The First Lich Lord

Chapter 148

Damien and Ilore were on the edges of my mindscape. When I got there, they were working on a ritual in smooth stone. It didnt take me long to understand and nodded in approval. Trying to replicate the barrier that once held this place closed?

Yes, Ilore said. My ability to work time magic is helping, I doubt well get exactly what it was, honestly I doubt well get anything even close.

This wasnt a criticism of their skills, Damien by himself was far more talented at ritual magic than I was, his skills made me look like a child playing with crayons. And I was certain Ilore was also quite a bit more skilled than myself. The barrier that had been around my mindscape had been created by Altor himself, the creator of this entire place, there was no way we could actually replicate what hed done. Even if its just an imitation of it though Im certain it will be immensely powerful.

It should be, Damien agreed. However, you might need to face another core memory so we have the mental energy to power this bitch. Anyways, what did you want to ask me about?

I shuddered, I did not look forward to facing another core memory, but I did plan on doing it eventually. Life thieves, what would an evolution for them look like?

Ilore winced at my question and Damien gestured for us to fly off. The time wizard was a lot more accepting of what I was and what Damien was than she had been. Heck from what I understood, her and Damien were doing the tangoand no, I dont want to think about what that means since its inside of my mindscape. But the topic of undead was still not her favorite.

I saw Vito had managed to get you some of those, Damien floated over and sat down on a rock outcropping. Life thieves are very interesting, even their traits, and theyre really hard to kill.

I guess thats good since its hard to get more, I said taking a seat next to him and leaned back on my arms.

Yeah, Damien agreed. You can forcibly cause the situations that gives using the materials to create them, but I have the feeling you would not have the stomach for something like that. There was no judgment in those words, though Damien, like Vito, didnt actually understand my hesitations. Anyways, one of the interesting things about life thieves is that one of their two most common evolutions isnt just a single advancement in grade.

Okay, Im assuming that means its a pain to do, I asked.

For you, most definitely, you lack the divine power. He paused. Though, I guess you dont really, the other stuff is still hard but that was the single biggest hangup. The first evolution is something called a life poacher. If they consume enough of their targets life force, they will gain minor versions of their abilities. If they fully consumed that persons life force, they get one of those abilities permanently.

That sounds really good, I said. Whats needed for that evolution?

A bunch of different stuff, but mostly they need to have consumed enough life force. Damien shrugged. Ill get a list together for you, but I honestly would recommend trying for the other evolution since you have access to the divine energy to do so. It will take a while and some really hard to get stuff, but the power is worth it.

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Okay you have me hooked, what is it?

Reaper, Damien said simply. More accurately, lesser reaper, but a reaper is a reaper.

You mean like soul reaper? I looked at him in disbelief.

Thats exactly what I mean. It is why it requires divine energy. Where life thieves are hard to kill, reapers are almost impossible to kill, at most they just discorporate and reappear.

Sooo what does it take? I was certain it would not be easy.

Along with divine energy, for it to happen in a non-natural manner you will also need a ritual with soul energy, a death core infused with eldritch power if you want them to have eldritch abilities, Damien continued listing off resources. This was going to be a long-term project.

Before I left, I told Damien they should work on making something that would allow me to more easily bring information out of the mindscape, like a messaging board. Because there is no way I was going to remember all of the ingredients. He just laughed and told me he would figure something out.

One last thing before you go, Damien stopped me from disappearing. Do not be too hasty to over level your troops, that will end up eating more command points than you realize. It is possible to command very powerful individual soldiers, but they eat up exponentially more command after a little while. The undead strength is numbers not necessarily individual power.

***

We stood in the gate with Vito out in the cavern. Beyond us my troops were arranged in columns. Vito had created five controller types of the sergeant rank. As a sergeant, they could command up to twenty troops with a one command point cost. That meant for each sergeant they could command 200 mindless zombies.

The mindless undead stood in five, roughly column-shaped sections. For being what they were I was impressed.

I will keep working on getting the commanders that can lead troops to you, Vito said. I also will further develop the defenses around your phylactery. Watch out for that priest. They will not completely stop him, only trap him temporarily.

Im hoping Friar Brown will deal with him for me, I said. The power of the priest that had nearly killed me was why wed been grinding so hard. I was still a long ways from catching up, but I was a lot stronger than I was last time.

Also, if you get the chance you should consider your own race advancement. When I gave Vito a questioning look he explained. You technically arent an elder Lich, but you could become one.

What would that mean? I asked.

An elder Lich wouldnt change very much. The biggest difference would be your eldritch magic becoming more potent. The reason you should consider it, is that it also makes your soul more difficult for non-eldritch beings to understand and interact with.

What would it take? I dont have to sacrifice another city, do I?

Vito laughed. No, it requires you to find something that is old and infuse it with your eldritch power, it must be a compatible substance. We couldve used the Nephelium bones, but that wouldve been a waste.

And then what, I eat it? I asked raising my eyebrow, which I had now.

Not a bad guess, Vito shook his head. But no, it will take some work after that, but once you have the right object, get word back to me and I will help you with the rest.

After assuring him I would keep an eye out for something like he described, we headed back to the dungeon. When we arrived, Kellnock was waiting for us at the edge of the dungeon. Please follow me.

Kellnock led us into the dungeon. My army was a solid column of packed troops in the halls as we passed through. We came out onto the open section of the harbor where supplies were set out in heaps. I also modified the armor taken from those who risked it in the dual for the Dread Thirteen. I focused on armor for the front line, though I do have a bow for Elon.

I was about to ask Kellnock about the supplies when a notification appeared before me.

Your dungeon, the Reliquary of the Damned, is under attack.