The air outside Sector 8 was thick with early morning mist, swirling gently around the old stone walls and faded signs near the gate. Despite the hour, a crowd had already gathered. People leaned against railings, stood on benches, and aimed phones toward the open field where Team DEATH approached.
Suho walked ahead of the group, eyes calm but sharp.
Mirae tugged her hoodie up. "Why are there so many people?"
Minho rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess word's getting around."
Hojin gave a sideways grin. "We should've worn cooler outfits."
Near the edge of the group stood three A-rank hunters from a mid-tier guild. They weren't cheering like the civilians—but they watched silently, sizing the team up with experienced eyes.
"That's them," one whispered. "Kim Suho and his crew."
"The guy with the undead army?"
Another nodded. "They're still C-rank… but look at their aura."
Entering the Gate
Suho stepped forward. The gate shimmered before him—green, sickly, and humming with unstable mana.
[Gate: Sector 8 – Erosion Garden]
Type: C-Rank – Corruption/Nature Hybrid
Status: Unclaimed
Danger Level: High
"Let's go," Suho said.
Together, Team DEATH stepped into the mist.
Inside the Erosion Garden
The air inside was humid and rotten. A twisted greenhouse world stretched before them. What should've been glass walls were now covered in dark vines and thick mold. Rotten flowers oozed black sap. Pools of acid shimmered underfoot. Spores floated in the air like dandelion fluff—except these burned on contact.
"It's like walking inside a stomach," Mirae muttered.
Minho poked at the squishy ground with his sword. "This isn't natural. Even the roots feel angry."
"Eyes open," Suho said. "This garden's alive."
As they pushed deeper, Corrosion Spores dropped from the overhead vines, releasing bursts of poison gas.
Mirae reacted fast. "Firewall!"
She ignited a wave of flame that cleared a path and burned the spores mid-air. The heat made the air even more suffocating—but kept them alive.
Suddenly, from the ground, long vines uncoiled like snakes. Vine Reapers—monstrous, half-plant creatures with bladed appendages—burst forth.
"Left side!" Minho shouted, raising his glowing shield just in time.
Three Reapers lunged toward Suho—but his undead surged forward to intercept.
[Undead Controlled: 36/50]
Suho pointed. "Suppress. Rip the roots."
Ten skeletal wolves and plated ghouls swarmed the enemy, biting and hacking at tendrils with unmatched precision.
Hojin vanished into the shadows. "I'll flank them."
More vines snaked in from all sides. Mirae pushed her hands outward—Fire Lances shot in all directions, reducing two Reapers to charcoal.
But then the ground trembled.
The Mid-Boss Appears
From behind a fungal tree, a twisted hybrid of stag and thorn burst forth—a Brambled Charger. With moss growing from its antlers and acid dripping from its hooves, it charged at blinding speed.
"Split!" Suho shouted.
Minho braced the impact, but the creature tossed him aside like a twig.
"Mirae—hit its legs!"
"I see it!"
She cast a focused Inferno Beam, burning one of the beast's hind legs. It shrieked and stumbled.
Hojin appeared above it, twin daggers flashing. He stabbed both into the neck, anchoring himself as the beast flailed.
Suho raised his hand.
[Corpse Explosion]
The corpse of a nearby Vine Reaper detonated, sending sharp bone fragments into the Charger's chest.
It fell, twitching.
Suho's voice was calm. "Bind it."
The soul of the creature was yanked into his grasp like an invisible leash. The Brambled Charger's eyes glowed blue. It stood silently—now his.
[Undead Controlled: 37/50]
The Orchid Tyrant
As they reached the greenhouse's heart, the ground split open.
A monstrous figure rose—twenty feet tall, its body made of bark, petals, and rotting vines. A crown of thorns circled its head. Its mouth opened wide like a blooming orchid filled with teeth.
[Gate Boss: Rotting Orchid Tyrant – B-Rank+]
It let out a shriek that echoed through the entire dungeon.
Mirae gasped. "That thing… is unnatural."
The creature launched clouds of poisonous pollen. Vines shot out like spears.
Minho blocked the first wave and pushed back five feet. "It's strong!"
Suho didn't wait.
"Corpse Explosion—create gaps!"
"Undead—form a shield wall!"
The battlefield turned into chaos. Blasts of black fire tore into the roots. The undead pushed forward, shielding the team from incoming thorns. Hojin used the chaos to get behind the Tyrant, stabbing its flower stalks.
Mirae charged a massive spell.
"Burning Bloom!"
A giant fire lotus bloomed under the Tyrant's feet, igniting its roots. It screamed.
"Now, Suho!" she yelled.
Suho held up a glowing green soul shard.
[Bind: Plaguebloom Warden!]
Green chains of spectral energy lashed out and pierced the Orchid Tyrant's heart. Its body froze—then shattered like rotted bark.
The dungeon shook… then went still.
[Dungeon Cleared]
• Kim Suho: Level 30
• Undead: 38 / 50
• New Trait: Commander's Vision – View Allies' Levels and Conditions
After the Boss Battle:
As the Rotting Orchid Tyrant crumbled into wilted pieces, a faint hum passed through Suho's mind.
[Level Up: 30]
[New Trait Unlocked: Commander's Vision]
You can now view the levels and conditions of team members in real time.
Suho blinked as new windows flickered into place before his eyes—light blue holographic panels only visible to him.
Team Status
Mirae – Level 22
HP: 88% | Mana: 60%
Fire Affinity: High
Special Trait: Burning Soul
Minho – Level 21
HP: 95% | Stamina: 72%
Defensive Aura: Active
Special Trait: Iron Wall
Hojin – Level 23
HP: 91% | Energy: 80%
Stealth Buff: Active
Special Trait: Nightstalker's Step
Suho stared at the panels for a few seconds, a bit surprised.
He could now feel their energy more clearly too—not just visually, but instinctively. Their condition, their strengths, even minor wounds pulsed faintly through his new perception.
Mirae noticed his pause. "What is it?"
"I just unlocked something new," Suho said.
"Another skill?" Minho asked, brushing acid spores off his shield.
"Not quite. A trait. I can now see all your levels, health, mana... everything."
Hojin raised an eyebrow. "You're spying on us now?"
Suho smirked. "I call it leadership."
Mirae giggled. "Guess that makes you our commander for real now."
Minho nudged Suho's shoulder. "Then lead us well, Commander."
Suho nodded seriously. "I will."
Emerging Victorious
The gate shimmered and collapsed behind them.
As they stepped out, the crowd broke into cheers.
"THEY DID IT!"
"They beat a C-rank gate!"
"That was insane!"
Back at Home
Back in his apartment, Suho sat at his desk.
The new Commander's Vision windows hovered faintly at the side of his vision, even in rest mode. He minimized them, but kept them accessible—just in case.
Areum's fragment floated softly, glowing in the dark.
"You're learning how to lead, Oppa," her voice whispered. "You're not alone anymore."
Suho stared out the window, hand over his heart.
"No," he said softly. "I have them now."
He opened his full status screen.
Kim Suho – Necromancer
Level: 30
Undead Controlled: 38 / 50
Soul Fragments: 3 / 7
Next Major Quest: Sector 19 (Locked)
Required: Level 35 and 50 Undead
New Trait: Commander's Vision
• View teammate stats, levels, and conditions.
• Monitor real-time changes mid-battle.
Current Undead Highlight: Brambled Charger – Bound Beast Unit
Observing Entity: Unknown Signal from Sector 19
Soul Guidance (Linked): Active
Tomorrow, they would rise again.
And now, Suho wouldn't just fight for himself.
He would lead.
He would protect.
He would command.
Team DEATH was no longer just surviving.
They were evolving—together.