Embrace of the void

Michael's eyes fluttered open as he emerged from a deep, restorative slumber. His mind still felt foggy from the mana drain of his recent endeavors, but the weight of the day ahead pressed against him. Rising from his makeshift bed, he stretched, the muscles in his arms and legs aching from the intensity of his training.

As he stepped outside, the cool air hit him, invigorating yet filled with the scent of damp earth and the whisper of rustling leaves. He wandered toward the town square, where he spotted Lucian and Nyxar engaged in a serious discussion. Their expressions were intense, and Michael could sense the importance of the conversation from a distance.

 "I finally woke up," he announced, attempting to break the tension as he approached them.

Nyxar turned, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Welcome back! We were just discussing the orcs' abilities."

Lucian nodded, his gaze shifting to Michael. "Yes, they are impressive indeed. They possess a stamina that is almost infinite. As long as you maintain some mana, they will never truly die."

Michael furrowed his brow, intrigued. "And what about their forms?"

 "They can maintain their normal purple orc appearance, similar to Nyxar's, or they can shift into ethereal forms," Lucian explained, his voice steady and authoritative. "This versatility makes them formidable allies."

Michael took a moment to absorb this information, the implications of their newfound powers exciting yet daunting. "Now have you thought about what you will do?" Lucian asked, probing deeper.

Michael paused and considered his options. "I don't know. Right now, I want to continue filling my summoning slots. I need to start increasing my strength."

 "Are you going to join the academy?" Lucian inquired, his tone shifting to one of concern.

 "No, it's very dangerous. I don't want to bring trouble upon myself," Michael replied, his voice firm.

Lucian leaned closer, a hint of urgency in his tone. "If you want my advice, I suggest you consider joining the academy."

 "Why? Wouldn't that be dangerous for me?" Michael questioned, skepticism evident in his voice.

"Indeed, it would be dangerous, but there is no risk without gain," Lucian replied, his eyes piercing.

 "The knowledge and skills you will acquire there are unparalleled. If you excel, you can graduate in three years," he added, his confidence infectious.

Michael's mind raced with the implications. "But what about the nobles? Can I endure their harassment for three years?"

Lucian sighed, the weight of truth evident in his demeanor. "If we're talking about the Celestial Academy, you may indeed struggle. It's located in the imperial capital and attracts many spoiled, prejudiced young nobles. Sooner or later,Someone will try to find a problem with you."

 "However," Lucian continued, "I'm referring to the Astral Nexus Academy. It was established to bolster relations among the races and is located between the elf and dwarf continents. This academy welcomes awakened individuals from all races except demons and vampires."

Michael's expression shifted as he processed this information. "Doesn't that mean I'll be leaving the human continent? Doesn't that pose a danger to me?"

 "Not at all. You will travel to the academy through a teleportation portal that will safely transport you to the borders of the elven continent. From there, you will be escorted to the academy, where even demons dare not tread. It's one of the safest places for someone in your condition," Lucian reassured him.

 "What about my class?" Michael asked, concern creeping into his voice.

 "Of course, you'll need to keep it hidden," Lucian cautioned. "From my experiments, I believe no one will suspect your summons are undead unless they witness you revive them. However, you must be cautious with the orcs; they are too distinctive.There is no orc with purple skin.."

He continued, "Pretending you have a summoner class is wise. There are many strange monsters you can summon,And the changes in their appearance will not raise many suspicions.. But you should still leave five slots for summons that can benefit you in public."

Michael nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "What types should I seek?"

 "You'll need a healer, which may be difficult to find right now, but a watcher would be an excellent addition. There are many monsters that excel in those roles," Lucian suggested.

He continued, "There is a D-rank dungeon on the outskirts of the city inhabited by raven-type monsters skilled in stealth, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Some possess affinities for darkness, others for shadow or wind, but the special ones have both shadow and darkness."

Lucian's eyes lit with excitement as he elaborated, "The dungeon's boss is the King of Ravens, and even A-rank awakened individuals struggle to sneak up on him. Many have tried to tame these ravens, but few succeed in upgrading them beyond C+. However, with your innate ability, you should have no trouble."

Michael felt a rush of anticipation. "So I can venture into the dungeon with my current strength?"

 "Absolutely. You should have no issue there. And if you manage to get the corpse of the King of Ravens, return to me. I have another Spirit's Resurgence potion for you, but it will come at a cost," Lucian stated.

Michael's heart raced at the prospect. "Thank you, old man. I will do anything to repay this debt."

Lucian produced a strange crystal and a small card, tossing the crystal to Michael and handing the card to Nyxar.

Nyxar's eyes sparkled as he examined his ID card. "Now I won't have to hide in your shadow anymore," he exclaimed, excitement evident in his tone.

Michael inspected the crystal in his hands, curiosity piqued. "What is this?"

 "It's a skill crystal. I noticed that your other summons will not communicate with you like Nyxar does. This skill is used by summoners to share senses with their summons. It's called Sharing Sense, and it will be invaluable," Lucian explained.

Michael's excitement mounted. "Thank you! I swear I'll repay you one day."

With that, Michael used his Undead Summoning skill to transport Vragoth and Morgoth to the Void. Nyxar settled back into Michael's shadow, and together they prepared for their first dungeon raid.