Joseph stood in the center of his now-expanding territory, a faint aura of tension in the air. His apartment had been modified and expanded over the past few weeks, as had his understanding of the system's capabilities. What had once been a small, cramped space now stretched outward, seamlessly blending into the walls and floors of neighboring rooms. The energy lines of the Territory Expansion now crisscrossed through the walls, radiating faintly, indicating the increased boundaries of his growing domain.
With Shade and the newly summoned Greater Wraith, his presence was now felt even more strongly in the supernatural community. What he had hoped would remain secret was slowly becoming harder to conceal. He couldn't help but wonder whether this growth would attract the attention of more dangerous beings, those higher in the food chain.
Joseph was a loner by nature, avoiding interactions unless absolutely necessary, but the expansion of his power left him no choice. The system required action. If he wanted to continue growing, he had to make more bold decisions. He couldn't just wait for trouble to find him. He had to find it first.
The gentle hum of his laptop pulled Joseph from his thoughts. He sat at his desk, eyes scanning the system's Upgrade options. His fingers hovered above the screen, and he considered the implications of each potential upgrade. The System Upgrade screen had expanded over the last few days, now presenting a new set of options that seemed to shimmer with latent power.
System Upgrade Options:
1. System Level 2: Unlocks Essence Extraction from Summons
Effect: Gain 50% of the essence value when a summoned being or faction member defeats an enemy.
Cost: 50 Essence
2. System Level 2: Bloodline Enhancement
Effect: Ability to enhance the bloodline of summoned beings, allowing them to evolve into higher-tier beings with additional abilities.
Cost: 75 Essence
3. System Level 2: Territory Expansion - Infinite Space
Effect: Expand the space of the territory indefinitely, with no boundary limitations.
Cost: 100 Essence
Joseph's eyes narrowed. The first upgrade, Essence Extraction from Summons, was the most tempting. He had already experienced firsthand how difficult it was to accumulate essence. Every battle, every conquest, had required a substantial investment of effort and resources. The idea of gaining essence passively as his servants or faction members fought would significantly accelerate his growth.
On the other hand, the Bloodline Enhancement would allow him to evolve his existing summons, increasing their strength and unlocking new abilities. The Territory Expansion would allow him to grow his domain indefinitely, making his headquarters virtually unassailable.
But it was clear. Essence Extraction was his priority. If he didn't have enough essence, nothing else would matter.
System, Upgrade to Level 2: Essence Extraction
The interface blinked, and a surge of energy coursed through the room. A low hum reverberated in the walls, and a subtle warmth spread through Joseph's body. His eyes flickered with the notification:
System Upgrade Successful: Essence Extraction Now Active.
New Ability Unlocked: Extract 50% Essence from Defeated Enemies via Summons or Faction Members.
Joseph stood still, letting the information settle in. This would be a game changer. Instead of having to fight every battle himself or rely solely on his own resources, he could now harness the strength of his growing faction to further his goals.
Joseph wasn't one to waste time. He needed to test the new upgrade immediately. Turning to Shade, who was perched silently in the corner of the room, he spoke.
"Shade, go out and find something to fight. I need to see if the essence extraction works."
Shade's hollow eyes glowed faintly, a subtle shift in its form signifying its readiness. "As you command, Master."
The wraith disappeared into the shadows, and Joseph's gaze returned to the glowing system interface. It wasn't long before Shade reappeared. The wraith was carrying the essence of a defeated creature, a small beast Joseph didn't recognize—a creature that appeared part bat and part lizard, its body dissipating into mist as the wraith returned.
Essence Extracted: 15 Units of Unknown Essence.
Joseph's eyes widened. The system had recognized the essence of the defeated creature, even though it was something Joseph hadn't encountered before. It was a sign of how versatile the new upgrade could be. The essence was just as usable as any other.
While Joseph was testing the upgrade, his other servants began patrolling the perimeter of his newly expanded territory. The Greater Wraith had proven to be an effective protector, as was Shade. But as the hours passed, Joseph couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
He accessed the Territory Scan once again, his fingers tapping on the glowing screen. This time, something was different. The scan returned with multiple anomalies.
Territory Scan Complete: Threat Level - High
Anomalies Detected:
Entity Type: Unknown
Location: Within 5 miles of Territory Boundaries
Threat Level: High
Further Investigation Required
Joseph's heart rate quickened. Whatever it was, it was close—and it wasn't just one entity. The scan suggested a small group of unknown beings. The fact that they were close enough to affect his territory was troubling.
"Shade," he said, turning to the wraith, "scan the area. Find out who—or what—this is."
The wraith nodded, vanishing into the shadows once more. It didn't take long for it to return, its form solidifying with the information Joseph needed.
"There is a faction of vampires, Master," Shade reported, its voice dripping with disdain. "They appear to be searching for something… or someone."
Joseph narrowed his eyes. Vampires. While not as much of a threat as some other supernatural entities, a faction of them could be problematic, especially if they were organizing nearby. But what could they possibly be looking for in his territory?
Joseph needed to know more. He needed to take control of the situation before it spiraled out of his reach.
"Gather the others," Joseph ordered, addressing both Shade and the Greater Wraith. "We're going on the offensive."
It was time to see just how much power his growing faction could exert. Shade and the Greater Wraith nodded in unison. Together, the three of them would confront the vampire faction and find out what they were after.