Eamon suspended his hand over the lifeless body of the rat, ready to activate his absorption power.
As he initiated the absorption, the rat's body began to wither and decay, while Eamon's frail form seemed to gain strength.
Unlike his previous absorption of the old man David, this time he felt a surge of energy coursing through his body, stronger and more exhilarating than before.
His chest expanded slightly, his arms and legs thickening with newfound muscle. The sensation was a blend of agony and ecstasy, sending waves of pleasure and pain rippling through him.
When the process finally ceased, Eamon found himself craving more. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned to the second rat corpse, his hand trembling as he activated the absorption power once more.
As the energy surged through him again, Eamon felt his body undergoing a profound transformation. His bones elongated and strengthened, his muscles expanding and hardening, his pallid complexion gaining a healthy hue. He convulsed slightly, expelling a foul-smelling mucus from his mouth as the absorption reached its zenith.
When it finally subsided, the two rat corpses lay desiccated before him, drained of their life force. Eamon stood taller, his stature enhanced by several centimeters. Where he once stood at just under 165 centimeters (approximately 5 feet 5 inches), he now loomed at 175 centimeters (approximately 5 feet 9 inches), his clothes stretched taut over his newfound muscularity.
His once feeble physique now exuded strength and power.
Eamon's T-shirt had become uncomfortably tight, constricting his movements and hindering his comfort. Unable to remove it, he tore the fabric apart, revealing a well-defined musculature, where before there were only his ribs showing.
Eamon's hand instinctively reached up to touch his face. To his surprise, his fingers encountered firm, toned muscles where once there had been only flaccid skin. His touch lingered as he explored the contours of his revitalized visage, tracing the angular jawline and defined cheekbones that now adorned his features.
Eamon focused his thoughts, summoning his attribute panel.
[Eamon's – Lord (Novice)]
- Strength: 5 (Average)
- Stamina: 4 (Below Average)
- Agility: 5 (Average)
- Intelligence: 5 (Average)
- Charisma: 4 (Below Average)
- Special Power: Necromancy
Eamon observed the changes in his attribute panel. He noticed an increase of two points in his Strength attribute, likely connected to the newfound robustness of his physique.
The Stamina category also showed a boost of two points, relieving him of the pain in his chest and asthmatic discomfort in his breathing.
The Agility attribute displayed an increase of two points, sharpening his reflexes and movements.
The increase of 1 point in Charisma was likely connected to the improvement of his appearance.
The strain of using absorption twice in quick succession, coupled with his physical metamorphosis and the day's trials, left Eamon utterly exhausted.
He turned to the zombie rat.
"Rest," he commanded, gesturing towards the ground with a wave of his hand. The zombie rat looked at the floor and, understanding Eamon's will, obediently lowered itself onto the ground.
Ignoring the pungent odor emanating from the creature, he settled himself down on the ground beside it, his tired body craving rest.
Eamon stretched out comfortably, seeing Malakai, Fred, and Cassandra positioning themselves around him, their lifeless yet eerie bodies standing guard over their slumbering master.
As he closed his eyes, Eamon felt a sense of peace wash over him.
———————————————————
Eamon awoke, filled with energy, more invigorated than ever.
Reflecting on his situation, he couldn't help but marvel at the strange journey that had brought him here. Though far from Earth, the memory of Follower's teleportation portal lingered in his mind. He was determined to find a way back home, but he would take advantage of the opportunity his power gave him. No longer content with mediocrity, he felt a burning desire for strength. The events of the previous day had ignited a spark of ambition within him, pushing him to strive for greater heights.
Realizing that he had only just begun to scratch the surface of this new world, Eamon resolved to continue his preparations.
With the invisible protection barrier scheduled to disappear in six days, he knew he couldn't afford to waste any time.
Who knew what dangers lurked outside the cave?
Turning his gaze to his surroundings, he noticed the undead figures of Malakai, Fred, and Cassandra, standing watch over him with their stoic, lifeless expressions. Their presence, though eerie, provided him with a strange sense of reassurance.
As he rose to his feet, Eamon silently thanked them with a nod of acknowledgment before turning his attention to the tasks that lay ahead.
Eamon's top priority was clear: to strengthen himself and his undead cohort. However, he found himself at a loss on how to enhance Malakai's abilities, particularly his intelligence attribute. He turned to Malakai for answers.
"Malakai," he began, "I need you to grow stronger. Any insights on how we can enhance your abilities or those of the zombies?"
Malakai's expression remained stoic as he replied, "I'm afraid I don't possess such knowledge, master."
Eamon sighed inwardly. "What about consuming rats? Could that aid in your improvement?" he inquired.
Malakai shook his head solemnly. "I lack the absorption power that you command, master."
Disappointment flickered briefly in Eamon's eyes, but he swiftly pushed it aside. "Very well. Focus on your instincts for now. Let me know if any ideas come to mind in the future," he instructed.
Malakai bowed his head respectfully in acknowledgment.
Eamon reflected, noting that while he lacked a clear path to improve Malakai and the rest of the troop, he could focus on his own improvement by absorbing more creatures.
Turning back his attention to Malakai and the rest of the undead cohort behind him, Eamon's voice echoed. "Prepare yourselves for another expedition outside the cave. I need more corpses."