"Tux. I need you to calculate a spell model that will allow me to shape Glow Stone to the requirements laid out in Project Helios."
"Replying to Creator! This spell model will be complete in twenty-five hours."
"Whoa! I didn't expect it to be that fast... Or is it that slow???" Jack shook his head. "Alright. Let me read back over this 'Beyond Light' Tome. I think I'm close to understanding something. Maybe... Maybe it's like how Stars are born and then die... If they are massive enough, they can become black holes... Black holes are certainly a form of void. Right?"
Jack watched the screen as it flipped again to the timer. He then pushed the laptop on top of his table to the side, as he brought his tome back over to him to reread again.
"This is so boring... Those shows and novels I read always made things like this more... exciting. All I'm doing is waiting. Haaaa~"
*******
Warmarshal George Darkfield had been rushing with his legion. He had only taken with him a division of his forces, a total of five thousand warriors. After a hard month of none stop traveling using Zombie Horses. They could travel quickly, but at the cost of constant feed and water, unlike the Holysteed undead horse, Warmarshal Darkfield rode atop.
Warmarshal Darkfield on his Warhorse overlooked the wooded areas. Darkfield was a grim-looking Zombie undead. He was neither skinny or fat but was very lanky. He was bald, with a thin face, and skin the color of deadwood bark, mahogany. He wore a black medical robe. On the left chest side of the medical robe was the crest of Deagoth, and on the right, was a symbol know and the red three marked crosses, the symbol of the Bone Doctors of the Darkfield Clan. This symbol was three red horizontal lines intersected by one red vertical line going through the middle.
He looked down from the top of the hill to a clearing that housed the troops of Warmarshal Michael. George rode down to make contact, followed by his troops.
After a few words between the soldiers, the undead troops led George to Michael's tent. Warmarshal Michael opened the flap of the tent to step out to great his fellow Warmarshal.
Michael wore all silver armor. He was a Zombie undead, with a Skeletal face and head. It seemed he was making the transition from Zombie undead to Skeletal undead. He had a large frame within his Silver Armor, but he wasn't tall. Warmarshal Michael was a short, but stocky undead warrior. On his back was strapped the Largest mace wielded in the Kingdom. This Mace was loving named by Warmarshal Michael as Deadhammer, as anything the hammer hit would be deader than he found it.
"Warmarshal Darkfield, it is good to see you again, my friend!" Michael guffawed a few times, holding his arms open wide.
George stopped approaching, "If I'm not mistaken, I believe you were the one that wished to never see me again. So, I fail to believe that it is, as you say... 'Good to see me.'"
"Don't be like that. Maybe you've changed!" Michael put down his arms but remained casual.
"No," George replied.
"I guess, you haven't changed." Michael shook his head.
"Were you able to complete your mission with the Heretic tribes?" George asked.
"Of course! Five out of the Eight tribes have taken to the Faith of Deagoth!"
"You may wish to return, and tell them about the Faith of the God-King."
"Faith of the God-King???" Michael was puzzled.
George began to explain in a monotone. Around fifteen minutes later, "The Holy Witch King is no more?! How did he become the God-King!?" Michael asked in disbelief.
"I, too, wish to know, but it would seem that the Grand Minister has promoted the faith. There is even a prophet." George continued.
"I guess I will just ask when I get back. I did what my mission said, and no more."
"Yes," George replied dryly.
Michael shook his head, "So have you seen the ghost towns yet?"
"No, I haven't seen them yet. I am excited to see them." George's monotone voice betrayed any excitement.
"...You know George... I don't know when you're being an ass or you're being serious."
"I'm already serious."
"Wait... So, when you called me a short overgrown undead manlet, you meant that shit?" Michael bowed up.
"Yes."
"You son of a-"
"Brother, please!" A female zombie undead approached and interrupted Warmarshal Michael. This female undead was a very slim, but she was a pretty undead. She had an athletic build, with silver armor that mimicked Michael's. She had long golden hair up in a ponytail that came to her waist.
"Blah! Come on Jen-Jen, I was only going to spare with George. I wasn't going to do nothing else." Michael said with a meek voice, as his anger instantly dispelled.
"I somehow find that hard to believe." She threw a look at Michael, she then turned to greet her brother's fellow Warmarshal, "Nice to meet you Warmarshal Darkfield." This Jen-Jen held out her hand to shake with George.
George shook hands and replied, "You must the Warmarshal's sister, General Dunnder."
She let go of George's hand, "Yeah, but you can call me Jennifer. I don't mind." Jennifer went to the side of Michael and locked her arm around his.
"If you say so." George looked at the too.
"When are We going to visit Aymocksey?" Michael asked as he felt his sister lean into him.
"As soon as the horses have rest and red. We should make haste. I need to catch you up on the Kingdom, as well. Warmarshal Verruca has been named by the God-King as the Lord Commander of Deagoth. She was the one that sent me her. Her authority now surpasses the Grand Minister and is only below the God-King's when it comes to us." George explained.
"Well... If it was anyone else, I would argue the choice, but if it's her... I feel rest assured." Michael thought for a moment before speaking.
"Come in and have a sit. We will prepare to ride out soon." Michael turned with his sister and entered the tent.
"Okay." George nodded and followed.
*******
Deep in the inner chambers of the Church of the Three Gods, a zombie female undead sat on a Bronze throne. She was dressed in elaborate robes that were in three colors featuring each of the gods of the pantheon of their church. Her face was covered by a three-colored veil that obscured her features, but her pale blue skin was marbled with black veins. Among the undead, it would be known she was a great beauty, but alas no undead had gazed upon her visage.
"Third Bishop, your last report pleases me. Explain more to me about this... Transformation that the Dead Souls take."
Dead Souls were what Chief Researcher Vincent named the infected, after the mushroom he used to create them.
"These Dead souls after a period of time will gather other undead and draw from them. Once a Dead Soul has enough magic power, it will transform into what the Chief Researcher calls a Brutal Dead Soul. He, also, went on to say that they can progress from there, but he had to conduct more experiments." The Third Bishop was alone with the Priestess of the Three Gods within this innermost sanctum.
"Brutal Dead Souls... I like this name." The Priestess nodded to herself. "So, these are Vincent's answer to strong cultivators."
"Yes. As the Dead Soul Spores can infect normal and weak cultivators, it takes a long time to break the defense of stronger cultivators. If the cultivator is weakened by stress or battle, then the spores will overcome them transforming them into Brutal Dead Souls almost immediately depending on the strength of the Cultivator."
"I love it." The Priestess clapped her hands in delight.
"When do the Dead Souls spill into Souigak. I can't wait to see. Vincent was kind enough to provide me with a personal Crystal Slab for my viewing entertain me. Thinking about it... It makes me want to touch myself. MMMmmm. I think I know what I will be doing while I watch." The priestess gave a baleful laugh, that sounded oddly seductive.
"Of course, Priestess. Should I arrange a meal for your enjoyment at that time." The Third Bishop commented as if this was a normal occurrence... It seemed it was.
"Hmmmm? Perhaps some snacks would be good. Choose a few good Fleshy fruits. You know how I enjoy them."
"Yes. I have had some prepared for a special occasion. These fruits were ripened on the vine of the Baleful Flesh Tree. This tree has only been nurtured by the death and souls of virgin undead. They have just turned black and ripened."
"Oh my, how I feel spoiled. If you can provide these fruits, I feel that favoring you will be worth it. I know how you wish to change your status of the 'Third.'"
"Yes, my Priestess." The Third Bishop bowed low.
More baleful laughing echoed from the inner sanctum.
*******
"Creator! The spell model for Glow Stone manipulation is ready for your review!" Tux the penguin came on screen and announced.
Jack flipped his book closed, "I feel like this was the longest day of my unlife."