The sun glinted off the spires of the National Academy, casting long shadows over the marble courtyards. Elite families, scholars, and relatives had gathered, eyes fixed on the shimmering portal at the center. Holographic displays floated above, showing the dungeon interior in real time. Today was the Entrance Exam dungeon, a single high-stakes trial that allowed no room for error.
Most students formed teams, five or more per squad, whispering strategies. Shiva walked alone, his skeletons rattling softly behind him, a grim and perfectly synchronized army. Even from afar, the crowd sensed the aura of power surrounding him.
SYSTEM PANEL:
Name: Shiva
Class: Necromancer
Level: 12
XP: Disabled (No leveling in exam)
Talent: Strength
Skills:
- Undead Summon (Lvl 2)
- Skeleton Tactics (Lvl 1)
- Bone Sword Precision (Lvl 1)
- Shadow Step (Lvl 1)
Strength: 24
Health: 120
Defense: 20
Intelligence: 26
Units:
- Skeleton Warrior x5 (Bone Sword)
Undead Space Capacity: 0 / 20 (Locked)
The portal pulsed, dark energy rippling across the courtyard. Stepping through, Shiva entered a Nightmare-level replica of the academy: twisting corridors, broken classrooms, shattered libraries, and lava fissures cutting across the floors. Shadows moved unnaturally, twisting and slithering with malevolence.
From the first corridor, Night Stalkers lunged. Shiva's skeletons flanked with perfect precision. One stalker lunged at Skeleton B but was cut midair by Skeleton C. Another tried to flank from above, but Shiva countered instantly with Shadow Step, guiding his army like a master conductor.
Next came Ashwing Fiends, swooping in blinding speed. Shiva's skeletons formed a crossfire formation, striking in perfect unison. The academy spectators watched in awe, murmuring: Who is this lone student commanding an undead army with such flawless coordination?
The central hall mirrored the academy auditorium. A Unique Shadow Titan waited, larger, faster, and smarter than anything Shiva had faced. Lava fissures forced constant repositioning. Skeletons moved as extensions of Shiva's mind, striking from multiple angles. Every command was decisive, every movement deliberate—there was no room for mistakes.
SYSTEM PANEL (Mid-Fight):
Level: 12
Units:
- Skeleton Warrior x5 (Bone Sword)
Undead Space Capacity: 0 / 20 (Locked)
XP: Disabled
Minutes stretched into hours. Every strike, every maneuver, every tactical decision was scrutinized by the crowd. Outside, elite families and academy officials whispered, astonished at the lone student controlling his army flawlessly.
Finally, the Titan collapsed. Shiva exhaled slowly, his skeletons rattling behind him, unscathed. Though the dungeon offered no experience, it had tested him in every other way: skill, strategy, and the absolute control of his undead army.
Level 20… Undead Space… twenty skeletons ready for instant deployment… he thought, anticipation growing. The dungeon had been a proving ground, not for growth, but for mastery.
SYSTEM PANEL (Preview):
Undead Space Activation at Level 20:
Capacity: 20 Skeletons
No Mana Cost
Outside, the crowd erupted in awe, witnessing the lone student command an army of the dead with complete precision. Shiva stepped forward calmly, expression unreadable, already thinking of the day Undead Space would awaken and nothing—no dungeon, no enemy—would withstand him.
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