42 This is War

Draig's group had spent the night in the Elf City scavenging and taking anything of use, in the meantime Draig went to investigate the feeling from before. He didn't know why he felt this connection when there hadn't been one before, now with the current situation. He was searching for anything that might prove beneficial to his progress.

Following this connection he arrived at a graveyard, this caused Draig to become confused until he began hearing whispers. Listening closely he could hear the voices and from their words it was obvious they were aware of his presence as well.

Cursing him quietly as black wisps began shooting from the graves and congregating over a relatively new grave.

Draig was wary as he drew near, his new strength giving him confidence but there was a fine line between arrogance and the former. Walking ever closer, he began flexing his fingers as his claws gleamed in the moonlight.

Draig suddenly lurched feeling danger coming towards him but looking around he saw nothing, his senses were screaming for him to run but also stay. These conflicting messages from his instincts did nothing to put him at ease.

Fire flowed over his hands bringing with it a sense of security, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he continued his trek to the gathering wisps. He needed to know what was calling him, what connection did these wisps have to him. Why would they curse him?

Draig finally arrived at the grave and watched as the wisps began coming together and formed the shape of an elf.

"You have returned" stated the ethereal elf

Draig said nothing as he waited to hear if the creature had more to say.

"Why do you not speak, have your doings finally caught up with you. Have you realized the torment you have caused to us" asked the Elf wisp

"I have done nothing to you Elf" stated Draig as he kept himself prepared in case of danger.

"You say this but you were drawn here by the source of your power that was left behind. This curse." stated the Elf wisp

Draig stared at the Elf confused for but a few moments as he tried to remember what he had done, images flashed through his head as he recounted those events. It took a few minutes but he finally remembered something vaguely.

"You were cursed by my final words that day" asked Draig but it sounded more like a statement.

"Indeed, we have gathered and we have waited. We remain here awaiting your commands, awaiting for our release." stated Elf wisp

'Host has gained new source of magic, assimilating into Dark Arts'

Draig realized that the wisps began converging on him before sinking into his flesh as if they were a part of him all along.

'Host has encountered fortuitous anomaly, adjusting stats and levels'

Draig then watched as countless notification began appearing, it took a while but eventually everything settled.

'Host has unlocked Skill tree, system undergoing reboot'

Draig didn't like the sound of that as he felt himself going faint once again, darkness began to cloud his vision until he finally blacked out. Before he could hit the ground a petite figure darted out of the shadows and caught him.

"Sylvie won't allow the ground to sully her lord." muttered Sylvie as she began carrying Draig back to the city.

Sylvie ignored the looks from the members of their makeshift army as she took Draig to bed and allow him to rest. She was unaware of why he had passed out but she knew that it would allow him to rise again even more powerful than before.

'Sylvie will always be here Lord, just as she was from the moment she met you' thought Sylvie smiling as she caressed Draig's face with a needy gaze.

While this was happening outside Draig's body was undergoing further changes, the most obvious was the huge boost to his mana pool. This was only secondary to his physical stats though as his bones began forming a crystallized layer of film over his skeleton. His claws became sharper and far more sturdy but the most alarming was the condensing of his toned frame.

His body was becoming more compact making it look as if he had never trained a day in his life but underneath that frame was a new type of power begging to be unleashed. Sylvie was too caught up in admiring Draig to notice at first but when his face began slimming and becoming more regal she took immediate notice.

A frightening pressure began building in the room that was near suffocating for Sylvie but she stayed right next to Draig. Her composure in this moment would have painted a heartwarming scene as she refused to leave even while being caused pain.

'Nothing will come between Sylvie and Draig' thought Sylvie as the pressure began taking its toll on her, she slowly lost control of her senses as the world spun until she too fainted.

No one was aware of what was transpiring in the room but outside a horrible force had arrived before them.

Looking into the distance a few of Draig's group had begun cheering thinking that they were receiving reinforcements but they realized their mistake quickly.

Guilders, all of them were coming but not in the name of joining their ranks. It was instead to wipe them out it seemed if the head of their scout was anything to go by.

"Everyone prepare, we are under attack. Get in formation and let no man walk" cried Goeki as Stein took a place next to him.

These two had become somewhat familiar and had managed to form a bond of brotherhood, this moment was something they had both begun to yearn for unknowingly. Stein because of his developed lust for battle and Goeki because of his new abilities from being turned.

Unknown to these Guilders something terrible was on the horizon and it would be a terrifying reckoning for all who dared to oppose the Conqueror.