ch 40,41

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Chapter 40 – Shop of Greed

Ray sat cross-legged inside his domain, still in his battle gear. Dirt and blood stained his hands, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

> "Seventeen," he said softly, "show me the new items again."

> [God Shop – Tier 1 Access:]

Beast Upgrade Seed – 3 GP

Undead Enchant Rune – 5 GP

Slave Collar (F Rank) – 4 GP

Beast Control Collar – 3 GP

Domain Enhancement Stone – 6 GP

Tree Mutation Elixir – 7 GP

Shadow Summoner Scroll – 10 GP

> [Total GP: 22]

Ray took a deep breath. "I need to think smart. I'm not strong enough to waste anything."

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Strategic Greed

> "Let's start with one Beast Upgrade Seed. I want to test it."

> [3 GP Spent]

He walked to the Wolf Tree—a thin, pale trunk surrounded by cracked earth and bone. Every few hours, it grew small, nimble wolves that followed him loyally.

The seed shimmered green and gold.

He pressed it into the roots.

> [Tree Upgrading... Success]

[New Output: D-Rank Wildfang Wolves – 1/day]

The leaves turned darker, and the air around the tree rippled with faint growls.

Ray grinned.

> "Now we're talking."

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Next, he bought the Undead Enchant Rune.

> [5 GP Spent]

[Choose Target:]

Bone Crow

Rotten Hound

Buried Archer

Skeleton Warrior

Warcha

> "Warcha."

> [Enchanting... Success]

[New Ability: Aura of Command – Increases coordination and morale of nearby undead by 10%]

Warcha bowed as the rune etched itself into his chest.

> "I feel... more."

Ray nodded. "You are my general. Lead them well."

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Introducing Slave Collars

Ray hesitated before the next item.

> [Slave Collar (F Rank) – 4 GP]

> "Isn't this… wrong?"

> "It's a tool," Seventeen said softly. "You are a commander now. There are people in this world who would rather follow someone strong than die as nothing."

Ray stared at the shimmering collar—a simple ring of black metal.

He bought one.

> [4 GP Spent – 10 GP Remaining]

> "Store it. I won't use it unless I must."

But the moment stayed in his mind.

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Mutation and Growth

He didn't hesitate for the next.

> [Tree Mutation Elixir – 7 GP]

> "Use it on the Bird Tree."

The potion was poured into the soil.

The tree shimmered, twisted slightly, and dark green sap dripped from the trunk.

> [Mutation Successful: Raven Tree – Produces 2 Ravenbeaks per day. Capable of stealing small objects, eyes, or memories.]

Ray whispered, "Eyes and memories?"

> "Scouting and assassination."

> "Perfect."

> [3 GP Remaining]

He saved them.

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Tally of Growth

Domain Level: 3

Wolf Tree (D-Rank) – 1 Wildfang/day

Bird Tree (Raven Tree) – 2 Ravenbeaks/day

Mole Tree – 2/day

Weapon Tree (Iron Root) – Produces 1 bone sword/day

F-Rank Undead Corps (Replenishable)

Undead Commander: Warcha [Enchanted]

God Points: 3

Unused Items: 1 Slave Collar

Ray stood in the center of it all, arms crossed.

> "Seventeen."

> "Yes?"

> "I want more. Stronger beasts. Stronger skills. I'll need to conquer more Gates, right?"

> "Yes, and you're not ready for Tier 2 yet. But…"

> [Tier 1 Dungeon Unlocked – Timed Gate: 6 Hours]

[Type: Graveyard – Undead and Death Creatures]

[Special Rewards: Skill Core | Beast Soul | Necromancer Relic]

Ray's heart raced.

> "Perfect," he whispered. "We go tonight."

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End of Chapter 40

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Chapter 41 – Dungeon of the Dead

The wind howled outside the gate.

A shadowy, rusted archway loomed before Ray within his domain, pulsing with green and black light. Bones littered the edges, and ancient runes shimmered faintly on its surface.

> [Tier 1 Dungeon: Graveyard of Forgotten Lords]

[Time Limit: 6 Hours]

[Warning: Corpses will reanimate. Your summons can die permanently.]

Ray's fingers tightened around his staff.

Behind him stood his army:

5 Wildfang Wolves – Their fur darker, fangs sharper after mutation.

4 Ravenbeaks – Eyes glinting red, wings black as ash.

12 Rotten Hounds – Low-level undead, fast and expendable.

8 Bone Archers

6 Skeleton Swordsmen

Warcha – Cloaked in tattered armor, his Aura of Command active.

And from the Weapon Tree, twenty freshly formed bone blades and jagged arrows waited in crates.

> "March."

He stepped through the gate, followed by the soft rustle of bones and padded paws.

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The Forgotten Lords Stir

The dungeon stank of damp death. It was a ruined temple covered in moss, with broken graves split open from within.

> "Scout."

Two Ravenbeaks soared ahead.

Through their linked vision, Ray saw: twisted bone beasts, rotting knights with glowing green eyes, and a chained altar deeper inside.

> "Target found."

> [Elite Undead Knight – Rank D – Wields Bone Halberd and Shadow Roar]

[Mini-boss Detected]

Ray grinned.

> "Let's hunt."

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Battle Begins

The air turned colder.

A shriek echoed as a Bone Beast leapt from a collapsed mausoleum—its ribs curved like blades, its jaw unhinged.

> "Engage!"

Two Wildfangs lunged, teeth glowing faintly with soul power.

Behind them, arrows soared from Bone Archers.

The Ravenbeaks harassed the beast from above, slicing at its eyes.

Ray's staff glowed as he whispered, "Rise Undead."

The corpse of a fallen knight twitched, stood, and joined his side.

> [New Summon: Twisted Squire – F-Rank – Dual Blade]

Ray directed him without emotion.

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Warcha Commands

At the dungeon's central chamber, the undead knight stood silent, its bone halberd crackling with black lightning.

> "Too dangerous for the hounds," Ray muttered.

He sent in the Wildfangs, Twisted Squire, and Ravenbeaks first.

Warcha roared behind them, leading the charge.

The knight unleashed Shadow Roar, blasting them back.

Two Ravenbeaks died instantly.

Ray's jaw tightened.

He raised his staff.

> "Punarjanam."

The corpses glowed green—and rose again, faster, stronger, and colder.

> [Ravenbeak (Revived) – Spectral Form – Gains Stealth Dive]

The battle raged. Sparks clashed. One Wildfang pinned the knight for a moment—long enough for Warcha to smash its skull with a heavy axe.

> [Mini-Boss Defeated]

[Loot: Necromancer's Shard | 2x Bone Cores | 1x Skill Core]

[Experience Gained]

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The Shard

Ray approached the altar.

A floating crystal pulsed—black with silver veins. He touched it.

> [You have obtained: Necromancer's Shard]

[Passive Gained: Bone Meld – Your undead may fuse with each other temporarily to increase strength.]

He blinked.

> "That's... huge."

Seventeen chimed in.

> "Shards are rare. Fuse two Rotten Hounds, and they'll become a stronger variant temporarily. Sacrifice weaker undead to empower your elite troops."

Ray's mind spun with possibilities.

> "I need more. A lot more."

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Returning with Power

When the timer neared zero, Ray dragged back the corpses he could carry.

> [Dungeon Cleared]

[God Points +18]

[Summons Lost: 2]

[Army Updated]

Back in his domain, he opened the shop:

> [God Points: 21]

Necromancer's Shard: Active

Bone Meld: Available

Ravenbeak (Spectral) – 2

Twisted Squire – 1

Warcha – Upgraded

Ray stood tall in the center.

> "This is just the beginning."

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End of Chapter 41