《Lich Diary》
Prologue
The city of Miral was a booming city, a hubbub of trade and the capital of the kingdom of Eril. The walls were tall, foreboding, a promise of vengeance on any who might threaten its sturdy architecture. Within these walls, streets criss-crossed like a spider web, lined by sturdy houses, inns, taverns, shops.
At the centre of the city stood a large, circular plaza in which a truly magnificent building stood. Built of a pearl white stone with a seemingly gold-tiled roof, the building was a beacon both night and day. Stained glass windows adorned the walls and thick stone buttresses enforced the religious stability and security the building seemed to exude throughout the plaza.
In front of this church, a statue of a woman stood, her robes made of flowing marble, melding with jewel encrusted hair that came down to her back, her feet barely touching the ground, supported by two wings protruding from her back, feathers unerringly straight. The crown of her head was adorned with a tiara complete with diamonds while her two hands clasped each other in prayer.
It was here one night that two people came, strolling down the street without a care in the world.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
¡°So, he¡¯s dead?¡± One asked, clad in the robes of a priest and yet with an aura of command and confidence.
¡°Yes, we found the phylactery.¡± The other replied, clothed instead in a dark leather armour, two sheathed swords held on her hip, a hand resting on the plain wrapped hilt of one, eyes glancing around as if daring someone to approach.
¡°I see. Was there anything else?¡± the first asked once again.
¡°Yes actually, there was a library.¡±
¡°A library? Hmm, unusual, but not unheard of. They often like writing texts about their discoveries.¡± The priest replied suddenly perking up, ¡°Are the books at all accurate, do you know?¡±
The woman looked over at him as if incredulous. ¡°Come now Alcaro, you think I would know anything about a Lich¡¯s books? If anything, it seemed like a mages study rather than an evil lich¡¯s home, which, considering his reputation, is not what I expected.¡±
¡°I assume you expected blood rituals and altars when you burst in? Perhaps a few cages, torture devices?¡± The man shook his head and chuckled before pushing open the doors of the church in the plaza.
¡°Oh, one more thing,¡± the woman said before the man could fully disappear into the recesses of the building, ¡°We found a diary, I thought you might want a look at it.¡± Saying this, she took out a worn book that had obviously seen the test of years and handed it over.
¡°Most certainly; you know me too well.¡± He turned away but not before leaving a message hanging in the air, ¡°Don¡¯t die Cecelia.¡± The woman just smiled and left.
Chapter 1
1st Cycle 2nd Rotation, Year 1367 GF
Log 1,
I suppose I should introduce myself, though the act of writing to a book still amuses me. My name is Archon Verill, 15, and I am the third son of the Duke of Verill. I have created this diary to commemorate the start of my journey in the Academy of magic. The first day has been uneventful so far, a social gathering and explanation from the Archmage as well as being randomly allocated dormitories. A few people have tried becoming friends with me though whether they care for me or my status, I don¡¯t know.
We have been told that magic study will officially begin tomorrow. I will write more then.
2nd Cycle 2nd Rotation, Year 1367 GF
Log 2,
Magic study was interesting. It brought up questions about the origin of magic. At first, I thought it was just a gift from the gods, though now I am not sure. These damned teachers, only ever creating more questions.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
On a different note, I met someone I quite liked today. A studious if sharp-tongued girl, I think she doesn¡¯t care at all about me though. Why does that make me like her? It makes no sense.
Thoughts on the Foundation, By Lich Archon Verill
Copied by Church of Illustria
The beginning of the world and life is an oft discussed topic among scholars. It is similarly a controversial topic that can lead to rifts forming between family and friends due to the implications one argument may have.
Furthermore, each nation has their own belief on the origin of the world. The kingdom of Eril and that of Humanity believes that the world was crafted by the gods, some taking it further and claiming that it was crafted by the gods for humans. This inbuilt belief that the world is quite literally ¡®theirs for the taking¡¯ has been the cause of numerous wars over the years.
The elves, however, stand by their own belief and religion ¨C that of the world tree. A tree said to be eternal and unimaginable. They also claim that the ancestral tree which lives within the heart of their kingdom is the avatar of this tree. This is most certainly lent credence by the fact that they originally gained their abilities from this tree along with the intrinsic fact that it is undisprovable. I personally don¡¯t believe in this theory, however.
The dwarves have a theory too, quite interesting as it has no connection to their gods. They believe that the world is merely a product of chance and science, that it was created by the explosion ¨C predictably ¨C of something and that the matter and mana that resulted was rearranged into the current form.
Despite first thoughts, the Barbarians have a religion that one can gain insights from, despite the simple nature. They say that their gods created the world in order to create a struggle, and while I personally disagree with this and the derived religion, the profound struggle within the cycle of life is a simple yet overlooked part of the world.
I believe that none of these are true, however none are completely false either and that to reach the end, or the meaning of life, one must start at the beginning.
Chapter 2
5th Cycle 2nd Rotation Year 1367 GF
Log 5,
We learnt about mana today, it was things that most people already knew, although they went into a bit more detail and had more confidence. I¡¯ve decided that is the key difference between scholars and others, one has confidence when speaking.
I found out the name of the girl though, Cecelia.
Notes on magic, by Lich Archon Verill
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As demonstrated on the first day of any reputable mage academy, magic is not an easy thing to learn. It is abstract, complex but not illogical. Normal rules do not seem to apply however it has its own rules which it keeps to with strict rigidity. Learning these and using them to the fullest is the mark of a successful mage.
However, let us first explore the structure of magic. It is made of particles known as mana. These particles are invisible to the naked eye, and yet can create effects visible to it also. Particles of mana are everywhere; they are omnipresent and intangible. The only changes that will ever occur in mana is density. Certain materials, objects, creatures in the environment can interact with mana in ways that create a constant flow of particles.
Furthermore, each mana particle has an affinity: Fire, Ice, Air, Earth, Life, as well as Space and Time, though those are merely seen. Finally, there is Pure which will change into any of the affinities other than Space and Time. Each person has a potential for magic, and an affinity for mana. This is not exclusive to people. Animals can use magic, Plants can use magic, but we will stick to humans for the purpose of this first lecture.
Chapter 3
7th Cycle 2nd Rotation Year 1367 GF
Log 7,
First Rotation in the Academy, settling in nicely, I think.
We were taught how to take in mana. We were led into a long room with crystals one side and a veritable forest on the other. They said it was to create a density change in the mana. When I first managed to absorb mana, the feeling reminded me of the entrance exams when they measured our potential with some kind of crystal. Next rotation we¡¯ll have our affinities measured. I wonder what mine will be, I want air. Lightning bolts just seem like fun.
I asked Cecelia what her potential was, but she didn¡¯t tell me. It seemed like a sore spot, so I didn¡¯t pry. I can¡¯t help but wonder though.
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The Use of Magic: Absorbing Mana, by Archon Verill
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Absorbing Mana is the singular most important part of Magic. It allows the mage to access the otherwise intangible energy. However, it has danger; should the mage get the process wrong with large amounts of mana, they could destroy their soul irreversibly.
Therefore, my aim in this chapter is to describe how to absorb mana.
The first step is meditation. It is possible to do it without, but for a beginner, using a method such as meditation is the easiest and most importantly: safest. It may take some time, but once you have calmed your soul, you need to try and sense the flows of mana. It is easiest sensing mana in a high mana density with a high mana flow. Do not try to sense mana with your physical senses. It is intangible. Only the soul possesses the ability to interact with mana.
Once you have felt the mana flows, you need to try and let the mana flow through your soul. This is the most dangerous part of the process. The soul has a membrane which contains the most important parts of your identity. A mage absorbs mana by consciously lowering this membrane and allowing mana to enter the soul. Should too much enter, the mage could very well dissipate parts of his soul and therefore his identity. It is always best to let too little enter, than too much for this reason.
Once you have let mana enter your soul, you need to keep it there until it merges with your identity. However, not all mana is compatible with your soul. This is your affinity. Absorbing mana that isn¡¯t from your affinity will leave impurities in the soul. Here comes the final part of the process. You need to let the impurities out of your soul. It is like taking a breath: you take in air, you hold it in your lungs, then release the air you don¡¯t need.
Chapter 4
1st Cycle 3rd Rotation, Year 1367 GF
Log 8,
They measure our affinities. I¡¯m not sure how to feel about it. It turns out my affinity is Life. It sounds good doesn¡¯t it. Except I don¡¯t really want to be a healer. I want to help people sure, but I want to be a battlemage, not stay at the back. And the only other path I can take if I want that is the path of Necromancy. It will also stay back but it can also fight by itself. I just don¡¯t think the Academy will support me.
I think I will devote this half of my Logs to Cecilia. She told me that her affinity was air. It makes me jealous that she got a fighting affinity.
The Duality of Life Mana, by Lich Archon Verill
Copied by Church of Illustria
Part 1
Life mana has been the subject of my research for the entirety of my life (and death I suppose) ever since I found it was my affinity. Life mana can either rejuvenate living matter or control dead matter by giving it a semblance of life. The most known users of Life mana are Healers and Necromancers.
Healers operate by rejuvenating the body during a period when it needs energy. Often this can be if the body is sick or infected, during which the Life mana seems to help the body fight it off. If the body is just out of stamina, then it will bring them back to peak energy. However, Life mana is not equivalent to food. It may alleviate the symptoms of hunger and thirst, but it most certainly does not feed the body. Many Life Magi have come close to death due to relying on their magic to feed them and keep the healthy despite dying from hunger. While sleeping, some may even die since their magic is no longer saving them.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
And yet, there are stories of healers regrowing entire limbs in days. The answer? Necromancy. These are the true masters. Those who have explored every avenue in order to save lives. The way they regrow limbs is through extreme knowledge of anatomy and substituting dead matter into the whatever form they need. Then they use their mana to encourage the body to regrow into the place where the replacement limb is using it as a blueprint, scaffolding. It is, obviously, easier to re-attach limbs though it uses the same principles. Using dead matter to connect the tissues and then encouraging the body to regrow into its place.
And so, we come to my side of necromancy. The use of it to kill. Even here there are subtleties. Two necromancers could use it completely differently. Personally, I used my knowledge of healing to the opposite effect. I fooled my enemies¡¯ bodies into believing it was what it was not. I could make their body try and grow a limb out of their head, I could make the body grow tumours that would kill them slowly with no trace of magic. Others could raise bodies from the dead and give them orders. But not just bodies, any dead matter ¨C including blood ¨C for reasons I haven¡¯t managed to find. These could be reinforced, changed by Life mana into anything that the user could imagine. It is from these that Necromancers gained their reputation as demonic and monstrous. It is certainly less noble.
I was never as good at traditional necromancer ¨C the use of life mana to raise dead matter to do one¡¯s bidding. That being said, I knew the theory. Of the many ways to raise the dead this is the simplest: merely accumulate dead matter from any source and flood it with Life mana. Normally, Zombies as these are categorised go on rampages with no sense or intelligence. However, the overflow of life mana within their bodies allows them to spread that mana to others so that if they kill a living creature or come into contact with dead matter, they can spread the mana and raise them too. Zombie lifespans depend on the mass of the creature and the amount of life mana present within them. As such, the more they kill and raise, the shorter they will live. Another effect of the life mana and method of production is that they are usually durable and cheap. Moreover, the life mana within them will prevent any exhaustion as long as it is present.
As a combination of these factors, they become incredible in places with enormous body counts and chaos. Such as battlefields.
Chapter 5
2nd Cycle, 3rd Rotation Year 1367
Log 9,
They asked us what class we wanted to be. Of course, they don¡¯t expect us to decide right now. I did ask them about Necromancy though. As I thought, they didn¡¯t support it, but I think there is more to it than just disgust of the class. I¡¯ll have to find out more.
Cecelia said she wants to be a battlemage; she wants to combine her air magic with sword-fighting. Interestingly enough, they let her although they said they wouldn¡¯t be able to provide a trainer.
The Purpose of Classes, by Lich Archon Verill
Copied by Church of Illustria
Classes are a method of classifying (as seen by the name) the methods and styles of fighting. Take, for example a swordsman. A man with a sword. This class is an extremely general one and as such is usually a foundation class ¨C a class that can lead into many others. However, a Kensai on the other hand, is much more complex. It is an advanced class rather than a foundation class and is part of the swordsman tree. The method and style of the Kensai is pursuing complete and total sword mastery and as such wear little armour. Should you duel one, you are likely to lose, however they are less useful in unbalanced circumstances such as war where anything can happen.
Learning the names of classes and what they represent is important for all, especially adventurers and Generals who need to be able to tell the makeup of an army or a party as efficiently as possible.
Mages also have classes; however, they are much more general as magic is so abstract. Each class represents the affinity of the mage rather than a specific style of fighting. An Aeromancer for example, uses air affinity magic to fight. This can be anything from wind blades and tempests, to greater haste and flight.
Finally, there are combination classes such as the Battlemage. One could think of the battlemage as a swordsman with magic. It is strong but takes much more time to be able to integrate magic into swordsmanship. When talking about specific battlemages, often their affinity is also mentioned ¨C Battlemage: Aeromancer for example. Any class can become a combination class, however it depends on the person as to whether they can use it effectively.
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4th Cycle 4th Rotation Year 1367 GF
Log 18
We have started learning about spells now that everyone is able to absorb mana reliably. They only gave an introduction so far; we¡¯re only going to start learning how to cast once we have gone through the theory.
Also, tensions have risen between us and Goream. I wonder if there will be conflict. It wouldn¡¯t help me learn necromancy considering it is their main fighting force.
I went to watch Cecelia¡¯s Swordfighting training. You would not believe how she can move. I wonder how she became so good, has she done it before?
The Use of Magic: Casting Spells, by Lich Archon Verill
Copied by Church of Illustria
Casting spells is the second most important part of using magic. Absorbing magic creates an overflow of mana within the mage¡¯s soul. This is known as the mana pool and you take from this when casting spells. The older and stronger the mage, the greater the soul, and the more mana they can absorb. Once the mana pool runs out, it is highly inadvisable to continue casting as it could damage your soul. Using your soul like this does increase the strength of the spell and is known misleadingly as using ¡°lifeforce¡±. It does not use your lifespan, but your identity. Often resulting in a coma and then death as a result. Due to such limitations, in duels between mages, the winner will often be the one with the larger mana pool.
Before knowing how to cast spells, it is important to know what a spell is. In essence, a spell is a mass of mana formed into a specific shape, often a ball or blade. However, each shape needs certain structure points through which mana must flow within the spell. This is what maintains the structure as it is released. Should a structure point be destroyed, the spell will dissipate into mana.
Thus, we come onto the creation of a spell. To be frank, creating a spell is a complicated game of blind connect the dots. Each spell has a sequence of structural points which you need to create, in order, to form a stable spell. The first step is to release a small stream of mana out of your soul and into your palms. Each palm will be the location of the first two structural points. Make sure your palms are in the correct location to form structural points. Releasing a steady stream of mana, move each hand simultaneously to the next structural point in the sequence, before finally connecting both streams to create a full loop.
The main problem is that it requires extreme focus as neither the mana nor the structural points are visible at any point. Thus, it takes practice to be able to use magic with any reliability. There are also other considerations. To be able to use mana efficiently, you need to regulate the amount of mana released into the spell; however, the slower you move, the less mana you are allowed to release in order to keep being efficient. The faster you move, the harder it is to hit each structural point. This is all compounded onto the inherent multi-tasking necessary to use both hands at the same time with split focus.
Moreover, while there is no backlash to failing a spell, the mana used cannot be recovered. This combined with the need to hit structural points, simply forcing a mage to flinch or twitch their hands mid spell can cause them to fail their casting. Thus, getting up close to a mage is the easiest way to deal with one as you can cause them to fail whatever spell they attempt to cast. However, should you go up against an old, experienced mage. I suggest you surrender unless you are able to win in one shot.
Chapter 6
5th Cycle, 4th Rotation Year 1367 GF
Log 19
I do not think I will be able to continue writing these logs each day. We have started spell practice and if I want to become a strong mage, I will need to practice at every opportunity. It is no wonder it is believed the Gods gave us magic as discovering it by accident seems close to impossible.
I think I understand why Cecelia went Battlemage. If her potential isn¡¯t too good, then she will need something besides magic. And it¡¯s always good to know how magic works.
Thoughts on the Discovery, by Lich Archon Verill
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In the many great occurrences in history, the Discovery of Magic is by far the most important and interesting one. This is mainly because no-one actually knows what happened or how. Of course, there are theories. Personally, I believe in the elfen theory of Discovery; however, I believe in an altered version.
The elves say that their world tree showed them magic. This, in my opinion, is the truth, though not exactly how it is described in the many religious texts and writings. I would say that the so-called ¡°World Tree¡± is rather just a tree that through the influence of mana and age managed to gain sentience. Furthermore, I would say that the tree did not directly show the elves how to use magic, rather they derived it through contemplation and observation. Whether this is the case or not, there is most definitely an influence on the elfen, if I may say, branch of magic.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
2nd Cycle, 6th Rotation, Year 1367 GF
Log 30,
I have cast my first spell, a cantrip, sure, and I can¡¯t do it consistently. Still, I think it is an achievement. We also got a demonstration from the Archmage of some of the higher-level spells. He makes it look so easy.
The Use of Magic: Spell Tiers, by Lich Archon Verill
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At first glance, magic is intimidating. The practice required to be able to cast even the simplest cantrips consistently turns many away. Often the question masters get is how they can cast high tier spells if even the cantrips are complicated? The answer lies in the fact that magic loves repeating patterns.
Taking the Flame cantrip and the Tier 2 Fireball let us observe the sequences required. The Flame cantrip requires a specific sequence which also appears in the Fireball spell along with other components which appear in the Gust cantrip from the aeromancy school. This is the secret behind mages casting higher level spells.
Extending the theory further, each Tier represents the number of cantrips necessary to cast the spell. Thus, a Tier 4 is equivalent to two Tier 2 spells or four Cantrips. However, it is necessary to realise that while a Tier 4 is more than twice as strong as a Tier 2, the cast time and mana cost is also doubled while still containing the stipulation that the cast must be perfect. A strong mage must be able to assess which Tier is necessary for every situation lest they end up dead before they can cast a single spell.
Chapter 7
2nd Cycle, 8th Rotation Year 1367 GF
Log 44
My studies have been going well and I¡¯ve learned both the healing touch cantrip and the draining touch cantrip. On the subject of Necromancy, apparently Goream, led by their Lich Queen, has declared war on Eril so we¡¯re learning more about necromancy. I suppose this explains the hostility towards necromancers from the Academy.
Cecilia also expressed her worries. She fears she might be called to war as a warrior although the Academy has told her that until she passes the leaving exam, it is unlikely.
The Types of Spells: Touch, by Archon Verill
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Among the many cantrips, by far the most widespread are the touch-based spells. These are spells classified as having a range of effect with an arm¡¯s reach and include spells such as burning hands and freezing palm. However, there are a few outliers such as the Finger of Death spell and the Ghoul Touch spell which are not cantrips but are still touch based spells.
While at first glance these spells seem useless, it is important to realise that everyone will try to get close to a mage once they realise that they are one and having a spell such as this in your arsenal will be incredibly useful. The main reason there are few high-level touch spells however is due to the same reason. The cast time of spells is necessary to consider when using them and due to the increased cast time that comes with higher level spells, it can often be worse attempting to cast one. On the other hand, cantrips take very little time to cast and as such are exactly the spell a mage will look for when in close quarters. Not to mention the ability that battlemages have when using touch spells. However, do not expect cantrips to have great effects. Burning palms is exactly that. Should the enemy not come into contact with your palms, the spell will have no effect, and even should it connect, it will have little effect. The main use of these spells come in the form of disruption. Shocking touch for example can make the enemy¡¯s muscles spasm ¨C perfect for a battlemage or a mage trying to escape. Draining touch will sap the enemy¡¯s energy allowing the mage either a chance to run or a way to fight.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The Workings of Lichdom, by Archon Verill
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Lichdom, unsurprisingly has been the subject of numerous hours of research on my end, eventually resulting in my conversion. There are a few misconceptions about Liches. Firstly, they are not evil. The emergence of Liches being evil was due to a large propaganda campaign against the Empire of Goream, an empire notoriously led by Archlich Queen Evera, during the Goream-Eril wars of 1367-1389. Thus, in this book, I will attempt to detail the inner workings of Liches and Lichdom.
Before being able to understand liches, one must first understand the structure of the soul. The soul is the source of a mages power, and vital to every living thing. By definition, a living being must have a soul ¨C hence the reason undead are termed as such. The reason the soul is important is because it houses the identity of the being. Should this identity be damaged, the being may fall into a coma while their identity heals. Sometimes, however, the identity may not fully recover or may not recover correctly causing the mage to hear voices, or believe they are someone else.
The first section of the soul is called the core. This is the centremost part of the soul and houses the Identity. It is also the part of the soul which stores mana. When the mage meditates, they absorb the mana into this part of the soul. The second section is known as the shell or membrane of the soul. This controls the flow of mana into and out of the soul and protects it from dissipating.
Lastly, it is important to note that the Soul itself produces mana from Identity. This mana supports and nourishes the soul and is what gives mages the ability to passively regenerate their mana.
Finally, the accepted theory is that the soul is made up of mana and thus the identity and consciousness as well. This is the reason for the ambient mana in the air; as living things die, the soul dissipates into mana. During childbirth, the parent¡¯s soul splits and creates the soul of the child. This final process is important as it is the basis for the phylactery method used by Liches.
Chapter 8
4th Cycle, 8th Rotation Year 1367 GF
Log 46
Today we learnt about the many types of undead. I never knew there were so many other than the classic Zombies such as revenants and draugr or wraiths. Of course, they haven¡¯t taught us how to raise undead. They said it is too dangerous and advanced for first years. Reluctantly, I agree.
Cecilia seems to hate undead which is concerning for me. Maybe something happened? I¡¯m realising I don¡¯t know much about her life.
The Duality of Life Mana: Undead, by Archon Verill
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Of the traditional undead, the revenant or draugr is the second backbone of an undead army. While they can look and be physically the same as the weaker zombies, the revenants have one thing zombies do not: a soul. A revenant is rather a person come back to life and the method of creation reflects this.
There are two things necessary to consider when preparing a revenant. The compatibility of the body and soul and the condition of the body. The compatibility mainly means that you cannot place a horse¡¯s soul into a tiger. The condition is part of the compatibility; you cannot place a soul into a destroyed body. The soul will reject it and if forced in, will dissipate. However, it also means the preparation of the body. The longer it has gone without a soul, the more it is necessary to prepare it to accept one.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The preparation consists of flushing the body with the same affinity of mana as the original soul. This is often difficult without that affinity, however there are rituals that are able to sacrifice a creature and use its mana instead allowing the mage to complete this step. It also gives necromancers a bad name as it is assumed this method is always used rather than getting a willing mage to simply lend their mana. Since the soul can only be interacted with by mana, this is the reason such preparations are needed.
Secondly, the soul must be anchored inside the body. This is the part which requires a spell. Essentially, you are using the sequences to create a cage of mana surrounding the soul. This will prevent it from dissipating. Then you must push that cage onto the head of the body while opening a hole in the cage while in contact touching it. Then flatten the soul through this hole. This will push the soul into the body and the mana present within the body from the first step will anchor it. It is essential to push the soul into the brain of the body as that is the only biological place that can house the consciousness.
Then we come onto ghosts also known as wraiths. These are the cavalry units, the hit-and-run units. Should they be hit they will quickly dissipate. Only, that is the problem. They are intangible. They can only be affected by mana. This is due to the same reason as souls because that is what they are. They are a soul engorged upon life mana to the extent that the mana they are made of is able to hold itself together. However, should this mana wall rupture, it will destabilise the entire soul and cause it to erupt and dissipate. This eruption can still be dangerous due to the density of life mana required and this life mana can also cause zombies to form from corpses.
So how is one meant to combat such beings? The answer is quite simple. Magic or mana infused weaponry, known as enchanted weapons. Hence why mages are in high supply both as crafters and fighters.