As the notifications ceased, smoke coalesced above Malakai's body, solidifying into a token shaped like a skull. It floated before settling onto Eamon's hand, leaving him in astonished awe.
In an instant, without warning, Eamon found himself propelled back into the empty black space he had encountered before arriving in the cave.
His attribute panel materialized before his eyes:
[Eamon's Attributes Panel – Lord (Novice)]
- **Strength**: 3 (Below Average)
- **Stamina**: 2 (Weak)
- **Agility**: 3 (Below Average)
- **Intelligence**: 5 (Average)
- **Charisma**: 3 (Below Average)
- **Special Power**: Necromancy
While the quality of his attributes hadn't changed, Eamon's gaze fixated on his new title, shifting from follower to Lord (Novice).
Eamon observed the token, and with a mere thought, it dematerialized, transforming into energy that flowed into his body, a sensation that surprised him. He wished for it to reappear, and it did so in his hand. He realized that he could make it enter and exit his body at will.
Additionally, he noticed the special power of Necromancy.
"I suspected that Malakai's power was linked to a practice similar to necromancy, allowing him to create these abominations," thought Eamon. Astonishingly, by defeating Malakai, he had absorbed his power and gained the title of Lord.
This time, other tables of information were accessible from the status panel.
"Is this related to my lord status?" With a simple thought, the screen shifted directly to the table:
[Quest]
[Permanent Quest: Each Lord has special powers and a territory linked to a token. Kill the other Lords to obtain their token and corresponding advantages, but beware, other Lords and followers can also kill you to retrieve yours.]
[Temporary Quest (7 days remaining): Establish a territory, for which:
- Obtain an average affinity score of over 70% among the followers and subjects of your territory: done
- Place the generated token at the center of the territory to generate the array: pending
Reward:
- Gate of follower teleportation]
Eamon observed the information thoughtfully. He had obtained his Lord status and special power by defeating Malakai, and now anyone could kill him to obtain his token.
Being a Lord didn't seem simple.
The temporary quest showed that the affinity score of over 70% had been obtained. The affinity score probably corresponded to the degree of trust and sympathy of the follower towards the Lord. So, killing all the followers validates the most difficult part of this temporary quest. He remembered Malakai's behavior when he questioned him about how to establish a territory; instead of trying to convince the followers, Malakai chose to eliminate them.
With a simple thought, Eamon visualized the next table [Lordship]:
[Lordship]
[Rank: Novice]
[Promotion possible by increasing the Lord's domination over his territory.]
[Enslavement: If a follower is located on the Lord's territory, there is a possibility of transforming them into a subject if they have an affinity score higher than 70% and they give their consent freely and knowingly. A subject can be bound to the Lord by oaths of honor, breaking which leads to the death of the subject. Upon a Lord's death, their subjects become the subjects of the new owner of the token.]
The information regarding the process of enslavement quickly appeared in Eamon's mind; all that was needed for Eamon and the subject was to drop a drop of blood on the Lord's token for the process to be effective.
The last table was [Necromancy]:
[Necromancy]
[Rank: Apprentice]
[Promotion possible by increasing the necromancer's intelligence attribute and the power of controlled creatures.]
[Summoning: Create a weak to low-level undead from a recently dead and relatively intact body, have a small chance to retain some of the original creature's abilities.
The undead is obedient to its summoner and devoid of memories from its former life.
The summoner has access to the creature's attribute panel.]
[Absorption: Absorb a tiny portion of a recently dead creature's abilities to transfer them to the necromancer.]
Eamon's excitement surged as he realized the potential of his newfound abilities.
Despite his frail physique, he saw a path to strength through absorption.
The image of commanding an army of undead, instilling fear and securing his dominance, filled his mind with exhilaration.
The more powers he acquired, the better chance he had of surviving to find a way back home.
These abilities could not only help his survival but also pave the way for a better life upon his return home.
The landscape shifted abruptly, and Eamon found himself once again in the cave, facing Malakai's lifeless body.
His heart pounding as he rushed toward David, hoping that the old man could have survived. However, his hope faded quickly as he discovered that David was already deceased.
Eamon's heart weighed heavy with guilt as he glanced at David's lifeless form lying nearby.
But the urgency of his situation demanded swift action. With resolve hardening his features, he turned his focus to Malakai's body, the most potent vessel among them. In the dim light of the chamber, he knelt beside Malakai, his hands trembling with a mixture of fear and determination.
A crucial decision weighed heavily on his mind. Should he absorb Malakai's abilities, or should he summon him as an undead to aid him.
If he chose absorption, he could enhance his mastery of necromancy and improve his physical capabilities thanks to Malakai's athletic physique. On the other hand, summoning a creature would provide him with a powerful ally to face the surrounding dangers.
After a long period of hesitation, Eamon decided on summoning. He knew he could always absorb other abilities later, and the system had already shown other means to enhance his necromantic skills.
Closing his eyes, he delved instinctively into the wellspring of his new abilities, calling upon every ounce of strength within him. The air crackled with energy as he began the intricate process of channeling his power into Malakai's lifeless form. With each passing moment, the connection between them grew stronger, until finally, a surge of dark energy coursed through Eamon, binding Malakai to him in ways he could scarcely comprehend. As the ritual reached its climax, Eamon placed his hand on Malakai's skull, feeling a dark energy emanating from it and whispered, "I summon you."
As Eamon felt all his mental power exhausted, a chill wind swept through the cavern, carrying with it an ominous aura that made Eamon's skin crawl.
Meanwhile, Malakai's corpse began to undergo a transformation unlike anything Eamon had ever witnessed.
The once lifeless flesh began to tighten and contort, as if being pulled by unseen forces. His skin became pallid and dry, resembling parchment left out in the sun for too long. Eamon watched in awe and horror as Malakai's eyes vanished, replaced by twin orbs of smoldering ember, casting an eerie glow in the darkness of the chamber.
In the same time, a message appeared.
Then, with a suddenness that stole Eamon's breath, the undead creature stirred. Its newly formed lips parted, and a voice, hollow and rasping, echoed through the cavern.
"Master," it intoned, its words sending a shiver down Eamon's spine.