Grim wasn’t sure what benefits the system would provide for acknowledging his vow, but he certainly never expected it to be a weapon. He wasn’t ungrateful by any means, as anything the system gave him was better than nothing in this new world he found himself in. “A weapon? Hmm… That’s a fortunate outcome considering I thought it would be an additional status increase like the Titles I gained.”

Peering at the box displaying his vow, Grim kept staring at the portion related to his new weapon, specifically the part about what weapon he received. “I got a magical scythe, and my species is Grim.” Grim couldn’t help but pause to question his sanity. Out of everything that has happened to him since he’d fallen to his undeath, he was supposed to believe the system had never heard of a Grim. Yet it was now giving him a scythe. The very tool wielded by Death, otherwise known as the Grim Reaper, the reaper of souls.

“This is a joke, right? You’re playing with me?”

Grim waited minutes for a response, pacing back and forth throughout the safety zone of the cave before finally accepting he wouldn’t receive an answer. Sighing, he slowly sat down against the far wall from the tunnel leading out, resting his head against the cave wall. “So the world enters some sort of system, fuses with another planet, and I become a magical undead farmer? Is this supposed to be an omen of what my life will be like? Constantly having to kill those who see me as a scourge to this new world?” He could only hope there would be other sentient undead on earth or that he could at least gain some new friends who would accept him as he now was.

“At least it won’t be much of a career change, I’d say more a lateral transition.” Grim chuckled. “Or at least I’d say it would still fall in the environmental science category. It’s just changing from research to conservation efforts, the resource being souls.”

Grim pulled up his status, looking for the category that would let him equip his new weapon. The only addition he could see was that his vow appeared as a new addition in his Title category. However, it still didn’t provide the opportunity to equip the weapon, only for him to display the previous screen his vow had appeared on.

Grim had played his fair share of games in his youth, so besides the status the system provided, he was sure it had to have an inventory feature. “Inventory.” Not wanting to give up, he made several more attempts at summoning his new weapon. “Equipment. Equip Weapon. Summon Weapon.” Grim exhaled in frustration, knowing he’d have to ask the system for assistance again. He was eager to level up and have his guide help him. He just hoped they’d be more amenable than the system was.

“System, would you tell me how I equip my weapon? There doesn’t seem to be an inventory function.”

[No inventory function is provided by the System.]

“Okay, “ Grim ground out, “Would you mind informing me how I equip my new weapon then?”

[All information was provided to the inhabitant… Your vow has granted you access to a soul weapon. Just as your vow was sealed onto your soul, your soul weapon is birthed from your soul. All you need to do is call your weapon. Preparation is advised.]

“Call my weapon? What do you think I’ve been trying to do?”

[Call your weapon by Name. All Soul Weapons are Named Items.]

“Call it by name?” Grim reopened the screen containing his vow, reading through the information on the weapon, and sure enough, it stated it was unnamed. “So it needs a name,” he mumbled as he thought about what to name his soul weapon.

“System, since you brought it up and it seems to hold relative importance to me, would you explain what a Named Item is?”

Grim waited for nearly a minute with growing impatience as the system was once again ignoring him before he was startled by the system's response. Better late than never…

[Named Items are unique items; as such, they do not possess a rarity. However, this does not equate to powerful items, as the strength of each Named Item can vary from bronze rank upwards to divine rank. All Named Items are bindable equipment and will grow and adapt with the bound individual. Not all Named Items can be rebonded, nor are all Named Items compatible with every sapient inhabitant. The Naming of a Named Item may direct the initial growth path of the specified item. Only an act of immense value receiving the system's recognition will allow for the Renaming of Named Items. Any item Renamed in this manner will be Named by the System.]

The information left Grim speechless as he stared ahead, his mouth gaping wide open in astonishment. Had the system actually been helpful? He couldn’t understand why the system had decided to stop providing vague or half-answers. Not only had he received the information he had asked for, but the system had even provided additional information. Why though? Putting that thought aside for the moment, Grim focused on the information provided to him.

“So, the name is of immense importance for the initial path the item will take. It seems that it will adapt with me as I level and gain additional power, but I want to make sure I don't gimp myself before I even have the chance to run.”

Grim stood up and began to pace throughout the cave again as he thought about what to name his new weapon. “I’m assuming since it’s a Soul Weapon, that I should have full compatibility with the item or because it hasn’t been bound or named before. So what could I do to get the most out of my weapon?” The more Grim thought about it, the less clear the name became. He just lacked too much information.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

“I haven’t checked my class yet; maybe my initial skills will give me a better idea?”

Bloodline Skills:

Soul Source: Soul Condensation - Pond

An ethereal source point, birthed from the very core of your being. Allows for the cultivation and expenditure of Soul Force.

Soul Seed:

A severing of the soul to create a seed that may be implanted into another.

Class Skills:

Reclamation of the Lost:

A call to the lost and weary souls departed but not claimed to rise before you in undeath as eternal vassals of your Will.

Soul Imperium:

Release the pressure of your Soul, becoming a sovereign of your surroundings. Those who stand in your presence will have their stats suppressed, dependent on their Will. All soul-related abilities and skills have increased effectiveness.

Soul Mend:

A Soul is the source of a being, and the body is the vessel that contains it. A Soul for a Soul, the vessel is renewed.

Grim’s brows furrowed in confusion as he finished perusing his skills. The fact his class would revolve around the undead made sense, so he could understand a summoning skill, even if it did have an ambiguous definition for the skill. However, the remainder of his skills seemed to revolve around using the soul. He wasn’t one to turn away anything that would benefit him, as he knew he’d need everything he could get his hands on when he left the dungeon to re-integrate with society. Who knew what would help him survive as an undead in a world full of the living.

Considering that he was an undead, if he told anyone he could command and affect the soul, others might not stop at any attempt they’d have at killing him.

“At least I have a healing ability. Hopefully, it’s a good one, as I’ll have to solo this dungeon alone. Well, by myself and with the help of my minion or minions. I really hope I can summon more than one. I have a bad feeling I’ll need all the help I can get here.”

Besides his ability to heal himself and summon souls to fight, all that was left was Soul Imperium and two other skills listed under Bloodline Skills. Grim had to admit Soul Imperium could be his most helpful skill in battle. In a fight, a single moment could determine the outcome of a battle. If he could cause the enemy to stumble or have a lapse in judgment because of their stats abruptly changing, it could allow him to gain the upper hand or even finish the fight.

“But what the heck are these two skills?”

Grim tapped at his chin as he gazed at his two bloodline skills. He’d have to experiment to figure out how to find and utilize his Soul Force, and he had no clue how the heck he’d use Soul Seed. Would the system automatically create the seed when he activated the ability, or would he have to learn how to manually sever his own soul? Neither one sounded endearing to use. Maybe he’d just put that skill aside for a while. He’d had enough pain undergoing his race change and wasn’t keen on diving right back in with another issue with his soul.

“System, what are Bloodline Skills, and what determines a person's class? I wasn’t given a choice on mine, and it’s not hard to guess that it was uniquely created or given to me to cooperate with my Bloodline Skills.”

[There are two types of Bloodline Skills: Racial and Acquired Bloodlines. Race-specific bloodlines are skills that can be obtained throughout the race. Not everyone awakens their racial bloodline skills, as bloodline skills are based on a person’s bloodline quality. Acquired Bloodlines are bloodlines created by an individual and may be inherited by their progeny.]

Grim’s thoughtful look quickly transformed into a frown as he heard the System’s response. It wasn’t hard to see what the system was doing. It hadn’t been forthcoming in the least, other than the issue pertaining to the System itself upon his revival and lack of access to the tutorial and its apparent responsibilities to some binding agreement.

He could complain all he wanted, but he knew it would get him nowhere, so he might as well just take what the System gave him. But what did his Bloodline have to do with the System?

“So which is mine, Racial or Acquired?”

Grim couldn’t help but scoff in frustration as the System refused to respond once again. All the System’s silence did was confirm his misgivings that something shady had happened with his Race and Class, but he could do nothing about it. It wasn’t like he could call some customer support services for a defective product.

Grim could only inwardly grumble as he began to look at the puzzle pieces his class and bloodline skills filled and how he’d want his soul weapon to fit in with the pieces he had already. All of his skills had some utilization or reference to souls, regardless of their actual function. He had also already decided to rename himself after his Race, as it was a unique identity throughout the System.

“I’m an undead named Grim. I have soul-based skills and a scythe as a weapon. What did the System just cookie-cut out a build for me based on Earth’s Grim Reaper? So what, I’m going to turn into some demonic soul farmer? Well, fine then.” Grim grumbled.

Grim had his misgivings, but since it had already come to this point, he might as well stick with the theme… the last thing he needed was an incompatible weapon. However, at least this time, he’d be able to direct his own path, even if it was just the growth of his weapon.

“I’ll name you Styx after the river every soul takes to the underworld.

[Name has been chosen... Soul Weapon has been Finalized.]

Grim’s vision was filled with a new prompt that he could only assume was about his new weapon. However, his attention was drawn up toward the ceiling where he’d imagined the System to be. Was that hesitation he had heard? Shaking his head, Grim refocused on the new screen, anticipation filling his bones. He just hoped his new weapon wouldn’t disappoint.