Pain.
That was the first thing Red felt.
Not the dull pain of wounds or broken bones—but something far deeper, as if his very existence was being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time.
Crimson light wrapped around his skeletal body.
The dungeon trembled.
Red collapsed to his knees as black mist poured out from between his bones.
"Aghhh—!"
His scream echoed endlessly through the dungeon corridors.
The system interface shattered into fragments of blood-red light.
[ Evolution Initiated: Skeleton → Ghast ]
Red clenched his fists as invisible pressure crushed him from every direction.
"It hurts…" he growled. "Why does it hurt this much?!"
From the shadows, Lusifero appeared, his expression calm—almost pleased.
"Because, my lord," he said softly, "you are no longer merely changing form."
Red's ribs began to knit together with dark flesh—not skin, but something unnatural. Veins of shadow spread across his bones, binding them together like living chains.
"You are gaining hunger," Lusifero continued. "True hunger."
Red's spine arched violently as his skull cracked.
Black vapor poured from his mouth and eyes.
"I feel it…" Red whispered hoarsely. "Something… burning inside me."
"That is your ghast core forming," Lusifero replied. "The source of your undead instincts."
The pain intensified.
Red slammed his hand into the ground, clawing at the stone as shadows wrapped around his arms. His fingers elongated, forming talon-like claws.
His empty eye sockets ignited.
Crimson flames erupted within them.
"Aaaarghhh!"
The dungeon walls cracked.
Cuttey howled, unable to approach due to the pressure.
Red's jaw reshaped, sharp fangs emerging where human teeth once existed. His skeletal face became partially covered in dark, mist-like flesh—constantly shifting, never stable.
His body rose slowly into the air.
Lusifero raised one hand.
"Calm yourself, my lord. Accept it."
Red gasped.
"…I can hear it," he said. "Voices… whispers…"
"The instincts of a Ghast," Lusifero said. "You now exist between flesh and death."
The pressure suddenly vanished.
Red dropped to the ground.
Silence.
He stood slowly.
His appearance had changed.
No longer a bare skeleton—his body was wrapped in shadowy flesh, semi-transparent, pulsing faintly with crimson veins. His eyes burned bright red, far more intense than before.
Cold mist leaked from his body with every breath.
"…This body," Red muttered, clenching his claws. "It feels… stronger."
The system appeared.
[ Evolution Complete: Ghast ]
[ New Status Unlocked ]
Mana: 0 / 15000
Monster Cores: 0 / 100
Kill Count: 0 / 1000
[ Special Requirement ]
⚠ Must drink human blood to progress further
Red stared at the requirement.
"…Human blood."
His voice trembled—not with fear, but anticipation.
Lusifero nodded.
"A Ghast feeds on fear and blood," he said. "You can now absorb life essence directly."
New notifications appeared.
[ New Skills Acquired ]
• Blood Sense – Detects nearby living beings
• Ghast Regeneration – Heals using ambient death mana
• Fear Aura – Weak enemies suffer paralysis
• Shadow Step – Short-range movement through shadows
• Undead Resistance – High resistance to physical attacks
Red laughed softly.
"…So this is it."
He turned toward Lusifero.
"What should I do next?"
Lusifero bowed.
"Now, my lord," he said, "you hunt humans."
Red's crimson eyes gleamed.
"…Good."
He looked at Cuttey, who approached cautiously.
"Get ready," Red said quietly. "The real journey begins now."
The dungeon seemed to breathe.
Somewhere far above, humanity remained unaware—
That a Ghast had been born.