ch9. Dead Scar
Jeremy stood on the edge of a wasteland.
The sky above was darker, twisted with sluggish, swirling clouds. The land itself was gray and lifeless, stretching endlessly in all directions. No wind. No sound. Only an unnatural stillness.
He could feel it—like something was watching.
"This is definitely the worst idea I've had so far."
Mordis, standing beside him, slowly turned his skull toward him.
"…One of the worst ideas," Jeremy corrected.
Mordis gave a satisfied nod.
Still, Jeremy didn't hesitate.
He took a step forward—
And instantly felt something change.
The air became heavier. His vision blurred for a second, and a cold, invisible pressure wrapped around his body.
[Warning: You have entered the Dead Scar.]
[All life weakens here. Recovery effects reduced. Exposure for extended periods may cause permanent damage.]
"…Well, that's comforting."
He checked his status—no immediate debuffs, but his HP regeneration was disabled.
Jeremy exhaled. Alright. No healing. No resting. Just keep moving.
Mordis followed silently, his new blackened bones standing out against the gray backdrop. Unlike Jeremy, he seemed unaffected by the strange atmosphere.
Of course. This place was anti-life. And Mordis… wasn't alive.
Maybe that's an advantage.
Jeremy kept walking.
The deeper he went, the worse it got.
Dead trees stood twisted, their bark peeling in strips. Skeletons of creatures—some humanoid, some monstrous—lay half-buried in the cracked ground.
And the air felt wrong.
Like something alive was in it.
He spotted his first enemy an hour in.
A shrieking abomination—a creature made of fused corpses, all screaming in agony. Its many arms flailed wildly as it dragged itself forward.
Jeremy wasted no time.
"Mordis—rip it apart."
Mordis leaped, his movement faster than before, his shadow-forged fist smashing through the creature's rotting limbs.
The abomination wailed, but Mordis tore through it ruthlessly.
[You have gained experience.]
Jeremy smirked.
"Alright. Let's keep this up."
---
Days passed.
Jeremy hunted. He fought twisted creatures, absorbed new skills, and learned how to adapt in a place that actively tried to kill him.
By the time he reached Level 10, something changed.
[Milestone Reached: Level 10.]
[You may now evolve your summoned undead.]
Jeremy blinked.
He turned to Mordis.
The skeleton had grown stronger over the past days, fighting alongside him, adapting, developing a style.
And now—
[Choose an Evolution Path for Mordis.]
A glowing menu appeared in front of him.
Bone Warrior – A refined skeletal fighter, focusing on physical combat. Gains enhanced durability and weapon proficiency.
Grave Archer – A ranged undead, capable of using spectral arrows and long-range attacks.
Reaper's Hand – A unique evolution. No description provided.
Jeremy stared at the third option.
"…Why is there no description?"
Mordis tilted his head.
Jeremy frowned, thinking.
The first two are obvious. Warrior. Archer.
But this one…
A hidden path?
His gut told him to choose it.
"…Alright, Mordis. Let's gamble."
He selected Reaper's Hand.
A dark pulse shot through the air.
Mordis shuddered. His bones shifted, reshaping—his arms elongating slightly, his fingers turning into clawed gauntlets of shadow-infused bone. His spine curved, his stance becoming more fluid, predatory.
His burning blue eyes flickered—sharper. More intelligent.
And then—
Mordis spoke.
"…I serve."
Jeremy froze.
His skeleton could talk now?
Mordis turned to him, his glowing gaze steady.
Not just talk.
He could think.
Jeremy's mind raced. What the hell had he just unlocked?