novelraw Chapter 116: Sergeant Blackie
Chapter 116: Sergeant Blackie
As Zorvax and Ophelia stood amidst the dense foliage of the forest, their eyes were riveted to the glowing cocoon that cradled the black wolf. The cocoon itself emitted a gentle luminescence, casting an otherworldly glow around them, adding a sense of mystique to the tranquil woods.
They observed in quiet fascination, their expressions a blend of curiosity and anticipation. Ophelia, her interest piqued, leaned forward slightly, her eyes reflecting the soft light of the cocoon. "I wonder what changes it will undergo," she murmured, more to herself than to Zorvax.
Zorvax, his arms crossed, nodded slowly. "The transformation process... it’s remarkable," he replied, his voice low and thoughtful. "Let’s see how it enhances the wolf’s capabilities."
Gradually, the cocoon started to shift. Fine lines, like spider webs, spread across its surface, growing and branching out. With a subtle, faint crackling sound, the cocoon fractured, and from within emerged the newly transformed black wolf.
The wolf, now a blend of its former self and something distinctly more, caught Zorvax’s analytical eye. He noted the injury from before, now stitched in a manner that seemed both crude and precise, a stark symbol of its undead status.
Intrigued, Zorvax activated the system to check the wolf’s new status. As he did so, Ophelia peered over, equally eager to learn about their new ally.
---
[Race: Zombie Wolf]
[Position: Sergeant]
[Tier: 2]
[Abilities:]
[1. Alpha Command]
---
Zorvax stood there, a figure of calm and contemplation, as he absorbed the information displayed on the system interface. He hummed thoughtfully, a sound that seemed to resonate with the quiet of the forest around them. "Interesting," he mused aloud, his voice tinged with a mix of satisfaction and contemplation.
"The wolf has retained its physical form but has been transformed into something more... a Zombie Wolf. And it possesses an ability – Alpha Command. That could prove to be quite useful in the future."
He leaned in closer to the screen, his eyes narrowing as he studied the details. "It’s fascinating," he continued, speaking more to himself than to Ophelia, "that the wolf is identified by its race rather than a name. And now, it holds a specific position within our ranks."
Zorvax turned to Ophelia, his expression shifting to one of keen interest. He gestured for her to approach, a subtle but familiar motion that spoke volumes of their teamwork. "Ophelia, come see this."
Intrigued, Ophelia moved closer, her steps measured and graceful. She stood beside Zorvax, her eyes following his as they returned to the screen. "What have you found?" she inquired, her tone echoing her curiosity.
"The position slot," Zorvax explained, pointing to the display. "It seems to have appeared after summoning the wolf. This introduces a new dynamic to our strategy. We now have a clearer hierarchy in our forces."
Ophelia peered at the screen, her brow furrowing slightly as she absorbed the new information. "That’s quite a development. It will certainly impact how we organize our ranks," she said, her voice reflecting her strategic mind.
Zorvax nodded, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "Exactly. And it makes me wonder about your status, now that you have evolved. Let’s see how your transformation has influenced your position."
He tapped on the system, bringing up Ophelia’s status. The screen shimmered to life with her information:
---
[Name: Ophelia]
[Race: Zombie Elementalist]
[Position: General]
[Tier: 2]
[Abilities:]
[1. Elements Manipulation]
---
After confirming the addition of the new slot in Ophelia’s status, Zorvax’s eyes lingered on the screen for a moment longer, processing the significance of this development. It was clear that the summoning system had evolved, introducing a more structured hierarchy.
As he pondered over this, the newly summoned black wolf, now a sergeant under Ophelia’s command, began to approach her. Its movements were cautious yet deliberate as if it was still adapting to its new identity and role.
Ophelia watched the wolf approach, her expression a mix of curiosity and intrigue. The wolf stopped just short of her, its eyes seemingly conveying a sense of understanding. Gently, Ophelia reached out and stroked the black fur of the wolf, her touch careful and kind.
"Do we need to give him a name?" Ophelia asked, looking up at Zorvax. Her voice was soft, and there was a hint of warmth in her words, suggesting a budding sense of responsibility and care for the creature.
Zorvax observed the interaction, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "You can name it if you want," he replied, his tone encouraging. He watched Ophelia interact with the wolf, noticing the ease with which she established a connection with it.
Ophelia smiled, a genuine, warm smile, as she looked at the wolf. "Let’s name you Blackie then," she decided, her voice carrying a note of affection. The wolf, Blackie, seemed to respond to its new name, its tail wagging slightly as if in approval.
Zorvax’s gaze then shifted to the remaining wolf corpses scattered around them. Considering their potential as minions, he activated the system interface once more, curious about their quality.
---
[Mid-Quality Corpses Detected]
[Which type of summon do you want to use?]
[Sergeant] [Soldier]
---
A hint of surprise flickered across Zorvax’s face as he read the notification. "I didn’t expect these wolves to be of Mid-Quality," he remarked, his tone reflecting his mild astonishment.
Rather than using them as sergeants, Zorvax decided to summon them as soldiers, a rank more fitting for them as Blackie, who was a sergeant, was a High-Quality. He made his selection, choosing the ’Soldier’ option. He then proceeded to use the Tier 2 beast cores he had collected earlier.
As he activated the process, numerous cocoons formed around each of the wolf corpses. Zorvax and Ophelia watched in anticipation as, one by one, the cocoons cracked open, releasing the newly formed grey wolf zombie soldiers.
Zorvax began to count them, his eyes moving from one to the next. "There are 30 of them," he noted, his voice carrying a trace of curiosity. He had expected more, given the number of corpses.
The system then provided an explanation:
---
[Some corpses were not of Mid-Quality]
---
Zorvax nodded in understanding. "It seems not all of them met the requirement that I wanted. We have 31 new soldiers, including Blackie," he said, looking over the group of zombie wolves.
Ophelia, who was now mounted on Blackie, looked at the new soldiers with a sense of responsibility. "They will be a significant addition to our force," she commented, her tone indicating her readiness to lead them.
Zorvax agreed, his expression one of satisfaction. "Indeed. With each new summon, our army grows stronger. We’re building a formidable force."
With Blackie at her side and the newly formed soldiers in tow, Ophelia seemed more confident, more in command. "Let’s continue deeper into the forest. There’s much more for us to discover and many more opportunities to strengthen our ranks."
Zorvax nodded, and together, they ventured deeper into the forest, their path illuminated by the fading sunlight filtering through the trees. They moved with a sense of purpose, each step taking them further into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.