Congratulations!
Your hero reached Level 10
You unlocked a new function:
Every 10 levels: 1 Random Ultimate Skill
Every 5 levels: 1 Random Basic Skill, 1 Random Item, +1 Level
You received:
Level +1
Wraith Pact x1
Morph (Morphling Ultimate Skill)
Vanthelis scratched the back of his head, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and disbelief. A chuckle slipped from his lips as he muttered under his breath, "Now you're acting like a real system. Took you long enough."
He pulled up the interface with a swipe of his hand, half-expecting disappointment. But what he saw made his grin stretch even wider.
"Wraith Pact... and Morph?" he whispered, eyes gleaming. The Morph skill alone gave him more flexibility than he ever imagined, allowing him to adapt his form and abilities in battle. And Wraith Pact—he remembered this item as DOTA 2 item in his past world. An aura item that could weaken enemies and bolster his undead.
"This changes everything," he said, his smile turning darker.
Meanwhile, far beyond the coast where the worms had retreated, deep beneath the ocean waves, the Naga Queen's laughter echoed within the cavernous palace carved into coral and blackened sea-stone.
She sat on a throne made from crushed shipwrecks and bones of great beasts, her emerald eyes gleaming with anger and amusement. Coils of her serpentine body shifted lazily, flicking water with each movement.
"So you're saying a human... overpowered you?" she hissed, glaring down at the bulky Naga warrior kneeling before her. Her tone cracked like a whip.
The warrior kept his gaze lowered, trident resting on the floor. His voice trembled slightly. "Y-yes, my queen. They had structures—towers—that released powerful energy. Enough to wound our pet worms. They also had four-legged beasts—I never seen such monsters, they tore into our worms and didn't fall even when overwhelmed."
"You dare come crawling back after leading my warriors into a retreat?" Her coils tightened as her voice rose. "You disgrace your bloodline."
The warrior swallowed, his fins drooping in shame. "But, Queen... the human did not ask for war. He asked to speak with you."
A silence settled over the chamber. The queen's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Interesting," she murmured, leaning forward. "He wants to speak with me... and yet he shows his strength as a threat. Clever little worm."
Behind the throne, a softer voice emerged.
"Mother," said a younger Naga with striking violet scales and curious snake eyes, "perhaps we should meet him. Hear what he has to offer. Then, once we know his strengths and weaknesses, we kill him."
The queen tilted her head, watching her daughter with mild amusement. "You'd make a ruthless queen one day, dear."
The princess smiled with a glint of malice. "I learn from the best."
"Very well," the queen hissed, finally rising. "We move at dawn. Gather the royal guard and our elite warriors. If what you said was exaggerated... you will die with him."
The warrior bowed deeply and slithered out of the chamber, sweat beading across his blue scales. He moved quickly through the winding tunnels to alert the rest of the warrior caste. There would be no sleep for them tonight.
Back on land, Vanthelis stood atop of the one of the tower, watching the sea with calculating eyes. Ishlar stood beside him, his black armor glinting under the moonlight. The Ghouls feasted far off the edge of the tower, tearing into what little worm flesh remained from the skirmish.
"They'll return," Vanthelis said. "And they'll bring someone stronger."
"I am ready," Ishlar replied, his voice low, tired, but resolute. His presence exuded power. The dark energy flowing through his sword seemed more vibrant now.
"You leveled up too," Vanthelis noted, checking the system. "Animate Dead, huh?" He nodded. "We're going to use that soon."
He opened his inventory and summoned the Wraith Pact. The helm pulsed with dark energy, as he puts it on his head. Once activated, it would become a totem and it would reduce all enemies' damage in a large radius and boost their own resilience.
He goes toward the Necropolis as he put the helm in his table, letting its aura settle into the room. The table darkened around it.
The wind howled from the sea.
"Tomorrow," Vanthelis whispered, almost to himself. "They'll come. And when they do... they'll either become my allies—or my enemy."
He looked back at the young ones in the distance, Kristine helping a younger child carry food. The rest were tending to the wounded or preparing the defenses. Even after months, they looked to him—some with hope, others with doubt. But they followed.
His thoughts returned to the enemy queen.
"Let's see if the serpent plays politics... or war."