Ethan learned very quickly that power was not free.
The morning after the anomaly left him hollowed out in a way sleep didn't fix. His body felt fine—better than fine, actually—but his mind was heavy, thoughts sluggish, as if something had wrapped around his soul and refused to let go. The system didn't warn him about that part. It never did.
He stood at the edge of the forest, watching the village from a distance. Smoke curled from chimneys. Life went on. That fact bothered him more than the pitchforks had.
SOUL STRAIN DETECTED: Minor.
RECOMMENDATION: REST OR GRAVE MEDITATION.
Ethan snorted softly. "Of course there's a meditation skill. Why wouldn't there be."
He dismissed the notification and turned his attention inward, focusing on the web of connections tying him to his undead. Three temporary skeletons lay buried or hidden nearby, dormant but intact. The bound hound sat beside him, unmoving, its presence heavier than the others. Permanent undead didn't fade into the background. They stayed.
Two command slots locked. Gone until the hound was destroyed—or released.
Ethan frowned. He didn't like that thought.
Lira approached without announcing herself, boots crunching on dead leaves. "You look worse," she said.
"Good morning to you too."
"You survived something that kills most beginners," she replied. "That usually comes with consequences."
He studied her for a moment. She wasn't hostile. Not friendly either. Balanced. Calculated. The system had labeled her Cautiously Neutral, and for once it felt accurate.
"I need corpses," Ethan said bluntly.
Lira blinked. Then sighed. "At least you're honest."
They didn't return to the village. Instead, she led him to an old battlefield a few miles north—weathered markers, shallow graves, bones half-reclaimed by the earth. Ethan felt it the moment they crossed the threshold.
The Grave Domain seed pulsed.
GRAVE-AFFINITY ZONE DETECTED.
BONUS: Undead Stability +15%. Soul Cost Reduced.
His breath caught. The land welcomed him.
"This place remembers," he whispered.
Lira nodded. "So do the dead."
Ethan knelt, pressing his palm to the soil. Power flowed more easily here, smoother, like water finding its path. He didn't rush. He examined the remains, filtering through Grave Sense until he found a skeleton with intact structure and lingering resonance.
"This one," he said.
He began the binding carefully, slower than with the hound. Darkness curled around the bones, stitching will to matter. The pull was stronger this time, heavier. His vision dimmed, heart hammering as the cost came due.
Pain bloomed behind his eyes.
PERMANENT UNDEAD CREATED: Skeletal Soldier (Bound).
COMMAND SLOTS: 4/6 USED.
Ethan gasped and nearly collapsed. Lira caught his arm, steadying him. The skeleton rose smoothly, posture straighter than the others, movements controlled and deliberate.
"Worth it?" she asked.
He looked at the soldier. Felt its presence. Stronger. Smarter. He nodded slowly. "Yeah. But I can't do that often."
SOUL STRAIN INCREASED: Moderate.
A new window appeared, pulsing crimson.
WARNING: Excessive permanent bindings may result in class deviation or mental collapse.
Ethan grimaced. "That would've been nice to know before."
The system didn't respond.
They tested the skeletal soldier next. It followed complex commands, adapted to terrain, even shielded Ethan without explicit orders. Evolution potential flickered at the edge of his awareness.
UNDEAD EVOLUTION PATH AVAILABLE:
Skeletal Soldier → Grave Guard → Bone Knight
Not yet, he thought. Too soon.
As the sun dipped low, the battlefield stirred. A pressure built in the air—different from the anomaly. Sharper. Intentional.
Figures emerged from the tree line. Armed. Organized.
Grave Wardens.
Lira cursed under her breath. "You've drawn attention."
Ethan straightened, exhaustion forgotten as adrenaline surged. "Of course I have."
The Wardens advanced cautiously, eyes fixed on his undead. Their leader raised a staff etched with runes.
"Necromancer," he called. "Release the bound dead and submit."
Ethan considered it for half a second. Then smiled thinly.
"No."
The fight was brief but brutal. Temporary skeletons shattered under radiant strikes. The skeletal soldier held the line, buying seconds Ethan desperately needed. The bound hound tore into a Warden's leg, dragging him down.
Ethan didn't overextend. He retreated, commanding precision rather than aggression. When the Wardens finally pulled back, they left with wounded—and knowledge.
Knowledge was dangerous.
Night fell as Ethan collapsed against a tree, breathing hard.
ADVANCEMENT UPDATE:
Objective 2 — Death Trial: Complete.
Objective 3 — Recognition: Achieved (Hostile Faction Registered).
A final notification appeared.
RANK UP AVAILABLE: GRAVE ADEPT.
Ethan stared at it, too tired to celebrate.
Power had weight. And he was only beginning to feel how heavy it could become.