The hall was still noisy when Han Jiwon left.
People avoided his eyes. Some stepped aside as if he carried a disease. Jiwon noticed it, but he didn't care. He had already expected this much.
Outside, cold air hit his face.
The skeleton followed him quietly, footsteps light despite its bones. Jiwon kept his hood low as he walked.
A notification appeared.
[New Objective]
[Enter a dungeon and defeat 1 enemy]
[Reward: EXP, Skill Proficiency]
Jiwon stopped walking.
"A dungeon… already?"
Gates had been appearing more frequently these days. Small ones opened without warning, usually rated low. Dangerous, but manageable.
As if answering his thoughts, a siren rang in the distance.
A gate had opened nearby.
Jiwon followed the sound.
The gate stood between two abandoned buildings. Blue light twisted in the air like water. A warning sign blinked beside it.
[Low-Risk Dungeon – Entry Limit: 5]
Three hunters were already there.
One of them noticed Jiwon and frowned. His eyes shifted to the skeleton.
"…A necromancer?"
A woman standing beside him stiffened.
She wore light armor and carried a staff. Her grip tightened.
"You brought that thing here?"
Jiwon answered calmly. "It won't attack unless I order it to."
The man scoffed. "Tch. As long as you don't slow us down."
They entered the gate together.
The world twisted.
The dungeon was a narrow stone passage, dimly lit by glowing moss. The air smelled damp and old.
The system responded immediately.
[Dungeon Entered]
[Undead Presence Detected]
[Raise Skeleton efficiency increased by 10%]
Jiwon felt a strange warmth spread through his chest.
From the darkness ahead, something moved.
A low growl echoed.
Two rotting figures stepped forward. Undead wolves. Their bones showed through torn flesh, eyes burning faint red.
"Here they come!" the man shouted.
The warrior rushed forward.
Jiwon didn't move.
"Go," he said softly.
The skeleton ran ahead.
The wolves leaped.
Bones clashed against claws. The skeleton was struck back, but it didn't fall. It grabbed one wolf's neck and crushed it against the wall.
The second wolf lunged.
"Left!" the woman shouted instinctively.
Jiwon raised his hand.
"Block."
The skeleton moved without hesitation.
The wolf's fangs shattered against bone.
A moment later, its skull cracked.
The system chimed.
[Enemy Defeated]
[EXP Gained: 40]
Jiwon felt his heartbeat steady.
The woman stared at the skeleton, then at Jiwon.
"…You control it well."
Jiwon said nothing.
Another message appeared.
[Raise Skeleton proficiency increased]
[Current Control Stability: High]
He looked deeper into the dungeon.
This was only the entrance.
And somehow, he knew.
This place was made for him.