Here's the second chapter of the week!

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Chapter 14: Mental Domination

Looking around, Kaz could see many different parts of the cavern. Each part seemed to have its own function. From his location, Kaz could see that there were about six distinctly different parts of the cavern. Keeping his rotation of scouting spirits up, minus the one heavily damaged by the skull, Kaz took the initiative to explore the section of the cavern that he was currently in.

Since there were no true rooms in the cavern, the rooms were divided by stone walls about two meters tall. Rounding the corner, Kaz was pleasantly greeted by what seemed to be an armory. About a dozen racks laden with armor and weapons were arranged in a semicircle across from what appeared to be stone golems. Eagerly walking closer towards the stone golems, Kaz ignored the weapons and armor nearly completely.

“These stone golems have many protective sigils carved onto them. I wonder what protections they have. Simply having physical protection would be far too boring, I hope that these golems have magical protections too! That would allow me to practice the power of my spells.” Inspecting the nearest golem closely, Kaz started to walk around it in order to get the full view of its protective network.

Sigils glowing softly, the golem looked like a real soldier from a kingdom long gone. As Kaz walked from golem to golem, studying their sigil networks, he realized that none of the golems were the same.

“These golems all have slight differences in their features. For example, none of them are the same height. Although they are all within a certain height deviation, none of them are as tall as another. Furthermore, the faces carved onto each golem are different. Shapes of noses, depths of eyes, even ear shapes are unique to each golem.”

{Do you really have to linger on the mundane details like this? They’re not even magically important. I know they’re interesting, but so is the rest of this cavern. Plus, what kind of person doesn’t even look at the weapons and armor and goes straight to the stone statues?} Ever the prickly grump, Ahriman always had choice words for Kaz.

“Eh. Don’t worry about it. I still have that tomahawk. Plus, I have a plentiful amount of mana to cast spells with if anything does happen. You know my martial abilities are trash, so equipping myself with weapons and armor might actually do more harm than good if it reduces my ability to evade.” Not skipping a beat by allowing Ahriman the verbal upper hand, Kaz smartly rapped out his rebuttal as he studied the sigils.

After nearly an hour, Kaz finally stepped back from the golems.

“These golems all carry different sigil protections. Although the basic Protect sigil is the centerpiece sigil for each golem, they have different auxiliary sigils supplementing them in various ways.”

Looking back at the racks of weapons and armor, Kaz walked over and started to study them.

The twelve racks of equipment were divided into eight types of weapons and four types of armor. At a glance, Kaz saw that there were racks for longswords, shortswords, axes, maces, spears, halberds, bows, and throwing weapons. All of these weapons were in surprisingly good condition, with no signs of deterioration.

“There has to be a reason that these weapons, which appear to be made of iron, are still so well preserved. They’re cold to the touch, and rather dry even in this moist cavern. Actually….” Looking at the wooden racks properly this time, Kaz saw that there were glowing sigils carved into the backs of the racks.

{Hmm, whoever was the owner of this cavern sure was meticulous. Even though this cave was clearly made for a magi, the weapons were as well-maintained as possible. I’m sure this mysterious magus had a lot of free time on their hands hahaha!} Chortling merrily, Ahriman amused himself with the thought that the owner of the cave was an eccentric magus.

Meticulously studying the back of the racks, Kaz found that there was a simple Sigil formation on the backs of each rack. These were all the same formations, unlike those on the golems.

“With a Repel sigil as the centerpiece, a Water sigil as the supplementing sigil, and a Regenerate Mana sigil as the power, these racks can keep their contents dry as long as there is sufficient mana to power them. These Sigils could actually become the most effective method to preserve consumable materials and items should they become widespread.” Walking towards the golems again as he thought, Kaz’s train of thought was rudely interrupted when the central mana crystal flashed brightly.

Lighting up the cavern like day, the central mana crystal started to rotate in place. Worried, Kaz recalled all but one of his patrolling spirits. Sending the lone spirit left to the central crystal ahead of him, Kaz cautiously retraced his steps back towards the center of the cavern.

“KAKAKAKA! Filthy little necromancer, you’ve managed to destroy my physical body, but this just released my spirit body back into the world.” A ghastly voice rang out in the silence as Kaz approached.

{That’s the little floating bastard that you blew up earlier, isn’t it? I wonder why it took so long for his spirit body to manifest after his physical skull was blown to bits. Normally a spirit trapped in a physical container will manifest the moment the physical container fails its purpose.}

Barely dodging the dark bolt of energy that the enemy spirit lobbed at him, Kaz drew mana from deep within him as he prepared a Mental Spike.

“Lecture me later. Just keep a lookout for me and if you have a way to permanently disable this creature, let me know.” In no mood for Ahriman’s quips, Kaz ran from cover to cover as the spirit in front of the mana crystal sent bolt after bolt of black lightning towards him.

“You cannot run forever! Kakaka sooner or later you will get tired, and then BAM I’ll nail you with a bolt.” Cackling manically, the spirit flew around the mana crystal as it replenished its mana by absorbing the mana-saturated air.

Finally allowed a break, Kaz recalled his scouting spirit as he took a look at his adversary. Floating about two meters in the air, the previously cranky floating skull turned into a red ghost. Its eyes still glowed with balefire, the smouldering green glow causing Kaz to shiver.

Curiously, there appeared to be a set of chains on the spirit’s ethereal body.

“That set of chains is centered on a thick lock that appears to have a single centerpiece Sigil on it. So it seems that Sigils can also be used to brand spirits. Although I have no idea how it is even possible to attach ethereal chains onto a spirit, those chains must be the way of controlling that spirit.” Eyes gleaming, Kaz prepared two different spells.

{I really hope you know what you’re doing, brat. I wouldn’t even think of doing what I think you’re trying to do.} Worried that Kaz is going to try something crazy, Ahriman let his displeasure show slightly as he tried to dissuade Kaz.

“Oh shut up, do you have a better alternative? I don’t move faster than that spirit, and I don’t think I can run out of the cavern before it nails me with at least one bolt of black lightning. I don’t even know if I can survive a hit from that. You saw what it did to my ghost.” Gritting his teeth, Kaz bided his time as he waited for the red spirit to get back into spellcasting range.

{Well yeah, but black lightning spells were specifically designed to combat ethereal enemies. They do extreme amounts of damage to spirits because black lightning disrupts ectoplasm, which is what your spirit’s ethereal body is made of. Although they cannot destroy the soul, black lightning is especially useful in disabling another necromancer’s ghosts.} Never one to resist being able to annoy Kaz in dangerous situations, Ahriman started to teach Kaz important information so that the latter could not possibly complain about distractions later.

“You don’t say? I’m still sure that black lightning does hideous damage to human flesh. Do you see these destroyed walls? I’ve had to change my hiding spot at least five times since coming to investigate this central mana crystal. I don’t think that something capable of disintegrating stone walls will be a light brush on my body.” Scrunching his face in concentration, Kaz was certain that the red ghost would run out of mana soon and would have to refill his mana pool.

“Kek, feisty little thing, aren’t you? I guess I’ll just have to up the power of my lightning if I want to flush you out. The Master would be displeased that such collateral damage occurred, but he’ll be even more displeased if he comes back and finds you here.”

Holding its hands in front of its body, the red apparition started to concentrate its mana into a darker black lightning. As the spell was being charged, Kaz’s hair started to stand up on end due to the amount of static electricity being generated in the atmosphere. Waiting until the black ball of lightning was an about the size of a small child, Kaz unleashed his spells the moment after waiting for the perfect opportunity.

“Keke, you can’t possibly think that your slow spells could hit me–?!” Slowed dramatically has Kaz’s Bitter Grip hit it, the red spirit could do nothing but watch in agony as Kaz’s Mental Spike slammed into the charged black lightning.

*BANG*

Oddly enough, the size of the explosion from the charged black lightning was smaller than the previous explosion that had shattered the skull. Nevertheless, the power contained within the explosion was nearly three times as great. The red spirit’s body shook as it struggled to block the explosion from hitting the central mana crystal. By doing this, the red spirit took even more damage than it would have otherwise.

“KAAAAAAAAAAAAA! HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO DESTROY THE CENTRAL MANA CRYSTAL! I WILL TEAR YOU APART!” Enraged nearly beyond words, the red spirit floated to a standstill in the air as it greedily absorbed mana to restore its damaged ethereal form. Unfortunately, it was this action that cost the red spirit the fight.

Seeing his opponent stalled in the air, Kaz finally had the opportunity to read the sigils carved on the chain’s locks. Running in circles below the ghost, Kaz quickly read and tried to analyze the magical network on binding his opponent.

“The centerpiece sigil on the chains is Domination. It’s supplemented by dual Protection and Regenerate sigils. Heh, I don’t know what will happen, but I have nothing to lose!” With a determined look in his eyes, Kaz quickly gathered the mana necessary for two spells again, this time drawing on his Soul Power to supplement his quickly depleting mana.

“Your puny spells cannot do anything to me! I’ve been tricked twice into eating the power of my own spells, which I will admit is extremely frustrating. Since I’m not charging any spells right now, however, nothing you can cast will be able to harm me!” Smirking and with a haughty attitude, the red spirit sneered at the spells forming in Kaz’s hands.

“Oh, but I’m not looking to damage your body. Don’t you realize there’s a different way to deal with you?” Nonchalantly, Kaz put his hands in front of him. Unleashing the power of a dual-casted Mental Spike, Kaz was knocked back a few steps from his own spell’s recoil as it ripped through the air.

Flying through the air, Kaz’s huge Mental Spike slammed into the centerpiece Domination sigil that was the focal point for the chains binding the spirit. The chains broke with a small snap, and dematerialized the moment they fell off the ghost.

{.......} Seeing how the red ghost was still a threat, Ahriman had no words.

“Kekeke, what did you think that was going to do to me?” Chuckling to itself over what it thought to be a useless attack, the red ghost continued to gather mana from the atmosphere.

“It appears you have no idea what I was aiming for, do you?” Things finally going his way, Kaz was relaxed for the first time in the fight.

“Do you even realize what the supplementary sigil was on your protective chains?” Smirking, Kaz verbally prodded the ghost.

With a sinking feeling, the red ghost remembered its Master’s words.

You must never let your chains be broken. They are what bind you to this realm in my absence.

“I never realized it until I looked at your sigils, but the Protect sigil on your chains was the same Protect sigil that was the centerpiece for that stone bear outside. Once I cracked that, I was able to seize control of its soul.” Grinning from ear to ear, Kaz used some of his remaining Soul Power to cast Soul Enslave onto the red ghost.

The moment Soul Enslave hit the red ghost, it tried to resist.

Kaz’s eyes narrowed as he supplied even more power and concentration to his spell.

“Urg,,.no soul before now has put up such a resistance. You. Will. Not. Resist.” Gritting his teeth, Kaz dove deeply into the red ghost’s mind as he sought to completely dominate the apparition.

Completely invading the red spirit’s soul, Kaz caught glimpses of its memories.

A red sky. A bloody battlefield. Countless bodies clashing together as two fully armored forces sought to annihilate the other. One army made of the dead, their bones creaking as they marched ever onward. The second army made up of desperate soldiers from a long lost nation. Even as the living soldiers died, fell energies flew from the back of the dead army to reanimate them…

“GET. OUT. AOOOOOOOOO” Howling miserably, the red ghost tried to mentally force Kaz out. However, years of no contact with any other sentient beings had long corroded the spirit’s mental willpower.

“You. Will. Give. In. To. Me.” Kaz’s voice grew deeper as he applied more magical energy to subjugate the spirit. After only a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity mentally, the red spirit’s mental wall was crushed. Shrieking miserably, it had no choice but to be bound under Kaz’s control.

“Hahaha…. I’ve done it!” Feeling elated from his hard won victory, Kaz’s knees finally buckled as he lowered himself to the cold floor.

Concentrating, Kaz could feel the red spirit among his other spirits. Now with a total of eight souls, Kaz could feel some changes to his magical energy pool.

“Ahriman, do binding additional souls to my own change my magical energy pool?” Probing his energy, Kaz could feel that there were actually some changes although the subtleties eluded him at the moment.

{Well, I guess I owe you this much as a reward for surviving that encounter. I really wasn’t much help since it’s been ages since I faced or was in a situation where the opponent was stronger than I was.} Sounding defeated and tired, Ahriman continued on.

{It varies from person to person, but generally each spirit grants its master small benefits based on the aptitude of the caster. You will be able to discern the benefits for yourself and others later once your magical sense has developed further. I can tell you for sure now that each spirit you enslave will help you power up your spells faster.}

“If that’s true, my casting speed will only increase as I enslave more souls. What are some other aptitudes?”

{The ones that I’ve encountered or heard of include increased casting speed, increased mana regeneration, and increased spell effects among others.}

“Increased spell effects sounds like a better deal than increased casting speed, is there any way for me to change the benefit provided?”

{Absolutely not. This is an innate part of your magical abilities. There’s really no way to change it. You’ve just got to work with what you have. Plus, increased casting speed is actually very useful in my opinion. Who needs more slightly more powerful spells when your opponent bombards you with a storm of incantations?}

“So the magnitude of the benefit is restricted somewhat? Is this because increasing the output of any spell relies on the manipulation of more mana, which is harder than normal?”

{That’s right. A increase in the magical energy needed to perform an incantation is what most directly increases the difficulty of the spell. Longer incantations are more complicated since they’re longer, but that increase in difficulty pales in comparison to spells that require more mana. It’s kind of like a sword, if you have a heavier sword you will need to put more effort in order to wield it in the same way that you would a sword of lesser weight.}

“But with a faster casting speed, I can bypass that entirely by casting more spells in the same time frame. I guess you are right, Ahriman. Faster casting speed does seem to be more beneficial to me. I guess increased mana regeneration isn’t too useful for me since most of my magical energy pool comes from Soul Power which would not be affected by the caster’s mana regeneration speed.”

Looking up at the central mana crystal, Kaz could see that the previously bright light was fading back to its pre-fight brightness. Standing up, Kaz stretched his body. Sending a few of his hunter spirits to scout for any other dangers, Kaz casually walked back to the armory.

As he was walking back, one of the walls hit by the red spirit’s black lightning started to crumble as Kaz’s footsteps were enough to cause its collapse. As the wall crumbled, the soft light of the calm mana crystal illuminated the area within. Looking inside, Kaz’s mind reeled from the shock of what he was seeing.

Shelves of ancient books lined the walls of this particular room. A central stone table with a regal chair was located in the center of the library. Abandoning all pretenses of caution, Kaz eagerly barged inside.

{You really need to get outside more, Kaz.}

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