The notifications we had just received, while impressive in their own right, were not enough to counter the wave of exhaustion that swept over my men and me. Nearly all of us collapsed to the ground, gasping, utterly drained, and on the verge of passing out.
The creature was dead. The relief was so immense that some couldn't help but cry tears of joy. That thing had pushed us to our limits. I don't know how many it killed or injured, but being on the brink of being torn apart like its other victims had made even the bravest among us sweat out every ounce of courage.
Looking around, I noticed for the first time the bodies strewn about. Not that I hadn't seen them before, but now they stood out, becoming impossible to ignore.
So many people had died, whether at the hands of the wolves or that monster. Only a few of us remained, and most of them were slaves. This deeply troubled me. Despite the ups and downs, I had always managed to maintain a certain advantage over the others. But now… how many of us were left? Barely twenty.
I turned my attention to the notifications about the creature's death. Although they seemed significant, I didn't have the strength or will to analyze them, except for one that clearly stood out and required my interaction:
[Due to the competitor "Lyricus" being unable to fully claim the reward under normal conditions, the following compensation options are offered]
>1 temporary luck point (random duration between one month minimum and one year maximum).
>Items matching the level of the slain creature (random quantity, up to three).
I mustered all the focus I could to decide what to do with these options, but upon realizing there was no time limit for responding, I gave up and left it for the next day.
With the little strength I had left, I issued a command. Those men and women still able to move would help us transport the monster's and wolves' corpses to the mud house. After that, everyone could rest. A well-deserved rest.
Everything felt like a hazy dream. I was as exhausted as the others. My plan was to sell the bodies before they decomposed further and lost value. Skinning them wasn't even a consideration anymore—I'd sell the animals whole.
Finally, I gave in. I went to sleep, unable to endure anything more after what we had been through. There wouldn't even be a night watch; no one was in any condition to do more than rest.
The next day, I woke up quite late. I stepped out of the tent, which now felt much roomier after our numbers had been drastically reduced.
As I emerged, some of those already awake quickly approached me. They informed me that two slaves had escaped during the night. It was understandable—there had been no one to keep watch. Luckily, they hadn't taken advantage of their greater numbers to attack us while we slept. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized how close we'd come to an even worse tragedy.
Things had to change. We were no longer as strong as we had been. I no longer had the same confidence that we would make it through this place. If more creatures like that one appeared, I didn't know what would become of us. I wasn't sure if it had been something ordinary or an unlikely event born of catastrophic luck. But I was certain I never wanted to encounter anything like it again.
We had only survived because the creature was blind...
I called a meeting with everyone in the group, slaves included. When everyone was gathered, I took a moment to breathe deeply. Then, I lifted my gaze toward them and began to speak.
"Yesterday was a very difficult day for all of us. We lost so many people…" I said in a calm tone, though my voice faltered at times. "But we all fought to survive. I never believed this place could be so dangerous, with creatures like that one."
I looked at the people around me. Most were locals, [Transylvanian villagers], people already familiar with the calamities of this land. Only a few outsiders from the Generic Civilization remained. Their expressions showed resignation, as though what had happened was an inevitable disaster, as unchangeable as the rain or wind.
"My plan was to found an empire, starting with these small houses we were building. But now it will be much harder to continue with our numbers so diminished. That's why I've made a decision…"
I paused, looking at the crowd.
"To all of you, people I captured and tried to subjugate… I acknowledge that my decision was far from kind, and I understand that many of you may hate me for it. But hear my words: this empire will not fall. It will rise with our own hands. Let's build a safe place, where we can face any disaster like yesterday's, where we don't have to fear that a hellish creature like the one we defeated, sacrificing our sweat, our blood, and the lives of those who deserved to see us grow as a community… To all of you, slaves: you are slaves no longer. I ask you to promise me your loyalty. Join our camp as free and dignified people. Help us build this nascent empire."
I could see how the expressions of the people began to change, especially those of the slaves, who still bore wooden shackles on their hands and ankles. I gave them time to consider my proposal, answering questions about the idea. I didn't want anyone with enough hatred to betray me by my side. Most of them hadn't yet acquired the [Slave] class, meaning they weren't directly under the influence of my [Slave Master] ability. This increased the risk of being stabbed in the back, something we couldn't afford in our current situation.
"I will give you time to consider the option I offer. Together, we can seek a better future. If you don't wish to join us, you will be free to leave."
With those words, I withdrew, leaving them time to reflect.
Although they still wore shackles, which reduced the chances of trouble, I couldn't fully relax. However, I tried to focus on the other pressing matters at hand.
...
The day before, I had received several notifications that, in my state of exhaustion, I couldn't fully analyze. One of them mentioned something about a "Record Book," which seemed important, and another referred to the achievement for defeating the supernatural creature. I suppose this world has a system that recognizes such feats. Supernatural beings… I guess it was to be expected. After all, there are priests here who seem to perform magic and abilities that defy the logic I knew in my previous world.
As for the options presented to me, I had to make a decision.
I wasn't entirely sure how "luck" worked. I knew it was necessary for Heroic Ascension, but I wasn't in a position to reach that level yet—the previous message made that clear. On the other hand, the items were tempting. They could be anything: weapons, books, tools... What made them appealing was that they would match the level of the creature defeated.
That creature wasn't ordinary; it was probably some kind of mythological or legendary beast. Obtaining legendary items at this point would be an unparalleled feat. According to what I had read, acquiring even heroic items in this early stage was almost impossible, except for those destined for greatness or with extraordinary luck.
I had already made up my mind. I selected the option for legendary items instead of luck, which was temporary and whose utility I wasn't sure of. Ironically, I could only hope to be lucky enough to receive all three potential high-level items.
After making my selection, two items emerged from thin air, emitting a metallic reddish-brown glow for a moment before fading and falling to the ground. They were two things: a spear and what appeared to be several sheets of paper. I sighed, relieved to have received at least two items, though I couldn't help but feel anxious about missing the chance to get all three.
I picked up the spear with both hands, and an explanatory window appeared before me. It was a description since, as a reward, I could see the attributes of the items without needing appraisal or identification skills.
[Iron Spear (Copper-Peak)]
All item attributes +20% (resistance, durability, sharpness, piercing, resistance to rust/corrosion…)
I was stunned by what I held in my hands. Copper?! How could this be copper? Was the creature copper level? The second-lowest level?! A wave of fear washed over me as I realized the implications. A creature of that level, barely reaching copper rank, could easily tear human limbs apart without effort. What would happen if I faced a silver-level creature? Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine. I had hoped for something legendary, but that thing... it was the equivalent of one of my men.
I tried to calm myself, breathing slowly as I held the spear to my chest, hoping this weapon would provide some sense of security. At least now I had a decent weapon, copper level, which, while not rare, was the best we had. A "Copper-Peak" item implies it's the highest attainable quality in that rank before ascending to silver level. Its origin could mean that the blacksmith who forged it was at least copper level, and this was their masterpiece. Or maybe the materials were exceptional, or perhaps the spear had a unique history that strengthened it. I didn't know—I didn't have the means to investigate—but for now, at least I had a reliable weapon.
My gaze then shifted to the sheets of paper lying on the ground. If I didn't pick them up quickly, the wind would scatter them everywhere. Carefully holding the stack of papers, another window appeared before me. However, this one seemed far more impactful than the one about the spear. These weren't just ordinary pages, nor a book of high monetary value—they were something more...
[Fragment from the "Book of Monster" (Copper)]
[Tome I Fragment: Necrario]
Anyone who reads this gains +1% damage against necrarios.
I was intrigued. Without hesitation, I took the pages and headed to the mud house, where the corpses still lay. I sat on a crate that served as a chair and began to read. There was a lot in those pages, but the drawings on some of them made me recognize the creature whose corpse now rested beside me. It wasn't identical to the drawing, but it came close.
"... Previously referred to simply as necrophages, the classification was changed due to the vast number of beings with necrophagic feeding traits, and they are now known as necrarios..."
"... The exact origin of this creature is unknown, as with many others. It's unclear whether it originally arose as a natural evolution, under witchcraft, or as divine punishment, but the process leading to the creation of these abominations is known..."
"... Most recorded necrarios have a human past and have been transformed into monsters. They are usually grave robbers who end up trapped in their tombs or unfortunate individuals who, in their desperation, seek refuge in such places. A necrario is a human who, at some point—and possibly for an extended period—has consumed corpses in areas charged with high levels of negative energy. Their body and mind change until they become monsters craving death and flesh. It's unknown whether other non-human beings can undergo this transformation..."
"... Most necrarios are found in catacombs, crypts, cemeteries, or abandoned battlefields. They are aggressive toward any living being within reach, primarily humans or large animals. In cases of prolonged solitude due to the lack of victims and food, it has been documented that they attack trees, although it's unknown whether they can actually feed on them..."
"... Variations among necrarios exist, which may depend on environmental factors, the identity of the person they were before transformation, or various additional factors. However, certain common characteristics can be identified in most cases: a necrophagic diet, a preference for victims that haven't been recently killed, night vision, impaired vision or complete blindness in sunlight, insensitivity to pain, and lack of reproductive capabilities... Poison, while uncommon, can be present... They move in a bipedal posture..."
"... They are extremely strong and violent, with most lacking intelligence... A necrario's intelligence depends on what they had pre-transformation, though over time, even that minimal intelligence tends to fade. The lifespan of a necrario is unknown, but records of some indicate they could be several centuries old. However, in those cases, their appearance and some characteristics differ from common necrarios, leading them to be categorized as another type of creature..."
"... Their skin and flesh are incredibly resilient, so it's advised not to fight a necrario directly without the necessary physical capabilities or suitable weapons... While most are blind to sunlight, they don't exhibit the same weakness as other malevolent creatures. Even with prolonged exposure, they are only slightly affected; their skin dries out, but significant time under the sun is required to weaken them..."
"... Cutting and blunt weapons, preferably made of silver, are recommended, as well as other sacred objects if one doesn't have the support of a priest or monster hunter..."
The more I read, the more impressed I became. There was an abundance of data, from scientific knowledge to accounts of people who had seen and confronted these creatures. What we encountered didn't seem as rare as I thought; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many warnings or information about them. I sighed in relief for having managed to encounter and eliminate the creature before night fell. Had it regained its sight, it would have been extremely dangerous for us, and our fate would have been fatal. I continued reading until I came across a surprising fragment.
[Process to Become a Necrario]
>The subject must be isolated in an underground location where sunlight cannot reach, preferably in a place with traces of death and negative energy, though not excessively, to avoid abrupt mental effects. It's also useful to place corpses and skeletons, both fresh and ancient, in the isolation site during this period.
>The subject must consume only raw human flesh, approximately 1 kilogram, from a person who has been dead for at least an hour or more.
>The only liquid allowed is water tainted with blood, either human or animal.
>The process must continue until the subject begins to experience hallucinations, nightmares, loss of balance, temporary deterioration of senses and memory. When the first symptoms of transformation appear—loss and replacement of teeth, flesh deformation, loss of touch, skin discoloration, hair loss, etc.—the subject must remain in the process until they develop a taste for dead flesh and an evident discomfort around sacred objects. If the subject abandons the process before reaching this point, there is a chance they may complete the transformation, but there is also a high risk of death due to decomposition of the transformed areas of their body.
>The individual must have a minimum intelligence level (30 points) before starting the transformation so that, once changed, they retain at least minimal intelligence (6 points). Otherwise, they will become an irrational creature, though still displaying violent tendencies. Over time, the individual will completely lose their human identity and transform into a murderous monster.