I really need to stop passing out. One of these times I’m going to wake up and I’ll have been abducted by the undead or they’ll be eating my flesh. I stumbled around the house until I found a bathroom. Like the rest of the house, it was decrepit and falling apart. I took a quick pee and then walked over to the cracked mirror hanging on the wall. What stared back at me was a slightly different looking me. Before my class change and access to the system, I had been a heavy set short guy with curly black hair and blue eyes. Now I was still chubby but I thought I looked a little taller and slightly paler But the biggest change by far was my eyes. They were pure black, I had no irises, it was like endless darkness staring back at me. I have no idea why this didn’t scare me but I didn’t seem to mind the way I looked now.
It was then that I noticed another change in myself. I could feel something deep within my core like a tiny ball of gas that I could only assume was mana. It felt powerful and dangerous, but it didn’t scare me because I could tell it would only ever do as instructed like a loyal dog. After the shock of all the changes to my physical appearance and body, I noticed that there was a blinking blue box in the top right of my vision. I decided now would be a good time to check what that was.
Congratulations to the host for obtaining a class. For being one of the first 100 of your species to obtain a class bonus experience has been awarded.
LVL UP
For the host being the first of its species to obtain an exotic class, an additional skill has been given to the host.
Stat points are available for allocation.
I wondered if the system could hear me and if there was any way to ask it questions. I figured I’d give it a shot after all I had nothing to lose. “What are stats?”
Stats are a numerical representation of the host’s body and abilities.
“What kind of stats are there?”
There are several stats and they are as follows:
STR-Strength (How strong host is and how hard they hit)
INT-Intelligence (How strong host’s spells are) +5 total mana pool
WIS-Wisdom (How fast host regenerates mana) +1 Mana Regen
PERC-Perception. (Affects the host’s awareness/sight range)
VIT-Vitality (Host’s health pool and host’s stamina) +5 total health pool
END-Endurance (How fast host can regenerate health) +1 Health Regen
AGI-Agility (How quickly host can move)
DEX-Dexterity (Affects the host’s flexibility and reaction speed)
WILL-Willpower (Strengthens host’s mental facilities and mental resistances)
CTRL-Control (Affects the host’s ability to control their spells. Also affects the host’s ability to control minions)
“Okay wow, that’s a lot to take in. How do I check my status then?”
Just say status.
“Status”
Name: Gregory Sol Age: 21 Sex: Male Race: Human Level: 6 Class: Necromancer Health: 20/20 Mana: 65/65 Health Regen: 1 Health Per Hour Mana Regen: 5 Mana Per Hour STR 2 INT 13 (+3 due to class) WIS 5 PERC 2 VIT 4 END 1 AGI 1 DEX 1 WILL 12 (+2 due to class) CTRL 15 (+5 due to class)
Stat Points available: 18
Would the host like to allocate stats?
I needed to take this slowly so I thought no to continue allocating my stats. I had to think hard about this if there was going to be any chance in hell of me surviving this dungeon. I was thinking that the Necromancer was definitely a mage class so wisdom and intelligence were going to be pretty important. Control was definitely going to be significant based on the fact that my class gave me +5 every level. Also, my class seemed to think willpower was important to for some reason. I wasn’t going to be doing any up close fighting so strength was pretty useless to me at this time. After spending what felt like an hour contemplating what kind of build I was going for.
“Status”
Name: Gregory Sol Age: 21 Sex: Male Race: Human Level: 6 Class: Necromancer Health: 20/20 Mana: 85/85 Health Regen: 1 Health Per Hour Mana Regen: 8 Mana Per Hour STR 2 INT 20 WIS 8 PERC 2 VIT 4 END 1 AGI 1 DEX 1 WILL 12 CTRL 23
Stats are amazing, after putting in the points I felt an immediate change. The mana ball that was inside of me grew a little bigger. When that was done I reached into my backpack and had my daily meal of a granola bar and water. I now had roughly 6 bars of granola left and 8 water bottles. Either I’d need to find another food source or I’d have to find the exit to this dungeon and soon or I was going to starve. Now it was time to take a look at my skills.
“System what are skills?”
Skills are abilities that the host has learned or created. They can range anywhere from the typical fireball to the ability to fly. There is a multitude of different types of skills but they can be divided into two main types; passive and active. Passive skills are skills that are always active and active skills are skills that you have to activate to use. They level up as you use them. There is no limit to the number of skills the host may learn. Skills are also classified by ranks. The rankings are: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Exotic, Mythic and Legendary.
“Okay. System show me my skills.”
Gregory Sol's Skills: Soul Chamber Unique Passive Beginner 1 Host absorbs the souls of enemies after defeating them in combat. The host then stores the soul in a soul chamber within their own soul. Souls can be used for a variety of purposes host may unlock as they level up the skill. Summon Familiar Exotic Active Beginner 1
The host can summon a familiar to aid them in exchange for a portion of the host’s mana pool. Cost: 50 Mana
Control Undead Exotic Active Beginner 1
It allows the host to control all forms of undead. Each undead host controls takes a portion of the host’s mana. The number of the undead host can control is based on the control stat. Every undead type will require a different amount of control and mana.
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Manipulate Shadow Uncommon Active Beginner 1 It allows the host to manipulate shadows. Cost: Varies
“Holy shit if these skills work the way I think they do then I could become very powerful.”
First things first I should summon my familiar I guess. I wonder what kind of familiar I’ll get maybe something cool like a raven or maybe a dragon. I’d love to have a bone dragon as a familiar.
“Summon Familiar”
A huge chunk of my mana flew out of me and created a small portal in front of me. Out of it flew a black and grey owl. It was roughly half a foot tall. It landed on the edge of the bathtub and turned its neck around to look at me. It was then I saw that its eyes were exactly like mine.
“Hey, how’s it going kid?” It said.
“YOU CAN TALK?”
“Of course I can talk, I wouldn’t be much use to you if we couldn’t communicate now, would I? Names Vaeda by the way”
“Hi I’m Gregory Sol but you can call me Greg”
“Hey Greg, so you’re a necromancer? That’s a nice class you got there”
“Yeah what gave it away?”
“Well as you’ve probably seen for yourself some classes change the way you look, and your eyes are a dead giveaway also I have access to your status now. Since you’re new to the system and whatnot why don’t I give you a little rundown on me? Basically, I am now tied to you forever, like till death do us part. Also, the place I came from sucked so I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you alive cause I don’t plan on going back any time soon. Any questions?”
“Actually yeah, why is my status saying that I have 50 mana in use? It also doesn’t seem to be regenerating at all?”
“Well basically in order to keep me tied to this dimensional plane of yours I require a tether. That tether being your mana. So it sets a small chunk of your mana aside for me at all times. It will happen with all of your summons and undead you control. It will take a portion of your mana to permanently control them”
“Next question why do you know so much about the system and my class?”
“Let’s just say humanity is a little late to the system party. Others have had it for far longer and are far stronger for it. I’ve also been around the block enough times to pick some things up.”
“Okay well even though I just met you I feel like I can trust you Vaeda so let’s do our best to survive together.”
“That’s probably due to the familiar bond we have together. It basically ensures that neither one of us can do anything that would bring harm to the other. I’ve also taken a look over your status and you did quite well with your stat distribution so far. Most beings I’ve met that get introduced to the system tend to go for an all rounded approach and let me tell you that almost never works out.”
“Oh, I just figured that since the classes gave passive bonuses every level to certain stats that those stats must be important. Also, I’ve played a lot of RPGs.”
“RP what?”
“Role-playing games. They’re a type of video game we have here on earth.”
“What’s a video game?”
“Ugh this is going to be hard to explain”
I spent the next half hour explaining to Vaeda the intricacies of what makes a great RPG and more importantly what makes a great game. In the end, he sounded very excited about them but when he realized earth no longer had access to technology he was very quickly mellowed out. He continued to look over my status and then he got to skills.
“YOU HAVE A UNIQUE SKILL?”
“Yeah I thought that was just a glitch seeing as the system didn’t mention it as one of the rankings,” I said.
“Yes while you are right that majority of skills fall into those six categories, there is a seventh category reserved for skills or classes that only belong to one individual and those are called Unique classes or skills.” He said.
“Sweet. So Vaeda what would you suggest we do next?”
“What are your goals? Not long term goals just immediate ones.”
“Well, my first goal is to not die. My second goal would be to get out of this dungeon.”
“Wait did you say dungeon?” Vaeda asked me.
“Yeah, I was in this graveyard visiting my parents when the whole place got turned into a recommended level fifty dungeon.”
“Oh shit.”
“What? What’s wrong Vaeda?”
“You probably already know this but dungeons are very dangerous, but I doubt you know why that is. Dungeons are like separate pocket dimensions. That’s how they’re able to be so big inside but the structures they were originally don’t change in shape or size. You also cannot leave a dungeon until you’ve completed it. Time also works strangely in here. Each one is different but I’ve heard of people spending years in dungeons only to be told that only a few minutes have passed. And you said this dungeon is recommended level fifty? That means the minimum level you should be to take on this dungeon is level fifty. You are at level six. Oh God, this is going to be rough.”
“Well fuck. Oh well, we’re stuck in here and I don’t quite feel like kicking the bucket any time soon so you got any ideas on what to do?”
We then got to planning on how to first make me stronger while also scouting out where the boss was. Apparently, in order to leave the dungeon, you have to defeat the boss. Vaeda suggested we first try to get me some minions because a necromancers strength directly correlates to how strong and numerous their minions are. He left the house I had been hiding in and began to scout around looking for a solo zombie or skeleton. He successfully lured a skeleton to the house and he flew in the front door.
“Get ready kid. Remember as long as your control stat is higher than its willpower stat you’ll be fine.”
“Got it.”
The skeleton clambors in and the first thing I notice is that the bones are yellow and look to be very feeble. It has two blue flames in its eye sockets. It’s also not holding a weapon or wearing any armor. I point my hands at the skeleton as it walks towards me.
“Control Undead”
A black mist pours out of my hands and heads straight for the skeleton enveloping it and stopping in its tracks. The black mist seeps into its bones and the blue flames in its eyes turned black like my eyes. It just stood standing there for a couple of minutes before a blue screen greets me.
Congratulations to host for successfully controlling your first undead.
Skeleton Grunt: A low-level grunt in the Necromancer’s undead army. It is part of a patrol group sent to look out for foolish mortals that would intrude upon his domain. LVL 15 Cost 10 CTRL & 15 Mana
Once more I felt like a portion of my mana was just gone again. Vaeda explained that we didn’t do too bad for our first pull but that I’d need to level up my intelligence and control more if I wanted to get my own little army of minions as well. Then Vaeda went out to pull another undead for me to try to control. After about an hour of waiting patiently with no one to talk to but my new skeletal companion, Vaeda flew in through a window and told me to get ready he pulled a good one.
Five minutes later I heard the telltale groaning of a zombie as it slowly limped its way towards the house. I took a good look at it and I think Vaeda was right. It was wearing leather armor that was a little worn down but still looked good and it had a scabbard at its side. I lured it into the living room of the house where my skeleton and Vaeda were waiting. As it walked through the doorway I had my skeleton grab it and hold onto it. I didn’t know what would happen if I failed in my attempts to control it but I didn’t want to find out.
“Control Undead”
Once again black mist seeped out of my hands and raced towards the zombie. It started thrashing in the arms of my skeletal minion and making terrible noises. This continued on for several minutes until the zombie just stopped moving. Its eyes turned pitch black and a blue screen popped up in front of me.
Host successfully controlled undead.
Zombie Grunt: It was once a proud warrior but now retains none of its abilities or memories. Now it’s just another grunt in the Necromancer’s army. LVL 16 Cost 10 CTRL & 20 Mana
The last bit of my mana flowed out of my body and I suddenly felt very empty and alone. That only lasted a second though, as I realized I saw three strands of mana attached to me leading to my three companions.
“Hey Vaeda been meaning to ask but how come all you guys have the same eyes like me?”
“It’s part of the minion/summon to master relationship. It’s how you’ll differentiate your minions from other people’s. It also lets you know if your spell worked or if one of your summons or minions is being controlled.” Vaeda answered.
After that, I ordered my zombie to hand over its scabbard and leather chest piece. I put on the cracked leather chest piece over my hoodie. I pulled the sword out of the scabbard and it was cracked all over and chipped at the end. I instructed my skeleton to wield it. Then I decided to set out it was time to grind. We set out with the skeleton to my right and the zombie to my left. I was wielding my dented shovel while Vaeda flew on ahead to try and spot some stragglers that weren’t part of a group.
After walking around for a while and avoiding large groups of the undead we managed to hone in on a lone zombie grunt. Unfortunately, this one didn’t have any armor or weapons on it. It was behind one of the houses that had come along with the dungeon. I told Vaeda to check the surrounding areas for patrols and to alert me if any happened to be close by. I’m not going to lie I was excited. This would be my first real fight as a tried and true Necromancer. I ordered my zombie to hold his brethren down. My zombie tackled the other one and they began clawing and biting at each other. It was quite a sight to see. Then I commanded my skeleton to rush forward and stab it in the skull. My skeleton walked over and began hacking at the zombies face. It continued groaning until there was nothing left of its head.
Host’s Undead has defeated an enemy in combat (x1)
Experience awarded.
LVL UP
LVL UP
Stat points are available for allocation.
I watched as a bluish-gray wisp was pulled out of the zombie and flowed into me.
Minor Soul absorbed by the host (x1)
I then lead my minions back to our home base to allocate my stats. I sat down on the smelly couch and broke out my meal of granola and water. I asked Vaeda for some advice on my stats just to see where his head was at. I had an idea of what I wanted to do but it never hurts to get a second opinion. We talked it out and decided on putting four points into intelligence and two points into control for now. After I put my points in I ordered my skeleton and zombie to stand guard at the door and I just read through my stats as I fell asleep.
Name: Gregory Sol Age: 21 Sex: Male Race: Human Level: 8 Class: Necromancer Health: 20/20 Mana: 65/150 (85 in use) Health Regen: 1 Health Per Hour Mana Regen: 8 Mana Per Hour STR 2 INT 30 WIS 8 PERC 2 VIT 4 END 1 AGI 1 DEX 1 WILL 16 CTRL 35 (20 in use)