Emil sat back and let out a satisfied sigh. A-3 was currently in his hands, deactivated and ready to be destroyed. It seemed every bit as capable as A-2, so replicating that had proved to be a success. He had found many insects in the time it had taken to unbury itself.

There were too many to bother counting, but he had easily killed a couple hundred, at the very least. He had already mashed them all up, turning them into a singular glob of bodies. And from their deaths, also collected two new memory orbs. It should prove to be enough physical material for B-1, though he would need even more for B-2 and B-3.

But for now, he needed to collect this golem’s heart. Emil carefully tore off its clay chest, removing it piece by piece. When that was done, the fake heart became fully exposed. This would be the first time he saw how one of his experiments looked on the inside.

When he peered closer, he saw that the heart was covered in tiny arcs of black electricity. It pulsed with each crackle, beating wildly and entirely erratic. Inside its veins, there was a light grey substance. It moved slowly, even despite the quick beats of the heart. Emil looked around, trying to find any kind of empty container.

He wanted to harvest this grey ‘blood’ when he killed the golem. Emil assumed it was extracted from the memory orb. The golem’s body must have processed it into a kind of fuel it could actually use and circulate throughout its veins. If that was true, he would like a few samples to test. But for him, this was already a very informative look into how death energy and golemancy interacted.

Emil already knew how he wanted to kill the golem. He would use a small bit of Negative Magic, and cut the fake heart clean in half. That would both be the quickest way, and the most reliable test to see if it could genuinely be brought back. If he only damaged it, it might remain functional enough to stay alive. So this would be the most surefire way to get it done.

He placed his index finger on the heart. Little shocks of power could be felt against his skin. After a moment of concentration, Emil cast a miniature version of Dark Arc. The instant he did, the shocks came to a halt. He picked out the two halves of the heart and set them aside.

The grey liquid began to drip out slowly from the now cut-open veins. He positioned the body over a container, ensuring that every drop would be collected. The easy part was now over and done with. It was time to see if he could actually revive it.

Emil grabbed a small piece of the insect matter and brought the two halves close together. He then used that piece of the bug mass to spread it across the small gap. He then focused, bringing back the same sensation he had felt when creating Theo. Though this time, he had done things out of order by already infusing it with the power of death. But even so, he still hoped that this would work.

He first channeled pure Mana into the connected halves, and then created a string made from Mana. Using it, he threaded them together along with the bug paste. Emil waited a few moments, but nothing seemed to happen.

Perhaps he needed to reapply some death energy, as just one last step? It could probably hold a little extra, now that the bug parts technically added to its total mass and capacity. Holding a memory orb, Emil infused it with more of its power. But even after doing so and waiting again, no results appeared. He frowned, had something been done wrong, or was it really just impossible from the start?

Slightly upset at this apparent failure, he sat back. And while still holding the broken heart, his other hand accidentally brushed against the insect pile. At that moment, both the mass of insects and the fake heart pulsed in unison. As they did, a wave of cold emanated from both and went into his body.

“What the?” Surprised by this sudden development, Emil grabbed the pile. As more of its surface came in contact with his skin, another pulse was sent up his hand. But more than that, he could feel… something deeper. He wasn’t sure what yet, but there was more to it.

Slowly, while holding the heart and the pile in each hand, he brought them closer together. And surely enough, a third pulse came from both, this time stronger than before. Steadily, he continued to bring them even closer. Moving them inch by inch, the cold waves only grew in frequency and power. It was then they were just shy of touching, that a final jolt hit him.

In his mind, Emil could now finally feel it. The larger pile and the small piece connected the halves of the heart, they wanted to become one. He could already sense it, that when they did, a new undead would be formed. But Emil was awestruck by this. Even while separated and incomplete, it already had a mind of its own. How else could it actively desire something? But when the initial confusion and shock faded, he realized that he had a choice to make.

This thing had its own will, even before it was complete. If he allowed it to fully become an undead, what would happen then? He was still learning and growing into his powers as a Necromancer. Was he prepared to deal with an undead that could potentially have its own wants and thoughts? Commanding something mindless like Theo was easy. But in this case, would it remain fully obedient to him and follow his every command?

‘Why am I so worried about this?’ Emil asked himself. ‘Of course I can, I’m the one in control here. This thing shall bend to me, it has no other choice.’ He closed his eyes, and brought his hands together. At the same time, he pushed his own will into it. Emil imagined a piece of his own consciousness, part of his very soul, entering inside.

There was a little resistance from the will of this new undead. However, it was weak, and he was easily able to break through. It was crude, but he could feel that it did have a mind of its own. However, it wasn’t fully sapient, still just sentient instead. It could feel, but it couldn’t truly think like an intelligent being.

Emil could sense that it was aware of its surroundings, and of course , that included him. From its basic mind, there was one strong emotion he could feel. Now that it had come into existence, its base desire was to serve its creator and master. But this wasn’t good enough for him. It was the strongest emotion, but not the only one. There were more, buried underneath that need to follow him. He dug deeper, forcing them out into the open.

These emotions could barely even be called such. They were practically carnal, and inherently a part of the undead. It wanted to grow both by consuming more death and physically increasing its size by adding more mass to itself. In short, to become more powerful. Serving Emil was its primary motivator, so it could be said that it only wanted to grow so that it could be of more use to him. However, the fact that it had any ambition to speak of could prove problematic in the future.

After some consideration, his mind was made. Emil’s mental self gripped these root desires of the undead, squeezing them out of existence. He would snuff them out, leaving only the need to serve him. He was its master, and as such, he would decide if it needed to become stronger. It had no need for anything more than an eternal loyalty to its creator. Caving against his greater willpower, the undead’s mind was purged and remade into what Emil wanted.

Once the deed was done, his consciousness left the undead and rejoined the rest of his soul. Emil opened his eyes. His hands still placed against it, the mass of insects had formed into the same humanoid shape as the golems. And right now, it was kneeling before him. Emil decided to put the other experimental golems on hold.

He willed for Theo to come forward. His original intent had been to upgrade the roach. This undead should be more than capable as a vessel for it. Now, he would try to merge them together, both in mind and body. And while he was at it, he would manipulate its flesh into a new form. Something more befitting of the Emperor of Insects.

Emil pulled away the new being’s flesh, opening its chest. He placed Theo inside, right against its undead heart. Concentrating on them both, he fully broke down the mind of the newer being. As for Theo, there was already only so much to work with, so he just stretched it a bit.

In his mind’s eye, Emil imagined them swirling into one. The fresh undead would act as the base, but Theo would be the dominant part. As this went on, he commanded it to reform its body into the shape of an insect. To have it move around every little piece, and try to make something close to a super-sized roach. The bits of shells would be pushed to the exterior, the many small wings would come together into one giant pair.

And none of this would simply be for show. No, all of it would be fully functional. Once he was done, he wanted to be able to fly with these new wings. But even more than that, his intent was that it would also be capable of magic.

Emil reached over to his baggage, and pulled out the larger memory orb from the flame boar. Keeping one hand on it, he concentrated on its power. Specifically, that of the flame boar’s ability to use fire. Emil drew from it, recalling on his own experience with pyromancy when he was a Mage. He focused on recreating it with Death Magic. So it won’t be like normal fire, wildly cackling and fueled by the air and the material it consumes.

Instead, the flames would be cold, dark, and quiet. They would be fueled only by death itself. When this unworldly fire consumed a being, nothing would be left behind. The very soul of the person they hit would only feed them further. As Emil took the boar’s fire and transmuted its properties, he gave Theo a small part of this new power.

Perhaps it could be considered a waste to use the flame boar’s power now. But it will be worth it. As it helps increase his own capabilities with Death Magic, and form his greatest creation yet. When Emil felt that the process was done, a System notification appeared in front of him.

New class abilities acquired!

Flesh Manipulation: level 1

Unholy Fire Magic: level 1

Grade updated: B- → B