“Ahh third time I passed out today this should be a record” I said as I woke up laying face down in a room full of fish guts and blood.

“Uuugghh what is this nasty taste”

I spitted a black substance that has horrible fishy rotten taste just like when I have the brilliant idea to augment my heart directly. I looked around and found myself in a big puddle of the stuff, more than back then.

“Damn this shits it everywhere”

It would seem that I vomited all the impurities or whatever that black shit is and fell into it when I passed out. I took out the cape and my shirt to assess the damage.

The shirt is a loss, stained to hell and back and that's without taking the god awful smell into account but I am more concerned about the cape but it seems clean, the sludge running down on it without staining, it must have a self cleaning enchantment or something.

Going shirtless is not really my style so let's get some practice on pattern using. I first focus on the ruined shirt getting a read of the concepts forming the patter in my mind while avoiding the black stuff that by the look of its concepts are mostly dead cells full of things related to dead and decay.

After a while I got the pattern of the shirt and felt style down in my Inner cosmos. I check on it and it's really cheap, well it's just a long sleeved shirt not even silk or anything fancy.

I was about to cast the pattern when an idea occurred to me, why not mod the pattern a bit like what I did with Zombitron.

I wonder what concepts I should use. I have concepts like ARMOR or IRON for extra defense, maybe STRENGTH or JUMP for utility. I also have the healing spell that I get from Mina.

I already got the new spell and the cape for defense so I don't really need more on that front. JUMP would be better for my pants or my shoes. I think the healing spell would be better if I can make it passive.

I try to combine the pattern of the spell into the shirt but it won’t stick to the shirt. The spell is metaphorically “too big” to fit into the pattern of the shirt. Let's try to tone it down a bit but sadly it wasn't enough until I downgraded to about a fifth of the spell capacity.

The results are not too powerful but passive healing it's really useful and it barely consumes any mana until it's actually healing something but even then it won’t outpace my white mana regen.

I put STRENGTH into my belt, JUMP on my pants and lastly ARMOR on my shoes. The latter mostly so I don’t break my feet while jumping or if I step on something like a sharp rock.

“It’s not Armani but it will do” I said admiring my work. Even with my meager skills I know this is very crude work but beggars can’t be choosers. I have to invest more time developing this enchanting skill when things calm down.

Now let's check my body to see what black did to my body. Using image sight it's becoming a second nature to me like I have been using it all my life and not for a few hours.

My observations reveal that it's my bones, especially my spine got their impurities sucked out of them. They look more solid and kinda glossy like polish stone but the best part was my marrow. The blood produced by it it's brighter and I can see a greater amount of OXYGEN symbols.

I gave a deep breath and I can see the process of transferring the oxygen from my lungs to my blood. It's a little more efficient.

Looking back at the battlefield I realize that I need to get going so I want to try one thing before I go. I close my eyes and enter the Inner Cosmos and look at the white land. I try to project my thoughts to it like a did to the black land.

The response that I got was not what I was expecting.

I got a sensation of disappointment, jealousy and a bit of…sulking I think. One look in black direction told me that land is radiating SMUG.

So white got jealous of black because I made a deal with black. Can my lands be really this cute?

So you wanted to make a deal too?

I got a strong feeling of negation

“ Ok ok not a deal, then what?”

This time I got a TEST/ORDEAL/CHALLENGE sort of a feeling. “Ok what should I do?”

A vision of a cavern fills my mind. I can see droplets of water sparkling in the light emitted from blue crystals embedded in every surface as they fall from stalactites in the ceiling. The vision then focuses on a couple standing in the middle of the cave. One is a man dressed in a fine suit of immaculate white, a scarf of blue patterns is draped around his shoulders. The other a beautiful young woman of blonde hair dressed in a tight red dress accentuated by black things.

I then see them part ways only for the man to turn suddenly and stab the blonde lady in the back. The lady falls clutching her wound in pain as bright red blood spills in the ground. The man laughs sadistically, kicking a potion from the young woman's hands. He then disappears as life spills from the woman.

“FUCK” Those are Graham Jones and Yoko Belnades, where the fuck is Soma and Alucard he should be stumbling upon them as Graham stabs Yoko.

I looked at the land and asked if it wanted to save Yoko and how much time I have. This time I received a firm YES and SOON.

Fuck that a tall order but I only need to scape with Yoko.

“Let's Go”. I said with urgency

We got downstairs as quickly as possible and then put the boat back on the water to cross the waterway. All those upgrades to my strength really make the difference as the rowing got notably easier than before.

When we get to the other side I tie the boat to a small pier and we disembark I looked at Zombitron noticing his injuries, my loyal minion could use a little pick me up so I pour some black mana into him to “heal” his injuries, I don’t stop the flow mana hoping to enhance him like before.

This time Zombitron did not get taller, in fact he shrunk a little, but what little mass he lost he seemed to become more dense, his muscles more defined. He doesn't even stumble anymore. I think he is becoming a different sort of undead. All that matters is that good old Zombitron is growing stronger.

I looked at Miko and noticed her reserved all at half capacity so I shared a bit of white mana with her to top her off.

Once team maintenance it’s done I pull the map from my pocket, the path goes down a spiral staircase but it's flooded. In the game you need a special soul that gives you the ability to move underwater to pass through here but this place it's more grounded in reality odd enough for a dark fantasy demon castle but here we are. So there is a lever to open or close a sluice gate to control the flow of water.

I try to pull it but the damn thing is stuck due to rust. So I ask Zombitron to pull the lever and damn he make it look so fucking easy like the damn thing was greased well maintained, those upgrades really did come in handy.

As a loud groaning sound signaled the opening of the sluice gate and the water level started to go down revealing the rest of the stairs. After a few minutes the water went completely down.

As we went down I heard a wet, meaty slapping sound. It turned out that some of those killer fish got caught in the flow and got trapped when the water got drained. So I got the pattern and killed the fish, getting some nice pattern and concept shards you never know when you will need a killer fish.

There was also a glowing coming from the other side of the room, so I went to check on it. The vision of Yoko dying weighs on my mind but I cannot resist the call of loot. At the end of the room was a sword glowing in a cold light. I checked with mage sight seeing SWORD, MAGIC and ICE as the main components of the sword. At the very least it's not cursed so I took the sword and its pattern with it. A new star of blue mana appears in my mind. This should come in handy in the battle to come.

As we backtrack to the room with the sluice gateI gave Zombitron the ice sword and walked next to stairs that took us down. Next to it lies another set that go up, probably the way since the sluice gate leads to the yawning chasm of the main shaft of the cavern.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

As we got up to the end of the stairs I could feel the saturation of blue mana increasing. I could probably bond to the land in the main shaft then I have to go down.

The entrance to the main shaft is marked by the abrupt end of man(castle?) made architecture and the beginning of a “naturally” formed cavern. I stop to make a feel for the land. My summons automatically take points as I concentrate on bonding with the land.

This time I reach the land sending on my curiosity, my desire to know, my joy as I research and create new spells. The land seems to accept my offering and I feeling as if rust falls from my mind, the gears spin faster and faster and i suddenly KNOW, I see the wasted opportunities to make new magics, new paths to improve whAT LITTLE I KNOW, LIKE THE WAY TO MY MEMORIES OF THIS PLACE ARE DRAGGED FROM THE DEPTH OF MY MEMORIES and just like that the hyper awareness recedes, My mind reeling from the little taste of omniscience.

“Truly mana it’s one hell of a drug” I said as I leaned against a wall.

I have been focusing too much on the concepts that I have been ignoring mana itself, mana manipulation it's the most primal and basic form of magic. That any magic style is built from it. Even my concepts are but a mixture of ether and mana. Something for later now I have a mission now and I got all the tools I needed.

----------------------------------------

As we went down we got ambushed by a tall winged demon with a trident. I think he was following the old adage of always killing the healer first as he went straight for Miko probably thinking that a young lady would be flustered and therefore be an easy target.

Instead he got a facefull of ofuda sealing his movements and a linebacker worth of weight pinning him to the floor with a magic sword. I calmly took his pattern and soul stealed the fuck out of him.

His name is Cagnazzo, a flying warrior and a curse user from Dante Alighieri Divine Comedy, however I tend to remember his Final Fantasy water fiend incarnation more. A debuffer will be useful in hindering my enemies, talk about a lucky find. I immediately summoned a copy. It's the most expensive summon to date, almost half my new black mana pool and half my blue pool. But it's worth it we practically went down unopposed.

At the bottom of the shaft lies a hole and path to the right. Thanks to the blue mana dragging details that I have forgotten about the game I know that the right paths continue some distance and then go down one level and return back here. So I can go down to the bottom of the hole and pierce through it to go down to the required level. And the kicker I get access to the best potion in the game along the way.

So down the hole we go until I see a narrow little tunnel that I could barely crawl into. But now with blue mana at my side I CAST MY SENSES and I see a group of concepts MANA, POTION, POTENTIAL at the end of the little tunnel and then I PULL it back to me. It's a crude way to use mana but for now beggars can't be choosers.

I proceeded to gather enough mana to drill a hole in one go, since the layer of rock separating the levels wasn’t that thick I made a hole big enough for all of us to pass easily. I grab Miko and use mana to MAKE US DESCEND SLOWLY.

As if to decry my pussy ass way of descending Zombitron simply jumps and crashes into the ground with a textbook superhero landing.

I am totally not jealous, that would be silly.

I think Zombitron is not only developing his power but his mind as well. Cagnazzo slows his descent with his wings.

Once we gather we continue in the direction I remember from the game and the pull I got from the white mana.

Suddenly we heard a woman scream echoing not far from where we were. “Fuck, Yoko”. Thankfully we weren't far so we arrived to see Graham kicking the potion just like in the vision.

Without hesitation I start shooting purifying shots forcing him to back away from Yoko. “What, who are you?” shout the mofo as Cagnazzo and Zombitron charge at him well. I ignore him as I move towards Yoko with Miko behind me.

Once I got there I could see it looked bad, blood leaving the injury at an alarming place. I rapidly pull out the remaining health potion put it her lips

“Thank you... for rescuing me”.

“Don’t worry Miss Belnades you are going to be alright please drink this potion and we cast some healing spells”

“Miko heal and guard her”

“Yes master”

“Be ca-cautious of him... H-he is a dange…rous.. .man”

The combination of the potion and Miko healing power stops the bleeding but Yoko passes out from the shock then I gently grab her and move her behind a boulder next to the entrance of the area.

“After stealing my servants you think you're allowed to leave, thief” Shouted Graham in an irate tone. Even though he is being pressured by my summons he still manages to throw a big fireball at us. Not on my watch fucker.

“Shut the fuck up you pretender, you are not Dracula if anything you are the thief, Whoaa GHOSTLY RAMPARTS” I shout back as I call black mana for the defensive spell I got from the deal.

Misty Walls resembling those of a medieval castle formed in front of us. Instead of the loud crashing I was expecting only silence occurred as the ball of dark fire touched the rampart. It slowed down, dismissing in size and heat as it passed until only embers remained.

“How dare you?” I once more ignored him in favor of dragging Yoko to cover. Once that was done I jumped back into the fray once more.

I call this bastard a pretender but that doesn’t mean he is weak. Cagnazzo and Zombitron looked like they went through a blender. I started to cast barriers and shoot at him coordinating mentally with my summons so we don’t get in each other's way.

The bastard responded with balls of flame and blades made of a dark almost black red energy.

“Uggg” I grunt as I one his spell blades pierce through my ramparts and hits me, knocking me to the ground a painful scorching sensation fills my chest in agony.

Damn if it wasn't for my layered defenses and the healing that attack would have knocked me out of the fight.

An idea came to me. The Ghostly Ramparts are not only a defensive spell but also an area of effect debuff, anything that touch those walls get their power sucked out of them

“Time to kick it up notch boys”

This time I cast the walls in the direction Graham is evading my summons attacks to sap him of power and protect my minions of retaliation. Occasionally I hit him with a Purifying shot, but I only glancing if painful looking hits.

Well well demon lord wannabe got a weakness for purification power who could have thought that.

I mentally command Cagnazzo and Zombitron to make pincer attacks to further unbalance Graham, that for all his power he is not a warrior.

We soon reached a battle of attrition, he was too powerful for us to defeat but through my support, Cagnazzo curses and Zombitron unrelenting savagery augmented by the ice sword we kept him on his toes without giving him time to cast powerful spells.

But we are not winning. I am pinning my hope that my mana regeneration will outpace his reserves.

“What Yoko-san are you alright?” I heard the frantic voice of Soma call in the distance. About fucking time.

“This not over thief” Said the fucker unleashing a torrent of flames and teleporting away. After he went away I dropped to my knees exhausted by the ordeal.

“Hey Soma, fancy meeting you here” I said trying to sound casual, dammit I always meet this kid exhausted and laying on the ground.

“Oi Ferio what happened?, why is Yoko injured and who is that girl and those monsters?”

“Geez slow down kid let me answer a question before you ask the second”

“I would like to know as well” said a late guy number 2 in the distance.

“You guys need to work on your timing, if you were 10 minutes earlier we would have caught that bastard , and Yoko is fine. We already administered emergency treatment but she passed out due to shock. We need to move her to castle entrance, she be safe there”

“Ok but what's going on with the monsters? '' said Soma, pressing for answers.

“I got my own power. I can make copies of things if I get enough data on what I wish to copy, well they are more like magic robots, those are monsters I defeated and the girl is based on Mina data”

“What!!” asked Soma, shocked. “Soma there are all sorts of folk with weird abilities out there, you can absorb the soul of monsters, Mina can heal, this is peanuts compared to that” I said trying to calm the kid.

“Now, Soma I need you to go to the throne after that bastard Graham” I said in a serious tone

“You can't be serious, Yoko is still injured” said Soma

“I am dead serious , look at yourself you are not injured and your clothes look barely ruffled”. I said gesturing at him then I did the same to my party.

“Now look at us we are injured and dirty, this is what happen when a bunch of NPC travel the castle”

“Graham went to the throne. What's there? What are you guys hiding from me?!” said Soma in an increasingly agitated tone

“Ok Soma you want the truth here isl, Graham is absorbing the power of the castle. If he manages to take control of the castle then Mina, Yoko, you, me, fuck it everybody dies, and tat is just the beginning” I said with as much gravity as I can muster.

Soma could only stand there rooted in shock, finally realizing the stakes, I walked in front of him and put my hand on his shoulder “I’m sorry Soma, it should be us adults dealing with that shit, I fought with everything I got I can only force a stalemate at best. As it stands you are the only one with the power to kick that bastard ass” I said looking him in the eye.

“Also a bit of advice use the power of the flame demon, giant bat and succubus soul went you confront Graham”

“How d you know that” He responded warily

“Because I am wizard, its my business to know how magical shit goes”

Soma closes his eyes taking some deep breaths then he opens them with eyes full of resolve.

“Go, don’t worry about Miss Belnades, Arikado and I will see to her safety”

He only responded with a nod then turn around running towards the caves

Once Soma was out of the room Alucard finally speaks

“You and I still need to talk”

Obviously I wast able to fool the hundreds year old dhampir.

“Aye aye sir, let's get Miss Yoko and talk on the way shall we?, I think there should be a teleporter gate near here?

----------------------------------------