---
Chapter 11: General Whiskers vs. The Bone Pigeon
Ray sat cross-legged in his Domain, Bone Catalyst resting on his lap like a holy relic and his three undead standing at attention.
Well, two were standing.
The pigeon was doing a kind of sideways shuffle that looked like it had unresolved trauma.
"Alright, formation," Ray muttered.
General Whiskers scampered to his left, bone sword strapped to his back. Bonebug—now with seven legs thanks to an upgrade accident—clicked into place on the right.
The pigeon just spun in place.
[Undead Combat Drill #001: Utterly Pointless But Funny To Watch.]
"Noted," Ray muttered. "Let's begin."
With a surge of intent, he activated the Bone Catalyst.
A pulse of death mana spread across the Domain. The ground cracked, and tendrils of dark light wrapped around his three undead.
General Whiskers squeaked dramatically.
The pigeon exploded.
"…okay."
[Congratulations! One of your minions has self-destructed in protest. Please consider offering better working conditions.]
Ray ignored the message and focused.
The Bone Catalyst pulled on the Domain—no, not just the Domain, but him. A connection flared between the dead soil, his mana core, and something older buried beneath it all.
The No-Bark Tree rustled.
It hadn't moved in weeks.
Ray narrowed his eyes. "Don't you dare."
The tree stood still.
Whiskers coughed. Actually coughed. Like he was judging his master.
Ray gritted his teeth. He needed more test subjects. Bigger bones. Maybe even—
Footsteps.
He snapped out of the Domain and sat upright in the real world. His father stood by the door, carrying a massive sack over his shoulder and a bottle of cheap liquor in his hand.
"Got you something."
Ray squinted. "Is it emotionally responsible parenting?"
His father dumped the bag. Fifteen wolf corpses spilled out.
"Close enough."
Ray stared.
"Where the hell did you get fifteen dead wolves?"
"Trade," his father said. "Don't ask. You'll sleep better."
Ray looked back at the pile, then slowly smiled.
Inside his mind, System 15 whistled.
[Looks like it's upgrade time, baby.]
---
End---
Chapter 12: From Rot to Roar – The Seed of Wild Things
The No-Bark Tree shuddered.
Ray stepped back as the black veins crawled across its bark, pulsing like veins beneath skin. The corpses of fifteen wolves had been swallowed, and something primal was growing inside the roots.
[System Notice: Corpse Absorption Complete. Beast Essence Threshold Met.]
[The No-Bark Tree has begun to mutate.]
With a sound like cracking bone, the trunk split down the center—and from its hollow heart, a single object slowly emerged.
A seed.
Rough, fur-textured, warm to the touch.
[New Item Acquired: Seed of the Wolf Tree (Tier 1)
Effect: Can be planted within your Domain. Will grow into a living Beast Tree that produces one real wolf cub per day. Max capacity: 15.]
Ray whistled low. "Now we're farming wolves. That's... new."
He found a fresh patch of soil, still dry and gray. Carefully, he dug a hole, placed the seed, and funneled mana into the earth.
The Domain breathed.
Cracks spread across the dry terrain as if the ground was exhaling for the first time in centuries. The sky above—once a dull gray dome—gained the faintest hue of dawnlight.
Tiny sprouts of grass pushed through the dust.
Pale-blue flowers bloomed around the base of the new sapling.
And then—whoosh—a tree shot upward.
It grew like time was drunk. One second it was a sprout, the next it was a twisting, wild oak with dark fur-lined bark, silver leaves, and small glowing pods already forming along its branches.
Ray staggered back in awe.
The Domain had changed.
Where once there was only death and decay, now there was wild life—still sharp, still dangerous, but breathing.
[Your Domain has begun natural evolution.
New Terrain Tag Unlocked: Beast-Blessed Grove
Passive Effect: Increases beast affinity and accelerates growth of Beast Trees.]
Ray grinned.
And then, the first pod cracked open.
Out tumbled a wolf pup. Real. Flesh and fur. Its eyes met his, and it growled—a baby growl, more squeak than threat.
Ray crouched down.
"Hello, little monster."
It bit his finger.
He smiled wider.
---
End---
Chapter 13: Bond of Fur and Fang
Ray sat on a smooth patch of grass beneath the Wolf Tree, watching the first pup snarl adorably at a falling leaf.
It missed.
Fell sideways.
Growled at the ground like it had insulted its ancestors.
"I'm naming you Failure," Ray said flatly.
The pup barked.
[You cannot name the first beast 'Failure'. That's emotional abuse.]
"Fine," Ray sighed. "Then... Fang."
[Generic. Uninspired. Would you like to randomize names like an edgy teenager making an MMO character?]
Ray ignored System 15 and reached down, petting Fang behind the ears. The wolf's tail wagged once before it bit his hand again.
"Affection through blood loss. Nice. You and System 15 will get along great."
[We already do. We share a hobby: emotional damage.]
Ray stood and glanced at the Wolf Tree. Two more pods had begun to swell.
Another day, two more wolves.
At this rate, he'd have a small pack in two weeks. He wondered if they'd kill each other.
Or worse—form a union and demand belly rubs.
The grass was spreading too. With each wolf born, the Beast-Blessed Grove expanded. Flowers. Vines. Even a shallow pond now shimmered near the No-Bark stump.
The Domain was no longer a graveyard.
It was becoming... his.
He raised a hand and tried something new—pouring not just mana, but intent into the ground.
"Let me bond."
A pulse shot from his palm into Fang.
The pup yelped. The Domain shimmered.
[Beast Bond Attempt: Initiating...
Species: Direwolf Cub
Affinity Match: High
Outcome: SUCCESS]
A green thread of energy linked them, faint but steady.
Ray blinked.
He could feel the wolf. Not thoughts—more like moods, instincts. Hunger. Loyalty. Restlessness.
"Okay," he whispered. "This could work."
Fang immediately ran in a circle, tripped, faceplanted, and barked at a flower.
Ray squinted. "This is my future?"
[Correction: This is your Alpha.]
He exhaled slowly, cracked his knuckles, and turned toward the center of his Domain.
"Alright then. Time to build a den. Maybe a training field. A pit. Hell, maybe even a doghouse."
[You mean a Wolf Fortress™.]
Ray grinned.
"Exactly."
---
End---
Chapter 14: The Hunt Begins
Day three.
Ray sat cross-legged at the edge of his growing forest, tossing a stick toward Fang for the seventh time.
Fang stared at it.
Then at Ray.
Then at the stick.
Then sat down and scratched his ear like none of this concerned him.
"You're a disgrace to the bloodline," Ray muttered.
Fang rolled onto his back and farted.
[Alpha behavior. Let the pack come to you.]
"Thanks, 15. That clears up everything."
Ray stood and stretched. Around him, the Domain was evolving fast. The Wolf Tree now bore five pods. Three had already birthed healthy cubs—two silver-gray and one pitch black. Each had different temperaments:
Fang: lazy menace.
Claw: hyperactive screamer.
Shade: too smart. Stares too much. Might be planning to kill him.
Ray wasn't sure if that last one was a sign of talent or treason.
[New Notification: Beast Tree Limit Approaching. 12/15 Capacity.]
He turned his attention toward the outer rim of the Grove. The flowers were thicker now. Small mushrooms glowed along the base of the trees. The air shimmered faintly—mana-rich, thick with primal energy.
It felt like home.
But then—
The ground trembled.
Not from his trees.
Not from a wolf.
A ripple in the Domain's fabric itself.
Ray's eyes narrowed.
[Warning: Foreign presence detected.
Classification: Low-Grade Beast Rift.]
"A what?"
[A tear in the domain layer. Probably caused by all the beast essence and you playing Farmer Frankenstein.]
A crack opened in the far wall of the Domain—like a curtain being drawn. From within, mist poured out, and inside that mist...
A single shape emerged.
Sleek. Four-legged. Horns spiraling backward.
A Mist Stag, translucent and unnerving, stepped forward—its eyes glowing a faint blue.
Ray instinctively pulled back.
Fang growled at his side, finally remembering he was supposed to be a wolf.
Ray grinned. "Finally something that looks like a boss."
He whispered, "System, prep me. Let's see what version of necromancer I get when I fight alive things."
[Reminder: You still suck.]
Ray cracked his knuckles.
"Yeah, but I suck with wolves now."
---
End---
Chapter 15: How to Catch a Stag Without Dying Like an Idiot
The Mist Stag wasn't just graceful—it was fast.
It moved like smoke, hooves barely touching the ground, body shifting between physical and ethereal. Every few seconds, it blinked out of visibility, only to reappear meters away.
Ray watched from behind a thick root wall near the edge of his domain's central glade, eyes narrowed, brain running calculations at full speed.
"Alright," he muttered, "not undead. Not a construct. Not tame. Just... a pure mana-formed beast that wandered in through my glitchy Domain walls."
[Congratulations. Your ecosystem is now interesting enough to attract rare wild monsters. Also, you're probably going to die.]
"I should really uninstall you."
[You're stuck with me like generational trauma.]
Ray smirked. He wasn't planning to kill the Mist Stag. Not yet.
No—he wanted to capture it.
This was the first naturally occurring living beast to enter his Domain. If the No-Bark Tree could evolve by consuming corpses, then what would happen if the Domain absorbed a living essence?
He needed to find out.
"Fang, Claw, flank left. Shade, circle behind. Don't engage. Just push it into the center clearing."
His wolves moved like shadows, their living forms acting on instinct and training. They weren't mind-controlled—they were loyal. Bonded to him, born of the Domain.
Ray wasn't the puppet master of the dead.
He was becoming a warden of a wild realm.
The stag shimmered again—vanishing and reappearing by a mana spring, its antlers pulsing with fog.
Ray stood tall and stepped out.
The Mist Stag turned. Their eyes locked.
It charged.
He didn't move.
Just before the antlers could pierce him, Shade lunged from the mist, snapping at a hind leg. The stag twisted, losing momentum—and Fang slammed in from the side.
Boom.
The impact shook the glade. The stag stumbled, phased halfway into smoke—then real again.
Ray dashed forward, hand outstretched, eyes glowing faint black as death-tinged mana swirled into a rune circle beneath his palm.
Not to kill.
To bind.
[New Skill Acquired: Beast Binding Circle (Minor). Success Chance: 12%. Attempt Anyway?]
"…That's terrible."
[So are you.]
Ray pressed his palm to the ground. "Let's dance."
The circle lit up. The wolves howled. The Domain pulsed.
The Mist Stag screamed, not in pain—but in defiance.
Ray grinned.
"Good. Stay wild. I need beasts, not pets."
---
End of---
Chapter 16: The Tree That Eats and Breathes
The Beast Binding Circle lit the entire glade in silver-blue. Mist churned, mana cracked. The Mist Stag let out a soul-twisting cry as its hooves tore at the soil, trying to escape the magic circle anchoring it to the domain.
Ray's hand trembled.
"Hold."
Fang and Shade pinned its flanks. Claw and Ash circled, teeth bared. The circle pulsed one last time—
[Beast Binding: Partial Success.]
[Mist Stag essence extracted.]
[Beast not tamed. Released.]
[Essence absorbed by Domain Core.]
Ray stumbled back.
"What...?"
The Mist Stag vanished—not dead, not captured. Just gone. Like the mist it was born from.
A long silence settled. Then the ground beneath the No-Bark Tree cracked.
Ray turned.
The once-twisted, dead-looking tree groaned—its bark shedding in layers like dry skin. Its core pulsed faintly with silvery-blue light. Something inside it moved. Not undead. Not cursed.
Alive.
Roots spread outward like veins. Where they touched soil, grass sprouted—real grass, soft and blue-tinged, swaying with spiritual wind.
"System."
[Updating: Domain Tree Mutation Detected.]
[No-Bark Tree has consumed enough corpses, energy, and a beast essence to evolve.]
[Initiating Transformation: Core Tree of Beasts.]
[New Function: Tree may now absorb specific beast corpses to generate Seed Trees.]
[First Mutation Created: Wolf Tree — Limit: 1 seed per day, Cap: 15 wolves.]
[Second Mutation Brewing: Mist Tree — Status: Locked, requires 2nd stag essence.]
Ray exhaled slowly.
The No-Bark Tree was no longer just a creepy necromancer's toy. It was becoming something... primal. Living. An ecosystem forge.
"So it eats death," Ray said, watching a small seed drop from a growing branch. "And gives me life."
[A horrifyingly poetic metaphor. You make death look cozy.]
He picked up the seed—smooth, dark, shaped like a curled fang. "Wolf Tree seed."
He could feel it. Inside this tiny shell—fifteen lives waiting to be born.
This wasn't necromancy.
This was empire-building.
And his land? It would be full of trees that breathed war.
---
End of Chapter 16---
Chapter 17: Echo's First Hunt
The first howl rang through Ray's Domain at dawn.
High, pure, and young—but still enough to make undead insects scatter like guilty criminals. Ray stood beside the Wolf Tree, arms crossed, watching the silver-furred cub sniff at the grass.
Echo—his first true companion.
Real. Alive. Not bound by death. Born from a tree that shouldn't exist.
He still couldn't believe it.
[Wolf Tree: Growth Cycle Active.]
[Next Pup In: 23 Hours, 17 Minutes.]
[Current Capacity: 1/15.]
The tree itself was beautiful—twisting like braided muscle, its bark soft to the touch but unnaturally cold. The leaves shimmered faintly, each one the shape of a sharp fang. The tree even bled... not sap, but something like silver mana.
Ray scratched Echo behind the ears. The pup growled affectionately, then snapped at a ghost bug nearby. Got it. Crunch.
"Well. He eats the undead," Ray muttered. "That's one way to save on cleanup."
[Congratulations, your pet is also a sanitation system.]
[Next upgrade: Echo learns to poop mana stones.]
Ray ignored that.
He was too focused. Something had changed in him since the Awakening. His Domain felt... hungrier. As if now that it had tasted real life, it didn't want scraps anymore.
And he agreed.
---
Later, in the real world...
"Are you sure the wolf didn't follow you out of a forest?" his uncle asked, arms crossed, eyes narrowed at the silver-furred pup licking Ray's boots.
Ray sat beside the fire, innocent expression on.
"No idea, Uncle. Must've wandered in."
His grandmother snorted, tossing a bone into the flames. "Must be fate. Good omen."
His father, quietly sipping tea, didn't speak for a long time.
Then: "Train it well."
Ray's eyes flickered to him. Their first real conversation since the ceremony.
"I will."
Their eyes met. Something passed between them. Not warmth. Not yet. But understanding.
---
That night, back in the Domain...
Ray stood before the Wolf Tree again.
"Fifteen wolves. Then maybe Panther Tree. Or Falcon. Or..."
[System Suggestion: Blood Gecko Tree. Climbs walls. Licks enemies to death. Terrifying.]
Ray groaned. "Stop. Just—stop."
[Also available soon: Support Trees. Healing Flowers. Mist Stag Tree pending DNA Sample #2.]
He knelt, patting Echo's head as the wolf curled up beside him. For once, there was no snark. Just silence.
And the quiet hum of a Domain that was finally becoming home.
---
End of Chapter 17---
Chapter 18: Eyes in the Sky
The sky above Ray's Domain was strange.
It had no sun. No clouds. Just a swirling aurora—like someone had spilled stardust and forgotten to clean up.
Ray sat beneath the Wolf Tree, a bone in one hand and a fragment of mana crystal in the other. Echo slept nearby, tail twitching.
"Let's see if this works…"
He pressed both items together and focused.
[Summon Slot 2 – Ready.]
[Infuse with remains? Acceptable options: Insect, Mouse, Bird (Partial), Lizard.]
[Warning: Hybrid summons may be unstable.]
"Bird," Ray muttered. "I need eyes."
The bone cracked, light flared—and a skeletal creature burst into shape. It was bird-like, but wrong. Its wings were made of spider legs, its beak looked like a bent nail, and its feathers shimmered like dead leaves.
[Summoned: Crow-Class Undead (Level 1).]
[Name?]
Ray stared at it. The thing cocked its head, let out a metallic squawk, and then pooped a pebble onto his boot.
"…Let's go with 'Nailbeak.'"
---
Outside the Domain
Ray sat on the village roof, legs swinging, pretending to watch the stars. In reality, his eyes were shut, consciousness drifting with Nailbeak as it soared across the mountain range.
Vision was limited. Grainy. Like watching through a cracked window smeared with fog.
But still—
He saw movement. A caravan below, unfamiliar armor. Strangers.
He marked the route. Distance from the village? Two hours by horse. Closer on foot, if hostile.
"Nailbeak, follow."
The bird swooped lower.
Then: A flash of silver. A cry. Something pierced the bird's chest.
[Summon Slot 2: Destroyed.]
Ray gasped, nearly fell off the roof.
---
Back inside the house...
"Nightmares?" his mother asked, watching him from the shadows of the hall.
Ray nodded. "Something like that."
She looked at him a little too long.
"Your eyes are changing," she said softly. "Like your father's. That's not always a compliment."
Ray didn't reply.
---
Back in the Domain
Ray stood before the Wolf Tree again. Echo paced beside him, tail raised, alert.
"The world's moving," he whispered.
[System Notification: Domain Level nearing upgrade threshold.]
[Beast Tree Limit: 1 → 2 Available at Next Upgrade.]
Ray smiled darkly.
"Then let's prepare."
He looked toward the shadows near the No-Bark Tree. A patch of ground where grass had started to grow.
Soon, he'd plant his second Beast Tree.
Soon, this dead land would be a kingdom.
One wolf at a time.
---Chapter 19: Seeds of Growth
Ray crouched beside the Wolf Tree, the silver-furred cub Echo resting at his feet. His hands trembled slightly, but it wasn't from fear. It was anticipation.
The tree pulsed with energy, its branches stretching higher, its roots sinking deeper. The growth was slow, deliberate—a reminder that something great was happening, piece by piece.
[Domain Upgrade: Threshold Reached.]
[New Slot Available: Beast Tree Slot 2 Active.]
[Current Capacity: 1/15 Wolves. Additional Beast Tree slot unlocked.]
Ray's heart beat faster. He could feel it now—the shift. The energy in the air hummed with potential. A chance to expand, to grow this place into something powerful.
He reached into his pouch, pulling out a single Divine Point. The God of Humanity had given him this rare gift, a token of trust—or perhaps an experiment. Whatever the case, Ray wasn't wasting it.
His thoughts raced. Panther Tree? Falcon Tree? The possibilities were endless. But he wasn't ready for a full-on warbeast just yet. He needed something more practical—something that would help him train, help him defend this place.
"Beast Tree Slot 2." He spoke the words aloud, sealing the decision.
[Divine Point Spent.]
[Summoning: Beast Tree – Panther Tree.]
The ground shook slightly, and a ripple of energy surged through the air. The Wolf Tree trembled, as though it recognized its new companion.
From the dark soil, roots shot upward—black and jagged like claws, weaving together to form a new shape. The bark of the new tree was smooth and dark, its leaves thin like sharp blades. A presence of raw, silent power filled the space, and Ray could almost hear the faintest growl, deep in the earth.
[Panther Tree Summoned.]
Ray exhaled slowly. Panther Tree. He could feel it—it was not just a tree. It was a predator, hungry and ready.
[Panther Tree: Level 1.]
[Current Limit: 0/10 Panthers.]
[Growth Rate: Moderate.]
Ray knelt, touching the bark. The surface was cool and firm. Slowly, he reached out with his mana, feeding a sliver of energy into the tree.
[Panther Tree: Growth initiated. Next pup in 24 hours.]
Echo's ears perked up. The cub sniffed at the tree, tail raised. Ray smiled.
"Soon, buddy. Soon."
---
Later that night…
Ray sat beside his fire, a bowl of stew in his hands. His mother, grandmother, and father were at the table, quietly eating. The air was thick with an unspoken tension.
His uncle was gone—off on one of his military assignments—but Ray's mind was elsewhere.
"I planted another Beast Tree," he said casually, poking at his food.
His mother froze. "Another one?"
Ray nodded, not looking up. "I figured we could use a little more... protection."
His grandmother's sharp eyes studied him for a moment before she spoke. "You're not telling us everything, are you, Ray?"
Ray didn't flinch. "Why would I? You all don't exactly like surprises."
"True enough," his father muttered from across the table. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then studied Ray more carefully. "This... necromancy, these trees... it's not like you've ever told us the full truth."
Ray met his father's gaze. There was no judgment in the older man's eyes, but there was a quiet understanding, as if he knew Ray was hiding something much bigger than he was letting on.
Ray didn't respond. The less they knew, the better. He was the one with the responsibility now.
---
The next day, in the Domain…
Ray stood in the center of his growing realm, Echo at his side. The Panther Tree was still dormant, but he could sense its power waiting to awaken. It was just a matter of time.
He turned his attention back to the Wolf Tree. The first cub was maturing quickly, gaining strength. Echo was still small, but his loyalty was already unmistakable.
"Ready for training?" Ray asked, crouching down. Echo barked excitedly, tail wagging.
Ray grinned, but there was something sharper in his smile. He had to make sure his new beasts were strong—especially if things were about to get dangerous.
"First rule: Don't let the dead catch you."
Echo tilted his head, confused. Ray laughed softly and patted him on the head. Then, he raised his hand. Undead Summon: Level 1 Skeleton Warrior.
The skeletal warrior appeared with a clattering sound, its bones clinking as it took a fighting stance. Ray's hand extended, directing the creature forward.
Echo immediately pounced, jaws snapping. The skeleton turned just in time to raise its shield, but Echo was quick—too quick. In a flash, the wolf's teeth sank into the bones of the warrior's arm, snapping it off at the elbow. The skeleton stumbled back, giving Echo an opening.
Ray's eyes gleamed.
"Good boy," he muttered.
[Undead Summon: Skeleton Warrior – Destroyed.]
Echo released the remains, standing proudly with a triumphant growl.
"You're getting there," Ray whispered. "But we've got more training to do."
---Certainly! Here's Chapter 20, continuing the story with more action, growth, and the reveal of Ray's hidden potential:
---
Chapter 20: The Shadows Grow Stronger
Ray watched as Echo pranced around the training grounds, his silver fur glinting under the faint light of the moon. The cub was growing fast—too fast. There was a fire in his eyes that reflected Ray's own desire to protect what little he had left.
His Domain had become more than just a sanctuary. It was evolving, growing with purpose. The Beast Trees, the undead, even the land itself—the subtle shifts in energy were clear signs of progress. But that didn't mean he could relax. The world beyond the boundaries of his hidden Domain was still full of dangers.
He needed to train, to prepare for what was coming.
Ray turned his attention back to Echo, who was now circling a Level 1 Skeleton Warrior, tail raised, eyes glowing with determination.
"Okay, buddy. Time to step it up."
Ray's voice was calm, but underneath it, there was a sharpness. He had to make sure Echo was ready for what came next.
[Undead Summon: Skeleton Warrior. Level 1.]
The skeletal warrior appeared once again, this time with a wooden spear in hand. It rattled, its bones clicking, as it took its stance.
Echo immediately lunged, but Ray wasn't looking at the wolf anymore. His attention was fixed on the space around them, senses flaring. The Panther Tree in the distance twitched—its first growth was showing signs of life, roots pushing through the soil, tendrils curling as if it were testing the air for danger.
[Panther Tree: 1st Pup Growing. Time Remaining: 12 Hours.]
Ray's heart skipped a beat. That was faster than he'd expected. A sign of good growth, sure, but it also meant that the pressure was mounting. The more creatures he summoned, the more power he would attract. The more enemies.
He glanced back at the Skeleton Warrior as Echo danced around it, narrowly dodging its spear thrusts. The wolf was fast, too fast for the skeleton to land a blow.
"Good job, but let's push it," Ray muttered.
Without warning, Ray summoned two more Skeleton Warriors, their forms materializing next to the first.
[Undead Summon: Skeleton Warrior – Level 1.]
[Undead Summon: Skeleton Warrior – Level 1.]
"Let's see how you handle a real fight." Ray stepped back, watching the scene unfold.
Echo hesitated for a split second, but then the training instincts kicked in. He attacked the first skeleton with a snarl, tearing into it with sharp claws. The other two skeletons moved in, attacking from different angles.
Ray grinned. This was it—the beginning of real training.
---
A few hours later...
Ray stood outside his Domain, looking out into the distant wilderness. Echo was curled up at his feet, exhausted but proud. The young wolf had grown stronger, faster, more coordinated. Still, the dangers outside were ever-present. He couldn't afford to rest.
Ray's thoughts drifted to his family—his mother, grandmother, and father. They knew nothing of what he'd been doing in the Domain, how his power had been growing steadily. But Ray had made sure they stayed in the dark. There were too many risks in revealing everything too soon.
"Ray, what are you doing?"
Ray turned, startled by the voice.
It was his uncle, returning from his military duties. The older man stood at the edge of the Domain, eyes narrowed, assessing the situation.
Ray sighed, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Training the wolf."
His uncle raised an eyebrow. "The wolf?"
Ray nodded, gesturing to Echo, who was now stretching lazily. "Yeah. He's… special."
"And the skeletons?" his uncle asked, a knowing glint in his eye.
Ray paused. He couldn't lie—not without giving away too much.
"They're just for training," Ray said carefully, keeping his tone light. "Don't worry about it."
His uncle studied him for a long moment, then shook his head with a smirk. "You've got that look in your eye. You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Ray wasn't sure whether his uncle was just being observant or if he already knew more than he was letting on. Either way, Ray couldn't afford to let his guard down.
"We're just getting started," Ray replied with a grin. "And trust me, the world will thank me later."
---
Later that night...
Ray stood alone in the center of the Domain, his thoughts racing. The Wolf Tree had given him his first true ally, a creature with loyalty and strength. The Panther Tree would follow, and soon he'd have more beasts under his control.
But that wasn't enough.
He still had a long way to go before he could protect everything that mattered.
The No-Bark Tree remained in the background of his mind, a constant reminder that his power came with a price. The death energy it pulsed with was a dangerous thing. One wrong move, and the corruption could spread too far.
"System 15?" Ray asked quietly.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm here. Don't sound so serious. It's boring." System 15 responded in its usual sardonic tone.
Ray couldn't help but smirk. "Tell me again about this 'Necromancer' class of mine."
"Again? You never stop asking. You're special, kid. You know that? Necromancer's a rare class—one of the oldest. There's a whole bunch of potential locked up in there. It's not just about raising the dead, you know. It's about manipulating life and death on a level most people can't even begin to comprehend. A rare class means rare power."
Ray nodded. He had an idea of what that meant, but the consequences were always there—looming.
"Just make sure it doesn't bite me in the ass, okay?" he said, more to himself than to the system.
"Oh, don't worry, meatbag. I'm good at that."
Ray stared into the night sky, feeling the cool wind brush against his face. The path ahead wasn't clear, but one thing was certain: he was going to change everything.
And it all started here.
---
End of Chapter 20