The mud sucked at Silas's boots, requiring effort with each step. His body was held together by willpower and violet light, yet without the System, he would have bled out ten minutes ago.
Kael walked beside him without making a sound. The zombie's feet sank into the earth but left no imprint, resembling a ghost wearing dead flesh.
Silas stopped and leaned against a tree while closing his eyes. The pain in his ribs was a constant rhythm matching his movement. Throb. Step. Throb. Step.
"Status," Silas said. He did not shout because he did not need to. The System heard him.
[Status Panel Opened.]
[Name: Silas Thorne.]
[Rank: F (Unranked).]
[Health: 12/100 (Critical).]
[Energy: 8/100.]
[Undead: 1/5.]
[Corruption: 0%.]
Silas opened his eyes to see the blue text hovering in the rain. It did not fade because it was part of his vision now.
"Health is critical," Silas said while looking at his stomach. The wound was closed but the skin was gray. "Why am I not dead?"
[System Maintenance]
[Host Body: Preserved]
[Condition: Energy > 0]
[Warning: If Energy reaches 0, Host will die]
Silas pushed off the tree and started walking again. Eight points remained and Kael drained one per minute, so he had eight minutes before he died.
"We need energy," Silas said while looking at Kael. "Do you know where to find it?"
Kael did not answer because it could not speak. It only waited.
"Right," Silas said while touching the seal in his pocket. "I have to find it myself."
They reached the spot where the mercenary had fallen and the body was still there. The rain had washed most of the blood into the soil.
Silas knelt and searched the pockets with fast moving fingers. He found a leather pouch that was heavy.
"Coins," Silas said while pouring them into his hand. Copper and silver clinked together. "Not enough to buy a healing potion. But enough to buy information."
He found a knife with a steel blade. It was not expensive but it was sharp, so he tucked it into his belt.
"Take his armor," Silas said while looking at Kael. "It will help you absorb damage."
Kael bent down and stripped the corpse with mechanical efficiency. The leather vest fit loosely but it did not matter because the dead did not need comfort.
[Undead Equipped.]
[Defense: +2.]
[Durability: Low.]
Silas stood up and felt dizzy because the movement cost him. He steadied himself against Kael's shoulder and the flesh was cold. It did not flinch.
"Seven minutes," Silas said while checking the System clock in the corner of his vision. "We need to move faster."
They walked through the Blackwood where the trees were thick. The branches blocked the sky so it was dark. Too dark for a normal night.
A sound came from the left. A low growl vibrated in Silas's chest.
He stopped and raised his hand so Kael stopped instantly. The zombie turned toward the sound with its head tilted.
"Show yourself," Silas said while speaking to the darkness. He knew it would not answer but sometimes prey reacted to voice.
The bushes parted and a wolf stepped out. It was larger than normal with fur matted in mud. Its eyes glowed yellow.
[Target Identified.]
[Type: Forest Stalker.]
[Rank: F (Mid).]
[Threat: Low.]
[Recommendation: Engage.]
Silas looked at Kael because the zombie was unarmed. It had lost the mercenary's sword in the mud.
"Can you kill it," Silas asked.
Kael stepped forward without hesitation. It did not feel fear because fear was for the living.
The wolf lunged and moved fast. Its jaws snapped at Kael's throat.
Kael caught the wolf with its hands while fingers dug into the fur. The wolf thrashed and clawed at Kael's chest but the leather armor held.
"Crush it," Silas said. He did not watch because he watched the shadows around them. There were always more than one.
Kael squeezed until the sound of breaking bones was wet. The wolf yelped and then it was silent.
Kael dropped the body and turned back to Silas. It waited for praise but there was none. Silas did not praise tools.
[Undead Combat Successful.]
[Energy Recovered: +2.]
[Current Energy: 9/100.]
Silas exhaled and felt the energy flow into him. It was warm and it eased the pain in his ribs slightly.
"Good," Silas said while walking to the wolf. "We need the core."
He cut into the wolf's chest with the knife. The flesh was tough but he found the gland near the heart. It was a small blue stone.
[Item Acquired.]
[Type: Beast Core (F Rank).]
[Use: Consume for Energy or Crafting.]
Silas wiped the blood on the grass and put the stone in his pouch. He would not consume it yet because energy was temporary. Resources were permanent.
"Five minutes to the estate," Silas said while looking at the System clock. "Can you fight again?"
Kael nodded with a stiff motion.
"Good. We will not sneak in," Silas said while starting to walk. "We will walk through the front."
"That is suicide," a voice said.
Silas stopped and turned around but the path was empty. There was no one there.
"Who said that," Silas asked while looking at Kael. The zombie did not speak.
[System Notification]
[Source: Unknown]
[Content: Audit Detected]
Silas frowned and looked at the trees. The shadows were deep and they moved when the wind did not blow.
"Show yourself," Silas said while gripping the knife. His knuckles were white.
"You cannot win," the voice said. It came from everywhere and it was inside his head. "Victor has the Guard. You have a corpse."
Silas closed his eyes and focused. The voice was not human because it was too smooth. Too calm.
"Are you the System," Silas asked.
[I am the Interface.]
[The Voice is Separate.]
[Warning: External Interference Detected.]
Silas opened his eyes and saw the shadows around him had grown longer. They reached toward his feet.
"Interference from whom," Silas asked while speaking to the System. He ignored the voice.
[Source: Kaal.]
[Intent: Observation.]
[Action: None.]
Silas felt a chill because the name again. Kaal. The System was linked to a God.
"Tell Kaal to stop watching," Silas said while speaking to the air. "I am not a spectacle."
The voice laughed with a dry sound. Like leaves crumbling.
"Everyone watches the dead," the voice said. "Especially those who walk again."
The shadows receded and the voice vanished. Silas was alone with Kael and the rain.
[Interference Ended.]
[Corruption Risk: Low.]
[Note: Some listeners cannot be silenced.]
Silas put the knife away and started walking again. He did not run because running showed fear.
"Four minutes," Silas said while checking the energy. Nine points remained and the wolf core was still in his pouch. He could use it.
"No," Silas said while answering his own thought. "We save it. For the escape."
The trees thinned and the Blackwood ended. The Thorne Estate stood ahead as a large manor made of gray stone. Lights burned in the windows and music drifted on the wind.
They were celebrating because Victor was being named heir. They thought Silas was dead in the mud.
Silas stood at the edge of the forest and watched the gates. Two guards stood there while wearing Thorne livery. They held spears.
"Can you kill them," Silas asked while looking at Kael.
Kael looked at the guards and calculated. It was a zombie so it did not feel doubt.
[Target Analysis.]
[Guard 1: Rank F (Low).]
[Guard 2: Rank F (Low).]
[Success Probability: 85%.]
[Risk: Alarm.]
Silas shook his head. "No alarms. We need silence."
He looked at the wall and it was high. Ten feet. Stone. Impossible to climb for a normal man.
"Can you throw me," Silas asked.
Kael looked at Silas and then at the wall. It nodded.
Silas sheathed the knife and stood in front of Kael. He interlocked his fingers.
"Now," Silas said.
Kael lifted him with unnatural strength. Silas flew upward and grabbed the top of the wall. He pulled himself up without making a sound.
He lay on the wall and looked down. The courtyard was empty because the party was in the main hall.
Silas dropped a rope made from vines he had cut in the forest. Kael climbed up and moved silently.
They dropped into the courtyard and they were inside.
Silas checked his energy. Eight points remained because the climb had cost him. He was running out of time.
"The hall," Silas whispered while pointing at the large double doors. Light spilled out from the cracks. "We go there."
Kael followed and they moved along the wall. They stayed in the shadows.
Silas stopped and looked at his shadow. It was not matching his movement because it was lagging behind.
He stopped walking and the shadow stopped too. But it took a second. Like it was deciding to stop.
"Do not trust the shadows," Silas whispered while remembering the clue. "What are you hiding?"
The shadow merged with the wall and disappeared. Silas was standing in the light so he had no shadow.
[Observation Detected.]
[Shadow Integrity: Compromised.]
[Cause: Kaal's Mark.]
[Effect: Temporary Invisibility.]
Silas smiled with a cold ark of his lip's. It did not reach his eyes.
"Useful," Silas said while looking at Kael. "Can you do it?"
Kael looked at the ground because it had no shadow. The dead cast no shadows.
"Good," Silas said. "We are ghosts tonight."
They reached the hall doors where the music was loud inside. Laughter. Cheers. Glasses clinking.
Victor was speaking and Silas could hear his voice. It was amplified by magic.
"...and so the Thorne lineage continues," Victor said. "With me as your leader."
Silas placed his hand on the door. It was wood. Heavy. Oak.
"Ready," Silas said while looking at Kael. "When I open this, you kill the guards inside. I take Victor."
Kael nodded and raised its fists.
Silas pushed the door and it opened slowly. The hinges did not squeak because he had oiled them with wolf fat.
The hall was full. Nobles in silk. Merchants in velvet. Guards in steel.
They all turned when the door opened. The music stopped and the silence was absolute.
Silas walked in while covered in mud. His clothes were torn and blood stained his shirt.
Victor stood at the front while holding a glass of wine. He looked at Silas and the glass fell from his hand. It shattered on the floor.
"You," Victor said. His voice was a whisper. "You are dead."
Silas walked forward and Kael followed. The zombie stepped into the light so the nobles gasped. Some screamed.
"I was," Silas said while stopping ten feet from Victor. "Now I am here."
He raised his hand and the violet light flared. The seals on his skin glowed.
"And I have brought a guest."