— Old fort Sumner –
As Daniel arrived at Old Fort Sumner, the atmosphere bore the weight of history and reverence. The setting sun painted the landscape in a warm golden hue, imbuing the scene with a touch of solemnity. The fort itself, a relic of a bygone era, had undergone numerous renovations yet remained active for military purposes to this day.
Passing through the main fort building's hallways, Daniel encountered soldiers in hulking power armor transporting equipment and military crates filled with weapons and supplies. Others were engaged in patrols and their daily duties assigned by Nicholas.
Entering the quiet cemetery nestled within the fort grounds, Daniel stood before the weathered tombstone marking Billy the Kid's grave. Despite its age, the tombstone stood proudly amid the serene surroundings, surrounded by wildflowers that added a splash of color to the muted tones of the cemetery.
The air was still, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves, and the distant melody of birdsong contributed to the peaceful ambiance. Although the fort's main building buzzed with activity, a quiet serenity enveloped this particular spot.
Deep in thought, Daniel contemplated the history and legends surrounding Billy the Kid, a notorious outlaw whose legacy continued to captivate many imaginations. Rumors swirled about Billy the Kid, some claiming he was immortal, impervious to bullets, or that he possessed knowledge of Native American mystic arts enabling his escapes. However, history ultimately recorded his demise from a gunshot.
Daniel smiled, relegating the hearsay to the recesses of his mind as he delved into his mindscape. The card he sought floated before him, ready for his use.
Card Name: Raise Dead
Image: A necromancer in a dark, ragged robe casting necromancy magic within a graveyard, with corpses rising from their graves.
Rarity: Common
Type: Spell
Mana Cost: 1 Dark, 2 Non-Element
Description:
Return a target Creature card with 3 or less Power from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. That creature gains the 'Undead' subtype.
Flavor Text: A convenient solution for a shortage of new recruits.
Daniel activated the card within the mindscape, and a green-dark glow emanated from his hand as mana flowed through him into the magic, seeping into the ground where Billy the Kid's grave lay.
As the dark-green glow faded to nothing, Daniel held his breath, anticipation thrumming through him. Yet, the weathered tombstone of Billy the Kid remained stubbornly unchanged. A frown creased his brow as he delved back into his mindscape. Unlike true resurrection cards that vanished upon successful use, the card he'd just employed remained within the graveyard section of his mindscape.
Two possibilities gnawed at him. Either the card had malfunctioned for whatever reason. Or perhaps, the act of reanimating the dead as undead fell within the acceptable boundaries of reality, a type of magic that wouldn't affect the very fabric of reality.
Paranoia gnawed at Daniel. He needed confirmation. Reaching for his phone, he dialed Envy's number. She was the only one he could trust with such an obscure question.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Daniel refocused on his task. He utilized a simple spell to activate the card searching ability granted by his Archmage profession card. It sifted through his deck, and a satisfied smile spread across his face as he found what he was looking for.
—
Card Name: False Life
Image: A skeletal figure, infused with an eerie green glow, rises from the ground at the command of a crown-helmeted arch lich. Countless wispy souls fuel this unnatural reanimation as flesh and bone mend on the skeletal frame.
Rarity: Rare
Type: Spell
Mana Cost: 2 Dark, 3 Non-Element
Description:
Return a target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield under your control. The creature gains the "Undead" subtype.
Flavor Text: "Don't worry, I always keep my promises. You'll live, but only on my terms." - Archlich Thalassar
—
Wasting no time, Daniel activated the "False Life" card. Mana surged through him once more, supplemented by the reserves stored in his precious mana vials. A dark green aura pulsed from his hand, channeling the magic down towards Billy the Kid's grave below.
The glow lingered, briefly brightening the fading sunlight. An unsettling shift occurred overhead. Dark clouds materialized around Daniel, blotting out the sky and sending shivers down the spines of the city's inhabitants.
A gathering of ominous crows descended, their malevolent glowing green eyes fixated on the site below, like morbid spectators drawn to a gruesome spectacle. Wispy green tendrils, emanating from tormented souls, rose from the earth, twisting and writhing before sinking back into the grave.
Even Daniel was taken aback by the unexpected display. The card's effects were far more dramatic than anticipated. Now, he had a new problem: explaining this sudden, ominous event to a bewildered city.
Meanwhile, Maria diligently compiled her frontline report, nearing completion before sending it off to Odysseus. But then, her focus shattered. A sudden darkness cast by an unnatural storm cloud caught her eye.
It mirrored the horrifying scene from her past, the transformation of her adopted father into the first vampire. However, this time, instead of a swarm of bats, an unsettling congregation of crows circled ominously above.
Whispering to herself, "Someone has cheated death..." Maria bolted from her work, a determined glint in her eyes. She raced towards Fort Sumner, the source of this disturbing phenomenon.
At Old Fort Sumner, a violent tremor shook the ground. The cage protecting Billy the Kid's grave, a testament to years of frustrated souvenir hunters, erupted in a shower of twisted metal. Within the grave itself, a scene unfolded that defied the laws of life and death.