Leon nodded, pleased with the progress. "Good. And what about my challenger system? Any new updates or notifications?"

    [Host''s current objectives are as follows:]

    Rebuild Blue Wind City: Progress at 45%.

    Rewards increase with efficiency and completion.

    Explore the Dark Abyss Dungeon: Unexplored dungeon located near the city. Estimated to hold rare treasures and advanced materials.

    Forge a New Pact (Optional) : Host has an opportunity to form a new pact or save it for a more strategic time.

    Unlock Tier III Status:

    Requirements: 1. Clear a high-difficulty dungeon.

    2. Expand mana pool by 20%.

    3. Upgrade at least 5 skills to S-rank or higher.

    Leon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The Dark Abyss Dungeon sounds intriguing. It might hold the resources we need to push the city''s development further—and expand my power."

    [Cherry agrees. Based on Host''s current stats, the dungeon is within Host''s capability, though it may prove challenging.]

    "Perfect. That''s exactly what I need—a challenge," Leon said with a smirk.

    "Though the problem is my skill levels," Leon sighed as he looked at the Challenger or Ascender System interface.

    Skill Upgrade Costs:

    D and below - 1 SP

    C - 10 SP

    B - 20 SP

    Leon took the lead, his Plague Bearer Sword glowing faintly with an unnatural green hue, a testament to its corrosive power. Behind him were four carefully selected companions:

    Kara, a battle-hardened warrior with a massive tower shield and unshakable resolve.

    Lyric, a rogue and expert trap disarmer with an uncanny knack for sensing danger.

    Marian, a healer specializing in light magic, her presence a counterbalance to the dungeon''s oppressive darkness.

    Dren, a fire mage whose raw destructive power made him a valuable ally in combat.

    They were among the few adventurers who haven''t left the city even after the high taxes as it was their birth place.

    The group''s formation was tight, their senses heightened as they moved cautiously through the dungeon''s winding corridors.

    They encountered their first challenge in a vast chamber where the ground was littered with skeletal remains. As the group stepped forward, the runes on the walls flared to life, and the bones began to stir.

    "Undead," Kara muttered, raising her shield as the skeletons assembled into grotesque, mismatched forms.

    Leon stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "Hold formation. I''ll thin them out."

    He extended his hand, and a surge of dark energy coalesced into an Eldritch Blast. The projectile slammed into the nearest skeleton, shattering it instantly. Dren followed up with a wave of fire, his flames engulfing the advancing horde and reducing several to ash.

    Despite the initial success, the undead kept coming, seemingly endless.

    "These aren''t ordinary skeletons," Lyric called out, her daggers flashing as she darted around the battlefield. "They''re regenerating!"

    Leon frowned, his mind racing. He activated Dimensional Rift, teleporting to a higher vantage point where he could better assess the situation. From above, he noticed a glowing sigil etched into the floor at the chamber''s center.

    "It''s a summoning circle!" Leon shouted. "Marian, purify it!"

    Marian nodded, her staff glowing as she channeled her magic. A wave of radiant energy swept across the chamber, dispelling the dark magic animating the undead. The skeletons crumbled to dust, and the sigil''s glow faded.

    "Good work," Leon said as he dropped back down to the group. "But this was just the beginning."

    The dungeon''s traps grew more devious as they pressed on. Lyric''s expertise saved the group multiple times, from disabling pressure plates that would have triggered poison darts to identifying false floors that led to spike-filled pits.

    Eventually, they reached a vast cavern dominated by a shimmering black lake. In its center stood a pedestal, atop which rested a glowing black crystal. The moment they entered, the air grew colder, and an oppressive presence filled the room.