After reading the details of the Necromancer's evolution route, Kerry understood that both paths held immense power but he could only walk one. He stared at his hand, then clenched it tightly.
---
[Class Evolution Available.]
[Warning: Evolution will permanently alter host's soul structure. Proceed?]
---
Kerry's vision dimmed as the glowing words appeared before him, white text glowing against the endless void of his consciousness. His heart pounded, each beat echoing like a drum in a hollow tomb.
"Bone Sovereign…" he whispered under his breath.
[Confirm Evolution: Bone Sovereign?]
[Yes / No]
He didn't hesitate. This was the path he had been waiting for. "Yes."
Bone dust began to rise from the ground, swirling into a vortex around him. His body felt like it was being peeled away and reforged in death's image. Each breath turn cold, heavy with power that did not belong to the living. From the darkness, countless skulls appeared, their hollow voices whispering his name again and again.
[Evolution Initiated...]
[Rewriting soul matrix...]
[Assimilating Death Authority...]
[Title Acquired: Lord of the Ossuary.]
The ground cracked open beneath him, pouring out streams of white flame and drifting soul ash. His body lifted from the ground, engulfed by a surge of bone-white and black energy.
Then came a thick, suffocating, and commanding aura. A power that felt absolute. The entire space trembled beneath his presence. Every shadow bent toward him in submission. Bones from fallen beasts and ancient warriors rose from the dirt, drawn to him as if he had called them home.
[Evolution Complete.]
[You have become the Bone Sovereign — Monarch of Death's Remains.]
When the light faded, Kerry stood at the center of a silent westland. His eyes glowed a pale silver, his veins traced with necrotic light. A cloak of bone draped over his shoulders, each fragments shifting like scales.
He lifted his hand.
Skeletons emerged from the ground in perfect unison, kneeling before him.
Then the system's voice whispered.
[All things that perish shall bow before the Sovereign of Bones.]
His aura erupted, shaking the entire area. The sky dimmed to pitch black as streams of dark energy surged through his veins.
A circular wave burst from his body with a deafening roar. The blast repeated four times before the air grew still, every trace of energy finally absorbed into him. His aura pulsed along his skin, his eyes glowing faintly in response.
He lifted his right hand and clenched it. Another burst of energy shot outward, and the darkness scattered like smoke in the wind.
Slowly, he descended, landing on the ground with measured calm. The system panel appeared before him, floating in his grasp as new power coursed through him.
[SYSTEM STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Kerry
Age: 16
Level: 3
Race: Human (Soul-Bound)
Class: Necromancer — Bone Sovereign
Title: Lord of the Ossuary
"Hm… I've gained a new title and awakened tier. Not bad," he muttered, scanning his surroundings. He realized he was standing in the middle of a city.
The sky had begun to brighten, it was already morning.
"Wait… I spent hours completing the evolution?" he murmured.
Beeep!
A car horn blared as he stood frozen in the middle of the road, glancing around to figure out where he had ended up.
He stepped aside calmly, observing the people, the buildings, and the streets. Everything looked unfamiliar.
"Huh? Where am I?" he asked aloud.
A man passing by gave him a puzzled look. "What kind of question is that? You're in Tokyo, Japan."
Kerry froze among the crowd, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Japan…?" He turned around in shock, his voice rising. "What?! Japan!?"
---
He didn't know what to do. He had no money to return home, and all he could think about was seeing his mother again, but how could he even reach her from here?
He moved quietly through the crowd, his steps aimless, his thoughts heavy.
"How am I supposed to stay here when I don't know anyone?" he muttered under his breath, frustration building in his chest. Then realization struck him, the system, It was the one that brought him here.
He kept walking until he reached a small wooden house on the edge of the city, far from where most people lived. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The place was covered in thick layers of dust and tangled webs.
"I'll stay here for a few days. Once I find work, I'll leave this country and go back home," he said quietly.
He began cleaning the room with quick, steady movements. Within minutes, the place looked almost livable.
"Wow… my speed has increased tenfold beyond a normal human," he murmured.
[Temperature: Normal]
[Hygiene: Poor]
[Warning: Prolonged stay may result in illness.]
Kerry sighed. He didn't have much of a choice. After cleaning, he took off his hoodie and hung it on one of the wooden beams, revealing a plain white shirt and blue trousers underneath. Then he stepped outside to explore the city.
[Breaking News: The Hunters from the White Claw Guild have yet to return from the C-rank gate that appeared near Shibuya Street this morning. We are currently awaiting any updates regarding their status. Stay tuned for more information.]
The whole city buzzed with the news, but Kerry only listened quietly. None of it made sense to him.
He continued walking until he stopped before a massive building with bold letters displayed across a wide signboard.
"Iron Fang Guild."
[Hunter Progressing…]
[Help clear gates to earn rewards.]
Kerry stared at the floating text before him.
"So, if I join a hunter association or a guild, I can make money… perfect."
He paused mid-step, uncertain of what to do next. The thought of becoming a hunter crossed his mind, but doubt quickly followed.
"How can I even join without a membership card?" he muttered quietly.
Suddenly, the system's interface flickered, turning blank. Then a calm, mechanical voice spoke:
"Fill out your forms. Remember, change your name."
Kerry frowned, staring at the empty screen. "Change my name? Seriously?"
He lifted his gaze to the towering buildings around him, scanning the signs for inspiration. Then, his eyes caught a large digital board flashing the current date.
"2025?" His eyes widened. "Two years... it's been two years!"
The realization hit him like a blow. He clenched his jaw, exhaling slowly to steady himself.
"Great. Just great. All because of this stupid system. I promised my mom I'd see her again in five years… and now it's already past that."
A sharp beep from the system broke his thoughts, urging him to continue. Kerry sighed and looked toward a wall plastered with posters. One had the face of a legendary hunter named Renji. Another bore the surname Kurozawa, printed beneath a memorial photo of a fallen noble.
"Renji… Kurozawa," he said aloud, testing how it sounded. Then he nodded faintly. "Yeah. Renji Kurozawa. That works."
The system registered the name and began filling in the form automatically.
"Age?"
Kerry thought for a moment. "It's been two years… that makes me eighteen."
"Remain still for photo capture," the system instructed.
He did as told. Moments later, a soft blue light flickered in his palm. Small fragments of mechanical energy formed piece by piece until they solidified into a sleek, white card. His name, age, photo, and nationality were printed neatly across it.
Kerry stared at it in quiet awe. "My own card…" he whispered, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.
He slipped the card into his pocket, eyes gleaming with resolve.
"With this, I can finally enter a private hunter club."