"The hell am I using a Lich's head to do?" Azel muttered, raising a brow so sharply it practically formed a question mark.

He held the skull at arm's length like someone trying to examine a suspicious fruit.

The thing was too smooth, too human-like, and too… unsettling. Even the small dents across the forehead gave it a weirdly lifelike character, making Azel take a small step back without realizing it.

"That looks like a human." Selene pointed helpfully, tilting her head with innocent confusion.

Her tail flicked behind her. "How is that a Lich? Aren't Liches supposed to be… scary?"

Not that she actually knew what a Lich was but the skull didn't match whatever expectation she had.

"Yeah," Azel sighed, rotating the skull. "That's exactly the problem."

He turned to the Dar perched proudly on top of the crimson reward box.

"Is that all?"

The Dar shook its head dramatically, puffed up its cheeks, and dove back into the box like a greedy treasure ferret.

A moment later, it resurfaced… hurling an entire, perfectly intact human skeleton onto the floor with a clattering KLANG-KLAKLAK-KLICK.

Azel blinked.

Selene blinked.

The skeleton stood upright, somehow not breaking apart even though the throw should've scattered it across the floor.

Then the Dar hurled out a robe… a purple black one embroidered in swirling sigils. It floated eerily until it settled neatly over the skeleton's frame like it belonged there.

The overall look resembled a classic manhwa necromancer.

The Dar hopped back onto Azel's shoulder with pride, chest puffed out like it had just fetched the world's greatest prize.

The box closed itself with a heavy CLUNK.

Azel exhaled.

'Bigger box, smaller reward… The Daily Reward Box is doing too much for real,' he thought, rubbing his forehead. The upgrade was supposed to give him something massive not a Halloween decoration.

'This has to be worth something.'

He lifted the skull to eye level. "How do I awaken this thing? Do I tap it? Shake it? Do I need to connect it with the body?"

Selene stepped closer. "Wait, let me try something, my lord."

Before he could react, she plucked the skull from his hand, reeled her arm back, and threw it against the ground.

"Sel—!"

The skull bounced, rolled, and then blue mana erupted from the cracks. Energy crackled around it like lightning wrapping around bones. The skull lifted, hovering above the ground.

A deep voice boomed.

"Who… dares… disturb the slumber of Rudi—"

The voice trailed. The skull stopped dramatically mid-sentence, glanced around, and adopted an expression that somehow communicated confusion despite lacking facial muscles.

"Wait. Where am I?"

Selene stepped forward confidently with her tail swishing. "You're in my lord's mansion. You were summoned from a box that belongs to my lord. That makes him your Master."

The skull turned slowly toward Azel, taking in the young silver-haired man with a stare that screamed… This child? Really?

'I was sleeping in my eternal seal, minding my own business, and suddenly I'm HERE with a Master-Slave contract… with THAT guy?' the skull thought indignantly. 'He doesn't even look like the kings and heroes that once bowed before me.'

It glanced back toward its body but before it could even think of floating toward it, Azel casually bent down, grabbed the entire skeleton, and stuffed it into his Inventory.

The mental connection severed instantly.

Rudigas screamed in spiritual agony.

"Wha—!? WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BODY?! Do you know what you—!"

Azel ignored him, picked up the oversized necromancer cape, and swung it dramatically over the floating skull like a head wearing a cloak.

Gravity didn't seem to matter… the garment levitated around the skull like a dignified accessory.

A translucent message appeared before Azel:

[You have obtained: Rudigas, Hell's Necromancer as a Guardian of your Territory]

"Good," Azel nodded. "You'll get your body back when I feel like it. Impress me enough, and maybe you'll have it today."

The skull trembled.

'This is a Master-Slave contract. I can't curse him. I can't attack him. I can't run away. If I want my body back… I have to obey.'

He swallowed or tried to because he no longer had a throat.

"What do you want… M… Ma… Master?" Rudigas forced out respectfully, each syllable hurting his undead pride like a stab wound.

'Ugh! That felt DISGUSTING. I'll never get used to this.'

Before Azel could answer, the entrance doors opened and several hunters entered… Vargan towering in front, Ravik behind him, others filtering in.

"Welcome," Azel said smoothly, gesturing them closer. "Just in time. Let me introduce the newest member of Lycas."

Everyone turned toward the floating skull wearing an oversized necromancer cape.

Azel nudged Rudigas with a look that meant one thing: Introduce yourself properly.

"My… my name is Rudigas," the skull said stiffly. "And I am… a Necromancer."

Vargan tilted his head skeptically. "Hard to believe a floating skull is on—"

Rudigas's eye sockets flashed violently blue.

Vargan's bones popped out of alignment with a loud CRK-CRK-CRK, sending the werewolf crashing to the floor. Not a single wince of pain left his face but something about the wolf's grin widened.

"That's a fun skill," Vargan said cheerfully as his bones reattached with sharp clicks. He stood up, rolling his shoulders. "Are you serious yet?"

Rudigas froze.

'What kind of monster IS THIS?! Even humans and beasts with natural fortitude break under that curse but this guy… smiled?!'

"Stop," Azel ordered, raising a hand. "We're attacking the birds in their home territory today."

"Yes, my lord!" the hunters shouted immediately.

Rudigas floated silently, wondering how he'd ended up here.

…

The mountains rose into view like jagged titans cutting into the sky. Their peaks were sharp, their slopes steep, and flocks of oversized, hostile birds circled high above.

The wind carried the shrill cries of the creatures echoing across the valley.

'I never knew the mountains would be this big…' Azel thought as he scanned the scenery. Despite the danger, it looked strangely serene… almost like a scenic tourist destination. 'This looks like a nice place to go on vacation.'

"Alright, Rudigas," Azel said, pointing up at the circling birds. "Show us what you can do. Shoot down those birds. But don't destroy their bones, I might need them for something later."

Vargan snorted. "Try not to bend their wing bones too much."

Rudigas ignored him.

He floated forward dramatically, his cape fluttering behind him like a villain monologuing atop a castle.

"Children such as yourselves know nothing about the TRUE might of a master magician…" he intoned as mana flared violently from his skull. "I was feared across kingdoms! I was sealed because none could withstand my might! And you would dare mock me… ME by asking whether I can handle a few OVERSIZED BIRD BRAINS?!"

Mana swirled like a storm.

Rudigas lifted his chin.

"FALL."

… Nothing happened.

The birds continued flying peacefully.

Rudigas blinked.

"Fall!"

… Still nothing.

Azel's eyebrow twitched.

Rudigas trembled in humiliation.

"FALL, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!"

… The birds didn't even notice.

Vargan exploded into laughter, nearly falling over.

Rudigas stared upward in total existential crisis.

'I… NEED my body…' he thought, wishing desperately he had lips to bite.

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