The walk back to Solcrest was surprisingly quiet aside from Garth wheezing like an old accordion.
Ren strolled ahead, crown still perched lazily on his head. Aria trailed behind, arms crossed, eyes burning holes into the back of his skull.
"You put on a cursed dungeon crown," she said flatly. "Do you even care if it's cursed?"
Ren shrugged. "If it is, I'm too lazy to notice."
Garth wheezed. "He's not wrong. He got hit by a dungeon boss and didn't even blink."
"That's not a compliment!" Aria snapped.
They reached the city gates, but something felt... off. The streets were quieter than before. Too quiet. The cheers and celebrations from earlier were gone. In their place, a tense silence clung to the air.
Ren scratched his head. "Did we miss a memo or something?"
The system chimed again.
---
[New Event Triggered: A King Needs a Throne]
[Due to acquiring the Abyssal Crown, dungeon activity has increased.]
[Warning: Dungeon creatures may seek their new master.]
---
Ren blinked. "Oh. Cool."
Aria facepalmed. "That is not cool."
Before she could continue, a low rumble echoed through the city.
The ground vibrated beneath their feet. A distant horn blared from the eastern gate.
Garth paled. "Uh… that sounded bad."
The system chimed again.
---
[World Event Activated: March of the Abyss]
[Objective: Defend Solcrest from the approaching dungeon forces.]
[Reward: ???]
[Penalty: Solcrest falls.]
---
Ren stared at the notification, then looked at Aria. "So, dinner's delayed, huh?"
She groaned. "You think?!"
The ground shook again, harder this time. From the eastern gate, a low, guttural roar echoed through the streets.
Ren squinted. A dark mass approached on the horizon a tide of twisted creatures, all crawling, slithering, or stomping forward in a chaotic wave.
"Yeah… that's probably our fault," he muttered.
Garth's voice trembled. "We're dead. We're actually dead this time."
The system chimed.
---
[Skill Unlocked: Inspirational Indifference]
Nearby allies gain +20% courage when you visibly don't care.]
---
Ren yawned.
Garth straightened up, blinking in surprise. "...Okay, that actually helps a little."
Aria sighed. "Let's focus. We need to stop this fast."
Ren tilted his head. "Why? We've got a dungeon boss now." He looked over his shoulder. "Right, Zalgros?"
A swirl of black mist appeared behind him. The Wraith Tyrant materialized, kneeling once more. His glowing eyes flickered with faint recognition.
Aria stared. "You… actually brought him back?!"
Ren grinned. "He's loyal now. It's like having a pet, but uglier."
Zalgros growled softly.
The system chimed again.
---
[Command Unlocked: Dungeon Monarch's Call]
[Issue orders to dungeon bosses that have submitted.]
[Current followers: 1]
---
Ren crossed his arms, looking at the incoming horde. "Zalgros, go handle that."
The Wraith Tyrant rose, let out a bone-shaking roar, and vanished into mist streaking toward the incoming creatures like a shadowed missile.
The first wave barely made it past the gate. Zalgros reappeared, his massive claws cleaving through rows of twisted beasts like they were made of paper.
Chunks of monsters scattered. Limbs, tails, and too many teeth to count flew in every direction.
The horde faltered.
"Wow," Garth whispered. "He's… efficient."
Ren smirked. "Guess it runs in the team."
Aria groaned. "I still hate you."
The system chimed.
---
[Side Objective Unlocked: Rally the Town]
[Help Solcrest's guards prepare a proper defense.]
[Reward: Town Reputation +500, Discount at local bakeries.]
---
Ren blinked. "Wait. Discount at bakeries?"
"Focus!" Aria shouted.
Ren sighed. "Fine, fine." He looked toward the city's guard captain, a grizzled man with a thick beard and a permanent scowl. The guy looked one bad day away from exploding.
"Hey, Captain Grumpyface!" Ren called.
The captain's head snapped toward him. "What did you just call me?!"
The system chimed again.
---
[Passive Aggressive Taunt Activated]
[Captain Bran has entered a 'Prove This Punk Wrong' state.]
---
The captain growled. "You think I'm just standing around?! Guards, form up! Get those barricades in place NOW!"
The guards scrambled faster than Ren had ever seen.
He blinked. "Huh. Handy."
The next wave approached larger this time. Hulking, armored beasts with glowing eyes stomped forward, their claws scraping against the cobblestone streets.
Ren tilted his head. "Zalgros?"
The Wraith Tyrant appeared again, this time moving slower. His form flickered.
The system chimed.
---
[Warning: Wraith Tyrant's energy is depleted.]
[Rest period required.]
---
"Ah." Ren stared. "Well, that's inconvenient."
Aria groaned. "We're doing this the hard way, then."
Ren sighed. "Figures." He cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Let's see what this system gives me next."
The system chimed once more.
---
[New Skill Unlocked: Unmotivated Blitz]
[Activate to gain a burst of overwhelming speed and power lasts until you remember you don't care.]
---
Ren blinked. "...That sounds dangerously effective."
Aria stared. "Don't you dare."
Ren grinned. "Too late."
He activated the skill.
The world blurred.
One second, he stood beside Aria. The next, he was in the middle of the horde. His fist connected with the nearest creature, and it exploded like a meat-filled firecracker.
The next thing he knew, half the street was covered in monster bits.
[Critical Hit! Damage Dealt: 8,721]
[Critical Hit! Damage Dealt: 9,303]
[Critical Hit! Damage Dealt: 7,412]
Aria watched, jaw slack.
Ren blinked. "...Okay, that worked."
Then the skill cut off. His body froze mid-step, and he flopped face-first into the cobblestones.
[Skill Over. Motivation depleted.]
[You're too lazy to stand up.]
"...Less cool," Ren muttered into the dirt.
Aria groaned. "I hate you."
Ren chuckled, face still in the dirt. "I know."
The system chimed again.
---
[Wave 2 Cleared.]
[Next Wave Incoming.]
---