The deeper Axton ventured into the Realm of Shadows, the stronger the stench of death became.

It wasn't just the decaying air or the lingering mana—there was something else, something that whispered faintly in the silence.

It felt alive. Watching. Waiting.

The tunnel walls began to change as he moved further down.

The once-smooth stone was now cracked and veined with dark, pulsing lines of energy that glowed faintly like blood flowing through veins.

The shimmering crystals that had once lit the way grew dimmer and rarer, forcing Axton to conjure a small flame orb that hovered beside him as a source of light.

He took slow, measured steps.

His boots echoed faintly on the cold stone floor.

Every sound in this place seemed amplified — the distant drip of water, the crackle of his flame, and occasionally, the faint rattle of something moving in the dark.

"Whatever this realm was meant to be," he muttered, "it was never meant for the living."

Axton paused as a notification window blinked in front of him:

[Warning: You have entered the Lower Corridor of the Realm of Shadows]

[Recommended Level: 40+]

[Current Level: 30]

"Level 40, huh?" He smirked faintly. "Guess that means I'm underleveled. Perfect."

Rather than turning back, Axton proceeded with confidence. He thrived in challenge. That was how he grew faster than anyone else.

The flame hovering beside him flickered suddenly, dimming as if reacting to a shift in the air. Axton raised his head.

From ahead, faint footsteps echoed — slow, deliberate, and measured.

Then came the faint clink of armor.

Moments later, shadows moved at the end of the corridor.

One by one, figures emerged from the darkness — taller and bulkier than the skeletons before.

These wore broken pieces of armor with rusted emblems, and unlike the mindless shamblers earlier, their movements were coordinated and unnervingly precise.

Their hollow eyes burned with blue fire.

[Skeleton Knight]

[Grade: 3]

[Level: 35]

[Attack: 1900]

[Defense: 1120]

[HP: 1900 / 1900]

[Skills: Sword Flash, Shield Block, Undead Arrogance]

"So this is where the real fun begins."

The first Skeleton Knight raised its sword and pointed it at Axton, letting out a hollow battle cry. The others followed, raising shields and weapons as they charged together.

Axton didn't back away, he tanked their attacks. He extended his palm and muttered.

"Shock Blast!"

A surge of mana burst outward, with an explosion following.

The corridor filled with heat and smoke as the front line of Skeleton Knights staggered back.

Their armor glowed red-hot, but none fell.

"Sturdy bones," Axton murmured, impressed.

[Sword Shower]

The blade of pure energy sliced through their necks.

The skull rolled across the ground, shattering against the stone.

But as the first knight fell, two others broke free of the chains and counterattacked.

Their swords crashed down against Axton with enough force to shake his arms. Sparks flew from the impact.

Axton pushed back and leapt away, landing smoothly several meters back.

"Persistent bastards."

The knights didn't speak, didn't hesitate. They advanced again, their formation tight.

"Alright," he said, smirking. "Let's even the odds."

*Roooaarrrr*

The cavern floor trembled as the enormous beast materialized once again, roaring with earth-shaking force. Its arrival sent several knights stumbling back.

The Great Bear charged like a storm. Its first swipe shattered two knights at once, scattering their armor in pieces. But the others surrounded it quickly, stabbing and slashing relentlessly.

Their swords glowed faintly with dark mana — each hit carving faint marks across the bear's fur.

Axton noticed the drop in its HP bar.

"These ones can hurt it. Interesting."

He raised his hand, summoning several balls of ice that hovered around him like orbiting stars.

"Let's clean this up."

He sent them flying one after another, each cold explosion shaking the corridor and turning several skeletons to dust.

The Great Bear continued its rampage, crushing, slamming, and roaring with primal fury. The air was filled with crashing sounds and blue flames bursting from broken armor.

Within minutes, the last Skeleton Knight fell — its blue flame flickering out as its bones crumbled into nothing.

The dungeon fell silent once more.

Axton exhaled, glancing at his HP bar — still full. "Not bad," he said, satisfied.

His bear's form flickered and vanished back into mana particles. Axton crouched to check the drops left behind. He found some silver coins, fragments of old armor, and a few glowing orbs similar to the Bone Core from before.

Axton continued on into the cave.

As he walked, the surroundings began to open into a massive underground chamber. The crystals here were dim and blood-red, glowing weakly like dying embers. Strange black mist coiled around the edges of the room.

The ground was uneven, cracked as if something had erupted here long ago.

And at the center of it all stood a massive stone door, towering at least three times his height. Strange runes were carved into its surface, glowing faintly.

Axton approached it carefully, summoning his fiery armour on himself.

The moment he came close, the runes lit up completely, and a chilling voice echoed through the chamber.

"Who… enters… the realm of the dead?"

The sound made the very walls tremble. Axton's flame armour flickered violently but didn't extinguish.

"Guess I found the boss room," he said calmly.

The stone door began to creak open, releasing a wave of cold air that made the hairs on his neck stand up. From the shadows beyond, a towering figure stepped out, dragging a massive sword behind it.

Its body was made entirely of bones, but unlike the smaller skeletons, these were fused with black armor and glowing veins of red energy. A tattered cape trailed behind it, and on its chest burned a crimson core that pulsed like a heartbeat.

[Mini-Boss: Shadow Warden]

[Grade: 4]

[Level: 30]

[Attack: 3200]

[Defense: 2700]

[HP: 3800 / 3800]

[Skills: Shadow Cleave, Bone Fortress, Death Roar, Curse Aura]

The Warden raised its sword, letting out an ear-splitting roar that sent a blast of dark energy surging through the room.

Cracks spread across the floor, and Axton barely managed to leap aside as the shockwave tore through the space where he had stood.

The battle began instantly.

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