The sun had barely risen over the quiet village of Elderglen, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Valen and Deli stood in the secluded clearing at the edge of the forest, away from the prying eyes of the villagers. This was their training ground, a place where they could test their limits without judgment. Today was no different, but there was a tension in the air, a sense that something big was about to happen.
"Alright, Valen," Deli said, adjusting his robes and cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what you've got. Remember, focus on your strikes."
Valen nodded, clenching his fists as he faced the makeshift punching bag they had set up. It was nothing more than a bundle of hay wrapped in cloth, but it served its purpose. He took a deep breath, letting his focus narrow to a single point. With a shout, he threw a punch, his fist connecting solidly with the target. The bag shook, but it wasn't enough. He needed more power, more precision.
"Again!" Deli called out, his voice encouraging but firm. "Put your weight into it. Imagine you're striking an enemy, not just a bag of straw."
Valen gritted his teeth and threw another punch, harder this time. The impact reverberated through his arm, sending a satisfying jolt through his muscles. He could feel the energy building inside him, something raw and untamed. It was a strange sensation, like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
"Not bad, but you're holding back," Deli said, stepping closer. "You've got to stop thinking like a farmer's son and start thinking like a warrior. Imagine you're in the middle of a battle, surrounded by enemies. Let that drive you."
Valen closed his eyes, trying to picture it. He imagined himself in a vast arena, with shadowy figures closing in from all sides. He felt a surge of adrenaline, his heart pounding in his chest. With a roar, he struck the bag again, this time with enough force to send it swinging back on its rope.
Deli grinned, clapping his hands. "That's it! Now you're getting it."
But just as Valen was about to throw another punch, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his head. He staggered back, clutching his temple. Everything around him seemed to blur and distort, like he was looking through a fogged glass. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the pain vanished, replaced by a strange, cold voice echoing in his mind.
Welcome, Valen. You have unlocked the Necromancer class. Do you wish to continue?
Valen froze, his eyes wide. What was this voice? Where was it coming from?
"Valen?" Deli's voice broke through the haze. He was looking at him with concern, his brows furrowed. "You alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Valen shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "I… I don't know. I just heard something. It was like a voice in my head."
Deli raised an eyebrow. "A voice? You're not going mad on me, are you?"
Before Valen could answer, the voice returned, more insistent this time.
Do you wish to continue the Necromancer class? Yes or No.
Valen didn't know what this "system" was, but something told him this was important. He took a deep breath and mentally clicked Yes.
A rush of cold energy surged through his body, like a river of ice flooding his veins. He gasped, stumbling back as the world seemed to shift around him. Strange symbols and runes flashed before his eyes, too fast to comprehend, and then… it was over.
A new screen appeared in his mind's eye.
Description: When you defeat an enemy, you may command their corpse to rise and fight for you. The stronger the enemy, the more powerful the summoned minion.
Valen blinked, trying to process what he was seeing. This was more than just a class. It was a whole system, like something out of the legends told by wandering adventurers.
Deli watched him with a mix of fascination and concern. "What's going on, Valen? You're standing there like a statue."
"I… I think I just unlocked something," Valen muttered. "It's like a system that's giving me powers. I have a new skill—'Rise of the Dead'. I can reanimate creatures I kill to fight for me."
Deli's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean… like a real Necromancer? That's insane!"
Valen nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his head around it. But before he could say anything else, a sudden jolt ran through his body. His vision darkened, and he felt a presence—a dark, suffocating force—trying to take hold of him.
Deli noticed the change immediately. His friend's eyes had turned pitch black, his body radiating a dark aura. "Valen! Snap out of it!" he shouted, but there was no response.
Without thinking, Deli slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the clearing, and the darkness that had consumed Valen's eyes vanished instantly.
"What the heck was that for?!" Valen shouted, rubbing his cheek.
Deli let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I saw something… dark. Like you were being taken over. I thought you were losing control."
Valen shuddered, the memory of that dark presence lingering. "I don't know what that was, but I think… I think this power is more dangerous than I realized."
Deli nodded slowly. "We need to be careful. Whatever this system is, it's not just giving you power—it's changing you. We need to figure out how to control it before it controls you."
Valen agreed, but there was a part of him that was exhilarated by the new power coursing through his veins. If he could control this, he would be unstoppable.
Later that day, they set out into the deeper parts of the forest, far beyond where they usually trained. The plan was simple: find monsters, defeat them, and test Valen's new ability.
"Why are we doing this again?" Deli asked, his voice laced with doubt.
Valen's eyes were set with determination. "The more monsters I defeat, the more I can summon. I need to practice this new skill if I'm going to use it in battle. And the stronger the monsters, the better my army will be."
Deli sighed but didn't argue. "Alright, but let's not get ourselves killed, alright? I'm a healer, not a miracle worker."
They ventured deeper into the forest, the light growing dimmer as the trees thickened around them. The sounds of birds and insects filled the air, but there was an underlying silence that put them on edge. It didn't take long before they encountered their first challenge—a pair of forest wolves, their eyes glowing an unnatural red.
Valen stepped forward, ready to test his new skill. "Stay back, Deli. Let me handle this."
The wolves lunged at him, their fangs bared, but Valen was ready. With a swift strike, he plunged his dagger into the first wolf's neck, watching as it crumpled to the ground. The second wolf hesitated, snarling, but Valen quickly dispatched it with a well-placed blow.
As the bodies of the wolves lay still, the system activated once more.
Would you like to summon the fallen creatures? Yes or No.
Valen didn't hesitate. He chose Yes, and a cold wind swept through the clearing. The bodies of the wolves twitched, their eyes glowing with the same eerie light as before. Slowly, they rose to their feet, now under Valen's control.
Deli stared in awe. "That's… incredible. You really did it."
Valen couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, and this is just the beginning. Imagine what we can do if we find stronger creatures."
Deli nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Alright, then. Let's find out just how far we can take this."
And so, with newfound power and a friend by his side, Valen's journey truly began. Together, they would explore the depths of the forest, hunting monsters and uncovering the secrets of Valen's mysterious system. Little did they know, this was only the start of a much larger adventure, one that would change their lives forever.