The sound of cracking bone echoed across the ruined hall as the corpse on the throne stood.
Its movements were slow at first—rusted joints creaking, decayed ligaments groaning under the weight of centuries. But then, as if reawakening to the call of war, its posture straightened. The long spear it held ignited with violet flame, casting flickering shadows on the walls behind it.
Kuro's heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't flinch.
His skeletal soldiers tightened their formation, the silver-armored one stepping forward with its greatsword raised. The newly summoned five lined up behind Kuro like phantom knights awaiting orders.
A wave of killing intent surged from the throne.
The corpse's eye sockets burned with ghostly green fire.
[Boss Battle Initiated: Guardian of the Throne – Lv. 45]
HP: 120,000 | MP: 30,000
Kuro's eyes narrowed. "Formation Delta," he commanded.
Immediately, two of the faster skeletons dashed to the flanks, drawing the guardian's attention. The silver-armored one advanced head-on, clashing weapons with the corpse knight. Sparks burst from the impact as their blades collided, the sheer force shaking the chamber.
The enemy was fast. Too fast.
With unnatural speed, the corpse knight spun its spear in a deadly arc, knocking back one of the flanking soldiers and driving it into a pillar. The shadow skeleton crumbled into mist—dead.
Kuro staggered from the backlash of Deathlink, his HP and MP jumping slightly.
"Damn… even that one couldn't block it."
He gritted his teeth. One down already.
But now, he had to test something.
Kuro activated Shadow Dominion again, summoning two more soldiers from the lingering darkness. His mana dropped rapidly, but the connection felt smoother than before. Easier. Stronger.
"Flank again. Keep him moving," Kuro ordered.
The fight continued—an elegant but brutal dance of metal and shadow. Each of Kuro's skeletons fought with relentless precision, reacting to every command he gave through their shared link. But even with their improved coordination, the Guardian was a monster.
Every strike it dealt shattered weapons, crushed bones, or dispelled the undead entirely.
Kuro himself dodged a sweeping strike by inches, feeling the wind slice across his cheek. His own blade glowed faintly as he dashed in from the side, aiming for the Guardian's exposed ribs.
Clang!
The spear intercepted him mid-swing.
The sheer force launched him back against the wall.
His vision blurred. Blood trickled down his lip. But the pain... grounded him. Reminded him he was still alive.
Still fighting.
Still growing.
"Let's try this…" he muttered, and reached for something he hadn't used since the beginning of the labyrinth.
Skill: Shadow Burst
From beneath his feet, tendrils of darkness surged forward. The Guardian was caught mid-step—momentarily staggered. That was all Kuro needed.
The silver-armored skeleton slammed its greatsword into the Guardian's knee.
CRACK.
The corpse dropped slightly, balance disrupted.
Kuro lunged in with all his strength, driving his sword into the Guardian's chest cavity where the ribcage had cracked open.
The Guardian screamed—a ghastly sound that shook the very walls.
[HP - 22,000]
It wasn't enough.
With a final roar, the Guardian released a surge of energy that blasted all nearby skeletons away in a burst of black flame. Four more soldiers died instantly. Kuro stumbled, falling to one knee as another wave of Deathlink energy rushed into him.
He gasped.
His mana had surged.
"Now!"
The last remaining soldier—a scout-type with daggers—leaped from the shadows and sliced across the Guardian's neck.
The flames in its eyes flickered.
Its spear dropped to the ground.
The corpse slumped forward, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.
[Boss Defeated: Guardian of the Throne]
EXP Gained: 19,750
Shadow Skeleton Level Up: Silver Vanguard – Rank C → Rank B
Item Obtained: Spear of the Forgotten King (Epic)
Title Acquired: Thronebreaker
---
Kuro collapsed onto the stone floor, breathing heavily. The glow from the Guardian's remains slowly dimmed, revealing its decayed armor and the spear it had wielded.
He reached out, touching the weapon.
[Item: Spear of the Forgotten King]
Type: Weapon (Spear)
Rank: Epic
Effect: Once per day, unleash [Royal Execution]—a piercing strike that ignores 50% of enemy defense.
Kuro's hands trembled as he held the weapon. Not from fear… but excitement.
This… this was what real power felt like.
His silver-armored skeleton walked over and knelt before him, now pulsing with a faint blue glow from its recent evolution. Its armor had repaired itself, refined and plated with new silver-black metal. A faint aura surrounded it—B-rank now.
"Good work," Kuro muttered, standing up.
He turned back toward the throne.
Behind it, the wall began to shimmer—like water rippling in reverse.
A hidden door.
Kuro narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, the spear in one hand, his skeletons following silently. With every step he took, he could feel the weight of his new title, Thronebreaker, anchoring deeper into his soul. Another mark of his progress. Another nail in the coffin for those who had wronged him.
---
The next passage was different.
No longer rough stone or eerie roots—this one was polished obsidian, clean, cold, and lined with glowing sigils. They lit the way like starlight. Kuro felt the shift immediately.
This place wasn't meant to be part of the labyrinth.
It was something older.
Something… sacred.
As he moved forward, a new notification appeared in his vision.
[Quest Unlocked: The Will of the Fallen Empire]
Objective: Discover the truth of the Undying King. Rewards: Unknown.
Time Limit: None
Kuro's brow furrowed. "The Undying King…?"
It sounded too similar to the title he'd just earned—Undying General.
And suddenly, it clicked.
"This path… it was made for someone like me."
A successor.
---
Deeper into the hall, Kuro reached a massive circular room—its ceiling lost in darkness, its floor lined with coffins.
Rows upon rows of ancient, ornate coffins, each marked with a skeletal insignia. He felt their presence. Not just bones—but power. Resting warriors. Kings. Generals. Commanders. Their spirits lingered, bound by something far stronger than death.
In the center of the chamber stood a crystal pedestal—identical to the one he had touched before.
But this one… was white.
Pale light radiated from it—soothing, yet filled with quiet strength.
A second voice echoed in his mind. Not like the Will of the Labyrinth. This one was calmer. Older.
"You have taken the first step, Undying General. But the war ahead is far from over."
Kuro looked around. "Who's there?"
No answer.
Only the pedestal pulsing faintly.
He stepped forward, laying a hand upon it.
A soft warmth spread through him.
[Memory Unlocked: Fall of the Undying Empire]
In an instant, Kuro was flooded with images—visions from the past.
Armies of skeletal soldiers marching across blackened lands. A mighty king standing at the peak of a crumbling world, fighting gods and men alike. Betrayal. War. Rebellion. A cycle repeated for centuries.
And finally—silence.
The empire's heart sealed deep within the labyrinth… waiting.
Kuro pulled back, gasping.
This wasn't just some dungeon.
It was a tomb.
A prison.
A legacy.
And now, he had inherited its remnants.