Theo was preparing to leave the crystalline chamber when Prism suddenly shifted to near-transparency. Through their mental link, he sensed approaching movement—something large enough to register on enhanced perception.
He positioned himself behind a crystal formation. Carapace blocked the main tunnel entrance while Prism vanished completely.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the depths—bipedal movement with significant mass. When the creature emerged into the chamber's light, Theo saw an eight-foot tall humanoid covered in scales that shifted between purple and bronze. Massive clawed hands, reptilian head with intelligent yellow eyes, crude armor, and a two-handed sword across its back.
His gaming experience immediately identified the creature as a dragonborn—something he'd encountered countless times in fantasy settings but never expected to face in reality. The scale coloration and overall size suggested significant maturity and power, while the quality of its equipment indicated combat experience and organizational backing.
The dragonborn searched methodically, examining the beetle-creatures' former nest with obvious disappointment. When its search brought it close enough to detect Carapace, the reaction was immediate.
Drawing its massive sword, the warrior roared: "Necromantic corruption! The hive-builders' deaths reek of death magic. Show yourself, grave-robber!"
The accusation hit home. These beetle-creatures had belonged to some organization, and he'd eliminated them to secure his operational area. The dragonborn's presence confirmed larger implications he hadn't considered. The term "hive-builders" suggested the beetles hadn't been random scavengers but organized workers with specific roles in whatever hierarchy this warrior represented.
Carapace shifted into combat stance, frost forming on nearby crystals. The dragonborn attacked with devastating speed, its sword sweeping in a cleaving arc. Carapace ducked beneath the blow and raked claws across the warrior's armored thigh, drawing dark blood.
The dragonborn's fighting style revealed extensive training—not just raw strength, but disciplined technique that spoke of military experience. It recovered from Carapace's counterattack with practiced efficiency, immediately adjusting its stance to prevent similar exploitation of openings.
Prism materialized behind the dragonborn, driving translucent claws toward the gap between helmet and shoulder armor. The warrior spun with surprising grace, its sword catching the spectral stalker's partially corporeal form.
Prism: 14/18 HP (-4)
The dragonborn's ability to detect and counter Prism's stealth attack suggested combat experience against invisible opponents. This wasn't some brutish enforcer—it was a seasoned warrior who had survived battles against varied supernatural threats.
The distraction allowed Carapace to press forward. The death beetle's claws penetrated armor completely, deep wounds that would have dropped most creatures. The warrior's draconic constitution kept it fighting despite the damage, but Theo could see the toll accumulating. Dark blood flowed steadily from multiple wounds, and the dragonborn's movements were becoming slightly less coordinated.
Realizing coordination gave his opponents advantages, the dragonborn unleashed a cone of acid that filled the chamber with corrosive vapor. Theo threw himself behind crystal cover as acid dissolved the surface where he'd been standing. The corrosive fumes burned his throat while his undead continued fighting.
Theo: 25/25 HPCarapace: 22/24 HP (-2)Prism: 9/18 HP (-5)
The acid breath weapon demonstrated the dragonborn's draconic heritage while revealing desperation—using such a powerful ability suggested it recognized the severity of its situation. The recovery period following breath weapons was a well-known vulnerability in draconic physiology, something Theo's gaming knowledge had taught him to exploit.
During the warrior's recovery from the breath weapon, both undead struck simultaneously. Carapace targeted the throat while Prism attacked vital organs through gaps in armor. The dragonborn's death roar echoed through the chamber before it collapsed in a pool of dark blood.
EXPERIENCE GAINED:Dragonborn Warrior (Level 6): 600 XPAll participants receive full experienceCurrent Experience: 675/600
LEVEL UP!Level 3 ReachedExperience Overflow: 75/900
Undead Experience:Carapace: +600 XPPrism: +600 XP
The advancement brought immediate changes—expanded mana reserves and a third permanent undead slot. More importantly, he could now create additional undead without dismissing his current servants, allowing him to test theories about corpse quality without sacrificing proven assets.
Level: 3Permanent Undead Limit: 3Mana Points: 65/65
Searching the dragonborn's body revealed intelligence that transformed his understanding of the situation. The warrior's equipment told a story of organized military structure that extended far beyond these tunnels.
The crude map drawn on treated hide showed tunnel networks spanning the entire Portland underground, with symbols marking established territories, resource extraction sites, and what appeared to be patrol routes. The scope was staggering—dozens of interconnected passages extending beneath the city, with notation systems that suggested long-term occupation rather than recent arrival.
Metal tokens bearing intricate symbols provided evidence of ranking hierarchies. The dragonborn carried three different token types: bronze discs with beetle motifs, silver squares with draconic designs, and a single gold triangle marked with symbols he couldn't interpret. The progression suggested a complex organizational structure with multiple species working under unified command.
But the message scroll contained the most concerning intelligence. Written in Common using careful script, it detailed "maintaining harvesting operations in Sector 7," "tribute quotas for the Deep Lords," and "elimination protocols for surface interference." The beetle-creatures hadn't been random inhabitants—they were workers in an organized extraction operation with deadly policies toward anyone who threatened their activities.
His base hadn't been randomly chosen. He'd stumbled into the middle of territorial operations involving multiple species working toward shared objectives under the authority of entities called "Deep Lords." The beetles' deaths would eventually draw attention, and the missing dragonborn supervisor would trigger investigation protocols.
The implications were sobering. Rather than facing individual threats or small groups, he was positioned against an established hierarchy with resources, organization, and clear policies for dealing with interference. The convergence had brought not just monsters and displaced beings, but functional societies with their own agendas and territorial claims.
But dwelling on the scope of the threat wouldn't help him survive it. With his increased undead limit, the dragonborn's corpse represented a major upgrade opportunity. Given its humanoid structure, he expected a skeleton—probably something with draconic traits based on the source material.
The animation process felt more complex than his previous experiences with goblin and beetle corpses. The dragonborn's draconic heritage and higher level required more intricate necromantic manipulation, though the mana cost remained consistent at 15 points. The transformation took nearly three minutes, during which he could sense the magic evaluating the corpse and selecting the most appropriate form of undeath.
UNDEAD CREATION SUCCESSFULCorpse Level: 6 → Undead Level: 5Type: Draconic SkeletonRarity: RareClass: Fighter
Level: 5 | HP: 35/35 | Type: Draconic Skeleton (Rare)Evolution: Stage 1 at Level 7
Not a basic skeleton at all. The bones had turned ivory white with crimson energy veins running through them, and its eye sockets burned with cold fire that cast flickering shadows throughout the chamber. The skeletal frame retained the dragonborn's impressive size and draconic features—elongated skull, prominent jaw structure, and bone ridges that suggested the original's reptilian heritage.
Most importantly, the undead retained access to equipment usage and combat techniques from its previous life. It retrieved the massive two-handed sword with movements that demonstrated perfect familiarity with the weapon's weight and balance, then executed a brief practice sequence that showcased retained muscle memory and fighting expertise.
The presence it projected was entirely different from his other undead. Where Carapace possessed predatory menace and Prism embodied ghostly stealth, this creature radiated command authority that made his other servants acknowledge its status without challenge.
"Dracul," Theo decided, watching the intelligent assessment in its burning eye sockets as it surveyed the chamber.
The level 2 beetle corpse still lay nearby, presenting a resource management dilemma. With all three permanent slots occupied, he could either dismiss one of his current servants to make room for a potential reconnaissance specialist, or leave the corpse unused until he gained additional slots.
Given the intelligence about organized patrols and underground networks, a small reconnaissance undead could prove valuable. But dismissing any of his current combat-proven servants felt unwise when he'd just discovered coordinated threats.
The corpse would remain viable for nearly twenty-four more hours, giving him time to consider the decision carefully. For now, maintaining his established force seemed the wiser choice. Carapace, Prism, and Dracul represented known capabilities he could rely on—worth more than the uncertain potential of an untested creation.
The discovery of organized territorial operations changed everything about his situation assessment. The scroll's references to "elimination protocols for surface interference" suggested his warehouse base was already within range of established patrol routes. Someone would come looking for the missing dragonborn and its charges, following procedures that had probably been tested against previous threats.
His defensive preparations would need complete revision. Instead of planning for individual encounters or small groups, he needed to prepare for coordinated responses involving multiple species with established communication networks and tactical doctrine. The tunnel maps showed at least seven different approach routes to his area, making simple chokepoint defenses inadequate.
The mention of "Deep Lords" suggested command authorities powerful enough to coordinate multiple species and maintain territorial control across significant areas. If these entities were among the higher-level beings that convergence percentage increases were bringing into reality, they represented threats that could overwhelm his current capabilities regardless of preparation quality.
But the organizational intelligence also revealed opportunities. The hierarchical structure implied communication delays and authorization requirements that could be exploited. The tribute system suggested resource constraints that might limit response capabilities. Most importantly, the elimination of a supervisor and its work team would create operational disruptions that might provide cover for relocating his base before retaliation arrived.
Standing in the crystalline chamber with Shadowstep's bones secure in his pack and three powerful undead awaiting orders, Theo began planning his immediate priorities. The warehouse base needed immediate security upgrades, escape route preparation, and early warning systems. His undead force required tactical positioning and contingency protocols for handling coordinated attacks.
Longer term, he needed intelligence about the Deep Lords themselves—their capabilities, territorial extent, and relationship to the convergence process. Understanding whether they were displaced beings adapting to Earth's reality or native entities taking advantage of cosmic chaos would determine how to approach the larger conflict.
The tunnel network offered both threats and opportunities. While it provided his enemies with concealed approach routes, it also gave him access to their operations and potential intelligence gathering opportunities. Scout's reconnaissance capabilities could map patrol schedules and identify vulnerable targets for disruption operations.
The convergence continued its progression toward the 15% milestone where more powerful entities would manifest. But the discovery that organized hierarchies were already establishing territorial control suggested the timeline for major threats was shorter than anticipated. The Deep Lords weren't waiting for higher convergence percentages—they were building power bases immediately.
With evidence of larger wars scattered around him and the weight of cosmic responsibility pressing against his consciousness, Theo felt the familiar satisfaction of tactical problems demanding systematic solutions. His necromantic abilities were revealing new possibilities with each encounter, while his gaming experience provided frameworks for understanding organizational vulnerabilities and strategic exploitation.
The war for reality's survival was accelerating, but so was his capability development. Each challenge overcome provided resources and knowledge that prepared him for escalating threats. The path forward was dangerous but clear—grow stronger, gather intelligence, and prepare for conflicts that would determine whether chosen ones could become powerful enough to matter when final confrontations arrived.
Preparation time was running short, but the tools for success were beginning to take shape.