Investigating the Mine

"What was down there?"

Alden asked Daiyu as he used <God Eye> to see in the pitch-black tunnel. Daiyu's eye could remove any element of surprise the creature would have.

"Mostly prisoners in the basement."

"Hmm, pretty standard for a Mayor of a medieval-like town. No one special or out of place?" Alden could hear Huginn gently flapping her wings, her eyes had also been improved by Daiyu.

"No one like you if that's what you're asking."

Alden frowned, he was hoping for more reliable allies if he had to take on the Mayor. But his biggest concern was how to rally the soldiers to fight the Greshir forces. They had taken everything from him in this life and he wanted to pay them back in full.

Proving his skill in handling the mine's issue should show the Lundri Knights he was somewhat trustworthy.

Alden cautiously followed the main pathway deeper and deeper into the mine. There were many branching pathways but the main one distinguished itself by the signs written everywhere.

"Daiyu, can you sense anything?"

"Nothing living so far."

Alden was hoping to bait the creature out by being enticing prey, but it proved to be elusive. He decided to go far down as he could before going back up.

When Alden got to about halfway down the mine, he heard something strange.

GAAAOOOHHH

It was a howling beast whose cries reverberated strongly off the walls.

Alden, Daiyu, and Huginn all briefly looked at each other, all having the same idea. This must the thing that attacked the miners.

"I'll scout ahead." Daiyu said as she picked up speed and flew ahead.

CAW!

In agreement, Huginn also picked up speed and followed Daiyu, leaving Alden to run to catch up.

After losing them for a few minutes, Alden finally caught sight of Daiyu standing there. She turned around and Alden followed her eyes to a peculiar scene.

The thing attacking the miners was nothing more than a diseased and pitiful animal.

It was missing an eye and the other one was milky white, it was a miracle it could see anything at all. Its fur was missing from most of its body, leaving only patches of fur here and there.

"What is this thing?" Alden felt bad for the animal, it didn't look like anything he could recognize.

<(Demonic) Gluttony>

Alden used his skill on the animal several times before swinging his blade down on its head.

<Level Up>

<Channeling> has been unlocked for <(Demonic) Gluttony>

<Channeling: Grants <Demonic Aura> to the weapon that the user holds>

<Demonic Aura: Life Steal 60% of <(Demonic) Gluttony>

Cost: 80% cost of <(Demonic Gluttony> per hit>

"Interesting." Alden said as he activated the new channeling ability he got. <Demonic Aura> was worthy of its name, a reddish-black energy had engulfed his sword.

"Alden, the head." Daiyu pointed toward the decapitated animal's head.

It had rolled several feet before stopping at someone's foot.

"Wait, who are you!?" Alden pointed his sword at the silent intruder in front of him.

"ARRRRAAgGhhh!"

The mysterious person let out a haunting noise that hurt Alden's eardrums, almost causing him to drop his sword.

"Take this!" Alden raised the Demonic sword and brought it down upon the stranger.

CLANG!

A spear came from out of nowhere and blocked Alden's sword at the last second!

After being stopped, Alden retreated several paces before getting a sense of the enemies in front of him.

"What in the world!? They're crawling out of the walls? Are these zombies?"

Several blue-eyed, pale-skinned figures had started to move towards Alden. They all had a weapon in their hands and they all gave Alden their undivided attention.

"Close, they're a bit more powerful. They match the description your village had for "Draugr". They're revenants brought back to life by their grudges."

The draugr with the spear suddenly started to charge into Alden. Skin and bones were the only way to describe its body. Despite that, it could handle the spear extremely well.

Even so, Alden did a quick feint and managed to slash the Spear draugr across its chest. Undaunted, it punched Alden in the face with its other hand.

SWOOSH

"Gah!" Alden had barely managed to block an arrow to his face with his left hand. Now there was an arrow sticking out of his palm.

A draugr had started to shoot arrows while sword-wielding draugr ran at him.

"Alden, retreat!" Daiyu said as Huginn flew towards the archer in the back.

"Huginn, stop!" Alden shouted as he sliced the arrow in his palm and quickly pulled it out.

Without hesitation, Huginn immediately retreated toward Alden.

Alden slashed the Sword draugr coming at him but they felt no pain. Making a quick choice, Alden timed when the Spear draugr tried to pierce him again.

In a dangerous maneuver, Alden grabbed hold of the spear and slid towards the draugr.

"Gruagh!"

Alden had sliced its hands off and took the spear for himself.

CLANG

CLANG

CLANG

Each swing of the spear met metal and Alden was able to disarm the draugr easily.

SWOOSH

Another arrow came whizzing by his face and Alden threw his sword at the Archer draugr in the back.

THUD

It struck it in the neck, causing it to aimlessly try to pull it out. Alden couldn't help but wonder if <God Eye> had a hidden effect of giving him unparalleled depth perception. All his swings and throws were just at the right angles to succeed.

With the advantage now, Alden swung the spear and finished off the draugr with its weapon. The Sword draugr were trying to pick up their weapons but were dispatched.

After finishing off the Archer draugr, Alden made sure to separate all their heads. He didn't know how necromancy worked in this world, but it was the best he could do with no fire magic.

Under the pale moon, a cloaked figure was unleashing a dark and ominous spell.

"This animosity! Such delicious hatred and regret! I haven't felt anything like this in a long time. Rise, draugr!"

The ground started shaking unnaturally as the corpse started to move once more. It broke through the topsoil and gazed its new master.

"Mal..vri… mus..t …pay!" It said with bone-chilling blue eyes as it pushed the soil off the rest of its body.

"Splendid! Your hate and resolve has given you purpose. Since you have higher intelligence, I'll give you a task. Here, take this and track the Apostle down!"

The Hate-filled draugr took the items and examined them, they appeared to be pieces of what was once a blade of some sort. Oddly enough it looked like it was made of bone.

"Gruuuaaahhh!"

He glared at the cloaked figure, his fury and thirst for revenge nearly allowed him to break free of the figure's control.

"Now, now. If you do what I ask, I can revive your dead love as well. How about it? Our goals are the same in the end, Malvri's fall! It's just that this Apostle is a wild card."

The draugr looked at the grave close by and growled in return.

"Brin..g he..r ba…ck now!"

"Will you hunt the Apostle down?" The cloaked figure smirked as they floated several feet off the ground, away from the draugr's range. Several ghost blades also started to appear in the air, all pointed at the draugr.

"…yes."

A few seconds later, another draugr emerged and the cloaked figure approached both of them.

"A gift for talented individuals." A small light appeared in front of the two draugr and entered their undead bodies.

<Soul Reaper>

<Soul Mage>

"You shall now be known as "Voll" and "Vostla", when you find the Apostle, I shall grant you both titles and appropriate positions!"

With those last words, the cloaked figure laughed maniacally as they floated up into the sky and disappeared. Meanwhile, the ground all around Voll and Vostla started to shake as more and more draugr started to emerge.