Chapter 51: Rattan Shaman

Seeing the eerie, determined grin stretch across Niko’s face, Ivanic felt an uncomfortable chill run down his spine. Something was unnerving about the way Niko was processing everything that had just happened—the dungeon, the deaths, the power he now held. It wasn’t just determination Ivanic saw; it was a kind of feverish, ruthless hunger for domination that made him feel unsettled.

Niko noticed Ivanic’s hesitation and confusion. He turned to his companion with a half-smile, masking the intensity bubbling beneath the surface. "As you can see, we’re now part of a ‘clan’—something I received after taking over this territory."

Ivanic nodded thoughtfully, processing Niko’s words. His unease wasn’t so much about the concept of the clan itself—it was more about what Niko might do with such power. The grin on Niko’s face hadn’t left, and it reminded Ivanic too much of the same hunger for power he had seen in others. A hunger that often led to bloodshed.

"You might want to check your interface," Niko continued, eyeing Ivanic’s shifting expressions. "There might be some new things there now that we’re bound to this territory."

Ivanic’s eyebrows raised in curiosity and he quickly pulled up his own interface. A dark, grim realization soon replaced his initial excitement over the discovery.

"Our clan has quite a large territory," Ivanic muttered, still focused on the map displayed in front of him. "But there’s something you need to know. People are greedy. They’ll covet this land, Niko. The moment they find out about it, they’ll try to take it."

Niko’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "I know. But we’re not at a complete disadvantage. We have this entire territory to ourselves, which means we can hunt and level up without much competition. And there’s no need to worry about backstabbers, not with my spirits around."

Ivanic nodded, but his concern remained etched into his face. "True, but if we’re going to capitalize on this, we need to move fast. The other territories won’t sit idle for long. I wouldn’t be surprised if they send scouts to check us out soon."

Niko pondered Ivanic’s words. He knew they were right. The world they lived in was filled with treachery and danger. Greed was a constant, and territory meant power. His mind was already racing with plans—ways to solidify his rule, ways to expand. He would need more spirits, more strength, and more strategy.

Ivanic broke the silence with a question. "How many spirits can you summon right now?"

"Around six," Niko replied, glancing down at his hands as if considering the possibilities. "But I could probably handle a few more if I pushed myself. And as we level up, that number will increase drastically. I have a plan for that."

His gaze then turned toward the dead ratmen scattered across the room. There was work to be done.

"I want you to explore the castle a bit more," Niko said. "I’m going to deal with the spirits of these ratmen. Once I’m done, we can head out into the forest and grind out some levels."

Ivanic nodded in agreement, his expression grave as he realized just how dire their situation was. They needed every possible advantage, every ounce of strength they could muster if they were to survive the threats that loomed over them. With a curt nod, he turned on his heel and strode off to explore the deeper, uncharted sections of the castle. His footsteps echoed down the stone halls, growing fainter as he ventured into the shadows, leaving Niko standing alone in the hall littered with the remains of their enemies.

The silence settled over Niko like a heavy cloak, broken only by the distant creak of old wood and the faint rustle of wind through the cracks in the stone. He stood still for a moment, letting the weight of the recent battle sink in. Yet, despite the carnage around him, his heart thrummed with anticipation. The thrill of victory, yes, but more than that—the promise of power.

His gaze fell on the lifeless body of the Wise Rat, sprawled out among the corpses of its lesser kin. This creature had been more than just a mindless monster; it had been a commander, a leader among the ratmen, and it wielded intelligence and magic. What would it be like to bring such a creature under his control? To bind its will to his own?

Niko's excitement mounted, his fingers twitching in anticipation. He knelt beside the body, his dark robes brushing against the bloodstained floor, and placed his hand on the cold, lifeless form of the Wise Rat. He could feel the lingering essence of the creature—powerful, potent, and just waiting to be harnessed.

"Let’s see what you can do for me," Niko muttered, his voice low and full of purpose.

With a deep breath, he activated his skill, [Spirit King’s Order].

The now-familiar green aura surged from his body, enveloping him in its ethereal glow. Tendrils of energy snaked out, wrapping around the fallen body of the Wise Rat, connecting them in a way that felt almost primal. The air crackled with energy as Niko channeled his will into the corpse, calling forth its spirit from the void.

At first, the process felt the same as it always did—a slow, steady pull of the spirit from the body into the realm of the living. But this time, something was different. As the spirit began to materialize before him, Niko felt a sudden, unexpected surge of energy—a pulse of power that was stronger, sharper, more focused than anything he had experienced before.

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His heart skipped a beat as the form of the Wise Rat began to solidify in front of him. It wasn’t like the other spirits he had summoned. This one… this one had a presence. A weight to it that he hadn’t felt with the mindless shades he usually commanded.

The Wise Rat’s spirit floated before him, its form translucent and ghostly, yet unmistakably powerful. Its eyes, glowing with an eerie green light, locked onto Niko’s, and for a moment, he felt as if the creature were assessing him, its intelligence shining through the spectral haze. The aura around the spirit was heavy, its presence more formidable than any of the spirits he had raised before.

Niko’s breath caught in his throat. This wasn’t just some hollow, mindless entity. This was something else—something far more valuable. The creature before him wasn’t simply a puppet to be controlled; it was a spirit with intelligence, with will. And that made it a weapon unlike any he had wielded before.

The spirit of the Wise Rat looked at him, not with the blank stare of a summoned minion, but with a gaze that seemed to possess understanding. Its ghostly hand gripped the spectral version of the staff it had wielded in life.

Niko’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Could spirits retain their intelligence after death? He had to find out.

[Celestial Probe]

[Name: Rattan Shaman]

Rank: F+

Potential: E

[Status]

Strength: 1

Constitution: 2

Agility: 2

Intelligence: 4

Mana: 4

Mana Power: 10/10

Spirit Power: 0/500

[Skills]

Rat Swarm

Green Blob

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Niko could hardly contain his excitement. "A potential rank of E?" He almost laughed aloud, the glee in his voice barely restrained. "This is incredible!"

Niko had never expected to summon a spirit with such immense potential. The Rattan Shaman was far more than a simple minion—it was an intelligent spirit, capable of wielding magic, something Niko hadn’t thought possible at this stage of his journey. It wasn’t just another mindless foot soldier; this shaman was smarter than some humans he had met and, more importantly, had the potential to grow—much stronger, much deadlier.

A slow, calculating grin spread across his face as he took a deep breath, considering the possibilities that now lay before him. The very air around him seemed to hum with newfound energy. He turned his attention back to the Rattan Shaman, its ghastly form floating silently, the tattered robes of its spiritual body drifting as though caught in an invisible breeze. Its glowing eyes flickered with eerie intelligence, scanning its surroundings as if already assessing its place in this world.

Niko couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. "Can you understand me?" he asked, his voice low but commanding, testing the limits of this new creation.

The Rattan Shaman tilted its head slightly, its glowing gaze locking onto Niko. The silence stretched out, thick with tension, before the spirit slowly, deliberately nodded.

Niko’s heart pounded in his chest as he clenched his fists in triumph. This was more than he could’ve hoped for. Not only had this spirit retained its intelligence, but it could also understand him and follow complex commands. His mind raced with possibilities, strategies blooming like wildfire. If this spirit could think, it could plan. It could adapt. It could strategize in ways his other spirits could not.

In a world like this, where strength was essential but cunning was invaluable, an ally like this could change everything. An army that thinks for itself, a general that can act as my second-in-command while I’m away, he mused, the thought thrilling him.

His eyes gleamed as he issued his next command, voice steady and authoritative. "You’re going to stay here," he said, his tone brokering no argument. "Your job is to protect this castle—my territory—and alert me the moment anyone or anything enters without my permission. Nothing passes through these walls without me knowing. Do you understand?"

The Rattan Shaman’s glowing eyes flickered again before it gave another slow, obedient nod. Without a word, it began to glide deeper into the castle, its ethereal form seeming to merge with the shadows as it moved.

From beneath its tattered robes, a small army of spectral rats began to spill forth. Their red eyes gleamed as they scurried across the floor, darting toward various doorways and disappearing into the hidden corners of the castle. They moved with eerie precision, as if guided by an unseen hand, finding the best vantage points from which to watch and guard. It was as though the castle itself was now alive with unseen eyes.

Niko watched with satisfaction as the shaman and its swarm melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight but not from his awareness. The sensation of power thrummed through him, a rush of dominance that brought a devious smile to his lips.

This world just became a lot more manageable, Niko thought, his confidence soaring. Humans, with their betrayals and treachery, were unnecessary. He didn’t need unreliable allies. Why rely on human companionship when he had an army of spirits—loyal, obedient, and unquestioning? This shaman alone could act as a guardian of his fortress, capable of defending it with cunning that surpassed anything a mindless spirit could provide.

His gaze flicked back to the remaining ratmen corpses scattered across the floor from the earlier battle. He felt the familiar stir of excitement well up inside him, a hunger for more power, more control. Why stop with one? he thought, a dark grin curling the edges of his lips. He could bolster his numbers, grow his army even further. There was no reason to hesitate now.

With a practiced movement, he raised his hand, and the air around him pulsed in response to his command. The faint green glow of his power flickered across his fingers as he called upon the essence of the dead. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, the temperature dropping as an eerie fog rolled in, pooling at his feet.

The corpses of the ratmen twitched, their bodies jerking unnaturally as their spirits were forcibly pulled from their remains. One by one, the ratmen spirits began to materialize, their forms wavering like smoke as they hovered before him. Their ghastly figures shimmered in the dim light, eyes glowing with a haunting light, their forms locked in an unsettling, eternal dance between life and death.

Niko’s eyes gleamed as he surveyed his spectral army, his thoughts buzzing with the limitless potential at his fingertips. His ambitions had never felt more within reach. This castle was his stronghold, and these spirits were his soldiers.

"If the other territories want a fight, they can have it," he muttered darkly. "But they won’t know what hit them."

As Niko summoned more spirits from the fallen ratmen, his mind raced with plans. He would level up, pour all his points into intelligence, and build an army so vast and powerful that nothing could stand in his way. A chill spread through the room as his spirits began to gather around him.

He was ready for whatever came next. And woe to anyone who tried to stand in his way.