Aurelius Vorn stood in the aftermath of his first battle, the strange surge of power coursing through him. His mind was still reeling from the overwhelming flood of sensations—the unfamiliar system activating, the undead soldiers rising, the enemy retreating before him. He felt a strange mixture of elation and unease. The battle had been won, but Aurelius knew this was only the beginning. His victory had come too easily.

  The undead, though fierce in combat, had acted with mindless obedience. They were not alive, not in the way he was. They had no thoughts, no emotions—just servitude to his will. But something about them unsettled him. They were like shadows of what they once were, and he, too, felt like a shadow of himself. These creatures were more than mere soldiers; they were a reflection of his power, and with them came an unsettling emptiness.

  Aurelius had won the battle, but the cost weighed on him. What had he truly gained? A few victories, yes, but was that all? He wanted answers—he needed answers.

  As he turned his gaze toward the crimson horizon, the glowing remnants of battle fading behind him, he noticed something peculiar. The sky shimmered with an eerie light, an unnatural glow that seemed to beckon him. It was almost as if the land itself was calling to him, urging him to walk deeper into this unknown world. Why had he been brought here? What was the true nature of his power?

  Before he could dwell on these thoughts for too long, a voice interrupted, cold and metallic, echoing in his mind like a distant whisper.

  [System Activated: Gold Finger Level 1]

  [Power Analysis: Necromancy Initiated]

  [Ability Gained: Raise Undead]

  [Available Actions: Summon Undead, Strengthen Existing Summons, Enhance Soul Drain]

  Aurelius blinked. The Gold Finger system had spoken once again, detailing his newfound abilities. He had already used his power to summon undead soldiers, but now, it seemed, he was capable of something more—strengthening them, augmenting them, and draining souls to increase his own power.

  The words of the system echoed in his mind like a strange hymn, a guiding force he couldn't escape. His power was tied to the dead—there was no denying that. The undead soldiers he had summoned had already started to decay, their skeletal forms losing their cohesion. If he didn’t act quickly, they would dissipate into the air like dust. But he could change that.

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  Aurelius closed his eyes and focused. The golden energy of the system swirled around him, and he reached out with his will. The ground beneath his feet began to tremble, and the undead before him stirred, their hollow eyes flickering to life once again.

  "Rise," he commanded, his voice low and commanding. The skeletal soldiers straightened, their movements more fluid, their energy restored. The decay that had begun to take hold of them had been reversed. Their bones cracked and shifted as if they were alive again. But they were not. They were his servants—tools he could use to shape the world around him.

  His heart pounded in his chest as he realized the potential of what he had just done. He had strengthened them. The system’s voice provided a prompt, confirming the change.

  [Level Up! Level 2 Achieved]

  [New Ability Acquired: Soul Drain – Absorb the life force of the fallen to restore your own vitality.]

  The newfound power surged through him, and Aurelius felt a sense of control he had never experienced before. The undead were no longer just soldiers. They were an extension of himself. Every time they fought, he grew stronger. Every death added to his power.

  Yet, in the back of his mind, the question lingered: At what cost?

  His undead army now stood at attention, more formidable than before, but there was a nagging feeling in his chest. He had gained this strength so quickly, but what did it truly mean? Power, without the means to control it, was a dangerous thing.

  With a deep breath, Aurelius turned and began walking into the unknown. The system's prompt flashed again, detailing his progress.

  Personal Attributes:

  Level: 2

  Health: 100/100

  Mana: 120/150

  Strength: 12 (+2 from previous level)

  Intelligence: 14 (+2 from previous level)

  Charisma: 6 (+1 from previous level)

  Necromancy Proficiency: 20% (+5 from previous level)

  Undead Control: 25% (+10 from previous level)

  He could feel his power increasing, but also a growing sense of responsibility. He was no longer a mere traveler—he was a conqueror. He had to find his place in this new world, but that wouldn’t be easy. There were dangers everywhere, and with every new ability, there were risks that followed. Was this the kind of person he wanted to become? A ruler? A destroyer?

  These questions haunted him, but there was one thing he knew for certain: The world would know his name.