Joseph sat on the floor of his apartment, his breaths uneven, his hands trembling from the encounter with the wraith. The dim light of the room made the edges of his surroundings feel unreal, as if he was caught between two worlds—the ordinary and the extraordinary.
He looked at the system interface floating in front of him. The notification still lingered:
Entity Defeated. Essence Acquired: +10 Wraith Essence Units. Total: 10 Wraith Essence Units.
The system's voice echoed in his mind, its tone calm, almost clinical:
Threat Neutralized. Current Status: Safe.
Joseph's grip tightened around the wrench in his hand. He hated this. All of it. The chaos, the danger, the fact that his quiet life had been so violently upended. But at the same time, a part of him—a quiet, buried part—felt a flicker of exhilaration.
He had survived.
Joseph forced himself to his feet, leaning against the wall for support. His body still felt shaky, his mind buzzing with adrenaline. He needed to understand what had just happened.
"System," he said aloud, his voice hoarse, "what was that thing?"
The interface shifted, bringing up a detailed report:
Entity: Lesser Wraith
Alignment: Hostile
Threat Level: Low
Essence Value: 10 Units
Description: A fragmented soul corrupted by residual energy. Often found in areas with high spiritual activity. Weak to physical attacks aimed at critical points.
Joseph frowned. A corrupted soul? He had never believed in ghosts or spirits before, but the reality of the creature he had just fought left no room for skepticism.
"What triggered it to show up here?" he asked.
The system responded immediately:
The presence of the Architect's system disrupts the local balance of supernatural energies. Hostile entities may be attracted to your location as a result.
Joseph's stomach sank. "So, this is going to be a regular thing?"
Probability of further encounters: High. Defensive preparations are recommended.
Joseph swore under his breath. He had always been a loner, someone who kept to himself and avoided unnecessary entanglements. But now, trouble was coming to him whether he wanted it or not.
The interface displayed a new set of options under his Territory tab:
1. Fortify Territory (10 Wraith Essence)
2. Install Basic Defensive Mechanisms (15 Mixed Essence)
Joseph glanced at his current Essence total: 10 Wraith Essence. He didn't have mixed essence for the second option, but he could fortify his territory.
He selected the first option:
Fortify Territory – Confirm?
The moment he approved the upgrade, a faint glow enveloped the walls of his apartment. The system's voice provided an update:
Territory Fortification Complete. Physical and spiritual barriers have been reinforced. Hostile entities below Tier 2 are now 40% less likely to enter the territory.
Joseph exhaled slowly, feeling a small measure of relief. At least he wouldn't have to deal with another wraith barging in immediately.
He scrolled through the remaining tabs. The Summons tab now glowed faintly, signaling an available option.
Curious, Joseph opened the Summons menu:
Summons Available
Wraith Servant (10 Wraith Essence)
Beneath the option was a detailed description:
Summoned Entity: Lesser Wraith
Role: Servant
Loyalty: 100%
Abilities: Shadow Cloak, Spiritual Drain
Warning: Summoning Failure Rate – 15%.
Joseph hesitated. Losing all his essence if the summon failed would leave him vulnerable, but he realized he had little choice. He couldn't defend himself alone against every supernatural entity that might come his way.
"Summon the Wraith Servant," he said firmly.
The air around him chilled as a swirling vortex of dark energy formed in the center of the room. Shadows danced along the walls, coalescing into a shape—a tall, hooded figure draped in black mist. The figure's skeletal hands glowed faintly with ethereal light.
The system chimed:
Summoning Successful. Lesser Wraith Servant Bound to Host.
The wraith turned its hollow gaze toward Joseph, bowing its head low. "Master," it whispered, its voice an eerie rasp, "I await your command."
Joseph stared at the creature, uneasy but fascinated. Despite its menacing appearance, he felt no hostility emanating from it. The system had ensured its loyalty.
"What's your name?" Joseph asked, testing the waters.
"I have no name, Master," the wraith replied. "I exist only to serve you."
Joseph frowned. "Alright. I'll call you Shade."
The wraith nodded once, the mist surrounding its form curling slightly as if in acknowledgment.
Joseph decided to test Shade's capabilities. "Shade, can you leave the apartment?"
Shade's hollow eyes glimmered faintly. "I can traverse any domain you command, Master. Your will is absolute."
Joseph's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't like the idea of absolute power over another being—it felt wrong—but the system made it clear that summoned servants were tools, not independent entities.
"What if I ordered you to betray me?" Joseph asked cautiously.
Shade froze, its misty form flickering slightly. "Such a command would contradict my purpose. Betrayal is impossible for one bound to you."
The system chimed in:
Note: All summoned entities possess 100% loyalty to the Architect. Betrayal is not possible.
Joseph relaxed slightly. At least he wouldn't have to worry about his own creations turning on him.
With Shade by his side, Joseph felt a small surge of confidence. The system had given him tools—dangerous, powerful tools—and now it was up to him to use them wisely.
"Shade, what can you do?" Joseph asked.
The wraith's voice echoed softly. "I possess the ability to conceal myself within shadows, draining the vitality of enemies through contact. I can also sense supernatural presences within a limited radius."
Joseph nodded. "Good. Then your first task is to scout the area. Let me know if there are any more wraiths—or anything else I should be worried about."
"As you command," Shade rasped, disappearing into the shadows without a sound.
Once Shade was gone, Joseph sank into his chair, staring at the glowing interface. He felt like a man standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into an abyss that stretched endlessly before him.
He didn't want this. The danger, the responsibility, the constant uncertainty—it wasn't the life he had chosen. But now that the system had entered his life, he couldn't escape it.
For better or worse, he was the Architect. And if he was going to survive this new reality, he needed to embrace it.
Joseph's eyes hardened as he opened the system menu, preparing for the next steps. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he was determined to face it alone.
Because that was who he was—a loner. And if the world wanted to throw him into chaos, he'd adapt.
One step at a time.