Energy flowed from his hand like ice water, sinking into the woman's lifeless body. Mark felt his mana reserve—apparently that was a thing he had now—drain almost completely from that one spell.
For a moment, nothing.
"Shit. It didn't work. I knew it was too good to—"
Elyndra's eyes opened.
Blue. A blue so deep and intense it looked wrong. Like liquid sapphires with a light behind them.
And they were looking right at him.
Mark froze. Couldn't move. Couldn't speak. The woman sat up in one motion, smooth and unnatural.
No corpse stiffness. No clumsiness.
She moved like she'd never died at all.
"Oh shit. Oh shit, shit, shit."
[Summon Successful]
Name: Elyndra Ashford
Status: Undead (Partial)
Loyalty: Absolute
Stats: [VIEW DETAILS]
Mark opened the details with his mind. What he saw almost made him pass out.
Strength: 9,999
Agility: 9,999
Endurance: 9,999
Intelligence: 9,999
Magic: 9,999
"Max stats. MAX FUCKING STATS. How is that even possible?"
Before he could process it, another notification popped up:
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2]
[New Skill Unlocked: Consciousness Modification (Lv. 1)]
"Consciousness… what?"
[Consciousness Modification - Level 1]
Type: Advanced Necromancy
Effect: Allows you to alter the memories and base personality of an undead under your control. Changes are permanent. Use: 1 time per target.
Mark read it three times. Then he looked at Elyndra, standing silent in front of him. Still as a statue. Waiting.
"I can… change her personality? Her memories?"
The implication sat heavy in his gut. Disturbing. And tempting.
She's dead, he reminded himself. Technically she's not a person. She's an animated corpse. She doesn't have real consciousness. She just… follows orders.
But that wasn't totally true, was it? Wake Up's description said targets didn't regain consciousness. But "Consciousness Modification" implied there was something to modify.
"This is ethically questionable at best."
The monster in the center of the chamber shifted in its sleep. A low growl. The floor trembled.
"But it's also my only chance to survive."
Mark made a decision. One that would probably damn him to hell, if hell existed.
He focused on Consciousness Modification and aimed it at Elyndra. In his head, he pictured the changes.
Memories: She knows me. She's always known me. I'm her… her master. Yes. Her master. The necromancer who saved her from death. The most important man in her life.
Personality: Loyal. Absolutely loyal. Devoted. Protective. And…
He hesitated. This was crossing a line. A very clear, very important line.
And in love. Madly, obsessively in love with me.
Energy surged again. Stronger. Deeper. Mark felt the skill activate, felt the changes carve themselves into whatever was left of Elyndra's mind.
When it was over, she blinked.
And for the first time, her expression changed.
A smile. Small. Almost invisible. But definitely a smile.
"Master," she said. Her voice soft, melodic. Like music. "You finally awaken."
Mark swallowed.
What did I just do?
"I was so worried," Elyndra continued, stepping closer. "When I found you unconscious in this dungeon, I feared the worst. But I knew you would be fine. My master is always fine."
She thinks I saved HER. The modification… worked too well.
"Uh… yeah," Mark improvised, trying to keep it together. "I'm fine. I just… needed to rest for a moment."
"Of course, Master. The journey here must have been exhausting."
Elyndra's eyes shone with something so intense it was almost uncomfortable to look at. Like staring at the sun. Except the sun was unconditional worship.
This is messed up. Very, very messed up. And also exactly what I needed.
That was when the monster woke up.
Its roar was deafening. A sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Its many arms thrashed, searching for the disturbance.
Mark felt panic seize him—but before he could move, Elyndra was already gone.
It was… beautiful. In a terrible, bloody way. But beautiful.
Her sword whistled through the air, leaving a trail of golden light. The monster's first arm hit the floor before it could even register the attack. The second followed an instant later. Then the third. Then the fourth.
In under ten seconds, the thing that had terrified Mark was a trembling pile of meat. Incapable of fighting back.
"Would you like me to finish it, Master?" Elyndra asked. Calm. Like she was asking about the weather.
Mark stared at her. Then at the monster. Then back at her.
I just created a weapon of mass destruction that's in love with me. What kind of person am I?
"Yes," he said. Because what else was there to say? "Finish it."
The final blow was quick. Merciful. The sword drove through what might've been the monster's heart, and it collapsed with one last pathetic groan.
[Victory!]
[Experience Gained: 500]
[You have reached Level 3]
Mark stared at the notification. Processing.
He had died. Been reborn in another world. Revived a legendary heroine and turned her into his obsessively devoted thrall. And now he'd killed a dungeon monster without lifting a finger.
My old life was garbage, he thought. But this… this might actually work.
Elyndra stepped toward him, wiping her blade with practiced ease.
"Where to now, Master?"
Mark looked down the corridor. Toward the exit. Toward the outside world. Toward the unknown.
"Out," he said. "Let's see what kind of world this is."