《Dead promises》


 Ch 1: Kurinet

    Within the world of Roara there lies many empires but nearly all of them are ruled by tyrants always spouting that the gods put them above the people and that the people should follow without a second thought. Most are content to do so just to not be bothered even when the taxes become so much they can hardly pay such as the case in the outskirts village of Kurinet in the Fiernian Empire. Kurinet is not a rich village it is one suffering due to the high taxes and the people often feel abandoned by the same gods that the tyrants use to hold their power. In this village lies a man named Yorun, he cares for the village as well as the family he has there including his wife and children, his wife''s name is Lina while his two children who are by this point adults though still referred to as kids by both their parents. They are named Rayne who is the son and Jaynle who is the daughter. One day was all it took...


    "Morning everyone!" Yorun shouted as he entered the farm where he worked alongside his family and others from the village


    "Awfully chipper this morning dear" Lina said while other villagers made their own greetings


    "Well may as well start it off nicely before the collectors come later" Yorun said with a bit of annoyance in his voice


    "I suppose that''s fair, these days they keep wanting more and more. I hope the village has enough for this time we wouldn''t want what happened to the village of Arnale" Lina said with a hint of fear in her voice


    Yorun nodded briefly thinking on what happened to Arnale, only one person from there survived and all he spoke of was horror the royal families men descended on the village and destroyed it. There was always one thing that bothered Yorun about the mans story, a brief mention of a dark cloaked man watching it all from a nearby mountain top barely visible one second and next gone in a blink of an eye. Rayne and Jaynle made there way to the farm just as Yorun had started working.


    "Morning kids, ready to work hard today?" Yorun asked his children


    "Ready as we can be even if it is hard" Rayne and Jaynle both said at the same time


    The whole village get to work and finish what they need to do before the Tax Collectors show up. A town crier first saw the coming soldiers and quickly told everyone they were nearly there. Everyone quickly made their way over after grabbing all the money they could from their houses, soon after lines were formed as every villager handed their money over, the process did not take long as neither the villagers nor the soldiers wanted to take long but no one was ready for what happened next.


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    "You''re short." said the soldier collecting the money


    Those single words sent chills down everyone''s spines as they all begin to freak out in their minds.


    "W-what do you mean we''re short? We checked a week ago to ensure we had enough for when you came!" Rayne shouted


    "Then you hadn''t heard, the taxes went up yesterday" said the head guard in an uncaring manner


    Now the confusion had turned to anger from the villagers but just as they were about to raise their voices in frustration about this a scream echoed out as one of the soldiers put their sword through one of the villagers.


    "You all need to get the rest of that money. Right. Fucking. Now" Said the head guard


    "There is none left" Yorun said now with fear in his voice


    "Then I''m almost sorry to say, we have our orders" The head guard said as he rose from the chair he was seated in


    The other soldiers including the mages brought alongside them begin to attack villagers left and right while beginning to burn the houses. All the villagers including Yorun and his family quickly try to run, Yorun quickly moves his family in front of himself as they run so he would be his first if they attacked them. This was in vain however as a mage launched a fire ball at them hitting them all, all of them screamed as the fires began to take them, their flesh searing but something happened they did not anticipate, the flames turned green and then died down, the other villagers just kept running while soldiers gave chase but the mages stopped and looked at the family of four all of whom were barely alive.


    "Now which one of you did that?" Asked one of the mages as he loomed over them


    None of them can speak due to the pain they are all in but the mages don''t care as they begin to use magic to levitate the four of them and then force them to speak even though it causes far more pain.


    "I-it w-was m-me" Yorun said in a small pained voice barely making it''s way through his burned throat


    "Did you know you were could use magic? or did you hide it as to not be taken from Kurinet?" The mage asked with seemingly genuine intrigue


    "I d-did not w-want to leave. P-please l-let my family g-go" Yorun said his voice growing weaker


    "And why should we do that? Oh well doesn''t matter, who knows had you left and trained the way we did maybe you''d have burned down this village alongside us or maybe you''d tried to stop us" The mage said with a smirk on his face


    The mages seemingly with their curiosity satisfied snap the necks of the whole family one after one but when its Yoruns turn he sees past the mages and watches in what he believes to be his final moments a cloaked woman begin to make her way over but then everything goes black as his neck is snapped. The mages walk away letting their bodies hit the ground. The screams of the villagers don''t take long to be silenced but the smoke is seen for miles, other villagers know what happened. The soldiers and mages leave and hours pass nothing happening in the now dead village until a dark green light emanates from where Yoruns family fell when Yorun still burned but now less so suddenly sits up with glowing green eyes, nearby stands the cloaked woman watching him...

 Ch 2: The Survivor

    The massacre had claimed the lives of all in the village and supposedly even Yorun until he sprang back to life though he wishes he died with them evident by the grieving screams of anguish that if anyone else were nearby would hear. Despite his magical recovery he is still injured with large burns across his body and face yet it matters not to him as he has lost everything.


    "FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! THOSE BASTARDS!" Yorun screamed into the dead streets


    In his rage Yorun slammed his hands into the ground but in that moment little bits of green flame sprung out from his hands and upon contact with the ground a green wave of energy shot out. Yorun either did not care or notice until he heard a faint exhale. He looked over to his families bodies and his eyes widened as he saw the burned body of Lina slightly moving, he moved over to her as fast as his injured body allowed and checked her pulse to make sure she was alive but he felt no pulse even though he could clearly see her moving slightly.


    "Lina!? Please by the gods tell me you are alive and this is not some cruel trick" Yorun pleaded while he examined her


    All he got back was silence and he saw the same magical green sparkling in her eyes, it did not take much for Yorun to realise what happened.


    "My magic brought me back to life, maybe if I find out more I could come back and bring everyone back to life" Yorun said to himself as he began to stand with pained groans


    "I will be back for you, all of you, I promise" Yorun said before beginning to limp his way to the nearest village to Kurinet named Orakin, all the while he was unknowingly being watched


    Despite his injuries he made his way to Orakin in just a day, determination carrying his body there until he step foot into the village and he collapsed unconscious. The villages guards and people quickly flocked to him before one woman made his way through the crowd.


    "Everyone give him space, he is clearly injured and I need to help him, one of you guards help carry him to my place" The woman said before she and a guard picked up Yorun and took him into a building


    Hours pass before Yorun regains consciousness and when he does he can feel some injuries are gone or more accurately healed though the burns remain, he looks around slightly and sees the woman who quickly notices he''s awake.


    "Awake now friend? Tell me how do you feel?" The woman asked


    "I feel better well physically at least" Yorun stated


    "Could you enlighten me as to where you come from and what happened?" The woman asked


    "Kurinet, we didn''t have enough for the collectors due to the recent increase so they slaughtered everyone" Yorun said with sorrow in his voice


    "By the gods, we knew something happened to Kurinet but we had thought it was bandits or maybe even another empires soldiers. I am sorry for all you''ve lost" The woman said


    Yorun sat up and put his back to the headrest of the bed before looking at the woman.


    "Who are you?" Yorun asked


    "My name is Gira, I am the one who healed you at least to the best of my abilities" Gira states


    "Thank you, I am Yorun" Yorun said


    "You''re lucky you came here due to this village having a healer like me with magic, the damage to your neck alone I don''t know how you got here never mind everything else" Gira said as she began to stand up and turn away to get something


    "I can only guess my own magic helped in that regard" Yorun said though in his head flashbacks of his neck snapping come to him


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    Hearing that Gira immediately turned back to him looking at him.


    "You have magic of your own?" Gira asked with genuine shock


    "Untrained magic, usually only ever used for tricks to entertain my kids when they were younger" Yorun said before looking down


    "Yet you think this magic helped you?" Gira asked now confused


    "Well the mages who killed everyone alongside the guards definitely thought so and it seemed about right" Yorun said


    "Interesting, seems you may be stronger with magic than you thought, while your here I could help you train it so that you can use it more affectively plus I have several books on the subject" Gira said


    "That would be appreciated, I have nothing else to do right now and my mind needs the focus" Yorun said although in his mind all he is thinking of is bringing his family and friends back by using this training


    "Give yourself time to grieve Yorun, it will eat you up if you don''t" Gira said


    Yorun ignores that piece of advice knowing he will bring them back but he nods and Gira left Yorun to rest after giving him some books on magic. Yorun began to look through the books reading on all the different kinds of magic until he found a single page as opposed to a full chapter on the magical art of necromancy. The book revealed to him that necromancy is something of an unknown other than legends as far as the author is concerned so there is no actual information.


    "Shit not as easy as I''d have hoped, mastering the basics of magic should help in making me able to try it easier rather than randomly" Yorun said to himself as he looked at his right hand a green flame appearing in his palm


    He spends the next few hours reading up on magical basics, they were easier to master than he thought and he wishes he had spent money back when taxes were lower for books like this thinking maybe he could have done something. Eventually Gira comes back in and sees Yorun with a green fireball in his hand.


    "Huh haven''t seen that before" Gira said causing Yorun to notice her


    "What?" Yorun said a little confused


    "Well the fireball in your hand is green not a colour I''ve seen before for it, usually its either the typical fire colour or blue if its hotter than typical much like normal fire but green is unique to say the least. Anyway let me check your injuries to see how they''re doing" Gira said as she approached


    Yorun got rid of the green fireball as she approached. Gira examined Yoruns injuries and used some more healing magic on the burns they do not heal however making her sigh.


    "Unless you get better than healing magic than me I think you''re going to live with those burns unfortunately" Gira said


    "Damn, hopefully I can one day do something about them" Yorun said


    A knock is heard on the door, Gira goes over to the door and opens it, there is a child with a heavily injured bird Gira takes the bird and the child runs off. Gira looks at the bird examining its injuries now and as she tries to heal it the bird dies, Yorun feels something as if he felt the bird die.


    "I feel bad for that child she always tries to find animals and bring them to me if they are hurt, she''ll feel terrible when she hears the bird passed" Gira said with a sigh as she put the birds body on a table before walking into another room


    Yorun looks at the birds body he stands up with a groan of pain following standing up. He walks over to the birds body and makes the green flame in his hand before sending it to the body of the bird, the path the flame goes to becomes a beam of thin green magic smoke light in appearance. Gira senses the odd magic use in the previous room and makes her way back in seeing whats going on.


    "Yorun its dead what are yo-" Gira quickly got cut off as she saw his eyes turn green and some thin green smoke come from his eye so she just watches


    Yorun continues to do this for a while and its clearly straining his very soul until the bird begins to move much to the shock of Gira, the bird gets up standing as if nothing had happened to it except it now had green eyes. Gira used her magic to scan the soul of the bird but found it had none.


    "What did you do?" Gira said in amazement but with a hint of fear


    "Something I had hoped to do, bring it to life" Yorun said happily


    "It''s not got a soul though its just alive but nothing else about it is the way it once was" Gira said as she looked at the bird standing before her even with the still injured body


    "What? Seriously!? FUCK!" Yorun shouted angrily


    "You should quickly leave Yorun, I have no doubt that mages far further from here and far more powerful felt this happening. They will come and investigate so leave now and get ahead of them" Gira said with a sense of urgency


    Gira quickly leaves the room and comes back with fresh clothes for Yorun before leaving again. Yorun quickly puts the clothes on and even with his injuries he walks out of the building leaving even the bird. Gira comes to the door.


    "Goodbye Yorun and good luck in life" Gira said


    "Goodbye Gira and Thank you" Yorun said as he began to leave the village back in the direction of Kurinet


    "I have to try, I can only get better and maybe get their souls back if I try to bring more things back, animals slaughtered in Kurinet would be a good start" Yorun thought to himself


    Gira closed the door of her house after watching him leave and she looks to where the bird was but she sees it gone, she opens the door once more and sees it flying after Yorun. She wonders what will happen in the near future.

 Ch 3: Death

    Yorun quickly puts more distance between himself and Orakin for fear of the mages mentioned by Gira arriving quicker than anticipated but at some point he finally notices the bird he brought back to life circling above him so he holds his hand out into the sky and the bird flies down landing on his hand. Yorun is somewhat annoyed he didn''t notice sooner.


    "Fuck I really need to be more observant anyone could get the drop on me and since Gira thought my village was destroyed by maybe bandits I have to assume they are in the area" Yorun said to himself


    The bird just looks at him blankly as if awaiting something which Yorun does notice. Yorun begins to think and then looks at the bird.


    "Be my eyes in the sky warn me of anything coming after me" Yorun commanded


    The bird as if being told the purpose it had always been waiting for rockets into the sky and circles above keeping a keen eye on the surroundings for Yorun, its eyes flash the green they now are and Yorun begins to see through its eyes. He sees Kurinet in the distance from the birds view but also something coming from the trees nearby, his view quickly snaps back to his own eyes as he quickly moves away from the trees and faster towards Kurinet hoping the thing from the trees does not give chase. He is intrigued by the new ability however he has a goal so he takes about half a day now to return to Kurinet, when he gets there the stench of death is worse but one he has grown oddly numb to despite only being around it a little. He returns to where his families bodies are and he looks upon them and his determination is lit anew. He finds the farm and the animals kept there and he uses his magic to scan the bodies making sure he knows how before he tries to raise them. He breathes heavily then just as he brought the bird back he does the same for a cow and then he checks for a soul seeing it didn''t work he does it for the rest and checks after each one. Yorun moves onto the other dead animals around the village he revives them all but none of them have a soul.


    "FUCK WHY CAN''T I FUCKING DO IT!? WHY!?" Yorun screamed the words angrily as he fell to his knees


    Yorun punched the ground before calming down and thinking about it, wondering if theres a reason.


    "Maybe.... maybe only human souls can come back... I need to see" Yorun said to himself as he looked for the nearest body he could find to test it


    "I am sorry friend but I must know" Yorun said before trying to bring the body to life


    After more strain than he had with the animals the body stands eyes turning the same glowing green and Yorun scans for a soul but to his dismay there is no soul and it crushes him.


    "FUCK FUCK FUCK! COME ON WHY!?" Yorun shouts in the streets of the empty village with no sound to meet the words


    Yorun just kneels there and he punches the ground again the silence of the village deafening to him until he hears the sounds of someone approaching from behind, Yorun is so defeated he assumes the collectors sent people back to ensure everyone was gone.


    "Just fucking kill me, I''ve had enough hope dangled in front of me and snatched away" Yorun said to whoever was approaching behind him


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    "Look at me" The stranger said their voice both cold and compassionate


    Yorun turns to the stranger and he recognises her, the cloaked woman from before his neck was snapped.


    "They did send you to finish this place off didn''t they. Bastards" Yorun said


    The woman looks down at him and a large scythe appears in her hand, she looks to the undead beings around Yorun and she smirks before looking down at him again and changing to the form of a larger cloaked man then to a skeleton and more forms beyond before returning to the cloaked female form. Yorun can''t hide his shock as he moves back.


    "W-what are you!?" Yorun asked with pure shock


    "Mortal I am the god of death and justice Raeknar" Raeknar stated with authority


    Yorun upon hearing that quickly kneels to the god before him.


    "Stand Yorun of Kurinet" Raeknar commanded


    Yorun quickly stood but even then the god before him stood far taller now than before. Yoruns mind was ablaze with questions but before he could ask Raeknar looked at him.


    "Yorun of Kurinet, you have been trying to revive your family and friends from this village, I saw its slaughter and I greeted their souls in my realm. No soul leaves my realm without my permission and that is something not easily given, you''ve raised their bodies but their souls are unmoving" Raeknar stated


    "Please God Raeknar allow me to revive them, I will do anything" Yorun said with conviction


    "When you mortals say that, there is usually a line you won''t cross and that is something I do respect, I am not only a god of death but one of justice and don''t misunderstand what happened here was a grave injustice but the other gods refuse to interfere with you mortals unless absolutely necessary usually only granting a divine mission and a reward so that is what I am here for" Raeknar Said


    Yorun looked confused at Raeknar and Raeknar clearly noticed that letting out a small laugh.


    "What I mean to say Yorun of Kurinet is for me to release the souls of your family and friends for you to properly revive them I want you to avenge them, take my cloak, take my scythe and use my name as you sow your vengeance across the lands bring those who slaughtered the people here and those of other villages to justice!" Raeknar shouts


    "I-I''ve never killed someone before or done anything even close to that!" Yorun shouted back but then quickly put his hand over his mouth


    "I know and I said bring them to justice, death is an easy form of that but you need not kill them you can go case by case for all I care but I want you to set this world right where my siblings wont" Raeknar said while taking their cloak off


    "I want to do this but these people are many and they have others around them all the time, the imperial family are the ones at the top of this and I alone can''t do anything about that" Yorun stated


    "But you never need to be alone" Raeknar said before pointing at at undead around Yorun


    Yorun realises what they mean and nodes taking the cloak and putting it on before taking the scythe.


    "I will do it Raeknar" Yorun said with newfound determination


    "Excellent! Yorun as you make your way through this journey, you will grow stronger and you will learn new abilities relating to your necromantic skills. So how about a test to see if you can truly handle this?" Raeknar asked


    "Alright" Yorun said


    "In the woods you passed by on the way to and from Orakin there lies a camp full of bandits that have killed many around these lands, go there with the undead you currently have and deal with them them, if you kill any raise their corpses and use them for a higher purpose. Even if you do not wish to kill them yourself the undead you have can do it for you" Raeknar said


    "It shall be so" Yorun said before bowing to Raeknar


    "Worry not for the dead of this village I will use some power to keep them from decaying even fixing them a bit so that should your journey be complete your family and friends will have bodies to properly return to" Raeknar said before walking to the one human undead and touching their forehead ending their unlife and disappearing alongside all the human bodies of the village


    Yorun looks to the scythe in his right hand and puts his left hand on his chest taking a deep breath.


    "Lina, Rayne, Jaynle please just wait for me a while longer..." Yorun said before making his way towards Orakin for the forest and the bandits who have no idea what awaits them

 Ch 4: The Test

    Yorun using one of the undead horses he acquired rode down the path he had not thought he would have gone down this many times in recent days but all the same he continues till the forest comes into view. Yorun stops then gets off the horse before deciding to test something focussing on the bird above and trying to remember the feeling of seeing through its eyes, After a short while he begins to see through the eyes of the undead bird once more before he returns his sight to his own eyes.


    "Well I should be able to use that when searching for this camp" Yorun thought to himself as he walks along the road once more until the bird caws


    Yorun hearing this looks to the forest quickly remembering that something was nearby when he was here last, quickly motioning the large cows to move themselves in between himself and the trees. Yorun keeps a keen eye on the forest for even the smallest movement when he notices the bird dive down into a tree and a rough looking man with a dagger and some rough clothes falls out of it with a small bit of blood coming from his skull where the bird had just pecked him, a snap is heard as he hits the ground however. Yorun walks over to the man and sees him dead on the ground due to his neck snapping against the ground. Yorun looks up at the bird.


    "Well done, not what I anticipated you to do but I guess that works" Yorun said eliciting a caw from the bird before Yorun holds his head in pain as he hears a voice in it


    "Yorun of Kurinet this is Raeknar, do you hear me?" Raeknar asked


    "Yes, I do. Why are you contacting me right now?" Yorun asked slightly annoyed but trying not to show it


    "I speak to you now for one reason, what just happened there is an example of the undead being able to learn or do things somewhat on their own. Their brains are revived alongside the rest of the body allowing for the ability to learn or take in new information. Those undead with superior brains will learn faster and learn more, human undead could even learn to speak again" Raeknar said


    "That is actually very useful information" Yorun said


    "I would not contact you otherwise Yorun, oh and one more thing before I leave your mind. My scythe you do not have a place to hold it other than your hand, it is connected to your mind merely think it gone or in your hand and it will do so" Raeknar said before his mind faded


    Yorun looked to the scythe in his right hand and thought for it to be gone and it disappeared immediately, he then thought for it to return and once again it did so immediately. Yorun now done with testing that looks down to the mans body, he takes a deep breathe as he begins to bring the corpse to life humans are far more of a strain to him even after having done it once so it takes a while but the corpse does stand.


    "Well it would seem we have the perfect little spy, should these bandits care enough for each other I could lure some of them out to him or send him in, well as long as they dont notice the neck" Yorun said to himself


    Yorun looks at the newly risen undead then up to the bird.


    "Really should give you a name, you''re useful and the first of the undead so I''ll think of one. Now how do I find the camp" Yorun said before the bird flies up to keep an eye out around them again


    Yorun thought for a minute but then gets the undead to spread out and search the forest, carefully however as to not alert the camp, he keeps the undead bandit with him for protection however as he begins to look periodically though the eyes of all the undead searching. For so long he only finds other animals until the bird sees the camp and lands in a tree to confirm, Yorun watches the camp and then he gets the bird to fly up and look around.


    "I can still make my body move and use other magic or at least I think I can, well time to test" Yorun thought to himself


    He began to make a small ball of green light in his hand feeling the mental strain of doing this while looking through the birds eyes but he perseveres despite the pounding headache he''s getting, he lets it shoot up into the air and he sees where it is from the birds eyes.


    "Fuck I don''t want to do that again oh well I need to head North west from here then" Yorun said to himself as he began to see through his eyes again and hold his head


    Yorun began to make his way to the bandit camp with the rest of the undead making their way back to Yorun save for the bird which is keeping an eye on the bandits movements. Not too long after however some of the bandits start making their way towards Yorun and his group of undead seemingly to go investigate the light they all saw.


    "Shit I really should have thought about that, alright I need to make a trap for them" Yorun thought to himself


    Yorun quickly got the undead to spread out into the trees and bushes nearby but told the undead bandit to lay on the ground in view of where the bandits will come from. Yorun meanwhile gets rid of the scythe and quickly hides as well. It does not take long for the bandits to come into view, there is only 5 of them and they soon see their fellow bandits body on the ground. They rush over though seemingly not to check if he''s alright.


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    "Quick get any of the loot he had on him, can''t waste this shit" One bandit said


    The bandits don''t even realise the trap they''re in as the undead bandit quickly grabs their leg as the undead animals and Yorun come out of the trees and bushes surrounding the group of bandits. The bandits quickly grab their own weapons while donning confused looks though the one who had their leg grabbed quickly kicked the undead bandit and move away from it. Yorun looks to the group of bandits.


    "Surrender bandits or face the undead" Yorun stated as the scythe appeared back in his right hand


    "Who the fuck are you!?" The bandits shouted in unison


    Yorun quickly remembered that Raeknar wanted him to used their name so the answer is simple.


    "I am Raeknar" Yorun Stated


    "T-the god of death and justice!?" One bandit shouted confused and scared


    "You idiot that can''t be right! What god deals with bandits like us and uses undead cows, horses and just one human!?" Another bandit shouts angrily


    The other bandits agree and they quickly bare their weapons and attack the undead while one goes for Yorun who tries to dodge their attacks the undead cows use their size, weight and inability to feel pain to quickly knock the bandits over and crush pats of the bandits. The horses easily trample the bandits that attack them and one of the horses run over to Yorun and turns using its back legs to kick the bandit that is attacking Yorun in the head quickly killing the bandit. Yorun pats the undead horses head.


    "Well done to all of you, I really need to figure out how to fight and maybe heal, it would make these bandits easier to use now that some of them have crushed bones. Gods I don''t think I''m going to get used to this anytime soon" Yorun said


    Yorun took the next half hour to raise the corpses of the bandits, some of whom couldn''t walk due to crushed parts of their bodies making that impossible. Yorun gathers the undead and then heads off towards the bandit camp though along the way he thinks on what had just happened.


    "The undead have a better mind for combat than me, don''t know whether to feel insulted or just fucking glad. Oh well it''s something I''ll pick up in time I suppose or maybe I will find someone to train me" Yorun thought to himself somewhat annoyed but hopeful


    A while passes and it begins to get dark but he and his group of undead are near the bandit camp so he looks through the birds eyes once more. He counts 14 more bandits in this camp and then returns to looking through his own eyes, he looks to the undead bandits.


    "On my mark go in there and terrify them" Yorun commanded


    Yorun then made small green fireballs and threw them at the bandit camps tents setting them alive which quickly sent the bandits into a panic as they ran out of their tents ill prepared either missing weapons or in some cases parts of their clothing. Yorun then snapped his fingers and the undead bandits walk or crawl into the camp which horrifies the living bandits that see them quickly making them scream. Some bandits began to run but were immediately cut off by the undead horses which ran around and got in front of them. Yorun then showed himself and all the living bandits looked to him standing there clad in the black cloak of Raeknar holding the scythe of death themself.


    "WHO ARE YOU!?" The bandits brave enough to speak shouted in fear


    "I am Raeknar and you will surrender or become like your allies here" Yorun said before motioning to the undead bandits


    The bandits all know the name and some try to run again while others attack the undead bandits, the undead bandits however do not care for the attacks merely allowing the attacks to hit them, the stabs and slashes do nothing but their counterattack against the attackers do. The living bandits were quickly killed but the ones who ran were once again stopped by the horses.


    "Surrender not run. It is either that or death, choose wisely" Yorun stated


    The bandits know they cannot run so they attack not willing to surrender even to the possible god before them whatever the consequences, the consequence here though is simple death which is meted out quickly by the undead. Yorun begins the lengthy process of raising all the corpses one after another but afterwards he sat down in the middle of the burning camp exhausted. Raeknar appeared before him in that moment a living skeleton once again.


    "You have done well Yorun, refinement is needed but that was to be expected" Raeknar stated


    "Thank you my l- eh what title should I give you?" Yorun asked


    "Just use my name Raeknar you will be using it for yourself after all" Raeknar said


    "Fair point, Raeknar I do want to ask a couple things" Yorun said


    "Feel free to ask Yorun" Raeknar said


    "Well for one why the many different forms?" Yorun asked


    "Simple, death comes in all shapes and sizes, death means something different to all as does justice. I change for you though because you see death and even justice differently now" Raeknar stated


    "That makes sense I suppose. Now I do have to ask, will you really bring my family back?" Yorun asked


    "You doubt that I will?" Raeknar asked with genuine intrigue


    "Here in the outskirts we always felt abandoned by the gods mistreated by those far away who the gods allowed to stay in power and sure you''re seemingly trying to rectify that through me but it''s hard to trust that" Yorun said


    "I can give you a choice, to revive someone now properly but you do have to make the choice" Raeknar said


    "Wait really!?" Yorun asked excitedly


    "Indeed but as I said you would choose, your wife, one of your children or even someone else? You''d still be letting everyone else stay dead to save that one person that''s a thing that may make them see you differently depending on who you bring back" Raeknar said and they see their words sink in


    "Oh... That... Shit" Yorun said as he put his head in his hands


    "Exactly, we gods have our rules and you completing this test grants you the ability to revive one person properly, you can wait however till you are able to revive more and bring your family back entirely then begin getting everyone else" Raeknar said


    "I will wait, it pains me but I will wait. What must I do to get more of these divine favours?" Yorun asked


    "Begin the task of which I set you, find those who trouble these lands, those who killed your village and bring them to justice" Raeknar said


    "Then that is what I will do" Yorun said as he began to stand up


    "Word of advice Yorun, you may be collecting the dead and such to use in this endeavour but do not forsake the living, living allies can do much for you" Raeknar said before disappearing


    "Living allies huh? Gira is a possible one, my undead do need parts of them fixed up to be of more use" Yorun thought to himself as he and his undead horde make their way to Orakin once more

 Ch 5: Living Ally

    Yorun and his small horde of undead walk towards Orakin via forest paths though as they walk Yorun is deep in thought about multiple things, will Gira help more? Will those she warned off be in Orakin at this moment? The biggest question though is how he will avoid them and find those who killed his village but as he continues to walk the undead bird lands on his shoulder snapping him back to reality.


    "Sorry, got lost in my head for a minute there" Yorun said as he looked at the bird


    The bird just looked at him before tilting its head.


    "I did say I would give you a name, feels like a needed thing not just because of your use but you were the first of my horde. So how about... Koralin?" Yorun asked


    Koralin nodded and cawed in agreement making Yorun smile a little. Koralin flies high into the sky to scout ahead and see how far the village is. Not long after that however Yorun is abruptly forced into seeing through Koralins eyes, Yorun after taking a second to recover from the suddenness sees what Koralin does, a group of heavily armed people with a couple mages in Orakin.


    "Shit, I''ll need to work around them, hopefully not get seen or sensed" Yorun said with annoyance clear in his voice


    Yorun begins to see through his own eyes again but just as he does his mind gets a new strain as Raeknar begins to speak to him telepathically.


    "Yorun, you need not worry of them specifically sensing you, my cloak radiates my divine magic and it will block others from sensing magic in you under normal circumstances" Raeknar said


    "So I can be prepared, what would unusual circumstances be?" Yorun asked


    "Those who are priests and the like, they can recognise the touch of divinity on an object or person also those who have magic granted to them by a god could sense the divine magic as well as your normal magic" Raeknar stated


    "Great, least they are in far fewer numbers than natural magic users" Yorun said relieved


    "Indeed" Raeknar said before their voice left Yoruns mind


    "I am never going to not feel some pain from Raeknar talking in my head" Yorun thought to himself as he continued on his way to Orakins outskirts


    Yorun orders the horde to to stay in the forest and out of sight as he goes into town only allowing Koralin to follow but high up enough for no one to notice. Yorun gets rid of Raeknars scythe and makes sure the hood of the cloak is firmly covering as much of his face as possible before he heads into the village. Yorun can feel the uneasiness of the villagers but he also overhears some of them talking about the incoming tax collectors for their village, Yorun is kind of happy to hear that.


    "Once I get the undead healed up I could find a way to set a trap for them when they come, take down some of the people behind my villages destruction" Yorun thought to himself


    Yorun makes his way to Giras house and just as he is about to check with Koralin where the group of heavily armed soldiers and mages are they round the corner, Yorun quickly tries to head around a house and out of view but they see him, one of the soldiers points at him.


    "Hey you! We need to talk!" The soldier shouted causing Yorun to turn back slightly, showing the burnt half of his face


    "What is it you need?" Yorun asked trying his best to not sound nervous


    "The fuck happened to you? You new in this town?" The soldier asked


    "I am new yes, I originally was coming here to trade with the villagers but was attacked by bandits along the way so now I have a permanent reminder to hire some guards next time" Yorun said


    "Other than these ones or that healer have you seen any mages around these parts?" The soldier asked


    "No not to my knowledge" Yorun said doing his best to hide the lie


    "Are you a mage?" The soldier then asked while placing a hand on the pommel of his sword


    "No sir" Yorun said


    "Mages scan him anyway just in case" The soldier said


    The mages proceed to scan Yorun and basically immediately they look to the soldiers.


    "If this man has any magic it''s so damn miniscule it doesn''t exist. Lets go we''ll ask the healer more later" The head mage said before leaving with the rest


    "Thank the go- Well I suppose I should say Thank Raeknar specifically in this instance" Yorun thought to himself


    Yorun heads to Giras house and knocks on the door leading Gira to open it.


    "Yorun? Quickly get inside" Gira said letting him in and closing the door behind him


    "Hello again Gira" Yorun said


    "Yes hello but those people came searching so its dangerous, why are you here?" Gira asked very confused


    "I''ll explain that in a minute though if you are worried they''ll sense my magic or anything you need not worry after all try and sense it" Yorun said


    "I-I can''t. I hadn''t even realised, how?" Gira asked even more confused now


    "Suffice to say much has happened since we last saw one another" Yorun said and he explained all that happened including Raeknar


    "By the gods, t-this is incredible. The god of death and justice wanting you to do this then as reward will even bring your family and friends back. This is unprecedented wait you said you needed my help during that explanation so what do you need?" Gira asked


    "When I raise an undead their body functions similarly enough to when they''re alive to the point they can naturally heal over time like us and I''d assume healing magic would work on them, I have no knowledge on how to use that yet and my undead all have injuries but the bandits specifically are very broken to say the least, if you could heal them and teach me the basics it would be appreciated plus I may be able to help myself eventually with it too" Yorun said while pointing to the burns on his face


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    "I want to at least try and help so where are these undead of yours?" Gira asked


    "Follow me" Yorun said


    They leave the house and head to the forest and then off the path, Yorun calls all the undead to him and Gira upon seeing them coming to them does actually get a little terrified especially of the undead bandits that have to crawl quickly towards them.


    "They are unnerving" Gira said


    "You get surprisingly used to it, trust me on that" Yorun said


    Gira begins to use healing magic on the undead but none of them start to heal, she tries to put more magic into it yet it does nothing. Koralin flies down and lands on Yoruns shoulder and Gira tries to solely heal him but even on something as small as Koralin the healing does nothing.


    "This isn''t working, shit" Yorun said with an annoyed tone


    "Sorry I couldn''t be of help Yorun" Gira said apologetically


    "Before you leave let me find out if theres a trick to it. Raeknar are you around?" Yorun asks and Gira is surprised by his casualness about Raeknar


    "Yes I am here" Raeknar said as they just appear before them in the form of a large undead looking man


    "R-Raeknar..." Gira said as she immedaitely kneels


    "Stand up Gira of Orakin, if you are to be an ally of Yorun you need not kneel" Raeknar said and soon after Gira stood up


    "So, there a trick to healing the undead?" Yorun asked casually


    "There is indeed, healing magic speeds up not just the bodies healing but stimulates the persons soul sending the healing magic throughout their body like blood from it now naturally the undead have no souls but your magic still runs through them Yorun all Gira needs to do it channel it through you into them, of course it will be easier when you learn to do it yourself" Raeknar stated


    "Huh lot simpler than I had expected" Yorun said


    "Thank you God Raeknar" Gira said before bowing and starting to heal the undead through Yorun


    "Just call me Raeknar it''s annoying having all the damn titles mortals put on us" Raeknar said


    "O-oh s-sorry" Gira said


    They all watch as the undead begin to heal even those with the worst injuries begin to heal, bones are heard snapping back together skin visibly sealing back up as if no injury had been there. The healing efforts here do not go unnoticed however, back in Orakin that group of heavily armed soldiers and mages noticed, the mages sensed massive surge of healing magic.


    "We haven''t heard anything about a large group of people being hurt did we?" One of the mages asked


    "No sir, why?" The lead soldier asked


    "Seems that healer may have been hiding something, either that or bandits attacked oh well either way lets go see and deal with it. Such a boring day" The lead mage said


    "It''d be nice to help out for a change if it is bandits" One of the younger soldiers said


    The group heads towards the forest and to where Yorun, Gira, Raeknar and the undead all are. Raeknar sees them coming and just disappears, Yorun and Gira don''t think much of it seeing that they did what they came to do. The undead all finish getting healed and Yorun looks at Gira however just as he is about to thank her they hear someone start speaking.


    "And what the fuck is going on here?" The lead mage asked as he and the group come out from behind trees


    "Shit it''s them" Yorun said


    "Hey he''s that burned merchant from earlier!" The lead soldier shouted


    "Never mind him look at the people and animals behind him and the healer they don''t have souls!" One of the mages shouted astonished


    "How the hell did you do this healer?" The lead mage asked genuinely curious


    "Whosoever said she did it?" Yorun asked as he turned to look at them with the scythe appearing in his right hand once more


    "Where the fuck did that come from!? You have know magic!" The lead mage shouted


    Yorun lights up a green fireball in his left hand while Gira gets behind him but the green fireball seems to have awoken something in one of the soldier.


    "Green fire? I saw that back in Kurinet when me and some of the others burned it down" One of the older soldiers said


    Yoruns eyes immediately fixate on that soldier and they glow a menacing dark green as he points the scythe at the soldier.


    "Get the others he''s mine" Yorun said coldly his voice sounding overlayed on itself almost demonically


    The undead turn to the group and charge at them, the soldiers and mages quickly pull out swords or magic as they prepare for a fight the animal undead charge into the group separating them though the mages are still in a small group covering each other. Yorun throws the green fireball at the soldier who was involved with Kurinet and he then rushes at him grabbing the scythe with both hands, the soldier quickly blocks the fireball with a shield and tries to counterattack when Yorun gets close enough his blade hits the large wooden part of the scythe but it doesn''t break, splinter or seem like it will any time soon. Yorun is physically weaker than the soldier but in this instance it doesn''t even seem like that''s the case as he holds back the soldiers attack effortlessly, Yorun stops pushing as hard and angles the scythe forcing the soldier who''s putting all his weight into the push against it move forward due to the blade sliding down the wooden handle to the metal head Yorun completes the motion by turning the scythe even more hitting the soldier with the bottom of scythe right in the head forcing the soldier back as for him the hit felt far stronger than he anticipated.


    "How the fuck are you so damn strong and why the fuck does some little farmer from one of these dumb outskirts village have such a strong weapon!?" The soldier shouted confused as he raises his shield


    Yorun doesn''t speak as his hands light on fire and that fire travels up the scythe not lighting it on fire until the fire meets the metal end, the fire wraps around and springs forth from the metal as if it started from there but the usual green fire turns black as Yorun stares the soldier down. The soldier fearing his life and the seemingly great strength of the foe in front of him moves back himself and firmly grabs the shield with both hands after tossing his sword at Yorun which Yorun moved out of the way from as the soldier was far to obvious about it. Yorun quickly moves towards the soldier and as he does so his mind has Kurinets slaughter flash through it enraging Yorun more and more knowing this man in front of him was part of it and that he seemed to not care.


    "Get him" Raeknars voice echoed in Yoruns mind as he slashed the scythe at the soldier


    For everyone there save for the undead time seems to slow to a crawl as they see the scythe lit with its black flames begin to slice through the shield as well as the armour and man behind it blood splattering across yorun and once the scythe cut through entirely the soldier falls to the ground a large gash through the armour and body of the man while the shield falls to the ground in two pieces. The other soldiers seeing this grow terrified and quickly surrender the mages however look intrigued and they scan Yorun again yet they still sense no magic, the undead quickly subdue them in their moment of curiosity. Yorun however is standing above the dead soldier looking at his hands and the scythe with the dripping blood on it, his hands are shaking.


    "I... I actually... killed him" Yorun whispered to himself in shock that he actually did


    "You dispensed justice but there are others here in need of judging" Raeknars said as their voice echoed in his mind once more


    Yorun grips the scythe as he tries to calm himself before turning to the soldiers and the mages, fear in the eyes of the soldiers and the mages eyes full of intrigue and anger. Yorun walks over to them, the undead have gathered them together and have blades pointed at them. Yorun stares them down.


    "Were any of you in Kurinet?" Yorun asked


    "No! It was only him! He was assigned to our group after odd magics were sensed!" The youngest soldier shouts


    "Gira come here and scan them for me, I know one can determine the truth with that and I have little experience with that" Yorun said


    Gira walks over and she scans the soldier.


    "He''s telling the truth, ask the same question to the rest as the scan can''t account for him just not knowing" Gira stated


    Yorun and Gira repeat this with all of the soldiers and then even the mages, they all tell the truth only that soldier was there in Kurinet.


    "Now if I let you all go what will you do?" Yorun asked


    "W-we''d have to report this and if we didn''t we''d be i-imprisoned or e-executed due to not reporting someone killed a soldier" The youngest soldier said


    "Then go, run back to your commanders and tell them Raeknar comes from Kurinet and justice will be served" Yorun stated coldly


    The undead step back and the bandits keep their blades out as the soldiers and mages quickly leave as Yorun sits down, the scythe hits the ground and Yorun looks at his hands the blood on them a foreign sight to him as he comes to terms with the fact he killed someone no matter the situation.

 Ch 6: Orakin Skirmish

    The forest is quiet as Yorun, Gira and the undead stay at the site of that skirmish, Yorun stands right where he killed that soldier now that the adrenaline that came with the fight is gone and he doesn''t need to put on an act for those soldiers as they''re long gone he looks down at the mans body both parts of him still laying there and Yorun is once more looking at his bloodied hand and the still fresh blood dripping from the scythe. His mind is replaying the fight over and over the ease that the scythe went through the mans shield, armour and flesh as if it were paper yet he was not paper he was someone of flesh and blood who''s life has ended and who''s soul has gone to the afterlife.


    "Yorun? Are you... okay?" Gira asked


    "I... don''t know how to answer that" Yorun said


    "He was one of the ones who attacked your village, you don''t need to-" Gira said before being cut off by Yorun who turns to her


    "I know that! It''s just... regardless of that its a life I have now taken and sure others have died and had their bodies brought into my growing horde by my actions but the act of killing them felt disconected as it was the undead doing it but in this instance? I killed this man, no matter his right or wrongs from this life I ended it with no knowledge of his situation, this man could be a horrible person yet a loving father and husband but solely due to my rage against what he did to me, my family and people I slew him felt every bit of his flesh tear apart" Yorun said


    "It is something you should get used to Yorun, shame about the body he could have been useful" Raeknar said as they appeared behind them both


    Yorun and Gira look to Raeknar who is also now looking down at the body''s two halves.


    "What do you mean?" Yorun asked


    "Had the body not been cleanly cut in two you could have raised it to be in your army, the undead as I''m sure you''ve noticed have become smarter as time has gone on just as I said they would but well they have the benefit of muscle memory as well quite effective for the undead especially one who was a soldier, could have been a good training partner and bodyguard" Raeknar stated


    "I... I don''t even want to think about not only because I''d have to see the face of a man I''ve killed but also because he aided in slaughtering my village" Yorun shouted quite annoyed by the thought put forward by Raeknar


    "This will be a war Yorun to find and deal justice to those causing the realm all of this damage you would need to raise many undead and chances are you will have to fight against some yourself. Steel your heart, you can''t assume someone is wholly good or evil and if you try to see good in someone you''re fighting you will hesitate and you will die, you may have come back to life once but trust me you were lucky to have that happen even the most advanced necromancers among you mortals only managed that a select few times" Raeknar said their tone serious


    "To hopefully ease my mind, what happened to that mans soul?" Yorun asked


    "You know the sections of my realm?" Raeknar asked


    "Not really, religion hasn''t exactly been at the front of my mind for years never mind anything after death" Yorun said


    "I know of Artiel, those who were good natured in life have their soul go there to rest in the afterlife for eternity" Gira said


    "Close on that one Gira. Artiel is indeed where good souls go while its opposite is Konlair where the souls of bad natured people go to be punished for their sins but neither are for eternity should a good soul become bad or a bad soul become good during their penance while there they will be moved to Dorancia the sort of in between to see if they will become even better or worse when taken out of either Artiel or Konlair and they can then proceed to either depending on what they do. A soul in Artiel can also choose to end their existence once the afterlife has given them all it has to offer. The name of the entire afterlife is Faelerm I rule over all of Faelerm and travel to all parts of it regularly to see if all is as it should be, my helpers the Kai Tamar ensure it all works as needed and aid me in taking all the souls to the afterlife, within time you may end up meeting some of them" Raeknar said


    "I never knew, you didn''t answer my question though" Yorun said


    "That soldiers soul will be taken to Konlair after I leave, other than the village slaughtering he was a bastard of a man to begin with, he was a criminal before he was a soldier and while he had a family he did not care for them, he had the marriage with his wife arranged for some power among the nobility and he treated her horribly. You''ve likely done her a favour Yorun" Raeknar said


    "Oh that''s good then" Yorun said


    "Indeed but once again do not try and find something good in someone when fighting them or you''ll never be able to get your family and village back" Raeknar said


    "I... I understand, I''ll try and harden my heart to it" Yorun said


    "Now then, any questions before I leave?" Raeknar asked


    "Two, but first during the fight with him I was stronger than usual to a surprising degree and I felt like I knew how to fight just a little bit on the instinctual level that it was even apparent to the soldier and the scythe cut cleanly through him like paper. What was up with that?" Yorun asked


    "Well the scythe is a godly weapon cutting through mortals as simple as that is to be expected but is only activated when the divine magic within is told to do it which you allowed to happen when your fire mixed in with it creating those black flames, that''s just a mortal thing though it cuts like that with me regardless of black flames or not as long as I think it though it does help even more when it comes to scaring mortals. The strength and combat ability though is likely due to my cloak. Divine magic works differently for each and every mortal when it effects them via an object or something like my cloak, in your case it gives strength and a little bit of aid in a fight while others could have something else happen to them. I never mentioned such a thing as it''s unknown to me what it would be with you" Raeknar said


    "There''s no way to know before hand?" Gira asked


    "Not unless I asked the god of time" Raeknar said


    "Fair enough then" Yorun said


    "Oh by the way should you find or kill any mages raise their bodies" Raeknar said


    "Why magic comes from the soul and the undead don''t have those" Yorun said confused


    "I''ll tell you once you get some" Raeknar said


    Raeknar disappears and just as Yorun is going to say something to Gira, Koralin flies down and caws at Yorun before flying into the sky again.


    "Alright lets see what''s wrong" Yorun said


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    Yorun focusses and looks through Koralins eyes, Koralin flies over Orakin and looks over at the main road into the village. The tax collectors have shown up, there are more soldiers than usual with them as well as some more mages, they have nearly gotten to the village, Yorun quickly sees through his own eyes.


    "Shit!" Yorun shouted


    "What''s wrong?" Gira asked


    "The tax collectors are here for Orakin, I have an idea on how to confront them so we''d best get back before they enter the village" Yorun said


    Gira nodded and Yorun makes the scythe disappear as he alongside Gira and the undead make their way into Orakin, the people of Orakin see the undead and quickly hide away from them while the guards of the town and leader of it approach.


    "Gira who is this man and w-what the hell has he got with him!?" The leader said


    "This is-" Gira said before Yorun cut her off


    "Raeknar, think as much as you want about that name as you want but I have a singular purpose here, the soldiers and mages come for Orakins tax if you don''t cough it up Orakin will be destroyed much like two villages before this one. My undead are going to kill those collectors" Yorun said


    "A-are you insane!? They''ll just send people after you do that!" The leader shouted


    "If they do it''s likely to my benefit but they''d also have other things to worry about" Yorun said


    "Do you have some kind of plan!?" The leader asked


    "Allow my undead into peoples homes surrounding the middle point of the village, those bastards like to collect the tax in that location of each village from what I know. My undead will surround them and surprise them. Once the fighting starts your guards can choose to get involved if they wish but it''d best be on my side as these fuckers won''t give you anything for helping" Yorun said


    "God''s I can''t believe this is happening" The leader said terrified that he''s in this situation


    "I am going to try and kill them regardless of if you allow me to do this or not, it will be more chaotic if you don''t though and others are likely to be hurt unintentionally" Yorun said


    "Fine! Go into peoples homes them, do what you need to! I don''t want the others hurt" The leader said


    "Nor do I" Yorun said


    The undead filter into peoples homes around the centre of the village ready to attack, Yorun meanwhile goes to the village leaders house and makes his way onto its roof but out of view. The village guards go back to their usual duties while people and the village leader go to their homes, those who now share a home with the undead are more than unnerved. After a while the soldiers and mages make their way into the village and very quickly stop outside the leaders house, Yorun takes a peak at them via Koralins eyes and he recognises some faces, in particular one of the mages as well as the head soldier.


    "Alright! You all know we''re here now! Start bringing the money!" The head soldier said


    "Oh that''s not happening" Yorun said from atop the village leaders roof


    The soldiers and mages look up at Yorun confused and they see the scythe appear in Yoruns right hand and just before the head soldier is about to shout at this unknown man, Yorun uses his green fire on the scythe making the black flames come from the scythe. The head soldier as well as the mages pause for a moment as they remember the report from earlier that day.


    "So you''re the one that decided to take the name of a god?" The head mage said


    Yorun does not respond and just stares down at them.


    "Interesting that we can''t sense any magic from you despite the clear magic usage and interesting flame colours at that" The head mage said as one of the other mages seemingly was freaking out behind him


    "Shit, we need to leave!" The freaking out mage said


    "What''s up with you? It''s just one guy taking the name of a god" The head mage said


    "I am a priest for the gods back in the capital! He''s swirling with divine magic! That Scythe and Cloak are indeed Raeknars!" The freaking out mage shouted before kneeling to Yorun and some others follow suit


    The soldiers and mages then all turn their attention to Yorun who''s still staring down at them, there is now fear in their eyes but the most experienced among them shake that fear and draw their weapons or bring out various types of magic. While the soldiers and mages have been focussed on Yorun the undead bandits have snuck their way out of the buildings and are waiting for a signal to attack.


    "You will pay for Kurinet" Yorun said his voice having that same demonic tone from when he killed that soldier in the forest


    Yorun snaps his fingers and the undead bandits surprise attack the soldiers quickly killing a few of them and even one mage, they do not target those who are kneeling though. As the attack happens the soldiers and mages that are fighting are now in disarray due to the unexpected attack, the soldiers grow more in fear as they stab or slash the undead and realise the undead do not feel pain. They try to cut clean through parts of them but any time they go to do that they are met with a green fireball to their blade knocking it out of their hands and burning their hands slightly. The undead finish the ones who have been disarmed rather quickly but they do not kill the head guard and they cannot lay a hand on the mages who are very defensive now and holding any undead getting close back. Yorun jumps down from the roof and he grabs one of the dead soldiers shields, he begins to run towards the mages who quickly notice him approaching and shoot fireballs at him, Yorun quickly blocks them with the shield and so the mages switch it up to lightning Yorun gets read to dodge it but as the lightning comes he can''t dodge it one of the undead cows get in the way taking the lightning bolt allowing Yorun to quickly get to the mages and slash his scythe, the mages put up barriers though to try and block the hit but the scythe with its black flames going cut right through the barrier and he slashes across the mages stomachs injuring them but not killing them and Yorun quickly puts the scythes blade to their necks.


    "Move or even try to use your magic and I will know then I will send you to Faelerm, Understood?" Yorun asked


    "Y-yes" The head mage said as he and the other mages were bleeding


    Yorun looks around and sees most of the soldiers have been killed and only those who were kneeling are alive as well as the head soldier and only one mage has died due to the sneak attack. Yorun drops the shield and then moves over to the dead soldiers and mage and he begins to start raising them, at this point it is less stressful on him so he can start to raise a couple of them at a time so it takes far less time than before. The mages while in pain watch in curiosity as their comrades begin to stand no souls able to be sensed within them, Yorun walks over to the head soldier and grabs him dragging him over to the injured mages and leaving him back to back with the head mage.


    "You two I especially recognise" Yorun said as he brought his hood down showing the burns on his face far mor prominently


    "Y-you! One of the farmers from Kurinet! You lived!?" The head mage asked surprised


    "Indeed, I am the only one who did and you will pay for what you did as well as everyone else who was there and who sent you there" Yorun said


    "Ha! Long list there and some of them you''ll never get too!" The head soldier shouted and he receives a punch to the face for it


    "I will get to them all and you will tell me where to find them and maybe the punishment you receive will be less painful" Yorun said with a dead serious tone


    "I am a practical mage, scan my memories and you''ll get their names and the command posts of them" The head mage said


    Yorun looks over at Gira who''s been watching this unfold from her own house, she quickly comes over and scans the head mages mind and then gives the information to Yorun.


    "Smart using someone else for that, could have had mental traps" The head mage said smirking


    "Exactly and I knew she''d be fine" Yorun said while knowing he had no idea about that


    Yorun looks to the head mage and head guard but his mind goes back to Kurinet, the slaughter and the head mage as well as those under his command at the time burning him and his family. They did not care and seemed to take delight in what happened to Kurinet as Yorun thinks about this the black flames on the scythe grow larger and Yorun then thinks about the conversation earlier. He needs to harden his heart to death at his hands, Yorun stares down the head mage and head soldier and before they realise what happens Yorun quickly stabs his scythe through both of them killing both instantly. The remaining mages including those who were kneeling and the kneeling soldiers see Yoruns hands shake for a second before they grip the scythe and pull it back out.


    "There the only punishment suitable for these two" Yorun said with an almost cold voice


    Yorun then raises the corpses of those two and then shamble over to the other undead then Yorun looks at Gira.


    "I will be leaving soon to track down the rest of these bastards but to ensure nothing happens to Orakin, these mages and soldiers that remain, they know who sent me and they WILL ensure orakin stays safe or else" Yorun said to her though his words were directed threateningly to the mages and soldiers who quickly bow their heads


    "Alright before you go though" Gira said and she used some telepathy to teach Yorun the basics of healing magic for him to learn on his own


    "Thank you Gira" Yorun said before he walked over to an undead horse and got on it


    He began to ride out of Orakin pulling his hood up once more, the undead soldiers picking up the blades and shields they had in life as they followed the rest of the undead the undead mages can''t do what they did in life however so Yorun does not know how useful they will be. He wonders what Raeknar will tell him on the way to the city of Gantoral.

 Ch 7: The God Chain

    Leaving Orakin behind Yorun and his undead horde make their way to the city of Gantoral, with information taken from the soldiers there are at least 3 people within the city that Yorun would want to deal with including the Tax Master for the region of Sornan which had Kurinet in it. Other than the Tax master though there is the City''s leader and the head guard for the city.


    "A few targets, all important people within the city.... This will not be easy" Yorun said to himself


    "Nothing of the task before you will be easy" Raeknar said as they appeared next to Yorun floating alongside him as he rode the undead horse


    "True, Raeknar what is it that you said you''d tell me?" Yorun asked


    "Ah well the city of Gantoral is some distance from here so while you move unabated thanks to the undead horse you will be able to practice two things. One of those being healing magic which stands as the most important for you to learn right now and the easier of the two" Raeknar said


    "Healing magic will be highly useful and Gira did teach me the basics mentally though putting that knowledge into practice won''t be easy, lot to learn there especially in terms of how the body should be knit back together" Yorun said


    "Indeed and as a bonus you''ll likely pick up telekinesis during it but the second thing is far harder, acting as a conduit for the undead mages to use magic alongside you" Raeknar said


    "Wait what!?" Yorun shouted with surprise


    "You will learn to allow those mages to use their magic again by giving them parts of your own magic via sectioning off parts of your own reservoir of magic within your soul and channelling it to them" Raeknar said


    "That sounds like the most useful one" Yorun said


    "It would be but with your souls current limits, training the healing magic is imperative not only because of you being able to heal yourself as well as the undead but because of the simple fact you will be able to expand how much magic your soul can both contain and generate for you and then those mages to use" Raeknar said


    "Damn well, guess I do have some things to do along the way to Gantoral" Yorun said


    "Indeed, for now focus on the healing, I expect to see some progress there when I return" Raeknar said


    "Return? Where are you going?" Yorun said


    "I am going to my realm for a short while to check in on things there, I will be gone for likely your whole trip. Focus on your training oh and get some sleep you''ve been going between Kurinet and Orakin for a few days and while you initially slept a little in Giras house its been a while" Raeknar said with some slight concern in their voice


    "Fuck... I hadn''t even realised, I haven''t even thought about sleeping" Yorun said


    "Likely due to your return to life after your slight sleep of the dead but that should be waring off around now so do rest that is good for the soul too. Anyway farewell for now Yorun" Raeknar said before teleporting away from this world


    The realm in which the world of Roara resides is left behind by the God as they re-enter their own realm, their mere presence is felt by every being within the realm the moment they arrive, Raeknar casually flies over the afterlife looking down at everything as it passes by, they sees the pits of Konlair and all the souls within being punished for their actions and Raeknar sees the relatively peaceful Dorancia with all the souls there not knowing their future fate in the afterlife but soon enough Raeknar flies over Artiel and all the good souls residing there rejoice at their return. Raeknar flies down to the palace within Artiel and is greeted by a group of Humanoid Skeleton with Draconic features all wearing a similar cloak and wielding a similar scythe to the one Raeknar normally has. There stands one of these beings at the head of the group who kneels first and the others follow suit.


    "Rise all of you, Jinarl fill me in on what has happened while I was in the mortal realm" Raeknar said


    The beings rose and all left save for the one at the head of the group.


    "Of course" Jinarl said


    "Any situations your fellow Kai Tamar had to deal with?" Raeknar asked as they began to walk the halls of the palace


    "Only some souls trying to force their way out of Konlair and some souls in Dorancia trying to fight as they were moved to Konlair, all those souls have been dealt with and should you wish to see them I can take you to them" Jinarl said


    "No need, you and the rest of the Kai Tamar did your jobs as I expect you to, go back to your duties for now and inform me of anything requiring my attention" Raeknar said


    As Jinarl bows and leaves Raeknar floats back out of the palace and heads to where the souls of those from Kurinet reside for the time being, as they land they see some of the souls of Kurinet children playing with the souls of family pets and such. Raeknar is fairly happy to see they have adapted to their current situation but soon after Raeknar goes to where the souls of Yoruns family are. Lina, Rayne and Jaynle see Raeknar approach and kneel in response but Raeknar holds his hand up to stop them.


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    "Do not kneel, only the Kai Tamar need to do that here, the afterlife is meant to be a place for you to relax for as long as you want though for you three and the others of your village that does obviously stop should Yorun do enough to bring you all to life once more" Raeknar said


    "Might I ask how Yorun is faring?" Lina asked


    "He is doing fine, the burns on his face I can tell still give him some level of discomfort but all the same he is continuing the quest I have given him" Raeknar said


    "We can''t thank you enough for doing this Raeknar" Rayne said


    "No thanks necessary, this is somewhat part of my job as both God of Death and Justice" Raeknar said


    "Would it be okay if we ask questions?" Jaynle asked


    "Go ahead, you are for the moment guests of this realm, I would be a poor host not to answer some questions" Raeknar said


    "There is a lot of greenery and even animals here, I would not have anticipated that, other races souls too. I''ve seen elves, giants and even dwarves. I thought they had their own pantheons and afterlives so what''s up with that?" Rayne asked


    "Well Rayne, everything does die and as such everything will come to this after life that includes even the greenery in the mortal realm, they may not exactly have souls but death is still a thing. Take my Kai Tamar for example most of them do not have souls yet they live in a sense much as you all did. As for the other races well while they have their pantheons they are basically just different names for me and the others though so not an actual different pantheon so their afterlife is here as is everyone''s" Raeknar said


    "Why do you actually care about bringing us back to life and bringing actual justice to our world?" Jaynle asked and Raeknar notices Lina was going to ask the same thing


    "I am the god of both Death and Justice as you already know but as to why I care? There is a few reasons, I am genuinely sympathetic to you mortals, being someone who literally deals in death I''ve seen every emotion when one passes both from family and friends as well as the deceased themselves, over my many years I have ferried souls here and comforted them though admittedly I was not good at it when I was younger as I didn''t fully understand back then. Though this does come to the other reason and I both did this for all these years and why I seek the justice part so heavily now, we gods NEED to do our jobs, we have something we refer to as The Chain, it is not a physical thing but something we just feel as if it was tightening around our divine soul but that only happens should we do not do our job or in my case as well as some of the others jobs. The Chain its not quite pain but the closest thing to it and something you always feel until you do what you are meant to do, the other gods however don''t want me to do my justice part due to the situations on the mortal realm fulfilling their duties and as such I have waited with this damnable feeling for thousands of years but well I''ve had enough so I''ve bent the rules in which we gods abide by hence Yoruns quest" Raeknar said


    "I am sorry you have had to deal with that for so long" Lina said


    "I can feel the chains presence becoming lighter though only a tiny bit but it is due to Yoruns actions so I know this course of action is right" Raeknar said


    As another question is going to be asked Jinarl runs over with a serious look upon his skeletal face.


    "Raeknar, the life bringer comes" Jinarl said


    Raeknar immediately flies up into the sky making a different scythe and cloak to the ones they gave Yorun appear in his grasp, they float the cloak onto himself and floats there waiting until a portal opens before him, one beaming with pure light as seemingly a woman steps through shrouded in white clothes with plants around her arms and legs. The portal closes behind her as she looks at Raeknar.


    "Teirna" Raeknar said


    "Raeknar" Teirna responded with


    Teirna begins to descend to the ground but Raeknar points his scythe at her.


    "You know not to touch the ground of my realm Teirna, lest you bring to life those who should not" Raeknar said


    "Right, right I forgot. It has been centuries since I last came here" Teirna said


    "You came uninvited at that, much like last time. Let''s get this out of the way, what brings you here Teirna?" Raeknar asked which elicited a sigh from Teirna


    "We''ve sensed your presence on the mortal realm, we know you are up to something Raeknar and I still sense parts of you down there, I notice those aren''t your usual cloak and scythe after all" Teirna said


    "So what if I have been on the mortal world I ferry the souls as do the Kai Tamar" Raeknar said


    "You''ve been down there in one particular area for extended periods of time, we know you''re doing something Raeknar and you know how it''ll upset the balance of which we all-" Teirna is quickly interrupted by the skies darkening and red lightning striking


    "Do not give me that shit Teirna!, you know damn well this balance works well for all except me. I''ve dealt with the fucking chain for thousands of years and I''m finally going to break its hold by bending our rules!" Raeknar said their voice demonically overlaying on itself


    "Raeknar you know I have to try and stop you or at least tell the others you''re breaking the rules" Teirna said


    "I never said I was breaking them" Raeknar said with a smirk


    "Whatever it is you''re doing I need to at least attempt to stop you" Teirna said


    "Stop me? Within my own realm? You know here I am most powerful, I control the entire realm every single facet of it and if that weren''t enough you know a mere touch from me should I wish it can kill a mortal but you know just as well if I wish it a god will feel excruciating pain and you know you wouldn''t win. So Life Bringer, little goddess of life what will you do? Make a bunch of mortals to attack me with? I''ll snuff them out with a wave of my hand while my realms army musters against you without fear. Now Teirna, Get. The fuck. Out of my realm" Raeknar said coldly while staring Teirna down and casually floating towards her


    Teirna kept floating away from Raeknar as they spoke and just as his words ended she quickly ducked through a portal she opened behind her and closed it quickly. Raeknar makes the scythe he''s carrying disappear as they land next to Jinarl and looks at him.


    "Lock off the realm, should ANYONE come here without permission make them feel how unwelcome they are" Raeknar said


    "Of course, my god" Jinarl said before taking off to muster the Kai Tamar and lock down the realm while Raeknar looks to the skies


    "You''re watching God of Time I feel it, stop before I make sure you never see the timeline again" Raeknar said


    Raeknar flies back up and the skies return to their normal colour and lightning stops striking as Raeknar flies to their palace and goes to the Kai Tamar''s grounds. Raeknar holds their hands out and more humanoid yet draconic skeletons begin to come out of the ground, Kai Tamar that had previously existed arm and equip the new ones with the scythes and cloaks as Raeknar prepares for the rest of the pantheons next move...

 Ch 8: Gantoral Infiltration

    While Raeknar prepares their realm for any action by the other gods Yoruns journey to Gantoral has nearly ended, the training he has done during it has greatly benefitted him as has a proper nights rest he had along the way. While the city is in sight it dawns on Yorun that he may be known in the city for what he has done thus far. Koralin flies overhead but then flies down perching on Yoruns shoulder.


    "Koralin I need you to fly into the city check for anything that identifies me" Yorun said


    Koralin nodded in response and flew high into the sky quickly making his way to Gantoral, Yorun quickly looks through Koralins eyes and sees the high walls of the city protected by many guards atop them, he funny how that used to be comforting whenever someone went to Gantoral. Koralin gets further down into the city when past the walls and quickly locks eyes with a drawing of Yorun.


    "Shit a wanted poster of me and there is likely more, get a better look Koralin" Yorun thought to Koralin


    Koralin gets closer to the poster but ensures he isn''t seen knowing if investigated people would notice a clearly undead bird. The wanted posters drawing of Yorun is pretty well done but they focussed a lot on the burns on his face the rest of the facial features are not as well drawn and some are outright wrong.


    "Seems those I let go focussed on one part well that and the cloak which should at least allow me to hide more of my burns with its hood. Hopefully they haven''t banned cloaks or something. Have a look around the walls Koralin, I won''t be able to just walk through the city gates so I need to find a way to sneak in" Yorun thought


    Koralin flies back to the walls and flies slowly around the city taking in every bit of possibly useful information, seeing how many soldiers are on the walls and what kinds as well as the patrols just outside the city walls consisting of at least 5 soldiers all within 5 minutes of each other.


    "They certainly have this place well protected but the south wall seems to have a few less soldiers on it likely due to the south direction being further into the empires territory. The patrols if anything will likely be the biggest problem well other than how the fuck do we get over that wall?" Yorun thought to himself


    Koralin looks at the guards at the ends of the wall they are clearly mages and are just messing around with their magic but one is lifting some random ball telekinetically and throwing it around that way.


    "That is certainly an idea Koralin one I don''t know if I''ll be able to pull off, there''s a guard tower there perch outside a window and look in to see if theres anything useful inside should we manage to get some of the undead onto the wall" Yorun thought to Koralin


    Koralin did as instructed and looked into the guard tower window, he sees some items in there including rope.


    "if some undead get onto the wall and secure it then take that rope we could climb up, I''ve no doubt the undead will be able to do it, I just hope I can. Should this work the problem will be the patrols, alright come back Koralin I''ll need to think on this" Yorun thought to Koralin as his sight returned to his own eyes


    Yorun and his undead give the city a wide berth as they make their way around to the south side of the city through the forest outside the city so the soldiers on the walls have no chance to see them but along the way Yorun tries lifting a couple of the undead and he finds that while its incredibly mentally taxing he may just be able to do it. Yorun decides that he will send the oldest bandit undead and some of the soldiers he has up he has been noticing the oldest bandit has been doing more and more complex things so may be more useful up there. Yorun and his undead eventually reach the south side of Gantoral and they wait for the next patrol to go by before quickly making their way to the bottom of the wall, upon reaching it the undead who are to be sent up line up and Yorun takes a deep breath before beginning to lift all of them the act immediately begins to hurt his very brain as if the weight of all of them was directly upon it so Yorun tries to lift them up there as quickly as possible the undead get practically thrown up the wall this act alone renders Yorun unconscious while the undead do manage to grab onto the wall surprising the nearest soldiers to the parts of the wall they grabbed.


    "What the fuck?" One of the soldiers said before the undead hoisted themselves up and over and killing the nearest soldiers


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    The mages at the ends of the wall were quickly killed as two of the undead were launched up there specifically to kill them. The soldiers on the wall panic but quickly get into defensive formations and begin to fight with the undead, the undead soldiers however somewhat remember these formations and get into the best places to attack them plus the ability to not feel pain allows them to quickly break through the formations much to the living soldiers horror, the undead make short work of this small group of soldiers cutting down each one, one after another each death scaring the living daylights out of those that remain until they themselves are cut down. The undead bandit quickly musters the rest of the undead motioning for them to come with him.


    "Follow..." The undead bandit said uttering its first words since death


    The rest of the undead follow and they make their way to the guard tower as per the plan and they storm into the tower not surprising the guards inside as they heard the fighting outside, the first undead that makes their way through the door gets their head taken off. That act makes the rest of the undead more careful and they huddle together raising the shields they either had in the first place or took from some of the soldiers they just wiped out. The undead bandit focusses the rest of the undead on select soldiers within the tower trying their best clear it and after a couple more minutes they finish off the living within the tower. The undead bandit finds the ropes and heads back out to the wall tying the ropes around parts of the battlements and then looks down the wall checking where Yorun and the others are. At this moment Yorun and the rest of the undead are out of sight, the undead took the unconscious Yorun back into some of the forest parts to wait for the ropes and for the next patrol. Koralin managed to make that happen, when the patrol makes their way past Koralin quickly leads the undead back to the wall and they tie Yorun to one of the ropes, the undead bandit sees the plan and looks at the rest of the undead.


    "Pull.... rope...." The undead bandits cold voice said


    The undead began to pull the rope bringing Yorun up the wall meanwhile the rest of the humanoid undead down below still compelled to follow Yorun climbed the other ropes, the animals were led back into the forest by Koralin, after the final humanoid undead is on the wall they pull the ropes up so the patrols down below won''t see and the undead bandit tries to wake up Yorun. After another few minutes Yorun does wake up.


    "Master.... ok...?" The undead bandit said much to Yoruns surprise


    "Ok you can talk now, that''ll take getting used to" Yorun said groggily as he held his head


    Yorun looks around and sees he is on the wall evident by the corpses and blood everywhere. He knows he will need to raise all of these bodies but his mind is not ready for that, he looks to the undead head mage from back in Orakin and motions for it to come over.


    "We tried this a little during our travels here and while I doubt we''ll make it happen I need to try and hopefully it''s less of a strain for me else all these bodies will be waiting a while" Yorun said as he put his hand on the undead mages shoulder


    Yorun tries to send magic into the body of the mage in small increments and he can feel the magic coming together within the body of the undead mage forming something but as more and more magic is used for whatever is forming Yorun feels his soul growing ever more empty as more and more magic gets cordoned off for this. After a few minutes the thing forming in the undead mage resembles a soul one Yorun can feel a link to but this pseudo soul is using pretty much all of Yoruns magic leaving only a tiny bit left.


    "Fuck no wonder I need to train, my souls barely got the magic needed for this, fuck knows if this mage will even be able to raise the bodies" Yorun thought to himself the words booming in his hurt head


    Yorun points the the dead bodies and the undead mage looks to the body and reaches out for it attempting to use necromancy and slowly the body begins to move, Yorun can tell the undead mage while better with magic than he would be the body is unfamiliar with this magic as he was at the beginning of this journey.


    "The process is slow but at least I can rest, the rest of you take the other walls, I need the back up throughout this city" Yorun sits back against the wall while the undead mage begins to raise more and more corpses and the rest of the undead move out and begin to attack the other walls


    The magic while unfamiliar to the undead mages body at least is not putting the same mental strain on the undead mage as it did for Yorun so it is still far easier than it was for Yorun but instead just a slow process as the undead mage figures out how this works. Raeknar decides to check in with Yorun scanning the mortal realm for where Yorun is and they are slightly surprised to see Yorun on the south wall of Gantoral, they teleport there yet not completely standing in a dimension only the dead and he can be, looking around without disturbing the mortal world or being seen they look at the bodies around and the undead mage going to work while Yorun rests.


    "Well well well it seems Yorun managed to do it though the link with the mage is tenuous using nearly all of his magic. While that may not be the best, the fact he managed it is still one great step forward. Those mortals in power will fear you Yorun and these lovely undead, someday Yorun you''ll be so steeped in this world of death you''ll see this dimension just as your soldiers do" Raeknar said knowing the undead''s gaze focusses on them before Raeknar simply leaves

 Ch 9: Enter the Elves

    The day grows darker as the undead clean the area around Yorun, the blood seeming endless even with the bodies that it came from gone. The undead assaulting the other walls are making slow yet good progress, Raeknar watches from the dimension only the dead access, fascinated by it all they greet the new souls killed by Yoruns undead as well as the Kai Tamar who Sheppard the souls to Faelerm. Soon though Raeknar senses Yorun beginning to awake and appears next to him.


    "Hello Yorun, nice rest?" Raeknar asked


    "Argh my mind and soul are still alite" Yorun said obvious pain in his voice


    "Well that is to be expected, the mental strain of well lifting so many heavy people without the required level of training would do that crossed with surprisingly successfully making and undead mage do magic, well done by the way, would hurt your soul and mind. Speaking of that undead mage you will need to deprive it of magic at some point once its duties are done as you have such a little amount of magic right now all you could probably do is small parlour tricks" Raeknar said


    Yorun begins to stand though slowly, the undead bandit who did stick around alongside a few others to defend Yorun grabs a hold of him helping steady him, this action somewhat surprises Yorun as there was no order to the bandit to do this.


    "Help... Master..." The undead bandits said and its cold voice sent shivers down Yoruns spine


    "Thanks?" Yorun said still rather confused


    "Your first talking undead and it seems he has began to do more on his own too, rather useful to have, just think when he has full intelligence" Raeknar said


    "That''s a bit away I''d guess anyway I know the undead mage is still doing things I feel magic draining from my soul whenever it uses the magic so how are they and the other undead doing?" Yorun


    "Well they are currently assaulting the next tower over, more and more guards fall while only a few of the undead fall but due to the undead mage quickly getting used to the magic the losses are quickly replaced, eventually the rest of the guards will find out about all of this maybe before the walls are finished. This is a very risky plan Yorun despite its current success" Raeknar said


    "I know, I''m no leader or master strategist but this was the best I could come up with though I did not plan for well falling unconscious" Yorun said


    "Overall Yorun this was a fairly alright plan but you can get into the city yet the guards know your face, they know the burns on it so it wouldn''t be hard to identify you, so what now? " Raeknar asked


    "I have three targets in this city, they are the goal, I need more information on them but just asking about them will arouse suspicion somewhere along the way make them more guarded and right now I don''t know what forces I will have once the guards on the walls have been killed and brought back" Yorun said


    "You''ll need to figure out a way to get this information then, I''ll let you think" Raeknar said before disappearing


    Yorun walks over to the edge of the inner part of the wall with the help of the undead bandit looking down at Gantoral, the rest of the undead looking out at the city as well following their masters gaze, Yorun then looks at the bandit.


    "You need a name, referring to you as the first undead bandit will be an annoyance especially due to the new intelligence you have. How about... Onarin?" Yorun asked


    "Is.... Good...." Onarin said with his cold voice


    "Well then Onarin, we have a lot of work to do" Yorun said


    "That you do" An unknown voice said from behind Yorun and Onarin


    Yorun as well as Onarin and the other undead who stood there turned to look behind them grabbing their weapons and getting in front of Yorun to protect him just in case. The sight Yorun sees was not one he anticipated there is a group of dark and lightly armoured Elves standing on the edge of the wall tattoos adorning their face the more complex they ramping up from the outer elves to the middle elf, Yorun doesn''t know anything about them but due to recent experiences he picks up on the tiny specks of blood that may go unnoticed otherwise on their blades and parts of their armour. The elf in the middle of the group speaks first.


    "We''ve been watching you, this assault on Gantoral has been interesting to see happen, it was incredibly timed as well since we needed a way in so thank you for that whoever you are. These beings with you are also fascinating, never in my three hundred year life have I seen a walking corpse never mind this many. Under normal circumstances we are not meant to interact with humans and just complete our mission or eliminate any human who discovers us but this is an exception" The leading elf said before taking a step closer eliciting an aggressive step from the undead


    "Hold" Yorun said immediately making the undead a little less aggressive


    "Well trained too so perhaps we can aid each other, who are you stranger?" The leading elf said


    "Raeknar" Yorun said


    "Taking the name of one of your gods? It would elicit fear from other humans and I cannot blame you for not giving a true name so for now, Raeknar it is. To go along the same lines I''ll use our god of death and justices name Irankar" Irankar said


    "While I cannot blame him, it does irk me a little to hear another use one of my names without permission" Raeknar said in Yoruns mind


    Yorun looks at the one calling himself Irankar and Irankar scans Yorun his face doesn''t hide his surprise.


    "I can sense no magic from you, how are you doing this?" Irankar asked


    "We all have our secrets Irankar, you wouldn''t tell me everything about you so why should I?" Yorun asked


    "Fair enough, well I sincerely hope this will go well, what are your plans in this city?" Irankar asked


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    "I will say should you tell us what you are doing here" Yorun said


    "A fair exchange one that under normal circumstances would not be honoured, you know of the tension and wars of the empires across our world the tensions between our kingdoms have hit a new high and we have been sent to cripple this city" Irankar said


    "Well we may be able to help each other then. I have three people to kill here, the cities leader, Tax master and the head guard of the city, all of them are heavily important people to the city and surrounding regions usual operations, I have little information about them but I suspect you have a great deal and far more experience in all of this than I do plus your faces are unknown to this city while my scarred face has been shown around" Yorun said


    "Well then today is a good day, the guard tower to our right should have been cleared by your forces when you were unconscious earlier so how about we sit down and plan since ours is now out the window due to this development" Irankar said


    "Fine you first" Yorun said


    Irankar nodded knowing this is a trust thing, he and the other elves go into the guard tower stepping past the blood that remains in the tower Yorun with the help of Onarin go into the tower and sit opposite Irankar, the elves behind Irankar watch the undead with suspicion and the undead stare blankly back at them. Yorun makes Raeknars scythe appear in his left hand but before the elves draw weapons Yorun leans it against the wall next to him taking his hand off it.


    "You''re armed so I may as well have mine within grabbing distance, though admittedly its not needed" Yorun said


    "Well least we know, during the time in which we''ve seen you we haven''t really seen that scythe, though I guess it does complete the look you are clearly going for" Irankar said


    "Indeed, now lets get to business then" Yorun said


    "Those three targets of yours, the city leader never leaves a building without a contingent of guards surrounding him due to the fact people hate him but your imperial family find him useful so no one can do anything to him, the tax master never leaves his assigned building and the head guard she well she did fight in the previous war with our empire so she is very good in combat, has all the guards under her command and never leaves the main compound for the guards unless something big is happening" Irankar said


    "All highly annoying targets to get too but the worst is definitely the head guard, she will be the biggest problem" Yorun said


    "More so than you even think, I said she fought in the previous war, her name is Captain Forina but it''d be more accurate to say she was the only survivor of one particular battle, all evidence be it magical or physical suggests she cut down thousands of our soldiers alone when all of your peoples soldiers had died, still have no idea how she actually survived especially with the mages that were undoubtedly still alive then but she did" Irankar said


    "Ask them, in their so called evidence did they find anything strange, unexplainable other than her survival" Raeknar said in Yoruns mind


    "in your investigation into here did you find anything else you couldn''t explain?" Yorun asked


    "Well there was one thing" Irankar said before using magic to show the image of a symbol seemingly burned into the ground shown alongside it


    "Three blades all melted together various skulls carved on them, odd but I swear I recognise it" Yorun said


    "The symbol of Gaeronak, the goddess of war an old one however, haven''t seen that symbol in a thousand years at least. Seems our head guard had a little divine help" Raeknar said within Yoruns mind


    "You recognise it?" Irankar asked


    "Yes I remember now, its an old symbol of the goddess of war Gaeronak. This makes her far more dangerous" Yorun said covering for the fact he got this information from Raeknar


    "Hmm, while our pantheons differ there is no denying the power gods have from any pantheon, she is going to be a problem so for now we''ll focus on the other two while we come up with something for her in the background" Irankar said


    "Alright" Yorun said


    "How many soldiers do you have?" Irankar asked


    "I genuinely cannot give you a solid number, I could probably find out if I had more magic at the moment but that magic is being used, just know that while the undead are currently assaulting the walls every time someone dies their corpse is being raised, you likely have been spying here long enough to know the number of guards on these walls, once the walls have been finished off we should have around that number" Yorun said


    "By the gods you are useful, how are you raising those corpses though?" Irankar asked


    "Mage..." Onarin said


    "The fact one can talk is disturbing but what does it mean?" Irankar asked


    "There''s an undead mage and while it obviously doesn''t have a soul I can supply it with magic from my own currently its taking damn near all of it because well I am still new to using my magic in this capacity and this is the first time I''ve had enough magic to actually make that work" Yorun said


    "This undead mage can actually use magic and better than you?" Irankar asked


    "When it was alive it was an actual mage trained to use magic for use by the empire so its body remembers how to use magic far better than I" Yorun said


    "incredible, who knew the Fiernian Empire had such a thing brewing in it" Irankar said


    "The cities leader will be the easiest target, his name is Cararil and suffice to say the reason he is the easiest target is due to the fact he actually leaves the buildings he goes to far more often, his guards will be an annoyance but well a good ranged attack should be able to deal with him, the tax master Arol is heavily defended due to the large amounts of money brought to him before they are sent to your imperial family. The building in which he usually resides has an underground complex designed like a maze for two reasons, one it is to protect him in case someone were to try and attack him or steal the money and two it is to protect the money itself as it resides at the end of that maze alongside the panic room for Arol." Irankar said


    "Tax masters within the Woorail empire operate the same way?" Yorun asked


    "No they do not, ours don''t have mazes they essentially are the mazes due to their magic mastery" Irankar said


    "So Cararil will be dealt with via a ranged attack, we could then assault the building Arol is in with my undead while we slip in and down to the maze as a smaller smarter force, to deal with Arol. How will we get there though or around the city for that matter?" Yorun asked


    "We have some agents within the city already and they''ve been setting up different underground tunnels for us to sneak around, our operation was sped up however so they didn''t have a way for us to get into the city yet" Irankar said


    "Useful and possibly horrifying, my undead coming out of the ground would terrify the entire city" Yorun said


    "True, bit of psychological warfare there I guess" Irankar said


    "Yorun the captain I should be able to help you with, she has the backing of the goddess of war and as such I can aid you in a similar way, tell them you will deal with her but don''t let them know how yet in case it causes anything. Make up some lie" Raeknar said within Yoruns mind


    "I will deal with the captain, my powers can allow for something that should be very useful such as the ability to cut through even metal with my scythe, that should deal with her armour and any shield she might use, if she has the backing of a goddess of war she will be a good fighter but I will have enough forces to at least give me the one shot needed for that slice" Yorun said


    "It could work and if not well we''ll still have two targets dead allowing for Gantoral to be weakened enough for mission to be complete, I would like to point out though that it would likely kill you if you fail" Irankar Said


    "Whosoever said I haven''t died before?" Yorun asked as his eyes glowed green slightly and his voice had a slight demonic tone to it


    Yorun then stood up looking at Irankar.


    "We have a plan and a deal then, we aid each other in this and hopefully neither of us decide to do anything after" Yorun said extending a hand making Irankar stand up


    "Indeed, for a human you are interesting and there is many back in the Woorail empire who''d be fascinated by you Raeknar" Irankar said as he shook Yoruns hand sealing the deal that decides the fates of three people and possibly the entire city

 Ch 10: Cararil and Arol

    In the city of Gantoral upon the walls which protect the city the undead continue to battle the remaining guards on the walls, at this moment in time only one wall is left guarded and the undead begin their assault, as the door from one of the guard towers bursts open undead wielding shields rush through protecting the undead mage who came in next, swords hit the shields within seconds and the mage quickly uses the magic it has to conjure some arrows and quickly kill the mages on this wall before they can call for backup. The undead mage quickly retreats back into the guard tower leaving undead soldiers to charge out with heavier weapons cleaving down between their shielded allies killing the closest enemies to them, some of them quickly get pierced with arrows from archers in the back lines but they do not care, the arrows do nothing to them and soon the shielded soldiers push forward, the guards resolve falters and some surrender hoping that the undead will be merciful and to the surprise of them as the shield wielding undead get close they pass by them looking to deal with those still fighting. Only a short time passes after that but in that time the remaining fighters are killed and those who surrendered watched as the undead mage walks back out of the guard tower and begins to raise the bodies of the fallen, undead soldiers grab the surrendered guards and marches them to the wall on which Yorun and the elven group lead by Irankar remain, Yorun with what little magic he has access too senses the undead making their way to them and gets up taking the scythe leaning against the wall into his right hand as he walks out of the guard tower without assistance now.


    "What do we have here?" Yorun asked as he looked at the undead and the living prisoners


    "W-we surrender to you whoever you are!" One of the guards responds clear fear in his voice


    "Well Raeknar this is an interesting thing here, didn''t realise your undead could take prisoners" Irankar said as he walked out of the door


    "They do so only as long as they surrender, any thoughts Irankar?" Yorun asked


    "Give them over to us, we''ll pry any useful information from their minds and ensure they cannot fuck with our plans" Irankar said


    "Fine, undead you heard him" Yorun said looking at the undead


    The undead brought the prisoners into the guard tower for Irankars people to get information from, Irankar meanwhile looks at Yorun.


    "You know despite what we had seen of you getting onto this wall, we did not actually fully anticipate the undead managing this so quickly" Irankar said


    "Some of the older undead were with the main force including more of the bandit ones, despite them not talking yet like Onarin they are likely on the cusp of it as they were raised not long after him, likely they have enough intelligence again to coordinate some things and due to that the other undead would listen to them, the undead mage is also naturally advantaged in that regard due to the magical connection" Yorun said


    "Despite you being new to all of this you seem to have a good grasp on it" Irankar said with a bit of surprise in his voice


    "Indeed, some of this I''ve told you and some of it you can figure out based on what''s happened but you are getting good at this, feeling these things via your magic, well done Yorun" Raeknar said from within Yoruns head


    Yorun looks at Iranknar.


    "Regardless of this, we should get to those tunnels once the undead mage finishes raising the last bodies, I''ll take my magic back from him then we can go" Yorun said


    "Fine by me Raeknar, we''ll bring you to the tunnel first using invisibility then we''ll bring groups of your undead there in the same way, any undead you''d specifically want?" Irankar asked


    "Bring some of the newer ones and Onarin as well as the mage and Koralin though he can likely get there just fine himself via flying, the reason for the newer ones is the better armour and Onarin can more effectively help us due to his intelligence. The mage is in case we need someone a bit better than me with my magic" Yorun said


    "Fair enough" Irankar said


    "Though speaking of the mage I will take my magic back for now once it get here" Yorun said


    After just a short while the rest of the undead that will be left behind stay spread out across all the walls, the mage and a bunch of the newer soldiers come back to the first wall and look to Yorun. Yorun takes the magic from the mage and feels reinvigorated.


    "You do not know how good it feels to have my magic fully back under my control" Yorun said


    "I would imagine it to be strange overall" Irankar said


    "Well I''d say its time to initiate our plan" Yorun said


    Irankar nodded in agreement, he uses illusions to make his light armour look more like normal clothes then he looks to Yorun turning him invisible.


    "Did it work?" Yorun asked


    "Indeed, to all but me and those I want to see you are invisible" irankar said


    "Let us go then" Yorun said


    Irankar and Yorun then heads into the guard tower and then down the stairs coming out in a guard area, Irankar and Yorun then head out onto the streets of the city seeing this many people especially living is not normal for him these days. Yorun looks around and sees many people happily going about their day facing none of the challenges his village faced over the years, it makes him somewhat angry that his village suffered and none here seem the wiser. Irankar leads Yorun to a tavern they walk in and Yorun is careful not to touch anything, he looks confusedly at Irankar since he decided to sit in front of the tavernkeeper.


    "These days the Fiernian empire does well" Irankar said


    "We need merely hope the elves in Woorail do not rain down on us" The Tavernkeeper said


    "Or from below like dwarves" Irankar said


    The tavernkeepers eyebrow raises and smirks.


    "Got more special drinks in the back, think you had asked for them when you were here earlier, lets go get them" The tavernkeeper said


    The tavernkeeper leads irankar and without knowing Yorun into the backroom of the tavern.


    Stolen story; please report.


    "Won''t ask your name sir but glad this is finally happening" The tavernkeeper said


    "Indeed though with a bit of a modified plan due to some interesting circumstances" Irankar said making the tavernkeeper look confused


    Irankar stops making Yorun invisible and the tavernkeeper looks at the burned human before him with shock.


    "Why does he change the plan?" The tavernkeeper asked


    "Raeknar?" Irankar said


    Yoruns eyes glow green and he channels some magic into his scythe making black flames erupt from it, he also telepathically calls Koralin to him and Koralin finds a way into this part of the tavern via a chimney, the tavernkeeper sees the clearly undead bird and looks shocked.


    "By the gods both elven and human, wait did he call you Raeknar?" The tavernkeeper said


    "That is the name I gave, take of it what you will, we have the same targets but different motives" Yorun said


    "Fair enough" The tavernkeeper said as he reveals the entrance to the tunnels


    All three men climb down into the tunnels while Koralin leaves the way he came in. Yorun sees the tunnel stretches on for a while and he scans forward a little with what he managed to learn during the travel to here. He then makes the scythe disappear before looking at the Tavernkeeper.


    "You and whoever else worked here definitely did a good job" Yorun said


    "Thanks uh Raeknar" The tavernkeeper said finding it weird calling someone a gods name while Irankar looks to Yorun


    "I will go aid the others in grabbing more of your undead, we''ll return soon through a different entrance to here this was merely to inform our man here about your involvement" Irankar said before leaving taking some drinks from the tavern backroom for the cover story


    Half an hour passes and Irankar as well as the other elves and a fairly sizable group of undead come from another section of tunnels. Onarin walks to Yorun.


    "Master.... We''re ready..." Onarin said in his cold voice


    Yorun nods and the Tavernkeeper telepathically shows everyone the routes to where they need to go. They travel down the tunnels for a bit before splitting off into two groups, one of the elves goes with a few undead to kill Cararil from range using the undead as a distraction while the rest go after the tax master. After a while they reach the end of the route and Irankar charges a small fireball before placing it against the tunnel roof and then smashing it into the roof blowing the ground above them apart opening a hole to the tunnel which Yoruns undead quickly begin to climb out of, guard response was quick due to Arols job and what is beneath his building. The guards were ill prepared for the force that greeted them, the undead faces of people some of them knew all wearing the same armour as them so they knew immediately these people were allies but their faces and the wounds inflicted on them clearly indicate they''re dead, the horror on their faces more than apparent. Yorun making Raeknars scythe appear in his right hand climbs out of the hole in the ground behind the undead, people look at him and see his eyes glow green and the scythe get set alight with black flames.


    "If you surrender and leave you won''t be harmed otherwise, you will die, Choose quickly" Yorun said with his voice cold seeing as this will get him to their target


    As if a lever had been flipped the undead attack the guards showing no sympathy for those they regarded as allies in life, the guards try to fight back but as they''re overwhelmed by the sudden attack many who don''t choose to surrender begin to fall quickly, the undead specifically begin to clear a path for Yorun and the elves to get into the building. Screams and panic erupt across the city and those hunkering down in safer places in the city wonder why guards atop the wall are not responding to the threats in the city, meanwhile Yorun, Irankar, the other elven infiltrators and some undead including Onarin and the mage make their way into the Tax masters building, the undead with them killing the guards inside. Yorun raises the bodies of those inside so that Irankar can get information from their minds, whatever is left in them anyway. Soon enough they find the entrance to the maze and its got multiple magical barriers around it so Yorun with the scythe still alight with black flames slices through the barriers and the hatch into the maze itself, the new undead he just raised go down first unnerving and scaring the guards down there who''d just seen these people minutes prior. Yorun then jumps down and looks at the guards, due to their position here he guesses they''re likely to not care about those who actually need this money especially seeing some more random expensive accessories on them just under their armour. Yorun merely points forward and the undead quickly attack felling their former comrades in seconds. Onarin comes down with the rest of the undead and Irankars group. Yorun looks around and sees the maze goes in the cardinal directions.


    "We need to spread out" Yorun said


    "Your talking undead Onarin should take the south with about half the undead here, some of my men will split and take fewer undead and search to the east and west, you and me will take the north with that undead mage of yours" Irankar said


    Yorun nods and the groups split up as discussed, Yorun and Irankar quickly proceed north and it doesn''t take long to encounter more resistance. A small group of guards blocks their path and now Irankar has a chance to show what he can do, quickly using magic to materialise swords in both his hands he runs forward and blocks two of the enemies blades at once while making a pillar of fire directly on another enemy the scream from that guard echoes down the hallways, Irankar then quickly changes the blades to have hooks on the ends and quickly yet gracefully he uses those hooks to disarm the guards he is blocking before stabbing the hooks up into the bottom of their heads. Irankar targets the final enemies with a few more magically made weapons this time freely floating bows and arrows shooting them in their faces before they can react.


    "Well done" Yorun said


    "If I am to use the name of a god of death for this operation I wouldn''t want to sully the name" Irankar said with a smirk


    Yorun raises the bodies of those he can, adding a few new allies to this group a few more pockets of enemies are found as they travel the mazes expanse but they all die merely adding more to Yoruns forces, after a while however they find what can only be described as a vault one made entirely of metal with multiple layers of both physical and magical protection.


    "Multiple large metallic doors each with enemies behind, can you get through the metal?" Irankar asked


    "I can, I''ll bust them open and then the undead will go in" Yorun said


    Irankar nodded, the undead with shields lined up first prepared to go in, Yorun meanwhile cut the first door open enough for them to go through soon enough blades rained down on the shields as well as lightning but both were ineffective against the undead, soon enough more undead streamed in to attack. This process repeated with some guards even surrendering along the way until the final door. Yorun rips that door open again and the undead flood in once more but this time there is no sounds of fighting, Yorun looks in and he sees many chests of gold overfilling and as he walks in he hears someone nearby, Yorun opens the only chest not overfilling and grabs the man inside pulling him out.


    "Arol I take it?" Yorun asked


    "Yup that''s him" Irankar said


    "W-who are you people!?" Arol asked terrified


    "Well the man behind me is an elf from the Woorail empire but me? I''m born and bred Fiernian" Yorun said


    "T-then why!?" Arol shouted confused


    "My home was Kurinet" Yorun said coldly staring him down, he sees the recognition in Arols eyes and him begin to sweat


    "P-please I had noth-" Arol said but was cut off


    "Nothing to do with it? Bullshit, your reaction to my villages name said everything I needed. How much of this money here came from Kurinet? This is more money than anyone in the outlier villages ever saw and yet here you are with it all the fucking time, you snivelling little shit" Yorun said before throwing him to the ground


    Arol went to start pleading but before he could Yorun sliced through him without a second thought killing the tax master for the city and its surrounding regions instantly. Yorun then looked to the chests with disgust.


    "All of this pain and suffering due to the greed of the imperial family and other pieces of shit like them, lets go Irankar" Yorun said getting only a nod back from him


    After a while of peaceful walking all the groups meet back up at the entrance to the maze and make their way out but as Yorun climbs out and walks out of the building he''s greeted with a worrying sight. The undead outside the building who were distracting and slaying the guards outside are all dead once more but there are no living guards there save for one a female one of clear power.


    "Captain Forina..." Irankar said worry clear in his voice


    Yorun steps in front of the undead that naturally moved to protect him, slamming the bottom of the scythe against the ground Forina looks at him before smirking.


    "Divine magic... You too huh?" Captain Forina said with a tinge of excitement in her voice as the stare down continued unknowing how this will end...

 Ch 11: The Captain

    The situation in Gantoral outside the tax masters building is tense, Captain Forina staring down Yorun, the elves and the undead but her gaze is especially focussed on Yorun. He can feel the divine magic coming from her, the same kind he''s been feeling for a while now from the cloak and scythe he bears and that which is there in the presence of Raeknar. Captain Forina looks at the group clearly assessing them and she seems a little disappointed.


    "None of you are especially good fighters especially you in the front with the scythe, despite your intrigue with all that divine magic you aren''t good in a fight are you" Captain Forina said


    "It is true I have limited battle experience, I only took up a weapon and more combat focussed magic after a recent event" Yorun said


    "This should be quick then" Captain Forina said beginning to run forward blade drawn and shield up


    During her sprint however she is quickly interrupted as she holds her shield up to the sky beginning to block thousands of arrows and raining down on her position, much to everyone''s surprise due to the fact none realise where these arrows are coming from.


    "Your undead on the walls, they moved to protect you!" Irankar shouted


    "Fuck you''re right!" Yorun said


    "Yorun listen to me now and do so carefully, I can help you take her down and trust me you will need it but it will not allow you to use her death as a part of the deal to get your family and friends back" Raeknar said telepathically to Yorun


    "What why!?" Yorun shouted back telepathically


    "Due to how our dealings with mortals are meant to go, think of it like a transaction I can properly explain but it would take to long, decide now" Raeknar said telepathically


    Yorun looks at Captain Forina and sighs in anger.


    "Fine, what do I need to do?" Yorun asked telepathically


    "Repeat these words and I''ll do the rest" Raeknar said telepathically as they implanted the words within Yoruns mind


    As Yorun resigned himself to the fact this needs to be done before he started to speak the words already began to take effect, his eyes got set alight one with green flames and the other with black flames yet neither hurt him and his voice began to overlay with that of Raeknars own voice, due to the changing nature of Raeknar it makes Yoruns voice sound different constantly.


    "In the world full of injustice one god will say no more, in this moment, in this time only one can remain, may the gods tremble in fear as death comes to bring justice to this world" Yorun said the flames within his eyes glowing brighter


    Upon finishing these words the sky turns red and at the same moment the arrows begin to stop raining down on Captain Forina, she looks up and smirks seeing the rest sky then she looks at Yorun. Yoruns body begins to grow in size to that more than double the size of anyone there, parts of his body becoming more skeletal features and the cloak adorning him almost becoming apart of him while growing in length, the scythe growing as well. As the whole realm shakes, beneath Yorun the ground burns with black flames as a symbol of scales of justice heavily weighed on one side a scythe is atop the scales as if to snatch the scales away. Raeknar controls Yoruns body now, Yorun sees through his own eyes as if he were a passive observer.


    "Come then Mortal, change as this one has, bring Gaeronak here so we can settle this" Raeknar said from within Yoruns body


    Captain Forina looks happy seeing the scene before her and soon enough she grows in size as well, her armour becoming part of her, more like an exoskeleton as opposed to something you would put on, her shield also fuses with her left arm while the blade in her right hand seems to just enter her body via her hand. The same symbol shown previously by the elves burns into the ground, this time a clearer version of it, depicting a sea of bodies with one being standing atop them blades in the sky.


    "Raeknar, finally a good fight" Gaeronak said with a wide grin


    "She didn''t even need to speak the words, the connection between you two has been there a long time" Raeknar said


    "20 years of this mortals life she has been dedicated to me and this fight is the culmination of all that time finally she brings something more akin to that beautiful war from back then" Gaeronak said


    "This fight will not be easy for you Gaeronak" Raeknar said


    "Oh I hope not Raeknar but tell me do you believe the others won''t notice this?" Gaeronak asked


    "I know they have and they know as well as I do, I''ve played by our rules and so have you in this case, so if they want to do something about it, they need a mortal of their own" Raeknar said


    Stolen novel; please report.


    "They won''t need one since I''ll win this fight Raeknar" Gaeronak said


    "Death has always followed war Gaeronak, I know how you fight, I''ve been here since before even you so I''m not so disadvantaged as you think" Raeknar said grabbing ahold of his scythe with both hands and getting prepared for the fight


    Seeing what''s about to go down, Irankar and his elves quickly leave meanwhile Onarin actually gets the undead that are still around to leave and even help citizens around the area to evacuate even if it needs force to do so on those too scared by the undead to move. This was a great thing as mere moments after Irankar and the undead began to move Gaeronak faster than anyone who isn''t a god could sense Gaeronak her arm transformed into a sword and she was behind Raeknar her arm sword blocked by Raeknars scythe which was just as fast yet casually brought over their shoulder to block it. The collision of the two blades was felt across the realm but the city they stand in has buildings get blown apart from the sheer force. Any people unlucky enough to be nearby get sent flying, nearby mages having to save them. Raeknars body morphs in such a away so that they are now facing toward Gaeronak without having to move, Raeknar then quickly throws Gaeronak into the sky with their scythe, Gaeronak stops her ascent and looks down upon Raeknar as she''s floating there in the sky, she proceeds to make the siege weaponry the city has come to life and take aim at Raeknar the armour throughout the city ordinarily meant for use by the city guards forms together as if they were automatons and they march through the city to attack Raeknar. Raeknar looks at the forces coming his way and at the siege weaponry, he makes a barrier around himself to stop the siege weaponry while in front of the legions of moving armour Jinarl and the Kai Tamar appear to fend them off.


    "Making non living forces was the smart decision Gaeronak but ultimately futile, the Kai Tamar can fight them while I deal with you" Raeknar said


    Raeknars scythe gets set alight with black flames as he holds it in his right hand while his left hand radiates divine magic, Raeknar speeds up into the sky after Gaeronak the mere act of doing so making a crater where Raeknar once stood, Reaknar slices the scythe at Gaeronak but unlike previous times the scythe does not cut through the metal but does crack it slightly. Gaeronak smirks and swords come out of both her hands and she very quickly puts Raeknar on the backfoot as she begins to slice and stab extremely quickly and without a break, Raeknar does their best to block her attacks, each one blocked sounds like thunder across the world. Gaeronak Seeing this isn''t working makes multiple more arms come out her back turning them into blades as well, Raeknar now does start to get stabbed and sliced however now that Gaeronak seems to be winning, Raeknar grabs a hold of one of the blade arms making their hand bleed but suddenly Gaeronak screams in pain and fear. Gaeronak quickly makes her arms normal arms again and quickly uses them to push Raeknar away, she is breathing heavily and holds her head.


    "The fuck!?" Gaeronak shouted with her mind still on fire


    "You know as well as I my touch hurts the gods, making you all feel what a mortal feels in death except a bit worse, you''re controlling the body of a mortal so you''ll be fine but now our fight is on a time limit I just need to wait it out" Raeknar said with a smirk


    "You fucking bastard! I''m not being denied this fight! FIGHT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!" Gaeronak shouted her voice full of anger


    Gaeronak now angered flies at Raeknar with such speed even they can''t react and Gaeronak hits Raeknar into the ground with such force a massive crater is made and the world quakes even partially destroying nearby mountains as a result as well as damaging a lot more of the city. Raeknar gets back up bleeding a fair bit and their arm is broken but it soon heals as Gaeronak lands on the ground a fair distance away and army of spectral beings appear around her they fire all manner of weapons and magic toward Raeknar who can only put up multiple layers of magical barriers to block the attacks incoming but soon they sees something that chills them Gaeronak with their many arms are holding a massive bow practically a ballista and in the arms of the goddess of war, the arrow that gets let loose is longer than a building, Gaeronak fires this arrow and it pierces every barrier and right into the stomach of Raeknar eliciting a scream of pain from them as they''re shot through multiple buildings before being pinned onto one final wall. Gaeronak begins to walk to Raeknar and as she does so Raeknar while still pinned makes some Kai Tamar in front of themself these Kai Tamar begin to shoot essentially beams of fire at Gaeronak to slow her down but soon Gaeronak stops on her own as the extra arms she made begin to go limp and disappear, Gaeronak then takes a knee still blocking the beams, a few Kai Tamar unpin Raeknar.


    "Stop firing" Raeknar said


    The Kai Tamar immediately stop, Gaeronak falls to the floor and then leaves the body of Captain Forina, she looks upon the face of Gaeronak before she passes.


    "Well shit, there goes my mortal, I admit Raeknar you caught me with that hand of yours while I thought I was winning, you knew that would be the time didn''t you?" Gaeronak asked


    "Indeed, return to the others Gaeronak and tell them one thing" Raeknar said


    "Fine, I''ll honour this request since you managed to beat me like this" Gaeronak said


    "You had best be prepared if you want to try and stop me" Raeknar said


    Gaeronak nodded and smirked looking at Captain Forinas body.


    "What''ll happen to her soul Raeknar?" Gaeronak asked


    "I''ll judge it as fairly as I can, her soul is blackened but many of these deaths were due to your influence so there is a chance for a better afterlife for her" Raeknar said


    "Fine, she served me well so I had to see what would happen to her" Gaeronak said before she disappeared


    Raeknar begins setting everything back to normal at least that which is necessary, the realm stops shaking and the skies return to their normal colour then they turn Yoruns body back to normal including the hole within his stomach from that final arrow attack, Raeknar then leaves Yoruns body standing next to him physically while the Kai Tamar disappear as they are no longer needed, Yorun falls to his knees despite the injuries all being healed he still feels them as if they are there, the lingering pain from them and the transformations his body went through as well as the exhaustion. Yorun lays down falling unconscious Raeknar disappears and Irankar as well as Onarin find Yorun, they ferry him away somewhere safe till he wakes.

 Ch 12: The Aftermath

    Days pass with Yorun remaining unconscious in the still standing barracks of Gantorals guardhouse after Irankar and Onarin brought him there. Yorun while unconscious has felt his undead moving around most remaining on the walls but some within the city. Soon enough though he begins to awaken Onarin who is waiting in the room notices and gets closer, his face is the first Yorun sees.


    "Onarin?" Yorun asked his head still out of it


    "Yes master, you okay?" Onarin asked far more clearly than he had before


    "Not entirely" Yorun said as he began to sit up though feeling the pain of wounds that don''t exist


    "Well not surprising Yorun" Raeknar said as they appear within the room


    "Raeknar? I assume the battle went well given I am alive but I do have to ask how did it go?" Yorun asked


    "Well what do you remember?" Raeknar asked


    "I remember saying the words and then its all more blurry like I was watching through dirty windows" Yorun said


    "Bit more accurate than you think, the eyes are the window to the soul and while I took over your body you consciousness was put into your soul, your mind was doing its best to look through your eyes but couldn''t properly due to the overwhelming amount of diving magic coursing through you and changes done to your body" Raeknar said


    "Changes?" Yorun asked


    "The body of someone controlled directly by a god changes to match the god, yours changed quite a bit at the time due to my more fluid nature when it comes to forms, regardless the battle went well for the most part we did win and Forinas soul was sent to Faelerm however your body was heavily damaged I healed those injuries and only those ones hence you still being burned however your soul still feels it and is making you feel it, your body is in essence catching up to reality" Raeknar said


    "Great, Raeknar may I ask one thing, what was that about Forina not counting towards our end goal?" Yorun asked


    "Ah that, as sort of explained before you are doing a service to your god me in this case, as a result I will reward you something in return again in this case that''d be the lives of your family and fellow villagers returned but Forina under normal circumstances would count to that goal had you been the one to kill her or worked with others to kill her. This time around though due to Gaeronaks involvement you had to call upon me to aid you essentially asking me to do something for your life and work to continue, under our rules as gods we cannot normally do that for free of course there are some exceptions but none applied there" Raeknar said


    "Shit, transactional is the way to put this then" Yorun said


    "Indeed, think of it that way and you''ll get the gist for these things" Raeknar said


    Irankar is coming into the guardhouse to check on Yoruns condition and as he gets to the door he hears talking inside so he opens the door.


    "Who''s in he-" Irankar said but cut himself off as he looks up at Raeknar in their large skeletal form who only stares back at the corner of their eyes


    "Leave. Sunhale" Raeknar said in an authoritative tone


    Irankar immediately leaves the room closing the door at lightning speed.


    "Sunhale?" Yorun asked


    "His name, Irankar was obviously a cover name he said as much to you, Sunhale is his actual name" Raeknar said


    "Huh good to know I guess, So Raeknar what''s our next steps?" Yorun asked


    "Well you do have a fairly sizable force now but I would say to look around the city and to check the undead see how many may have been lost due to the battle between me and Gaeronak, I know the numbers but this is something you should do, Sunhale''s commander has an offer for you one that Sunhale will likely bring up once you leave this room, I suggest considering it but carefully as you shouldn''t trust everyone" Raeknar said before disappearing once more


    Yorun stands up with a little difficulty due to the pain from the non-existent wounds, Yorun realises he still has the cloak on which he is thankful for, he changes clothes regardless since there was a spare change of them set up for him. Yorun then heads out of the room with Onarin they are greeted by Sunhale.


    "So, Sunhale then?" Yorun asked


    "Indeed that is my name, mind if I ask yours?" Sunhale asked


    "Yorun" Yorun said simply


    "So that was Raeknar then? Standing in the presence of an actual god then having then stare at you telling you to leave like that is terrifying" Sunhale said


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    "They''re amiable with me thankfully" Yorun said


    "I should probably inform you of the last few days unless Raeknar has or Onarin since I''ve taught him how to speak better at least somewhat" Sunhale said


    "Neither have informed me Raeknar only told me of the fight and that your commander had something to offer. Oh and about Onarin being taught? Thanks" Yorun said


    "No problem, the offer is something to check on so I''ll bring you to the commander first then update you on the situation" Sunhale said


    The three of them walk through the guardhouse, Koralin soon flying through a nearby window and perching on Yoruns left shoulder to greet and accompany him. Sunhale soon stops at a door for an office that used to be Captain Forinas, Sunhale opens the door and enters then bows before getting out of Yoruns way. Yorun enters and his eyes glow green immediately as if green flames sprung from his eyes in reaction to something the others don''t seem to notice this though even the green colour on the walls from the glow seems invisible to them. Sitting behind the desk in front of him was an older elf, due to the elves longer life spans the woman was still looking young save for some greyed hair which only begins for an elf 150 years into their life, she bears similar tattoos on her to Sunhale and his men but there''s something different about them Yorun can''t place.


    "Sit down young man, I wish to talk" The woman said


    Yorun sat opposite her, Onarin standing next to him and Koralin on his shoulder but Yorun does make Raeknars scythe appear in his right hand just in case.


    "Not too trusting right now are you? Can''t say I blame you, my name is Norilas and from what Sunhale has told me you use the name of your god. Raeknar" Norilas said


    "Indeed, I use this name as Raeknar told me to and well trust is not easily earned, when one earns it they''ll have my name" Yorun said


    "A fair policy, our forces have taken the city but we haven''t done anything to the undead you raised necromancer, such a fascinating magic and one that''s not been seen for lifetimes, far beyond my years anyway" Norilas said


    "There''s knowledge of a previous necromancer?" Yorun asked


    "Barely, our archives are well kept but this was a long time ago back to when our current monarch had well just been born and even then I believe there was more in the archives but they were destroyed due to this previous necromancer being a rather power hungry person from what we can see" Norilas said


    "With the power to make an army in someone like that''s hands well no wonder your people wanted to forget" Yorun said


    "Regardless this brings me to an offer we want to make, we invite you and all of your undead to come with us to Woorail for a period of time, this is for a few reasons. First we''d love to find out more about your magic and directly would be great, we also want to have you as an ally for as long as possible so we will also do our best to help train you in your magic since its clear that you are no mage, you have magic but no proper training" Norilas said


    "A rather good offer but where would you be bringing me?" Yorun asked


    "The capital of our empire, Qur''anther since that''s where are eldest mages are most of the time just doing whatever they need or want to do" Norilas said


    "This sounds tempting but also like the easiest way to spring a trap, if I say yes first how would we get there and second could I have a bit of time before leaving to inspect my undead?" Yorun asked


    "We''d be teleporting, I doubt you can do so yourself so we''d teleport you and others would take the undead as for the inspecting part sure you can have the time" Norilas said


    "Alright then, I agree this could be beneficial" Yorun said as stands making the scythe disappear and he extends a hand


    Norilas happily shook his hand and then Yorun, Onarin, Koralin and Sunhale left the building. Upon stepping out of the building Yorun sees the destruction the city went through so many buildings still flattened, parts of the ground have sunk due to either craters formed from the fight or the ground being effected by the fight forcing the tunnels beneath the city to collapse. Yorun can see parts of the walls are damaged too.


    "The battle really did a lot huh?" Yorun asked


    "More than you know, your face is definitely being plastered across the world at this moment and stories of what''s going on have spread alongside your face" Sunhale said


    "How far reaching was the battle itself?" Yorun asked as Sunhale grabbed him and the others teleporting them onto the southern wall


    "The world felt it, the skies turned red and the whole realm shook, fuck I mean the mountains near here the tallest ones in this region? They aren''t the tallest anymore" Sunhale said


    "Fuck" Yorun said plainly


    "We got lucky Yorun" Raeknar said as they appeared in front of the group once more


    Sunhale immediately bows drawing the attention of Raeknar who stares blankly at Sunhale.


    "Leave Sunhale, Do not listen in" Raeknar said


    Sunhale immediately walked away far enough to not hear.


    "You seem far more critical of Sunhale than I''d have anticipated" Yorun said


    "I see you mortals differently than you, I see a mortals soul and all the good and all the evil they''ve done. Sunhale may seem alright on the surface but he has done some terrible things in service to his empire, though some leniency could be given as he does just want to help his people" Raeknar said


    Yorun nods not asking anymore questions in regards to that and meanwhile sees the undead mage, Yorun gets an idea and channels his magic into the mage once more, Raeknar knows what Yorun plans and smirks.


    "Well done Yorun, seems you''ve thought ahead, anyway I was saying how we got lucky. Gaeronak could have wiped the floor with us" Raeknar said


    "Seriously?" Yorun asked


    "She is the goddess of war but she wanted a proper fight and despite tensions there was no war happening yet, no large scale battles or anything that was useful since those battles typically empower her or well feed her I guess. She could have influenced one to happen, made armies attack us or anything of the sort but she went easy on us for the sake of a fight she rarely gets. God versus God." Raeknar said


    "Well good to know I could have woken in Faelerm" Yorun said


    "Continue to inspect the undead then prepare to go to Woorail, this will be an interesting experience for you" Raeknar said before disappearing once more


    Sunhale comes back over and helps Yorun inspect the undead throughout the city, during this time Yorun discovers that most of the animal undead he picked up in Kurinet were crushed during the battles destruction or killed when the elves got there and didn''t understand the situation. Some of the humanoid undead on the walls were thrown from them by the shaking of the realm causing them to splat against the ground, Yorun gave the limited healing he could to them but overall he finds the undead are fine. Yorun heads back to Norilas and soon enough they are whisked away to the Woorail Capital of Qur''anther.

 Ch 13: Woorail

    The surroundings around Yorun are no longer the in shambles city that is Gantoral but instead a large new city that looks regal yet heavily attuned with nature, the place is clearly lived in and has active people there but the city looks like nature reclaimed it or more accurately as if it was never taken away from nature, the architecture being very distinctly different from human architecture as a result of this. Yorun looks around and soon enough his attention is brought back to Norilas and Sunhale.


    "So Raeknar, we should get you to the mages asap, the place has a proper name in our language but it doesnt translate right so call it the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution. Though the development part is more developing peoples talents though some new things are made there" Norilas said


    "We get the undead here first" Yorun said


    "We need not get them immediately plus I have to justify that to my men to do so this quick" Norilas said


    "Then how is this for justification, your mages want to study them, I do not trust you all save for maybe Sunhale and that is a fleeting trust born from battling together and finally if they want to study my magic they need me to have my magic. Currently I do not possess it, one of my undead do and before you say anything Sunhale it is not the same undead mage as before" Yorun said


    "Good justifications and admittedly impressive, the thing they want most in a random undead since we clearly can''t detect your magic we therefore can''t detect it within any of the undead requiring us to bring all of them" Norilas said


    "Correct" Yorun said


    Norilas smirked then teleported away and seconds later large chunks of undead begin to teleport to them, once they''re all there the undead horse actually makes its way over to Yorun once teleported, Yorun puts his hand on its nose.


    "Other than Koralin you are the oldest here, you have similar intelligence, I should give you a name too. Lykor sorry it took me a while" Yorun said


    Lykors neighs in a cold fashion but Yorun can tell he accepts the name. Yorun then takes his magic back making his eyes glow green once more, Sunhale and Norilas cannot tell however.


    "So which one has your magic?" Sunhale asked


    "Lykor here did, an undead mage transferred it after I gave it to the mage, so now I have my magic back" Yorun said


    "Really? It is somewhat annoying we cannot tell" Norilas said


    "If my magic was not disguised, you''d be able to tell whenever I am around you Norilas or even just being here in Qur''anther, my eyes do not stop glowing" Yorun said


    "Likely a result of you not being trained and being in the presence of a massive amount of magical power" Norilas said


    Yorun looks at the legions of undead and motions for them to follow as he follows Sunhale and Norilas through Qur''anther, Onarin, Lykor and Koralin are up front with Yorun himself. They walk through the streets that have so much greenery, the undead marching through bring attention, people watch from their homes or come out into the streets to see properly yet none know how to react until they see the solitary living human at the head of this army. The people react with fear quickly muttering to each other and Yorun hears the mutters yet he cannot understand them as they''re speaking in their native language. Yorun gets taken further into the city but soon enough they enter a clearing one that has more buildings teeming with magic and while the area is cleared for use by people its done in line with nature still as if nature just left this place alone by its own accord. An male elf clearly even older than Norilas due to the full grey hair stands outside the main building as they approach.


    "Hello there Norilas dear, been a while since you''ve had to come here but I cannot say I blame you for needing to be here this time" The Old elf said


    "Master Vinak, it is good to see you well. We have brought the human necromancer" Norilas said


    "Clearly, the undead are a bit obvious, the rumours of them have spread quickly" Vinak said with a hearty chuckle


    Vinak walks closer to Yorun and looks him over.


    "Divine magic on top of this necromancy huh? Now I understand the report of you calling yourself Raeknar" Vinak said


    "I was told to do so and so I shall" Yorun said


    "Fair enough, undead are such a fascinating thing to actually see, would you mind if I scanned your soul so I can see what connection they have to you?" Vinak asked


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    "Go ahead" Yorun said and he removed the cloak giving the others their first sense of his magic


    Vinak scans Yorun and sees the underdeveloped magic of his soul but he does indeed see the connection to all the undead.


    "Fascinating, imagine the ability of making a spectral weapon purely of magic from nothing commonly referred to as conjuring a weapon that still requires magic after its creation as if sectioning off a part of the magical pool within our soul, your undead do not require that they just continue on with a small connection to you that has no magic pass through it like a rope that''s been tied between your soul and their bodies. More fascinating is the fact that like other magics of a similar fashion your souls capacity and ability to generate magic is constantly increasing due to each and every one of these undead connections albeit slowly and on a very small scale but were you to get thousands of undead well you''d become far stronger far quicker" Vinak said


    All of this information shocks the three.


    "You got all of that from one scan?" Yorun asked somewhat impressed


    "You can learn a lot from one scan and many years of learning magic, you see things others wouldn''t well things they wouldn''t see that quickly anyway" Vinak said


    "Well anything else you need to do now that I''m here?" Yorun asked


    "Would you mind showing some of the things this necromantic magic can do? We actually have a body you can raise" Vinak said


    "Why do you have a body Master Vinak?" Norilas asked concerned


    "Oh one of the apprentices of someone here died recently, the apprentice had no family so we were just going to toss the body into the forest as per usual" Vinak said


    Some mages lift the body out of the building via telekinesis then Yorun walks up to the body and begins to raise it from the dead, during this process Vinak scans Yoruns soul once more yet his eyes are locked on the rising body. The newly raised undead is just standing there once Yorun is done and Vinak stops scanning Yoruns soul.


    "Truly amazing, such ease to do that too, tell me how many can you raise at once?" Vinak asked


    "Currently I do not know, last group I raised myself in Gantoral was about 10 and that wasn''t hard, oddly enough my undead mage can do it better than I can since its mind doesn''t strain" Yorun said


    "Yes I read the report, you can give your undead magic though currently at your level that means pretty much all of it right?" Vinak asked


    "Indeed, also the three undead closest to me are the most intelligent, Koralin the bird on my shoulder is the most intelligent due to being the first of my undead, followed by Lykor the horse and thirdly Onarin the human" Yorun said


    "Hello" Onarin said in unison with Koralins own caw and Lykors neigh


    "Incredible, I didn''t believe this particular part of the report, something without a soul communicating" Vinak said with clear wonderment in his voice


    "Not just communication but they think for themselves too, I can command them and they''ll do it but they can make their own decisions too, Onarins been very helpful as a result. Oh I can also see through the eyes of the undead its what has made Koralin extremely useful" Yorun said


    "Alright, we have a lot to see but then after we''ll head inside, eat then rest. Tomorrow we''ll try and train you a bit" Vinak said


    Yorun nodded and entered the building alongside the others leaving the undead save for Koralin and Onarin outside, Lykor was left due to preferring the outside seemingly. Yorun has his first proper meal and first ever elven meal at that for the first time in a while yet once that is done he is lead to the room he, Koralin and Onarin will stay in while here. Yorun sits on a bed for the first time in a long while and he puts the cloak back on.


    "Raeknar" Yorun said


    Raeknar appears within the room and no sound escapes the room from this point on and non can sense or see within.


    "What is it Yorun?" Raeknar asked


    "Its obvious you don''t need to ask Raeknar so just answer" Yorun said


    "You want to know how long the realms have existed correct?" Raeknar asked though they did admittedly know the answer


    "It''s something I''d never thought about till now, elves live for so long and yet people don''t believe the world has been around for long overall sure different races have different ideas on how long our worlds have existed but its still never long even with such long lived races" Yorun said


    "Common time frames across the races range from a few thousand years to fifty thousand years in reality they are all very far off. The god realm has been around for a billion years and the mortal realm followed shortly after. I know this to be true as a few gods existed first including Tierna and myself as while we do not die so long as life exists so does death and with Tiernas presence as well as the others being well alive so to do did I exist, most of the others of us eldest are gods of the realms so they made them and to satisfy their chain they need only preserve the realms regardless of what''s going on in them, I make use of mine though" Raeknar said


    "Their chain?" Yorun asked confused


    "Oh that''s right I never explained that to you, nearly forgot actually since I told your family about it" Raeknar said


    "You did? How are they?" Yorun asked


    "They are fine, they ask similar questions to you and about you. Anyway as I explained to them we gods have this need to do our jobs as we''ll feel an intense longing and almost pain if we do not, its why the other gods have let this world be as it is as it satisfies their chains while mine has been tugging at me for eons. When Tierna recently came to my realm after I explained this to your family, I downplayed how long I''ve been dealing with mine as souls were listening in and usually its best for them to discover the scale of the realms life time from older souls that haven''t chosen nothingness yet" Raeknar said


    "Fuck I almost regret asking but it does explain a lot about why even the elves don''t know most things" Yorun said


    "Indeed. Yorun I must say, war between the Fiernian Empire and Woorail Empire was staved off a little by what happened within Gantoral but it will ignite soon, learn all you can and take advantage" Raeknar said before disappearing once more


    Yorun thinks on what that means before falling asleep, the undead meanwhile for a perimeter outside the building and a few position themselves outside Yoruns room while a couple make their way into the building pushing by the people within and they stand guard outside Yoruns room, they do this at the command of the more intelligent among the undead

 Ch 14: Teleportation and An Ancient Monarch

    The following day Yorun awoke in the room, everything about his situation does not feel real as he is fairly casually laying on a bed of elven make within the capital of the elven empire now definitely an enemy of the Fiernian Empire. Yorun stands up and walks out of the room seeing the undead standing guard outside, he was happy to see them there without a command to do so from himself. Soon enough he went to Vinak outside.


    "Morning" Vinak said


    "Morning, I''m ready to start this then" Yorun said


    "Do you have anything you particularly want to focus on?" Vinak asked


    "Currently healing and teleportation both have their own uses especially at higher levels" Yorun said


    "Alright then, teleportation is easy to work on but we''ll need something to heal" Vinak said


    "The undeads bodies can be healed hence one reason I want to learn" Yorun said


    "Really? Interesting that will be useful" Vinak said


    Yorun only nodded in response and soon afterwards Vinak began to teleport around Yorun.


    "Teleporting is easy, you need merely think of where you want to go and think of both disappearing then reappearing there, before you do the second however you need merely feel if a tiny part of your magic has appear at that location. Of course this all sounds easy but the last part is the hard one, if you are teleporting far away its harder to know if your magic is there so you need to start small and get used to feeling that, you will also have a far better chance of teleporting if you know exactly the place you are going to and can picture the place in your mind exactly" Vinak said


    "I have to ask, what about teleporting into something or someone?" Yorun asked


    "Ah actually teleporting into some THING is not that bad but some ONE is pretty bad, you''ll be able to take a guess with this demonstration" Vinak said


    Vinak stopped teleporting around and using some magic nature seemingly creates a wall for Vinak for him one that looks perfectly as if it should be there. Vinak then teleports into the wall, Yorun sees parts of the wall quickly explode away from the wall yet safely away from Vinak and also some more parts of it just appear at Vinaks feet as if they teleported. Yoruns confusion at this is very clear to Vinak who looks to him as the wall and the parts that either teleported or exploded away sink into the ground returning to nature.


    "When teleporting into something the pieces of it that would be in your body gets safely teleported to a safe place by the magic you used as your souls magic is basically designed by the gods to protect you hence why you don''t burn yourself with fire magic or something like that meanwhile the pieces that are closest to your body and would be in contact with you upon teleporting gets pushed away extremely quickly hence what you saw" Vinak said


    "The thing of our magic protecting us that tracks, a while back the way I got these burns I stopped the fire with my magic yet I didn''t do it on purpose I knew it was me that did it yet I didn''t know how to do that" Yorun said


    "Makes a lot of sense now doesn''t it? Anyway have a try of teleporting yourself nothing too far or into a wall something simple you can accept" Vinak said


    Yorun stands a small distance from Vinak and looks at a spot next to him, Yorun closes his eyes imagining it and imagining being there, after a few seconds he feels a tiny bit of magic appear there and upon feeling that he imagines disappearing then appearing at the location. Yorun feels nothing yet as he opens his eyes he sees he is standing next to Vinak.


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    "I fucking did it!" Yorun shouted quite happy with himself


    "Indeed you did, spend a bit of time doing it again and again, increasing how far each time. You know how to scan things right?" Vinak asked


    "A little? Started learning on the way to Gantoral" Yorun said


    "Its basically just sending your magic out and letting your mind take in the information at least for physical things, scanning minds and what not is a lot more complicated but the basic physical stuff is great for teleportation since it lets to scan somewhere further away and then picture it for teleporting" Vinak said


    "Ah right thanks. You know if you had told me teleportation was easy a number of years ago I''d have called you a liar and told you to show me so I could prove it wasn''t. Fuck I wish I learned that years ago at least" Yorun said with a small chuckle of his own


    "Just remember you need only think of the place and trust in your magic, the hard part is the trusting once that is done you''ll be able to go damn near anywhere so long as its not protected from that sort of thing" Vinak said


    "So what about healing?" Yorun asked


    "We''ll try that tomorrow, oh and I should mention one thing about you being here, while you inherently are not accustomed to magic yet your soul however is and while here you are around high levels of magic constantly, your soul will as a result develop better here and quicker possibly awakening more from your magics than you''ve discovered even without the training. This is the reason these large places are where mages get trained other than just the training itself" Vinak said


    When Yorun is about to say something his eyes erupt with a green glow more so than ever tinting Yoruns view of the world in green and he looks behind himself seeing a procession of elven soldiers appear, Yorun makes the scythe of Raeknar appear in his right hand once more and uses a small bit of telekinesis to pull the hood back up as he turns to look at them. The undead quickly make their way to Yorun just in case as the Elven soldiers then separate as if they were making a path and a smaller group of soldiers clearly stronger than the rest walk through the middle surrounding one elf with full grey hair and unlike the other elves around here is beginning to look older with wrinkles on their face. The elf locks eyes with Yorun.


    "So this is the human with the undead army within my empire" The elf monarch said


    Every elf in the area that wasn''t a guard who accompanied the elven monarch kneels.


    "All hail Monarch Isaile!" All the elves shout in unison


    Yorun however stood stark still and said nothing as he continues to look at the monarch.


    "Nothing to say human mage?" Monarch Isaile asked


    "Given the current state of what I do, working for a god, I am well past the point of kneeling to and praising any monarch, especially given how my own monarchs failed me" Yorun said making Isaile smile


    "Oh ho! It has been centuries since something like that has been said to me, the people here are all to afraid or think it''d be dishonouring me" Isaile said and they began to walk towards Yorun with the use of a walking stick made of a tree branch yet it''s filled with magic


    "My empire and the one from which you hail from are going to go to war, you have any problem with that?" Isaile asked


    "None, only regrettable innocents will die but prices are paid, my hands are not clean, some of these undead were definitely those who did not deserve to die but put up too much of a fight" Yorun said


    "Sacrifices will be made young mage, you get used to them" Isaile said


    "Some of you elves keep referring to me as a young man but while I am young compared to you elves in terms of humans especially those of the non-magic variety I am halfway through my life as I''m in my 50''s" Yorun said


    "Ah sorry then, in terms of humans you are aged, sorry to not recognise that. I just wanted to see you necromancer and ensure you wouldn''t do anything about the war from here, else I''d have taken you down" Isaile said with a kind yet serious laugh


    Isaile and their procession left and Yorun retired to his room afterwards thinking on what he has learned today. Raeknar suddenly appears before him.


    "Be careful of Isaile, they have been touched by one of my siblings and have the power to prove it, no wonder they''ve ruled for so long yet while I urge caution they would likely end up in Artiel, they''ve done wrong but genuinely believed it necessary" Raeknar said


    "I think I''ve realised why you wanted me to focus on healing and teleportation" Yorun said


    "That so?" Raeknar asked with a smirk


    "When that first battle happens regardless of who wins there will be mountains of corpses and whichever army won will be too weak to stop an army rising from the dead, you want me to take every body from that battlefield and have a large enough army to start in earnest our plan" Yorun said


    "To do that you need not only have healing and teleporting but far far more magic so that you can have multiple mages help to speed up the process" Raeknar said


    "Then I know what I must do, train and hope I adapt quick enough so that a third power can enter this war" Yorun said coldly as stories of the last war he knows of are thrown around his mind

 Ch 15: The Previous Necromancer

    As night turns to day once more, Yorun remembers being told of the previous necromancer and that the elves have some knowledge on them, upon remembering this Yorun gets up and makes his way out of his provided room, Onarin and Koralin following behind him. Koralin quickly catches up and perches on Yoruns shoulder as he makes his way to the main room of the building where most of the mages are, they all look at Yorun as he enters and Sunhale comes through the crowds to Yorun.


    "What brings you here instead of to the training grounds?" Sunhale asked


    "I want to find out more about that previous necromancer, Norilas mentioned a place called the Archives. Can you bring me there?" Yorun asked


    "Well yes, you want to head there right now?" Sunhale asked quite intrigued about this as well


    "No first I need to tell Vinak since we said we''d do healing training today" Yorun said


    Sunhale nodded and waited while Yorun told Vinak but when he returned Sunhale grabbed a hold of him as well as Onarin teleporting away from the mage training facilities, Upon appearing at the so called Archives Yorun looks around seeing he is now within the city proper outside a massive building that he can feel coursing with more magic. Yorun walks in with Sunhale, Koralin and onarin and upon walking in Yorun sees the building is far larger than it appeared even on the outside.


    "The fuck?" Yorun said as he looked up at the roof which seems to get further and further away


    "The Archives use magic to bend reality a bit so we can store all knowledge here without running out of space" A male elf who looks as old as the Monarch Isaile said from behind the reception desk


    "Good to know that''s possible" Yorun said as he looked at the elf


    "Welcome human to the Archives, you must be the one the rumours talk of" The male elf said looking Yorun over


    "Likely, don''t see anyone else using undead soldiers after all" Yorun said eliciting a chuckle from the elf


    "So Sunhale what brings you and your friend here?" The male elf said


    "Well Master Archivist we come for the knowledge about the previous necromancer" Sunhale said getting a serious expression from the Master Archivist


    "Some rather dark knowledge though given present company it''s unsurprising you want to know" The Master Archivist said while looking at Yorun


    "So you''re the Master Archivist of this place?" Yorun asked


    "Indeed, I am the second oldest living elf at the moment, just behind our beloved monarch" The Master Archivist said seemingly a bit proud of that fact


    "You see proud to have reached such an old age" Yorun said


    "The stupid die young, I''ve tended and added to these archives throughout my entire life it pretty much is my life and one I enjoy so I''ve lived a long time not joining in wars and whatnot" The Master Archivist said


    "What is your name?" Yorun asked


    "Fal''Rine, though I rarely use my name these days, mostly just referred to as the Master Archivist" Fal''Rine said


    Fal''Rine leads them further into the building travelling within the endless buildings amongst all of its bookcases for a while until they reach a place with only a few books and reports on a desk. Yorun walks to them and looks at them, books and reports about undead though the reports describe more on the necromancer of old as well.


    "When I found these, there were places for other books and whatnot but far as I remember I''ve only seen them once back when soldiers came and took them when I first started working here. Oh and if you''re worried about being able to read them I translated them to your language for you at least what needed to be translated, no point trying to translate a place name" Fal''Rine said


    Sunhale looks a bit shocked by the mention of somethings being taken by soldiers and he looks over and Yorun who is looking at the reports.


    "Thanks... If these reports are right, the period of peace in this realm a thousand years ago well for 100 or so years after this date was due to the realm recovering from what the last necromancer did" Yorun said his eyes glued to the report


    "The fuck did they do?" Sunhale asked


    "Tried to take over the world apparently, all of the empires had to band together to stop him, some places were wiped off the map" Yorun said


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    "Fuck, you''re telling me you''ll be able to be compared to that fucker eventually?" Sunhale asked


    "In terms of power and ability maybe, purpose definitely not. This guy when he popped up on the scene he already had an army of the undead, where he got it the report doesn''t say. Maybe the books will" Yorun said


    "What was this guy? Human like you or another race?" Sunhale asked


    "Apparently this one was... huh don''t recognise that one" Yorun said


    "What?" Sunhale asked confused, Yorun hands the report to him


    "A Kilarn? The fuck is that?" Sunhale asked when looking at Fal''Rine


    "If memory serves they were a race of people who lived high in the mountains of another continent over a thousand years ago, according to the books around here they were invaded by the Giants and all presumably killed apparently the Giants invaded due to the fact the Kilarn were rapidly militarising and apparently going to start a war with the Giants so they took the first strike instead" Fal''Rine Said


    "Well I guess they missed one" Sunhale said


    "Or maybe not, when I started my own journey I died but came back to life" Yorun said getting a shocked expression from both Sunhale and Fal''Rine


    "Fucking what!?" Sunhale and Fal''Rine shouted


    "As I said, I came back to life and no I don''t know if I can just do that I am not exactly keen to find out" Yorun said


    "So what you''re saying is, unless there''s some pockets of them still out there, due to the fact he did that this guy was the last of his entire race?" Sunhale asked


    "Very likely and due to those reports of him showing up with a proper army immediately its likely he just raised his entire race from the dead since they were apparently rapidly militarising then went on to do what he did, why he wanted the world there could be many reasons or none at all" Yorun said


    "Gods, you are uh pretty used to this by now would you have been able to do that?" Fal''Rine asked


    "Oh fuck no for many reasons but mainly the fact I''m not skilled enough with magic in general to do it, it''s likely this previous necromancer knew of and used his magic a lot as well as likely having training which I am now getting" Yorun said


    Yorun looks through one of the books which is surprisingly large, reading it takes a couple hours and most of the information in it isn''t about the necromancer or the undead themselves but more a recounting from someone not even alive during the time about what happened according to their family member. While Yorun read, Sunhale and Fal''Rine walked away beginning to speak in their own language but Yorun does not know the language so if he wished to listen in he could not. Yorun despite the books contents keeps reading and soon enough he comes across the supposed place of the final battle.


    "Where is this Kolanfiera?" Yorun asked drawing the attention of both Sunhale and Fal''Rine


    "Kolanfiera is a cursed place, no one goes there. It''s mentioned in that book?" Sunhale asked


    "If memory serves from when I was translating its where the necromancer was defeated, might explain the curse actually" Fal''Rine said


    "Anyone who enters the area disappears, according to the one survivor they were brought to some endless fight which apparently is the final fight against the necromancer" Fal''Rine said


    "How''d this person survive?" Yorun asked


    "Divine intervention" Fal''Rine said


    "Huh... Guess the details of this curse aren''t well known huh?" Yorun asked


    "No, far as most are aware they just die when they go there, most wrote this guy off since he only had this happen about 100 years ago so most people had even forgotten about the necromancer and all of that so they just supposed it was a very interesting curse. Not the recollection of an actual battle" Sunhale said


    "Bring me to this place, I may be able to find out more, not just due to the fact I have the same magic but due to the fact Raeknar is with me. If Raeknar needs to intervene I will sadly have to do more work due to how the gods work but a price I am willing to pay" Yorun said


    "Gods you better not make me regret this" Sunhale said


    Sunhale teleports with Yorun, Koralin and Onarin to the edge of the cursed area, Yorun can feel the dark magic of the curse yet he can feel familiarity with it as if the necromantic magic he uses was a basis of this curse which Yorun finds unsurprising given who seemingly made it. Yorun looks to Onarin.


    "You stay here, I''ll bring Koralin with me to help look around where this brings me" Yorun said


    "Yes master" Onarin said clearly


    Yorun with Koralin still perched on his shoulder makes Raeknars scythe appear in his right hand as he walks through what feels like a barrier made by the curse, upon doing so Onarin and Sunhale see them both disappear, Sunhale whispers something but Onarin cannot understand it. Meanwhile for Yorun upon stepping through he is transported to that so called endless battle he sees races of all kinds on both sides only difference being the two sides are opposites on the coin of life and death. Both sides as they clash both on ground and in air seem to ignore Yorun, the living clearly seeing him but ignoring him likely seeing him as someone sent by a god of death for souls meanwhile the undead also notice him especially as he walks past them and through their number, they move around him as they attack the living. Yorun moves through the undead forces as if he was water slipping through cracks, while his mind is ablaze with worry of being here he is still surprised by the ease of this yet he is finally stopped from moving when he reaches the backlines of the undead army where all the undead mages of every race is launching their magical assaults and the necromancer of 1000 years ago stands, he looks at Yorun and undead giant arms come from the ground and grab a hold of Yorun pulling him close to the necromancer. Yorun is the first person in 1000 years to see a Kalrin, Standing before him is a towering figure almost the height of Raeknars typical forms, he has skeletal arms and armour made of bone and flesh, his skin cold grey while having no hair some strange horns wrap back from the forehead to the back of the skull and then wrap forward again as if these strange horns were the hair on his head, the most notable feature though is his eyes they seem to be gone but as Yorun looks closely he sees they are just completely black yet as the necromancer himself looks closely at Yorun a pattern of glowing green magic appears on them as if they were the iris of his eyes. The necromancer merely stares at Yorun and the apparent battle within this cursed land stops completely frozen in time all save for the Necromancer and Yorun who wonders what the necromancer will do...

 Ch 16: The Deal

    Within the cursed area and at the back of the undead army despite both sides being frozen in time Yorun is still within the grasp of the giant undead arm controlled by the necromancer of old, the necromancer walks past Yorun and the hand, walking around them while keeping his eyes locked on Yorun, the necromancer sighs and lets Yorun go.


    "A new necromancer makes their way here and yet they are weak" The Necromancer said


    "Weak I may be but I am getting better, you clearly had training before you started what you were doing. I was a farmer" Yorun said and once the realisation hits the necromancer he laughs as if its the funniest thing he''s heard in a long time


    "A fucking farmer! Haha! Gods, the world is a hell of a place. 1000 fucking years and it''s a fucking farmer!" The Necromancer shouts while laughing


    Yorun merely waits for the Necromancer to have his moment of laughter knowing that since he somehow is alive here its clearly been a a long and lonely time.


    "Gods I needed that. They sent you didn''t they? The divine cloak and scythe of the god of death and justice is very noticeable, backed by them huh? Better than I had there at least" The necromancer said


    "No god backed you?" Yorun asked


    "if any of them were to it''d likely have been the goddess of war, I tore the world asunder after all making it necessary for all the empires to fight me at once if they wanted to win. She never gave direct help if any" The Necromancer said before looking Yorun over again


    "I''ll guess as to why you''re here, you''re here for knowledge on being a necromancer, what your capabilities are and what you''ll be able to do in the future. Suffice to say you can be very powerful indeed though I do need to ask why come to me? You have the god of death itself helping you so why come here?" The necromancer asked


    "Because a mortal should learn via mortal means, quicker to understand and accept what can be done. Wouldn''t you agree Golanier" Raeknar said appearing within the cursed area


    The necromancer now known to Yorun as Golanier takes a knee slowly in respect to Raeknar as opposed to the quick in fear kind of respect others may give.


    "It has been some time since I''ve seen you" Golanier said and Raeknar nodded disappearing once more causing Golanier to stand again


    "Guess that answers your question" Yorun said


    "That it did, there is much to teach and far to little time here not that I''ve even agreed to teach you" Golanier said


    "How are we even talking aren''t you long dead? Sure I''ve come back to life once but this is something else right?" Yorun asked


    "You are correct young necromancer. 1000 years ago when I laid in defeat as I gave my last breathe I used my magic to curse my own body and soul trapping both here forever more and cursing the surrounding area to have this battle repeat for eternity. I planned it as a final insult to my enemies and to be a constant way for me to kill some of their people who came here over the years." Golanier said


    "Well you aren''t wrong there" Yorun said bluntly


    "So in the thousand years since my loss has humanity gone extinct much like my own, that why you''ve taken up this path?" Golanier asked


    "Humanity very much still exists, my friends and family however do not. They were slaughtered by people within our empire, Raeknar will return them to life should I bring justice to this world" Yorun said


    "Good fucking luck with that even 1000 years ago I wasn''t the worst thing in this realm" Golanier said


    "I need only hopefully focus on the human empire" Yorun said


    "We''ll see how that goes, if you want to know all that I learned in my life, I have but 2 requests" Golanier said


    "I''ll see about them as soon as I hear them" Yorun said his eyes narrowing


    "One, raise my body as one of your undead I can tell you have used undead mages by now since you were unsurprised to see my own undead mages. My body can be far more helpful there than any other you find" Golanier said


    "A fair request especially since it''s extremely useful to me" Yorun said


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    "Now lets see your thoughts on number two, with my guidance change this curse to bind my soul to yours similarly to the undead" Golanier said


    "What?" Yorun asked extremely confused


    "As I said, bind my soul to your own this will allow me to stop cursing this place and to not go to the afterlife just yet, I will be able to accompany you and teach you, you could also use the magic of my soul though that comes with risks to me" Golanier said


    This proposal is clearly interesting to Yorun, his mind racing wondering if this is a good thing to do.


    "Based on what I know of you, you are a cruel bastard who pretty much immediately made an undead army from his race to conquer the world so why should I trust that this would go well" Yorun asked


    "While my younger self from even during the time in which I cursed this place was what you described, because of this curse I have had a long time to think, this place turned into my own little personal hell, not to say I''ve atoned in anyway or hell even become a good person but I would still rather avoid going to hell, helping the mortal backed by the god of death and justice may do me some good there" Golanier said


    "Raeknar?" Yorun asked aloud making Raeknar appear once more


    "Despite appearances and all the things he has done, Golanier has changed a little but don''t get it twisted he would still go to Konlair yet right now he is of use and I see no deception in his soul. If you wish to trust him Yorun then go ahead" Raeknar said before stepping back to watch


    "Fine then, lets do this" Yorun said


    "First take my sword then we can begin binding my soul, my body is somewhere around here the curse kind of blocks view of it" Golanier said


    He tossed the greatsword in his hands at Yorun who manages to catch it with a bit of telekinesis since trying to catch it with his hands would have just led to him being slammed into the ground by the giant blade.


    "So how do I do this?" Yorun asked


    "The curse is necromantic is basic nature so you will be able to manipulate it with that, once you begin to do that you need to feel the connection it has to me and funnel it through my old blade into me and then weave a connection between our souls the same kind you make when you raise a corpse, once that has been done you need to keep the curse as tightly knit to me as you can" Golanier said


    "What happens if I fuck this up?" Yorun asked


    "A few outcomes number 1 is I feel pain, number 2 is the curse goes away and I get taken to the afterlife or number 3 my soul gets destroyed" Golanier said


    "I will try not to fuck up then" Yorun said


    Yorun begins to use his necromantic magic, he begins to feel out the curse sensing it everywhere around yet while it''s not a tangible thing he swears he can grab on to the pure magic. Yorun tightens his magical grip as if he were grabbing the curse, he grabs onto the giant greatswords grip as he channels the curse into it much like he does when he uses his fire magic on the scythe. The greatsword emanates with a dark magical energy yet Yorun swears the sword remembers this energy, Yorun points the blade towards Golanier and begins to send the curse straight towards Golanier while a part of the curse comes from the grip right back into Yorun who can feel it touching his soul.


    "Good! Just keep it like this, you''ll feel the curse on the area weakening while the connection grows in power just concentrate" Golanier said


    Yorun closes his eyes focussing on the magic flowing to and from him, the curse Yorun can feel integrating with his soul while simultaneously gripping Golaniers own soul. Yorun continues to let the magic flow and as Golanier said Yorun feels the curse on the area weakening and as he opens his eyes he progressively sees more and more of the two armies forces still frozen in time begin to disappear. Sunhale who is still outside of the cursed area waiting senses the curse shrinking.


    "What the fuck is going on in there?" Sunhale asked


    "Master is doing something" Onarin said


    Sunhale looks at Onarin then back to the cursed area wondering just what Yorun is doing and after a while he sees as the curse seemingly goes away fully, he sees Raeknar standing nearby with Yorun, the giant Greatsword in front of him and the form of Golanier no where to be seen save for the preserved yet damaged body of the ancient necromancer at the centre of what was once the cursed area.


    "Yorun what the fuck happened?" Sunhale asked


    "Golanier are you able to appear?" Yorun asked


    Sunhale sees something begin to form next to Yorun the large man looking exactly as he had 1000 years ago begins to appear.


    "Ah, finally the modern world" Golanier said as he rests the ancient blade on his right shoulder


    "Now for our other condition" Yorun said as he went over to the real body of Golanier and raises the corpse that takes hold of the greatsword as Yorun lets go of it


    "Odd to see that but at the same time it''s extremely interesting" Golanier said


    "Yorun what the FUCK is going on!?" Sunhale asked extremely loudly and confusedly


    "Sunhale, meet Golanier the necromancer of 1000 years ago. Both his soul and body are mine now" Yorun said getting a shocked expression from Sunhale


    "I... I have no words for this situation" Sunhale said completely dumbstruck


    "Now lets see if I can do what I hoped, due to my connection with you Yorun I should be able to effectively possess one of your undead at a time so..." Golanier said before he stopped speaking


    Golaniers soul went over to his old body going into it, the connection between body and soul to Yorun strengthening as Golanier begins to control his old body once more.


    "Ah practically alive again. Gods I can scarcely believe this worked" Golanier said


    "Well it did, you have much to teach me" Yorun said


    "That I do Yorun" Golanier said


    "You have done well already you two, the ability to learn more of curses as well will be highly useful. While I do not usually approve of souls being messed with, if you do not damage souls or basically enslave them with a curse you can use one to gain knowledge from the dead so long as the soul has not been taken by me or any Kai Tamar yet" Raeknar said


    Yorun nodded and looks at Golanier as well as Sunhale, Onarin and Koralin.


    "I''d say it''s about time we head back, there will certainly be questions about you Golanier" Yorun said


    They all teleported back to the training area despite the new addition to the army in Golanier and the wealth of knowledge he provides, the coming war weighs on Yorun given how soon it will come...

 Ch 17: The Necromantic Teacher

    Yorun and his group have teleported back to the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution yet as they approach the building the ground itself shifts as if it were alive, it launches vines that grab onto Golarier restricting every possible movement and what feels like ancient magic stops the flow of magic from his own soul though it does not cut the connection to Yorun. Vinak quickly rushes out and looks over to the group confused especially upon looking at Golanier, Yorun looks over to him.


    "Vinak? The fuck is going on?" Yorun asked


    "This undead has a soul? What the fuck even is it? Actually I''ll ask about that in a minute, it triggered ancient defences and they are extremely well done ones at that. Who was this person in life?" Vinak Asked growing more confused yet cautious


    "I am Golanier, I was the necromancer of 1000 years ago the creator of the cursed lands a little ways away" Golanier said


    "It fucking talks already!? Ok Raeknar explain!" Vinak shouted


    "Golanier here is both body and soul, to explain the soul survived outside his body after his final death 1000 years ago and this was due to the curse. He''s changed somewhat since then and is going to help me learn more about my magic that you cannot help with. I changed the curse at his request and raised his body which he can apparently inhabit" Yorun said


    "No wonder these defence''s activated, it''s highly likely that they were made for him" Vinak said


    "Can you undo them? I do not currently have a reason to harm anyone here so can you?" Golanier asked


    "Possibly? I have to go take a look at them" Vinak said as he walked away


    "I''m surprised they had something that could hold you" Yorun said as he looked to Golanier


    "Ha! This? Are you kidding? At the height of my power I can''t be held by this. I''d get myself out were I not being held back by you" Golanier said


    "Held back? What do you mean?" Yorun asked slightly confused


    "The curse that binds me to you, it has weakened my soul to put us on equal footing so that my soul does not overpower yours or damage you in anyway. I am someone who trained to become a threat so large everyone needed to fight me and then I had 1000 years as just a soul that supplied magic to a curse, your soul cannot handle that and as such the curse has dampened my magic so that I have as much as you do" Golanier said


    "Shit, guess that throws you raising an undead army large enough for me" Yorun said with a slight chuckle


    "We''ll see what we can do about that once I''m freed" Golanier said


    Vinak eventually returns after a few hours and upon doing so the ground shifts again and the vines that came from it recede as if they were never there to begin with and Golaniers magic returns to him.


    "Took you long enough" Golanier said somewhat annoyed


    "Well turns out those defences were not easy to turn off, they were developed 1000 years ago for well you and eventually that was forgotten alongside most knowledge of you yet at some point someone started the rule to keep those defences active by charging the ancient magic with our own every now and then. 1000 years of magic is not easy to well turn off" Vinak said


    "Alright fair enough. Lets just go rest I need to think on some things" Yorun said


    Yorun, Golanier, Onarin and Koralin made their way into the building and to the room Yorun has once they get in Yorun sits on the bed exhaling hard when he does so as he finally relaxes a bit. Yorun clearly has something weighing on his mind.


    "What is it Yorun?" Golanier asked


    "How many undead mages would it take to raise all those killed in a first battle between 2 empires?" Yorun asked


    "Well I don''t know exact numbers of armies these days but I''ll take a guess, for such a thing to be done you would need at least 10 mages that includes me and you by the way so in actually you need 8 undead mages. Currently I can sense you are able to make one undead mage and that only takes about half of your magic" Golanier said


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    "Wait that''s not right, I only made an undead mage the other day and it took so much magic to do so" Yorun said


    "You fail to realise how much you can improve at such speeds when you are starting off, the training you''ve done with Vinak whatever it was and handling the curse to bind me has done you a lot in terms of improvement. Anyway not the point you can make one and still use magic yourself so that''s 2 mages, I can do the same due to the limited nature of my magic right now so that''s 4 of us.


    "Meaning we need me to train enough to make 3 more as you will then be able to" Yorun said


    "Exactly" Golanier said


    "Got any tips on getting more magic quicker?" Yorun asked


    "This would typically fall under what Vinak would teach you but for now there is something I can teach here since Vinak can''t one method and then won''t teach the other method yet" Golanier said


    "Well tell me" Yorun said


    "The methods for training your magic while sleeping, there is a method for normal mages which is just extreme concentration even during sleep to the point you''re dreaming of whatever you''re training with and trying to focus on it in the dream. There is another method though one I doubt Vinak realised, you can at the moment drain all the magic from yourself to make two undead mages just have them keep using your magic to the extreme during the night, it will put stress on your soul enough to make it try and work harder to generate and contain more magic" Golanier


    "That is rather useful" Yorun said


    "Indeed" Golanier said


    Yorun telepathically reaches out to a couple undead mages and calls them to him and fairly soon they get to the room, Yorun then supplies them each with half his magic.


    "Go outside and while I remain in here just use my magic to the fullest to train my soul" Yorun said getting only a nod from the undead mages who return outside and begin the training


    "You managed to call them well enough" Golanier


    "I can see through the undead''s eyes I just used that base connection and sent my thoughts instead of my sight" Yorun said


    "Well you did well with it, soon you will likely discover something on your own, I could easily tell you but where''s the fun in that?" Golanier said


    Yorun just sighs and he drifts off to sleep. While sleeping he can feel the connection to those undead mages every time they use his magic, his mind drifts to that connection unknowingly and he watches through their eyes as if they were one the show of magical prowess they have, the mountain of ice one creates is matched by the flames of the other but while Yoruns mind watches both as if they were won he sees an incredible combination of the two. While Yoruns body rests as anyone else''s would, Raeknar appears in the room.


    "Golanier" Raeknar said


    "Ah Arikel" Golanier said as he turned to look at Raeknar


    "Just use the name Raeknar, you''ll be hearing that far more than the name your people gave me" Raeknar said


    "Fair enough, to what do I owe the pleasure Raeknar?" Golanier asked


    "You may have changed a little Golanier but I do still see the weight of your soul" Raeknar said


    "I don''t claim to have changed entirely Raeknar, I do this so I do not end up in whatever the human name for hell is. I made that clear and if this is the way of doing it I will do whatever I need to do, train this man or if need be kill anything and anyone in our way regardless of what it is" Golanier said coldly


    "Your motives are not great Golanier especially with that mindset, yet I know more than many justice and death come in many forms. You will deliver justice even if it is a dark kind and maybe along the way you''ll actually redeem yourself a bit" Raeknar said


    "Maybe but well for now I care not for actual progress in that regard" Golanier said dismissively


    "You should, Konlair is far worse than your mind could ever imagine and 1000 years ago you did come up with some vile tortures" Raeknar said while glaring daggers at what feels like Golaniers soul which makes him look away to try and not feel that


    "Y-yeah I know. Listen Raeknar do you really see this human getting far?" Golanier asked


    "The path will not be easy and as it goes on Yorun may grow numb to things he''d ordinarily not grow numb to yet based on what I''ve seen? He has a chance and those who can raise the dead do not come around often never mind two existing at once" Raeknar said as he turned to look at Yorun


    "Never understood why you didn''t just give that power to someone fit for the job" Golanier said


    "Theres a rather simple solution, during your time you learned of the god chain and our transactional rules. They are linked, not all of our rules were ones we made for the hell of it, some were made to put into words what our chains told us. We need to operate in this transactional way or our chains react in the same way as if we didn''t do our jobs, so as for why I don''t just give this power to someone else? They need to come to me for it and no one deserving ever has" Raeknar said


    "Huh, that has to be frustrating" Golanier said


    "It is, had we not needed to operate this way and I did have Yorun doing this anyway I''d have given him all the power necessary to do all of this extremely quickly but instead if I were to do that he''d be working for me for longer than any human mage has lived" Raeknar said


    "Damn" Golanier said


    "Anyway Golanier, just continue to do your job and you may not end up in Konlair" Raeknar said before disappearing


    Golanier sits down and exhales deeply as he waits out the hours till Yorun wakes merely watching through the window as the undead mages continue to put on a show...

 Ch 18: Valued Training and A Plan

    As the sun rises in the morning and its first lights shine through the window, Yorun stirs awake and gets up stretching as he does so. Golanier looks at him observing as Yorun holds his hand to his chest watching the two undead mages continue to to use all manner of magic but seemingly focusing still on the fire and ice combination they started with. Yorun lights up a green fireball in his hand and smirks as he looks back to Golanier.


    "Got to admit, didn''t expect it to work so quickly" Yorun said


    "For now it will, you''re still new to all of this so you''ll get your biggest gains now but later on expanding your souls magic capacity will get harder" Golanier said


    "Well even if that''s the case, that is a problem for the future, with this training regime we should get the magic we need" Yorun said as he gets rid of the fireball


    Yorun teleports outside just behind the undead mages who turn to him stopping all magical training as they do so. Yorun takes his magic back from them and then he sends the two back to guard duties like all the rest. Golanier teleports over to him as Vinak steps out from the building.


    "I have to admit seeing those two undead mages training all night was a fantastic thing to watch though I must admit the reason as to why you did that escapes me" Vinak said


    "Simple, the undead mages can allow a necromancer to train in their sleep far easier than a normal mage can" Golanier said


    "Because they use Raeknars magic of course. Gods I''m a fool" Vinak said while facepalming


    "Can''t blame you for not realising its certainly not a normal thing. Anyway can we get started on healing training today?" Yorun asked


    "Oh of course, now show me what you can do" Vinak said


    Yorun calls over one of the undead and uses Raeknars scythe to cut it a small bit then heals the newly made cut.


    "That''s pretty much it, one of the things I was trying to learn on the way to Gantoral and well, its a lot harder than telekinesis" Yorun said


    "Well it''s a fine start. Alright to get started I mentioned previously how the soul is pretty much designed to protect you? You know, the whole thing about fire magic while I taught teleportation I mentioned? Well more than that other magics have the same thing the biggest one being healing magic. Your soul by nature knows how to heal you and can help with others of your race at least but not as well unless you know actual medical knowledge, other races though your soul is at a loss unless you have knowledge for them too" Vinak said


    "Huh so guess I have a lot to learn then" Yorun said


    "While learning actual medical knowledge is a genuinely useful thing, we necromancers have a bit of an advantage. Your soul will acclimate to the undead you raise generally when they get to the stage of being intelligent along the lines of Koralin, Onarin and Lykor. Your soul will then be able to heal them like you also the soul is the thing that knows how to heal the person natively and what not but the brain retains knowledge learned and mages are usually trained in healing magic and general medical knowledge, unless that''s changed in the last 1000 years" Golanier said


    "Shouldn''t have, at least for our empire we still train that, the other empires likely do just due to the incredible use of mages for that purpose" Vinak said


    "Well in that case, the undead mages you have Yorun they''ll be useful there as will the others in teaching you that once you can extract that from their memories" Golanier said


    "Well another thing to work towards, for now I guess focus on learning to heal myself, I guess these burns of mine would be a good place to start" Yorun said


    "Well maybe not..." Vinak said


    "Huh? Why?" Yorun asked confused


    "Well under normal circumstances it would be best heal them your soul seems to have gotten used to those burns and from what I can tell, the traumatic way of getting those burns of yours combined with a mage who''s healing magic wasn''t the greatest has made them a good deal harder to heal. While the soul should typically heal that, it''s gotten used to them accepted them as a part of you especially with it having been a while now since you got them and I suspect due to the divine healing you had happen after Gantoral''s battle. You may be stuck with them forever or until you are able to heal far better than any healer I know of" Vinak said


    "Gods fucking damn it" Yorun said with an angered tone


    "Well if using that to train your healing magic is out, get Onarin over here and we can hurt then heal him. Being undead he won''t care" Golanier said


    Yorun does call Onarin over and then they begin to use him for the training, it lasts hours and during this time Yoruns healing magic does actually begin to improve as Golaniers words held true about the soul getting used to the undead.


    "Alright I do believe that is enough healing training for today" Vinak said


    "Fine, any necromancy training Golanier? Or other useful titbits you can think of?" Yorun asked


    "Well actually there is one thing, see through the eyes of the undead and keep doing it to the human ones switching between them. While doing that me and Vinak will talk keep trying to hear us" Golanier said


    "Why?" Yorun and Vinak both asked


    "You''ll see why and Vinak you don''t need to speak of anything in particular as long as Yorun can hear" Golanier said


    Yorun looks away from them and he begins to see through the eyes of one of the undead and as instructed he keeps switching through the undead meanwhile Golanier and Vinak begin to talk about random things, Yorun is confused as to what he is meant to learn from this but soon enough he notices they''re getting more distant yet he sees through one of the undeads eyes that they have not moved. Golanier notices Yoruns slight reaction but doesn''t comment on it and Yorun now growing intrigued continues to do as he was told and after around 10 minutes the sound which had grown ever quieter stops and he begins to hear new things.


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    "Ok what the fuck is going on?" Yorun asked yet his voice sounded very different much like Onarins voice but with more life in it


    Yorun looked around confused not believing for a second that was his voice then he realised he was elsewhere, next to all of the undead yet it didn''t feel like when he watched through the undead previously. Yorun looks to his hands and sees they are not his then he begins to inspect himself.


    "This is the body of one of the undead and I''m directly controlling it?" Yorun asked himself confused before teleporting over to his normal body and the other two


    "Ah good it worked" Golanier said


    "What did? How has that undead teleported?" Vinak asked


    "It''s me Vinak, Yorun and please Golanier explain" Yorun said


    "Well to put it simply the whole seeing through the eyes of the undead thing is just a first step really. Directly controlling the undead has major benefits sometimes" Golanier said


    "Such as? and please tell me how I am even doing this?" Yorun asked


    "Well I''ll answer the latter first. You are using the very same connection you used to see through their eyes and to call on them telepathically but instead of doing either of those you have sent a majority of your soul through that connection into this body, yes you have indeed split your soul a bit and don''t worry it''s not dangerous to do. The small piece of your soul that still resides in your body is there to keep you alive. Anyway the benefits? How about an example" Golanier said


    Golanier then quickly lunged at Yorun with his giant greatsword, Yorun rather surprisingly made the scythe appear in his hand and blocked the attack perfectly before knocking Golanier back much to his own and Vinaks surprise.


    "How the fuck did I do that?" Yorun asked looking at his hands


    "Simple, this isn''t your body its one of the undeads with THEIR muscle memory which as you know is ridiculously enhanced" Golanier said


    "Ok so I can fight better in these bodies what else?" Yorun asked


    "I don''t think you''ve grasped the situation Yorun, you have a body that knows how to fight, is able to use your magic and you don''t need to fear death in it" Golanier said


    "What do yo-" Yorun is quickly cut off by Golanier who cut off the undead bodies head faster than he could react


    Yorun quickly snaps back to in his own body and he grasps at his neck


    "The fuck!?" Yorun shouted horror in his voice eliciting a smirk from Golanier


    "Come now it was part of the explanation, that small piece of your soul allows the rest of it to come right back to your normal body instead of heading off to Faelerm" Golanier said


    "And you couldn''t have just said that!?" Yorun shouted angered now that the horror has left him


    "More effective since now you know it works and won''t fear it next time" Golanier said


    "Well we''re down one undead now" Yorun said


    "Know any dead person that''d be useful?" Golanier asked jokingly


    "No, I''ve raised the corpse of anyone killed thus far except for those three in Gant... I know one person to get" Yorun said realisation dawning on his face


    "I was joking but alright I''ll bite, who is this person?" Golanier asked though Yorun looks to Vinak first


    "Vinak you got reports of Gantoral, were any of the bodies there taken away by either humans or elves?" Yorun asked


    "No not really, the place was quickly abandoned by both our peoples" Vinak said


    "Great, Golanier with me" Yorun said


    Yorun closes his eyes as he grabs Golanier and after a short while they teleport towards Gantoral and they appear on one of the walls though they nearly fall immediately due to the damage done to the walls during Raeknar and Gaeronaks battle. Looking down from the wall, the path of destruction throughout the city is still more than evident.


    "Still haven''t explained who we''re here for" Golanier said


    "The battle that caused this, the one between Raeknar and Gaeronak took place with them inhabiting mortal bodies, Raeknar in mine and Gaeronak in the body of one Captain Forina. Her body should still be here and relatively undamaged too since Raeknar killed her with their touch.


    "Ah, Gaeronak would be the Goddess of War. An undead version of this captain would be incredible, I had a few such undead in my time and they were absolute demons in combat" Golanier said


    "While I have gotten better with scanning, would you mind speeding up the process?" Yorun asked


    Golanier nodded and quickly scanned the city then he grabbed Yorun and teleported over to the final resting place of Captain Forina. Yorun walks up to the body noticing the changes to her body made by Gaeronak were never reversed.


    "Well her body is still altered, rather useful actually given the strength of that from what bits of memory I have" Yorun said


    Yorun begins to raise her body and it does take a little longer than a single body should at this point but all the same she rises and stands before him, her imposing form alongside Golanier will certainly bring some fear.


    "Those affected by divine magic in this way take a bit longer to raise, annoying but very useful" Golanier said


    "She will be useful, won''t make up for what the real her did but oh well" Yorun said


    "Yorun I do have to ask a couple things now that we are alone" Golanier said with a serious tone


    "This sounds serious alright, what''s going on Golanier?" Yorun asked


    "Well a couple questions need answered so number one is this. When you have this undead army, you will be warring with the human empire and as a result you will attack lands and take them but what will you do with them? Give them freely back to those who live there, give them to the elves to rule or take them for yourself?" Golanier asked


    "Ok that I wasn''t anticipating" Yorun said


    "You need to think about it, peoples lives will be affected by this and not just those who live there but your life and those you want to bring back. Should you take over your soldiers could do all the typical guard duties with efficiency and wouldn''t end up corrupt like living people tend to do. Sure YOU could but you get the point plus once this is all over you''d be able to make it so your friends and family don''t need to go back to being farmers" Golanier said


    "You''re making it tempting and that is worrying" Yorun said


    "Just think on it anyway the second thing is related. When you have the army what will the first target be?" Golanier asked


    "The fortress in the Kolakinta mountains. Usually a fortress none can attack due to the magical defences as well as its location plus it''s not like you can get past the defences with teleportation as there is a massive teleport barrier around the mountains. The mountains make it incredibly difficult for a normal army due to supply line issues alongside constant attacks from the aforementioned defences. You always hear people from the military boasting about how it''s the strongest fortress in the empire but our army will march without fear and unflinching from pain what would be months of sieging could be done in a day especially with your knowledge of warfare" Yorun said


    "If we take that we get a damn near impregnable position and a great launching point plus usually these sorts of places have very good intel" Golanier said


    "Exactly" Yorun said


    "Over the next few days we should just focus on your training to get as much magic as possible but think on the first thing I mentioned Yorun. The world is going to change drastically" Golanier said


    Yorun, Golanier and the newly risen Captain Forina look around the destroyed city one last time before teleporting back to the Magical R&D Institution. The idea of taking over lands weighing on Yoruns soul as much as everything else has in recent times...

 Ch 19: The War Begins

    A couple weeks of training pass by as they all waited for the news of the war beginning, during these two weeks more and more elves have been disappearing, off to prepare for the first conflict of this massive war. The mages especially have been leaving the institution and Sunhale alongside Norilas have not been seen for a while now. Yorun wakes in the morning and something feels different in the air, he gets up looking around and grabs the others in the room teleporting outside, Vinak was there.


    "Something happening Vinak?" Yorun asked


    "The first conflict of the war has begun, the Relantheta Wilds will likely have a hard time recovering" Vinak said rather sadly


    "That''s just past Gantoral" Yorun said


    "Gantoral was originally going to be the first target but well plans change" Vinak said


    "We shouldn''t train today Vinak, you go rest and pray to your gods that it goes well" Yorun said


    "Indeed" Vinak said before leaving


    "So the Relantheta Wilds, we need to get there once the battle is over" Golanier said


    A total of 8 undead mages make their way over one of them is Captain Forinas undead body, Yorun and Golanier begin to give their magic to them until they are all powered up.


    "Start grabbing groups of our soldiers, teleport them to Gantoral, it will be our staging ground" Yorun said


    Forina and the other mages begin to teleport groups of undead away from the institution to Gantoral while Yorun and Golanier do the same, once they get there with their own groups which include, Lykor, Koralin and Onarin they pause for a moment.


    "Koralin, head to the battle keep an eye so I can know when the battle is over" Yorun said


    Koralin caws and flies off towards the Relantheta Wilds, Yorun looks at Onarin.


    "This is going to be an insane day" Yorun said


    "Master, the coming battle will not be easy, are you sure the fortress should be our first target?" Onarin asked


    "I am not sure of anything Onarin, I am no military commander but I have to believe this will work" Yorun said


    The mages, Forina, Golanier and Yorun continue to teleport their forces to the ruined Gantoral and they wait, from the walls even though it is a fair distance away they can see the lightshow from the battle, the magics being unleashed there can be seen and felt, Yorun knows he cannot contend with that kind of magic. Nearly a full day passes as this massive battle continues, even from where Yorun stands he can see the destruction caused from the battle, forests around the area are dying, the sky above the area is full of mages that fly and clouds of rain and lightning pour down onto the battlefield, great walls of fire erupting from the ground but eventually all of this grows quiet and the mages who were clearly alive in the sky begin to descend. Yorun looks through Koralins eyes and sees the battle finally ending in what seems an elven victory, they''re taking prisoners of those who didn''t get away with the mages who teleported. Yorun gets up and looks back at Onarin and Golanier.


    "Alright lets make our entrance, lets try and teleport all of us that way none of them will stop us " Yorun said getting only a nod from both of them in return


    The undead mages gather and after Yorun mounts Lykor they do soon enough alongside, Forina, Golanier and Yorun himself teleport every undead into the forest just next to the battlefield. Yorun and the undead mages walk out of the forest, Yorun is atop Lykor however. The elves as well as the humans who were captured look over confused, seeing at first only the humans such as Yorun and most of the mages the humans rejoice thinking they''re about to be saved but everyone quickly notices the likes of Forina and Golanier as well as the injuries that are on a few of them. Soon enough throughout the sea of bodies both elven and human eyes either open glowing green slightly or begin to glow if their eyes were not closed, much to the living elves and humans surprise and horror those same bodies begin to rise and walk over to Yorun and as they do so more bodies begin to do the same. The elves who are still able to fight begin to run towards Yorun hoping to maybe save their dead to be returned to their families but they''re stopped by arrow fire and more of the undead who accompanied Yorun walking out of the forest to stop them.


    "What the fuck is going on!?" One of the captive humans shouted


    The elves seemingly shout something though none understand the language they assume its the same message. Yorun takes little note of the shouts and confusion from the groups as he and the others continue to raise the bodies. Soon however Yorun notes a pair of familiar presences teleport to the elves, it is Sunhale and Norilas and they quickly get Infront of the elves to look at Yorun and his forces.


    "What the fuck Raeknar!?" Norilas shouted


    "I need an army to do my job, thanks for providing it" Yorun said rather coldly


    "You can''t just do this we need to bring these peoples families the bodies!" Norilas shouted rather angered by the response


    "The bodies alone will not bring them respite from the grief trust me on that. I am going to fight the Fiernian imperial family so either get out of my way or keep helping me" Yorun said as he continued to raise more bodies


    Norilas looked even more angered but before she could do anything Sunhale walked over to Yorun.


    "Then it seems I''ll at least help you, no doubt Golanier here can help militaristically but I have knowledge of the Fiernian Empire in this age that can help" Sunhale said


    "That mean you''re coming with?" Yorun asked


    "Guess it does" Sunhale said


    "Sunhale, get back here! This is an afront to our empire!" Norilas shouted


    "And this man here is backed by a god of his own and do you see his god of death and justice telling him this is unjust? That it''s wrong? Or do you see Irankar here? Who are we to argue with a god of any pantheon?" Sunhale asked quieting Norilas who just turned away letting them continue


    "Good job" Yorun said


    "No problem, I better not regret this" Sunhale said


    "I''ll try and make sure you don''t. Our target once all of these bodies are raised is the Kolakinta Mountains Fortress" Yorun said


    "Damn, hell of a one to start with" Sunhale said


    "Since you''ve got magic Sunhale help teleport undead to the bottom of the mountains and should you need it the undead will listen to you" Yorun said getting a nod from Sunhale


    After a short while all the bodies have been raised and at that point the undead army begins to be teleported to the bottom of the Kolakinta Mountains, with Sunhales help the process is far faster due to his training and far larger supply of magic. Yorun is the last to leave and before he does, he turns to the elves and the captive humans then walks over making the scythe appear in his right hand but as a result the elves quickly draw blades but Yorun looks directly at the humans walks to them confusing the elves while terrifying the humans.


    "I am going to free you for one singular purpose. You will return to the imperial family and take this message right to Emperor Durinkal. Raeknar is coming for him" Yorun said as he uses the scythe to cut their bonds, the soldiers immediately flee


    "Didn''t say you could do that" Norilas said


    "Respectfully? I do not care" Yorun said as he teleported away


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


    Norilas smirks after he leaves knowing she still thinks he''s alright despite the afront to Woorail, she then begins to organise the elves that are there. Meanwhile Yorun has teleported to his new army and looks at a huge army now under his control, with this many he can feel his magic expanding more than before even if it is still very small amounts. Yorun looks at his army and he points his scythe up the mountain and his forces march, the undead mages put up barriers above the army to try and protect as many of them as possible from what comes next.


    "The armies marching, I''ll get up to the head of our horde" Golanier said before flying to the front of the army


    "This isn''t going to be easy you know" Sunhale said


    "I know, help with the barriers Sunhale we''ll need that help" Yorun said as he added his own magic to the barriers and followed the army on Lykor


    Sunhale added his own strength and soon enough despite how far they have to go the magical defences of the fortress begin to fend off the coming assault, the mountains quake as balls of lava begin to shoot from the mountains themselves at the undead army, coinciding with that spectral humans begin to appear throughout the mountains that begin to fire similarly spectral bows right at the army. The barriers stop as much of the lava as possible while the undead just take the arrows unflinchingly, the path up to the fortress changes to that of ice slowing down the undeads march but Golanier smirks as he takes flight then he laughs before using a combination of his magic and greatsword he strikes one of the balls of lava and the lava gets absorbed into the blade making it glow red from the heat, he then throws the red hot blade directly onto the icy path burying the blade up to the hilt into the ground and the lava which had been stored within the blade is expelled within the ground reversing the freezing ice magic all the way along the path to the fortress. Golanier uses telekinesis to call his blade back to his hand as he lands before the undead army, the shaking of the mountains gets worse and two of them begin to change in shape becoming the upper halves of golems, they continue to fire balls of lava from the top of their heads but now with the giant rocky arms they begin to slam their arms along the path, their size makes the attacks slow but devastating nonetheless as large swathes of the undead not under a barrier are crushed.


    "Fuck! Didn''t expect that!" Yorun shouted


    "Oh these humans are fun!" Golanier shouted as he took flight and made his way over to Yorun


    "Any ideas you two?" Yorun asked


    "These giant things are going to crush us and the barriers won''t hold out against them for long, get the horde to charge as fast as it can, Golanier I imagine you have an idea for the threat itself" Sunhale said


    "Oh indeed, we''ll want to keep those things intact for our own use so due to your training Yorun I can do one thing but I''ll need to do it during this whole thing so you won''t have me or my undead mages" Golanier said


    "We mainly needed them for the actual raising and now for other things we have Sunhale so do it" Yorun said commandingly


    Golanier nodded and flew up taking all of his magic back from his mages which drops a good few barriers and then he lands down in the middle of the army where the two mountains arms are crashing down and Golanier makes two giant skeletal arms sprout from the ground catching the mountains arms and trapping them while holding them up, the strain on Golanier is clear to them all but Yorun feels its a magical strain due to the limited magic still at his disposal. The undead army begins to charge up the path still taking arrows and many of the undead are hit with the balls of lava, yet the army begins to get in sight of the fortress at the top of the mountains, the speed of their ascent impossible for a living army due to the undead having no fear and not caring of any injury. The lava balls now only target the further back parts of the undead army while the humans in the fortress begin their defence of it, the magical defences of the fortress unleash a torrent of water a veritable tsunami down towards the undead army and then shooting lightning at it not only sweeping undead away but shocking them too but Sunhale quickly uses ice magic to stop the waters advance by making an ice wall that funnels the water down some separate parts of the mountain range.


    "Mages do as I do!" Yorun shouted


    Yorun begins to telekinetically lift multiple undead much like he did once back in Gantoral and he launches them past the ice wall and the electrified water towards the wall, they land on the battlements impaling a couple soldiers with their blades as they land on them, more undead land seconds after from the mages throwing them, the process still strains Yorun much but the undead mages do it again and again. The undead soldiers landing on the battlements sends the human soldiers into a panic as they begin to fight back the sounds of swords clashing fills the air. More and more undead are launched over the walls but soon enough Sunhale teleports onto the walls of the fortress himself, he fights his way through some soldiers, showing his years of training in how he swiftly dodges attacks while delivering his own final blows. Sunhale scans the fortress and he soon enough finds where the room the magical defences get charged and activated from, he quickly gets some undead to follow him and they begin to attack the soldiers there, the soldiers are woefully unprepared for this force, they kill a few undead by taking off their heads but overall they only kill relatively few until they themselves fall. Sunhale gets into the room and uses his magic on the magical conduit for the defences and shuts it down and while that stops all the defences that were being used outside, reverting them to their neutral state.


    "The defences are down! Charge the gates and get in there!" Yorun shouted to his army


    The undead army charges towards the fortress gates they begin to charge into the gate while more and more of the undead pile up at the walls climbing each other until they begin to get over the walls getting more allies into the fortress this way until after a short while much to the horror of the living soldiers still inside the gates crash open and the undead flood in. With the gates broken open and the outer defences down a new set of defences start up, soldiers made entirely of stone begin to come out of the walls, leaving the walls entirely intact as if they never came from them, multiple waves of them come from the walls while the flesh and blood soldiers retreat further into the fortress and as this happens what look like cylinders with holes in them come from the walls and fire begins to spew from them completely ignored by both the stone soldiers and undead but the undead will fall to the flames eventually.


    "Golanier! Get over and into the fight! Get the inner defences down!" Yorun shouted


    "On it!" Golanier shouted back


    Golanier flew right past Yorun into the fortress while Yorun got to work on raising some of the fortresses soldiers bodies, Golanier flew straight into the inner gate of the fortress crashing through it as if he were launched by a trebuchet, landing inside he rolled with his momentum and with quick movement he used the roll to slice downward through a soldier within. The soldiers quickly rush him as he begins to stand and he merely smirks as he lets them stab and slash his body where his old armour no longer protects making use of his undead bodies resistance to pain. Golanier lets his soul detach from his body and allows his body to fight the soldiers while he searches for the inner defence conduit and he has to search a few rooms till he finds it heavily guarded by the stone soldiers and some mages. Golanier returns to his body now that he has found it and he goes back into the body, the undead version of himself had taken down those soldiers and was fighting more as Golanier joined his soul with the body once more.


    "See you all later" Golanier said with a smirk as he teleported to Yorun


    "Found it?" Yorun asked


    "Indeed, come on let''s take control" Golanier said as he grabbed a hold of Yorun and teleported to the room


    Yorun upon appearing there with Golanier lights his scythe on fire creating the usual black flames and he sliced through the stone soldiers leaving them as mere rubble. The mages quickly go to attack and Golanier stands in front of Yorun blocking the lightning the mages shoot at them, Yorun tosses the scythe to the side and uses telekinesis to control it making it spin towards the mages who don''t see it coming until it''s too late and they get sliced through. Yorun calls the scythe back to his hand and he along with Golanier go into the room and within is the magical conduit, Yorun walks up to it.


    "Charge it with your magic, do it with authority" Golanier said


    Yorun puts his hand onto the conduit and as he does so he begins to send his magic into the conduit charging it with all of his magic he has access to, the magic within the conduit already pushes back but Yoruns resolve cannot be challenged at this point and he forces his magic through. While he does this the stone soldiers begin to slow down and the flames begin to stop. The stone soldiers throughout the fortress stop moving for a moment and then suddenly begin to move again but this time they turn to search for the living soldiers who were once the owners of the fortress and the necromantic magic having been channelled into the fortress begins to raise all the dead throughout the fortress recuperating some of the losses. Yorun falls to his knees and Golanier puts his hand on his shoulder.


    "Well we did it, a fortress under our command and the defences should be intact" Golanier said


    "Good, just need to clear out the remaining enemy soldiers be it killing them or taking them prisoner" Yorun said


    "Prisoners? What use do we have for them right now?" Golanier asked


    "Simple, information despite our success there''s things about this fortress we won''t be able to find out just from the building or any documents in here itself and it''s not like I can make that curse of yours yet" Yorun said


    "Fine then but regardless the day is ours" Golanier said


    Yorun nodded and he walks out of the building and heads outside and heads towards where he feels the undead still fighting, he finds a final group of soldiers still there trying to hold out against the undead and stone soldiers, they see Yorun walk in with the scythe and cloak of Raeknar making them feel fear despite none seemingly knowing their true nature.


    "Surrender, now or you will join the others in my army" Yorun said


    The soldiers immediately throw down their weapons now that they know surrender is even an option, the stone soldiers grab ahold of the enemy soldiers and place them against the nearby walls which seemingly wrap around their wrists and ankles to confine them all. Yorun looks at the soldiers and walks away leaving them to be imprisoned for a while as he heads to the conduit for the outer defences and takes control of it as well reactivating them in case they get attacked. Now despite the fact none know the outcome save for those in the fortress a necromancer for the first time in 1000 years has conquered a fortress and prepared for war...

 Ch 20: The Old Golanier

    The day of the fortress attack winds down, the prisoners have been properly secured in a cell and the corpses throughout the valley that could be raised either again or for the first time have been raised and undead are being healed by undead mages. Yorun sits atop the tallest part of the fortress looking out over the valley, there is some noticeable damage to the surroundings but overall its still fairly untouched and the damage that is there is being reversed by the magic coursing through the land. Yorun smiles looking out at all of this as Raeknar appears next to him.


    "What has you smiling?" Raeknar asked


    "I know you don''t need to ask but it''s still nice that you do. To answer your question though? My kids would have loved this view, they always loved mountain ranges" Yorun said


    "Well once your quest is done, this place should still be under your control lest you give it up between now and then. You could bring them here" Raeknar said


    "I may just do that" Yorun said


    "Yorun, you should go speak to Sunhale and Golanier in the map room" Raeknar said


    "Least I had a few moments to take in something normal for once well fairly normal" Yorun said before standing up


    Yorun walks by Raeknar as they disappear, he heads down the fortress passing by the undead that guard the halls until he finally gets to the map room, within the room stands a long table with many maps and documents scattered across it, the whole world laid out in front of them even some external dimensions. Golanier and Sunhale are standing there already looking at the maps.


    "Hello you two" Yorun said


    "Hey Yorun" Sunhale said


    "Hello we have a problem" Golanier said


    "Fuck, what?" Yorun asked worried


    "Well it''s one we kind of expected, the magic we have is not enough to actually keep these defences up long term, Sunhale goes a long way to staving that off but eventually the defences will go down" Golanier said


    "Training to increase our magic would be good as per usual but it will likely not happen soon enough so we should get some more magically attuned allies" Sunhale said


    "I know one person who may but I do not know, other than her anyone you can get Sunhale?" Yorun asked


    "I could ask some people but they''ll likely be focused on the elven side of the war and as such won''t help us like that. I think our best plan to to get some human mages from closer to here to join us. your imperial family does have a good many people that hate them" Sunhale said


    "Is there any villages nearby that may have magic users?" Yorun asked


    "Given the information from documents and the prisoners, there are a couple villages around that do have mages and specifically they are there as back up magic for the fortress basically" Sunhale said


    "Alright, Golanier you mind going to try and get them?" Yorun asked


    "Why me?" Golanier asked


    "Because it''ll likely end up with some fight happening there, you are the best of the three of us with that and a disembodied soul in an undead body saying Raeknar sent them has more credence" Yorun said


    "Alright fair point" Golanier said


    "Once you''re ready just tell me, I can teleport you there using the magic in the valley since the villages are somewhat connected to it" Sunhale said only getting a nod from Golanier as he walked out


    "Leaving?" Onarin asked as he stood outside


    "Yeah actually gather some undead and come with me" Golanier said


    "Fine, master is safe here" Onarin said as he went off to gather some soldiers


    Golanier teleports to the top of one of the fortresses walls and looks out over the valley.


    "Raeknar" Golanier said


    "What?" Raeknar asked as they appeared next to him


    "You previously allowed for use of the curse for information gathering, you know with the current rate of magical gains for Yorun this is going to take a long time and now with the war having started we do not have that time" Golanier said


    "I know what you are going to suggest Golanier, so out with it" Raeknar said with an annoyed tone


    "You know the power I held 1000 years ago while much of that was my own power I had thousands of souls bound to my own, while in this current state if both me and Yorun were to do that the newly bound souls would be limited to Yoruns strength it would still be a massive boost especially if he got many" Golanier said


    "As the god of justice this is a terrible thing to do and I need to judge those souls whereas as the god of death I''m meant to take the souls to the afterlife. However should you ONLY do this to evil souls I''ll consider it their penance but you will release them when the penance is done and I will tell you when that is do you understand?" Raeknar asked a threatening tone in their voices


    "Fine, fine, guess its better than nothing" Golanier said


    Raeknar disappears as Onarin walks out of the fortress with a small force of undead soldiers, Golanier jumps down next to them making a small hole beneath himself upon landing. Golanier telepathically tells Sunhale and then suddenly he along with Onarin and his undead teleport away not too far from one of the villages. Golanier leads the undead towards the village which is fairly sized certainly bigger than the kinds of villages Yorun once lived in and that were around his village, the guards are also far better as they quickly organise and form a wall outside the village upon noticing Golanier and the undead. The captain of the guard stands behind the wall of guards and looks at Golanier.


    "Who the fuck are you!?" The guard captain shouted getting merely a smirk from Golanier in response


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    Golanier doesn''t say anything immediately merely standing there as his eyes light up their magical green as a thick mist appears throughout the area quickly obstructing the guards sight, the guards immediately group up more getting back to back with each other to keep an eye out everywhere but soon enough green eyes begin to approach them from all sides and just as they are about to attack in front of them they''re brought to the ground on their hands and knees by skeletal arms forcing them. The guard captain is the only one this doesn''t happen to and as he begins to look around frantically at the eyes coming at him he lights up a fireball and that action alongside some more magic pushes away the mist around him and standing right in front of him is Golanier towering over him and Golanier grabs the captains throat lifting him into the air.


    "I expected better than this" Golanier said with the smirk still adorning his face


    The guard captain quickly shoots a glaring fireball into the sky not even trying to hit Golanier with it and despite being chocked he smirks slightly.


    "What''s got you smir-" Golanier was quickly cut off by the ground rumbling


    While any living person is looking around terrified and the undead look around trying to see what''s causing this Golanier merely smirks again as he tosses the captain to the ground.


    "Oh you have made me a very happy man" Golanier said as he began to laugh


    Soon enough the rumbling grows louder and is more intense none who stand stay upright save for Golanier and he hides himself as 3 giants quickly run to the village towering as high if not higher than the mountains around the fortress. One of the giants who is clearly the oldest among them and most experienced in fighting given the fact he lacking his right arm looks down at the humans and the undead and he begins to widen his eyes as he looks at the undead.


    "Wait are those un-" The giant is cut off by a voice that visibly freezes him in fear


    "Hello Joolak" Golanier said after having teleported onto the giants shoulder


    Joolak slowly turns his head to Golanier as to not make any winds that would through Golanier off, his eyes widen in horror as he sees Golanier.


    "Bring your hand here" Golanier commanded


    Joolak without a second thought dropped their sword to the ground shaking the ground once again then he brought his hand up to his shoulder and Golanier jumped onto it, Joolak then raised his hand out in front of himself to look directly at Golanier despite how hard that is as Golanier is the size of an ant comparatively.


    "Good seems you remember your place" Golanier said with a smirk


    "Sir why are y-" One of the other giants said before they were cut off by Joolak


    "Shut up! That is an order!" Joolak shouted much to the surprise of the other giants


    "So Joolak, seems you never got a replacement limb for the one I took" Golanier said


    "S-so that is really you... how?" Joolak asked


    "Fine I''ll grant an answer to that, you know as well as I a necromancer is extremely hard to keep dead. The curse that sprung from my dead body? I am sure you know of it, I used it to bind my soul to that cursed lands and now a new necromancer bound me to them" Golanier said


    "There''s another?" Joolak asked fear in his voice


    "Oh who said you''d get another question?" Golanier asked with an annoyed tone


    "S-sorry" Joolak said


    "So you are a mercenary? Haha! Such a far cry from the military general of the giants you used to be, did failing to take me down really do that much to your credibility?" Golanier asked


    "That and it has been a long time, I am older combine those two with my lost limb and well they really didn''t want me anymore" Joolak said


    Nearby the other two giants are doing their best to whisper to each other and using some magic to make it even harder to hear them given their giant nature whispering alone would not be enough.


    "Why is the boss doing this? He looks terrified of that little guy" One of the giants said


    "Yeah I know, this little thing we should just crush, the boss has to be losing his mind to think this little guy took his arm" The other giant said


    "Planning to crush me hm?" Golanier said his voice growing more demonic as he turns his head to the two younger giants


    Joolak quickly looked at the two giants himself and looks rather sad.


    "You damn fools" Joolak said as he looks away


    Golaniers smirk disappears from his face as he snaps his fingers and the two giants eyes light on fire the green flames clearly sending memories through Joolak alongside the screams of the two giants who quickly drop to their knees with pain causing an earthquake.


    "Get yourselves home now!" Joolak commanded


    "I did not say they can leave!" Golanier shouted, his voice louder than Joolaks


    Golanier used his magic to block the twos magic so they couldn''t leave and he then grabbed his greatsword as he flew to the two giants and sliced into the neck of one of them going into their neck and then proceeding to spin his greatsword around in the neck with magic slicing through all parts of the neck then he cut out the other side of the neck and left to do the same to the other giant. Once Golanier was done with that he flew out of the second giants neck and floated in front of the two paralysed giants.


    "I left enough in there to allow you to live though barely. Now leave" Golanier said glaring at them as the green flames on their eyes disappeared


    Joolak quickly teleported the two away and then looked at Golanier.


    "Can I leave Golanier?" Joolak asked


    "Fine, know this Joolak I haven''t forgotten what you were like in the old days and 1000 years of solitude made me think on it regularly. If you leave and I never see you again, anyone you take with you I won''t kill. I do this out of respect which I rarely have for anyone" Golanier said receiving a nod from Joolak before he teleported away


    The people of the village are all wearing the same shocked and horrified expression and all of them get further away from Golanier as he lands on the ground.


    "The one who controls my soul was sent to bring justice to this world by your god Raeknar, we have already taken the fortress in the mountain range. Those of you who are mages get your asses up to the fortress to charge the defences as you''d normally do got it?" Golanier asked his voice returning to normal


    The mages of the village quickly teleport up to the fortress and the remaining non magical guards without the guard captain there to order otherwise get back to their normal duties though they are still horrified.


    "Onarin, leave some of the undead here to make up for the guards that are no longer staying in the village and some extra just to make sure the place is secured" Golanier said


    "Right Golanier" Onarin said and he ordered half of the undead to stay in the village


    Golanier and the undead make their way to the other village and this village has a less eventful confrontation and the mages still get brought up to the fortress. Only Golanier and Onarin teleport back to the fortress as the other half of the undead were left at the second village and upon their return those mages from the first village when they see Golanier they quickly get to the other side of the fortress from him, Yorun who is there watching them run away looks at Golanier.


    "The fuck did you do?" Yorun asked


    "Oh nothing, met an old friend" Golanier said as he walked away beginning to laugh which grew demonic quickly


    "Onarin come tell me and Sunhale what happened" Yorun said as he walked away with Onarin to the map room where Sunhale still resides, Onarin then explained exactly what happened


    "Great, so theres at least someone around from back then, maybe that''ll convince the giants not to get involved and we''ll have an easier time" Yorun said


    "Maybe but they could also decide the opposite purely because of the fact Golanier is around" Sunhale said


    "Urgh I hope not, giants would be useful in our army but if we could raise them right now Golanier would have killed those two so hopefully the former happens or at least let the latter happen in a while when we can raise them" Yorun said


    "Regardless we need to plan our next move, in a few days supposing information of us taking this fortress doesn''t get out a transport of food and other supplies should be brought here from the city of Deranel" Sunhale said


    "We''ll use that, you could infiltrate the city it comes from" Yorun said


    "Wouldn''t be a bad idea, should we do that it would give us an in and I can find people with evil souls and magic for you to do the whole curse thing that Raekanr is allowing now" Sunhale said


    "Then I believe that''s our next step, in the meantime I''ll keep training, need to learn how to make the damn curse" Yorun said


    Yorun and Sunhale left each other for the day as it finally begins to wind down, fear of Golanier is rife among people from the first village he visited and across the world new fear of him spreads among the giants.

 Ch 21: Sunhales Mission

    A few days pass and rumours across the world of a god getting involved in the human and elf war is spreading alongside the rumours of Golanier which for many fall on deaf ears except for races of whom have kept the knowledge of him. Sunhale stands upon the walls of the fortress and soon enough the defences of the fortress begin to activate, Sunhale quickly checks what is happening and he sees that the supply transport has arrived outside the teleportation barrier and is making their way up so he quickly stops the defences from attacking and gets the undead prepared. A while passes as the transport makes its way to the fortress.


    "Alright we''re here! You going to open up!?" The transport leader shouted


    Sunhale and several undead guards jump down onto the guards of the transport and knock out all of them save for the transport leader whom Sunhale landed on grabbing them by the throat.


    "W-what the f-fuck!?" The transport leader shouted confusedly while struggling to breath


    "I need to borrow this" Sunhale said


    Sunhale untightens his grip yet he stabs his finger into the neck of the transport leader as he begins to shapeshift into his form. Sunhales ears change from pointed ones to the rounded ones of humans his face and overall body change to perfectly match that of the transport leader while the magical tattoos on his body seem to disappear they flash a magical light before doing so. Yorun and Golanier walk out to him as he takes his finger out of the transport leaders neck who rapidly tries to heal themself as the undead grab them.


    "Well that''s horrifying to watch" Yorun said


    "Well necessary to perfectly match the form of a person otherwise the shapeshifting isn''t correct, were I going for a general human look I could do it easily" Sunhale said


    "Regardless you''ve got your mission Sunhale do what you need to do" Golanier said


    "Indeed we''re counting on you" Yorun said


    "Yeah lets make this look better, injure me" Sunhale said


    "What?" Yorun said immediately confused


    "Alright" Golanier said without a care


    "Hold Golanier" Yorun said


    "My plan is to make it seem like the fortress hasn''t gotten supplies due to being attacked enroute as a result you need to make me injured, illusions would likely be picked up then so would the shapeshifting" Sunhale said


    "If they think the fortress hasn''t gotten supplies then they''ll likely send more we can give to the new mages on our side and get some more undead" Yorun said


    "Exactly now Golanier hurt me once we are away from the teleport barrier, don''t want to walk through the mountain range injured" Sunhale said


    Sunhale and Golanier made their way through the mountain range and once they are outside the teleport barrier Golanier within an instant injures Sunhale by slicing across his body with conjured weapons, Sunhale begins to rapidly bleed and teleports quickly to Deranel. Within seconds the gate guards run over to him and begin to heal him while taking him into the nearby guard tower where the cities captain of the guard walks in.


    "Eltikra, the fuck happened to you!?" The captain shouted concerned


    "Attacked enroute to the f-fortress by the e-elves fuck the others are g-gone" Sunhale said biting through the pain


    "Shit, get healed up then come to me after I need a report, need to know as much as possible, think you''ll be alright?" The captain asked concerned, Sunhale notes small smiles on the guards healing them


    "I''ll heal thanks to them" Sunhale said while motioning to the guards healing him


    The captain nods as they walks away, the guards healing Sunhale continue to heal but soon enough Sunhale looks at them.


    "Always nice when the captain cares huh?" Sunhale said


    "Indeed, Captain Wonakri always shows concern when this sort of thing happens but well it definitely keeps us loyal" One guard said getting a small laugh from Sunhale


    "Yeah, almost like we''re children to Wonakri" Sunhale said


    "Agreed, some people need someone like him in their life glad he''s there for those people" Another guard said


    After a small bit of talk with the guards Sunhale is healed enough and is then brought to Captain Wonakri''s office within the city. The guards leave Sunhale whom they still believe to be Eltikra, Wonakri helps Sunhale to sit down.


    "So Eltikra you, feeling alright now? Nothing still needing healed?" Wonakri asked


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    "No, I''m better now thanks Captain" Sunhale said


    "Alright well as much as I''d like to send you on your way home to rest right now you need to give this report so I can prepare anyone that needs to go there next" Wonakri said


    "Alright, as you know we had to teleport a few times to make our way to the fortress due to the nature of the supplies and the amount of them as well as us guards going with it. After two or three teleports we stopped for a few minutes around the Kolakinta forest road, as we rested and got our magic back we heard noises and we began to investigate since it could have been bandits" Sunhale said not giving away anything that he''d be lying even in this unfamiliar face


    "I''ll take it it wasn''t bandits given your training I''d be slightly disappointed if it were" Wonakri said with a little levity clearly trying to make the situation less sad for himself and who he believes to be a comrade


    "Indeed it wasn''t, elves from the elven army likely scouts or spies I don''t know they bore weird tattoos that changed and they attacked us they overpowered us pretty quickly, first one of us fell and then another and so on. They took us away as well as all the supplies but they weren''t teleporting either, don''t know why but they weren''t it eventually gave me enough of a window to teleport out as they hadn''t set up a barrier to block that likely to ensure no one else came to investigate an obvious barrier" Sunhale said


    "Well those definitely had to be elven spies, there''s been talk from those that came from Gantoral, there were elves in that attack and they bore such tattoos. I don''t believe there was anything about them changing but reports made there seem like so many more tattooed elves so maybe they were changing and it confused people, ah fuck that''s actually smart" Wonakri said impressed but also annoyed


    "I also saw something else but I scarcely believed it, now that my mind is clearer and I remember what went on in Gantoral, I swear to the gods I saw a walking corpse" Sunhale said


    "Well the reports did say they were working together with one who controlled the dead before Raeknar showed up and fought Gaeronak, Gods this is getting more and more complicated but thank you Eltikra for this, wait here a moment while I go tell the other leaders of the city" Wonakri said before getting up and walking out


    "Perfect" Sunhale said himself


    Sunhale looks around the office without getting up and lightly begins to use magic to find the guard personnel files and it takes a few moments but once he does he scans for the file on Eltikra and begins to get all the information of the person he is pretending to be.


    "No family at least none in this city, that''s good, wouldn''t be the first time I''ve had to dance around a family dynamic but at least I don''t need to this time, some other personal information and such so I''ll deal with it later" Sunhale thought to himself


    Soon enough the door bursts open and Sunhale quickly looks to the door as some pompous looking noble who walks in looking angered, Wonakri is coming in behind the noble who quickly lifts Sunhale telekinetically and throws him into the wall holding him against it.


    "You dare come back here like a miserable failure of a soldier due to some shitty fucking elves!?" The noble shouted angrily


    Wonakri acts quickly upon those words being said as he grabs the noble by the arm and his eyes glow an ominous red.


    "Halt" Wonakri''s said his voice commanding and and teeming with magic


    The noble instantly stops and stands there with a dead look in their eyes as Sunhale gets up holding his head but he watches intently.


    "You forget yourself, you may be noble but I don''t care about that so if you dare ever touch one of my guards again you will walk yourself to a cell and if you even dare of trying something being that you will put a noose around your neck understood?" Wonakri asked


    "Yes" The noble replied with a monotone voice


    "Good" Wonakri said as his voice and eyes return to normal as does the nobles expression and voice


    "Oh you son of a-" The noble is cut off


    "You know what I just did and you know no one else will give a fuck, now leave before you end up walking yourself to a cell" Wonakri said with a smirk


    The noble walks away angrily as Wonakri looks at Sunhale.


    "Well Eltikra, sorry about that you know how the nobles are now go home and rest" Wonakri said


    "Thanks captain" Sunhale said as he walked out and teleported to Eltikras home


    Sunhale looks around the house which he notes is surprisingly large for just one person who lives alone however despite that he finds it empty and nothing to suggest another person is around so he relaxes.


    "Alright I should find out if there is an elven network in the city I may not technically be with my people right now but regardless we''ll share information if they are here, now that I''m in the city as well I don''t need this particular disguise but should I need it I can do it again without the blood this time. Thank the gods for the ways the soul works" Sunhale thought to himself


    Sunhale sits down cross legged on the ground and as he closes his eyes he begins to float as his form changes to a different human look, his tattoos are still not visible. He begins to concentrate on the hidden tattoos made by magic.


    "Need to see them regardless of whether they are hidden or not, only our people know the secrets of these tattoos so need to focus on them and remember Orailonkra" Sunhale thought to himself


    As he thought that final elven word the magic in his body swells and he opens his eyes seeing the tattoos on his body yet as he looks in a nearby mirror they do not show up on the mirror.


    "There now I''ll see them" Sunhale thought to himself as he stopped floating


    Sunhale soon teleports away from the house to a nearby alleyway and walks out, he soon begins to wander the streets making his way to a market the city has, he pretends to look at what multiple merchants are selling but he doesn''t find another elven spy so he continues on out of the market looking around the city. After a few hours of searching he comes across some construction being done and he notices one of the workers has the tattoos and so he sits nearby to wait for this worker to be done with their current job which luckily doesn''t take too long given it is getting darker. As the disguised elf walks away Sunhale begins to tail them and he knows the elven spy has caught wind of him, as he follows, Sunhale carefully watches the other mans movements, noting he favours to walk on the left of the path and every couple steps he scratches his ear so Sunhale responds by walking on the right of the path scratching his own ear in turn with the man the man puts his hand to his head scratching it but in doing so moves his head like a slight nod. They both continue to walk for a while longer until the man heads into a building, Sunhale soon follows him heading inside he is then face to face with the guy who opens a secret passageway in a wall that leads down, both of them go down as it closes behind them. Once they reach the bottom of the stairs they arrive into a large chamber full of tables of information, documents and weaponry, Sunhale and the other guy return to their natural elven forms and soon a small legion of elves who were hidden in the chamber reveal themselves.

 Ch 22: Siege Avoidance

    Beneath the city of Deranel Sunhale finds himself surrounded by his fellow elven spies in the large chamber they had created for this operation, as he looks around he is observing their movements and they in turn are doing the same to him. They all take a moment to scan each other and soon all eyes are back upon Sunhale, the elf that Sunhale had followed here makes his way forward and begins to speak in their native elven tongue.


    "As Otaper looks down on you how do you respond?"  The man asked


    "Blissfully as the darkness embraces my path forward" Sunhale responded with getting the other spies to raise their eyebrows in interest


    "Whose eye do you serve as?" The man asked


    "Our monarch eternal, I am their third eye of the right hand, Sunhale of Lar''Tureak" Sunhale said drawing the shock of the other spies in the room


    "Well, good to know we have a high ranking member in our midst. We were not told another of us would be coming here" The spy Sunhale followed said


    "I was in Gantoral, I am with the necromancer for now, we just took the Kolakinta Mountains Fortress and this city is his next target, what can you give me?" Sunhale said getting a few looks of shock from the others


    "The necromancer? Well we can tell you anything you need to know, got anything in particular? This Pira''Kole is at your disposal" The other spies responded


    "First off who here is the leader of you lot?" Sunhale asked


    A female elf in the back of the room steps forward.


    "I am, my name is Fel" Fel said


    "Well then Fel, we should discuss some things while the others get back to their spying" Sunhale said


    "You heard the man go on!" Fel commanded and the other spies began to take on human forms before leaving through different tunnels and stairways


    "Now I need to know a few things, best way to siege the city, important people in the city, anything specifically about the captain of the guard and one certain noble that looks like this" Sunhale said as he used magic to show what the noble who previously threw him into a wall with magic looks like


    "Ok the first three I get but why that noble in particular? Sure he is actually very important and I have a lot of information but you don''t know that so why him specifically?" Fel asked


    "To put it simply he is a magic user and one I do very much believe has an evil soul which the necromancer could make use of" Sunhale said


    "Alright well you asked about important people in the city we have any information on them on a table on the other side of the room, siege related matters we''ll create before a siege happens and finally the Captain of the guard. He basically runs the city there are people above him technically and he still abides by the hierarchy but should anything happen to jeopardise his guards or any normal citizen he''ll forgo the normal hierarchy and take matters into his own hands" Fel said


    "I saw as much of that earlier, he told that particular noble about what I reported as a guard and that noble attacked me as a result, he then used what seemed to be mind control magic on him" Sunhale said


    "That is one of the reasons people don''t stop him either, he is a good person and uses something people would generally see as immoral for the good of people, certainly someone I at least respect" Fel said


    "Given the agreeable nature of this man would he really even fight a siege or negotiate to stop one?" Sunhale asked


    "Now there''s an idea, if your necromancer agrees to it I imagine the captain would" Fel said


    "I need to relay this to the necromancer, do you have Otapers gift set up?" Sunhale asked


    Fel nods in response as she leads Sunhale down a few tunnels to another chamber this one darker than the others and in the middle of the chamber is a small platform, upon the platform is a series of patterns visible even on the impossibly dark ground. Sunhale walks up to the platform and as he begins to channel magic through the darkness and the platform he begins to speak.


    "In the name of their imperial majesty Isaile and the Necromancer, I request to access the Darkness of Otaper" Sunhale said into the darkness


    "Request... Granted" A dark mysterious voice coming almost as if they were from the shadows themselves said in response


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    Sunhale holds his right arm out and as he does so the darkness springs forth and grabs onto his arm so quickly it almost seem like hungry animals snapping at their food. Sunhale begins to mould the darkness before him into a shadowy sculpt of the Mountain Fortress. Back in the fortress Yorun is in the map room with Golanier when the room darkens, they both either grab or summon their weapons as he look around wondering what is happening, the darkness all begins to move from the walls, ceiling and even the floor all to one spot where it coalesces into the form of Sunhale.


    "Sunhale? That you?" Yorun asked


    Sunhale speaks but still in the elven language and as such Yorun doesn''t understand.


    "So this is the illusive ''Darkness of Otaper'' well interesting to see for myself anyway Sunhale you may want to speak the human tongue" Golanier said making Sunhale immediately switch


    "Sorry, got so used to speaking my native tongue again and I never speak a non elven language when using this so I forgot to switch back, given how often I speak to you both these days I guess my mind forgot you don''t speak it" Sunhale said


    "It''s alright Sunhale, how are you contacting us and why are you contacting us so soon?" Yorun asked


    "Well to say it simply the way I am contacting you is something called the Darkness of Otaper as Golanier so quickly revealed but I cannot tell you more than that I am bound by a code of silence on the matter. Anyway I am contacting you this soon as well there is an elven spy network within the city and I''ve contacted them, there is at least one evil magic using soul in this city that''d be useful and it turns out this may be a city we need not even siege" Sunhale said


    "Okay a lot of information there, explain" Yorun said


    Sunhale explains what has happened within the city up to this point in time and puts a lot of focus on the noble and Captain Wonakri especially how he acts and how the people see him.


    "The possibility of not needing to do a siege is rather useful, a lot less fun but it will give you more control of the region, keeping this place as your central point with the city as your forward outpost basically" Golanier said


    "A forward output with a lot more lives in it but sure, now Raeknar, thoughts?" Sunhale asked and Yorun notes the use of Raeknars name assuming someone else is in the room


    "Well definitely worth a shot but it is a significant risk with that mind control magic of his" Yorun said


    "A risk yes but what isn''t a risk in warfare?" Sunhale asked


    "Point made, how do we send the message to talk?" Yorun asked


    "Well could always walk up to the city with the undead, request a parlay while showing your power and likely instilling fear" Golanier said


    "Not a great idea, that sort of thing would likely just piss him off since we are directly threatening those who Captain Wonakri cares about" Sunhale said


    "Indeed, maybe we lean into the god side of this" Yorun said to himself as he looked at a map of the city


    "Getting an idea Raeknar?" Sunhale asked intrigued


    "The city has a large temple to the gods, soldiers in the Fiernian empire are usually happy to have a priest come see them as it is typically seen as a good sign" Yorun said


    "I don''t follow" Golanier said


    "Sunhale get one or more to go to the walls, I''ll teleport outside the city, they''ll likely be on alert due to your report and as a result notice me quickly if the priest is there on the walls they''ll likely recognise the Scythe and Cloak" Yorun said


    "That is definitely one way to get his attention, the priest would certainly end up convincing the guards not to attack you and to getting an into an audience with Captain Wonakri" Sunhale said


    "Think we could get some priests there?" Yorun asked


    "Let me check" Sunhale said


    Sunhale still firmly in the grasp of the Darkness of Otaper which has taken the shape in the room of the map room and Yorun as well as Golanier made of the darkness, Sunhale looks back to Fel who is still in the room watching and listening to what is happening, Sunhale begins to speak in the elven tongue once more.


    "Alright Fel, are some of the spies within the human temple here?" Sunhale asked


    "Yes, there are a couple there at different stages of the human religions hierarchy, one a novice and one posing as a priest themself, I could have the novice suggest a trip to the walls and the priest second the idea which apparently the High Priest of the city is a big fan of those wall trips anyway, however our spying priest would not actually be the one to go for obvious reasons" Fel said


    "Fine, if you think it will work" Sunhale said as he turned back to the darkness sculpted version of Yorun and Golanier then he begins to speak in the human tongue again


    "Alright we have a plan to get a priest there so your plan should work but are you sure you want to do this?" Sunhale asked


    "Yes but just in case get your spy friends to prepare any sabotage or anything else useful for a siege and Golanier you have the connection to my soul so should it all go completely sideways I can telepathically speak to you" Yorun said


    "Oh Raeknar you are thinking about this the wrong way, did you forget you can control one of your undead?" Golanier asked


    "Ah fuck me, I am a fool. I''ll control the undead and bring the scythe to its hand I''ll keep the cloak on my actual body though no risk losing that should it all go sideways" Yorun said


    "Now you''re thinking, which undead will you choose?" Sunhale asked


    "It should be a human one and at least one of some import so they know outside of the scythe I have done a lot, maybe now is the time for word to spread about a certain Captain Forina being in our ranks" Yorun said


    "This''ll certainly be interesting" Sunhale said


    "Start with the temple and once a date for their trip to the walls has been sorted inform us and I will arrive that day" Yorun said


    Sunhale nods and the darkness that made up the dark sculpture of Sunhale in the fortress disappears as if it were never there while the fake map room in the chamber where Sunhale stands returns to normal darkness throughout the room. Sunhales arm gets freed from the darkness and he steps back from the platform he stood upon.


    "Thank you for granting me access" Sunhale said


    "By... Otapers... grace" The dark mysterious voice from the darkness said


    Sunhale and Fel begin to get to work on the plan for the temple and over the coming days the spies in the temple begin to put it into motion, Sunhale and the spies move carefully and slowly as to not arouse any suspicion from the temple or guards, the sabotage of certain things in the city such as some structurally significant parts of the walls around the city begin in earnest as well. After a couple weeks the temple decides a date for the trip to the walls, two weeks from the deciding date.

 Ch 23: The Parley

    Two weeks pass from the deciding date, during all of this Sunhale has continued to masquerade as Eltikra, continuing the duties he has as a guard while the other spies under Fels guidance watched the temple and sabotaged the walls as well as prepared to destroy some of the armouries in the city to make guard responses worse in the case of a siege. Today though as Sunhale once again moonlights as Eltikra again he heads to the assignment board and sees he has a post on one of the walls, he is unsurprised as Captain Wonakri has kept him on wall or inner city posts during the month after what happened the last time but this time Sunhale is happy about it given the situation today. Sunhale heads up onto the wall and as he heads along towards his post he sees the high priest of Deranel he looks a man in his 50''s but Sunhale knows he is older than that, as he continues to walk past the other guards on the wall on the way to the post he has been given the high priest looks to him.


    "Hello young man, I see you are on your way to your job, well today we are blessing every guard on the walls due to these trying times, stop for a moment will you?" The high priest said


    "Of course High Priest Roult" Sunhale said knowing the name as it had come up during the operation


    Sunhale stops in front of the High Priest and kneels before him yet before Roult can speak the guards on the section of wall Sunhale and Roult are currently on suddenly shout.


    "YOU! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" The guards all shouted in unison causing Sunhale to get up and the High Priest to look out in curiosity


    "What in the gods names is happening?" Roult asked


    Standing in view of the wall is the undead modified form of Captain Forina standing still with Raeknars Scythe in her hand when a voice begins to speak.


    "I have come to parley with one Captain Wonakri about avoiding a siege of this city" A warped version of Captain Forinas voice said, they were clearly Yoruns words however


    "A siege!? Who are you!?" A guard shouted


    "By the gods.... That scythe! That''s Raekanrs Scythe!" High Priest Roult shouted


    Those very words sent shockwaves throughout the guards on the wall and within seconds Wonakri teleported to that part of the wall, Wonakri looks intrigued as he looks over the wall before looking at Roult.


    "Are you sure that scythe is Raeknars?" Wonakri asked


    "I am more than sure captain I have dealt with matters of the gods for all my life and I am in my 100th year on this world I recognise divine objects like you do a weapon" Roult said


    "Fine, if that''s the case..." Wonakri said before looking out of the walls toward the controlled Forina


    "Well then come on up stranger, seems you have your parley" Wonakri said with suspicion in his voice


    "I am coming along with this too Wonakri this involves the god of death and justice who has seldom spoke in all my years" Roult said


    "Fine" Wonakri said


    Yorun controlling Forinas body teleports up next to Wonakri now towering over him, the teleport makes everyone move backwards instinctively.


    "You look... familiar..." Wonakri said


    "Wait that''s- gods that''s Captain Forina. Gaeronaks mortal for 20 years, what happened to you!?" Roult asked confused and somewhat horrified


    "This body is indeed that of Captain Forina, she perished during the battle between Raeknar and Gaeronak in Gantoral but now her body has been raised by me and at this moment in time I control her directly" Yorun said


    "What do we call you then?" Wonakri asked while Roult looked more confused and horrified behind him


    "For now go with Raeknar" Yorun said


    "You blasphemous little fu-" Roults angered words were cut off as Raeknars Scythe was pushed a little closer to Roult


    "And don''t forget where I got this were it not acceptable I wouldn''t still have it" Yorun said somewhat annoyed


    "Point made, everyone else continue your duties! Now let''s talk" Wonakri said


    Sunhale walks away but telepathically he speaks to Yorun.


    "Good luck" Sunhale said before disappearing into a tower on the way to his assignment


    Wonakri, Roult and Yorun teleport to Wonakris office, Yorun needs to get lower due to Forinas large frame forcing her head nearly into the ceiling.


    "Sorry my office is not exactly made for people of this stature" Wonakri said as he sat behind his desk while Roult situated himself next to him


    "It is fine, this undead body was chosen for a particular purpose of being recognised as was the scythe" Yorun said as he sat opposite the two of them


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "So... Raeknars scythe how did you get that?" Wonakri asked


    "Give by Raeknar themself as was Raeknars cloak but that is on my living body far from here as opposed to this one, no point in losing it should this go badly" Yorun said


    "And you are content with possibly losing Raeknars scythe!?" Roult shouted confused


    "The scythe cannot be lost I can call it to and from my hand whenever I so wish" Yorun said


    "Oh, never mind, apologies... Raeknar, it does not feel right to call you that" Roult said


    "Anyway the elves are not meant to be coming here this soon so what is this about a siege?" Wonakri asked


    "The siege from my army should this not go well, I am the mortal for Raeknar and I was given a mission to bring justice to this world or at least the Feirnian empire and to do that I need to get rid of the imperial family, I have an undead army and the next target is this city. I know you Wonakri are an agreeable man and don''t want your people harmed, I''d rather avoid that as well myself if I can but well if not I have no problem with the alternative" Yorun said


    "Well glad to know we have that opportunity and you are right I would rather avoid having my people be under threat but I do have to ask you why you think I would just betray the imperial family?" Wonakri asked as his eyes narrowed


    "Because from what I know you forgo the usual hierarchy when people here are under threat even when it comes to those above you in said hierarchy and I am sure High Priest Roult over there has some thoughts on the situation as well" Yorun said


    "I imagine he does but your initial assessment is correct right now I am the judge of the situation here while whatever Roult may say I will take as advice the words won''t sway me much, now Roult speak" Wonakri said


    "I would advice doing as this person said, I mentioned earlier Raeknar seldom speaks and by that I mean I have only ever heard them say something once and I wasn''t even a full priest back then I was attending the temple as an outsider at the time when I was a child. Raeknar is the god of justice so what better thing is there for a guard captain of the people to aid?" Roult said


    "A fair point so... Raeknar, you are correct that doesn''t sound right to say, anyway if I were to allow you and your forces into the city what would you do?" Wonakri asked


    "I would set up undead in the same kind of places as the guards allowing for more of your men to rest easy while my undead take their positions, you can still have some of the guards doing their jobs but it need not be necessary. I also want the noble of the Pertaki noble family as well as any other evil souls in the city" Yorun said


    "Why?" Wonakri asked


    "Rather simple actually, I''ll have them killed and take their bodies for my army, if a siege is to be avoided I am getting far less soldiers here and I need them as a result plus that noble specifically has magic and as such I can do what Raeknar is now allowing me to do. Take his soul for my own use" Yorun said casually yet seriously at the same time


    "By the gods that''s- y-you can''t be serious" Roult said horrified


    "I can assure you it is true, I would also request that during our cooperation anyone that dies in the city for whatever reason will have their body turned over to my forces. The imperial family''s army is far larger than the force I currently have as we both know it was merely the border force that fought the elven army" Yorun said


    "A fair thing to request if somewhat immoral, better than the alternative though and well the imperial family are a bunch of assholes plus you do work for Raeknar who is basically the god every guard worships due to their nature as bringers of justice and death at times" Wonakri said


    "Does that mean you will agree to this?" Yorun asked


    "I haven''t said that yet, I want you to be clear with me, everyone knows about Gantoral but I want to know where you went after" Wonakri said with his eyes narrowing a tinge of red in them


    Yorun feels a compulsion to speak the truth but it feels more like a suggestion than outright control.


    "Trying the mind control hm?" Yorun asked


    "Only a little of it, testing the waters as it were" Wonakri said


    "I''ll say so no need to do that. I went with the elves for training purposes but I am not aligned with them currently" Yorun said


    "Do you know anything about elves along the way from here to the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress?" Wonakri asked with the tinge of red getting brighter


    The compulsion to speak grows louder, harder to ignore as if getting ready to force him to speak.


    "Elves along that route? I know nothing but you want transparency so I''ll give it to you I am currently based out of that very same fortress" Yorun said


    "You are? For how long?" Wonakri asked his voice growing more stern and worried at the same time


    "A month now, the defences there are particularly good for living armies but not so great for undead ones so we managed to take it" Yorun said


    "One final question, did you attack my men and kill them? Is Eltikra a spy?" Wonakri asked his eyes now completely red


    The control Wonakri is now extending is absolute and even if Yorun wanted to he could not resist the compulsion to speak true.


    "Yes we attacked your men but they are not dead, they have been kept alive and looked after while we looked into this city, Eltikra is indeed a spy an elven one who joined my side" Yorun said


    "Fuck! I''m pissed I didn''t see it. They are unharmed you say?" Wonakri asked he looks angered


    "Indeed, we had the drop on them no need to kill them unless we had reason too" Yorun said


    The red eyes of Wonakri return to normal before looking at Yorun in a more friendly way once more.


    "You were honest but even without my mind control I could tell you would have been honest" Wonakri said


    "Indeed, will you cede the city?" Yorun asked


    "I will, I will get my guards to do nothing about your approach and let you in, I have no doubt there will be some who will fight you though, not guards probably mercenaries from the noble families and whatnot" Wonakri said


    "Thank you, you did the right thing" Yorun said


    "I fucking hope so" Wonakri said


    "Please when you are here in your natural flesh come to the temple I as well as the others would happily meet you" Roult said


    "Come see what you would have faced had this meeting gone badly" Yorun said as he teleported with the two of them to the walls


    Yorun begins to speak telepathically to Golanier.


    "The deal is done, a peaceful solution prevails now bring our occupying force" Yorun said


    At this moment the nearby forests almost part as the undead army creeps through it, the large force completely unsensible to the guards on the walls, at the head of the horde Golanier flying above them imposingly and laughing. The army approaches the wall bannerless but in formations clearly prepared over the month for a proper siege, the guards on the walls look horrified and are about to attack when Wonakri conjures a hand in the sky not a fist and not pointing towards the approaching army just a hand commanding the guards to stop. Wonakri walks over to the guard tower where the gates to the city can be opened and he opens them, the undead flood into the city but they do not attack anyone unless they themselves are attacked first. Wonakri telepathically speaks to everyone in the city.


    "Everyone, today Deranel has ceded to the mortal chosen by Raeknar. We are now against the imperial family, stand down while everything is sorted out" Wonakri said before putting up a teleport barrier around the city stopping people such as nobles from escaping...

 Ch 24: The Temple and the Soul

    As the undead army flood into the city Wonakri and Roult stand atop the walls watching them move through the city, they know not if the choice is the greatest still but they continue it all the same, the watch the undead quickly taking the streets and where there is resistance from the quickly hired mercenaries of the nobles the undead quickly handle them. Golanier who is flying above the city is raising all the the dead as they hit the ground much to the amazement of people in the city.


    "Going to assume that one is you" Wonakri said as he turned to look at the undead Forina


    "Master is on his way" Forinas said with the natural soulless voice of the undead


    "Ok... guess that''s their normal voice" Wonakri said as he and Roult backed up


    They watch as the scythe disappears from Forinas hand before she jumps down the wall to join the other undead and before Wonakri and Roult can wonder where the person they talked to is Yorun teleports next to them, cloak obscuring his face and the scythe resting over his shoulder.


    "Hello again" Yorun said


    Wonakri and Roult quickly look at him and despite the fact they cannot see his face from the angle they are at they see more colour in his hands than the undead seemingly have and some of the burns that are on his hands.


    "That is indeed the cloak of Raeknar and you don''t look undead which is what I would have assumed" Roult said


    "I may not look dead but I certainly am not untouched" Yorun said as he turned to them slightly allowing them to see his burned face,


    "Good gods what happened to you!?" Roult asked concerned and horrified


    "The Imperial family to say the least" Yorun said his voice full of calm anger


    Yorun looks out over the city and he telepathically speaks to Golanier.


    "Find that Pertaki family member, we need him" Yorun said telepathically


    "On it" Golanier said back telepathically as he flies to the noble district of the city with amazing speed


    "The moment you showed up I could have killed you, so why did you show up?" Wonakri asked


    "From all I have heard and from all your people have said, you are an honourable and good man, a clear and concise alliance with laid out terms that clearly still allows you free reign is good faith and so long as we do not harm your people I know you will abide by it. You could easily go back on your word but doing so takes away the credibility you''ve gathered over many years. We''ve led different lives but we''re both older men when it comes to our people, we just want those we care for to thrive" Yorun said


    "You''ve lost people haven''t you?" Wonakri asked


    "People Raeknar has promised to return, I will do anything to do that" Yorun said getting only a small knowing nod from Wonakri in return


    "Well while the city gets sorted out by Wonakri and your undead will you come with me to the temple?" Roult asked


    "Fine" Yorun said


    Roult teleports with Yorun to the temple, its a towering building but due to Yoruns exposure to divinity and divine magic he can feel the building teeming with it, Yorun looks at the building while Roult goes inside and upon him doing so he gets swarmed by people inside questioning what''s happening and if they''ll be safe but he quiets their fears. Yorun touches the door to the temple beginning to open its doors but as he does so he suddenly freezes alongside everything else nearby, stopped in place. Raeknar appears next to him and looks into the temple, walking in themself they see someone standing at the statues of the gods. This person with their form dark as the shadows but fluid like actual water, no distinct features other than a roughly humanoid body.


    "Asking the God of Time to freeze it hm? A bit unusual so of course it was you, always watching from the shadows, never usually seen otherwise so for this conversation you did this. What are you doing here Zyrla?" Raeknar asked


    "Well to put it simply what your little human has been doing with your guidance has caused a stir amongst the gods. You know how everyone reacts when you try to do your job, a meeting is going to happen" Zyrla said


    "A council meeting? Do they really think I will just accept any decision they make?" Raeknar asked with an annoyed tone


    "They don''t particularly care Raeknar, whatever they decide will be detrimental to your little human and his quest as well as obviously your mission. I wouldn''t be surprised if they decided to take a bit more action against this human similarly to when we took action against the previous necromancer" Zyrla said


    "They know the mortals need to request that assistance" Raeknar said


    "You know how they are they may take the short term punishment from their chains to protect their way" Zyrla said


    Raeknar just puts their head in one of their hands frustrated and annoyed by the other gods plans.


    "I go through all the trouble to do this and they may just do that? No I will be at that council and they will remember they do not have that authority" Raeknar said seriously


    "Right, I''ll inform them of that oh and should Sunhale request it my darkness can be set up in that fortress your human took. You''d best hope he asks it''ll be useful" Zyrla said before his form collapses in on itself disappearing


    Time begins to flow again slowly building up to normal time passage and during the moments of slowed time Raeknar walks to their own statue to anyone who was able to notice Raeknar quick enough they saw only a blur where they moved. Time flows normally and in mere seconds everyone notices Raeknars presence, Yorun finishes walking into the temple watching as everyone in the building kneel upon their realisation.


    "Raeknar..." Roult said shocked by their presence


    "Well done Roult" Raeknar said before disappearing


    Everyone in the building was dead silent for a moment before they all began to mutter to each other about what they all just saw and heard, the only people still silent are Yorun and Roult himself. Yorun walks further into the building catching everyone''s attention and even though Roult is still shocked to his core he turns to Yorun.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "By the gods, you show up here for the first time and Raeknar themself appears as well as some one else too, I felt an overwhelming amount of divine magic for a second..." Roult said pondering who it could have been


    "I''m still not great with all the divine stuff so I had not noticed that particular detail" Yorun said


    "High Priest who is this?" One of the citizens ask


    "The chosen mortal of Raeknar. He wears Raeknars cloak and wields their scythe" Roult said


    Everyone begins to mutter again before clearing the way for Yorun who takes the opportunity to walk through and up to Roult.


    "Everyone, I know you came here confused and scared but know this the dead that prowl the streets out there? They are this mans forces, Raeknar themself put him here and who are we to not trust the man chosen by the God of Death and Justice?" Roult said hiding his own shock and feelings on the matter behind a cheerful calm face


    These words confuse yet calm the people and while they wrestle with their thoughts on Raeknar being involved they leave thankful as they know what happened in their city is for a good reason. Yorun and Roult watch as the people leave and once the final person has left and the door closed behind them Roult looks at the statue of Raeknar being that of a skeletal figure while the form Raeknar chose to appear in was that or an older man. Roult looks down.


    "I guess we need to change that statue" Roult said jokingly as he continues to think on the situation


    "Raeknar regularly changes forms, as according to their words ''death comes in all forms as does justice'' which I suppose makes sense" Yorun said


    "Ah fair enough, I guess that definitely clears up some stories about Raeknar and means I don''t need to change the statue" Roult said jokingly once again


    "You need not hide behind that joking expression with me Roult, all of this is extremely confusing and just in general a lot to take in" Yorun said


    "Saw through me huh? While I am extremely happy to know about you and have you here, Raeknars appearance here and their words? I have been shook to my core as I had never anticipated for Raeknar to appear and say such words" Roult said


    "Trust me I understand" Yorun said with a knowing look


    "I imagine you do" Roult said with a small smile


    "Anyway you wanted me to come here for a reason mind telling me what that is?" Yorun asked


    "Well to be honest I was hoping Raeknar themself would make an appearance if you came here and well that did happen but there is something you could do as you are here. I could teach you to sense divine magic properly since it seems you don''t really know how" Roult said


    "That would be useful, I''ve encountered a few people who have had divine connections and identifying them myself without Raeknar would be useful" Yorun said


    "First off since you wear the cloak and wield the scythe what do you feel from them?" Roult asked


    "I do feel something but it is hard to define, the magic that makes them what they are feels overwhelming yet non-existent at the same time, it''s something I can only feel sometimes and it powers through the sensing of my soul" Yorun said as he gazed at the scythe in his hand


    "A rather accurate way to describe it actually. The magic of the gods is something we mortals can never get close to but when we try to sense it we need to know the connection between that magic and its respective god or goddess. For example learning to sense Raeknars magic will come far easier to you given you are wearing the cloak and wielding the scythe and sometimes even sense the magic so we need to just help you learn that a bit more, in this very temple we have other objects of godly origin to help with this when it comes to those who have similar professions to my own" Roult said


    "Huh, so how do we go about doing this?" Yorun asked now genuinely intrigued


    "Rather simple, go and sit in a quiet room and just try to focus on the magic in the scythe and cloak when you manage to feel it just try and feel the link to Raeknar as with all magic it is linked to the person the magic comes from" Roult said


    "Alright I''ll try it later but for now I should go and check on my associates" Yorun said


    "Fair enough but do please come and tell me how trying to sense the divine magic went" Roult said


    "I will" Yorun said as he walked to the door of the temple


    Just as Yorun reaches out for the door however Yorun senses divine magic for a second and turns around quickly looking back in the direction he felt it and he is only greeted with one of the statues staring directly at him. Yorun knows which god the statue is of, Gaeronak watches him and he is sure of that, Yorun quickly leaves the temple and uses his connection to Golanier to find where he is and teleport to him. Upon Yoruns teleport he sees Golanier and some undead fighting what look to be mercenaries outside a large and fancy home the mercenaries are also conveniently losing, Yorun makes a few of his green fireballs and has them fly at the mercenaries quickly taking them down due to the unexpected attack.


    "Oh Yorun finally got here eh?" Golanier said as he turned to look at him


    "Indeed, that noble in the house?" Yorun asked


    "Yup, don''t sense anyone else in there so want to bust the door open?" Golanier asked smirking


    "I''ll do it but you need to shut off his magic quickly" Yorun said


    "Alright" Golanier said


    Yorun then kicked the door open and quickly dodged a fireball that came flying towards him, Golanier then shuts down the magic of the nobleman who quickly grows more terrified as he tried to use more magic but can''t.


    "What are you people doing!? Don''t you know who I am!? Who my family is!? You should be on your knees!" The nobleman said


    Yorun tunes out the nobleman''s words as he just approaches him, the nobleman backs away from Yorun as much as he can until just hitting into a wall he raises his hands in a surrendering fashion and Yorun in a quick motion plants the end of the scythe through the nobleman''s right hand pinning it to the wall forcing a scream from the noble.


    "YOU BASTARD!" The nobleman screamed as the pain hit him


    "Golanier get over here" Yorun said


    "Yeah I know we practiced this after all" Golanier said


    Golanier walks over and grabs the left arm of the nobleman and holds it to the wall then pins his left hand to the wall with a dagger he has causing the nobleman to scream again. Golanier then steps back as Yorun grabs the nobleman by the neck. Yorun then begins to use Golaniers magic alongside his own, the moment Golaniers soul is put to use Golanier is visibly in pain and resisting the urge to scream from it, Yorun then begins to use the additional magic along his own to surround the noblemans soul with it slowly weaving a curse together around the soul of the nobleman.


    "What the fuck are you doing to me!?" The nobleman shouted confused and hurt feeling the curse


    "Taking that soul of yours" Yorun said before quickly snapping his neck


    With the curse weaved around the soul of the nobleman as his corpse goes limp still held up due to the scythe and dagger Yorun feels the soul beginning to fade away and he quickly begins to grab the soul with the curse as if having caught it with a lasso and dragging it to his soul, the room is emitting a blazing green visible through the windows and open door and the nobleman''s soul screams as the magical link between souls is created. Yorun feeling the soul is properly bound to his own stops using Golaniers magic, the nobleman''s soul begins to form into a spectral version of himself next to Yorun.


    "W-what the fuck did you do to me!?" The nobleman shouted confused and horrified


    Yorun then makes a fireball using the nobleman''s magic to do it making the nobleman scream in pain.


    "Your soul is now bound to mind, you aren''t heading to Faelerm any time soon and now I can use your magic. You no longer have any power against us and we don''t care for your now former noble lineage, the use of your magic will make it feel like your soul is being torn asunder from the inside and I will be using that magic. Keep quiet and you won''t have it used more than necessary" Yorun said coldly while looking at him with blazing green eyes


    The nobleman just nods and stops as Yorun raises the corpse of the nobleman then getting rid of the fireball he takes the scythe back while Golanier holding his chest takes back his dagger then they walk outside and raise the bodies of all the mercenaries. Yorun looks to the nobleman''s soul and forces it to disappear from view as he then looks at Golanier.


    "Well my magic is definitely stronger as is yours I guess" Yorun said


    "Eh kind of, don''t think I can make particular use of his magic as he is bound to you so I don''t think it works that way for me but at the very least you can do more than before well without using me although should the situation require you could probably channel his magic to me but obviously that takes away from you" Golanier said


    "Oh well, it''s something we can see about later regardless though more magical power is certainly appreciated" Yorun said


    Yorun sees the people gathered who were watching the fight with the mercenaries and heard the screams, the horrified look on their faces readily apparent but Yorun doesn''t even bat an eye at his actions as he just walks away leaving Golanier to recover wondering what will happen next...

 Ch 25: Otapers Gift

    The city of Deranel continues to settle after the coming of Yorun and his army, word of what Yorun has done to the Pertaki nobleman has spread however making it so as he walks the streets even if there is a large group of people they all clear the way for him mostly out of fear however there are those amongst them that do so with respect as knowledge of him being Raeknars mortal has spread just as fast. As Yorun continues his simple walk he eventually teleports to Wonakri''s office much to the surprise of Wonakri who instinctively grabbed his sword as he shot up from his chair.


    "You really shouldn''t do that" Wonakri said as he calmed once again


    "I''m sorry, I''ve just come to tell you that for the moment I am heading back to the fortress and that Golanier should still be around should you need to reach me" Yorun said


    "Fair enough, I''m sure the High Priest will try and make his way there at some point given his interest but oh well" Wonakri said as he sat back down


    "Before I leave though, have your guards outside the walls be more watchful Gaeronaks statue within the temple was watching me, that cannot be a good sign..." Yorun said ominously before teleporting back to the fortress


    Yorun walks through the halls of the fortress making his way to the map room where he finds Sunhale.


    "Sunhale, I have the new soul and I need you to find out something" Yorun said


    "Oh? What''s wrong?" Sunhale asked now intrigued


    "When I was at the Deranel temple the statue of Gaeronak was staring at me even when I moved it would continue. Being that she is the goddess of war means something is about to happen" Yorun said


    "Shit, I''ll check in with the spies in Deranel, they''ll leave soon and hopefully they won''t have taken down the Darkness of Otaper yet" Sunhale said


    Sunhale teleported to the Deranel Pira''Kole and is greeted immediately by Fel in the natural elven tongue.


    "Hey Sunhale, what brings you back?" Fel asked


    "Is the Darkness of Otaper still here?" Sunhale asked quickly and Fel picks up on the fact this is important


    "Yes you know where now get there quickly it will be taken away soon" Fel said


    Sunhale quickly makes his way to the familiar room and steps up to the platform channelling his magic through the darkness once more.


    "In the name of their imperial majesty Isaile and the Necromancer, I request access to the Darkness of Otaper" Sunhale said


    "Access... Denied..." The dark mysterious voice from before said


    "Wait what?" Sunhale asked confused and slightly scared of what that means


    "Find answers... In Otapers embrace..." The voice responded as the darkness grab Sunhale and push him out the room


    Fel was outside and saw Sunhale get pushed from the room and she sees the shock on his face.


    "Are you alright Sunhale?" Fel asked concerned


    "I need a quiet room, is there one here?" Sunhale asked immediately disregarding her question


    "Yes just a few rooms down" Fel said


    Sunhale walked there at once and when he got to the room he looked inside seeing it was empty and with extra sound proofing within he deems it good and goes in locking the door behind him. He walks to the centre of the room at which point he uses his magic to float as he sits cross legged in the air, he closes his eyes and snuffs out the candles that light the room.


    "Great lord of the darkness Otaper, shadowed protector of Woorail, I call to you as a lifetime servant advised to do so by your chosen mortal. Why have I been denied access?" Sunhale asked as his words were cast into the darkness of the room


    Sunhale feels a chill from the air as if something had moved fast past him, he cannot feel the presence but knows it''s there and knows to keep quiet.


    "You call to me and ask the wrong question" Zyrla responds having appeared in the room


    "I don''t understand" Sunhale said visibly confused


    "The ability I gifted your people was gifted to your empire given your strict adherence to the rules I laid out, despite some things your people were most deserving but right now despite your words you are not currently with said people and so you are denied access unless you ask the right question" Zyrla said seriously


    Sunhale takes a moment to think on what the right question is but his mind is trying to do it quickly as he doesn''t want to chance angering the god before him.


    "How do I regain access?" Sunhale asked


    "Good enough, I can grant you the magic itself like my chosen unlike the others here you would directly control such things, be able to set up my darkness yourself and give access to others" Zyrla said


    "T-that is very generous lord Otaper, what would you want me to do in return for this incredible gift?" Sunhale asked surprised


    "Merely continue to aid Raeknars mortal, while Raeknar may believe themself to be alone some of us have long agreed with them, now do you accept?" Zyrla asked


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    "Yes lord Otaper, I accept" Sunhale said


    "Good but know this, getting a new magic added to your mortal soul is painful" Zyrla said


    "That does not matter my lord" Sunhale said


    Zyrla then without hesitation changed his right arm to be more of a pointed dark blade and pierced Sunhales soul much to Sunhales shock but the shock is immediately washed away in a tidal wave of pain of which his body begins to react to wanting to curl up into a ball and scream but he is quickly restrained and silenced by the very darkness now being injected into his soul by Zyrla. Sunhales magic has cut off as his soul is tampered with leaving only the darkness controlled by Zyrla to hold him in the air. The dark magical tattoos of which Sunhale has begin to swirl and move across his body guided by Zyrla, the tattoos move across to Sunhales hands and down to his feet but some take their place around his eyes.


    "The darkness is taking it''s place within you and your soul is being restructured a little to make place for this magic you are not typically meant to have" Zyrla said in an almost uncaring way


    Sunhale barely hears Zyrla as the pain is more intense than anything he could possibly experience physically, his vision darkens but it''s not due to the pain or the fact he may black out but the darkness introduced to his soul is taking affect in another way. Zyrla then pulls his arm back letting it flow back to its normal barely humanoid form, he sets Sunhale onto the ground.


    "Your mind, body and soul will recover shortly, good luck Sunhale" Zyrla said before his body collapsed in on itself to disappear


    With Zyrlas disappearance the darkness restraining and silencing him is now gone as well but the screams still cannot be heard due to the soundproofing of the room, an hour of excruciating pain passes as Sunhales soul finishes its alterations and the pain finally recedes. Sunhale gets up his aching body and soul trying to force him back to the ground as he opens the door and shambles out the room, Fel is there and she sees him, she can see the darker features of his hands and eyes with the tattoos around them now and she sees the shadows of the room attached his feet recede back into the room as if they were snipped from his body yet he doesn''t even seem to have noticed they were attached or that they are now gone.


    "W-what happened in there?" Fel asked confused and concerned


    "Otaper gave me a gift... My soul cannot take it right now so do you mind taking me to a room I can rest properly?" Sunhale asked his voice clearly strained from screaming


    "Of course" Fel said as she quickly catches him as he falls unconscious


    Fel takes Sunhale to a barracks room within the Pira''Kole allowing him to rest properly yet even in his rest his new magic is still active, Fel can see the shadows of the room collecting around the bed he rests on darkening that section of the room. Another hour passes and Sunhale finally wakes again, his body and soul still feeling weak but now he can feel his soul is strong enough again to teleport and so he does teleport back to the fortress forever thankful that he can teleport through the barrier due to him and the others owning the defences. Yorun senses him and goes to him seeing that somethings off he shows concern.


    "Sunhale what''s wrong?" Yorun asked


    "Nothing, I spoke with Otaper and now I have been granted the magic only one other in this world has" Sunhale said clutching his chest


    "Welcome to the club" Yorun said jokingly


    "I need to get to a spare room, I need to make the Darkness of Otaper here for our use" Sunhale said


    "You can do it already?" Yorun asked surprised


    "We were all trained on how to do it even if we didn''t have the magic necessary as a just in case scenario of Otapers chosen being killed or just dying from age so one of us could take over plus we''ve seen his chosen do it a lot too" Sunhale said


    "Fair enough" Yorun said as he helped Sunhale to a room


    Sunhale pushed Yorun back slightly as he snuffed out the lights in the room and though it takes him around 10 minutes darkness covers the room and a perfect platform is created. Sunhale walks up to the platform and reaches his arm out and the shadows grab it, the last time he did this they forcefully grabbed him latching on as if they were animals with their food, this time it gently grasps his arm like a child taking their parents hand. Within the darkness Sunhale can feel recognition and someone watching him.


    "Welcome Sunhale" A voice said in the elven tongue and Sunhale recognises it as Zyrlas chosen


    "Great Reifal, I hear you so clearly it''s unexpected" Sunhale said


    "I am Otaper''s chosen but giving the ability to access his darkness only gives them enough for the things you are used to but hearing me is not as easy and while I can focus and allow myself to be heard more there are many Pira''koles around the world accessing the darkness I control so I can''t speak to everyone clearly even if I needed to" Reifal said


    "While I am happy to have this power, I have one question" Sunhale said


    "Well go ahead and ask away, I have a feeling it''s not about this new magic correct?" Reifal said


    "Indeed, I originally sought out the darkness this time because Yorun had seen the human god Gaeronaks statue watching him and given she is the human goddess of war..." Sunhale said cutting himself off at the end


    "You don''t need to keep up the appearance of multiple pantheons, I more than know this as I have been Otapers chosen for a long time. Anyway if Sareik is watching it would mean something big is about to happen war wise so I''ll look into it" Reifal said using the gods elven names as it is still the most familiar between them both


    "Knowing about what Sareik knows is all I ask" Sunhale said before pulling his hand back from the darkness disconnecting him


    "So, anything?" Yorun asked as he was just sitting there to watching


    "I spoke with Otaper or as you''d know him Zyrlas chosen his name is Reifal and he is looking into if there is something going on" Sunhale said


    "Good, I heard another name in there too, I think it was Sareik?" Yorun said thinking about it


    "The elven equivalent or well as we''ve come to know just the elven name for Gaeronak" Sunhale said


    "Ah fair enough" Yorun said


    "I should really give you the tattoos to use this" Sunhale said


    "Listen Sunhale this would be a great thing to get access to but you don''t need to strain yourself and get everything set up immediately, as it stands you just got this magic and I know how confusing that can be even if these situations are a little different so just go rest but still keep alert for if Reifal tries to contact you" Yorun said


    "Right right, thanks Yorun" Sunhale said as he went to go rest again however just as he starts to leave the darkness quickly turns volatile


    "Sunhale what''s happening!?" Yorun asked confused and worried


    "Something bad is happening" Sunhale said as he quickly went up to the platform and extended his arm once more, the darkness calms and grab him again


    "Sunhale, it did not take long to find this information Deranel is going to be visited by a part of the Fiernian imperial army as they had been sent to that region to as a result of humans freed from the first battle" Reifal said


    "Shit! How large will this force be?" Sunhale asked


    "I don''t know but it will be large, prepare they will be at Deranel soon" Reifal said


    Sunhale disconnected from the darkness and turned to Yorun.


    "Get to Deranel with more of the undead reinforce that cities defences, it seems your little intimidation act to the Emperor has caused a large force to be on its way to Deranel" Sunhale said


    "Fuck!" Yorun shouted as he quickly left grabbing as many undead as he can and teleports with them to Deranel


    Yorun heads to Wonakri''s office in a hurry people clearing the way for him once more when Yorun makes his way to the building and into Wonakris office, Wonakri can tell something is wrong.


    "What''s wrong?" Wonakri asked


    "The Emperors forces some of them are coming here and they''ll get here soon" Yorun said


    The mood dulls as the reality comes down on the both of them, the actual army of the empire is sending some of it''s forces here and their only advantage is the fact they likely don''t know the city has already fallen...

 Ch 26: The Imperial Forces

    Word of the incoming imperial forces was spread like wildfire through the cities guard force and then the civilians, panic nearly erupted but the undead assigned to the city were unphased due to their nature but it oddly helped some people calm down and those that didn''t began to riot at which point the undead responded quickly while the normal guards were only beginning to respond. Golanier is flying above the city watching it all and just smirking reminiscing on the many times he watched all of this in the cities he conquered back in the day but regardless of his joy in watching he makes his way to where Yorun is which is on the western wall of the city.


    "So Yorun how goes the battle preparations?" Golanier asked as he lands next to him


    "About as can be expected, Wonakris people know a lot more than I but at least you as well as Forina can aid them in such matters" Yorun said


    "I suppose so, we should try and get you to lay some magical traps however" Golanier said


    "Magical traps?" Yorun asked


    "Similar to the way the curse worked when you found me, a magical area where something can happen but obviously it needn''t be what it was when you found me it could be a number of things" Golanier stated


    "We''ll do that later then but for the moment do anything you can that''s normal understood?" Yorun asked


    As Yorun and Golanier are about to leave to help with preparations the shadow made form of Sunhale appears next to them.


    "According to news from other Pira''Koles they are mere hours away, any magical preparations need to be done now or not at all and preferably around the western wall since it seems they are coming from the west" Sunhale said


    "Fuck! Golanier we don''t have time for a lesson on these traps so lets see if I can do this" Yorun said


    Yorun begins to use the soul of the Pertaki noble causing the unseen soul to scream in pain but Yorun and the others ignore it as Yorun begins to channel not only the nobles magic but his own to Golaniers soul empowering it.


    "I can feel that working Yorun and I see your idea, once you give me enough I''ll make the necessary traps" Golanier said


    "Make it so we activate the traps as opposed to them just stepping into their radius. If they truly don''t know the city has been taken as we suspect then we can use the traps to take out as many as possible right off the bat by luring them in" Yorun said


    "Smart, you''re definitely getting better at this Yorun" Sunhale said


    "Never in my life did I think I would be getting better at warfare of all things" Yorun said


    It does not take long for Yorun to have given as much magic as he can to Golanier who immediately jumps down from the city wall and begins to make invisible magical traps around the walls however most of them are at the western wall. Wonakri walks over and looks over at Sunhale.


    "I''m not even going to ask at this point" Wonakri said


    "Best not, it''s classified so you know" Sunhale said


    "Fair enough, I''ve dealt with secrets with higher ups in the past and I am not about to mess with it especially with the things you people get into" Wonakri said


    "Alright good, anyway the imperial forces are only a few hours away, our current plan is to let them get close so the traps Golanier is setting can be activated at the right moment to take out as many as possible" Yorun said


    "Smart, if it works but know this the imperial army has many mages and those that are willing to ask the gods for favours so this fight will not be easy" Wonakri said


    "Be that as it may Wonakri we have the element of surprise and hopefully the chaos of the traps will confuse them enough for our people to begin their own attack on these bastards enough to cause damage anyway" Yorun said


    "Hopefully this works" Wonakri said


    Preparations continue but as the hours pass and the incoming army is visible those outside the walls quickly retreat into the city, Yorun gets out of sight as does some of the other noticeable undead, the human ones that are unaltered by anything stay upon the walls as it''s deemed unlikely that the incoming soldiers will notice them from below. Wonakri stands atop the wall watching as the army gets close and just before the first soldiers step onto the trapped areas one soldier seemingly of high rank steps forward while the others all stop in place.


    "General Yika, it''s been a long time what brings you here?" Wonakri asked


    "Captain Wonakri, good to see you alive given the state of the empire currently" General Yika said


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    "Didn''t answer my question General, you know I don''t like people marching up to my city" Wonakri said


    "We''ve gotten disturbing reports about someone commanding undead who may have attacked the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress and we are going to rest here and then go there to investigate and secure the area" Yika said getting an aggravated sigh from Wonakri


    "Fine, get in here" Wonakri said


    Yika then had the army march forward to the city''s gate and after only a short while there is as many soldiers on the traps as their can be and they suddenly activate chaos immediately ringing out through the army as green fiery explosions kill dozens of soldiers, spikes shoot up from the ground impaling soldiers and golems break out of the ground and begin to kill soldiers yet as all of this happens every single soldier that dies soon begins to move again, standing up after a few moments their now green eyes fixating on the living soldiers Yika commands even the impaled soldiers rise from the dead pulling themselves off of the spikes and joining their undead brethren''s attack. Before the army can properly prepare themselves for this new attack the undead are already upon them attacking them but as the fight goes on for just a few minutes the soldiers are quickly forming shield walls, the golems from the traps then come in to attack the soldiers who are making those shield walls breaking through them as arrows and magic from the soldiers on the walls begin to rain down.


    "Wonakri! What the fuck!?" Yika shouted over the chaotic battlefield


    "We joined the undead leader Yika! We aren''t going against Raeknar!" Wonakri shouted back as Yorun stepped into view with Golanier and Forina


    "Golanier, Forina stop them from forming their lines" Yorun said as he gave all of his magic to Forina


    "Of course master" Forina said


    "Let''s get going, this''ll be fun" Golanier said


    Golanier and Forina quickly fly from the wall into the battle dodging the arrows and magic of both sides as they land on opposite sides of the opposing army trying to disrupt their efforts to make their lines and they are successful in that but only in the area in which they landed the rest of the army however does manage to organise once more and beat back both the undead and golems effectively forming their lines, shield walls and mage created barriers are quickly going up. The furthest back lines of mages and archers were assembled first and are now unleashing hell upon the battlefield and the wall while the front line soldiers are figuring out how to deal with the undead they manage to destroy the golems from the traps quickly using their fallen bodies as ways to block the undead temporarily as a miniature wall. Yorun and Wonakri are now watching from within the wall gazing out through the arrow slits.


    "Shit seems they managed to organise though it does look like Golanier and Forina are still breaking up some of the lines" Yorun said


    "Those backlines need to be kept an eye on but your people need the front lines dealt with to have more forces" Wonakri said


    "Golanier, Forina, ignore the backlines aid the troops and destroy the front lines, raise any new corpses as well" Yorun telepathically said as he looked to the soldier controlling the gates controls motioning for them to open it


    As the cities gates open the undead soldiers who had been placed within the city since it was ceded to Yoruns control, the only remaining undead in the city are those on the wall aiding in the attack with bows and arrows. The enemy mages quickly work with the frontline soldiers to push back the undead however Golanier and Forina quickly pose a problem so the mages as they use their magic to set up walls to funnel the undead in use the time to also create two large stone golems that break out from the ground, they are about as tall as the city walls but still nowhere near the size of the giants of the world. With the introduction of these new giant golems that begin to walk towards the city wall Golanier and Forina switch targets to the Golems in an attempt to defend the city significantly taking pressure off of Yika''s forces. The mages continue to set up walls to block the undead while the soldiers begin to form better lines to combat the undead who are clearly lacking in the magical department and as such the best mages are focused on the barriers above that keep the mages on the city walls from slaughtering them.


    "I need a small detachment of mages to aid and protect the priests at this rate we''ll need them!" Yika shouted to the mages


    While some of the mages go further back with the priests Golanier focuses on one of the Golems while Forina tries to fight the other one, Golanier is scanning the Golems and notes they have been constructed well knowing these kinds of golems were made many times by these mages, he gets an idea however on how to deal with them. Much like back when they took over the fortress Golanier makes large skeleton arms come out of the ground and grab onto the golems legs, these golems were given one mission to walk to the wall and destroy it and as such it doesn''t have enough intelligence to not try and keep walking forcing it to be tripped up by the skeletal arm''s death grip on it''s legs. The golem gits the ground hard due to it''s weight causing the ground to shake which knocks down both undead and living soldiers on the battlefield, Golanier takes the opportunity to uses some of his own magic and his greatsword to sever one of the gigantic arms of the Golem and then lifts it with his magic to send it crashing down onto the centre point of the golem breaking it apart.


    "One down and one left to go!" Golanier shouted before smirking and flying over to Forina aiding her in defeating the Golem in the same way however easier due to her involvement


    The quick destruction of the golems horrifies Yika and his forces but they continue to fight all the same as Golanier and Forina are quickly shot out of the sky however by what looked to be a beam of pure light. Yorun looks out to the battlefield for where it came from since it moved so fast he can''t but his eyes are drawn to the furthest back lines of the enemy force as he senses something, it scares him as he senses divine magic. Golanier and Forina quickly get back up with fresh holes in their chests but being undead it matters little to them, Yorun looks to the sky feeling more divine magic from there and his eyes widen as he sees a figure Infront of the sun.


    "Oh gods.... EVERYONE MO-" Yorun''s shout is quickly cut off as a large beam of pure light larger in radius than a house hits the wall where he stands he had managed to push Wonakri away just in time however taking the brunt of it himself


    As Wonakri begins to stand, he looks to the section of the wall he was just on with Yorun, it''s just gone only dust remaining in such a dense fashion anything that may be left he cannot see and as a result he can''t see Yorun but he knows it''s not good as he sees undead out on the field dropping lifeless once more even without being in direct combat yet Golanier and Forina are slowing down as everyone begins to think Yorun is gone...

 Ch 27: The Meeting

    Not long before Sunhale called to Zyrla, Raeknar stands in their palace in Faelerm. Waiting for the time of the council meeting of the gods, the Kai Tamar continue their job throughout the realm which Raeknar watches as they wait. Some of them can tell today is different and it is not long before Jinarl makes his way to Raeknar and before speaking he bows.


    "Raeknar, is something wrong?" Jinarl asked


    "A council meeting, they want to intervene and destroy Yorun, they think I''ll just let it happen" Raeknar said


    "Seems rather idiotic on their part given the chains would certainly react" Jinarl said


    "They would react and punish them but they are taking it as a small pain now for none later sort of thing" Raeknar said


    "When is the meeting? Do you wish for me to accompany you?" Jinarl asked


    "It is soon and no, you are needed here and I''d rather they don''t destroy you, you know how they react to things especially if they''re to do with me" Raeknar said


    "Right" Jinarl said


    "It''s about to start, keep the realm in order Jinarl" Raeknar said


    Jinarl bows and walks away while Raeknar merely takes one step forward and without even a portal or teleporting they step through the dimensional barriers between realms stepping into the realm most of the gods inhabit Gilanthia. The realm itself seems to recognise Raeknars presence as the ground beneath them moves to ferry Raeknar toward the giant colosseum in the middle of the realm where the meeting will take place. As Raeknar is moved they see other gods making their own way to the colosseum and they''re shocked to see Raeknar who is barely taking note of them as they look around seeing the realm is still a mashed together realm consisting of areas beyond counting that each god has set up for their own purposes which much of the realm having no ground as the gods that stay primarily in those areas do not want any ground, the Colosseum is the only natural looking place as it is the middle ground for the gods.


    "It has been a long time since I have been in Gilanthia, the realm looks worse than it did when I came here regularly" Raeknar said


    "So long as the realm continues the others generally don''t care about it''s look and wellbeing, Gilanthia suffers for it I''m afraid" Zyrla said as he is moved alongside Raeknar by the realm itself


    "It is sad given what was done to this realm when we first made it together. I am sorry old friend" Raeknar said as they look down to the ground carrying them


    A feeling of sadness yet laden with a tinge of happiness radiates from the realm after Raeknar spoke, the realm finishes ferrying the two as well as others to the Colosseum and as all the gods make their way in the oldest and most important of the gods move to the middle of the colosseum where podiums are situated for each of them while the rest of the gods sit in the stands of the colosseum. As Raeknar walks to their podium they see some of the other gods of their calibre but notes that not all of them are there.


    "It seems we are missing some of us" Raeknar said as Zyrla passed by


    "Some of the others are still in the mortal realm you know how it is" Zyrla said


    When all the podiums of those in attendance are filled and all the younger gods have sat in the stands one god at their podium begins to speak, around them are plants that sprouted from the ground with each step and their body is made up of vines and other such plantlife.


    "Today we have the rare appearance of Raeknar in Gilanthia though it is unsurprising as this meetings primary talking point is to be about your mortal, the human necromancer by the name of Yorun" this god said


    "Get on with it Kiltero, we need not much background as we all see what''s going on in the mortal realm" Raeknar said


    "Alright then, whenever one of these necromancers show up they either try to take over the world or do ''good'' with it however either version is not useful for our plans or more accurately the ones that try to take over the world are useful for a while but much like the last one we eventually need to intervene directly. This new one however you have made your chosen Raeknar, did you think we wouldn''t do anything because of that? Think again" Kiltero said


    "Oh I am more than sure you wouldn''t do anything for one simple reason, you have no need to intervene right now without going against your chains and if you do that I will stop you in accordance with my own" Raeknar said


    "You''ve never fought us back directly as there is a distinct numbers advantage on our side, what makes you think you''d win?" Kiltero asked as some of the lesser gods smirk thinking less of Raeknar


    "We''ve all kept our... disagreements out of the mortals knowledge for many reasons, you target Yorun and I fight you in the mortal realm to defend him bringing the problems of the gods well into their view never mind the destruction that would be brought to the realms as a result of our conflict and sure there is many things that could be done to make it so the mortals forget or never knew while damage can be undone. We are gods after all nothing is out of our reach but such things regardless will set all of our chains alight with pain. None of us want that but I am more than willing to do it if it means even a sliver of a chance of changing things" Raeknar said their voice serious and unemotional


    "Caught us in a bind there haven''t you Raeknar" Gaeronak said from her podium


    "I will do anything to bring justice to the realms once again even if I make enemies of you all" Raeknar said


    While all the lesser gods begin to mutter and those at their podiums begin to think on the situation no one notices as Zyrla disappears in their usual fashion, it is at that moment some of the other older gods make their way into the colosseum and to their podiums, including Tierna and another two gods one of whom is just a ball of pure fire and light and another with a humanoid body of which seems to continuously age from child to adult before changing form to another child or even animal yet always continuously aging.


    "Sorry that we were late, things to do in the mortal world" Tierna said


    "Good to see you Tierna, Heltior and you too Okranam" Kiltero said and at that moment Zyrla reappeared at their podium


    "We''re happy to be here after all we all want the best outcome here" Heltior said their intense bright light that would blind mortals does not effect the gods


    "As usual I stand neutral in these matters I am merely here to watch as is my duty so long as time continues" Okranam said


    "So useless as ever in these meetings" Gaeronak said with a smirk


    "I won''t be angered by you Gaeronak, do not think I will actually fight you as you desire" Okranam said dismissively


    "Fine I''ll stop trying" Gaeronak said


    "For now anyway" Okranam said


    "Let''s get back to the matter at hand please?" Raeknar asked causing everyone to shut up


    "Oddly enough thank you Raeknar for getting us back on track, so if we go down there you will fight us which would obviously be terrible for all of us. Now if that is the case we still do not like what this mortal is doing especially at your behest and with gifts from yourself" Kiltero said


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    "Regardless of whether you like it or not he is my chosen and I gave him a quest of which I am within my right to do" Raeknar said


    "When you first spoke to this mortal you were not called, you did not need to say anything to this mortal" Heltior said from his podium


    "Incorrect, the magic of which I gifted to the mortals has continued to pop up every now in then rarely and as a result I am to explain such a thing to the mortals who get it. I have done so for every one of them at which point they can ask any question or request something while I am there" Raeknar said


    "That is true, back when I created the mortals and granted magic to them I did need to do that for a while at least until magic became just a normal part of their life they themselves could explain but this magic is rare so Raeknar would need to every time" Tierna said


    "By design I''ll assume" Gaeronak said


    "Indeed. Did you all think I would stand idly by suffering in silence from my chain forever? Of course not, when the opportunity arose because one mortal asked for that magic I granted it and made it a rare magic so that there would be the chance for all of this to happen" Raeknar said


    "You definitely have us trapped Raeknar so, what is it you suggest we do at this moment?" Zyrla asked


    "Simple, continue as per normal. You want to destroy Yorun? Wait until a mortal asks you to do so but even then you will find resistance as Yorun is my chosen I can easily come to his aid should he request it" Raeknar said


    "In time mortals will request more of us at a time, you won''t be able to save him then" Gaeronak said


    "Maybe, maybe not we do need to limit ourselves in the mortal realm after all, else we destroy too much of it and even if he does die Yorun will be welcomed into my realm and his mission will show people where I stand on many matters poisoning them against the rest of you who clearly want the world exactly as it is" Raeknar said and many angered stares from the other gods are incurred


    "Excuse me for a moment I am being called for" Heltior said before disappearing in a flash of greater light


    "So you are indifferent to us actually managing to kill your chosen under normal circumstances?" Tierna asked


    "Oh of course not, I care about Yorun but mortals will die eventually unless given immortality, cursed or denied death but his mission can succeed in many different ways" Raeknar said


    "We should have kept a closer eye on you, you''ve actually got us in a bind now" Gaeronak said


    "Indeed and I am gl-" Raeknar cuts themself off and the others also know why as Heltior returns


    "Did you really just take a shot up Raeknars mortal without a council decision?" Tierna asked


    "Oh no this was mortal choice, they requested a singular attack upon this Yorun and those two undead to wipe him out" Heltior said smirking and then all the gods smirk save for Raeknar and a select few such as Zyrla


    "Well you should have done a better job" Raeknar said immediately causing everyone to look at them


    Raeknar doesn''t say anything else as they all look down upon the mortal realm where the battle at Deranel is still taking place, the section of wall where Yorun was standing with Wonakri gone and undead dropping like flies. The gods watch as the situation seems to continue to go horribly for Raeknar but then they see.


    "Forina follow me and do as I do! I am not dying like this!" Golanier shouted to Forina as he quickly teleported with her over where Yorun was seemingly destroyed


    Amidst the dust, smoke and rubble lies Yorun''s body, Golanier and Forina look down at the broken form of Yorun, his body mostly intact however his left arm has been destroyed from the elbow down as the beam had such intense power it vaporised his it and cauterised the remaining area, his legs have also taken damage but unlike the arm these were more normal pieces of damage due to being shot into the ground as the wall was destroyed. Yoruns soul is leaving this body and head off to the in between realm to be brought to Faelerm but Golanier focusses on his connections to Yorun and using his magic he quickly begins to lock Yoruns soul in place, Forina follows exactly what Golanier is doing.


    "I am not letting you die Yorun, I am not heading to Konlair!" Golanier shouted


    Yoruns soul starts to get forcibly dragged back as if his soul were prey to Golanier and Forinas predator as this happens however and he gets dragged back from the brink the undead that had dropped dead once again now past the frontline of the living soldiers under General Yika begin to stand once more though slowly giving the living soldiers a chance to turn back to defend themselves but now they have an unexpected pincer attack. The gods look to Heltior with angered looks.


    "You idiot you fucked it up! Get back there and finish the job!" Kiltero shouted


    "Don''t. You. Dare" Raeknar said as the feeling of death envelopes the colosseum


    "And what shouldn''t I?" Heltior asked as everyone looked to Raeknar


    "Per your own words, you were asked for a singular attack. You did that and unless they request it again you won''t do anything" Raeknar said with an intensity in their voice they''ve not heard in a long time


    All the gods watch the attempts of Golanier and Forina to bring Yorun back to life once more, Golanier and Forina are floating above Yoruns body now, the magic swirling around them a dark green, the eyes of every undead on the field flickering green and the natural colour of their eyes as the magic of Yoruns soul teeters on the edge however it progressively stabilizes as the soul is dragged further and further back to the realm as if the magic dragging it were searing hot chains. While the enemy priests try to decide on whether they should call to Heltior once more they don''t realise it is too late as Yorun''s soul is dragged back into his body and the second it does a green explosion of magic bursts from Yoruns body being sapped away from Forina entirely and the magical explosion is brimming with necromantic and healing abilities as every corpse on the battlefield newly made from the battle begins to rise and Yoruns legs heal. New adrenaline burning through Yoruns veins and his very soul stirs him awake immediately forcing him to stand, he holds his left arm with his right as he takes in his new situation. As Yorun begins to speak his next words, all to familiar to Forina and the gods watching above his eyes change as black flames erupt from one and green flames erupt from another while Raeknars everchanging voice overlays onto Yoruns.


    "I-in the world full o-of injustice one god will say no more, in this mo-argh moment, in this time only one c-can remain, may the gods t-tremble in fear as death comes to bring justice to this w-world" Yorun said his voice full of pain but his eyes glow brighter while the feeling the gods have can nearly be felt by the entire realm as they look at Raeknar who begins to smirk before disappearing


    Golanier and Forina both move back as the sky above turns red while the realm itself shakes and Yorun begins to grow in size just like in Gantoral, his body becomes more skeletal like including a new skeletal arm growing from what remains of his left arm as the cloak becomes a part of his body. Black flames erupt from the ground neath Yorun burning the symbol of Raeknar into it, Wonakri and his guards above are watching in complete shock as they see scales of justice heavily weighed on one side with a scythe above them poised to take them away.


    "Mortals, Reaknar themself stands before you. Today Death greets you personally" Raeknar said as their scythe larger than before appears in their hands


    Raeknars scythe sets alight with the black flames before Raeknar swings it towards the sky something shoots out from his scythe and the gods above look in shock as the sun itself cleaves into and disappears sending the world into complete darkness. Raeknar bestows sight on the undead and the soldiers on the wall who quickly resume their attack on Yikas soldiers.


    "It will take Heltior a few moments to return the sun but before then" Raeknar said before just appearing behind the Heltior priests


    "I''ll take you lot" Raeknar said before just touching them killing them and sending their souls away for the Kai Tamar to take


    To try and combat the situation several mages try to use fire magic to see around themselves but every time they do they are immediately killed snuffing out the fire. Heltior is above feeling the pain of the sun being gone as his chain is reacting to that, once he manages to think past the pain he quickly goes to bring it back and it takes only a second but the few minutes he suffered the chain was all it took. Light returns to the world and the battlefield is stained in blood Yika and every one of his soldiers all killed while the undead stand there soaked in the blood of their enemies, Raeknar looks up to the sky where Heltior floats Infront of the sun looking beyond angry, the sun getting brighter and dimmer with Heltiors angered breaths.


    "If you thought this would be easy for you, I have long thought how to combat all of you even through a mortal" Raeknar said before Heltior blasts Raeknar with another beam of pure light and fire from the sun


    Raeknar just stands there amidst the beam healing Yoruns body from the continuous damage it takes as a result before just disappearing and reappearing next to the sun pointing the scythe to it.


    "Continue and I force your chain on you again" Raeknar said coldly forcing Heltior to relent


    "I''ll get even Raeknar, count on that" Heltior said before returning to Gilanthia


    Raeknar looks down upon the world of Roara through Yoruns eyes.


    "I''ll look upon the world like this for a few moments Yorun, allow you to see the world in all it''s beauty when the memories come back a bit more" Raeknar said before waiting a few moments and then returning to Deranel


    Raeknar allows Yorun and the realm to return to normal as they leave Yoruns body and disappear, the skeletal arm that had grown from Yoruns dismembered arm crumbles into dust as Yorun stands there, his body wishes to fall from all the pain of the injuries it no longer has with his left arm taking bearing the most pain but Yorun stands all the same forcing himself to not fall unconscious as everyone just looks around shocked...

 Ch 28: A Lost Limb

    With the day winding down after the battle and clean up is commencing, Yoruns close allies are preparing the bodies so they can be properly raised as a good few of them are piled up due to how the battle went meanwhile Yorun is standing exactly where he was once Raeknar left his body and Sunhale comes over with multiple healers to check on him and hopefully heal any wounds he may still have. The healers immediately get to work and the pained expression on Yoruns face begins to relax as their magic gets to work.


    "Yorun I brought some healers" Sunhale said


    "I can see that" Yorun said with pain still evident due to his voice


    "Don''t think they''ll be able to do anything about the arm though" Sunhale said looking at Yoruns dismembered left arm


    Yorun looks down at his left arm himself, while he knows is was a pure beam of light from the sun that did it he is still somewhat surprised to see it gone and that it''s so perfectly gone half of it just gone as if it were cleanly cut by a master.


    "Are you alright Yorun?" Sunhale asked concerned


    "No Sunhale I am not, I''ve lost a part of myself half of my fucking arm is gone! There''s no getting around that, everything is going to be harder from now on even if my left arm isn''t my dominant arm plus hell this is me being lucky I fucking died in that battle, do you know how that feels!? I have died twice in this life on mine now and both have been horrific!" Yorun shouted clearly venting his feelings


    "I don''t know how that feels Yorun and honestly I doubt very many do, you''ve been put in impossible situations and gone through much for your friends and family to return and now you''ve even sacrificed part of yourself in this endeavour. Take the time you need to adjust here Yorun, your army is being raised and it will be bigger than before so we can wait for a bit while you take that time alright?" Sunhale said as he went to put a hand on Yoruns shoulder but stopped himself


    Yorun sighed as he just looked up to the sky waiting for the healers to finish their job which takes them nearly a full three hours. Once they had finished Yorun teleported back to the fortress and sat down on the throne left there for the imperial family. Yorun then looks to his arm again and puts his right hand to where his left forearm should be obviously feeling nothing his right hand shakes as he then brings his hand up to the only part of his left arm remaining grabbing it as he breathed heavily.


    "Gods..." Yorun said under his breath as if the realisation had just hit now that all the adrenaline from the battle and from his body fighting the pain was gone


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Yorun" Raeknars said as they appeared next to Yorun


    "Not now Raeknar, I want to be alone" Yorun said sadness with a tinge of anger in his voice


    "You and I both know it is best that you are not" Raeknar said


    "I do all of this to get my family and friends back Raeknar, you set me on this quest but back then I had never thought I would have to contend with the other gods actually trying to kill or destroy me like this, others asking for their help sure similar to what I do with you but this? I got shot by the actual fucking SUN Raeknar! I died again and lost this part of my arm and the worst part? I can''t just get it back because if I ask you for that my family and friends stay dead for longer and I have to continue this insanity for fuck knows how long! No words you offer will make this day feel better Raeknar especially since I can feel that when I gave you my body you gave it partly a new full arm and that is gone too. You cannot possibly know how this situation feels" Yorun said glaring daggers at Raeknar


    "I have known many things Yorun and indeed this situation isn''t among them but know this Yorun all that you have survived thus far, all that you have fought for there are only a few throughout the history of this world who have done this sort of thing for such noble goals. You are a rare kind of person Yorun and I know that even this loss will not get you down, you are a fighter for the cause you picked up that much is clear to all. Your family are proud and waiting no matter the outcome" Raeknar said before simply disappearing once more leaving Yorun to slump on the throne


    While Yorun takes the time to be alone he eventually feels someone approaching and he then recognises it sighing.


    "I can feel you Golanier, what is it your turn to try and cheer me up?" Yorun asked somewhat annoyed


    "No not my thing though what I have to say may be uplifting I only bring the knowledge because it''s needed. You''ve lost a part of yourself you can sit around being sad about it all you want but know this there is a way to replace what you''ve lost though currently it is out of your reach" Golanier said getting only an annoyed looks from Yorun


    "Seriously?" Yorun said


    "Oh that was actually unintentional but anyway eventually you''ll be able to do body modification to the undead and make skeletal arms both of which can lead to you having a new arm currently you don''t have the strength to do it but trust me it works, during my conquests I lost a couple limbs here and there. You''ve still lost a part of yourself though there is no changing that these future additions are not your original self and you will feel that but it can help all the same" Golanier said and there is a happier look on Yoruns face


    "That is actually good news but as you say I have still lost this and with that magic needing me to be stronger I need to adapt to this all the same. Thank you Golanier" Yorun said


    "Whatever" Golanier said before leaving


    Yorun grabs what remains of his left arm again and looks up.


    "I know not if you can hear me but I will bring you all back and when I do I will have this arm of mine restored in some fashion as to not make you worry. You are all that matter and I will ensure your return no matter what" Yorun said as the world grows silent around him...

 Ch 29: Kragrum And A Plan For power

    The night following the battle at Deranel is hellish for Yorun and as he sleeps he sees the battle again, he feels it all, the fear, the light beam connecting with his body, his body crashing through the stone wall and finally his arm disappearing even if it was instant he can feel it all the same. Just as his body hits the ground he snaps awake sitting up and going to grab his left arm and finds it gone still, he is breathing heavily as he then holds his head in his right hand.


    "I had hoped that was but a nightmare..." Yorun said quietly to himself


    The soul of the Pertaki Nobleman appears before him.


    "You deserve this for what you''ve done to me you wretch" The nobleman said his voice ghostly and full of disdain


    Yorun does not respond immediately but he glares at the nobleman before taking the nobleman''s magic causing his soul to feel pain.


    "You deserve exactly what I''ve done to you, in the time in which we planned to take Deranel we learned your name we know who you are Azkelt and that you were angry about not having as much power and influence as others in your family so you left for Deranel and used your noble status to make peoples lives horrible or even have some killed for snubbing you" Yorun said his voice also filled with disdain


    "As is my gods given right!" Azkelt shouted through the pain


    "Gods given right? You''ve seen whom I serve and know all my actions have been allowed by them including the taking of your soul. You would be in Konlair right now otherwise so consider this a mercy you do not deserve now stay quiet or I make this worse" Yorun said coldly as he stops using Azkelts magic


    As Azkelt stops screaming his soul disappears once more, Yorun then gets up teleporting some new cloths and the Cloak of Raeknar on before leaving the room. Yorun decides to head to the war room, passing by the people from the villages who continue to keep the fortresses magical defences active he soon comes across Golanier.


    "Hello Yorun early start for you but I''ll assume it was nightmares or something from what I felt in your soul" Golanier said


    "Yeah you are not wrong there, definitely not sleeping again anytime soon, not like I was sleeping great to begin with but now there''s these new nightmares" Yorun said


    "Well regardless, you''re up and we can go discuss something, lets get to Deranel we have two good new siege weapons we need to talk about" Golanier said before teleporting with Yorun back to the battlefield of the previous day


    Yorun looks around but soon his eyes focus on the destroyed part of the city wall he was blasted through by Heltior, his mind once again drifts back to that moment but Golanier notices and quickly draws his attention back.


    "Hey Yorun quit looking over there" Golanier said as he grabbed him and walked over to the giant Golem bodies


    "Are you wanting us to reactivate these golems?" Yorun asked as he looked at Golanier


    "Well yes obviously but not right now, however we need to store them somewhere for when it happens and honestly its the same thing with the army itself. We need to move in a harder to detect way now that are army has grown even larger and for that I have an idea, Sunhale will want to hear this as well" Golanier said


    "Sunhale get to the Golems outside Deranel, Golanier has some ideas" Yorun said telepathically to Sunhale who teleported there pretty much immediately after


    "Oh this''ll be good, alright what is it Golanier?" Sunhale asked


    "Yorun give me both your and that nobleman''s magic" Golanier said as he turned to the Golems


    Yorun takes a breath as he then begins to channel his and Azkelts magic into Golanier. Yorun and Sunhale watch him wondering what Golanier is going to do while Golanier himself seems to be concentrating with the new bounty of magic he has access too but then after a few minutes a couple of large portals open and large skeletal arms come out and grab onto the golems dragging them through and though it is hard to see under the skeletal hand something seems to appear on the golems body. Yorun can feel the strain on his own soul as well as the souls of Azkelt and Golanier from the magic being used here, it takes only moments for the golems to be dragged through leaving large groves in the ground from where they once where. The portals quickly close and Golanier drops to his knees and breathes heavily, Yorun has not seen him like this often and as such both he and Sunhale are intrigued on multiple fronts.


    "Alright what the fuck was that?" Sunhale asked immediately to a panting Golanier


    "Give me a minute and I''ll explain" Golanier said


    Golanier takes another few minutes before getting up no longer out of breathe.


    "Fuck that takes more than I thought it would" Golanier said


    "Alright now explain Golanier" Sunhale said


    "You''re familiar with the concept of bending reality correct? I know those archives in the elven capital do it well there is a step above that completely ripping open reality a bit to create a small dimension of your own for whatever you need, storing stuff or doing experiments that''d otherwise fuck up the world and such stuff. I tried doing this back in my day but well only the highest level mages in the world can do it which I was but you need to be stronger than any recorded mortal in history to do it without a little bit of help from a god which well I did not have" Golanier said


    "If there''s no way you did it back then nor could you possibly do it now what did you just do?" Yorun asked


    "Well without being able to open my own little dimension I looked to other realms in which I could put things and opened a way to the realm my people called Lokranikar" Golanier said with a smirk


    "What name would we use for this realm?" Sunhale asked


    "The elves would call it Beraskil and humans call it Kragrum" Golanier said immediately shocking both Yorun and Sunhale who quickly grabs Golanier by the neck


    "You went to the realm of demons you ilsantrak!?" Sunhale shouted his final word being an elven one of which Golanier seems to recognise


    "Oh bringing out those kinds of words hm Sunhale? Well whatever yes I opened up the realm of demons and laid waste to a part of it conquering it and forcing some demons into serving me. I do not doubt they''ve taken back some territory however after all when I died any forces of mine that were there would have returned to being normal corpses but I opened to a place I sense an old ally, a demon who served willingly" Golanier said


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "So what they are a fucking demon!" Sunhale shouted finally letting go of Golanier


    "You want us to not only story things like those golems in Kragrum as well as our army? That does not seem like a good idea" Yorun said


    "Agreed" Sunhale said getting only an annoyed sigh from Golanier in response


    "Alright seems I just need to show you" Golanier said


    Golanier manages to open a portal next to them significantly smaller than the previous ones and a skeleton arm comes out from the portal grabbing the three of them and pulling them in, Yorun while angry and horrified by what''s happening can feel the strain of this portal opening is significantly less than the previous ones. The moment they get through the portal Golanier closes it and as all three of them look around they see a realm of chaos with many kinds of demons flying around seemingly fighting at random throughout the skies and some in the distance do the same on the ground. The weather seems to change quickly and even the simple things such as gravity seems to change slightly sometimes.


    "Golanier what the fuck is wrong with you!?" Sunhale shouts angered


    "Shut. Up. Right now we''re fine, the demons have no interest in us right now anyway might change if we stay too long though so if you do manage to be quiet we can get on with it" Golanier said calmly but slightly annoyed


    "Sunhale we do have to defer to Golaniers judgement here even if it is bad that we are here" Yorun said as he makes Raeknars Scythe appear in his right hand


    "Now, I know you''ll recognise my presence in this chaotic realm so show yourself Celantriak" Golanier said in a commanding tone as he looked away from the other two


    A couple seconds pass and a demon walks out of the dying fiery trees around them, the demon is larger than a house almost comparable to the regular form Raeknar takes, it has horns more akin to battering rams upon it''s head, spikes protruding from other parts of its body including the knuckles of its fists, it''s large frame looks obscenely strong and durable quickly evident by the fact Golanier strikes it with his greatsword and no damage is done.


    "Yeah that''s you alright, now kneel" Golanier said commandingly as he plants his greatsword into the ground


    The demon kneels before Golanier now the same height as a result.


    "Golanier kill that thing now before it attacks and we need to" Yorun said as he took back some magic then quickly igniting the scythe with black flames which makes the demon known as Celantriak focus on him


    "My lord, you return weaker than ever yet I still come at your call, may I ask who these two are? I sense godly powers" Celantriak said with a dominating demonic voice still staring at Yorun


    "They are allies in fact my soul is bound to the humans, not a situation I particularly like but it doesn''t matter right now you will tell me what parts of this infernal realm are still my territory" Golanier said


    "The immediate area I have kept from the others but other places I had not enough power to keep under control nor the forces, the others deemed me weak for assuming you''d return" Celantriak said


    "Imbeciles of course they turned it''s in their demonic nature but you know your place Celantriak regardless for now these two golems are in your care understood? Keep them safe, new undead will make their way here soon. A new army has arisen and while not technically mine this place will still serve its old purpose" Golanier said smirking and Celantriak grins in response


    "I cannot wait my lord" Celantriak said


    "Golanier you-" Yorun began to say but Celantriak suddenly lunged at him


    Yorun quickly teleported out of the way and stabbed the scythe as quickly as he can into Celantriak he was aiming for the head but with only being able to use one arm now he misses stabbing into Celantriaks shoulder breaching the seemingly tough skin and black blood begins to spill from the wound but Celantriak just laughs.


    "Oh I was right, godly powers, so much more fun" Celantriak said before grabbing the scythe forcing his hand to burst into flames as he pulls it out of himself, he quickly lets it go afterwards


    Yorun moves back still on the defensive as he glares at Golanier for a second.


    "Alright Celantriak enough that''s an order, before we leave I need one thing answered. What remains of my undead generals?" Golanier asked


    "Not much a thousand years degrades all bodies too much but some parts I have managed to keep intact enough to do what you wish" Celantriak said


    "Bring them. Now" Golanier said


    Celantriak quickly departed but immediately upon that happening Sunhale punched Golanier in the face forcing him to stumble back a bit.


    "You are angry but this place and Celantriak are very useful" Golanier said as he looks at both Sunhale and Yorun


    "This place is the chaotic realm of demons created by the god of Chaos and Injustice Umelikatel. You really think we''ll be able to use it while we do Raeknars will!?" Yorun shouted


    "Yes actually, the god in charge of this realm which my people knew as Eratikewan as you stated is the god of chaos and injustice but well chaos means they quite literally do not care if it adds to the chaos and while the injustice part may be bad for us well it gets a bit over ruled by the fact the gods are thrown into a bit of chaos with what we are doing so they are content plus there is enough injustice in the world outside of the Fiernian empire for us to continue unabated" Golanier said


    "Golanier is correct, Malekanivor which is this particular gods human name generally does not care what anyone does so long as chaos and injustice continue throughout the realms enough. They even created these soulless demons to some of it for them" Raeknar said to them telepathically


    "Gods I cannot believe we''re doing this..." Sunhale said to himself in the elven language


    Just as this conversation is beginning to end Celantriak makes his way back lifting a multitude of different body parts with magic, these pieces seem to come from entirely different races, the head of a Kalrin, arms that could be from elves, humans or both and legs of some draconic race, the literal biggest outlier however is the chest of what clearly came from a giant.


    "It is a good thing you kept some part of a giant it will allow for a good few things, keep these here for now once we have more power I will be able to make use of them understood Celantriak?" Golanier asked


    "Of course my lord, I take it you still lack the required power, can you not just go collect more souls?" Celantriak asked


    "Unlike a thousand years ago I am restricted in that regard by the god of death and justice. We are only permitted to take evil souls" Golanier said eliciting a smirk from Celantriak


    "What empire is it you are attacking currently?" Celantriak asked


    "My home, the Fiernian Empire" Yorun said still with a tight grip on Raeknars scythe untrusting of the demon


    "Then I would suggest one particular port city. Joaralta, the city of criminals of all kinds many of whom have tried contacting some demons over the years" Celantriak said


    "That is an excellent idea Celantriak well done" Golanier said getting a sigh from Sunhale


    "Golanier can you just return us to the fortress? Whilst the demon may have given a good suggestion I''d prefer to not stay here any longer let alone try and plan something here" Sunhale said glaring at him


    "Fine, fine. Celantriak you have your orders continue them to the letter" Golanier said


    Golanier then turned away from them all as he reopened the portals then dragged them through once more, the portals however this time did lead to the fortress war room so they could begin planning immediately.


    "According to the maps Joaralta is far but it is one of the cities we would have hit fairly soon but unlike some others every one in this city will likely fight tooth and nail against us and we do not have the strength for that especially with the kind of people that are there, elven spy work from before the war started noted powerful mages, war criminals and other such people. With how many of those people are in this city they''ve grown to be a strong enough city to defy the empire itself, other such cities like them are across the world this is just the human equivalent" Sunhale said


    "An all out attack is not the best option right now then, so how about a bit of our own subterfuge with a bit of kidnapping" Golanier said casually making both Yorun and Sunhale look at him confused


    "What?" Yorun asked confused


    "It''s simple Yorun, the city is filled to the brim with evil souls should we get some people in there namely Sunhale and some undead they can kidnap those who''d be useful to bind to our souls and with our ability to control the undead correctly we can easily send ourselves to them and do the binding process" Golanier said


    "As fucked up as this sounds it IS a sound plan but how would we get undead into the city stealthily? Sure I''ve done such things before but this is a bit different plus back then I was extremely lucky" Yorun said


    "I have an idea but we shall try it tomorrow, today has been a lot to say the least" Sunhale said


    "Agreed" Yorun said


    The three of them left the war room and went off to their respective rooms to rest while Golanier teleported out onto one of the nearby mountains to continue training...

 Ch 30: Joaralta Infiltration

    As the next day rolls around Yorun leaves his room after being asked to come to the room where Sunhale had previously set up the Darkness of Otaper, as he walks in he sees Sunhale and Golanier standing in the dark room, Yorun looks around seeing the darkness move along the walls like watery tendrils he ignores them before looking at Sunhale who''s approaching.


    "Yorun I need you to call Onarin here" Sunhale said


    "Onarin? Why him specifically?" Yorun asked


    "It''s simple really, I want him as one of the undead that''ll come into Joaralta with me mainly due to the fact that in life he was a bandit and as such has likely been there or knows people there but if neither of those assumptions are correct, bandits are still adept at ambushing people which is basically our job there" Sunhale said getting a nod from Yorun


    "Onarin make your way to the Dark Room" Yorun said telepathically to Onarin


    It would only take a few minutes for Onarin to make his way to the room, walking in without a word awaiting whatever it is he is needed for.


    "So what are you even going to do?" Golanier asked


    "I''m going to see if undead can make use of the Darkness of Otaper by getting the magical tattoos. Not something that needs one to have magic but maybe a soul? I have no idea so best to check" Sunhale said


    "It is for the best to find out, it would allow for us to rely less on you in the future plus if these tattoos are magical in nature they may conceal the fact the undead have no souls" Golanier said


    "Alright, Onarin do whatever Sunhale tells you to do" Yorun said


    "Of course master, I''m ready" Onarin said with his normal cold soulless voice as he turned to Sunhale


    "Just stay still Onarin this will be the first time I''ve done this" Sunhale said getting nothing but a nod from Onarin in return


    Sunhale approaches Onarin and then puts his hand on Onarins shoulder, the shadows parts around his eyes and around his hands begin to move slightly as if they were shuddering. Sunhale closes his eyes and he begins to channel the magic gifted to him into Onarin. The magic flows through Onarins body and they can all see it travelling across him like a dark river flowing through channels in his body, within a few minutes the tattoos are all across Onarins body then Sunhale moves back, the tattoos begin to move becoming less noticeable and looking far less noticeable than they did a moment ago.


    "What do I do now?" Onarin asked


    "Yorun I want you to go into the room across the hall, Onarin you walk up to the darkness extend your hand and request access to it in the name of Yorun but say the necromancer" Sunhale said


    Yorun heads to the other room while Onarin walks up to the darkness before extending his hand.


    "I request access on behalf of the necromancer" Onarin said


    Sunhale suddenly feels a pull towards the darkness the shadows around his eyes force his view over at Onarin as if he were looking through the darkness in front of him.


    "Access granted" Sunhale said his voice coming from both his own mouth and the darkness itself perfectly clear


    The shadows then latch onto Onarins arm like hungry animals but Onarin does not react, he just looks back to Sunhale wondering what next.


    "Use your hands to sculpt the fortress out of the darkness itself then focus on the room Yorun is in" Sunhale said now quite happy with himself that this has worked


    Onarin does as told and he moulds the darkness before him into a shadowy sculpt of the fortress before focusing on the room Yorun resides in and the dark sculpt grows larger showing that room to Onarin. In the room Yorun stands in he notices it grow dark and a shadowy version of Onarin rises up next to him.


    "Master, it worked" Onarin said


    "Clearly, well done Onarin" Yorun said


    "I will admit I am slightly surprised that it did, under other circumstances the person doing it requires magic so I wonder why it worked, I''ll ask Reifal later. Anyway Onarin you can pull your hand away, no need to say thank you into the darkness as my people would, most using this will be undead or close allies so we don''t need that decorum" Sunhale said


    Onarin pulled his hand back the darkness made fortress and the room disappearing once more as if it were never there while the room Yorun stands in returns to normal, he returns to the Dark Room.


    "I suppose we''ll need this now correct?" Yorun asked


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    "Indeed, I''ll give it to you both while you Onarin go and grab some of those other undead bandits" Sunhale said getting only a nod in response from Onarin as he leaves


    For the next little while they all get the tattoos and they confirm each time that they can access the darkness and each time it works just as it did with Onarin.


    "Alright, I''ll take Onarin and his friends to Joaralta then set up the darkness there, once thats done you can take control of one of them Yorun" Sunhale said


    "I''ll leave my body so I can head along as well" Golanier said


    "Probably for the best if I use Azkelts soul for it we''ll certainly be found since you can resist screaming from the pain" Yorun said


    "Yeah true, well what''s a painful few days for increased power?" Golanier said smirking


    "I guess so, both you and I will get souls bound Golanier an equal amount if possible that way you can do more without me losing any of my own magic allowing for better training as well" Yorun said


    "Fine by me" Golanier said as Yorun looked over to the undead bandits


    "When you arrive at the city, should anyone recognise you do your best to either remember them and go along with it or convince them you do not remember so that Sunhale can try to spin a story understood?" Yorun said getting nods of affirmation in return


    "Then I''ll head out with Onarins group now" Sunhale said quickly teleporting away with Onarins group


    The teleport takes Sunhale and the whole undead bandit group to a short while up down a road from Joaralta, they quickly begin to make their way to the city only taking a few minutes but as the city comes into view they see the significant mercenary forces at the gates meant to keep the city safe from outside forces trying to enact their will inside. Sunhale continues to approach the city with Onarins group the mercenaries on the ground at the gate approach.


    "Been a bit since a new group showed up, come here for business or pleasure?" One mercenary asked


    "Business though I can take it elsewhere I''m sure other cities nearby are accepting new start-up''s" Sunhale said with a bit of a jokey tone getting small chuckles from a couple of the mercs


    "And what do you offer to get into the city?" The same mercenary asked expectantly


    "information, this little bandit group and I were up around the Gantoral region until Gantoral itself was destroyed and the war began. Been making our way here ever since which given how long ago that was you can tell has NOT been easy" Sunhale said using a blend of the truth to make it all the more believable


    "Shit really? Lot of confusion of what went up there, only thing that''s known for sure is two gods clashed" The mercenary said


    "Yeah you humans Goddess of War as well as your God of death and Justice. They fought in mortal bodies and it seems that person who can supposedly raise the dead that rumours have been going around about? They are Raeknars chosen" Sunhale said immediately getting shocked expressions from all the mercenaries


    "By the gods, you aren''t kidding are you? If Raeknar has a chosen then... Gods they''ll come here... Get in the city you''re permitted" The mercenary said fear written across his face


    The mercenaries quickly head back to the city gates with Sunhale and Onarins group following behind they open the gates and quickly allow Sunhale and Onarin into the city before closing the gates once more and barring them physically and with magic.


    "EVERYONE! Into the city and let no more people inside! Raeknar has a chosen!" The mercenary''s voice rings out through the streets and across the walls people quickly telling others across the city, the news spreads like wildfire sending the city into a near panic


    The mercenary turns back to Sunhale and Onarins group.


    "That information is more valuable to this place than anything brought in years" The mercenary said


    "Eh whatever, just glad we could use it to get in" Sunhale said


    "Yeah fair enough now move on, we have to prepare for what is now inevitable " The mercenary said before walking off while Sunhale turns to Onarin and the other undead bandits


    "We''re going to go find some place to make our base here, we''ll take it from some weaker people here if you receive what would be for a normal person a mortal wound or a would take you out of the fight drop to the ground and pretend it did take you out got it?" Sunhale said receiving nods of acknowledgement from the undead bandits


    Sunhale walks through the city with the bandits and much like many others in the city he scans around with magic trying to find a building with weak inhabitants to take, they eventually find a rundown building which will suit their needs, Sunhale and the undead draw their blades as they quickly break down the door and come in through the windows. The buildings current inhabitants quickly draw their own blades and engage the undead but none are a match for Sunhale so those who engage him die quickly leaving those who are fighting the undead almost relieved but now horrified by how quickly their allies were killed run off abandoning the building. The undead go to chase them but Sunhale lifts his hand.


    "No point, stay here and watch for anyone coming here, I have a Pira''Kole to build" Sunhale said


    Sunhale inside the building quickly uses magic to create an underground area to the building, it was easier than he had anticipated as it seems the place used to have some, something he isn''t surprised by given the nature of the city. He makes a separate room in the underground lighting up the area but leaving that room in the dark, he steps in and looks around.


    "This should be about right, time to see how it feels to have multiple of them active, Otaper guide my soul" Sunhale said to himself in his native tongue


    The darkness around the room begins to swell and rushes like water straight to Sunhale stripping the room of the darkness as if it had been lit up while Sunhales body looking like a living shadow, soon after the darkness encompassing Sunhales body shoots away from him digging into the walls covering them once more and it changes the walls as if they didnt exist and its pure darkness, the ground has a part of it push up as a platform and Sunhale stands on it.


    "Well I can feel both of them, what an odd feeling" Sunhale said as he put a hand to his chest


    Sunhale leaves the room and heads upstairs approaching Onarin once he does so.


    "Head down and tell Yorun and Golanier whats going on, I''ll start the search" Sunhale said


    "Right" Onarin said as he headed down stairs


    Soon after Onarin headed down stairs two of the undead still guarding the building had their personality change as Yorun and Golanier took over the bodies and raised the bodies of those that were killed when Sunhale and the undead took the building. Yorun looks out the window before looking at Golanier.


    "Well now we get to work" Yorun said as the city lives in fear of the man who has now appeared inside its walls...

 Ch 31: The Information Broker

    As the day turns to night setting down the moons light upon the city of Joaralta the city does not become less packed, day or night the people of the city continue their acts whatever they may be however with the recent news of the chosen of Raeknars existence the mercenaries guarding the city keep a close eye. This is immediately apparent to the likes of even Yorun as he walks the streets in one of the bandit bodies alongside Golanier in a similar body, no one takes note of any of the wounds on their bodies as new or old such wounds are more than common there and they have covered or healed up any noticeably fatal wounds. Yorun starts a telepathic conversation with Golanier


    "Alright so what''s our game plan here Golanier?" Yorun asked


    "Well if I know anything about places like this there will still be those in charge, people who either have the most power or enough money to have people keep others in line, city has mercenaries guarding it after all. We need to identify those people and either smooth our way to them or piss them off and have them come to us" Golanier responded


    "So we need to find them huh? Just asking around and then them disappearing wouldn''t be good, these people would definitely notice" Yorun said


    "True however places like this generally have people that for the right price will give any information you want through whatever means so we don''t need to ask many people just one or two" Golanier responded once again


    "And with what we''ve come here to do we can take their soul to get the information so that no one will know we were the ones to ask" Yorun said as he catches on


    "Exactly" Golanier said before smirking


    "Then we need only find one of these information brokers" Yorun said as he looked around


    "Such a thing will be easy, in a place like this they are heavily sought after and its not as if they need to be discreet" Golanier said confidently


    Yorun nodded and after just a short few hours they had arrived at a fairly expensive looking building guarded by mercenaries, they had come there as they had heard multiple people speak of one such discussed information broker living here. Yorun and Golanier approach and are stopped by one of the mercenary guards.


    "No weapons inside" The mercenary said before using magic to take the weapons from the both before letting them inside


    As both of them walk in they see many books, letters and other parchment strewn around in a disorganised fashion much to their visible confusion before a human man walks out from behind a wall and looks to them. He seems to examine them before finally approaching.


    "A couple of bandits I believe you came to the city around two years ago should my memory and records be correct and I am more than sure that they are" The broker said


    "You are correct we were here back then but you know how it is especially these days, information is big. I take it you are Oirak" Golanier said


    "Indeed I am anyway I''ll tell you what you want to know then you''ll tell pay me in either currency or new information I do not have" Oirak said


    "We want to know who hold the most power in this city, specifically magically" Yorun said


    "Trying to find new people to hire you or something? Fair enough, give me but a moment" Oirak said before using magic to float a list from around the corner he came from to his hand


    "Is that it?" Golanier asked


    "Indeed now give me some information or the mercenaries won''t let you leave" Oirak said seriously yet curiously


    "Alright how about this, I''m Raeknars chosen" Yorun said before making the scythe appear in his undead hand and quickly levitating it around Oiraks neck


    "And what makes you think I won''t just teleport away before you can use that scythe?" Oirak asked fear definitely in his eyes but he still seems confidant


    "This very scythe is Raeknars own do you really think it can be so easily avoided? Now keep quiet or I take your head" Yorun said threateningly


    "U-understood" Oirak said feeling more scared now


    "Bring us to a room underground, given the nature of this city and what we''ve heard you have one such room bring us now" Yorun said as he quickly took the list from Oirak reading it over as they begin to walk


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    "What names are there Yorun?" Golanier asked


    "Ghilan, Ikteran, Oarsteri and finally a member of the Pertaki family? Why is one of them here?" Yorun said confused as Azkelt has his soul appear next to Yorun


    "That is likely a cousin of mine, Holaire kicked out and disowned years ago after he had tried a small rebellion so he could take over" Azkelt said


    "Hm never heard of that, good to know now leave Azkelt" Yorun said immediately making Azkelt leave


    "Seems he is useful for one thing other than his magic" Golanier said before laughing a little


    Oirak leads them downstairs to an underground room full of records and treasures as well that both Golanier and Yorun assume were used as payment for information. They look around and then drag Oirak over to a part of the room where there is only treasure and Golanier grabs Oirak pushing him against the wall and shuts his magic down before covering his mouth.


    "Alright he''s ready" Golanier said


    "I will not lie Oirak this is going to hurt a lot" Yorun said as he then spent the next few minutes using Golaniers soul to bind Oirak''s soul to his own were Golanier not to have his hand covering Oirak''s mouth the screams would more than certainly have been heard then Oiraks soul appears next to them


    "What the fuck!?" Oirak shouted


    "Quiet down Oirak, you are bound to me now, you will serve Raeknars will as a result and this won''t be pleasant. Try and blow our cover and I will make use of your magic which you saw Golanier over there he may be used to far greater pain but you could tell couldn''t you that it would be beyond any pain you''ve felt" Yorun said glaring at Oirak who quickly disappears as to not anger them


    Yorun raises the body of Oirak and moves his soul from the undead bandit into the undead Oirak then he looks at the undead bandit and Golanier.


    "Stay here, you as well Golanier, I''ll lead those two mercenaries down here then kill them taking their souls and raising their bodies giving us a couple better armed and armoured bodies if we need them" Yorun said


    "Good idea, I want at least one of the souls from those two" Golanier said before smirking


    "Fine by me, we both need to be stronger anyway" Yorun said


    Yorun gets rid of the scythe then heads upstairs and back to the front door opening it and the two mercenaries look at him.


    "Oh something you need boss?" One of the mercenaries asked


    "Those men gave me some good information and I need you two to follow me downstairs, there is something I require from both of you" Yorun said getting nods from them both as they follow him downstairs


    When they get downstairs the two mercenaries are quickly attacked by Golanier and the undead bandit who do not feel pain from the mercenaries attacks but before the mercs continue their fight Yorun makes the scythe appear and puts it to the neck of one while making a circle of green fireballs around the neck of the other.


    "Stop now" Yorun said


    "Boss? Wha-" The mercenary said before being cut off


    "Oirak is no longer in control here" Yorun said menacingly


    "What are you one of the demons people summon here!?" The other mercenary said


    "No I''m human but unluckily for you, I''m worse than a demon right now" Yorun said as he uses magic to take their magic and silence them


    It doesn''t take long for both Golanier and Yorun to acquire a new soul from the two as well as two new undead, Yorun leaves Oiraks body for the undead bandit once more and leads them all upstairs.


    "Undead mercs take your position at the door but don''t let anyone inside again, undead Oirak stay in here, you three can be useful if you stay here" Yorun said getting once again only a nod from the three


    Yorun walks out of Oirak''s building with Golanier and they return to their base of operations in Joaralta heading inside they head down to the room with the Darkness of Otaper and wait out the time before Sunhale returns.


    "Hey Sunhale" Yorun said


    "Hello you two, get anything?" Sunhale asked


    "A few new souls two of which I have and the last on Golanier plus a list of names of the most magically powerful people in the city also a few new undead guarding the now undead information brokers place which means a lot of intel for us to search through too" Yorun said


    "Damn good start then" Sunhale said


    "Better than you think, these additional souls will allow us to open a portal to Lokranikar far easier, once we take this city at some point we''ll have even more forces allowing us to have a force solely within the demon realm and having territory properly in out control there" Golanier said


    "Still hate the idea of it but using that place could allow us to attack the city from within once we move to that stage" Sunhale said


    "Exactly, the place is rather useful hm?" Golanier said with a smirk while Sunhale rolled his eyes


    "What about those body parts Celantriak had preserved for you? Whats the point of them?" Yorun asked


    "Well we need a significant number of more souls power to make use of them how I''d want too, we can use those body parts to empower undead we have currently or combine them to make a whole new one who may retain skills and other such things those separate pieces bodies once had" Golanier said


    "That''s rather grim work" Sunhale said looking a little disgusted


    "We lead an undead army and are extracting souls do you know even half of the worse shit I did a thousand years ago? No? Then be quiet about it this is nothing" Golanier said dismissively but annoyed


    "Whatever ok so more souls but we at least have some targets, I''ll head to that brokers place and gather more information he likely had on them" Sunhale said before leaving


    "For now Golanier we send our souls back to our normal bodies and train at the fortress, if Sunhale gets useful information and ways for us to do things he can contact us" Yorun said getting a thumbs up from Golanier before they return to their normal bodies


    Yorun and Golanier get to training, now with a few more souls to draw on Yorun begins to improve on his old skills while Sunhale begins to diligently look through Oiraks stored information as the planning for how to take the souls of the strongest mages within the city begins...

 Ch 32: The Gang Leader Ghilan

    A couple days pass, Sunhale stayed within Joaralta constantly over that time looking through Oiraks information but kept in contact with Yorun and Golanier to make sure they knew that everything was alright, this day however Sunhale told them to return to the bandit bodies as he had found some things. Upon sending their souls to the bandit bodies they immediately see the house has been improved and Sunhale is waiting for them.


    "Downstairs, better to talk there" Sunhale said


    They walk downstairs and they see an additional room has been made there full of documents and a map of the city with a few points magically marked across the city.


    "Ok what have you got Sunhale?" Yorun asked


    "I have some good news and some bad news, I''ll lay this out" Sunhale said as he looked to the map and used magic to create four faces


    The faces of different people are labelled, its the four targets, Holaire Pertaki a human male, Oarsteri an elven female, Ghilan a human seemingly modified magically as his skin is changed with some scales across it and finally Ikteran no magic recreation of his face is shown. While the unshown face and name of Ikteran are firmly placed on the largest house in the city the other faces are shown off the map.


    "So these are the targets, why is Ikteran not shown?" Golanier asked


    "Rather simple actually, he''s the one who created this city or well liberated it for criminals I guess but no ones seen his face for a long time and its likely it''ll have changed considering the reason demons and what not are interested in this place is reportedly because of him" Sunhale said


    "Ok well lets see about the other targets why are they not shown in the city? They not here right now?" Yorun asked


    "Holaire and Oarsteri are in the wind, no one knows where they are since it seems the Pertaki didn''t learn from his first attempted rebellion, tried to pull some shit here alongside Oarsteri seems they got together or something anyway they got destroyed for trying it but managed to escape to places unknown. Ghilan on the other hand is here somewhere since he is the one who hired the mercenaries around the city and controls much of what goes on in it, he pretty much runs the place even if Ikteran is the one truly in command" Sunhale said


    "If that''s the case then we should go for Ghilan first" Golanier said


    "Indeed, Ghilan will provide many things for example he isn''t only in control of the mercenaries but he is also the leader of basically the largest and oldest gang of this city" Sunhale said


    "Which means many probably pretty well trained undead for us as well as probably a few souls other than just Ghilans" Golanier said


    "Exactly plus you could use the mercenaries either making them undead or using Ghilans wealth to use them while they''re alive for a while" Sunhale said


    "Oh that''s fun" Golanier said smirking


    "Where is he though?" Yorun asked looking at the map


    "Unknown he''s definitely in one of the many underground tunnels this city has but no one knows which one, if you try to sense it you''ll sense the tunnels being manipulated pretty much all the time so no one can find him unless they work for him" Sunhale said


    "So either we draw him out or we get brought to him, since I assume you have some kind of idea so what''s the plan?" Yorun asked


    "Rather simple cause a disturbance large enough to mess up the ''business'' of the city, go and kill some mercenaries specifically around this cities version of a market district, you''ll be taken away quite quickly. Don''t use your scythe and do make it look like someone''s hired you to do this as this will give them cause to take you in to figure this out" Sunhale said


    "Alright makes sense plus this body is far more used to daggers" Yorun said as he took out a dagger with his right hand and after a couple seconds does the same with his left hand


    "Still doesn''t feel right having that arm in these bodies does it?" Golanier asked


    "No it doesn''t, just as I feel I am used to not having that arm and yes I know that isn''t true trauma is a hard thing to deal with but then just having it again right there in this body it messes with the mind" Yorun said


    "You''ll get used to it anyway lets do this" Golanier said


    "These bodies will likely get killed once we either do or don''t give information so have the others ready Sunhale and we''ll lead you there afterwards" Yorun said


    "Alright, I''ll keep an eye on things elsewhere for any information that pops up" Sunhale said


    Yorun and Golanier walk out of the building but soon enough they see some nearby mercenaries and Golanier immediately gets to work conjuring a spectral version of his greatsword as he quickly teleports into the air above the mercs and slams the giant blade down through them slicing them both in half. Everyone nearby takes a second to process exactly what just happened before immediately bolting away from the scene as mercenaries run there to attack Golanier.


    "Come on then! Got a job to do here and I''m finishing it!" Golanier shouted before laughing clearly enjoying this


    Yorun rolls his eyes as he teleports behind the incoming mercs and quickly plants his daggers into the necks of a couple of them surprising them, the mercs drop dead and quickly the others split up half going towards Golanier who quickly begins to tear through them while the others begin to fight Yorun who is making use of teleporting and conjuring more daggers for himself, as the fight drags on for a few minutes more and more mercenaries fill the street and manage to subdue the two of them, Golanier could have continued fighting however he chose to let himself be taken down as they need the information on Ghilan. The mercenaries quickly restrain them with chains and put a barrier around the two to disable magic however they both still reside in the bodies so know it doesn''t work and as such they both smirk slightly to each other and are both hit by the mercenaries in response. The mercenaries drag the two through the streets until they reach an area with a large house at it but a couple of the mercenaries with magic reach out and the house begins to raise as the ground underneath it begins to stretch skyward until a door hidden beneath the ground is revealed, they open it and toss both Yorun and Golanier down a set of stairs behind it, hands stretch out of the walls catching the two of them before tossing them further and further down the stairs.


    "How far down are we being taken!?" Yorun asked loudly as he is tossed again


    "Given the heat I can feel coming from down there? Pretty far! Either that or someone likes their magic to heat this place!" Golanier shouted


    After a few minutes they see a doorway at the bottom of the stairs and are not caught by anymore hands instead being force to crash onto the ground immediately as the thud from them hitting the ground rings out the door opens up mercenaries grab them and begin to use magic to move the almost endless tunnels around until they are brought to a large chamber finely crafted with magic, lit by magical lamps and lava flowing behind a see through wall heating the room but magic is clearly at use to make it a nice heat. In the back of the room is Ghilan standing there and he matches Golaniers normal form in height and is muscled with a few scars across his face but they notice above all of that he has more scales across his face than the image Sunhale had showed them earlier.


    "You look a little different than expected" Golanier said getting hit by one of the mercenaries


    "Stop hitting our guests, for now at least. Will either of you two gentlemen be willing to tell me why you attacked the mercenaries above?" Ghilan asked his voice almost soothing and backed up by a bit of magic to try and force both Golanier and Yorun to relax and talk


    "That won''t work, as for why we''re here though? I''m sure you''ll find out, now Golanier" Yorun said


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    Ghilan and the mercenaries watch as nothing seems to happen and while they look confused Ghilan looks into their eyes and finds that they are more dulled looking less full of life.


    "I don''t know what just happened but I know something did, talk now" Ghilan said as he looked at the undead bandits


    "Master is coming after you" The undead bandits said in unison their voice the usual dead voice completely different to the voice they had heard only moments ago


    Yorun and Golanier send their souls right into the undead mercenaries from Oiraks place and they then quickly make their way to the entrance to the stairway to Ghilan. The area is off limits while the building has been raised like this however due to the bodies they inhabit currently they are both let through and the mercenaries there recognise the two of them.


    "Hey you two, coming to see what Ghilans going to do to those fuckers from earlier?" One of the mercs asked


    "No" Golanier said as he quickly sliced their necks with a couple of conjured blades


    Yorun begins to raise the bodies before they even fully drop to the ground, they let them through the doorway, as they step through the doors slam shut and a eye appears on the ceiling above.


    "You are not supposed to be here... Your souls are not of your bodies" An unfamiliar demonic voice radiated from the walls but Yorun notices Golanier smirk


    Golanier begins to speak his language not one Yorun understands and it sounds difficult to even speak visceral in its very nature but as Golanier speaks Yorun looks up and sees the eye growing wider before Golanier stops speaking.


    "Run little Gekrinalita" Golanier said and the eye disappears within seconds


    "What the fuck?" Yorun said simply as he begins to teleport down the stairs with Golanier


    "A weak demon, recognised it from years ago, fuckers still afraid of me" Golanier said smirking


    It does not take long for them to reach the bottom of the stairs and to kick the doors open, Yorun makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hands as he kills some mercenaries who are still there before raising them, he gives them some magic.


    "Move the corridors and bring us to Ghilan" Yorun said


    The undead mercenaries use the magic gifted to them as they begin to shift around the tunnels, Ghilan meanwhile is still looking at the undead bandits.


    "The tone in your voices changed substantially, demons maybe? I don''t know but it is intriguing whatever it may be, Gekrinalita you there? I sense the tunnels being moved around, who approaches?" Ghilan asked and the eye appeared


    "The souls that were in those people before you, in new bodies, you will not survive mortal for one of them I know" Gekrinalita said


    "Then give me all the strength you can" Ghilan said


    Yorun and Golanier soon enough break down the door to the chamber where the undead bandits and Ghilan are, Ghilan however stands ready, black and red scales covering his body his eyes lizard like with flames erupting from his hands and bones stick out of his forearms like spikes and the forearms themselves look like they''ve been hardened. The ground beneath him is turning into lava yet he stands there uncaring, while finally a symbol appears across his body and Yorun recognises it, the symbol for the god of Chaos and Injustice, a whirlwind behind a smashed scale similar to the one in Raeknars symbol.


    "Are you a chosen?" Yorun asked


    "No, just a man idiotic enough to rely on a demon" Ghilan said


    "A weak one at that, Gekrinalita is a lower tier demon, his kind are constantly trying to endear themselves to the stronger ones by showing they can convince strong mortals do what they want, seems Gekrinalita finally managed to do it once" Golanier said


    "You know your stuff, the demon even seemed to fear you and while I probably should, honestly? I''ve been dying to fight for a long time and I''m ready for the next life despite knowing where I am going" Ghilan said as he grabbed a spear from the wall nearby


    "I wouldn''t be so sure about that" Golanier said with a smirk as he conjures a spectral version of his greatsword once more


    Ghilan without warning quickly sped towards the pair of them the ground itself super heating before turning to molten rock as he goes across it, he extends the spear out trying to stab it into Yorun who quickly teleports behind him though away from the molten rock, Ghilan quickly spins around getting low as he uses the length of the spear to try and trip Yorun up while simultaneously raising an arm behind himself to block the incoming strike from Golanier using the spikes coming from his forearm to trap the blade before dropping the spear and quickly turning to Golanier and grabbing him by the head, using the momentum of himself turning so quickly he continues to turn and throws Golanier towards Yorun causing them both to be thrown into a wall.


    "No matter what I won''t allow anyone to say I didn''t go out fighting for my life even if I''m ready to give it up!" Ghilan shouted as he used magic to quickly throw the spear at Yorun and Golanier piercing both their bodies


    Yorun uses magic to send Raeknars scythe now covered in black flames over to the still chained undead bandits and uses it to slice through the chains as he and Golanier send their souls back into those bodies, Yorun grabs the scythe and quickly slices it at Ghilan who dodges before causing the roof above them to collapse bringing down lava into the entire room, the city above shakes as the tunnels below it begin to shift as the mercenaries using them block off the lava that Ghilan makes his way up through as if it were water. Within moments he reaches the surface bursting from the ground setting nearby buildings ablaze with the heat and fire radiating from his body. Yorun and Golanier send their souls into the undead mercenaries outside the stairway down to the now messed up tunnel system before teleporting over to where Ghilan is, Yorun once more making the scythe appear in his hands.


    "You fuckers just don''t die do you?" Ghilan asked seemingly enjoying this


    "No we don''t after all he already is and I am not anywhere near this damn city" Yorun said


    "How fun, now give me everything you got because if that little bastard was scared then show me what he was scared of!" Ghilan shouted


    "Fine then" Golanier said


    Both Yorun and Golanier begin to use the magic of the other souls they''ve collected previously and the souls begin to scream, the screams ring out through the streets horrifying anyone nearby save for Ghilan, who rushes in to attack but then Golanier makes giant skeletal arms come from the ground grabbing Ghilan and tossing him away, mercenaries from throughout the city begin to run there after hearing the screams and sensing all the magic use, but Yorun and Golanier begin to quickly kill them and occasionally take souls from them, the process being quicker this time as they are not being subtle at the moment, the bodies of the mercenaries raise and rush down Ghilan who begins to make the ground in the city shake as he makes lava shoot up from the ground like a geyser then using the lava he creates essentially a moat around himself to stop the undead getting to him and those in the lavas way are quickly stopped by it. Yorun and Golanier give magic to multiple of the undead mercenaries and they all alongside Yorun and Golanier themselves begin to launch magical attacks towards Ghilan, Ghilan on the other hand uses his own magic to try and defend himself making barriers come up from the lava while making a proper barrier before slamming a fist into the ground and forcing spikes to erupt outward from his position at the undead. Yorun makes the black flames erupt from the scythe once more and speeds towards one of the rock walls Ghilan made slicing through it much to Ghilans quick surprise as he didn''t see him coming from behind it, Yorun then stabs the scythe right through Ghilans chest bringing him to the ground.


    "D-damnit oh well, good j-job old man" Ghilan said


    "You aren''t done in this realm yet Ghilan" Yorun said as he then takes Ghilans soul from his body before raising the body of Ghilan


    "W-what did you just do to me?" Ghilan asked


    "What we''ve done to a few others bound your soul to mine, you aren''t going to Faelerm yet, you have your uses" Yorun said


    "Raeknar, we lost the act of surprise during that but we still have one way to begin the assault on this city proper even if we havent gone for the other targets yet" Golanier said


    "Fine, do it" Yorun said as he channelled some magic to Golanier


    Golanier looks up to the sky and he begins to use the magic of the souls bound to him and magic channelled to him then soon enough what almost looks like a tear in fabric opens before a large portal spanning across the city opens in the sky above, Kragrum opened to the mortal world and a portion of Yoruns army that was put there over the last couple days begin to drop from the portal into the city as the assault begins...

 Ch 33: Chaos

    The city of Joaralta descends into chaos as the portal to Kragrum stretching across the sky above, undead dropping into the city sends the people into a further panic as blades begin to clash throughout the streets, Yorun standing where he was after dealing with Ghilan begins to use the souls and send out magic across the undead mages and his forces begin to build up rapidly. The mercenaries and citizens of the city are doing their best to fight back and some manage to mobilise and create proper defences however many are not as quick. As Yorun and Golanier are about to go help the undead they both feel a large magical power amassing at the mansion they know to be Ikterans and as the mansion itself blows apart as some explosion takes place every piece of it including the furniture from inside begin to float around the city creating a walkway in the air as Ikteran walks along it, his sheer presence stopping almost all fighting in the city including that of the intelligent undead, those who are new continue to fight however. Ikteran lifts a hand and the portal to Kragrum begins to warp and the undead cease coming through, they are held at the portal as if there is an invisible net before a series of demons come flying down from the portal to begin attacking the undead army. Ikteran looks across the city from up high and his eyes focus on Yorun, his voice booms across the city coming from every alleyway in the city as if he were in every one of them.


    "The chosen of Raeknar hm? You squirrelled your way into the city in a body not your own? How fascinating" Ikteran said as the bricks that once made up his mansion begin to float Infront of him making a stairway down to Yorun


    "Powerful one aren''t you? Let me guess a chosen and given that show with the portal and the demons involvement in the city. Malekanivor?" Yorun asked


    "Correct, seems you''re better at this than we expected" Ikteran said in a relaxed and courteous way but as the last word left his lips his body begins to shake and twist unnaturally as if something were trying to escape him before his body began to change to a demonic form similar to that of Ghilan


    "Too bad for you!" Ikteran said his voice and demeanour suddenly far more hostile with the same demonic voice heard by many


    Ikteran disappeared from their sight and within seconds was right behind Yorun and Golanier tapping them both on the shoulder to get their attention they both quickly react by elbowing his face but it has no effect, he merely smiles before grabbing the both of them and the air around them quickly begins to change lighting on fire before a gust of wind comes in which changes into rocks lighting on fire as a result from the air before slamming into the both of them and sending them into the ground hard.


    "You fight a chosen of Chaos and Injustice and you have not even got power from Raeknar, we take it back, you aren''t better than we expected in fact you''re far below expectations" Ikteran said with a tone filled with boredom


    "Might be a good time to say those damn words Yorun" Golanier said as he picked himself up the body he is in beginning to fall apart having never trained for this kind of combat


    "Oh you still need to say the words? Oh you can here far to early..." Ikteran said his voice now happy as he lets out an amused giggle


    Yorun begins to get up and looks at Ikteran.


    "You going to stop me from saying them?" Yorun asked


    "Oh why would I? Far more fun even if we won''t be the ones fighting" Ikteran said before smirking sitting down awaiting Yorun to call Raeknar, Yorun sighs


    "I do not want to say these words, it results in a far longer war than I or anyone wants but I need to. In the world full of injustice one god will say no more, in this moment, in this time only one can remain, may the gods tremble in fear as death comes to bring justice to this world" Yorun said each word more voices joining his own


    Yorun once more begins to grow in size and change just as before as Raeknar takes over the body Yorun currently inhabits with their symbol appearing on the ground below them, the skies turn red and the realms shake but this time something is different as the realms continue to shake, before abruptly stopping and the skies as well as the oceans around the world turn completely black while grass and trees begin to wither and die around them as do people throughout the city, only a few do not die as this expanding area of death envelopes the city. Ikteran unaffected looks up and smirks seeing the completely dark sky despite the sun still having its spot in the sky before slowly standing before his body begins to painfully contort, bones snapping and skin melting before his body explodes apart leaving only the skeleton while new flesh constitutes itself onto the skeleton, forming large demonic wings, his body becoming an amalgamation of different animal parts made into a humanoid, his right hand being clawed while his left hand has become a second mouth, his face having no features on it while his torso has those missing features like a misshapen misaligned doll.


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    "Malekanivor, it has been a long time" Raeknar said staring down the other mortal bodied god before them


    Malekanivor takes a single step and the gravity across the realm begins to shift, in some places its normal, others its stronger and in others it lessens allowing magicless flight, trees that haven''t died turn to stone, grass turns to water keeping the shape of a grass blade and the blackened oceans become a gas that refuses to rise above the water level yet the animals continue to swim through them while other beings like humans or sentient magical creatures begin to walk through the gaseous oceans.


    "That it has Raeknar, tell me how long was it exactly?" Malekanivor said, shouted and whispered all at the same time with a smirk adorning their face


    "You know exactly how long just as I and the others do, not since the First" Raeknar said


    "Oh come on Justice God, it''s no fun if you don''t say it after all when we last spoke it was after your last chosen died" Malekanivor said, shouted and whispered once more


    "What are you getting at Malekanivor?" Raeknar asked though they could imagine the answer


    "Since you don''t want us traipsing into your realm and don''t even let us see in, I want to know, how was his face? How was it when every single member of his tiny little race were led into Faelerm right after him" Malekanivor said, shouted and whispered menacingly yet full of glee


    "Maybe he''d tell you were I to let you in, even after 500 million years his soul continues to serve faithfully" Raeknar said with a tinge of pride in it


    "And there it is! 500 million!" Malekanivor only shouted


    "Let''s get this over with" Raeknar said as they begin to float up as if a platform were raising them


    Raeknar watches as Malekanivor rises into the sky just as they did before disappearing and appearing behind Raeknar who doesn''t even turn around yet grabbing Malekanivor with a skeletal hand coming straight from their spine and appearing across the universe to distant planets and stars. Malekanivor doesn''t even need to look around before beginning to laugh as the nearby planets surfaces begin to crack and as if pulled by a great deal of gravity towards Malekanivor come shooting away from the planet towards Raeknar, the largest star nearby goes supernova resulting in a black hole as planet after planet begins to be pulled in both Malekanivor and Raeknar fight within the black hole, soon enough Malekanivor seems to smirk amidst the fight and massively scaled battle.


    "Raeknar, what about your chosen''s real body?" Malekanivor whispered in a sing song fashion


    "I know you''ve done nothing Malekanivor I would sense the death, you on the other hand seem to have ignored after all these years one thing" Raeknar said


    "Oh? What''s that?" Malekanivor said


    "Everything. Will. Die" Raeknar said coldly


    The black hole, planets, stars and even asteroids that remain all disappear within an instant dying and anything resulting from their deaths also dying creating an empty zone within the deep reaches of the realms night sky. Raeknar feels empowered from the death of them all and they ruthlessly begin to slice Malekanivor apart with their scythe before looking down at them.


    "Your chaos is too much, your presence even in the form of a mortal can not happen for long else everything the other gods have made is thrown out of balance, the balance they want to stop me from ending. They''ll come for you before me" Raeknar said coldly and the laughing as well as the smirking of Malekanivor stops as Raeknars scythe gets buried within the eye on Malekanivors chest


    "You''re right so what are we to do? Chaos and injustice runs rampant even without little old me yet I want a piece of it" Malekanivor said


    "Then make this something to remember take a swing at the others, you''ve wanted to that I know after all while we can duke it out forever it will get boring for you but they are a new challenge and one that stands in the way of your fun" Raeknar said pushing Malekanivor back


    "Oh Raeknar trying to recruit your morale opposite?" Malekanivor asked with a smirk


    "We both know this universe has a few grey spots, so while you have some fun, their plans will be thrown into chaos and your demons will have some fun as well dealing with an old Kalrin named Golanier" Raeknar said eliciting an amused giggle from Malekanivor


    "Fine, a deals a deal Raeknar. Give my best to the necromancers for every realm will feel what is to come" Malekanivor said before disappearing


    Raeknar appears back in the city of Joaralta, they see Ikteran unconscious on the ground under the foot of Golanier, Golanier looks over as Raeknar allows Yorun to control the undead once more, the body however immediately begins to decay dying in one of the only ways an undead can and while the realm is returning to normal Yoruns soul returns to his real body and he doubles over to the ground as the Kolakinta Mountains Fortess begins to get enveloped in a cloud of death emanating from Yoruns body just like what had come from Raeknar as nature around begins to die. The villagers who supply the fortress with magic see the nature dying and quickly flee the fortress as Yorun begins to panic on the fortress grounds...

 Ch 34: An Altered Soul

    As the world is returning to its normal state after Raeknar and Malekanivors clash there remains one area steeped in death, the Kolakinta Mountain fortress where Yorun remains on the floor of its courtyard with death emanating from his body, grass across the mountain range continues to die while Yorun is unable to move not from pain or anything of the sort but the panic is has with this new power coming from him. Raeknar appears next to him their scythe in their hand and Yorun looks up at them.


    "W-what is happening!?" Yorun shouted confused and horrified by the situation


    Raeknar doesn''t react but all of a sudden the area of pure death coming from Yorun seems to just disappear and the grass across the mountains seem to get revitalized before Raeknar extends a hand which Yorun goes to take with his left hand having gotten used to having one once more in the undead body but then he realises he doesn''t have it anymore and takes Raeknars hand with his right being helped up by Raeknar as if he weighed nothing.


    "Listen Yorun you are my chosen mortal and with that you have said the words for me to act directly a few times, do you remember what Ikteran said about the words? or better yet do you remember him or even Forina saying any such words to have their god take their place in this world?" Raeknar asked and it gave Yorun pause for a moment


    "No I don''t remember them saying anything of the sort, Ikteran did say ''Oh you still need to say the words, you came here far too early'' right?" Yorun said


    "Correct, as a chosen you have a connection to the god whom you are the chosen of and the words which we have you say to act the way we do through you are a temporary measure. By design your bodies and souls are not meant to have a god residing in or alongside them even for a temporary time, the words as a result are to stall for time while we modify your body and soul a little so you don''t get any adverse effects. This is a large commitment after all and as such you much be sure which is why what we get you to say is a bit long too, you''ll have noticed the more you have called for my aid the easier it has been to hear and see what was done when you weren''t in control" Raeknar said


    "Y-you aren''t wrong" Yorun said as he looked to his right hand still basically afraid of what he had unleashed moments prior


    "That is a result of my tampering with you but a bonus of such a thing and your commitment is the way we alter you, your soul has acted and resided within the same body as mine own and with the alterations it understands my soul even if you do not and has replicated a portion of my power, a gift we bestow upon our chosen is this. A far weaker version of some of our power, in this case as you primarily saw the ability to control death" Raeknar said


    "Ok I get how I have it but how the do I control it!? I-i''m beyond afraid that if I don''t I will just kill everyone I go near including eventually my family when they''re brought so how do I control it!?" Yorun shouted the fear more than evident in his voice


    "It is rather simple and the reason I denied death to all of this nature around us, look to the grass, your albeit weaker ability to control death is limited to those weaker than you but alongside this ability to have the ability to sense death, if you calm down I am more than certain you''ll sense the war taking place elsewhere in the Feirnian Empire but you will also sense life as they are connected" Raeknar said


    "I could already do that, sensing souls became pretty easy once I learned more about magic" Yorun said


    "I never said souls, I said life, there are things throughout the realms which live yet have no souls, nature for example as do the demons of Kragrum so calm down Yorun and feel the life around you" Raeknar said


    "Easier said than done Raeknar" Yorun said


    Raeknar looks at Yorun and they turn the scythe in their hands so the long curved edge of it is pointed towards themself while the blunt bottom end of the scythe is made to touch Yoruns chest, within an instant Yoruns mind clears and the panic he had is gone as a warmth spreads through his body from the point in which the scythe touched him yet it feels like something is gone aswell.


    "I have temporarily removed the emotion of fear from you that way your panic derived from it cannot interfere" Raeknar said


    "R-right" Yorun said as he does indeed feel the panic and fear is gone, things he previously feared he feels he could go face at that moment


    "Now feel the life coming from the plants, they''ll be brimming with it more than usual given their inability to die" Raeknar said


    Yorun looks to the grass in the courtyard and he closes his eyes trying to sense the life from the grass and it takes no time at all to sense something from the grass.


    "I sense it... its like a odd malleable object undulating at a slow pace and with a tinge of magic from ages past within" Yorun said


    "Correct, that tinge of magic comes from Teirna while it is only a speck of magic she is the originator of life so it does come from her. Anyway now that you sense the life coming from the grass I''ll let some of it die again tell me what you sense" Raeknar said before the grass in the courtyard begins to rapidly die once more


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    "I can feel them dying, it''s like the malleable substance has been shaped into a wall that normally would be eroded with time like with water and walls but with what I''m doing its like a tsunami crashing into and past the wall destroying it" Yorun asked


    "That so called ''tsunami'' is indeed coming from you, your soul is accessing that divine magic and releasing that pure death directly from it and all you need to do is calm the waves and as the waves settle life can continue" Raeknar said


    "While I try to figure that out can I ask one question?" Yorun asked


    "Go on" Raeknar said


    "Malekanivor was taunting you about your last chosen which from what I heard was 500 million years ago, who were they and why did their entire race follow them to Faelerm?" Yorun asked


    "That is something I actually will not answer, despite being a chosen he was at the end of the day mortal and mortal matters should be discovered by mortal means, I do not doubt you will discover something about him in the near future" Raeknar said getting only a nod from Yorun who is obviously dissatisfied with the response but goes with it


    Yorun closes his eyes and tries to feel where in the depths of his soul the new divine magic is coming from but he focuses first and foremost one the death magic surrounding the grass and feeling out it comes back to his body he then notices it is coming from every part of him exuding from him however there is one point where it seems to concentrate.


    "My hand... I feel this concentrating in my hand" Yorun said as he looks at it


    "You can create an area of death and aura of it coming from yourself it will kill those weaker than yourself which isn''t many currently but as you grow stronger it will become far more impressive however if you concentrate it in a single point such as the hand as a result of me having done that when I first took over your body you will be able to kill those stronger than you however as they will be stronger that will be hard to do" Raeknar said


    "That makes sense and it is useful if I can think of ways around it, maybe with teleporting if they don''t react quick enough" Yorun said as thoughts on how it could be used swarm his mind


    "Yorun, focus now" Raeknar said snapping Yorun out of it as he closes his eyes once more


    Yorun now being more familiar with how this new magic feels he looks into his own soul and finds where it is originating and like his other magics he calms it making a metaphorical flood gate on this tidal wave of death waiting to open it when he needs it. It takes much time to do this as it is something naturally done not something one needs to think of however this magic is fundamentally different and Yorun could tell that even if he didn''t know its origins.


    "Is this what it feels like? For you or for anyone who is granted magic?" Yorun asked


    "To me if feels like nothing but those granted magic? Yes it is more like that, their soul doesn''t recognise the normal process at first but don''t worry you will be used to it soon and at that point you wont need to think about it but do keep the others around you who are alive at a safe enough distance until then in case you accidentally ''open the flood gates'' so to speak" Raeknar said


    Raeknar touched the bottom end of the scythe to Yoruns chest once more and Yoruns emotion of fear returns to his eyes but lessened than before it was taken.


    "Gods I don''t want to imagine if my family were here right now what I could do to them, t-that would haunt me" Yorun said with slight panic in his voice


    "Then keep it under control until your soul gets used to it and by the time you get them back you will be fine" Raeknar said


    "Right" Yorun said calming more and more


    "Return to Joaralta, in person this time as separating your soul while keeping that under control is not recommended, get the others up to speed with what has happened and capture Ikteran so that when you can, you can take his soul" Raeknar said


    "Won''t that anger Malekanivor?" Yorun asked


    "No, Malekanivor has already abandoned him, it happens when the god you follow is the god of chaos and injustice, basically Ikteran is no longer fun" Raeknar said before disappearing


    Yorun sighs and puts his hand on his own chest feeling his heart beat before teleporting to Joaralta, Sunhale senses him and teleports next to him.


    "Yorun wha-" Sunhale said before Yorun quickly backed away from him


    "Don''t get close Sunhale, as a result of Raeknar I can now kill people with a touch or those weaker than me around me if I don''t control it so keep back for now alright?" Yorun said quickly


    "Ooookay? That was unexpected" Sunhale said


    "I''ll talk about it more later but for now we need to secure Ikteran, know where he is at?" Yorun asked but as he asked that he could feel the many injustices of souls nearby some he knows as he feels his connection to them but one he doesn''t share the connection with


    "Nevermind" Yorun said before teleporting over to Golanier and Ikteran


    Yorun notices upon teleporting there that first off Golanier has Ikteran under his boot clearly enjoying being over this still living now ex chosen, the next thing Yorun notices is that much like Forina Ikterans body has not returned to normal even though he still lives, his featureless head with his face on his chest, the demonic wings, animal parts and weird hands.


    "Why did his body not return to normal, Forina I get but he still lives so why?" Yorun asked


    "My guess? Malekanivor doesn''t care, were we not going to take this fuckers soul and raise the body him living out his life like this would be cruel" Golanier said with a smirk


    "Well whatever, take him back to the fortress and ignore the dead grass, put him in a cell and make sure he can''t use his magic, we need him but I can''t take his soul right now its suffice to say unstable" Yorun said


    "Point made I can feel that shit through our connection so can the others I imagine" Golanier said as he took his foot off Ikteran and then picked him up


    "This day did not turn out how I expected" Yorun said


    "Got a lot more undead now though and more on the way, your magic may not be in the mages right now but mine is and they are working" Golanier said before teleporting away with the unconscious Ikteran


    Yorun looks over at where the battle between himself and Ikteran started, the place is wrecked but he can still identify it even through the damaged buildings, blood and other pieces of rubble around and Malekanivors words echo through his head.


    "He said ''every single member of his tiny little race were led into Faelerm right after him'', just what in all the realms happened?" Yorun asked himself before teleporting back to the fortress


    Yorun heads to his room and rests but even when sleeping he keeps a firm focus on his soul an advantage brought on from the training around it and with the undead using his magic, this night is peaceful for him no nightmares or anything of the sort just those words echoing through his mind as he wonders what happened to the last chosen and his people...

 Ch 35: The Predecessor

    As the next day rolls around and the villagers from nearby the fortress return after being informed by Sunhale and Golanier of what transpired Yorun wakes once more, as he sits up he looks at his hand before sighing and looking to one of the nearby stone walls. Yorun uses some magic on the wall making the current date appear on it as if it were a calendar and Yorun looks a bit sad after seeing it, he gets up and teleports new clothes on under the cloak before walking out. Yorun walks the halls past the villagers before heading into the war room where he finds Sunhale.


    "Hey Sunhale" Yorun said the bit of sadness evident on his face


    "Hey Yorun, what''s wrong?" Sunhale asked both curious and genuinely a little worried


    "It''s the 39th of Helkiath, my daughters birthday would have been in two days. It''s hitting me right in the soul to say the least" Yorun said


    "Oh I''m sorry, I had never asked about such things, I don''t imagine that this kind of time is easy for you given well everything" Sunhale said


    "No matter how old she or her brother got, they always enjoyed the time their birthdays came around, as we get older and I imagine more so for those who live a long time like yourself the magic of that one day leaves you but it never felt like it would with either of them. Every year that passed and I would feel my body gradually giving up on me all I would see is those two smiling along as life continued to present them with good times. Seeing their smiles on their birthdays never ceased to give me my own but this time? I cannot see that and I doubt she will have one this time" Yorun said tears running down his scarred face


    Sunhale looks at him and feels bad for him and he reaches out to his shoulder but hesitates for a moment before putting his hand on it.


    "Listen Yorun I may have joined you as just an ally but we''ve grown a respect to each other and I hope a friendship, we''ve not delved into each others lives but that doesn''t mean I don''t feel terrible for all that has happened to you and I sincerely hope you get to see those smiles once again alright?" Sunhale said getting a nod in return from Yorun


    "Right, thanks Sunhale and yeah you''re a friend, definitely not how I imagined befriending an elf but you are one all the same" Yorun said as he wipes away the tears


    "When the day of your daughters birthday comes I''ll be there with you, she may not be able to do so here but we''ll celebrate her life all the same" Sunhale said


    "Thank you Sunhale I appreciate it" Yorun said turning to look at Sunhale


    "You can take a rest if you want all of this is not easy on you never mind with that coming up, I''ll handle things out here after all the undead do take my orders too" Sunhale said


    "I''ll do just that but if you''ll continue working then I have a request, find out what Malekanivor was talking about, I want to know what happened to Raeknars last chosen" Yorun said before heading back to his room


    "Last chosen..." Sunhale said to himself in the elven language


    Sunhale leaves the war room and heads through the fortress corridors until he finds the stairway down into the dungeon, he walks down passing by numerous undead guards and through a barrier nullifying the magic of any prisoners kept there which is only one now. Sunhale looks around and finds Golanier in front of Ikterans cell.


    "Golanier" Sunhale said


    "Sunhale, need something?" Golanier asked


    "I wasn''t around the immediate area of Yorun and Ikteran when Raeknar and Malekanivor took over and spoke to one another. What''s this about Yoruns predecessor?" Sunhale asked and theres a laugh from the nearby imprisoned Ikteran


    "Have fun searching little elf" Ikteran said though the mouth that is in place of one of his hands


    "Shut it you" Golanier said before shooting some lightning at him through the cell bars eliciting a scream of pain


    "Lets talk away from the prisoner" Sunhale said getting a nod in response


    Sunhale and Golanier leave the dungeon and Golanier talks Sunhale through the conversation Raeknar and Malekanivor had before they fought.


    "Interesting, so a previous chosen died and their whole race went soon after, 500 million years ago is a long fucking time to find anything on though" Sunhale said


    "Your archives got anything that far back?" Golanier asked


    "Far as I know the archives were established 200 million years ago sure there will be some things from a bit further back but that far? At most its likely speculation, I''ll head there and check though" Sunhale said


    "Yeah you do that, I''ll head to Kragrum and see if Celantriak or any other demon knows something, unless killed by some external force they will live forever after all so some may know something" Golanier said before opening a portal and heading through closing it behind himself


    Sunhale teleports across the lands all the way out of the Fiernian empire and back into Qur''Anther just outside the archives. Sunhale walks into the archives and he looks to the reception desk seeing Fal''Rine resting in his chair but as Sunhale approaches Fal''Rine notices and gets up.


    "Sunhale it has been a little while, good to see you" Fal''Rine said speaking the elven language


    "Likewise Fal''Rine, I''ve come to find out about the god Raeknar whom Yorun serves as they may have had a chosen a long time ago and that information may prove useful, I know they are a human god but our archives must have something" Sunhale said


    "Don''t keep up that farse of multiple pantheons if you read even a full quarter of the stories on gods in these archives you will notice very quickly that its an idiotic notion" Fal''Rine said


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    "Oh thank the gods, its annoying to dance around that and find information that''s relevant in good time" Sunhale said eliciting a chuckle from Fal''Rine


    "Fair enough, fair enough. Now how long ago did this predecessor to Yorun exist?" Fal''Rine asked now curious but wanting to help


    "According to Malekanivor 500 million years ago" Sunhale said shocking Fal''Rine


    "That''s a good deal older than the archives though we do have sections of this place where older things are kept and more than that so how about we go look?" Fal''Rine said before using magic to float off the ground slightly


    Sunhale takes note of that as he follows Fal''Rine through the archives, the walking takes a while as with the archives bending reality the oldest parts are a fair distance away to keep all the information since their establishment. Row after row of bookshelves are passed alongside tables containing important or historically relevant items to the point in time each sections are for but as they reach further and further in eventually it becomes more sparse less information on certain times until Fal''Rine stops.


    "Alright this area around us now has any information we believe MAY be from around 500 million years ago, very little evidence other than some ancient sites, bones or to be translated pieces of writing, language changes a lot during that time after all" Fal''Rine said


    "Alright, thanks Fal''Rine you can rest I''ll look through what''s here" Sunhale said as he turned to him


    "Oh nonsense, I''ll help you, you start around here while I go check the book ''Races of the Realms'' for any possible information" Fal''Rine said


    "Thanks Fal''Rine" Sunhale said


    Fal''Rine floats away while Sunhale grabs some books and begins to read over them, it takes hours even with magical help to read through it all faster and Sunhale is quickly realising how much there is going to be.


    "Don''t know why I didn''t even think about this, while there is less information compared to the last 200 million years its still a large span of time I''m looking into so even if its mostly speculations there''s a lot of it, I need to narrow the search first. If they were a chosen of Raeknar they''d be doing similar things to Yorun likely stopping people throughout some empire from committing more injustices, combine that if the fact we know they''re of a race that no longer exists... Maybe I should look at records of cities, kingdoms or empires that had trouble or fell during that time then cross reference it with anything Fal''Rine finds on races" Sunhale said to himself as he began to pick out books and documents pertaining to such things


    Golanier meanwhile stands in Kragrum and as he looks around the realm of demons he waits a moment while standing within his own territory for Celantriak who arrives not even a minute later despite his hulking size he kneels before Golanier but even kneeling he is eye level with Golanier.


    "My lord, what brings you here this day?" Celantriak asked


    "The human I''m bound too Yorun is not Raeknars first chosen, we''re looking for information on who his predecessor was, know anything?" Golanier asked


    "I had heard rumours of such a thing but they were spread long ago and only as a result of the ancient purging''s" Celantriak said


    "Ancient purging''s?" Golanier asked


    "A long time ago even long before I was created by our god the ancient demons were all wiped out by someone and the demons who came after theorised or were even told by our god but they''ve long since been killed off by your hand my lord" Celantriak said


    "Shit, my old days are catching up to me" Golanier said somewhat annoyed now


    "I could still ask around if you so wish my lord, there may be some who still know something and have been tight lipped" Celantriak said


    "Do so and report back to me by the days end or sooner if you uncover anything, I''ll head to Qur''Anther oh and if there are any demons that remain tight lipped and they may actually have that information? Break them" Golanier said before leaving the realm once more and teleporting to the Qur''Anther archives


    Golanier walks inside and much like when he returned to the cities Magical Research and Development Institution with Yorun and Sunhale prior some ancient defences activate and vines of the same variety as then alongside more than a few Golems come from the ground. Fal''Rine quickly comes over to see what is happening as does Sunhale.


    "Really? Again Golanier?" Sunhale asked somewhat annoyed


    "What? Blame your ancestors for making you keep charging these defences when I was long gone" Golanier said making Sunhale facepalm


    "I suppose you have a point" Sunhale said


    "Well this is a unique one, so you''re the previous necromancer hm? I had heard from Vinak about this hold on a moment" Fal''Rine said before floating away and once he is out of sight the defences shut down and the vines as well as the Golems return into the ground


    "Quicker than Vinak did it" Sunhale said as Fal''Rine came back


    "Well with the knowledge from Vinak it made it a trivial matter now what brings the attempted world conqueror here?" Fal''Rine asked


    "Information, there''s a that some demon might know something about Yoruns predecessor but also a far larger chance even they''ve lost that knowledge since as it turns out a long time ago every demon was purged and once new ones were made the oldest I killed back in the day" Golanier said


    "Actions have consequences" Fal''Rine said with a smirk


    "Yeah yeah whatever, anyway find anything on your end?" Golanier asked


    "We''re combing through a long period of time most of which here is speculation so honestly? No idea if we''ll find anything today" Sunhale said


    "I found one thing that may be of use to you" Fal''Rine said


    "What''d you find?" Sunhale asked and Golanier listens curious himself


    "Within an extremely old book chronicling the races of the realms there was mentions of a race that was theorised to have existed 500 million years ago right now which at the time of the books writing was 300 million years prior. This book was the first written around the time this archive was built anyway this race was a draconic people sharing many similarities to the powerful dragons we know of and from what we know were close to the big creatures themselves. They are the only race theorised to have disappeared around that time if this book is correct anyway" Fal''Rine said and this seems to have gotten a reaction from Golanier as he immediately used magic on his own head


    "What are you doing?" Sunhale asked


    "Remembering, its been a while and as a result I need to do this but you''ll see" Golanier said


    After a couple minutes he uses his magic to conjure a replica of a humanoid draconic male who with a large wingspan and many scars across it.


    "This was one of my undead generals I had found the body in an old tomb, just figured they were another necromancer from years past given the way the body was preserved with magic but theres every chance that was done by Raeknar as opposed to this man himself. Unfortunately no memories ever came back as despite the magic preserving it the memories never returned to its undead brain" Golanier said


    "Fascinating, it does fit that small description so its possible" Fal''Rine said


    "We need more though, this still doesn''t tell much except that you MAY have made Raeknars at the time ONLY chosen into an undead soldier for yourself" Sunhale


    "You could try asking an ancient dragon, dragons are among the oldest living creatures of the realms and the oldest known one of which is still alive is the dragon called Ghairlakriar and as far as she has told us she is about 600 million years old though she is reclusive and despite her size I have no idea of her current whereabouts" Fal''Rine said


    "Over time we''ll look into dragon sightings then see if we can track down one old enough while Celantriak continues to look into the demon angle" Golanier said


    "Well it''s our best plan, we''ll be leaving now Fal''Rine, if you find anything else possibly useful please do tell us" Sunhale said


    "Of course and please do come back, these visits are certainly more interesting than those who come here for schooling purposes" Fal''Rine said with a chuckle before heading back to his reception desk


    Sunhale and Golanier teleport back to the fortress and continue with their duties yet as the day progresses the skies above the giants lands darken as a dragon of unbelievable size even to them flies above blocking the sun as it passes by...

 Ch 36: A Giants Return

    After returning from Qur''Anther Sunhale had gone into the room they set up the Darkness of Otaper and had remained there for hours well after the moons rise and eventually Yorun knocks on the room door, Sunhale turns to look at the door and as he reaches out to use normal magic to open it some of the shadows within the room reach out and open it themselves for him. Yorun walks in unaware of that as he sees the darkness retreat from the doorway due to the light from the hallway creeping in.


    "So Sunhale, when you and Golanier came back you immediately came in here, what''d you find out?" Yorun asked


    "Well turns out we have to find a dragon" Sunhale said


    "What?" Yorun said now completely confused


    "Turns out your predecessor was of a race that seemed draconic in nature and they have a good relationship with actual dragons, as a result there is one and only one dragon that''ll be able to help give us information" Sunhale said


    "I''m admittedly wary of dragons I''ve only ever heard of them being violent monsters" Yorun said


    "While they can be, they are intelligent yet those in charge in your Fiernian empire only make them out to be monsters to justify hunting them" Sunhale said


    "Ok so why is there only one dragon that can tell us?" Yorun asked


    "This one called Ghairlakriar lived according to them for 100 million years prior to the time in which this last chosen lived which is still weird to hear since as far as I know that shouldn''t be possible" Sunhale said


    "How so?" Yorun asked


    "Unless killed dragons typically live at most half of that ones age though maybe there''s just a subset of them that can like far longer" Sunhale said


    "Or it could be lying" Yorun responded


    "No its easy to tell if they are telling the truth about something like that, dragons never stop growing even as their body fails from aging they don''t stop growing and the eldest of normal dragons can be the size of giants who are already as big as or bigger than most mountains, if this one is as old as they claim? They tower over even them" Sunhale said


    "Gods the mental image of that is horrifying me" Yorun said as he shook slightly


    "Yeah I''m really trying not to think about it, anyway I''m asking around on if anyone''s seen a dragon that could be old enough and specifically looking for that one, they''d stand out after all" Sunhale said after which Golanier appeared next to them as just a soul


    "You can say that again, I''ve seen them before back when I was alive" Golanier said


    "You didn''t mention that in the archives" Sunhale said with clear annoyance in his voice


    "Whatever, anyway if memory serves she is fucking huge as you guessed but despite that and the fact she was the most powerful thing I''ve ever seen that WASN''T a god I never had to fear her. Her children? Sure but her no, even as I killed and then raised the bodies of her children she only ever watched, she never once attacked or gave me a reason to think she would, always found it strange but I never wanted to test if that would hold up if I attacked her directly. Despite being a gigantic target I would not win that fight, dragons don''t stop growing which also means their means to attack don''t stop either, while they do have magic their breath attacks are a biological function that is usually altered with magic, do you realise the horrifying amount of fire or whatever that can come from such a large dragon? It''s a lot and I absolutely didn''t want to see it" Golanier said


    "Then why kill her children in the first place?" Yorun asked


    "I didn''t see her, she had clearly been there for some time to the point that rocks, dirt and grass had accumulated on her to such a degree that I legitimately hadn''t noticed, only reason I did is one of the dragons I had killed roared for her to wake up with their last breath. I could more than tell she was angry at what I had done yet no breath attack was done, no claws unleashed and no impossibly strong wings used to destroy me. Still confuses me to no end" Golanier said with very evident confusion in his voice backing that up


    "That is very strange" Sunhale said


    "Yeah, we should tread carefully if we end up meeting this one" Yorun said getting a nod from both of them in response


    "I agr-" Sunhale said before being cut off by a voice from the darkness he recognises as Reifal


    "Sunhale, some of our people in giant territory have cause sight of Ghairlakriar in the skies" Reifal said in the elven language which draws Sunhales attention back to the darkness


    "Where?" Sunhale asked


    "Within the giants territory lays a town affectionately called ''Little Town'' by the giants as its a town they constructed for those living in their territory who are not of giant size, its close to our empire northern border. The spies there reported seeing Ghairlakriar in the skies heading towards a nearby mountain range commonly referred to as ''Demons Folly'', if you are looking for Ghairlakriar then head there" Reifal said


    "Thank you Reifal" Sunhale said as he took his hand away from the darkness and stepped away


    "So what was that?" Yorun asked


    "We have Ghairlakriar''s last known location and where she was heading, we can''t just head there as its in Giant territory, shot in the dark but Golanier you know anyone there that wont immediately attack us?" Sunhale asked


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    "Well remember back around the time we took this fortress? The giants that both some of the villagers and I mentioned? One of them was against me a thousand years ago but we have a mutual understanding and respect, he will listen to me as he knows full well what I am capable of" Golanier said


    "Sounds like an option at least, what''s this ones name I''d prefer that he knows we''re good people even if you aren''t" Yorun said


    "Joolak, he is currently a mercenary but used to be in command of the entirety of the giant army, he is missing an arm much like yourself Yorun" Golanier said


    "Ok call on him and well see if things go even remotely well" Yorun said with an unconfidant voice


    Golanier disappears entering his body once more before heading out of the fortress''s mountain range so that the defences won''t activate once Joolak comes, Golanier smirks and his eyes glow as green flames emit from them, across the world Joolak is with the two mercenaries he was with prior and they are still bedridden from what Golanier had done to them yet soon enough they begin to scream in pain as something inside them burns, they claw at their necks trying to get whatever it is and Joolak quickly chains their hands away from their necks with magic as he scans them seeing a an old symbol only a select few would recognise burning inside their necks.


    "I see you Golanier, please stop this and I''ll speak to you" Joolak said and immediately the pain of the two mercenaries stops


    "W-what the hell was that?" One of the mercenaries said


    "That necromancer who injured you he left something inside you to call for me as he did a few times before, rest and I''ll be back" Joolak said before teleporting across the world to where Golanier is


    Golanier looks up at Joolak and motions for Joolak to bring his hand down which is done immediately, Joolak lifts Golanier up and outstretches his arm so that they are eye level despite the fact Golanier is about the size of his eye.


    "Why have you called for me? I thought you were pretty clear for me to leave with anyone who''d follow" Joolak said


    "Well circumstances change and we need your help, Ghairlakriar is in your peoples homeland and we need to have a chat with her, you can get us there without an alarm being raised even if ''Little Town'' is our destination" Golanier said


    "You want to go after Ghairlakriar? A thousand years ago you didn''t even want her why now?" Joolak asked


    "Questioning me Joolak? Brave but foolish, anyway the reason is the one my soul is bound to needs a few questions answered and she has those answers, you''ll meet him as soon as you agree" Golanier said


    "Better to agree with you than not so yes I will and I pray to the gods it turns out well" Joolak said


    "Good" Golanier said


    Golanier turns away from Joolaks face and his soul leaves his body disappearing immediately so Joolak doesn''t notice, Golanier soon appears next to Yorun and Sunhale.


    "Joolak is here just outside the barrier surrounding the mountain range, he has agreed to help but you should talk to him plus hey you might get along" Golanier said eyeing where the bottom half of Yoruns left arm should be


    "RIght" Yorun said not noticing the look


    Golaniers soul returns to his body as he looks at Joolak once more and he floats off of Joolaks hand flying back down to the ground before using some magic to raise up stairs and a platform from the ground as Yorun hops onto Lykors back riding the undead horse down through the range while Sunhale flies alongside him and as Golanier sees him approaching he changes the stairs into a slope for Lykor to run up. Lykor gallops up the slope onto the platform allowing them to speak with Joolak face to face, Yorun dismounts Lykor and Sunhale lands next to him as does Golanier on his opposite side. Joolak looks at them bringing his head closer to see them properly, he notes the burn scars across Yorun as well as the fact he is missing the opposite arm he has lost himself.


    "Been through a lot hm?" Joolak asked and Yoruns head rings with pain due to the booming voice of the giant before him


    Yoruns mind and ears are quickly protected with magic by Sunhale who has done the same thing, Yorun puts his hand on his head then looks to Joolak.


    "Yeah, looks like you have too though most of which I''ll assume came as a result of Golanier" Yorun said his voice altered by Sunhale so that Joolak can hear him properly


    "You aren''t wrong there, I assume you have my name already so if I may ask what yours is?" Joolak asked


    "Let''s go with Raeknar" Yorun said


    "Human god of death and justice, certainly look the part but do you act the part?" Joolak asked


    "I try my best in that regard but given Raeknar hasn''t abandoned me as their chosen I''d say I''m doing fine" Yorun said and the words sent a shockwave through Joolaks body and mind


    Joolak without thinking quickly dropped to his knees causing an earthquake as a result and bowed his head.


    "I''m a fool to not have noticed! I apologise!" Joolak shouted


    "I''m almost insulted Joolak now get up you idiot!" Golanier shouted yet for once Joolak doesn''t move and Sunhale looks at Yorun motioning for him to speak


    "Rise Joolak but please do so carefully" Yorun said


    Joolak carefully stands back up and looks at Yorun examining him further and scanning all three of them, he notes no magic from Yorun and a magic unknown to him from Sunhale.


    "An elf, a long dead world conquering Kalrin and a heavily injured human. Never had I thought to see that especially since the Kalrin are all gone" Joolak said


    "I''ve no doubt that you have questions and honestly you are entitled to them but I have a need to speak to the dragon called Ghai- whatever the name is honestly it''s hard to remember these or even say them sometimes" Yorun said


    "Ghairlakriar, Raeknar that''s how to say it" Sunhale said


    "The elf speaks but may I ask for your name elf?" Joolak asked


    "Irankar seems appropriate" Sunhale responded making Yorun look at him and smirk as it had been a while since he heard that


    "Seems there''s a bit of a theme here, I can take you to Little Town but I will have to accompany you during your time in our lands so that nothing happens" Joolak said warily not knowing how they''ll react to that


    "Fine, so long as we get there and speak to Ghairlakriar, I know little of you Joolak since Golanier has rarely mentioned you but if there is even a bit of respect from him in regards to you then I know you''ll do what is needed. I don''t want to cause trouble where its not necessary especially since the Fiernian empire is my goal not anywhere else" Yorun said


    "Well if that is the case I have a bit more trust but believe me I find it hard to trust the words of a necromancer after all that Golanier had done" Joolak said giving a small look to Golanier


    "Don''t forget your place Joolak" Golanier said as his eyes burned with green flames


    "Apologies I forgot it for only a moment" Joolak said as he stepped back carefully


    "Golanier get rid of this platform as well as the slop leading up to it and Joolak lift us before he does that. We move out immediately" Yorun said


    Yorun teleported Lykor to the ground before Joolak lifted the three of them up in his left hand, they watch as the platform and slope disappear back into the ground they had sprung from before seeing Lykor gallop back up to the fortress. Joolak teleports half the world away past the the borders of the Fiernian and even the Woorail empire, they quickly see the town designated as Little Town from the high up vantage point they have in Joolaks hand but they see what look like ancient ruins even further away however soon their eyes lock on to the mountain range in the distance larger than any mountains they''ve seen before reaching high into the clouds so much so their peaks cannot be seen yet all of them hear what sounds like distant rough roars from the mountains that alone shake the lands around them...

 Ch 37: Demons Folly

    As a roar so loud rings out from the Demons Folly mountain range it travels across the lands in all directions echoing far past the borders into other nations lands while Yorun and his group cover their ears either with additional magic or hands as the roar is so impossibly loud that even with protections against giants speaking their ears bleed and their brains rattle in their skulls. The mountains making up Demons Folly begin to have avalanches take place due to the roars sheer impact across the area in which it originated, this is not immediately noticed by those around including the residents of Little Town however as the snow-caps begin to come down and the roar travels into the distance it becomes all too obvious, Joolak is the first to notice due to his height advantage and he reacts first as his mind is less addled than everyone smaller than a giant so he quickly throws Sunhale, Golanier and Yorun to the ground before rushing over to the mountains however Golanier being in an undead body is mostly unaffected by the roars impact so he flies at great speed alongside Joolaks run and while Joolak uses both his giant arm as well as magic to cut off the snow coming down diverting it away from Little Town at the base of the mountains, Golanier uses his magic to great barriers from the ground to block and divert any future avalanches. Yorun and Sunhale get up after being tossed to the ground so suddenly and look over at where Joolak and Golanier are and see how they diverted the snow away


    "They reacted quickly, faster than we ever could have anyway" Yorun said


    "You don''t say" Sunhale said


    Joolak walks looks down at Little Town as people begin to gather, the towns leader steps forth and looks up at Joolak, he seems to recognise him.


    "Joolak is that you? We''ve heard of you, you''re an old giant leader correct?" The town leader asked


    "Indeed I am, is everyone alright?" Joolak asked as Golanier landed on Joolaks shoulder


    "Yes, everyone is alright save for a couple people who were knocked out by the force of that roar, as this towns leader I have to thank you and your friend there" The towns leader said


    "Do not thank me, for I did not aid you, I was testing to see if I could still keep step with Joolak here" Golanier said with an annoyed tone


    "Oh, uh okay?" The towns leader said confused


    "Don''t try and talk to him anymore than that trust me, anyway that dragon is a problem of which we are here to hopefully solve or at least talk to" Joolak said


    "Truly? Why would you need to talk to that dragon?" The towns leader said


    "The one calling himself Raeknar in human lands asked for my aid in this endeavour so here I am and he should be coming over now" Joolak said as he looked to the edge of the town


    Yorun and Sunhale teleport to the edge of the town and walk through it approaching Joolak as the crowd of people move out of the way for them, as they do so they look at Yorun and despite not knowing he is a chosen they do not interfere with him as they fear him based on how he looks and those that have magic cannot sense his magic. Joolak brings his hand down allowing them to get on so he can bring them along and as he raises them up the towns leader looks at them.


    "Be careful, that dragon gets angered and nothing is safe" The towns leader said


    "We know" Joolak said before walking towards Demons Folly once more


    Yorun looks around from the vantage point he has on Joolaks hand and he sees two things not related to Demons Folly, far in the distance yet still far too noticeable a giant wall stretching up into the sky and far closer what look to be ruins of a smaller races city. Yorun sees recent work on it and he grows curious.


    "Joolak, I have a couple questions" Yorun said


    "Well say them Raeknar" Joolak said


    "In the distance that wall, a giant city?" Yorun asked


    "Yes that is our city of Gianlocarn" Joolak said


    "I remember that city, seems its been rebuilt well" Golanier said


    "My people are still recovering after all you did to us one thousand years ago, some cities still have major damage we''ve been unable to fix yet namely a few dragon bodies that refuse to be moved, though their scales are useful so they''ve basically become mines" Joolak said


    "Fair enough? Dragon scales really that useful?" Yorun asked


    "Oh indeed less so for giants unless its an especially large one but the hardened scales of an older dragon? Well other nations buy them up in bulk for use in weapons or armour or even magical experiments" Joolak said


    "Alright second question, that city over there in ruins, it''s clearly not a giant city so what''s the story there?" Yorun asked


    "Actually we''re still working that one out, the place was excavated recently but its clearly of elven origin" Joolak said making Sunhales pointed ears perk up


    "Wait what? An elven city? Why do my people not know of this?" Sunhale asked immediately


    "As I said it was only excavated recently and while the architecture is elven it is an older style so we hadnt noticed until we found some writing or more accurately carvings in the cities remaining buildings that were in clear elven words. There is another reason we didn''t say anything yet however" Joolak said


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    "Then spit it out this is our history and its a big thing!" Sunhale shouted quite annoyed


    "We found evidence of demonic summoning''s" Joolak said and that immediately turned Sunhale pale


    "What? Y-you can''t be serious right?" Sunhale asked


    "I am at least based on reports, I''ve seen enough demonic shit from Golaniers conquest to recognise it" Joolak said and that made Sunhale pause as he looked over at the city


    "Do you know the cities name?" Sunhale asked


    "Based on carvings from what we assume were survivors of the city it was apparently named Felan''Oritka" Joolak said which upon hearing that Sunhale is immediately shocked


    "Felan''Oritka? Ilsantrak" Sunhale said in the elven language


    "Swearing Irankar so I''ll guess this is serious, mind sharing?" Golanier said with a slight smirk


    "Felan''Oritka is a city every elf knows though not as an actual place but as a city in which is destroyed in a children''s tale, it''s been a long time but I believe the story went on about how the city was once the capital of our empire until government officials were corrupted and some demonic force swept through the city destroying it. It was always thought to just be a tale, you know to scare children straight but now it''s in front of my very eyes and we''re heading into a mountain range called Demons Folly that can''t be coincidental" Sunhale said as his eyes stay locked on the ruins


    "We should be careful, Golanier, Joolak you both recognise demonic things so please keep an eye out for such things on the way to the dragon" Yorun said with worry in his voice


    Both Golanier and Joolak nod as Joolak continues into Demons Folly however as he does so he and the others very quickly see signs of ancient combat scorch marks, weapons scattered across the grounds or stuck into rocks along their path yet as they continue along they see scratches dug into the walls some old but some newer as well with the newer ones being so large they are bigger than Joolak himself.


    "Gods something big went down here a long time ago" Sunhale said


    "Clearly" Golanier said scanning the surroundings with both his eyes and his magic


    "Argh something doesn''t feel right" Yorun said as he puts his hand on his head looking down


    "Yo-Raeknar? Are you alright?" Sunhale asked as he looked to Yorun


    "Yes I am fi-What the fuck" Yorun said as he looked back up


    As Yorun looks forward he sees ghostly forms of demons fighting something all across the range, despite the variations in demons Yorun can tell that it is demons based on the ones he had seen before, their forms flicker in and then out immediately as if they were killed so suddenly, each time their forms flicker out the nearest scratch or weapons glow slightly.


    "Raeknar you''re seeing something aren''t you? Your cloak isn''t letting me sense what''s going on but I can tell from your face" Sunhale said worried


    "I''m seeing I don''t know what to call them I guess ghosts? They''re of demons fighting all across the range and dying but I don''t get how this is happening" Yorun said confused


    "That is weird, I''ve never known of demon ghosts or ever heard of such a thing" Golanier said intrigued as he looks around


    "Nor have I" Joolak said worriedly yet intrigued


    As Joolak continues forward Yorun watches as more and more of these ''ghosts'' appear until they all hear something snap below Joolaks giant foot, Joolak moves back and they all look down theres large bones sticking out of the ground now parts of them have snapped due to Joolaks foot.


    "Hold on, that''s part of a dragon skeleton, I recognise that well enough" Golanier said


    "Really? Maybe we''re getting close to Ghairlakriar then" Yorun said


    "Maybe so" Sunhale said


    Joolak continues to walk and soon enough they see odd shapes seemingly carved along the mountain sides the shapes are all individually bigger than Joolak.


    "Joolak stop right now" Golanier said urgently and Joolak did so quickly


    "What is it?" Yorun asked


    "The walls, look at them those aren''t any kind of carving... those are scales" Golanier said quietly


    As they all turn to look at the scales properly the area around them darkens as the ground shakes so violently that Joolak is knocked to the ground as a result throwing the others to the ground as well, when they hit the ground they look up despite the shaking nothing could stop them from seeing what has blocked the sun, the head of the dragon Ghairlakriar, grey scaled with horns large enough to skewer entire cities were they pointed forward. Ghairlakriar brings her head down and despite how far away it had been raised they still could not see its entirety and then they see why, her head as it lowers begins to be touched by every mountain in the range only upon her cheek they all begin to quickly crumble under the pressure until what feels like the entire sky from the groups point of view is nothing but her impossibly large eye. The wind pressure from her moving her head down almost crushes everyone into the ground from the act of her moving, her wings begins to raise into the sky the wind force from that alone sends every cloud in the sky away yet none in the group notice for all they see above them is still one of her eyes.


    "WHO. DARES?" Ghairlakriar whispered, no shouting on her part yet her sheer size makes her merely whispering into a booming sound that echoes across the land


    Joolak as well as Golanier fair better against her voice than the other two but they remain conscious.


    "I am an ex leader of the giant miliary, I come with three from smaller races who-" Joolak said before being interrupted


    "I BARELY SEE THEM, THEY ARE SPECKS OF DUST IN MY SIGHT... YET I FEEL DIVINITY" Ghairlakriar whispered once more before her eye squints to look at both Yorun and Sunhale


    "There is a gods chosen here oh great dragon, so ple-" Joolak said once more before being interrupted again


    "FOOL WERE THERE A CHOSEN THEN THEY WOULD SHOW THEMSELF TO MY SIGHT" Ghairlakriar whispered clearly not believing him


    "Please use your shapeshifting becoming smaller and you will see, dragons are capable of such things yes?" Joolak said hoping to not anger her


    Ghairlakriars impossibly large eye focusses on Joolak before her body begins to shrink, the others gradually begin to see the sky however Ghairlakriar remains an extremely large dragon, her legs all powerful and large rest on what remains of the mountains while the sun rays pass down between her neck, body and wings to them. Ghairlakriar brings her head down to them more so than before, her head does not touch any mountains when doing so and her eyes focus on Yorun specifically.


    "The god of death and justice has a second chosen..." Ghairlakriar said, her voice just a bit louder than a giants


    "So you do know of my predecessor, I have come to you oh ancient powerful dragon to ask about them if you are willing to give that information which I certainly hope you will" Yorun said


    "Why should I aid you little chosen?" Ghairlakriar asked amused by the situation


    "I don''t know if I could give you anything for the information, I wouldn''t know where to begin in that regard but I am a chosen all the same and hopefully I can do something with that" Yorun said which gives Ghairlakriar pause


    "Little chosen. Do you need your gods words to join with them?" Ghairlakriar asked


    "Not anymore apparently according to Raeknar" Yorun said and this makes Ghairlakriar smile


    "In return for this information I give you then I have one simple request... I want to die" Ghairlakriar said much to the shock of everyone there save for herself as they all begin to wonder why this ancient dragon would want death so much...

 Ch 38: The Power of a Chosen

    Within the mountain range called Demons Folly lies Yorun and his group while above them stands a still incredibly large dragon amongst the broken down peaks of the mountains. They all still stand shocked by what Ghairlakriar had said, this ancient dragon requests death in exchange for information on Raeknars previous chosen and not a single one of them can imagine a reason. Yorun looks up to Ghairlakriar and pushes past his shock at the words.


    "You... want to die? Why do you need me to do that? I highly doubt you couldn''t do it yourself or let someone do it to you" Yorun said getting only an annoyed look from Ghairlakriar


    "Of course I could however it would do nothing, the god you serve has cursed me with the inability to die" Ghairlakriar said with an annoyed tone


    "What? Why would I be able to bypass Raeknars well curse on you?" Yorun asked now confused


    "I have lived many years, watched many chosen rise and fall and I know they can undo things such as this though your god has never taken another chosen until now and I know not when they''ll do so again so this is my chance to finally die" Ghairlakriar said


    "Why was this curse placed on you?" Yorun asked getting only silence in return


    "As much as I want this information and you are probably the only way to get it, a request like this suddenly with Raeknars previous involvement? I feel you did something bad enough to deserve this" Yorun said causing Ghairlakriar to growl which alone causes the ground beneath them to rumble slightly


    "Raeknar stop angering the giant dragon" Joolak said


    "No let her be angry, if she didn''t attack when I killed her children she wont with this" Golanier said causing Ghairlakriar to focus on him


    "I would have if I could" Ghairlakriar said


    "What?" Golanier asked confused but curious


    "Are you familiar with the concept of the gods being able to take away apart of you such as emotions and the like?" Ghairlakriar asked seemingly annoyed at having to explain


    "Yes Raeknar did that for me fairly recently in temporarily taking my fear away" Yorun said


    "It doesn''t need to be temporary, alongside that curse of being unable to die they took away violence from my very being, I literally cannot harm another at least intentionally so as much as I wanted to slaughter you or threaten any one over my many years I couldn''t" Ghairlakriar said


    "In that case, you will tell me what you did to deserve these punishments or I guess we''re leaving with no information and no dead dragon" Yorun said causing Ghairlakriars roar to intensify


    "Fine" Ghairlakriar said


    Ghairlakriar reaches a claw down and digs it into the ground as this is done a wave of magic shoots out from the area in which the claw dug in, the sky darkens and the mountains seem to return to a larger state as if they were never broken nor were they worn down by time, they seem to go right through Ghairlakriar as if stabbing through her yet she makes no notice of it nor does she even seem injured. Above in the skies thousands of dragons of varying sizes fly around and within seconds they all begin to breath fire, lightning, ice and other such things down below destroying everything in their path that isn''t rock and other such things, they hear distant screams as the dragons assault on the land from the skies continues.


    "A long time ago I lead an army of my kin as well as other dragons against the people of this realm as well as others" Ghairlakriar said


    "So what? I did the same shit and all I got was left alone in the curse I put on myself" Golanier said


    "Shut up and I''ll get to the point little conqueror" Ghairlakriar said angered by his words


    "Fine, fine, go ahead oh powerful dragon" Golanier said sarcastically clearly enjoying the fact she cannot attack him


    "We did not do as you had done, you conquered, you let people live to serve under you if they were deemed useful but what I did alongside my army was wipe out EVERY living being in the realms except for enough animals for us to eat and sustain ourselves with. We destroyed the people, the land and tore open the barriers between realms to do the same elsewhere just as you see around you now" Ghairlakriar said motioning up with her head


    Yorun looks above once more at the legions of dragons above still attacking below them when some look forward and breath a combination of magic in front of them forcefully melting through the barriers between realms to open portals before heading through.


    "How are you showing us this?" Yorun asked


    "Illusion magic, you can tell given the mountains which got reconstructed aren''t stabbing her, watch" Golanier said before trying to kick a rock in front of him which his foot just goes through


    "Correct, now the gods were content to let this happen for a while but then I got brazen and in my hubris tried to defy the gods and break into their realms thinking myself a veritable god of destruction, the gods did not take kindly to that. Raeknar stepped in and not even caring to wave a hand or anything, every single dragon that followed me across the realms died immediately, falling from the skies with their souls likely not even going to the afterlife. When it came to me however Raeknar decided to take violence from me forcing pacifism and taking away my ability to die while the other gods undid everything I caused, repairing damage to the realms and repopulating the people we destroyed, this sounds almost good but for me however I am unable to die yet I still age, grow and my scales harden more and more every year that passes making it harder to move. One day I will be a statue due to these scales, cocooned within my own body for eternity all the while I will still see my people hunted or living out lives and dying in front of me so this is why I want death no matter what awaits me in the afterlife I accept it for it will be better than this" Ghairlakriar said


    "Gods that is terrible but why would you do all of that?" Yorun asked


    "Initially anger brought it, I was sick of watching my people as well those close to my people be killed and my anger blinded me as I stewed on it and well I explained the latter portion" Ghairlakriar said


    "You were sick of your people and those close to them being killed and your option in your eyes was kill literally everyone including those in other realms? Gods your mind twisted that" Sunhale said


    "As your gods chosen you will be allowed to do this as your trusted by that god in this position, now as I said I want to die, knowing this will you allow that if I give you the information you seek?" Ghairlakriar asked


    "If you are sure I can even do it then yes, give us information about my predecessor and I will see if I can grant that request" Yorun said


    "Good enough for me, there are three areas I will show you heavily related to the previous chosen, one of them is this mountain range" Ghairlakriar said


    Another wave of magic comes from where Ghairlakriars claw has dug into the ground and the illusion changes, the sky is no longer dark it is a normal sunlit sky, the mountain range is virtually the same with only erosion from time passing changing them. All throughout the mountains stand thousands of demons and a portal to Kragrum with more demons coming into Roara from it, they seem to be preparing for something and soon that something is clear as in the sky someone flies over. The person flying there is not using magic to fly instead he uses his large draconic wings that span far enough to be larger than an average house when flared. His head is more draconic than human with it being elongated with small horns at the back top of his head, his body is covered in dark grey scales and while his clothes are unremarkable he wears an all too familiar cloak and wields a similarly familiar scythe.


    "Oh that is definitely him" Yorun said with everyone nodding in agreement


    "Clearly but that''s not my undead general..." Golanier said confused and confusing both Sunhale and Yorun before they all look to the illusion once more


    As the demons take notice of him in the sky they begin to say things in a language only Golanier seems to understand yet as they prepare to attack him the figure in the sky conjures a platform beneath his feet then when standing atop it he flares his wings and the membrane of them begins to look different as if it all turned into a portal yet they do not see what is on the other side, only green lights but it soon becomes apparent those lights are eyes as multiple undead dragons fly out of his wings and within seconds the demons see green emanating from the dragons throats shining through their scales from inside them as it travels up their necks until green flames shoot towards the ground burning everything and incinerating demons where they stand unless they actively blocked them with barriers. As the demons defences hold they begin to launch all manner of magic at the dragons above, ripping parts of the mountains out to use against them but while distracted by the draconic menace above only a few notice the large portal appearing on the ground beneath where the chosen stands, heavily armoured soldiers with archers and then what seem to be mages behind them rise from the portal, every single one of them are undead and without a single command they get into formation, the mages put barriers over all of them while the archers fill the skies with arrows once the dragons fly away from the battlefield for a moment. Demon after demon gets filled with arrows but those with barriers begin to struggle as the barriers recieve more and more punishment from the arrows, the undead soldiers then rush into the fray while the undead mages each create green fireballs large enough to be from a giant are shot into the backlines of the demons destroying many demons back there.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Not a single word from him, has he used the telepathy we can use on our undead?" Yorun asked as he looked to Golanier


    "No, while we can''t sense anything from this illusion I can tell, those undead are just that intelligent... How long was he active as a necromancer? As a chosen?" Golanier asked himself


    "While that question was not directed towards me, I can tell you this. The chosen before you lived five thousand years and was a chosen as well as necromancer for the majority of those years" Ghairlakriar said immediately shocking everyone there


    "I was an active necromancer for a hundred years but this person had undead for such a length of time I can''t even imagine how powerful his armies were in full scale war" Golanier said staring at the undead before him


    They watch as the demons are slaughtered with little undead being destroyed as their defences are too tough for the demons to break through, soon enough demon after demon retreats through the portal back to Kragrum until all of them have retreated or been slain. The demons begin to close the portal yet giant skeletal hands with black flames erupting from them break out from the ground and grab hold of the portal forcing it to stay open as the undead army makes its way through the portal, the chosen flies through soon after letting the skeletal hands crumble to dust and the portal close. The illusion ends leaving them all awestruck save for Ghairlakriar who looks at them almost amused.


    "This battle is the second half of this day and as you saw he went into the Demon Realm afterward, I know not exactly how things went there but I was told by people not long after that the realm was devoid of demons for a period of time" Ghairlakriar said


    "What completely?" Golanier asked


    "Every single demon was systematically wiped out during his time in there, it apparently took months but it was accomplished" Ghairlakriar said


    "Raeknar, you notice anything about the portals he seemingly imbued his membrane with?" Golanier asked


    "I''ll assume it''s what you had talked about previously, a small realm created for undead storage and transport" Yorun said


    "Correct, the fact he actually did it though, not an easy thing to do never mind imbuing a part of himself with the portals, that alone could allow him unexpected reinforcements in a close situation as the portals could conceivably be activated with muscle control" Golanier said making Yorun nod before he looks to Ghairlakriar


    "You said there were three places you''d show us, where to next?" Yorun asked


    "To the location the first of half the day this battle took place, the nearby ruins of the elven city Felan''Oritka" Ghairlakriar said


    "Not exactly nearby, still a bit away based on what we had seen prior" Yorun said


    "Teleport there, I can reach it with my magic to create the illusion" Ghairlakriar said


    "Not joining us there?" Sunhale asked


    "For me to get there it would be a small jump at which point would cause far too many quakes and destroy those ruins even more than time already has, teleport back here after I''ve shown you what''s there" Ghairlakriar said


    Joolak picks up the other three once more and teleports out of the mountain range to what remains of the main gate of Felan''Oritka before putting them back down, Sunhale looks at the ancient ruins and puts his hand to the wall thinking about all that single city could mean when a wave of magic comes from the mountain range and the city is reconstructed before there eyes by an illusion and it is a large beautiful city yet it looks far different to Qur''Anther with less plant life all throughout it and demonic symbols across the city''s buildings and the walls especially.


    "This is... so different to my peoples cities today and obviously the demonic influence here is beyond what any story could explain" Sunhale said


    Before Sunhale can say anything new they''re interrupted by voices on the wall shouting something in what sounds like the elven language, Sunhale looks confused as he listens and the others take note of that.


    "That elven sound weird to you too?" Joolak asked


    "Yes, I can understand bits a pieces but well it seems my peoples language has changed a lot since then, rather unsurprisingly I suppose but I only really understood ''Irankar''" Sunhale said


    Joolak looks over to the mountain range where they can still clearly see Ghairlakriar plain as day due to her size and starts using telepathy.


    "Great Ghairlakriar we cannot understand what is being said, language has changed much over these years" Joolak said


    "I will change their words but their mouths will not reflect that which you hear" Ghairlakriar said


    "That is fine, so long as it is an accurate translation" Joolak responded


    "I have learned damn near every language to grace this realm and others so trust me I know the right words" Ghairlakriar said


    Another wave of magic happens as the illusion essentially restarts and they see soldiers on the walls preparing for something, the city has had work done on it recently as far as everyone can tell with the gates reinforced same with the walls. A few guards begin to point out into the field in front of the main gate of the city and standing alone in the field is the chosen of Raeknar with the scythe firmly planted on the ground and the wind lightly blowing against the cloak, what seems to be the leader of the city comes up to the wall and looks at the chosen.


    "Y-you... You''re Irankars chosen correct?" The leader asked


    "This city has been a hub of villainy and injustice for far too long, demons run rampant across the world calling this place their home, this city has been condemned to die for justice to return to this world" The Chosen said with their voice reverberating throughout the city soft yet deep and full of conviction


    "Wait s-surely we can talk about this!?" The leader asked loudly completely afraid


    "I know what it is that you are doing, you are trying to keep me talking as more soldiers come to the wall and nearest part of the city, I sense them mustering just past the wall just as I sense the demons approaching from my rear. Bring all the reinforcements you want for you will not survive, this city will fall" The chosen said


    "ARCHERS! MAGES! GET THAT SON OF BITCH!" The leader ordered at the top of his lungs


    Within seconds the skies are filled with arrows charged with different magics such lightning, ice and fire yet the chosen of Raeknar merely moves his wings above and in front of himself to cover his body as if he cocooned the front of himself but when the arrows reach him and hit against the wings they bounce off or explode upon impact due to magic or sheer force against the wings yet he himself is undamaged his scales and the membrane itself so strong not a single bit of damage is taken. When the archers and mages prepare another volley the chosen moves his wings out of the way of his face as in his neck a black force travels up it until he himself breaths pure black fire just as the skeletal hands in the other illusion had on them and just like the flames that come from Raeknars scythe, the fire propels out of the chosen''s mouth like a large beam that cuts a hole through the city''s gate and all through the city before going back out through another city gate. Everyone in the city is immediately set into a panic and soldiers in the city quickly run out of the hold in the city''s gate and charge towards the chosen quickly trying to surround him alongside the demons who arrive from the rear and begin to come out of portals above. The chosen doesn''t even move as a wave of pure death is released around him and in a large area around him everything from the grass, to the people and even the demons fall over dead, the demons above in the sky even fall down to the ground dead. Even with the sea of bodies in front of the city every citizen of the city alongside the soldiers remaining on the walls and inside prepare to fight, the chosen senses this and he picks up the scythe and walks into the city even as archers continue to attack with arrows his wings block those attacks and he walks through the city killing every single person alone, several city districts he isn''t even in erupt into green flames as he slices through different districts. Yorun and the others watch this man kill and not even raise a single body to help him, they''re both horrified and amazed that he killed everyone alone, the only survivors are people who were kept captive in the city and released by the chosen during the onslaught as well as some demons who fly toward the mountain range which the chosen once finished with the city heads to.


    "By the gods, that is... he singlehandedly killed a city of people and demons... how many people are in a typical elven city today?" Yorun asked completely awestruck once more


    "With a city the size of this one? Millions and he did it in half a day... that''s impossible yet we just saw it and I sense no lying on the part of Ghairlakriar" Sunhale said also awestruck


    "We should get back to her, see what final thing she has to show us" Golanier said still amazed at that display himself but he is focussed


    "Agreed" Yorun said


    Joolak picks those three back up once more and then teleports to Ghairlakriar who looks down at them once more.


    "The final place is far from here, teleport upon my back and use magic to anchor yourselves onto a scale and put up some barrier to protect yourselves against the winds" Ghairlakriar said


    Everyone nods and teleport on top of Ghairlakriars back and then quickly use magic to hold them in place on her back by piercing one of her scales which she doesn''t even notice, Joolak then does everyone the favour of putting up the barrier. Ghairlakriar then regrows to her natural size and flies up the impossibly strong wings from doing so knock over basically every building outside the mountain range in little town and knocking over parts of the Felan''Ortika ruins, even the walls of the distant giant city Gianlocarn are battered by the winds. Ghairlakriar flies higher and higher before she tears open a portal above her with her magical breath and flies through it closing it behind her, once they have arrived through the portal they see nothing but clouds around until some of them are moved out of the way by the wind from Ghairlakriars wings, before them flying amongst the clouds is a city in ruins. Even from the distance they are at they can see ancient bodies, skeletons by now of the people whom the previous chosen were a part of.

 Ch 39: The Life of a Chosen

    In the skies far above lands Yoruns group have never been to or even heard of they stand atop Ghairlakriars back looking at the ancient city floating before them. Ghairlakriar flies closer to the city and the ancient magic still coursing through it extends out a platform large enough for her to land on it alongside it is a walkway into the city. Yoruns group teleports onto the walkway but as soon as that happens the very same ancient magic that greeted their approach creates Golems from the ground that rise up and walk aggressively toward the group while more begin to appear with crossbows appearing throughout barricades in the city. As they prepare to defend themselves Yoruns vision darkens a bit as he sees something akin to the ghosts he saw before, this one seems more solid however and looks like one of the previous chosen''s people yet a skeletal version of them while wearing a cloak and wielding a scythe similar to Yoruns own. The ghost-like figure approaches the golem and reaches out to them at which point they stop in place and the crossbows lower.


    "Why''d they all stop?" Sunhale asked confused


    "No idea" Both Golanier and Joolak responded just as confused


    "You guys don''t see that?" Yorun asked pointing towards the ghost and the golems


    "See what? The golems? Course we see them but there''s nothing else there" Sunhale said


    Yorun looks at the skeletal entity once more and watches as it raises its hand to it''s head pointing at the cloak before taking it off. Yorun takes off the cloak allowing everyone to sense his magic once more or in the case of Ghairlakriar and Joolak for the first time, they all notice something new however looking at him.


    "Raeknar ....your eyes" Sunhale said with concern and intrigue


    Sunhale makes a magical reflection of Yorun and Yorun looks at it confused, his eyes are aflame with black fire and his eyes have turned a greyer colour alongside those flames, Yorun looks back at the skeletal entity who motions for him to follow.


    "All of you follow me..." Yorun said still focussed on the entity


    They nod as they follow Yorun who himself begins to follow the entity, they walk through the city seeing countless bodies mostly gone due to the conditions they''ve suffered over time while seeing old scars of battle across the city improvised barricades throughout the city as well as mounted crossbows and ballistae all throughout the city as if they people fought a long battle yet were unprepared for it. Following the ghost they eventually begin to walk up a grand staircase in the city and they feel a source of magic nearby which the ghost heads to, there stands what seems to be a temple one of which is in better condition than everything else in the city upon approaching the building the statues outside of it on each side of the door turn their heads to look at Yorun and within seconds the stone that makes them up extends from certain parts creating a stone cloak and scythe as the windows of the temple get Raeknars symbol on them. Yorun looks at the statues and then looks at the group.


    "Ok that creeps me out" Yorun said with an unnerved look on his face


    "Agreed" Sunhale said


    Yorun pushes open the temple doors and as he does so the temple''s main room lights up with torches self igniting and stone people coming out of the ground cleaning the temple. The ghost walks through Yorun heading into the temples main room and up to the podium at the back of the room, it extends its hand toward Yorun motioning for him to come over which Yorun does while the others walk in except for Joolak as he is not small enough to get in. As Yorun approaches the ground beneath the podium opens up and an alter raises up with a body Yorun now recognises as his predecessor on it and Yorun as well as everyone else feels the magic emanating from the body. Yorun looks at the body examining it and he notices it is perfectly preserved despite the age of it and he is amazed.


    "Yorun of Kurinet" The ghost said


    "You can talk?" Yorun said as he looked towards the ghost yet he does not see the confused look from the others


    "I can" The ghost said


    "Yorun, you alright?" Sunhale asked saying Yoruns true name as Joolak is outside


    "I''m fine, guessing you heard nothing right?" Yorun asked


    "Yup you''re sounding crazy" Golanier said as he looked around


    "Yorun, look at me" The ghost said


    Yorun looks at the ghost-like entity once more.


    "I stand in this intermediary realm between yours of the living world and Faelerm, you wish for information and that I can give, if you so wish" The Ghost said


    "Of course" Yorun said


    "Raeknar allow this old soul to return to the realm of the living for a temporary time to instruct your new chosen" The ghost said


    Raeknar appears next to the ghost-like figure and yet is unable to be seen by the others as well.


    "I will allow this but you cannot take your original form besides your soul is used to this form you have now" Raeknar said


    "That is fine" The ghost said


    Everyone sees as reality itself tears open and the skeletal figure walks out of it now longer ghost-like but solid just as any other person , Yorun no longer seems crazy as the other two see the figure before them, Joolak even hits the deck to look through the door into the temple upon sensing this massive magical power coming from the figure now standing in the temple. The magical energy surging from this person is alone enough to outpower Ghairlakriars own power and to be sensed even on the ground by multiple empires.


    "Yorun of Kurinet, Sunhale of Lar''Tureak, Golanier of Jakhel and Joolak or Salkinan. I have heard much of all of you though some more than others for a variety of reasons" The skeletal figure said


    "Who are you? Why do you know of us?" Sunhale asked hands firmly on his blade watching the figure closely as they stood behind the alter with the body on it


    "In death I am one who aids Raeknar in taking souls from the realm I had just been in to Faelerm itself, settling them in where they need be but in life I was Jinarl the previous chosen of Raeknar" Jinarl said to the partial shock of everyone there


    "I... am legitimately surprised you are still around... in Faelerm" Yorun said as his mind continues to process that


    "I gave my life to Raeknar and this world, I''ll gladly give my death to both as well in hopes that I will see the world in a better place eventually" Jinarl said


    "Ok there''s a lot of questions but my main one right now is how come Yorun could see you but the rest of us couldn''t?" Golanier asked but he is immediately given a glare of green light like an eye from Jinarls normally empty eye socket


    "I will answer that question but don''t get me wrong Golanier, I would destroy you right now were I allowed to for squandering the magic I asked Raeknar to gift to this world by using it for the evil you brought upon the world" Jinarl said


    "Sur-" Golanier said before having his soul forcefully removed from his own undead body


    Jinarl brings Golaniers soul to his skeletal hand and he merely touches it and Golanier falls silent as his soul heads back to his body and once inside it again it collapsed to the ground. Yorun looks at Golanier and then to Jinarl.


    "What''d you do?" Yorun asked


    "Basically shut his soul down for now, he and many others who took the title of ''Necromancer'' over the years angered me to no end. Anyway to answer the question he posed, the realm which I was in is an intermediate realm between this one and Faelerm, this intermediate realm is not one known to mortals at least usually and as such was never given a name so during my time in both life and death I named it The Wayrest" Jinarl said


    "The Wayrest? Why such a normal name?" Sunhale asked


    "The Wayrest seemed appropriate as it is a realm in which those who die go to on their own before their souls are taken to Faelerm itself by myself, the others like me or Raeknar themself. The Wayrest unlike other realms is basically on top of the living realm, you see the realm just as a living person would, all of nature, the structures and buildings yet you are not seen by all of that and are unable interact with the normal world only other souls in The Wayrest" Jinarl said


    "Is that were Raeknar pops in from?" Yorun asked


    "Sometimes, it is a useful way to watch you and others without being noticed" Jinarl said


    "Then why could I see you? Or those demons ghosts?" Yorun asked


    "As Raeknars chosen you have abilities gifted to you as I do, your connection to Raeknar gives you a connection to the Wayrest and Faelerm. In places of great death such as battlefields occasionally the walls between the realms weaken due to the surplus of souls traversing those walls, normal people can see them however that is only for recent events but we can see souls and the actions that brought them to The Wayrest in not just recent places but ancient as well particularly if they have involvement from someone like us. Felan''Ortika, Demons folly and even my own home places of such immense amounts of death all with my involvement in some way" Jinarl said


    "But Felan''Ortika and even this place I saw no uh ghosts? is that even the right thing to say?" Yorun asked


    "Not really but it is the easiest way to describe them but as for why you didn''t see them there or here? The souls are long gone from both The Wayrest and Faelerm but Demons Folly is different, Demons have no souls and as such their mockery of life is still tainting the area like a lingering curse upon The Wayrest and living world but as it does nothing to anyone, Raeknar has not gotten rid of it" Jinarl said as he looks to them


    "Why does your... body... still radiate magic?" Sunhale asked


    "Ancient magic from Raeknar to keep my body from decomposing or being damaged, something originally done for the purposes of making a great tomb at my peoples behest but well that didn''t come to be and the magic remains, this magic is not the magic running though this city keeping it floating or defended that is actually just magic I gave to the city before my death still there although it will soon begone as well at least another fifty years in it though" Jinarl said


    "You mentioned others like you, what do you mean by that?" Yorun asked


    "My people, we were called the Kai Tamar and after I died and they were killed, Raeknar due to growing to care for me as their chosen made a decision, any Kai Tamar who wished for it was allowed to become apart of Faelerms inner workings, they would make new skeletal forms for us to place our souls into and aid Raeknar if we so wished, I have been doing so all this time and while no others of my people exist anymore the other Kai Tamar around either have no souls or other souls who wished to help over the years. My people in a sense have been immortalised and I am thankful" Jinarl said


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "Ok probably time for the big questions" Yorun said


    "How about this I''ll explain who I am, what I did and what happened to my people then after if you have additional questions I''ll answer those" Jinarl said


    "That''s perfect but can you allow Golanier to actually be uh awake for this?" Yorun asked


    "Fine" Jinarl said dismissively as Golanier snaps awake quickly getting up with a horrified look in his eyes yet he says nothing clearly now understanding not to against Jinarl


    Jinarl doesn''t move as the entire city seemingly comes to life through illusions, old damage disappears, the bodies disappear as the streets and skies fill with his people of all ages and even the golems as well as other makeshift defence structures disappear. Within the temple itself the very body of Jinarl disappears as priests come into view and begin to do various tasks until what looks like a far younger Jinarl walks in.


    "In my youth I was a warrior priest for my people, bringing people closer to the gods off the battlefield and directly to them on it however as time had gone on I decided to travel to the other nations lands wanting to broaden my horizons on well everything" Jinarl said as the illusion changes completely showing them the young Jinarl flying to different places with different races


    "During my travels I saw much going on and most of it not good things, injustice after injustice some with from what I could sense godly involvement, it broke my heart for a while that the gods seemed to care so little about us, from the wars and petty kings as well as all the chosen I had seen doing horrible things then as I continued to travel I felt more godly involvement in these things from pretty much all of the gods to some degree now of course I cannot dare imagine any gods intentions and I''m sure some were not malicious but it felt like it yet throughout it all I saw one god completely uninvolved" Jinarl said


    "Raeknar" Yorun said


    "Correct, after a while I began to search more for Raeknars involvement, nation after nation I searched and yet I found nothing so I grew bold probably more so than I should have been and one day I flew to a mountains peak and carved out a place to sit and pray. I prayed to Raeknar and asked them why the world was the way it was, Raeknar the arbiter of justice seemed almost uncaring about that and I had truly not expected an answer it was a depressed travellers vain cry for answers but then right in front of me Raeknar stepped into our reality. Despite my position as a warrior priest nothing prepares you for a god coming to you alone because you asked for answers never mind those answers actually being given because that is exactly what happened, Raeknar laid everything out from the god chains to the other gods cares as well as their own" Jinarl said


    "Raeknar just explained it all? Nothing needed in return?" Yorun asked


    "Yes, due to my years as a warrior priest, even if I was fairly young at least by my peoples standards, I had done enough in the name of the gods to warrant it. Anyway the news was all a shock to me but nothing more so than hearing Raeknar themself state that they didn''t really care all too much about the mortals but more wanted to get justice into the world to stop their chain, that hurt me quite a bit that the last bastion of the gods in my eyes was almost as uncaring and I asked Raeknar for something" Jinarl said


    "The duties of a chosen" Sunhale said making Jinarl shake his head


    "Close, I asked Raeknar for the ability to return the dead to life, make an army of the dead who were killed as a result of the injustices wrought upon the world by the gods and Raeknar fell silent for a moment before replying" Jinarl said as he focusses the illusion on Raeknar who has taken the form of Jinarl himself


    "You are an interesting mortal, I will not allow you to bring souls from the afterlife back to the living realm but I will grant you the ability to raise their bodies as soulless soldiers, the ability I call necromancy and you would be the first to use it" Raeknar said


    "Not exactly what I expected but I can work with that" The Younger Jinarl said


    "So long as you bring justice I will give you this magic" The illusion Raeknar said


    The illusion Raeknar then reaches out to the younger Jinarl and touches his soul and the illusion shows what happened to his soul as it gets lit with a green flame while the other magics of the soul are forcefully pushed aside and a new magic fills the gap all the while the young Jinarl screams at the pain.


    "I had not been made a chosen that would not come for a long time, I had just been made the worlds first necromancer however it did take me days to recover on that mountain" Jinarl said


    "It didn''t take me nearly as long and my soul was actually stabbed" Sunhale said


    "True however there are certain factors, for one Otaper or whatever you wish to call them had given such magic out to many people before I was the first person to get this magic and second off you were prepared to get that magic due to your use of the darkness over the years your soul had acclimated" Jinarl responded


    "I suppose that makes sense" Sunhale said


    The illusion then changes around them once more to a large recent seeming battlefield, people are there collecting the dead to return to families when the younger Jinarl flew down to the battlefield his landing his hard clearly his body and soul are still in bits of pain. Those collecting bodies look over and draw blades just in case but as they approach they see something they''ve never seen before green flames emanating from Jinarl as bodies around him begin to stir and raise.


    "Unlike yourself Yorun I had extensive magical training and despite obviously never having training for this sort of magic I figured it out quickly also Raeknar implanted little false memories into my mind to teach me" Jinarl said


    "Lucky you" Yorun said


    "At least you didn''t need to deal with the magic being implanted within you" Jinarl said


    They watch as Jinarls younger self begins to raise body after body and the people who were there collecting bodies quickly fall to the ground terrified by what they''re seeing they freeze in pure terror as Jinarl continues to raise more and more bodies including those the people know for sure were dead.


    "I spent years travelling the world once more but this time looking for recent battlefields and building my army, I kept quiet at least as much as I could rumours circulated and well that many bodies disappearing isn''t going to go unnoticed but the mountain where Raeknar gave me necromancy? I turned it into a veritable fortress using undead to hollow parts out, built the place up and gather materials for it all. Once I had what I believed to be a large enough army I began the march, over the coming years I took my army to as many cities and villages taking down those who deserved to go to Raeknar for what they had done and progressively getting more and more soldiers in my army" Jinarl said


    "Where did it go wrong then? Usually this sort of thing goes well at first then horribly wrong so what happened?" Sunhale asked


    "I wish you weren''t correct, I had been bringing an army and justice across the realm but I was no chosen, I was still just a normal person and the gods other than Raeknar began to get sick of my and a chosen was sent after me. The chosen they sent was one of my own people and were a chosen of both Gaeronak and Malekanivor, you know how powerful a chosen for either can be never mind just one person with both. My army and I was crushed quickly, take a look" Jinarl said


    The illusion changes once more showing a large battlefield, an army of the dead with various races making it up fighting a similarly large living army of many races yet the living army seems to be winning due to the influence of the person flying above it, a red scaled Kai Tamar is empowering the army through the power given to him by being Gaeronaks chosen while around the battlefield chaos from being Malekanivors chosen ensues, random explosions, the ground shaking, pockets of gravity changes. The enemy chosen then lands in the undead army and begins carving through the undead, they see Jinarl try and fight the chosen yet within seconds they see Jinarl lose limbs and get killed, some parts of the undead army remain but not for long as eventually the magic leaves the undead mages as Jinarls soul heads into the Wayrest.


    "Gods, but this isn''t how you died later on since you were obviously a chosen here in this realm at some point" Yorun said


    "Correct, my soul headed to the Wayrest and was greeted by Raeknar who took me to Artiel in Faelerm but once we were there. Raeknar said something I had not anticipated well I don''t think I was anticipating much, dying is overwhelming" Jinarl said


    They see the illusion changes once more to show a place none of them have ever seen, Artiel in all its glory the good place of the afterlife and amongst all the souls of the afterlife they see Raeknar and Jinarl.


    "Jinarl, you sought me out to bring justice to the world and I gave you some magic at your request, since then your actions have brought much to the living realm. You have changed my mind on certain matters and thus I give you this chance. I can return you to life, fix your body, give you more abilities with your necromancy and make you my chosen. You will be able to go toe to toe with the other chosen out there or call upon me should you need it" Raeknar said


    "You''d do that?" The young Jinarl asked


    "Of course, you need merely agree, the other gods save for the god of time cannot see into my realm unless I wish for them to and as such they more than likely believe you are going into your rest here in the afterlife. Agree and rip their chosen asunder, bring justice to the world as my chosen with a far more powerful army of the dead" Raeknar said


    "I agree" The young Jinarl said


    "Those two words changed the rest of my life and death, I spent the next decade in Faelerm, learning all that I could of necromancy and the new abilities given to me some of which you know, such as necromantic curses and soul binding among others. The biggest change however was my new chosen abilities again things you know, being dead has some usefulness, no body just a soul and as a result no need to eat, drink or even sleep so during the decade I was damn near constantly training and learning more from Raeknar as well as allowing myself to be taken over by Raeknar since yes Raeknar can do that even without a body trust me it is a different feeling. Once I was returned to life I went back to my home, called upon the chosen who killed me to fight and I beat him, I then asked my people if any of them wished to join me in bringing justice to the world then they were welcome too and soon enough some of my old warrior priest brethren joined me as they saw it as no higher calling. I then raised an army once more and we began the long arduous task you now have during which Raeknar grew to care more for mortals the more we talked especially. The other warrior priests agreed that if they died I would bind their souls and raise their bodies and as time had gone on I did just that, but every time I decided they had served long enough I would release one and make a great tomb for their body laying it to rest. Every single one would be preserved inside forever more for my people to remember them. One such body being coveted and raised by a certain Kalrin many years later" Jinarl said but his glare was felt by Golanier right at the end of his words


    "How did it all come to an end then?" Yorun asked


    "Well I was around for a long time and I had brought a lot of justice to the world, I grew old however and I decided my time had come at least in the living world, I laid the rest of the undead to rest and passed on, simple as that my people had a time of mourning and to celebrate the life I lead at least until..." Jinarl said before growing silent


    The illusion around them changed to show the city as a desperate battlefield, makeshift defences being put up and soldiers dying by the thousands as they try to put up a defence against what seems to be every other races army and hundreds of chosen filling the dark red skies.


    "By the gods" Sunhale said defaulting to his native language in shock


    "The gods spoke to every race telling them that Raeknar had given my people the ability and duty to bring the world to a halt with necromancy and commanded everyone that would obey to marshal their troops and go to war with my people, no warnings were given, many chosen were made and my people stood no chance. They were wiped out entirely every single person, if I could be sick anymore I would be just thinking of it all again" Jinarl said clearly disgusted by it all


    "But Raeknar didn''t do that right?" Yorun asked


    "It was the plan, at least partially and the gods sought to snuff out the embers of the fire I lit under their noses. When my people were slaughtered however I asked Raeknar to do something else, give the potential for necromancy to everyone, make it a perpetual threat to the order the gods want to keep so desperately and Raeknar did so but not without another consequence. Raeknar made it so that every races life span was halved from then on as a consequence which would really annoy the other gods as they would have to change certain things" Jinarl said


    "We all used to live longer..." Yorun said


    "That is... incredible" Sunhale said


    Golanier cannot hide his amazement at what he has seen and heard yet he still says nothing.


    "Any other questions?" Jinarl asked


    No one says anything and as a result Jinarl steps forward and looks at Yorun.


    "There will be much for you to learn and do as time goes on Yorun and as such I want you to raise my body, my memories as well as skills are in there, bring this world to justice and your family as well as the others from Kurinet will be brought back. They wait for you and are glad to hear of your time here going well despite the injuries sustained in doing so. The gods will want to stop a repeat of what I did and so soon enough they will bring a heavy challenge before you, prepare Yorun and good luck" Jinarl said as the illusion disappeared while Jinarl jumped through a portal back to the Wayrest which closes immediately after


    Yorun despite his state of shock looks at the body Jinarl had in life and he takes a breathe before raising this ancient body from it''s slumber, the bones and scales creak as the body stirs and then stands before it''s new master.


    "Now then, I know your name, let''s get back to Ghairlakriar and head home with our new undead general" Yorun said


    Yorun looked to the newly risen Jinarl and began to walk with the others back to Ghairlakriar all still reeling from the new information they''ve learned but Yoruns mind is not only on that but on the fact he''ll have to kill the worlds oldest dragon when they return...

 Ch 40: A Dragons End

    As Yorun and his group walk through the old streets of what they now know to be a still floating city of the Kai Tamar, they head towards the platform where Ghairlakriar remains and as they approach Ghairlakriars gaze focusses on the undead body of Jinarl, the surprise on her face more than apparent.


    "A body remains and more than that its the body of the last chosen, I admit I am surprised and that is a seldom feeling these days. Is it not disrespectful to do this?" Ghairlakriar asked seeming genuine in her question


    "It is not, he asked for it himself, his soul remains in Faelerm" Yorun said and Ghairlakriar bears a small smile


    "To think a Kai Tamar remains in the realms..." Ghairlakriar said to herself


    "Before I accomodate your request Ghairlakriar would you bring us to the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress in the Fiernian Empire? It is our base of operations and we do not know where we are in the realm either plus admittedly a giant dragon such as yourself is a veritable fold mine for one who can raise the dead" Yorun said much to the others surprise but their surprise is cut off from a loud bit of laughter from Ghairlakriar


    "Fair enough little human, I shall do so and then whatever awaits me in the afterlife I will greet with open wings" Ghairlakriar said


    They all teleport once more onto the back of Ghairlakriar and once more Joolak puts up a barrier to protect them as Ghairlakriar takes flight the wind created by her wings force the city they just left to descend a bit and the ancient magics keeping it floating and defended activate barriers to protect from more of the winds leaving only a little damage to the buildings from Ghairlakriars flight. Ghairlakriar ascends higher and with a burst of magical breath a portal is opens which she flies through, the other end of the portal sends her flying downwards before it closes behind her, far below the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress stands amongst the mountains. Ghairlakriar quickly sends the people in the fortress into a panic but the undead do not react as they feel Yorun''s presence, Ghairlakriar flies downward more carefully and lands amongst the mountains her large body casting a shadow over the mountains and the fortress itself, Ghairlakriar positions herself to stay stabs on the mountains. Yorun and the others teleport off of her and look to her.


    "My end of the bargain has been paid in full, now it is your turn human" Ghairlakriar said


    "That it is, whatever may happen in the Wayrest and then Faelerm I hope you find some kind of peace" Yorun said


    "I will for anything is better than endless life" Ghairlakriar said


    Yorun walks up to one of Ghairlakriars impossibly sized claws and takes a breathe, Sunhale ushers everyone else away as Yorun concentrates and brings out that aura of death in a small area around himself, he begins to concentrate it within his hand just as he has done for other magics as if making a fireball and soon enough something familiar appears on his hand small black flames. Yorun reaches out and touches Ghairlakriars claw and the result is immediate as Ghairlakriars eyes close and her long neck suddenly drops creating a large gust of wind knocking everyone off their feet, as Ghairlakriars head hangs low they all notice her scales already hardening from her long life harden completely across her body essentially turning her body into a statue held up by the mountains, Yorun sees Ghairlakriars soul leave her body but before it disappears from his sight into the Wayrest he sees her smile at him as a thank you.


    "By the gods... She''s really gone" Joolak said


    "Indeed, now Joolak, you heard my name correct?" Yorun asked


    "Yes that Jinarl fellow said it. Yorun, I will say your name to no one I am not one to interfere with a gods chosen and I will get back to my people now" Joolak said


    "Know this Joolak, despite what Golanier may say to you, you are no enemy of ours and from what I''ve seen a caring man scarred by war in a similar way to myself now. If justice is something you seek to bring to this world you''re welcome to join" Yorun said and Joolak is taken aback before laughing a little to himself


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "To be on the side of a necromancer? Well I can safely say I never anticipated such an offer in my life, I don''t think I will take you up on it though, the undead and especially Golaniers presence bring back memories and none of which I wish to remember. Good luck to you Raeknar" Joolak said with a nod of respect before teleporting away


    Yorun looks up at the large body of Ghairlakriar as Golanier and Sunhale walk up and stand at his sides.


    "Yorun, I know a lot has been revealed and undoubtedly more to be revealed soon with Jinarls body in our ranks now but our army is in a good state to properly attack the Fiernian empire especially with the new undead raised in Joaralta. I will set up a proper map and begin planning moves against our enemy, I''ll show you in a few days" Sunhale said before teleporting down into the fortress


    "You know, her body can be of use" Golanier said


    "I know I told her as much" Yorun said


    "You''re thinking of raising her body but that''s not a good idea for a few reasons, first and foremost her size is a problem not only will it be extremely taxing to raise but she is literally a giant target unbelievably easy to take down, sure the body is powerful and armoured with those hardened scales but such defensive and offensive power is overshadowed by how large a target she is. Anyway the second reason is the body is more useful dead as it is technically" Golanier said much to Yoruns confusion


    "What? Explain" Yorun said


    "Well first and foremost I''ve definitely talked about modifying our undead before but with our magic we can go a step further with enough material we can basically create a new undead, for example rather than one giant dragon we could have a legion of smaller dragons" Golanier said


    "And suffice to say we have the material..." Yorun said looking at Ghairlakriars body


    "Correct, though we could also use some of it to make you a new arm, it''ll be draconic in nature and look vastly different than your current arm but well it''ll be stronger, basically we''ll recreate Jinarls arm" Golanier said thinking of all the possibilities


    "You really think you can do all of this, the dragons and everything?" Yorun asked


    "You''d be making the arm and I am absolutely getting you to make at least one dragon but yes I can, I''ve done similar things before though never usually dragons as hunting them was always hard enough it was nearly never worth it but with giants? I made scores of smaller soldiers from their bodies quickly recuperating losses in a different way than anyone thought at the time" Golanier said


    "Ok fair enough, its been a long day so I''m going to go rest" Yorun said


    "Hold on Yorun, other than the dragons and the new arm theres something else we can do for you as well" Golanier said


    "Alright I''ll bite what is it?" Yorun asked


    "Simple, armour" Golanier said before conjuring a blade and striking one of the scales with it not even leaving a scratch


    "Dragon scales when hardened are incredible for armour never mind one of her scales, usually nobility pay fortunes for weapons, armour or even furniture made from dragon bodies and specifically the scales. With our magic though manipulating a dead body and specifically hers making some armour for you will be easy plus you''ll be far more protected given the fact you''ve not taken any armour save for that cloak" Golanier said


    "Ok point made, we''ll deal with that as well, Ghairlakriar has given us a lot in life and now seemingly even more in death" Yorun said as he teleported down to the fortress as he goes to rest


    Sunhale continues to plan the war while Golanier prepares the right way to teach Yorun how to do what they discussed all the while in the Warest Ghairlakriars soul stands tall next to her own body.


    "Such a strange feeling, seeing my own body before me" Ghairlakriar said looking at it


    Jinarl in his skeletal form approaches Ghairlakriars soul, Ghairlakriar recognises the soul having felt it many years prior and more recently when he met with Yorun. Ghairlakriar looks happy to see him though it is a melancholic happiness.


    "Jinarl, they spoke true, your soul remains... are there others?" Ghairlakriar asked


    "I am the last Kai Tamar soul but my people live on in our legacy, more of my peoples skeletons patrol the afterlife and bring the souls from here to Faelerm, some souls are within them but those are just other people who''ve died over the years" Jinarl said


    "Ah, I cannot believe this, to think there is one other than the gods who is still around whom I knew so long ago" Ghairlakriar said with a smile adoring her face


    "Now I should bring you to Faelerm proper, you''ll be taken to Dorancia, you''ve done much in your time to warrant Konlair but over the years during your punishment you have done things of note, talking with the elves and giving them knowledge for example and doing the same for Yorun despite it being for your death in return" Jinarl said


    "I am fine with this" Ghairlakriar said


    Jinarl holds his hand out and grabs her taking her to Dorancia where she takes flight with a roar happier than she has ever let out as she flies the afterlives skies until the day comes for her to go Artiel and finally have her soul destroyed...

 Ch 41: Body Creation and A Twin March

    The morning following Ghairlakriars death by Yoruns hand rolls around and he begins to wake up, as he sits up he holds his head in his hand as his mind rids itself of the nightmares the sleep brought on of Kurinet. He gets up and heads out of the room heading through the halls and past the undead guards to the War Room, when he walks in he sees the room has been filled with several new maps of the Fiernian empire, some being more focussed on certain areas while others are general overview maps of the entire empires lands, Yorun sees possible troop movements for the undead and empires forces planned out and several documents in organised stacks throughout the room. Sunhale is rigorously adding more documents and plans throughout the room with magic and it takes him a few minutes to finally speak up.


    "Going to say something Yorun or just taking it all in?" Sunhale asked as he looked at Yorun


    "You have been hard at work" Yorun said as he looked around


    "Well there is a lot of planning to do and other than Golanier I have the most experience with these matters, mine comes from the intelligence side of things however, he has directly planned wars but I''m the one who can get the information. He''ll come in later on after whatever he does with you and streamline some plans and figure out what plan is best to do and make adjustments" Sunhale said


    "Fair enough, I should head to Golanier then" Yorun said getting a nod from Sunhale who goes back to planning


    Yorun leaves the room and teleports up next to Ghairlakriars body where the events of the previous day concluded, Golanier is there and he has changed the area up to be a somewhat flatter area allowing for easier training. Golanier notices Yoruns presence and looks at him.


    "Finally awake huh? Alright bet you''re wondering what we''ll start with right?" Golanier asked


    "I imagined it would be the arm" Yorun said somewhat confused


    "Well no, that is an extremely dangerous one and sort of requires you to be temporarily dead so when you have more practice" Golanier said


    "I am now tempted to stay without the forearm" Yorun said getting a small laugh from Golanier


    "Don''t worry Yorun, despite my appearance I''ve done that a few times and know how to do the whole thing more than well enough to teach you but its why we''re starting with the dragons and armour. It will help since the reason you must be temporarily dead is simple our magics work on the dead, we''re quite alive or well sort of in my case. Regardless while there are other ways to get a new forearm for yourself using other magics but this way of ours allows for you to have one that''s stronger and you can use the knowledge to change other parts of your body" Golanier said


    "Change... Body... Completely" The undead Jinarl said as he walks up to them


    "What?" Golanier asked confused


    "Seems he can talk sooner than anticipated" Yorun said curious as to how


    "Explain... Later..." The undead Jinarl said


    "Alright?" Yorun said slightly confused as he turns his attention back to Golanier


    "Anyway if we look at Ghairlakriar with the amount of flesh her body provides we can start the process of creating our own undead, the biggest thing is understanding dragon biology, thankfully we have a giant dragon we can scan to learn it. I would suggest you do that Yorun and to also take a scan of our undead friend here, his people seem close enough to dragon biology down to the breathing of fire and other assorted elements through magic" Golanier said


    Yorun does as Golanier said to do and begins scanning Jinarls body first off noting the differences on the inside compared to himself notably the organs that seem to allow for fire breathing, Yorun then begins scanning Ghairlakriars body which takes substantially longer due to her immense size.


    "Dragon biology is much like other creatures out there and overall simple to reproduce since she is large enough to scan during the process of making a dragon you can continue to check your work against her" Golanier said


    "The organs which allow for fire breathing you said could be altered with magic to allow for breathing other elements right? I remember seeing dragons use other breath attacks in the illusions Ghairlakriar showed us. How does it all work?" Yorun said


    "To put it simply they do it like how other objects work they charge the organ with the magic they wish to do it with now there are some limitations, for instance you can''t breath shapeshifting magic but regardless you charge the organ with magic and it will change permanently to that, well permanently unless you want to change it again. Basically it will stay whatever you change it too" Golanier said


    "Alright fair enough so once we''re done with this should we try and make a dragon or something simpler to start?" Yorun asked


    "A dragon, a small pet sized one however, far quicker and the complexity helps learning. I will show you how to do it first and then you can do so after with help" Golanier said


    "Got it" Yorun said


    Golanier then steps back and he conjures dog sized skeleton of a dragon.


    "Starting with a conjuration allows you to envision where the pieces need to go, if you look behind me you''ll see I''ve taken some parts from Ghairlakriar for this" Golanier said as he pointed behind him


    Behind Golanier lays one of Ghairlakriars massive scales resting against Ghairlakriars claw, Yorun hadn''t noticed it as he thought it one of the ones on the claw, next to it lays parts of bone, muscles and organs alongside massive amounts of blood collected into containers.


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    "When it comes to the process of making a new body to then raise, the easiest thing is using all the needed parts from another corpse however were you to lack certain things say there were no organs for you to use for whatever reason you can change other material from the body into it. Now rather unsurprisingly we have everything we need so we do not need to do the other method but it is something to keep in mind I something I will teach you later" Golanier said getting only a nod in response from Yorun


    Yorun focusses his attention back to the conjured dragon skeleton as Golanier begins levitating all the materials behind him and before his eyes he sees the bone pieces and parts of organs float over into position and get moulded into the right shapes necessary starting from the claws and up. He then brings over all the muscle material and it knits itself up the body as if it had always meant to be there, once its finally done Golanier looks at Yorun.


    "The only step now is the scales obviously in our case we have one unbelievably large scale, for anyone else it would take an eternity to process the scale and bring it down to a smaller manageable size for whatever purpose but our magic is based on the dead, the world is a canvas and the dead are our paint" Golanier said with a smirk


    Golanier then looks back at the scale and after a few moments the scale begins to shake with a part of it soon after breaking off and collapsing in on itself as it becomes a veritable swarm of smaller scales which shoot towards the small dragon covering the body.


    "Now an undead created through this process is different than any that are just raised, they are new creations and while they use parts from other bodies and whatnot they aren''t used or alongside each other the way they were previously so they may have little to no memories and muscle memory but while that is an initial disadvantage we can mould them to however we desire as a result. Luckily Jinarls presence will aid the dragons in making them able to fly as well as breath fire" Golanier said


    "I suppose I should raise it now right?" Yorun said


    "Indeed, go ahead" Golanier said


    Yorun then does as he has many times by now and raises the dragon, it stirs and it looks at Yorun knowing he is its master and it tries to get up but it takes it a few minutes to do so. Yorun can feel a little more of his magic within the dragon the the other undead usually get.


    "Took it a bit there" Yorun said as he looks at Golanier


    "Think of it this way, with little to no memories and even muscle memories it at best has a distorted understanding of things, its essentially a new-born but well, dead" Golanier said


    Yorun looks over at the undead Jinarl.


    "You mind taking it away for now maybe try to get it to learn things such as walking, breathe fire and flight?" Yorun asked


    The undead Jinarl nodded and picked up the undead dragon and left with it.


    "Now then, time for you to begin trying Yorun" Golanier said


    "A question first, the dragon took more magic than others usually do, something different to a chosen''s body" Yorun said the feeling obviously confusing him


    "Its for the fire breathing, dragons can fire breathe without magic and so do the undead dragons but difference is, OUR fire is green, during the process of bringing the dead back to life a little more magic is sent to the dragons changing their fire green just like ours. Its only a small thing doesn''t impact us any more than any other creature we raise so don''t worry" Golanier said


    "Alright good, so I will begin trying this then" Yorun said as he looks over at what''s left of the materials behind Golanier


    "Before you do you might want to get those souls screaming for their magic" Golanier said


    "Is it really that magic intensive? Well I guess I shouldn''t be surprised" Yorun said


    "I''ve got a lot of experience doing this and a dragon that small is simple even for my magic being limited by you but even I would need the souls for an average sized dragon at this stage" Golanier said


    "Oh. Fair enough I suppose" Yorun said


    Screams erupt from the souls which are heard in the fortress by Sunhale and the villagers, Yorun feels the influx of magic from their souls and he spends the next half a day under diligent watch by Golanier as he tries to create a proper small dragon body. Over the hours that pass all the while the souls scream, Yorun continues to work he messes up a number of times past the skeletal stage as he finds moulding organs, muscle and making the scales hard but Golanier aids his efforts during that time. Eventually however Yorun succeeds and there is a small dragon in front of him which he then raises just as he did with Golaniers.


    "Well congratulations Yorun you''ve made your own dragon, we''ll stop for today but you will make more of these small ones over the coming weeks to get better and faster at it then you will start making bigger ones got it?" Golanier asked


    "Yes, for now though lets go check in on Sunhale" Yorun said


    Yorun looked down at the small dragon and motioned for it to follow them as he and Golanier make their way to the War Room once they enter Sunhale looks at them and specifically at the mini dragon while Golanier begins looking over the documents and maps Sunhale has been making.


    "Seems the dragon thing is coming along nicely" Sunhale said


    "Indeed, got a long way to go but its good for now" Yorun said


    "So want to hear what I think our next steps should be?" Sunhale asked


    "Go ahead" Yorun and Golanier said


    "Well first off with our now fairly sizable forces I think it is best we secure our region of the empire, from here to Gantoral and even the area around Kurinet though not Deranel simply due to the fact they have their own forces and as such its best for us to use ours where necessary though some forces there wouldn''t be bad to make people remember we are aligned" Sunhale said


    "Sounds like a good idea, effective control over the regions would give us better early warning of enemy forces and would allow us to build up certain places for our use. Gantoral was a large city we could use it if it was rebuilt" Golanier said


    "Better control over the regions would also allow us to bring justice in the regions in ways we haven''t yet, for example around the Gantoral region including Kurinet and Orakin banditry is quite the problem so if we stop that it makes the places better to live and with safer regions it may also get more people on our side in the long run" Sunhale said


    "Then we should begin doing this as soon as possible" Yorun said


    "Agreed but us three should stay here, I have more planning to do and you two have training to continue" Sunhale said


    "Then who will lead the army?" Yorun asked


    "As it stands splitting our forces under two leaders for now would be best, one starting with half over in the Gantoral region and the other starting from here till they link up later. I would guess Onarin for the former and the new undead Jinarl for the latter" Golanier said


    "You think they''re the best for it?" Yorun asked


    "Indeed plus don''t forget with our ability to see through their eyes or take over completely we can check in on them at any time and rush over if the need arises. Some undead mages should be made but I''ll do that with my magic you need all of yours for now and at best they should only encounter bandits anything else and we head there ourselves" Golanier said


    "Then lets go give the order" Yorun said


    Yorun, Golanier and Sunhale then left and divided up the undead army under Onarin and Jinarls leadership and they begin teleporting Onarins army away as the two separate undead armies begin their march to re-join and enforce the regions...

 Ch 42: Expansion and An Old Ally

    Around the area of Kurinets ruins Onarin and half of the undead army teleport in groups at a time until half of the undead army numbering around 68,500 are there. The undead surround the area of Kurinet, Onarin looks around small memories of the area from when a soul inhabited his body, the undead all look to Onarin to find out what they should do.


    "Some of you stay, guard the ruins of the masters home. Everyone else march" Onarin said with the natural cold emotion empty voice


    Some of the soldiers move into the ruins only around 50 while the other undead relay their orders to each other for those too far to hear. Within minutes they are prepared to march and Lykor moves over to Onarin who quickly gets onto Lykor. The army then begins its march to Orakin, within half a day they are close enough for the Orakins to see and with no knowledge of who is approaching they begin to panic and the meagre guard force including mages and soldiers threatened into guarding the village by Yorun so long ago prepare the best defence they can against an army. Minutes after however Gira makes her way to the guards to see what''s happening and so she can provide any magical help.


    "That''s not a force our village can defend against" Gira said


    "No shit but at best we can buy everyone time to escape" One of the mages said


    "Do we know who they are? Is it elves?" Gira asked


    "No not the elves, they carry no banners from what we see" One soldier said


    Gira looks over at the incoming army and in the sky she sees a single bird flying above the army it circles above them before flying toward the village ahead of the army.


    "Are they sending a messenger bird?" The nearby village leader asked noticing it as well


    "If so we had best accept any terms they give, we''re good as dead otherwise" Gira said


    Unbeknownst to the villagers Koralin is heading over and it takes very little time for him to land on one of the village houses, Gira looks at it and as if recalling an old memory that thunders into her mind once more she recognises Koralin.


    "That bird... I don''t think we''re being attacked" Gira said much to everyone else''s confusion


    "The fuck do you mean we aren''t being attack!? A huge army walks here from that other villages ruins! Gods only know where they were before then!" One mage shouted


    "That actually adds more to my theory, Yorun, the burned man who could raise the dead with a connection to Raeknar. HE came from that village and that bird was one of the first things he brought to life. I know because I saw it done" Gira said


    "You had better be right" The leader said


    "I am" Gira said confidently


    Hours pass as the army gets ever closer, once they are close enough and Onarin dismounts Lykor approaching the village several guards as well as the soldiers and mages recognise him from back when Yorun was last here. Onarin walks closer to them and looks to Gira.


    "You. You helped the master, I remember" Onarin said


    "That I did and I see things have definitely changed with all of um, undead plus everything that happened after Yorun left was very obvious given Gantorals current state as well as the army behind you" Gira said


    "We are claiming territory, protecting it, all the way from here to the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress" Onarin said


    "You''re going for that fortress? Thats a tough nut to crack" Gira said


    "Master took it when the war between humans and elves started" Onarin said much to everyone that''s not an undead''s shock


    "That... is impossible" One of the mages said


    While the living people are reconciling that knowledge back in Kolakinta Yorun decides to see how things are going, at first he looks through the eyes of one of the undead behind Onarin and upon seeing they are at Orakin Yorun takes over the undeads body.


    "Glad to see that Orakin fares well" Yorun said turning Onarins attention to him


    "Master" Onarin said


    "Master? Wait Yorun? That can''t-" Gira said before being cut off


    "It is me Gira, I can take over the undead, a few benefits to doing so. How are you?" Yorun asked


    "I am well I suppose, how are you doing? Managed to heal the burns?" Gira asked still somewhat shocked by everything


    "No but many other things have happened since, I could get into that but has Onarin here explained everything to you all?" Yorun asked


    "Your undead here said you were claiming territory and protecting it as well as telling us the impossible that you have the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress" The village leader said


    "Everything he said was true, as I said much has happened since" Yorun said quieting everyone else there


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    "Ok, you aren''t here to force us away or anything?" The village leader asked


    "No we are not. All we are doing is taking territory from here to our base of operations for the sake of protecting it giving our forces a proper place to be and giving us early warnings for enemy attack as well as simply getting more people on our side as if they see an area we have is safer they may change allegiances" Yorun said


    "So what you are saying is we are now under the protection of an undead army? Alright probably better for us given we''ve been fairly isolated since Gantoral got abandoned" Gira said


    "Sorry about that, when I went there I didn''t expect it to end with a battle between Raeknar and Gaeronak" Yorun said


    "THAT''S what happened!? We hadn''t heard anything since no ones come this way since, we knew it was something godly I mean skies turning red and the world shaking are pretty noticeable but then it happened a few times after" Gira said


    "Yeah pretty much the same situation different opponents for me and Raeknar however, different chosen for different gods" Yorun said


    "Master we should move on" Onarin said


    "Right, leave some undead here in this area and keep going" Yorun said


    "Wait, do you need me to come and check on your wounds?" Gira asked


    "I''ve learned some healing of my own now and there are two others with me who have magic as well as some others. If you wish to follow them however and meet up with us eventually you are free too" Yorun said before he returned to his own body


    "I just might" Gira said


    "Master already left, if you''re going to follow then get on Lykor" Onarin said as he got on Lykor once more and Gira gets on as well


    The army begins to march once more and just like in Kurinet around 50 stay in Orakin, they start heading towards Gantoral but along the way they send out contingents in other directions to establish either official Fiernian and Wooralian borders or new ones for Yoruns territory and the Fiernian controlled territory. The main contingent lead by Onarin and now with Gira as a tag along continue towards Gantoral, along the way occasional pockets of resistance are found namely bandits and some aggressive animals of which once killed are all raised by some of the undead mages. As they approach Gantoral the ground becomes uneven as if pieces of it became uprooted during the quaking the world went through during the clash between Raeknar and Gaeronak, more destruction becomes apparent when the walls are seen as several sections of them have fallen over more so than back when it all happened. Gira looks around as the forces left in the army go into Gantoral and spread out claiming it for Yorun and even begin to start rebuilding the broken parts of the cities walls and streets, the houses however many are destroyed while there are holes in the ground from where Gaeronak and Raeknar had been thrown into or that were created from the strikes alone from the two.


    "By the gods... I''d not come here since before Yorun came to Orakin and those that had come here after everything went down their descriptions don''t do the destruction justice" Gira said as she kept looking around after getting off of Lykor


    "Hard to not get crushed" Onarin said


    "Oh right you would have been here, I imagine it would have been hard I mean look around. Two actual gods clashed here so weird to think about" Gira said as she continues to look around amazed


    "Not really" Onarin said indifferent to it all due to his undead nature


    "Maybe for you but a living person has a hard time reconciling this sort of thing" Gira said


    Gira walks around and soon enough finds the indent along the ground and final resting place of Captain Forina before she was raised from the dead, Gira soon enough holds her head as she sees a brief glimpse of Forina with her altered body dead on the ground.


    "What was killed here and the fuck was that?" Gira asked herself yet she doesn''t realise Onarin heard


    "Captain Forina, Gaeronaks chosen like Master is Raeknars, she now serves as I do" Onarin said as he gets off of Lykor and goes to check on the cities new undead defence force


    "Captain Forina? The war hero? Guess that explains some things about her story. Why could I see her for a moment though?" Gira thought to herself very confused


    While Onarins forces alongside Gira stick to the Gantoral region, the undead Jinarls forces coming from the Kolakinta Mountain fortress do as Onarins did, make their way across the lands to Gantoral spreading out and sending more and more soldiers to the borders as they go. Pockets of resistance snuffed out and raised yet unlike Onarins forces the undead Jinarl has one with experience at its head even if his mind is still coming to after being raised he has the soldiers periodically set up watchtowers and other such defensive areas along the way. The borders between Yoruns territory and the rest of the Fiernian Empire are more defended as defensive checkpoints are made there as well, all of these defensive buildings are basic as the undead do it quickly yet they will improve it over time. While all of this goes on however Yorun continues to train with Golanier and more dragons are created and their size progressively gets bigger upon each creation, their creation will undoubtedly be useful in the coming conflicts. A week passes as Jinarls forces continue to make their way to Gantoral, when Jinarl finally makes it there Gira sees the approach as does Onarin and the other undead, Gira is surprised as Jinarl flies up to them.


    "What the fuck are you?" Gira asked looking at him


    "Kai Tamar, we are long dead" Jinarl said looking at her


    "Clearly, I''ve never heard of your people" Gira said


    "You''re talking well and very soon" Onarin said


    "This body is familiar with the magic I gained my mental faculties far faster as a result" Jinarl said


    "Useful" Onarin said


    "This is so fucking weird" Gira thought to herself


    Yorun looks through the eyes of Jinarl at that moment and sees he has completed his journey, he quickly takes over a nearby undead and walks over.


    "You''re both here good, any resistance along the way Jinarl?" Yorun asked


    "Small pockets but nothing big, basic watchtowers and checkpoints were set up along the way. Your lands are under vigilant undead control" Jinarl said


    "Good job Jinarl, actually should we give you another name? The soul of Jinarl is still around and if you two ever came into contact it would be weird to refer to you two or even alone to anyone with knowledge of you and him. If we were too is there a name you know that you''d like?" Yorun asked


    "In life we were called many names but-" Jinarl stops in his sentence


    The undead Jinarls eyes focus on someone appearing in the Wayrest as does Onarin, the soul of Jinarl appears in the Wayrest while Yorun cannot see him nor can Gira the true Jinarl uses his magic to spell out a name for them to see.


    "Dralocran, the Kai Tamar name for Raeknar" The newly named Dralocran said


    "Us two along with Sunhale are using the different names of one god for our aliases, fitting" Yorun said


    Jinarl disappears from the Wayrest leaving his undead body dubbed with a new name with Yorun happy to have aided in a small way from across the realms. Yorun looks over Gantoral and the reconstruction efforts for the cities defences and he is happy to see it going well then he looks at Gira.


    "I''ll bring you to the Fortress" Yorun said


    Yorun then simply grabbed her shoulder and teleported away with her and the undead he is controlling taking her to the fortress while his territory gets more secure by the second. Yet unknown to him is the encroaching threat from the Fiernian empire...

 Ch 43: Gira Learns and A Small Deal

    The undead soldier controlled by Yorun teleports into the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress with Gira into the small courtyard the fortress has, Gira sees one thing immediately after teleporting there and it is Yorun himself his actual body and the forearm that is gone, the shock on her face is more than apparent and Yorun still controlling the undead notices it.


    "I''ll explain that in a moment I need to get this undead back to Gantoral" Yorun said


    Gira looks at Yoruns real body and snaps her fingers Infront of his eyes as she looks at the arm, his eyes do not react to the snap until a few seconds later when the whole body moves as Yorun returns to it.


    "Alright now I can explain" Yorun said with his proper voice


    "Good, theres a lot to explain" Gira said


    "Well to put the arm issue to bed quickly I was shot with the sun by the god Heltior. I did die not from the sun itself but from being forced down through a section of Deranels city wall. Only reason my whole body isn''t gone is simply it was all covered by Raeknars cloak. I was pushing someone else out of the way with this arm and as such it was not covered" Yorun said quickly and calmly as if it were nothing despite the ridiculous tale of survival


    "You... have to be joking right?" Gira asked with more than concern in her voice


    "He''s not" Azkelt said as his soul appears next to them


    Giras focus looks at Azkelt even in the state he is in after all this time the spectral body he has is similar to what he was before he was killed, noble looking with ghostly noble clothes but they are slightly tattered after all the pain his soul has been put through.


    "Uh... What the fuck?" Gira asked looking at what she thinks to be a ghost of a noble next to Yorun


    "This is Azkelt Pertaki, he is dead and his soul is bound to mine. You can ignore him for the most part he was quite the bastard in life" Yorun said


    "I''ll be saying this a lot but please explain" Gira said


    "With the magic I have and the permission of Raeknar those who would otherwise go to Konlair can have at least some form of punishment here and as a result further our goals. I can use the magic of the sounds bound to me and well suffice to say..." Yorun said before he stopped talking


    Yorun then makes a fireball in his hand causing Azkelt to scream and his soul to visibly start shaking as if it was being pulled in every direction by an unknown force trying to rip him apart. Gira immediately stepped back somewhat horrified by the intense pain he is going through and the guttural screams indicating its worse than what they can see.


    "Its very painful for them" Yorun said over the screams


    Yorun gets rid of the fireball quieting Azkelts screams who quickly disappears afterwards.


    "...Clearly, things have definitely changed for you from the last time I saw you. You had barely the stomach for killing someone and now what is essentially torture seems fine for you" Gira said


    "Raeknar deems this fine and well Raeknar is the god of justice so hard not to agree" Yorun said


    "Fair enough I suppose. I sense living people around here so I assume you have other allies than just the undead?" Gira asked


    "Most of the people here are from two nearby villages, they provide the fortress with magic however there are two people who are true allies of mine, one you likely cannot sense as his soul is also bound. He was the necromancer before me meaning he can raise the dead and is more knowledgeable on this magic than myself and the other is an elf named Sunhale we met in Gantoral and have aided each other since" Yorun said


    "Ok at least you aren''t always surrounded by undead having actual people to rely on is good for a lot of reasons especially mental health" Gira said


    "I know, don''t forget I am no young man, while many things I have done are new to me I have learned many other things in my years" Yorun said


    "Right I almost forgot, with how you look and all you''ve been through anything that denotes your age is kind of ignored in my mind" Gira said


    "It is fair anyway back to the explanations so if you see undead dragons around do not worry and do not worry about that one either" Yorun said as he pointed up


    Gira confused looks up and sees Ghairlakriars massive body still blocking the sun, she wonders how she hadn''t noticed such a beast and stumbles backwards onto the ground. Yorun laughs a little as he helps her back up.


    "Her name was Ghairlakriar and the reason you need not worry is she is dead, has been for a little bit now. Dragons apparently become like statues on death so she''s staying like this until her body is well gone" Yorun said


    "And what about those undead dragons? Surprised you didnt bring her back" Gira said


    "Many reasons as to why she wasn''t raised but the others are created from her body, more useful to create many from the one. Technically other than the defences the fortress came with those new dragons are the other other defences alongside a token force of undead soldiers" Yorun said


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    "Is that not dangerous?" Gira asked


    "You''d think so however the fortress''s defences were created with living armies in mind, we only took this place so quickly and early on because the undead are the way they are. Fearless, unfeeling etc living armies hesitate and feel pain and well die as such I can bring back the soldiers of any army that attacks and if you combine it with abilities I''ve gained since. We should be fine" Yorun said


    "Ok if you are sure I will believe you, I imagine there''s a lot to know still but if you don''t mind I am going to have a little look around" Gira said


    "Fair enough, the fortress''s defences recognise you as an ally but you aren''t able to teleport yet. Its a lot harder to allow someone to be able to do that here as the defences need to be configured in a certain way to allow for specific people to do so" Yorun said


    "Noted" Gira said as she walked away to look around


    As Gira leaves however Yorun feels one of the undead sent to the borders be destroyed and then a few more, he quickly takes control of an undead there and immediately makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hands blocking a strike with it, a Fiernian soldier is the one attacking him and Yorun sees a small army attacking. Yorun quickly grabs at the soldiers face and uses his green fire to burn his face and kill him, the unexpected magic from this random undead catching the soldier and others nearby off guard. Yorun in the undead body stands tall holding the scythe.


    "I''ll take it Emperor Durinkal sent you all?" Yorun asked as his voice begins to creep out of the other undead soldiers nearby in unison with his own


    The soldiers all immediately step back away from the undead getting into formation with shields bearing soldiers in the front lines yet a man in full plate armour and with several swords floating around him approaches on a horse, the soldiers move out of his way as he does so. The man is large in stature and he dismounts the horse walking in front of the soldiers he commands. Yorun looks to the figure before him analysing the armour and he very quickly notices a family crest on the pauldrons. The crest embossed onto the armour is that of a fist gripping a thin line with small shapes like buildings along the line.


    "That crest... Seems the Emperor not only sent someone but sent family. Which of the illustrious Ghohalan family are you?" Yorun asked somewhat sarcastically but his voice is full of venom


    Seeing the opportunity a nearby lighter armed soldier steps forward from behind the horse the man rode.


    "This man is Sir Helimiral Ghohalan the third son of his Imperial Majesty Emperor Durinkal and is an honourable Knight of the empire" The lightly armoured soldier said


    "A large name, seems ''his imperial majesty'' is beginning to take this more seriously" Yorun said


    "So you are the one raising the dead then, rumours and reports have been coming to the capital steadily and that you have allied with the elves. You''re human and you betray your home? Dishonourable bastard." Helimiral said


    "If there''s anyone dishonourable its you''re family and those who work for you because my village was burned down by those who came to collect money for your fucking family and after that? I was given a purpose by a god to bring justice and your family are a target for it" Yorun said


    Helimiral looks at him and then around to his own soldiers as well as that of the undead soldiers of which during this have been moving back and into their own formation.


    "You talk of border villages I''d wager, some reports reached us when they were destroyed, unlike most of my family I took interest in these reports since despite everything we rule because not enough people want us gone. Didn''t hear anything of survivors though not until a report came back of some soldiers investigating around Orakin and near the destroyed Kurinet saying that ''Raeknar comes from Kurinet'' I''ll take it they meant you" Helimiral said and Yorun just stares him down for a moment


    "Yes. You took interest in what was going on? You realise the position your family can be in, if you are about to say you''re a good man and that your men are as well then turn and leave. Do NOT return and when I march upon the capital and bring down your family''s reign you will be spared" Yorun said


    "And what if I dont? You have killed many people given the size of your army and more than that I''m sure many of them are good people themselves. That cannot be ignored" Helimiral said


    "I am Raeknars chosen if ill is to come to me for it then it will but my goal remains. If you do not leave then lets make it apparent what will happen" Yorun said


    Green flames begin to spring up from his sides creating a wall of fire blocking Helimirals forces from getting to the undead and suddenly several guttural screams of pain begin to ring out all coming from Yorun yet at the same time not from him. Helimiral is confused at this and then he sees the grass around Yorun beginning to die not from the flames but just around him things start to die.


    "Within moments I could kill every one of your soldiers by merely walking too close or even do it from here, I will take soul after soul of those deemed bad enough from your army and once every soul has been taken and everyone else killed their bodies will be raised and poised to attack the lands they were previously protecting. All the while I will kill you sending you to Faelerm and raising your body just the same. I could simply scan you and your men to find out if I need to do this but either you attack and it happens or you go home and be spared or maybe you''ll be against me even there but you''ll tell everyone what I can do, demoralising everyone because you are the third son of the Emperor not some random lowly soldier. So what will it be?" Yorun said with a cold demeanour he has shown from time to time since this all began


    Helimiral stands quiet listening to the screams of the souls as he thinks on what he just heard. His soldiers are now questioning if they want to continue despite whatever decision Helimiral makes.


    "Tick tock Helimiral, the longer you ponder the more your soldiers will question you. Leave now or attack" Yorun said


    "...A duel" Helimiral said


    "What?" Yorun asked confused


    "A duel, I win we attack in earnest against a threat to the empire but if you win we leave and you get a new ally in me. Despite your disdain for my family, on my families name I will uphold the deal" Helimiral said


    "An duel? Now?" Yorun asked


    "Yes, have a problem with that?" Helimiral asked


    "I am hardly an opponent who can properly go against you, plus the undead are technically still apart of me unless you want to not include them" Yorun said


    "Choose a champion then and preferably one with a soul" Helimiral said


    Yorun thinks for a moment and whether this is a good idea and as he thinks on it Raeknars voice enters his mind.


    "Yorun accept it, it will endear you to those who hear of it and make your future plans work easier" Raeknar said and Yorun does a small almost imperceptible nod


    "I accept however we shall have it in one day from now, I must decide who I shall choose" Yorun said


    "Fine with me, me and my men will make camp to the east, a river is nearby there. When time comes meet us there" Helimiral said


    Yorun nods and the scythe disappears from the undead hands as the wall of fire and screams suddenly disappear as does the small area of death, this is all fairly confusing to Helimiral who noticed as the person he was talking too suddenly disappears from the body meanwhile Yorun returns to his body in the fortress thinking on what will happen next...

 Ch 44: The Third Son and His Challenge

    Moments after Yorun returned to his own body after the meeting with Helimiral Ghohalan he quickly makes his way through the corridors of the fortress to the war room grabbing Gira along the way as he bumped into her as he walked. Yorun steps into the war room with Gira at his side and as she looks around Sunhale looks over curious about the newcomer and walks over as a result.


    "So based on previous times we''ve talked I''d wager this here is Gira?" Sunhale asked


    "Indeed, you two talk I need to grab Golanier somethings just happened" Yorun said before teleporting away


    "He''s talked of me?" Gira asked


    "A little here and there about how you helped him after Kurinets destruction and then with healing the undead and such, overall not too much given your limited interactions" Sunhale said


    "Fair enough, seems you''ve had a lot more interactions however since you''ve been with him since Gantoral correct?" Gira asked


    "There was a period of time in which I wasnt then the human and elf war started once again and I joined after Yorun raised everyone who died in the first battle for his army" Sunhale said


    "Has to be a bit weird no? You''ll have seen some of these people alive and served with them right?" Gira asked


    "It is a bit weird at time but their souls are gone, they aren''t the same people they were and even then its not like I was close to everyone in that army, my bonds were forged with the spies and those above me normal soldiers less so" Sunhale said


    "Make sense I suppose" Gira said as Yorun teleported back with Golanier


    "Gira this is Golanier, he tried to take over the world a thousand years ago with an undead army, his soul is bound to mine and he''s inhabiting his old body" Yorun said


    "... Okay weirdest thing I''ve heard so far, hello I guess?" Gira said as nicely as she could but her voice was tinged with fear


    "I am trying to make myself at least somewhat better even if my old self is easier to do things with" Golanier said after rolling his eyes


    "Ok Yorun tell us what the problem you mentioned is" Sunhale said and the other two looked at Yorun waiting to hear as well


    "At the southern part of our newly established border with the Fiernian Empire, earlier on I felt some undead being killed and confronted the attackers in and undead body but the attacker bore a crest, the crest of the Ghohalan imperial family, Helimiral Ghohalan the third son of the Emperor is there" Yorun said much to the shock of the others


    "That is quite the problem, I''ll get everything I have on him" Sunhale said as he goes over to a neatly stacked and organised pile of intelligence reports and grabs everything he has on him bringing it over


    "So our first bit of proper warfare against one of the imperial family, how fun" Golanier said with a smirk


    "...And I just got here, now this is happening. Oh gods" Gira said getting a small laugh from Golanier


    "It may not be all you think we talked and we''ve agreed to a duel of which I can choose a champion in my place since I would need to improve a lot to fight a knight of the empire such as he is" Yorun said


    "Seriously? Huh guess he is a more honourable one, think this agreement will last? When is the duel even set for?" Sunhale asked


    "Tomorrow and yes at least currently because no more undead have been killed since" Yorun said


    "Who do you intend to have fight for you? An undead?" Golanier asked


    "Technically, he said ''preferably one with a soul''" Yorun said as he looked at Golanier


    "Bit underhanded for you Yorun, I''m impressed" Golanier said with a smirk


    "We will limit you so if he takes off your limbs you''re done not much he can do to a soul but overall the reason you''ve been chosen is simple. He fights a bit like you at least in terms of weapons and more than that he also is closer in magic to you even limited as you are by me than he is to Sunhale so if magic ends up being allowed it is more fair" Yorun said


    "Fair enough, logical, you''ve clearly thought it through" Golanier said


    "I basically just came up with that but my mind has been racing due to the encounter" Yorun said


    "Well it was pretty well thought out, I wouldn''t want to be the one to fight him anyway, I can fight obviously I am trained to do so but most of my combat tactics rely on subterfuge and general trickery due to my profession even with the magical upgrade from Otaper. Helimiral Ghohalan however is a more front line soldier even when commanding soldiers in a battle, he''s smart but strong too, his official title as a knight is ''The Living Siege'' as he will fight for as long as possible and break through all of your defences, he''s broken through the highest grade armour, broken parts of city walls with just his blades alone" Sunhale said


    "Well this duel will be quite fun then, I am curious of how a mere human has that strength though even with magical enhancements city walls aren''t easy to break down with blade alone that takes veritable years of stored magical energy in the blades and arms to exert that power" Golanier said


    "I''d imagine so the human body isn''t built for something like that yet you make it sound as if he can do it easily" Gira said


    "Because he can, it wouldn''t be the title otherwise. The knights of the Fiernian Empire''s titles are typically to do with what they''re known for" Sunhale said


    "Regardless of this if we''re showing up to that tomorrow we''re doing so in force. I''ll take some time to make several adult sized dragons, they''ll be big as houses and we''ll fly there on their backs. They''ll think us dragon slayers through them off their game, even if they win his soldiers will be a bit scared to fight" Golanier said


    "Smart, nothing like a little psychological warfare to nudge future events" Sunhale said casually


    Golanier quickly left for Ghairlakriars corpse while Sunhale poured over the documents he has about Helimiral Ghohalan in case there''s anything else they can use, Yorun walks out in the meantime while Gira goes off to look on her own. Night eventually comes and then the following morning as they all wake they head to Golanier where four hours sized dragons are lay down, their eyes focus and track them as they approach.


    "You made them quickly" Yorun said


    "As usual, experience, now climb on lets go see this imperial prince" Golanier said clearly excited for this fight


    All four of them climb atop a dragon and each of the dragons take flight, flying up high past the lower parts of Ghairlakriars body''s legs, they then fly towards where Helimiral Ghohalan and his soldiers were seen, the flight takes a while but once they reach where they were last seen Yorun leads them to where Helimiral said he and his soldiers would rest. It takes a little longer but only mere minutes before several arrows and magics are launched into the sky from below. Yorun looks down, his head becoming noticeable to those below including Helimiral who quickly orders his men to stop firing as Yorun and the others land, Yorun has his back to Helimiral and his soldiers as he dismounts the dragon.


    "Hell of an entrance, I hadn''t known you''d killed dragons" Helimiral said


    "Well I have" Yorun said as he turned around


    The wind picks up a little blowing the Raeknars cloak softly showing the lost forearm of Yorun and the severe burn scars across his body where his clothes don''t cover. Helimiral looks shocked as do the soldiers behind him. Helimiral is struck silent as he looks over the man before him a soul still unsensible but its different to the undead he faced before all the while Yorun makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hand.


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    "Why would he come here in such a weakened body? Does this undead hold significance?" Helimiral thought to himself confused and it showed on his face


    "You''re confused Helimiral, if a duel is to happen we must be clear with each other set rules so, what has you confused?" Yorun asked


    "The body you''re in... Why that one?" Helimiral asked


    "Because its my real body, here in my original flesh unlike last time" Yorun said much to the shock Helimiral and his soldiers


    "Didn''t imagine the real you to be so weakened" Helimiral said


    "It happens when you do what I''ve done, I''ve even been directly attacked by the gods. It''s a wonder I am still here" Yorun said


    "Alright fair enough regardless we need to speak about the duel, is the elf or the girl your champion" Helimiral asked


    "No I''m the champion" Golanier said with a smirk exuding personality that the undead Helimiral fought previous didn''t have


    "You are quite clearly undead" Helimiral said seemingly a little annoyed


    "Technically yes, the body is but his original soul is in there, cant really sense it since its bound to me. Regardless to make it fair and since this isnt a duel to the death, injure the legs and arms in a way that would cut down a normal person and he has to go along with it" Yorun said


    Golanier grabs his greatsword from the back of the dragon and rests it on his shoulder as he looks to Helimiral with a little look Helimiral can guess the purpose of it. Helimiral teleports his two greatswords next to him already floating at his sides and Golanier looks at then and his eyes focus on one of them. It has small ridges across it and is made of an extremely tough material and then Golanier sees some words upon it.


    "That blade, the one to your right. Its made of dragon materials is it not?" Golanier asked seemingly genuinely intrigued by the blade


    "Yes it is why do you ask?" Helimiral asked and Golanier gets a small smirk


    "Did your blacksmiths and mages forge it or was it found in an war vault? I know your people have some of those in their primary cities so which is it?" Golanier asked the smirk still adorning his face


    "War vault, an old one as far as we know" Helimiral said


    Golanier uses his own telekinesis to bring the blade straight to his hand, the soldiers behind Helimiral are about to retaliate considering it dishonourable but Helimiral raises a hand to stop them confused about Golaniers intention. The moment the blade lands on his hand the blade as well as Golaniers own have the words upon them glow, the ones on Golaniers own never having been noticed by Yorun due to the years it spent in the cursed area, Yoruns confusion of the engraved words especially since he cant understand what they say is undercut as Golanier laughs.


    "So that''s why you have your strength ''Living Siege''. You have one of my blades part of a twin set I used in my conquest" Golanier said as he tossed both blades over to Helimiral dropping them to his feet yet when he said Helimerals title it was with a slight mocking tone


    "Your blade?" Helimiral asked


    "Pick up both of them and use them for this duel you''ll see I''m right, I''ll take that other one" Golanier said as he takes the other greatsword that Helimiral had floating next to him


    Helimiral floated the two blades now known to have been owned by Golanier up and as he grabs the hilt of both of them the words carved into them begin to glow once more and Helimiral grips the hilt as he feels something almost burning inside him and his muscles nearly ripping themselves apart. Each small movement, tense of the muscles is like having his whole body struck with lightning but he pushes through the pain and properly lifts the two blades using telekinesis to reduce the weight of them so he can use them properly. Golanier looks slightly impressed at his determination here.


    "What the hell did you do to me?" Helimiral said through the pain as he gets more and more used to it


    "Technically nothing at all unless you count me giving you the blade doing something to you. The blades when both used amplify the effect of the other, one makes your magic a bit stronger and the other well you know the effect of that blade ''Living Siege''" Golanier said once more with a mocking tone as the title is said


    "Strength augmentation" Helimiral said as it dawns on him why his muscles are damn ripping apart


    "Exactly, these blades weren''t meant for human hands my people were naturally a bit stronger and the effect is a bit less painful, yet here we are you''re doing surprisingly well with them. Show me what a human can do with my twin blades, Knight" Golanier said as he conjured a greatsword in the hand not holding the real greatsword taken from Helimiral


    "With that out of the way, any other terms you need to dictate Helimiral?" Yorun asked


    "Only one thing, I can feel I''m on a time limit using this and I want to take advantage of it but winner is only decided when one concedes" Helimiral said through gritted teeth


    Helimeral knows that his body while getting used to the pain cant hold out with it for eternity and so he raises the blades at from his sides and Golanier matches him. Everyone else moves back to give them space as they recognise that the two are ready to fight now. The moment everyone has backed off Helimiral uses magic to speed forward right at Golanier and slams the two blades downward onto Golanier who quickly moved his own blades to block, the ground beneath Golaniers feet cave as his feet dig into the ground from the force and nearby trees snap in two from force through the air which also makes those nearby hold their arms infront of their eyes as the wind hits their faces all the while the blocked attack shot pain through the muscles of Helimiral like small explosions travelling up his arms and spreading across his body, Golanier manages to push him back in his moment of pain and then launches into doing several powerful swings with his own blades using his whole body, the strikes almost reverberating through the air. As Golaniers strikes keep coming Helimiral quickly strikes back in the opposite direction with his blades in and almost x pattern forcing Golaniers hands down either sides of him and forcing the blades of Golanier to dick into the ground as Helimiral slams his forehead into Golaniers own head before quickly quickly driving the twin blades upward sparks coming off the connecting parts of his and Golaniers blades as the swords connect and slice up through Golaniers hands forcing them to drop the blades. Helimirals blades recede ancient blood now blackened on the blades from Golaniers hands.


    "Can your body continue to fight like this were it not undead or have I claimed victory?" Helimiral asked getting merely a little laugh in response from Golanier as if he was insulted


    "You think I need hands to win a duel, we never said magic couldn''t be used" Golanier said


    Helimiral watches as Golanier raises his hands where they''ve been sliced open hanging in halves until something starts to slide out of the opening all the way from his forearms, the very ulna and radius of both his arms extend out from his arms coming out from both arms as two blades made of bone, Helimiral''s eyes widen as Golanier smirks and some words that none save Golanier know glow upon the new bone blades coming from him carved onto them long ago. The wounds of the hands temporarily close, for a living person it would stop blood loss for a temporary time but its far from a good way to stop it.


    "I have limited time with this so let me show you what a conqueror is to a simple little knight" Golanier said as if dismissing him but he has a little bit of respect underlying his words


    Golanier quickly rushes forward faster than before as he hasnt got the heavier blades in his hands anymore and he adds to his speed with magic, within seconds he has gotten past Helimirals own blades and has his new bone blades piercing through the plate armour covering his stomach while the other pierces his right shoulder through the pauldron. Helimiral is forced to drop the magic enhancing blade as his arm goes limp, he quickly kicks Golanier away and slams the strength enhancing blade into the ground cracking it and then he quickly does it again forcing pieces of the ground to come up from the ground as he launches them with magic toward Golanier who dodges or kicks them out of the way, as he kicks one however Helimiral springs forth and stabs his sword forward toward the rock and as Golanier kicks it, the rock breaks against the sword and his foot stabs right onto the blade. Helimiral quickly swipes the blade to the left forcing Golanier his foot still impaled on the sword in the same direction but Golanier hits the ground as his foot slides off of the blade, he rolls backwards from the force he was moved and quickly Helimiral is on him once more swinging the blade down at him but Golanier dodges once more and stabs one bone blade up as he springs himself from the ground, the bone stabs through Helimirals right arm going through the forearm completely and stabbing into upper arm and into the shoulder. Helimirals blade drops and Golanier takes the bone blade out of his arm.


    "Do you yield prince?" Golanier asked


    "... Damnit, I do" Helimiral said


    A mage quickly runs over and begins to head Helimiral and his men are struck silent and their eyes widen as Golaniers bone blades recede back into his body forcing the normal ulna and radius once more as his hands properly heal he moves each finger to make sure he did it right. Yorun looks over at Helimiral as he''s being treated.


    "Our deal?" Yorun asked


    "It stands, we will not oppose you, you have an ally in the imperial capital" Helimiral said


    "A good day it is then" Sunhale said finally speaking up after just watching with interest with a somewhat horrified Gira next to him


    "Correct, bring your people to Deranel and say Raeknar brought you to the city, they will confirm with us and you will be allowed to stay within" Yorun said


    Helimiral nods then looks over at Golanier and with a fair bit of effort kicks the two blades over to the soul bound conqueror.


    "Take your blades back warrior, they are yours by right" Helimiral said and Golanier just gives him an almost disbelieving look before smirking


    "No you keep them, you have skill and that is seldom lacking in allies of necromancers. Get better with them and live up to your title then one day we shall have a rematch and maybe I''ll use that title without a mocking tone" Golanier said


    Golanier walks over to the others and without another word picks up the other blade Helimiral had brought before de-conjuring the other and mounting the dragon he flew here on, the others mount their own dragons and fly off while Helimiral despite his loss is lauded by his soldiers for the fight given his opponents strength, the flight back to the fortress is celebratory given their new ally''s status is a boon to their future plans...

 Ch 45: A Campaigns Beginning

    After Yorun and his group returned to the Fortress Yorun and Gira went to their own rooms to rest while Sunhale heads back to the War room. Golanier went to make sure his body had been healed correctly before doing some training. The following morning as the suns light creeps in through the windows Yorun wakes slowly and as he sits up he teleports new clothes on beneath Raeknars cloak and he holds his head in his hand as the tiredness drains away from him. Yorun then gets up heading towards the war room, as he walks in he sees Sunhale.


    "Morning Yorun" Sunhale said to a still groggy Yorun


    "Do you ever sleep?" Yorun asked


    "Elves sleep a little less than humans not by much but we do plus my internal clock has been reversed as it were since I gained the ability to manipulate Otapers Darkness. They are also god of the moon so it makes sense I am more active at night" Sunhale said


    "Alright fair enough I suppose" Yorun said


    "I''ll head away to rest soon but I''ll run this down with you first alright?" Sunhale said


    "Sure" Yorun said


    "Now that we have properly secured our borders and have them manned at all times what forces aren''t needed at the borders can now be sent on a campaign into enemy lands. The forces number around 25,000 humanoid soldiers and now a good few dragons. I propose sending out this force to take villages away from the enemy integrating them into our territory and along the way avoid proper military installations, checkpoints fortresses etc and avoid a city unless the whole army is together. Once I''ve trained up some of those bandits on how to respond to enemy codewords and such we can then begin with the military places namely checkpoints that way we can have the enemy confused about what is going on. They''ll be losing villages but only knowing as they begin to feel the monetary and agricultural pinch from the villages lost" Sunhale said


    "As much as I hate to say it, it wont be much of a pinch given how they treated the outlier villages such as Kurinet" Yorun said


    "True a few villages here and there not much but we''ll be sweeping in and taking as many as we can expanding the border and moving the border force to compensate for the new land, then when they lose cities and proper military fortresses..." Sunhale said


    "They will begin to feel it a lot more and by then our border forces will have moved in so they cant so easily take it back and combine that with their focus being split by the elves" Yorun said


    "Exactly, now a couple things first, in terms of our borders we need a few mages at certain points across our borders the reason why being simple, they need access to telepathy to talk to one central undead mage who can relay information to someone in charge be that one of us or an undead we have in charge such as Onarin or Dralocran. That way you and Golanier don''t need to split your focus unless necessary, we can''t be everywhere or more accurately we shouldn''t be everywhere, in a war like this we need to start delegating to capable undead. This can be a temporary solution until I set up more of Otapers darkness" Sunhale said


    "Alright fair enough, if all they need is telepathy that shouldn''t be too much magic needed either which is useful especially due to the connection they all share through me anyway" Yorun said thinking about it all


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    "Regardless once that''s set up I want you to properly start training in combat something I think Dralocran can help with more so than Golanier, that undead clearly remembers a lot of when Jinarl housed his soul in it, not just magic but how to properly fight with that scythe" Sunhale said


    "You make a good point, I''ll check in with Dralocran" Yorun said


    "I''ll tell Golanier he gets to lead the conquest, since I would rather a sufficiently powerful necromancer still be out there at the head to raise any soldiers at least for now and with Dralocran going to do training with you well it just makes the most sense" Sunhale said


    "Right don''t forget to rest afterward though" Yorun said


    "I won''t" Sunhale said


    Yorun leaves and heads to the training area after which he takes over Dralocran who is still over in Gantoral and teleports in that body all the way back to the fortress bringing it to the training area. Yorun quickly returns to his own body and looks at Dralocran.


    "What is it you need?" Dralocran said in the signature cold soulless voice of the undead


    "You remember how to use this magic more so than Golanier does and more than that you remember how to fight with this same scythe" Yorun holds Raeknars scythe out to Dralocran while also giving magic to Dralocran


    As the magic floods into the winged undead a cloak similar to that of Raeknars currently worn by Yorun begins to appear on Dralocrans body.


    "Seems you''ve got more personality than I thought" Yorun said


    "Some undead have certain things ingrained, it varies" Dralocran said as his wings brushed along the inside of the conjured cloak


    "Fair enough I suppose, before we get started with the scythe training though I do want to know, when you were starting to get your intelligence back you tried to tell Golanier and I something about the whole taking over bodies and body part changing, mind explaining now?" Yorun asked genuinely curious


    "Temporary control of an undead, leaving a soul behind isn''t the pinnacle of that ability instead the pinnacle is simple. Fully taking over an undead body replacing your original body with that one, sufficiently healthy body''s are required, little reason to do it unless your body is beyond repair or need a far stronger body" Dralocran said


    "Did Jinarl ever need to do that?" Yorun asked


    "No and even if this body was too damaged Raeknar could be asked to fix it given all I-Jinarl had done" Dralocran said


    "Another question, the other undead when they gained intelligence they called me master you never have, why? Don''t get me wrong it''s weird the others do but I''ve grown used to it but I still want to know so why?" Yorun asked


    "This body knows only one to call master" Dralocran said as the undead eyes gazed at the cloak worn by Yorun who nods in response


    "Alright, I guess that answers that, now show me what I can do with the scythe" Yorun said


    Dralocran begins to train Yorun in the scythes use, Yorun holding onto the actual scythe while the winged undead conjures one to show Yorun how to fight better. Meanwhile Sunhale has gone to Golanier and informed him of the plan he discussed with Yorun.


    "So you want me to take charge of the campaign? I can do that" Golanier said


    "Don''t forget this may be a campaign to basically conquer villages and such but this isn''t your world conquering we are bringing justice" Sunhale said


    "Yes, yes I know, hold back on the cruelty and such. I''m no fool" Golanier said almost insulted


    "Leave as soon as possible once Yoruns done with training I''ll have him get magic to some of the border mages and one in Gantoral, that way his magic can continue to grow as well" Sunhale said


    "Fair enough, I''ll head out now then just dont forget about those undead spies in training" Golanier said as he teleported away


    "How can I? They are very fucking vital..." Sunhale said as he walks away


    Golanier teleported to the big dragons and then teleported with them to Gantoral where the forces not being used for its defence and the borders are waiting. He gathers them and orders them to form up into lines.


    "All of you will follow me as we make a new excursion into the Feirnian empire!" Golanier shouted and the undead do not respond but they will follow


    Golanier is used to the undead''s quietness its almost nostalgic for him heaving the quiet army and a campaign to conquer. He marches towards the border forces and heads past them as he heads out into enemy territory, he looks at a map of the modern empire and smirks as he sees multiple villages ready for a conqueror to take them...

 Ch 46: A Conquerors Lament

    An army of 25,000 undead march through Fiernian Empire territory with Golanier at its head, he floats ahead of them like a king above his soldiers just as he would in the past, he looks back at the army as he floats along looking over what he has at his disposal, most of the army are normal undead humans and elves but alongside them walk the dragons as well as the undead Forina.


    "Alright then lets see how she does" Golanier thinks to himself


    Golanier floats over to Forina as the army continues to march, her cold dead eyes look at him with the green from them focussed on him. Golanier gives her magic to use how she sees fit alongside multiple mages.


    "Take command, show me what you can do here with an army fully under your dutiful command" Golanier said


    "Understood" Forina said


    Golanier then flew above the middle of the army following along as Forina marches ahead of the rest of the undead leading it from the front, the first of multiple villages quickly appears ahead through a tree line. As undead start to come out of the tree line the villages guard force has yet to notice but they do so immediately as a magic barrier is raised across the village by Forina cutting off telepathy and blocking view as from the outside the village looks normal with no enemies attacking. The guards quickly take notice of the multiarmed woman with armour fused onto her skin with soldiers behind her.


    "Its the elves! Defend the village!" The guard captain shouted


    Golanier just watched as Forina led the soldiers in quickly taking down the villages guards, the guards while competently trained enough to take down multiple undead per person but not a one drew their sword as the undead dragons came out of the tree line they grew too terrified before the first of them were taken down. Not one of them is killed due to their surrender which is almost a disappointment for Golanier.


    "Kind of wanted them to put up some fight, people these days are far too afraid of dragons and there are far too few satisfying warriors" Golanier said then sighed as he floated closer to the village looking towards


    The villagers watch as the imposing Kalrin floats over and lands in front of them.


    "Your village is our now, we''re going to kill your imperial family a force of undead will be left here alongside one undead dragon you try anything you die and get brought back as an undead soldier for this army. Got it?" Golanier asked while brandishing his blade


    The villagers all agreed quite quickly as the undead quickly took the guards blades from them and a force is left there keeping the village under undead control as Golanier telepathically tells the border forces closes to the village they can move ahead. Golanier heads towards the next village not caring for the names of any of them but along the way he gets on the back of one of the dragons letting it walk for him as he thinks to himself.


    "Back in the day the terrified nature of those people would be a delight for me gods weeks ago it would be and yet here I am disappointed" Golanier thought to himself


    He looks over at the army of marching undead and thinks back on older days as flashes of castle after castle, city after city fell beneath the undead horde with himself at its head.


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    "Back then decent warriors were more plentiful especially among those damnable chosen but they all shared the fatal flaw of believing too much that being made a chosen was making them invincible. They did not train their new powers and when I begin to win our duels they would try to say those words given by their gods but the words would die on their lips as their souls were sent to Arikel. Only one good warrior from back then remains that intelligent damnable giant and I respect the fucker then there''s that imperial prince dabbling with the power of one of my blades unknowingly but he was good, he was strong and I enjoyed that duel so damn much that this doesn''t have the same effect that that single duel not even to the death gave. Then that all combined with that fucking Kai Tamar showing me how insignificant I am?" Golanier thought to himself before sighing and looking at his hands


    "Damn, Arikel must be loving this" Golanier said aloud to himself knowing that Raeknar was likely listening


    Raeknar is indeed watching at this moment while welcoming several souls into Faelerm, Jinarl walks to them and looks at Raeknar.


    "Something happening in the mortal realm Raeknar?" Jinarl asked


    "Nothing but a conqueror''s edge dulling as time goes on" Raeknar said as they left Jinarl with the newly arrived souls


    Golanier meanwhile continues to take the villages with the undead forces under his command, he hates that it goes smoothly each time as he quickly runs out of the nearest villages and he begins to teleport the forces back to the border being re-joined by the undead dragons then he heads a bit further south with them and heads for the villages closest there until they can take down all the villages surrounding the city of Kelinrask yet its all routine for Golanier and quickly becoming so for the undead under his and Forinas command, unimportant all until one village finally catches his eye. The guards for it are not standard guards but mercenaries and there''s a stronger couple magic users within, he smirks and allows Forina to set up the barrier just as before but then he has the dragons attack first burning the first mercenaries who don''t manage to shield themselves with magic and shields. As the mercenaries are all focussed on the front they don''t notice until its too late the magic coalescing beneath their feet as skeletal arms break through the ground below them and the arms quickly sweep across the hastily assembled lines as Golanier with a barrier protecting himself from the dragons fire walks through the green flames of the dragons and before the mercenaries can react he slams his greatsword down both slicing and cutting through the shields, armour and men underneath it. The undead mages and archers quickly follow suit with their own attacks raining down a hail of arrows and fire on the mercenaries while the close range undead attack in earnest. The mercenaries are quickly mopped up by Golanier and the undead and despite the ease of it he feels slight satisfaction.


    "Now who''s here?" Golanier thinks to himself as he has the giant skeletal arms rip open the building the two strong magic users are in


    Golanier sees a human man and an elven woman with magics ready in front of him.


    "Who the fuck are you people!?" The elven woman shouted confused in the elven language


    "That heavily depends on who you are" Golanier said as he raised the mercenaries from the dead in full view of them


    "I am Oarsteri and this-" The woman now identified as Oarsteri said before being cut off


    "Oarsteri? Where do I remember that from? Ah, Joaralta so that makes this fucker one Holaire Pertaki" Golanier said as he looked the man over


    "Yes he is... What are you going to do with that information?" Oarsteri asked now worried for Holaires safety as she gets in front of him


    "You both are coming with me, we have some people to see once I''m done here" Golanier said with a smirk as he conjured chains on the two


    "We can get out of this you know" Oarsteri said


    "Do it... See what happens" Golanier said as he barely looks at them while the dragons get closer to the two


    Golanier then leaves the village with the army continuing his little conquests while his two new prisoners are forced to follow him all the while Yorun continues training back in the fortress, Gira continues to think on how she best can help with what''s going on and Sunhale prepares to meet with the only other person who has the magic granted to him...

 Ch 47: A Healers Heart

    An hour passed after Golaniers departure for the campaign those in the fortress have been busy, Sunhale left temporarily to set up the Darkness of Otaper around parts of the border while Yorun trained but Gira had looked around the fortress and as she began to understand its workings she began to realise how small a piece she is in the fortress, she came here to be a healer but Yorun has learned much about it, Golanier and even Sunhale are fairly adept but then there is the other mages supplying the fortress with magic there lies a couple whom have more skill than her and it all makes her question her newfound place there. Gira looks for where Yorun is as an idea comes to mind, it takes her only a few moments to find him at which time she approaches.


    "Gira, how are you faring here? Certainly been a little eventful since you should so hopefully this little bit of downtime is good for you" Yorun said with a smile yet Giras eyes still linger on the burns across his body


    "This place is nice despite the undead but Yorun... I have a question if you don''t mind?" Gira said


    "Go right ahead" Yorun responded


    "Where did you train? I know you have these two but I can feel you''ve had more traditional training since me met, did Raeknar themselves train you?" Gira asked


    "No, after Gantoral I left the Feirnian Empire for a small time, Sunhale and his commanding officer thought it pertinent to bring me to the heart of the Woorailian Empire. I learned a great deal there and its where we picked up Golaniers soul and body" Yorun said


    "You went into the elves empire? They didn''t kill you?" Gira asked somewhat surprised and Yorun laughs slightly in response


    "No clearly they didn''t but I did have what forces I had at the time with me, got them to bring them alongside me but not the point. There in the capital of their empire stands the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution which given the name you can ascertain everything you can about it" Yorun said


    "Do you think Sunhale would be able to bring me there?" Gira asked looking serious which Yorun notices


    "You really want to go there hm? Go ask Sunhale if he will and if he does refer to me as Raeknar while there, the look in your eyes is a look I''ve noticed in mine own whatever it is you''re looking for now, go find it" Yorun said receiving a nod in return from Gira


    Gira knows where Sunhale is due to sensing him earlier when looking for Yorun, she heads to the room that Sunhale had previously set up the fortress''s Darkness of Otaper and within she hears Sunhale alongside someone else speaking though she cannot understand what it is they are saying. She knocks on the door and she hears the speaking stop after a few seconds and then the doors open slightly and Sunhale looks out with the tattoos connected to the magic he uses adorning his face like spiderwebs rather than just being around his eyes.


    "I am in the middle of a conversation Gira what is it?" Sunhale asked


    "Would you be able to take me to Qur''Anther specifically to the Magical Research and Development Institution?" Gira asked which gives Sunhale a quizzical expression


    "I am unsu-" Sunhale said before he was cut off


    Gira hears what cuts him off as Sunhale looks back into the room, more words she doesn''t understand and then Sunhale responds with words she also doesn''t understand. After a few moments of Sunhale and this unseen person talking he turns back to her.


    "I can bring you there, as it turns out the people there won''t mind and its rather a good opportunity for me as well" Sunhale said


    "Thank you" Gira said


    Gira steps back and leans against the wall opposite the door while Sunhale closes the door again then after a few moments and a few more unintelligible words behind the door he comes out of the room the tattoos now only around his eyes again.


    "Alright let us depart then" Sunhale said


    "Right" Gira said


    Sunhale then teleports to Qur''Anther with Gira, Gira immediately sees the sight that Yorun saw some time ago a city in tune with nature as if it were a city completely grown naturally despite the stonework and fine details that show otherwise, her amazement is quickly noticed alongside the fact she is human by several elves around yet as they begin to speak to one another they notice Sunhale and immediately they continue on with their day.


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    "Follow me Gira" Sunhale said


    Gira nods and follows Sunhale through the streets of the city as she is led to the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution, she feels the extreme levels of magic coming from it and sees an older elf with full grey hair who walks over to them.


    "Bringing another human here hm Sunhale? She raise the dead too?" The Elf said jokingly


    "Master Vinak this here is Gira she is the one who healed our friend Raeknar before his time in Gantoral" Sunhale said


    "Ah the healer, allow me to greet you properly, I am Vinak the one in charge of this place which while lengthy its best translation is the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution" Vinak said to Gira


    "My name is Gira, it is wonderful to meet you Vinak" Gira said


    "While you do whatever it is you need here Gira I have someone to go meet" Sunhale said before teleporting away


    "Well then Miss Gira, what brings you here?" Vinak asked


    "I am a healer but as I''m sure you''re aware I am more than inexperienced with it much to my chagrin. More and more my limited knowledge has become apparant to me especially due to seeing Yo-Raeknars rapid growth" Gira said but her face tells Vinak there is something else


    "So you come to another empires capital city to learn how to heal better rather than trying other cities within your kingdom? You are a young woman even by human standards but not too old as to not have tried going elsewhere" Vinak said


    "There''s a few reasons as to this drastic step but admittedly one of them is selfish" Gira said


    "Selfish or not I wish to hear your reasons, they help in the teaching process if I understand you better I can help you bring out your magic more bring that mind fully to bear" Vinak said


    "its a bit of a story" Gira said


    "All the same tell me" Vinak said as he conjures a couple chairs which they both sit on


    "My home village is well not the biggest village but big enough that there is always someone in the village born there who has magic, course multiple at a time can be born and such but well I''m no expert on how magic comes into the world for a person to be born with. Not the point though we always had someone with magic and they had typically become healers the one before myself was my mother and she was an amazing healer loved and appreciated by the other outlier villages, I wouldn''t be surprised if given Yoruns age he''d seen her at least once. Anyway as a young girl very young I tried to help my mother as much as possible since it was fun and nice to help people, at the time I hadn''t known about my own magic so it was just things she taught me about non-magical medicine" Gira said


    "You had no knowledge of your magic yet? Typically noticeable from birth" Vinak said


    "Well no one had noticed mine not even me, regardless one day when I was around eight I remember going to play in the forest at which point I noticed the grass beneath me flowing in the wind move a little with my hands, I found it fun so I played a little game moving my hands and then I noticed little bits of light along my arms I didn''t realise what it was, it crackled as it went along my arms until I move my hands too fast...After that all I remember is a literal jolt of pain as I struck myself with lightning" Gira said as she laid her right hand on her left arm


    "Typically ones own magic also doesn''t hurt them but untrained and unfamiliarity with magic especially not realising it as your own could make it happen" Vinak said while making mental notes about all this


    "I suppose but regardless I spent the next couple weeks in a coma and when I awoke my mother told me that I had magic and accidentally hurt myself... in a permanent manner" Gira said


    "Permanent manner?" Vinak asked


    "Scan me and you shall see" Gira said sadness teaming in her voice


    Vinak scans her and he does indeed quickly notice what is wrong.


    "Your heart, it is damaged in a way I have never seen..." Vinak said utterly shocked


    "Nor a way my mother had ever seen, she tried everything she could to help me and improved her magic and knowledge of non-magical medicine to figure it out but never could. She eventually passed but by then it had been years since the incident and though my heart remained as it is I could do things as normal save for the occasional heart attack when its strained by magic. I used my magic to heal people as best as possible but my learning had been stunted by my mothers research and I learned as much as I could from the books she had but eventually I learned all I could and overall she had less on magic as a whole given healing magic mostly relies on non magic knowledge" Gira said


    "So this is why you wish to learn, to heal yourself?" Vinak asked


    "One reason but also because I want to help Raeknar again where I failed, he''s got ways he can get rid of those scars and even get himself a new forearm insane as that is but he needs more medical knowledge for those things and I want to be able to help there as well as help those who may need it elsewhere since war can injure even those who aren''t fighting..." Gira said saddened at the concept


    "You genuinely wish to help people then I can give you training and whatever else you need. I do ask though my not ask others in your own empire? In all this time I''m sure you could have so why here?" Vinak asked


    "Rather simple the empire had little care for dedicated magic healers unless they''ll also aid in proper combat either as healers or with offensive magic. I cared not for that so I received little help and trying to self fund medical knowledge from a small village is not easy especially since both myself and my mother charged very little if anything to heal people" Gira said


    "Well then, I shall teach you all I can and we can go get some medical texts to help you out then" Vinak said with a smile receiving one in return from Gira


    "Thank you" Gira said


    They both stood up and headed into the building behind them for Gira to begin learning, she is amazed by the pure amounts of magic within and more than that the many people learning there, she is shown to the room she will be allowed to stay in during her stay, she hopes to be far better at healing when she returns to the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress...

 Ch 48: Eyes in the Darkness

    An hour after Golanier had left for the campaign Sunhale is teleporting throughout the borders bigger military positions setting up the Darkness of Otaper at each point and giving some undead the magical tattoos necessary to use the Darkness they have access to. Each new Darkness set up and each new tattoos given Sunhale notices the shadows around him including those that make up the Darkness move differently than they usually do, they seem to be motioning for Sunhale to come closer as if they''re drawing him in and Sunhale notes it as he finishes up at the border then teleports back to the fortress. He makes his way into the room in which the Darkness was set up then he steps onto the platform and extends his hand out to the Darkness which reaches out to his hand quicker than the last times but just as gentle and as he does so a familiar voice comes from the eternal Darkness before him.


    "Greetings Sunhale" Reifal said in the elven language


    "Reifal? Have you been using the shadows and Darkness to call on me?" Sunhale asked


    "Indeed I have, I knew your purpose so used them to call as opposed to properly speak and interrupt your task" Reifal responded


    "Is there an immediate reason you must speak to me?" Sunhale asked as he senses Gira pass by outside the room


    "Somewhat, nothing to do with the war or anything but instead this is a good moment to speak as you aren''t the most busy and I can teach you new skills with the magic Otaper gifted you" Reifal said the words immediately intriguing Sunhale


    "Explain, I am more than interested and to be honest it would be better to learn as I have felt... stagnated if only a little compared to Yorun and his development" Sunhale said


    "You have become stagnated as you have only ever been able to use the Darkness of Otaper in certain ways despite the fact some training was given to all elven spies in the event of my death to be able to make the Darkness as you know it and make these tattoos not all secrets were given" Reifal said as Sunhale listened intently


    "So what kind of secrets are we talking about here?" Sunhale asked


    "Its no secret amongst elven spies that the shadows and darkness are used for discreet communications and being able to more properly show others farther away what it is you mean by moulding the darkness however two uses only you and I have access to is that of going into the shadows themselves and seeing through them" Reifal said


    "I am curious about both but seeing through them however would be far more immediately useful" Sunhale said


    "Then that is where we shall start, to begin with merely step forward and allow the darkness to grab hold of you more, do not resist them despite how it may feel" Reifal said with a more serious tone


    Sunhale nodded knowing Reifal can see them, he steps forward along the platform and as he does so more of the shadows making up the pure darkness reach out to him gently grabbing and covering different parts of his body yet one goes toward his face. The shadows cover his face drowning his sight in infinite blackness but then he feels them creeping towards the tattoos around his eyes then those tattoos begin sliding past his eyes.


    "W-What the-" Sunhale began to say before being interrupted


    "DO. NOT. RESIST" Reifals said words were clear and loud as a result of Sunhale being deeper in the shadows but also due to his intense insistence


    Sunhale begins to feel pain and discomfort as the tattoos slither past his eyeballs like snakes made of water lightly pushing against his eyes as they do so yet they continue to move further the pain and discomfort increasing as they reach the back of his eyes they wrap around the optic nerve Sunhales sight darkens more than it already is and disappears entirely but more than the loss of sight the feeling of pain is indescribable. The darkness muffles the screams of pain from Sunhale as the shadows that normally make up his tattoos practically grip his optic nerves which as they integrate themselves with them turning them as black as the darkness surrounding him. Sunhales brain is alight with pain so much so he wants to claw out his eyes and rip the shadows attaching themselves to his brain via the nerves but his hands are practically bound by the darkness, once gently holding onto him as they would a child holding onto a parents hand now they hold his hands in place as assistants would hold patients down for healers during more difficult sessions of healing. Minutes of this painful procedure happened, Sunhales vision gone is trapping him in a darkness unfamiliar to him until his vision comes back but it is fractured and confusing as if looking through the eyes of a spider it is overwhelming. He sees himself from behind but then from infront, the tattoos are not only on his optic nerves but spread across his face like a spiderweb he also sees the war room but his vision begins to fracture more and he sees more of the fortress from different angles.


    "Reifal I see, I-I see too much" Sunhale said his voice quiet and ragged after all the screaming


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    "Sunhale listen to me, the tattoos that now have integrated into your optic nerves are still in the end shadows you control directly, take hold of them with your magic and make them lessen their influence then step back out onto the platform" Reifal said, his voice gentle now like a parent guiding their child toward them


    Sunhale began to carefully step back out onto the platform where he usually stood while simultaneously controlling the shadows on his optic nerves, they retreat from the nerves and surround the eye, not touching the eyeballs themselves and as a result his vision stops fracturing, returning to normal his mind cannot feel right for a moment as it readjusts once more.


    "Now you have seen through the shadows and do not worry next time it will not be painful, the shadows made a place within your optic nerves where they can slip back into easily" Reifal said


    "Thank the gods for that... Fuck that hurt" Sunhale said


    "Next would be properly entering into the darkness but-" Reifal said but is cut off by something both he and Sunhale hear


    At that moment a knock rings out from the door.


    "Give me a moment Reifail, one of my comrades clearly wants to talk" Sunhale said


    "Alright" Reifal said


    Sunhale walks over to the door and he opens it slightly then on the other side he sees Gira standing there, he can see her eyes looking over the spiderweb on his face that is his tattoos current shape.


    "I am in the middle of a conversation Gira what is it?" Sunhale asked now in the human language


    "Would you be able to take me to Qur''Anther specifically to the Magical Research and Development Institution?" Gira asked which gives Sunhale a quizzical expression


    "I am unsu-" Sunhale said before he was cut off by Reifals voice from the shadows which Sunhale looks back over to


    "Sunhale, this is what I was about to mention, to teach you about entering the darkness itself I need to speak with you physically in Qur''Anther" Reifal said


    "Will they mind if I bring her along to see Vinak?" Sunhale asked


    "They will not mind Sunhale and if any have a problem with it they shall hear from me" Reifal said making Sunhale nod and look back out to Gira


    "I can bring you there, as it turns out the people there won''t mind and its rather a good opportunity for me as well" Sunhale said


    "Thank you" Gira said


    Sunhale closes the door and looks back at the Darkness of Otaper.


    "I shall be seeing you soon Reifal, it is truly an honour" Sunhale said


    "The honour is mine Sunhale, I have never had this opportunity to teach these specific things, when you go to Qur''Anther head to the Darkness of Otaper you used to use there" Reifal said then his presence within the Darkness receded


    Sunhale relaxes and his tattoos save for those within the eye sockets return to being on his face around his eyes, he then lets the darkness disconnect from his arm before opening the door again and walking out to where Gira is leaning against a wall.


    "Alright let us depart then" Sunhale said


    "Right" Gira said


    Sunhale then teleports to Qur''Anther with Gira. Sunhale sees the familiar city for the first time in a while in all its splendour but Sunhale notices first and foremost Giras reaction to the city something he rarely thinks of given how he grew up in an elven city. What he sees next however is the look several elves give Gira but he also quickly notices their reactions to him something he does feel a little good about.


    "Follow me Gira" Sunhale said


    Gira nods and follows Sunhale through the streets of the city, he brings her to the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution where he sees Vinak walking over to them.


    "Bringing another human here hm Sunhale? She raise the dead too?" Vinak said jokingly


    "Master Vinak this here is Gira she is the one who healed our friend Raeknar before his time in Gantoral" Sunhale said


    "Ah the healer, allow me to greet you properly, I am Vinak the one in charge of this place which while lengthy its best translation is the Qur''Anther Magical Research and Development Institution" Vinak said to Gira


    "My name is Gira, it is wonderful to meet you Vinak" Gira said


    "While you do whatever it is you need here Gira I have someone to go meet" Sunhale said before teleporting to outside the palace of Qur''Anther


    As Sunhale appears there the guards who have hundreds of times the magical power Sunhale has look at him and take a knee and bow their head as they see him.


    "Sunhale of Lar''Tureak, you return with Otaper''s hand guiding your path" One of the guards said


    "I must use the Darkness of Otaper, Otapers direct hand in elven affairs will show himself" Sunhale said


    The guards eyes immediately widen and they open the doors to the palace allowing Sunhale inside, Sunhale walks through the halls of the palace humble in it''s woodland appearance yet magic flows through the entire palace it is ancient long before the reign of Isaile. Sunhale continues to walk the halls until the walls made from wood begin to stop growing so tall and the roof disappears as a full forest begins comes into view, he heads into the forest and feels eyes on him at all times until the sky above disappears under endless leaves and branches fully blocking light from reaching down and Sunhale can feel the presence of the Darkness of Otaper the one made by Reifal.


    "Reifal? Can you hear me now that I am here?" Sunhale asked into the darkness that is coming from the very trees


    With no audible answer Sunhale goes to connect to the darkness as per usual but the platform sinks into the darkness like a ship on the ocean had a hole blown through it by an explosive in its hold, the darkness moves around him like water and in the middle of it all it begins to part as an elven male with black hair begins to rise out from the parting darkness. This elf has one eye completely black and black tattoos across half his face spreading out from that black eye in a spiderweb pattern, their clothes are old both in their physical age but styling as well, Sunhale can tell they are a style from eight centuries prior to this moment based on his historical knowledge. Sunhale looks at the elf before him as he can practically feel the darkness looking at him yet it all feels connecting to the pure black eye, Sunhale is speechless as the elf he can only guess to be Reifal stands on the shadows before him moving at the mercy of waves they make...

 Ch 49: A Realm of Darkness

    Sunhale stands in Qur''Anthers palace forest where the typical Darkness of Otaper is set up but its in a state he''s never seen the darkness itself flooding the area it is limited to, the platform gone beneath the waves the darkness makes and in the middle of it all stands Reifal. Sunhales eyes look over Reifal as its the first time he''s ever seen him physically like this, his mind races as this man he knows to be older than he is looks if anything younger, no grey hairs, no wrinkles upon his face and yet his magic is stronger than their own Monarchs by leagues he can''t quite define. Reifal can see the inquisitive look in Sunhales eyes and can practically feel the thoughts racing through his head. Reifal chooses to be the first to break the silence.


    "I know you have questions Sunhale, you are free to ask them" Reifal said, his voice clear as it is when they speak through the same darkness surrounding them silencing any thoughts in Sunhales mind that this was not Reifal


    "Apologies I... Confess I didn''t know what I anticipated you to look like but someone who looks younger than even I was not what I expected" Sunhale said


    "You yourself do not look too old Sunhale especially for one older than his own commander, over 300 years in this realm and not one wrinkle or grey hair upon yourself. A slight benefit of the tattoos, they move across the skin aiding it though the hair is not affected" Reifal said


    "The hairs just dye but none of that seems to be right for you, I''ve seen spies older than me with the tattoos and their age is easily determined" Sunhale said


    "Well you are not wrong, I have served the elven empire for a long time and Yorun is not the only necromancer I''ve seen nor is that conquering bastard named Golanier. I''m older than any elf has lived at least that would be the case were we not able to live FAR older in a time long before" Reifal said


    "How old are you and how have you lived so long?" Sunhale asked


    "I''ve walked this world for 7,931 years and as for how I''ve done so, immortality" Reifal said as if it were all the simplest thing but it all shocks Sunhale immensly


    "Please for the love of the gods explain" Sunhale said


    "I''ve always cared for our people, the empire or individual elven kingdoms whenever they popped up. When I became Otapers chosen I knew one day I''d die and someone else would have to deal with it all especially after everything I set up crumbled so I asked Otaper for something, I asked for immortality. Now as it turns out the gods all have their own ways of granting immortality, some even having several ways to do so but the point is Otapers way was simple tying my soul and body to the darkness present across the realms including most importantly their own realm" Reifal said


    Sunhale was about to ask the question of how yet before he can he sees Reifals body gradually turn completely black as if staring into the darkest void just like the Darkness of Otaper that surrounds them. The change starts from Reifals feet travelling up his whole body and he gradually starts to sink or at least thats what Sunhale thinks until he looks closer, he can barely make it out unknowingly his tattoos have begun changing his vision as it did previously to allow him to see enough of a difference between the eternal blackness around them and the form that is Reifals as they merge, startig at Reifals feet once more his body becomes like water just as the rest is as he starts to join with the darkness around them.


    "By Otapers dark gaze..." Sunhale said as he watches Reifals form disappear into the darkness


    "This is practically a more advanced version of what I will teach you but this is how I live, I have become a part of the shadows, apart of Otaper themself but don''t mistake me I am still just an elf now with an eternally extended life. I can end it all myself though, this immortality only extends my life forever more so I can still be killed though that''s not typically a worry and hasn''t been for a long time" Reifal said as his voice came from all the darkness around Sunhale


    "What is this?" Sunhale asked as he looked around


    "Simply put, I''ve become a shadow, I will teach you to enter the shadows but becoming one is reserved for if Otaper gives you the ability to do so thought it comes with it''s own strengths and weaknesses" Reifal said


    "One more question then, your eye? It didn''t seem right" Sunhale said


    Reifal stops being a shadow returning to his normal elven form with the eye connected to the familiar spiderweb tattoos more apparent.


    "There''s a reason I told you not to resist, back when I first found out about how to do it I resisted them, now I''m blind in this eye when its not seeing through the shadows" Reifal said


    "I''m sorry...? You seem fine with it but it still seems prudent to say it" Sunhale said


    "I came to terms with it years ago, I could ask to have it fixed but it''s a nice reminder and warning for any other chosen of Otaper in the future" Reifal said


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    "Fair enough, now would you mind teaching me this going into the shadows thing?" Sunhale said receiving a nod from Reifal


    "When it comes down to entering the shadows themselves we enter Otapers own realm of Delatanok, sections of it for our own uses but still accessible to others should we or Otaper want them to be but regardless the only way into the realm is via the shadows, the very darkness around us. To enter the first time you must relax, lay down upon the ground let the waves of the darkness take you and think of eternal darkness, no dirt, grass, sky or clouds nothing normal save for a moon that gives off no light yet is visible all the same even amongst complete and utter darkness then project that to the darkness with your magic and give the feeling of longing for that same imagined darkness" Reifal said


    Sunhale lays on the ground he feels the shadows beneath him allowing him to float upon their surface just like water would allow him to do, he closes his eyes and imagines nothing but an endless darkness with nothing in sight. Sunhale then uses the shadow magic and thinks on wanting to go somewhere eternally black then he can slightly sense the darkness he floats upon swirl around him until he slowly begins to sink into the darkness yet even as it begins to cover him entirely he breathes normally. Soon enough he feels weird as if he had been turned on an axis so that instead of laying down he was standing, he opens his eyes and in front of him is a bipedal creature larger than he is so it is bending down to bring its face down to him. The creature is skinny with spikes across its body, its arms are almost as long as its entire body yet its head is wedge shaped with lizard like eyes, this is all barely perceptible to Sunhale as the creature is as dark as Reifal had been as he turned into a shadow. Sunhale quickly backs away from the creature and looks around he can barely perceive more in the distance.


    "Reifal!? It worked! Where are you!?" Sunhale shouted into the void as he looked around for Reifal yet he saw nothing


    "Not here Sunhale" A familiar voice emanated throughout the infinite darkness


    "...Otaper" Sunhale said as he took a knee despite not knowing where Otaper was


    "Stand Sunhale, you are a second chosen you need not bow or take a knee so long as you continue to do as I command" Otaper said as their featureless humanoid form manifests out of nowhere in front of Sunhale


    "I anticipated Reifal would be right behind me, so where is he?" Sunhale asked


    "If you''ll remember what was said by Reifal moments prior ''sections of it for our own uses but still accessible to others should we or Otaper want them to be''. Now I can allow him into this section of my realm for you but it is best you figure out how to let him in as it can be useful in a moments notice" Otaper said and Sunhale nods


    Sunhale closes his eyes and similarly to how he entered the realm himself he imagines Reifal next to him meanwhile back in the Qur''Anther Palaces forests the darkness swirls around Reifal which causes him to smirk.


    "Such a fast learner, you got a good one Otaper" Reifal said to himself as the darkness grabs hold of him and forcibly sinks him before he rises up next to Sunhale


    "Easier than I expected" Sunhale said


    "You''re just pretty damn good with your magic, don''t sell yourself short" Reifal said as he put his hand on Sunhales shoulder


    "You can take it from here once more Reifal" Otaper said before their form just disappears once more


    "From here you can see everything, your vision back in Roara through the shadows is fragmented and narrow in scope while here you can see as much as you damn well want, trust me I''ve seen things you would never be able to anticipate" Reifal said


    "Understood, so coming back and forth to this realm is simpler from now on?" Sunhale asked


    "Simpler? Sunhale you laid down and thought about darkness, hardly anything simpler but to be fair it is. From now on you need merely think of being here and you can sink into the shadows you stand upon, don''t even need to lay down, same goes for heading back to Roara. You can head straight back to your fortress from here too, travel is quite a useful benefit of this realm but a better use is storage, Golanier used the demon realm of Beraskil but you and I can use here" Reifal said


    "Useful" Sunhale promptly responded


    "In fact allow me to give you something from my younger days, been waiting millennia for Otaper to have a second chosen to give such a thing too" Reifal said


    Reifal reaches to his blackened eye and grabs hold of something from within it, he begins to pull something from it which Sunhale quickly realises is a dagger with words engraved on its blade he doesn''t recognise.


    "This dagger, it is empowered by the magic given to us by Otaper, it can allow you finer control of them to do things you could not do usually or allow another to use the magic as you do though it will be far, far more difficult for them" Reifal said as he handed the dagger to Sunhale


    Sunhale takes the dagger and the section of the realm where they stand, designated as his shakes a little as it lays on his palms.


    "Thank you, I should probably head back to check in on my ally in Qur''Anther" Sunhale said as he admired the dagger


    "Not going to ask about the words?" Reifal asked


    "Okay fine I am admittedly curious" Sunhale said


    "Jikaelan Orsorto Palinakotae, it means ''Home In Shadows'' in an ancient dialect of our language" Reifal said


    "Simple but I like it" Sunhale said


    "I certainly lived up to the words, today is the first time in 3,000 years I''ve left this realm" Reifal said


    "Then the clothes seem odd" Sunhale said confusedly getting Reifal to laugh


    "Shadows are out there, with that dagger you''ll figure out how to use them in other ways" Reifal said


    "Okay...? Anyway I should be going" Sunhale said


    "Return to your fortress, once this Gira has finished with her time in Qur''Anther I shall inform you" Reifal said


    "Thank you Reifal for everything you''ve taught me" Sunhale said


    "No problem, I''ve waited millennia to teach someone this magic so honestly it has been a pleasure Sunhale" Reifal said with a smile as he left before Sunhale


    Sunhale then simply sinks into the dark ground below him and walks out of the Darkness of Otaper in the Fortress, he senses Golanier has returned with two new people in tow and Yorun is with them, he heads there to see what is happening...

 Ch 50: An Ex-Noble and Siege Preparation

    After Golanier left to take the villages assigned to him and the army, Yorun continued to train with Dralocran but as the hours passed he eventually had a short conversation with Gira at which point he soon sensed them both leave presumably for Qur''Anther given the topic of conversation. Yorun then teleports around the border giving multiple undead mages some magic for the purpose of bringing anyone killed at the borders into the army and for telepathy if needed then when he gets back he senses Golanier has returned alongside two people he doesn''t know. Yorun heads to the prison they have in the fortress where he senses they''re at, when he gets there he sees in two cells a human man and in the other an elven woman.


    "So who are these two?" Yorun asked drawing Golaniers attention


    "The two we missed out on in Joaralta, Azkelts cousin and his elven paramour" Golanier said


    "Were he still a noble ''paramour'' would probably be a right word, given their current situation ''lover'' is probably more apt" Yorun said as he looks at the former noble Holaire in the cell before them who says nothing


    "Get anything out of them?" Yorun asked


    "Heard a lot of talk from the woman but he''s not said a single word" Golanier said nodding his head at Holaire


    "...You mentioned his cousin Azkelt, do you work for the Pertaki family?" Oarsteri asked cautiously from her cell drawing the attention of both Golanier and Yorun


    Yorun''s eyes glow a little more green as a scream suddenly comes from what the two assume to be Yorun before noticing his face is like that of stone then both Oarsteri and Holaire see the source of the scream appear next to Yorun. The spectral visage of Azkelt''s soul.


    "No" Yorun said coldly as he stopped using Azkelts magic stopping his screams


    "Cousin?" Holaire asked confused and with a soft weak voice surprising Golanier given his silence till now


    "Fuck that always hurt!" Azkelt shouted before remembering his place and he quietens down looking into the cell


    "So, the cousin appears" Oarsteri said before trying to spit on him but it goes right through him much to her confusion while he doesn''t even bat an eye in return for that as he''s focussed on Holaire


    "Hello cousin, it''s been years" Azkelt said


    "What... happened to you?" Holaire asked as he looked over his cousins spectral form


    "Same as what''s probably going to happen to you and your lover" Azkelt said as he disappears once more


    "W-what did he mean by that?" Oarsteri asked now slightly scared by the implication


    "As per what Raeknar allows so that I may do my job those who would go to Konlair after death I will take their souls to use their magic for our job" Yorun said as his eyes green from his magic almost seem to dim with the grim matters being discussed


    "Y-you can''t be serious... How do you even know we fit that criteria!?" Oarsteri shouted both scared now and angered yet her eyes also wonder over to the wall separating herself and Holaire worrying about him


    "Nothing to say Holaire?" Yorun asked and yet nothing is said in return


    "Holaire rarely talks, his voice is weak after an injury he sustained in Joaralta" Oarsteri said trying to calm down and think of a way out of this


    Yorun senses Sunhale get back to the Fortress at this moment.


    "He didn''t teleport back did he?" Yorun asked as he looked at Golanier


    "Nope, seems he''s learned something new. We''ll ask later" Golanier said


    Sunhale makes his way down to the cells and he looks into them seeing Holaire and Oarsteri, he recognises the two from pictures back in Joaralta.


    "Huh the two we missed in Joaralta" Sunhale said


    "You knew that quickly" Yorun said


    "I remembered the pictures we saw of their faces, you two forget?" Sunhale asked


    "It appears we did" Golanier said suddenly remembering it


    "So going to take their souls?" Sunhale asked


    Yorun looks the two over then looks at Sunhale.


    "Maybe, we should figure out more about them for now, scan them and we''ll keep them for a bit. Unlike other times we aren''t limited on time here so we can see if they''ve changed any from what we knew about them" Yorun said as he began to walk away


    "Where''re you going?" Golanier asked as he and Sunhale followed out of the dungeon


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    "The next city around where you took those villages is called Kelinrask and I think its a good time to try and do something about it sooner rather than later" Yorun said


    "I actually agree, it''s a port city like Joaralta was so if the place isn''t taken down quickly enough they can easily hold out on a siege through getting reinforcements, food and other such things via the sea which could be a problem" Sunhale said


    "Yet it could also be a benefit, if they call reinforcements obviously it''ll mean they have more forces against us but it also means that they''re adding more and more to our forces as well" Golanier said


    "Fair point, couldn''t we have the dragons attack ships though to stop the incoming supplies?" Yorun asked


    "No, port cities and typical trade routes have defences against such things, water dragons exist after all as do other creatures within the ocean they''d need to defend from plus if its really important blessings from the gods could be obtained" Sunhale said


    "Basically a siege if we do one is going to either need to be done quickly or it''ll be slowed down quite a bit" Yorun said


    "A siege is the only option, the cities leadership are fiercely loyal to your imperial family and will not just yield the city without a drawn out siege" Sunhale said


    "Fuck" Yorun said sounding out exactly all their thoughts


    "Even if it will only have a slight benefit I have an idea, now might be the time to utilise Kragrum, both of you come with me and I''ll explain" Golanier said


    Both are hesitant to use Kragrum but they''ll hear him out, Golanier then opens a portal to Kragrum with no troubles this time, all of Yoruns training making it easier for him. Its the same place they were before, the Golem bodies from Deranel as well as the parts that remain from Golaniers old undead generals. Yorun looks around as the towering Celentriak appears next to them and kneels to Golanier.


    "My lord, it is great to see you once more! After the incident in Joaralta there''s been a few demons who''ve come back to the fold and aided in making this place safer. They remember how you took parts of this realm now" Celentriak said before letting out a loud demonic laugh that sounds almost victorious


    "Good but I think they might just remember a bit more soon enough" Golanier said with a smirk


    "Golanier explain this idea of yours" Yorun said as he makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hand staying on guard against Celentriak


    "Well first off, Kelinrask is going to be on guard as by now they''ll have knowledge of some force being in the direction we''re coming from plus with the war against the elves they will be on guard to the point they won''t let anyone in unless its by the ports so we can''t sneak in given we have no ships, Joaralta had all its ships destroyed during what happened there or else we''d use the ones from there. So in terms of a siege we can have just one person show up outside the walls, preferably myself given my undead nature and how used to opening these portals I am, anyway point is we can get these golems active again to batter the walls and have our army come out of the portals to harass the enemy guards, the dragons could be useful for that as well but what we can also do is use the material left over from 1000 years ago" Golanier said as he turned to what remains of the undead generals especially the part from a giant


    "Ok I see where this is going, it''d be a shock attack too fast for them to react to as they would an approaching army but given their cautiousness they''ll react well enough likely even having magical defences up at all times plus the suddenness could stop effective communication for back up for a while, given they''d typically have time to send out messages before an army gets there" Sunhale said


    "Exactly, now when it comes to the pieces of the undead generals body parts we can make a giant one since there is a giants chest plus Ghairlakriars body, might as well give them a large undead target to worry about as well plus it''d certainly be a message alongside the dragons that we''ve fought far worse than humans even if its not wholly true" Golanier said


    "Alright Golanier you get on that and get those golems moving, if you can also please move this portal and expand it a bit so that the army can move it''d be useful" Yorun said


    "My lord allow me to move the portal as it''s open I can easily manipulate it" Celentriak said looking at Golanier


    "Sure, go ahead it lets me focus on these ones" Golanier said as he motions to the body parts and golems, he quickly teleports some of the materials from Ghairlakriar to him before the portal moves


    Celentriak looks at Yorun and he quickly gets the information of where the army is at that moment then he simply looks at the portal and the other side of it quickly changes from their point of view to where the army is lined up, the portal then expands.


    "That was quick" Yorun said


    "Its a portal of this realm to which we demons are VERY connected to so it''s easy" Celentriak said


    Yorun walks through the portal and looks at the undead soldiers.


    "All of you march through the portal!" Yorun shouted


    Within seconds the undead soldiers who were already lined up march one line after the other through the portal, the very same army that marched with Golanier now marches into the realm they''d only ever have accessed due to him. Yorun watches as they march in to make sure they all do so until he feels the ground below him shake, its shook a few times due to the chaotic nature of the realm but this one feels like its been done through less chaotic means so he looks over at Golanier where the two giant golems are getting up ready for their orders while at the same time he is also making the giant undead with some parts from Ghairlakriar and the other smaller parts for its intelligence. He notably ignores the legs from what they now know to be a Kai Tamar undead general as he does not wish to further anger Jinarl should they see him again one day.


    "Seems that''s going well Golanier!" Yorun shouted


    "Well? Its gone perfectly! How much more of the army to come in?" Golanier asked in response


    "The army''s barely had time to come in yet so the majority of it, it is a fairly sizable force still even with all that''s been left at the borders" Sunhale said as he looks through the portal


    "Fair point, I''m just excited for a good siege" Golanier said as he continues to work on the undead giant


    Time passes as the army continues to come into the realm and soon enough Golanier has made them an undead giant though he has made some clear modifications, the limbs having to be made from Ghairlakriars parts have scales across them and it has a set of giant wings that no giant as far as Yorun and Sunhale know of would have.


    "That''s a unique design choice" Yorun said


    "A logical one though, Jinarl in what we were shown by Ghairlakriar used his wings to block enemy attacks so imagine a giant capable of the same thing, I don''t give two shits if it can fly with them though that''d certainly be a threatening image" Golanier said with a laugh


    Sunhale sees the last of the undead come through then both Yorun and Sunhale walk over to Golanier.


    "Alright that''s that, we shall rest for today and then tomorrow Golanier you get to initiate the siege" Sunhale said


    "Excellent" Golanier said with a smirk


    They all leave the realm and Golanier closes the portal before they then return to the Fortress to rest all the while the port city of Kelinrask has no idea what the following day will bring them.

 Ch 51: Kelinrask Siege

    The port city of Kelinrask is at peace despite the war, a new shift of guards head up onto the city walls, they a mix of recruits and veterans who report to the nearest tower. An older guard sits at a desk within the tower and he looks at them as they enter. The group stand at attention as they enter and look at the older guard who is clearly their captain.


    "All of you will be on top of the wall today, we have patrols returning at their requisite times throughout the day, you are to keep an eye out for them and ensure their identity before allowing them to go to the city gates. As for where exactly you''re stationed you are replacing the 44th squad back out the way you came now head along but Koraz you stay here" The guard captain said


    "Yes sir!" The guard squad all shouted in unison before heading out leaving one of the veterans called Koraz behind


    "What is it sir?" Koraz asked


    "Where you and those ones are stationed is a bit of a walk along the walls from any tower and they don''t have their own higher ranking guard within them but due to your experience if anything happens you have full command over the area until I or someone as high ranked gets there understood?" The guard captain said


    "Yes sir" Koraz said before heading out to join his squad before heading back along the wall


    "Damn I was hoping we''d be on patrol today" One of the newly recruited guards said


    "Why? Given the war you''re likely to die out there. You looking to die today boy?" Koraz asked


    "What? No! It''s just the wall duty is so damn boring plus I only came here recently and the smell of the ocean is still so fucking nauseating so standing up here with is an annoyance" The recruit said


    "You''ll get used to it, anyway the 44th is just up ahead lets swap in with them" Koraz said


    The guard squad sends the 44th away and stands in their place they watch out over the walls for hours during which two patrol squads make their way back each time they had to confirm their identities dragging out the interactions. One of the recruits from the squad looks away from outside the wall back out onto the city and its port.


    "You really think the elves are just going to come here? Even if they siege the place it''s not going to be easy for them especially if we see them coming" The recruit said


    "Shut it Feirhel, we aren''t watching for elves these days" Koraz said


    "The fuck are we looking out for then Koraz?" The recruit named Feirhel asked genuinely confused and curious


    "We''ve heard tell of the regions around Gantoral having some army in it, the dead rising because of some guy, tons of rumours but we''ve confirmed there is a force there and we''ve lost contact with a lot of places around there including the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress" Koraz said garnering the attention of several guards around


    "Seriously?" Feirhel asked now very concerned


    "A couple of the scouts came back a week ago, they were sent to investigate and they found a new border established with as far as the eye can see soldier after soldier, both humans and elves though mostly humans. They were injured, some severely so at that, to the point they should be dead and yet they were standing there or patrolling but the scouts were discovered and attacked by those same undead people forcing their retreat back here" Koraz said much to the other guards shock but Koraz notices something


    "We''ve got movement so eyes forward people" Koraz said


    Coming out of the forest is a small group of soldiers, they wear the same armour as the guards so they immediately assume they are one of the patrolling groups. Koraz notices something however that one seems injured as they leave behind a small trail of blood.


    "Halt! We need to confirm your identify, names and date joined for our guard force" Koraz shouted at the incoming patrol group


    The guards on the wall couldn''t hear the words said by the soldier at the head of the patrol group only what came next, they all heard a large booming sound as a large flash forced them all to turn their gaze, they look back and are frozen in fear as they see two large portals to the demon realm of Kragrum with two large Golems on the other side. The golems move before the soldiers do, the ground shakes as the golems step through the portals, the soldiers watch as the golems rear their arms back.


    "BRACE YOURSELVES!" Koraz shouted snapping everyone out of their shock


    The golems arms strike at the walls yet they do not hit them but instead a large magical barrier covers the entirety of the city yet the strike shakes the ground around where they are including the walls. Several guards are forced back off of the walls falling down towards the city, Koraz quickly reaches down from where he stands conjuring a rope around the battlements which he holds onto so he can lean over the wall and quickly catch the guards who fell with telekinesis.


    "THESE GOLEMS ARE CONTROLLED CONSTRUCTS THE ONE THAT MADE THEM HAS TO BE THAT FUCKER DOWN THERE SOLDIERS FIRE ON THAT GROUP" Koraz commanded as he lowered the guards down to the ground safely


    The guards immediately follow Koraz''s orders and take aim at the group they thought were from the patrol, the stumble as they knock their arrows because the golems strike the barrier again but enough of them stand quickly enough to aim immediately once more and fire upon the group yet as the arrows fly through the air and begin connecting with the flesh of the group they barely react until what looks like a soul comes out of the one they couldn''t hear speak. The soul is is Golanier yet they don''t know that and all they see is he''s of a larger race of people they''ve never seen with horns that confuse them as they cover his head, the soul then begins to laugh and flies up behind one of the golems as a man suddenly stands atop the golems, they only see the cloak and the blazing green of his eyes upon the face covered in darkness as the cloak blocks the sun from shining on his face. No guard there knows that the man they see is Yorun and as the archers take aim at him they see a scythe appear in his hands before pointing to the walls with that same scythe every guard and half the city immediately are struck with fear as they hear several roarrs coming from the golems. Claws come up from behind the golems and grab onto their shoulders before a few pairs of wings stretch out from behind them then finally the dragons heads raise up and look at the walls sending chills down the spines of every guard there.


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    "DRAGONS!" Koraz, Feirhel and several other guards shouted alerting everyone close by enough but could not see over the walls.


    The dragons quickly jumped off the backs of the golems and fly into the sky before unleashing torrents of green fire onto the city''s magical barrier, the flames make all the guards hide behind the battlements on instinct and they hear the fire raging on the barrier while the heat rages against them even through the barrier, the dragons spread out around the city yet avoid the water as they continue their assault on the barrier. The whole city is now in a state of panic as everyone can see the dragons in the skies trying to break the barrier, screams echo throughout the city as people run to the safest places they can think of while the guards on the towers prepare ballista''s to shoot down the dragons. Just as they begin to think it cannot get worse they see a giant arm with scales begin to reach for the skies in the forest, soon enough that arm lowers crushing many trees as a giant undead with large wings pulls itself out of a portal then it starts to march towards the wall, it is larger than the previously hastily made golems and with the thick scales across large portions of its body it is naturally armoured.


    "BY THE GODS! WE NEED ARTILLARY SUPPORT! GET BACK UP MAGES AS WELL" Koraz shouted to the nearest soldiers who quickly relay that to the nearest towers


    As the undead giant lumbers closer to the city the nearest towers to it which are equipped with catapults, as its the front of the city, are being manned as quick as possible and once they''re ready they launch large rocks at the golems and the undead giant while the ballistae in other towers shoot at the dragons. The dragons easily dodge the bolts from the ballistae while the golems stumble back from the impact of the rocks while the giant undead does not even notice them, more mages quickly teleport onto the wall next to Koraz and they quickly combine their magics to quickly conjure several ballistae and set the conjured bolts alight with flames, they simultaneously fire the flaming bolts for the head of the giant undead yet as the bolts strike the mages begin to think they''ve done well their faces of expected triumph quickly drop as they see the bolts had barely pierced the scales on the giants face so they don''t impede the giant. The giant undead continues to march to the city the ground shaking more and more with each step until it balls it''s hands together listing it''s arms up and slamming them down onto the top of the barrier covering the city, everyone in the city can see the giant undead and it''s arms coming down at them they know the only thing that prevents it from continuing down on them and crushing them all is a magical barrier. The strikes on the barrier particularly that of the undead giant causes intense winds down into the city making it hard for citizens still outside as well as the guards on the walls to stay upright and many begin praying for the gods they care for most to aid them. Yet amongst all the chaos Feirhel is the first one to notice Yorun is no longer in sight.


    "Koraz! That one with the scythe! They''re go-" Feirhel shouted before his eyes went dark falling to the ground


    "Mage! Check on Feirhel now!" Koraz shouted to a mage as he then noticed several other guards particularly the newer ones including some of the mages fall just as Feirhel did


    A mage runs over to Feirhel and scans him but he senses nothing coming from him, no heart beat or or brain activity but also he cant sense his soul, the mage quickly kneels down and checks the pulse as they''re just confused but at that moment they see Feirhel''s eyes turn green.


    "Wha-" The mage manages to say before Feirhel drives his sword into the mages neck and starts standing up pushing the mage off him


    "Feirhel what are you doing!?" Koraz shouted confused until he sees his eyes and can''t sense his soul then as he looks around he sees more of the people who collapsed getting up and attacking others


    "By the gods... Feirhel I''m sorry... EVERYONE DESTROY THOSE WHO COLLAPSED THEY''RE UNDEAD" Koraz commanded as the guards quickly fight those they had just been fighting alongside


    Koraz quickly rushes towards the undead Feirhel and conjures a shield to force Feirhels sword out of the way and then finally uses his own sword to cut off the undead guards head. Koraz and the guards deal with the undead on the walls all the while the dragons, golems and giant undead continue their assault on the barrier yet several guards soon enough alert Koraz to the forest behind the undead giant where he sees an army approaching, more undead of human and elven sizes.


    "Nearby mages activate the outer defences! they can deal with people of our sizes!" Koraz shouted to the nearest mages


    The mages then activate the magical defences outside the city, as the army marches toward the city parts of the fields outside the city get dug out suddenly, multiple rings of trenches that go all around the city immediately dug as if the ground that was there suddenly shifted downwards, multiple undead are trapped in these trenches and while they start attempting to climb out of the trenches only a few manage it before the sound of rushing water is heard, water from the ocean where the trenches end on both side floods into the trenches aided by mages on the walls forcing many undead away from the rest of the army so as far as being pushed into the ocean while others in heavier armour cannot do anything but sink. The guards cheer as they watch many undead get washed away and distant cheers are hear further down the walls as those closer to the ocean itself see the ports magical defences come to life, the water of the port starts to have small waterspouts from which what look to be tall knights entirely made of water emerge, they walk across the water and begin to cut the undead to pieces and when on dragon strays too close to the water the knights all immediately look to the dragon before the water that makes up their bodies flows through the air joining together before shooting at the dragons neck with such pressure it cuts clean through as if there were no resistance. Koraz looks back towards Yorun and looks optimistic with their defence against him but remain worried not knowing what will be used by the man before him against the city.


    "Surrender now! We will not let you break through these walls and slaughter our people!" Koraz shouted at Yorun


    "If you think this will be enough to stop me from continuing you are wrong..." Yorun said simply yet his voice is carried to the wall anyway


    Koraz and Yoruns eyes meet both filled with an intensity for protectiveness and determination on either side and know that this siege wont end any time soon for either side...

 Ch 52: A Citys Fall

    Kelinrask continues to be sieged, a week has passed and yet the barrier and the city''s walls stand as steadfast as it''s citizens for whom life has continued as per normal despite the army outside it''s walls. The fighting for the undead has continued with some of the catapults and ballista shots as well as general magic attacks from mages having hit the main army taking down a number of undead permanently, Yorun stands with the undead army that remains, Golanier stands with him as they watch the barrier continued to be struck by the undead giant as well as the golems whilst the undead dragons attack other parts of it with their breath attacks.


    "We''ve been here a week and a ship is bound to come soon with supplies for the city as well as reinforcements, we cannot keep this up. We must do something" Golanier said


    "For once I have an idea for this situation though it will cause a lot of destruction" Yorun said


    "I''m all ears" Golanier responded as he looked at him


    "We have an undead giant and a scythe that can be made to cut through anything that also changes sizes to work for the hand it goes too" Yorun said


    "Damn you aren''t wrong that will cause a lot of destruction and definitely could work, it''d become an all out battle with our forces against theres at that point nothing blocking advancement and they couldn''t just put up another barrier as we''d be in the city they cant just ignore that" Golanier said


    "If we do this you''d need to teleport enough of our soldiers past the trenches full of water for fighting to begin then for the rest simply conjure bridges or something for the rest to make their own way across" Yorun said


    "Give me the souls power, I can work faster with more" Golanier said


    "Fine but you''ll also need to make sure my body is fine during this" Yorun said getting only a nod in response from Golanier


    Screams suddenly echo out from around Yorun as he channels the magic from the souls he has thus far collected to Golanier, the screams are faintly heard by the guards on the walls though they take no heed of them. Golanier puts a barrier around himself and Yorun to protect his body as Yorun takes control of the undead giants body just as it strikes the barrier, Yorun feels as if he is moving through water when he pulls the arm back as the air itself pushes against his giant body, he steps back slowly experiencing the feeling of air resistance across his entire body in the process as well as the unfamiliar feeling of wings upon his back. Koraz watches from the wall as the undead giant stops it''s unending assault on the barrier.


    "What''s that thing doing now? Anyone got eyes on it''s master!?" Koraz shouted as the soldiers all immediately looked down at the bottom of the walls


    The screams of the souls grow more intense as they follow the majority of Yoruns soul up to the undead giant drawing more eyes onto the giant, Yorun holds one of his now giant hands out slightly as Raeknars scythe disappears from his original hand and now also giant appears in his giant hand, he then holds it properly with both hands as he has both in this body.


    "That''s different but we''ll still be fine" One of the mages nearest to Koraz said


    "I am done waiting" Yorun said through the undead giants mouth


    The guards on the wall as well as many citizens who hear Yoruns words are confused by the suddenness of the giant''s speech and then fear travels up their spines and their eyes widen as Yorun takes a step back readying to slash the scythe at the barrier, he lights up the scythe with flames which quickly turn black around the bladed part of the scythe. Koraz as well as the others on the wall do not know the significance of the black flames but the major change in the giant from movement to speech and finally magic gives them cause for concern, Koraz quickly gets everyone nearby enough off the walls with smaller barriers around themselves in case anything happens. No one within Kelinrask anticipated the barrier failing but within seconds Yorun using magic to speak up his giant limbs has the scythe connect with the barrier and it tears through as if it doesn''t exist but the scythe does not stop there as momentum carries Yoruns giant arms the scythe connects and cuts into the city''s walls like butter but as the rest of the scythe connects it is blunt force breaking through the walls shattering them sending chunks flying into the city with what doesn''t get sent flying crumbling downwards onto the guards and citizens covered by smaller barriers below. Screams and panic erupts across the city as chunks previously sent flying come crashing down in the city crashing into houses, people and some even reaching ships in the port starting to sink them but the problems don''t stop when the stone stops raining down as Golanier quickly teleports a large group of a two hundred undead soldiers to the breach in the walls, the undead quickly run in and engage the closest guards and specifically the mages in combat while Golanier conjures bridges behind himself at the trenches full of water allowing the rest of the soldiers to begin running across and stream into the city before the mages can try to recreate the barrier. Citizens who cannot fight run from the area with the breach in the wall while more guards and mages teleport there to try and fight off the undead, Yorun looking down on the city from his giant form uses his magic to raise all the dead throughout the city from both combat and people killed as a result of the wall being breached before then pointing down into the city causing the dragons still flying in the air fly into the city and with their breath attacks begin to destroy large swathes of guards in the city. Yorun then quickly takes control of his own body again then summons Raeknars scythe to his hands as he teleports onto the remnants of the wall just next to the breach. Koraz on the frontlines right next to his fellow guards fights tooth and nail against the undead clashing sword against sword while watching his allies fall and rise again as enemies who push him and those still alive back further and further until they are pressed against a building. Yorun sees Koraz and what remains of his guards about to be killed and he quickly takes over the body of an undead about to strike at him stopping the undead from his new body much to Koraz''s confusion.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "W-what?" Koraz asked not expecting any answer from the undead before him


    "Do you truly care for this city and it''s people ''koraz''?" Yorun in the undead soldier asked


    "Y-yes... Of course I do" Koraz said at first with some fear while remaining confused


    "Then convince what remains of the guards to stand down and I will let them live" Yorun said


    "It''s you in there isn''t it? The leader of this accursed army, you killed a lot of good people in this siege and fuck knows how many other good people before this!" Koraz shouted with his fear now fuelling his anger


    "I know. This army''s purpose as well as my own is justice set forth by Raeknar themself. Believe me now or not I don''t care, so choose to take a stand and die or save more lives with words" Yorun said cold enough to sound like the undead typically do


    "They won''t listen I was in command of that part of the wall for one reason being a veteran I do not possess a high rank that''d convince them" Koraz said


    "Ranks matter not when the city begins to fall, they will look to any sign of leadership and that includes veterans like you" Golanier said as he stepped forward through the crowd of undead soldiers


    "Fine damn you" Koraz said as he tossed his sword to the ground with his fellow guards alongside him also tossing theirs to the ground before raising their arms


    Yorun still controlling the undead soldiers body grabs Koraz and teleports up onto the wall next to his real body, Yorun then takes control of his body again while the undead soldier puts a blade to Koraz''s neck as a precaution. Koraz finally gets a good look at Yorun and not from a distance so he can see the burn scars across his body and the lost forearm on his left side, he can see war and death has touched the man before him and yet he lingers on casting shadows of both upon the world.


    "So, the real you" Koraz said


    "Rather unimpressive for you I imagine. Now you have words for the people still fighting I suggest you begin them" Yorun said before Koraz uses telepathy across the whole city


    "Everyone if you can hear me please heed my words, the breach in the walls has allowed the enemy in and with his abilities every single one of us who dies becomes one of theirs with them inside our walls it is only a matter of time till we are all dead but they say those who cease the fighting shall be allowed to live. I am Koraz, I have commanded the section of the wall now breached over this week long siege and I know what this person can do, I cannot command you to cease for I do not have that authority but I know we would all rather live to see another day even under an undead iron fist" Koraz thought telepathically to everyone in Kelinrask


    Throughout the city particularly on the walls many soldiers surrender but on the other side of the coin there are many who dont and are swiftly killed as they are found and overpowered by multiple undead opponents, the last haven for the ones choosing to fight on including those in charge of the city itself is the port itself where they gather hoping the defences there will save them as the undead forces approach even from where Yorun and Koraz stand they can see the distant battle of the port as the ports defences do indeed defend the soldiers and city leadership.


    "Seems not all have heeded your words Koraz but they will be dealt with" Yorun said


    "Why are you doing this?" Koraz asked


    "To have some people brought back to life, Raeknar has promised this" Yorun said before jumping down to Golanier


    "Some remain at the port as I''m sure you know" Golanier said


    "I know, lets find where these defences draw their allegiance and switch it to our side" Yorun said


    Yorun and Golanier split up then give some undead magic as they spread out to find where the port defences magical conduit is all the while the undead continue to be destroyed at the port by the defences which cut through them with the high pressure water beams. Golanier is the first to find the magical conduit and he contacts Yorun who teleports over immediately.


    "Remember how this works?" Golanier asked


    "Yes, channel magic into it with authority and take control" Yorun said getting a nod in response from Golanier


    Yorun does as he said and within moments the defences of the port stop attacking the undead much to the living soldiers and city leaderships confusion which quickly turns to fear as the water once again springs to life and forms hands which reach out and grab them all dragging them into the ocean and forcibly drowning all of them leaving only their weapons they dropped where they stood previously. The city has been severely damaged by the scythe strike against the wall but now the fighting has ended with Yorun''s victory and a path forward for the oceans to be filled with undead...

 Ch 53: The Terms of Occupation

    The sun begins to set on Kelinrask with Yorun standing upon the remnants of the wall he cleaved the Scythe of Raeknar through, he looks down on the damaged city blood runs through the streets and the body''s that would be amongst the blood walk through the city with their jobs to keep their former neighbours under watch. Yorun teleports down into the city watching as the undead take up places around the city to properly protect it and keep the inhabitants inside but they are not Yoruns current focus as he heads towards a large fortified building with a sign on it denoting it as the city guard headquarters. Undead stand outside it keeping watch on the people who once protected the city inside, Yorun walks in, quickly flanked by undead to keep him safe. The living guards of the city who had just been fighting against the man now before them think of attacking him but as they see him up close they see how damaged his body is, their minds are distracted by tales only they imagine of what may have caused these these injuries, this gives Yorun enough time to stand before all of them with the undead soldiers who followed creating a protective line between the guards and Yorun. Koraz is in attendance amongst the guards and he is not distracted, he quickly stands up and looks at Yorun.


    "What will this occupation of yours be to this city?" Koraz asked almost spitting venom with his clear distrust and hate of him


    The question refocussed the rest of the guards who''s eyes were drawn to the one who conquered their city, their gaze alone just as distrusting and hateful as Koraz''s own yet filled with more fear of what Yorun may do for the questioning.


    "Your city can go back to its normalcy yet certain actions will be altered for the new management so to speak, the city will no longer trade with cities or villages outside of my army''s territory and any ship that is seaworthy right now and able to be fitted for military use will be taken for said army. Any person who dies within the city will have their body turned over to us to be raised, some of my forces will remain here to guard the city and keep it under control" Yorun said


    "Other than all that we''re back to normal? Are we seriously supposed to believe that?" Koraz asked confused and not believing what was said


    "Deranel is within our territory if you are so distrustful I can get someone from there to tell you things have gone normally there. They allied with us instead of being conquered, I''d have rather done that here but all intelligence suggested your leadership would not cave to such demands and given their attempt at a last defence at the ports it seems we were right" Yorun said and the guards mutter to each other as they discuss what they hear


    "Are you working with the elves?" A guard from the back of the room asked


    "I have visited the Woorailian capital city for a time, we are not directly allied however our interests align when it comes to the Fiernian Empire" Yorun said hiding the whole truth of Sunhales involvement as to not make them more irritated than they are


    "You said Deranel allied with you, why?" Koraz asked


    "A simple reason, where do you think the magic that allows me to raise the dead comes from?" Yorun asked them


    "Demons?" Koraz asked


    "As chaotic as demons and their magic are no, it''s not demons you are fairly close however. Try again" Yorun said as he makes the scythe appear in his hands and it takes a moment before Koraz realisesIf you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "That isn''t just a getup to mess with your enemies is it?" Koraz asked as he sees a small near imperceptible smirk on Yoruns face


    "Now, you''ve got it. Anyone else would make this city a decently worse place to be after conquering it, my terms are as fair as can be as I was sent to bring justice to this land by Raeknar themself" Yorun said and the mood of the guards quickly changes to overwhelming fear


    "...So that''s how you got through the barrier and wall, you asked Raeknar" Koraz said now also more afraid of the man before him while simultaneously amazed yet there lingers still a little anger


    "Close but this cloak and scythe are Raeknars own, this scythe can do things no normal weapon can with ease. Now head on out of here and work alongside my undead, spread the word to the people of the city so they know what is happening, if any ship leave that port without my knowing I will not be happy" Yorun said and the guards quickly filter out leaving only Koraz there


    "Why did you stay?" Yorun asked


    "A lot of good people died here for this, I hope it''s worth it in the end" Koraz said before tossing a small crest to Yorun


    "What is this crest?" Yorun asked


    "It''s something we give to soldiers who died protecting their city, that one is for Feirhel. You killed him somehow on the walls and brought him back in an instant killing a mage. He was young far more so than either of us" Koraz said


    "I do not applaud the deaths of those on the opposite side from me. I have blood on my hand that I can''t deny but I know it''s for a good purpose at the end of it all no matter what this blood incurs for me as a result of it being shed" Yorun said as he tosses the crest back to Koraz


    "The dead deserve to rest you know" Koraz said


    "And they do, their body''s however do not need to, regardless of what happens to the body their soul ends up in the afterlife. Feirhel is likely in Artiel as we speak now get out of here Koraz someone will start a fight without you around" Yorun said before Koraz walked out


    Yorun looks out of a window still overly unsure about how the occupation of Kelinrask will end up but all the same he teleports back to the mountain fortress where he is quickly greeted by Golanier and Sunhales oddly proud faces.


    "You really showed a level head in that siege Yorun" Sunhale said


    "And you figured out the quickest way to make the siege end so well done there" Golanier said


    "It won''t work on cities after Kelinrask though, even from Kelinrask I could sense the divine power coming from the next cities especially the capital, there is no breaking through that divine protection even with Raeknars scythe not without calling Raeknar directly for aid anyway" Yorun said


    "Don''t focus on the negative here Yorun you won, the siege went well and while lives were lost as well as a good number of undead we have access to the ocean now, we can use the ships for many purposes namely military against the empire of course but there are plenty of criminals on the seas who avoid justice out there" Sunhale said


    "Ok, ok fair point. We should be careful of the oceans though les we anger the god of water" Yorun said


    "No much about that particular god?" Golanier asked somewhat curious


    "Nayhram is the human name for them but suffice to say they are one god even Kurinet did not feel abandoned by after all we were farmers, crops need water and that is the god who provides it. I certainly made a few prayers to them from time to time back then but anyway not the point, all I''m saying is when we get those ships and get some undead on them we be very careful" Yorun said


    "Agreed, the God of Water aside there''s many creatures within the oceans of the world that could stop our advance so we''ll need to gather more knowledge about that, the people of Kelinrask would be a good place to start" Sunhale said


    "I didn''t mention you to them Sunhale, despite it all elves are still seemingly a threat to them even if from their perspective I was the one conquering them I''m at least human so I''m more familiar to them than the elves" Yorun said


    "It''s fine you know shapeshifting is a magic I''ve trained in, I''ll go find some things out" Sunhale said before teleporting away


    "Go and rest Yorun, you did a lot in that siege" Golanier said


    Yorun nods as he heads away to the room he took as his own in the fortress, as he closes his eyes he dreams of his family alive and well, a dream within his grasp yet it all still feels so far away no matter how well the army does...

 Ch 54: Draconic Armour

    The night after Kelinrasks terms were set passes calmly both in the fortress and in Kelinrask itself much to it''s citizens surprise although they remain cautious of the daunting emotionless undead that now patrol the city''s streets. Yorun slowly awakens, a body aching despite major actions being done with another body, he slowly opens his eyes and with waking eyes he sees his wife and children in ghost-like form but as his brain quickly wakes and his eyes shoot open from the shock they disappear and he sits up holding his hand to his face.


    "Starting to go crazy aren''t I?" Yorun said to himself before sighing and getting up teleporting new clothes and the cloak on himself while doing so


    Yorun leaves the room still feeling as if he is being watched even as he heads to the war room where he is greeted by Sunhale.


    "Morning Yorun" Sunhale said


    "Morning, half expected you to still be looking around Kelinrask" Yorun said


    "Got the information I needed, posed as a random citizen worried about what may happen if the ships weren''t good enough for your army so I could get a good idea on the ships current condition at least of those we would use" Sunhale said


    "And the consensus?" Yorun asked


    "Turns out they have a good few ships of which we''d use, they have at least two dozen but half of them are needing major repairs given parts of the city''s wall launched by your attack crashed into them so they sank fairly quickly but are salvageable, they just need time to fix those then we have a small but hopefully efficient fleet which can carry about twenty thousand" Sunhale said


    "That is almost all of the army, discounting the soldiers at the borders as well as the giant and dragons" Yorun said


    "Indeed, we just need to give them time to repair the ships which should take a number of weeks" Sunhale said


    "Then it''s a good thing we have something to make during that time" Golanier said as he stepped into the room


    "What do you mean?" Yorun asked as both he and Sunhale looked to Golanier


    "You put yourself in a fair bit of danger Yorun, both in the siege and immediately after particularly around that Koraz fellow. Forget something we were going to make to mitigate such dangers?" Golanier asked in an almost sarcastic way which makes Yorun facepalm after a moment to think


    "The armour made from Ghairlakriars body... I completely disregarded making it before the siege" Yorun said


    "Correct, admittedly it was a good idea given what we experienced there we know the level of defence these city''s will put up and had we waiting longer it is highly likely that Kelinrask would have gotten more soldiers for it''s defence and possibly even a god to protect it like future cities will be but now we have time again and you''ve got some experience in moulding bodies into what you want which obviously you need to make armour" Golanier said


    "Alright then, let''s go start making that armour then before something comes up that stops us" Yorun said


    "Agreed" Golanier said before teleporting up to Ghairlakriars corpse


    As they arrive Yorun sees multiple relatively small holes in her body like the kind a small cut would be to him but seems large on her from his point of view, Yorun sees another of her giant scales has been taken from her corpse and placed onto the ground against Ghairlakriars claws.


    "So how are we making this armour?" Yorun asked


    "Much the same way we made the dragons, conjure armour around yourself or in front of you as if it were on an armour stand and mould the scale with our magic to be the armour. Just don''t need organs, veins or anything of the sort" Golanier said


    "I''m no expert on armour you know, wouldn''t it be better if you made it?" Yorun said


    "I can advise on the armour, the kind you might want and whatnot but it''s best for you to make it as you can adjust it to your own body easier, determine weight and shape for it making it entirely customised for you" Golanier said


    "Alright then what''s your idea?" Yorun askedA case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Go with something akin to the that imperial princes armour, a dragon scale version of plate armour. If it was anything but scales I''d say go for different kinds of armour maybe a more light armour design but if we''re using these dragon scales they''ll be as protective as plate armour well actually a LOT more protective than plate armour but they''ll have the ability to move as if they''re say leather armour with some metal on it for protecting more vital areas" Golanier said


    "How?" Yorun asked confused


    "Simple, our magic lets us mould this shit in the first place, just do it more during a fight but that''s only if necessary, these scales are designed to move with muscle movement, contract and expand a bit to match certain movements, they''re hardened now but with our magic we can make them essentially younger and less rigid as a result" Golanier said


    "Mind at least making a conjuration of that armour for me to try and copy? I saw Helimiral''s armour but I''m hardly able to recreate that from memory" Yorun said


    "Fair enough" Golanier said


    Golanier soon enough conjured the visage of Helimiral before them, the armour large yet sleek as it covers every part of him, with the helmet having only a slit for the eyes to see through adding a slight human feature to the intimidating armour that otherwise show''s nothing of the person underneath.


    "With armour like this, that cloak and scythe people will be telling myths about you for thousands of years" Golanier said with a smirk but Yorun only rolls his eyes in response


    Yorun spends the next few hours conjuring the armour just as Golanier has but around his own body first and once he has the pieces conjured properly as well as their sizes worked out her redoes the conjuration onto a Golanier conjured armour stand for him to keep it ready for when he is going to make it with the scale.


    "Really taking the time here huh? Good, best you do so since it will save your life" Golanier said


    "Yeah and I''ve died twice, prefer not to have it happen again" Yorun said getting a small chuckle from Golanier


    "I''d rather not have to save you again in such a rush as I did before but then again this armour won''t save you from a gods attack" Golanier said


    "I know but a little levity does the soul some good" Yorun said


    "You remember you''re talking to an actual technically disembodied soul right?" Golanier asked with a smirk


    "I do sometimes forget given how often you are within your own body" Yorun responded


    "Fair enough, think you''re ready to try making the armour?" Golanier asked


    "Well the conjurations there may as well do the easy part" Yorun said with a small smirk of his own getting a laugh in response


    "Yeah maybe the levity is good for the soul. Take more than a day for it though, create some part then put it on see how it feels, we''ve got weeks until those ships are repaired so take the time to make it properly" Golanier said as he stepped back to watch Yorun work


    Yorun then began to carefully craft his armour starting on the first day with the greaves as he plans to start from the ground up, he takes two weeks to properly craft and test how the armour feels yet he makes some revisions during the two weeks so that it feels better in terms of it''s weight but finally on an afternoon it is finished including a piece for the missing left forearm for when he gets that new appendage. Yorun steps back to look at the armour upon it''s stand.


    "It''s finally done" Yorun said as he cracks a small smile looking at it


    "Well then, what are you waiting for? Put it on, see how it feels with the whole set on and with the cloak over it" Golanier said


    Yorun nods and he takes the helmet off the stand looking at it as he takes the cloak off and he puts the helmet on, he then teleports each piece of the armour onto himself feeling the weight increase with each additional piece. Once it''s all on Yorun puts the cloak on once more then tests how it feels to walk around, move his arms and how it feels to swing the scythe.


    "I can definitely feel the weight but it still feels so pliable despite the toughness" Yorun said as he turned to Golanier who''s looking him over


    "Gods I wish I had enough dragon scales a thousand years ago to make this armour" Golanier said as he stared at the armour


    "Golanier. Focus" Yorun said in an almost annoyed tone


    "Right. Sorry. Anyway if the weight feels a bit much then you can use some telekinesis to alleviate the weight but either way it''ll train you, one way trains magic to aid with the armour''s movement and weight while the other gets your physical skills up even more to mitigate the weight through strength and skill alone" Golanier said


    "I''ll do the latter but the telekinesis will be done as well in case I need it in a pinch" Yorun said


    "Fair enough, either way you''re a lot more protected now" Golanier said


    Golanier quickly conjured two great swords and slashes them downwards at Yorun not even intending to cut but bring down their weight onto Yorun. Yorun by now trusts Golanier and knows he won''t try to legitimately harm him so he lets him do this, the swords connect with Yoruns shoulders and in combination with Golaniers strength they bring Yorun to his knees in seconds yet the armour remains unblemished and though the shock still hurt as it travelled through the armour and Yoruns body, nothing is broken nor is anything bruised.


    "Incredible, such armour would be loved the world over by armourers of all kinds, nobles and most importantly warriors. Well done Yorun you''ve made armour that''ll certainly be kept for generations no matter how all this turns out" Golanier said


    "I feel incredible in this armour" Yorun said


    "As you should, now let''s go check in on Sunhale and see how those ship repairs are going" Golanier said as he began to walk to the war room


    Yorun stood back for a moment looking around.


    "These past weeks I''ve seen my family more and felt eyes on me ever since that first time, if that is you all. I love you" Yorun said before following Golanier


    Unbeknownst to Yorun four figures stand atop Ghairlakriars head, ghostly in their appearance three of them are human while one bears draconic features, they watch him leave as they''re happy to have seen him again and glad that his journey continues onward...

 Ch 55: A Familial Visit

    Before Yorun awoke to begin crafting the armour made from Ghairlakriars scales a community of souls, the people of Kurinet, spending their time within the realm of Faelerm begin to get restless in the land of Artiel. Three souls in particular walk through Artiel speaking with others as they wonder about the last living member of their family but as they wander around Jinarl flies down to them from above, his great big wings wrap around himself under his cloak acting as if they''re a secondary cloak.


    "I had heard you were asking about myself and several things do with this this realm you three. If you have any questions you can ask me at any time" Jinarl said as he looked at them


    "We hardly wished to distract you from your duties" Lina said


    "Well, there are a lot of Kai Tamar here and more than that Raeknar themself is well themself so we hardly need to do much we only do so because we wish to. Now what is it you have been asking?" Jinarl asked


    "We asked about your past at least as much as anyone here knows" Rayne said


    "We asked about Faelerm as well as the realm we first arrived in" Jaynle said


    "And most importantly we asked if there was anyway to get information about my husband, their father Yorun" Lina said


    "I can give you answers on all of what you wish to hear of, so I assume you want to know of Yorun first and he is doing fine. He has gotten stronger than you''d ever likely expected from him, he has an army and allies. He has learned of a great many things from multiple places visited places you''d hardly believe he''d have ever gone to before all this and more than that, I''ve directly spoken to him" Jinarl said


    "Y-you have!?" Lina shouted surprised


    "Yes" Jinarl responded quickly


    "Why? Why would you have spoken to him?" Jaynle asked confused


    "Guess that counts as a question of my past, Yorun is Raeknars chosen mortal in the living world just as I was a long, long time ago. He had questions and I was permitted to step into the realm of the living to give answers which were related to my past. He wanted to know about the previous chosen but he didn''t come out of the venture with just answers, he came out with well... Her body" Jinarl said as he motions with his head over to Dorancia in the distance, to the large soul of Ghairlakriar in it''s skies


    "Our father killed that?" Rayne asked confused and shocked


    "She wanted death and she was granted it, Yorun decision to kill the oldest dragon in existence with but a single touch" Jinarl said


    "Is... is there any way for us to go to that realm that we first arrived in? Where we can see the world, see him?" Lina asked with almost pleading eyes


    "The realm you speak of has never had an official name, it is simply a stop along the way to here to ease the soul, it''s to give a last goodbye so I gave it a name some many years back, I called it The Wayrest and yes you can go there so long as a Kai Tamar or Raeknar is with you to take you there. If you three wish to go right now then I shall take you there" Jinarl said much to the three''s surpriseEnsure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Lina, Rayne and Jaynle all look at each other then nod before they turn to Jinarl.


    "Bring us there, we need to see him" Lina said


    "Then that we shall but be warned he does look worse for wear" Jinarl said causing the three to look a little worried


    Jinarl opens a portal to The Wayrest and steps through into the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress within the very room Yorun sleeps. For the first time in so long the wife and children of Yorun see his current state, burns across him still with half an arm missing.


    "I... I can''t believe it... h-how did this happen to him?" Lina asked


    "The burns you know, you all suffered in those flames but the arm is a wound inflicted by a god, that day he died a second time but don''t worry he has mostly adjusted" Jinarl said


    "Mind giving us a moment?" Rayne asked


    "Sure" Jinarl said as he walked through the nearest wall into the hallway full of undead guards


    Lina, Rayne and Jaynle all sit on the bed but it doesn''t sink down where they sit yet all the same they sit upon it as if it were both there and not. They disregard that though as they look upon Yoruns face.


    "Father''s still fighting for us and he''s gotten so hurt doing so..." Rayne said


    "He is... He truly cares for us more than anything, no matter what we must continue to believe in him" Lina said drawing the attention of the other two as they nodded


    As they looked away from Yorun for the briefest of moments his eyes begin to open and they look at him once more as they notice him stirring and they see the recognition in his eyes they know he sees them but as he shoots awake the see that moment disappear. Yorun sits up and holds his hand to his face.


    "Starting to go crazy aren''t I?" Yorun said to himself before sighing and getting up teleporting new clothes and the cloak on himself while doing so


    They watch Yorun as he leaves and they quickly follow out the door where they see Jinarl.


    "He saw us, for only a minute but father saw us how?" Jaynle asked voicing the confusion her brother and mother feel as much as she does


    "His abilities allow him to see the dead whether old or new, even if they aren''t truly there remnants of the people or the souls themselves waiting to go to Faelerm from The Wayrest. It typically only happens in places of great death but sometimes sleep gets you close enough to feel the other side align your senses to it. Only while asleep though his abilities allowed it to persevere for just a moment... Long enough to see his beloved watching over him as he works to bring you back. You can spend some time here in The Wayrest watching but it is best you get back sooner, this realm is not meant for long term soul inhabitation" Jinarl said


    "Then for now we''ll keep watching and then return" Rayne said receiving a nod


    All of them followed and watched Yorun as he began to craft along with Golaniers help the armour made from Ghairlakriars body, trips over two weeks into The Wayrest allow them to watch the entire process seeing the different man he has become how much stronger he has grown both physically and magically even despite what he has been through. Once the armour has been completed they watch as its tested and they see the terrifying visage others will soon see as they watch from atop Ghairlakriars corpse.


    "With that armour he''ll be safe and he''ll bring us all back" Lina said with a smile


    "Our father the hero, never thought we''d see the day huh Rayne?" Jaynle asked with a small laugh accompanying her words


    "I know right? Go get them father, bring us back" Rayne said


    They watch as Yorun heads back into the main part of the fortress before Jinarl returns to Faelerm with them, they are happy to see Yorun is doing well and they return to the other souls from Kurinet and tell them of what has been accomplished, how much has been done to bring them back and they rejoice as souls upon souls of the people of Kurinet praise the survivor of their villages massacre with no way for the man himself to hear it...

 Ch 56: The Water God

    Yorun walks through the halls of the fortress getting further and further from the area in which he had made the new armour of which he wears yet as he walks he feels his body in ways he hadn''t before due to his inexperience moving properly in full armour though this inexperience is not what the living villagers within the fortress see, all they see is a man they know to be Yorun with the appearance a knight wearing a terrifying armour of legendary make stalk the halls, Yorun continues to walk noticing the looks from the villagers and finding the look of fear to him still so alien. After a few minutes he reaches the war room where he hears Sunhale and Golanier speaking inside, Yorun pushes the door open and sees Sunhales gaze turn to him before a look of pleasant surprise adorns his face.


    "Well I''ll be damned, you two actually made a pretty good imposing set of armour" Sunhale said before knocking on the cuirass


    "I still find it odd to walk in, I''ve tested it all throughout the time we''ve been making it but the whole thing on is a different experience suffice to say" Yorun said as he adjusts one of the pauldrons


    "Well I explained this before, thanks to what its made out of, you can adjust it at all times with the same magic method used to make it so start trying that out and you''ll be better with it in no time plus it''ll be a lot more flexible than armour close to being this tough normally is" Golanier said


    "Anyone else made pure dragon armour like this?" Yorun asked


    "Like this? No not unless another necromancer did so, dragons are inherently magical creatures and combine that with the extreme hardness of the scales post death well they become very hard to force into anything complex. The best things are those that scales can be more easily turned into with little adjustment such as pauldrons or more favourably weapons instead of armour" Golanier said


    "Really is one of a kind then" Sunhale said


    "indeed, now we should discuss getting on the water with our army" Golanier said


    "No one sets sail on a ship until we''ve spoken to Nayhram, without asking or anything of the sort we will be swiftly swallowed by the seas" Yorun said in a serious tone


    "Never needed such permission a thousand years ago" Golanier said


    "I''ll assume you''re the reason then given how much you''ve managed to piss everyone off" Yorun said


    "Fair enough, it''s a rather probably assumption to be had" Golanier said casually


    "So how are we going to talk to Nayhram as you call them?" Sunhale asked


    "Simple, a prayer to plead for passage along the waves, best to do it at the waves though so let''s head to Kelinrask" Yorun said quickly receiving a nod from the two men


    Sunhale shifts to the form of a human man before the three of them teleport to Kelinrasks port, the citizens of the city notice them within an instant but their eyes all lock onto the cloaked armoured figure, they know the cloak as the one worn by the man who conquered them and the two with them as his companions but the armour itself is a new site one that terrifies them as they begin to think how little a threat they were for him to nor even wear it for the siege. The citizens of the city quickly flee from the area fearing whatever may come to the port warranting the armour their conqueror now wears.


    "So how are we doing this?" Golanier asked


    "As I said, a prayer" Yorun said before he stepped toward the edge of the nearest dock


    Yorun kneels down looking down into the water with his forward foot nearly ready to step off the dock and down into the water.


    "Beloved God Nayhram who gives this world every other world water, from the water that runs through our bodies as blood to the water that covers the world as rain and ocean, I call upon you to ask but one favour to allow this army of justice to cross the oceans you permit to exist so asks the last farmer of Kurinet" Yorun said sincerely


    Upon the last words utterance the ocean grows unusually still as if it all had been frozen, Yorun still looking down in the water found it looking like a mirror from it''s stillness yet it reflects not only him but also that of an arm behind him pointing out into the sea, Yorun looks forward and sees ripples forming on the water small enough as if something was walking on the water yet nothing is there. Yorun nods as he stands up and steps off the dock onto the water standing on the surface as if it were regular ground despite its still liquid nature, Sunhale and Golanier attempt to do the same but their feet immediately are rejected as the water throws them back onto land suddenly.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Seems it is only me, stay here" Yorun said as he looked to his companions


    Yorun begins to walk out into the ocean, further and further from the city until all that is below is dark blue ocean which further down gives way to a peering darkness as light does not travel so far down, Yorun looks down at the reflective surface of the water as he walks until he sees the hand no longer pointing forward but instead pointing down into the depths yet as the thoughts of what to do churn through Yoruns mind water raises up around him and before his eyes can even widen he is dragged down into the depths by the water itself. As the light fades from the area around Yorun he also begins to drown and as panic begins to set in suddenly something touches his neck and he begins to breath much to his own confusion, Yorun looks around and in the dark water of the depths he sees nothing until small lights appear around him before they grow and Yorun sees they are the lights anglerfish use to draw in prey but the stalk that leads up to them is forming from the water itself as is the light. A voice booms from further down in the depths below Yorun.


    "Yorun of Kurinet the chosen of Raeknar yet you request as merely the last farmer of Kurinet. Curious" The voice Yorun assumes to be Nayhram said


    "Yes, I may be chosen but before Raeknar if there were to be a god I''d choose to rely on it would be you for you kept Kurinet alive" Yorun said as he did his best to kneel while floating in the ocean water


    "Evidently I did not and yet you call with no malice or hatred in your voice but instead with a plead for me to allow you across my oceans with an army of the dead" Nayhram said


    "They are your oceans and without permission they are nigh impossible to traverse plus it is well known the anger you have displayed when people did not ask" Yorun said


    "Indeed, you have been a faithful one Yorun and I have a soft spot as you mortal would call it for those such as you whose lives depend upon the water I allow to exist" Nayhram said


    Yorun looked around as the anglerfish-like lights receded into the darkness and the water around him suddenly began to separate causing him to fall downward until being caught by the hand that led him into the ocean, he is let down onto the ocean floor surrounded by darkness Yorun lights up a green fireball to see around where he finds corpses all around him from human to giant and even dragons as well as other creatures Yorun has never glimpsed before.


    "Yet one being in those forces of yours angered me many years ago" Nayhram said


    "If you''ll allow me to guess, Golanier?" Yorun asked almost annoyed by his companions past coming to bite them once more


    "Correct, during his conquests he sullied my oceans, he polluted them with fleets of corpses without so much as an ask of if it was okay. If you are to have your own fleet that will fill my oceans then that one is to not be in a body or to act at all while you are on my seas. Am I understood Yorun of Kurinet?" Nayhram asked


    "Yes Nayhram God of Water he will not act while upon the seas" Yorun said


    "If this is not followed I will part the oceans and swallow ever ship you have in the ocean and then I will drown every human in the world by sinking their empire" Nayhram said


    "I understand what consequences will follow should he act" Yorun said as he looked forward towards where the gods voice now came from


    "Good then forward to Kelinrask you shall go to embark a fleet of the dead onto my oceans" Nayhram said


    Yorun sees the form Nayhram takes is simply a pulsating ball of water with soulless fish floating inside it as if they were veins with blood pumping through. The hand that guided Yorun forms from Nayhram and points behind Yorun where light begins to shine down from above as the oceans part allowing light down and Yorun sees the path back to Kelinrask.


    "Thank you Nayhram may the world be blessed by the water you give forever more" Yorun said before walking back rather than teleporting as he believes Nayhram wishes him to walk


    The walk back to Kelinrask takes longer then the walk out as he has to traverse over the uneven ground of the ocean floor until finally he gets back to the dock he stepped off of and jumps up onto the dock, turning back he watches as the parted ocean as if it were a corridor in a building with how still it all is closes like two walls encroaching on one another until they meet and no space remains in the middle, the still nature of the ocean fades as waves return. Yorun turns back to where Sunhale and Golanier stand.


    "We are allowed to sail but Golanier you are not to be in a body nor are you allowed to act in ANY way so long as we remain at sea else we all die as does the entire human race" Yorun said with a serious tone once more


    "Seems I really pissed them off" Golanier said almost wanting to chuckle but he doesn''t


    "Indeed, fleets of undead and living sent to the bottom of the ocean basically littering in the ocean during your conquests, such an idiotic move" Yorun said


    "They did nothing at the time" Golanier said


    "And the world was definitely worse off for it even if you are a help now" Yorun said


    "The ships have nearly been finished being repaired so seems we''ve got this done in time, take a few more days to get used to that armour and then you learn naval combat" Sunhale said


    Yorun nodded as they all looked out to the ocean and the ships that will soon be filled with undead wondering what will await them upon the waves now that the God of Water has granted them the ability to travel across their oceans...

 Ch 57: A Fleets Departure

    A few days after the eventful meeting between Yorun and the God of Water Nayhram beneath the waves not far from Kelinrasks port, Yorun stands upon that very same port looking over the now fully repaired ships. Twenty ships in the city''s port masterfully repaired and ready to set sail with undead being marched onto them and taking positions as per Sunhales orders as well as Golaniers from the port not risking even being on a docked ship as enough of an act for Nayhrams wrath. Sunhale walks over.


    "Okay, so some of the undead have enough knowledge of ships and naval combat to bring the rest onto the ships then into position on the ships. Only one with proper naval combat knowledge though is Forina" Sunhale said


    "The others that have any modicum of knowledge come from Joaralta but the knowledge is from smuggling operations and whatnot so its not much but enough to get the undead in the right positions on the ship for the sake attacking" Golanier said


    "Good, every little bit helps, we''ve got twenty ships and nearly thirty thousand soldiers getting on, its a tight squeeze even with those we''ve leaving here and without the border forces" Yorun said


    "And the giant being left behind, cant fit that on a ship" Golanier said


    "Indeed" Yorun said


    Yorun watches as the undead continue to embark onto the ships but he catches someone walking up to them, that person being Koraz.


    "Koraz, what brings you to the port? I certainly hope it''s not to say that when we leave you''ll try and take the city back" Yorun said his eyes blazing green through the slit of the helmet for his eyes while Koraz just looks over the armour Yorun now wears


    "Were we so little a threat that you didn''t even bring this armour that had to have taken dozens of smiths to make?" Koraz asked


    "It wasn''t finished at the time, now ignore the armour, why are you here?" Yorun asked mostly dodging the question


    "I''m not suicidal and I protect the people of this city, so by now it''s clear you are a man of your word so don''t worry about us trying to take back the city once you sail out, I''ve just got one question for you" Koraz said


    "Then ask it" Yorun said


    "When you do what you do, if you go after the Emperor and his family then kill them all, who will stop the empire from going into chaos? A succession crisis with the elves bearing down on the empire? Do you want us to be conquered?" Koraz asked with his words full of anger but with a tinge of genuine worryIf you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "No one wants conquered, something will be done Koraz worry about Kelinrask not the empire as a whole" Yorun said dodging the question but Koraz can see through the fa?ade even without being able to view Yoruns face


    "Yeah, sure, since that''s become my job as the most experienced veteran in the city and with most of it''s officials gone now" Koraz said now with an annoyed tone but as he begins to walk away he turns back


    "Actually, one more thing if you don''t mind?" Koraz asked


    "Go on Koraz" Yorun said


    "When its all said and done, regardless of how it turns out in the event that you win. You''ll have killed many people including innocents just as you already have, so... after everything you''ll have done, how will you sleep at night?" Koraz asked noting the unblinking nature of Yorun


    "Next to my wife" Yorun said coldly with a bit of happiness in his voice while giving Koraz a little information on his life


    "While depriving others of that same ability" Koraz said with a vitriolic tone to his words as he walks away properly this time


    "He does raise a point" Sunhale said making Yorun sigh


    "One best not discussed in the open" Yorun said making both Sunhale and Golanier nod


    "Let''s get on one of the ships before we discuss anything more, Golanier get out of that body just in case and don''t do anything other than talk to us" Yorun said with Golanier nodding ableit a little reluctantly


    Golaniers soul separates from his body before he, Sunhale and Yorun get on the largest ship of the fleet and make their way into the captains cabin. Sunhale teleports some maps onto a table in the cabin.


    "Now from Kelinrask we need to head south down to the Zeilna islands, its a popular route with some defences and free trading towns plus they''re good to check on for pirates and any ships being sent to reinforce the siege at Kelinrask. After that we need to head west, there''s a few more islands that direction with minimal defences but a good staging ground for helping Kelinrask" Sunhale said


    "Ok then we have our route" Yorun said


    "And what about the other thing, what Koraz asked?" Golanier asked


    "We''ve got a short amount of time Golanier, best we get used to the seas quickly before anything happens so that is a discussion to have later plus its a discussion I have no idea what to say about right now anyway" Yorun said


    "Fine, fine we table the discussion" Golanier said


    "Sunhale I sensed the undead have stopped moving, I believe they''re all aboard the ships" Yorun said


    "Then let''s set sail for the Zeilna Islands" Sunhale said


    Yorun and Sunhale head out and up to the wheel of the ship with Golaniers soul trailing behind, an undead stands at the wheel ready to steer the ship, Yorun looks up to see Koralin flying above and ahead to scout for other ships ahead of them. Yorun speaks to the undead manning the ships telepathically.


    "Loose the sails, we set sail follow my ships movements until ordered otherwise" Yorun said


    The ship Yorun and the others stand on has its sails lower first before beginning to move forward and soon after the other ships sails lower and follow one after the other as the fleet of the dead sail further and further from Kelinrask with calm waves carrying them forward as if a storm was brewing yet the storm is the fleet itself ready to take the world by force...

 Ch 58: An Ocean Encounter

    Half a day has passed since the undead fleet set sail from Kelinrask and the ships still a little disorganised follow the main ship, Sunhale coordinates them as best he can but the undead do have a learning curve for the unfamiliar methods of sailing. Yorun stands at the bow of the lead ship his new helmet under his right arm as he looks out into the ocean ahead, smelling and feeling the sea breeze as it hits his face, he is still not totally comfortable on the rocking of the boat due to the waves yet he is getting more used to it as time goes on. Sunhale walks over to him.


    "The other ships are continuing to follow and the undead are slowly getting more used to sailing the ships, a lot of it will get thrown out the window when any combat starts" Sunhale said


    "Indeed, we''ve got a lot of long range options but its not a great idea to give the enemies who have proper sailors the ability to use their ships freely" Yorun said


    "I agree, the fronts of the ships are reinforced for ramming purposes so there''s that option but overall it''d be best to focus our efforts on disabling any enemy ships ability to move then get close and board as soon as possible" Sunhale said making Yorun nod before he looked over the starboard side of the ship to the next one over


    "Forina! Get over here!" Yorun shouted as he gave some magic to the undead Captain Forina


    Forina within moments flies over and lands next to them, her larger frame and multi-armed form being a normal sight to them these days.


    "Make your way across the ships ensure they are all ready for combat at a moments notice and ensure the smarter undead get some knowledge on how to fight a naval battle" Yorun said


    "Yes master" Forinas cold voice creeped out of her mouth as she flew over to the next ship carrying out Yoruns orders


    "Forina was a land based soldier you know" Sunhale said


    "And she was the chosen of the goddess of war for as far as we know twenty years, you really think she didn''t master naval combat as a result?" Yorun asked


    "Fair point" Sunhale said simply


    "I''m looking out with Koralins eyes here and there, I could directly control him and while I have tried suffice to say going from human to suddenly a bird in the sky is a not so great process on the mind, something to practice another time" Yorun said


    "Well anything out there?" Sunhale asked causing Yorun to look through the eyes of Koralin once more


    As he looks through the eyes of Koralin and he hears the wind passing by as the undead bird flaps its wings, he looks toward the oceans below far ahead of the fleet where his body stands but it is there he sees a fleet of ships matching his own in number of ships of similar sizes.


    "Get closer Koralin, best to see who they are" Yorun telepathically commanded the bird


    Koralin flies down closer to the ships while Yorun quickly alerts the fleet, he then looks through Koralins eyes again. With Koralin closer to the ships Yorun sees a multitude of different races on the ships working as one. Yorun speaks through his own mouth describing what he sees from the people to the cargo which seems to be normal food and other such normal supplies in larger quantities.


    "Could be supplies coming from the capital sent through normal traders, less likely to be attacked and immediately destroyed by enemy forces though more at risk of piracy" Sunhale said


    "We should stop them, see about the situation further ahead, if they got those supplies from the capital for Kelinrask then it means a fleet from the empires naval forces is likely at the Zeilna Islands right now" Yorun saidThe author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Agreed, Soldiers! Aim bows and magic forward!" Sunhale shouted with the undead on the ships quickly slowing down the ships as they arm themselves to follow the command


    Yorun provides more magic to the mages across the ships so they can be prepared just in case, he has Koralin land on the bow of one of the traders ships and caw to garner attention from at least one of the sailors, one humanoid figure covered in grey fur with patches of dark black fur walks over.


    "Well aren''t you an cute little thing, what did this to you little bird?" The person asked


    "What are you looking at Zil?" Another sailor asked


    "This odd little bird" The furry man Yorun now knows as Zil said causing the other sailor to come over


    "I think its just a magical construct, no soul in this thing, very life-like though but the better question is where''s the person who made it?" The other sailor who''s clearly a mage asked


    Within moments the mans question is seemingly answered as he and Zil hear shouts from the crows nest of the ships as they see Yoruns fleet over the horizon, the trade ships quickly have their mages stop the ships in their tracks as if they''d suddenly hit a rock under the water forcibly anchoring them. Zil looks at Koralin.


    "Are you just a construct little friend? Are you from those ahead of us?" Zil asked


    "Stay and watch Koralin" Yorun said telepathically as he returned his sight to his own eyes


    "They''ve stopped haven''t they?" Sunhale asked


    "Indeed, they''ve spotted us, I can sense magic being gathered over there as well" Yorun said


    "Probably preparing a teleport barrier, lets quickly get ourselves aboard before they successfully get it up" Sunhale said receiving a nod in return


    Yorun puts his helmet on before he and Sunhale quickly grab several undead then teleport the distance over onto the ship Koralin perches on. The moment Yorun, Sunhale and the undead teleport onto the ship the undead quickly encircle Yorun and Sunhale to protect them while forcing the ships crew back though the crew are all focussed the heavily armoured and cloaked visage of Yorun in the middle of them.


    "By the gods... What are you wearing?" Zil asked finding his voice first


    "Dragon, now you''ll answer questions truthfully or suffer consequences, am I understood?" Yorun asked as Raeknars scythe appeared in his hand and Koralin flies over onto his shoulder


    "Understood" Zil said severely regretting being the first to speak


    "These supplies are they for Kelinrask? And more importantly did you get them from an imperial naval fleet?" Yorun asked as his eyes glowing green piece through the slit for his eyes figuratively glaring into Zils soul


    "Y-yes on both accounts" Zil said nervously as every one of his crew mates watched the scene unfold


    Yorun walks closer to Zil leaving the circle of undead as he continues to watch him.


    "How many ships?" Yorun asked knowing the armour and cloak is intimidating them all


    "At least five times as much as what you have over there unless you''re hiding more" Zil said


    "Good to know, you''ll continue to Kelinrask it has fallen to our forces but the city did take damage supplies would be appreciated by it''s people" Yorun said before making the scythe disappear once more


    "W-what?" Zil asked confused with some of the crew also murmuring their confusion


    "The city needs those supplies, you''ll continue your mission but you will not contact the Zeilna Islands, if you do we will know and I will return to show just how I killed enough dragons to make this armour" Yorun said threatening as best he can with the armour itself lending credence to the threat


    Yorun looks over at Sunhale as he teleports back onto his fleets main ship and teleports a couple hundred undead onto each of the traders ships, Yorun walks over to Sunhale and teleports back onto the main ship with him.


    "Go with them Sunhale" Yorun said


    "Excuse me? Yorun you''ve no naval combat experience" Sunhale said


    "And you''ve very little, Forina is here as well as Dralocran while you can ensure the traders get to Kelinrask and make sure everything is going fine with our borders and such" Yorun said


    "If anything happens then retreat, theres no shame in it and we''d all rather you live" Sunhale said


    "I have no intention of dying a permanent death any time soon, set up the Darkness of Otaper in the hold for quick communication in case anything happens" Yoruns said


    "Fine" Sunhale said


    Sunhale created the Darkness of Otaper in the hold of the ship before teleporting to the traders ship and the fleets pass one another as the traders see what could have been in their future had they been hostile.


    "Why''d you get rid of him?" Golanier asked Yorun


    "Such a large possible conflict on the water ahead, chances are he could more easily die in it, I''d rather avoid that especially with so much to gain if we manage to eek out a victory" Yorun said


    "Getting more into the war aspects of it huh Yorun?" Golanier said with a smirk


    "Shut up" Yorun said as he commanded the ships to move forward to the Zeilna Islands once more


    In between Yorun and the islands are several days of sailing across Nayhrams waters, Yorun grows ever worried on how things could go in the Zeilna Islands with a far larger and skilled fleet awaiting his arrival...

 Ch 59: Island Planning

    The days pass as Yorun and his undead fleet sail across the seas to the Zeilna islands and the enemies that await them there, during these days Yorun has stayed within the captains cabin of his ship trying to plan for what will come but now with the Islands mere hours away Koralin who flies far ahead of the ships is closing in on the islands finally giving a view of its defences and the enemy fleet. Yorun seeing this finally can properly plan something.


    "Alright, Koralin fly above the main trade areas and find those ships we need to see our enemy and gauge their strength" Yorun said telepathically to Koralin


    Koralin flies closer to the islands and gets lower to the ground while staying above the islands ports, Yorun sees the fleet the traders mentioned.


    "Wasn''t kidding about the size of the fleet and at least they easily mark themselves with the imperial flag, but the multiple islands that make up the Zeilna islands make this a problem, though the fleet when docked are at the different islands which is splitting them up hmm" Yorun thinks to himself as he continues to look through Koralins eyes


    Koralin continues to fly around the islands as Yorun thinks of how to utilize the islands before getting an Idea.


    "Koralin continue to monitor the area, alert me of anything important" Yorun said telepathically before returning his sight to his own eyes


    Yorun then looks to the maps of the islands and surrounding oceans then marks where they should be coming in from Kelinrasks direction before using a small bit of Golaniers magic to get him in the room, Golanier promptly appears.


    "You know you could have just asked" Golanier said a little annoyed despite basically ignoring the pain anyway


    "Listen Koralin finally got to the Zeilna Islands and has surveyed the area, now the information about the fleet is definitely confirmed, I''ve seen it and they''ll be a problem but we have a saving grace. Look to the map, the Zeilna islands are a series of three islands nearby eachother in a more circular fashion but the actual docks on each island arent enough to have that fleet on any one island so they are docked separately" Yorun said


    "Still doesn''t matter much, if we attack with our own fleet they''ll mobilise quicky and even if we''ve destroyed one part the others will outnumber and have more experience than us" Golanier said looking at the map


    "Correct, however theres nothing watching the backside of the islands, maybe some people on their own but with a bit of magic of which I''m sure you can help with, we could set anchor around the back of an island and then take the actual inhabited part of said island" Yorun said yet Golanier quickly speaks up


    "Ok I understand that but you and the undead need to learn how to actually do naval combat" Golanier said


    "Yes and we will but right now this is a beginning stage, a small very strong group will go in first and pick a fight with the sailors of the fleet docked at this island at which point our forces take the island, while the sailors are dealing with the small group they''ll hopefully be none the wiser and likely to contact the other ships who by the time they''ve undocked and are heading over we can have our own ships sail round while they''re focussed on the one island" Yorun saidTaken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Then they''ll be in the middle of the three island at which point we''ve taken them then they''re surrounded and our ships can get into the channels to cut off direct ways allowing us to open fire from all sides pinning them down in the middle with no supplies!" Golanier shouted quite impressed with Yoruns thinking


    "You sound happy" Yorun said with a raised eyebrow


    "Well, you''re getting better and better at these things its fun to watch but anyway I do have a question, who''s going to be in this ''small group'' of yours?" Golanier asked curious


    "Needs to be people the enemy will focus on, highly trained and well protected" Yorun said


    "Few choices though the most ''well protected'' is you" Golanier said


    "Incorrect its anyone wearing my armour and the enemy would more than focus on anyone wearing it" Yorun said with a slight smirk


    "Oooh... I get you, teleport that armour onto an undead, take control and then maybe have me in control of another, us two with the right undead for you could cause a large enough distraction especially with that armour so... Which undead you taking?" Golanier asked


    "Your undead body" Yorun said much to Golaniers immediate surprise before he catches on


    "Ah right, I''m mostly humanoid and adjusting the helmet for my Kalrin horns wouldn''t be difficult plus combine that with my body''s muscle memory to aid you in combat it''d make you very effective, while I have those skills ingrained in me from a lifetime of war even with a different body I''d be more than fine plus we wouldn''t be on the seas so I could take action" Golanier said looking ecstatic


    "Completely correct well done Golanier" Yorun said


    "Alright guessing you''ll want to have Onarin take the more leadership role of the undead while we fight" Golanier said


    "Indeed, if anything goes wrong however he will have this ship and the Darkness of Otaper as well as telepathy whichever he thinks to use" Yorun said


    "Got it, one thing though if you''re to use my body you''ll need a second vambrace and gauntlet you only focussed making one as far as I saw given you''re lack of a left forearm" Golanier said


    "I do plan to get that part of my arm back so I did make those for when I have it or in case I were to use another body. I''m no fool afterall" Yorun said before opening a small portal to Kragrum and reaching in pulling out the pieces


    "Glad to see your training paid off since you''re casually using Kragrum for that" Golanier said


    "Well can''t make a large portal to send undead to and from but something small like this? Simple or well as simple as opening a portal between realms is" Yorun said


    Yorun calls over Golaniers undead body and he teleports his armour onto the undead while teleporting the old armour from Golaniers living days into the captains cabin, Yorun then takes direct control of Golaniers body seeing through his eyes for the first time, he feels the helmet is not on correctly and begins to adjust the helmet so that the horns are not a problem as well as adjusting the other pieces of the armour for it to be as free moving as it is for his normal body.


    "Gods, seeing myself in that armour, had I seen that years ago I''d have likely tried to kill more dragons to make it possible" Golanier said


    "Figure out which undead you''re going to inhabit but remember don''t do it till that one is ashore, no point pissing off Nayhram after this portion of the journey" Yorun said


    "I know, I''m no fool either" Golanier said before wandering off to the other ships


    Yorun looks over Golaniers body through his Kalrin eyes wearing the armour meant for his real body then makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hands before driving it into the middle of the Zeilna Islands portion of the map as if on instinct driven by the body. Yorun then walks out of the cabin and looks through Koralins eyes once more surveying the land he will soon fight harder himself than he has before, truly ready to put the armour through its paces...

 Ch 60: Zeilna Island Assault

    As the final hours pass by and the Zeilna Islands come into view for the fleet Yorun still in Golaniers body while being instructed by Golanier creates a thick fog around the fleet enough to pass over the islands and obscure vision for a period of time allowing for the ships to anchor at the islands, Yorun and the undead are able to see through the fog as if it didn''t exist allowing for easy sailing. Soon enough the fog is enveloping the islands while the ship Yorun stands on drops anchor on one of them, Yorun quickly sequesters his body in the cabin of the ship and takes several soldiers with him to protect his body. Yorun then disembarks from the ship with Forina before Golanier takes control of Forina''s body.


    "Finally got a body again, it''s an annoyance being just a soul for so long" Golanier said


    "Didn''t you curse soul to the land for a thousand years?" Yorun asked sarcastically


    "In my defence I have admitted that was a terrible idea" Golanier said making Yorun roll his eyes


    Yorun quickly gives the undead their orders plus some magic and the several ships make their way to the other islands while Yorun and Golanier teleport over to the other side of their own island using the fog as their cover still none see them however Yorun notices the port as well as waters between the islands in the middle of the islands actually have multiple magical barriers set up to force the fog back, Yorun and Golanier in their different bodies stand just outside the barriers enshrouded by the fog.


    "Well that is useful, means we don''t need to do that ourselves" Yorun said


    "Indeed" Golanier responded


    Yorun and Golanier sense the undead that are set to attack the port town are gathering outside from the back while they watch the port, Yorun sees the defences similar to that of Kelinrask however he sees some other weaponry he''s yet to see, the weapons look like long metal tubes clearly newly installed given the cleanliness with engraved instructions on the back in a non-human language.


    "Any idea what those are?" Yorun asked Golanier curious


    "No idea but it not human made that''s for sure. I''d wager it''s Djelir made but their styles changed since I last saw their shit" Golanier said


    "Djelir?" Yorun asked


    "No time, we''ve got a distraction to make" Golanier said


    "Fair point" Yorun said before walking out of the fog


    As Yorun comes into view of citizens and soldiers alike he is immediately noticed by everyone due to the armour especially as he makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hands, as the people begin to wonder who the armoured figure before them is fear is quickly expressed by everyone as Golanier steps out in Forinas multi-armed body. Within moments the soldiers grab their blades hilts expecting the worst yet they see Golanier wielding several greatswords two real others conjured.


    "Wh-" One soldier from the imperial fleet said before being cut off by Yorun already infront of the soldier slicing through him with the scythe adorned in black flame


    As the first screams ring out from nearby civilians the soldiers quickly move to attack their new foes, from the nearby ships groups of soldiers quickly aim and fire arrows at the two of them and to their immediate horror they see their arrows hit against Yoruns armour and drop to the ground and despite some immediate happiness that their arrows aimed at Golanier hit and penetrated the skin the lack of reaction terrifies them. Yorun smirks a little under his helmet happy with the armour thus far, within moments the soldiers jump from their ship onto the docks and rush down Golanier hoping to overpower the multi-armed figure they know they can hurt.


    "Oh thank you, been a while since I''ve had a good slaughter" Golanier said smirking as Forinas body took the slashes and stabs in the unarmoured sections of the body all the while Golanier feels none of it


    Golanier quickly slams down the greatswords onto the group slicing them several of the soldiers clean down the middle while breaking the wood of the docks beneath them forcing those still alive to quickly fall down into the water, Yorun stops paying attention to Golaniers fight as his head is moved by a fireball hitting it with force enough to move it. Yorun slowly turns his gaze to the soldiers nearest to him but he senses no magic and sees the mages responsible are on the ships, Yorun not even saying a word as if the instincts of the body were affecting his magic quickly creates a large green fireball and without a second thought it then shoots towards one of the ships blowing a hole in the side and quickly setting the entire ship ablaze, the mages use their own magic to keep the ship from sinking and contain the fire but as they turn back to focus on Yorun again there''s only the corpses of some soldiers.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "Where''d he go!?" One of the mages shouted


    Unbeknownst to the mages Yorun teleported above them and suddenly lands down on one of the mages snapping the mages neck with the force at which he is slammed into the ground, Yorun then walks towards the other mages who quickly shoot fireballs, ice spikes and lightning at him, one conjures crossbows to attempt to hit Yoruns eyes yet all Yorun does is put his arm onfront of his face and all of it doesnt hurt him or damage the armour only slows him down due to the force from the attacks.


    "Fuck this!" One mage shouted before firing a quick series of bright blue fireballs into the sky all of them exploding in a bright flash, Yorun then killed him immediately after it


    On the other islands the rest of the imperial fleet see the explosions far in the sky, even if the barrier wasn''t there the bright flash would have pierced the fog cover, the soldiers are all in a state of confusion until their commanders quickly garner their attention.


    "Everyone on the ships! Our comrades are under attack!" The commanders shouted islands apart to their own soldiers who began following their orders as quickly as possible


    As the soldiers pile onto their ships and quickly raise the anchors they head for the island Yorun is on, Yorun and Golanier see this as their fights continue, Yorun then telepathically tells his undead army to attack with the fog cover still in effect non of the now sailing soldiers realised the very port towns they just disembarked from were under attack, the only soldiers who knew were the ones fighting Yorun and Golanier as the sounds of fighting and screams begin to emanate from the fog.


    "Who the fuck are you!?" One of the mages asked hurriedly as they teleported onto a different ship


    Yorun looks at that mage catching a fireball the mage quickly launches at him and shoots it over at the slowly incoming ships from the other islands to slow their advance.


    "Doesn''t matter, surrender or die, that''s all you need to know" Yorun said as he continued to fight


    The undead continue to attack the towns, the soldiers having left on the ships or being occupied with Yorun and Golanier make the attack go smoothly as the far larger forces take the towns usually more meagre defences especially through the fog cover, a few minutes pass and the undead find the conduits of every town, Yorun soon realises this as he feels his magic being used by the undead before feeling the connection to the defences. Yorun slices through another group of soldiers as well as the mast of the ship he stands on, he looks over at Golanier and sees a small sea of bodies around him yet many more soldiers remain, he then looks out over to the incoming ships and uses magic to make his voice audible even over the distance to them.


    "Surrender or die those are your only choices" Yorun said


    Moments afterwards the response comes in the form of thousands of arrows and lightning bolts raining down from the sky after being fired from the ships, Golanier as well as several soldiers and mages unable to protect themselves quickly become pin cushions then electrified by the lightning, the soldiers die while Golanier becomes too heavy to stand in Forinas body. All the while the arrows have no affect on Yorun and the lightning disperses through the armours scales as if it was nothing, the soldiers on the ships look around as Yorun suddenly removes the fog cover and they are horrified seeing the forces on the islands and far less of their own soldiers on the island they''re heading too.


    "Fear not men! We''re the imperial navy! We shall win this day, now Mages!" One ships captain shouts


    The mages across the ships following suit from the first ships to do so put up barriers around their ships to defend them from hostile magic and arrows as its all they anticipate, soon enough arrows and magic do begin to rain down on the ships but the barriers are effective which embolden the soldiers until some mages begin to scream.


    "OH GODS ABANDON SHIP!" The mages scream with their voices full of fear


    The mages jump from the ships using their magic to get away from the ships as fast as possible via flight or teleporting, the other soldiers and ship captains are confused until their eyes lay upon the defences of the towns from hostile ships, they''re aiming at their own ships. The metal tubes Yorun say earlier begin to glow a bright green before what sounds like a few dozen explosions happen from the three islands as the objects fire out at blind speeds rocks that turn into golems with arms like that of drills piercing the barriers within moments and crashing onto the ships ripping holds in them and those that do not go through them entirely get up and begin smashing the ships and killing soldiers wrecking every ship. The ships all rapidly sink and the soldiers who are alive after the ordeal and in the water far from the different islands shores with weapons aimed at them, the same tall knights made of water form from waterspouts in the waters around the sunken fleet and they point towards the soldiers who know perfectly what they will do.


    "Surrender or die. Final chance" Yorun said with his voice booming over the waters once more causing the soldiers to panic and look at the mages who ran


    "SEND UP A FUCKING SURRENDER SIGNAL!" The soldiers all shout to the mages


    The mages immediately shoot white fireballs into the sky which explode causing the mages and soldiers that remain on the island with Yorun and Golanier to quickly surrender, time passes quickly as the undead are sent on ships to retrieve the living soldiers and any of the dead from the waters then bring them to separate islands so they wouldnt get the idea to use their larger force even with the losses. Yorun about to call it a day suddenly gets blinded by another explosion in the sky, the original blue fireballs that had exploded in the sky did so once more and raced off in eastern direction exploding several times along the way, Yorun grabs the nearest mage by the neck forcing him to his knees.


    "What. Was. That?" Yorun asked staring into the mages soul


    "Emergency procedure, the mage who shot that into the sky never took it down so now those are off to tell everyone back home the message. The Zeilna Islands have fallen" The mage said terrified of Yorun by now


    Yorun would normally be unable to hide his anger visibly but the helmet does that for him enough as he looked out to the east wondering what may come now that the islands have fallen...

 Ch 61: The Djelir Invention

    The Zeiina Islands are quiet as the free traders of the islands quickly as they can revert to their usual business despite the cold undead patrolling the island and ports specifically, the main island however is where the most problematic soldiers of the battle are being sent, those who try even now to defy their orders and fight back once on land despite the surrender though they are quickly cut down by both Yorun and Golanier still controlling their not natural bodies. When all the still resisting soldiers have been executed and summarily raised Yorun heads over to the nearest of those port defences that fired golems inspecting it, Golanier walks over afterwards as well.


    "Still interested by these things huh? Can''t blame you the craftsmanship and what it does is quite nice" Golanier said


    "Much as I want to focus on this if that message has reached the imperial capital then other fleets apart of the overall imperial navy could get here soon" Yorun said


    "Even if it did reach them it''ll take them a bit to mobilise and get here, far as they know a massive elven naval force came and took them out, they''ll over prepare for us and give us time to leave as a result" Golanier said making Yorun sign


    "Fair point but if we could take them out we''d have a far larger army and more than that more ships but its not feasible" Yorun said


    "Maybe it could be, lets see about acquiring more of these beautiful things, could empower our army with Djelir equipment" Golanier said looking at the golem launcher


    "Then lets find the one in charge of this island" Yorun said


    Yorun and Golanier turn to the closest person from the island and approach them, the fear on their face evident and growing.


    "H-how can I help you two?" The person said


    "Who is in charge of this island?" Yorun asked


    "There are several people of influence on each island, t-they work together to figure out the best ways to bring everything forward since we are a free trading post for well everyone no matter the empire, kingdom or race" The person said


    "Then tell us where the people of influence on this island are" Golanier said reaching out one of Forinas extra hands threateningly which makes the person recoil with more fear


    "T-they''re more inland head to the proper market area and you''ll see them, they''re p-pretty noticeable" The person said


    "Thank you" Yorun said heading away with Golanier to the market


    As Yorun and Golanier walk into the market area they see many different stalls and open shop doors for various different traders single business or separate businesses ranging from blacksmiths to general food products. The traders in the market have their own reaction to them entering the area as they all get into their shop buildings or behind their stalls if its all they have to just something between them, Yorun and Golanier. Yorun looks around and soon enough sees three shops with three people wearing ornate robes with several mercenaries at their sides, Yorun walks closer to them so he can address them.


    "So, I take it you three are the ones of influence in this island" Yorun said


    "Correct" One of the people said


    Yorun looks them over and he can tell one of them is a human man, another is a elven woman and the third he has no idea, they seem to be made of stones with pieces of metal jutting out of them like ore in typical veins beneath the ground.


    "Not seen one of my kind before have you?" The rock person asked


    "He hasn''t but I have, guess I know where those Djelir made defences came from" Golanier said


    "If you are wondering I did not make them but I facilitate the trading of Djelir created items or weapons and such here which is why I have this prestigious position" The now known Djelir said


    "You three got names or are we going to have to just go with ''the elf, the human and the Djelir''?" Yorun asked


    "You''ve come to discuss my peoples cannons given you immediately brought those up so just speak with me inside if you''d prefer, oh and I am Kavisarn" Kavisarn said before turning and walking inside with their mercenaries


    Yorun and Golanier walk into the shop and within a moment a large bang is unleashed before Yorun and Golanier is blasted out through a wall by a golem with drill arms just like what was used on the ships in the bay, the drills do not manage to pierce the armour but successfully drills a hole through Golanier in Forinas body, Yorun makes the scythe appear in his hand and as it quickly lights up in black flames he slices through the Golem then gets up and in his eyes is a piercing anger. The mercenaries all quickly converge on Yorun those with larger melee weapons slam them down as hard as possible forcing Yoruns body down yet it is only force, the armour protects the body and even then Yorun feels none of it.


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    "This was your best plan?" Yorun said all too calmly


    The mercenaries quickly push their blades down as hard as they can to try and forcibly keep Yorun down but all that Yorun does is look at them as he makes the scythe disappear, he then quickly reaches out and touches two of the mercenaries who die on the spot quickly getting raised before they even hit the ground, they push the other melee wielding mercenaries away as Yorun stands. Yorun motions for the newly undead mercenaries to move back as he walks towards the ones who were pushed away, one of them reacts quicker and tries to attack Yorun but he steps to the side just a little while raising an arm up defensively forcing the blade to grind along the vambrace in such a fashion it''d create sparks were it made of metal but Yorun quickly grabs the mercenaries face with his other hand immediately killing him. The other mercenaries including the last with a large melee weapon are now horrified


    "W-we surrender" The last of the mercenaries who directly attacked Yorun said


    "These islands surrendered already as did that imperial fleet yet even now more of you go back on that surrender just to do it again when you fail so no, surrender will not be accepted" Yorun said before clicking his fingers


    The moment the finger click rings out Dralocran rockets up behind the mercenaries who hadn''t attacked yet and with a conjured scythe in his hands he cleaves through their necks as their armour would have been too tough for the scythe to get through otherwise. Yorun slowly walks over to the last mercenary who attacked him and he grabs them by the neck lifting them up off the ground not using his own touch of death yet.


    "Let that be a lesson to everyone here and make sure word is spread, attack after a surrender and there will be no second chances" Yorun said before using his magic and instantly killing the mercenary before unceremoniously tossing his body to the side before it is raised upon hitting the ground


    Yorun walks back through the hole in the wall he made when being shot through it and glares at Kavistarn before grabbing the Djelir merchants neck.


    "I was going to be civil it is how I prefer to be but then you do that, so now you''ll tell me everything I want to know about those Golem Cannons or I will kill you right here and now" Yorun said


    "You need me to tell you these things so you can''t ki-" Kavistarn said before Yoruns grip tightened forcing small pebbles to drop from the neck


    "We''re interested in the cannons but had no plans for them till we saw them, we only want them now since they could be useful but we''ll do perfectly fine without them so go ahead and talk before you can''t anymore" Yorun said before lessening the grip yet still firmly holding onto Kavistarns neck


    "F-fine, the cannons are a new invention specifically in that they require such a little amount of magic to work in a general way that our top mages figured out a way to use ambient magic of the world itself to power it as a regular cannon but the golem aspect only comes when a lot more additional magic is used for example when the cannons are controlled by an at least adequate mage such as yourself. We have more cannons of which I can provide you but if you want more I''d have to request them from home and get them delivered here" Kavistarn said now definitely terrified with his life literally in Yoruns hands


    "Where is your home?" Yorun asked coldly


    "I will not give you information that''d make you conquer my people" Kavistarn said despite his fear


    "I only want to conquer the Fiernian empire and not even for the reasons you assume, tell me or I''ll drag you with me" Yorun said


    "No need, I know where the Djelir kingdom is" Golanier said as his soul floats over confusing Kavistarn as Golanier and Yoruns voice match


    "Then I guess we''ll take the cannons stored here. Bring them to the docks but just so you don''t get any ideas the mercenaries you got killed will follow you" Yorun said letting go of Kavistarn


    Kavistarn walks out and away across the market with the undead mercenaries following him while Yorun turns to Golanier.


    "So, you know where they are?" Yorun asked


    "Yes and they''re far from here, if you''re planning on abandoning the war here for a while then I suppose going there isn''t a bad Idea" Golanier said


    "We need something faster than that" Yorun said


    "Well if we stay here for a while so I can work on it I could make a portal across the continent so we could do it but we''d have to leave a good amount of our forces here to keep our presence here which could be more disastrous unless you''d rather we head back and abandon this place given what it has given us knowledge of" Golanier said


    "No. We stay the course for now with what cannons we''ll be provided" Yorun said


    "You sure?" Golanier asked


    "Very. I am not risking what we''ve gained for something we may not be able to get from the Djelir" Yorun said


    "Fair enough" Golanier said


    Yorun and Golanier take Forinas undead body still with a hole drilled through it so she cannot stand back to their ship in the port and they wait until Kavistarn arrives with only ten cannons which Yorun gets put onto a couple ships five on the two of them one of which being his own ship. Yorun and his army board the ships again leaving the undead raised from this conflict behind on the islands, he then returns to his own body and teleports the armour back on moulding the helmet to match his head once more yet as they are about to set off much as what occurred during the battle a fireball this time normal in colour shoots into the sky in the distance and explodes before flying in the direction of the islands, as it gets close a warning can be heard from it.


    "This is Honaril Ghohalan first son of the emperor and commander of the imperial navy we are on our way, conquering forces leave now or when you are bested no surrender will save you" Honaril said through the fireball message loud enough for everyone in the Zeilna islands to hear


    Yorun and Golanier look at one another as they look in the direction where the fireball came from now both severely worried yet through the worried a fire of rage is ignited in Yoruns eyes as he grips the handle of the captains cabin door hard enough to start crushing it...

 Ch 62: A Bird Falls Amidst A Storm

    Yorun and Golaniers soul stand in the captains cabin of the main ship of the undead fleet staring at the map of where they know the first son of the emperor and his fleet is coming from, the air around them is chilling as the reality of the situation is dawning on both of them. Yorun calls Koralin in who perches on his shoulder.


    "Koralin go and find those ships, we need to know what we''re facing as soon as possible" Yorun said


    "Hold on" Golanier said before looking at Yorun


    "What?" Yorun asked


    "Get Koralin to fly up outside, I''ll take the body and fly there faster" Golanier said


    "Won''t be on the seas so you can act got it" Yorun said


    "You''ll still be able to see through the eyes so don''t worry plus we can talk easily due to our souls binding" Golanier said


    Yorun motions for Koralin to fly outside and both he and Golanier follow getting off the ship before Golanier quickly flies up and takes over Koralins body then within seconds the little undead bird flies in the direction of the navy fleet so fast a sonic boom is heard down on the islands and Yorun begins to look through the same eyes as Golanier, Golanier in Koralins body zips through the skies cutting a noticeable path through the clouds for five minutes yet as he senses the himself approaching the navy fleet he comes to a grinding halt before flying as a bird naturally would to not arouse suspicion. Golanier flies in the sky above the navy fleet and counts the ships until he counts more than a hundred with several ships larger than the largest ship in his and Yoruns own fleet yet more worryingly is the sheer magical powers he senses on several ships namely the head ship which he can only guess is the prince Honaril Ghohalan.


    "So, his imperial highness is pretty strong, guess its no surprise for the eldest brother of Helimiral. We can''t fight this though Yorun even if the prince wasn''t here" Golanier said telepathically to Yorun


    "Agreed now fall back, we need to figure out our next steps" Yorun said back telepathically


    Golanier uses some of his magic again to fly back to the Zeilna islands creating yet another sonic boom as he cuts through the skies however as he flies off and before even the sound of the boom is heard by men on the ships Honaril is already moving. Within the fractions of seconds between the take off of Golanier and the sound reaching the ships below Honaril is using his own magic to match and exceed the speed as he creates and aims a bolt of lightning in his hand, his soldiers in extreme slow motion to his eyes as he proceeds to throw the lightning bolt into the sky after Golanier with its own sonic boom coinciding with Golaniers own while the shockwave rocked the ships and forced the waters below the ships to be turbulent. Golanier feels the Lightning behind him catching up rapidly yet it shoots right past him and just as he starts to think he missed clouds suddenly appear above and lightning strike after lightning strike follows his little bird body until he can''t dodge and several strike the undead bird that is Koralin, though Golanier remains fine the body is heavily damaged by the lightning with feathers being burned off and even half of the left wing being completely torn off, Yorun separates from Koralin and sees him fall lifeless. Golanier catches the dead bird with magic and continues the journey back as the lightning dissipates. Yorun waits for Golanier and sees him land with the now once more dead bird and Yorun looks shocked and despite his face being mostly obscured by the helmet saddened.


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    "What the hell happened?" Yorun asked as he walked over and gently touched the dead Koralin gently causing lightning still coursing through the body to disperse through the draconic armour


    "Turns out that first son of the emperor is as powerful as we thought, fucker reacted to my presence just as I was leaving and caught me with a lightning storm" Golanier said as he hands


    "Look at poor little Koralin though" Yorun said with a tinge of sweetness to it Golanier rarely hears from him these days


    "It was an undead bird Yorun" Golanier said


    "And the undead have personality, when Koralin wasn''t scouting I did care for him and he was the first undead I ever brought back it''s... I don''t know it feels like another little piece of me has been killed" Yorun said softly


    "Well we''ll raise him again but he does need a little healing, we''re just lucky the brains not been completely destroyed so he should remember" Golanier said


    "Could have made him a new one" Yorun said


    "Never needed to make a bird brain before so I guess it''d be something new but its not the point. It''d hardly be the Koralin you cared about at that point if memory serves me correctly you said this bird was brought to that healer alive by a child, that bird was more than likely more friendly to humans in the first place hence the more caring attitude. New brain means its got none of that for the personality to build off of" Golanier said


    "...Right" Yorun said


    "We need to discuss out next steps anyway, with that fleet inbound especially now that they know we''ve seen their force we need to figure out what we''re doing as soon as possible" Golanier said hurredly


    "Right, you''re right, bigger things right now. As much as I want to take that fucker and his fleet down we will be crushed and I''m not losing my family and friends chance at life over such a stupid thing so regrettably..." Yorun said but trailed off not wanting to say the words given his prospective opponent


    "We retreat to Kelinrask and leave behind a token force here to mess with then using the defences" Golanier said finishing it for him


    "Yes though admittedly I didn''t think of the second part but we do need them distracted in some way" Yorun said


    Yorun telepathically orders a small force large enough to control the population till the ships around to stay behind while he and all the others quickly get onto the ships and begin to sail back to Kelinrasks port. Yorun looks to Golaniers soul as they sail away from the Zeilna Islands.


    "Tell me honestly, how do you think our chances are against him?" Yorun asked


    "Well his army is far larger than ours at least if we''re walking about excluding the ones at our borders or in cities and villages we took over but more than that he has elite soldiers with him since as he is the first son of your emperor he is the heir if his father dies but to add on to that he himself is an exceptionally powerful mage, its been a long time since I''ve felt such potent lightning from one so young, would have been a problem for even me during the midway point of my conquering days" Golanier said


    "Fucking fantastic and he''s not even a chosen" Yorun said


    "Don''t sell yourself short Yorun, the scythe, cloak and armour you have is a deadly three way combination. If you get into a fight with him you''d stand more even than you think especially thanks to your training plus honestly you need a personal win" Golanier said making Yorun a little confused


    "What do you mean?" Yorun asked


    "Out of the most challenging people you''ve faced over the majority of this war of ours in your quest for revenge and resurrection how many have been killed in a scuffle between gods?" Golanier asked


    "Fair point, I hardly want for Raeknar to be the one to kill them, It only extends my journey ever more each damn time but these chosen are something else" Yorun said


    "And I killed many chosen in my day, their gods will feel insulted if they are called on to deal with a mortal who their own chosen cannot beat, they''ll refuse regardless of transaction or not" Golanier said


    "Yeah easier said than done" Yorun said


    "Don''t keep putting yourself down, you''ll be fine and keep hold of Koralins body we''ll need to bring him back remember" Golanier said


    Golaniers soul disappears while Yorun sits down in his cabin waiting out the time till he returns to Kelinrask knowing the Zeilna islands will fall easily to the force he''d seen and he worries of what the outcome will be when the time comes for him to face the Prince...

 Ch 63: Defensive Preparations

    With all haste the fleet carrying Yorun, Golanier and the undead return faster than when they left for the Zeilna Islands making the journey in just two days, the people of Kelinrask recognise the ships coming to the city''s port and quickly make their way to their homes to avoid the undead forces disembarking once the ships have dropped anchor. Yorun quickly gets off the ship and teleports to the fortress with Golaniers body which Golanier quickly re-enters just as Sunhale walks to them and notices the dead Koralin in Yoruns arms.


    "You two are back so soon, what the hell happened?" Sunhale asked concerned


    "We took the Zeilna islands and promptly abandoned the islands" Yorun said


    "What why?" Sunhale asked now very confused


    "Honaril Ghohalan and the imperial navy''s main contingent under him" Golanier said making Sunhales eyes immediately shoot wide open as the shadows around them rumble


    "That... is not good" Sunhale said


    "Indeed, not only is he himself incredibly strong but he has a far larger force coming for us than our standing force now stationed in Kelinrask with out ships" Yorun said


    "And I assume hes the one that did that to Koralin?" Sunhale asked looking at the dead bird


    "Correct, which speaking of, Golanier we''re going to go fix up and raise Koralin again then figure out how to work with this numerical disadvantage" Yorun said


    "Fine with me, we will be lucky in that we have a week if not maybe a little more till they get to Kelinrask since with the larger force it means it''s harder to keep them all moving with the rest" Golanier said


    "Good to have one point in our favour" Sunhale said


    The three of them head out to the giant corpse of Ghairlakriar where Yorun using what he learned when making the dragons to be able to fix the damage to Koralins wings and body with parts from Ghairlakriar, the crow known as Koralins body has parts more resembling a dragon rather than the feathery kind the bird will have always known yet Yorun feels it''ll be fine. Yorun then brings the small bird back to life before gently brushing his fingers along the birds head to pet it.


    "Welcome back Koralin" Yorun said happily despite his worry of the situation


    Koralin cawed back in response immediately recognising him as if nothing had killed the undead bird again.


    "Good, we really should stop just relying on you Koralin, you need a little group of your own so we have more eyes" Yorun said


    "Not a bad idea but we need to figure out our defence first, with the forces we managed to get from those that died in the Zeilna islands as well as those in Kelinrask due to the merchant ships and the ones left in the city we''re sitting around forty four thousand soldiers whereas the enemy have more than double that, the Zeilna islands themselves had that sure but most surrendered due to our strategy which we don''t have the means to do here" Golanier said


    "That is the worrying part, we could outthink them there due to the nature of the islands defences and structure but Kelinrask won''t be so easy it''d be open combat in a city that is still rebuilding at that while still having a smaller force, had we our border forces in the battle we''d more than outnumber them but doing so would leave the borders undefended leading to loss of territory and other army contingents attacking" Yorun said


    "There are two points we could probably pull some border soldiers from, Kelinrasks part itself bringing them to the city instead of the border and the ones stationed in and around Deranel due to the city having its own forces to patrol and keep watch" Sunhale said


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    "That''d at most be ten thousand soldiers, a not insignificant force but against our enemies it merely makes it a basically two to one fight for them" Golanier said


    "What about creating more soldiers or dragons?" Sunhale asked hopefully


    "With the time limit we have its not a great idea, remember these created undead don''t have the muscle memory and as such training previously living soldiers had meaning we''d have to train them and tens of thousands of created undead can''t just be trained in a week or so" Golanier said dismissively


    "Sunhale, how is the elven army sieges going?" Yorun asked


    "At least one of them is close to finally breaking, I believe its the one at Colstarn Castle, why?" Sunhale asked


    "We can help end the siege and simultaneously get many new undead both elven and human while hopefully asking the elves there for help, Honaril and his fleet are a threat to the elven war machine as well so it''d be in their best interest" Golanier said


    "Think we can end it in the week?" Yorun asked


    "It''s possible, our army has been lucky with siege matters especially if we bring it to bear with the ferocity we have been thus far plus the already weakened forces won''t be ready for the undead dragons and our giant" Sunhale said


    "Then we''ll do it, either way we get more forces even if the elves don''t aide us, Golanier I want you to stay here. Despite certain things we can still make the group of birds or whatever for Koralin so we have more eyes as well as at least some soldiers or dragons, as they''ll be more difficult to deal with" Yorun said


    "In terms of soldiers how many?" Golanier asked


    "Not many, make giants" Yorun said as he turned his attention to Golanier


    "Giants? Got a plan there?" Golanier asked genuinely curious


    "They won''t expect giants from under the water, it''d give us a way to destroy multiple ships quickly even if the giants are also dealt with quickly" Yorun said


    "No guarantee the soldiers would be killed on those ships" Golanier said


    "And they''d be stuck in the water forcing mages to protect them slowing the advance of those mages to protect the soldiers plus the giants would be bigger targets allowing for at least some distraction during the battle" Yorun said


    "Well thought out there, I''ll work on all of that, think you can handle the siege alone?" Golanier asked


    "Oh, Sunhale will be coming with plus even without him I''m hardly alone" Yorun said as he looked to Sunhale with the souls being somewhat visible around Yorun


    "Want to go now?" Sunhale asked


    "Not right now, given the last few days we have not had the time to rest even when on the ocean as we had to keep an eye out" Yorun said


    "I''ll wake you in a while, best we do it soon after all" Sunhale said before walking away


    Just as Yorun it about to walk out Golanier quickly grabs Yoruns shoulder with a conjured hand forcing him to turn back to him.


    "What is it Golanier?" Yorun asked looking at him somewhat annoyed


    "Celantriak, we could make use of him in the fight as well as some other demons. A small number of them have come to our part of the demon realm once more given my presence again and all that you''ve accomplished too" Golanier said while getting to work on what Yorun set him up for


    "We''ll see about the elves and such first, I''d rather not work further with the demons unless necessary" Yorun said


    "Y''know we did tell the people of Kelinrask we weren''t working with elves" Golanier said


    "I specifically said we weren''t directly allied and that we were aligned when it came to the Fiernian Empire, our interests are aligned here" Yorun said


    "Fair enough then, oh and good luck with finishing that siege, don''t fuck it up" Golanier said with a smirk while confident in Yoruns abilities


    Yorun rolled his eyes before heading away to his room and laying down, Koralin follows him to get used to the non-feathery parts of the wings before flying back to Golanier in case he is needed. Yorun while lying down teleports the draconic armour off and holds the remaining upper part of his left arm then looks around the room before sighing.


    "I... do not know if you three are around, if you see me right now but every day without you here where I cannot see your faces and know that you are okay is pain more than this arm could ever have been and more than the day you were taken from this world. Please even if it will not be pretty, be there so that I may see you even if we cannot talk... I need this, I love you all" Yorun said to the air


    Unbeknownst to Yorun his family were indeed there and heard ever bit, they know they will follow and will beyond happy to see him even in a place where corpses will be piled high before the day is done. Yorun rests under his family''s watchful eyes while the looming threat of Honaril Ghohalan closes in on Kelinrask...