Novels2Search
Skeletal Rebirth
Chapter 5. The First of Many

Chapter 5. The First of Many

     Taking his first steps out of Graverot Marsh, Argus began wandering through the forest neighboring the decaying swamp. No map in hand, Argus was forced to start trekking in a single direction. Hours passed while he continued to walk through the unknown forest and before long, a fog had begun to roll through the forest. Walking through the newly formed mist, Argus began to hear the sound of rustling. The rustling had not been there before, sure there was a couple of rustling in the trees and bushes due to the winds, but the constant rustling was not the work of nature. The air was still, and the fog unmoving, the tension in the air was also think. _______________

     Standing still surrounded by fog, I cautiously continued to observe the area around me. Unable to detect any enemies made me even more wary, without being able to sense anything I began to chant a spell. "Unseen to the eyes of mortals bloom in the midst of chaos," mana began to swirl around me as the temperature started to drop. Forms of ice and frost began to dance in the air and seconds after, the area surrounding me had become a frozen wasteland. The fog had continued to persist and after checking the area around me I didn't see any enemies. "Hmm, I must have just imagined this unnatural feeling, I guess my senses aren't failing me as much as I-" 

     "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!" Cut off from finishing my thought, multiple monsters began to shoot out of the ground. White skinned mole like wolfs immediately appeared out of the ground and starting circling me. Growling as they continuously bobbed back and forth, their abnormally large claws kept them from losing their balance. The fight began as the wolf moles quickly started to lash forward to me baring their fangs and claws, swiftly dodging the attacks, I drew my sword and made some space in order to cast a spell. "May lightning bare it's fangs, sunder my foes," Storm Armament activated and covered my sword. With the loud sound of lightning vibrating through the air, the white wolf moles slowed down their offensive and changed up their movement. Incredibly fast and agile, some wolves quickly burrowed while others ran in a scatter. "These white wolf moles are annoyingly smart aren't they." Following that thought I began to apt for a new strategy as well, cycling through the spells I knew, I rapidly tried to find one for this unfortunate situation.

     Alone again with the only the mist hanging around me, I knew those wolf monsters were waiting, stalking around looking for an opportunity, a chance to go in for the kill. Unable to sense the enemies along with them constantly hiding away from me, Most of my convenient spells were basically countered. "I guess an massive earth spell will have to do." As I thought that and before I could even start chanting, the white wolf moles decided to continue there assault, kicking of the ground with there mana infused hind legs, a white beast shot out of the mist like an arrow. Just barely able to evade I started to stumble around, and just as I was about to bring up my guard, five more of white shadows and pierced through the misty walls. Unable to dodge all of the fangs and claws, a few cracks had appeared on my bones. With the chance of me dying increasing, so to did my determination to survive.

    Half a hour had passed since the beginning of this war of attrition, exhaust was starting to get the better of the wolf moles. Being an undead and not have muscles or organs, my limitless stamina was the only thing keeping me alive at this point. Had I felt exhaustion to, these vicious beasts would have probably already been ingesting my bones, and without a vessel, my soul would have probably been sucked in by the Lantern of Harvest. With two of the wolf moles dead, the other few started attacking much less. With this upper hand, I quickly flew over to the closest wolf mole and instantly slew it. Stabbing my sword through it, the lightning quickly began to devour the beast turning it into a burning crisp. With another wolf mole dead, the remaining wolf moles began running and borrowing in order to escape. When the wolf moles were no longer near me, I noticed that the mist around me also started to dissipate. "Those white wolf moles were the reason for that fog? What a terrifying ability. Had I been alive fighting these, I would most likely fall prey to them." With the fog now gone, and the battle now over, I checked to see if anything had changed with the Lantern of Harvest. Pulling it out of my chest, I examined the bright blue glow and noticed that, flying around the core were the souls of the three wolf moles I had fought against. With that in mind, I decided to do what any normal skeleton would do, I tried consuming a soul. 

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

     With the thought of consuming a soul, the lantern light turned into a flame and after that, one of the floating souls was viciously sucked into the fire. As the soul was burned away, I felt something inside me change. Along with replenishing my soul, my wounded bones had also seemed to be repaired. I also felt something flashing in my nonexistent brain. The thing that flashed through my skull was actually the memories of the wolf mole. In the blink of an eye, or in my case, the flicker of blue flames, I had instantly gone through the whole memory of the wolf mole. Along the memories of the wolf mole, I had also learned how to create the misty fog, and empower my legs. Amazed at the power that the Lantern of Harvest harbored, I began to play with the two new spells I had learned. The fog spells was just that, the ability to create a fog. On the other hand, learning about the leg infusion magic, I could also apply it to my arms. Excited by this new magic, I thought to myself that I had so much more to learn. Never had I heard of infusing mana into ones body, I had always wrapped my mana around my body in order to from a shield but. Never had I tried to infuse mana into myself. With knew found knowledge I continued journeying through the forest.

     Running through the forest with mana infused into my legs I started for a different direction. With the memories of the wolf mole, I had remembered seeing a village that the wolves had hunted in. Making my way there I was hoping that they had something to use in order for me to hid my appearance. After a short and enjoyable run with me new magic, I finally arrived at my destination. Stealthily moving around and making sure that no one was here, I began my hunt for some different clothing. Walking past multiple corpses made me grimace a bit, trying to respect the one that passed away, I tried to hold back feeding mana into the lantern. Passing by some broken houses, I came across an odd house. Normally, this house wouldn't rouse any sort of suspicion, but among the ruins of around it, this house hadn't been touched at all.

     Curiosity had a grasp on me. Still trying to move with stealth, I slowly crept towards the house. Opening the door slowly trying not to make noise, I carefully began to explore the house. The house was in pretty good shape if you ignored all the dust, and there was also no signs of an attack in here. Finding nothing on the first floor, I continued making my way to the second floor. Upon my arrival, I quickly turned my head to a door. A great amount of mana was radiating from the door, and every few seconds a pulse of mana would reverberate from the door and travel along the walls, roof and floor. Enhancing my self with mana along with infusing my bones, I cast Storm Armament on my sword and even chanted a another spell, "With fire and lightning forge my metal, with iron and steel construct my shield." With the spell completed, The mana around me began to twist and turn and after a second, hovering a bit from my forearm was a silver translucent tower shield. Ready for battle and thinking of another spell to cast, I slower approached the mysterious door.