The Dungeon Core Chamber
Leon stepped into the largest chamber he had seen so far, the air thick with dust and the stench of blood-soaked stone. The walls were lined with bone carvings, crude depictions of goblins kneeling before a monstrous figure.
At the center of the room, a massive throne sat atop a raised platform—a grotesque construction of skulls, rusted weapons, and shattered armor.
Leon's grip tightened on his mana gun.
Something was here.
His Zombie Mage hovered silently beside him, while his Warrior Zombie adjusted its stance, gripping its greatsword tighter.
Then—a guttural growl rumbled through the chamber.
Leon's gaze snapped forward as a figure emerged from the darkness.
The Warlord Appears
A goblin, twice the size of the others, stomped forward, its massive frame covered in dark, tattered armor.
Its skin was pale green, but thick and scarred, a sign of countless battles. Its yellow eyes gleamed with intelligence, and its jagged fangs curled into a snarl.
But what caught Leon's attention the most—
Was the weapon it carried.
A huge club, nearly the size of a human, crackled with red energy, pulsating with unstable mana. Each step the Warlord took sent sparks flickering across the stone floor.
[System Notification: Dungeon Warlord – E-Rank Mini-Boss Detected]
Leon's heartbeat steadied.
"Finally," he muttered.
He raised his mana gun—and fired the first shot.
Zombies vs. Dungeon Warlord
The mana bullet struck the Warlord's chest, but instead of staggering, the massive goblin barely flinched.
Then—it moved.
Faster than expected.
With a roar, the Warlord swung its club, sending a shockwave ripping through the air.
Leon barely had time to dodge before the ground exploded, stone debris flying in all directions.
His Warrior Zombie surged forward, raising its greatsword to block the next strike.
CLANG!
The two weapons clashed, the impact sending a tremor through the chamber.
Leon didn't stand idle.
He sidestepped, firing another three mana bullets, aiming for the Warlord's legs.
His Zombie Mage raised both hands, launching two consecutive Mana Bolts.
But—the Warlord didn't even try to dodge.
The spells hit, but the magic barely phased it.
Leon's eyes narrowed. High magic resistance.
The Warlord retaliated, gripping its mana-infused club with both hands before swinging it in a wide arc.
His Warrior Zombie tried to parry, but the impact was too strong.
The zombie skidded backward, armor cracking, its left arm bending at an unnatural angle.
Leon clenched his jaw. They were taking too much damage.
New System Unlock – Mid-Battle Repairs
Just as his Warrior Zombie's arm splintered, a System Notification flashed.
[New Ability Unlocked: Mid-Battle Repairs – Use Mana to Restore Zombie Durability in Combat]
Leon's mind snapped into focus.
Repairs. Mid-battle.
He didn't hesitate.
Leon channeled his mana, extending a hand toward his Warrior Zombie.
A dark mist swirled around its shattered arm, the broken fragments reforming before his eyes.
The Warlord's expression shifted—it had noticed.
Leon smirked.
"Not so easy to break now, huh?"
The Warlord roared in frustration—then charged directly at him.
The Fight Continues
Leon rolled to the side just as the Warlord's club slammed into the ground where he had stood.
His Zombie Mage repositioned, hurling a Mana Bolt directly at the Warlord's face.
The spell hit, blinding the Warlord momentarily.
Leon took the opening—firing three more shots, this time aiming for its exposed throat.
His Warrior Zombie recovered, surging forward with a heavy downward slash, finally forcing the Warlord to take a step back.
For the first time, Leon saw uncertainty in the monster's eyes.
It knew—it was no longer the strongest one here.
But even with the mid-battle repairs, he could tell.
His zombies alone weren't enough.
Just then—his Zombie Mage's body trembled, flickering with dark energy.
Leon's eyes widened.
Evolution was coming.