《The Path of an Undead [LitRPG]》 A New Beginning A sea of black is all there was¡­ it was all I was. I forgot how long I''d been floating in this place, not that I was sure that it was a place or that time could pass wherever I was. I had long forgotten the events that led me to my current fate as if I had traded my memories for a single ounce of strength to keep from disappearing completely. I felt whatever was remaining of my conscious being beginning to slip away, and I knew once it faded, so would I. The sliver of consciousness that separated me from that black sea was finally disappearing, and as a result, so was I. >Calculating Summary of Entity 194573¡­ >Status: Deceased >ERROR: ####### ##### Detected >Action Required: Reevaluation A faint glow pierced the black sea like a star trying to shine through a pitch-black sky. The black sea, which had consumed everything I was, began to ripple. It wasn''t gentle, like the breeze over water¡ªit was violent, unnatural, as if the sea itself was rebelling against what was to come. I wasn''t sure if I could hear those words or if they were simply imprinted upon what remained of me, but they echoed through the abyss nonetheless. A cold, methodical voice, devoid of any emotion or care, analyzing my entire existence in a way that felt¡­ indifferent. The ripples in the sea grew stronger, tearing at the fragile sliver of what was left of me. A faint thread tethered me to¡­ something. Something I didn''t understand. Then came what I can only describe as the first fracture of my existence. >Reviewing Akashic Records¡­ >ERROR. >ERROR. >ERROR. The autonomous voice that echoed through what was left of me began to scream through my being. With each error sounding more discordant and unnatural¡ªeach one louder, sharper, and more desperate than the last. A moment later, the error reverberated through me. The voice regained its once cold and dead echo that I deemed peaceful in comparison to the errors. >Sacrificing ####### #######... >Recalibrating Designation. Initiating Entity Alteration Protocol¡­ >Rewriting of Akashic Record for Entity 194573¡­ >Reevalution Completed What was happening After the last message resonated through the black corridor that seemed to be my head or maybe my soul, I realized that I began to regain more of my being and also began to hasily feel the feeling of having a body again. I slowly opened my eyes drunkenly as my eyes tried and failed to scan my dark surroundings. My vision was returning albeit slowly as I took the time to process what I had heard previously when I was fading away. What¡­happened¡­? Wasn''t I dying? Wait? why was I dying? Maybe it was a dream, yeah people have wacky dreams, so maybe I was dreaming that I died¡­right? WRONG Out of all the things I understand right now, which in reality is very few, I know for a fact that I was dead, no, no, I had died. This technical stuff is really hurting my head. All I knew was I was dying or dead, and now I''m not. Talk about divine intervention, thank you God. But was it God? As much as I would like to believe I''ve been chosen by a higher power, I doubt that''s the case. The only explanation I can think of is probably the system brought me back. ''The Akashic System¡­'' The thought sent chills down my back. I didn''t know how but I knew it for a fact that it had to be system, it was the only thing that made any sense. The knowledge of the system felt like it was etched into my being. The Akashic System was the universal balance, the unseen hand guiding everything that lived. It managed skills, recorded achievements, and dictated the paths of all species. It played the part of overseer and judge, always remaining impartial and absolute. The Akashic System didn''t make mistakes, and it certainly didn''t¡­ bring back the dead? It wasn''t just rare¡ªit was impossible, improbable, unprecedented. At least, it should have been. But here I was. I finally opened my eyes and tried to look around. My vision was a bit blurry, and it was hard to see since it was so dark, but slowly, my vision was adjusting. I looked down at my hands. The skin was cracked, gray, and thin, clinging to bone and sinew like parchment stretched too tight. My fingers moved sluggishly as if I had to remind them what they were supposed to do. From the moment I saw my hands, I could tell that something was off. Was I really alive? All my senses felt sharper but dull at the same time. How does that make any sense? Maybe waking up from death takes a minute. My hands roamed to feel my body like I was trying to recognize myself through touch. The skin on my body felt rough and wounded, like an old rag with tears. Like a deep-seated fear that I was refusing to accept, I knew deep down the truth was I wasn''t truly alive. How did I know? Well, take into account the ghastly look of my hands, which even with poor eyesight, could only be described as corpse-like, there was a simple fact that I had been overlooking all this time In the now 5 minutes I had been awake, I had yet to begin to breathe. "¡­ It seems like I forgot how to breathe." My head started to spin with all my racing thoughts. Who forgets how to breathe? Breathing is the basic thing all living things do. Am I a failure of a living being I found the strength to stand up as my poor vision got somewhat acclimated to the dark. Looking back at my remnants I called my hands I began to observe what I could of my body. My clothes looked like bloodied rags that barely hung off of my rotting pale body. And my body looked like the rotting body of someone left out for days at the mercy of the elements. There was only one way to put my worry to rest. I''d just have to call on the Akashic Records for answers. "Aaaasa Raaa" I tried to say Access Records but it seemed like speaking was off the table, my voice instead let out a low moan. I steeled my resolve and tried again as more low and unintelligible moans left my mouth.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. After giving up, I decided to speak it in my mind so that I could view my information. Akashic Record
Name: [][][][][][] Race: Demonic Beast Species: Witherling Zombie Rank: Spawn Class: None Level: 1 Titles: None
Strength: 6 Intelligence: 8 Endurance: 6 Vitality: 4 Agility: 3 Available Stat Points: 0
Skills: Wither¡¯s Claw - Lv. 1 Mana Perception (Passive) - Lv. 1 ####### ####### - Lv. Locked (Fragment - Unusable)
Traits: Undead Body - Lv. 1
Reading the words "Demonic Beast" and "Zombie" in my mind made my already weak body go limp. DAMN IT, WHAT THE F*CK IS GOING ON. HOW DID I BECOME A F*CKING ZOMBIE? ''It''s not even like zombies can create other zombies. So how and why would the Akashic System turn me into one'' I held my head in my hand as I fell back down on the floor of the supposed cave I was in. Demonic Beasts are monsters that spread death and destruction wherever they go. The majority of them are mindless monsters that only have the desire to kill humans. It was almost laughable what was happening; if not for the lucidity of the situation right now, I could have sworn I was in a dream. And why am I nameless? I have a name I looked at the name tab to see blocked-out text to signify the lack of information. "Obviously, my name is¡ª" "Its¡­um¡­ wait...WHO AM I!!!" My mind blanked, and there was a void where my identity should have been. No name. No face. Just a swirling mess of nothingness. I clenched my bony hands into fists, my brittle nails digging into the rotted flesh of my palms. Who am I? The question echoed in my mind like a cruel taunt. Every attempt to grasp at a memory felt like trying to hold smoke in my hands. The more I tried, the more it slipped away, leaving only the ache of loss in its wake. I stared again at the Akashic Record, feeling the blankness of the text burning into my mind. I''m nameless. I guess Low-rank monsters don''t have names, right? I guess when losing everything else about your identity,y a name isn''t so much Yeah, a name isn''t so much, and compared to everything right now, it''s the least of my worries, right? No, I can''t accept this. The Akashic System may have turned me into this... corpse, but it couldn''t erase the fact that I existed, that I was someone. Somewhere, deep within this hollow shell, I was still me¡ªeven if I couldn''t remember who "me" was. Taking some time to spiral out was good for me and when I was done I was strangely a bit more accepting of my unique situation, Ok, so I am a nameless Zombie now, complaining won''t change that but like hell am I gonna accept this you shitty system I won''t ever forgive you. One final look through my records, I looked at my stats and skills. My stats looked decent,t I guess? Not like I could tell what was good or bad, but agility looked low compared to the rest. I had 2 skills, [Wither''s Claw] and [Mana Perception]. Thanks to the Akashic System, I could focus on them and get a description of what they do. I still won''t forgive you system.
[Wither¡¯s Claw] [Mana Perception]
Ok not bad, I had an attack skills and a skill for sensing mana. Does that mean I could be a cool mage and cast cool spells in the future? I¡¯ll shelf that thought for later. What about that Undead Body trait? I focused on the trait so I could view its information next.
[Undead Body - Passive]
Is it just me, or is this undead body trait a little too powerful? I guess every downside has its upside. The last skill I had I wasn''t able to read. It said the skill was locked and unusable anyway, so I guess that 1 less thing for me to worry about at the moment. I stood back up, shaking off my shock and disturbance, and began to view the cave I was currently in. I walked, okay, more like limped for 2 hours while trying to examine my dimly lit surroundings and get a feel of where I was. In all honesty, my speed was rather slow, but it''s not like that was my fault Besides slow and steady win the race is what they say I looked into the distance to what looked like an opening from the cave to a bigger area. My vision was adapting more to the dark, and I was beginning to be able to make out things from a distance [Akashic System] The requirements have been fulfilled. [Skill: Night Vision] acquired Details: [Enhances the user''s vision in darkness, allowing clear sight in dim or pitch-black environments.] Processing Complete. I blinked my eyes as I heard the Akashic System in my head, and all that was dark before suddenly became easily visible. Had I earned a skill for struggling to see in the dark? Well, it definitely helped as I looked out the cave to see a bigger cavern. I proceeded into the cavern with no idea of where I was or where I was going. The size of this place was massive, and I had an eerie feeling that this wasn''t just a simple cavern As I limped forward, I bumped into what felt like a hard, bony surface. I barely had time to blink before I fell, my back hitting the cold cavern floor. I looked up at the skeleton that I had bumped into, and it was now standing in front of me. The clatter of shifting bones echoed through the cavern. I froze. The skeletal figure before me lurched forward. Its empty sockets had a blue glow that stayed fixated on me. Its movements were jerky and unnatural. I barely had time to process what was happening before it attacked. Its bony fingers lashed out, swinging toward my chest with surprising speed. I flinched and twisted my body on instinct, but it was too late. CRACK. Pain. I staggered back as a sharp force slammed into my ribs, rattling through my entire body. My balance faltered, my knee nearly buckling. I felt the damage, even if my undead body dulled the sensation. I glanced down. The area where it had struck was slightly caved in, the rotting flesh giving way to the impact. I wasn''t sure how much damage I could take, but one thing was clear¡ªI wasn''t invincible. The skeleton didn''t hesitate. It came at me again, its movements methodical yet relentless, raising an arm for another strike. Lunging forward, I swung my arm wildly, my decayed fingers curling into a claw-like shape as I slashed at the skeleton figure¡ª [Wither''s Claw] My claws scratched the bone of the skeleton''s brittle forearm and face, leaving dull scratches before the areas turned dark purple. The skeletal figure staggered as I moved back to compose myself. I fingers felt numb after going against that hard bone. A dark, crawling rot crept along the skeleton''s bones, weakening the structure around my claw mark. Hell, I had just come back to life. I wasn''t about to die so quick Sorry, skeleton, I''m going to have to claw you to death. While the skeleton was still staggered by the effect of my claw, I closed in to claw it some more. [Wither''s Claw] I aimed for the forearm that I had previously clawed, and this time, I was tearing away a chunk of the skeleton''s forearm. The weakened limb snapped, the lower portion of its arm falling lifelessly to the cavern floor. But it didn''t go down. The skeleton reeled back, adjusting its posture, now missing part of its limb¡ªbut still standing, still moving. Its hollow sockets stared at me, expressionless. I shifted my stance, my legs instinctively spreading for better balance. Even with my undead body''s sluggishness, I could feel my movements becoming a bit more fluid. Not because I had experience¡ªbut because my body was learning. The skeleton lunged again, this time aiming lower¡ªgoing for my legs. I moved, twisting my torso to avoid the brunt of the attack, but its remaining hand scraped against my thigh. I felt the pressure. The dull tearing of rotted flesh. I bit back an unnatural groan, staggering but remaining upright. With a wide, sweeping motion, I swung my arm forward, clawing at the exposed gaps in its ribs. My fingernails, harder, sharper than before, dug into the brittle bone. [Wither''s Claw]. I followed up by gripping the inside of its ribcage¡ª And pulled. A dry snap rang through the cavern as I tore two ribs free, the bones creaking in resistance before breaking apart in my grasp. The skeleton fell backward and struggled to remain upright. I could feel it now. It was weakened. It wouldn''t last much longer. But if this kept dragging on, neither would I. [Undead Body (Passive)] I could feel my injuries¡ªbut there was no bleeding, no sensation of warmth or loss of vitality. Just a lingering numbness, a dull awareness of the damage I had sustained. The skeleton tried to recover, its movements slower, less precise. I didn''t give it the chance. Lunging forward, I gripped its skull with both hands¡ªmy rotted clawed fingers digging into the bone, pressing into the empty sockets. The area my claws scratched began to blacken and wither as it twitched, trying to resist¡ª I squeezed. CRACK. The skull fractured beneath my grip, and with one final burst of strength¡ªI crushed it. The skeleton''s body collapsed, the bones scattering into lifeless pieces. I remained frozen, hands still clutched around the fragments of the skull, my breath coming in shallow, ragged motions. I had won. I had survived. I slowly released the shattered bone, my hands trembling. My fingers were coated in a fine layer of dust¡ªthe last remnants of the first enemy I had ever killed. And I felt¡­ nothing. No satisfaction. No horror. Just acceptance of the events that unfolded. I looked down at my hands¡ªat my cracked, undead flesh, the slight tremor in my fingers fading as I forced them still. I had lost my name. I had lost my identity. But one thing was clear. I had not lost my will to live, and to protect that, I needed to get stronger. Learning to Survive I felt empty, but somehow, that felt¡­ normal. No guilt. No hesitation. No fear. The realization was settling in, cold and quiet. I had just killed something with my own hands, yet the only thing I felt was just a dull acceptance. Was it because I was a monster now? Was it because the skeleton attacked me first, and I had only been defending myself? You know what? I don''t care why; I am a monster now, and my only goal now is survival.
[Target Defeated.] [More Experience Gained for Defeating a Stronger Opponent.] [Species: Witherling Zombie Lv. 1 ¡ú Witherling Zombie Lv. 2] [Skill: Wither¡¯s Claw Lv. 1 ¡ú Wither¡¯s Claw Lv. 2] [Skill: Night Vision Lv. 1 ¡ú Night Vision Lv. 2] [Trait: Undead Body Lv. 1 ¡ú Undead Body Lv. 2] [You Have 3 Stat Points.]
I leveled up? The knowledge was already there, buried in my mind, yet the details felt¡­ hazy. I knew the Akashic System existed and I knew its purpose, but the actual mechanics of it? How leveling worked? How experience was calculated? That part was harder to recall. It was like trying to remember the rules of a game I never played but only heard of in passing. Still, it made sense, right? Before, I was at Level 1, so logically, I should be able to level up. I clenched my fingers, flexing them experimentally, there was something else now¡ªa lingering sensation beneath my skin, like an unseen force recalibrating my body in real time. All the wounds I had sustained from the battle were healed Was this what leveling up felt like? There was a euphoric instant surge of completeness. It wasn''t really a dramatic transformation, but I could tell something was different. Perks of being a monster, I guess. I felt closer¡­felt like I was on the right track of something, but I didn¡¯t know what. Was this also somehow related to my new monster instincts? Or was this also just an effect of the system? I decided to table this thought and check on the stat points instead. Akashic Record
Name: [][][][][][] Race: Demonic Beast Species: Witherling Zombie Rank: Spawn Class: None Level: 2 Titles: None
Strength: 7 Intelligence: 9 Endurance: 7 Vitality: 5 Agility: 4 Stat Points Available: 3
Skills: Night Vision - Lv. 2 Wither¡¯s Claw - Lv. 2 Mana Perception (Passive) - Lv. 1 ####### ####### - Lv. Locked (Fragment - Unusable)
Traits: Undead Body - Lv. 2
I stared at my updated stats, my confusion only growing. "So, I get three stat points per level... and all my stats increase by one automatically, too?" I muttered, trying to piece it together. That was a better growth rate than I expected. Not that it made up for the whole turning me into a rotting corpse thing. "I still won''t forgive you for that, system, but at least you''re trying," I grumbled. My eyes drifted to the three unallocated stat points. Moving my decaying limbs felt slightly less awful now, probably thanks to my small increases in endurance and agility. It was barely noticeable, but it was something. If even a single point made a difference, then focusing on agility and endurance seemed like the obvious choice¡ªstrength, too, just in case. After all, if there was one thing a Witherling Zombie needed, it was the ability to run. Survival wasn¡¯t about fighting¡ªit was about knowing when to not fight. I nodded to myself, feeling my whopping nine intelligence patting me on the back for my brilliant deduction. I doubted I could be wrong. "Yeah... I¡¯m definitely onto something here," I mumbled, mostly to myself. [+2 Agility] [+1 Vitality] As soon as I allocated the points, I felt it. A subtle shift. The dead weight in my limbs lightened, my movements smoothed, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªI no longer dragged my feet like some half-broken marionette. I glanced down at my ragged, barely-holding-together body and sighed. Still a corpse. But at least now, I''m a slightly more functional one. I took a step. Slow, deliberate. Then another. And another. It wasn¡¯t fast. It sure as hell wasn¡¯t graceful. But for the first time since waking up in this rotting husk, I could move with purpose. And for now, that was enough. For now. Testing my newfound agility, I pushed into a light jog. Which immediately became an uncontrolled stumble straight into a cave wall. THUD. "...Ow." Correction¡ªI could move with purpose. I just sucked at it. Peeling my half-decayed face off the stone, I groaned. New goal: learn to walk before attempting to run.
I walked forward, my steps steady, though my body still felt foreign. The cavern stretched before me¡ªsilent, vast, its jagged stone walls scarred with deep cracks. Glowing stone pillars jutted from the floor and ceiling casting an eerie dim light barely bright enough to illuminate the surrounding. The air was cold, thick with dampness and the faint scent of rot. I narrowed my milky, undead eyes, scanning every detail. For all the strength, durability, and resilience monsters had¡ªif I didn¡¯t even know where I was, I might as well already be dead. No map. No guides. No memory. If this place was as dangerous as I suspected, wandering around blind was just a slow, stupid way to die. Since the moment I started walking, I¡¯d been watching. Studying. Trying to piece together any clue that might tell me where the hell I was. With no memories, the effort felt pointless, but I kept at it. I was building something¡ªa mental map of where I¡¯d been, where I was going. And yet, nothing looked familiar. There were no markers, no signs, and no indication of where I was or where I was going. Just endless stone and shadows. Yeah¡­, the first step is to figure out where the hell I actually am. If I could at least do that, maybe¡ªmaybe¡ªthis situation wouldn¡¯t feel so damn hopeless.
A latent talent has surfaced. Skill [Inspect] acquired. Processing Complete.
I froze. ¡°¡­Wait, what?¡± That was new. I glanced back at my Akashic Record, and sure enough¡ª
Akashic Record Update General Skills: Inspect - Lv. 1 (Newly Acquired)Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Inspect? [Inspect] And to think I¡­ just got it. By thinking about how much it sucked that I couldn¡¯t tell where I was? I exhaled slowly. Latent talent? What did that even mean? Was the Akashic System trying to buy my forgiveness? It was unsettling that I had no answers, just more questions¡ªbut at least this would be a useful skill. Then again, if it was handed to me this easily, maybe my situation was even worse than I thought. I pushed that thought aside. No point in spiraling. Might as well test it out. My gaze fell on a jagged rock nearby. Something simple. I focused.
[Inspect - Lv. 1] Activated [Rock] A rock.
I blinked. ¡­ I rubbed my temples. Alright, maybe I set my expectations too high. I turned to a nearby cavern wall, placing my hand against it, feeling the rough, uneven surface. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s try this again.¡±
[Inspect - Lv. 1] Activated [Wall] It is a wall.
I stared. Then I stared harder. ¡­So this was Lv. 1 Inspect. Absolutely useless. I sighed, dragging my rotting hand down my face. Guess I¡¯m gonna have to level this thing up before it actually tells me anything useful, huh? I sighed. Look at the bright side. I was fortunate to even have a skill to complain about now. I took one last look at the rock before kicking it forward. It tumbled a few feet, bouncing off another rock. I activated Inspect one more time just to see if I was missing anything.
[Inspect - Lv. 1] Activated [Rock] Still a rock.
I stared. Then I nodded. ¡°Yeah. I hate this skill.¡± And with that, I decided to keep walking deeper in the cavern. I had planned to use Inspect on everything I saw if it would help level it up. At a higher level, the skill would be able to offer better assistance and would eventually become invaluable¡­ even if right now it sucked. So, I walked forward, activating Inspect on whatever was available. Which, unfortunately, was nothing much.
[Wall] [Rock] [Floor] [Rock] [Stone] [Rock]
I continued walking, mindlessly activating Inspect, until I spotted two silhouettes in the distance. I squinted. Humanoid? I hesitated, then activated Inspect.
[Inspect - Lv. 1] Activated [Imp] Imp.
I stared. Then I stared harder. Ok, this might be the most help I will receive from this skill for now. But what should I do? The imps moved closer now to the point where I was able to fully see them with the help of night vision. There are two imps in front of me. Should I avoid them for now, or should I risk my life and try to fight them? ¡­ Yeah, easy answer. I decided a tactical retreat would be my best bet for now but the moment I shifted my weight to retreat, the two imps locked onto me, their small, wiry frames twitching with anticipation. Their beady, red eyes gleamed in the dim cavern light, sharp claws flexing as they prepared to lunge. I barely had time to react before the first one darted forward, its movements erratic but quick. It wasn¡¯t mindless¡ªthere was calculation in the way it moved, cutting off my path with a sudden burst of speed. Damn it. The second imp screeched, its jagged teeth bared as it flanked me from the side. There was no time to think, no plan¡ªI just moved. I swung my clawed hand wildly, aiming at the closest imp¡ª [Wither¡¯s Claw] My fingers raked across its shoulder, and for a split second, I felt resistance. Then came the sickening sight of black veins spreading from the wound, necrotic energy crawling over its flesh like a living sickness. The imp howled, staggering back, clutching at the spreading decay with frantic, clawed fingers. The second imp took advantage of my attack, lunging in low. I tried to twist away¡ª Too slow. Its claws raked across my side, tearing through decayed flesh with ease. A sharp, hollow pain radiated from the wound, but there was no blood, just the dull sensation of my body taking damage. I gritted my teeth. I wasn¡¯t going to win a battle of speed. But maybe¡­ The wounded imp was still reeling from my attack, its movements sluggish as the corruption drained its strength. That left me with one real opponent for now. I turned toward the second imp, dropping low before lunging forward, swinging both arms¡ª [Wither¡¯s Claw] My claws sank into its chest, fingers digging deep, and I felt something crack beneath my grip. It screeched, flailing wildly, trying to pry me off, but the rot spread too fast. Its struggling slowed, movements becoming weaker¡ª Then, with one final jerk, it went still. One down. I barely had time to react before the first imp recovered and lunged at me in a frenzy, shrieking in pain and fury. It moved wildly, unpredictable, desperation overriding whatever cunning it had before. I tried to dodge¡ª Its claws slashed across my arm, deep enough to carve through rotting flesh, deep enough that I felt my bones tremble under the impact. My vision wavered for a second, a strange, pulsing haze overtaking my senses. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of hesitation. Forcing myself forward, I slammed my clawed hand into its throat, pushing with every ounce of strength I had left. [Wither¡¯s Claw] Its body convulsed, spasming as the necrotic energy surged through it. Its screech turned to a gurgle as its own body turned against itself, the life draining from its frame.
[Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Species: Witherling Zombie Lv. 2 ¡ú Witherling Zombie Lv. 3] [Skill: Night Vision Lv. 1 ¡ú Lv. 2] [Skill: Wither¡¯s Claw Lv. 2 ¡ú Lv. 3] [Skill: Inspect Lv. 1 ¡ú Lv. 2] [Skill: Mana Perception Lv. 1 ¡ú Lv. 2] [You Have 3 Stat Points.]
I stood there, panting, watching as the final remnants of the first zombie crumbled under its own decay. That was hard¡­but still easier than I thought. I¡¯d thought my best bet on a 2 against 1 was death but the fact i was still here not breathing I wasn¡¯t going to take for granted. My wounds already started to heal, but I could feel like it would be a while before I was fully healed. I checked Inspect, and I''m curious how much better it has gotten. I used it on myself.
[Inspect - Lv. 2] Activated [Zombie - Lv. 4] A lesser undead.
I stared. ¡°¡­Thanks. Really working at full power, huh Inspect.¡± I shook my head and checked the zombies again.
[Inspect - Lv. 2] Activated [Zombie - Lv. 3] A basic undead.
Alright, now we¡¯re getting somewhere. It still wasn¡¯t great, but at least now I could see levels. That was something. I pulled up my stats.
Akashic Record Update Stat Points Available: 3 [+2 Agility] [+1 Strength]
I took a deep breath¡ªor at least mimicked the motion. I could move more naturally now. My strikes were smoother, and my reaction time was sharper. It wasn¡¯t dramatic, but the difference was noticeable. I clenched my fists. This was working. I kept moving. And I made the unlikely decision to spend the next several hours hunting. I decided to only target enemies that were my level or lower and that were alone. I used the fact that not all the monsters in the cave had night vision because of their reliance on the glowing stones. My hunting tactic was staying in the shadows and getting ambush kills with [Wither¡¯s Claw] They were weak and were free of experience. They didn¡¯t fight back until I attacked. I mean, they couldn¡¯t. How could you fight against something you couldn¡¯t see? They were too slow to keep up once I increased my agility. One by one, I tore through them, using Wither¡¯s Claw to weaken them before finishing them off. [Skeletal Walker Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Venomfang Snake Defeated.] [Lesser Experience Gained.] [Skeletal Walker Defeated.] [Lesser Experience Gained.] [Chitterfang Imps Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Gloom Crawlers Defeated.] [Lesser Experience Gained.] Then¡ª
[Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Species: Witherling Zombie Lv. 3 ¡ú Witherling Zombie Lv. 4] [You Have 3 Stat Points.]
[+2 Agility] [+1 Vitality]
I immediately allocated my 3 stat points and paused, feeling my body shift slightly. I could move faster now. My limbs responded without hesitation. My movements felt natural. I grinned.
[Skill: Night Vision Lv. 2 ¡ú Lv. 3] [Skill: Wither¡¯s Claw Lv. 3 ¡ú Lv. 4] [Skill: Inspect Lv. 2 ¡ú Lv. 3] [Skill: Mana Perception Lv. 2 ¡ú Lv. 3] [Trait: Undead Body Lv. 2 ¡ú Lv. 3] The system has recorded your comprehension. acquired Processing Complete. My attention to my skill that had leveled was short-lived as my attention immediately went to inspecting my new skill.
[Skill: Unarmed Combat] Details: [Enhances the user¡¯s proficiency in hand-to-hand combat, improving striking power, speed, and technique when fighting without weapons.]
That made sense. I had been fighting unarmed since the beginning¡ªthe system must have recognized my progress. Good. My plan was to grow, and the acquisition of a new skill proved my efforts were paying off. The skill seemed perfect for my current hunting tactics and could help me with facing enemies without ambushes. I started to think of the best way to test this new skill when I heard a sound that put a pause on my thoughts. In the distance in front of me, I heard the sound of tapping growing louder. I reflexively used inspect on the area where the sound was growing from [Inspect - Lv. 3] Activated [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 5] [Small, feral humanoids with elongated limbs, clawed fingers, and needle-like teeth that never stop chattering. They skulk in the dark, using echolocation to hunt, and their erratic movements make them hard to hit. While individually weak, they sometimes travel in hordes, overwhelming prey with sheer numbers and relentless ambush attacks. Bright light can scatter them, but once they¡¯ve marked a target, they rarely stop hunting.] I exhaled slowly. Another imp. The prospect of an another imp approaching me didn¡¯t scare me, they were a bit tricky to deal with, but not a threat by themselves so far. However, the question of the growing tapping sound still was unanswered. They sounded a bit more like fast marching now and were more rythmic. At that moment I felt a wave a fear wash over me as I reread the description of the Chitterfang Imp more carefully but quickly. And then I saw it. ¡°¡ªWhile individually weak, they sometimes travel in hordes, overwhelming prey with sheer numbers and relentless ambush attacks.¡± Shit. I adjusted Inspect''s range, targeting the entire area where the sound originated. [Inspect - Lv. 3] Activated [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 4] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 5] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 3] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 8] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 4] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 8] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 7] [Chitterfang Imp - Lv. 5]...4 more. Even though I was dead, my stomach dropped. Shit. I turned and ran. Oh Look, More Bullshit The cavern stretched endlessly before me, jagged walls flashing past as I pushed my rotting body to its limit. My torn rags fluttered against my decayed flesh, and with each step, I could feel the strain in my muscles¡ªor what was left of them. The horde was still behind me. The sound of chittering laughter and tapping of their clawed feet against the stone floor still echoed through the cavern as it grew closer to me. I had been much faster than before, but so were they. If anything, they were just as fast, if not faster. I can¡¯t keep this up. Even with my boosted agility and endurance, they would still overtake me in a matter of time. Their numbers didn¡¯t dwindle and their chittering never stopped. Their relentless pursuit was starting to terrify me. I¡¯d been running full speed for nearly twenty-five minutes, weaving through rock formations, leaping over uneven terrain, and yet¡ªthey were still there. Shit, I¡¯m just delaying the inevitable. I can''t keep this up My dead body could ignore the pain and fatigue from pushing myself to my limit, but I still had limits. I was running out of energy. And If I ran out before finding a way to deal with these Imps, I wouldn¡¯t make it out alive. I swallowed dryly. There was only one option, and it was a risky one. If I can¡¯t lose them, I¡¯ll have to kill them. But how? I had never fought this many enemies at once, let alone ones that would never stop moving unless I tore them apart. Hope seemed bleak. Then I saw it. A narrow crevice in the rock wall leads to a midsized enclosed area. A bottleneck. Perfect. I dashed inside, spinning to face the entrance, my breath ragged¡ªnot because I needed air, but because I was desperately trying to think of a way to survive. Twelve Imps. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my rotting palms. No more running. I had to fight. [Unarmed Combat] I was prepared for the assault. The first Imp lurched into the crevice. I moved before it could react. [Unarmed Combat - Lv. 1] I snapped forward, swinging my clenched fist. Crack. My knuckles slammed into its temple, sending its head snapping sideways. The brittle bone fractured instantly, and the Imp collapsed. [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] The next Imp lunged. I dodged left, its claws slicing through empty air. My knee shot up, smashing into its ribcage. The brittle bones cracked, and I followed up with a sharp palm strike to its skull, crushing it inward. [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] I exhaled sharply. Two down. Ten left. But then I fucked up. The next Imp came at me faster than expected. I tried to dodge¡ªbut it was too close. I felt teeth and claws sink into my left shoulder. Pain flared through me, dull and raw, as its jaws locked down. I snarled, bringing my fist down against its head, but it held on, tearing deeper. Desperation kicked in. I raked my claws across its face, my fingernails tearing into rotted flesh. [Wither¡¯s Claw] Black rotting decay spread instantly, its flesh boiling and peeling from it inflicted wounds. The Im[ let out a gurgling scream, releasing its bite just enough to I rip my arm free. Then I grabbed its head and twisted. CRACK. [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] I barely had a second to breathe before two more were on me. I stepped back as one Imp lunged, avoiding its first swipe, but I happened to lose track of the one behind it. The second Imp claws raked across my still-injured left arm¡ª And ripped it clean off. I froze. My vision blurred as I stumbled backward, staring in shock at my own severed limb, now hanging from the zombie¡¯s grip. Panic. Pure, gut-wrenching panic. "Shit. Shit. SHIT." I snarled, but my mind was racing. "I¡ªI can fix this, right? Undead Body can fix this with no sweat, right? It has to!" I lunged forward, tearing my own arm from the Imp¡¯s grasp before discarding it behind me. My remaining hand latched onto its throat, squeezing with everything I had. It twitched, gurgled¡ª I squeezed harder, sinking my claws into it, allowing Wither¡¯s Claw to spread its decay. Bones snapped, and its body went limp. [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] I staggered backward. My arm was still missing. Pain pulsed through my body. It was dulled but still extremely painful. I had no time to dwell, however, with the remaining horde still coming. Then, the two-level 9 Imps arrived and began their assault They acted differently. They moved faster. Attacked stronger and overall had better Instincts One quickly approached me before I could react. Its claws pierced me in my ribs. The blow of the attack sent me flying backward, crashing into the wall. My entire body screamed in pain from the damage. The area it pierced turned a slight purple as I felt a burning sensation like acid on my rib wound. Is that a poison skill? My undead body could resist poisons, but the level difference was enough to cause me enormous pain. The second level 9 Imp was already on me. I barely rolled aside before its claws slammed into the ground where I had been. My body was breaking. I was losing. And my body wouldn¡¯t withstand another critical attack. I need something I need a weapon. There was nothing around I could use not even a rock. I looked at my own severed arm. "Screw it." I grabbed my own limb and swung it. THWACK. The first zombie stumbled. I lunged, my teeth sinking into its throat. I ripped, tearing flesh and muscle from the Imp¡¯s throat. It was weakened, staggered¡ª but still moving. I brought my severed arm down on its skull. Once. Twice. Three times. Its head now caved in. [Target Defeated.] [More Experience Gained for Defeating a Stronger Opponent.] The last level 9 zombie snarled and attacked. I dodged just in time, stepping to the side. [Skill: Unarmed Combat Lv. 1 ¡ú Lv. 2] Since the beginning of this fight, I had been using [Unarmed Combat] nonstop, and I wasn¡¯t going to stop now. I spun around, using my momentum to smash my knee into its gut. It stumbled. I wrapped my remaining arm around its head¡ª And wrenched. CRACK. [Target Defeated.] This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.[More Experience Gained for Defeating a Stronger Opponent.] The remaining 4 Imps were lower levels and showed a tinge of fear as I lunged at them, bathed in the blood of their horde. I swung my severed hand at two of the imps, and the claw of the hand managed to claw out their throats. [Target Defeated.] [Less Experience Gained for Defeating a Weaker Opponent.] [Target Defeated.] [Less Experience Gained for Defeating a Weaker Opponent.] The remaining two came at me together as I used the last of my strength to kick them into each other. they both crashed into the stone wall to the side, smashing their skulls. [Target Defeated.] [Less Experience Gained for Defeating a Weaker Opponent.] [Target Defeated.] [Less Experience Gained for Defeating a Weaker Opponent.] Then there was silence. I collapsed against the wall, resting my beaten body. I stared down at the severed limb in my hand. Please work. Please work. I pressed the arm back against my shoulder. A sickening pull spread through my flesh. Dark, decayed tendrils wrapped around the stump, pulling the limb back into place. Bones snapped back into position. [Undead Body - Lv. 4 ¡ú Lv. 6] I flexed my fingers. "Holy shit." I checked my notifications, which I had been ignoring throughout the fight. [Species: Witherling Zombie Lv. 4 ¡ú Witherling Zombie Lv. 7] [Unarmed Combat - Lv. 2 ¡ú Lv. 3] [Night Vision - Lv. 3 ¡ú Lv. 6] [Inspect - Lv. 3 ¡ú Lv. 5] [Mana Perception - Lv. 3 ¡ú Lv. 5] [Wither¡¯s Claw- Lv. 4 ¡ú Lv. 7] [You Have 9 Stat Points.] I leaned back, groaning. Then I laughed. "Did I just beat something to death with my own arm?" I grinned. "That¡¯s kinda badass." ¡°Akashic Record¡± I called in my mind. Akashic Record
Name: [][][][][][] Race: Demonic Beast Species: Witherling Zombie Rank: Spawn Class: None Level: 7 Titles: None
Strength: 16 Intelligence: 15 Endurance: 13 Vitality: 14 Agility: 15 Stat Points Available: 9
Skills: Night Vision - Lv. 6 Wither¡¯s Claw - Lv. 7 Inspect - Lv. 5 Unarmed Combat - Lv. 3 Mana Perception - Lv. 5 ######### of ###### - Lv. Locked (Remnant - Unusable)
Traits: Undead Body - Lv. 6
I stared at my stats, processing the gains I had made. Nine whole points. That fight had nearly killed me, but it had also made me stronger. I allocated them carefully: +2 Endurance, +3 Agility, +3 Strength, and +1 Vitality. The second I confirmed the distribution, my body tensed, that same eerie, crawling sensation spreading through my limbs as my stats adjusted. I clenched my fists, feeling the difference already. My movements felt even sharper, my body more responsive. My strength was rising at a decent pace, but my agility had become my greatest weapon. Despite this, I decided internally that I would take it a bit easy. After everything that had happened, I needed time to think. Time to process. The fight against the level 9 Imps had left me battered, and the fact that I had barely scraped through was something I couldn¡¯t ignore. My instincts told me to keep moving, but for the first time since waking up in this corpse of a body, I found myself deciding to take it easy. The wounds I¡¯d taken had already sealed shut, my Undead Body doing its work, knitting flesh back together as I¡¯d never been torn apart in the first place, and leaving healed the rest of my wounds. But something was wrong. The exhaustion should have faded, and my body should have returned to its usual state¡ªcold, empty, and functional. Instead, a hunger ripped through me. Not the dull craving for something missing. Not hunger,r as I could hastily recall. This was all-consuming. A gnawing, burning void that dug into every nerve, every inch of me screaming for more. My hands trembled. My vision blurred. My throat felt raw like I¡¯d been starved for days¡ªno, centuries. I swayed on my feet. Then, my eyes landed on the corpses. The Chitterfang Imps scattered around me in heaps of broken limbs, twitching fingers, and vacant, lifeless grins. Something inside me clicked. They were mine. My kill. My food. I lunged. I barely registered it. One moment, I was standing. The next, I was on the ground, tearing into them. Flesh shredded beneath my fingers. Bones cracked between my teeth.** I chewed, swallowed, ripped, devoured¡ª**moving faster, wilder, like I couldn¡¯t eat fast enough. More. I needed more. The first corpse vanished into my gut. Then, the second. The,n the third. I wasn¡¯t thinking. I wasn¡¯t choosing. I was taking. Their flesh. Their essence. Their everything. My fingers dug into the next body, my nails slicing through its leathery skin, pulling it apart, stuffing pieces of it past my lips before I had even swallowed the last. Their meat belonged to me. Their strength belonged to me. I was supposed to eat. I was supposed to devour. This was right. Yes. I understood now. This was what I was made to do. I came back to myself just as I reached the last imp. My hands¡ªdrenched in black blood¡ªhovered over its half-eaten body. My teeth ached. My jaw felt raw from overuse. The meat I had eaten was pale and flavorless but delicious. I blinked. A pile of bones surrounded me. Torn, stripped clean. Ten corpses. Gone. And the worst part? I felt full. I exhaled slowly. I felt satisfied. My breath was steady. My body felt strong, and my mind was clear. But the scene around me¡ªthe stripped bones, the torn flesh, the blackened blood soaking the cavern floor¡ªwas anything but. I swallowed. My throat was dry. My hands still twitched like they weren¡¯t sure if the feast was over. And for a moment, I felt nothing. No disgust. No horror. Just dull acceptance. I had been starving. I ate. My body needed food. I took it. That was all. There was nothing wrong with that. It wasn¡¯t like I was human. I had long understood that by now. And yet¡­ A cold feeling settled in my chest. Not regret. Not guilt. But a slow, creeping unease. Not because I had eaten or what I had eaten. But because of what this meant. This time, there were bodies. What if there weren¡¯t next time? What if this hunger hit again, and I had nothing to devour? What if I was around people when it happened? My fingers curled into fists. I had accepted what I was¡ªa monster. But if I couldn¡¯t control this, then what? I exhaled, steadying myself. This wasn¡¯t just about eating to survive. It was about knowing when I was running low, about making sure I never reached the edge again. I had to be careful. Because next time, there might not be corpses waiting for me. And I didn¡¯t want to know what would happen if I was hungry enough with no options. I decided to return to the darkened area of the cavern where I had first woken up. It had become home to me in a way, and after the day I had had, I wanted nothing but to go home. The area I was in now was brighter, illuminated by glowing rocks embedded in the ceiling, walls, and floor. The uneven shadows across the rough terrain made the space feel larger than before. The light wasn¡¯t harsh, but enough that I could see clearly without relying on [Night Vision]. Then, I remembered Inspect had also leveled up twice. Curious, I turned to the nearest wall and activated it. "Inspect." [Inspect - Lv. 5] Activated. [Mana Crystal] [A condensed core of raw mana, formed naturally over centuries within the depths of the Labyrinthine Tombs Abyssal Zone. Its energy hums faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat. While unstable in its raw form, it can be absorbed, refined, or used to fuel spells and enchantments.] I froze. Abyssal Zone? I activated Inspect again, this time on a regular rock on the ground. [Inspect - Lv. 4] Activated. [Abyysal Zone: Labyrinthine Tombs - Floor] [A cracked stone floor, rough and uneven. Signs of wear, faint claw marks, and old stains suggest past battles. The footing is stable but treacherous in places] My decayed fingers curled slightly against the stone. What the hell is an Abyssal Zone? It didn¡¯t sound family-friendly, that was for sure. Oh well. Knowing the name of the place I was in wouldn¡¯t help me in the slightest now, so there was no reason to worry about it. I headed back to my dark home, using my increased agility to get there in half the time. By the time I got there, I had noticed that the area was illuminated with the same glowing stone I had seen before. I was confused, so I decided to use inspect [Inspect]. [Inspect - Lv. 5] Activated. [Mana Crystal] [A condensed core of raw mana, formed naturally over centuries within the depths of the Labyrinthine Tombs Abyssal Zone. Its energy hums faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat and glows to those who can perceive mana. While unstable in its raw form, it can be absorbed, refined, or used to fuel spells and enchantments.] My eyes flicked over the description. It glows to those who can perceive mana. I read that line again. And again. I had been leveling Mana Perception for a while now, but I never understood what it actually did. I had just assumed it was some passive thing. But if I can see mana now¡­ wouldn¡¯t that mean I can use it, too? The thought lodged itself into my mind, refusing to let go. How? I squinted at the glowing crystal, focusing¡ªnot on its physical form but on something more. And for the first time, I noticed them. Faint, wispy strands of energy radiating from the crystal. They flickered like thin threads of light, curling and twisting in unseen currents, dancing through the air. I had seen the glow before, but not this. How had I missed it? Had they always been there? I reached out, fingers hovering over the crystal. The strands of mana reacted, shifting subtly as if sensing me. A hesitation. Then, I pressed my hand against its surface. A pulse. A deep, slow hum vibrated through my bones, thrumming in my veins, in my skull, in the very core of me. For the first time since waking up in this body, I felt something alive. Not flesh, not hunger¡ªsomething else entirely. Energy. I felt the strands of mana from the crystal coiled around my hand, curling like smoke, like liquid light, like something sentient. It wasn¡¯t just an object; it was a force. And it was there. I could feel it. I inhaled sharply. The mana of the stone outside my body was reacting with something inside of me. The strands of mana wavered, shifting erratically as if uncertain¡ªthen, suddenly, they lurched toward me. A sharp pulse ran through my arm, deeper than sensation, deeper than anything I had ever felt before. The crystal¡¯s glow flickered¡ªsoft blue light twisting, dimming¡ªdarkening. The pale glow of mana I had seen before was gone. In its place, a deep, unnatural purple. I frowned. That wasn¡¯t normal. Was I¡­ doing this? I didn¡¯t feel like I was absorbing anything. I wasn¡¯t trying to take the mana, wasn¡¯t trying to do anything at all. And yet, the crystal had changed. The strands of energy were still there, still moving, but their color had shifted, coiling like dark smoke against my fingertips. I pulled my hand away. Nothing. The glow remained. The color remained. The crystal had changed. Permanently. I stared at it, waiting for an explanation, insight, response from the Akashic System, or skill. Nothing came. I clenched my jaw. Fine. I didn¡¯t know what just happened, but I knew one thing. Mana reacts to me. Chapter End...
Akashic Record
Name: [][][][][][] Race: Demonic Beast Species: Witherling Zombie Rank: Spawn Class: None Level: 7 Titles: None
Strength: 19 Intelligence: 14 Endurance: 15 Vitality: 13 Agility: 18 Stat Points Available: 0
Skills: Night Vision - Lv. 6 Wither¡¯s Claw - Lv. 7 Inspect - Lv. 5 Unarmed Combat - Lv. 3 Mana Perception - Lv. 5 ######### of ###### - Lv. Locked (Remnant - Unusable)
Traits: Undead Body - Lv. 6
Wandering in the Labyrinthine Tomb The following day, I decided to see if I could make any progress in learning to control mana. I had no teacher, no reference, no knowledge beyond what little I had observed from the glowing crystals scattered throughout the cavern. But if mana was tied to magic, and if others could wield it, then there had to be a way for me to do the same. It was just a matter of figuring it out. I settled in front of one of the larger Mana Crystals, jutting out from the cavern wall. Its soft blue glow pulsed gently, illuminating the cracks and jagged formations surrounding it. The light shimmered faintly, flickering like a dying ember, yet as I focused, I saw something more. There was movement. Faint, near-invisible wisps of something curling and drifting away from the crystal¡¯s surface. Mana. It had been there all along, lingering in the air, moving in subtle patterns that I had never noticed before. That was progress, wasn¡¯t it? If I could see it, surely I could learn to control it. I reached out, pressing my palm flat against the cool surface of the crystal. I expected a reaction, something to surge into me, some shift in sensation that confirmed I was on the right path. For a moment, nothing happened. I focused, trying to will the mana into my body, imagining it as a stream of energy that I could pull in like air filling my lungs. The glow beneath my fingertips flickered slightly, and a faint warmth spread along my fingers. But the moment was fleeting. The warmth faded as quickly as it came, leaving nothing but stillness. I curled my fingers slightly, gripping the crystal as though that might somehow force a response. Maybe mana didn¡¯t just flow into the body. Maybe it had to be taken. This time, I concentrated harder, picturing the energy being drawn into me as though I were drinking from a stream. My body tensed, my thoughts sharpened, and for a brief second, something shifted. The glow of the crystal dimmed ever so slightly. The wisps of mana bent toward me, as if acknowledging my attempt. I felt something within me react, a pull deep inside, like an instinct buried beneath layers of unfamiliarity. Then the connection snapped. The crystal flared back to its normal glow, the mana dissipating as if nothing had ever happened. I scowled, pulling my hand away. The sensation had been real. I had felt it, however faintly. I had to be close. I changed my approach. Instead of forcing the mana into my body, I tried a different method. I let my mind settle, matching the slow rhythm of the mana¡¯s movement, trying to align myself with it rather than dominate it. If I could just move in sync with the flow, maybe I wouldn¡¯t have to pull at all. I focused again, this time with patience instead of force. The wisps of mana shifted. Something stirred within me, not just in my mind but in my body itself. There was a reaction, subtle but undeniable, like two currents meeting in a vast ocean. The mana moved toward me on its own. A deep, foreign sensation bloomed within my chest. Not pain. Not pleasure. Just something new. Then it went wrong. The crystal¡¯s glow twisted, warping into a deep, sickly purple. An unnatural cold burned through my fingers, sharp and invasive, like needles burrowing beneath my dead skin. My arm convulsed, and I instinctively jerked away, staggering back as the reaction shattered. The pain vanished instantly, leaving no lingering ache, but something about the experience unsettled me. I flexed my fingers, expecting damage, but they moved fine. My body did not bruise. It did not suffer in the way the living did. Then why had it felt like it had been torn apart? I frowned at the crystal, now returned to its original state, as if mocking me. Mana had rejected me. Or¡­ had I rejected mana? A thought settled into my mind, slow and unwelcome. I had assumed that mana was something I could wield if I simply learned how. That with enough attempts and enough stubbornness, I would eventually succeed. But what if it wasn¡¯t that simple? What if mana was dangerous? The idea gnawed at me. I had not considered danger before. Pain was dulled in my body, reduced to distant echoes of what I knew it should be. And yet, the sensation I had just experienced had been something more than pain. It had been wrong. If I had forced the connection further, if I had pulled too much, what would have happened? Would it have burned me away completely? Could mana kill me, even though I was already dead? I clenched my fists, forcing the thoughts away. Magic would have to wait. I turned from the Mana Crystal, refocusing on my original goal. I still had other things to figure out. Like finding an exit. I had no sense of direction in this place, no clear path that would lead me to the surface. But I had noticed something before¡ªthe deeper I went, the more abundant the Mana Crystals became. If that was true, then the opposite should also be true. If I followed the diminishing presence of mana, the thinning of crystals in the walls, I might find a way out. At the very least, I would understand this place better. Still, I had no intention of leaving just yet. I needed time. Time to understand my body, my limits, and most importantly, my hunger. Because sooner or later, I would need to feed. And until I knew what I could endure, until I understood how long I could last without losing control, I was not ready to step into the world beyond this cavern. For now, I would remain here. With that thought settled, I turned my focus back to the paths ahead. Following the diminishing presence of mana seemed logical if I wanted to find an exit¡ªbut I wasn¡¯t leaving, not yet. Instead, I chose the opposite route. If mana was the lifeblood of this place, then the areas where it was most concentrated might hold something worth finding. More crystals, perhaps. Or creatures drawn to the energy. Or even¡ªif I was lucky¡ªclues about what I had become. Caution urged me to reconsider. My first attempt at interacting with mana had nearly gone very wrong. But I pushed the hesitation aside. If mana was dangerous, then I needed to learn why. Avoiding it entirely would do me no good. So I moved forward, deeper into the cavern, into the places where mana ran thick in the air, and the crystals glowed with an almost hypnotic radiance. I moved through the twisting tunnels, cautious but efficient, unsure where this direction would lead. The ground sloped slightly downward, the air growing denser with the faint hum of mana. I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good or bad sign. The cavern stretched endlessly before me, a maze of stone and shadow. The deeper I went, the more the air thickened with the hum of mana, faint but ever-present. The ground sloped downward, uneven and jagged, each step sending small echoes through the tunnels. Was that a good sign? Or was I walking straight into something worse? I had no way to know. There were no markers, no paths, no landmarks I could recognize. Only the distant glow of mana crystals embedded in the walls, their soft luminescence pulsing like dying embers. I had noticed before¡ªthere were more of them in this direction. That meant something. Maybe a denser mana concentration? A natural source? Or maybe it was just where more creatures roamed. A quiet, fleeting thought suggested turning back. I ignored it. If I let hesitation rule me, I¡¯d never get anywhere. The only way was forward. I passed through a narrow crevice, the jagged edges scraping against my arm as I squeezed through. I barely felt it, but I still checked. No wound. My body had long since abandoned things like pain. It was¡­ strange. The kind of thing I should probably be more concerned about, but I had bigger problems. Ahead, the cavern opened into a vast chamber, the ceiling stretching high enough that I couldn¡¯t see where it ended. Stalactites jutted downward like jagged teeth. Patches of bioluminescent moss clung to the rocks, casting eerie greenish light. Pools of water collected in dips along the floor, their surfaces still and glassy. Something about this place felt... wrong. I halted, waiting. Listening. There¡ªjust barely. A soft shuffle, a scraping sound against the stone floor. I wasn¡¯t alone. The realization hit like a cold blade against the back of my mind. There was barely a soft shuffle, a scraping sound against the stone. The near-silence of the cavern made it more distinct, a whisper of movement where there should have been none. I remained still, lowering my stance slightly as my senses sharpened, searching for the source. A moment later, I saw them. [Inspect - Lv. 5] Activated. [Witherling Zombie - Lv. 7] [The standard zombie race of the Labyrinthine Tomb. This breed mindlessly travels in groups and targets anything that crosses their path. They do not attack their own race and consume those they have killed.] Four of them. I narrowed my eyes, observing the creatures from a distance. Up until now, I hadn¡¯t encountered anything that resembled me. Everything I had fought¡ªimps, doom crawlers, those wretched poison snake things¡ªhad been monsters. Different. But these? These were like me. Sort of. Their movements were slow. Not comically so, but definitely sluggish. Slower than me. Actually, slower than the imps I had fought earlier. That was¡­ good to know. I stepped forward, testing something. No reaction. I took another step. Still nothing. If Inspect was correct¡ªand it usually was¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t attack those of the same species. That meant I should be able to walk right up to them without issue. But I needed to be sure. I closed the distance, stopping just short of standing directly in their path. The nearest zombie gave me a hollow, vacant stare but didn¡¯t move to attack. That confirmed it, then. They acknowledged me, but they didn¡¯t view me as a threat. A strange feeling settled in my gut. I could walk past them. Ignore them entirely. Move on without unnecessary conflict. But that wasn¡¯t an option. The moment I woke up in this abyss, I had decided¡ªevery monster here was my enemy. The skeletal walker had tried to kill me on the first day i woke and the imps had group ambushed me. Everything here would kill and devour me if given the chance. So why should these creatures be any different?A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Because they looked like me? I slowly raised my hand, curling my fingers into a claw. No. That wasn¡¯t a reason. [Wither¡¯s Claw] I struck. My fingers raked through the nearest zombie¡¯s neck, cutting deep into the rotting flesh. The blow was precise, severing muscle and bone in one swift motion. The creature didn¡¯t even have time to react before its head toppled from its shoulders, rolling to a stop at my feet. [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] ¡­That was easy. A level 7, just like me, and yet¡ªbarely any resistance. Were all monsters this weak when they didn¡¯t fight back? I turned my gaze to the remaining three. They stared at me. Blankly. No anger. No hostility. Just¡­ observation. I had half-expected them to attack after I killed one of their own. Even mindless beasts had survival instincts, didn¡¯t they? But there wasn¡¯t so much as a twitch of aggression from them. They were utterly indifferent. Fascinating. But it''s also disappointing. I had already killed one. I might as well finish the rest. The free experience was a free-to experience. There was no reason to leave them alive. I moved through them swiftly, tearing through flesh, bone, and whatever semblance of life remained in their rotting bodies. It wasn¡¯t even a fight¡ªmore like butchering livestock. [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.] [Skill: Unarmed Combat Lv. 3 ¡ú Lv. 4] [Species: Witherling Zombie Lv. 7 ¡ú Witherling Zombie Lv. 8] [You Have 3 Stat Points.] I flexed my fingers, watching the dark ichor drip from my claws. No pain. No struggle. No effort. I had been expecting something. Instead, I had learned nothing new about myself, only that the creatures I resembled were even more useless than I thought. I glanced down at their corpses before shaking my head. If this was the average strength of a Witherling Zombie, then I wasn¡¯t like them at all. Not even close. The only similarity was in the description. According to Inspect, Witherling Zombies ate what they killed. And now that the fight was over, I realized something. A dull, gnawing emptiness settled in my stomach¡ªnot unbearable, but noticeable. I was getting hungry. It had been around eighteen hours since my last meal, those imps from before, and based on how my hunger had progressed, I estimated I could last another six, maybe eight hours, before it became a real problem. That was useful information. The first time I had fed, I hadn¡¯t been able to gauge my hunger at all, only realizing it was a problem once it was urgent. But now? Now I could feel it creeping up on me, a quiet signal in the back of my mind. A clear indicator of how long I could last before my body demanded more. A small relief. Predicting my hunger was something I¡¯d need to understand completely before I even considered leaving this place. For now, I had a rough estimate, and that was progress. And progress was all that mattered. I looked down at the bodies of the fallen Witherling Zombies. ¡­ My brain recoiled at the idea before I had even finished the thought. Eating them? The very idea made something deep inside me scream in revulsion. But my stomach didn¡¯t seem to agree. I stood there for a moment, arms crossed, studying the corpses as though staring at them long enough would make the answer obvious. My instincts were clear¡ªI was hungry, and food was in front of me. Yet my mind, the part of me that still clung to human reasoning, refused to acknowledge them as a meal. But why? The imps had been easy. Killing them had felt natural, almost instinctive. They were weak, mindless creatures that had attacked on sight, and I had responded in kind. But these¡­ these were different. They looked like me. Moved like me. Had the same empty, sunken features. And yet, I had killed them just as easily. I expected something to change. Some feeling of unease, a moment of hesitation. Instead, I felt nothing at all. Would it have made a difference if I had waited? If they had decayed further if the resemblance had faded? Was there any logic behind this moment of pause, or was it just a remnant of something that no longer applied to me? The answer didn¡¯t matter. I glanced around. The cavern was silent, empty except for the dead. If anything in this abyss could judge me, let it. Hunger still gnawed at me. Not yet unbearable, but enough to be noticed. Enough to push aside unnecessary thoughts. In the end, the choice was obvious. I glanced around to confirm I was alone, then crouched beside the closest corpse. If anyone were here to judge me, let them. If any god watched from above, let them look away. I was dead, I was hungry, and I had no intention of starving to death over something as fragile as morality. I dug in. The first bite confirmed my suspicions¡ªWitherling Zombies were far less appetizing than imps. The flesh was dry, barely holding together, with a texture like old leather. What little moisture it had came from the thick, tar-like blood still clinging to the meat. It had a bitterness to it, one that lingered unpleasantly on my tongue. Still, it wasn¡¯t inedible. The bones, at least, had some merit¡ªcrunchy, brittle, a satisfying contrast to the rest of the meal. I tore through them without much thought, hollowing out ribcages, cracking femurs between my teeth. By the time I had finished, I felt¡­ fine. Not full, exactly. Just sated. My gaze shifted to the other corpses. A part of me hesitated¡ªhad I really just eaten all of that? Was my stomach that empty? Or was it something else? An unpleasant thought started to surface, but before I could dwell on the implications, the familiar sensation of a system notification formed in my mind.
[The conditions have been met. Title [Cannibal] acquired.] [Skill [Fear] acquired.] [Trait [Blood Nourishment] acquired.]
I had received a title, a skill, and a trait. That was a good thing. Objectively, there was no downside to getting stronger, and from what I could tell, titles held some significance beyond just being labels. This was my first, so I had no reference for what they actually did, but it seemed unlikely that the system would grant me something outright harmful. The only negative¡­ was the name. Cannibal. I stared at it for a moment, unblinking. Of course, that¡¯s what it was called. I wasn¡¯t sure what I had been expecting, but seeing the word spelled out so plainly gave me the distinct feeling that I had just made a decision I could never take back. The imps had been one thing. That had felt normal. But this? I had eaten something that looked like me. And now the system itself had acknowledged it. A vague, lingering sense of shame settled in my mind. Not overwhelming, not debilitating, just¡­ there. Like I had been caught in an embarrassing situation, and now everyone knew. Not that there was anyone around to judge me. Still, I pushed that thought aside and focused on the more important part. What did this title actually do?
[Cannibal] [You have consumed your own kind, embracing the primal truth that flesh is flesh. Others may recoil, but to you, hunger is merely a problem with a solution. Eating the remains of intelligent or humanoid creatures restores more stamina, health, and slightly accelerates natural regeneration. While starving, physical stats slightly increase rather than weaken, but at the cost of rising aggression. +5 Vitality]
I exhaled slowly. Not bad. The first half was simple¡ªmore recovery from eating things that resembled me. That aligned with what I had already figured out about my body¡¯s feeding mechanism. The second half, though¡­ My strength increased when starving? That was the opposite of how living creatures worked. Normally, hunger meant weakness. Deterioration. A countdown to collapse. But for me, it was a boost. A dangerous one. I wasn¡¯t sure how much my aggression would rise, but that part worried me more than anything else. Did that mean my control would slip? That I¡¯d attack whatever was closest without thinking? That I¡¯d stop caring about what I ate? ¡­ I didn¡¯t know. And that bothered me. I may have just undone the progress I made in understanding my hunger. Still, worrying about it wouldn¡¯t change anything. I filed that concern away for later and moved on. There were two skills I had yet to check. I opened my status screen and examined the first.
[Skill: Fear] [Details: You impose your will upon the lesser, forcing them to acknowledge you as a predator. When activated, instills unnatural dread in those who perceive you. Weaker minds may freeze, flee, or submit. Stronger minds resist, but even they will feel the weight of your presence. Effectiveness scales with level, hunger, and target intelligence.]
An active skill. That was good. It meant control. If this worked as described, it would make hunting significantly easier. I wouldn¡¯t have to rely on brute force alone¡ªif I could make a creature hesitate, just for a second, that was all the time I needed. I could picture the possibilities already. Weaker creatures might collapse into instinctual panic. The smarter ones? They¡¯d have to rationalize their fear, convincing themselves they weren¡¯t in danger¡ªwasting precious moments second-guessing their own survival instincts. If nothing else, it would force enemies to react to me, not the other way around. A useful tool. I moved on to the trait.
[Trait: Blood Nourishment] [Details: Blood is fuel, and you have learned to burn it well. Consuming blood restores stamina, accelerates natural healing, and enhances regeneration. Higher-quality blood yields greater effects.]
I paused. This slightly explained a few things. Ever since I first consumed the imps, I had noticed that eating seemed to do more than just stave off hunger. It restored me in a way, easing the dull stiffness in my limbs, sharpening my senses, made me feel more rejuvenated. I had assumed it was just part of being undead, and in a way, I guess I was right. Blood wasn¡¯t just food¡ªit was a resource. And one that I could use. Now that it was a trait, would the effects be more pronounced? More than that, the description hinted at something interesting. Higher-quality blood yields greater effects. Just how much could I gain from consuming stronger creatures? What was the upper limit of this ability? For a moment, I almost forgot the act that had earned me this trait in the first place. Almost.
I finished off the remaining bodies without hesitation. The act barely registered¡ªjust another task to complete before moving forward. Their flesh, dry and leathery, was hardly appealing, but hunger was not a matter of taste. It was a necessity. My body required sustenance, and these corpses provided it. That was all that mattered. The occasional crunch of brittle bones between my teeth broke the stillness of the cavern, but even that sound felt distant, irrelevant. When the last fragment of bone snapped, I wiped my hands against my tattered clothes, brushing away the remnants of my meal. Then, without pause, I moved on. The cavern stretched ahead in silent vastness, its jagged walls enclosing a path that twisted and wound into the unknown. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone, the only sound the faint scrape of my steps against the uneven ground. My sight cut through the dark with ease, yet the space beyond remained oppressive, the shadows pressing in at every turn. Time became meaningless. I didn''t feel exhaustion. My body did not weaken, did not falter, and the majority of the time barely felt pain. The hunger that had stirred earlier had dulled but remained¡ªa quiet gnawing that never truly faded. Perhaps it never would. My existence had been reduced to this endless cycle: consume, continue, endure. Still, I did not stop. The path narrowed, then widened again. The rocky walls twisted into irregular formations, the ceiling stretching higher, opening the cavern into something far grander than the cramped corridors I had grown used to. The air changed¡ªsubtle at first, then unmistakable. It was cooler here, heavier. The damp, stale scent of stone gave way to something else, something different. Then, the space ahead opened into a vast chamber. And at its center lay a lake. The water sat still, undisturbed, a dark mirror reflecting the cavern¡¯s ceiling. Crystals lined the far walls, their faint glow shimmering across the surface like scattered embers. The air here was cooler, the moisture heavier against my skin. A hush filled the space, a silence even deeper than before. I slowed. I had seen water before¡ªsmall puddles, slick rock damp with condensation¡ªbut never anything like this. This was something more, something almost unnatural in its stillness. I stepped forward, drawing closer to the edge, my movements careful and deliberate. For the first time, I saw myself clearly. Not a blurred glimpse in the glow of a mana crystal. Not a distorted reflection in the blood of something I had killed. This was me. My pale, corpse-like skin, the veins faintly visible beneath its surface. My white, lifeless hair, hanging in uneven strands. My eyes¡ªred, deep, unnatural. Dead. That was the word that came to mind. If I lay down, if I closed my eyes, I would be indistinguishable from a corpse. I stared at the reflection, waiting for something. Revulsion. Grief. Recognition. None came. I knew I had once been human. That was a certainty in my mind. But without memories, I had nothing to compare this face to. No past self to mourn. No identity to reclaim. There was only this. This body. This existence. I did not know if I had once been kind or cruel, weak or strong, loved or feared. All of that had been stripped away, leaving only the being that remained. And that being¡­ That being was alive. Or something close to it. A slow realization settled in my mind, not sudden, not dramatic, but quiet and firm. This undead life was mine. A gift, perhaps. A curse, possibly. But whatever it was, it belonged to me. And I would protect it. I turned from the water. There was nothing more to see. And I carried on deeper in the cavern. Chapter End...
Akashic Record
Name: [][][][][][] Race: Demonic Beast Species: Witherling Zombie Rank: Spawn Class: None Level: 8 Titles: Cannibal
Strength: 20 Intelligence: 15 Endurance: 16 Vitality: 14(+5) Agility: 19 Stat Points Available: 3
Skills: Night Vision - Lv. 6 Wither¡¯s Claw - Lv. 7 Inspect - Lv. 5 Unarmed Combat - Lv. 4 Mana Perception - Lv. 5 Fear - Lv. 1 ######### of ###### - Lv. Locked (Remnant - Unusable)
Traits: Undead Body - Lv. 6 Blood Nourishment - Lv. 1