Of course, Dezen was surprised, stressed, and a little scared, when he saw Drew, but it didn't influence his readiness to fight.
Drew looked at him with curiosity for a few seconds, before started talking, and walking around like he didn't expect Dezen to attack.
- Looks like you grew in strength in such a little time. Nice surprise. Though, I didn't expect it, that means, I didn't come here to fight with you.
- Then why are you here? Why were you looking for me? - His phoenix made a noise similar to a scream, and looked at Drew with anger, ready to attack without order.
- Nice bird. Can you make him change to different colours?
- Could you answer my questions? And no, I can't.
- Perhaps you have learnt something about me. Among the others, that I like to kill. And your undead - He waved his hand, pointing at them. - gave me a feeling of challenge. Because of it I came here. I don't want to fight with you, yourself, but with your servants. And I hope you won't inform anybody. As for the payment for that entertainment, how about that I won't kill, nor attack people that are close to you, and even save your life, if something threatens it, and I will be nearby. How does it sound?
Dezen looked at Drew with hostility, and agreed. He was in no position to refuse, and he knew about it. Besides, he thought that maybe that part about saving life was real, since Dezen will be his source of entertainment - something he looks forward to, even if it means violating the laws, and risking getting killed. Also, the fact that he won't have to fear Drew coming one day, and killing him, was comforting.
Dezen added, after replying.
- However, I won't tell you who is precious to me. You know why.
- Then I may kill them, if I meet them.
- ...That's the risk I can accept.
Playing with a knife, he took out of some enchanted items, he responded.
- Not that I don't know some of them. But anyway, can you give me your undead to fight? Human would be the best. But I understand if you can't give me any.
Dezen moved his right hand forward, and acted like he was grabbing something in the air. He really did, and in his hand one of his human undead appeared, moved there through space. He did this with two more of them, the whole time observing Drew, with the same facial expression.
- You want me to give you them permanently? - Dezen was wondering about it, as Drew didn't tell what he exactly meant. And if he had to, he would do this without hesitation, nor negotiations, since he has more of them, than he currently needs.
- No. Just for the time of fight.
Dezen nodded, and asked the next question.
- You want only human undead? Or also wendigos, wolves, maybe even insects, if you would like to.
- Fighting with insects... - Drew went silent, imaging it happening. - It could be interesting, but no. Not with them this time. With the rest, on the other hand, I would like to. Can you include the phoenix?
Without any words, Dezen ordered his newest servant to fly off his shoulder, in the direction of Drew. The phoenix did it with enthusiasm, and looked like he was going to attack. However, he had to stop, around a meter away from Drew, because Dezen hasn't given him the permission yet.
The rest of the undead moved forward, and stood in a formation to attack.
- Something more?
- That will be enough. For now. - Drew ended playing with his knife, hid it in his enchanted item, and then attacked.
The undead bear charged at him, wanting to get Drew's attention, while the rest were surrounding him. However, Drew didn't let this happen, and send the bear flying, before breaking from the unfinished encirclement. Then, with some spell, he made spikes to attack phoenix, before mailing to the ground 2 wendigos with spears of fire. However, they didn't stay immobilized for too long, due to the help of human undead.
Dezen watched as the fight goes on with annoyance and boredom. It wasn't said that he was supposed to fight, and he didn't really want to. He only used a few spells, which made his undead stronger, so the fight will be more entertaining for Drew. Not that they changed too much. The difference in powers, and coordination which was only begging to firm, made it look like a massacre, but thanks to the regeneration abilities, it never ended.
Since Dezen wasn't interested in this fight, he attempted to hide it. The aftershocks and magical pollution could be sensed by someone, and Dezen believed it would only cause more problems.
***
The fight lasted for an hour. Drew stood between the undead, who could barely move, and was visibly satisfied. His clothes were a little destroyed, but not his body. He turned to Dezen, and said.
- I will contact you, when I want to fight again.
With these words, he disappeared, and dispelled the spell, that was constantly destroying the undead, slowing down their regeneration.
Dezen was looking at them for a second, before he waved his hand, taking them all back to his house, not caring about the mana cost.
There, he informed Alex about what happened, and had to tell him everything, to calm him down. Then, he informed Chloe, so she won't be surprised, when she meets Drew, and he doesn't kill her.
***
To breed predators, Dezen bought a lot of cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep, along with the land for them. And since they also need food, he bought nature magical resources, to create more nature undead. This way, the harvest will be more abundant, and he may even be able to collect them more than once a year. However, it wasn't the end, because he also had to send his earth and water undead, to prevent the earth from sterilization.
Luckily, he didn't have to spend more money, because Dezen already had many of them However, this is only temporary, and he will have to create servants, intended for keeping his farms so efficient.
Another project, he was working on, was making his phoenix more useful. It alone is a powerful beast, able to kill many mages, also providing incredible healing abilities, but he thought about yet another way to use him.
In Dezen's mind was an image of a giant phoenix, able to transport materials and creatures on his back. It would not only be the fastest way of transporting - it could fly in a straight line, unlike carriages, which have to use roads, but also will be the safest, since only mages could attack them, and there are little of them, who can fly. But it didn't end on it, because he then thought about creating a whole caravan, by making his other birds bigger.
Quick calculations showed him how profitable it will be, so he started the modifications, with help of his 3 human undead.
The undead were working the whole time, while Dezen from 5 to 7 hours a day, (he still had to cultivate ), but still it took them so long, that Chloe managed to reach the Harben. Then, they started creating "saddles", which will be used for transport. Dezen wasn't personally participating in this. Instead, he was looking for new clients for his almost made caravan.
***
When the caravan set off, Dezen once again focused on cultivating. He was also trying to weaken the conflict, between necromancy and the other magics, but after 5 weeks of trying, he admitted next defeat.
Luckily, to the time he did it, the undead responsible for creating new magic fulfilled his task, and so Dezen could really begin his plan of modifying and breading creatures. Furthermore, he also started researches, how to use this magic to lengthen life.