"Where the hell is it?" I'm trying to find the place relying only on my memory. I usually have a good sense of direction in cities and never forget places I've been to, but nature is a whole different story—everything changes so quickly. "I'm sure it's near this mountain." I stand still, staring at the mountain, trying to recall the exact location.

I hear a little giggle in my mind. "Don't laugh, Glia." Her giggle continues, and I let out a tired sigh.

Several minutes pass before I finally find the dungeon. "Told you I'd find it, I just needed a bit of time." I talk to Glia directly, striking a proud pose.

"You took nearly two extra hours. You were walking in circles and didn't see it until now." I ignore her comment like a good older brother.

"You ready?" I don't know how hard this type of dungeon is—it's my first time, and honestly, I'm a bit nervous about the possible mysteries.

"Always. We're an unbeatable team." Her enthusiasm helps calm my nerves, which come from both excitement and the unknown.

As I touch the invisible wall left by Sus, I feel it tremble. After several seconds, it finally lets me through, and I see the dungeon at last. Just like Liza described, the color is a deep gold, and the edges are mixed with dark red. The view is stunning.

"This is it." Without holding back my excitement, I step forward, and the dungeon immediately absorbs my body. I feel like I'm being pulled into another "dimension" or place. Being close to acquiring a pseudo law of space lets me notice subtle shifts as I'm transported.

My vision goes dark for a few seconds before I can see again. I find myself in the middle of a meadow. A cool breeze touches my face. Looking around, everything seems normal—well-trimmed vegetation and a few trees no more than five meters tall.

"Welcome to the Fallen Hero's Dungeon." The omnipresent voice hits my mind along with notifications. "This dungeon has eight levels. Rewards can be claimed starting from the second level. The first level is to evaluate the challenger's strength." So that's how it works—similar mechanisms but also unique to each dungeon.

"You'll face a monster one grade above your rank to assess your combat power." I didn't expect that. My mind starts racing through possibilities. "When you're ready, press the white button on the central pillar. If you don't within two minutes, the fight will start automatically."

Should I go all out? If I beat the trial monster, the next challenges will be harder. From what I understand, I'll get better rewards. The question is: how much better? If they're only slightly better, it might be smarter to hold back. But maybe I should just go all in…

"What do you think, Glia? Any suggestions?" She's the only one I can ask right now.

"I don't know." I sense her trying to come up with a good idea, but she gives up after a while. "I've got no experience with this… just go with whatever feels right." I roll my eyes at her fantastic contribution. Not much help.

"I've decided! I'm going all out." I came here looking for excitement and a real challenge. If I can get better rewards for giving it my all, then that's a win-win.

I press the white button on the pillar. The forest darkens instantly, turning into night. I have to strain my vision to see far. Only my domain helps me stay aware of my surroundings.

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Seconds later, something humanoid enters my domain. It's bipedal and nearly three meters tall, wielding a sword in each hand like me, and slowly approaches. As it gets closer, I recognize its form more clearly. It wears light armor, probably leather—and it's not human.

"A skeleton?" This is my first time fighting undead monsters. Interesting start. I charge all my abilities. My swords carry my sharpened Imra and a strong layer of death mana. My body is mostly covered by a thin ice armor, refined over the past few months through fortified construction.

The only uncovered parts are my face, thighs, and joints—elbows and knees—to keep maximum flexibility. All my abilities surge through my body, boosted by my pseudo laws and Law. I'm ready for this fight.

Huh? It stops about 40 meters away, where it shouldn't be able to see me due to the darkness. "What are you doing?" Before I can ask more, mana constructs resembling spears fly toward me.

I quickly build some Joyeuse swords to intercept them. They collide and shatter each other. The skeleton instantly creates four more spears—these seem stronger. I power up my own constructs, and they once again clash and destroy each other.

As if it's a contest, the next three spears come infused with its Imra. I match the level to counter them. It pauses for a moment, but then seems to run out of patience. Four spears, now reinforced by its Imra and Laws, fly straight at me. I use my strongest Joyeuse to block them. The impact lasts a few seconds and causes an explosion that ruffles my hair.

"That all you got?" I ask, though I know it can't answer—just provoking it.

Just as I'm about to taunt it more, the skeleton vanishes and reappears to my right. Thanks to my domain, I detect it and react fast. Its sword aims to cleave me from head to toe. I twist my body and counter with a powerful vertical strike.

The blow numbs my hand. "That was a heavy hit, buddy." Its left sword swings at my torso. I block it, but the impact pushes me back. It's stronger than me—let's test its speed.

I start moving side to side, trying to land a hit. I can't—its speed matches mine. No, actually, I'm keeping up with it. It's slightly faster, and it wields those massive swords effortlessly.

If I can't win in speed or strength—like with the Denosis from the last dungeon—then I have to beat it with skill. Bit by bit, I get used to its movements and gain ground, staying on the offensive even though I haven't landed a solid blow yet.

With better swordsmanship, I can redirect its attacks. The weight of its strikes no longer numbs my hands, and I force it to defend or risk getting hit. After a few seconds, I finally land a slash on its left arm.

"Gotcha." My joy is short-lived. My death affinity doesn't seem to have much effect. "Is it countering my affinity?" My Law of Life and Death is powerful, but I sense multiple Laws from this skeleton. I can't tell what they are, but I'm sure one of them is a Death Law.

Is it stronger than the Denosis? Maybe slightly—due to its Laws. I'm not sure who would win in a direct fight. Still, I keep attacking. More cuts appear on its tough bones. It has a death mana coating that reduces my attack power significantly.

Almost two minutes in, and it's using its spears again—not just melee. I give it my all to create Joyeuse to block them. I know I won't die on level one, but I'd rather not take the hit—it'd hurt like hell.

It summons more spears than I can handle, forcing me to use my movement skill repeatedly. I dodge a death spear with a side jump, only to be caught off guard—the skeleton swaps places with its spear and lands a cut on my arm.

The gash is deep. I infuse life mana and use my Life Law to counter its Laws, running side to side while healing. It catches up and I'm forced to defend with one arm until I recover.

"You won't catch me with that cheap trick again." I keep a safe distance to make it harder for it to teleport via death spears and keep a charged step ready as backup. Its strength and speed start to wane. My slashes finally take effect—cracks form on its bones.

"Time to send you back, friend." I inject more mana and Imra into my abilities. My body feels overloaded. But that energy gives me a boost in power and speed. The chest plate is in tatters, and I finally see its core lodged in the center of its chest.

With quick movements and leg slashes, I throw it off balance. When it tries to slash my neck, I duck and slice hard at its right armpit. I hear a bone crack. It tries to stand, but an ice sword strikes its leg bone, and it drops to its knees.

"This is the end, my friend." I dodge its final thrust with its left arm and stab my sword into the center of its core. It stops moving for a moment. I drive my second sword into the same spot, then jump back. Its bones collapse in a heap.

"That was a great warm-up." I deactivate my skills and wait for the dungeon's message.

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