27 A Shot at the Dark pt5

Draig had created the battlefield that would be advantageous to his group while the former leaders of the faction under the direction of Sylvie gathered the Guilders and explained the situation. The air around the camp was filled with tension, the crows Draig had sent after the initial scouting report had returned and informed him that the army of undead had stopped for the night.

'Odd, summoned undead do not require rest. Perhaps the Dark mage is still injured' thought Draig as he stepped out of his tent and had Goeki gather everyone before passing out several body tempering pills and other stat raisers. Looks of gratitude could be seen on the faces of the Guilders as they received these precious resources, the value of which was even more substantial since the beginning of this training program.

The Guilders consumed the pills and watched as their initial stats changed under the effects of the pills, next potions were distributed for use in battle. Those who were receiving these benefits were so grateful believing Draig to be a truly kind person but this also caused a seed of hatred for the Guild association to begin taking root in their hearts.

By this point with their fragile minds and the way they had been living for the past few months this little bit of selflessness that they had forgotten was like a hand from the heavens deserving of their worship and combined with the feats Draig had displayed had this group feeling as if he was truly their leader. Even at their own Guilds they wouldn't receive such charity, as this mind set began forming more and more of the Guilders had forsaken their Guilds along with the association.

"Soon we will be fighting for our freedom" began Draig as that same alluring light flashed across his eyes captivating those before him as he spoke.

"Freedom which I have craved for longer than this training program had been enacted" continued Draig causing the crowds to narrow their eyes knowing his meaning.

"The Dark Mage is before us, he is injured and we have already taken two of his underlings leaving him and the Blood Knight as all that remains" stated Draig causing a steady rise in the hearts of the Guilders

"He has summoned an army of the undead because he fears us, because he has learned what we are capable of. If we can injure the Dark Mage then what is the use of a few undead, what is the use of the Blood Knight under our combined might" yelled Draig causing a odd atmosphere to encompass the area as he slashed his arm causing it to bleed.

"If any of you are still unconvinced then let me reassure you" stated Draig clearly as his blood became runes shooting into the ground bringing about earth soldiers and golems to assist them in the battle.

"I had decided we would for our enemy to come to us but why should we allow them first blood in this final battle" called Draig getting roars of approval from the crowd

"Let us take this fight to them, just as we did with the Necromancer...Just as we did with the Reaper..... Let us do the same to the Dark mage and the Blood Knight" finished Draig causing the Guilders to shout their approval as their lust for blood rose with the speech.

Draig noticed he received a notification from the system after his speech and had checked it so it wouldn't distract him during the battle.

'System mission activated: you have gained a group of devout followers but is this reliable as complete control. Goal: Use your status as a founder to create your own coven to compete with the Noble Houses'

As Draig read the message he was surprised, did this mean would be able to convert people into vampires. He ignored it for the moment and had Goeki and the former leaders gather the Guilders into a formation before he took the lead and they began their march.

Zarra along with Jared had already traveled near their camp but had set their own outside the changed landscape with the intentions to strike during the day but these plans had gone to the dogs when they say that first burning ball of heat crash into their summoned undead creating a revolting smell of burning flesh but that wasn't the end as a complete onslaught of magical abilities began their obliteration of the group.

That was the least of their worries though as Golems began crashing through any that hadn't been hit, it was completely against their plans for the Guilders to strike of their own accord when they could have the home field advantage.

Soon the Guilders had made contact and they were ravenous as wolves on livestock, but the most troubling thing for Zarra was he had just realized Jared was no longer with him causing him a great deal of shock.

'The kid has learned some things after all' thought Zarra as he prepared for a sneak attack and began casting his own spells to deter the attacks that were focused at him.

Unknown to Zarra though at the back of the Guilders Jared was being torn apart and devoured his armor nothing in the face of a Vampire's fangs. Draig consumed the Blood Knight with pleasure written across his face until he finished the corpse and sent his gaze to his final goal.

"Zarrrraaaaa" cried Draig as he burst into a murder of crows and swarmed around the Dark Mage leaving small wounds on his body as the beaks gouged out any bit of flesh they could manage.

Zarra put an end to that though as dark barrier forced the birds away from him and forcing Draig to return to his original form but that was not the end as a fierce bolt of black lightning struck only to be avoided swiftly.

"Seems like your all grown up leech brat" stated Zarra looking at the forces behind Draig with a hint of pride

"I didn't come here to talk, I came here for freedom" stated Draig though his true intentions were to consume the Dark mages flesh and gain all of his initial attributes.

"Then earn it" responded Zarra smiling as he appeared before Draig punching him square in the jaw getting a rise out of the young vampire who returned a kick in response, it might not of caused quite as much pain as normal but it was focused on the previous injury forcing the Dark mage to spurt a bit of blood.

Seeing this encouraged Draig to fight harder as his claws gleamed in the pale moonlight he streaked towards Zarra with murderous intentions but Zarra was a legendary figure and wouldn't allow for this to be his end.

Back and forth they traded blows, neither willing to drop before the other. It was something that could only be heard about in legends but the Guilders around were a calm audience as they felt their scalps tingle from the intensity.

Suddenly though a figure crashed into the ground followed by a thin red streak piercing through its head, the victors feet landed on the ground and casually walked towards the corpse of the fallen and began laughing uproariously.

"I did it, I defeated the Dark mage" shouted Draig as he dropped into the crater and helped himself to the corpse refusing to leave until it was devoured in its entirety.

It was when he fully assimilated the abilities he had been after that he heard a slow clap followed by another causing a feeling of dread to rise in his heart.

"Congratulations kiddies, you pass" came that all to familiar voice forcing Draig to look into the sky and feel his body run cold.

There floating above the battlefield were five familiar figures alive and well causing confusion to all present.

"Did you really think you could kill us that easily" asked Zarra landing on the ground followed by Rudolfo, Reaper, and Jared

"How, this isn't possible I saw you all die consumed your corpses" panicked Draig seeing this

"Simple brat, I taught you a lot but I didn't teach you everything. A interesting spell I developed years ago allowed me to make a doppelganger and using that same spell I did the same for our beloved assistant teachers. The sad thing is though the doppelganger is incapable of using the full power of the original" explained Zarra causing realization to dawn on Draig before he charged at Zarra only to be smacked righteously into the ground and have a foot planted firmly in his back.

"So like I said congratulations, you guys pass. Let us celebrate" said Zarra clapping his hands teleporting everyone away from the farm.