Becoming the Dark Lord

Charlie could barely walk, and she was armed with nothing but two small throwing knives. Luke didn’t know exactly how skill knowledge worked for skeletons, but it was obvious—Charlie wouldn’t wield those knives like he could, just as he couldn’t properly use a bow or a greatsword.

She needed to level up her race. He had to get her to that regeneration bonus, or she’d be dead the moment a real fight broke out.

A rattling noise echoed through the rustic, stone corridor.

Three skeletons emerged from the shadows.

Luke swallowed his fear—and engaged.

***

[You have slain a Cursed Skeleton: Lvl 7]

The last skeleton dropped.

Luke had been wandering this floor for hours now. It resembled some kind of crypt, long and winding. Most enemies were weak—rarely above level 5—but they attacked in swarms.

Charlie followed close behind, now wielding a sword she’d taken from one of the fallen undead.

“Let’s keep moving,” Luke muttered, eyes scanning ahead.

He had to worry about both of them—especially Charlie, who was still critically low on HP. He’d considered leaving her in the elevator, but she needed EXP to recover.

He let her land the killing blows whenever he could, to boost her experience gain. But when the mobs started stacking, he had no choice but to finish them himself.

“Stay sharp,” he warned her. “Don’t fight more than two at once. If things go bad again—run.”

Charlie nodded.

The corridor was lit by wax-dripped candles in old iron sconces. Faded chandeliers hung overhead, swaying slightly. Red carpets lined the stone floor, while ancient paintings of forest scenes covered the walls—but every portrait featured skeletons. Stone busts decorated the alcoves, each one depicting a skeletal noble.

Luke pushed forward. He needed to find the crystal—fast.

At the end of the corridor, a wide chamber opened. He crouched, pulled a throwing knife from his belt, and tossed it inside.

A skeleton immediately lashed out, swinging at nothing.

“I knew it…”

Two skeletons charged from the room. A third stepped out behind them—carrying a crystal.

Luke didn’t hesitate. He threw both kukris. The first skeleton spun into a dodge, the second leapt. Both closed in, wielding axes.

Charlie ran forward, her sword glowing with a faint yellow light. Her form surged with energy—she activated Charge.

She slammed into the enemies like a freight train. They went flying.

The aura burst around her like a shockwave. The way she moved—shoulder down, full weight behind the hit—it was like a bull breaking through a gate.

[Princess Charlie has slain a Cursed Skeleton: Lvl 4]

[Princess Charlie has slain a Cursed Skeleton: Lvl 5]

Luke sprinted toward the skeleton holding the crystal—but a fourth enemy stepped out, wielding a bow.

Arrows flew. Luke deflected them with a kukri, then hurled it in return—right between the archer’s ribs. The other kukri struck the crystal bearer, knocking it down.

He and Charlie quickly dispatched the downed enemies and rushed into the chamber.

Coffins lined the room. Stone sarcophagi and burial urns filled the walls. The crystal had fallen to the ground, glowing faintly.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

But that was when the real threat emerged.

Dozens of skeletons began to rise from the tombs.

Luke’s eyes narrowed. They wouldn’t be allowed to simply grab the crystal and leave. Not this time.

“Stay close to me,” Luke said. “But if your health drops near zero—you run. No hesitation.”

Charlie nodded in understanding.

Suddenly, arrows whistled through the air. Luke deflected them one by one with his kukris, his Perception allowing him to track the volleys with deadly precision.

He hurled one kukri at a skeleton, then tossed three throwing knives skyward. They duplicated midair. Blades rained down, striking skeletons and shattering bone. Luke kept throwing and duplicating, dismantling the front lines.

One skeleton lunged at him—but his kukri returned, spinning, and struck it clean through the spine. He and Princess Charlie finished off the downed ones, smashing skulls before the bones could reassemble.

BAM!

Behind them, a gate slammed shut. Metal bars dropped from the ceiling, blocking the exit.

Luke froze.

This was new. Never before had they been locked into a chamber like this.

The skeletons halted.

Stone grated in the distance. A tomb cracked open. Its lid slid and crashed to the side.

Silence.

A skeletal hand emerged—then another. A figure pulled itself from the tomb, dressed in ancient robes, wearing a tall ceremonial headdress.

Luke’s stomach dropped. His Identify skill triggered.

[Guardian of the Burning Crypt: Lvl 12]

The skeleton screamed.

“AAARGH!”

Its hands ignited in flame, and a massive fireball launched toward Luke. He dove aside just as it exploded, sending burning fragments flying through the room.

A mage! A powerful one!

“AAARGH!” the Guardian roared again, eyes glowing with firelight.

The other skeletons surged forward. Luke spotted another fireball forming in the back—then another. The Guardian wasn’t done.

“Move!” he shouted, and he and Charlie bolted in opposite directions.

Fireballs screamed through the air.

Shit! Shit!

Skeletons charged with blades. Luke dove into their path, pulling them away from Charlie. One bit into his shoulder, another grabbed his leg, and a third latched onto his waist.

He realized what was happening—they were holding him in place. For the mage.

Luke leaned forward and threw his weight into them. He broke free—and activated Assassin’s Dash.

A fireball slammed down behind him—

Exploding.

I have to kill the mage!

The Guardian was stronger than anything he’d fought so far—except for the temple boss. He’d barely survived the crocodile. This was worse.

The Guardian raised his arms, chanting. Ten smaller fireballs began forming in a spinning orbit around him. He pointed at Luke.

The projectiles launched.

Luke sprinted, zigzagging, dodging between broken tombs. Explosions lit the crypt behind him. He dove behind a pillar just as a fireball passed inches from his face. He could feel the heat sear the air.

Peeking out, he saw Charlie under siege. Luke pulled a throwing knife and began launching attacks from cover, striking the skeletons attacking her.

Then he spotted the Guardian preparing another spell.

No more waiting.

Luke broke into a run, rolled across the ground, activated Assassin’s Dash—and burst forward, slashing a skeleton as he passed.

[You have slain a Cursed Skeleton: Lvl 5]

Luke dove behind a tomb as fireballs rained down—one after the other.

Boom. Boom.

The stone cracked with each blast. The tomb’s surface fractured. The gravestone began to collapse.

“Shit!”

He bolted upright and hurled three throwing knives into the air. They multiplied mid-flight into six, piercing the skeletal Guardian—but the undead mage didn’t even flinch.

Luke threw his kukris toward Charlie’s side, striking down the skeletons swarming her. Then he hurled a blade straight at the Guardian. The enemy sidestepped and pointed directly at him.

Dozens of fireballs launched at once.

Luke ducked behind a pillar, the explosions shaking the stone around him. The air scorched his skin.

The Guardian was targeting him on purpose.

He recalled his kukri, eyes scanning quickly. He spotted Charlie sheltering behind another pillar. More columns ahead. Cover—scattered and fleeting.

He ran. Dashing between pillars, fireballs crashing all around him, he pushed forward.

Getting closer.

Luke slashed at the Guardian. It blocked with one flaming hand. With the other, it aimed to cast again. Luke struck fast, knocking the hand upward—

The fireball launched into the ceiling, exploding.

He pressed the attack, kukri slashing, but the Guardian floated backward, levitating, raining more fire. Luke flinched as it rose higher, both hands erupting into flames—then unleashed a stream of fire.

Luke dove behind another tomb, rolled, and threw his blades again. The Guardian dodged midair.

Charlie came running, hurling a skull at the floating mage. It clattered against its shoulder. The Guardian turned, glaring at her—flames flickering to life in its hands.

Luke hesitated. He felt it again—fear. The blistering heat, the scent of burnt stone, the memory of death creeping back.

But he couldn’t stop.

He wouldn’t stop.

He ran—and leapt.

He crashed into the Guardian, tackling it from the air. They hit the ground hard. Luke landed on top, gripping his kukri, aiming for the skull.

“AAARGH!”

The Guardian raised both hands—flames igniting. Luke threw his arms in front of his face just in time—

Boom!

A twin explosion of fire hurled him backward. He crashed to the ground, barely conscious, coughing violently. His body seared with pain. Parts of his skin were burned raw.

He looked up.

The Guardian floated again, furious. It extended both hands—and summoned a larger fireball, its flames now flickering blue.

“No…”

There was no time to move. No time to dodge. The fireball expanded, roaring louder, burning everything in its path.

Luke froze.

Paralyzed by fear.

And then—Charlie jumped in front of him.

The blue fire struck her dead-on. A blinding flash filled the crypt.

[Your servant Princess Charlie has been slain in combat]

When the light faded, Luke stared in disbelief.

Ash fell like snow.

The charred remains of her skull rolled across the stone floor.

She was gone.