Joseph sat alone in his dimly lit apartment, the soft glow of the system interface reflecting off the cracked screen of his laptop. Shade, the wraith servant he had summoned, was still out on reconnaissance. The silence was thick, and for a moment, he almost longed for the noise of normal life—cars honking outside, neighbors chatting in the hallway, the hum of mundanity. But those days felt distant now.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. His apartment felt colder, emptier. The glowing system interface, with its promises of power and survival, was the only constant in this new, chaotic reality.
Joseph's gaze fell to the Territory tab. He opened it, scanning the options available to him:
1. Expand Territory (Requires: +15 Wraith Essence)
2. Upgrade Fortifications (Requires: +10 Wraith Essence)
3. Territory Scan (Free)
His essence count was still at zero after summoning Shade. He had no resources to expand or upgrade, but the free scan option caught his attention.
"System," he said aloud, "run a Territory Scan."
The interface shimmered as a map of his apartment appeared, glowing with faint energy lines. Small icons marked key areas: his living room, bedroom, kitchen, and even the cramped bathroom. Beyond the boundaries of the apartment, the map faded into static.
Territory Scan Complete. Threat Level: Minimal. Supernatural Presence Detected in Adjacent Buildings. Classification: Unknown.
Joseph frowned. "What do you mean by 'unknown'?"
Insufficient data. Essence collection and analysis required for classification.
He sighed. As much as he hated venturing out, it was clear that staying holed up in his apartment wouldn't solve anything. If supernatural presences were this close, it was only a matter of time before something stronger showed up.
A ripple of cold air swept through the room, and Shade materialized from the shadows. Its form was even more insubstantial than before, tendrils of dark mist trailing from its skeletal hands.
"Master," Shade rasped, bowing slightly. "I have returned."
Joseph leaned forward. "What did you find?"
"There is an entity nearby," Shade replied. "Its aura is faint, but it is not human. It resides in the abandoned factory two blocks away."
Joseph's mind raced. An abandoned factory sounded like the perfect place for something dangerous to hide. He couldn't ignore this—whatever was in there might eventually find its way to him.
"What kind of entity are we dealing with?" Joseph asked.
Shade hesitated, its hollow eyes flickering. "I cannot say for certain, Master. Its energy feels fragmented, similar to a wraith but… different. Stronger."
A stronger wraith? That didn't sound promising.
Joseph opened the system interface again, his fingers brushing against the cool metal of the wrench he had used earlier. He had no weapons, no backup—just Shade and whatever power the system would grant him.
"System, show me the Inventory tab," he commanded.
The interface shifted, revealing a sparse list:
Inventory:
Basic Wrench (Physical Weapon, Low Durability)
Joseph grimaced. He had hoped for more.
"Can I upgrade the wrench?" he asked.
Insufficient Essence. Requires 5 Essence to enhance current weapon.
His frustration grew. Every action required essence, and he had already spent all his resources summoning Shade. If he wanted to survive, he needed to start collecting essence in greater quantities.
"Shade," Joseph said, standing up, "you're coming with me. We're checking out that factory."
The wraith bowed. "As you command."
The night air was crisp as Joseph walked through the quiet streets, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows on the cracked pavement. Shade moved silently beside him, its form blending into the darkness like a living shadow.
The factory loomed ahead, its broken windows and rusted walls giving it a foreboding presence. Joseph stopped a few feet away, his heart pounding.
"Shade," he whispered, "scout ahead."
The wraith dissolved into the shadows, disappearing into the factory without a sound. Joseph waited, gripping the wrench tightly, every nerve in his body on edge.
Moments later, Shade reappeared. "The entity is inside, Master. It lingers near the center of the building. There are no other presences."
Joseph nodded. He couldn't afford to hesitate. This was his chance to gather more essence and strengthen himself.
Joseph entered the factory, the air thick with the scent of rust and decay. Moonlight streamed through the broken windows, casting eerie patterns on the ground. The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the cavernous space.
As he moved deeper into the building, he felt it—a cold, oppressive energy that seemed to press against his chest.
"There," Shade whispered, pointing a skeletal hand toward the center of the room.
A figure floated in the air, shrouded in tattered, ghostly robes. Its form was larger and more solid than the wraith Joseph had fought earlier, and its glowing eyes radiated malice.
Entity Detected: Greater Wraith
Threat Level: Moderate
Essence Value: 30 Units
Joseph tightened his grip on the wrench, his palms slick with sweat. "Shade, can you take it down?"
"I can weaken it, Master," Shade replied. "But you must deliver the final blow to claim its essence."
The system chimed in:
Note: Only the Architect can extract essence from defeated enemies.
"Of course," Joseph muttered under his breath.
Shade lunged at the Greater Wraith, its shadowy form colliding with the entity in a burst of dark energy. The wraith shrieked, its voice a piercing wail that made Joseph's ears ring.
The two entities clashed in a chaotic dance of shadows and light. Shade's spectral claws tore at the Greater Wraith's form, but the larger entity retaliated with tendrils of energy that lashed out like whips.
Joseph circled the fight, looking for an opening. He couldn't afford to rush in blindly—not against something this strong.
"Master!" Shade called out, its voice strained. "Now!"
Joseph saw his chance. The Greater Wraith was momentarily distracted, its focus entirely on Shade. He charged forward, raising the wrench high.
With a yell, he brought it down on the entity's glowing core. The impact sent a shockwave of energy through the air, and the Greater Wraith let out a final, agonized scream before dissolving into mist.
Entity Defeated. Essence Acquired: +30 Wraith Essence Units. Total: 30 Wraith Essence Units.
Joseph stumbled back, breathing heavily. The wrench in his hand was cracked, but it had held up long enough to get the job done.
The system interface appeared before him, a new notification blinking:
Summon Available: Greater Wraith Servant (30 Wraith Essence).
Joseph hesitated. A Greater Wraith would be a powerful ally, but summoning it would use up all the essence he had just earned.
He glanced at Shade, who floated silently beside him. The Lesser Wraith had proven its loyalty and usefulness. Would a stronger servant be even more effective?
"System," he said, "summon the Greater Wraith."
The air grew cold as a dark vortex formed in front of him. The swirling shadows condensed into a new figure—taller and more imposing than Shade, its glowing eyes filled with an eerie intelligence.
The system chimed:
Summoning Successful. Greater Wraith Servant Bound to Host.
The new servant knelt before Joseph. "Master," it said, its voice deep and resonant, "I am yours to command."
Joseph nodded, his resolve hardening. He might be a loner, but he wasn't defenseless anymore. With these servants by his side, he could face whatever the supernatural world threw at him.
For now, though, he needed to prepare. This was only the beginning.