Kaelen sat in meditative silence, the air inside the hut cool and still, disturbed only by the faint rustle of the forest canopy outside. A single candle flickered beside him, casting long shadows on the wooden floor. In his hand rested a crimson-hued monster core — no larger than a plum, but pulsing with heat and latent power. It had been harvested from a Forest Rager, a lumbering creature of brute strength and earth-based attacks. It had taken all of Kaelen's tactics and three skeletal archers to finally bring it down.
Now it was time to understand what that kill had truly earned him.
Bahlor stood beside him, unmoving yet ever-watchful. His skeletal frame bore faint etchings now—runes Kaelen hadn't placed himself. The System had begun shaping Bahlor even before the core had come into play. The bone knight was meant to become more. It was Kaelen's duty to see it through.
"System," Kaelen spoke aloud, his voice cutting through the quiet, "integrate the Tier-1 monster core into Bahlor."
A ripple passed through the air.
Suddenly, the monster core vibrated, and from it burst a network of red threads—mana tendrils that lashed onto Bahlor's ribs, spine, and skull. The core liquefied in Kaelen's hand, seeping into Bahlor like blood into thirsty roots.
The change was immediate.
Bones groaned, flexed, and then snapped into new configurations. Bahlor's height increased by several inches. His once-thin limbs thickened, taking on the resemblance of reinforced iron rods. The pale blue light in his eye sockets burned into a fierce violet. More dramatically, a spine-like ridge began forming down his back, lined with sharpened protrusions that crackled with defensive energy.
A heavy thud echoed as Bahlor's feet reshaped into heavy talon-like constructs, better suited for battle stability.
Kaelen watched, transfixed.
System Alert — Summon Evolution Triggered
Named Creature: Bahlor the OathboneNew Form: Warden Vanguard
Evolution Bonus:
Bone Shielding (Reduces damage taken by 15%)
Vanguard Roar (Taunts enemies within a 10m radius)
Enhanced Durability: +20% to HP pool
Rank: Initiated into C-Rank Combat Class
"He's… incredible," Kaelen muttered.
This was only the first step. The true scope of his power wasn't just in raising undead — it was in transforming them, empowering them to rival living champions.
"If a Tier-1 core could do this… what about Tier-3? Or higher?"
He didn't need to build armies of fodder. He needed elites. Creatures that would stand at his side like kings among corpses.
As the realization settled, a chill crept down Kaelen's spine.
A sound — too heavy for a forest creature — came from beyond the hut.
He stood up instantly.
Bahlor took position in front of him, already reacting to the subtle mana shift.
There was a slow, deliberate crunch of boots over dried leaves.
Kaelen tensed.
The door creaked open without resistance. Moonlight spilled in as a tall figure stepped into the threshold. Cloaked, his aura hummed with dangerous, condensed energy. His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
"So the boy exists after all," the stranger said, voice like sandpaper over steel. He pulled back his hood. A scar trailed down from his forehead to cheek, bisecting one iris that glowed faintly blue.
"Who are you?" Kaelen asked, planting his feet firmly.
The man smiled faintly. "A talent evaluator. Let's say… I scout those who step outside their assigned paths."
Kaelen frowned. "I didn't ask for your evaluation."
"That's the fun part," the man chuckled. "Most who are worth evaluating don't. But more importantly…" He glanced at Bahlor. "You've already awakened something. Not bad. The Necromancer path is rarely so proactive."
Kaelen didn't reply, but mana coiled around his fingers like tendrils, ready to strike.
"You don't need to be so nervous," the man said. "This isn't a duel… yet. Call it a compatibility test."With a flick of his wrist, a shadowy blade coalesced in his hand.
System Alert: Combat Trial Initiated
Opponent Classification: B-Rank CombatantObjective: Survive 1 MinuteNote: Lethality set to sub-critical. Escape or subdual permitted.
The man lunged forward.
Kaelen activated Dark Arrow instinctively, launching three volleys in a wide arc. The assailant sidestepped the first two but narrowly took the third across the arm, earning a wince.
Bahlor responded immediately with Vanguard Roar, a burst of sonic pressure that rattled the windows and forced the man to pause mid-step.
Kaelen summoned two skeletal archers. Not powerful, but now he understood — they weren't meant to win. They were distractions.
He channeled Mana Drain, funneling stolen ambient mana into Bahlor, who responded by rushing forward with thunderous speed.
Their blades met — shadow against bone.
Clang!
Kaelen's heart pounded. Every movement was a gamble.
But Bahlor's new form held its own. His shielding cracked but didn't shatter. Kaelen darted behind him, preparing a second Dark Arrow, this time infused with a touch of hatred.
The attacker grinned mid-duel. "Good. You're adapting."
He snapped his fingers and vanished — melted into the shadows like a whisper.
Trial Ended
Duration: 74 secondsStatus: SurvivedRewards:
Tier-C Monster Core
Skill Fragment: Abyssal Vein (2/5)
Unofficial Observer Flag Triggered – Tracking Deferred
Kaelen gasped for air, sweat dripping down his brow. His mind reeled not just from the encounter, but from the thrill.
He had survived. More than that — he had fought.
He looked down at the new monster core in his hand. It was larger, darker — filled with untamed power.
"One step closer," he muttered. "One step closer to rising above them all."
Bahlor turned slightly toward him, waiting.
Kaelen smiled.
"Let's find out what you become next, my friend."