Close Combat Summoner: The Way Of The Unrivaled

{Argus's POV}

'This is not good. If these undead are this strong, there must be even tougher enemies below. I might encounter those with silver orbs or even higher orb monsters.'(Argus)

He pushed aside his worries as a sudden, sword attack nearly landed a blow on him. Argus dodged the attack and quickly countered, striking back with precision. He let Sylvan help him control the undead, though the assistance was limited due to the difference in their stats. Unlike Astrea, whose current sealed stats made her attacks ineffective against the upgraded undead, Sylvan's support, though limited, was needed. Argus continued moving forward, thinking over his situation.

'I need to get through the fifth floor fast. If these undead are this strong, fighting every single one will just slow me down.' (Argus)

He glanced around, thinking of his options. Which was of course to follow his instinct. Argus steeled himself, quickening his pace.

'I don't have time to waste. If I keep getting delayed, something worse is bound to happen.'(Argus)

With that thought, Argus pushed forward, determined to avoid unnecessary battles. Argus pressed on, his mind focused on the task ahead. Suddenly, the dungeon stopped shaking, and the tremors that had been rumbling through the walls came to a halt. The expansion was finally complete.

He paused for a moment, feeling the stillness around him.

'So the dungeon's done upgrading...'(Argus)

He clenched his fists, knowing this meant the danger had increased.

"This won't make things easier. The monsters will be stronger, and the lower floors are probably even more dangerous now." (Argus)

Without wasting any more time, he resumed his advance, knowing that the real challenge was just beginning. Argus pushed forward, his pace quickening as he followed his instincts through the labyrinth dungeon. His path twisted and turned, the complex corridors seeming endless, but his intuition guided him with a strange certainty. He avoided unnecessary fights, slipping past groups of undead when possible, and only engaging when there was no other choice.

Each time he encountered a group, he quickly assessed the situation. When combat was unavoidable, he moved swiftly, cutting down the enemies with precision, not allowing them to slow him down for long.

'I have to keep moving. There's something waiting below, and I can't afford to be delayed.'(Argus)

He continued on, trusting his intuition to lead him through the maze of the dungeon, always keeping his goal in sight.

Half an hour passed as Argus pushed his way through the winding paths of the labyrinth dungeon. He avoided fights when he could, only engaging when it was necessary. His focus was sharp, and he moved swiftly, following his intuition deeper into the dungeon.

When he finally reached the 5th floor, he found himself in a large, open chamber. The air was thick with tension, and his heart pounded in his chest. The moment he stepped into the room, he activated his Eyes of Twilight skill, allowing him to sense the power hidden within the undead before him.

At first glance, the undead looked like regular ones, nothing too special. But his skill revealed their true strength, like an appraiser identifying their real potential. Argus studied them closely, his mind racing as he took in the information.

'These undead aren't normal... they're elites. And some are even special-class monsters.'(Argus)

Argsu could sense the strength in their concealed orbs. Although he couldn't physically see the orbs, his skill showed him that many of them held silver orbs, and a few even had gold. This meant their power was far beyond what he had faced so far in the dungeon. The pressure from their combined strength was almost suffocating.

'There must be at least 100 of them... all waiting for me.'(Argus)

His grip tightened around his weapon as he counted the undead spread across the room. The sheer number, combined with their elevated strength, made it clear that this would be no ordinary battle. Argus could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had faced strong foes before, but this was different. These weren't just random enemies, they were an army of elites and special monsters, all standing between him and the dungeon's depths.

"An army of elites and specials... and this is just the 5th floor. What's waiting for me below?"(Argus)

Argus steadied himself, feeling a faint tremor run through his body, not from fear, but from anticipation. The last few days of dungeon diving had been repetitive. Though every floor had its challenges, none of them had truly tested him, and the enemies had been too predictable except for the Dungeon Guardian that Astrea killed. But now, standing before a lineup of undead with silver and even gold orbs, the situation was different. He could feel it in the air, the weight of their power pressing against him.

His expression remained calm, his usual lazy demeanor unshaken. But inside, something had shifted. The sheer number of powerful enemies ahead of him stirred something within, an eagerness for the real challenge that lay ahead.

"These ones aren't like the others. This could be dangerous."(Argus)

His Eyes of Twilight revealed the hidden strength of these monsters.

"Silver and gold orbs... they've been upgraded." (Argus)

The silver and gold orbs embedded within them indicated their status as elites and special monsters. Their power was far greater than anything he had faced on the previous floors. Argus knew this wasn't going to be an easy battle.

"Strong enemies. But I'll deal with them." (Argus)

He tightened his grip on his weapon, his mind already calculating his approach. There were over a hundred enemies, each one more formidable than the last. The atmosphere was tense, but Argus remained unfazed. His heart beat faster, but his face showed no trace of anxiety. His body responded naturally to the looming fight ahead, preparing for the battle with a quiet intensity.

As Argus examined the undead before him, each one standing in battle-ready stances, their auras stronger and more focused than the cannon fodder he had cut down earlier. He knew that underestimating them would be a mistake.

Their power was undeniable. These undead were far beyond the weaklings he had encountered before. But despite the danger, Argus felt a familiar rush of energy, the thrill of facing opponents who could truly challenge him.

"Time to move. I can't afford to hold back now." (Argus)

His resolve was set, and with a calm, measured pace, he began to move forward. As soon as Argus charged into the group of undead, he quickly realized these were no ordinary enemies. Each one moved with purpose, and the aura they gave off was unmistakable, they were stronger, faster, and far more skilled than those he'd fought before.

A skeleton knight rushed at him with a massive sword, its movements deliberate and calculated. Argus met its attack with his scythe, but the impact pushed him back slightly. The knight didn't stop. With a quick motion, it raised its shield, bashing it toward Argus as it prepared another strike.

Sovereign's Intuition

Sovereign's Apathy

Both skills activated at once, sharpening Argus's senses, dulling his emotions and making his concentration shot up. His mind became clear as he analyzed the fight in an instant, feeling no fear, no hesitation. He focused on the patterns of the enemies' attacks and their movements.

'This one's different... it can use its class skills in a skillful way.'(Argus)

The knight swung its sword in a broad arc, forcing Argus to dodge. He avoided the strike and countered, slicing through the knight's armor, but it wasn't enough. The skeleton knight raised its shield to block his next attack, then suddenly charged forward, using a skill to increase its speed.

A skeleton spearman appeared next, thrusting its weapon with deadly precision. Argus sidestepped, but the spearman used a skill to extend its reach, catching him off guard. He barely managed to deflect the attack, feeling the force of the blow through his scythe.

'They're using skills like living warriors... I can't let them surround me.'(Argus)

Argus moved with care, mindful of his positioning as more enemies closed in. Normally, a monser who possessed an orb lower than silver will use their skills instinctively.

Silver orb monsters have intelligence similar to that of a child, making them relatively simpler to deal with. In contrast, special monsters and above, including those with gold orbs, possess the intelligence of adults. This higher level of intelligence makes them clearly more dangerous and challenging to face.

Each enemy had its own class and skill set. Archers fired arrows with pinpoint accuracy, knights charged with enhanced speed, and spearmen extended their reach unnaturally. Each one presented a unique challenge. The gold orb monsters, in particular, were much tougher and more resilient than the silver orb ones.

He fought fiercely, swinging his scythe at a skeleton swordsman. The swordsman used a skill to parry his blow, the clash echoing through the chamber. Argus had to adapt quickly; his usual tactics wouldn't work against these well-coordinated undead. Their combined efforts and skillful use of class abilities made each battle a drawn-out struggle.

'This is going to take more time than I thought.'(Argus)