Chapter 72 – The War March Begins

A Night of Preparation

The evening air was crisp when Kyung-min approached his butler, who was already expecting him. The moon cast long shadows across the mansion grounds, the gentle rustling of leaves the only sound accompanying them.

"I'm heading back to the Tower," Kyung-min stated, adjusting the grip on his gloves.

The butler raised an eyebrow but nodded. "I assumed as much, Young Master."

Kyung-min dismissed his skeletons with a flick of mana, watching as the familiar bone constructs faded into black mist. He then began storing his newly acquired weapons, cloaks, and miscellaneous gear into his Dimensional Ring—ensuring that everything was neatly packed for later use.

The butler, ever efficient, had already prepared for this moment. "I've finalized the new identities for your skeletons as well," he said smoothly, handing over a small, data-encrypted tablet.

Kyung-min glanced through the profiles. The skeletons were now registered under fabricated adventurer names, each with separate backgrounds and histories—nothing too flashy, but enough to blend into the system.

"A precaution," the butler added. "In case anyone starts asking questions."

A smirk tugged at Kyung-min's lips. "You're thorough."

"It is my job, Young Master."

With everything in order, they departed.

Arrival at the Tower Dungeon

The city was as alive as ever, even at night. Towering buildings lined the roads, but the real behemoth was the looming Tower Dungeon in the distance—a monolithic structure that defied reason, stretching high into the sky like a remnant of an ancient god's ruin.

After arriving at the dungeon site, the butler efficiently handled the registration process. While the paperwork was being processed, Kyung-min stepped away into a secluded alley nearby.

Without hesitation—

[Summon Skeletons – Activated]

Dark mist surged, swirling around him. Seven figures materialized in formation—a mix of Skeleton Warriors, Archers, and a Mage. Each of them equipped in the gear he had purchased, cloaked and masked, giving them an eerie yet disciplined presence.

Kyung-min examined them briefly before leading them back toward the entrance.

A Parade of the Dead

The moment they stepped onto the Tower's main entrance grounds—people noticed.

Adventurers preparing for their own expeditions paused.

Some whispered among themselves.

"Who the hell is that?"

"That group… something feels off."

"They're too quiet—too synchronized."

The skeletons moved without hesitation, without wasted motion. They followed Kyung-min in perfect unison, like well-trained elites, rather than ragtag adventurers.

A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.

And then—

A nearby hunter tripped and fell, landing face-first onto the stone pavement.

One of Kyung-min's Skeleton Warriors had simply walked past him, not stopping or acknowledging the man's existence.

"You—!" The fallen man scrambled up, his face red with frustration. He turned toward the skeleton, stepping into its path. "Apologize!"

The skeleton kept walking.

"Oi! Are you deaf!?" The man grabbed the skeleton's shoulder, attempting to physically stop it.

But the moment he did—he felt nothing but cold steel.

The skeleton did not react.

It did not flinch.

It did not acknowledge him.

It simply continued walking.

The man's face paled.

The adventurers watching the scene swallowed hard.

"That's… not normal," someone muttered.

Kyung-min, unfazed, continued leading his silent battalion toward the entrance.

And with that, they disappeared into the Tower.

Floor 3 – The War Camp

The moment they stepped through the portal, Kyung-min felt the familiar shift in space.

The air grew heavier.

The scent of burning wood and filth filled his nostrils.

Before him, a war camp stretched across a massive cavern.

Crude tents. Spiked barricades. Watchtowers.

This wasn't a skirmish.

This was a fortress.

And his enemies—were prepared.

The Battlefield Awaits

Kyung-min cracked his knuckles, surveying the landscape.

The goblins had fortifications, meaning a head-on assault would be reckless.

But he had no intention of simply charging in.

A smirk formed beneath his mask.

🔹 System Notification

[ You have entered Floor 3: The Goblin War Camp. ]

[ Current Floor Difficulty: High E-Rank to D-Rank. ]

[ Dungeon Theme: Fortified War Camp. ]

[ ⚔️ Primary Objectives: ]— Eliminate hostile forces.— Destroy key defensive structures.— Defeat the Floor Boss: Grak-Thul, the Iron Maw.

[ ⚠️ Dungeon Mechanics Activated! ]— Watchtowers detected: Archers in position.— Reinforcement Horns: If sounded, enemies will swarm.— Oil Pit Traps detected: Fire hazard present.

[ 🔻 Additional Rewards for Strategic Approach. ]

Kyung-min's eyes flickered at the notification.

"Additional rewards for strategy?"

A soft chuckle escaped him.

"Perfect."

The War Camp Unveiled

The cavern ceiling stretched far above him, jagged with hanging stalactites, the smoky glow of countless torches and bonfires casting flickering shadows across the encampment below.

Tents and crude huts lined the terrain.

Goblin warriors marched in formations, their rusted armor clanking.

Goblins on watchtowers scanned the entrance with bows at the ready.

Others patrolled in tight squads, spears in hand.

And scattered throughout the camp—oil pits, barricades, and a massive iron-wrought war horn in the center.

At the very back, past the layers of defenses and formations, loomed the boss's tent.

A hulking silhouette moved within.

Kyung-min exhaled.

"They've made this a battlefield."

And they expected invaders to fight fair.

A mistake.

Formation of the Dead

Behind him, his seven skeletons stood at attention, awaiting orders.

Unlike his previous floors, he was not alone this time.

And this was the perfect place to test them.

His eyes flicked toward each variant.

— Skeleton Warrior – Frontline durability, ideal for taking hits.— Skeleton Archer – Long-range precision, capable of eliminating key threats.— Skeleton Mage – Area-of-effect magic, ideal for disrupting formations.— Skeleton Reaper – The fastest. Designed for assassinations.

"Let's see how they do."

His seven skeletons were already in formation, but it wasn't enough.

Not yet.

A quick flick of his fingers—

[ Summon Skeletons – Activated. ]

Mana surged.

From the shadows of the cavern, bones rattled and twisted, rising from the earth.

One. Two. Five. Ten.

They needed weapons.

He flicked his storage ring.

[ Equipment Withdrawn. ]

Swords. Axes. Spears. Daggers. Armor. Cloaks.

Everything he had purchased.

The gear hit the ground in front of them, clattering against the cavern floor.

"Equip yourselves."

No hesitation.

The skeletons moved—armor sliding over bones, weapons gripped in skeletal fingers, cloaks billowing as they adjusted to their new forms.

And the moment he saw the way they moved smoother, fought sharper, endured longer—

He knew.

Kyung-min smirked beneath his mask.

"Even a skeleton is stronger with armor and weapons."

He had proven that.

He made a mental note: Always hoard more gear. Even the lowest-ranked item had its uses.

Then—he moved.

The Charge Begins

Kyung-min wasn't going to sit back.

He wasn't just a summoner.

He was a commander—and a warrior.

With a burst of speed, he rushed forward.

[ Abyss Step – Activated. ]

A flicker of shadow—then he was gone.

He reappeared right in the middle of the first goblin patrol.

Five goblins.

Eyes widened in shock—too slow.

His daggers flashed.

One throat slit.

One heart pierced.

[ Corpse Explosion – Activated. ]

BOOM.

Their bodies detonated, tearing through the remaining goblins in a chain reaction of death.

The skeletons followed.

The Reapers dashed into the archers' watchtowers—blades flashing.

The Mages unleashed shadow bolts, setting goblin tents ablaze.

The Warriors crashed through barricades, clashing with the spear formations.

Kyung-min didn't stop.

Every skill in his arsenal.

Every movement calculated.

Every goblin that fell—became his.

The camp was turning into his battlefield.

And this?

This was his playground.