"You can't do this," howled one of the Lizardfolk, a grey and red scale who was far more burly than the rest. Therefore, he was their nominal spokesperson for the whole of their tribe of slaves, "The Human promised our release after whoever his brother was had woken up and spoken with us, and now you're saying you want us to fight?" The creature then waved and pointed to those behind his person, revealing unto my eyes the varying states of those who had left to suffer. "Can you not see? All we want is to go home."

The area in which we were within was a designated quarry space for the city to take the necessary stones from. Here, the space was given over to the creatures after they were freed, as most of the males from such a species were forced to mine out several tonnes a turn in order to meet the demands of their former masters. Now, however, they were kept within the area, being fed the same foods the Beastfolk denied their persons whilst the others were fed the very same scraps they fed to those who were under their heel.

"My eyes can see this, but it matter not what you desire," my own head shook from left to right and back again, "All of us desire to return to such a place, but we all cannot have our wishes come true. Therefore," the illusory right hand of my body stretched forth towards their persons. Of whom braced themselves for whatever was to come, whereas I called upon my depleted reserves of energy in order to intone, "<>."

Dozens of serpents, the colours of crimson and emeralds, poured out of my fingertip and rushed off towards the now frightened Lizardfolk. Of whom did their best to run from the ever closing serpents, which then latched onto their bodies, burrowing inside. Yes. They did try to fight off the serpents, but were ultimately forced to watch as the creatures wormed their way up their bodies and disappear into their skulls. Whereupon their bodies did convulse for, but a few heartbeats.

And afterwards? Afterwards, they did stand tall with eyes of milk-white with only the barest fleck of colour where their pupils once were. As such, they did react greatly, forcing those who still struggled or tried to flee from the area down upon the rocky earth. There, they forced such serpents into the others' ears in order for the remaining to join them in the enthrallment under my person.

"Good," I panted softly, several hairline cracks formed across my forehead with a few flecks of the illusion falling away. Underneath, however, will not be spoken of. Yes. It is disappointing, but there are some truths within the world which must never be known. For once they are discovered, such things could unravel many a work performed when it was locked away. Therefore, such a thing will remain as is. A mystery.

"Master," cried Shauu, who lifted my body into her arms. Here, I felt faint as I was taken from the area, my Thralls shambling on behind.

However, the moment I noted the direction we were heading, which was towards the main house of the city, I spoke aloud in a gruff tone, "No. Gather a dozen Beastfolk, as I would very much appreciate their energies to fill my reserves."

"But," she began, stopping in her tracks in order to stare at my person with growing concern.

"I am well aware your desire to cater to my needs, but what I need right now is not rest. What I need is the energy of others to fill my reserves until a steady source is discovered for my immediate recovery. Understand?"

No. She did not understand, but bobbed her head anyways. For although she would very much have my person rest and be out of the limelight of life for a time, I desired to stay within it. This is due to the fact that I desired for this instance our ours to end soonest so that I may drain Roj and his Tribunal of Fools. For the energies I consumed from their persons allowed my person to feel as full as I was when I became the reigning God of Terra in the beginning.

Not only this, but Melephas and his antics had grown quite tiresome. Therefore, as soon as this war is completed, I had decided to be done with him being near. For his desire for "Power Leveling" and "E-X-P" was far too confusing for my mind, and he would gain nothing once we were done with this world's war.

Which meant yes, we would be claiming Asha'ruun for ourselves once everything was good and done, and setting my person up as this world's Demon Lord would be a most enjoyable venture.

In any case, more than fifty Beastfolk of varying ages and races had been gathered before the Main House of the city. Each of which were then subjected to a painful carving of their flesh as Rojaahn and Brutus used their own clawed digits for the task. This carving, by the by, was merely a symbol which would be used to draw out their essences into my person.

Stolen novel; please report.

Yes. Such a task caused many of those too young to know anything to scream and cry as they were held still. And yes, I did hold the desire to see them well and removed from what was about to take place. Unfortunately, I cared more about my own health than their safety at that time. Which meant the tasks were carried out until all were left with a bloody mark of an image of a half moon, a sickle in its centre, and a single, crooked horn jutting from the back of the blade.

These images, by the by, held a different meaning, but also one which was very similar to one another. For instance, the half moon depicted upon their flesh and hide was a representation of the door to the Underworld. One where they will be deposited near the shores of the River Styx where the Ferryman awaited them to help them continue on with their journey.

The sickle, on the other hand, represents a harvest. For such a tool is often used when gathering wheat, grapes, corn, and many other foods. In this case, though, it is viewed as a harvesting of their essences. One that will be given to the one who bares the symbol of the odd horn, which is only one part of the whole, but it is not entirely needed.

As a whole, the carving means, "The Souls of the Dead shall be harvested and given to the one who bares this symbol." Of which would then be used to fuel my magicks until they were fully drained of everything contained within. Once such an event occurs, their essences would be expunged from my person in the same manner as one would defecate in a latrine. Unfortunately for those who were subjected to such a thing, their entirety would be dispersed into the earth, never to rise and take their place in the cycle of Reincarnation.

"Let us begin, shall we?" I grinned as Shauu helped my person to stand as I chanted in front of the crowd. Yes. They milled about with great fear and uncertainty whilst I began to speak the words which spelled their doom.

The words spoken, by the by, is under a set of forbidden spells hidden from the Pantheon and its people. For the danger it contained is enough to entrap those who did not have the strength of a God King. Therefore, this, and many others, have been locked away so that none beyond my person and a few select individuals know of its contents. However, only I know how to utilise such incantations, but have yet found the need to use them.

Now, what I can speak of is what occurred during and after the words spoken. For just as I spoke the second verse of the incantations, did the carved images burn with a bright and hot light. Of which caused many who were not used to such pains to cry out, collapsing to the ground. Whereas those who could withstand the pain, grunted as they ground their teeth and hunched their shoulders.

Unfortunately for them, the pain only increased, as did the volume of their pleas and demands to be set free of whatever was being cast upon their persons. For many believed they were being branded as slaves, and as such, did their best to beg for their lives with many a bag of gold, jewels, and females. Of which were subsequently ignored as I carried on towards the third and fourth verse of the spell.

Those who were stronger than most were the first to feel something unnatural occurring within their bodies, and were able to view something which should not be seen by the eyes of mortals. For there, within the crowd, was a small host of translucent Skeletons, each of which carried with them a golden sickle. Such a tool, by the by, glowed with an unnatural and golden light as the blade hooked around the necks of those being afflicted by my words.

As such, they did cry out as the first of many fell to the blades, and watched as these unknown Skeletons then did pull out a milk-white fog from within their bodies. Yes. They did witness the essences of those weaker than themselves being dragged or carried away towards where I was currently standing.

However, what they saw was not an old Human in a faded blue robe, but of a monstrous skull with endarkened eyes and a broken maw. It was comparable to a cross between a Basilisk and an Ogre, but with many a jagged and crooked horn jutting around its entirety.

Yes. Those who viewed it did pass on as a great horror filled their hearts, ceasing its beat. Unfortunately for my person, these beings were the sole exemption from my spell. For it was necessary that these unknown Skeletons harvest their essences with their sickles, and were unable to perform their duties if the beings' bodies ceased their functions before they had a chance to perform thusly.

Whereas the ones who could were able to toss such essences into the maw that was a part of my person. Of which listened as these beings screamed and howled as they fell into the void that was my energy reserves, never to be seen again.

And afterwards? After I had completed the fifth and sixth verse of the incantation, all faded away and the bodies of those who still remained standing, fell to the stoned earth. Whereupon they did rapidly age on the spot until their bodies became dust and ash.

It was at about this time that I performed a mental check upon my energy reserves, and found that just after such a spell, I was a little more than half full. Of which was just enough to conquer the world of Asha'ruun. Yes. I did laugh and grin, as well as transform my body into my Devil King self. Whereupon the heavens above became as dark as pitch with many multicoloured lightnings scurrying across the underbelly of the clouds which formed.