There's a skull dungeon attached to my basement

It was Xiao Yang, Xiao Yang swinging from the rusty chandelier. He scooped up Little Bone, and together they spun in the air, narrowly avoiding the impact of the bone ball.

The bone ball, passing them, crashed violently into the stone wall at the end of the tunnel with a deafening bang. The wall collapsed, revealing a new passage, and the bone ball disappeared forward along the newly created path.

The metal chandelier finally gave way under the strain. With a screech, the chain snapped, and Xiao Yang, still holding Little Bone, landed heavily on his rear.

"Hiss!"

Xiao Yang's backside went numb. He jumped up from the ground, but thankfully, both he and Little Bone had survived.

Little Bone, held by Xiao Yang, looked up at him blankly. If there were a favorability meter, Xiao Yang should have received a 'Little Bone's Favorability UP' notification.

That shouldn't be necessary, as Little Bone was just a summon, but Xiao Yang did it naturally anyway.

The danger hadn't passed. The low rumble reappeared, signaling the approaching bone ball once more. Xiao Yang didn't try to return.

The chandelier was gone, and if the door they came through remained locked, meeting the bone ball here would be a dead end.

Better to proceed through the tunnel the bone ball had created.

Ignoring the pain in his backside, Xiao Yang urgently pulled Little Bone forward, rushing into the dark opening.

The first sensation upon entering the dark cave was the heavy, slightly rotten air.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yang's talent activated.

【Congratulations to the player for entering the hidden area of the dungeon, completing a successful dungeon delve!】

Several blurry boxes appeared before Xiao Yang, signaling another chance to win a prize. However, he wasn't in the mood. Not far away, at the end of the dimly lit tunnel, the bone ball had turned around and was heading towards him.

Closer, however, was a room lit by firelight – a safe room!

Sprinting, Xiao Yang yanked open the iron door of the safe room, quickly slipped inside, and slammed the door shut. The bone ball roared past outside, heading into the distance once more.

He was safe again.

This time, Xiao Yang could finally catch his breath. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, as he had worked up quite a sweat during the frantic run.

At that moment, Little Bone came before Xiao Yang and held out its hand again. This time, it presented Xiao Yang with a smooth, white, small skull badge.

Xiao Yang was a bit stunned by the sudden appearance of the badge, but he took it nonetheless.

"Is this for me? Thank you, little guy!"

He reached out to pat Little Bone's head, but just as his hand was about to land, Little Bone vanished before his eyes.

Xiao Yang scratched his head, wondering what had happened. Only then did he focus on the small skull badge in his hand.

【Little Bone's Badge】

【Quality: Common】

【Type: Accessory】

【Effect: Agility +2】

【Description: A meaningful gift for someone Little Bone likes!】

Next was the three-choice reward for the dungeon delve.

Before Xiao Yang, two items and a gift box appeared. Because Xiao Yang had entered a hidden area, one of the items was blue equipment, and the gift box was also blue.

【Portable Travel Tent】

【Quality: Fine】

【Type: Miscellaneous】

【Effect: Provides the 'Full of Energy' status】

【Description: An extremely comfortable portable tent. Open it up, get some sleep, and it will leave you feeling refreshed, even in the wilderness!】

【Screaming Chicken】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Type: Consumable】

【Effect: Throw it to confuse enemies in the area and attract their aggro.】

【Description: It's a chicken, a screaming chicken. Who can take their eyes off it?】

【Excellent Gift Box】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Type: Consumable】

【Effect: Open the box for a high chance of obtaining an item of equal quality to the gift box, and a small chance of obtaining an item of one grade higher.】

Xiao Yang really wanted the portable travel tent for a good night's sleep, but that thought only lasted a moment.

As a qualified gamer, he had to choose either an item that increased his combat power or something that could turn the tide of battle.

In games, his character always ate rotten wooden beds and roasted meat buns to the point of being full. Such a comfortable tent that didn't increase combat power was a waste.

He forced himself to look away.

As for the gift box, well, the small chance of obtaining a higher-grade item was great, but one could be a gambler, but not a perpetual gambler.

In the end, Xiao Yang chose the blue, excellent-quality crowd control consumable, the Screaming Chicken.

This hidden area of the Skeleton Dungeon was probably quite difficult. At least for the current Xiao Yang, the bone ball that appeared at the entrance was enough to make him mentally prepared. So it was better to prepare something that could reverse the situation at a critical moment.

Although the sudden entrance of the hidden area was memorable, the rewards were equally generous, including the three-choice reward and the gift left by the explorer, Mr. Robert.

Xiao Yang went to the long table in the center of the safe room. A pair of leather boots sat quietly on the table, with an envelope next to them.

【Adventurer's Boots】

【Quality: Fine】

【Type: Equipment】

【Effect: +2 Agility, +1 Defense】

【Description: A pair of boots favored by adventurers, lightweight while also providing some defense.】

Xiao Yang quickly put on the leather boots and nodded in satisfaction. Mr. Robert was indeed a good predecessor!

Xiao Yang's stats were now:

【Player: Howling Emperor】

【Number: 1】

【Affiliation: Plane 33214】

【Race: Ordinary Human】

【Level: 2】

【Experience: 380 / 400】

【Health: 10】

【Strength: 3】

【Defense: 6】

【Agility: 9】

【Talent: Dungeon Delver】

【Servant: Skeleton Thug】

【Items: Little Bone's Badge, Wilderness Short Axe, Dark-Dispelling Lantern, Adventurer's Bracers, Adventurer's Boots, Screaming Chicken.】

【Evaluation: A weak newbie adventurer.】

With the blessing of various equipment, Xiao Yang's attributes had greatly improved compared to the neat set of threes he had when he first entered the Skeleton Dungeon, especially in agility.

It could even be said that his stats were more impressive than those of a Skeleton Warrior.

Although comparing stats with a Skeleton Warrior didn't seem like much.

But Xiao Yang still felt a great sense of accomplishment.

Especially when he clearly perceived these attributes realistically reflected in his physical fitness and movements.

Although he was basically an equipment warrior, and would instantly revert to his original form without the equipment, being an equipment warrior was also a skill, especially since he was the owner of the colorful unique talent, Dungeon Delver, so he had to be fully equipped!