Zyler steadied Zhao Luna as she clung to his arm, her breath still shaky from her encounter with the wriggling slimes. The wild island around them buzzed with distant roars and the crash of waves, but Zyler's mind was racing with possibilities. Luna, the stunning resort hostess, was here with him, thanks to some system glitch, and her presence was already making this nightmare of a place feel a little more... exciting.
"Luna, take a deep breath," Zyler said, his voice calm but laced with a grin. "This island's a mess, but we're tougher than it looks. Let's focus on surviving."
"Mr. Taakeshi... I mean, Zyler," Luna corrected herself, her cheeks flushing as she loosened her grip on his arm. "I don't even know where to start. Those slimes... they're all I've got."
Zyler's eyes flicked to the two gelatinous blobs quivering nearby, their translucent bodies shimmering in the sunlight. He activated his Scan skill, and a panel appeared in his mind.
[Slime]
[Level: Tier 1 (0 Stars)]
[Talent: Rapid Breeding (Given time, a single slime can multiply into a colony.)]
[Skills: None]
[Attributes: Strength 0 (Adult Male: 5), Speed 1 (Adult Male: 2.5), Stamina 5 (Adult Male: 2)]
Zyler's lips curled into a sly smile. "Luna, these slimes are a goldmine. Rapid Breeding? That's a talent with serious potential."
Luna tilted her head, puzzled. "Really? They just seem... useless."
"Not at all," Zyler said, giving her a reassuring thumbs-up. "Trust me, we'll make them work." His gaze lingered on her for a moment, her shy expression stirring something in him. Tch, that cute look is dangerous, he thought, then used Scan on her.
[Name: Zhao Luna]
[Identity: Earth Human]
[Level: Tier 1 | 0 Stars (0/100 XP)]
[Class: Sprite]
"Sprite, huh?" Zyler muttered, impressed. "Fits you perfectly, Luna. A tropical hostess turned mystical Sprite? That's a glow-up."
Luna blushed deeper, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Zyler, stop teasing. What's your class?"
"Necromancer," he said with a dramatic flourish, enjoying her wide-eyed reaction. "Pretty cool, right? Now, let's check out your shelter."
Luna focused, and a panel appeared in her mind. "It's called Mystic Marsh. I need 20 units of mud and 50 units of plant debris to build it."
"Nice," Zyler said, glancing at his two skeleton soldiers clattering back with stones and wood. "My Grand Necropolis needs stone, wood, and... flesh. Speaking of which, Luna, can I borrow one of your slimes for a little experiment?"
Luna hesitated, eyeing her slimes nervously. "Um, okay, Zyler. But... be gentle?"
Zyler chuckled, picking up one of the basketball-sized slimes. It wiggled in his grip, slippery and surprisingly heavy. "Gentle's not really my style, but I'll keep it quick."
He carried the slime a short distance away, found a sharp rock, and, after a bit of a struggle, smashed it. The slime burst like a water balloon, leaving a thin, gooey sheet behind.
[Obtained Flesh: 1 unit.]
[Obtained Undead Essence: 1 unit.]
Zyler's eyes lit up. "Jackpot! My Necromantic Glow works like a charm. Every death means more power."
Returning to Luna, he saw her wince at the slime's remains. "Zyler, was that necessary?"
"Absolutely," he said, his tone earnest but playful. "Your slimes can multiply, right? That means an endless supply of flesh and undead essence for me. We're a perfect team, Luna."
Her expression softened, though she still looked unsure. "If you say so..."
Over the next two hours, Zyler's skeletons gathered enough materials for his shelter. Luna's remaining slime had already split into two more, their numbers growing steadily. Zyler couldn't help but grin at the potential.
[Stone 50 units, Wood 40 units, Flesh 5 units. Building Grand Necropolis...]
A chilling wind swept through the clearing, carrying faint, eerie wails. Zyler and Luna watched, wide-eyed, as a massive structure began to form from the ground. It pulsed as if alive, its stone walls etched with tombstones and crowned with a giant skull. Ghostly blue flames flickered through the hollowed roof, casting an ominous glow.
[Grand Necropolis completed.]
The towering stone doors creaked open, revealing a lavish interior. A grand skeleton throne sat atop a blood-red carpet, surrounded by walls that seemed to hum with dark energy. The contrast between the grim exterior and opulent inside was jarring.
"Zyler, this is your shelter?" Luna whispered, her voice trembling with awe and unease. "It's... terrifying."
Zyler nodded, just as stunned. "Yeah, it's got a certain... demonic charm. I'm digging it."
He stepped closer, running a hand over the cold stone. The necropolis felt alive, its aura sending a shiver down his spine. This is no ordinary shelter, he thought. It's a fortress for a lich king.
[After sunset, the first daily resource chest will be distributed. Pray no beasts spawn nearby...]
Zyler checked the time, three hours until sunset. "Luna, let's get your Mystic Marsh started. My skeletons can help."
"Thank you, Zyler," Luna said, her gratitude genuine. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"No need for thanks," he replied, winking. "We survive together, right?" He briefly considered inviting her to stay in his necropolis but decided to play the gentleman, for now.
"You, collect mud. You, gather plant debris," Zyler ordered his skeletons. He paused, frowning. "Calling them 'You' is getting old. I need to give these boneheads names."
Luna giggled softly. "What are you going to call them?"
"You'll see," Zyler said with a mischievous grin, already thinking of names that'd suit his undead minions.
Before he could decide, a sharp alert cut through his thoughts.
[Your skeleton soldier was attacked by a sand wolf and has died.]
[A sand wolf pack has noticed your shelter. Prepare for defense...]
Zyler's face paled. Another prompt followed.
[Obtained Undead Essence: 1 unit.]
[Obtained Undead Essence...]
Howl...
Distant wolf cries echoed, growing louder by the second. Luna grabbed Zyler's arm, her voice trembling. "Zyler, are those wolves?"
"A whole pack," he said, his tone grim but steady. "Luna, head to the Grand Necropolis. It's the safest place."
He grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the towering shelter. Luna hesitated, glancing at her slimes, now a small cluster of six. "Zyler, what about them?"
Zyler cursed under his breath, then gave an awkward smile. "Right, almost forgot our little family." The slimes were his key to powering up his Necromantic Glow.
As he moved to scoop up the slimes, the howls grew closer, sharp and menacing. Luna's eyes widened with fear, but she didn't run. "Zyler, I'll help!"
Despite her trembling, she chased after him, her courage shining through. Zyler's heart warmed. A beauty with guts? I'm definitely keeping her around.
"Luna, you think we and the slimes make a cute little family?" he teased, dodging a branch as they hurried toward the slimes.
Luna's cheeks flushed, but she managed a shy smile. "Zyler, focus!"
Howl...
The wolf cries were almost upon them. Zyler gripped Luna's hand tighter, his mind racing. With a pack closing in, their first real fight on Lords Island was about to begin.