Chapter 20: The plague doctor


    Ezren closed the portal behind the rat-faced man, leaving him trembling on the other side. Without a moment''s hesitation, he extended his will toward the Chimera. "Bring back the body," he commanded silently, beast obeyed. The creature roared in acknowledgement and vanished into the distance.


    Turning to his loyal bird, Ezren issued another command. "Guide me back to the bear cave." As the bird took flight, Ezren allowed himself a moment of inner reflection.


    Without the bird, I’d be utterly lost in these wilds. I need to learn to navigate better—perhaps ask for some pointers at the guild. It’s a skill I can’t afford to ignore, he mused.


    A few minutes later, the bird led him to the spot where the bear lay paralyzed. The clearing was a macabre tableau—dead bodies scattered around like discarded trinkets. Ezren surveyed the scene with a detached gaze.


    Back on Earth, I’d sit in front of the TV and imagine different ways of ending it all—killing people, or even myself. Not that I was suicidal; it was more like a twisted daydream. I didn’t really want to die, but I couldn’t bear the thought of living either. It was an escape, a mental experiment. But here… here I’ve actually killed a group of people, and I feel nothing. No remorse, no elation. Just a cold, vacant satisfaction. Though, I suppose a small part of me is pleased—I can repurpose their bodies, use them as new material.


    He paused, letting the weight of his reflection settle in the dim light. His mind recalled a line he’d heard once: “You can’t reason with evil. Evil wants what it wants and won’t stop until it’s won, or until you kill it. The only way to kill it is to be meaner than evil. So the lesson is, learn how to be meaner than evil and still love your family, still enjoy a sunrise.”


    A slow, bitter laugh escaped him as he considered the irony. Why the heck do i think about this kind of stuff.


    The Chimera emerged from the underbrush, its massive paws dragging the bloodied body of the bandit leader like a doll. A low growl escaped its throat, proud and feral. Ezren nodded, his gaze shifting to the shifting, shimmering air before him.


    With a thought, the portal tore itself open. “Drag all the corpse,” Ezren ordered.


    The Chimera obeyed, yanking the corpses through the portal. Ezren turned his attention to the wounded bear still thrashing weakly on the ground. Without hesitation, he drove his bone spike through the beast’s skull, ending its struggles.


    He gripped the bear by its hind legs, muscles straining as he pushed the heavy corpse toward the portal. The Chimera assisted, its powerful jaws clamping down on the creature’s shoulder to help haul it inside.


    Once within the flesh chamber, Graos awaited, his figure both unsettling and familiar. The monstrous entity’s dark, ethereal tendrils coiled around the corpses, examining them with a twisted curiosity.


    “Analyze them,” Ezren commanded.


    Graos’s tendrils pierced the corpses of human and a bear, spreading through flesh and bone. They absorbed the body’s traits, learning its structure, strength, and weaknesses.


    "Human... strong muscle, endurance, resilience. Physical power, mental strength. Bear... raw power, tough body, enhanced senses. Strength of nature, unmatched in force. Both... powerful in their own way. Potential... in each."


    “Good. Now, cut off the bear’s head.”


    Graos complied, severing the beast’s head with a single swipe of his razor-sharp tendril. Ezren placed the dripping trophy into a burlap sack, his eyes narrowed with determination.


    Satisfied, he stepped through the portal, sealing it behind him.


    He trekked back to town beneath the waning daylight, his senses sharp, the sack swinging at his side. The bustling streets welcomed him with the familiar din of merchant calls and chatter.


    Once inside the Mercenary Guild, he approached the counter and tossed the bear’s head onto the wooden surface. The clerk recoiled before regaining composure and nodding in approval.


    “Job well done. Here’s your reward,” the clerk said, sliding a pouch of coins toward him.


    Ezren pocketed the money and left the hall. Exhaustion tugged at his bones, but it was the good kind. The kind earned through blood and success.


    He rented a room at a nearby inn, the sheets coarse but the mattress forgiving enough. He allowed sleep to claim him.


    When he woke, darkness had settled over the town. A glance at the shabby wall clock told him it was around ten at night.


    Ezren stretched, his muscles refreshed, and smirked to himself. The night was still young.


    He made his way out of the inn, boots clicking against the cobblestone streets as he headed toward the brothel.


    Inside, the air was thick with perfume and hushed whispers. After scanning the selection, he settled on a slender, cute woman, standing at about 5''4. Her price was 6 silver, with an additional 3 silver for the room.


    He followed her upstairs, the door shutting behind them as he allowed himself to enjoy the pleasures of the evening.


    I was wrong to think that the dangers of the world could overshadow the simple pleasures of life. After making sweet love to the fine girl at the brothel, I found solace in her embrace. Her warmth enveloped me like a comforting blanket, easing the tension that had built up during my recent battles. The night had been filled with laughter and shared stories, a reprieve from the harsh realities of my life. As I lay there, my heart slowed, and the weight of the world seemed to lift, if only for a moment. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into a peaceful sleep, cocooned in the safety of her arms.


    In the stillness of the room, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. The memories of the bandits and the struggles ahead faded into the background, replaced by the gentle rise and fall of her breath beside me. This fleeting moment of intimacy was a reminder that even in a life filled with chaos, there were still moments of beauty worth cherishing.


    The serenity of the moment shattered as screams and the sound of burning houses echoed outside the window. Panic surged within me as I realized that the plague was no coincidence—there was indeed a warlock among us, and now ghouls were attacking the city.


    <hr>


    After hearing whispers of a devastating plague sweeping through the kingdom, Danica felt an undeniable pull to the source of this suffering. Fueled by her hatred of disease and her desire to understand it better, she traveled to the afflicted land, treat those who is in need and determined to collect samples of the new pathogen.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Upon arriving in the town after healing the villages in the south of this kingdom, she goes to a inn.


    The faint warmth of the hearth in the corner of the inn cast flickering shadows across the walls as Danica sat at a small, weathered wooden table, a bowl of stew steaming before her. The innkeeper, a portly man with a round face and graying hair, set down a loaf of bread and a mug of watered-down ale.


    “Here you are, miss. A warm meal after a long journey,” he said, his voice thick with the local accent.


    Danica offered a small nod, her violet eyes already scanning the room, the dark mana within her always alert. As she began to break the bread, she tilted her head slightly, studying the innkeeper.


    “Tell me,” she said, her voice cold and measured. “What’s the news of this kingdom? Anything of note?”


    The innkeeper, accustomed to travelers seeking the latest gossip, wiped his hands on his apron and leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Ah, well, there’s been talk of the warlock who died last week. Quite the event, that one. They say he was a powerful mage, dark and dangerous. Last I heard, they took his body to the church, real hush-hush about it, like they’re trying to keep it quiet.”


    Danica’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly, her mind already calculating. She continued to eat, her voice unfaltering. “A warlock? You say he died. What caused it?”


    “Some sort of fight, they say. No one knows the full details, but the rumors... well, they’ve been saying it was an ambush. Some say he got what he deserved, others think it’s strange. No one really knows what happened in those last moments. But that body, the church is keeping it locked up tight. That’s all I know.”


    Danica took a slow, deliberate bite of her stew, her expression still unreadable. She didn’t show any sign of surprise or concern, merely listening. Her mind wandered, considering the possibilities. The warlock’s death, the church’s secrecy... something about it felt wrong. The plague wasn’t arcane. But why would they be hiding his body?


    She placed a small pouch of coins on the table, her fingers brushing over the leather as she passed it to the innkeeper. “For your trouble,” she said in a flat tone.


    The innkeeper looked down at the coins, his eyes widening slightly at the generous tip. “Thank you, miss,” he said, nodding quickly. “If you need anything else, you just let me know.”


    Danica gave a small, imperceptible nod, dismissing him without another word. She finished her meal in silence, her mind still occupied with thoughts of the warlock’s death and the church’s involvement.


    Once she was done, she rose from the table, her movements smooth and deliberate. The innkeeper, distracted by the other patrons, didn’t notice her slip upstairs to her room.


    The door creaked softly as she entered, locking it behind her. The bed was simple, but it would suffice. Danica carefully removed her cloak, hanging it on the back of the door before she climbed into bed. The quiet darkness of the room enveloped her as she lay there, her eyes staring into the dark.


    She wasn’t tired—not really—but she allowed herself to rest, knowing she would need her strength for tonight.


    As night fell, she found a secluded spot on the outskirts of the town. With a practiced motion, she opened her storage portal high above her, dropping a grim cargo of one hundred corpses onto the streets below. The lifeless bodies thudded against the ground, creating a grotesque tableau of death.


    Without hesitation, Danica raised her hand and began pulling dark mana into the air, forming a massive magic circle above the fallen bodies. Unlike Ezren, whose dark mana flowed like liquid, hers moved like air—effortless and omnipresent, an extension of her very being. The intricate runes of the magic circle pulsed with raw necrotic energy, illuminating the streets with an eerie glow.


    Dark energy surged downward, flooding the corpses with unholy power. Their lifeless forms began to seize and convulse, their flesh blackening as the corruption took hold. One by one, the dead were reborn, their vacant eyes flaring with unnatural hunger as they twisted and reformed into ghouls.


    As her army of undead rose, Danica didn’t linger to admire her work. The ghouls, now unleashed, would serve their purpose—sowing chaos and diverting attention. Without looking back, she turned on her heel and strode toward the church, her violet eyes gleaming with dark intent. The real prize awaited her there


    <hr>


    Ezren


    I turned to the woman beside me, urgency in my voice. “Stay in the room.” She nodded, fear evident in her eyes.


    Grabbing my dagger, I rushed toward the door, the sounds of chaos growing louder. As I stepped into the hallway, I was met with a horrifying sight: ghouls attacking the thugs guarding the brothel, their grotesque forms moving with unnatural speed. The thugs fought back valiantly, wielding heavy maces, but even as they crushed the ghouls'' heads, the creatures kept coming, relentless and unyielding.


    Five guards fell to just two ghouls, their lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor. “What the hell are they here for?” I muttered under my breath, frustration boiling within me.


    From my vantage point on the second floor, I felt the adrenaline surge within me as I prepared for the fight. I focused, spreading my dark mana throughout my body, feeling the power coursing through my veins, ready to unleash it in an instant.


    Suddenly, the ghouls turned their attention to me, one rushing up the stairs. With a swift motion, I kicked the advancing ghoul hard in the chest, sending it tumbling backward. It crashed to the floor, disoriented but not yet defeated.


    It’s undead, right? Might as well try. I gathered liquid mana in my hands, shaping it into a magic circle for the spell branding, one for each hand. As the glowing runes took form, I hurled the first toward the downed ghoul. A sudden drain of mana left me , but I could feel a connection linking me to the creature.


    It worked.


    Grinning, I commanded the ghoul to seize the remaining enemy. As it struggled against its grasp, I threw another brand at the hostile ghoul. Laughter bubbled up as the connection snapped into place. They were now mine—each sharing a portion of my control, 15% to each.


    Without hesitation, I opened a portal and ordered the ghouls to drag the fallen brothel guards inside. Their bodies would serve a better purpose. Once they were secured, I formed another magic circle when a noise caught my attention from one of the rooms.


    Kicking open the door, I found another ghoul, fresh from killing a customer and the prostitute he was with. Without hesitation, I threw another brand, binding it to me. The new servant obeyed my command, dragging both corpses into the portal. My eyes caught sight of the dead man’s coin purse on the floor—I snatched it and tossed it into the portal as well. No sense in wasting resources.


    After a quick sweep of the brothel, ensuring no more threats lurked within, I headed to the kitchen. Opening the portal once more, I ransacked everything—food, spices, barrels, kitchenware—every last useful item disappeared into the void. With the spoils secured, I commanded the ghouls to enter the portal before closing it behind them.


    With my work complete, I returned to the room I had rented. The girl was no longer in bed. A quick glance around revealed her hiding beneath it, eyes wide with fear.


    As I entered my room, I noticed the girl I had spent the night with hiding under the bed, her eyes wide with fear. I knelt down, meeting her gaze. “It’s okay,” I whispered softly, trying to reassure her. “You’re safe here.”


    I stood up and moved to the window, peering outside. The scene that unfolded before me was one of chaos. Ghouls swarmed the streets, their grotesque forms attacking anyone in their path. Soldiers, mercenaries, and even priests fought back against the undead menace, dispatching the ghouls with practiced efficiency. The sounds of clashing steel and the cries of battle filled the air.


    As I watched the defenders cut down the ghouls with relative ease, a question nagged at the back of my mind. Was it merely a coincidence that the town was under siege, or was there truly a warlock behind the spread of this plague? The notion unsettled me; I could almost feel the dark presence lurking just beyond my reach.


    The night stretched on, filled with the sounds of conflict and chaos outside. We remained hidden, waiting for the danger to pass. The girl stayed silent, watching me from her refuge beneath the bed, her fear palpable but tempered by the safety of the room.


    <hr>


    The chaos erupted as the ghouls began their assault, drawing the attention of the town’s defenders. Cries of panic filled the air as citizens fled from the relentless onslaught, and guards scrambled to combat the emerging threat.


    In the ensuing turmoil, Danica slipped through the shadows toward the church’s cellar, where Orin’s master lay. She moved swiftly, her heart racing with anticipation. The ghouls distracted the guards, and as she reached the door, she felt the thrill of her impending success.


    Once inside, she located the warlock’s body, its power palpable even in death. With determination, she opened her storage portal again and carefully placed Orin’s master’s body inside, ensuring it was secured for her journey.


    With the body safely stored, Danica exited the church, her heart filled with triumph. She had acquired the vessel she needed to further her ambitions. As the sounds of chaos continued to echo behind her, she vanished into the night, leaving the town to its fate and carrying away the prize she had sought for so long.