The orb pulsed once more, then collapsed inward.
Dark energy surged downward into Vayne's corpse.
The body twitched.
Once.
Twice.
Bones shifted beneath torn flesh. The wound in the skull remained, but the bleeding stopped unnaturally fast, black veins spreading outward from the puncture like cracks in glass.
Slowly—
Vayne's body pushed itself up from the ground.
Not like a living man struggling to stand.
But like something being lifted by invisible strings.
His head tilted slightly, the hole through his forehead still visible beneath matted hair.
Then, Aiden felt the connection settle into place. Heavy, powerful.
Different from the others.
He let out a slow breath.
"Success."
The former head chief of the city guards now stood among his ranks, silent, obedient, bound completely to his will.
The street was quiet again.
Vayne, no, the thing that used to be Vayne, stood motionless among the others, waiting for orders.
Aiden let out a slow breath and opened his status.
