Chapter 8 – Ancient Trusted Companion
The murmuring crowd outside Maro's blacksmith shop went silent as Roy stepped through the battered doorway.
A man near the front took a cautious step forward. "Uh… mister? What happe—"
He froze.
Roy's face, usually calm and unreadable, was now twisted in silent fury. His eyes burned with rage. No words. No gestures. Just the overwhelming weight of his presence. One by one, the onlookers backed away.
"D-Don't look at him," someone whispered. "That guy's not in the mood..."
"Did you see that look…? He's gonna kill someone."
As the tense silence grew heavy, Roy passed through the crowd without a sound. He walked steadily, dagger clenched in his hand—the Wolf Fang Tooth Dagger Maro and Yur had forged.
Wolf Fang Tooth Dagger
Rarity: Epic
Description: A well-crafted dagger by a promising blacksmith.
+10 AGI | +1 Dash Skill
The sun scorched above the treeline as Roy stepped into the Dark forest, his shadow stretching long on the dirt path. His voice was low, but filled with cold purpose:
"Let's hunt... wolves."
Status:
Name: Roy
Level: 1
Class: Ghost Summoner (Unique)
Title: None
Age: 24
Skills:
Ghost Dash
🔒 Locked (Collect Ghost Corpses) x3
🔒 Locked (Collect Ghost Fragments)
(20+ locked slots)
Passives:
Ghost Grimoire (Unique)
Ghost Past (Unique)
Collection of Ghosts (Unique)
Revive of the Past Ghost (?)
(13+ locked passives)
[Passive – Collection of Ghosts (Unique)]
You may collect the ghost of any fallen entity you kill.
Progress: 0 / 2
Effect: Gain stats from collected ghost or summon it.
Cooldown: 25 minutes
Roy climbed a tree in silence, scanning the area below. His face was blank, his heart boiling. Up ahead, he spotted a pack of Forest Wolves – Level 24, wandering beneath the foliage.
"How do I separate them...?"
He opened his inventory, checking his dagger's description again. Then his eyes flicked to the Ghost Dash skill.
Ghost Dash
Effect: Instantly dash 10 meters. Immune to damage for 2 seconds.
Cooldown: 10 minutes. Can be used twice.
"You can use it twice... must be the dagger's bonus."
He watched as the wolves began to shift. One of them, isolated from the rest, stretched and stepped away from the pack.
"Now."
In a flash of ghostly energy, Roy vanished.
Ghost Dash.
He reappeared behind the lone wolf, dagger flashing—
CRIT! 560 DMG
The wolf collapsed instantly.
[Passive Activated – Ghost Past (Unique)]
You may absorb one skill from a fallen entity you've touched.
"Tch." Roy leapt back into the trees.
The other wolves turned, enraged. They let out low, rumbling growls—and dashed toward him.
Another Ghost Dash, and Roy disappeared into the canopy.
"One down."
[Notifications]
You leveled up! (+8 Levels)
Due to level difference, EXP is halved.
Skill Acquired: Wolf Summon (Epic)
Passive Activated: Ghost Grimoire (Unique)
Converts all acquired skills into Ghost-type
Wolf Summon(epic) due to epic rarity skill → Transformed: Ancient Ghost Summon (Unique)
Summon an Ancient Ghost Horror (1x unit).
Cost: 3 Souls.
[Collection of Ghosts – Progress: 1/2]
Roy narrowed his eyes.
"Damn. No more Ghost Dash left… but too many wolves... I need to end this fast."
His thoughts flickered to Maro and Yur—the blood, the smoke, the fear.
His grip on the dagger tightened.
"I won't let this repeat… not again."
He jumped directly into the pack, plunging his dagger into another wolf's weak point. Another kill.
But now… he was surrounded.
"No escape now..."
[Soul Count: 3]
Roy opened his menu in the air.
"But are you prepared for this...?"
Skill: Ancient Ghost Summon – Activated
Cost: 3 Souls
A massive ghostly magic circle flared beneath him, etched in runes that pulsed with eerie light. The wolves froze, trembling in place. A chilling laugh echoed from the circle.
"Master... You've summoned me..."
Roy's eyes widened. The voice—it was familiar. Deep. Human. Yet... hollow.
From the circle, a pale arm stretched outward, gripping a black scythe. A figure in white robes emerged—tall, cloaked, and ghostly, its face shrouded in mist.
"Who... are you?" Roy whispered.
But there was no time. One of the wolves lunged—only to be instantly cleaved in half by a blur of a scythe.
Shhhhk.
Roy stared, stunned.
"That scythe... it feels familiar... but I don't remember..."
The ghost turned to him, its voice now calm, almost human:
"Don't worry, Master. I will help you achieve your revenge."
"...How do you know about that?" Roy asked, suspicious.
The ghost tilted its head, smiling faintly.
"Because, Master... I am your shadow."
"...What?"
The ghost touched his scythe, whispering incantations.
"If you permit me... I will awaken these wolves. Let them track your enemies."
He raised his blade. Skill Activated – Revival of the Dead Ones.
The slain wolves rose again—ghostly, twitching, their eyes glowing white.
"You revived them?" Roy said, stunned.
"Yes, Master. I hear your thoughts... because we are connected. I was born from you."
Roy hesitated, his heart racing.
"Who are you... really?"
The ghost slowly knelt before him.
"I don't know... but the name I chose, while in your shadow, is... Velcous."
"Velcous..." Roy repeated. "Fine. I'll trust you—for now. Because you know about my revenge."
"Of course, Master. I live to serve it."
"Stop kneeling. Stand."
Velcous stood upright. "By the way, Master... you've leveled up. Check your stats."
Roy blinked. "How do you know that?"
Velcous shrugged. "No idea. But I speculate... whatever I am, it was implanted when you summoned me."
"So you know what I know?"
"I think... yes."
"Then you know I came from the future?"
Velcous answered without hesitation: "Yes."
Roy clenched his jaw. "And... Do you remember the gate?"
Velcous paused. "I feel it too... but I can't remember."
Roy sighed, exhausted. "Then we should go back to town. Can you command one of the revived wolves to scout for monster activit
y?"
"Of course, Master," Velcous replied with a grin. "We will change the fate of this town."
As they walked back toward the village, Roy looked at Velcous.
"A real companion... someone who knows my past—and my future."
"Alright, Velcous. I'm trusting you."
"Thank you, Master," Velcous said with a flick of his scythe. "I won't fail you."