The pain that had once threatened to tear Eamon's mind asunder had receded, leaving behind a lingering echo in the depths of his skull. Consciousness returned to him in gentle waves, and with it, the awareness of the cold, hard ground beneath him. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth.
As his senses sharpened, Eamon became aware of a weight against his torso—a rhythmic pressure that rose and fell with each breath he took. He opened his eyes and saw it was the Rat Ghoul, its head resting against him.
He noticed his undead minions were around him, their forms arrayed around him like silent sentinels. In the corner of the cave, the corpses of three giant rats lay in a macabre stack. Malakai, standing close, turned to Eamon as he regained consciousness.
"Master," he explained, "as soon as you fell, we acted swiftly. We transported you here, to the safety of the cave, along with the bodies of the rats," Malakai continued, gesturing towards the corner where the corpses were piled.
As he lay there, gathering his strength, the system's spectral script flickered into view, overlaying his vision with its ghostly luminescence. He focused his thoughts on the Necromancy table.
[Necromancy]
[Rank: Novice]
[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.]
[Transmission: The power, born from the essence of absorption, grants the caster the ability to siphon the attributes from a corpse and infuse it into another.]
The table displayed his ascension from Apprentice to Novice. Alongside this new title, a fresh ability was listed: **Transmission**. The power would be useful to strengthen his summons.
With newfound eagerness, Eamon reached out to one of the fallen rats. He focused his will, and the power of Transmission coursed through him. A visible stream of ethereal energy flowed from the rat's body, weaving its way to Malakai. As the power settled into Malakai's undead form, subtle changes began to manifest. His already imposing figure broadened further, the contours of his body becoming more defined, more menacing. The texture of his skin hardened, taking on a slightly darker hue. The wounds in his body faded into nothingness. The transformation was not drastic, but it was noticeable. His form began to take on a slight translucence, as if absorbing the shadows around him, giving his skin a sheen reminiscent of obsidian.
Before observing the new attributes of Malakai, Eamon decided to study the potential of his newest servant, the Rat Ghoul. He reached out with his senses:
[Rat Ghoul (Medium-Low Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 13
- **Stamina**: 20
- **Agility**: 10
- **Intelligence**: 6 (Above Average)
- **Charisma**: 3 (Low)
- **Special Power**: Necrotic Bite and Scratch, Vital Drainage.
The specifics about the special power materialized before him.
[Necrotic Bite and Scratch: The bite or scratch of a ghoul rat carries a necrotic curse. If the bitten or scratched creature is weaker than the ghoul rat, there's a chance that it becomes a lesser ghoul under the domination of the ghoul rat. The likelihood of transformation depends on the victim's resilience and life force, as well as the power of the ghoul rat. Once transformed, the creature loses its free will and obeys the commands of the ghoul rat. There's no limit to the number of lesser ghouls a ghoul rat can control, but their number could affect the ghoul rat's ability to maintain effective control over each of them.]
[Vital Drainage: The ghoul rat's bite allows it to absorb the victim's life force. The ability allows it to regenerate even after severe injuries.]
Eamon's surprise was palpable as he reviewed the Rat Ghoul's attributes. Not only did it possess a rank superior to Malakai's, but its capabilities also far exceeded what was possible for a human. The ghoul state had granted it a Stamina of 20, an astonishing feat that underscored the creature's resilience and endurance. Not only did this creature possess attributes that defied his expectations, but it also harbored two special powers.
The first power, the ability to create lesser ghouls, was impressive in its own right, promising the potential for an ever-expanding army. The second power also captured Eamon's attention—a regeneration that could swiftly heal the Rat Ghoul from injuries that would be fatal to others, making it an invaluable asset on the battlefield.
As Eamon delved deeper into the bond he shared with the Rat Ghoul, a startling revelation came to light. The creature he had assumed to be a king among rats was, in fact, a queen. Moreover, Eamon was taken aback by another unexpected trait—the Rat Ghoul's intelligence. It was not merely animalistic cunning; the creature displayed cognitive abilities that surpassed the average human. With these extraordinary abilities, the Rat Ghoul was set to become the cornerstone of Eamon's forces.
As the Rat Ghoul affectionately rubbed its forehead against Eamon's chest, he responded with a gentle pat on its massive head. "I shall call you Roxy," he declared, bestowing the name upon the creature. The Rat Ghoul, now named Roxy, seemed to understand its new identity, accepting the name with a quiet nuzzle against its master.
Eamon, deep in thought, realized the potential that lay within his grasp. With Roxy's power to create lesser ghouls and Malakai's zombification abilities, he could always expand his army in the future. For now, he decided to focus on strengthening what he already controlled. The rat bodies in the cave would not be summoned.
Eamon pondered his options. Should he absorb the essence of the remaining rats himself to augment his own power, or should he bestow their attributes upon his troops? Before deciding, he observed the new status of Malakai.
[Malakai - Grave Caller (Low Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 8 (Above Average)
- **Stamina**: 9
- **Agility**: 6 (Above Average)
- **Intelligence**: 5 (Average)
- **Charisma**: 3 (Low)
- **Special Power**: Zombie Mastery.
With the essence of a single rat's body, Malakai's strength had increased by one point, as had his stamina and agility. The changes wouldn't be as drastic if they were used on Eamon himself. He pondered deeply, considering whether to give all the other bodies to Malakai but ultimately decided against it. The human zombies under Malakai's command were too weak and lacked intelligence, yet their prehensile abilities could make them interesting combatants and useful in territorial management if improved.
Using the bodies of the two remaining rats, Eamon channeled his mental energy to Cassandra and Fred simultaneously. The essence of the dead rats began to seep into their beings. Their veins glowed with a greenish light. The decomposing tissues of Cassandra and Fred regenerated, the rot disappearing to reveal taut, grayish skin. Their mouths widened. Their arms and legs lengthened, gaining agility and strength, while their silhouettes slimmed down. Once the transformation was complete, Eamon observed their status panel.
[Fred - Zombie (Weak Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 7 (Above Average)
- **Stamina**: 8 (Above Average)
- **Agility**: 3 (Low)
- **Intelligence**: 2 (Weak)
- **Charisma**: 2 (Weak)
- **Special Power**: None.
[Cassandra - Zombie (Weak Level Undead)]
- **Strength**: 6 (Above Average)
- **Stamina**: 8 (Above Average)
- **Agility**: 3 (Low)
- **Intelligence**: 2 (Weak)
- **Charisma**: 2 (Weak)
- **Special Power**: None.
Eamon observed the transformation with a sense of satisfaction. The physical aptitudes of Cassandra and Fred had been impressively enhanced, and behind the white veil of their eyes, a spark of intelligence seemed to emerge. It was more than the original, simple, and mechanical adherence to instructions.
Malakai approached Eamon. "Master, what is our next move?" he inquired.
Eamon turned to face him. "It is time," he began, "to venture into the unexplored corridors of the cave."