Alexander dispatched the last of the Kobolds in the area, releasing its head from its body with a single strike. His skill with the blade had reached a basic level for any swordsman worth talking about. His sword hand was steady and his heartbeat only raced infrequently at times.
The Swarm went to work immediately like ants devouring the Kobolds organic material.
The first Kobold that attacked him had already been stripped and cleaned of any organics. When the nanites where starting on the other Kobold bones a suprise happened.
Alexander noticed that dense bones took longer for the Swarm to dissolve than the weaker bones. The process took ten minutes for them to completly destroy an entire 6 foot Kobold skeleton. Which simply meant more material for the Nanites to upgrade to stronger bodies. He could use manufactured goods to give the Nanite's materials, but the dissolve time was far to long. When usable and flexible material was around in bounds.
While Alexander waited, he went over the plan with Lunaris. They checked their equipment, all in great condition, dubble checking not to leave any gear behind was a must for a good Hunter.
The nanites finished one Kobold and soon begun working on another set. Soon, Alexander had time to sort through his new systems notifications and understand it more. Scrolling through he arrived at a picture of an Eclipsed white Sun. It gave him a hint at who one of the messages was from.
As Alexander read the messages contents and another message popped up. This one had a common look to it and seemed less important. Reading both he read it to himself.
*Acquire spirit of the dead and gain 1* Subordinate? (1x Kobold Skeleton Common) Y/N*
Alexander stopped the nanites from destroying the rest of the dead Kobolds skeleton with a wave. He felt afraid they would destroy the chance to understand what he was seeing in the message.
The notification did not disappear even with the bones being shredded. The screen stayed floating infront of Alexander as he examined it. Even as the Grey Kobold grunted for the others to return, Alexanders smile only widened.
"They are a little busy at the moment, big guy." He whispered. "But I might have someone available."
Alexander stepped closer to the bones with a faint glimmer of hope in his heart. The closer he got the more he began noticing a faint green glow from them, a glow that almost seemed alive.
A familiar feeling rose in his right hand like static radiating from the Ring of the Firstborne concentrating into a dark flame. The power wanted to be used. It felt, to him, like it guided him.
'Well, nothing ventured nothing gained,' Alexander thought. 'The system is crappy, but it's yet to turn against me. Keep watch over the skeleton, Lu. If anything strange happens, destroy it.'
Alexander thought about accepting and Mana siphoned from his Core. The amount of mana was mitigated by Lunaris, nearly draining him completely.
A menacing green light flared from where its eyes sockets as Mana surged into the skeletal Kobold. The mana saturated its bones revitalizing it like life water filling a dry plant. It flexed its appendages and adjusted its body as it stood up like a toddler learning to walk. It's glowing eyes focused on Alexander with a knowing light of recognition. Its master was before it and it kneeled before him in reverence.
Necromancy was known to the world as a magical science, but wasn't widely used as it was associated with terrible instances. So the F.U.G kept its study to the fringes of society.
*Undead Kobold (E): Lvl 1: *1
"The skeletal Kobold will have the front lines incase it attacks. No use being foolish with an untested power."
Alexander tested his new ability to control the undead soldier seemingly effortlessly. The skeleton obeyed his commands as faithfully as it could as just a plie of bones.
The skeleton could move things that weren't too heavy. Logs, branches, and weapons Alexander tossed, it made it stumble but it adjusted quickly. Its strength was on the level of a average man but none of the coordination.
"Lording over death and Darkness like this was exclusively Hers to control. Now, as her Guardian, it is mine. What a thrilling prospect." The Darkness spells he cast were stronger than even some fire spells Kahawai would cast, the way it disintegrated Kobold armor. Now he could summon the dead.
"Attack. Lets see how you like the warriors you have been leading come say HI." He ordered the skeleton to go to the Grey Kobold to deal some damage.
The Kobold dashed on all fours towards its former leader at once with a zealous frenzy. It's aggression and hunger directed in full force. Its claws like sharp razors, ripping into the earth with fierce undead strength.
The Kobold Captain snortoted at the Kobold that was returning in an about time smugness. When the skeleton got closer the Captain sensed something was off. It eyed it worryingly and noticed the lack of flesh. In amazement and pure institution it began to run, seeing its subordinate come back stripped of its flesh and running at it with a terrifying green light in its eyes, a fear, soaking the captain's old bones.
The skeleton Kobold darted through the marsh with ease. Jumping through the wet undergrowth, leaping on top of the Grey Kobold and attacking it with its claw fearlessly and biting into the captains shoulder.
The Captain Kobold grabbed at the skeletal ribs, ripping at them to get to its spine to break it. The nanite wire, Alexander added to wrap around and strengthen it, prevented much of the damage and caused great pain to the Kobolds hands and claws as the Nanites spread on its hand in retaliation.
The pain from the onslaught reached a threshold, the Captain couldn't take anymore. The Captain pushed the skeleton away and tore it apart, bashing it with its claws and feet. After the skeleton stopped moving, the Kobold limped away, making its way towards a cave in the distance intending to heal.
*Undead destroyed, soul reabsorbed*
"Oh, no you don't." Alexander whispered to himself. He placed his sword and shield together, allowing the Artefacts to reform into a bow. A special skill his growth type weapon had. Lunaris and he had unlocked by bonding with the weapons.
*Sword of Conquest
Skills *Combine with Shield of Hope.
The nanites could keep detailed designs from the Artefacts they devoured. However growth type weapon skills tattached to them where impossible to replicate.
The bow was one such thing, a black and red sleek light bow with a nanite string. When drawn back a nanite black arrow appeared for him. Alexander aimed and Lunaris calculated the distance and trajectory, displaying it for him easily for him.
"Say hello to your buddies for me."
The arrow flew straight, adjusted by the nanites that made the arrow, lodging into the Kobolds back, dead center.
*Killed D rank weakened Kobold Captain.
The Kobolds around Alexander were devoured while he used Accumulation to recoup the mana he lost from raising the skeleton. 'How was I able to make an undead without the runes or spell to do it? Well, however I did it, I shouldn't do it again before I have enough mana.' Alexander thought.
The nanites outside of Alexanders body, those that didn't have enough room inside his body, was kept in small black balls at his waist. It made transporting thousands of nanites simpler at the cost of a little more weight in his weapon pouch.
"Well let's go find out what we're dealing with."
The cave where the Grey Kobold was heading to was just a hunting cave, holding some basic Artefacts and low rank mana stones lunaris devoured.
His Mana was nearly back to normal and the Nanites felt denser and stronger. "I wonder with stronger materials, could the Nanites potentially become ranked or stronger? I guess only time will tell."
'The caves a bust, but where could they have been heading? Why didn't those kobolds have souls I could absorb. This gate is confusing, but now I know that some monsters don't have souls. But why don't they do have mana stones either. Lets get the next group then, Lu.'
'Agreed, next life signs are due East.'
Within hours five groups of Kobolds were killed with arrows and blade. Devoured by nanites that Increased in power with each kill.
"Group after group we've decimated and still none of them had a soul to absorb. I wonder if it was a fluke," He said, frustrated.
Alexanders mood fluctuated at not find another soul to bring back as a skeleton. He searched until he found the Kobolds Sanctuary deeper into the swamp.
The Kobold Sanctuary was floooded, were not even his knees stood above the waters. The homes where on large foundations of bamboo and planks like makeshift hobbles. All the materials seemed to have been scavanged from walls and roofs of the surrounding building that were now submerged.
'A path of shoots through the water is highlighted. We should get there safely but caution is advised.'
The trail led to a group of humble huts set aside from the others. The sounds of yelping and whining coming from inside gave Alexander pause before he remembered what Kobold pups turned into.
'Ten life signs inside, five adolescence five adult. They are the last. Caution, as the boss is protecting the last few within and seems on the verge of Rank C.' She warned as Alexander prepared a flaming nanaite arrow.
The arrow flew at a streamlined arch across the distance. The shaft stuck out of the wooden roof and set the hay-covered roofs ablaze.
The fire spread fast over the Kobolds safe haven. Traveling up and down the row of huts like a river of flame. Yellow red waves rose up and devoured everything in its path.
Arrgghhh!
A bulky Kobold roared into the night with an unquenchable hatred. Its rage reason was evident on its burning chest, as it searched for the responsible party for its pain. Its nose flared and eyes narrowed, looking and snorting heavily for smell or movement.
It took note of everything but Alexander.
Hidden around the corner Alexander aimed at its head and let the arrow fly. The arrow soared through the air and missed as the Kobolds instincts warned it to dodge. It turned and snarled at where the attack originated.
'I guess boss level monsters have better reflexes. But we planned for this,' He thought as the gleam of his wires disappeared. The boss turned and roared, stomping on the deck in Alexanders direction. It's large feet nearly crushing the soaked mossy wood, going for a swipe.
As the Kobold boss neared Alexander, it snarled backing up, sensing the blood of its kin. It's eyes narrowed and with an unimaginable intelligence lept over the wires that blocked its way to Alexander.
"Checkmate!" He yelled as his bow reformed to its original form. The trajectory of the Kobold was set and the sword tip was angled directly at its head. When the kobold landed its heart was pierced before it knew what to do, it's mind racing as it tried to pull the ever invasive sword dug deeper. The red rage in its eyes faded into clear blue of understanding.
"You..too..will fall." It mimicked a guttural English.
"What was that? Did that creature just speak?" Alexander starred for a second before messages indication a soul to absorb poped and ten kills. He accepted it and felt a warm feeling wash over his entire body, his senses increasing along with his Stamina.
The portal opened up behind him as the fire started spreading towards him. The nanites consumed as much of the boss as it could before returning to the orb form.
"I can never get used to you cleaning the dead of everything. It seems kinda wrong in a way, Lu."
'Understood. Humans have emotional responses to things that unsettle them. However for the protection of the Host, everything must go to functions and protection.'
"I do feel the connection between us become stronger. Bit let's keep the materials requisition to the Gates of we cam help it." Alexander sighed in defeat.
Alexander exited through the portal, returned to the carved stone entrance.
'That's was gate was wierd, but I guess stranger things have happened. Having that undead increased my mana by a few points. I'll need more to be of any use in the coming Hunters trial. First, some sleep would do me the greatest good. Worrying all night will give a stomachache.' He thought hearing the birds chirping and the sunlight nearing it's rise. The blues and oranges starting to break through.
Let's go, Lu. I wonder if they started cooking yet.
Alexander looked at his stats as the woods and brush passed him on his way to the Estate.
**
Body:13<14
Magic:8<10
Stamina:6<7
Souls: 3: D ranked Undead: 1
Resistances: Physical 1%, Fire (R) 3%
"I need more undead if it works this well. 2 points from the undead Kobold. And two points in body and one point to stamina form the materials devoured from the bodies. I think training has just began."