(xxii)

Lazarus was a patient Lich. He was a curious Lich. He was a Lich that loved to experiment and hoard his resources. His creations, while nothing like children, were still valuable to him as potential avenues of future research.

Which was why watching the two skeleton warriors that he just raised be torn apart easily annoyed the unholy hell out of him.

The equivalent of 1500 mana being thrown away did slightly more than annoy him. In fact, for maybe the first time in memory, it enraged him. So, naturally, Lazarus did something he wouldn’t normally do. He wasted more resources.

Entirely forgetting he had that King's Great Sword in his hand, he instant cast five separate spells of Black Iron Maiden, tearing the unfortunate remaining combatants to pieces. If he had a heart, he would be breathing hard. Incredibly annoyed at himself for losing control, he brought his anger down forcibly and locked it away.

Emotions were stupid and useless.

He glanced over his stats, clacking his teeth when he noticed his now lack of mana.

Race: Lich

Sex: Male

Class: Necromancer

Skills:

Death's Companion – Summon a Unique intelligent companion (evolving skill), Level 2

Summon Jet - Allows you to summon Death's Companion Jet back to the summoner. Level MAX

Create Undead – Create Animal undead that can follow basic orders. Create Human sized undead that can follow basic orders. Level 1

Pain Nullification – Level MAX

Mana Manipulation – Level MAX

Unarmed Combat – User gains access to martial skills (Requires the unarmed skill as a prerequisite). Damage increased while not wielding a weapon.

Charged Strike – Level 1

Spell Craft – Level N/A

Herb Gathering – Enables the user to have a greater than average success rate at gathering wild herbs or other plants. Level 1

Appraisal – Allows user to appraise information about anything connected to them or the world around them. Level 2

Intimidation – Put pressure on the target to force compliance. Level 1

Spells:

King's Great Sword – Create a better than average sword with aesthetic appeal. Mana cost: 500 per sword. If the sword is destroyed the mana will be returned to the caster. Level MAX

Ebon King's Armor – Garb the caster in full plate armor with Dark aesthetic and aura. If the armor is destroyed the mana will be returned to the caster. Mana cost: 700

Level MAX

Black Iron Maiden – Create 20 Iron spears to impale a targeted area at different angles. Remains materialized for 60 seconds. Mana cost 150. Level 1.

Magic Aptitude: Metal

Major Stats:

Level: 6 Elite

Heath: 2,000/2,000 Mana: 50 /2,200

Minor Stats:

Strength:11, Dexterity:11, Intelligence:18

Wisdom:16 Charisma: 1 Luck:16

Annoyed. That was the word. He was annoyed.

He stared at the more or less useless bodies of the Woofspiders and guards. Grumbling to himself, he took solace in the fact that he was able to mass experiment with Black Iron Maiden at least. So something of this entire encounter was salvageable.

He took note that each of the castings of the spell had perforated the targets differently. And those differences were divided by species. The guards had the same punctures as the other guards, and the same was with the Woofspiders. Lazarus realized that the spell had targeted the vital points on each of the two species.

Fascinating.

The spikes summarily disappeared, having reached their sixty second time limit. The Lich began to wonder if perhaps he could use it defensively as well.

Changing though processes, he turned to the Ghoul next to him.

“Yes, Master?” it said in a flat tone.

Annoyed, Lazarus pointed at the Ghoul. “Call me Leader! You cannot call me Master in front of mortals and other average meat bags. It will raise suspicion, and we will find ourselves in more trouble than we bargained for,” he said slowly, hoping the Ghoul would understand him.

The Ghoul nodded. “Of course, Leader,” it said with an involuntary twitch. Somewhere, deep in its instincts it must have hated that.

“There, that was not so hard, was it? We can hide your origins better if you follow instructions,” he snapped, annoyed.

“Of course, Leader,” it said, going down on one knee in supplication. Even with it paying homage to him, Lazarus got the distinct feeling the only thing holding it back from attacking him was the necromancy animating it. Fascinating.

The skeletons had been mindless automata, but this Ghoul was something else entirely. Examining it closely as it kneeled on the ground, the Lich could see the necromantic mana holding its soul to its body. The instincts to attack him must be originating from the soul, while the body is fully controlled by the magics he had cast to reanimate it.

Lazarus wondered if a soul was strong enough, robust enough, could it overcome the restrictions placed on the body by his magic? Maybe he should resurrect a dragon and find out… on second thought, he enjoyed being mobile and having a body. That may not be the best idea until he was far stronger and had a better grasp of his abilities.

“Ghoul, say nothing more in my presence unless directed,” he ordered. Silence and anonymity would be his best options for now. The Ghoul, thankfully, complied, clasping a fist to its chest.

Lazarus pointed to the bodies, “Gather any coins or items of value, and find a way to hide your face. A cowl or hood will do nicely. Then we will depart. We have a ways to go yet,” the Lich ordered.

More money never hurt. It opened doors that would otherwise remain closed without the use of copious amounts of force. He also needed to disguise the Ghoul itself. It would not be good if someone recognized the person it used to be. That would generate far more questions than he had any intention of answering.

As he watched the Ghoul work, he noted the dexterity of the creature. Yes. It may have been undead, but it could certainly follow instructions. Its deft movements reminded the Lich of the being's last living moments. It may not have retained its full power after animation, but it certainly retained its grace.

Lazarus sighed, wishing he had the mana to conduct further experiments. For now, however, he would be limited to observing. His curiosity would have to remain just that for now.

The walk to Delton was going to be far longer than he had anticipated.