Evolution and Lords

It's been three months since I fully took over this forest. As it turns out, Eldritch can corrupt three cores at once, each group taking one month to fully corrupt. That leaves us with seven cores over three months. Today, Eldritch has finally corrupted the final core.

Inside my caste, before my throne of bones and dust, Eldritch knelt before me. In these three months, I wasn't idle, I was constantly doing something to boost my chances of living. Someone chosen by Naruto wouldn't be so easy to defeat.

In this time I had the 500 undead soldiers working on my castle 24/7 until it was finished. The castle, dubbed Fox Castle, was equipped with many rooms and buildings. It was placed in the center of Thoverra, Naturally. It has an outer wall 20ft (609 cm) tall with four iron gates, each leading to one cardinal direction.

The castle had a dungeon, a grand hall, a dinner hall, 12 bedrooms, 7 training rooms, 2 kitchens, and 1 throne room. There are next to no furnishings yet, but we'll get there. During these months, I also distributed the area of dominance to my minions. Thoverra will be our capital, and each side of the forest will be ruled by one of The Four Lords.

Eldritch, Lord of Death holds sway over the northern part of the forest. All undead creatures and monsters fall under his command, and reside in the northern part of Thoverra. As of now, no other lords have been appointed.

Back to Eldritch though, he kneels before my throne. Flanking the throne are the two orc warriors, now lords. I've artificially created some cores for them and promoted them. I simply call them Ay and Bee, but they have their uses. After experimenting with the gates, it's rather simple to activate them in someone.

I simply need to give some of my blood, and they will have access to the gates, however opening them is another matter entirely. It relies solely on them, I can only gift them the opportunity. Ay can open two gates, and Bee can open two as well. I told them whoever can defeat and devour the other can become a lord. As of now, they are equal. I allow them to challenge each other once a week.

Saphira is most likely resting on the wall, but no matter. Eldritch is in the throne room to tell me of his success in corrupting the last core with negative energy, and he can evolve at any moment.

"I am pleased Eldritch, you were a bit weak for the title of lord, but now you may just live up to that title, just a bit. Well, you may now evolve, lord of death."

He bows even deeper, his forehead gently touching the floor, and then he starts to writhe. He collapses to the ground, shaking. A potent negative aura leaks of Eldritch, Ay and Bee stiffen up a bit, but recover shortly. His rotten skin starts to fall off, and his bones become fully visible. His shaking intensifies, and soon the negative aura fills the room.

I merely smirk and look on in amusement, gotta keep up that badass villain vibe. But damn, this is badass. His bones slowly start to turn black, like onyx, and gain a certain luster. Soon, he ceases to shake, and the negative aura rebounds into his bones. It's only for a moment, but I could swear I could hear a ding sound coming from Eldritch. Eh, whatever.

Eldritch stands up, now skinless, only his onyx black bones remaining. A pale blue flame, not but an ember, ignite in his eyes. Then, they start to grow, and grow, and ignite into an inferno, roaring throughout the room. He howls, somehow, and the flames recede. Ay and Bee have long since fell on their asses, what a disappointment.

Sigh, if only I could teach Eldritch the 8 gates, but sadly i've found only the living can open them. Eldritch looks at me, and then kneels after a moment.

"My lord, I have evolved into an Archlich, and I am ready to receive your command." He speaks out, with a voice containing reverence and a bit of fear. Good, fear is good.

"Explain the boosts you have received from evolving, and make it quick. We have things to do now."

"Yes Lord Vulpes. I can now summon 750 undead, but no new types are available to me. My magic has received a substantial boost, and two new spells are available to learn. Negative Pulse, it sends a wave of negative energy outward from my feet, healing undead inside. The other spell is soul ember, it uses the flame in my eyes to damage the soul. My mana capacity has improved as well. That is all of the important boosts, master."

Before he knows it, he is crushed to the floor under my destructive aura. Fuck, that fire could have damaged my soul? He shot that shit out already, I could have been fucked! If he can have a soul attack this early, then what about others? My immortality don't do shit for my soul! Calm down, just gotta be so scary he wont fucking dare even attempt to use it on me.

"That's it? I gift you your life, a new name, status, resources to evolve, and that's It? I waited three months, and that's it? 𝙃𝙢𝙥𝙝, 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘. You dont live up to your title, but have no fear Eldritch. I have given you a title, so I will make that title reality. I will make you the supreme lord of death, you need only wait and serve me with loyalty."

"Y-yes my lord."

I let him rise, and then I send him off to summon his army of undead. I should probably start looking for another lord. Sigh, finding not useless people is hard.

-[ In a not so distant city ]-

In a deserted alley, a boy can be seen standing over many corpses, faintly laughing. His distorted chuckle bringing a chill to all those who hear it. His air a mix of black and white stripes, he stands tall. He picks up a yellow wheel, splattered with drops of blood.

"hehehehe, cheese, ah yes, what beautiful cheese."

-[ In a distant mountain ]-

Thump

Thump

Thump

Crack! Crash!

A tree, over 40 ft (1524 cm) Tall crumples down. A humanoid figure towers there, in front of a tree stump. The being turns its head, before walking to a cave.

-[ Somewhere close, yet so far ]-

A faint melodic singing can be heard ringing out, beautiful enough to make all else obscure. Soon, the voice fades, and suddenly, an eye opens, beyond the scope of a forest or mountain. It glances to the east, before closing slowly

-{ MC Pov}-

I shiver suddenly, and look around. Guess it was nothing.