Chapter 64
The death cores that were no doubt in the body of the acolytes and priests slain by my minions werent worth confronting the bear. It was likely harvesting the cores itself for its own use. The creature wouldnt last long in this area. Either the church itself would send a squad of priests to kill it or they would dispatch players with a quest. Either way, the powerful death creature would buy me some time.
Raven led the way out of the valley while Maxwell and I examined the map. It was more or less what I expected, marked with dots throughout the area. Almost all of them glowed a pale golden light. While one glowed purple, which was no doubt me. The location the map showed was a little off. My guess was that it would ping every so often. It didnt take long for me to be proven right. The map flashed ever so slightly, and the positions of the dots changed.
I smiled. The map showed that the priest who had once held it was now within the valley. I was worried at first that the location would be tied to the map. It also accurately showed my location.
Trusting Raven to keep an eye out, I continued to play with the map. It showed the location of ten other groups that were no doubt chasing us. The group wed taken the map from had consolidated a few of the other nearby groups. There was a small gap in their line now, though I doubted our ability to make it through. I could zoom the map out, giving us a broader picture of their whereabouts. There were another ten groups father back, creating a double layer net coming into the mountains. Our only hope was to try and stay ahead of it.
Passing the map to Maxwell, I looked over my character sheet, I was hoping I had gained at least one level from that fight.
Character Soul Level: 53
Name: Ezekiel Verniac
Race: Human Lich
Unspent Stat Points: 10
Spent Stat Point: 255
5 Stat Points per level
Health: 1141(1711.5)
Health Regeneration: 31.425(47.137)/sec
Death Energy: 1182(1773)
Death Energy Regeneration: 22.625(33.937)/sec
Mana: 329
Mana Regeneration: 12.252/sec
Carrying lbs.: 1160.75(1741.125)
Stats:
Intelligence: 52 [multiplier: 1.311]
Spirit: 37 [multiplier: 1.23]
Vitality: 98 [multiplier:1 .15]
Resilience: 52 [multiplier:1 .15]
Death Core: 113
Agility: 66 [multiplier: 1.1]
Dexterity: 42 [multiplier: 1.21]
Experience: 11523.1 of 38584.6
I smiled seeing Id in fact gained two levels. Along with the five points per level I got, each level also increased my death core by one point. It wasnt much, but over time it made a massive difference. I could also increase the death cores by absorbing them, but Id noticed that I needed to absorb more powerful cores to increase the value, weaker ones wouldnt increase the score a useful amount.
I put the ten points into my intelligence. Now that I was using magic, I needed to improve my standing there. The death core enhanced my physical attributes passively without me having to add points to it, and I could grow it. That is one of the things which makes us as Lichs so powerful. We can be both magical powerhouses and devastating melee fighters.
I felt the changes inside my body and mind as I grew in power once again. I was still a far cry from what Id been before, but every small step brought me closer to regaining the power that let me devastate cities.
I think we need to head away from the mountains, Maxwell said, pulling my attention away from my stat sheet.
Why? So far the mountains seem like the only thing keeping them off of us.
Maxwell gestured at the map again. Hed zoomed it out even farther. There was a single dot separated from the rest of the golden dots, it was deeper into Valdor. When you zoom in on that dot, it becomes several dots. Theyre moving ahead of us on the faster roads so they can cut us off.
The cluster of dots out in the planes was already caught up with us, if not slightly ahead.
We need to wait and see how much time passes in between the pulses that update the map, I said. As soon as we know, we head inward, that could buy us enough time to get into the plains before they realize it. Assuming there are large enough intervals between the pulses.
Maxwell nodded in agreement and kept an eye on the map as we continued. Traveling all through the night, we began to curve our course inward. We found a large stream and decided to use that to speed up our progress.
It just updated, Maxwell said, just as predawn light was beginning to fill the sky. Looks like once a day.
I glanced at the map. The purple dot that represented me had moved to our current location. Wed gained distance on many of the pursuing dots. There was still one dot in the canyon, and I wondered if they would investigate.
We turned our course eastward, not quite perpendicular to the path wed been following, toward a road marked on the map. By the markings, it appeared to be a little used access road likely cut by the locals. It took us an hour to reach it, and I shrouded myself in an illusion spell. The three of us took off at a sprint as Maxwell played a song that increased out speed.
By the time the next pulse updated, our position had changed dramatically. A single golden dot was heading for the one in the canyon, and I wondered how that would go. Our changing course had brought one of the pursuing dots nearer than I liked, since we were no longer fleeing directly from them. No doubt whichever group that represented would be double timing, hoping to cut us off.
We continued down the road. Raven curled up on my shoulder, letting my immense undead strength and endurance carry us. When Maxwell flagged, we slowed the pace to a brisk walk. The road wound through a forest and began to go up a slight incline, where I hoped it would open into the plains and we would be able to break free.
At the slower pace, Maxwells buffs were of much less use. That didnt stop him from playing, and he plucked quietly at a song with a haunting melody.
What is that song? I asked.
I dont know, Maxwell said. Its something new. My class is kind of funny. I get inspiration every once in a while for new music. Normally I can shape it to a song I know, but this one is different. Im just going to see what it leads to.
Can you tell what the song will be? I asked. Like, if it will be a buffing or attacking ability?
Normally. This feels a bit different. Almost like its a little of both.
As we continued our speed-walk, I saw a flower alongside the road wilt. At first, I thought it was me, except I was emitting a very little amount of death magic. Max, what are the chances thats some kind of death song?
That would be a very real possibility, Maxwell said thoughtfully. What Im around can lead to what the inspiration is, so itd make sense to be death-based.
Are you saying exposure to my death magic has changed what you would learn? I asked. Raven stirred and jumped down from my shoulder, changing back into her human form.
I guess so, Maxwell agreed. It wouldnt have been happening before since you werent using your death magic. But now that you are yea, I can see why it would shape my song.
As he continued strumming, Raven began to hum along with the tune. It was far from complete, and Maxwell continued to change it. I dont know anything about how your class works, but if it is death-based, my suggestion would be focus on making it some kind of lullaby.
Maxwell gave me a confused look. Thats not what I would expect.
Death-based doesnt mean killing, it doesnt even really mean violence. This was something Damien had taught me. Death is, in many ways, peace in a permanence form. No longer is one soul strained by the worries of the world, you are at rest.
Until someone like you comes along and brings you back as undead, Maxwell chuckled.
I smiled. You do have a point there.
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