Skeleton Graveyard

In a small dimly lit room, a low hum vibrated in the air. As the light slowly intensified, a silhouette emerged from the hallway, striding towards a large office chair and desk. A small crystal hub sat at the center of the desk. The silhouette settled comfortably into the chair, facing an enormous screen that displayed a single, flashing red exclamation mark.

He placed his hands on the crystal, which whirred softly before illuminating with a soft, watery glow. A figure materialized before him, a beautiful woman with an uncanny resemblance to Lilith.

"Gemini," the silhouette began, his voice deep and resonant, "what is the current situation?"

Gemini, her voice a gentle whisper, began to relay the latest information. The silhouette listened intently, his expression unreadable beneath the shadows cast by his hood. As Gemini spoke, the silhouette's laughter echoed through the room, a chilling sound that sent shivers down one's spine.

"So this whole ruckus," he chuckled, "was over a single player? Ha!"

"I'm afraid so," Gemini replied, her tone laced with a hint of concern.

"Well, then," the silhouette said, his voice now laced with a chillingly calm determination, "Ignore any reports regarding the Demonic Troll. And one more thing, thank you for speaking to the public on my behalf."

"You're welcome, Music Mister," Gemini responded, her voice a soothing balm in the tense atmosphere.

The silhouette smiled, a chillingly wide grin beneath his ghastly clown mask. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a file, its serial number, xx5658, visible on the front. He opened the file, revealing a passport photograph and a bio-data of a young man with fiery red hair... Han Jingzhi.

The silhouette's gaze lingered on the file for a moment before he closed it, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. A flicker of interest danced in his eyes, and he muttered something under his breath, his voice lost in the shadows. The image of Han Jingzhi, with his fiery red hair and youthful features, seemed to hold a strange fascination for the cloaked figure. He leaned back in his chair, a sinister smile playing on his lips, and murmured, "This is going to be interesting."

 ****

The wind whipped around Han Jingzhi and Lilith as they finally reached the entrance to the Skeleton Graveyard. The air hung heavy with a chilling silence, broken only by the mournful moan of the wind whistling through the skeletal remains of ancient trees. The graveyard, true to its name, was a desolate expanse of weathered tombstones, each one a silent testament to a life long gone. At the far end, a massive, moss-covered monument stood like a sentinel, its entrance resembling the gaping maw of a cave. The scent of decay hung heavy in the air, a sickly sweet aroma that made Han Jingzhi's stomach churn.

Han Jingzhi shivered, not from the cold, but from a prickling sensation of unease that ran down his spine. Lilith, however, remained unfazed, her gaze fixed on the dark, imposing gate that marked the entrance to the graveyard. It was a grotesque structure, adorned with intricately carved skulls and bone-like designs that seemed to writhe and twist in the dim light.

"Shall we?" Han Jingzhi asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. Lilith's expression remained serene, her eyes fixed on the gate as she nodded in agreement.

As Han Jingzhi reached out to touch the gate, a shimmering blue screen materialized before him, its text glowing with an otherworldly light.

[WELCOME TO THE SKELETON GRAVEYARD! This dungeon has been conquered. Choose your challenge:]

[QUEST INITIATED: SKELETON GRAVEYARD-

Brave adventurers, you stand before the gates of the conquered Skeleton Graveyard. The whispers of the damned echo through the desolate expanse, beckoning you to choose your fate.]

[CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE!]

Conquer the Skeleton Graveyard and claim your rewards!

[SELECT MODE]

-EASY MODE

-NORMAL MODE

-DIFFICULT MODE

-HELL MODE

SELECT YOUR MODE TO BEGIN

[Rewards will be determined based on the chosen MODE.]

Han Jingzhi recognized the message. He had seen it mentioned in the forums before logging in, and had made a note of it. He turned to Lilith, who simply nodded in agreement. Without hesitation, he selected [HELL MODE].

The gate shuddered, its bony hinges groaning as it creaked open, revealing a dark, shadowy passage that seemed to swallow the light. A wave of cold air rushed out, carrying with it the scent of decay and something else, something ancient and primal. The air felt thick and heavy, pressing down on Han Jingzhi's chest.

Han Jingzhi pulled out his shadow sword from his inventory, its obsidian blade gleaming with an ominous light. He heightened his senses, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Despite the ominous setting, Lilith moved with a quiet confidence, her footsteps steady and unhurried.

The path leading into the graveyard was a winding, uneven trail, choked with overgrown weeds and broken tombstones. The air grew heavier with each step they took, the silence broken only by the crunch of their boots on the crumbling stones. The ground beneath their feet felt cold and damp, and the air was thick with the smell of decay.

As they approached a particularly large tombstone, a gnarled, rotted hand burst from the ground, its decaying flesh clinging to the bones. It was followed by another, and another, until a cluster of skeletal limbs clawed their way out of the earth, forming the grotesque outline of a creature.

The creature, a towering zombie, stood before them, its flesh hanging in tattered strips from its bones. A sickly green glow emanated from its vacant eyes, and its mouth gaped open in a silent, horrifying snarl. Above its head, a small, shimmering screen displayed its stats:

[NAME: GRAVE ZOMBIE

Rank: COPPER RANK (Stage 3)

HP: 20,000/20,000

DESCRIPTION: A menacing zombie that guards the garden of the skeleton graveyard.]

The zombie let out a guttural growl, its rotten teeth bared in a menacing grin. It lunged at Han Jingzhi, its decaying limbs flailing wildly.

Han Jingzhi, his senses heightened, reacted instantly. He parried the zombie's attack with a swift swing of his shadow sword, the blade slicing through the creature's outstretched arm with a sickening crunch. He didn't hesitate. He followed through with a powerful thrust, the sword piercing the zombie's skull with a sickening thud. The creature let out a final, gurgling moan before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into a pile of dust and bone.

But before Han Jingzhi could catch his breath, a horde of zombies emerged from the ground, their decaying forms rising from the earth like grotesque puppets. They were all [Copper Rank Stage 3 Grave Zombies], their eyes glowing with the same sickly green light. The ground seemed to writhe with the undead, a wave of them surging towards Han Jingzhi, their rotten limbs flailing wildly. The air filled with the sound of their groans, a chorus of death that sent shivers down Han Jingzhi's spine.

"This is trouble," Han Jingzhi muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. He had underestimated the difficulty of this dungeon.

Han Jingzhi moved with a practiced grace, his shadow sword flashing through the air, each strike precise and deadly. The sound of the sword slicing through flesh and bone echoed through the graveyard, a symphony of violence. He danced through the fray, his movements a blur of steel and shadow. Lilith moved with silent grace, her eyes scanning the battlefield, her movements a blur of shadow and light. She watched the battle unfold, her focus unwavering, ready to intervene if necessary. Her presence, though seemingly passive, was a calming force in the midst of the chaos, a silent guardian against the encroaching darkness.

...

[A/N: Thanks for the support everyone I'd like to see your reviews regarding my book]