Before even inspecting the attributes of the creature he had summoned, Eamon decided to approach David. He knew his abilities only worked on bodies that had recently deceased.
Leaning over David's body and placing his hand near it, he realized he didn't have enough mental energy to summon another entity.
The grave caller he had created had drained all his energy, being a summon of superior quality compared to the simple zombies Malakai had summoned.
Eamon placed his hand on David's body, his heart heavy with regret. "I'm sorry, David," he whispered, "I wish I could have helped you." With a deep breath, he activated his absorption power.
It was as if his very essence possessed a voracious maw, devouring the residual energy from David's lifeless form. With each gulp, he felt a surge of strength coursing through him.
He noticed that the discomfort in his chest lessened, his legs felt stronger, and his mind clearer.
Simultaneously, a pain he had felt in his shoulder faded away.
With a sense of urgency, he summoned his attributes to be displayed.
[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
As he contemplated the lack of numerical change in his attributes, Eamon realized that the evolution he had undergone might require further absorption before it manifested in tangible numbers.
In any case, Eamon felt a profound sense of well-being coursing through his veins.
With a sense of reverence, Eamon bowed his head in silent gratitude to David. Though the old man lay lifeless before him, he had bestowed upon Eamon a gift far greater than he could have ever imagined.
After handling David's body, Eamon turned his attention to the zombified corpses of Fred and Sarah, the grave caller he had created following closely behind.
Attempting to use the absorption power on the two zombies, he found it futile, as if hitting an impenetrable barrier. It seemed that their zombification or time of death rendered his ability unusable on them.
Disappointed, he shifted his focus to the grave caller, formerly Malakai.
"Come closer," he said, extending his hand, and Malakai complied, leaning in and resting his face against Eamon's hand.
Eamon observed the grave-caller's face, feeling the cold, lifeless visage of the creature with his hand. Malakai's eyes—or rather, the fiery embers that now inhabited their sockets—held Eamon transfixed with fascination. Malakai's face, once alive with emotion, now seemed frozen like a mask in a grotesque parody of humanity. Yet, despite the lifelessness of his features, there was an intensity in the way he regarded Eamon—a fervor that bordered on fanaticism.
Despite the gruesome appearance, Eamon felt no revulsion towards him, sensing the bond that united him with his creation.
"Let's see what you are capable of," he murmured.
Following the bond, with a force of will, he summoned forth the attribute panel of his creature.
[Grave Caller (Low Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 7 (Above Average)
- **Stamina**: 8 (Above Average)
- **Agility**: 5 (Average)
- **Intelligence**: 5 (Average)
- **Charisma**: 2 (Weak)
- **Special Power**: Zombie Mastery.
Eamon fixated his attention on the special power, Zombie Mastery, and a message materialized before him.
[Zombie Mastery : This ability enables the Grave Caller to control and animate zombies, with the quantity and quality of the corpses they can command being determined by their intelligence attribute. A higher intelligence score allows for the manipulation of a greater number of zombies and the ability to animate more intact and capable corpses.]
Eamon observed the attributes of the grave caller and was surprised to see that even as a low-level undead, it possessed significantly higher attributes than him.
If the grave caller was considered low level, then the zombies must be of an even lower level, perhaps labeled as weak or by some other term he was unfamiliar with.
What surprised him even more was the presence of the "Zombie Mastery" special power within the grave caller's attributes. Despite Eamon having absorbed Malakai's necromancy power by killing him, the grave caller still retained its own ability.
It seemed to be a degraded version of Malakai's original necromancy power.
"I'm going to test your abilities, Malakai," Eamon declared, his voice firm.
As he spoke, the title on the attribute panel automatically changed to [Malakai – Grave Caller (Low Level Undead)].
Eamon paid it little attention. "Take control of Fred, then Cassandra." he said designating the bodies. "And..." After a slight hesitation he continued "zombify David."
Immediately, Malakai extended his hand towards Fred.
In response, the atmosphere in the cavern grew palpably colder.
Slowly, almost hesitantly at first, Fred's zombified corpse stirred to life, his movements stiff and unnatural as he rose from his prone position.
Malakai turned his attention to Cassandra.
With a silent command, he gestured towards her.
The air crackled with energy as Cassandra's lifeless form responded, her limbs twitching.
Malakai then approached David's body and placed his bony hand on it.
However, David remained motionless, unaffected by the grave caller's control—a consequence, perhaps, of Eamon's previous use of the absorption power on him.
While Malakai used his Zombie Mastery power, Eamon, feeling a slight discomfort on his shoulder, removed his shirt and examined the faint bite marks left by the zombie Cassandra through his clothing during his encounter with Malakai.
The absorption power he had used on David had likely played a role in hastening the healing process.
Eamon cast a complex glance at David's lifeless form.
He tore his gaze away and turned his attention to the zombies of Cassandra and Fred, who had instinctively positioned themselves behind Malakai, their master.
"My first small army," Eamon murmured softly. He then approached Fred and observed his characteristics closely.
[Zombie (Weak Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 4 (Below Average)
- **Stamina**: 7 (Above Average)
- **Agility**: 2 (Weak)
- **Intelligence**: 1 (Very Weak)
- **Charisma**: 1 (Very Weak)
- **Special Power**: None.
Eamon examined the characteristics of the zombie and noted that its Stamina was at 7, likely due to zombies' ability to move over long distances or exert themselves physically without tiring.
While they lacked any special powers, Eamon pondered the absence of a characteristic often associated with zombies in popular culture: the ability to create other zombies through biting.
The absence of this feature made the zombie less effective. However, it also meant that he didn't need to concern himself with the bite he had received from Cassandra or whether necromancers had automatic immunity to the effects of creatures they controlled.
After observing Fred's attributes, Eamon turned his attention to the attributes of the zombie Cassandra, which were quite similar.
[Zombie (Weak Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 3 (Below Average)
- **Stamina**: 7 (Above Average)
- **Agility**: 2 (Weak)
- **Intelligence**: 1 (Very Weak)
- **Charisma**: 1 (Very Weak)
- **Special Power**: None.
To ensure that he could direct them verbally without confusion, Eamon said, "You are Fred," as he pointed to the first zombie. Then, turning his attention to Cassandra, he declared, "And you are Cassandra."
Eamon's command over the zombies extended through his control over Malakai. As he designated their names, a message appeared, altering the titles of the zombies' panels to reflect the names he had bestowed upon them.
[Fred – Zombie (Weak Level Undead)]
[Cassandra – Zombie (Weak Level Undead)]
With his undead companions in tow, Eamon made his way to the center of the main chamber of the cave, where he intended to place his Lord token.
As he approached, the token began to float, emitting a soft, greenish glow that illuminated the cavernous space.
A series of eerie, scraping sounds echoed through the chamber as intricate runes and symbols appeared on the cave floor, forming a complex pattern.
Before Eamon's eyes, a translucent portal of teleportation materialized, its shimmering surface pulsating with otherworldly energy.