Lucas stepped out of the dungeon, the cool evening air washing over him. His body still buzzed with the power he had gained from his solo venture. He had gone from level one to eight in a matter of hours, a feat few could ever dream of. His new profession as a Necromancer, while still unfamiliar, had already proven to be more powerful than he had imagined.
As he made his way through the bustling streets of the city, he considered his next move. The dungeon had been a success, but Lucas knew it wouldn’t be enough. To truly understand the extent of his power, he needed more—more experience, more battles. That’s when he remembered the **Monster Wall**.
The Monster Wall was a small, heavily guarded section of the city where low-level monsters from the surrounding wilderness were funneled into controlled areas. Adventurers and aspiring heroes often used it as a training ground to gain experience before heading into more dangerous dungeons. It was perfect for his next venture.
“Let’s see how far I can push my new abilities,” Lucas muttered, adjusting the worn strap of his sword as he headed toward the Wall.
---
The Monster Wall was exactly as he remembered—noisy and chaotic, with adventurers of all levels wandering about, some nursing wounds from recent battles, others eagerly prepping for the next fight. Small monsters prowled behind the massive iron gates, their snarls and growls sending shivers down the spines of the less-experienced fighters.
Lucas approached the guard stationed at the entrance, flashing his academy badge.
“You here for some training, kid?” the guard asked, raising an eyebrow at Lucas’s appearance.
“Yeah. Just some quick leveling,” Lucas replied casually.
“Be careful in there. The lower-tier monsters may seem weak, but if you get overwhelmed, even a rat could take you down.”
Lucas smiled faintly. “Thanks for the warning.”
The gate creaked open, and Lucas stepped inside, immediately greeted by the sight of low-level monsters—goblins, wolves, and the occasional slime. Unlike the dungeon, the open environment of the Monster Wall allowed for more freedom of movement, and Lucas wasted no time summoning his skeletons.
“Let’s get to work.”
The three skeletons materialized around him, their bones clicking together as they awaited his command. Lucas pointed at a pack of wolves circling nearby.
“Take them down.”
His skeletons surged forward, their rusty weapons clashing with the wolves’ fangs and claws. It was over quickly, the creatures falling one by one to the relentless assault. Lucas felt a familiar surge of energy as his experience increased. He was leveling up again, slowly but surely.
After a few hours of continuous fighting, Lucas had leveled up to ten. His skeletons had grown stronger, their movements more fluid and precise. He could now control up to eight at once, and he felt the bond between them deepening with each battle.
“Alright, let’s call it a day,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow as he dismissed his skeletons. He turned to leave the Monster Wall, satisfied with his progress.
Just as he stepped toward the exit, a sharp pain shot through his side.
“Agh!” Lucas gasped, stumbling forward. He looked down and saw an arrow lodged in his shoulder, the shaft sticking out grotesquely. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to stay upright.
“What the hell—?”
Before he could react, he saw a figure dart past him—a girl, no older than him, with long, dark hair and a cloak that fluttered behind her as she sprinted into an alleyway. Behind her were two men, armed with swords and bows, chasing her with deadly intent.
“Stop!” one of them shouted, their voices gruff and angry.
Lucas winced, the pain in his shoulder intensifying as he tried to assess the situation. The girl was clearly in trouble, and from the look of it, those men weren’t simply guards trying to catch a criminal. Something about the way they moved—their aggression—felt off.
As the men caught up to him, they paused, seeing Lucas standing there with the arrow still lodged in his shoulder.
“Out of the way, kid,” one of them growled, eyeing Lucas with disdain. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Lucas gritted his teeth, the pain in his shoulder making it hard to think straight. But something inside him snapped—maybe it was the frustration from being shot, or maybe it was the strange protectiveness he felt for the girl. Either way, he wasn’t about to let these men get away with it.
“You shot me,” Lucas said, his voice steady despite the pain. “I think it does have something to do with me.”
The man’s expression twisted into an annoyed sneer. “It was an accident. Now move, before we make you.”
Lucas shook his head, raising his hand to summon his skeletons. The three skeletal warriors appeared around him, their empty eye sockets glaring at the men.
“You’re not going anywhere until you apologize,” Lucas said coldly.
The men hesitated, clearly taken aback by the sight of the skeletons. Necromancers were rare, and most people feared them, especially ones who could control multiple undead at once.
“Look, we don’t want any trouble,” the second man said quickly, backing away. “We didn’t mean to shoot you.”
“Apologize,” Lucas repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Fine! Fine, we’re sorry,” the first man grumbled, lowering his weapon. “Now let us go.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes but nodded. “Get lost.”
The men turned and quickly disappeared into the shadows, muttering curses under their breath. Once they were gone, Lucas let out a long breath, the pain in his shoulder finally catching up with him.
“I need to get this arrow out…”
Before he could take another step, the girl reappeared from the alleyway, her eyes wide with surprise and… gratitude?
“You… you saved me,” she said, her voice soft but filled with awe.
Lucas glanced at her, still wincing from the pain. “Not really. I just didn’t like getting shot.”
The girl stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the arrow in his shoulder. “You’re hurt. Let me help.”
Before Lucas could protest, the girl gently placed her hand on the arrow’s shaft. A faint glow emanated from her fingers, and the pain in his shoulder began to dull. Slowly, the arrow slid out, and the wound started to heal on its own.
“Wow,” Lucas muttered, impressed. “You’re a healer?”
The girl nodded. “Part of my profession. It’s complicated.”
Lucas chuckled despite himself. “Seems like we’ve both got complicated professions.”
The girl smiled shyly, then looked away. “Thank you… for what you did back there. Those men… they were hired to kill me.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Kill you? Why?”
“I… I can’t say. Not here, not now. But you saved my life. I owe you.”
Lucas waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. Just be careful next time.”
The girl nodded but didn’t move. There was something in her eyes—something deeper than just gratitude. Before Lucas could ask her what was wrong, she turned and disappeared into the shadows of the alley, leaving him standing there with more questions than answers.
---
Later that night, as Lucas lay in bed, nursing his still-sore shoulder, he couldn’t stop thinking about the girl. Who was she? Why were those men chasing her? And why did she seem so mysterious?
Just as his thoughts began to drift, there was a soft knock on his window. Lucas sat up, his heart racing. He cautiously opened the window, and there she was—the girl from earlier, standing on the rooftop across from his room, her cloak billowing in the wind.
“Hey,” she whispered. “I didn’t get a chance to properly thank you.”
Lucas blinked in surprise. “You don’t have to—”
“I do.” She stepped closer, her eyes locking with his. “I owe you more than you realize. My name is Aveline. I’ll find a way to repay you… Lucas.”
“How do you know my name?” Lucas asked, narrowing his eyes.
Aveline smiled mysteriously. “I have my ways. Until we meet again.”
And with that, she vanished into the night, leaving Lucas with more questions than answers.