Around him, the dungeon’s atmosphere was thick with the scent of death. The once lively walls, echoing with the sounds of battle and struggle, now lay silent. The remains of the hunters lay scattered across the cold stone floor, their lifeless eyes staring into oblivion. Their souls, just moments ago vibrant with life, now hung in the air, waiting to be consumed.

Lee Siujin’s thoughts turned inward as his system pulsed, revealing the details of his newfound power.

---

Monarch System: Skills and Functions Unlocked

[Monarch System: Unveiled]

Unique Trait: The Monarch is a devourer of souls, a ruler of the dead. All enemies defeated are consumed, and their essence can be wielded to strengthen the Monarch or his Undead Legion.

---

Lee Siujin clenched his fist. His first skill, Ruler of Death, flickered in his mind. He could feel the power radiating from it, like a second heartbeat in his chest.

---

Ruler of Death:

Rank: A

Description: Allows the user to capture the souls of fallen enemies and convert them into Undead. These Undead are bound to the Monarch’s will, growing in strength and intelligence over time.

Special Condition: Undead minions may evolve, devour additional souls, and gain the abilities of fallen creatures. The higher the soul’s rank, the stronger the Undead will become.

Cooldown: 12 hours

---

He could feel the power within him stir. Every fallen soul was now his to command.

---

Lee Siujin stepped forward, focusing on the dead bodies of the hunters. The moment his eyes fell upon them, his Ruler of Death skill activated. He stretched out his hand, and the air around him seemed to warp as the souls of the fallen hunters were drawn into his grasp. One by one, their spirits swirled around him like mist before being sucked into a swirling vortex, where they were devoured and consumed.

---

Status Window

[Undead Minion: Hunter #1]

Name: (Unnamed)

Status: Rank E Undead

Power: 30% of Original Strength

Abilities: Stealth, Swordsmanship

Evolution Path: Dependent on Soul Consumption

---

[Undead Minion: Hunter #2]

Name: (Unnamed)

Status: Rank E Undead

Power: 40% of Original Strength

Abilities: Archery, Speed

Evolution Path: Dependent on Soul Consumption

---

Lee Siujin observed the undead that were forming before him. Their bodies began to twitch and jerk as the souls of the hunters were fused into them, reshaping their essence into something else—something greater. Their eyes, once dull and lifeless, now shone with a flicker of awareness. He could feel them, their loyalty binding them to him, but also something else—an unspoken hunger for strength, a desire to grow.

"I can see you," Lee Siujin thought to himself. The souls of the hunters were no longer individuals, but part of his growing army.

---

Monarch System: Soul Consumption and Evolution Path

Soul Consumption: Souls of defeated enemies can be absorbed into the Monarch’s essence, increasing his power and strengthening his Undead minions.

Evolution: Undead minions can evolve by consuming additional souls. The process is unpredictable but can lead to greater forms, with abilities inherited from the original soul.

---

A low groan escaped from Hunter #1 as his body began to rise from the floor. Lee Siujin could sense that this minion had been granted a mere fraction of its original strength. It was barely enough to be a threat to lower-level hunters. However, with time, it could grow, and perhaps even evolve.

“Rise, my minion.” The words were a command, and the newly-formed undead responded immediately, its body lurching as it stood upright. The sword in its hand was rusty and worn, but its posture was straight, as though it had once known how to fight with it.

---

Lee Siujin looked over at Hunter #2’s body. He could see it already twitching, beginning to rise with a faint, unnatural groan. The power to raise the dead wasn’t new to him, but it had always been in the realm of myth, a concept he had only heard of in stories. Now, it was his reality, and the weight of his power bore down on him heavily.

---

He nodded to himself, his gaze turning cold. “This is just the beginning.” His army would grow, and with each evolution, his influence would expand. The world would soon know the name of Lee Siujin. The Monarch.

---

His thoughts turned to the dungeon ahead. He had successfully conquered it. The monsters would soon be under his control, part of the growing force that would help him carve a path through the world. With the souls of the fallen, he could raise a vast army. But first, he needed to understand the true scope of his new abilities.

---

[Monarch System: Dungeon Overview]

Dungeon Captured: Forgotten Depths

Dungeon Rank: C

Current Monsters: 22

Special Dungeon Effect: Soul-Devouring Abyss - Increases the growth rate of Undead Minions.

---

"I’ll need more souls to truly test my limits," Lee Siujin muttered under his breath.

He felt his strength growing, but it wasn’t enough. Not yet. He needed to establish his base, to command more monsters and lay the foundation for his reign. The dungeon he had conquered would serve as a perfect base of operations.

---

Lee Siujin walked back to the center of the dungeon, where the remnants of the other monsters lay. He couldn’t afford to waste time. As he reached the epicenter of the dungeon, his hand reached out, summoning the energy within him.

---

The dungeon’s walls trembled as the Monarch’s Gate materialized before him. It wasn’t like the standard dungeon gates that had appeared on Earth. This one was an embodiment of his will, glowing with a faint aura of death. The monsters inside would now belong to him.

---

Lee Siujin focused on the souls of the monsters within the dungeon, raising his hand once more. The energy around him swirled into a vortex, pulling the creatures’ souls towards him. As they were consumed, they too were added to his collection of Undead.

---

[Monarch System: Dungeon Overview Update]

Monsters Captured: 22

New Undead Minions: 5

Soul Marbles Collected: 3 (Rank C)

---

The power within him surged again. He could feel the souls of the monsters being absorbed into his very being, strengthening him further. His undead army grew stronger with each passing moment, their ranks swelling with each monster devoured.

---

With his army beginning to take shape, Lee Siujin stood tall in the heart of his newly claimed dungeon. The next steps were clear. He had to test the limits of his new abilities, and to do that, he would need to explore the potential of his newly awakened powers.

---

Returning to his home in Seoul, Lee Siujin felt the weight of his newfound responsibility. He no longer had to struggle to make ends meet. The world was his to shape, and the Monarch System was his tool. He would shape the future, whether the gods liked it or not.

As he entered his rundown apartment, now changed by his power, he relaxed for a moment, savoring the silence. The mundane world seemed so distant compared to the power he now wielded. He would eat, rest, and then continue his journey. The world would soon know his name.

---

But first, he had to check the Undead Status window once more, examining the evolution of his minions and determining their next steps.

---

[Undead Minion: Hunter #1]

Name: Unnamed

Status: Rank E Undead

Power: 35% of Original Strength

Abilities: Swordsmanship, Basic Command

Evolution Path: 50 Souls Needed for Evolution to Rank D

---

[Undead Minion: Hunter #2]

Name: Unnamed

Status: Rank E Undead

Power: 40% of Original Strength

Abilities: Archery, Enhanced Speed

Evolution Path: 45 Souls Needed for Evolution to Rank D

---

He could see the souls that were still in the process of being absorbed. Lee Siujin knew that his Undead would evolve over time. But he was already hungry for more power. His ambition burned brighter now that he had tasted it.

---

With a grim smile, he stood up. The future was his. The world, once governed by gods, was now within his grasp.