PoV Murad

Again, this feeling that something had broken. Now I feel like I can change myself. Lowering my gaze, I looked at the hand. Concentrating, I grew wool on it, grey like a wolf's. Following my will, all the hair on my arm fell out, then the wool grew there again. Now I wanted to grow an eye on my hand. After a couple of seconds, my eyes opened and I could see the world through those eyes. How strange. What I used to be able to do only in the main body is now available in all clones created from my cells. And also, new knowledge appeared in my head.

*Creation of a Branch*

*Communication network.*

*Soul-catching web*

*Transportation of souls between nests*

*Biology of animals*

This knowledge appeared when I absorbed the souls of brigands. At first, I didn't want to do this, in the end maybe they will serve me. But having received their memories, I didn't want it anymore. Creatures without principles and morals. Not all of them are like that, but many are. Robbed, killed, raped. Aren't they one folk? Many in the beginning only wanted to get food for themselves, but then they began to kill and rob for pleasure. Why? Is killing your own kind fun? Destroy those with whom you lived together just a couple of months ago? Despicable.

After I read the memories, I no longer wanted to absorb them without pain. To do this, you need to turn off the feeling of pain of the brain with a quick blow and at the same time break the connection with the body. A person will then only feel a blow to the head and then lose consciousness. I learned this through trials and error. To be sure of success, I do it one at a time.

I wonder how many more times I can break the *barrier?*, how many are there in total? Looks like I need to absorb more souls. Animal souls are the weakest, followed by humans. The older a person is, the more the soul is stronger. But the warriors, they are strange.

If the soul of the brigand glows like a torch, then their souls blow like a bonfire. How much stronger will I become when I absorb it? I want to know, but they can be useful, I need to talk to them, as well as with a nobleman. Baron Willy.

…

PoV Willy

- Argh! How painful! Haa, haa - Panting, I got up from the ground. Before I lost consciousness, I felt such terrible pain. The feeling of being eaten alive. The phantom pain was still felt. Filling my lungs with air, I shouted as loudly as possible.

After the shout, I felt a little easier. But then something confused me

-They burned my throat out, how do I speak? And the chest pain... there is either no pain?

For one oddity, I began to notice others. I'm at the family estate, but that's impossible. We lost it a long time ago, it no longer belongs to us.

Also, it's too quiet here. There are no servants who do daily chores, there is no noise outside. Silence. I picked up my sword and looked around. The whole situation is very suspicious. While I was nervously looking around, a black hole appeared in my field of vision, a huge mass of flesh came out.

Wasting no time, I immediately pierced the monster with a sword, but a strange thing happened. Blood did not flow from it, the flesh moved and tightly gripped the hilt of the sword, it could not be pulled out. I let go of the sword and increased the distance.

- Damn it. What the hell is going on?

- Baron Willy. - The monster had a mouth and, to my surprise, he spoke. If it speaks, then it is reasonable, respectively, more dangerous.

- Who are you?

- My name is Murad. I want to ask you a couple of questions.

In my memories there was not a word about an evil spirit called Murad, it looks more like the name of a creature, not the name of a species.

- What questions do you want to ask?

- First, this question. What makes you different from the peasants?

- Isn't it obvious? The blood of a noble family flows in my veins, both from my father's and mother's line. I was born to rule. That's why I'm above the lower ones. -I answered proudly. The peasants are shorter than me. My height is about 180. Many noble people are higher than peasants, this is a pattern because our blood is purer and nobler.

-Caste division, as I understand it, is a way to give the species more development by giving the castes to focus on what they are good at, and not to do everything at once. Nobles rule the territory, peasants work in the fields and priests take care of souls, artisans do things necessary for others. Everything seems simple. But how do you differ from the peasants? There are no differences in your blood. You're all made out of flesh and blood. Your height is higher thanks to a more healthy diet, nothing more. So answer me? What gives you the right to consider them a different species? Don't count them as a person?

Considering the situation, I have a feeling I can't leave its questions unanswered.

-So the world is built. The strong control the weak. Nobles are like wolves, and they are like sheep. They have to accept this and take it all for granted.

- You wanted to destroy everyone, what's the point of that? You can get the harvest and plunder the village. But aren't these people one of yours? Aren't you under the same king?

- I didn't plan to kill everyone, some of them could have escaped and settled in another village. If I succeeded, everyone would know that Count Lu Altin is unable to defend even the village, despite his strength. Perhaps then the Marquis would have listened to the Count more.

-Why are you doing this?

Although it looks like this monster can somehow get information, it does not understand anything about human society.

- I'm Baron Willie. My great-grandfather was a Marquis in the port city, but due to some events in just two generations, we were demoted to Baron. These are all necessary sacrifices to restore the honor of my family. Count Muller's family, one of the few who still supported us. They helped us survive in the mess, thanks to their help, our family survived, even though we are no longer Marquises, our family survived and remained noble. As a nobleman, I cannot forget what the Count's family has done for us. I am ready to do such a thing to pay my debts. And, if we sit idly by, the other wolves will take everything from us and we will also become sheep.

- ... - The monster seemed to be thinking, after a minute of tense waiting, it said - I can't say that I don't understand you. The debt must be repaid. However, by threatening Andre, you are also threatening my family. Although I don't trust him much, I can be sure that he won't hurt Nick. Mutual Use, as John said.

Looks like Count Liu Altin has something to do with this? Will I be able to use this information? Forget it, it's all mundane. Although, the family? It doesn't seem like it can have a child

-Can I ask you something? What do you want from me? I'm already dead, and you're probably the creation of some shaman. Can you finally let me rest in peace? I've told you everything I could. I hope for your mercy, at least to the dead ones

- I am not a creation of shamans, and I have never seen them. It's hard for me to decide what to do with you. I'll leave you here until I decide what to do.

A black hole appeared behind the monster, and it quickly disappeared there.

After making sure it was gone, I started walking around the house. The old family estate. Though my grandfather told me it's nothing compared to our estate in our golden days, for me, this place is already a distant past of good days, and today we are a pathetic semblance of ourselves.

- Father. I couldn't meet your expectations. Our family was destroyed today. Is this my punishment? Ha, ha! At least I'll spend my last moments in a place I buried deep in my heart.

I went to my room on the second floor. My room door, sighing, I opened it. The interior is the same as 15 years ago. I was 7 then. I remember it as it happened yesterday.

The house is on fire, we are hiding and leaving the city. Our enemies are looking for us. With the help of Count Muller's father, we were able to settle in Gort. Then the father manages to negotiate with them on humiliating terms. My family survived but loses a lot. And then, on my 15th birthday, the Marquis gave to my family the title of Baron on behalf of the King, although he would not have lost anything by giving the Count. Since then, I have vowed to return the glory of the family at any cost.

After walking around the house, I sat down in my father's chair. Looking at the ceiling, I thought of only one thing. What has my desire for the return of family glory led me to? As someone deprived of the talent of a magician or a warrior, I had to try very hard. Due to a series of events, we lost most of the warriors. It was not possible to hold positions. Since then, I realized that I live among wolves. You have to become the strongest wolf or be eaten, or, become a sheep. I had to attack the sheep and return home with the trophies. However, I did not meet sheep there. And get killed.

- Now I'm going to spend the last moments of my life here? Is this purgatory?

...

PoV Zhangolos

How amusing. All these animals are under the control of this creature. Do I have a chance? Among the animals, about 5 are watching me, others are or eating corpses, or resting.

I began to gather my strength. The mana collected in the eyes began to spread through the body, the body began to take on a charcoal color. The wolves immediately stood up and started growling in my direction.

- You were vigilant after all.

A boy came out of the cave. Looking in my direction he asked me

- And how should I take it? Are you threatening us?

-No. I'm not threatening yet, -I said, stopping the mana circulation. The skin has returned its natural color. - Just this is all too entertaining so I can't control myself. I have never met such a thing in my life. I won't treat you, don't worry

-Anyway, it's dangerous for me to let you stay here, so I'll ask you to leave. You've already seen what I did to the Baron, there is no reason for you to keep staying here.

- Heh heh heh. What I saw entertained me a lot. -I said, smiling. Remembering their screams, I just felt pleasure. - This will greatly dilute the boring days of playing with peasants or another escape from the persecution of churchmen. For entertaining me, I'm giving you this. - I tore one of the bells from my chest and threw it to him. He caught it and started examining it. - Use it and I will feel it. I'll be happy to see you again if they don't kill me of course. Heh heh heh.

-Are you... not afraid of death?

-I'm a spirit. My home is the spirit world, or, also known as the underworld. Sometimes portals appear in the underworld. I am one of those who got here using the portal. When I die, I'll just lose all my memories and split into many parts depending on how strong I could become. You can assume that spirits are immortal, this is not far from the truth.

- Will it be you? Without a memory of the past?

- Who cares about this? I'm definitely the last one who cares about that.

Having said that, I turned around and went to look for the nearest village. So I want to have some fun with someone in a good mood.

…

PoV Murad

Looking at the bell in my hand, I began to think about what had happened. If people are strange, spirits are very strange