I opened my eyes expecting to see the inside of my coffin. Instead I found myself in a large house. Looking around the house with my echolocation I noticed that there was nobody inside the house. When I thought about looking for my sword my hand suddenly hurt and it thrust out from my left hand. Might as well find out where I am I thought to myself while exploring the house with my sword in hand.

I opened the door to the outside only to see an endless void just beyond the fence surrounding the yard around the house. Instead of a fence gate there was a black door there with the words Shadow Gateway imprinted in white.

“You are awake.” Jacks said as his voice seemed to come directly into my head.

“Where am I.” I asked as I looked around.

“You are inside my body where I keep all my stuff” Jack said. The Shadow Gateway swung open and Jack stepped through. He then said. “ It seems like you fully recovered. I wouldn’t advise doing what you did early ever again.” He paused for a moment before continuing “You do know your undead right. If you pour everything you have into a spell you may end up throwing something you don’t want to lose in there as well. Your soul and mana are in generally the same place. That is the first thing that will leave upon expending all your mana. Luckily your soul decided to go back into your body instead of to your coffin.”

“Where are we headed?” I asked as I looked around the seemingly endless space.

“We are headed to the Manadrake caves. Its currently a training ground for the church of freya. It has infinite monsters within it. As we go deeper into the caves the monsters will get stronger. We are going to train on the monsters until we are strong enough to take the Manadrake. It is currently sealed with holy chains made of mithril and a holy barrier. The barrier has weakened over the last thousand years. I am not sure about the chains.” Jack explained.

“How close are we to the Manadrake caves and why do we want this creature?” I asked

“We are about hundred meters from the caves. Also the Manadrake is a sword not a creature. It increases magical power and its damage is linked to the power of its owner. At least thats what is in the myth.” Jack said as he turned to head through the Shadow Gateway.

I followed him and stepped through the gateway. Stepping out into the area I could feel something was wrong. I looked at the sky the sun was shining down a purple light.

I could feel the land beneath me. It felt alive. I could feel it existing. It was like nothing I had felt before. I focused on my echolocation to locate the entrance to the cave. I found it. It wasn't hidden. It had four large statues of Freya. All of them had a single hand pointing to the entrance. It seemed they were trying to restrain the darkness flowing from the cave. Apparently they failed. Upon widening my echolocation I could see a wall carved with statues of freya putting both hands out. It seems that wall was made to hold the power of the sword at bay.

“Where are the guards for this area?” I asked as I couldn't see anyone other than the ones on the wall

“There are none. This area is for training because it is difficult to breathe here if you are linked to anything the sword thinks is against it. They come here to train their faith.They have to purify the air before they can breathe it in.” Jack explained as we walked towards the entrance of the cave.

I looked at the statues of freya. These are not needed. I swung the back of my sword towards them and destroyed them one by one. After the destruction of the last statue a creature’s red eyes opened. It lunged towards me. I swung the back of my sword towards it and it broke like glass.

The remains of the creature seemed to be made of some kind of black stone. Unlike the skin of Jack and Queen Esla it seemed to be very rough. Sadly I didn't get to look longer as it melted and flowed backwards into the cave. I used my echolocation to look at the cave. It seemed to spiral outwards while heading down. Then suddenly it heads inwards to something that seems to be a monument.

We started to make our way down in silence. Another creature opened its eyes. The creature seemed to be a wolf of some sort. I stabbed it with my blade. The creature shattered same as the last. However my blade chipped as well. I put my sword away for more useful times.

What kind of weapon would be useful right now. Maybe I should just make a fist. I looked at my hands. I formed a fist with my hand. I started to form hardened blood around the outer side of each finger. Looking at the back of my hand I formed a plate there so that I could hit things with the back of my hand. I then started connecting it with the rest of it with blood clothe forming a plated red glove. I immediately formed the same thing on the other hand.

Blood fist.DamageHighly dependent on area struck.durability200/200options

* Durability almost never goes down

* Durability can easily be lost by bladed instruments hitting the cloth

* deals bludgeoning damage

-500 health

-500 health

I looked around for jack and noticed him a couple dozen meters ahead clearing the dark stone creatures away easily with some sort of obsidian like stick. One of them jumped off the wall and went around for his neck. I used Vampiric Run to appear behind Jack and used my right hand to smash the creature in the face. It shattered into pieces flying everywhere.

“You don’t seem to use that Vampiric Run of yours to increase your swinging speed. Why not?” He asked.

“It would probably kill me. To use Vampiric Run I have to also use my mana to make my whole body stop at the same time.” I answered.

“So if you had a way to link yourself with what you perceive as the ground you could use Vampiric Run to strengthen your hits?” He asked.

“Possibly.” I answered.

“I have a skill you may want. However I would need to modify your mana flow to teach you it. Also you do not seem to expend mana when you use your Vampiric Run. Why not? I have something similar but it expends mana each time I use it.” Jack said.

“Lets see if your idea works. If it does I will teach you how you are doing Vampiric Run wrong.” I said.

“Fine. Sit down cross legged and place your hands on your hands on your knees palms up.” Jack said as he sat down on the ground.

Once I sat down Jack placed his hands on top of mine.

An outside force is forcing its way into your body

Your body has been invaded by an outside force

Your mana flow is being forcibly changed

The outside force has left your body

You have gained a new skill.

Skill Creation:Grounding

“Skill info.” I said.

Grounding-PassiveAllows you to ground yourself to a surface. Seals one percent of your mana away to keep affect.Nothing is able to remove you from the surface without your will.

I stood up. Using Vampiric Run in my left arm I performed a straight punch at the wall. My arm turned into lightning and nothing happened. I tried it again this time only using my Dark mana.

-99 Durability

Left blood fist is mostly broken.

Left blood fist is no longer usable as a weapon

The cave shook violently. A crack spread from the spot I hit outwards. I noticed a chunk of the cave roof was falling towards me. I used Vampiric run with my right arm and smashed the stone with my fist.

-50 durability

The boulder exploded. Shards of stone flying everywhere. Jack was looking up at where the boulder once was.

“Nicely done. Also I figured out why mine cost mana and yours didn't.” Jack said. As if to make his point he started using Vampiric run all over the place. Hundreds of flashes later he stopped and fell over. “Guess it still makes you dizzy if you use it to much.” He said as he struggled to get up.

I should repair these. As I thought about it the weapon started to repair.

-149 health

I noticed some movement ahead. This is going to be fun. I used Vampiric Run to move through the cave. After appearing suddenly in front of one of the creatures it opened its eyes in shock. I pulled my arm back and smashed my fist through it using Vampiric Run. With the resounding crack of the creature being shattered into dust the others seemed to have noticed me.

I used Vampiric Run to spin my body smashing the closer ones with the back of my fist. Shards of stone flew in all directions. I looked for a close target. The one in front of me was currently glaring at me. I used Vampiric Run to appear above it with my feet on its shoulders. I smashed its skull with my Vampiric Run infused fist.

Grabbing two large shards of the stone creature I used Vampiric Run to fling them at the two ones who attempted to attack me. With half their faces gone they fell over and melted.

I should really rename Vampiric Run. Maybe Vampiric Reinforcement might work? No no that just doesn’t fit. Ah Vampiric Might. That sounds perfect.

Using Vampiric Might I smashed the stone creature attempting to sneak closer. I looked around for Jack. He was walking leisurely along the roof smashing the confused creatures with a black stick.

I started walking along the side of the round wall. Slowly working my way to walking sideways. This is so disorientating. As I thought this I could see the insides of a creature's mouth as it lunged for me. I used Vampiric Might to smash the jaw of the creature closed.

I stepped to the left to avoid the flying remains of the body. Would it be stepping up or would it be to the left? Maybe both. Its much easier to do this when you are no longer thinking about doing it. Time for some fun. I started to use Vampiric Run to appear next to any creatures I can find. After shattering the fragile bodies of the creatures using vampiric might I would move onto the next one.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

After some time of listening to the cracking of stone by me and Jack I noticed a strange stone creature. It seemed to be human in nature. Other than the rough looking texture of its body it seemed to be the same as Jack. It looked towards me. It felt like it was challenging me.

Quickly it formed a spear. It charged directly for me. If it wants a head on battle then thats what it is going to get. I stepped forward and used Vampiric might to meet its spear head on. The spear flew from the golems hands and headed down the hallway shattering a couple of the weaker golems along the way.

As the human golem twisted to avoid the spear that was launched backwards it pulled a sword from inside itself and tried to follow the full twist with a slash. I used my right hand to smash the golem in the chest using Vampiric Might.

-10 durability

The golem's body flew quickly through the corridor. Smashing into walls chipping both the wall and itself in the process. It got up smiling. It grabbed a beast like golem and devoured it. It looked at me as armor formed over itself and its body repaired. It looked to be armor of a knight. Full plate mail and a shield.

It started to form a spear. It looked at me as if asking if I am ready for round two. It leaped and flew down the center of the hallway. It pulled back its spear focusing on defense. I stepped forward and used Vampiric Might to punch the shield.

Instead of the resounding impact that should have happened I merely slid across the shield. Using Vampiric Might again I swung towards the shield with the back of my hand. The blow glanced off the shield once again. This time the spear shot through the shield nearly skewering my face. Grabbing the spear I picked the golem up and slammed it against the wall.

I used Vampiric Might to slam my left fist against the shield.

-30 durability

The shield cracked. Then fell to pieces. Then with my right hand I used Vampiric Might to smash its throat.

It was finally silent in the area. I looked around for Jack. There he was holding the head of another human golem. After setting the head down he ripped the spear the golem had pierced him with out of his chest. He slammed it down into the body of the golem.

“This was a test. There is no way he missed my soul crystal by that much twice in a row.” Jack said as he looked down upon the golem’s mangled body.

“Yes it was a test.” A voice echoed from deeper within the cave. It continued. “One that you passed splendidly. You young master of the Draconis family powered through with no plan. Much like your grandfather and his father before him. I always said your family needed a strategist in it.”

The voice stopped for a moment

“You the young lich. Truly a testament to the idea of immeasurable knowledge and wisdom. Your cunning knew no bounds. Even when I backed you into a corner using power and speed that you should not be able to match in the body of yours. You overcame it in only one death. It may have been a tie after that. However that alone proves you worthy of wielding my form. Come to the altar and speak your name and title.”

Jack walked forward down the hallway. Upon reaching the altar he stopped.

“Jack the Ripper.” Jack said.

“Your new title is Jack Manadrake.” said the Manadrake. It faded from the altar and appeared in Jack’s hand.

Jack fell to the floor gasping. A young man flew from within the sword.

“You will hold onto my physical form. I will return to it when you are strong enough to truly wield me. Until then it will remain in a sealed form. It will grow with you till you are ready to survive holding its true power.” The Manadrake said. Then the Mandrake vanished.

Level up *50

You have gained the class Tyrant.

You have gained the skill Magic Domination

“Skill info Magic Domination.” I said.

Magic Domination.You exert your will over any and all mana. Bending it to your will and forcing it to do your bidding. When types of mana you can control are not present you break other elements forcing them to become the element you want. You only use your own mana when all other mana is exhausted or controlled by another.

As I was reading through the effects of the Magic Domination skill. The basilisk was slowly sliding from my arm to the floor. It turned gray then cracked. From the crack the basilisk reemerged with a body much larger than possible to fit inside the broken husk that was on the ground.

He now had four eyes. Two glowing red ones with pentagrams instead of pupils. The other two eyes were pitch black and were just below the red ones. His body now had a rough texture on top instead of the smooth texture from before the change. He seemed to be about twelve to fifteen meters in length with a width of about two meters. His tail seemed to be a large mace of somesort.

He looked around for a second before spotting me and immediately circling around me.

“Did you shrink?” He asked confused as he stared down at me from above.

“No you seemed to have gone through a spontaneous growth spurt.” I paused hopping over him. Then continued. “See this is what you came out of.” After pointing at the split husk.

He stopped and went over to it and flicked his tongue back and forth over it. Then he said excitedly. “It does smell like me. I used to be that tiny!” The pentagrams in his upper eyes spun for a second. After completing one rotation he said “ It appears I have become a Basilisk Arcanus because of the soulbind with you.” His pupils spun again.

“I can tell the future!” He exclaimed excitedly. “You will meet with a sovereign dragon.” He said. Then went off into the corner of the altar to play with his new found magic. He was making a bunch of miniature illusion soldiers. Then he stopped and decided to make it rain in a small area near him. The soldiers then faded away.

“What are you doing.” I asked looking at him playing with his magic.

“Waiting for the meeting. What else would I be doing?” He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“You do know we are in a ca….” I said as my head exploded in pain.

Suddenly I could hear a whisper.

“I need to speak with you in person.” the whisper stopped and the pain in my skull dulled. “You need to grow stronger still to stand in my presence.” the whisper stopped again as if to allow me to recuperate. “I will contact you again when you are strong enough that my whisper will no longer harm you.” The whisper stopped again. “Go quickly to the werewolves. They need your help.” With the presence gone I felt not just my mind but my body relax.

“If the voice in my head is right we need to head north and help the werewolves.” I said wearily as I slowly stood up.

“Why would we be helping the werewolves? If I am not mistaken werewolves and all vampires are at war.” Jack said as he performed practice swings with his new sword.

“That is merely what we want the humans to think. To keep up appearances we kill lycanthropes and call them werewolves.” I stated. Then asked. “ Which way is north?”

“We need to get above ground first.” Jack said as he started walking towards the outside.

“That will take much to long.” I stated as I focused on bringing enough darkness to blast my way up.

I pulled in all the darkness I could. The dark aura in the area pooled towards my hand. A massive sphere of darkness formed inches from my hand that was extended above my head. Where it made contact with things they vanished as if never existing.

You have all the mana you can currently control.

I started focusing. Shrinking it to a more manageable size. It shrunk from the size of a moderate house to the size of a small horse. Still much too large for my liking. I focused on shrinking it more. It felt like it was rebelling. Attempting to break free from the force that was compressing it. Nothing defies my will.

It shrank once more. This time to the size the basilisk curled up before his change. About a meter in diameter.

You have created true darkness.

The ball of darkness suddenly shot backwards from my hand and wrapped around my neck forming a cape that nearly touched the ground.

“Guess running out is a good idea.” I said

Jack nodded and started to use Vampiric run to speed down the tunnel to the surface.

“Now to find a way to get you out of here.” I said looking at the basilisk.

“Thats easy.” He said. He then catapulted towards me shrinking into a long thin spiraling crystal that wrapped itself around my upper arm. “See I can travel like this.” His voice seemed to travel from the emerald snake jewelry that that wrapped around my black and red blood cloth armor.

I move my arm a bit and flexed some to make sure it would not get in my way. Feeling no resistance what so ever I used Vampiric run to move along the walls. Once at the surface I felt the sun on my face and my power start to drain.

The darkness cloak suddenly became a form fitting suit matching the design of my blood cloth armor. A hood appeared and went over my head protecting me from the sun but not obscuring my view. The hood seemed to fit the appearance of my clothes. Looking at the smooth darkness covering my body I began to wonder what else it could do.

“I can only hide things. I am currently hiding master from the light. The light seemed like it was bad for you.” A voice said.

“Can you read my thoughts?” I asked

“No. I felt you were worried. I saw your face. I didn’t want to be abandoned so I tried to explain what I was doing. Please don’t leave me alone. Don’t abandon me for acting without telling you first.” the voice responded sounding more panicked and scared as it went on.

“I will not abandon you for something as simple as trying to help without asking first.” I said trying to calm down the panicking thing. Trying to get its mind off of getting abandoned I asked. “What are you?”

“I am True Darkness. You created me. When you forced all the other things out of the darkness. All that was left was me. All the destruction and chaos infused into the darkness throughout all time was forced out. Leaving only me. Please don’t abandon me. I can only live when within a certain range of you” True Darkness said.

As if to prove his point a tendril of darkness extended from the cloak and once out to a certain distance it dispersed.

“Who are you talking to?” Jack asked looking at me as if I had gone insane.

“I am talking to True Darkness.” I said pointing to the hood. “You can’t hear him?”

“No they could not hear me.” True Darkness said. “ I did not know if you wanted them to hear me.”

Jack looked at the cloak and clothes covering me with intrigue. “What is True Darkness.” He asked.

“I am purified darkness friend of master. I was created when master expelled all the things from the darkness except for darkness.” True Darkness said.