REBORN AS A NECROMANCER : BUILDING THE ULTIMATE UNDEAD ARMY-Chapter 38: A wight

Kaine sat up on the couch, the familiar translucent screen materializing in his vision as the system processed his accumulated experience.

[LEVEL UP INITIATED]

[PROCESSING MORTAL ESSENCE: 1050/750]

[EXCESS ESSENCE CONVERTED TO EXPERIENCE]

[LEVEL 5 ACHIEVED]

[DISPLAYING UPDATED PROFILE]

••NAME:•• Kaine Cross

••RACE:•• Lich

••CLASS:•• Grave Knight

••LEVEL:•• 5

°° ATTRIBUTES:

• ••STRENGTH:•• 38

• ••SPEED:•• 43

• ••ENDURANCE:•• 48

• ••INTELLIGENCE:•• 28

• ••CHARISMA:•• 25

• ••HEALTH POINTS:•• 480/480

• ••MORTAL ESSENCE:•• 300/900

°° SPECIAL ABILITIES:

- Shadow Step (Active)

- Death Sight (Passive)

- Ghoul Command (Active)

- Combat Instinct (Passive) - Enhanced battle awareness

- Phantom Arrow (Active) - Manifest spectral projectiles

- ••[LOCKED]•• ??? (Requires Level 10)

°HOLLOWS COMMANDED: (2/5)

°° INVENTORY:

- Soulrend (Cursed Blade) - •Soul Drain: Active•

’Two out of five?’ Kaine stared at the notification. ’That means...’

His mind immediately went to Chad—or whatever Chad had become after his violent resurrection. The system seemed to register the creature as under his command, even though it had fled into the night.

[HOLLOW CLASSIFICATION: BLOODBORN DETECTED]

[ANALYZING ENTITY: CHAD MORRISON - DECEASED SHADOW GUARD OPERATIVE]

[CLASSIFICATION: WIGHT]

[DESCRIPTION: BLOODBORN UNDEAD ENTITY RETAINING FULL HUMAN COGNITIVE FUNCTION]

[INTELLIGENCE LEVEL: EQUIVALENT TO LIVING HUMAN BASELINE]

[EMOTIONAL CAPACITY: PRESERVED BUT AMPLIFIED - PARTICULARLY NEGATIVE EMOTIONS]

[PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES: ENHANCED STRENGTH , ENHANCED SPEED, SUPERNATURAL TRACKING ABILITIES]

[FEEDING REQUIREMENT: FRESH HUMAN BLOOD - MINIMUM 2 LITERS EVERY 48 HOURS]

[LOYALTY STATUS: BOUND TO MAKER BUT MAINTAINS INDEPENDENT WILL]

[BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS: VENGEFUL, AGGRESSIVE, PRONE TO HUNTING PERCEIVED ENEMIES]

[SPECIAL ABILITY: VENGEANCE SEEKING - WILL AUTONOMOUSLY PURSUE MAKER’S DARK DESIRES AND ELIMINATE THREATS]

[WARNING: WIGHTS RETAIN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AND EMOTIONAL CAPACITY]

[WARNING: TENDENCY TO INTERPRET MAKER’S SUBCONSCIOUS DESIRES AS DIRECT COMMANDS]

[WARNING: VENGEFUL NATURE - WILL SEEK BRUTAL RETRIBUTION FOR PERCEIVED WRONGS AGAINST MAKER]

[CRITICAL WARNING: CONSTANT SUPERVISION RECOMMENDED - WIGHTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO ESCALATE SITUATIONS BEYOND MAKER’S INTENT]

[ADDITIONAL WARNING: UNLIKE GHOULS, WIGHTS RETAIN SPEECH AND CAN BLEND INTO HUMAN SOCIETY]

[TRACKING STATUS: ENTITY REMAINS WITHIN 5-MILE RADIUS OF MAKER - WILL NOT STRAY FAR]

’Fuck me sideways.’

Kaine leaned back on the couch, processing the implications. Unlike Marcus, who operated with the simple loyalty of a child, Chad would be intelligent, independent, and driven by darker impulses. Worse, the system was suggesting that the creature might act on his subconscious desires.

’So if I’m pissed off about something, Chad might just... handle it? Without me asking?’

That was a terrifying thought. Kaine had plenty of people he’d like to see suffer, but wanting something in the heat of anger was different from actually wanting it done.

’I need to test this new ability first. Then figure out how to track down my psychotic foster child.’

He grabbed an empty beer bottle from the kitchen counter and set it on the coffee table. Extending his right hand toward the bottle, he focused on the sensation of drawing power from within.

[PHANTOM ARROW ACTIVATION DETECTED]

[FORM YOUR HAND INTO A FIRING POSITION]

[EXTEND INDEX FINGER, FOLD REMAINING FINGERS INTO FIST]

[CHANNEL MORTAL ESSENCE TO FINGERTIP]

[WARNING: RECOIL WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO .45 CALIBER HANDGUN]

’A .45? That’s some serious kickback.’

Following the system’s guidance, Kaine shaped his hand like a pistol, index finger extended. Energy began to gather at his fingertip, a soft green glow that intensified as he channeled his essence. The power felt warm, almost alive, building pressure like steam in a kettle.

[PROJECTILE FORMING]

[SPECTRAL BULLET MANIFESTATION: 85% COMPLETE]

[PREPARE FOR RECOIL]

[FIRE WHEN READY]

The spectral bullet erupted from his fingertip in a brilliant flash of green light. The recoil was immediate and jarring—his hand jerked backward as if he’d fired an actual gun, his shoulder absorbing the impact. The phantom projectile struck the bottle with tremendous force, shattering it completely and leaving scorch marks on the coffee table.

’Holy shit. That’s not just a bullet—that’s a goddamn cannon.’

[PHANTOM ARROW SUCCESSFUL]

[COST: 25 ME]

[DAMAGE: HIGH PENETRATION CONFIRMED]

[ACCURACY: EXCELLENT]

[RELOAD TIME: INSTANT]

[RANGE: APPROXIMATELY 200 METERS]

Kaine flexed his fingers, working out the slight soreness from the recoil. The ability felt natural now, like an extension of his will rather than a foreign power. He could already imagine the tactical applications—silent, precise, and devastating.

’This could be useful. Especially if I’m hunting something that doesn’t want to be found.’

But thoughts of his new abilities were quickly overshadowed by the implications of Chad’s transformation. A wight loose in the city, driven by vengeance and possessed of human intelligence. The creature was technically under his command, but the system’s warnings suggested that control might be more theoretical than practical.

’I created a monster. A smart, angry monster with supernatural abilities who thinks he’s doing me favors.’

The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders. He’d have to deal with Chad tonight, but first, he had more immediate concerns—dinner with Rebecca in a few hours.

’Maybe some normalcy will help me figure out how to handle this clusterfuck.’

Kaine headed for the bathroom, stripping off his clothes and turning on the shower. The hot water felt good against his skin, washing away the lingering tension from the morning’s revelations. He took his time, letting the heat work on his muscles while his mind organized the evening’s priorities.

’Find Chad. Figure out how to control him. Try not to let him murder anyone else in the meantime.’

After showering, he dressed simply—dark jeans and a fitted black t-shirt that complemented his enhanced physique without being overly obvious about it. He ran his fingers through his damp hair, checking his reflection in the mirror. The supernatural transformation had sharpened his features, made him more striking, but he still looked recognizably human.

’At least I can still pass for normal. For now.’

At exactly seven o’clock, Kaine knocked on Rebecca’s door. The sound of footsteps approached, followed by the click of the lock.

"Perfect timing," Rebecca said as she opened the door.

Kaine felt his breath catch. She was wearing a simple emerald green dress that hugged her curves, the fabric falling just above her knees. Her hair was styled in loose waves that framed her face, and she wore minimal makeup that somehow made her natural beauty more pronounced.

"You look beautiful," he said, meaning it completely.

"Thank you," she replied, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Come in, come in. I promise I haven’t burned anything yet."

Kaine stepped into her apartment, taking in the space for the first time. Where his apartment was sparse and utilitarian, hers was warm and lived-in. Soft lighting came from several table lamps, creating a cozy atmosphere. The walls were decorated with framed photographs and artwork, and there were plants on the windowsill that actually looked healthy.

’She’s actually made this place feel like a home. When’s the last time I had that?’

"This is really nice," he said. "You’ve made it feel like home."

"I try. I can’t stand sterile spaces." She gestured toward the kitchen area. "I hope you’re hungry. I may have gotten a little carried away with the cooking."

The small dining table was set for two, with cloth napkins and what looked like her good dishes. The apartment smelled amazing—something with garlic and herbs that made his mouth water despite his reduced need for food.

"Where’s Marcus?" Rebecca asked, checking something in the oven.

"He declined." Kaine said. ’How the hell do I explain that my ghoul companion doesn’t actually eat food?’

"His loss. I made enough to feed a small army." She pulled a casserole dish from the oven, the contents bubbling appealingly. "Chicken and mushroom bake, roasted vegetables, and homemade bread. Oh, and apple pie for dessert."

"You didn’t have to go to all this trouble."

"It wasn’t trouble. I like cooking for people." She set the dish on the table and gestured for him to sit. "Besides, I wanted to do something nice for you. You’ve been... I don’t know, you seem like you’ve been carrying a lot of weight lately."

’More than you know, sweetheart.’

The observation was more perceptive than he’d expected. Kaine took his seat, watching as Rebecca served the food with obvious pride in her efforts.

"This smells incredible," he said, taking his first bite. The flavors were rich and complex, perfectly seasoned. "You’re an amazing cook."

"My grandmother’s recipe. She always said the secret was cooking with love, not just ingredients." Rebecca settled across from him, her eyes bright with pleasure at his obvious enjoyment. "So tell me about your day. Did you get some sleep after I left?"

"Some. Had a few work-related things to think through. What about you? How was your afternoon?"

"Quiet. Did some reading, watched entirely too much television." She smiled. "I kept finding myself looking forward to this."

"Me too."

They fell into easy conversation, talking about books, movies, childhood memories. Rebecca was a good storyteller, painting vivid pictures of her family and the small town where she’d grown up. Kaine found himself sharing more than he’d intended, carefully edited versions of his own experiences that felt surprisingly honest despite the necessary omissions.

’This is dangerous. I’m getting too comfortable.’

"You know what I love about this?" Rebecca said as they finished the main course.

"What?"

"How normal it feels. Like we’re just two regular people having dinner together." She reached across the table, her fingers brushing his. "I don’t get a lot of normal in my life."

’If you only knew how far from normal I really am.’

"What do you mean?"

"Work, mostly. The people I’m around, the things I have to think about." She shrugged. "Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a different world from everyone else."

’You have no idea.’

"Normal is underrated," he said.

"Exactly." She squeezed his hand briefly before releasing it. "Ready for dessert?"

The apple pie was as perfect as the rest of the meal—flaky crust, perfectly spiced filling, served warm with vanilla ice cream. They ate slowly, neither wanting the evening to end.

’I could get used to this. And that’s the problem.’

After dinner, Kaine insisted on helping clean up despite Rebecca’s protests. They worked together in the small kitchen, moving around each other with surprising coordination. When she reached for a high shelf, he moved behind her to help, his chest briefly pressing against her back.

The contact sent electricity through both of them.

"Thank you," she said softly, not immediately moving away.

"For what?"

"For this. For being here. For being..." She turned in his arms, looking up at him. "For being you I guess?" She laughed nervously, brushing her hair behind her ear, "A good neighbor," she finally said, holding his gaze.

’If she knew what I really was, she’d run screaming.’

For a moment, they stood frozen, the air between them charged with possibility. Kaine could feel the warmth of her body, smell the subtle scent of her perfume, see the way her lips parted slightly as she looked at him.

Then his phone buzzed with a text message, breaking the spell.

’Probably for the best,"

"I should probably get going," he said reluctantly, stepping back. "Work calls."

Disappointment flashed across Rebecca’s face before she smiled. "Of course. The vampire hunting business never sleeps."

"Something like that."

She walked him to the door, lingering as he prepared to leave. "You know, you’ve had me over at your place, what? Thrice now? And I’ve crashed at your apartment. Maybe next time you could return the favor?"

"What do you mean?"

"A sleepover. At my place," She bit her lower lip. "I mean, if you want to. No pressure."

"I’d like that," he said honestly. "But I have work tonight. Rain check?"

"Of course." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, her lips lingering just a moment longer than necessary. "Be careful out there. I don’t want you coming back in a body bag."

’Too late for that. Already been there, done that.’

"I’ll be fine."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She watched from her doorway as he crossed the hall to his apartment, not closing her door until he’d disappeared inside.

Kaine leaned against his closed door, taking a deep breath. The evening had been perfect—too perfect. The growing connection between them felt real and meaningful, which made it all the more dangerous.

’Every moment I spend with her is another step deeper into something I can’t afford. But fuck if I don’t want more.’

He was still processing these thoughts when he noticed Marcus standing in the living room, perfectly still, watching the door with those pale eyes.

"What?" Kaine asked.

Without a word, Marcus walked into the bedroom and returned carrying Kaine’s long black coat—the one he wore for his nighttime activities. The ghoul held it out with both hands, his expression as blank as always but somehow conveying urgency.

’Right. Time to go hunt down my wayward foster kid before he paints the city red.’

"Yeah," he said, taking the coat. "Let’s go find your wayward brother and bring him home,"

Marcus nodded once, already moving toward the window that led to the fire escape.

As they prepared to leave, Kaine caught sight of his reflection in the window—coat billowing, Soulrend at his side, Marcus like a pale shadow behind him. This was his reality now, not cozy dinners and stolen moments of normalcy.

’But damn if I don’t want both.’

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel