I muttered curses as the rat indulged on the bloody remains. I tried to pick it up, move it, or scare it but the creature learned quickly. Soon the vermin ignored me and let my ghostly hand float through. I really needed to figure out how to make this new skill work. It wasn’t a leader or command type, maybe I had to work with the undead creature. Glancing down at the rat once more, I tried it again.

[Undead Suggestion - Tiny]

I let it linger for a bit as I contemplated what to say. These were small-brained terrors…I should try something simple. Leaning over I whispered

“Stop”

The little creature paused and glanced up. I could feel the skill wavering but so far it worked.

“Grab” I pointed at a bit flesh on the floor

Once more it listened, telling it to do something it wanted didn’t put any pressure on the command. I didn’t even feel it falter. It gleefully got a mouthful of the flesh and began to swallow it down.

“Go there” I pointed

This time I felt like the ability would break. The suggestion went against what the rat wanted to do but it wasn’t a big ask. After all, I was pointing at the guts of another deadman. After a bit of a staredown, the suggestion went through and the rat began running to the other meat pile. However, the creature didn’t notice my body was directly in the path until.

CRUNCH –It too was consumed.

“Well this skill sucks” I mumbled

I couldn’t even directly command these rodents. I had to make suggestions and work with them, the skill only nudging them into what I wanted. Also tiny undead…What good was that? How many times did you come across reanimated rats, squirrels, and other rodents?

“Deep breaths Ry, at least it is a start” I mumbled.

I know skills can evolve and grow overtime. If I can master these lower tiers, I might be able to expand them later. For now it was time to test the limits. I spent the next few hours giving out suggestions of various levels and to multiple targets. After much trial and error, I found that I could hold the attention of two rats at any time and the skill only lasted at 5 minutes max. As I contemplated my predicament, an Idea crept into my head on how to free my body.

“Come” Two of the rats skittered out of the wall and sat at my feet.

One had a gaping wound on the side of its back and the other a partially exposed skull. After working with them for this long they were kind of cute. I decided to name them slasher and brainy. After “petting” their heads, I pointed at the restraints.

“Chew”

The rodents saw where my finger was pointing and began to attack the rope. The two rats devoured the twine until it snapped–freeing the leg.

“YES YES YES YES” I was ready for this.

The two rats quickly freed the second leg and then the arm. As the last bit of thread broke, the arm snatched the rat.

“BRAINY NO” I screamed as the zombie shoved the squealing rat into its maw.

The second death of his companion shattered the suggestion, sending Slasher sprinting towards safety.

“DAMMIT I AM TRYING TO FREE YOU” I was pissed. Why was this so hard!

My body just stared back and stopped chewing. Like a scorned pet, the zombie just stared back in confusion. The reddish eyes met my own and I felt the monotone voice in my head.

-Skill Gained-

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

[[Active - Undead Suggestion - Body]]

“YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS” I was making progress now.

With the new ability, I tried to keep my body still as I summoned more rats. It was a tug of war as my body just wanted to consume them. The short-sighted zombie refused to work with me and ended up devouring four more of the little critters.

“You are acting like a spoiled child” I was getting annoyed, at this rate I would run out of rodents.

I wasn’t sure how many hours had passed before the final binding was broken. But somehow I did it, the last arm was free and my body began to get up. As the groaning zombie shambled towards the corpse pile, I collapsed. Using those skills over and over had exhausted my natural reserves. Leaning against the wall, I closed my eyes to rest. Did ghost’s sleep? I guess it was a kind of sleep, a weird lucid dream. As my consciousness stilled, I heard that beautiful sound.

[[My Body and Me - Level 2]]

I wasn’t sure how long I was out but I woke up in pure darkness. Freaking out I started to thrash until I realized I had partially phased into the wall.

“AHH WHAT THE…” I screamed out

My body was right there. The zombie was staring at the wall just waiting for me to appear, the undead face barely an inch from my own. Its distended jaw shifted as it munched some sinew. Bits of congealed blood plopping onto the ground and staining my once expensive clothing.

“What do you want?” I yelled

It didn’t respond, just continued to stare and chew. I walked away rubbing my temple and taking a few deep breaths. I needed to control my emotions. It has only been a few days since I died and I was going crazy.

“Think Ry” I tried to boost my own confidence.

Thinking back, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Already I had leveled once, learned a lot of new skills, and got my body free. Not to mention the lingering death kept the corpses relatively fresh so I had a stockpile of food. But what was the next thing?

“WAIT” I screamed out

Even my body flinched. The zombie gave me a dirty look as if I should calm down. I just stuck my tongue out and the creature just stumbled away.

“Follow!” I said and activated my skill

It took a moment as if my body was considering the suggestion but eventually it turned around and slowly shambled behind me. I needed it to stay close or that tether wouldn’t allow me to travel far. As we walked towards the entrance, my mind started racing. With him freed, I could venture out to get some help. As the light of day appeared, my metaphysical heart was racing. I could finally get out of this musky cave and fix this whole scenario. .

The sunlight was muted as I stood in the blackened grass. On the edges I could see some of the zone faltering. Without the necromancer desecrating the region, this area would eventually heal. I savored the sounds of the rustling trees and cacophony of nature. Walking to the edge of the zone, I glanced back at my body…but it refused to leave the cave.

“Well come on! We need to go” I said.

My body just stared and refused to budge.

“COME” I activated my skill

Yet, we were at a standstill. Instead the thing stamped its foot–and I kid you not–crossed its arm.

“Oh you are in so much trouble when I fix this” I huffed.

Was this how I was in real life? I kind of feel sorry for my teammates now. My body was a bit of a dick. If I ever see them I’ll have to apologize. Honestly, thinking about it, I can’t believe they actually put up with me. Whatever, I still had some distance even with the tether. I might as well scout a bit of the region. Making my way to the threshold, I took a breath and stepped into the green foliage.

“OOOOOOOWOWWWWWOWWOWOWOWOW”

My entire essence was set aflame. The purifying light disintegrating my very essence. Bright flames crawled up my limbs and began igniting my torso. Instinctively, I rolled back into the dead zone. The burning sensation quickly quenched by the negative energy. I glanced down and saw my ghostly form more faded than before. It was as if the life and light had burned away my soul. A snapping and cracking noise broke me out of my daze. Snapping my head, I saw my body attempting to laugh. If I was alive, the sight would have been horrifying. Seeing the jaw awkwardly shift up and down, the creaking of bone, and the guttural, wet groans leaving the throat.

“WHAT IS SO FUNNY” I yelled as I reached out and chucked a pebble at my body's head.

The stone bounced off the skull and the zombie stopped laughing. It was then we both looked at each other and I realized what I had done.

-Skill Gained-

[[Passive - Matter Manipulation - Tiny]]

“YESSSSSSSS I CAN DO STUFF” I was dancing with joy and rushed over to hug the only one that could share this moment.

My body just let it happen, even though I couldn’t actually touch the zombie it felt right. I mean, it was kind of weird hugging a zombie but I needed to share this joy with something. After a few moments, the zombie shambled back into the cave for an afternoon snack. I guess this world wasn’t as cruel as I thought. Normally you only get 1-2 skills per level but since these ones were so weak, I must be getting them in bulk. Now all I had to do was figure out how to survive in the real world.