Ash blew across the cracked stone floor as the chamber loomed ahead—familiar, cursed, and still alive with malice.

  Kael rested a hand on his sword, flames licking the blade’s edge. “The last and only mission we’ve never completed…”

  Reiya’s grip tightened on her sword. “The last time we came here, we weren’t ready.”

  Thora cracked his knuckles. “Then let’s finish what we started.”

  Aika stood slightly behind the group. Her injuries were healed, but her spirit still bore the weight of loss. She was quiet—watchful.

  Kairyuuha’s gaze flicked toward her briefly, one red eye, one blue.

  “She’s new,” he said calmly. “No one transforms unless I say so.”

  Lumina blinked. “But—Papa—if things get bad—”

  “You stay in human form.” His voice was calm but stern. “We don’t know if we can trust her yet.”

  Lumina pouted slightly but nodded. “Okay…”

  The team pressed forward.

  Then the altar stirred.

  A hulking abomination—stitched from the bones of dragons, beasts, and humans alike—rose from the center of the room. Its skull was crowned with black flame, and in its hand was a rusted staff made of severed limbs.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Necrotic energy pulsed from it in waves.

  “The boss,” Kazuki muttered.

  Kael narrowed his eyes. “And it’s already summoning.”

  Dark magic spiraled outward.

  The ground split, and decaying adventurers clawed their way from the stone—fallen guild members, twisted into lifeless puppets.

  “They’re from the last team…” Mei gasped.

  “It’s using necromancy,” Reiya hissed. “Twisting the dead into weapons.”

  The team didn’t hesitate.

  “Yuno! Thora! Smash through the flank!” Kael shouted.

  Yuno roared, axe in hand, barreling forward with Thora beside him. The two tore through the undead with brutal strength—one swing, one crunch, one collapse.

  Reiya danced through the chaos, slicing through limbs with precision.

  Mei launched spell after spell, raining flame and arcane shards.

  Kazuki rushed in from the left, fists glowing, ducking between swipes and countering with explosive force.

  Aika moved cautiously, casting barriers, her eyes tracking every movement—especially Lumina’s.

  The abomination lifted its staff and howled.

  Five corpses rose into the air—then fused into one massive undead titan, wearing broken armor of old knights. Its eyes burned violet with cursed energy.

  Kael gritted his teeth. “It’s evolving!”

  “Shift your focus!” Kairyuuha commanded.

  The team repositioned with trained unity.

  The beast struck, shaking the entire chamber.

  Kazuki was flung back.

  Lumina’s aura surged.

  “Papa—!”

  “No!” Kairyuuha barked. “Not yet!”

  Lumina stopped, breathing hard.

  Aika glanced over, noting the tension… but said nothing.

  Chains of necrotic light shot out, wrapping around Reiya and Kael.

  Kairyuuha stepped forward, eyes flashing.

  He raised two fingers—and a massive sigil exploded beneath his feet.

  “Release.”

  The chains shattered instantly.

  Then, without a word, Kairyuuha raised his hand toward the abomination.

  “Silence the Grave.”

  A sphere of annihilation tore into the titan, burning the necrotic magic away.

  It screeched—vulnerable.

  Kael roared. “NOW!”

  The team struck together—Yuno with a devastating axe strike to the knee, Thora with a punch that shattered its ribs, Reiya slicing through its chest, Kazuki blasting its head with a powered blow.

  The boss collapsed, crumbling into ash.

  Silence.

  [MISSION COMPLETE]

  [SKILL TREE UPDATE]

  [REWARD UNLOCKED]

  The party’s status screens flickered to life. A glow lit their tired expressions.

  Aika stood still, stunned.

  Mei approached her. “You alright?”

  She nodded slowly. “You all… really are A-rankers.”

  Kael gave a tired smile. “Told you we’d finish what we started.”

  But Kairyuuha didn’t celebrate. He stared at the ashes, eyes unreadable.

  “Necromancy that advanced... this wasn’t just some ancient curse,” he murmured. “Someone... or something... has been watching.”