Undead.

  Reanimated corpses that had been raised by dark magic. Their appearance varied, depending on the level of decomposition, with some being nothing but bleached, brittle bones, while others could look more “fresh.” Such superficial details didn’t matter much, though. They were all the same, mindless puppets dancing on the strings of their master. Viktor had heard of more intelligent undead before, but he had never encountered one. Until now.

  “Well then, High Priest. Welcome to my dungeon,” he said. “I have to say that I’m unfamiliar with your title, however. It sounds impressive, yes, but what does it mean exactly?”

  Khenemhotep’s voice was a dry rasp, as if his own desiccated body were being scraped against the stone. “I am but a humble servant of the Bearded God, the Sovereign over the realm of the dead. Together with my brethren, I serve as an intermediary between this world and the next. We minister to the dying with sacred rites, and prepare their souls for the journey that lies ahead, into the life eversting.”

  “That sounds priest-like enough. But where does the ‘sands’ part come from?”

  “In the nd where I once lived, the deserts were vast and without end, and that was where we id our dead to rest. Great tombs were raised from the sands to house the bodies of those who had departed. But these tombs were more than just graves, for they were also gateways to the afterlife. And it was our duty, as priests, to inscribe sacred texts into their walls, so the souls of the dead could find their way, and be guided to the realm of the Bearded God.”

  “Interesting,” Viktor said. “But you’re an undead, right? How do you fit into all of that?”

  “You are right to inquire,” Khenemhotep replied with a solemn nod. “The path to the afterlife is not an easy one. In the realm beyond lie many gates and doors, each guarded by a host of lesser gods, a thousand in number. Every soul must give an account and complete the task required of it, before it can pass through. Once these trials have been completed, the soul will be brought to the Hall of the Bearded God, to face His judgment. There, it will be weighed on the Scale of Truth, to discern whether sin still clings to it. Those found unworthy will be cast into oblivion and swallowed by the void, but those found pure will be led into the Garden of Peace, where a second, eternal life awaits. Yet hear this also, for there is a third fate...”

  Viktor chuckled. “And it’s to become an undead?”

  “When I walked among the living,” the mummy continued, “I served the Bearded God with a faithful heart and a steady hand. I inscribed His sacred words into countless stones, and led kings and beggars alike into the stillness of death. And when the time of my own departing drew near, my brethren prepared my body and id me to rest among the very scriptures my hands had carved. Then, I went through the realm of the dead, completing every task id before me. At st, I stood before the throne of the Bearded God, and my soul was weighed on the Scale of Truth. It was found worthy, and my Lord welcomed me into the Garden of Peace. Yet He spoke once more, saying: ‘Do you seek peace for yourself, or will you remain in My service, even beyond death?’ I chose the path of duty, and so I was returned to this vessel of dust, to guide both the living and the dead, until the end of all days.”

  “But if that’s the case,” Viktor asked, “then why are you here? Shouldn’t you remain in your world to continue your duty?”

  Khenemhotep didn’t answer. His two glowing green orbs lowered as he let out a sound like a sigh, if such a thing were even possible for someone who no longer breathed. “It is a long story. But if you wish to listen, I shall tell it.”

  “Let me guess. If I agree to make you my Guardian, then you will make me hear it eventually anyway, right?”

  “If it be so.”

  “Then it doesn’t have to be now,” Viktor said. “Let’s talk about your terms. You want ‘everyone to stay awhile and listen to you whenever you tell your stories,’ is it correct? I need to get something straight first. Who’s ‘everyone’ here exactly?”

  “Then I, too, have a question. Are you the Sovereign over this dungeon?”

  “I am.”

  “Then you, the Dungeon’s Heart, and the other Custodians will be enough,” said Khenemhotep as his gaze of green swept over him, Celeste, and Sebekton. “Yet I shall not be displeased with a greater gathering.”

  “Works for me,” Viktor said, gncing over at the Crocodilian, who gave a firm nod. “The request itself is acceptable, but the timing could be an issue. We might be busy with other stuff, and you can’t seriously expect us to immediately drop what we’re doing just to listen to your stories.”

  “It need not be immediate. If you, or any among you, cannot offer your time at once, then simply let me know when you are ready.”

  “Then there’s no problem,” Viktor said. “But how often do you want to tell your stories? And how long are they?”

  Khenemhotep thought for a moment, then said, “Let it be known that no one will be compelled to listen to my stories for more than a single hour in any given week.”

  “If that’s the case, I agree to those terms. But before I can accept you as my new Guardian, I need to know what you bring to the table.”

  “As a servant of the Bearded God, I have been graced with many of His gifts. I am able to commune with the dead, to travel to the realms beyond, and to guide the souls of the dying on their journey. Yet, I perceive you want to know about my strength in combat. To that, I say: I possess the power to raise the dead, to call forth warriors from the dust, to stand as eternal sentinels of your dungeon.”

  “Seems like a contradiction, doesn’t it?” Viktor asked with a chuckle. “You said you took care of the dead and helped them prepare for the afterlife. But you also raise their corpses to serve you as your puppets?”

  “Let me give answer, Sovereign of the Dungeon,” Khenemhotep replied. “Our people regarded the tombs as sanctuaries for the departed, and it was our tradition to leave offerings with their bodies. These offerings were the belongings of the dead, supplies for their journey, and gifts to the gods. Yet, behold, such a custom brought with it a great dilemma.”

  “Grave robbers?”

  “Verily, there were those whose greed drove them to desecrate the resting pces of the dead. It became another duty of ours, as priests, to protect those sanctuaries and bring judgment upon those who committed such sacrilege. When we built these tombs, we not only inscribed sacred texts but also set deadly traps for those who would seek to plunder. Then, we raised the bodies of the transgressors and made them stand as sentinels of the very tombs they had tried to defile, an eternal atonement for their sins.”

  “Perfect. I’ve got no shortage of corpses from those who’ve tried to raid my dungeon. I’m sure you’ll find a use for them,” Viktor said. “But... is raising undead your only trick, or do you have any other power?”

  “The power to command the sand has also been granted to me. I am able to shape the dust of the earth, to mold it according to my will. With a single word, I can make the ground betray my enemies, and quicksand will rise beneath their feet to swallow them whole. Or I can summon a great storm of sand to surround them, so that they will be blinded, scattered, and undone.”

  “Sand, huh?” Viktor turned to Celeste. “You can create that kind of terrain with Domain of Earth, right?”

  [Yes, Master.]

  Looked like both matters of the new Guardian and the new Domain had been settled.

  “Any question, Sebekton?” he asked.

  “I have one,” the Crocodilian said, turning to Khenemhotep. “High Priest, from what you’ve said, your duty is to guide the souls of the dead to your god’s realm. You’ve killed, yes, but only those who have committed sacrilege. But in this dungeon, the enemies you’ll face are not such sinners. Can you still kill without doubt? Can you serve my master as faithfully as you serve the Bearded God?”

  Good questions, Viktor thought. He gnced at the undead priest and added, “In case you haven’t known yet, the souls of the intruders killed in this dungeon are consumed by the Dungeon Core and turned into mana. I’m not sure if it’s quite the same as being cast into oblivion, but I’m certain they’ll never reach the Garden of Peace.”

  For a brief moment, he thought he saw sadness in Khenemhotep’s glowing eyes. The mummy shook his head slowly. “I have fulfilled all that has been demanded of me by the Bearded God. From this moment on, the path I walk is my own.” He turned to Viktor, two green orbs locked onto his eyes. “Sovereign of the Dungeon, I vow solemnly, that if you do accept me, I shall serve you as I served my Lord. This dungeon will be sacred ground to me, and anyone who transgresses against you will be struck down by my righteous wrath.”

  “Very well. Then it’s settled,” Viktor said. “I am the Master of this Dungeon, and this is Celeste, my Dungeon Core. We accept you, Khenemhotep, High Priest of the Sands, as our Guardian. From now on, we rely on you to protect our stronghold.”

  “And I, Khenemhotep, servant of the Bearded God, do hereby accept this covenant. I shall stand as a Custodian of this dungeon, and I shall suffer no one to defile or trespass within its walls. By the sacred sands that gave me form, and by the holy scriptures I carved into stone, I do swear this oath.”

  “Welcome aboard.” Sebekton grinned at his new colleague, thumping his chestpte in greeting. “Looking forward to seeing what you can do, High Priest.”

  Khenemhotep inclined his head in a formal bow. “And likewise to you, warrior of scales.”

  “Celeste,” Viktor said. “I choose the Domain of Earth.”

  [Understood.]

  Domain of Earth has been chosen.

  Unlocking Domain of Earth...

  Domain of Earth has been unlocked.

  The following skills have been modified:

  - Shape Terrain: The ability to modify the dungeon to create all types of terrain and traps associated with the Domain of Earth has been added.

  - Summon Lesser Minions: Upgraded from LV6 to LV7. Troglodytes have been added to the summoning options.

  New skills have been acquired:

  - Summon Earth Minions LV1

  Minion capacity increases by 90.