The dungeon fell quiet after the last goblin died.
Only the sound of dripping water and heavy breathing remained.
Min-jun stood still, staring at the two skeletons in front of him. One had a cracked rib. The other was newly formed, its bones slightly darker, as if reinforced.
They stood there silently, waiting.
"…This is insane," the rogue muttered. "I thought necromancers were useless."
Min-jun didn't respond. His hands were shaking.
I really did it.
I made another one.
Lee Hae-in walked closer, her spear resting against her shoulder. She examined the skeletons carefully, her eyes sharp.
"You raised that from the bones here?" she asked.
Min-jun nodded slowly. "Yes… I think I can do it again if there are more corpses."
Her lips pressed together in thought.
"That's not normal for a common-class necromancer," she said finally.
The mage crossed his arms. "Maybe he got lucky."
Min-jun flinched at the word.
Lucky.
That was what people always said when they didn't want to admit effort mattered.
Before he could say anything, a loud roar shook the chamber.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Hae-in's expression hardened. "Boss room."
The warrior tightened his grip on his shield. "F-rank boss or not, stay sharp."
Min-jun's heart began to race again.
Boss… already?
They entered the final chamber.
A massive goblin stood in the center, its skin dark green, muscles bulging. A crude club dragged behind it, smashing into the ground with each step.
"GOBLIN BRUTE!" the rogue shouted.
The brute roared and charged.
"HOLD IT!" Hae-in shouted.
The warrior braced himself, but the impact still sent him sliding backward.
"Min-jun!" Hae-in called. "Can your skeletons distract it?"
Min-jun froze for half a second.
Me?
Then he clenched his teeth.
"…Yes."
He raised his hand.
"Both of you—go!"
The two skeletons rushed forward.
The goblin brute laughed, swinging its club and smashing one skeleton straight into the wall. Bones scattered across the floor.
Min-jun's breath caught.
"No—!"
The second skeleton leaped onto the brute's back, stabbing wildly. It did little damage, but it slowed the monster down.
"Now!" Hae-in shouted.
Fire exploded. Steel clashed. The brute staggered.
Min-jun stared at the broken bones on the floor.
Something twisted in his chest.
It protected me.
And I let it die.
A sharp pain surged through his head.
The system chimed, louder than before.
[Emotional Synchronization Detected]
[Undead Affinity Increased]
Min-jun didn't think.
He moved.
He placed his hand over the scattered bones, mana pouring out wildly.
"Get up," he whispered, voice shaking. "Please… get up."
Dark mist exploded outward.
Clack.
Crack.
The bones pulled together violently.
The skeleton stood again.
But it was different.
Its frame was thicker. Its grip steadier.
The system flashed urgently.
[Basic Skeleton → Warrior Skeleton]
[Hierarchy Advancement Successful]
Min-jun's eyes widened.
"…Evolved?"
The warrior skeleton charged, striking the goblin brute's legs with heavy swings.
The brute roared and fell.
Hae-in didn't waste the chance.
"Finish it!"
The team attacked together.
With a final scream, the goblin brute collapsed.
The system chimed repeatedly.
[Boss Defeated]
[EXP Gained: 120]
[Level Up!]
[Level 5 Reached]
[New Title Acquired: Undead Initiate]
Min-jun stood there, breathing heavily, staring at the warrior skeleton standing proudly in front of him.
Everyone else stared too.
The rogue broke the silence.
"…Did anyone else just see that?"
Hae-in smiled, slow and sharp.
"Kang Min-jun," she said, "you might want to stop calling your class useless."
Min-jun looked at his skeletons.
One basic.
One warrior.
And for the first time, he smiled without forcing it.
This is only the beginning.
Deep within the system, hidden text updated quietly.
[Future Hierarchy Paths Unlocked]
[Elite… Commander… Boss… Overlord…]
The necromancer everyone looked down on had taken his first real step.