Zelnith grunted as he tossed another corpse onto the pile. It thumped loudly and started flopping downwards. He stared at the jerking motion of the corpse, willing it to stop moving. He had long before this one gotten tired of hauling them back to the pile after they fell.

“You know you wouldn’t have to work so hard if you just placed them more carefully, don’t you?”

He mentally gritted his teeth and said, “It would be easier if you’d let the rest of the horde help me.”

“Indeed. Unfortunately, they are out foraging for supplies. Besides, how can they be expected to do something that their leader won’t?”

Zelnith stared over at Atherus, laying on a cushioned sofa and eating berries and moldy cheese.

“I’ll be sure to let them know that their leader is well fed and too busy to make that example personally.”

Atherus chuckled and said, “Oh my dear Zelnith, that’s why I’m so happy you happened. Now I have you to set that example so they will follow you into my battles.”

“Why am I even doing this? Really.”

Atherus sighed. This is exactly why he didn’t summon higher than the ghoul level. They always talked back.

“You’re doing it because I told you to. But I suppose a little trust could go a long ways. You’ll find out anyways. I’m sure you noticed the blood and bone dust that you’ve collected physically. And the soul energy. We are preparing the bodies to be smashed into mushy powder so you can grow even stronger. And I figured collecting them into one central location would be easier. I’m trying to be thoughtful here Zelnith. I don’t want to waste my time with you.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hours later, all bodies had been collected into an abominable pile. Zelnith thanked his lucky stars that whatever magic animating him had not given him an olfactory sense.

SIMULATING NOSE...

Wait, don’t you dare!

The stench that hit him nearly sent him to his knees.

Undo whatever the hell you just did!

DESIMULATING NOSE...

Zelnith rattled his bones in an attempt to shake the smell from his mind now that the system had stopped forcing it into it. He stared at the mound for a moment; then gave the order.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Dozens of corpses raised blunt objects, from shovels to apples, and brought them down forcefully. They continued to pummel the bodies, attempting to bludgeon them into a messy paste.

As the minions of Atherus assaulted the town’s dead citizens one final time, Zelnith reached out with a bony hand to touch them. Immediately, a gushing flow of soul energy shot into his body, nearly flinging him from the mound.

“Now my champion, use the strength of my enemies to better yourself. Increase your own might so that you may better tear down the walls of any that would oppose me.”

Zelnith pulled up the node map in his mind, looking over new nodes as they lit up with all the new energy surpassing their cost. “Which should I choose?”

“Definitely get self repair.”

He looked at all the pulsing nodes and saw one that must have been what the necromancer was talking about.

SELF REPAIR – YOU THOUGHT BONES WERE THE ONLY THING THAT HEALED YOU? GUESS AGAIN. CALCIUM IS EVERYWHERE, AND DIRT WILL DO IN A PINCH.

LEVEL 1 – PASSIVE MANA COST – 50% MAX MANA PER 0.5% HEALTH REGEN/SEC

UNLOCK COST – TWELVE MINOR SOUL’S

Minor souls? That was strange. Zelnith wondered about the implications for a while before selecting it.

NEW PASSIVE SPELL – SELF REPAIR. ACTIVATE NOW?

He mentally nudged the settings to 50% drain and noticed his mana pool shrank by the same amount. A warm sensation spread across his bones as the spell kicked in and started replenishing health. It only took a short minute before he had maxed his health.

This is going to be incredibly useful. I should be able to win wars of attrition so long as I can get away for a minute.

Zelnith switched his attention back to the node map. There were many interesting options, but something was bothering him. What was that in the corner of his sight? It reminded him of those floaty things he used to get after staring at a book for too long. Was he a scholar? He’d worry about that later.

He felt it was important to catch the flitting thing always just out of sight. He shook his head and moved his eyes rapidly in the opposite direction. He locked onto the node, for indeed it was a node, and felt it trying to escape like a greased grub weasel. He lost it at first after instinctively grabbing harder, making the node shoot out of sight.

After some more head shaking, he managed to barely grip it again. He was more diligent and careful this time, slowly ramping up the attention he paid it. Eventually it came into focus enough to read. The cost was an absurdly high amount of souls, probably the remaining amount he’d get from the townsfolk. Zelnith thought back to his captor’s need to control him. He had to get this node.

DUPLICITY – THIS ABILITY IS HIDDEN TO ALL THAT EXAMINE YOU. IT ALLOWS YOU TO CHOOSE A SINGLE SECRET PER DAY THAT YOU CAN HIDE FROM PRYING EYES IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHOOSE A SECRET FOR TODAY? Y/N