The chamber beyond the crimson doors yawned open like a mausoleum of forgotten kings.

  Kael stepped forward, his boots echoing softly against bone-tiled flooring. The air grew thick with mourning—an oppressive, soundless grief that pressed against the soul like a funeral bell held silent for too long.

  This was the end of the Crimson Hollow.

  The Boss Room.

  As they moved, Kael glanced at Seradin, who walked with his blade already drawn and humming softly. It was strange. The more Kael studied him, the more he understood what made the knight so different.

  He was no longer a simple summon. Not even an elite undead.

  He was Kael’s first Named Summon—a result of his now Rank III Raise Lesser Dead.

  Named Summons were rare—undead who died with a powerful sense of identity, duty, or regret. They retained fragments of who they were in life. Skills. Memories. Sometimes… emotions.

  Seradin remembered tactics, discipline, honor. But more than that—he chose to obey Kael. Not from chains, but from something deeper.

  “It's strange,” Kael muttered to himself, “having someone who isn’t just mine… but believes in me.”

  The Grimoire didn’t answer.

  It didn’t have to.

  The boss chamber was a circular arena, ringed in shattered thrones carved of crimson crystal and pulsing bone. In the center sat a monstrous figure upon a jagged seat of flesh and jagged rock.

  Eight feet tall, humanoid, but grotesquely bloated with soul-warped muscle and warped regal armor. Its body was covered in chains, some fused into its flesh, others still dragging behind like leashes. A tattered red cloak billowed around it, stitched with screaming faces.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Its head was wreathed in a crown of bone, cracked and bleeding where it pierced its skull.

  Eyes like molten blood opened.

  The Dirgebound Sovereign.

  Dungeon King of the Crimson Hollow.

  It rose, letting out a deafening roar that made the walls tremble.

  And then—

  Seradin didn’t wait.

  The elite knight charged forward mid-roar, his Graveblade igniting with ethereal flame. He slammed into the boss with such force the creature stumbled back before it could even complete its first spell.

  Kael, wide-eyed, lifted a hand almost lazily.

  “Necrotic Missile.”

  Twin bolts of dark energy spiraled from his fingers and slammed into the boss's exposed chest.

  The DOT kicked in.

  The boss barely had time to scream again.

  It dropped to its knees… and died.

  Just like that.

  Silence.

  Kael blinked, lowering his hand slowly. “...Seriously?”

  Seradin stood over the corpse, blade still humming. “It was loud. Not strong.”

  Kael sighed and rubbed his temple. “I swear the dungeon is just trying to flatter me at this point.”

  The boss chest waited quietly nearby. Not glowing golden, not humming with legend—just a soft silver-white light pulsing from its seams.

  Kael opened it.

  Inside was a small fortune—platinum and crimson guild-coins, ornate jewellery crusted with rubies and black pearls, a ceremonial dagger of bone-coral etched with war-songs.

  Useful. Valuable. But not special.

  Then he saw it.

  Nestled in a silk-lined groove was a simple silver ring, set with a flawless obsidian gem. It pulsed faintly with internal light.

  ·  [Item Acquired: Voidkeep Ring]

  Type: Storage Ring

  Effect: Grants access to a small extradimensional space. Can store up to 200kg of items or materials. Seals automatically. Cannot be accessed by others unless willingly shared.*

  Rarity: Rare — Highly coveted among adventurers, merchants, and mages.

  Status: Bound to Kael Vire

  Kael slid the ring onto his finger, and the gem glowed once before dimming.

  “Now that,” he said, “is actually useful.”

  He turned to Seradin. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before the dungeon tries to throw another disappointment at us.”

  The knight said nothing.

  But Kael could swear… Seradin was smirking beneath that fractured bone helm.