ch 25,26,27
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Chapter 25 – A Land of His Own
The scent of dew-covered grass drifted in the still air as Kael opened his eyes inside the Domain once more. Unlike the outside world—where even calm mornings carried the tension of unknown beasts or hostile terrain—this land felt... different. Safer. Warmer.
He stood barefoot on soft green soil, surrounded by low, rolling hills and a distant sparkling lake. The sky above his head looked like a dawn frozen in time—lavender clouds glowing against a perpetual sunrise.
"This is mine?" he whispered, his voice breaking with disbelief.
Seventeen's calm voice echoed beside him.
"Yes, Kael. This is your Domain. A gift and a responsibility. A place to build, grow, and rest. You may bring people here if you wish. Only those bound to your soul or protected by your will can enter."
Kael swallowed. "So… I can live here?"
"You can build a home. A fortress. A future."
His heart thudded.
This land… it wasn't just a place. It was possibility.
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The First Tree: A Curious Growth
Kael walked until he found a patch of earth glowing softly. Something stirred in the soil. A small bud broke through the dirt, trembling like a newborn creature.
Then, with a soft pop, a squat tree burst upward—barely taller than Kael's waist, but already bearing strange, green orbs that blinked.
[Tree of Beast – F-Rank: Monkey Type]
Status:
Grows one F-Rank Monkey Beast every day
Beasts can be stored, tamed, or harvested
More Trees available in God Shop
Kael stared, jaw slightly open. A monkey dropped from the tree with a yawn, rubbed its belly, and promptly sat on his shoulder like it belonged there.
It farted.
Kael blinked. "Okay. Definitely not a divine guardian."
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Exploring the God Shop
"Seventeen," Kael whispered, still staring at the monkey now trying to braid his hair. "Open the God Shop."
A soft ding chimed as a glowing interface floated before him.
[God Shop – Welcome, Kael]
Your Points: 5,800 GP
Categories:
[Beast Trees]
[Tamed Beasts]
[Corpse Stockpile]
[Beast Eggs]
[Weapons & Tools]
[Skill Shards]
[Summoning Scrolls]
[Mini Structures]
He tapped [Beast Trees] and whistled low.
Tree of F-Rank Wolves – 3,000 GP
Tree of F-Rank Wind Rabbits – 2,800 GP
Tree of E-Rank Flame Lizards – Locked (Requires Domain Level 2)
Tree of F-Rank Bone Rats – 2,000 GP
He tapped [Skill Shards] next:
Minor Corpse Storage (Store up to 3 corpses in soul space) – 1,500 GP
Raise Bone Archer (Summon basic skeletal archer) – 1,200 GP
Soul Link (Link mind to summoned beast for shared senses) – 2,000 GP
Kael's eyes sparkled like he'd found a hidden candy shop.
"Oh, I'm gonna be so OP…"
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A First Taste of Power
Later that day, Kael tried out his new summon: Bone Soldier.
With a flash of pale blue light, the ground near him cracked. A set of bones rattled together and rose—a humanoid figure with rusted metal bracers and a jagged bone blade. It stood silently, eyes glowing faintly.
Kael grinned. "Nice to meet you, buddy."
The monkey, clearly unimpressed, threw a rock at it. The skeleton caught the stone mid-air, tossed it back, and nodded toward Kael.
"I think they'll get along," Kael said.
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Closing the Chapter – A Step Forward
That evening, Kael lay in a hammock he'd summoned from the shop, the monkey curled on his chest and the skeleton silently standing guard nearby.
There were no gods whispering, no cursed tomes, no fate dragging him into despair. Just a boy, a beast, and a skeleton in a new world full of promise.
Tomorrow, he'd summon more. Build more. Maybe even bring someone in.
But tonight, for the first time since waking in this new life...
He
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Chapter 26 – A Boy, A Skeleton, and a Monkey
The monkey on his shoulder had officially become a menace.
Kael had named it Milo, mostly because it sounded cute—and it fit. Unfortunately, Milo didn't share his master's love for peace and quiet.
At the crack of dawn, Kael was jolted awake by the monkey blowing raspberries into his ear.
"Get off me, demon rat!" Kael shouted, swatting half-blindly. Milo backflipped off the hammock and darted off into the bushes, laughing in that weird chittering way that made Kael's eye twitch.
The skeleton, still standing guard nearby, gave a slow, almost pitying shake of its skull.
"Don't you start too," Kael grumbled. "I'll unbind you and let Milo draw mustaches on your skull again."
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First Command, First Real Fight
Kael stood near the edge of his domain, gripping a wooden staff he'd found in the God Shop for 100 points. It didn't do anything fancy, but he felt cooler with it.
"Alright, Bone Buddy. Let's see what you can do."
He clapped his hands. "Summon Skeleton Warrior!"
The skeleton from before burst from the ground again, blade in hand. But this time Kael focused.
"Target: Dummy."
He pointed toward a crude scarecrow he'd built earlier with straw and beast hide.
The skeleton darted forward in a flash, blade swinging down and slicing clean through the straw neck. The dummy's head fell, rolling away.
Kael clapped slowly.
"Okay… that was actually terrifying. I love it."
Milo squealed, climbed on the dummy's corpse, and struck a victory pose.
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Upgrading the Domain (and Getting Yelled At)
Later that day, Kael browsed the God Shop again and bought something that caught his eye:
Mini Beast Pen – Holds up to 3 summoned or tamed beasts (F to E Rank)
He summoned it near the center of the field. It unfolded from a small glowing cube, expanding into a stable-like building with hay and clean wooden floors.
Milo immediately claimed a corner and began hoarding shiny rocks.
Kael bought a Skill Shard: Minor Corpse Storage, absorbing it with a shiver. He could now store up to three corpses in a soul-space inventory—perfect for absorbing skills later or keeping loot hidden.
He was midway through inspecting a new summon option—Bone Archer—when the domain shimmered.
A familiar voice rang out:
"Kael! Are you in here again? You promised to help with the chickens!"
Kael jumped. "Oh no…"
A portal opened near the lake. His mother stepped through, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"Five more minutes," Kael offered weakly.
She stomped forward, grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him toward the exit portal.
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Family First
Back in the real world, Kael sat at the dinner table, Milo clinging upside-down to his back, nibbling on a roasted fruit. His father was laughing at something Grandma had said, and his little sister was painting Kael's fingernails black while he struggled to escape.
"You're a Necromancer now, right?" she giggled. "You should look the part!"
"I look plenty creepy already," Kael muttered.
His mother ruffled his hair. "Creepy or not, you're still our baby."
That night, Kael lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling.
He wasn't the strongest. He didn't have a prophecy. No royal blood. No epic fate.
But he had a family who loved him.
He had a monkey who stole his food.
And he had a skeleton guarding the window.
That was more than enough.
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Closing Thoughts – Calm Before the Climb
As Kael drifted off to sleep, Seventeen whispered softly.
"Tomorrow, we begin expanding your Domain. You've earned enough points. And something… something is awakening nearby."
Kael didn't stir.
The next chapter of his journey waited. But for now, he dreamed of monkey trees, straw dummies, and home.
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Chapter 27 – The First Real Danger
The sky was still soft with the blush of dawn when Kael stepped outside, a warm bowl of porridge in hand and Milo draped across his neck like a very lazy scarf.
He was humming. For once, the world felt quiet. Peaceful.
But peace doesn't last forever.
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Something's Wrong
It started with the birds.
They weren't singing.
Kael paused at the gate of the village's eastern fields, spoon halfway to his mouth.
Milo's ears twitched. Then the monkey scrambled up Kael's shoulder and hissed toward the trees.
A rustle.
Then another.
"Seventeen?" Kael whispered in his mind. "You awake?"
"I never sleep. Something's coming."
"Should I run?"
"You could… but your village won't."
Kael clenched his teeth.
He wasn't a hero. Not yet. Maybe never.
But this was his village.
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The Beast
The bushes exploded outward.
It was small—barely the size of a large dog—but its body was armored with chitin and its fangs dripped with green venom. A Venomfang Mite. F-Rank. Common. But still deadly to normal villagers.
It locked eyes with Kael.
He froze. His body screamed to run, but his legs wouldn't move.
Then—
A scream. From behind.
Kael turned. A little boy, barely six, was chasing after a loose chicken and running straight toward the beast.
"No—!"
The Mite pounced.
Kael's hand moved before he could think.
"Summon: Skeleton Warrior!"
Bone burst from the soil. A sword rose. The skeleton slammed into the creature mid-air, crashing both into the dirt.
"Target: Beast!" Kael shouted, voice shaking.
The skeleton obeyed without hesitation.
Steel met chitin.
Kael ran, grabbing the boy and shielding him with his body, heart thundering. He glanced back.
The skeleton was losing.
The beast shrieked and slammed into its ribs, cracking the bone.
Kael's hand trembled.
"Seventeen! I need something—I need—anything!"
"I'll lend you a basic command. One time. Just think: Strengthen Summon."
Kael focused.
"Strengthen… Summon."
His skeleton glowed faintly blue.
It rose, faster than before.
And struck.
The beast shrieked once more before its head rolled from its body.
Silence fell.
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The Aftermath
Kael collapsed to the ground, the boy clinging to him, crying.
Villagers came running. His father knelt beside him, checking for wounds.
Kael blinked, then smiled faintly. "I… I didn't die."
His mother sobbed and hugged him tight. "You're an idiot. Brave. But such an idiot."
Milo jumped onto the fallen beast, striking a proud pose.
The skeleton bowed, then crumbled into dust.
Kael sat quietly while his family fussed, eyes distant.
He didn't feel proud.
He felt scared.
But also… determined.
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That Night
Kael sat in his domain, legs dangling into the lake.
"Seventeen?"
"Yes?"
"I wasn't ready."
"No. But you still stood."
"…Thanks. For helping."
"You're welcome, Kael. Today, you were small. But not weak."
The boy smiled softly, eyes shining.
In the darkness behind him, a new tree began to sprout.
He hadn't bought it.
The Domain had given it to him.
A reward for choosing to protect.