《So what if I'm a Necromancer?》


 Chapter 1 - Judgement

    A young man woke up in a panic. His dim eyes stared upwards into nothingness. An immense sense of anxiety flooded his body, a patch of cold sweat started to form on the back of his neck. The silent paranoia of his situation caused his mind to work in overdrive. His survival instincts activated.


    Once he picked himself up from the hard surface, he couldn''t help but be confused by both his surroundings and his predicament. He noticed never-ending darkness encompassing everything - a void as he looked around. He let out a nervous whimper feeling as though his body was sinking beneath itself.


    Samuel Stone was a 21-year-old college student. A young man who never truly excelled at anything now found himself frozen in fear, swallowed by the void.


    ¡®Where am I¡­what is this place?¡¯ He wondered with panic as the flight or fight response had already started to take control.


    Suddenly, like someone flipping a switch, a powerful light pierced the void in front of him. Samuel watched as the illumination weakened, forming the intricate silhouette of a beautiful woman no larger than he was.


    Flowing white hair wafted around her body as she floated slowly towards him. Finally, her voluptuous body, covered in a vale of light, settled as she landed before him with a faceless visage akin to a mirror.


    Samuel¡¯s confusion and fear lessened as he felt her warmth radiating towards him as if he was suddenly in the embrace of a loved one. He felt his fear dwindle in her aura for unknown reasons. The woman raised a hand and placed it flush on the side of his face causing the warmth to strengthen.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Welcome, child.¡± Her sweet voice echoed loudly. Her presence was as intense as it was mind-numbing. ¡°Welcome to purgatory, home of the ancients.¡±


    Samuel instinctively gulped at her words, feeling like he had lost his mind. He was struggling to comprehend the situation and barely muttered a response.


    ¡°Purgatory?¡± His quaking voice answered. Already the situation was proving too much for his brain.


    ¡°Yes, child, this is purgatory. Here all souls are judged and sent to their eternal resting place.¡±


    ¡°So, I died¡­How? I remember waking up and going to school. Everything was fine-¡° Samuel was panicking. There was too much happening all at once, and there wasn¡¯t enough time to process all of it. However, the woman placed a finger over his lips, both silencing his words and his chaotic mind.


    ¡°Everything is okay now. The past is the past. Let us focus on the future.¡± Once again, he felt his mind go numb at her intervention. She retrieved her hands and stepped back from Samuel.


    ¡°You have lived a harsh life. However, you maintained a valiant heart and showed genuine concern for others. You committed no great crimes and have judged others fairly.¡± Her spacious voice grew in power, causing Samuel to feel much smaller than he was.


    ¡°You have been judged worthy, have been given a chance at Paradise.¡± Her final judgment struck deep into Samuel¡¯s soul like a hammer driving a nail.


    Samuel heard her words yet struggled to comprehend them. He lived a good life and was apparently getting repaid by the gods. He felt great happiness and smiled but was concerned that she only said he had a chance. Then, the woman¡¯s beautiful eyes met Samuel¡¯s as her glowing smile widened.


    ¡°Congratulations Samuel. Enjoy your new life in paradise.¡± She waved her hand, and with it, an overbearing light once again filled the area. Samuel¡¯s feeble human mind could not handle the vast display and ultimately faded to black.

 Chapter 2 - The Delve

    Like trailing comets, streams of blazing light roared past Samuel. His overloaded mind swam with cryptic shapes that felt like lasers burrowing through his skull. The pressure was tremendous, but Samuel was strangely numb to the pain. His perception was cloudy. He saw himself in the third person, like a stranger watching from a distance.


    The world around Samuel appeared in slow motion as he looked around, yet the days flashed by at hyper speed. Dozens of cycles flowed by before the mass of Samuel¡¯s consciousness was pulled back to his body with the force and speed of a bullet. Samuel¡¯s vision instantly darkened, like he was falling through an empty galaxy.


    With a mighty gasp, Samuel lurched up. He desperately felt around his body, confirming it was real. Cold sweat covered Sameul''s sickly pale skin. Samuel shivered as his body ached as though he had been hit by a truck, finding it hard to move.


    Samuel tried to center his wild mind, but it was useless; his body gave out. He stumbled back and fell on his butt onto a large flat hexagonal stone. Samuel¡¯s mouth was dry, and his lips felt chapped, his head pounded with a crippling intensity that only seemed to get worse as he tried to focus.


    The world spun as Samuel fell back, looking towards the misty blue sky. Slowly but surely, his ragged breathing lessened. Samuel was finally coming back down from the hysterical experience of being reborn. Yet still suffering from the apparent effects of shock, he felt weak and helpless.


    As Samuel lay there shaking, a loud splash sounded behind him. Incapable of responding, a freezing spray of water struck Samuel. The icy liquid stiffened Samuel¡¯s body, causing him to jump up onto the closest rock.


    The bewildered Samuel looked down and finally noticed his appearance. Black leather boots, soaked with seawater, stretched up to his shins. Rough straps with silver buckles held the boots tight against Samuel¡¯s wobbly legs.


    Tucked firmly into the boots'' shaft, dark brown fabric pants, sporting a thick banded belt, rose to Samuel''s waist. The form-fitting pants had large patches of leather sewn on both hips and patches on both knees for added protection.


    Samuel soon explored the leather chest piece covering his torso. Like a thick vest, the brown leather supported Samuel. It had thin seams between the thicker plates, allowing him to retain a full range of motion.


    The long black sleeves of Samuel¡¯s undershirt poked out from his veiled shoulders and covered down Samuel¡¯s knuckles. Samuel had fingerless gloves protecting his clammy hands.


    Although covered in rigid leather plates, Samuel didn¡¯t feel as weighed down as one would expect. Unfortunately, though, that didn¡¯t mean it was easy. Samuel¡¯s body was still weak. He staggered, and his pounding headache returned.


    Samuel dropped from the pedestal, his boots thumping against the smooth stony shore. He plopped down on the wet rock, steadying himself with his hands.


    Samuel shivered as a strong gust of cool wind blew over him. He belatedly looked around and surveyed his surroundings.


    Gigantic mounds of stone were formed from various-sized pillars of hexagonal rocks. The posts merged beautifully into tall wild plateaus. Flat planes of smooth sand and cobblestones flowed between the ridges and sank beneath the crashing water waves. Finally, the foamy swells of navy blue water reached the ridges before falling back into the churning ocean.


    Samuel¡¯s mind became tranquil as he took deep breaths of the salty sea air, his headache finally subsiding. The cool, briny mist wafted over him as he collected his thoughts. Eventually, a beam of warm sunlight breaching a colossal cloud enveloped Samuel, allowing him a few brief moments of warmth and clarity.


    Samuel attempted to wrap his mind around what was happening to him. He tried to understand where he was and how he got there. But, no matter how many ways he approached the situation, it seemed unbelievable.


    Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, Samuel was pulled from his chaotic thoughts by the unique sound of boots crunching the grainy sand piercing the serene scene. Samuel was startled and jumped. He whipped around quickly and froze as two men approached with confident strides.


    Black robes concealed their slender frames. The men had copper-colored embroidering flowing along the seams of their folded black robes. Flat plump hoods covered their faces, with only thin streaks of blonde hair dripping out from the bottom.


    Samuel couldn¡¯t move. His body was rooted in fear. He anxiously watched as the men stopped just a few feet before Samuel.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°A fellow initiate. It¡¯s good to see an actual human finally.¡± The slightly taller of the two men spoke. His honeyed voice struck Samuel.


    ¡°The guilds are overly secretive. If it weren¡¯t for the map we stole back home, we¡¯d never have made it out here.¡± The other man grumbled, followed by the click of his tongue.


    ¡°W-What are you two talking about?¡± Samuel squeaked in a low tone, sweat beading on his forehead.


    The two men eyed Samuel up and down. Their judgmental gazes were harsh. They glanced at each other before shifting back towards Samuel.


    ¡°Eh, you seem well off. It probably wasn¡¯t as difficult to get here for you.¡± The more prominent man¡¯s passive-aggressive tone went unnoticed by Samuel.


    ¡°Whatever, we¡¯ve been traveling for days. Let¡¯s get this over with!¡± The other man demanded before pressing past Samuel. The shadowy edges of his lips curved into a strange smile, then his companion joined him.


    Samuel turned and watched as the men climbed over several stone pillars and vanished over the edge of a crumbling ridge. Although the men exuded dangerous vibes, Samuel was like a lost puppy. He had no options; he knew nothing. He looked down and contemplated his options.


    Despite the alarming red flags, Samuel made his decision. Whatever the men were doing here, it seemed connected to Samuel. Why else would Samuel have woken up here? Or so Samuel believed.


    Samuel used this temporary confidence and chased after the two men. Dropping down from the plateau, Samuel joined the two men. Together they all three stood speechless before a colossal cavern.


    The circular entrance was jagged and covered with barnacles and moss. The putrid stench of rot billowed from within the cave. The faint breeze flowing out of the cave whistled like whispers. Samuel felt a vigorous wave of fear course through his body. Every fiber of Samuel¡¯s being was telling him to avoid this cave.


    However, unlike Samuel, the two men showed uncanny interest in the cave. They didn¡¯t feel fear. Instead, boiling excitement filled their hearts. Unknownst to Samuel, the two men, had spent years of their lives for this very moment. They wouldn¡¯t let anything stop them from achieving their goals.


    As the three men stood motionless at the entrance, an unearthly croaking started building inside the cave. A mighty shudder visibly washed over Samuel as he heard the sound. A primal terror was ignited.


    Samuel slowly backpedaled himself away from the entrance; however, he felt two sets of hands retrain him on his second step. The two men seeing Samuel begin his retreat, became furious. In an instant, they firmly gripped Samuel¡¯s shoulders and wrists, causing Samuel to look between them like a frightened child.


    Samuel tried to squirm free, but the slender men had impressive strength and wouldn¡¯t budge. Samuel¡¯s movements only worsened the situation as the men tightened their hold.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Samuel pleaded while attempting to rip himself free.


    ¡°No!¡± The man to Samuel¡¯s left spoke over the struggling Samuel. ¡°We¡¯ve worked too hard for you to back out now and ruin everything. So you¡¯re coming with us, like it or not!¡±


    After his spit-slewing scream, the man and his companion walked into the cavern. Samuel defeatedly dragged his feet as the men forced him in.


    ¡°You¡¯re scared of nothing. There¡¯s barely anything in this cave that¡¯s big enough to attack humans, at least not in a group.¡± The other man comforted the distressed Samuel before forming a shady smile.


    The sound of crashing waves and sea birds mellowed into quiet white noise as they delved deeper into the cave. The bright sunlight quickly vanished, leaving the men in almost complete darkness.


    The croaking grew in volume as the men continued walking. It was dark and difficult to make out the surroundings, but Samuel could feel that they were nearing the source. Not only was the sound becoming louder, but it was also becoming more frequent.


    Sloppily navigating through the darkness, Samuel and the two men squeezed around a sizeable circular pillar in an otherwise jagged cave. Once all three of them stepped past the column, an enormous gust of wind pushed the men back against the pillar without warning before vanishing without a trace.


    Braziers hidden by the darkness exploded to life. The powerful wind and explosions frightened Samuel, but the powerful flames enchanted him. The braziers held green fire, giving a dark emerald hue to the moist cave walls. It was like nothing Samuel had ever seen before.


    Distracted by the fantastical display, Samuel and the others belatedly realized the two creatures on the ground before them.


    The two men groaned in disgust simultaneously while Samuel visibly recoiled. There was an unbelievably giant spider bent back on its hind legs. The small dog-sized spider was waving its forelegs up and down in an alternating pattern towards a huge lizard.


    The lizard was half the size of a caiman and just as vicious. But, despite the spider¡¯s warning signals, the lizard stood its ground. The muscly lizard hissed while a bulbous sac on its throat expanded. The swelling of the sac was creating a hoarse croak, threatening the spider.


    The two monsters lashed out at each other. The lizard''s sharp claws flailed wildly while the spiders began spewing sticky web traps. Despite their size, the creatures completely dominated the space. Samuel and the men cowered in fear, but the men were determined to succeed.


    With a quivering lip, the larger man swallowed his fear and started to tiptoe along the wall slowly. Samuel didn¡¯t need convincing. He willingly followed the man and behind him the other. Slowly the three men hugged the wall and shifted their bodies past the vicious battle.


    So caught up in the moment, the instant the three men gained enough distance, they sprinted deeper into the emerald-tinted cave.

 Chapter 3 - Delving Deeper

    Rough breathing drowned out the sound of fleet boots splashing shallow puddles. Together they all three fled the monstrous battle behind them. They were sprinting deeper into the cave.


    After nearly a minute of fear-fueled sprinting, Samuel slowed to a stop. His heavy boots clanked and pounded against the ground as his exhausted body leaned against the wall. Samuel leaned over with an arm supporting himself, trying to recover his breathing.


    Slower than Samuel, the two men crumbled to the floor next to Samuel. They rolled and sat at the base of the opposing wall. Their journey-ridden bodies were too tired to stand.


    ¡°What ah¡­. What happened to there being nothing to fear?¡± Samuel poked. Samuel felt entitled to a bit of anger and expressed his mind.


    Struggling to his feet, the smaller of the two men rose from the ground. His dreary body wobbled before he shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯m surprised. It¡¯s unnatural for such large creatures to be here in this cave.¡± The man spoke between ragged breaths.


    Samuel, not truly happy with the response, asked another question.


    ¡°What kind of monsters were you expecting?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Well, you know, bugs, rats, maybe some lizards. Nothing close to that!¡±


    Samuel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Samuel¡¯s patience had run dry. He was in this situation and just wanted it to be over. Samuel pressed further, looking down at the man sitting on the ground.


    ¡°So, now what? Do we just continue deeper? What if there are more monsters further inside?¡±


    The man was still struggling to control his breathing but met Samuel¡¯s gaze. After a moment of contemplation, the man responded roughly.


    ¡°We continue. We¡¯ve come too far to back out now.¡± Then, with the help of his companion, the man rose to his feet and stared further into the cave.


    Looking into the dimly lit distance, Samuel felt uneasy. However, it was his only option. With no choice but to move forward, he joined the men and walked deeper into the cave.


    There was a growing tension. The brewing emotions Samuel had felt since meeting the duo was growing. However, Samuel struggled to understand his feelings. Despite being dragged into the cave against his will, it was almost exciting. Finally, Samuel decided it was too late to back out now and decided it was best to stick together, not to mention he was very curious about what the men had traveled so far to see.


    ¡°You two said you¡¯ve been traveling for days. Why travel so far to this cave?¡± Samuel remembered them mentioning something about him being a ¡®fellow initiate¡¯. Samuel wanted to see if the men would reveal more information if he stayed vague.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    In unison, the two men turned to face Samuel. Their judgmental looks sent a shiver down Samuel¡¯s spine. Finally, the more prominent man grunted, expressing his frustration.


    ¡°I swear everyone¡¯s too secretive nowadays. It was just like the thing with the map. If we hadn¡¯t scrounged around for information, we would have never found this stupid cave.¡± The man¡¯s aggressive tone echoed over the stone walls.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. We made it here, and now we just need to reach the ritual.¡± The man¡¯s companion attempted to comfort his anger. However, this only caused the man to enter a spiraling rant about the journey to the cave.


    Samuel perked up hearing the word ritual. The term felt almost out of place. Confused, Samuel pried deeper.


    ¡°What do you guys know about this ritual? Does it have something to do with us being initiated?¡± Samuel was trying to be careful, not revealing how little information he honestly had. He wasn¡¯t sure what would happen if they found out he knew nothing.


    Luckily for Samuel, the two men weren¡¯t that sharp. The man ceased his rant and clicked his tongue. He assumed Samuel had been left in the dark just as they were and answered his question.


    ¡°Being initiates, we don¡¯t know much about the ritual. All we know is that it¡¯s happening in this cave and that we are to meet a senior member. After the ritual, we¡¯ll become full-fledged Necromancers and become members of the Raven Guild, or at least that¡¯s what we were told.¡±


    Like a stenographer, Samuel paid close attention to the man¡¯s words. Although Samuel¡¯s mind suddenly stopped. Necromancer? Samuel thought the man was mistaken.


    ¡°Necromancers?¡± A tone of disbelief slipped through into Samuel¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Yes, Necromancers. Pretty exciting, eh?¡±


    ¡°Very! Samuel nervously laughed.


    The two men dismissed Samuel and continued their conversation about the difficulty of their journey. The two enjoyed ranting to one another as they quickly fell into a deep discussion. Samuel, on the other hand, started contemplating his current predicament.


    Samuel was no stranger to the concept of a Necromancer. Several videogames, movies, and books had varying versions of Necromancers. However, they all followed similar themes. Necromancers were usually mages that focused on dark magic, i.e., summoning, hexes, or demonology.


    Samuel was conflicted. When answering Samuel''s questions, the man¡¯s sincerity was too convincing, which caused him to start connecting the dots. Samuel woke up in dark fantasy style clothes, he saw two monstrous creatures fighting, and now he was being led to a ritual for fledgling Necromancers.


    Samuel started to panic as the reality of the situation seeped in. It had been challenging to focus with all the things happening to him since he woke up. His racing mind tried to recollect all that had happened before he appeared on the coast.


    His memory was murky as if it was incomplete. Thankfully between the dark moments, there were vivid emotions. These powerful emotions acted as guides, almost paving a path. However, the powerful memory was incomplete. No matter how hard he tried to focus, he couldn¡¯t remember that far back.


    Not after a few more attempts, Samuel gave up. Despite not being able to remember the past, he could still focus on the present. Samuel took a deep breath to reset his mental, then took a symbolic step back to look at his current situation.


    Unfortunately, despite Samuel''s determination, he felt a hand settle on his shoulder, breaking his concentration. Samuel turned his head but saw no one. Confused, Samuel could still feel the hand on his shoulder. It wasn¡¯t until a second past that Samuel fearfully realized the two men were walking ahead of Samuel.


    Samuel whipped around with a scared yip. Bewildered, Samuel scanned the dark and empty cave behind himself with wide eyes. Then, after a few moments of cautious staring, he returned forward. The two men had vanished, leaving Samuel alone in the eerie cave.

 Chapter 4 - Visions of Judgement

    With a sinking heart, Samuel hurriedly surveyed his surroundings. Mere moments prior, the two bickering men were walking ahead of Samuel. Now Samuel was alone in the long stretching corridor.


    A cold bead of sweat rolled down Samuel¡¯s cheek as his body began to shake. A powerful feeling of fear surged throughout his body. He went to scream out, yet his body was frozen.


    The invisible hand resting on Samuel¡¯s shoulder lifted, releasing its firm grip. However, it immediately slammed down, mirrored on both shoulders. The heavy weight felt like a giant was pushing down on Samuel. He had no choice but to fall to his knees.


    The immobile Samuel squealed in pain as he was forced to kneel, his legs aching from awkward motion. Unfortunately, there was little time to struggle as a distant brazier caught his attention.


    Each large brazier held powerful green flames, whose emerald light had illuminated Samuel¡¯s path. Yet the fire on a distant brazier was hissing. An invisible force smothered the dancing fire. The conical brazier hanging from the wall started to sway from side to side. Soon the power extinguished the flame, and the area beneath the brazier was plunged into the darkness.


    Samuel was incapable of thought as he watched the next brazier begin swaying. It was almost rhythmic, the way the dancing fire and swinging braziers vanished into the darkness. Samuel was unable to look away as he watched the darkness slowly encroach. Then he saw it.


    Just before each brazier dwindled, there was a figure in the dimming emerald light. A humanoid figure was sauntering just beyond the edge of darkness. The already terrified Samuel paled. The shadowy figure was tall with a broad stance, much larger than any man Samuel had ever seen.


    Despite its large stature, the shadow moved silently towards Samuel, and soon the motionless Samuel was left kneeling beneath the last remaining brazier.


    Samuel felt like his eyes would burst from his skull as he tried with all his might to move his body. Finally, the shadow stopped just outside of the light¡¯s radius. Its featureless appearance was strange, wholly comprised of dense black smoke.


    Although the shadow had no eyes, Samuel felt like it was watching him. Despite the brazier above Samuel flickering and starting to sway, he didn¡¯t dare let the shade out of his sight. Then, however, like flicking a light switch, the cave went dark before lighting back up. In that instant, the specter vanished.


    The new light from the brazier was different. Much like a spotlight, it only lit the area around Samuel¡¯s body. Samuel let out a pained sigh of relief as the pressure on his shoulders disappeared. Finally, his petrified body was able to move. Crouching and slowly rising, he looked around. He was desperate to find the shade, knowing it was somewhere around him.


    Samuel flinched as he heard shifting sounds behind him in the darkness. He followed the skittering sounds with his eyes but could not see into the deep darkness beyond the light.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    It was then that the shade revealed itself. Like a stereotypical jump scare, the shadowy figure lurched from the shadows at Samuel. Samuel screamed and fell backward. He anxiously squirmed on the ground, kicking himself back away from the shadow.


    However, instead of attacking, the shadow stood motionless over Samuel. It wasn¡¯t until Samuel stopped flailing that the shadow acted. Two golden eyes pierced through the shadow and glared at Samuel. Then the silhouette of a fearsome smile with sharp teeth peeked through the shadow.


    Samuel peed himself. He was helpless as the shadow took a step closer. It leaned over on its knee, bringing its face close to Samuel¡¯s.


    ¡°W????h???a???????? ???b????????s?????¨¬????????e????s???s????? ?????????o??????s????? ?????a????? ???p?????????t????? ????h????¨¤???v???e??? ????¨«????n????? ????m???y????? ?????s??????????n????c???t????¨±????a?????r????y??????????¡±


    The screeching sound caused immense pain to Samuel. The grave tone echoed with high-pitched whispers, slowly morphed into a bearable sound as the shade repeated itself.


    ¡°What business does a pet have in my sanctuary?¡± The shade questioned Samuel.


    Unable to comprehend the situation, Samuel silently stared with a horrified expression.


    ¡°Pffft.¡± The shade leaned back, still staring down at Samuel. The shadow raised its hands and began grabbing at its head. Its large hand stretched the darkness almost like rubber until it finally split.


    The eerie darkness that made up the body of the shade split, and with great effort, the shade peeled the shadow off its body. Underneath the encompassing darkness was bright red skin. With more peeling, a chiseled face was revealed. Bald and with firm contours, the red-faced monster continued to pull itself free from the second skin. The unsettling molting continued until the upper half of a red-skinned man was revealed.


    The man stretched out his arms with a great exhale, the shell of darkness falling to his waist like a large belt. He looked more human this way, but the red skin, golden eyes, and wicked teeth kept Samuel silent.


    The man¡¯s golden eyes, now fully exposed, flashed brilliantly. Samuel felt a burning sensation in his mind and clutched his head with both hands.


    ¡°Hahaha! I see it now. You truly are nothing but a pet.¡± The man laughed at Samuel before turning his back to Samuel. ¡°I¡¯ll grant you forgiveness for your arrogance this once. I don¡¯t want to incur her wrath. Finish whatever you came here for and leave.¡±


    The man turned his head to look at Samuel as he raised one hand.


    ¡°Remember pet if you come back here again, I will destroy you." Then, with disgust, the demon snapped his fingers, sending Samuel away.


    Samuel was instantly transported back to reality. He gained consciousness and stumbled to the ground with a similar feeling to before, rolling against the wall. The two men leading the way stopped and rushed over to Samuel.


    ¡°Woah, are you okay?¡± The two men spoke in unison. They could see how distraught Samuel was. His eyes were terrified and wild, his body covered in a cold sweat. Samuel could not speak, his mind still catching up to the situation.


    ¡°Look, I understand you¡¯re tired, but we¡¯re so close. Don¡¯t you hear it? There is something up ahead.¡± The men lifted Samuel to his feet by his shoulders.


    ¡°You can rest once you get there. Come on. It¡¯s only a little further.¡± The men pushed the shuffling Samuel along. They used their comforting words as masks for their impatience.


    The two men escorted the reeling Samuel a few dozen feet before Samuel finally regained composure. He stopped walking and checked his body.


    Samuel¡¯s hands grabbed different parts of his body, and he visually inspected himself. Thankfully his urinating on himself wasn¡¯t real. However, he was still unable to form the sentences needed to ask the men what they saw. Instead, all that came out was a garbled slur of words. To which the men laughed before pushing Samuel further ahead. The trio approached the growing sounds of chatter.

 Chapter 5 - Growing Tension

    With firm hands on his back, the two men forced Samuel to step forwards. Despite his racing mind, the two men showed shallow concern. They were too invested and couldn¡¯t be bothered by Samuel¡¯s ¡®episode¡¯. Together the two men drove Samuel through a bend in the cave. The faint sound of chatter invigorated the dreary duo. However, the trio stopped when breaking past a narrow curve in the cavern.


    Standing before the trio stood a large arched doorway. The cobbled stone arc had a large, ambered, colored torch at its peak. A small and round wooden table, accompanied by several chairs, sat with food and drinks through the archway.


    The strange scene was enticing to the two men behind Samuel. They had exhausted their supplies during their trip and were starved and dehydrated. They wanted to rush in and investigate the table, but they didn¡¯t move.


    Human instincts were strong. There was an uneasy air coming from the archway. Even the dimwitted duo could feel something was off and watched hesitantly as they slowly approached the entryway. They used Samuel as a human shield, stepping through into a large room.


    The natural cavern walls instantly transformed into smooth cobbled brick. Warm, pleasant amber replaced the sickly green light. The group was so taken aback by the room that they belatedly realized the black figure on the far side of the room.


    ¡°This is too much.¡± The more petite man muttered as he crouched behind Samuel.


    His companion shot a glance before turning towards the figure. ¡°H-Hello.¡± The man reached out and slowly approached. He was nervous but determined. He quickly flinched back as the figure turned around.


    The figure swirled around and grew. The three men swallowed as the dark figure was a beautiful woman in a long black dress. The men scoffed at themselves. The cavern had them so worked up that they failed to see the obvious.


    The woman twirled to face the three men and placed a hand on her hip. She had long, straight black hair that morphed into bright lilac curls. Her hair parted and traveled down her shoulders down to her waist. Like shining amethyst, her almond-shaped eyes examined the three men.


    She studied the embarrassed men before her thin lips formed a coy smile. ¡°You scared me.¡± She let out a short laugh, but the three men stood silent.


    Despite the cold reception, the woman continued. ¡°I understand the journey here can be difficult, but don¡¯t worry. This is the final step!¡± She stepped over and sat in one of the many chairs surrounding the table.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with something simple. Why don¡¯t we introduce ourselves while waiting for the ritual to start?¡± But, despite her smile, Samuel felt immense apprehension. Something about her felt truly off to him.


    ¡°My name is Morrigan. I¡¯m a silver rank Summoner in the guild. I¡¯ll oversee you three until we return to the guild.¡±


    The two men looked at one another. Then, after having what seemed like a mental conversation, they both sat at the table. They grabbed a loaf each from a basket of bread in the center of the table.


    ¡°I¡¯m Brock, and this is my younger brother Bryan.¡± The larger of the two men spoke. He then quenched his thirst with one of the many waterskins on the table. Bryan waved his hand as he continued to stuff his face.


    There was a moment of silence before Morrigan and the brothers both turned towards Samuel. Samuel was silent and confused. The situation was too strange for him to accept what was happening. Guilds? Silver rank Summoner? Morrigan¡¯s introduction added more questions to Samuel¡¯s list.


    Belatedly realizing the awkwardness of the situation, Samuel clumsily answered. ¡°M-My name is Samuel.¡± Morrigan made a slight nod, and her eyes met Samuel¡¯s. She could already tell Samuel was different.


    ¡°Samuel?¡± Samuel shivered to hear Morrigan¡¯s inquisitive tone. ¡°Seeing your armor, I¡¯m curious. It¡¯s quite nice armor for an initiate. Where did you get it?¡± Morrigan¡¯s smile curved upwards as if signaling to Samuel that she knew he was different.


    ¡°I-uh¡­¡± Samuel stammered, taking a step back as he tried to think of a lie.


    ¡°I think he¡¯s some rich guy. He didn¡¯t even have a camp outside the cavern. He most likely had an escort. Lucky him.¡± Brock said with a condescending tone.


    Morrigan shot a powerful gaze at Brock. She had wanted Samuel to dig himself a hole, only for Brock to provide an easy out. Then, clearing her throat, she pressed Samuel again.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a seat, Samuel? You seem tense. Why not take a moment and drink some water?¡± She motioned towards the chair next to her, rotating it towards Samuel.


    Trying not to gain any more suspicion, Samuel timidly grabbed a water skin. Morrigan''s presence was overbearing as she watched his every movement. Samuel held the heavy leather sack in his hands. He fumbled nervously with the cork stopper before taking a sip of water. His face tensed as the water was room temperature and had the taste of leather. It was disgusting. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to spit it out and swallowed the putrid water.


    Morrigan let out a little laugh as she watched Samuel. Then, she leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.


    ¡°So, Brock, Bryan. It¡¯s uncommon for both brothers to be accepted as potential initiates together.¡± Morrigan showed much less interest than when she questioned Samuel.


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Brock gulped down his food. ¡°Our recruiter said the same thing. He made the exception since we live so far away. We¡¯re from Lindow. He told us it would be a while before the recruiters made it out that far and  that we should come together.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Lindow?¡± Morrigan was genuinely surprised. Lindow was a small village on the far western side of the country. Aside from grain exports to the capital, Lindow was a city many forgot existed. Nevertheless, Morrigan found it interesting that two necromancer candidates were scouted there or that a recruiter even went as far as Lindow.


    ¡°Yep, Brock and I have been waiting to become necromancers. We couldn¡¯t believe the recruiter told us to meet here!¡± Bryan¡¯s excitement was palpable.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­.¡± Morrigan laughed. ¡°And what about you?¡± Her sharp eyes snapped on Samuel, quietly munching on some bread.


    Samuel¡¯s eyes widened as it dawned on him. There was no way he could lie his way out of this. He knew nothing. Samuel was speechless, causing Morrigan¡¯s smile to grow. She leaned forward with anticipation.


    Thankfully for Samuel, Morrigan¡¯s concentration broke as Brock and Bryan launched from their seats. Morrigan watched as the two men jumped and crawled into the corner of the room. Her perplexed gaze followed theirs, which led to the entrance. Her tense shoulders fell with relief.


    To Samuel''s surprise, the spider and lizard from before had crawled through the entryway and hissed. Morrigan didn¡¯t feel any fear and instead rose from her seat. She approached the beast with a smile.


    The men watched as the woman knelt before the aggressive beasts. However, they were astonished. Despite their hissing and croaking, the beasts didn¡¯t attack the woman. On the contrary, it seemed she soothed them.


    ¡°No reason to be worried. These are my babies.¡± Morrigan rubbed the slick dorsal scales of the lizard and used the back of her hand to stroke the spider¡¯s abdomen.


    Brock and Bryan were unconvinced and maintained their distance. Samuel was too scared and exhausted to move, so he sat silently in his chair.


    Morrigan rose and looked at everyone with a confused expression. ¡°I told you I was a summoner. These are my familiars. They had told me you three were on your way here earlier.¡± She then motioned for the two monsters to where she had crouched earlier.


    Because of Morrigan, the three men hadn¡¯t noticed, but slivers of meat where she had crouched down. It looked like strips of jerky had been split into two piles. As instructed by their master, the lizard and spider sauntered over to the piles and began eating.


    The entire situation was outrageous, yet Morrigan treated it as usual as someone feeding their pet. She watched the beasts eat like a proud mother before returning to her seat.


    Following her movement, Samuel finally noticed the far side of the room. The room wasn¡¯t a box but had a full balcony behind him. Unfortunately, Morrigan¡¯s grasping presence had distracted him from his surroundings.


    ¡°There¡¯s a balcony?¡± Samuel thought out loud.


    ¡°Of course, so that we can watch the ritual.¡± Morrigan spoke while she focused on her ¡®babies¡¯. The two monsters had started fighting over the remainder of the food, but Morrigan stepped in. ¡°Stop fighting! Behave, or I¡¯ll banish you!¡± She threatened with a stern look.


    Samuel walked over to the balcony, and his eyes immediately widened. The view was unbelievable. An extensive clearing had been carved out of the limestone. Rooms identical to Samuel¡¯s circled the clearing, maybe 8 in total. These rooms had their groups of initiates all talking and eating. Each room¡¯s balcony was about 2 meters from the stone floor.


    However, it wasn¡¯t the vast space of carved stone that made Samuel speechless. Instead, it was the enormous statue in the center of the area. It was massive. The figure was a perfect depiction of a man. It had a bald head with a noble face, broad shoulders, and defined muscles. The man looked somewhat familiar to Samuel, but before his thought could finish, Morrigan appeared next to him.


    She leaned over the balcony, revealing her cleavage. A long slit in her dress displayed her legs for everyone to see. It made Samuel uncomfortable. She was someone who used her appearance for fishing attention. Morrigan giggled as he noticed Samuel staring and spoke up.


    ¡°I informed Damian that you three were on your way, so they should be ready to start soon.¡±


    Samuel couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. The ritual. What kind of ritual would the necromancers have? Samuel didn¡¯t want to know the answer, so he admired the statue.


    His eyes followed down the statue. He was impressed by the craftsmanship. Despite moss and matted spiderwebs, the intricate details maintained their forms. However, Samuel¡¯s heart sank as his gaze reached the statue''s base.


    Samuel vocally gasped. There was a large stone table covered with red stains. Samuel couldn¡¯t believe it. The harsh bloodstains that had dried on the tabletop activated a primal fear inside Samuel.


    Samuel stumbled backward, grasping his face, but he couldn¡¯t escape. Morrigan had grabbed his shoulder. Her delicate hands had great strength. Samuel faced her with a troubled looked, but Morrigan had a wicked smile.


    Morrigan was manipulative and loved toying with people. Because of this, she could instantly feel the innocence in Samuel. She had finally gotten what she wanted. Morrigan forced Samuel forward and against the balcony.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Morrigan mocked Samuel. Her genuine smile and sinister eyes made Samuel tremble.


    The brothers noticed what was happening and tried to get closer, but the two beasts leaped forwards. The brothers both flinched and looked at Morrigan with confusion.


    ¡°You two stay out of this!¡± Morrigan growled from the balcony. Her pleasant voice had become dark and belligerent.


    It was at this moment that a loud clang echoed throughout the clearing. Morrigan¡¯s grip tightened as she let out a devilish chuckle.


    Samuel pushed against the cold balcony and watched as a large iron door started to open. The tall door was seamless against the carved rock, causing it to screech with a terrible sound as it slowly swung open. Then a man covered in black robes walked from the door and up the short stairs to the table.


    Dark robes covered the man¡¯s body, and a large hood hid his face. Once he reached the table, he went into his robes and placed three items: a serpentine-shaped dagger, a worn piece of paper, and a bizarre-looking book.


    It was hard to make out the finer details from a distance, but Samuel wasn¡¯t a fool. He knew the stereotype and recognized the items. A ritual dagger and a tome would both be used for the ritual.


    ¡°Sigh.¡± The man let out a long sigh, then looked around at the various rooms surrounding him. ¡°Cough¡­¡± The man cleared his throat.


    ¡°Welcome, everyone!¡± The man¡¯s voice was surprisingly clear despite being so far away. ¡°I am so thankful that everyone has gathered here today! Today we welcome many new faces into our ranks! I¡¯m sure many of you are excited or tired from long journeys, so I¡¯ll get started!¡± The man¡¯s voice was alarmingly joyous.


    Then the man opened the bizarre book. He casually flipped through the pages until finally resting somewhere in the middle of the book. He placed it down on the table, raised his hands, and chanted. A cacophony of muttered screeches boomed from the man. He looked as if he was in a trance as he recited the book¡¯s text.


    Samuel squirmed as he felt like his ears would bleed, but Morrigan wouldn¡¯t budge. So he was forced to suffer, as did the brothers, although he couldn''t shield his ears.


    After what felt like an eternity, the man in the center area finished his chant and took a few deep breaths. Then, he flipped the page in his book and turned to face the iron door. He waved his hand as if signaling someone to enter.


    A giant of a man squeezed his way through the door. His massive body was broad and plump. Unlike the priest, he wore black armor similar to Samuel. However, his muscular arms were exposed. His large hands held a thick chain that dragged behind him.


    Samuel¡¯s tension was reaching its breaking point.

 Chapter 6 - Confrontation

    With a cold jingle, the goliath of a man pulled the chains gripped firmly in his hands. Out of the large iron door stumbled a short woman. Dark soot and dirt matted her long black hair. She wore torn clothing that revealed the large bruises and dried blood covering her thin body.


    A human sacrifice. Samuel was sure of the situation as he watched the man lead the woman up the stair to the priest.


    ¡°Ah, Gavin, Thank you.¡± The priest spoke. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind laying her out for the ritual.¡± The priest stepped to the side and allowed the large man to approach the table.


    The man¡¯s large arms effortlessly lifted the woman by her chains. She tried to scream as the crude metal bindings bent her wrists. However, she was too weak to make a sound. Gavin cruelly slammed her onto the table. The man smiled at the woman¡¯s pained expression but maintained focus.


    He flattened her out and turned to the priest. ¡°Everything should be ready. I drugged her, so she shouldn¡¯t interrupt.¡± The man whispered to the priest with a devilish chuckle. Gavin had an excited glint as he stepped away from the table.


    ¡°What would I do without you?¡± The priest returned to the table with a smile then he spoke aloud to everyone. ¡°I will now begin the final piece of the sacrament!¡±


    Damian grabbed the ceremonial dagger and took a deep breath. He slowly opened his eyes and chanted a new verse from the book. The small silver dagger began to radiate a dim purple light, almost humming from within Damian¡¯s grasp.


    Samuel¡¯s eyes shook as he tried to look away, only for his expression to darken. Every person in the rooms surrounding the bottom area was standing on each balcony. Everyone had menacing smiles as if they were enjoying the rising tension.


    Seeing everyone¡¯s reaction was the final straw. Samuel had finally reached his breaking point. These weren¡¯t people but monsters. He wanted nothing more than to run and escape this hellish cave.


    He mustered his last strength, wildly squirming in Morrigan¡¯s hold. Despite her impressive strength, Samuel shook himself free from Morrigan.


    Samuel blindly kicked out, kicking Morrigan hard in the shin. Her grip weakened from the surprise attack, allowing Samuel to free himself. He spun and pushed Morrigan back, causing her to fall backward.


    Samuel was hyperventilating from the adrenaline. Samuel looked up from Morrigan to see her minions charging. The astonished brothers watched with confused expressions.


    The skittering spider was fast and agile, quickly cutting the gap. It raised its forelegs and readied its fangs. However, Samuel was beyond fear and didn¡¯t hesitate.


    Samuel took a skip forward, kicking the spider like a kickball. A loud crack followed as a sharp pain rushed up Samuel¡¯s leg. He winced and staggered but felt a small glimpse of hope as the spider rolled away, screeching across the room.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    With a slight limp, Samuel started running towards the exit. The slower lizard was different from the spider. It was significantly more dangerous in Samuel¡¯s eyes. Its powerful muscles and sharp claws meant it was game over if Samuel let himself get caught.


    ¡°HHHHSSSSS¡± The lizard coiled its fat tail as a springboard to pounce at Samuel.


    Samuel grunted from the pain in his foot but managed to dodge to the side, narrowly escaping the beast¡¯s claws. Samuel watched as the lizard slid on the smooth stone. Its claws had trouble gripping the smooth surface, but that didn¡¯t stop the beast aggressively pursuing Samuel.


    With a rumbling clattering, the lizard snapped its jaw forwards. Samuel was unable to react this time. The sharp teeth of the lizard crunched around his thigh like a bear trap. The lizard used its weight to whip its head side to side, digging its teeth deeper.


    ¡°AAAAAAHHHHH!¡± Samuel screamed in pain while desperately punching at the lizard¡¯s head, trying to get the beast to let go.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Bryan belatedly asked his brother. Although he usually had a plan, Brock was speechless. He couldn¡¯t comprehend the man named Samuel. Despite finding the cave, everything was smooth until meeting Samuel.


    Becoming a necromancer was like a calling for Brock and Bryan. Brock felt a rising anger every time Samuel dismissed necromancers. Samuel¡¯s lack of interest or desire felt like an insult to their dreams.


    Brock huffed and puffed as his vision reddened with anger. He clinched both first and sprinted at Samuel. Bryan watched with disbelief as his brother tackled Samuel.


    Samuel was entirely blindsided by the tackle and harshly crashed to the ground. The lizard¡¯s teeth ripped through Samuel¡¯s thigh as he was pulled away by Brock.


    ¡°You absolute idiots!¡± Morrigan roared. She had returned to her feet only to see Brock roll painfully over Samuel.


    Brock had smacked his head against the ground when tackling Samuel. A thin stream of blood dripped down from his scalp as he staggered to his feet. Bryan ran to support his brother quickly.


    ¡°Samuel!¡± Morrigan¡¯s voice was fierce. She stomped over and grabbed Samuel¡¯s collar. She yanked him to his feet before pressing her face close to his. ¡°W- ¡°


    Before she could continue, she felt a dazing blow across her face. Samuel had slapped her.


    ¡°Just let me go!¡± Samuel growled. He sunk a punch into Morrigan¡¯s face, causing her to stumble back.


    Although he was free from her grip, Samuel didn¡¯t get his wish. Morrigan scowled with anger. She leaned back and planted the sole of her foot into Samuel¡¯s chest.


    Samuel coughed as he felt the wind get knocked out of him. Morrigan¡¯s powerful kick crushed Samuel¡¯s chest and sent him bouncing harshly against the stone railing.


    Samuel was too stunned to notice, but everyone else¡¯s eyes widened. A large crack in the stone appeared after Samuel landed. The terrified Samuel was gasping for air before his vision of the room shifted.


    The balustrade Samuel was leaning against collapsed, causing him to fall backward off the balcony. He was too baffled to scream as he fell several feet to the ground.


    ¡°Ha¡­Ha-ha¡± Morrigan slowly started laughing after Samuel disappeared over the edge. Her laugh echoed her bewildered expression.


    ¡°We need to go.¡± She nodded to herself before turning to the brothers. ¡°Congratulations, you¡¯re officially necromancers. Now let¡¯s go.¡±


    As if fleeing, Morrigan hurriedly left the room. The lizard and limping spider followed closely.


    Bryan looked around aimlessly. He was scared but had to decide. His brother was too disoriented to lead, so Bryan had no choice but to lead Brock after Morrigan. In a matter of moments, the room was empty.

 Chapter 7 - Interruption

    Time slowed as Samuel¡¯s vision sharpened before cutting to black. The heavy stone banister exploded outwards when it collided with the ground. The resulting plume of dust covered Samuel as he plummeted. There was a loud pop as Samuel crashed against a limestone stairwell. His body rolled down the crude stairs, resting at Gavin¡¯s feet.


    A wave of eerie silence blanketed the clearing. Damian caught entirely off guard, stared at Samuel. Then, finally, the silence broke into faint murmurs as everyone belatedly realized the situation. Each room of spectators quickly emptied as its occupants fled the sanctuary.


    Gavin was the last one to steady himself and looked up at Damian. He was hoping Damian would have an answer as to what just happened. But, instead, Gavin¡¯s lost expression curled into a dark smile.


    Damian had an overwhelming fury burning in his cerulean eyes. He was shaking from anger as his voice boomed.


    ¡°In all my years severing as a priest for my master, not once has someone interrupted a ritual! There is no atonement for such heresy!¡± Damian screamed towards Samuel.


    With a calming sigh, an idea blinked into Damian¡¯s mind. ¡°Take solace in knowing your soul will be given to the lord!¡± Damian cocked his head towards Gavin. ¡°Break him!¡±


    Gavin almost giggled with happiness at Damian¡¯s command, but instead, he cracked his knuckles and used his boot to flip Samuel onto his back.


    Samuel was in rough shape. His head was throbbing, and his leg was numb. He was barely conscious. He could hear the muffled sound of someone talking. Samuel could taste the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, but Gavin had lifted Samuel by his shoulders before he could collect himself. Gavin¡¯s impressive stature held Samuel entirely off the ground.


    Samuel struggled to hold his head up, looking down at the ground. He coughed, spitting a small amount of blood onto the floor. Then, his focus sharpened, and he raised his head, meeting Gavin¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°N-no¡­¡± Samuel tried to speak, but his voice was too weak.


    Gavin flexed his muscles clamping down on Samuel¡¯s shoulders, digging his enormous thumbs deep into the joints. Samuel screamed in pain, unable to resist the giant of a man. His grip was unbreakable.


    After an excruciating couple of seconds, Gavin stopped. Samuel heaved from the pain, but a crushing blow smashed his face before he could even react.


    Gavin had dropped Samuel and reeled back a powerful punch. His cinderblock-like fist flattened Samuel¡¯s face, sending him flying backward. Samuel¡¯s back harshly bounced off the limestone stairs behind him.


    ¡°The best part of being Damian¡¯s assistant¡­.¡± Gavin approached slowly and menacingly. ¡°As long as I don¡¯t kill you, I get to play with you all I want!¡±


    Samuel held his now broken nose, ignoring Gavin. The foreign feeling of warm blood covered his face. His eyes become swollen and red.


    Gavin towered over Samuel, watching him writhing in pain. Gavin noticed Samuel¡¯s bloody leg and chuckled to himself. He raised his thick leg before stomping, demolishing Samuel¡¯s femur between two steps.


    Samuel lurched forwards to scream, but a hand grabbed his face, smothering it.


    Samuel¡¯s bloodshot eyes glared at Gavin through the gaps in Gavin¡¯s fingers as Gavin lifted him. Gavin¡¯s large fingers dug into Samuel¡¯s Cheekbones.


    ¡°Ahaha. Looking at me with those eyes!¡± Gavin¡¯s gravelly voice jeered Samuel.


    There was a limit to how scared someone could be. But then, there comes the point where fear and desperation transform into anger and reprehension. Samuel was feeling a turbulent blend of emotions.


    Samuel leered at Gavin with blooming resolve. Samuel knew he was doomed, but he wouldn¡¯t lie down and take it.


    Samuel used this newfound determination and squeezed his jaw, despite Gavin¡¯s sturdy grip, biting the palm of Gavin¡¯s hand.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Gavin pulled his hand away and growled in pain. He held his hand and looked where Samuel¡¯s teeth had left a minor laceration.


    ¡°Oh, oh-oh, that¡¯s the spirit!¡± Gavin was startlingly excited. He shook his hand before grabbing Samuel by the throat with his other.


    Samuel squirmed as Gavin pressed his weight onto Samuel, pinning him to the ground. Gavin¡¯s calloused hand choked Samuel. However, Samuel didn¡¯t express desperation. Instead, he gasped and spat blood onto Gavin¡¯s face.


    Gavin laughed and strengthened his grip around Samuel¡¯s neck. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I won¡¯t get to kill you properly. You seem like a lot of fun.¡± Gavin wasn¡¯t inexperienced. He knew not to kill Samuel; that was Damian¡¯s job. Gavin prepared to release his grip once Samuel passed out.


    While being choked by Gavin, Samuel tried to accept his fate but failed. Samuel started cursing himself in his mind. He felt intense shame. Why did Samuel follow the brothers? Why didn¡¯t he try to run earlier? Samuel hated his past self.


    Samuel looked past Gavin and at the woman on the table.


    ¡®At least I won¡¯t die alone.¡¯ Or so Samuel thought. To his surprise, the woman was gone.


    Damian was so focused on Samuel that he hadn¡¯t noticed the woman drag herself up and escape through the iron door. Samuel couldn¡¯t believe the absurdity of the situation. His expression darkened.


    ¡®Please¡­ I don¡¯t want to die alone. Please, someone¡­¡¯


    Samuel¡¯s consciousness was fading after being choked for a few seconds. He felt a light scratching against the back of his skull, and his throbbing headache intensified.


    Samuel saw a black mass appear on the ground in his blurring vision. It appeared seemingly out of nowhere, almost as if a hallucination.


    The black mass looked like a gelatinous blob about a half meter wide. The lump had a bright sheen before several cracks formed on its surface. Dark goop, like onyx ink, poured from the cracks. Spurts of black smoke spewed from the cracks before the orb burst.


    A massive cloud of abyssal smoke formed a pillar. Black ink splattered everywhere. Damian was speechless as he watched a figure appear in the smoke. Gavin released his grip on the unconscious Samuel and turned to see the pillar of inky smoke.


    Large spear-like ribs coiled around the smoke. The ribs continued expanding, forming chest plates and a spine. The dark ebony-colored bones formed a thick skeleton. The wild plume of smoke calmed and settled in the skeleton¡¯s chest like a heart. The onyx ink dripped from small silver cracks in the skeleton¡¯s bones.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Gavin was astonished. He had never seen such an intense-looking skeleton. However, he was even more astonished as the skeleton leaned forwards and roared.


    A low rumbling with raspy whistling roared from the skeleton¡¯s skull, causing the air to tremble. The giant skeleton dominated the atmosphere with the billowing sound before rushing towards Gavin.


    Gavin had a bony fist planted into his chest, too confused to react. The force was unreal, sending Gavin rolling backward. The hulking monster stomped on Gavin¡¯s arm, snapping his forearm. Then it mangled Gavin¡¯s face with a flurry of wild punches.


    Black ink drenched Gavin¡¯s body, sizzling where it touched his skin. The obsidian skeleton stood proud over Gavin and screeched upwards. The bloodcurdling sound echoed throughout the sanctuary, waking Samuel.


    Samuel gasped to life, instantly grabbing his throat. His vision was stained red and blurry as he desperately tried to breathe. Finally, Samuel rolled over, hunched over on his side, utterly oblivious to the skeleton next to him.


    Damian, petrified by the surreal scene unfolding before him, quivered as he stared at Gavin¡¯s body. The righteous fury had fizzled in his eyes, replaced by an ashamed sadness.


    Samuel squeaked while coughing up bloodied phlegm, breaking Damian from his stupor.


    ¡®It''s all his fault.¡¯ Damian convinced himself and held a hand towards Samuel. A few centimeters from his hand appeared a coin-sized light, quickly doubling in size. The swirling green light grew to the size of a baseball before Damian braced himself.


    The baseball of green light erupted into a blazing fire. The demonic fire quaked before blasting towards Samuel. The orb tripled in volume while rocketing through the air, a comet-like trail forming behind it.


    Still absentminded, Samuel continued coughing. Then the sound of heavy clanking caught his attention. The skeleton¡¯s bony feet clanked against the limestone as it intercepted the fireball.


    The ground shook violently as the powerful fireball engulfed the skeleton¡¯s body. A pillar of flame stretched towards the roof, the harsh heat threatening Samuel.


    However, both Samuel and Damian were shocked. Despite the devasting explosion, the obsidian skeleton stood undeterred in the pillar of roaring flame. The green light reflecting off the silver cracks in its body sent shivers down Damian¡¯s spine. The cold unwavering eye sockets of the skeleton pierced Damian¡¯s confidence.


    With a heavy step, the skeleton started approaching Damian. But, thankfully for Damian, a pained squeak from Samuel changed the skeleton¡¯s focus.


    Facing Damian, the skeleton turned its skull to the side towards Samuel. Before turning away, it looked back at Damian, conveying an unspoken warning.


    Samuel shook with fear as the abominable skeleton knelt over him. The soulless eye sockets stared blankly at Samuel as two giant hands lifted Samuel from the ground. The skeleton cradled Samuel.


    The skeleton¡¯s body emanated an overbearing pressure. The smoky storm contained in its chest expanded around its entire body.


    Damian, covered in sweat, watched as the skeleton carried Samuel to the exit. It closed the large iron door before coating the hinges in viscous ink. The ink steamed, melting the hinges in place.


    Samuel was too exhausted and passed out. The skeleton stared at Samuel before carrying him further into the large corridor, illuminated by amber scones.