpleasant."
Liliana shrugged.
"They are dangerous."
Then she added something else.
"But they are also useful."
Marcus blinked.
"...Useful?"
Liliana pointed toward the dungeon entrance again.
"You possess an unusual blessing."
Marcus smiled slightly.
"My drop rate?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus leaned against the bone pillar.
"So what's your idea?"
Liliana spoke calmly.
"If you defeat the lich…"
She paused briefly.
"It will eventually reform."
Marcus blinked again.
"Wait."
"Respawn?"
Liliana tilted her head.
"Respawn?"
Marcus waved his hand.
"Come back."
"Rebuild."
"Reappear."
Liliana nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus grinned slowly.
"Oh."
"Oh that's interesting."
Liliana continued.
"A lich is a powerful undead."
"If you defeat it repeatedly…"
Her eyes flicked toward his wolves.
"You may gain valuable drops."
Marcus immediately started thinking.
Lich.
Undead.
Drop table.
With 100% drop rate…
His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait."
He looked back at Liliana.
"You're saying…"
She finished his thought calmly.
"You could farm it."
Marcus burst out laughing.
"You are dangerously smart for a goblin."
Liliana simply shrugged.
"My tribe survives by learning."
Marcus turned back toward the dungeon.
His brain was already running calculations.
Undead.
If the lich dropped unit cards…
Skeleton workers.
Undead labor.
Mining.
Construction.
Guarding.
He could build an entire workforce without risking his main units.
Marcus grinned.
"Oh I like this."
Lyrielle looked at him carefully.
"My lord?"
Marcus gestured toward the dungeon.
"This might be the best thing we've found yet."
She glanced toward the archway again.
"But it is still dangerous."
Marcus nodded.
"Yeah."
Then he opened his status window again.
Marcus Hale
Level: 10
Max Level: 20
Mana: 90 / 90
Skill: Meteor (S Rank)
Meteor Limit: 9 casts
Marcus sighed slightly.
"Still only nine meteors."
Lyrielle tilted her head.
"My lord?"
Marcus shrugged.
"Mana problem."
Liliana watched him carefully.
"You rely on magic."
Marcus grinned.
"I drop rocks from space."
She blinked once.
"...Interesting."
Marcus looked back at the dungeon entrance.
One hundred undead.
Plus a lich.
This was going to be a serious fight.
But he had advantages.
A strong frontline.
Wolf warriors.
Arachne support.
Lyrielle's archery.
And nine meteors.
Marcus turned toward his soldiers.
"Alright everyone."
The wolves straightened immediately.
The arachne focused.
Lyrielle nocked an arrow.
Marcus pointed toward the dungeon.
"First dungeon run."
The wolf alpha grinned slightly.
The arachne hissed softly in excitement.
Marcus stretched his shoulders.
"Easy mode."
Then he glanced back at Liliana.
"You coming?"
She shook her head.
"This is your trial."
Marcus nodded.
Fair enough.
He stepped toward the archway.
The cold air from the dungeon washed over him.
The darkness swirled thicker now.
The system interface appeared again.
Select Difficulty
Easy Mode
Normal Mode
Hell Mode
Marcus didn't hesitate.
He pressed Easy Mode.
The bone archway flared with blue light.
The dark mist inside the gate twisted violently.
Then the system spoke again.
Dungeon Entry Confirmed
Undead Dungeon – Easy Mode
Enemies: 100+
Boss: Lich
Party Size: 12
Entry in 10 seconds
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"Alright."
He turned to his group one last time.
"Wolves take front."
The wolf demi-humans nodded.
"Arachne behind them."
The spider women moved into position.
"Lyrielle with me."
She stepped beside him immediately.
The countdown ticked down.
5
Marcus smirked.
4
"Let's go make some skeletons regret being dead."
3
The wolves growled in anticipation.
2
The dungeon air grew colder.
1
The darkness swallowed them whole.
And Marcus stepped into his first dungeon.