Rain pattered down on the soaked forest.
Frantic footsteps, echoed amongst the trees,
Each step felt deeper, heavier and swallowed by the mud.
A group of children ran desperately, eyes wide with terror in what felt like they were hot in pursuit: truly it was only their fear overtaking them.
The forest twisted around them, darker with every squelch of their boots, shadows thickened like a curtain.
The screams from the village behind them, still echoed through the woods fueling their panic.
A Gray-haired boy clung to the back of another, shouting, "Raion, slow down! We can't let Jacquez lose us!"
Jacquez lagged far behind, struggling under the weight of both Alexis and their supplies. "WAIT UP, RAION!" he cried, breath ragged.
But Raion didn't hear them—at least not in any meaningful way. His mind was consumed by one primal command: RUN.
Fear overtook reason. No destination. No direction. Just flight.
But then suddenly, Raion's foot snagged on a root.
He tripped, sending Xavier tumbling from his back. Both boys rolled down a muddy hill.
Thump!
As they hit the bottom hard.
Raion lay sprawled ahead, vision blurred. Xavier winced and cried out, clutching his ankle. "Aghh! It hurts!" His ankle jutted out, which was awkwardly bent outplace, maybe broken.
Raion slowly sat up, slightly dazed as he rubbed his eyes he saw the path ahead—behind him, Xavier reached out with trembling fingers, tears mixing with the rain. Pleading. "Raion…help me…"
Raion froze, his back faced Xavier
"Please…" Xavier sobbed. "Help me…"
Raion crouched there, unmoving, his breathing rapid and shallow. His heart pounded against his ribs like it was trying to escape.
Desperate now. "Raion—please!" Xavier's voice cracked through the rain. "Help me!"
Xavier, breathing heavily, continued "Raion i am calling you please help! I can't move my ankle please!" Xavier begged and pleaded but Raion's own thoughts started to tune him out as all he could think about was running.
I need to help him.
Run.
He's hurt. He can't get away without me.
He'll just slow me down. Even if we run together, how do we escape?
Run.
This forest is endless. I'm too scared. But I have to help him....
Why me?
Why do I have to be the one to help him? I'm scared too. He's also my best friend. No he's a burden.
RUN.
Xavier kept calling, pleading, crying out—but to Raion, it all became muffled. Like sound underwater.
The forest pressed in. Trees loomed taller. The shadows thickened. The rain grew colder. And above it all: the sound of screams…
Distant. Close. Everywhere. Rustling. Things moving in the dark. Watching. Crawling.
Every sound stabbed deeper into Raion's mind. His thoughts frayed. His vision tunnelled. His chest heaved.
Then, silence.
Everything, even his own thoughts, cut out.
Then—
CRACK.
A branch snapped, but that was all it took.
Raion bolted. Mud flew as he pushed off the ground, nearly slipping in the panic. He didn't look back. Not once.
Xavier's hand was still outstretched, his voice broken—"Raion…"
His expression twisted confusion first, then disbelief. Then nothing. Just silence.
His arm fell slowly to his side. Rain streamed down his cheeks, but his eyes were wide, unblinking.
His best friend, his most trusted friend, had left him.
Left him to die.
"RAION, XAVIER!" More footsteps approached fast.
Jacquez skidded down the hill, red mana flaring around him. Alexis, now awake, in Jacquez arms: she was channelling mana into him.
Jacquez landed beside Xavier. Alexis yelled out "Where's Raion?!"
Xavier's voice was hollow.
"He left me."
"What?" both Jacquez and Alexis said in unison.
Xavier looked forward at the path that Raion took, in incredulity then shook his head.
"Xavier what happened?" Alexis pressured.
"This is not time we need to get out of here first," Xavier said, refocussing "Jacquez I'll need you to carry me too. My ankle's wrecked."
Jacquez and Alexis look at each other skeptical.
Alexis sighed, as Jacquez let her down and reached her hand out, other touching her amulet. Crimson light enveloped his ankle.
Bones shifted, joints aligned not just healing, but as if reverting the injury entirely.
After this Alexis wobbles back into Jacquez arms in weakness.
An aura of crimson mana remained on Xavier's ankle, as he stood up perfectly fine.
Then he looked in surprise, at Alexis, who before he could say a thing said
"Let's go but you better tell us about this when we get to safety." her voice weak
They ran deeper into the forest, leaving behind the betrayal.
Meanwhile, far from the fleeing children… A village in ruins.
The village lay in utter ruin. Blood soaked the streets, bodies were strewn across stone paths like discarded puppets, and ruined buildings stood cracked and broken—still mostly intact but clearly scarred.
If any had been reduced to rubble, it was undoubtedly the work of the Skull Lord.
"Alright Boneheads, bring all the bodies and pile them in front of me." Zero's voice echoed across the broken town square.
As the Bonewalkers dispersed to gather the corpses—
A sudden explosion erupted from a building further down the street.
No one flinched.
But from the haze emerged Skull Lord, roaring as he stomped through the wreckage, all six of his blazing sockets glowed brighter than ever.
He marched forward, four massive arms held and cradled mangled corpses—his grim trophies.
"SKULL LORD!" Zero beamed, waving both arms excitedly.
Mmm... I forgot about him, Alana mused, mildly confused as she drifted in the air.
When Skull Lord reached the centre, he dropped the heap of corpses right where Zero had instructed. Obedient. Precise.
Zero ran up, gesturing enthusiastically for him to lower his head. "Well done skull lord you've made master very proud HA!"
He cheered, giving the skeletal giant a hearty pat on the skulls.
In response, Skull Lord clattered all three sets of his jagged teeth, a sound like a monstrous chuckle of approval.
"Haha no way. That abomination got more praise than you two," Alana teased, floating with one ghostly tendral covering her eye in mocking amusement.
Augustus stood nearby, didn't respond—only looked away, a little embarrassed.
Behind him, Arcaeus trotted up quietly with something in his mouth: a charred, mystic robe, singed at the ends but still hummed with a magical glow.
The undead beast nudged Augustus and let out a cold burst of ghostly steam from his bony nostrils..
It was unmistakably Myrthandor's inner robe—battered, but still radiating something ancient.
Interesting, he thought as he gently patted Arcaeus' skull while examining it.
Then, Zero suddenly paused, now remembering something "wait, where are the other two I sent with you, Skull lord?"
Skull Lord tilted his head, one set of teeth clicking in confusion.
"Hey Zero, come and check this out." Alana's voice reverberated inside his head like a whispered thought made loud.
Zero turned sharply. The two bonewalkers from earlier had returned, each holding a limp man by the arm dragging him between them.
"Huh?" Zero blinked, then darted toward them—
The man looked unconscious, slumped in their grip. Zero crouched close, studying his face.
"Tch... these damn bonewalkers ruined my plan to stay hidden" the man thought grimly, barely cracking open one eye to check if the coast was clear.
The moment he saw Zero's grinning face—he screamed.
"NO! DON'T KILL ME PLEASE! PLEASE, I'LL DO ANYTHING! I BEG YOU—SPARE MY LIFE!"
He flailed wildly, legs kicking, body writhing—but the bonewalkers held firm, like cold statues of death.
Zero tilted his head. "Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you."
The man froze mid-squirm. "...You're not?"
With an utterly flat expression, Zero held up his hands. "I need a favor."
Alana watched silently, tendrils crossed, her eye narrowed in amusement.
She already knew where this was going.
"Y-yeah sure... wh-what do you need?"
"I need you to go to the local town near this village."
"Sora? Why!?"
Zero nodded toward the destruction around them. "You can see what I've done here. If word gets out... it'll be a problem."
"To avoid this I need you to check in there…"
The man swallowed hard. "No... I can't deceive my own people. Please, Necromancer, anything bu—"
"Ooo, Zero, I think someone wants to die," Alana interrupted playfully.
"You think, Alana?" Zero replied with a smirk, his aura flaring to life—dark mana gathered ominously around him.
The man's face went pale, nearly collapsing in terror.
"NO NO NO—FINE! I'LL DO IT! I JUST WANT TO LIVE, DAMMIT!"
Zero sighed, mildly annoyed. "Alright, calm down." The dark mana faded as he crouched again to meet the man eye to eye.
The man gulped and asked hesitantly, "C-could I ask a question?"
Zero groaned. "Fine. One. But if you interrupt my terms again... there won't be a next time."
"O-okay! Okay…" He took a breath, steadied himself.
"How will my life be assured?"
Zero smirked.
The Book of Deluxe snapped open midair, pages riffling rapidly until it found what it needed.
"Let me show you."
The bonewalkers lifted the man upright. His eyes darted around.
Zero raised his hand slowly. Wisps of violet thread glowed faintly, and emerged; from his fingers—soul-weaved strands of necrotic mana.
The man looked scared as Zero, pulled one of the soul like threads out.
"W-what is that? Are you really going to kill me?"
"No." Zero's expression turned grave as he brought the thread closer. "This... is how we seal the deal." He continued: "Say these words: 'I vow to keep silent about everything I have learned relating to the Necromancer. This is my vow of silence.'"
The man hesitated.
"What happens if I break it?"
Zero narrowed his eyes. "Let's just say... neither of us wants that."
I have no choice. It's either this or death. He thought to himself, and swallowed his fear.
He spoke:
"I vow to keep silent about everything I have learned relating to the Necromancer. This is my vow of silence."
Zero added solemnly: "And I vow never to spill this man's blood with my own hands. This is my vow of silence."
Instantly, the thread lashed forward, sewing the man's mouth shut in a flash of purple light.
Another thread also seeped into Zero's own chest binding with their souls and sealing the vow
The man panicked, screaming silently, flailing in terror.
Zero raised a finger. "Give it a minute."
The spell faded. The stitches vanished. He could move his jaw again.
"There. That wasn't so bad, was it?" Zero said, patting the man's shoulder with a faint grin.
The man nodded, overwhelmed but relieved.
Augustus, having watched the whole thing without a word, quietly closed his grimoire.
"You can go now. Do what I asked."
The Bonewalkers released their grip. The man dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the dirt in gratitude before sprinting off down the road.
Zero's eyes tracked him.
From beneath the man's collar a snake-like and slithering-black tendril, crept across his back and vanished into his clothes.
Zero smirked.
What a clumsy little fellow. Zero thought thought to himself.
"You know... if he's smart, he could find a loophole in that vow," Alana said lazily, floating nearby.
Zero flopped onto the ground, hands behind his head. "True... but he's too afraid of dying to try."
Alana gave a subtle nod of agreement.
Zero sat up again. "And let's just say... I've got a little extra insurance," he added with a chaotic grin.
Alana narrowed her eyes slightly curious.
Augustus remained silent, standing beside his grimoire.
Behind them, Arcaeus stood like a silent sentry.
From every street and alley, bonewalkers were returning while dragging or carrying corpses.
The Book of Deluxe floated back in front of him, flipping open once more.
it will be a mass resurrection which is a tier two spell
The book floats straight up its pages wide open in front of Zero
"Using blood would take too long," he muttered.
Instead he coated his hands in translucent dark purple mana. With practiced grace, he began drawing a massive magic circle.
The air shimmered softly with power.
One hundred and seven skeletons returned, each contributing a body each, piling them in the circle.
By the time they came to the middle Zero had finished the tier two resurrection circle.
Zero's nose wrinkled, pulled out his staff. "The stench…" He pinched his nose with one hand, placed the staff's tip on the pile, and performed a spell which spread blackened mana all over.
But it all blackened mana instantly retracted back into the tip of staff.
Zero didn't realise until his hand was zapped by his staff in the form of backlash from the spell.
This caused him to drop the staff, he waved his smoking hand.
"I knew that preparation spell would become a problem." he blew on his hand
The staff floated beside him.
"There must be someone alive in there." His eyes scanned the mound of corpses
"Too much of a hassle. Bone walk—" he was about to command his minions but then something moved at the bottom.
He had a mage outfit, a slash that went across both his eyes,
"Apprentice, did you get out safely?... Father, did you come save us?" he was clearly in a delusion and long gone—"Oh there it is!" Zero pierced its head with the staff's tip.
The man croaked immediately.
"Alright there now time to—"
Zero tried pulling it out but he struggled.
"Okay" he pulled again "Nope maybe.." he changed his position then pulled again "Alright then, this time let me…" he placed his one foot on the corpse mound; flesh and bone creaked and squished under the pressure.
Pulling with all his strength: instead of getting it out he slipped on blood that was pooling at his feet.
Falling on his back, "Ugh, i can't get it out." he said defeatedly
"Zero, What's taking so long" Alana yelled
Zero looked back and looked at the mound, a flush of embarrassment on his face
"Nothing… just Nothing!" he yelled back.
Zero looked at his staff, tilting his head at it.
"STAFF!"
The crystal ball sparkled with recognition.
"Wait don't move..make it look like i pulled you out by myself" he whispered while grabbing it.
Staff's crystal ball swirled with mana for second as it was plucked out effortlessly by Zero.
Blood splattering all over the awaiting magic circle.
The head of the mage had a hole right through it. (No wonder it was stuck.)
Zero walked toward the mound "well that was easy enough." he glanced back at everyone not even paying him mind.
"And that was pointless."
He placed the staff there again, as blackened mana spread all over it, and started to decay; melting everything to bare bone,
Zero looked at the process in deep thought
This preparation spell would be a great offensive spell: being able to rapidly decay anything just by touching it, even if it does use a lot of mana would be a great spell especially if you could make it specific to one thing. Sadly the restriction is it can't decay to anything that is not already dead at least that's what the book said. What a waste of a spell.
Zero thought as the decaying had finished he walked to the circle's edge.
Hands gripping his staff and pouring mana into it.
Everyone is now paying attention again.
"He's still not even officially E-rank. Just a novice necromancer, it makes sense he's using the staff to amplify his mana so he can cast Tier 2 magic." Alana commented
Augustus kept watching, puzzled. "Is he really that weak, Mistress?"
Alana's expression didn't change, but her tone sharpened. "Good question. But listen well, Augustus and remember this: A servant's strength is just a mere representation of its master strength—take that. How you will."
Augustus didn't react outwardly, but he took note of every word.
Back to Zero, who raised his charged staff vibrant mana coming from it.
He then shouts…
"Souls of the Abyss, long severed from flesh, Hear my voice of dominion. Awaken and rise, serve as vessels of my will. Obey, endure, and march until all light is consumed… And chaos thrives!"
He slammed the staff into the ground.
A surge of purple light exploded outward, rattling the bones of the dead and living alike.
Arcaeus stood still, Augustus braced against him, Alana clutched Augustus as the wind roared.
Bonewalkers all stood silent, entranced. Some were blown back but none moved of their own will.
The violet light intensified.
It was blinding and violent.
Zero stood in the heart of it, whispering:
"One hundred and eighty-eight more…"
Bones rose from the pile, silent soldiers awakening.
Zero turned to stride toward Augustus and Alana. "Now that I've got my new army, it's…" He staggered.
His steps grew unsteady.
"It's… ti-time…"
Alana and Augustus looked on, puzzled.
Zero's vision blurred. His legs buckled. "It's time f-for-"
He collapsed.
Unconscious.