Colm’s breath fogged in the cool morning air as he crouched in the undergrowth, surveying his surroundings. Night had come and gone, and he’d spent the dark hours nestled in the branches of a sturdy tree, trying to stay hidden and out of reach of any wandering undead. Sleep had been shallow, broken by every snap of a twig or distant groan, but it was enough to keep his mind sharp.
Information was key. He’d learned that much from every survival story he read or every game he played. He couldn’t afford to rely on guesswork in a hostile place. Analyze was limited, but it was something—and for now, he would use every scrap of knowledge it provided.
He began by analyzing the surrounding plants, hoping to distinguish anything remotely useful. He focused on a spiky shrub nearby, squinting as the translucent window materialized.
Thorny Shrub
He sighed, moving on, but his instinct to gather information didn’t waver. Knowing what wasn’t helpful was, in its way, still valid. He continued to scan his surroundings, using Analyze on trees, plants, and even stones, hoping to build a mental map of his environment.
After hours of creeping through the forest, dodging the shapes and sounds of undead lurking in the shadows, he finally came across a small brook. Relief washed over him as he crouched by the water, eyeing it warily before activating Analyze.
Stream Water
The name was simple, but he was too thirsty to consider the consequences. He trusted his gut that it was clear water. He drank deeply, the cold water soothing his throat, and splashed some on his face. The simple comfort felt like a reward after a long night and hours of tense maneuvering through the forest.
He crouched by the stream's edge, peering into the water, hoping to spot fish or other sustenance. The water was clear, revealing stones and silt at the bottom, but there was no sign of movement beneath the surface—no fish, no small creatures he could catch. Disappointment settled over him as he gave up on finding a source of food in the stream.
The stream felt like a small sanctuary where he could regroup without the constant threat of stumbling into the undead. The thought of moving away from it left him uneasy. He wasn’t ready to face one of those creatures yet. But he knew he couldn’t survive on water alone; he needed food.
Feeling slightly refreshed, he began exploring the nearby area, activating Analyze on plants to search for anything edible. His gaze landed on a low-growing bush covered in tiny, red berries. Hesitating, he activated Analyze once more.
Red Berries
Colm frowned at the result. He wasn’t about to test fate with potentially toxic berries, and nothing in the description gave away any sign, so he moved on, keeping his focus sharp and his awareness heightened. Thinking that there had to be something around here he could safely eat.
The forest was a quiet maze, each rustle and creak amplifying his tension. The brook had given him a momentary respite, but hunger gnawed at him, reminding him that water alone wouldn’t sustain him. Moving slowly along the stream, he continued his search, using Analyze on everything he passed.
He focused on a cluster of plants with broad, waxy leaves. This one could yield something useful.
Broad-Leaf Plant
He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head. Survival here was going to be a game of patience. The surrounding plants weren’t immediately useful, but knowing what to avoid was still knowledge he valued.
Suddenly, a faint crackling sound echoed nearby, followed by the unmistakable groan of the undead. Colm froze, heart pounding, his gaze darting to the shadowed forest behind him. He had seen no undead in this area yet and didn't want to start a fight without a plan.
Instinctively, he crouched lower, remaining still, willing to blend into the undergrowth, listening to the creature's sounds and giving him a vague sense of where the beast lurked. He stayed silent, counting his breaths, waiting until the sounds faded into the distance.
The encounter reminded him how close he was to danger and renewed his determination. He wouldn’t just survive but figure out how to live here.
Pushing forward, he noticed a small mushroom patch near a tree root. They didn’t look appetizing, but desperation made him consider anything. He activated Analyze on one of the mushrooms.
White Mushroom
He sighed, frustrated by the lack of helpful information from Analyze. He wasn’t willing to risk getting sick this early, especially with his energy still holding steady and hunger yet to gnaw at him. Moving slowly, he used Analyze on anything that caught his eye—gnarled tree roots, strange flowers, and even oddly shaped rocks. He received only brief, limited descriptions each time, but these fragments helped him build a mental map of his surroundings. Every bit of data mattered; survival here felt like piecing together a puzzle, and Analyze provided him with the scattered clues.
After an hour of slow progress, Colm noticed a faint trail leading into a more densely forested area. With a deep breath, he followed it, every sense on high alert. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional crackle of leaves beneath his boots, each sound making him tense. He hadn’t spotted any undead but knew they were out there.
Just as he was beginning to think he’d chosen a quiet path, he heard it—a low, husky moan from somewhere deeper in the trees. His heartbeat quickened, but he didn’t back away. Instead, he crept closer, moving slowly, and focused on the sound, hoping to pinpoint the direction.
Peering through the trees, he finally spotted a lone undead shuffling slowly through the undergrowth. It was decayed, its skin hanging off in loose patches, limbs stiff and uneven as it moved. Colm swallowed, steadying himself. This one seemed manageable. It was alone, and its movements were slow and predictable. If he was going to test his abilities, this might be his best chance.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The undead stumbled closer, oblivious to their presence. Colm glanced at his Phantom Warrior standing silently beside him, its spectral form flickering faintly but steadily. He took a deep breath, and before directing his ally forward, he cast Analyze on the creature.
Undead Walker (Level 2)
The result was simple, but it gave him enough insight to gauge the creature’s vulnerability. Its level was lower than the first one he saw. This undead wasn’t fast or agile and seemed on its last legs, which meant his Phantom Warrior could likely handle it.
With a slight gesture, he directed his spectral ally forward, watching it close the distance with silent, fluid strides. The undead barely reacted as the warrior’s blade sliced through the air, delivering a powerful strike to its decayed chest.
The creature groaned, staggering back from the impact, but it was too slow to counter. The Phantom Warrior pressed the attack, each strike precise, almost mechanical in its efficiency. Within moments, the undead collapsed, its decayed form crumbling.
Colm exhaled, the tension leaving his shoulders as he watched the undead’s crumbled form settle into the dirt. He hadn’t even needed to intervene directly; his Phantom Warrior had handled the fight effortlessly. Just as he felt a sense of relief, a translucent popup appeared before his eyes.
Undead Walker (Level 2) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.
As Colm caught his breath, another low groan drifted through the trees. His relief from the first fight vanished instantly, replaced by a prickling sense of dread. He turned, peering through the shadows, picking up faint shuffling sounds. Another undead was moving toward him. He squinted, trying to gauge its speed and distance, and spotted the creature stumbling through the undergrowth. It was alone, but its jerky, determined movements made it appear slightly more dangerous than the last one. Colm used Analyze once more to gauge the approaching threat.
Undead Walker (Level 2)
His Phantom Warrior remained at his side, a ghostly figure that gave him some comfort in the tense stillness. This was still a Level 2 enemy—close enough to his own level to be risky, especially if things didn’t go smoothly. But he couldn’t just keep running.
As the creature came closer, he directed his Phantom Warrior forward. The undead’s vacant eyes seemed to lock onto the spectral figure, and it groaned as it stumbled forward, arms outstretched. The Phantom Warrior met its charge, sword raised for a decisive blow.
The first strike cut deep into the creature’s torso, causing it to stagger. But this time, the undead reacted faster. It lashed out with a decayed arm, and before the warrior could dodge, its claws tore through the spectral form, causing it to flicker violently. Colm felt a surge of panic as he saw his ally’s form waver, almost as if it were about to vanish.
The Phantom Warrior recovered, delivering another strike, but the undead countered again, landing a second hit that sent a ripple through the spectral figure. Colm could see the warrior’s form fading, the once-solid edges becoming translucent, nearly invisible. Another hit like that, and it might vanish entirely.
Realizing he had to act fast, Colm directed the Phantom Warrior to press one last attack. The spectral figure lunged, sword flashing as it landed a final blow to the creature’s head, cleaving through with enough force to bring the undead down.
The creature crumpled to the ground, motionless. Colm let out a shaky breath as a notification appeared in front of him.
Undead Walker (Level 2) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.
He glanced at his Phantom Warrior. Its form was barely holding together, a faint outline of what it had been. One more encounter like that, and it wouldn’t last. Deciding not to take any chances, he dispelled the fading figure with a thought and immediately summoned a new one, watching as a fresh, fully-formed warrior appeared by his side, solid and ready once again.
The relief was immediate, but he knew he couldn’t afford to be careless. This world was dangerous, and he’d need to be even more cautious if he wanted to stay alive.
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The satisfaction of defeating the second undead was fleeting. Before he could fully process the encounter, a new sound filled the air—the groans and shuffling footsteps of more undead, echoing through the trees and multiplying with each passing second. His chest tightened as he realized the noise of his fight had drawn them in, and this was more than he’d anticipated—a lot more.
Heart pounding, Colm spun around, his eyes darting to the shadows. Figures began to emerge, staggering through the trees toward him, their decayed forms moving slowly but relentlessly. Instinctively, he cast Analyze on the advancing horde.
Undead Walker (Level 2)
Undead Walker (Level ??)
Undead Walker (Level 6)
…
Undead Walker (Level 5)
Colm’s throat went dry. Dozens of them, and some of them he couldn’t even see their level. The level difference alone was enough to make him wary, but the sheer number of undead was overwhelming. There was no way he could stand his ground here.
He turned and began to run, dodging branches and leaping over roots as he sprinted through the forest. He didn’t look back, but he could hear them—a relentless horde, groaning and dragging themselves forward, growing louder with each passing second. Every few moments, he would glance over his shoulder, only to see more undead emerging from the shadows, some moving faster than others, their decayed faces twisted into expressions of unending hunger.
Desperate to buy some time, he directed his Phantom Warrior to engage the closest undead. The warrior charged forward, blade flashing, taking down the first creature with a precise strike. As Colm continued to flee, undead after undead fell by his spectral ally, collapsing into the undergrowth. A brief notification appeared in his vision.
Undead Walker (Level 2) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.
Undead Walker (Level 1) Defeated. Experience Gained.
Undead Walker (Level 1) Defeated. Experience Gained.
Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.
He’d leveled up, but the realization barely registered as he pushed himself harder, his only thought on escape. The Phantom Warrior continued to engage the horde, dispatching another undead before its spectral form finally flickered out.
Your Phantom Warrior has been destroyed.
He glanced away at the new notification. His ally had bought him a few precious moments, but the swarm kept coming, an endless wave of rot and decay pressing forward.
Colm’s feet pounded against the forest floor as he zigzagged between trees, the shadows lengthening around him. He pushed himself harder, ignoring the ache in his legs and the burn in his lungs. No matter how far he ran, the undead kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless, an insatiable force of decay bearing down on him.
The forest felt darker, the air thick with the stench of rot. Panic clawed at him as he realized he couldn’t outrun them forever. Then, just as despair threatened to take over, he felt a strange pull—a subtle but insistent tug that seemed to guide his steps, urging him toward something unseen. He had no idea what it was, but with the undead closing in, he didn’t hesitate. Trusting the feeling, he veered to the right, following the instinctive pull.
The groans grew louder behind him, and he could almost feel the undead at his back, their ragged claws reaching through the shadows. He stumbled, righting himself quickly as the pull grew stronger, leading him deeper into the forest. Branches tore at his clothes, and his pulse thundered in his ears, but he kept moving, following the strange, instinctive nudge that urged him forward.
Then he saw it—a faint distortion in the air ahead—a shimmering tear pulsing with energy, almost like a doorway hanging between the trees. The energy resonated with his perk as if calling him forward. He didn’t know what it was, but he had no other options.
With one last burst of speed, he threw himself into the rift, feeling a wave of warmth and light envelop him as he crossed over. The dark, oppressive forest and the relentless undead vanished in an instant, replaced by something else. Colm staggered forward, catching his breath, his heart still racing as he steadied himself. Whatever lay ahead would have to wait, but for now, he had escaped.