After his meal, Ezren turned back to his portal. He meditated to replenish his strength, and once restored, he issued a command to Graos. The butchering was complete, and now it was time to test his theory: if a corpse could be restored, could its useful parts be repeatedly harvested?
"Alright, Graos. Let’s try it. Use the materials from the butchered wolf to regrow the skin of the others."
Graos slithered over and deposited the butchered meat into the Sinew Pool. The pool churned as it absorbed the flesh and converted it into usable material. Ezren felt a sharp drain on his power as the magic activated, and Graos reshaped the consumed material into three pelts of wolf fur, neatly folded and ready for use. With these, Ezren now possessed four wolf pelts.
Moving on to the next step, Ezren commanded, "Graos, make bone spikes. Use what remains of the wolf’s bones."
Graos’ tendrils lashed out, gathering the scattered bones and drawing them toward the Sinew Pool. The organic forge absorbed the raw materials, rendering them malleable. Ezren felt another heavy drain on his strength as his reserves were pulled away to fuel the process. With precision, Graos manipulated the material, reshaping the bones into ten bone spikes—each 15 inches long, formed like thick, sharpened stakes with tapered points.
Graos clicked, his voice a low, grating rumble. "These spikes possess durability akin to high-quality steel, reinforced by dark energy. Their tapered points are designed to pierce through gaps in armor."
Exhausted, Ezren sat down, closing his eyes and allowing the ambient energy to flow back into him. After an hour of silent meditation, his strength was fully restored.
Later, when Ezren reopened the portal to the forest, the sun was beginning to set. He gathered wood, built another fire, and cooked the remaining meat. The scent of roasting flesh mingled with the cool evening air. After eating, he returned to the Forge and sealed the portal behind him.
<hr>
Fatigue soon crept in; he needed rest. Approaching the altar, Ezren glanced at the shifting, pulsing floor and said, "Graos."
The Forge Master slithered forward. "Yes, flesh-keeper?"
Ezren ran a hand through his hair, contemplating. "What''s the best place to put a bed?"
Graos let out a wet, clicking sound. "A bed? This chamber is adaptable. I can reshape the floor to accommodate your needs."
Ezren smirked. "Make it like a mattress. Something comfortable."
Without hesitation, the fleshy ground shifted and pulsed as it reshaped itself. The surface softened into a firm yet pliable structure. Ezren pressed his hand against it; it felt unnervingly like muscle—warm, yielding, almost like a proper bed.
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"Impressive," he murmured as he lay down, letting his body sink into the strange, living surface. It was far from a noble’s feather bed, but compared to the hard ground, it was pure luxury.
With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and the eerie glow of the Forge dimmed as sleep took hold.
<hr>
Ezren awoke feeling refreshed—free from hunger and exhaustion, with raw energy coursing through him. He stretched, then turned his attention to the three remaining corpses in the Forge—two wolves and a bird. First, he instructed Graos to restore the bird to its original form. Next, he cast Branding on the corpse, feeling dark energy surge into it as the process drained a significant amount of his strength. Then, he prepared for the final spell—that Orin learned.
Reanimation of the Dead
Upon activation, the magic circle channels dark energy directly into the targets, causing it to convulse violently as the forbidden power surges through its form. The corpse reanimates, regaining a rough semblance of its former self—though still visibly decayed and unrefined. It attacks the living with the ferocity of a once-living creature, though its movements gradually slow as the relentless decay takes its toll. Notably, it instinctively avoids those who share its dark energy signature.
Ezren cast the spell, and before him, two wolves and one bird stirred from death. Their reanimation drained much of his strength. Initially, the undead stood motionless, indifferent to his presence. Determined to bind them to his will, Ezren meditated once more to restore his energy before casting Branding on the undead.
A strange sensation followed—a tether forming between him and the creatures. It was a trade-off: while the undead were now bound to him, this binding came at a cost. The process locked away a substantial portion of his power, ensuring that a significant part of his energy would remain tied to these dark creations.
Despite the limitation, Ezren felt a growing sense of control. The Branding had forged a link—a tangible connection between master and servant. And as he surveyed his reanimated minions and forged weapons, he knew this was only the beginning of exploring the dark potential of his newfound powers.
<hr>
ezren items
10 bone spike (shape of a stake) 15inch long (imbune)
1 knife
4 wolf pelts
2 reanimated wolf and 1 bird.
For wolf, 15% of his mana was locked, and the bird consumed an additional 5%, totaling a 35% lock for the undead. Along with his weapons, which consumed another 30%, Ezren''s mana pool now sustained a permanent 65% mana lock. Only 35% of his mana remained free, the rest forever tied to his dark creations.
spell
Reanimation of the Dead
Upon activation, the magic circle channels dark energy directly into the targets, causing it to convulse violently as the forbidden power surges through its form. The corpse reanimates, regaining a rough semblance of its former self—though still visibly decayed and unrefined. It attacks the living with the ferocity of a once-living creature, though its movements gradually slow as the relentless decay takes its toll. Notably, it instinctively avoids those who share its dark energy signature.
extra info.
any creature that is processed through the Sinew Pool retains its integrity—its decaying tissues are infused with the liquid blood that prevents rot if goes outside the forge. Unlike typical undead, which often become sluggish and lose mobility over time, Ezren''s reanimated creatures are fully active, almost as if they were truly alive.