The air outside the Forgotten Temple had grown tense with rumors. Whispers of the National Entrance Exam reached every corner of Pune Academy, yet Shiva moved with calm determination. He had already surpassed the ordinary challenges in Normal and Hell modes. Now, the dungeon would test him in ways he had yet to experience.
Stepping through the shimmering portal, he entered a new version of the temple. Shadows clung to the walls like living things, the floor warped with jagged cracks, and a distant growl echoed endlessly. This was Nightmare difficulty, scaled to challenge even the strongest solo adventurers.
SYSTEM PANEL:
Name: Shiva
Class: Necromancer
Level: 10
XP: 0 / 200
Talent: Strength
Skills:
- Undead Summon (Lvl 2)
- Skeleton Tactics (Lvl 1)
Strength: 18
Health: 90
Defense: 12
Intelligence: 18
Units:
- Skeleton Warrior x3 (Bone Sword)
From the shadows, Ashwing Fiends swooped down, claws glowing, eyes blazing with fury. Shiva's skeletons responded instantly, moving in perfect formation. One swooped low, aiming for Skeleton A. Shiva's command was precise: "Flank left, intercept its right wing!" Skeleton B lunged and pierced the creature's flank, staggering it.
SYSTEM UPDATE:
XP Gained: 40
Level Progress: 10 → 10.2
Minutes stretched into tense combat. Every Ashwing required coordination; a single mistake could mean losing a skeleton. Shiva summoned another skeleton mid-battle, now four in total, each acting with precision beyond normal comprehension. The last Ashwing collapsed, scorched and battered.
SYSTEM UPDATE:
XP Gained: 45
Level Progress: 10.2 → 10.5
Further into the dungeon, the temperature dropped. Shadows thickened into shapes, revealing a pack of Night Stalkers, clawed beasts with glowing red eyes. They circled Shiva, testing his reactions.
"Hold formation," he ordered. Skeletons adjusted instantly. One lunging Stalker was intercepted by Skeleton D; another tried to flank, but Shiva's commands countered perfectly. The fight dragged on. The dungeon gave only fractions of experience for each strike, ensuring Shiva's growth was slow and deliberate.
SYSTEM UPDATE:
XP Gained: 50
Level Progress: 10.5 → 10.8
Finally, a massive shadow fell across the chamber: a Hellfire Ogre, fists molten, stomping the floor with enough force to crack stone. Shiva's skeletons moved as extensions of his will. Each attack was calculated, each movement premeditated. The battle was long and grueling, testing every limit of his coordination and skill.
SYSTEM UPDATE:
XP Gained: 80
Level Progress: 10.8 → 11
Reward: Skill Scroll – Fire Resistance (Lvl 1)
Shiva exhaled slowly, surveying the battlefield. His skeletons remained unscathed, his tactical commands flawless. Each victory had been painstakingly earned, the XP trickling in slowly, preparing him for the monumental growth that would come after level 20, when the Undead Space would awaken, storing +20 skeletons ready for instant deployment.
This is only the beginning, he thought, his army rattling behind him, shadows of bone and steel, ready for the battles yet to come.