The lich as a being that had control over death could sense the disappearing souls of the enemies it had slain. It was an unusual phenomenon.
The souls were all headed towards the Skeleton he had only met briefly. The souls disappeared shortly after coming into contact with it.
The lich was curious as to why this happened, not to mention the phenomenon stole its spoils, it couldn't help but stare.
Ed was fiddling with his jaw trying to place it back, the first skeleton he met sure made it seem easy.
'Ah Screw it! Recall!'
He would reallocate his jaw after levelling up, who knows maybe it would help? Plus, the sight of him failing to place his jaw back on probably looked really pathetic to the lich, whom he noticed was staring.
[Recalling Champion's Soul]
Just like that Ed's consciousness was oncemore pulled out of his skeleton body.
'Wow it is just as dark as the last time'
He was somewhat relieved. This was the ideal way to return, without dying.
[Champion has met the conditions to level up, initiate level up? Y/N]
'That's.. why I'm here'
[Champion will be put to sleep]
'I don't think that is actually any bett-'
He was once again knocked out by the system and his consciousness started its level up.
***
Samuel was enjoying his day off along side his family. He was playing with his son Sam when he heard a knock at the door.
He was about to get up from the floor on which he sat but his wife went to get the door instead.
"I will get the door honey, you keep playing with little Sam, okay?" She opened the front door and saw a woman wearing Union attire.
"Oh, come in" She knew that the woman came for samuel and lead her inside.
"Who is it?" Asked Samuel while still playing with toys with his son in another room.
"It is someone from the Union honey" She left the guest in the living room and entered Sam's room.
"Here, I will take little Sam away and you go talk to the woman from the Union" She reached out her hand towards their 7 year old son who grabbed her hand.
"Alright, Let mom show you some advanced cooking techniques, do you want to know what we are having for dinner?" She said cheerfully as she took Sam to the kitchen along side her.
Samuel went to the living room to meet the guest, she was still standing.
"Wha-? Why are you still standing Jasmine sit down" He was going to ask what happened but Jasmine hadn't taken a seat.
"It is alright Sir, it will be quick" She still stood.
"Well okay then... Shoot" Samuel also remained standing.
"We didn't receive the daily report from our scouts" Jasmine said respectfully.
Samuel's carefree expression turned into a frown. That piece of news basically ruined his day off. He walked towards a coat hanger and was about to grab a coat.
"What are you doing sir!" Jasmine panicked.
"I am going to the Union, we need to settle this" He was puzzled by her sudden inquisition, wasn't it obvious?
"But you need to rest!"
"I can get plenty of rest after finding our scouts"
"Honey, Sam wan- are you going somewhere?" His wife who just came into the room asked.
"It will be quick honey, expect me back in an hour or two" He walked towards his wife and hugged her.
"But it is your day off" She didn't want him to leave. He rarely took breaks as it stood.
"Something urgent came up" He released her from his embrace. He was already wearing his coat and motioned Jasmine to follow him. She could only acquiesce as she followed after him.
***
The only light in the endless darkness shone ever so slightly brighter. Ed woke up after an indefinite amount of time as usual.
He managed to recollect himself much faster than before. He immediately opened up his missed messages.
[The system has observed your actions up until this point, selecting a suitable reward...]
[<Assimilation lvl. 0> acquired]
[Champion has levelled up]
[<Thought Manifestation lvl. 0> acquired]
Ed was surprised about receiving a reward as well. Was the dungeon giving him credit for luring the trespassers?
'Status!'
[Name: Ed$#&!]
Type: Level 3 Consciousness.
Health: 400/400
Bodies: Skeleton
~Skills~
[Basic Transmission lvl. 7] -Show info-
[Mental Fortitude lvl. 2] -Show info-
[Deduction lvl. 5] -Show info-
[Assimilation lvl. 0]
Passive: Skill holder can assimilate understanding, 50% boost to skill experience.
Active: Assimilate skills and items. 12hr cooldown.
[Thought Manifestation lvl. 0]
Your thoughts can affect reality.
Ed was stunned, a skill that boosts experience gain! He could not be any happier! He was feeling like he hit a wall as far as levelling up skills went. They hadn't gone up in a while.
The thought manifestation skill however was extremely vague and weird.
'Is it some sort of psychic power?'
The only thing he could think of was something like telekinesis.
'Oh!'
He suddenly realized he remembered more things now. He could now see the blurry faces of his family. He remembered their existence.
'But maybe that's not a good thing'
Ed was finally adjusting to the dungeon. If he starts to remember his past life he just might breakdown.
'Think about it when that time comes'
He didn't know their names nor could he see their faces. They were strangers that he felt a familial bond with, an odd sensation.
Ed was silent for nearly 10 seconds.
'No summoning?'
[Do you want to be summoned? Y/N]
For the first time ever the system asked for his input. He didn't know why but he could think about that later.
'Yes'
[Summoning Dungeon Champion]
The voracious vacuum sucked up Ed's consciousness. His consciousness hit against his skeletal body leaving him with a now-familiar sensation.
'I'm back'
He still found himself located in the boss room.
"You are awake" The hoarse voice quickly bought his attention.
He stood up and found his jaw attached. He couldn't be sure if it was a result of the level up or not.
Ed approached the lich and used his basic transmission skill.
'Thank you' He said, truly grateful.
The lich simply looked at him. The eerie purple flames became more and more creepy the longer you looked at them.
"You have the gall to thank me after taking my spoils?"
Ed blanked at that moment. His spoils? He never even considered that he met the level up condition by stealing from the lich.
The lich seeing his reaction understood he was confused.
"You may leave, take the material items if you want" The lich turned back and dismissed him.
Ed realized what he was talking about when he looked at the only exit. The loot from the adventurers was still laying there on the floor.
'Well... Don't mind if I do'
Ed felt some amount of shame by taking literally everything, but shame wouldn't get him anywhere.
'That's right, it is his job to kill them any ways'
He shamelessly convinced himself and took a leisurely gait towards the items on the floor.
'Let's see what I can take'
There were daggers which he could definitely use but that was it.
'I guess I will take clothes too.'
He lost nothing by doing so and it could prove useful eventually. He removed the arrows that were lodged onto the bag and the encyclopedia and proceeded to stuff the clothes inside.
[Hoarding has leveled up]
Assimilation must have already been showing its effects. If he could smile it would certainly be a bright one as for the first time in a long time, he felt things were working in his favor.. He felt invincible with the help of the lich.