Kael POV
The sunlight hit my face like a welcome hand when we returned to Eldrathin. After the suffocating, oppressive darkness of the Void Labyrinth, the air here smelled of earth and grass and life. Even Brown, floating beside me with his usual smirk, seemed… less ominous.
"Home," I muttered. "For now."
Brown tapped his fingers against his ribs. "Home. But you do know this place is crawling with dungeons, right?"
I nodded. "I know. That's why we're here. Every dungeon cleared is one less seed for the Celestial War."
The system pinged as I scanned Eldrathin's map:
[Dungeon Status — Eldrathin World]
[Known Dungeons: 42]
[Cleared: 11]
[Remaining: 31]
The air shimmered faintly as I activated Mana Construct, forming a mobile core around my body. My aura rippled, resonating with Blue's Tempest energy even though he slept far away under Zephyr's watch.
"Brown," I said. "Split the undead into two factions like before. Shadow Legion goes to the northern dungeons. Undead Legion takes the south. I'll join the central sector."
"Understood, Master," he replied, floating slightly above the ground. He snapped his fingers, and the undead surged outward like a living tide. Their boots—some skeletal, some armored—shattered rocks, forming dust clouds behind them.
I descended into the nearest dungeon. The entrance gaped like a maw, black and hollow. The stench of decayed mana struck my nose immediately. Every dungeon here was alive. I could feel it breathing, watching, feeding on fear and hesitation.
The first chamber was quiet. Too quiet.
I stepped forward, blade ready. Brown's voice echoed faintly in my earpiece:
"Master, sensors detect multiple mana cores. Likely a pack of dungeon-born monsters."
I nodded. "Let's make it quick."
Shadows flickered at the edge of the room. Two grotesque creatures emerged—four arms each, dripping with black ichor, eyes glowing red. They hissed and leapt.
"Copy Skill," I murmured. Instantly, my body mirrored the movements of the last Void Beasts we faced, adjusting reflexes, distance, and attack speed.
I spun, slashing one creature in half mid-air. My blade hummed with Mana Construct energy, a resonance amplified by Blue's lingering Tempest link. The second creature recoiled, and I pushed Domain Domination, bending the room's gravity. It screamed as its limbs twisted in the air, crushed by invisible forces.
Brown's undead surged in behind me, skeletons impaling, Death Knights slashing. By the time I moved to the next chamber, not a trace of the creatures remained.
The system pinged:
[Skill Gain: Void Beast Analysis Lv.1]
[Experience: +45,000]
I exhaled. "Every dungeon seems to be feeding on… something. Something malignant."
Brown floated beside me. "And each dungeon destroyed is one step closer to balance."
As we progressed, I encountered various threats:
Stone Gargoyles that shattered walls with every stomp.
Mana Wraiths that leached energy from any mage foolish enough to enter.
Eldritch Guardians who had once been fallen adventurers, now twisted into servitude.
Each battle forced me to evolve my skills. I enhanced Reflection → Displacement to redirect multiple attacks simultaneously. Mana Construct now served as a reservoir for rapid skill deployment. I even tested Copy Skill against a multi-headed serpent, adapting mid-combat and extracting a new skill fragment from it.
By mid-afternoon, I could feel the energy of the dungeons waning under Brown's legions and my own efforts. The floors cleared, the walls stabilized, and the cursed aura dissipated slowly.
We moved to the northern sector next. Brown split his Death Knights into smaller units to oversee Shadow Legion's progress. The ground trembled with the footsteps of millions of undead, their collective presence enough to intimidate even the largest dungeon-born monsters.
A particularly large dungeon in the mountains caught my attention. Its entrance was sealed with a runic lock—ancient, blackened, and dripping with corrupted mana. I extended a hand. Mana Construct interfaced.
The seal resisted. It pulsed violently. I felt a surge of energy trying to absorb my core.
"Brown," I said sharply. "I'll need the Shadow Legion ready. This one is… strong."
He nodded. "Consider it done."
I breached the seal with a concentrated pulse of Domain Domination, ripping the runes apart. Inside, I found a Void Beast elder—the size of a small tower, with eyes like molten stars and a tail lined with spikes that could pierce steel walls.
It roared, the sound bouncing off the stone ceiling. The Shadow Legion charged instantly, engaging the beast.
I stayed back initially, analyzing. Then, I moved in. Displacement made its blows pass harmlessly through me while I struck at its exposed limbs. Brown's Death Knights followed, attacking from above.
After fifteen minutes of relentless assault, the beast fell, screaming in defeat. Its body dissolved into energy fragments that my system absorbed.
[Skill Fragment Acquired: Elder Void Beast Analysis]
[Experience: +120,000]
I wiped sweat from my brow. "That… was close."
Brown floated beside me, adjusting his cloak. "Master, I think our legions are finally getting used to me. They've learned discipline."
I smiled faintly. "Good. Every dungeon we clear makes them stronger. And every skill we gain… makes us stronger."
By evening, we had purged twelve more dungeons. Eldrathin's lands were stabilizing. Farmers in the outer districts would sleep safely tonight. Merchants in REF would transport goods without fearing dungeon spawns. And the city itself would benefit—its crops, minerals, and magical resources remaining untouched.
I looked over the horizon, watching as the Shadow Legion patrolled northern valleys and the Undead Legion consolidated southern sectors.
"Brown," I said softly, "we're making progress… but this is only the beginning. The Celestial War isn't waiting."
Brown's skull tilted, his grin wider than ever. "Master, when you fight like this, I almost… enjoy mortality vicariously. Almost."
I shook my head. "Just… keep the legions sharp. Tomorrow, we move to the eastern dungeons. Reports indicate a demon spawn cult is hiding there, experimenting with corrupted mana."
Brown nodded, already reorganizing his Death Knights. "As you command."
I activated Mana Construct, letting it sweep across the purged dungeons, stabilizing their core energies. Eldrathin would sleep safely tonight—thanks to us.
And yet… deep in my heart, I knew this peace was temporary. The Celestial War was coming. But for now, Kael Eldrath would fight. Brown would evolve. And together… we would make the world safe—one dungeon at a time.