The pounding of Grim's heart reverberated through his chest as he clutched an assortment of pilfered food items close to his body. He darted through the bustling marketplace, desperate to avoid the wrath of the irate merchant in hot pursuit.
"If I get caught, the merchant is going to whip me in front of the entire town! I can't get caught stealing again!" Grim's thoughts raced, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Get back here, kid, and take your punishment like a man!" the merchant bellowed, his face flushed with fury.
Grim's eyes widened in terror as he mumbled to himself, "No way, my parents will punish me too on top of that!" His legs threatened to give out beneath him, but he pressed onward, knowing the stakes were high.
Just as Grim was about to round a corner, a cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, seizing him with an iron grip. The figure pulled Grim into a concealed alleyway, clamping a hand over his mouth to muffle his startled cries.
The merchant sprinted past the hidden alleyway, oblivious to Grim's whereabouts, his anger gradually replaced by frustration at having lost the young thief.
Petrified, Grim's mind raced, unable to discern the intentions of the enigmatic figure. As the stranger slowly released his hand from Grim's mouth, he uttered, "Don't scream, little boy."
"Are you going to punish me for stealing?" Grim inquired, his voice wavering with innocence.
"Stealing? I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm here to bestow a curse upon you. This has nothing to do with you personally, kid. I chose you at random. I am deeply sorry for what's about to happen to you."
Grim's heart clenched with fear. "Wait! Please don't hurt me! I'll give you anything you want! Take these fruits off me!" he pleaded, uncertain of the man's true intentions.
"I haven't been able to make much progress with my curse and now it wants to move to someone else as I'm no longer an ideal candidate. If I don't do this, I will die. The curse will fully activate in a few days. Good luck and may we never cross paths ever again." The man said ominously.
"Ow! That hurts, what are you doing? Stop! Aaaah!" Grim started screaming for help, but for some reason, no one could hear him. He was sure he was screaming. Then he realized it. His voice wasn't making a sound.
The man grabbed him by the arm and started channeling something into Grim's body. Grim started fading in and out of consciousness and then all Grim saw was black.
The next thing Grim knew, he was back home in his bed without a clue as to how he traveled here. Feeling too exhausted to even think, he decided he would just go back to bed as he had work ahead of him in the early morning.
Under the radiant sun and amid the gentle breeze that rustled through the lush fields, Grim lay sprawled on the ground, surrounded by towering crops. Exhausted and frail, the young boy was no stranger to the taxing labor of farm life.
Despite his weariness, Grim held a deep love for his family – his parents and numerous siblings who toiled alongside him on the farm. On this particular day, his birthday, he found himself reflecting on the eerie encounter with the mysterious man, struggling to discern whether it had been a vivid dream or a chilling reality. "It all felt so real…" Grim murmured, lost in thought.
As the sun's warmth bathed him, Grim felt utterly drained. Abruptly, his older brother appeared beside him, beaming with excitement. "Happy birthday, little brother!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with joy.
"Thanks. At least you remembered!" Grim replied, his spirits momentarily lifted. It was then that something inexplicable occurred. His mind was abruptly transported to a dark, shadowy realm, its sinister landscape materializing before his very eyes. Within this eerie space, he heard whispers echoing inside his head, setting in motion the ominous effects of the curse that had been transferred to him just days prior. Within the shadowy realm, Grim's mind raced as a mysterious message appeared before him:
Necromancy System successfully bonded!
*New Quests Generated*
1) Eliminate a Drex
2) Sacrifice the Farm Horse
3) Kill a Human
Please do note, you have 15 seconds to pick a quest! Failure to pick a quest will result in immediate death."
Bewildered and alarmed, Grim wondered, "What exactly is this?.." Unable to bear the thought of harming himself or another person, he hastily blurted out, "I pick choice 1!"
*Quest Accepted*
Warning: Failure to complete the mission will result in death as well. You have one week to complete the quest.
"Wow, so much death," Grim muttered under his breath as he exited the dark realm.
"Death? You okay, little brother? You just suddenly zoned out. Is the heat getting to you that bad?" his older brother asked with concern.
"I'm fine. I just remembered I need to check in with my big sister really fast!" Grim replied, dashing away as quickly as his legs could carry him.
As he ran, Grim's thoughts raced. "Wow, this is all happening so fast. I think I'll start this quest right away, just in case. It would make my family very sad if I died." Determined to protect his loved ones and himself, Grim resolved to embark on the mysterious quest without delay. The cryptic nature of the Necromancy System and the dire consequences of failure weighed heavily on his mind, but he couldn't afford to falter.
Gripping his pocket knife firmly, Grim ventured into the forest near the farm, determined to confront the dreaded drex.
Though resembling ordinary monkeys, drexes were far more menacing. They posed a significant threat in large numbers, attacking other species—especially humans—with ferocity. These creatures were known to form groups to pillage farms, and their high birth rates made eradicating them a herculean task. Cunning by nature, drexes would seek shelter in hiding places if their numbers dwindled, biding their time until their population rebounded.
Fortunately, this forest teemed with neutral creatures that helped keep the drex population in check, making it relatively safe for even a frail boy like Grim to join the extermination effort. "My parents are going to be so proud of me for taking the initiative for once. Big brother and sister will be proud of me too! I can't wait for the birthday party later tonight," Grim whispered to himself, a giggle escaping his lips.
As he carefully navigated the forest, Grim spotted a lone drex feasting on a deer carcass. Channeling the stealth of a lion stalking its prey, he crept closer and closer. When he was within striking distance, he pounced on the unsuspecting creature, stabbing it repeatedly with his pocket knife.
Grim grimaced as he surveyed the bloody aftermath of his victory over the drex. "Gosh, even though this is actually pretty easy, it's my least favorite job considering how messy it is. Now my clothes are all bloody."
*Quest Complete*
Congratulations! You have received 10 Bloodcrests!
Progress to Level 2: 10/100 Dark Essense
Generating Skill...
You have received (Common) (Lowly Resurrection - Raise the undead of low-level creatures (maximum of 5), (Cost to cast - 5 Mana), (Can be upgraded from Bloodcrests)
"Wow, that's amazing! How come no one ever told me about whatever this thing is?" Immediately, Grim realized the implications. "Oh… that wasn't a dream. That man actually cursed me! But this doesn't feel like a curse at all." He hesitated, then asked, "Hey… lady? Why did that man call you a curse?"
The system responded as if anticipating Grim's question, its voice tinged with an inhuman quality. "Information granted. The individual who hosted me before was weak and often struggled with the quests I assigned. After failing a quest, he discovered that I lacked the power to kill him and subsequently refused my quests, despite my constant torment. For years, I plagued him until I finally gave up and instructed him to find a new host. I am somewhat displeased that he chose the weakest person he could find."
Grim sat there, overwhelmed by the torrent of information, "Wait, so you tricked me then. You said you would kill me if I didn't accept and follow through on the quest."
"I needed to motivate my new hosts somehow, and this was the easiest method. Can you forgive me for tricking you?" the system replied nonchalantly.
Sighing, Grim relented, "Well, just this once, but no more lies, okay? Anyways, how do I activate my new skill?"
*Warning*
Unstable lifeform detected. Initiating automatic stat allocation. Your stats will now be allocated for you regarding strength, dexterity, vitality, VRP (Vitality Regen Points), mana, MRP (Mana Regen Points), and mystical power.
STR: 8
DEX: 32
VIT: 15 ~ Current Health: (30/30)
VRP: 1
Mana: 2 ~ Current Mana: (10/10)
MRP: 0
Mystical Power: 0
Allocation complete. You may activate your skill by channeling your power, otherwise known as your mana, from the core of your body and redistributing that mana through your limbs.
"I feel different after that stat 'location', lady. I'm going to give it a try on the drex I just killed." Grim focused intently on raising the monkey while chanting, "Rise".
Mana flowed from Grim's palm in a captivating blue vortex, spiraling into the drex's body, "Wow, I feel so tired after that," Grim remarked, as he sat down, perspiring heavily.
-5 Mana
Mana: 5/10
MRP: 0
The system elaborated, "Various creatures yield diverse amounts of Dark Essence based on the quality of the soul reaped. By allocating points to mystical power, you can substantially improve the quality of a harvested soul. Mana regeneration occurs hourly, except during critical circumstances, like organ failure, where it will cease entirely. For every 10 points invested in mana, you regenerate 1 point of mana. At present, you regenerate no mana, as your default stats have 2 points invested into mana. Every level will give you 10 points to allocate."
Then it happened. The monkey rose without regard for its injuries and stood before Grim. It was now his undead companion, ready to do his bidding. "This is amazing!"
The system added, "By the way, could you call me Elysia instead of 'lady'?"
Grim pondered for a moment and replied, "Sure, Elysia. Thanks for giving me such an incredible gift."
Grim marveled at his newfound powers and the bond he was forming with Elysia.
The monkey abomination stared at Grim with soulless eyes, awaiting its first command from its new master.
Grim rubbed his growling stomach and said, "Hey, could you grab me some apples from that tree over there? It's been a pretty wild day, and I'm starving."
Obediently, the monkey scampered up the tree and effortlessly gathered every single apple, showing no concern for itself.
As the stab wounds on the monkey gradually regenerated, Grim happily munched on a generous helping of apples.
The other animals of the forest, seemingly unfazed by the undead drex standing among them, joined Grim in feasting on the apples. Together, they enjoyed the unexpected treat, creating a strangely peaceful and harmonious scene in the midst of an extraordinary day.
"I have the energy to head into town now and buy the supplies my parents need for the farm, but I need to clean this blood off of me first," Grim said to himself.
He walked towards a lake he had spotted earlier, removed his clothing, and began bathing in the refreshing water.
"Ah... While this isn't the most luxurious bath, it's definitely a necessary one!" Grim smiled as he gestured for his undead companion to join him.
"Let's get the blood off of you too, buddy!" Grim scrubbed the monkey diligently, while the creature stood still, devoid of emotion.
"I can't believe how easy it was to make an animal friend follow me around! I've been trying forever, and I've finally done it!"
As the sun began to set, Grim realized he needed to hurry. "I should get going before it gets too late. It's already mid-afternoon, it seems."
Grim headed back home, his new undead monkey buddy following close behind. He moved carefully, hoping to bring the creature into his room without anyone noticing and spoiling the surprise he planned to show later.
"I don't think anyone's ever tamed a drex before. They're super angry all the time and wanna attack anything that isn't one of their own," Grim pondered, a hint of pride swelling within him as he tiptoed through the house.
He noticed his parents engaged in an intense argument in the living room. "They never argue like this. It seems pretty serious. Maybe it's best to stay out of it and introduce them to the tamed drex during my birthday celebration tonight. They don't seem to be in the right mood at the moment," Grim decided.
"At least their argument made it much easier to sneak into my room," Grim thought optimistically.
Grim dressed up his little monkey creature in some of his old baby clothes and decided to head into town with his new companion to show off.
Carefully, Grim snuck out of the house once more while his parents were still arguing. His siblings were busy working on the farm. He strolled down to the marketplace, where a decent number of people were still shopping.
At first, no one seemed to notice the creature following Grim, as he had disguised it quite well.
Grim approached a group of kids he often played with, his excitement bubbling over as he announced, "Look at my new friend, guys!"
The kids had been in the middle of playing, throwing a ball around, but they all stopped to stare at the creature standing next to Grim.
"Did you get a new baby brother?" One of the kids innocently asked.
Grim whispered in a hushed tone, "Everyone, keep this a secret, okay? I managed to tame a wild drex!"
"You're just messing with us. It's impossible to tame a drex. Come on, tell us the real surprise, birthday boy!" one of the girls teased him.
"Well..." Grim started speaking until one of the other kids sneaked behind and pulled down the hood of the drex.
The boy who pulled down the hood turned pale with fear, and his voice trembled, "You... you really did tame a drex, otherwise it would have attacked you by now."
A random passerby caught sight of the unhooded drex and stopped dead in her tracks. She noticed the creature standing in the middle of the marketplace and screamed, causing a commotion among the shoppers.
"Do you see that? That kid has some weird creature with him!"
"How did that thing get past the guards?"
"Someone kill it!"
Hushed conversations spread rapidly among the people as they swiftly left the area.
Grim quickly put the hood back on the drex, hoping to quell the rising panic.
As a guard approached the creature in an attempt to calm the situation, a grin broke across his face. The other kids scattered in the presence of the approaching guard.
"What's this thing? Your brother, kid? You two look alike!" The man chuckled, making Grim increasingly uneasy.
"Uh, no, this is my friend!" Grim replied with an awkward smile as he tried to extract himself from the tense situation.
"Your friend? Whatever this is, it's not human." The guard declared as he removed the hood from the creature and saw its true form. His face instantly turned to one of fear.
Elysia urgently prompted, Warning: life in danger, taking immediate action.
"Dear God! What the hell is that!?" The guard leader exclaimed as he attempted to stab the monkey with his sword. However, Grim lunged at the drex, pushing it to the ground, narrowly avoiding the blade. The guard leader shouted, "Everybody run! This kid's got an abnormal drex following him around!" His voice filled with panic. "This is a terrible omen. It's the beginning of the end, as foretold in the Book of the Dead," the guard leader muttered in a somber tone. In an instant, the guard seized up and collapsed to the ground.
The other guards nearby, clueless about the unfolding events, saw one of their own fall and immediately rushed to his aid. Chaos erupted in the marketplace.
"What just happened? Why would a guard react like that?" Grim wondered, his voice filled with confusion and fear.
*New Quest Generated*
Escape the marketplace and return home.
*Warning* Declining this quest inevitably leads to a fatal outcome.
Elysia prompted, "I don't have enough Bloodcrests to intervene any further. By the way, I should clarify that I will not be the one responsible for causing your death."
As the entire population of the marketplace fled, Grim stood there, shocked and heartbroken. Tears welled up in his eyes as he decided it was time to head home.
Grim sprinted as fast as he could, commanding the drex to climb onto his shoulder.
As night began to fall, the stars gradually appeared in the darkening sky.
*Quest Complete*
"Shut up! That was really scary. Why did people react to the drex like that, Elysia?" Grim asked with a quivering voice as he made his way back up the path to the farm.
Elysia replied in a composed tone, "I truly have no clue. If I did, I would certainly inform you."
"Well, at least I can go home and celebrate with my family now. I'm sure they'll react much better to the drex than everyone in the marketplace did," Grim reasoned.
"I would advise against showing the drex to your family and unsummon it immediately. Tomorrow, I'll have you find me a more suitable host. At this rate, we're both in danger," Elysia warned.
Grim stopped dead in his tracks, "No way! You're not going anywhere. Even if you make my life a living hell as you did for the last person. You're the coolest thing that has ever happened to me."
"If I were still a mortal human, I'd be blushing right now. But let me give you a taste of the suffering you'll endure if you don't follow my instructions, naive child," Elysia said with a hint of menace in her voice.
All at once, Grim felt an unimaginable pain surging throughout his body. He stopped walking, doubled over, and vomited on the ground, even wetting himself due to the unbearable torment. "STOP! STOP! I get it! I'll do whatever you want, just please stop!" Grim begged tears and snot streaming down his face.
"Do you understand now? The person before you endured that torment for decades because he was too much of a coward to take any lives. I loathed that man. He did everything he could to hinder me, and yet he still finds ways to torment me from beyond," Elysia complained, her voice taking on a sinister tone.
"Yes! I understand. Let's go home, and I'll wake up early. Please, just don't hurt me anymore," Grim pleaded.
Elysia relented after striking the bargain with the young boy.
"Finally home, time to have some fun tonight, at the very least!"
As Grim approached his house, he noticed an ominous silence hanging in the air. He opened the front door, expecting to be greeted with a surprise, but found no one waiting for him.
Elysia warned, "Extreme danger lies ahead. Turn back now or we both perish."
"No! This is my home. You're not going to trick me. Let me at least have some fun on my birthday, and as soon as that's done, I'll go back to the marketplace. Okay?" Grim asserted confidently.
Elysia responded irritably, "You foolish child. You've doomed us both."
"Huh?" Grim's face contorted in confusion as he lit a candle in the living room.
Out of nowhere, Grim was tackled by a burly man lurking in the shadows. The man beat him, blindfolded him, and handed him a knife. Dazed and disoriented, Grim struggled to move, his mind racing with confusion and fear.
Grim sensed the artificial life of his companion being snuffed out by the man, leaving him feeling utterly powerless to intervene. He heard the man curse under his breath, "How on earth did you tame a drex? The damned creature took forever to die."
An eternity seemed to pass before the man spoke up again, his tone mocking and cold, "Anyway, it took you long enough to come back, kid. I needed you for this. All you have to do is thrust your knife out and twist it. I promise not to hurt you anymore after you do this a few times."
Grim's heart pounded in his chest, unsure of what the man had planned for him. He nodded hesitantly, his hands shaking as he gripped the knife.
With Grim's hand guided by the man, he shouted, "Alright, do it NOW!" Grim hesitated for a moment, but the man's grip tightened, forcing him to comply.
Grim plunged the knife into something soft and fleshy, the sensation sending shivers down his spine. He heard faint murmurs and a pained groan as he twisted the blade. Tears welled up in his eyes, his entire body trembling as he repeated the action for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, the man removed Grim's blindfold, and what Grim saw then filled him with a horror he could have never imagined.
Before him lay the lifeless bodies of his family, a gruesome scene wrought by his own hands.
Grim crumpled to his knees, consumed by a pain far worse than what Elysia had inflicted earlier.
"That'll teach this foolish farmer for not paying his taxes. Now the land is mine, and this child will take the blame for the murders," the man declared impassively.
Grim's anguish metamorphosed into a seething, uncontainable fury as the revelation struck him that this monstrous man had manipulated him into slaughtering his own family for such a trivial, insignificant reason. The veins in his temples throbbed, as he bit down on his lip with such force that the metallic tang of blood filled his mouth. His eyes, once filled with fear and sadness, now blazed with a bloodshot intensity that could set the world aflame. Every muscle in his body tensed, his fists clenching with a ferocity that betrayed his burning desire for retribution.
Level up! The high-quality souls provided a substantial boost, leveling you up twice.
Progress to level 4: 110/400 Dark Essence
Stat points (20) have been allocated where deemed necessary.
*New Quest Generated*
Kill the lord
Just as the man prepared to knock Grim out, Grim tapped into his newfound powers, raising his family from the dead. The reanimated corpses tackled the man, tearing him apart as he screamed for help, taken entirely by surprise.
After the man's defeat, Grim sat amidst the heart-wrenching aftermath, struggling to process the horrors he had just experienced. With a heavy heart, he guided his deceased family members to dig their own graves. One by one, they laid themselves to rest until only Grim's older brother remained—the one he had always looked up to. Consumed by anguish, Grim faced the solemn task of burying his beloved brother by himself.
Standing before the graves, Grim's anguish transformed into fierce resolve. He vowed to dedicate his life to preventing such evil from ever happening again. His ultimate goal would be to control every creature as a minion, ensuring they could no longer harm one another.
On that fateful day, Grim's innocence was shattered, and his life took a dark turn.