Relief flooded through him as he felt his boots touch the ground. Grinding his feet into the dirt, Abe smiled. “Yeah, that feels better.” Taking a step forward, he released his grip on the rope and stretched.

Okay, that wasn’t so bad.

Several zombies stood by the secured robes, their mindless glares pointed up toward the reaver ship.

“Don’t mind them,” came a deep, guttural voice at his back.

Abe turned to see a bulbous head atop a rolling mound of folds squeezing against stretched clothing that desperately clung to the figure’s remaining slither of dignity.

“What the fuck is that,” he mouthed.

The foul, gray-skinned, and purple-lipped man smiled, “Welcome, reaver. I’m the one in charge around here; the name’s Slagot. When you get your feet back, you can head on to the camp; it’s just up there,” Slagot said, his folds jiggling like a partially filled water balloon as he turned to point out the nearby cluster of temporary structures at the end of a muddy road.

“Right,” Abe grimaced, trying to avoid eye contact as he passed.

The camp was a half dozen metal boxes with doors and a pile of smaller boxes filled with supplies. Several zombies marched around completing various tasks, and Viara and Targa stood at the center of the box buildings, receiving some briefing from the braindead monsters.

“Oh look, you’ve arrived,” Viara said, cutting the zombie off.

The zombie opened its mouth and groaned as if about to speak.

“I’ve heard enough. Kill vagrants and keep acolytes alive,” Targa grunted and began walking away.

“What’s going on here?” Abe said as he approached.

“Basically what the moody one said,” Viara shrugged.

The zombies looked at one another, stared off blankly for a long moment, and then nodded.

“We got the message; run along now,” Viara said, dismissing the zombies with a hand wave.

Abe glanced around at the meager base set up by the zombies.

“I’ve seen worse,” Viara said.

She turned his gaze to the tower climbing into the sky from the hilltop.

“The tethering tower. Once the tether is secure, those things are an absolute pain to deal with. The hard part is the channeling. Especially when it's being completed by a bunch of weak zombie acolytes.”

“You think it’ll be difficult?”

“Depends on what comes looking for the deathly energy. But we don’t get paid if they fail, so whatever happens, keep those acolytes alive, okay? I didn’t come all this way to go back empty-handed.”

“Neither did I.”

“Good. I’m going to survey the tower. Keep out of trouble,” Viara winked. Her cloak transformed into wings, and within seconds, the only thing he could see was her energy signal glowing in the sky against the dark, staring backdrop.

“Shoddy necromancers everywhere,” Xer said as he walked up beside Abe. “They need a professional, not that Slagot thing.”

“He’s a necromancer as well?”

“Dear festering wound, no,” Xer spat as if offended. “That thing is a witch doctor. They like to think we’re similar, but please, don’t compare us.”

“But,” Abe raised a finger momentarily but let it fall. Keep it to yourself, Abe. There’s nothing to gain from engaging this weirdo.

“Good, the banshee is gone,” Xer said, eyes thinned in the direction Viara had flown. Dipping into his robes, one of his skeletal hands pulled out a black orb with marbled-like swirling purple within.

Even without his vision, the deathly energy stored in the orb would have been obvious, like a smaller and weaker version of the orb that fueled the submarine.

“Wake,” Xer said, waving a hand above the orb. Purple streams of energy funneled out of the orb and into his palm before slithering back out and floating across the sky.

Like long, thin kites flapping in the wind, they flew several meters in all directions and began burring themselves in the dirt. A moment later, earthen hands began to crawl free from the ground, bringing with them their rocky, clay bodies and standing to attention as they stepped out of their holes.

Within minutes, a couple of dozen humanoid figures crafted from the earth stood at the ready, roots and rock still embedded in their forms.

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Abe stared at the figures, brow furrowed.

“First time seeing earth golems, I presume? Corpses provide better vessels for my energy, but these will do in their absence,” Xer said as he waved the golems over.

“Yeah, first time,” Abe nodded.

“They might not be the strongest, but they’ll serve their purpose of crowd control. Besides, I can make them explode,” he smiled.

“Sounds pretty useful to me,” Abe nodded as they approached.

“They are,” Xer said, waving a hand toward his creations. “Go now, scatter.”

The expressionless golems turned and ran off in all directions.

“And they’re gone,” Abe mumbled.

“I dot them around the perimeter. They should act as both an early warning system against attackers and a first line of defense. That reminds me, could you do me a little favor?”

“What kind of favor?”

Xer asked with a wide, purple-lipped smile. “Scout the region for me,” he said, pulling a strand of purple from his orb and sending it twirling toward Abe. “Accept my power.”

“Look, I’m fine working with you but-”

“Don’t worry,” Xer smiled. “All it’ll do is let me share your vision for a short while. It’ll allow me to take advantage of your speed and get a view of the island. It’ll also help position the golems.”

“I understand, but I’m just not-”

“You can see the energy, can’t you? Those little things you borrowed from one of my kind should help you with that.”

“You know about them?”

Xer nodded.

Okay, that’s good to know. I should probably just assume everyone knows more about me than I suspect.

“Yeah, I can see the energy. What of it?” Abe coughed.

“So? Don’t tell me you can’t see how long it’ll last.”

Abe raised a brow and the necromancer’s words. He then narrowed on the ribbon of energy swirling about his head. He could feel its strength without thinking, and the longer he focused on it, the better he could sense its longevity.

“So?” Xer prodded.

“I see it. It will fade in a few hours.”

“Exactly,” the necromancer nodded. “This is just to help with the job. No need to worry about me spying on you.”

He had already been infected by one necromancer, and despite it turning out in his favor, Abe wasn’t in a hurry to be infected by another. But he didn’t think he was lying. He could see tiny specks of purple energy breaking away from the streaking beam as it circled him.

“Fine,” Abe relented. “But if you’re lying, I will come after you.”

“Deal.”

He relaxed, and the stream of energy circled him once more before flying toward his eye. It wiggled against his iris, struggling for a moment before managing to force its way through.

Abe blinked irritably for a moment, rubbing at his eye, but it quickly passed and wasn’t painful.

“Sorry, I forgot to mention, it might affect eye-related abilities. But don’t worry, it should fade long before our mission starts.”

“Good,” Abe grunted. “Where should I start?”

“Wherever you please, as long as you map the entire island.”

“Not asking much are you?” Abe shook his head as he ran off into the nearby forest.

In seconds, Abe covered acres, the combined strength of his undead body and the worms propelling him through the forest at inhuman speeds.

It had been a while since he pushed himself just to run, and he was surprised at just how fast and strong he had become in such a short amount of time. He had to remind himself he was still only considered E-rank. With his evolution so close, he wondered how much stronger he would become and how much further ahead was Miss Nia.

While he couldn’t quite communicate with the energy Xer had placed in his eyes, he could feel a reassuring warmth as he ran through the area and figured it was Xer’s way of telling him he had seen enough.

Several minutes later, he returned to the camp. Abe didn’t particularly like taking instructions from a stranger he just met, but pushing himself to traverse the island had been insightful. Both because he realized how far he could push his body but also because he got to see the terrain he would be fighting in.

Upon returning, zombies met him at the edge of camp and directed him to his lodging.

There was no discernable difference between the cube buildings beside a strange, distorted character above the door. It made no sense with his regular vision, but as Abe engaged his energy sight, the purple energy snaked around the writing. He still couldn’t read it, but he could tell them apart.

The inside of the cube looked like a prison. There was a sink, a single bed, and a small table.

It’s not like I planned on sleeping anyway.

Taking a seat on the bed, Abe began to pour out the loot that filled his pack. Most of the potions were unmarked, and since he had no idea what they did, he decided to leave them in his room for now. He counted 107 ducats he looted and tied everything up into a sack that he hid at the back of his pack.

Most of his loot wasn’t about to help him in a fight, and carrying extra weight didn’t seem like a good idea, even if he was strong.

He drank one of the vials of blood. While he still has some minor wounds from the battle, he had wanted to consume Miss Nia’s blood sparingly and had decided to save it until he reached the shardworld.

Exiting his accommodation, Abe spotted Viara, who had returned to camp and was discussing with Xer and the rolling mound of rotting meat.

“Good of you to have joined us,” Viara turned to him as he approached the group.

Slagot turned as he approached, “Did my corpses fill you in on the details?”

Abe shrugged, “Filled me in enough.”

“Good. My feasting acolytes will begin channeling the energy to create the tethering rod tomorrow. Make sure you’re all ready for what follows.”

“I’m always ready,” Abe said.

“Don’t be smart, kid,” Slagot said. “I’m still not convinced a lowly ghoul has any right being here.”

“I’ll keep watch above the battlefield, providing warning of the attackers and directing movement,” Viara interjected. “Keep an eye out for my flairs; they might save your life,” she added, nodding at Xer.

“Yes, and my golems will be used to slow our enemies,” Xer’s purple lips curled into a broad smile.

“That leaves you two,” Slagot said, pointing at Abe and Targa. “Yous is jobs will be to head out and them attackers before they reach the tower.”

“Keep as many of them as far as possible from the tower. We need you to maintain your positions on the perimeter. Xer and I can handle any that slip through. Got it?” Viara said.

“Sounds good to me,” Abe replied.

“Good,” Slagot croaked. “I’ve got to get back to my mindless meat bags; they can’t be trusted on their own,” he groaned and rolled away.

“I must take my leave as well,” Xer smiled. “I’ve many preparations to get through.”

Viara turned to Abe as they left. “You might not see or hear me, but know that I’ll have my eyes on you and everyone else, and if you need something, wave. I’ll help if I can or let you die and make sure the job is successful; who knows?” She winked.

“Thanks?” Abe tilted.

“Don’t be,” Viara smiled and flew up into the air.

“Finally,” Targa grunted as he stomped by. “Don’t get in my way out there,” he sneered as he passed Abe.

“Same goes for you,” Abe mouthed.