Lucien stepped deeper into the crypt. The torches behind him faded, swallowed by the growing darkness.
The new tunnel was narrow and cold. Unlike the fire chamber, this place felt lifeless. Dust covered the ground. Spiderwebs stretched across corners. Old bones lay scattered.
He held his bone sword tight.
"This place... feels dead. More than usual."
[◆ Passive Skill: Death Sense – Activated]
Undead presence detected nearby.
Lucien stopped.
In the distance, he heard it.
Whispers.
Faint… like voices brushing against his skull.
"Turn back..."
"You don't belong here..."
"Leave... before it wakes..."
He swallowed, eyes scanning the dark.
"No chance. I've come too far."
He continued forward. The tunnel opened into another chamber, this one much larger, with cracked stone pillars and torn banners. At the center, a huge pile of bones.
Lucien approached slowly.
Suddenly—
RATTLE—CLACK—CLACK!
The bones began to rise.
From the pile formed a massive beast: a Bone Serpent, ten meters long, stitched together with old skulls, ribs, and spines.
[◆ Mini-Boss Appeared: Bone Serpent – Lv. 6]
HP: 300/300
Weak Point: Glowing Core in Skull
Lucien took a step back. "Of course."
The serpent lunged.
He rolled, just missing its snapping jaws. He swung at its ribs—nothing. The blade bounced off.
"The core... I need to hit the head."
He waited for an opening. The serpent twisted, smashing a pillar. Dust filled the room.
Lucien dashed through the fog, climbed a fallen stone, and leapt—
SLASH!
His sword cut into the glowing skull.
[Critical Hit! – 50 HP]
The beast screamed and thrashed. Lucien held on as it shook wildly. He raised his sword again and slammed it down—
[Critical Hit! – 75 HP]
The beast bucked him off.
Lucien hit the ground hard.
[–20 HP]
He groaned, bones cracking.
Just then, the Ash Cloak skill lit up again.
[Skill Ready: Ash Cloak]
He activated it and charged through the serpent's tailfire breath.
Lucien leapt up one last time and drove his sword straight through the core.
CRACK!
The serpent roared… then crumbled.
[◆ Mini-Boss Defeated]
[+200 EXP]
[Level Up: 3 → 4]
[New Skill Unlocked: Bone Bind]
Temporarily bind enemies in place with skeletal chains.
Lucien fell to his knees, catching his breath.
"This... is getting serious."
The whispers returned.
But now… one voice stood out.
"Well done… heir of the Reaper…"
Lucien looked around.
"Who said that?"
No one was there.
Then he saw something glinting under the bone pile.
A black ring.
He picked it up.
[◆ Item Acquired: Ring of Waking Death]
Unknown Effect. Requires attunement.
Lucien stared at the ring.
Everything was changing. Every step deeper took him closer to truth… and to Darren.
He put the ring in his pouch and stood.
"I'm not turning back."
The tunnel ahead was darker than before.
But Lucien walked forward without fear.