Ereban’s Lab

At first, the tunnel was pitch black, but after some time walking into it some purple fires appeared in the tunnel along with the laughter of children.

Even being a necromancer, Lux couldn't help but get shivers.

"Scared?" Viel asked his little brother.

"I'm not gonna lie, this is really disturbing," Lux replied.

They both continued walking until an exit appeared before them. It was like a white portal, they weren't able to see what was behind it.

With no other choice, they had to cross it and ended up facing the same lake. However, it had changed; the big tree was gone, replaced by a gloomy building—the same one they had seen reflected in the lake.

"Lux, be careful. We don't know what we are going to face." Viel said.

They both took their weapons out and entered the building.

In the centre of what seemed like a hall, a big statue representing a man wearing a robe and holding a staff made of bones stood. A black-necrotic aura surrounded the statue. 

As Viel and Lux fully entered the building, the doors instantly slammed shut with a loud BOOM, and a ghost? came out of the statue.

It looked the same as the man depicted on the statue.

With a wave of his hand, all the lights in the building turn on, and just like before laughter resonated in the corridors.

"Hello, visitors. My name is Ereban, or better said his avatar, and I welcome you to my research laboratory. May I know your names?"

"My name is Viel."

"And my name is Lux."

"I can assume that you have arrived here thanks to the clues I left in one of my diaries, right?"

"Yes," Viel replied. "I got the chance to obtain your second diary and I deciphered the poem in it."

"I can sense the aura of a necromancer in the one next to you." Ereban's avatar paused. "But who are you to come here?"

Ereban's avatar said as he seemed angry that Viel wasn't a necromancer.

"I am an animacer Sir Ereban."

"What did you just say? There shouldn't be any new animancers. Not after his death." 

"Is there a problem Sir?"

"I don't know how you became an Animancer, but I assure you that it will be your demise." Ereban's avatar said. "Even so, I must welcome you both." 

"This is the laboratory in which I spend the last years of my life. You are free to explore, but you may encounter a lot of dangers. Beware."

Just as he finished talking, he disappeared. Leaving no room to ask any questions.

"Well, I think we should start exploring," Viel said. "Why don't we separate? We both have our summons. If anything goes wrong, we can just leave them there and run back to the entrance."

"I think that is a good idea, Big Bro." Lux replied.

They both headed in different directions. Lux stayed on the base floor and Viel went upstairs. They decided to check underground together after exploring their designated areas.

Viel immediately summoned Jör, Bael and Ferto –his main force. 

On the first floor, he started hearing noises. It was a straight corridor filled with doors in both sides, and at the end of it, there were the stairs towards the second floor.

He couldn't understand how the architecture of this place worked. But after remembering that it belonged to such an existence as Ereban.

"We should check what is in the rooms and where is that strange noise coming from."

Viel instructed Jör to enter one of the rooms through the walls and check it.

Jör did as he was told, but as he entered he exited it. 

"What's the matter?" Viel asked.

Jör just went towards Viel's neck and wrapped himself.

Viel understood through their soul link that inside the room there was some strange-looking animal. A mix between a dog, a toad, and something else.

Viel decided that the only way to confirm it was by seeing it himself.

He signalled Ferto and Bael to prepare for a battle. 

He didn't summon Aurora because if Fero or Bael died, he could just revive them or summon them later. But if Aurora died, it could be a farewell forever, and he didn't want to try it.

"3,2,1, GO!" Viel said as he opened the door.

When he entered he saw a group of gruesome creatures, there were various types but they were all similar.

"Bael, attack. Ferto, defend. I will support Bael." Viel instructed.

Ferto created a barrier around Viel while Bael went and attacked the nearest one.

They were very slow and weak, so Bael had no problem defeating them, however, a problem arose when the next one started shooting acid at him.

It was no problem for Bael, as he was immune to poison. And to Ferto, whose defence was very high. But it could be a problem if Viel decided to battle in close quarters.

The battle lasted about 5 minutes. It wasn't really difficult, but tiresome.

The group continued their way and checked the remaining rooms, which were all filled with similar monsters.

From defeating them all, he acquired a total of 40 strange-looking Rank 1 Beast Cores. They were different from the normal ones, they looked like an amalgamation of different Beast Cores. He decided to check them later.

On the stairs that led to the next floor, a strange figure was standing there, as if waiting for them.

It was a big muscular humanoid bear with spines protruding from its body.

The monster didn't make a move, it just looked at Viel.

When he and his summons reached a certain distance, it began moving.

"Ferto, Bael. Attack." Viel commanded.

As Ferto charged at the creature, Bael cast his Corrosive Breath at it.

But the creature just took the hits, as if they didn't do any damage.

"Ferto, retreat," Viel commanded.

The beast followed Ferto and swung its giant fist at him, hitting him square on the chest and sending him flying a couple of meters.

"Bael, continue attacking. Ferto, use the Arcane Barrier to defend and keep its attention." Viel said as he tried to find the monster's weak spot.

The monster's skin was like steel, so his sword didn't even penetrate it.

The only thing he could do was distract it, so the other two could do some damage.

Bael cast his corrosive breath several times, each one dealing some damage to the creature.

Ferto, however, wasn't so lucky. Although he wasn't receiving a lot of damage, he wasn't able to retaliate.

He was trying his best, using his Arcane Barrier and charging with his shield.

But it was all futile.

The creature wasn't even paying attention to Viel.

This situation continued for a while until the beast's back glowed in a red light.

When Viel saw that, he knew what to do.

"Ferto, distract it. Bael attck its back."

Ferto used Titan's Wrath and Shield Charge, gaining its attention. Meanwhile, Bael used Darkened Shroud, making himself one with shadows.

While Ferto was fighting, Bael was sneaking behind the beast, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

When it showed its back, Bael used Blood Moon to attack his back.

When the creature turned around, it was already too late.

Bael was already swinging his sword, leaving a trail of black smoke.

His attack connected, penetrating the monster's skin.

This attack was the last straw, as the monster was already dead.

"Nice work," Viel commented.

After resting for a while, Viel went towards the creature's corpse and checked it.

From its corpse, he obtained two sets of claws, its hide, and its Beast Core–that like the ones from before, was different from the normal ones. It was a Rank 2 Alpha Beast Core.

"Let's go, there's still much to explore."

They went upstairs and a similar structure welcomed them.