Darkness. That was Rotfang’s first sensation. Then, a gnawing emptiness, a primal hunger that echoed through his newly animated (or rather, un-animated) form. His decaying eyelids fluttered open, and the gloom resolved into blurry shapes. The first thing that caught his attention, nestled amongst the damp earth and forgotten refuse, was a SparkleScreen 7. It pulsed with a faint inner light, a subtle hum that resonated with a strange kind of… aliveness.
Shiny… alive… must… eat… Rotfang’s thought processes were rudimentary, driven by instinct. He lurched forward, his limbs stiff and uncooperative, and with a wet, crunching sound, devoured the smartphone. The taste was mostly metallic and vaguely… electric? Not exactly brain-flavored, but it had a certain zing.
Unbeknownst to Rotfang, this act of undead gourmandism had just connected him to the vibrant, technologically advanced city of Obelus. The mangled remains of the SparkleScreen, still faintly powered by residual magic, began to transmit fragmented data packets across the ObelusNet.
Meanwhile, in his brightly lit, mana-infused apartment overlooking the shimmering cityscape of Obelus, Zephyr Quickfinger was scrolling through ObelusNet. He was looking for his next viral sensation. His "Spell-Casting Fails" had plateaued, and his "Familiar Fashion Tips" were losing their edge. Then, he saw it – a chaotic, first-person stream of blurry images, guttural moans, and what looked suspiciously like the inside of someone’s (or something’s) mouth, all tagged with a mysterious location in the forgotten outskirts of the city.
Zephyr’s fingers danced across his mana-keyboard. Intrigued by the sheer weirdness, he pieced together a narrative. A lone, lost soul… trapped in undeath… yearning for what was lost. He titled the channel "Rotfang's Redemption Arc" and with a dramatic flourish, launched the hashtag #RehumanizeRotfang.
Back in the gloom, Rotfang was still feeling rather peckish. The SparkleScreen hadn’t quite hit the spot. But then… a notification icon, glowing faintly from a still-intact shard of the phone within his stomach, caught his eye. It was a thumbs-up. More shiny? Does shiny taste like… wiggly?
The next morning, ObelusNet was abuzz. Rotfang’s accidental debut had gone viral. Citizens were captivated by the mysterious zombie and the tragic narrative Zephyr had crafted. Soon, the ManaMe donations started pouring in.
Zephyr, ever the opportunist, set up a system where donated magical resources would be magically delivered to Rotfang’s location. He envisioned potions, artifacts, and maybe even a good, sturdy pair of non-rotting boots.
The first donation materialized with a soft poof near Rotfang. It was a small, glowing vial labeled "Potion of Minor Clarity."
From Rotfang’s POV: Another shiny! This one is… green? He picked it up with a clumsy hand. Smells… minty? His undead instincts told him anything that glowed might be alive. He tilted back his head and poured the potion down his throat.
Aaaargh! It felt like his insides were doing the electric slide on sandpaper. Not at all like the satisfying squish of a freshly acquired brain. He groaned loudly, clutching his stomach. For a fleeting moment, though, amidst the discomfort, a clear image flashed in his mind: a blurry face, smiling. Gone as quickly as it appeared, but it was… something.
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @HealThyRotty: "Just sent a healing potion! Hope it helps him on his journey!"
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @RotfangHater69: "LOL, look at the brainless idiot! Probably doesn't even know what to do with it!"
Rotfang certainly didn’t. He just knew his tummy felt… tingly in a bad way. But then, something else appeared – a dark, swirling mist that smelled faintly of old gym socks.
From Rotfang’s POV: Smoky! Smoky smells… interesting. He shuffled through the mist, and a strange sensation washed over him. His limbs felt… less heavy? He even managed a slightly less jerky step. He felt… surprisingly energetic, a stark contrast to his usual sluggishness.
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @DarkLordDave: "Sent him a minor curse of vigor. Thought it might give him a little pep in his step. For his quest, you know."
Rotfang, oblivious to the conflicting intentions of his newfound audience, continued his quest for something genuinely wiggly. The curse of vigor made his shambling more purposeful, and the brief flash of memory from the clarity potion sparked a dim curiosity about the world around him.
Rotfang’s existence had become a bizarre performance. He would shamble through the outskirts of Obelus, occasionally tripping over discarded tech or trying to eat particularly shiny street signs, all while the ObelusNet watched with bated breath.
More donations materialized daily. A "Bandage of Fleeting Fleshiness" appeared, and as Rotfang clumsily applied it to a particularly exposed bone on his finger, the flesh knit together, looking surprisingly human for nearly a full minute before dissolving. During that minute, Rotfang flexed his finger, a sensation he hadn't felt in… well, ever.
A "Scroll of Basic Human Greetings" arrived. This time, after staring intently at the runes, Rotfang managed a raspy, almost recognizable "H… hellooo…" which sent the ObelusNet into a frenzy.
#TheUndeadSpeak. Interest in commercialization increased. Holographic advertisements for "Brain Bites" (a suspiciously grey-colored snack) flashed around him. Zephyr even managed to strike a deal with "Eternal Slumber Mattresses" – the tagline being, "So comfortable, you'll sleep like the undead!"
Rotfang, naturally, tried to nap on one that was magically delivered to him, only to find it strangely resistant to his decaying weight. He did, however, manage a slightly more comfortable slump against it than usual, thanks to the lingering effects of the vigor curse.
The trolls were out in full force too. One particularly persistent user, "GraveGrinder," kept sending Rotfang obviously dangerous items like miniature thunderclouds in jars. Rotfang, mistaking the crackling energy for some form of potent life force, tried to pry one open. The resulting small shock actually seemed to… tighten some of his decaying muscles, making his grip slightly stronger for a few moments.
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @GraveGrinder: "LOL, sent him a little surprise! Hope it brightens his day… permanently!"
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @ConcernedCitizen123: "Seriously, can we ban this user? Someone could get hurt!"
Meanwhile, the vegan contingent, led by the determined @VeganVanguard, continued their efforts. They sent Rotfang a "Magical Meatless Medley." This time, after smashing it against the rock, Rotfang noticed a faint, sweet aroma. He tentatively licked a stray piece. It wasn't brains, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. He didn't eat much, but it was a departure from his usual disinterest.
From Rotfang’s POV: Brown… green… no wiggly. But… smells… different. Not bad different.
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @VeganVanguard: "He licked it! Progress! He's considering plant-based options!"
After a few days, the ManaMe account reached a critical mass. Zephyr, with dramatic fanfare, announced the live-streamed ritual for the "Decanter of Diminished Undeadness." A large, ornate decanter filled with a shimmering, slightly swampy-looking liquid was magically transported to Rotfang's usual haunt – a particularly smelly alleyway near a discarded hover-cart charging station.
Rotfang, drawn by the crowd of onlookers and the general air of excitement (which he vaguely registered as… more life?), shuffled onto the makeshift platform. His movements were noticeably less jerky than when he first appeared online.
Zephyr, looking resplendent in a mana-infused robe, began the incantation. The decanter glowed, and a thick, sweet-smelling mist enveloped Rotfang.
From Rotfang’s POV: Smells… like overripe fruit? My skin… feels… tighter? Less… flaky? He looked down at his hand. It did seem a little less grey, a touch more… pinkish in the dim light. He even managed to wiggle his fingers with slightly more coordination. And when he looked at the pigeons, the craving wasn't quite as overwhelming, replaced by a flicker of something… else? Curiosity?
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @RotfangFanatic: "He's doing it! He's becoming human!"
(Audience Comment on ObelusNet): @SkepticalSam: "Looks like he just got a bad spray tan to me."
Zephyr, beaming, declared the ritual a success. Rotfang, feeling a strange new sensation – perhaps a hint of flavor, mixed with a faint memory of that blurry smiling face – looked at the nearby flock of pigeons pecking at some discarded synth-chips. His stomach rumbled, a less urgent, more thoughtful rumble.
He raised his hand, attempting to mimic the enthusiastic thumbs-ups he’d seen flashing on the remnants of the SparkleScreen still embedded somewhere within him. His thumb wavered, then awkwardly pointed upwards. This time, the gesture felt a little more intentional, a little less clumsy. The ObelusNet exploded with even more celebratory emojis.
But as the crowd dispersed and the cameras were turned off, Rotfang’s internal monologue had shifted slightly. Pinkish hand… interesting. Still… hungry. Pigeons look less wiggly? He took a tentative step towards the unsuspecting birds, a flicker of something other than pure hunger in his (slightly less cloudy) eyes. Perhaps he wouldn't try to eat them this time.
Meanwhile, the short attention span of Obelus was already buzzing about a trending video of a cat riding a miniature hoverboard.
