The return to Luminar Academy was quiet, though the weight of the world seemed heavier with each step. Maple Academy had been purged, Norway Academy's crisis was contained, and the village west of the Hallowed Forest was safe—at least for now. Lyra, Thorne, and I rode through the gates, our mounts clattering over the cobblestones, and a sense of uneasy relief settled over me.
As soon as we dismounted, the familiar chime of the system pulsed in my mind. A message appeared in translucent golden letters floating before my eyes:
SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE. NEW SKILLS AVAILABLE. ACCESS TAMER PARK.
I blinked, a surge of curiosity replacing exhaustion. "Tamer Park?" I muttered. "That's… new."
Lyra glanced at me, eyebrow raised. "You look more excited than you do tired. What is it?"
I shook my head. "Not sure yet. Let's check it."
I closed my eyes and focused on the system. My consciousness slipped into the familiar interface, but this time, a vast new tab had appeared—a park-like structure stretching infinitely in all directions. Floating islands of land, rivers, forests, and mountains stretched before me, each labeled with shimmering golden text.
TAMER PARK
I stepped forward and the view shifted to a massive silhouette—a skeletal titan surrounded by an endless sea of undead.
"Leader of undead detected: Lech," the system intoned.
"Number of controlled undead: 1,023,458."
I staggered back slightly. Over one million undead under a single entity's control. Even the most organized armies in Luminar wouldn't compare.
"Pocket space for Lech detected. Size: Infinite."
A smaller notification popped up beside my usual inventory:
New Pocket Space Active – Lech Containment. Items stored here will not consume standard item capacity.
I rubbed my eyes. "Infinite… pocket space? One million undead?"
Thorne leaned over my shoulder, squinting. "That's insane. You're saying one person… one demon under your control… could potentially dominate a battlefield?"
"Exactly," I muttered, awe and dread mingling in my chest. The Lech wasn't just another monster—it was an army unto itself. If I could control it, we could turn the tide against Nox, Lindon, Van, and Dox, but a mistake could spell disaster.
Lyra placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me. "Kael… slow down. You can't just think about the power. You need to understand how to use it."
I nodded, letting her words settle. I had grown accustomed to the system's updates, but this… this was different. This wasn't just a skill upgrade; it was an escalation in stakes. The Lech wasn't just powerful—it was game-changing.
"Control is as much about restraint as it is about strength," I whispered to myself. "One wrong move and it could destroy everything."
---
I entered the Tamer Park interface fully, feeling the energy of the Lech radiate like a storm contained in a jar. The system provided a detailed view: the Lech's body was massive, skeletal and jagged, eyes glowing with dark intelligence. Surrounding it were the countless undead minions, moving in perfect harmony under its command.
"The Lech recognizes a tamer's aura. Approach with caution. Establish dominance through synchronization," the system instructed.
I stepped closer, allowing my aura to extend. My pulse synced with the demon's energy, a delicate dance of power and intent. The Lech's glowing eyes flickered as if assessing me, testing my strength and resolve.
"Lech is resistant to direct control. Suggest gradual synchronization. Failure may result in system rejection or loss of control over minions."
I nodded. This wasn't about brute force. I had to earn the Lech's trust, just as I had done with the smaller demon at the village. Slowly, I extended my mana further, weaving threads of intent and harmony into the Lech's core essence.
---
Meanwhile, Lyra and Thorne stood at the academy's courtyard, keeping watch. They had cleared their schedules for the day, and now they monitored the perimeters as I concentrated on the synchronization. Lyra's eyes flicked toward me repeatedly, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Kael… are you sure you can control something that massive?" she asked quietly.
I exhaled, trying to keep my focus. "I have to. If I don't, it's not just the academies we lose—it's the villages, the people, everything. The Lech isn't an enemy… not yet. I have to make it my ally."
Thorne grunted. "Allies are fine as long as they don't turn on you mid-battle."
I ignored the half-joke, concentrating on the surge of demonic energy before me. The Lech shifted slightly, massive skeletal limbs moving with deliberate precision. It tested me again, sending a pulse of command to the undead below. I countered with a synchronized pulse of my own, steadying its influence.
"Synchronization 15% complete," the system informed me.
"You may now issue limited commands to subordinate undead."
I grinned faintly. "That's a start."
I sent a mental command, instructing the surrounding undead to halt, forming protective barriers around Luminar Academy's gates. The sea of corpses froze mid-motion, a wave of chilling silence rippling through the courtyard. Lyra and Thorne both gasped.
"Kael… you did that?" Lyra whispered, awe in her voice.
I nodded. "Just a start. Once I'm fully synchronized, we can use the Lech to bolster defenses or even take the fight to the demons controlling the academies."
---
Over the next few hours, I worked carefully, gradually extending my influence deeper into the Lech's network. Each successful synchronization brought me closer to full control, while also providing real-time intelligence on the location and status of the undead under its command.
The system also highlighted a hidden feature: the Lech Pocket Space, a separate dimension capable of holding the Lech's essence and minions safely, without affecting my usual inventory or mana reserves. It was a storage dimension, infinitely expandable, that allowed me to deploy the Lech strategically without overextending myself.
I tested it cautiously, sending a small contingent of undead into the pocket space. The system confirmed the storage. Secure. Deployable. Controlled.
"This… changes everything," I murmured. The scale of what I could now do was staggering. I wasn't just fighting demons—I could control an army, a force of over a million undead, all through the Lech.
Lyra approached finally, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Kael… I trust you can handle this. But you must be careful. The Lech isn't just a tool—it's a responsibility. One misstep, and the undead could become a threat to everyone we're trying to protect."
I nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle on my shoulders. "I understand. But with this… with the Lech… we finally have a chance to turn the tide against Nox, Lindon, Van, and Dox. We can fight back."
Thorne smirked from the side. "Just don't let it eat your breakfast or anything. One million undead aren't exactly subtle."
I chuckled, letting the humor ease the tension slightly. Even in the midst of this new power, I knew we had to remain grounded, cautious, and prepared.
---
As night fell over Luminar Academy, the Lech's aura pulsed like a heartbeat within the Tamer Park. I had fully accessed its commands, stored it safely in its own pocket space, and confirmed that it could be deployed at will. The system chimed once more, a reminder of its presence and power:
TAMER PARK – SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE: 100%
Lech Containment – Active. Command Available.
I exhaled slowly, leaning back. For the first time in weeks, I felt a tangible sense of readiness. With the Lech, Luminar's defenses, and the combined strength of my friends, we were prepared for the coming battles. The demons would not wait, but neither would we.
"Even the mightiest darkness can be overcome," I whispered, feeling the pulse of the Lech beneath my hands. "As long as we have the courage to command it."
The war was about to escalate—and this time, we had a force that could match the demons blow for blow.