After some thought, Vallynor recounted how he had encountered Baba Yaga in the cauldron and how she had fed him with water in which she herself had been brewing.

Riku listened in silence and nodded several times, then spoke:

"So, she brewed you some rejuvenating potions. That explains your unusual physical state... It's time for you to return. It's already after 9:00."

"How many hours does a day have?" Vallynor guessed. He already suspected that there should be 24 hours in a day here, as the god of time had established this rule. But this world was isolated, and he wondered if the same laws applied here.

"Yes, there are also 24 hours in a day here. So, there are still 3 hours left until the end of this day and the beginning of the next. Use Caesar's gift and return to the castle," replied Riku.

Vallynor took the earring in his hands and looked at it, contemplating how to use it.

Riku noticed his contemplative gaze and approached, taking the earring from Vallynor's hands. He said:

"This is a magical artifact. Once you put it on your ear, you won't be able to take it off." While he explained, Riku put the earring on Vallynor's right ear. The earring's needle pierced his ear, and with the help of magic, it merged with the ear, becoming a seamless part of it. The black earring with an uncut black stone faintly shimmered.

"Direct your mana into the earring and think about the place you want to teleport to. The advice will help you visualize that place down to the smallest detail, and you'll appear there. Choose places where other beings rarely appear," Riku said.

"Why?" Vallynor began to ponder and came up with various answers to Riku's advice on his own.

"It's very simple. This artifact moves you by tearing you away from one place and transporting you to the one you were thinking of. The problem is that you sort of disappear and reappear where you want. But if someone is already in the place where you want to appear... Don't worry. Don't forget, we are all immortal. And once you learn to use this artifact skillfully, you can cleverly avoid such problems," Riku explained.

Vallynor nodded and began to do everything as Riku had explained. After he had done everything necessary, just before he felt himself disappearing, he said:

"Until tomorrow," and vanished, leaving Riku alone.

After a while, two girls emerged from the shadows. One was tall, almost two meters tall, and the other slightly below average height. They approached Riku and sat on both sides of him. Then they hugged him by the hands and pressed them to their ample bosoms.

After a few minutes, Riku hugged these two girls and together with them looked at the city, which was slowly filling with the lights of the night, heralding the arrival of the night.

***

Glazik looked around, trying to find the man. But when this man saw her, he began to run and hide like he was cursed. Fortunately, the passersby told Glazik everything they knew. Because of this, she managed to find him for the thirteenth time, but he still escaped.

Unfortunately, she never managed to meet him. And she went to look for other former men of Baba Yaga.

Not far away, a naked man in just his underwear appeared in the trash, watching Glazik. Fear and hope were visible in his eyes. He was afraid that Baba Yaga was looking for him but didn't know why. And he hoped she wouldn't find him.

***

Vallynor woke up in his room and looked around before examining himself. He felt as if he could breathe easily. It was a relief that everything had ended well. Calming down, he began to recall the sensations of teleportation. He could feel himself in the destination, just a fraction of a second before actually arriving. It was as if he had first looked into a phone and seen what was happening in the room and then, in the next second, found himself there.

This led him to the thought that if he could use this ability correctly, he could avoid trouble.

***

This teleportation reminded Vallynor of Annino, the demonic hound who could also move through shadows, which was similar to teleportation. Currently, she was in the process of transformation, and Vallynor knew that she was unconscious.

Thinking of Annino, he already felt the loneliness of not having this little dog running around anymore, not waiting for his affection, even though he was a cat lover.

Reflecting on Annino, Vallynor also remembered Glazik, the so-called lady who was ready to go against him. She was nowhere to be found, and after contacting her owner, he learned that Glazik was in the city. Vallynor decided to leave everything as it was and let her roam, because if she was doing it, she must have had a reason.

While he was thinking, Vallynor noticed a small golden book without a name on the table. It looked new, and its cover was made of gold.

But something was strange about this cover, and Vallynor realized that it was not ordinary gold because it contained a vast amount of mana. Taking it in his hands, he opened the book and began to read.

At the beginning, there was a brief description of how everything in the world was connected and that the soul, body, and energy of different beings were distinct and could not be merged. But in reality, they all came from the same source, and nothing was impossible. Every fragment could become whole by finding the right approach.

Flipping through the pages, Vallynor continued to read the book and, after a few pages, understood that it was a guide that would help him enlighten himself, take the first step, and complete the mission.

He already wanted to start training his soul and mind, but he remembered that he had to enter the book and train there with the old man for some necro-coins. Oops, cryptocurrency. Vallynor had lost a few million, and they weren't dollars, but Chinese money, as the dollar had dropped in value and lost its dominant position, with the Chinese yuan almost reaching the British pound.

Taking the book in his hands, Vallynor decided to first send something unnecessary he had received today to his inner inventory, not the book. Taking a candle in his hands, he tried to send it to the inventory, as Neffan had said.

After a few attempts, he managed to send the candle and then retrieve it. Then he took the book and sent it to the inventory. He also thought about taking everything out of the rings and sending them to the inventory, except for the most valuable item, which he would keep in one of the rings and use as a distraction.

After that, he undressed and lay down in bed because he couldn't sleep in dirty clothes. Throughout his life, he had been taught that one should only sleep in clean clothes, and he always slept in just his underwear. Maybe he should take another shower? He had no idea where to go tomorrow.

Closing his eyes, Vallynor immersed himself in the world inside the grimoire. He already knew how to enter, so he woke up in the same place where he had last left off. Like the previous night, there was no one around, which seemed strange. One day could somehow be explained, but the next day? It seemed odd.

Despite this, Vallynor remained calm, knowing that this was a whole world belonging only to necromancers, and there could be no enemies here wishing him harm.

Seeing the old man who was staring at the walking corpse of a cat, Vallynor approached and began examining the undead.

"Incredible creatures, these undead. Those who have lost their precious lives but do not wish to move on to the next stage of soul existence to become like necromancers. Undead are not a full-fledged race. They represent a chance for those who have died but still have a specific task to perform in the world of the living. Their desire and strength do not allow them to disappear, and they return to the world as undead. Only the wound that deprived them of their lives remains until all other wounds are healed. And for a short time, they are capable of walking the world of the living to fulfill their final wish," said the old man, looking at Vallynor, expecting him to understand and begin asking questions.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Vallynor pondered these philosophical themes. At the same time, various scenes and fragments from movies and books about the undead, where sentient undead creatures wished to die, crossed his mind.

"Those who have always been alive, turning into the undead, become the dead. They lose what they had in life and receive something in return. But transitioning to the side of the undead is like moving from life on land into the depths of the sea. Those who have always lived as the undead cannot understand those who were alive and became undead. But if the soul itself desires to be undead and to exist, it can change and adapt..." Vallynor reflected.

"Why are you talking about these philosophical topics?" Vallynor interrupted the old man.

"Because once we begin the lesson, I won't be able to discuss such matters with you anymore. I just wanted to share... Are you ready to start the new lesson?" the old man replied.

Vallynor nodded hesitantly, paid for the lesson, and began training with the old man, listening to his lectures.

***

Two hours later, Vallynor woke up tired in his bed, and before his eyes appeared blue panels indicating the completion of a quest. He didn't even glance at them and confirmed the completion, receiving 5000 necro-coins. Then he took out the golden book and began reading it attentively.

Time passed quickly until he closed the book and started following the steps outlined in it. Even though he felt tired, he didn't want to postpone it any longer. So much time had already passed, and he hadn't even taken the first step towards enlightenment.

***

Caesar, writing on paper, stopped and smiled in Vallynor's direction. His eyes turned white, and he could see Vallynor's room and Vallynor himself, who was in bed in a meditative posture.

Caesar, observing Vallynor, saw changes affecting all three aspects - body, mind, and soul. They were on the verge of transitioning to a new level, but the method of enlightenment was incorrect. If Vallynor decided to take the first step, his soul wouldn't be able to develop and heal properly. A technique was needed that would encompass all, considering that his soul was no longer just a human soul but also a dragon's soul, a fallen soul, and even slightly demonic. His soul was a blend of all these elements. That's why techniques affecting all were required.

For this purpose, Caesar had prepared a golden book in which the first three levels of development were already written. Now, he was contemplating the rest. He sought help from Lia, and Vallynor's techniques contained elements from the Nightmares, or perhaps even deeper... from the very universe of imagination belonging to the realm of Nightmares.

***

On the castle roof sat a man in a suit, holding a cane in his hand. He smiled and watched Vallynor and Caesar. As he observed, he began to stroke his chin, and hair started growing on it. In a few seconds, a neat black beard had formed.

The man nodded, turned around, and vanished, leaving Vallynor and Caesar. In the next moment, he reappeared beyond the city and raised his hand over his eyes, as if shielding them from the sun. He began to survey the surroundings when a fire flew towards him, but he swatted it away as if it were a fly, snapping his fingers. The creatures that had thrown fire at him disappeared, and the man, holding the cane in his right hand, slowly began to move. It appeared as though he was strolling leisurely, but only five seconds had passed, and the cityscape vanished, the environment rapidly changing.

***

Awakening to a knock, Vallynor looked around, not understanding what had happened. Someone was knocking at the door again, grabbing his attention. He quickly glanced out the window and saw sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Did I fall asleep?" Vallynor tried to recall what had happened last night. However, the knocking at the door wouldn't leave him in peace. Out of irritation, he wanted to shout but decided that it was probably Alexander.

"I'll get changed and come out," he called towards the door.

"Mr. Alexander has requested you to use the earring and proceed immediately to the training field. Training attire has been left by the door," a girl's voice came from behind the door, and then Vallynor heard her footsteps receding.

Vallynor swiftly opened the door and saw a floating set of clothing, along with a sheet of paper on which was written: "You have 5 minutes," and beneath it, a countdown had started at "5:00."

Grabbing the clothes, Vallynor entered the room and immediately began to change. At the same time, he heard numerous irritating sounds that disrupted his concentration, making it difficult for him to recall what had happened last night.

"Where are all these annoying sounds coming from?" Vallynor thought, growing annoyed by the unfamiliar noises. All these strange sounds, which he couldn't remember hearing before, were provoking irritation. Turning his head towards the bed to check if he had forgotten something, he noticed a book at the edge of the bed.

A golden book, partially hidden under the covers, instantly helped him remember what had happened yesterday. Vallynor's eyes widened in astonishment, and he quickly opened the blue panel with the task.

I'll take the first step now!

You've lived in this world for over 3 years but never took the first step towards enlightenment, towards understanding and mastering this world. As a mortal, you've achieved success only through the Hero's Effect, increasing your luck (???????????? Weak????????????????).

Objectives: Take the first step in all three types of enlightenment – develop the paths of Body, Soul, and Mind.

Reward: 1 gift from the God of Death (the box could contain anything, and the God will choose what your reward will be. Advice: pray not to get legendary bikini armor or a sword that commands over women. The God has many such items.)]

"Completed," Vallynor whispered, feeling excited. He was ready to jump for joy. Finally, he had become an official mage, or more precisely, taken the first step on the path of development. He couldn't wait any longer and pressed the button to complete the quests and find out what reward he would receive.

[Congratulations on completing this task. As a reward, you receive one gift from the God of Death. Press to confirm], the message read.

Pressing the button, Vallynor waited for a few seconds until the Necronomicon appeared before him. The space began to distort and crack, and a sinister and dreadful wail echoed around. However, this did not frighten Vallynor; on the contrary, these sounds seemed understandable to him, albeit a bit too loud.

A small crack appeared in the space from which black mist began to emerge, and whispers emanated from the crack, scaring anyone who heard them. Vallynor tried to make out what the whispers were saying, but he couldn't understand anything. Before he could grasp what was happening, a small box emerged from the crack, and then everything disappeared as if nothing had happened. Only the flying Necronomicon remained, which quickly returned to Vallynor. He took the box and eagerly opened it, revealing black fabric inside. When he took the fabric out of the box, he realized it was a cloak, very similar to the one he had received from the necromancers, but this one looked even richer. It had golden arches on its sleeves adorned with various symbols, and on the entire cloak, when viewed from different angles, one could notice dark symbols merging with the blackness of the material.

***

Some time earlier...

The God of Death, reading a book in the darkness, lifted his head and slowly closed the book. Before him appeared a woman dressed as a maid, but her figure was translucent, indicating her ethereal nature. She bowed before her master and handed him a sheet of paper, which was slowly aging and yellowing.

The God of Death took the sheet in his hands and began to read. As he read, his face displayed sadness and disgust. He was about to destroy this pitiful piece of paper into ashes, but the maid silently stopped him and pointed to the last lines.

After reading the final lines, the God of Death couldn't hide his gratitude to the maid. He read the entire sheet of paper and waved his hand, signaling his servant to leave. She bowed and departed.

Standing up, the God of Death snapped his fingers, and in the darkness, a sound was heard, followed by a faint light that dispelled the darkness and freed the souls living in this realm. Sighing, the God of Death turned and noticed that the room was transforming into a corridor.

With just three steps, he covered thousands of kilometers and found himself in the Hall of Offerings. A faint light followed him, warning and dismissing weak souls, letting them know that their master was nearby and they should prepare.

The Hall of Offerings, where offerings brought to the God of Death appeared every second, was filled with sacrifices like Death itself. Various gifts continually emerged from the altar: gold, books, artifacts, animals, and even people. Girls were dressed modestly, and men wore loincloths.

Everything living that ended up here turned into the undead, and all the items and clothing worn by the sacrifices became artifacts due to the rich energy of death as long as they remained in this world. The amount of death energy affected how long these items would last, created outside this world. If there was insufficient energy, they would begin to deteriorate due to poor material quality. However, high-quality items did not deteriorate; instead, they became artifacts with unusual abilities, which were later bestowed upon faithful servants and believers from the outside world.

But in reality, the God of Death did not like this. He wanted to live in silence, so all living beings would forget about him. However, the ritual of offering had spread to the world of the living, and he had to accept the offerings and fulfill their requests on a whim. He would gladly ignore them, but it was like the situation where children came to an old man every day and asked for his help. It softened his heart because they were his children, children he had grown to love.

This time he had come here not to fulfill the request of some mortal but to keep his promise and watch over Vallynor. He was tired of seeing him not striving for development. And that's why the God had made the promised gift.

After thinking for a while, he pulled out ten sets of bikini armor and loincloths, which lay on the lifeless thread. Then he plucked a few strands of his hair, and from the ground emerged seven drops of black liquid.

All these items merged and transformed into a long thread. The God of Death lightly kicked the floor, and in the next moment, old boards and rusty black steel sprouted from the ground, connecting and becoming a sewing tool.

With a few claps, several undead women and men appeared in front of the sewing tool, who began to sew the mantle carefully and gracefully, using the newly created thread.

After some time, a finished black mantle appeared before the God of Death. He nodded and headed towards the altar, which was always filled with offerings. Snapping his fingers, he temporarily halted the reception of gifts, allowing many mortals to go unanswered in their prayers.

The God of Death began to speak, but no one could hear his words. They were uttered in the whisper of death, which could only be heard by the dead or those close to death. A crack appeared before him, and he tossed the box into it, smiling faintly.