Energy flowed from his hand like icy water, sinking into the woman's lifeless body. Mark felt his mana reserve—apparently he had one—drain almost completely from that single spell.
For a moment, nothing happened.
"Shit. It didn't work. I knew it was too good to—"
Elyndra's eyes opened.
They were blue. A blue so intense and deep it looked unnatural—like liquid sapphires lit from within.
And they were fixed directly on him.
Mark froze, unable to move or speak. The woman's body sat up in one smooth motion, unnaturally graceful. No corpse stiffness. No clumsiness. She moved like she'd never been dead at all.
"Oh, shit. Oh, shit, shit, shit."
[Summon Successful]
Name: Elyndra Ashford
Status: Undead (Partial)
Loyalty: Absolute
Stats: [VIEW DETAILS]
Mark opened the details with a thought, and what he saw nearly made him faint.
Strength: 9,999
Agility: 9,999
Endurance: 9,999
Intelligence: 9,999
Magic: 9,999
"Max stats. MAX FUCKING STATS. How is that even possible?"
But before he could process it, something else happened. A notification window popped up in front of him:
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2]
[New Skill Unlocked: Consciousness Modification (Lv. 1)]
"Consciousness… what?"
[Consciousness Modification - Level 1]
Type: Advanced Necromancy
Effect: Allows you to alter the memories and base personality of an undead under your control. Changes are permanent. Use: 1 time per target.
Mark read the description three times. Then he looked at Elyndra, standing silently in front of him, motionless as a statue, waiting for orders.
"I can… I can change her personality? Her memories?"
The implication was disturbing.
And tempting.
"She's dead," he reminded himself. "Technically she isn't a person. She's an animated corpse. She doesn't have real consciousness. She just… follows orders."
But that wasn't entirely true, was it? Wake Up's description said targets didn't regain consciousness. But "Consciousness Modification" implied there was something to modify.
"This is ethically questionable at best."
The monster in the center of the chamber shifted in its sleep, letting out a low growl that made the floor tremble.
"But it's also my only chance to survive."
Mark made a decision. A decision that would probably damn him to hell, if hell existed.
He focused on Consciousness Modification and aimed it at Elyndra. In his mind, he pictured the changes he wanted.
"Memories: She knows me. She has always known me. I'm her… her master. Yes. Her master. The necromancer who saved her from death. The most important man in her life."
"Personality: Loyal. Absolutely loyal. Devoted. Protective. And…"
He hesitated. What he was about to do was crossing a line. A very clear, very important line.
"And in love. Madly, obsessively in love with me."
Energy surged again—stronger, deeper. Mark felt the skill activate, felt the changes carve themselves into whatever remained of Elyndra's mind.
When it was over, she blinked.
And for the first time, her expression changed.
A smile. Small, almost imperceptible—but definitely a smile.
"Master," she said, her voice soft and melodic like music. "You finally awaken."
Mark swallowed hard.
"What did I just do?"
"I was so worried," Elyndra continued, stepping closer. "When I found you unconscious in this dungeon, I feared the worst. But I knew you would be fine. My master is always fine."
She thinks I saved HER.The modification… worked too well.
"Uh… yeah," Mark improvised, trying to keep his composure. "I'm fine. I just… needed to rest for a moment."
"Of course, Master. The journey here must have been exhausting."
Elyndra's eyes shone with a devotion so intense it was almost uncomfortable to witness. Like staring into the sun—except the sun was unconditional worship.
This is messed up. Very, very messed up. And also exactly what I needed.
That was when the monster chose to wake up.
Its roar was deafening, a sound that seemed to come from every direction at once. Its many arms thrashed, searching for the disturbance.
Mark felt panic seize him—but before he could react, Elyndra was already moving.
It was… beautiful. In a terrible, bloody way—but beautiful.
Her sword sliced the air with a whistle, leaving a trail of golden light. The monster's first arm hit the floor before it could even register the attack. The second followed an instant later. Then the third. Then the fourth.
In under ten seconds, the thing that had terrified Mark was reduced to a trembling pile of meat, incapable of fighting back.
"Would you like me to finish it, Master?" Elyndra asked, as calmly as if she were asking about the weather.
Mark stared at her. Then at the monster. Then back at her.
I just created a weapon of mass destruction that's in love with me. What kind of person am I?
"Yes," he said—because what else could he say? "Finish it."
The final blow was mercifully quick. The sword drove through what might've been the monster's heart, and it collapsed with one last pathetic groan.
[Victory!]
[Experience Gained: 500]
[You have reached Level 3]
Mark stared at the notification, processing what had just happened.
He had died. Been reborn in another world. Revived a legendary heroine and turned her into his obsessively devoted thrall. And now he'd killed a dungeon monster without lifting a finger.
"My old life was garbage," he thought. "But this… this might actually work."
Elyndra stepped toward him, wiping her blade with practiced ease.
"Where to now, Master?"
Mark looked down the corridor leading to the exit. To the outside world. To the unknown.
"Out," he said. "Let's see what kind of world this is."