Time to Grind!

Seeing as this is most likely my hardest challenge yet, I need to focus.

In front of me stood a tall skeleton clad in pitch black armor and a robed figure standing behind it, providing support.

The only thing I have to help face off against these beings? A lone stick and myself. Nothing else.

'Alright Caden, think. What do I have in my arsenal?' I rack my brain.

So I have my stick, a healing spell, manifestation and that's it. F*ck. How am I supposed to take them on 2v1 with just this?!?

'Wait...what if I don't take them on 2v1?' a thought pops up in my head. If the summoner dies, the summon should also die, right? While I had no way of checking if this is true, it's not like I had a choice.

Ok, change of plans. How do I get back the armored skeleton? The most obvious method would be slashing through, but that clearly won't work as I saw the last time I tried it. I can try to battle it, but that wouldn't be advantageous since it has back up.

'What if I somehow jumped over it?' I thought. However, I immediately scrapped that idea. While STR has boosted my jumping power, I can't jump over the 7 foot armored skeleton.

As I was trying to figure out a method, a prompt appeared in front of me.

「Congratulations, you have reached level 60」

「+3 STR, +5 DEX, +2 AGI, +3 INT, +1 bonus stat point」

「New class exclusive <Skill> has been learned: Increased Manifestation Control」

Huh? How did I level up? Could it have been from those skeletons before...?

However, instead of thinking about that, I instead concentrated on the strange feeling I was suddenly feeling. 'My blade...it feels like an extension of my body...'

It was then that I learned that taking a break to think in the middle of a battle isn't a very good idea as the armored skeleton rushed towards me. All of the armor it was wearing turned liquid and sped towards its hands. After all of it reached, it suddenly formed a huge black blade.

By the time I realized this, it was too late. The skeleton was already bringing the blade down.

I swiftly move my stick to block the attack, and since my stick was lighter than than the blade, I was able to barely get it there in time. However, I didn't have much time to transform my manifestation into a shield, taking heavy damage.

I vomit a bit of blood as I quickly yell "Great Heal!" If it wasn't for my pain resistance skill, I most likely would have passed out.

A warm feeling enveloped me, healing some of my injuries. While there are still some parts of my that are damaged, it wasn't nearly as bad as before. I stand up and jump back and yell "Transfer all remaining stat points into strength!"

Since I've been back into a corner, I have no choice but to do this. I wanted to save as many points as I can, just in case, but I don't have time for that right now. With the skeleton speeding towards me with his blade, all I can do is outrun him.

I start running towards the skeleton with all my power. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the robed before taken aback by my stupid decision then let out an evil sounding laugh. "Kekekekeke! ᛁ ᚼᛅᚢᛅ ᛒᛅᛅᚾ ᚢᛅᛁᛏᛁᚾᚴ ᚠᚬᚱ ᛋᚬ ᛚᚬᚾᚴ!" it said in a shrill voice.

'What? What is this language?' I think in the back of my head as I rush towards the skeleton. However, just as I was about to reach it, I jumped. 'Please, PLEASE BE ENOUGH!'

My feet reach 1 inch off the ground...

2 inches...

6 inches...

1 foot...

2 feet...

5 feet...

'Almost!'

6 feet...

"UGHHHH!" I yell as I exert all the power I have to hope to reach a bit higher.

I inch close as...I barely jump on top of the skeleton's head! I did it! I F*CKING DID IT!

But I didn't have time to be excited yet. I once again focus my energy on my feet as I jump off of the skeleton and run towards the robed being.

Before it could react, I transform my manifestation into a great sword. 'My only chance is to swing with all my might!' I think as I swing the heavy essence towards the robed being. By this point, the robed being had realized what was happening, but it was too late for it.

"ᚾᚬᚬᚬᚬᚬᚬ-" the robed being was cut off as the sword tore through the cloth, revealing a balding old man-only to have his head fly off next.

The skeleton behind me falls into a pile a of bones, leaving me alone in the room with only one thought in my head. 'I...I did it!'

Suddenly, I collapsed.

-----------------------

A being with dark green skin was floating around a pitch black void, as it did since it was brought into reality.

Surrounding it, in the dark void, was small pockets, barely numbering 100. These pockets of pure white occasionally had a surge of essence, followed by a few slight vibrations. The being just saw it all with its bright yellow eyes as it stood there.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in one of the rooms and the void, shaping itself into a tower shaped structure, entered into the room.

"Oh, a being calling upon a dungeon? How rare." It said with an apathetic voice.

It floated towards the room and saw a boy getting ready to enter the dungeon. "Hm, a newly born Demi-God is entering a full fledged Demi-God dungeon? That fool is courting death!"

While the being thought this, it still stuck around. "But if he somehow survives, it would absolutely be entertaining!" it concluded as it watched.

"Using the authority of the training dimension overseer, I wish to view what is happening in that dungeon." The being said in an overbearing voice.

A screen appeared in front of the being, showing an eerie, dark corridor with a row of blue torches lighting it up. That's right, the being was actually watching none other than our protagonist, Caden!

"What's going on? The dungeon choose the hardest difficultly to send this boy to? Is it an error? Poor kid, to die to an error." The being said as it shook its head; however, it still continued watching. "He won't even be able to get past the first level but might as well see how far he gets."

However, as the being continued watching, its expression changed into one of shock. "How is this possible? This isn't power a newly formed Demi-God is supposed to be able to emit!" it cried out in shock.

"In fact, this power...it feels eerily similar to...HIS power..." Suddenly, the expression on the being turned into one of joy.

"Impossible! I need to inform the others! The successor is finally here!" it yelled out in glee as it rushed through the void.

------------

I wake up to the black stone floor of the dungeon. "My god, what happened?" I ask as I rub my eyes.

「The user fainted out of fatigue to his abysmally small amount of stamina」

"What?!? For the record, my stamina is above average! Well, I guess that's only in human standards...Sigh!" I reply. I guess I need to work on my stamina in the coming days.

Anyway, I stand up to the door that appeared in front of me. 'Well, I guess I successfully finished this dungeon, even with my terrible stamina.' I thought as I push the doors open. On the other side was a room with a similar theme to the rest of the dungeon.

I frown. "Wasn't the last room the final room?" I voice out as I see a treasure chest in front of me. 'Ohhhh! This must be the reward room!' I realize as I open the chest.

Inside, there was a single crystal.

"Huh, what's this?" I say as I pick it up. A system prompt follows.

「User has picked up a skill crystal holding the <skill> Summon skeletons. Does the user want to learn this skill?」

「Y/N」

"Skill crystal? Is that the same thing as a skill core?" I ask in confusion.

「No, but they are similar. However, a skill core has limited use, and only users with system can get skills from them. Skill crystals are things that any layman.」

Ah, I see. That makes sense I guess.

I press yes since having an army of skeletons to fight with me would helpful. I might even be able to summon one of those armored skeletons. However, another system prompt appeared in front of me.

「Detecting user has the <Skill> Necromancy in their soul」

「<Skill> Summon Skeletons has awakened <Skill> Necromancy and has fused with it」

「User has gained the <Skill> Necromancy | S+ (lvl 1)」

I-I'll take it! An S+ ranked skill? Hell yeah! This was way better than what I expected to get from this dungeon! I can't believe I walked in here hoping to get a few levels, only to walk out with a whole S ranked skill!

Then, the room around me disappears as I teleport in front of the tower's door.

Even though I was still in shock from the skill, after I read the description of the skill, I instinctively muttered a single line.

"Time to grind out dungeons!"