Chapter 1: Congratulations, You're Dead
The rain hit like a confession—loud, messy, and too late to fix anything.
Ray Harrison lay crumpled on the sidewalk, blood trickling from his forehead, his left leg bent in a way that screamed you'll never walk again—if he lived long enough to try. He didn't remember the bus, or the scream, or the blur of motion. All he remembered was the damn cat.
It was still sitting there. On his chest.
Unbothered. Staring.
"I hope you choke on your next mouse," Ray coughed, his voice ragged. "I literally died for you."
The cat meowed and trotted off into the alley, tail held high like it had just filed its taxes and saved the world.
Ray chuckled bitterly. "Figures. Everyone wants a hero, no one wants to tip one."
He couldn't move. Couldn't feel. The pain was gone—replaced by a numb warmth crawling up his spine, as if his body had decided, Hey, we're done pretending we're alive.
And then came the voice.
> [CONGRATULATIONS, MORTAL MEAT. YOU'RE DEAD.]
> [YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE GOD OF HUMANITY.]
> [LOADING SYSTEM_15...]
Ray blinked.
"Oh hell no."
> [YES. HELL. NO. CLOSE ENOUGH.]
> [INSTALLATION COMPLETE. SYSTEM 15 ACTIVATED.]
A pause. Then a voice echoed in his mind—smug, manic, and painfully chipper.
> "Hi! I'm 15. Think of me as your divine life coach, chaotic overlord, and unofficial therapist. You've got trauma? I've got trauma. Let's bond!"
"You sound like a toaster with an ego," Ray muttered, unsure if he was talking aloud or thinking too hard.
> "Wrong. I'm more like a god-tier therapist trapped in the mind of a magical sociopath. Which is now you, by the way."
A warmth spread through his chest—no, his soul—and reality cracked like shattered glass. Light and dark swirled together as the world collapsed inward.
> [NEW WORLD: AETHERREA LOADING…]
> [ASSIGNED CLASS: ??? (Hidden)]
> [DOMAIN GRANTED: LEVEL 0]
> [GOD SHOP: LOCKED | QUEST ENGINE: ONLINE | CAPTURE SYSTEM: INSTALLED]
> [PERKS: NO-BARK TREE (Bound)]
> [ERROR: YOU ARE TOO WEAK TO UNDERSTAND HOW SCREWED YOU ARE.]
Ray smirked as the light consumed him.
"Well," he muttered, "beats going to hell. Probably."
------
Chapter 2: A Cradle of Magic and Regret
Ray gasped like a man yanked out of a dream.
His first sensation was cold air—crisp and tinged with the faint scent of pine and smoke. Then came pain. Not the shattered-bones, organs-melting kind from before. This was lighter. Dull aches, stiff muscles, and the warm soreness of a body unused to movement.
He blinked open his eyes.
Wooden beams. A high ceiling. Curtains that looked handwoven. Definitely not a hospital.
"Well," he muttered hoarsely, "either Heaven got rustic or I've been reborn as a Pinterest board."
> [Welcome to Aetherra. Population: Screwed.]
[Reminder: You died. You're now inhabiting the body of Raynald Viren, youngest son of the Viren noble family. Age: 8. Congratulations, baby skeleton.]
Ray sat up slowly, wincing at the pull of young muscles. Eight years old. Perfect. He was a toddler with taxes in his memory.
The door creaked open.
A woman stepped in—early thirties, dark red hair braided down her shoulder, robes tied neatly at the waist. Her eyes softened the moment she saw him.
"Raynald... you're awake."
Her voice hit him like a song from another life. Not because he knew her, but because the warmth in it threatened to thaw something frozen inside him.
For a second, he forgot about gods, systems, and sarcastic AIs.
"Mom?" he croaked.
She rushed to him, cupping his face. "You've been unconscious for three days. The fever, the mana surge—your Domain tried to form too early. We feared you—" Her voice cracked. She didn't finish the sentence.
Ray blinked. Tears. Her eyes were wet. Genuine.
For someone who'd grown up with divorce papers as bedtime stories and sarcasm as armor, the rawness of that love hit like a punch.
> [Cue: Emotional Development. Don't worry, I'll mock you later.]
Ray ignored 15.
"Where... where's everyone else?" he asked, voice still weak.
"They're outside. Your father's been forging all night to keep his mind busy. Elira's in the orchard with your brother—trying to calm him down. He hasn't spoken since you collapsed."
Right. So apparently, he had a family that cared.
That was going to be... difficult.
She held his hand like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. "You're safe now. No more nightmares, alright?"
Ray didn't reply. Because safe was a lie.
There were six continents in this world. One had already fallen to insect monsters. Another barely held. And he, apparently, had a Domain and a System with a personality disorder.
---
> [Now that the crying part is over, let's talk perks!]
[DOMAIN: ONLINE. ENTERING IN… 3… 2… 1…]
---
The Domain
The world flickered.
Ray blinked, and suddenly he was standing on soft earth beneath a starlit sky. An endless field of black grass stretched before him. Fog rolled like breath across the hills.
In the center stood a tree—tall, pale, with bark like cracked marble. And not a single leaf.
> [Behold! The legendary NO-BARK TREE. It's silent, moody, and hates you.]
Ray walked closer. The tree pulsed faintly, like it was alive. Ancient. Watching.
"It looks like it wants to kill me," Ray whispered.
> [That's just its way of saying hi.]
He reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the bark, a vision slammed into him—roots tearing into the void, swallowing lost souls, chains binding ancient beasts. The No-Bark Tree wasn't just decoration.
It was a prison. And a seed.
> [Perk unlocked: Soulbinding Grove. The No-Bark Tree will absorb the essence of slain creatures and convert them into power, skills, or loyal entities. Basically, it's a fancy juicer for monsters.]
Ray laughed. "So... a haunted blender."
> [Now you're getting it.]
---
Back in the real world, Ray opened his eyes to see his mother hugging him.
"Welcome back," she whispered.
Ray didn't say anything.
But inside, something cold, broken, and angry stirred—and smiled.
This world had no idea what it had just summoned.---
Chapter 3: The Corpse Whisperer's First Lesson
Morning came too fast.
The bed was warm, the air smelled like wild mint, and the pillow was just soft enough to make him hate getting up. But peace was a luxury Ray couldn't afford—not with sarcastic AIs, collapsing dimensional barriers, and bug queens turning continents into buffets.
So when the door creaked open and a deep, gravelly voice said, "If you're awake enough to breathe, you're awake enough to stand," Ray knew the dad character had arrived.
He turned his head.
The man in the doorway looked like someone had sculpted a war god out of iron and unresolved trauma. Broad shoulders, callused hands, arms crisscrossed with faded scars. His face was hard, his jaw square, and his eyes... tired.
"So you're the new me," Ray muttered. "Shit."
"Language," his father said.
"I died. You're lucky I'm not screaming in Latin."
The man grunted, half-smile twitching at the corner of his lips. "Good. Still got some fire in you. Come downstairs when you're ready. Your sister's got breakfast. Your brother's clinging to your bed like a wet kitten."
He left without another word.
---
Ray swung his legs off the bed. His body was still stiff, but at least it obeyed. He looked down. No scars. New skin. This body hadn't known pain yet.
"Not for long," he muttered.
> [Attaboy. Nothing says "fresh start" like a corpse and a long list of ethical violations.]
He turned to the lump curled up beside him. A tiny boy with messy black hair, a tear-streaked face, and a death grip on Ray's blanket.
"Kid," Ray said, poking him.
The boy groaned. "No…"
"Alright. Your funeral." Ray pried the blanket away like a bastard and rolled him onto the floor.
A yelp. Then glaring.
Ray grinned. "You're welcome. That's called tough love. It builds character—and bruises."
---
Downstairs, breakfast was chaos.
A tall girl with sharp blue eyes—clearly his older sister—was flicking eggs onto plates while shouting at something out the window. His mother was humming. His father was sharpening a blade that looked very illegal.
And all three stopped when Ray walked in.
"There he is," his sister said. "The sleeping corpse speaks."
"Good morning to you too, Satan's secretary."
She grinned. "You're lucky I missed you."
Ray's mother kissed his forehead. "Sit. Eat."
"I still remember how," Ray muttered, sliding into a chair.
> [SYSTEM REMINDER: You now have access to NECROMANCY: NOVICE TIER. Would you like to raise the dead? Y/N]
Ray blinked.
> [It's 8 AM. You've had your eggs. It's time to defile some natural laws.]
---
Later – In the Domain
The No-Bark Tree loomed above him like an executioner with patience issues.
Ray stood in the dark field, a dead rabbit at his feet. Its eyes were glassy. Its body still twitched from the soul pull.
> [NECROMANCY: Begin with a whisper. Focus. Reach. Command.]
Ray knelt.
He didn't chant. No fireballs. No lightning.
Just will.
He reached inside, to that cold ember burning in his chest—the place where death now slept. Then down, into the corpse.
> [System Notice: Resurrection Attempt – Target: Level 0 Wild Rabbit. Success Chance: 92%. Side Effects: Mild nausea, guilt, possible erection.]
Ray blinked. "Wait—what?"
> [Kidding. Just checking if you're paying attention.]
The rabbit shuddered.
Twitched.
Its spine cracked, limbs snapped into place, eyes glowed dimly red—and it stood.
Ray exhaled. Not shock. Not horror.
Triumph.
His first summon.
"Good bunny," he muttered. "Now go fetch something to kill."
> [Achievement Unlocked: "Rabbit of the Damned."]
[+1 Soul Shard. Domain Power Increased.]
In the distance, the No-Bark Tree pulsed.
Ray smirked.
"Let's make some monsters."
---Chapter 4: The Dungeon Run – Chaos and Corpse Crafting
Ray's first beast was an oddity. It was small—shaped like a rabbit, but with glowing red eyes and spindly legs that made it look more like an angry wind-up toy. It twitched and hopped in small, erratic circles around him, as if it had no idea what it was doing. Not exactly the terrifying creature of nightmares.
"Alright, Bunny of the Dead," Ray said with a smirk, "Let's go for a walk. We're testing our luck."
> [Notice: Entering Dungeon - Level 1. Area: Deadwood Cavern.]
[Objective: Test combat abilities. Use of necromantic summons advised.]
The ground shook beneath him.
Ray looked around at the mist rolling in. It was dark, damp—one of those places you'd want to avoid unless you were stupid, cursed, or trying to prove something.
Ray was definitely one of those.
"You know, I'm starting to think I should've read more about necromancy before deciding to make the dead my pets," he muttered to the bunny as they ventured deeper into the dungeon. "But here we are. Doing God's work. Or, well, my work."
> [You're doing great. Soon, we'll have an army of soulless zombies. How does that sound?]
Ray couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm pretty sure you just described every politician ever, 15."
---
The caverns were silent, save for the faint dripping of water and the shuffle of Ray's undead companion. The deeper they went, the colder it got. The walls were lined with strange, jagged rocks that seemed to glisten in the dim light, like they were holding secrets. Or maybe they were just full of weird shit.
Ray was starting to feel a little too much like a walking corpse himself.
> [WARNING: Enemy Detected. Level 3 – Cave Rats.]
Two massive, black-furred rats—each the size of a small horse—burst from a nearby tunnel, screeching.
Ray didn't flinch. He didn't even blink.
"Great. These things look like they'd love to suck my soul out. Bunny, go do your thing."
The rabbit, now glowing a faint, eerie red, hopped toward the rats with a weird, jerky movement. It paused for a second—then charged forward like it was trying to win a race that didn't exist.
"Wait, what the hell is it—"
The rabbit slammed into one of the rats, sending it flying with a bone-shattering crack. It landed with a thud, twitching slightly. The other rat snarled and lunged at the bunny.
Ray grinned. "Well, at least it's useful."
> [System Update: Rabbit of the Damned – Level 1 Beast – Status: Deadly.]
The rats fought back ferociously, but the rabbit was relentless. With each hit, Ray's undead minion's strength seemed to grow—its glowing eyes pulsed with a hunger that mirrored his own. Within moments, the rats were down, their bodies slumped and lifeless on the cold stone floor.
Ray stood there for a second, watching. A little too proud.
"Okay. This is actually pretty badass," he said to himself. "I could get used to this."
> [System Reminder: Raising dead creatures is just the beginning, Ray. There's always room for more.]
"Yeah, yeah. Baby steps," Ray replied, rolling his eyes. "But don't get too excited. I'm not turning every rat I meet into my personal army."
---
As he moved deeper into the dungeon, Ray came across a small alcove that opened into a larger cavern. The floor was littered with bones. The walls were adorned with old, fading runes.
> [Warning: Boss Encounter Incoming.]
"I love a good surprise," Ray muttered under his breath.
Out from the shadows, a towering figure stepped into view—a massive, hulking beast covered in thick, matted fur, with yellowed fangs and bloodshot eyes. It stood on two legs, and its chest was armored with twisted metal plates, as if it had stolen them from some unlucky warrior.
It was a Dread Behemoth.
Ray squinted. It was easily ten feet tall. The thing looked mean. And, of course, it had way too many teeth. This would be fun.
"Okay, Bunny, I'm gonna need you to—"
But before he could finish the command, the Dread Behemoth charged. It bellowed a deafening roar, and the ground shook under its weight.
Ray didn't even flinch. He snapped his fingers.
> [Bunny, meet Big, Ugly, and Dead.]
The undead rabbit scampered forward, not even remotely intimidated by the massive creature. It attacked the Behemoth's legs, its tiny fangs biting into the creature's thick fur and armor.
Ray raised an eyebrow. "You know what? I'm impressed. You've got guts."
> [System Notice: Your Bunny of the Damned is attacking the Behemoth. Damage: Minor.]
The Behemoth looked down at the rabbit with a confused expression, then back at Ray.
"Oh, so you're just gonna ignore it and stare at me, huh?" Ray muttered. "Fine. Be that way."
With a single motion, the Behemoth swung its arm, sending the rabbit flying. It crashed into the cavern wall, but Ray wasn't done yet.
He closed his eyes for a moment, tapping into his necromantic energy. His mind expanded outward, reaching into the depths of his power.
> [Warning: Major Mana Drain Detected. Summon Cooldown Active.]
Ray grinned. "I've got plenty of mana. I don't need to wait."
He reached into the Behemoth's body with his power, pulling at the tendons and muscles, snapping them with dark magic.
The Behemoth howled in pain, but it didn't stop. It lunged at Ray with terrifying speed.
With a snap of his fingers, Ray commanded his summon.
> [Summon Complete: Dread Bunny of the Undying.]
In a flash of necromantic energy, a monstrous version of the bunny appeared—this one twice as big, with glowing red eyes and a savage snarl. It launched itself at the Behemoth, sinking its fangs deep into its throat.
Ray stepped back and watched.
"Oh, this is gonna be so much fun."
---
The battle raged on.
Ray's new monster kept the Behemoth distracted, allowing Ray to get in close. He darted around the creature, avoiding the crushing blows that nearly flattened the cavern floor. He wasn't here for a fair fight. No, this was a matter of principle. And profit.
In the end, the Behemoth fell to the ground with a thud, its body disintegrating into dust. Ray's Dread Bunny stood over it, twitching in what could only be described as smug satisfaction.
Ray took a deep breath, letting the victory settle in his chest.
"Well," he said to himself, "guess it's time to go loot the hell out of this place."
---
NextChapter 5: The Family Secret
Ray didn't waste time with victory celebrations. He wasn't that kind of guy. Instead, he started stripping the Behemoth's carcass for parts, because if there's one thing a man with power knows, it's how to make a good profit off a monster's death.
The thing had more valuable organs than a high-end black-market organ dealer. A monster like that, dead, was like finding a treasure chest buried under a rat-infested floor. Ray was going to squeeze every bit of value from the corpse.
"Alright, Dread Bunny," Ray said, inspecting the monster's bones, "time to make you extra useful." He flicked a finger toward his minion. "Drag the remains."
The gigantic undead rabbit gave a low growl and obediently started dragging the beast's carcass toward Ray's Domain exit. It was a bit comical watching the giant, undead bunny work like a mule, but the rabbit had its uses.
Click. A message popped up in front of him:
> [New Skill Unlocked: Monster Harvesting. You may now extract useful materials from slain beasts.]
[Harvest Items Detected: Dread Behemoth Blood (High-Quality Mana Infused), Dread Behemoth Bones (Reinforced), Dread Behemoth Claw (Epic).]
"Damn right, I can harvest. This is what I call productivity," Ray muttered, rolling his shoulders. He grabbed a few tools and went to work. A quick scan of the dungeon told him that nothing else was coming for him. The Behemoth was a boss-level monster, and it wasn't like every room was going to be filled with that level of danger.
Still, Ray couldn't shake the thought that there was more to this dungeon than what met the eye. He had the distinct feeling that something big was coming for him, something darker. The tension in the air buzzed like static.
---
It wasn't until Ray emerged from the dungeon that things started to feel… weird.
"Alright, Bunny," Ray muttered, "we're done here. Time to head back and—"
"Ray," his father's voice cut through the quiet air. "We need to talk."
Ray froze. It wasn't often that his father sounded serious. Like really serious.
He turned around to see his dad standing at the edge of his Domain entrance, arms crossed. His mother stood a few steps behind him, her face unreadable.
"About what?" Ray asked, eyebrow quirked.
"This," his father said, his gaze sharpening. "We know."
Ray's chest tightened for a second. We know? What the hell were they talking about?
His mother stepped forward. "We've been watching you, Ray."
"Watching me?" Ray's voice was steady, but the sarcasm was gone. "Is that how we're doing things now? Creeping on your son while he's summoning undead rabbits and turning corpses into walking money bags?"
His father didn't flinch. "It's not about your little side hobbies. It's about what you're hiding from us."
Ray's jaw clenched, and for the first time since his rebirth, a cold wave of uncertainty rolled through him. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what they were referring to. Part of him just wanted to ignore it, to keep living his life like a well-dressed, sarcastic zombie-master. But the look in their eyes told him they weren't going to drop it.
"Dad, Mom, I—"
"You've awakened something inside of you," his mother continued, her voice quiet but piercing. "And it's not just a necromancer class. It's more. Your power is growing at a rate that doesn't make sense."
Ray's blood ran cold. That wasn't something he expected to hear.
"It's not just the system," his father added. "We've seen your abilities. The way you command the dead... the way you fight. You've been hiding your progress from us."
Ray swallowed, trying to hold his ground. "What's the big deal? It's just a game, right? A power-up. It's just part of the system." He cursed inwardly, realizing how lame that sounded. But they had to buy it. Right?
"Ray," his mother's eyes softened, but there was an edge in her voice that made it clear she wasn't buying his explanation. "This isn't a game. You don't just level up because you want to. Your power has drawn attention. You're playing with fire, and the flames are going to get bigger. Whatever you're doing with your summons, your undead, it's not normal. We know it's not normal."
---
Ray took a breath and pushed a hand through his hair. "Fine. You want the truth? Here it is." He gestured toward the ground. "I'm a necromancer, and I'm doing what I have to in order to get stronger. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, alright?"
His father's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Ray looked at both of them, feeling the weight of the situation settle in his gut. There was no going back now. No more pretending to be the lazy son who couldn't be bothered with anything.
"It's not just about raising the dead. It's about controlling them. Using them. And—" He paused. "My abilities are more than just part of the system. I'm tapping into something ancient. Something dangerous."
His father's eyes narrowed. "You're playing with forces you don't understand. This isn't like building an army or sharpening your sword."
"I know that!" Ray snapped, feeling his frustration rise. "But I don't have a choice. The world is falling apart. There's no time to mess around. I need power, and I'm taking it. Whatever I have to do, whoever I have to step on. I'll get what I need. To protect this family. To protect this world."
A long silence followed.
Finally, his mother spoke, her voice steady. "If you're really going down this path, Ray, you need to understand one thing. We are with you. But we won't let you lose yourself in it. You need control. And the last thing we want is for you to become some dark, twisted thing."
Ray didn't reply immediately. He knew she meant well, but there was something dark inside him. Something that wanted to spread, like wildfire. And the more he thought about it, the less he was sure he could contain it.
"Understood," he finally said. But deep down, he knew that it wasn't just about control. It was about using whatever it took to build the future he needed.
---
Next