"Grave Shift!"

Whoosh!

Thoren’s figure vanished instantly in a violent blur of motion. In the very next moment, an undead servant appeared exactly where he had been standing moments earlier.

Then the horrifying sand attack crashed directly into the unfortunate undead servant.

Bang!

The undead servant exploded apart instantly. Bones, rusted armor, and shattered fragments scattered violently throughout the narrow staircase.

The destructive impact shook the surrounding walls heavily. Cracks spread across the ancient stone while dust rained endlessly from above.

Meanwhile, Thoren had already appeared at the former location of the undead servant several steps away.

His heart pounded violently against his chest like the tolling of a war bell echoing across a battlefield soaked with blood.

"That was close..." he muttered hoarsely beneath his breath.

Far too close.

If his reaction had been slower by even a single second, his body would have been pulverized completely into bloody dust.

The mere thought of dying within this underground nightmare sent an icy chill crawling across his spine.

Thoren inhaled sharply several times while struggling to calm his violently shaking breathing. Sweat drenched his entire body despite the freezing atmosphere surrounding the staircase.

His sharp gaze locked onto the endless darkness below. He attempted to see through the twisting stairway, yet nothing revealed itself beyond the shadows.

However, Thoren understood the truth clearly.

The darkness below concealed something monstrous.

A terrifying creature remained hidden there patiently, waiting for the perfect opportunity to launch another deadly strike.

At this moment, Thoren was trapped between two deadly fronts.

The Dust Naga horde pressed toward him relentlessly from above while the unknown creature below launched devastating attacks without exposing itself.

Neither side could be ignored.

This was the first time Thoren truly felt cornered within such a confined battlefield.

The narrow staircase suddenly felt smaller.

The walls seemed closer.

The suffocating pressure surrounding him intensified continuously as though the underground ruin itself sought to crush him into submission.

His expression darkened heavily.

He understood one thing clearly.

If he hesitated now, death would consume him completely.

Thoren shifted his gaze toward the brutal battle raging ahead before glancing once more toward the darkness below the staircase corner.

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I either go upward or downward," he thought silently.

A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes immediately afterward.

"Since I chose to descend already, then I will drag this battle straight toward whatever monster hides below."

The killing intent within his gaze intensified sharply.

"Let us see who dies first," he muttered coldly while murderous rage boiled violently within his blood.

Without hesitation, Thoren immediately opened the Abyssal Market interface before him.

Gold coins vanished rapidly.

Every remaining coin disappeared without reserve.

In exchange, ten Peak Bronze grade heavy shields materialized before him.

The shields were massive and thick.

Quickly, Thoren summoned ten undead Jackal Beastmen before equipping each of them with the heavy Peak Bronze grade shields.

The transformation was immediate.

The aura emitted by the undead Jackal Beastmen changed drastically.

With the enormous shields covering their bodies, they resembled terrifying undead guardians standing before the gates of hell itself.

Thoren immediately recalled the undead Royalty Stonewall from the front line.

The powerful undead warrior stepped backward before positioning itself directly before the newly formed shield squad.

It would lead the defensive formation personally.

Thoren stared silently at the newly assembled undead shield squad.

His expression became increasingly firm.

Yet even now, he remains unsatisfied.

This battle carried too much danger.

He needed overwhelming force.

Without delay, Thoren summoned the undead mages behind the shield formation.

The skeletal mages raised their staffs silently while dark soul fire flickered endlessly within their hollow sockets.

Protected behind the heavy shield line, they immediately began preparing destructive spells.

Even after arranging everything carefully, Thoren still refused to relax.

He would not allow his enemies even the slightest opportunity to recover.

From his inventory, he retrieved the Choir Bell Charm carefully.

Immediately afterward, he released the Illusory Floating Lantern.

The moment the Illusory Floating Lantern appeared, the entire staircase passage became illuminated beneath eerie pale light.

The darkness retreated instantly.

At last, Thoren could see the Dust Naga horde clearly.

Their massive twisted bodies coiled endlessly throughout the staircase like a sea of horrifying serpents. Their translucent flesh shifted unnaturally while blood colored grains moved beneath their skin continuously.

The sight alone was deeply disturbing.

Thoren frowned slightly while observing them, yet he quickly suppressed his thoughts.

This was not the time for distraction.

Ting! Ting! Ting!

Thoren shook the Choir Bell Charm firmly.

A terrifying soul resonance spread violently throughout the narrow staircase.

The eerie sound echoed endlessly against the walls like the mourning cries of countless dead spirits.

Hissss!

The effect was immediate.

Combined with Thoren’s awakened soul aura, the Choir Bell Charm became devastatingly oppressive.

For several critical moments, the charging Dust Naga completely lost their bearings.

Their violent advance became disorganized instantly.

Their hisses turned frantic.

Their movements faltered.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The undead Storm Tyrant seized the opportunity mercilessly.

Its colossal hammer descended violently like divine punishment.

Each strike crushed Dust Naga bodies apart completely. Flesh burst open while bones shattered violently across the battlefield.

Beside it, the undead Elite Jackal Beastman swung its heavy club repeatedly with savage force.

Every impact sent Dust Naga flying backward while splattering blood against the staircase walls.

The elite undead servants attacked simultaneously from both sides with ruthless precision.

Dozens of Dust Naga died within mere moments.

Blood splashed everywhere.

Bone fragments scattered violently through the air.

Broken flesh covered the staircase floor entirely.

The entire battlefield transformed into a horrifying scene of carnage.

It was bloody beyond imagination.

Gruesome beyond words.

This had long surpassed the level of an ordinary awakened battle.

This was now a brutal struggle for survival between monsters trapped within darkness.

Only one side would leave alive.

And Thoren intended to stand victorious regardless of the cost. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Retreat one step!" he commanded sharply.

Immediately, the undead frontline retreated together with disciplined precision.

"Forward, one step!"

The undead shield soldiers advanced instantly. Their heavy shields slammed against the staircase floor simultaneously, producing thunderous echoes throughout the passage.

Boom!

The formation shifted perfectly.

"Spell attack!" Thoren roared.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Massive fireballs erupted from behind the shield formation before flying downward into the staircase depths.

Explosions erupted continuously below.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Flames spread violently throughout the underground passage.

Now illuminated by the Illusory Floating Lantern, the hidden enemy below no longer possessed the protection of darkness.

The creature faced only two choices now.

Reveal itself and fight openly.

Or die beneath Thoren’s relentless assault.

Gradually, the rhythm of battle changed entirely.

Step by step, Thoren and his undead forces advanced deeper underground through the staircase passage.

The undead shield formation moved steadily like an unstoppable wall of death.

Behind them, undead mages continued casting destructive spells endlessly.

Fire raged continuously throughout the staircase.

The Choir Bell Charm echoed repeatedly without pause.

Thoren’s awakened soul aura pressed downward relentlessly like invisible chains crushing the enemy beneath overwhelming pressure.

Meanwhile, blades, spears, axes, and hammers delivered merciless judgment upon every surviving Dust Naga.

Although the Dust Naga remained fearless and bloodthirsty creatures, they were dying rapidly beneath the coordinated assault.

The staircase became flooded with corpses.

Broken serpent bodies piled upon one another endlessly.

Dark blood flowed downward like streams through the ancient stone steps.

Suddenly, a horrifying soul rending shriek echoed violently from deeper below the staircase.

The sound alone caused any ordinary person to feel instinctive fear.

Even before Thoren could see the hidden creature, dozens of blazing fireballs had already descended toward the darkness below.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted continuously.

The staircase trembled violently once again.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Then the darkness below exploded with movement.

A massive wave of compressed sand energy surged upward at terrifying speed.

The attack resembled a raging sandstorm compressed into pure destructive force.

It crashed directly toward Thoren’s formation with unstoppable momentum.

However, Thoren’s expression never changed.

His face remained cold.

Emotionless.

Indifferent.

His eyes burned only with murderous determination.

****

[AN: Please support this book with your golden ticket and power stones.]

Message Chair +1 Chapter.

Dragon +2 Chapters.

Magic Castle +5 Chapters]]