The second floor became a battlefield.
Not a single skeleton was allowed to escape.
Marcus quickly realized something about the cavern layout as they advanced deeper.
This floor wasn't just a wide cave.
It was a network of chambers connected by winding stone tunnels.
Some tunnels opened into narrow passages where only two people could fight at once.
Others expanded into wide caverns filled with jagged rock formations.
Perfect ambush points.
Perfect choke points.
And Marcus began using them all.
The Hunt Begins
The first patrol group fell quickly.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Each battle became easier than the last.
Because Marcus had solved the biggest weakness his party had on the first floor.
Healing.
The four skeleton priests stayed behind the frontline like disciplined support units.
Every time a wolf or arachne took damage—
Golden light washed over them.
Cuts closed.
Bruises faded.
Broken bones repaired themselves.
Marcus watched the wolf alpha receive a heavy sword strike from a skeleton knight.
A second later—
The priest healed him instantly.
Marcus grinned.
"Oh yeah."
"We are never going back to fighting without healers."
Lyrielle chuckled softly.
"Support units are essential in organized combat."
Marcus nodded.
"No kidding."
Then he pointed forward.
"Next group."
The Cavern Chambers
About halfway through the floor they discovered something unexpected.
A narrow tunnel opened into a side chamber.
Marcus cautiously stepped inside.
The room was small.
Stone walls.
Broken crates scattered across the floor.
Rusted weapons lay piled in the corner.
Marcus blinked.
"...Loot room?"
Lyrielle examined one of the crates.
"It appears so."
Marcus walked over and picked up one of the swords.
The blade was rusted nearly through.
The system window appeared.
Rusted Iron Sword
Rank: G
Condition: Poor
Marcus snorted.
"Yeah that's garbage."
He tossed it aside.
The room contained dozens of similar items.
Old armor.
Bent spears.
Cracked shields.
Nothing valuable.
But something else caught Lyrielle's eye.
"My lord."
She bent down and picked up a glowing card from beneath one of the crates.
Marcus walked over.
"Find something?"
She handed him the card.
The system window appeared.
Skill Card – Multi Shot
Rank: C
Class: Archer
Effect: Fire three arrows simultaneously
Marcus blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh."
Lyrielle looked curious.
"What is it?"
Marcus handed the card back to her.
"Congratulations."
"That's yours."
Her violet eyes widened slightly.
"For me?"
Marcus nodded.
"You're our only archer."
Lyrielle studied the card for a moment.
Then she activated it.
Light flowed into her body.
Her eyes briefly glowed.
Then it faded.
She lifted her bow slowly.
"I understand the technique."
Marcus grinned.
"Test it."
She nocked an arrow.
Then drew the bowstring.
Three arrows appeared.
Marcus blinked.
"...Wait what?"
Lyrielle released the string.
THWIP.
Three arrows shot across the chamber and slammed into the stone wall.
Perfectly grouped.
Marcus burst out laughing.
"Oh that is awesome."
Lyrielle smiled slightly.
"It will be very useful."
Marcus nodded.
"You're basically artillery now."
Skill Sharing
The deeper they pushed into the dungeon floor, the stronger the group became.
Because the skill drops kept coming.
Every skeleton group dropped five unit cards.
And frequently multiple skill cards.
By the time they had cleared six patrol groups, Marcus's inventory looked ridiculous.
He counted them.
"Thirty-seven… thirty-eight… thirty-nine…"
Lyrielle blinked.
"My lord?"
Marcus held up the stack.
"Forty skill cards."
She stared.
"Forty?"
Marcus grinned.
"Yep."
Lyrielle looked amazed.
"That amount of skills could outfit an entire army."
Marcus shrugged.
"Good thing I plan to have one."
Then he began distributing them.
The wolves received Power Slash and Shield Break skills.
Their attacks became heavier.
Faster.
More brutal.
The arachne received Poison Fang and Shadow Leap.
Now they could vanish into darkness and strike like assassins.
Marcus gave several Bone Shield and Minor Heal cards to the skeleton priests.
Their healing output nearly doubled.
And Lyrielle gained Multi Shot and Precision Aim.
Marcus watched her eliminate an enemy archer with three arrows before the skeleton could even fire.
He whistled softly.
"You are terrifying."
Lyrielle smiled politely.
"I try."
The Final Battle of Floor Two
The final patrol group gathered near a large cavern chamber.
Five undead stood together.
Skeleton knight.
Warrior.
Archer.
Mage.
Priest.
Marcus stretched his shoulders.
"Alright."
"Wolves take the knight again."
The battle started instantly.
CLANG.
Steel collided.
Lyrielle fired three arrows.
The skeleton priest collapsed before it could cast a single spell.
The arachne dropped from the cavern ceiling like spiders hunting prey.
The mage died seconds later.
The skeleton knight fought fiercely.
But now Marcus's forces were far stronger.
The wolf alpha dodged a massive sword swing.
Then countered.
His blade pierced straight through the knight's chest.
CRASH.
The final skeleton collapsed.
Silence filled the cavern.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
Then the system window appeared.
Dungeon Floor 2 Cleared
Enemies Defeated: 40
Skill Cards Obtained: 40
Unit Cards Obtained: 40
Proceed to Final Floor
The cavern floor trembled slightly.
In the center of the room…
A massive stone door slowly rose from the ground.
Dark mist leaked from the cracks.
Cold wind spilled outward.
Marcus stared at it.
"Well."
Lyrielle stepped beside him.
"This must lead to the boss."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
The Lich.
The final enemy of the dungeon.
Marcus turned toward his group.
Everyone looked stronger now.
The wolves stood confident.
The arachne moved silently in the shadows.
The skeleton priests held glowing staffs.
Lyrielle rested her hand calmly on her bow.
Marcus cracked his neck.
"Alright."
He grinned.
"Let's go kill a lich."
And together…
They stepped through the stone door.