Born To Raise Undead

Chapter 12: The Blood and the Blade

[WARNING: Hidden Identity Detected]

[NOTE: Your mother is not a normal woman.]

[Divine Signature Fragment Detected]

[Name: Veluna – Goddess of Death (Dormant)]

Aarav stared at the system message.

His breath caught in his throat.

Goddess of Death…?

His legs wavered. The world tilted. For a moment, he couldn't breathe.

No... she's just my mother. A woman who works in the fields. The one who saved me. Cried for me. Loved me.

But this... this was something beyond reason.

His heart pounded. His eyes locked on Veluna as she moved closer, worry etched across her face.

"Aarav?" she said softly, noticing his pale face. Her voice trembled. "Aarav, what's wrong?"

She gently reached out, placing a warm hand on his arm and shaking him lightly.

"Aarav... Aarav, can you hear me?"

Her touch pulled him back to reality like a jolt of lightning. He blinked and saw her — not just as his mother, but... something more. Something ancient, veiled beneath fragile humanity.

He flinched.

Veluna's eyes widened.

"What happened to you, my son? Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice tender but laced with growing concern.

Aarav hesitated. Then quickly shook his head, forcing a smile.

"No... nothing, Mom," he replied, trying to steady his voice. "I was just... surprised. That's all."

"Surprised? By what?" Veluna asked gently.

"Nothing serious. Just a general thing... I'll tell you later." He looked away, backing toward his room. "I need a few minutes to think. I'll see you shortly."

He turned and walked away, shoulders stiff.

Veluna watched him go, a shadow crossing her face.

"There's something about you, Aarav…" she whispered. "I pray... it's something good."

Inside the Room

Aarav shut the door behind him. Ghrol stepped in silently, standing near the wall like a sentinel.

Aarav exhaled sharply, then whispered, "System… I need answers. About my mother. Now."

[Acknowledged.]

[When you spoke to your mother, I scanned her essence… and uncovered something important.]

[Your mother is not a normal woman. She is the dormant Goddess of Death — her true power sealed.]

Aarav's eyes widened. "Explain it clearly. I need to understand."

[Her body contains immense death energy — the kind that could split worlds. But it is bound. Suppressed.]

[The seal is strong, but incomplete. And now… it resonates with you.]

Aarav leaned forward. "So… is there a way to break it?"

[Yes, Host. For you, the path is simple. Your blood — one drop — is enough to begin the unlocking.]

Aarav's brows furrowed. "My blood? Why mine?"

[Because you are now a Deathlord. Your blood carries the signature of pure death authority — the very essence that can awaken what was once sealed by divine hands.]

The answer rattled him. But there was more.

"Why is it still sealed?" he asked quietly.

[Her innocence holds it back. The current Veluna is too gentle… too human. To awaken the Goddess within, she must sever something — must kill, must act with will.]

[Only then can the seal weaken. The divine core demands sacrifice.]

Aarav's jaw clenched.

"So... she has to take a life?"

[Yes. Only when blood stains her hand — willingly — will the dormant power accept its host.]

Aarav turned away, heart thundering.

Could he allow that?

Should he?

[Host… if Veluna joins you, she becomes your greatest ally — a divine being walking beside a Deathlord.]

[She could rewrite fate itself.]

Aarav was lost in thought… when suddenly, a dark mist swirled near Ghrol's feet.

He turned quickly.

"System?" he said, alarmed. "What's happening to Ghrol?"

[Undead Integrity Peak Reached]

[Ghrol has fulfilled evolution criteria.]

📜 System Notification

[Ghrol has met the requirements for Undead Evolution]

[Current Integrity: 85% | Bond Level: 2 | Role: Close Quarters]

[Analyzing Combat Data…]

[Trigger Source: Host's Deathlord Class + Battle Survival + Loyalty Threshold]

Evolution Path Unlocked – Please Choose:

⚔️ Choose Ghrol's Evolution Path

🔥 Path 1: Boneguard Vanguard

A loyal shield who defends his master with unyielding might.

Type: Defensive / Tank

Skills:

Bone Shatter Strike (Enhanced)

Shield of Marrow

Trait: Defender's Oath

🩸 Path 2: Marrowblade Reaver

A skeletal assassin forged from cursed marrow — swift, precise, and lethal.

Type: Offensive / Agile

Skills:

Rend and Vanish – Double strike + stealth

Predator's Step – Teleport critical hit

Trait: Shadowbone Agility

🧬 Path 3: Graveborn Acolyte

A conduit of necromantic power — a support unit amplifying the Deathlord's will.

Type: Support / Hybrid

Skills:

Bonepulse Barrier

Soul Thread

Trait: Necrotic Conduit

Aarav stared at the options. His heart beat slowly — steadily.

He breathed in.

"Ghrol… I could make you a shield. You'd take every hit for me. For her."

His eyes narrowed.

"But you already do that."

He clenched his fist.

"You need more than bones. You need freedom. Precision. Speed. I've seen it — how you move. You don't wait for pain. You end it."

A flash of memory: Ghrol leaping into the Grave Tyrant's throat.

"That wasn't defense. That was execution."

He looked up at the flickering interface.

"No more chains. No more slow suffering. We end threats before they reach us. Before they reach her."

His voice steadied.

"You'll be my blade in the dark, Ghrol. My silent reaper. My first kill… and my last mercy."

[Evolution Path Selected: Marrowblade Reaver]

[Processing Evolution… 1%... 20%... 99%... 100%]

Aarav didn't flinch.

He just watched.

Ghrol's bones twisted and cracked. He howled in silence as the black mist enveloped him. His form shifted — slender, sharper, honed for death.

The light faded.

And Ghrol stood — reborn.

📜 System Notification

[Ghrol Evolution Complete – Marrowblade Reaver]

You have shaped your first undead into an elite reaver unit — swift, lethal, and utterly loyal.

New Active Skills:

Rend and Vanish – Double strike + Bleed (15% HP) + Stealth (2s)

Predator's Step – Teleport behind weakened target for critical hit

New Trait:

Shadowbone Agility – +15% speed, +10% dodge, +15% crit damage

🦴 Ghrol's Status Screen

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[Undead Servant: Ghrol] 

Form: Marrowblade Reaver (Tier 1) 

Type: Elite Undead Assassin 

Bond Level: 2 

Loyalty: Absolute 

Combat Role: Agile DPS / Executioner 

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HP Integrity: 92% 

Speed: 90% 

Physical Power: 98% 

Defense: 20% (light frame) 

Magical Resistance: Normal 

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Active Skills:

• Rend and Vanish (Bleed + Stealth) 

• Predator's Step (Teleport Critical Strike)

Passive:

• Shadowbone Agility

Perks:

• Immune to fear, silence, and disarm 

• Synchronizes better with Aarav's skill combos 

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"Wherever Aarav's eyes fall… Ghrol's blades will follow."

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Aarav took one step toward him.

"Ghrol… You were the first. And now…"

He smiled faintly.

"You'll be the last thing they see."

Ghrol's bones glowed with faint black light. His presence radiated silent danger.

A few minutes passed in silence — just Aarav and the weapon he forged.

Then he turned, stepping out of the room.

It was time to face Veluna again.

Time… to speak the truth.

End of Chapter 12