34. Graveyard of Trials
Sam continued forward into the graveyard before stopping as words drilled into the ground. Seconds later 15 armoured skeletons pulled themselves out of the ground.
"Prepare for battle" Sam spoke as Sevrus raised his arms. The skeletons trembled before forming into a unit and kneeled to Sam.
"Looks like we will gain big" Sam said to himself as Connor nodded.
"Master, the Undead here are stronger than Raised Skeletons but I feel they have less potential" Sevrus told Sam what he felt from the new skeletons.
"As long as my armies grow we can focus on quality later" Sam replied as Sevrus saluted. Sam continued to march on as they subdued the roaming undead. Several hours past as Sam march further into the Graveyard, the wandering undead grew stronger the further they went. Wraiths, Ghouls and Ghosts were common sight and harder to control.
"Master I can no longer control these undead. Something is preventing me from capturing them" Sevrus spoke as a bone spike impaled a ghouls.
"Time to raise our quality" Sam whispered before separating the legion to march forward. Sam took Connor and his knights as they walked into another gated graveyard.
<Trial started>
Sam stopped in his tracks as the notice sounded out and the ground started to rumble.
"Protect.... Master" Connor bellowed as the neophytes moved into a defensive formation. Wisps crazily swarmed in the air as they plunged into the ground, cuasing rotted and boney hands to burst from the black soil. Massive skeletons and ghouls pulled themselves from the soil and charged Sam's group as a coice echoed through the graveyard.
"You dare to enter my resting place and wake me, YOU SHALL JOIN ME NOW IN DEATH" The voice bellowed as more and more undead charged. Sam slashed with a green and black mana covered blade that seemingly absorbed the bale fire burning in the undeads skulls. Connor and his neophytes turned into a wall of steel and fury as they cleaved undead in two with massive greatswords. Using Connor as an anchor Sam turn zombie, ghoul and skeletons alike into ash as his mana grew from absorbing soul fires. Notifications rang in Sam's ear like a bell the more he killed.
<Absorb soul learned>
<Absorb soul leveled up>
<Absorb soul leveled up>
<Absorb soul leveled up>
<You have leveled up>
As his Mana grew denser pain started to rack Sam's chest cuasing him to miss swings and counters. Retreating behind Connor, Sam sat down to check his situation. As he meditated a small block and green jewel grew in Sam's heart while more notices rang in his head.
<Meditation leveled up>
<Meditation has evolved to Mana Cultivation>
<Mana Jewel has been formed>
<Mana Jewel has leveled>
<Body is undergoing changes>
Sam continued to meditate as the jewel grew in his heart and spread to his veins. More and more soul fires were absorbed before a wave of pure Mana blasted out with Sam as the center. The mana burst caused all the undead to fall to ash as their souls were absorbed. Connor and the neophytes were in awe of Sam as he radiated an aura of death and power. 20 minutes flew by as chages took place in Sam's body before his eyes snapped open. His blue eyes grew clearer as Sam checked his changes before a voice sounded out.
*Trial cleared giving rewards*
"You won here but now it's my turn" The old voice shouted out.
*Graveyard keeper has risen*
A massive wisp flew through the air as is drilled into the ground. The ground trembled as a large crypt rose from the soil. As it fully broke through the ground the door to the crypt shattered as an armoured figure floated out.
"I am the Keeper of this grave site as well as the the bringer of your deat... Sam?" The Revenant stopped mid speech as it looked at Sam. Sam's eye grew wide as he stared at the figure in front of him matching it to the one from his past.
"Grandpa" Sam whispered before yelling it out again. Connor started choking on the change of events as the similarity in the faces were uncanny.
"Sam why are you here, what has happened" The spirit of Sam's grandfather spoke in an affectionate tone.
"Grandpa, I think it's been two week since the world went through an Apocalypse cuasing everything to mutate, those that survived the initial mutation was given a job and the power to grow" Sam explained what had happened over the past few weeks. Connor and his group still could not wrap their heads around the situation.
"Sam, it was nice to see you again but I need you to leave before I have to attack you" Sam's grandfather said as ghostly body flickered.
"Don't worry grandpa I'm not weak" Sam spoke as he drew his sword. The flickering stopped as his grandfather's attitude changed.
"A job must be done before you are reunited" the Revenant yelled as it charged a neophytes. Connor used his massive frame to block the swipe as he was flung into the air. Sam charged the Revenant as Mana condensed around him. Slashing out with his sword a large wave of mana flew out slicing the undead as it screamed In pain.
"How can you have so much Mana" the Revenant screamed as Sam continued his onslaught. The Revenant started to flicker again as Sam swung his Mana imbued sword.
"Strike me down Sam and release me" Sam's grandfather prevented the Revenant from moving as Sam's sword slashed the spirt in two.
"Thank you Sam" the warm smile never left his grandfather's face as he looked at Sam with love.
"Your not leaving that easy" Sam yelled as he funneled a massive amount of mana into his grandfather's sliced figure. The amount of Mana being poured into the Revenant caused distortions in the air as Sam started to lose consciousness. Sam forcibly held on to pouring mana into his grandpa before a notice popped into his head.
<High level undead successfully under your control>
Sam blacked out as the notice chimed out, a smile plastered to his face.