Birth of a Killer [Pt 1]

As I pondered the mysterious words in the "Death" book, a sudden realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.

In the stories from my previous world, the necromancer protagonists often summoned the dead with a common command.

Wondering about the link between the books and the stories I knew, I wanted to try this idea.

Perhaps, the special magic in the "Cursed Resurrection" needed a more exact way of talking.

I felt really excited and curious as I cleared my throat and shouted, "Rise, my minions!"

The air around me seemed to shake with an unseen power, and for a short time, I didn't breathe, not sure what would happen.

The magic forest changed a bit, with leaves moving and faraway waterfalls making a mysterious sound.

But then, like it didn't want to do what I thought, nothing happened that I could see. No undead minions came, and the forest stayed really quiet.

"Not again, now what the fuck should I do? "

I felt confused, so I thought again about what I was doing. Maybe, the words needed a stronger link to what's in the book.

With more will to get it right, I tried again, this time saying things with a clear idea.

"Rise, my minions! Come up from the deep, nightmarish hell!"

As the words echoed through the eerie quiet of the enchanted woods, a new and powerful feeling filled the air.

The sky above started to get dark as if the heavens themselves recognized the magical call.

"Something is wrong. "

The wind, once a whisper, turned into a wild dance among the trees, making the leaves rustle with a strange energy.

Suddenly, the ground beneath me shook.

A scary crack split the earth, and a bony hand came out, clawing its way into the moonlight.

"Is this what I believe it to be?"

The air felt heavy with a creepy expectation as the crack got bigger, revealing a path to an unseen world.

In a strange line, more cracks showed up on the ground, each one bringing out a bony creature.

"Finally! I have done it."

The first one was just a sign, and soon 24 others joined it.

Their bones were a pale ghostly colour, reflecting the dim light, and their eye holes glowed with an eerie light.

"Kra.. Kr-kraa. "

The calm forest now echoed with the sound of bones rattling and a spooky chorus of whispers.

The scene changed into a scary show as the skeletons gathered, forming a group rising from a nightmarish place.

A mix of feelings rushed through me — amazement at the surprising appearance, doubt about the powers I had let loose, and a bit of excitement mixed with a hint of thrill.

The forest, covered in otherworldly darkness, watched as my skeleton minions emerged, each one carrying the dark magic I had bravely called upon.

As I marvelled at my seemingly successful summoning, a peculiar sequence of events unfolded.

The darkened sky, once a dramatic backdrop, now rumbled with unexpected thunder, as if the heavens were also questioning my actions.

"Uh-oh, did I break something up there?" I muttered, eyeing the sky nervously.

The wind, caught in its wild dance, seemed to have misunderstood its role.

Instead of adding an ominous atmosphere, it twirled my hair into a chaotic mess, turning my moment of dark magic into an unintentional hair-raising comedy.

"Great, I summon skeletons, and the wind gives me a makeover. Just perfect," I chuckled nervously.

Meanwhile, the ground, still pulsating with an eerie energy, decided to throw in its surprise.

A misplaced step sent me stumbling into a pile of leaves, creating a rather unimpressive crash amid the unfolding supernatural drama.

"Smooth. Real smooth," I grumbled, untangling myself from the leaves and attempting to regain my composure.

The skeletal figures, with their spectral appearance, appeared more inquisitive than threatening.

"Karke-keee." One skeleton spoke.

"Keke.. Kiteth. " Other replied.

They exchanged clicks and clatters that resembled laughter rather than the expected ominous sounds.

"Okay, this is not exactly the bone-chilling army I had in mind. Maybe they're the friendly neighbourhood skeletons," I quipped, trying to find humour in my unintended assembly of comically animated undead.

"Now, how should I communicate with them?"

As I pondered communication methods, a mysterious voice echoed in my mind.

Suddenly, a holographic screen materialized, floating before me.

The System's voice chimed in.

[Congratulations to the host for successfully learning a new spell "Cursed Resurrection"]

[Updating Status Screen]

[Updating Completed]

[Opening Status Screen forcefully]

[Profession "Swordsman" Have been changed to "Skeleton Conjurer"]

**[Status]**

Name: Alex Delius

[Rank: F+]

[Max Rank Potential: No limit]

—> Stats:

[Strength: D]

[Agility: D-]

[Intelligence: C]

[Stamina: F]

[Magic: F]

[Charisma: D+]

[Luck: E+]

[Profession: Skeleton Conjurer Lvl. 1] [0/25]

[Undeads Space:- 25/2500]

[Techniques: Higher Swordsmanship (D-)]

[Quests]

[Barter System]

[Spells]

[Skills]

Stunned, my mouth hung open as I processed the sudden changes. After a bewildering three seconds, I called out to the System, demanding an explanation for the alterations in my status screen.

"System, what did you do to my status screen?" I questioned.

The System calmly responded, listing three changes and explaining that I was now a "Skeleton Conjurer."

"What's the use of this profession?" I asked, still trying to comprehend the unexpected transformation.

The System clarified, "A Skeleton Conjurer can summon 25 skeletons, and as the level increases, so does the number of skeletons."

My eyes widened in surprise, "There are more levels?"

I questioned, to which the System replied with a simple "Yes,".

"There are 100 levels, each unlocking an additional 25 skeletons." (System)

'Oh my god! That's crazy!'

Ignoring my astonishment, the System continued, "Host, there's more than just a few levels, it consists of stages.

"Wait, there are stages too?" I exclaimed.

The System persisted, "Indeed, there are a total of 8 stages."

"They are Death Ruler, Death Commander, Death General, Netherworld Summoner, Lich Lord, Necromancer, Skeleton Throttle, and Skeleton Conjurer."

"But, how many undead do each of these stages get?" I eagerly inquired.

The System, maintaining its unyielding composure, provided the breakdown. "Death Ruler commands 50 Million undead, Death Commander controls 12.5 Million, Death General has 3 Million, Netherworld Summoner oversees 1 Million, Lich Lord manages 2,50,000, Necromancer governs 75000, Skeleton Throttle leads 15000, Skeleton Conjurer leads 2500 and as you are now a Skeleton Conjurer Level 1, you begin with 25."

My mind reeled at the scale of the undead hierarchy, and I stuttered, "So, each stage has its own undead army?"

The System affirmed, "Yes, Host. As you progress through the stages, you gain command over larger numbers of undead minions."

A sense of responsibility weighed heavily on me as I considered the immense potential that lay ahead.

The System's revelation had opened up a world of possibilities, each stage promising a more formidable legion of skeletal companions.

"I have many questions that need to be answered, but one thing is clear: the moment I become a necromancer, this Novel's world will undergo a drastic transformation," I muttered in a quiet tone.

The forest once witnessed my uncertain spells, now observed a novice necromancer standing at the threshold of a journey into the realm of the undead.