Corbin observed his two skeletal servants, [Skeletal Servant Alpha] and [Skeletal Servant Beta] as the [System] had designated them in the newly appeared [Troops] tab. The points of cold light in their empty sockets seemed fixed on him, waiting. The [Cooldown: 30s] for the [Raise Lesser Skeleton] skill was still active, a small gray counter in his peripheral vision. Twenty [MP] spent. Eight [Control Points], now with only six. Everything was information, data to be processed and optimized.
"Rise," he thought, the command flowing through the system interface. The skeletons, which were half-bent, straightened with a series of dry clicks, their movements clumsy yet precise. "Stop." They froze. "Look towards the exit." The two skulls turned in unison.
Immediate obedience. However, how capable were they? Corbin focused on [Skeletal Servant Alpha]. [Analyze.]
A new information window appeared, overlaying the image of the skeleton:
[SERVANT SHEET: Skeletal Servant Alpha] [Type: Undead (Humanoid Skeleton, Tier 1)] [Servant Level: 1] [HP: 25/25] [MP: 0/0] [Attributes:] [STR (Strength): 7] [AGI (Agility): 9] [VIG (Vigor): 6] [INT (Intelligence): 1] [PER (Perception): 6] [Main Attack (Bone Claws): Damage 3-5 (Piercing/Slashing)] [Defense: 5] [Passive Abilities/Traits:] [Type: Undead]: Immune to poison, disease, bleeding, fatigue, mental effects. Does not need to breathe, eat, or sleep. Feels no pain. [Vulnerability: Bludgeoning Damage]: Takes +50% damage from bludgeoning attacks. [Resistance: Piercing Damage]: Takes -25% damage from piercing attacks. [Mental Command (Master: Corbin)]: Obeys direct mental commands from the summoner. [Unstable Bone Structure]: If HP reaches 0, the skeleton collapses. Bones can be reused if not excessively damaged. [Rudimentary Equipment]: Can wield simple found weapons.
"Fragile, but quick for their build. Vulnerable to bludgeoning... expected. But the piercing resistance is useful," Corbin noted mentally. [Skeletal Servant Beta] would likely have the same stats. He now had a measure of their capabilities.
His analytical mind, despite the [Reincarnation Trauma] that still left a fog of discomfort in his thoughts, worked feverishly. Hiding there indefinitely was not an option. He needed more information.
"Alpha," Corbin projected, "Investigate the rest of this basement. Touch any object that seems unusual. Beta, guard the stairway ascent. Alert me to any sound or movement from outside."
Alpha began its methodical sweep, its bones clicking softly with each step as it prodded piles of rubble and barrel remnants. Corbin, through the rudimentary sensory link provided by the [Troops] tab, saw fragments of what the skeleton saw. He used [Analyze (Level 1)] repeatedly through Alpha's focus.
[Remains of Torn Grain Sack] [Material: Jute. Contents: Moldy, unfit for consumption.] [Broken Farming Tool (Hoe)] [Material: Wood (Handle), Iron (Rusted Blade). Condition: Unusable.]
Nothing of immediate value. Beta remained motionless at the foot of the stairs. The [Cooldown: 30s] for the [Raise Lesser Skeleton] skill had already expired, but Corbin decided to conserve his mana for now.
After a few minutes, Alpha stopped, its skull turning towards a particularly dark corner where the dirt floor seemed to have been disturbed. 'What's there?' Corbin inquired mentally, approaching cautiously while Beta maintained its vigil. He focused his [Analyze] on the spot.
[Recently Disturbed Earth] [Note: Subtle odor of fresh decomposition and something metallic. Possible buried item or animal burrow.]
"Alpha, dig carefully." The skeleton knelt and began to excavate with its bony fingers. The earth yielded easily. Soon, something was revealed: a small wooden chest, simple and rotted in places, but with an intact iron lock.
[Analyze.] [Small Wooden Chest (Locked)] [Material: Common Wood, Iron Fittings. Condition: Old, fragile. Lock: Simple Quality (Requires Thieves' Tools or Skill: Lockpicking (Basic) for opening attempt). Contents: Unknown.]
Corbin frowned. [Skill: Lockpicking (Basic)]. Something he definitely didn't possess. But the chest might contain something useful. Leaving it there, unprotected, didn't seem wise. "Alpha, take the chest. Move it near the stairs, in the darkest corner. Carefully." The skeleton stooped, its bones creaking under the unexpected weight of the small chest. Clearly, Alpha's [STR: 7] wasn't meant for carrying much weight, but it managed, awkwardly dragging and pushing the chest to the spot Corbin indicated. It deposited it with a dull thud. Secured for now.
With the chest in his "provisional base," Corbin turned his attention outward. "Alpha, Beta, ahead. One on each side of the exit. Check the immediate street. Move with as much discretion as you can manage."
The skeletons ascended, their steps surprisingly quieter than Corbin had expected on the staircase rubble. He followed them, peeking out. The street was a corridor of desolation. Houses were charred skeletons or piles of rubble. Villagers' bodies in grotesque positions. And, scattered among them, the smaller, green-skinned corpses of the attackers.
Corbin directed Alpha towards one of the attackers' bodies, a [Goblin Pillager]. [Analyze.]
[Goblin Pillager Corpse (Level 1)] [HP: 0/30. Condition: Dead (multiple blunt force injuries). Residual Necrotic Energy: Moderate.] [Estimated Attributes (Lv.1): STR:7, AGI:8, VIG:6, INT:4, PER:7] [Notable Abilities/Traits (Potential Echo): Low-Light Vision, Swarm Tactics.] [Potential for Reanimation (Skill: Raise Lesser Skeleton Lv.1): Suitable (small goblin skeleton).] [System: Soul Echo Harvest attempt in progress...]
A new notification flashed. [Soul Echo Harvest (Level 1) successful!] [Skill Echo Acquired: Low-Light Vision (Rudimentary). Cost to imbue in servant: 5 MP. Servant's CP cost increased by +0 while active.]
Corbin felt a pang of something that might have been satisfaction. His innate skill had worked. [Low-Light Vision (Rudimentary)]. It wasn't much, but it was something, a skill he could grant to one of his future servants. The [Skills] tab now showed a new section: [Collected Echoes].
He continued his cautious exploration, using the skeletons as a spearhead. They moved awkwardly but responded to his mental commands with literal precision. With each goblin corpse he analyzed, the [System] attempted a soul echo harvest, but most resulted in [Failure] or [Unstable Echo – Dissipated]. Luck, even with [LCK: 10], didn't guarantee constant success.
In a small square, near a well that seemed intact, the skeletons stopped. Alpha pointed with a bony finger at a set of larger, deeper footprints in the mud, leading away from the village towards a trail that disappeared into the nearby forest. They were recent.
[Analyze.] [Tracks (Large, Humanoid)] [Type: Multiple individuals (3-5). Size: Large (possibly Orcs or Robust Humans). Direction: Northwest, moving away from the village. Estimated Age: Few hours.]
"Orcs? Or survivors?" Corbin pondered, the information ambiguous but crucial. "So... I'm not alone."
He looked at his two skeletons. They were fragile. His mana, though regenerating slowly, was not infinite. The [Reincarnation Trauma] debuff still weighed on his mind, making it difficult to maintain absolute focus, but the need to survive and understand was a powerful driver. He needed a safer location, a temporary base to think and perhaps expand his small forces before following those tracks or exploring the village more thoroughly.
Beside the square, there were the remains of a small inn, one of the few stone-walled buildings still partially standing. "Alpha, Beta, check the inn. Carefully," Corbin ordered, his mind already calculating the next steps. Night would soon fall on Jusgard, and he didn't want to be caught unprepared.
The search for safety and answers had only just begun.