Coughing violently, Colm shot upright, struggling to pull in a full breath as ragged gasps tore through his chest. The fit wracked his body for several agonizing moments before subsiding, leaving him hunched over and trembling. "Holy shit, I'm alive," he rasped, his voice hoarse, as though unused for days.

Slowly, Colm took in his surroundings, his memories flooding back in a disorienting wave. The crater… Brimwhistle… the horde of undead. He blinked, his gaze falling on the decaying body of the Pitchcaller sprawled nearby. The sight sent a jolt through him, a visceral reminder of the fight. It stabbed right through me. His chest ached at the memory of the final blow.

Heart pounding, Colm's hands flew to his chest, fingers fumbling over where the fatal wound had been. The hole was gone, the flesh eerily whole—but his skin wasn't the same. He froze, staring down at his hands. The ashen gray color, and the muted texture of his skin made it look as though soot covered him.

"What… is this?" he whispered, turning his hands over and over, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend the change. The change wasn't just on his hands—his arms, his body. Everything he could see had the same pallid, lifeless hue.

Wait… shit. A notification. It said I was infected.

Colm's breathing grew rapid, teetering on the edge of hyperventilation as panic clawed at his mind. Calm down. I need to calm down, he thought, forcing himself to close his eyes and steady his breaths. Inhale. Exhale. Slowly, the tension dissipated. My mind is intact. I'm alive. Let's take this a step at a time.

With shaky hands, Colm opened his eyes and steadied himself. He pushed down the rising anxiety and began pulling up the flood of notifications, ready to piece together what had happened.

You have been infected.

Stun Resistance has increased to Level 5.

Dual Wielding has increased to Level 4.

Phantom Warrior has tiered up to Tier 2, Level 1.

Phantom Warrior has increased to Tier 2, Level 2.

Phantom Archer has increased to Level 10.

Hardened Skin has increased to Level 8.

Pain Resistance has increased to Level 10.

Pain Resistance has tiered up to Tier 2, Level 1.

Spectral Persistence has increased to Level 10.

Phantom Sacrifice has increased to Level 10.

Lingering Vitality has increased to Level 10.

Lingering Vitality has tiered up to Tier 2, Level 1.

Lingering Vitality has increased to Tier 2, Level 10.

[ Skill Acquired ]

Infection Resistance (Level 1) - Your body has endured the corruption of the undead longer than most, developing a natural resilience. This skill enhances your body's ability to resist and combat undead infections, slowing their progression and improving recovery.

Infection Resistance has increased to Level 10.

Infection Resistance has tiered up to Tier 2, Level 1.

Infection Resistance has increased to Tier 2, Level 10.

Infection Resistance has tiered up to Tier 3, Level 1.

Infection Resistance has increased to Tier 3, Level 10.

[ Congratulations! You have advanced your race from Tier 2 Human to Tier 3 Morvyn!

As a Tier 3 Morvyn, you have unlocked newfound innate abilities tied to your race:

Twilight Sight - Linked to the cycle of life and death, Morvyn possess the ability to pierce through even the deepest shadows. In total darkness, their vision becomes as clear as daylight, allowing them to see the world in crisp detail. When active, their eyes glow with an ethereal blue light.

Infection Immunity - Unlike most who succumb to the undead infection, the Morvyn are fully immune to the disease. They exist outside its grasp, neither undead nor carriers, and are incapable of spreading the infection to others.

Lifebound Sustenance - Through their innate connection to life energy, the Morvyn are sustained without the need for food, water, or sleep. The constant flow of life energy fuels their bodies, providing all the nourishment and rest they require functioning at peak condition.

Timeless Existence - The Morvyn cease to age upon transformation, their bodies locked in a state of eternal vitality. They remain preserved indefinitely at the age of their ascension, untouched by passing time. ]

"Well, that's a lot to take in," Colm muttered, trying to steady himself as the weight of it all settled in. "I guess I'll just take it one step at a time and try not to freak out about the whole not being human anymore thing." His voice wavered slightly as he worked to process the overwhelming flood of information.

I guess we'll start with the obvious—I'm not human anymore. I'm a Morvyn now, Colm thought, shaking his head in disbelief. What the hell does that even mean? He focused on the unfamiliar word, hoping the system would clarify. As if answering his silent request, a screen materialized before him, displaying information about his new race.

[ The Morvyn are rare individuals who survive the corruption of undeath, their humanity preserved but forever altered by the infection's aftermath. Most who contract the infection either perish outright or succumb, becoming mindless husks. Only an extraordinarily rare few—those with unparalleled resilience, inner strength, or unique circumstances—can resist the infection long enough to overcome it. These survivors emerge as Morvyn, freed from the curse yet irrevocably changed. They are beings who walk the fragile line between life and death, their existence forever tethered to both realms. ]

I guess the good news is I still have my humanity, Colm thought, his gaze lingering on the description of the Morvyn race. The line about walking between life and death stuck with him, a sobering reminder of his transformation. For better or worse, this is what I am now, he concluded, exhaling slowly as he tried to accept the new reality laid before him.

Okay… well, let's focus on the pros of this transformation, Colm thought, trying to steady himself as he processed the influx of new information. I've got some incredible abilities now. I can see in the dark—Twilight Sight, right? Something about my eyes glowing blue when it's in use, too. I'll have to check that out the next time I see my reflection.

He continued mentally listing the changes and let out a slow breath. The big one is immunity to the undead curse. He huffed a short, bitter laugh. Well, that would've been convenient a little earlier, but better late than never. At least I don't have to worry about turning into one of those things now.

His thoughts drifted to the Lifebound Sustenance ability. This one's insane—no more food, no more water, no need to sleep. That's amazing. He paused, a smirk tugging at his lips. Though I wonder, can I still eat if I want to? Can I still take naps? I really hope so. I don't want the Celestial Blooms to be the last thing I've ever tasted.

Finally, his mind settled on the most surreal change—Timeless Existence. The weight of it hit him differently, quieter and heavier. I won't age anymore. I don't have to worry about growing old. Ever. A pang of emotion surfaced as an old memory flickered in his mind—his grandmother, frail and fading with time, her once-vibrant spirit dimming as the years took their toll. He remembered sitting beside her, watching her hands shake as she struggled to recall his name.

With a twinge of sadness, Colm shook the memory away, returning his focus to the present. It's a strange comfort, not having to worry about that happening to me, he thought, though he couldn't quite decide if it was a blessing or a curse.

After reading through the details of the Morvyn race and its unique abilities a few more times, Colm decided it was time to move past the race changes. His focus shifted to the next set of notifications—the ability tier-ups. I knew there had to be something past Level 10, he thought, a flicker of excitement breaking through.

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With anticipation building, he pulled up the notifications and began scanning through the abilities that had advanced, eager to see what new potential had been unlocked. Focusing first on his class abilities, he pulled up the old description of the ability to compare against the new one.

[ Passive Ability: Lingering Vitality (Level 1)

Slowly regenerate health over time when out of combat, drawing on the presence of the spirit realm to sustain yourself. ]

[ Passive Ability: Lingering Vitality (Tier 2, Level 10)

Your connection to the spirit realm has deepened, allowing its energy to sustain you with unparalleled strength.

Rapidly regenerate health when out of combat.

Slowly regenerate health during combat. ]

[ Active Ability: Phantom Warrior (Level 1)

Mana: 25

Summon a single spectral warrior to aid you in combat, engaging enemies in close-range melee attacks with powerful, precise strikes. Only one Phantom Warrior can be summoned at a time; attempting to summon another will replace the current warrior. ]

[ Active Ability: Phantom Warrior (Tier 2, Level 2)

Mana: 25% of your total mana

Summon a single empowered spectral warrior, a stronger and more resilient manifestation of the spirit realm.

Only one Phantom Warrior can be summoned at a time; attempting to summon another will replace the current warrior.

The Phantom Warrior can now use Ripping Cleave. Ripping Cleave causes the warrior's blade to glow blue and unleashes a sweeping strike that cleaves through multiple enemies in a cone-shaped area, dealing 150% weapon damage. This attack applies a Spectral Rend debuff, causing enemies hit to take additional damage over 5 seconds. Ripping Cleave has a cooldown of 30 seconds. ]

"Holy shit," Colm muttered, his eyes widening as he scrolled through the class ability tier-ups. The upgrades were staggering. Okay, so tier-ups are a thing—and my phantoms get their own abilities too. It looks like the mana cost increased a ton, though. It's now percentage based. A spark of excitement flared in his chest as he rubbed his chin, thinking about the changes.

"Carver, use that Ripping Cleave ability," he commanded absentmindedly. But as the words left his mouth, an eerie stillness lingered around him. His gaze darted around, and the realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Carver wasn't there.

Only Lance stood by his side, his spectral form silent as ever.

Colm's breath hitched, his eyes widening. Where's Carver? His gaze flickered to his status sheet, landing on Phantom Sacrifice. It was now Level 10.

"How many times did I die?" he whispered, a chill crawling down his spine.

Panic rising, Colm hastily re-summoned his missing phantoms, his mana surging in a way he hadn't felt before. The added cost of Phantom Warrior hit him like a weight, unfamiliar and draining as he struggled to adjust. Wincing, he pressed a hand to his head, only to freeze as something caught his eye.

His ashy gray skin now had faint, glowing blue lines coursing through it, like cracks filled with light. The lines pulsed softly, flowing from his hand, up his arm, and across his chest, as if the mana inside him had become visible. The sight was unnerving yet mesmerizing—a reminder of his transformation. Shaking off the distraction, Colm forced his focus back on the task at hand.

Robin appeared first, spectral bow in hand, the faint glow of the phantom's presence cutting through the gloom like a steady beacon. A wave of relief washed over him—their appearance was a small comfort in the chaos. Moments later, Carver materialized, its imposing figure rising from the ether like a silent sentinel, the faint clink of newly enhanced armor marking its arrival.

Colm exhaled shakily, steadying himself as his phantoms took their places at his side. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't alone.

Colm's gaze lingered on Carver, and his brow furrowed as he noticed something different. The phantom's armor, once primarily leather, now shimmered in the light. It looked heavier—reinforced. Is that chainmail? Colm wondered, his eyes tracing the improved details. The added protection gave Carver a more formidable appearance, an evolution that hadn't gone unnoticed.

He let out a shaky breath, relief mingling with unease. What the hell happened while I was out?

Shaking off the lingering dread, he focused on the Phantom Sacrifice description, something he'd grabbed hastily during his last moments before he blacked out but never truly processed.

Passive Ability: Phantom Sacrifice (Level 10)

When you take fatal damage, your nearest active phantom absorbs the blow, sacrificing itself to save you. The phantom is destroyed, and you are left with 10% 30% of your maximum health. Requires at least one phantom to be active and has a 60-minute 15-minute cooldown and the sacrificed phantom cannot be summoned during the cooldown duration.

Colm let out a slow breath, reading the ability again to ensure he had missed nothing. This passive is insane, he thought, a mixture of awe and unease settling in his chest. He noted the increased health and reduced cooldown now that it had reached Level 10—a drastic improvement from the original values.

But the bigger question loomed in his mind: How many times did this activate while I was unconscious?

He clenched his fists, the weight of that realization sinking in. Carver, Robin, and Lance had been on their own, sacrificing themselves repeatedly to keep him alive. His phantoms—his lifeline—had endured his failure, and the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"I owe you all," Colm said quietly, glancing at the spectral figures standing around him. Carver's presence seemed as solid and dependable as ever, Robin's bow lowered slightly, and Lance stood stoic as always. Even though they didn't speak, Colm felt their loyalty—the silent, unwavering bond they shared.

This passive kept me alive, Colm thought grimly, but at what cost? He looked down at his hand, still faintly trembling. The knowledge that he'd skirted the edge of death—repeatedly—left him feeling raw and exposed.

His grip tightened. I need to get stronger. If I'm going to rely on these abilities to survive, I can't let them carry me like this forever.

Refocusing, Colm turned his attention back to his ability tier-ups. Carver, activate Ripping Cleave, he commanded mentally.

His gaze locked on Carver as the phantom's spectral blade glowed with a haunting blue light. The sight triggered a sudden flash of memory—those last moments of the battle. That same glow had been there, cutting through the chaos just before Colm lost consciousness.

Carver must've tiered up before the finishing blow and tried to save me, Colm realized, a faint chuckle escaping him. It's like one of those shows I used to watch back on Earth, where things evolved at the last possible moment. I think it even happened out of spite once.

Shaking his head, Colm focused as Carver swung the glowing blade. A faint cone of energy radiated outward, slicing through the air in a deadly arc. Colm's lips curled into a grin as he mentally noted the effect. Finally, an AOE ability.

Okay, now all that's left are the skills, Colm thought, pulling up the ones that had tiered up alongside their previous descriptions.

[ Pain Resistance (Level 1) - Through repeated exposure, you've built a tolerance to pain, allowing you to endure discomfort and minor injuries with reduced sensitivity. ]

[ Pain Resistance (Tier 2, Level 1) - Your tolerance to pain has transcended normal limits. Minor injuries barely register, and moderate injuries are dulled heavily, allowing you to maintain focus and combat efficiency even when wounded. The mental strain caused by severe injuries is also reduced. ]

[ Infection Resistance (Level 1) - Your body has endured the corruption of the undead longer than most, developing a natural resilience. This skill enhances your body's ability to resist and combat undead infections, slowing their progression and improving recovery. ]

[ Infection Resistance (Tier 2, Level 10) - Your resistance to corruption has strengthened. Infections now struggle to take hold, their effects slowed significantly. Minor infections are neutralized entirely, while moderate infections lose potency over time. Your body recovers more efficiently from lingering effects. ]

[ Infection Resistance (Tier 3, Level 10) - Your body has become a fortress against corruption. Any attempts to infect you are greatly weakened, reducing their effectiveness by 90%. Additionally, when struck by an infection based attack, there is a 20% chance to purge the attack's lingering effects entirely and send out a wave of purifying energy, dealing 5% of your maximum Health as damage to nearby enemies in a 5-meter radius. ]

Okay, that's a lot of good information and upgrades, Colm thought, a faint smirk crossing his face. Having to deal with less pain is always a plus—I'm definitely not complaining about that. He nodded to himself as he scrolled through the updates. The Infection Resistance is a surprise too. Tier 3 in one go? That's insane. He paused, reading over the effect. That bonus is no joke. Not having to really worry about infections ever again is a lifesaver with that 90% reduction. He frowned briefly, considering. There's a bit of overlap with my Morvyn racial traits, but it's still a huge win overall.

Colm took a deep breath, processing the upgrades and newfound strength surging through him. I think that's pretty much everything now—all the major upgrades. I feel a hell of a lot stronger and more prepared. He exhaled slowly, shaking off the lingering haze.

Still reeling from everything, Colm focused on his original goal: Find people.

His gaze fell to the Pitchcaller's decaying corpse, and a flicker of anger bubbled to the surface. The memories it had dragged out of him, the pain it had caused—It toyed with me and put me through hell. Without hesitation, Colm pulled back his foot and kicked the body with all his might, sending it flying across the crater.

"Bitch."

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Morvyn

Level: 60

Health: 1450 / 1450

Mana: 536 / 630

Strength: 65 (78)

Dexterity: 70 (84)

Intelligence: 105 (126)

Constitution: 121 (145)

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Tier 2, Level 2) [Carver]

- Phantom Spearman (Level 10) [Lance]

- Phantom Archer (Level 10) [Robin]

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Tier 2, Level 10)

- Spectral Persistence (Level 10)

- Phantom Sacrifice (Level 10)

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 4)

- Stealth (Level 7)

- Pain Resistance (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Hardened Skin (Level 8)

- Slash Resistance (Level 7)

- Spear Mastery (Level 10)

- Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

- Poison Resistance (Level 6)

- Stun Resistance (Level 5)

- Dual Wielding (Level 4)

- Infection Resistance (Tier 3, Level 10)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

- Champion of the Lucent Grove

- Bane of the Undead

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