With a growing proficiency in necromancy, I’d be able to resurrect the dead in no time.

Boy, that sounded like something a witch would say…

Nolan congratulated me on my first induction. After I celebrated a little, I tested out my very first tamed beast. I told him to sit, and he sat. I told him to stand, and he stood. I even got him to roll over, a command that seemed a bit absurd for a creature as magnificent as a dire wolf, but the touch of [Conquer] had made him into a docile and obedient pet.

I couldn’t deny the giddy thrill that surged through me with every successful command. The realization of this new-found power, this dominion I held over another living creature, was truly intoxicating.

OhhhHHhh, that must be the dragon in me talking!

Feeling increasingly confident, I tested my influence further. The demon dog had one unique special, and that was [Shadow Phase]. With [Shadow Phase], he could disperse into a hazy black fog and teleport a distance. That distance depended on his level. I told my wolf to use his special, and he prepared to teleport a few meters to where I’d mentally pointed for him to go. Without hesitation, he vanished into a wisp of dark fog, before reforming at the designated spot.

My eyes widened in sheer delight. The very concept of limitations now felt artificial, like walls erected in my mind were now torn down by my new abilities. The wolf tilted his head as if waiting for another command, his eyes glowing at me obediently.

I laughed out loud, the sound coming out as a rumbling squeak. ‘This is crazy!’ I said to myself. It was a strange sight, seeing such a ferocious beast reduced to an obedient thrall, but it was also invigorating. The power was real; it was tangible.

Nolan chuckled. “As much as I enjoy seeing you revel in your beast-wrangling victory, we need to move on to the next order of business.”

‘Aww, okay,’ I said, my excitement dwindling down. My wolf thrall sat dutifully by my side, its watchful eyes trained onto me. I could feel the weight of his gaze, an instinctive reminder of our new-found connection and a bond formed by the unyielding power of [Conquer].

“You don’t have to worry about taking care of it as you would an actual wolf,” Nolan said. “Monsters require low maintenance, if any at all.”

‘That’s less on my plate. Good to know.’

“The more you use him to fight, the higher his level will become. You’ll get used to summoning him soon enough.”

‘Honestly, I can’t wait to use him in an actual fight.’

“He’ll make dungeon raiding a lot faster for sure,” Nolan said as he hopped back onto the wagon. “Now tuck him in your spatial… whatever, and let’s hit the road. We still have a few hours ahead of us.”

From my Codex, I tried to execute a command to open my domain so my pet wolf could rest there. I was prompted to create a command and chose -Surrender-. I was then prompted to create a command to summon my thrall. I selected -Awaken- The process of my wolf warping back into my domain was surprisingly simple; the wolf was swallowed up into a bluish vortex before he disappeared entirely. I felt a new weight in my spatial domain, a live presence that made me suddenly aware that such a space existed in the first place.

‘It’s like carrying around a mini world,’ I muttered inwardly to myself, thinking highly of the space that served as a mobile den for my dire wolf thrall.

Just as Nolan had instructed, I climbed back onto the wagon, settling into the comfortable cushioned seat. With the reins in his hands, Nolan urged the horses onward, and we were off to see the Wicked Witch of the West.

Nolan and I had stopped to find food for a while and then continued on our journey. The night’s sky was a patchwork of twinkling stars and the glowing moon. Our route was quiet except for the occasional chorus of night birds and the distant howling of wild beasts. Nolan navigated the wagon under the celestial light, his eye focused on the path ahead, steering around fallen logs and rocky outcrops. My thoughts, however, were consumed by my new companion tucked safely within my spatial domain.

After a long while, a familiar wave of exhaustion hit me once again, because after all, I had exerted myself after that tier two dungeon run. I took a short nap as Nolan rode through the night. By the time I woke up, the wagon came to a stop, and shockingly, I was given a quest:

Quest 3

Seek wisdom from the Howlwind Forest Witch

Time: 2 hours

Rewards: +10% Necromancy Proficiency

Punishment: Debuff in all attributes by 90% for 2 days

Wisdom? Well that was oddly unspecific.

But if I had to guess, I needed to gather insight on this necromancy affair from the witch.

My codex assigned quests that would help me progress in my assignment, which was leveling up to become a champion so I could take down a galactic overlord. As unsure as I was about meeting her, it was a requirement that needed my immediate attention.

“We’re here,” Nolan said. My vision was a little hazy, but I couldn’t see anything ahead. I was expecting a small house in the middle of nowhere, and then I realized I’d spoken too soon when my vision cleared up a bit. There was a speck along the horizon—her house was all the way there.

‘Why aren’t we getting closer?’ I asked.

Nolan gave me a glance from the corner of his eye, his face serious in the pale moonlight. “Do you see that forest surrounding the house? It’s enchanted. Anyone who steps into it unwillingly finds themselves going in circles, or worse, trapped for eternity. The easiest way to navigate it is by foot with a specific sequence of directions.”

‘Seems like the witch really values her privacy,’ I said as I stood up on all fours.

“She is not one to be trifled with. I know the path through, but I need you to listen to me very carefully. Don’t talk to her without my permission, don’t touch anything, and most importantly, don’t leave my side. Understood?”

I nodded, still slightly dazed from my nap, but the gravity of his words sobered me quickly.

Nolan hopped off the wagon, and I followed him. We started our journey on foot, under the moonlight toward the enchanted forest. Nolan led the way as I followed closely behind him, trying to etch every step of our path into my memory.

At first glance, I couldn’t spot anything special about this forest. It looked like any ol’ forest, but I guess that was the point. If passers spotted anything enchanted, they would leave. And given Nolan’s description of this particular she-devil, I bet she enjoyed watching unlucky wanderers flounder and lose their way amongst the canopy of trees.

Once we reached the end of the forest, my eyes narrowed at the house. It was a particularly unusual house, unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It was small, yes, but there was a whimsical charm to it that transcended its size. It was built entirely from what appeared to be living trees, their trunks entwining and twisting into walls and beams. Some branches had grown into large, bulbous formations that served as rooms while others had split into thinner tendrils, forming intricate lacework patterns for windows. From the thatched roof to the mossy stone foundation, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it, and the purple smoke billowing from the cobblestone chimney.

“Remember what I told you,” Nolan said sternly. “Keep close, and paws off.”

I followed Nolan to the front door, where I noticed very small wooden fibers subtly glowing along it. I squinted further, the light blue colors sparkling in my round mesmerized eyes. Some type of fortification spell? Well, whatever it was, Nolan pricked his thumb with his blade, drew the drop of blood to the door, and all of that glowing suddenly left.

I didn’t question what that meant—I must have been more dumbstruck than I thought at the moment. But by the time I was about to ask him what that was all about, the mercenary kicked the door wide open and stormed inside!

So much for diplomacy….

As soon as the witch saw him, she tried to slam the door in his face with the flick of her wrist. Nolan used his elbow as a wedge to squeeze himself in as the door began to move, the witch squawking at his persistence.

She dashed back farther into her house, nearly tripping on her own feet. She caught the edge of a wooden work bench and turned around, the glint of shock in her milky white eyes undeniable. When she began to open her mouth, to recite a spell I imagine, Nolan acted. The man was definitely a certified gunslinger with how quickly he pulled out his shotgun, snuffing out any tricks the witch had ready for him. She froze, her wrinkled face going pale from the barrel of his weapon. She stared at Nolan like he was a ghost. After all, she did send Nolan to his death. She might not have expected him to survive her death sentence.

“You can save your bullshit for the litterbox,” he retorted. “We’re here to have a little chat.”