Chapter 60: 57. Necro Nights

That engagement was exhilarating. I think we actually hit it off. I don't think it is too far of a stretch to think we would have hugged it out before we parted ways if Sil wasn't tied to a tree. But man, was the conversation pressure draining. It isn't easy keeping a conversation going with a reluctant counterpart. I'm practically drenched with social sweats. I'm surprised I kept my celebration in check until I was out of sight. Man, that would be embarrassing if she saw me celebrating over a conversation. I can't even imagine how much my dungeon credit would plunge. 

Necro Nights isn't a lousy dungeon name. Maybe something to do with dragons or wolves. Spiders are entirely out of the question. No one will respect the Dark Web or Spider Spawn. Howling Moon? Now that is a possibility. We could make some cool designs out of that. Well, I couldn't. It would have to be someone more talented.

What if we have a howling wolf silhouette and, in the background, a giant moon. Or it could even be a dragon roaring at the moon. I hope I get some naming rights. 

Upon leaving Silent Night, I'm walking toward the horde's headquarters. Despite my recent pacifist actions, putting a lid on this open portal is probably a good idea. I can only imagine the rebuke Gene will give me when she awakens. Knowing the deaths aren't final does little to lift the task's weight. 

The new plan is to pillage and plunder food supplies until I reach the coast. Then I will head towards the headquarters to pillage and plunder some more. If I'm successful, I should have more tasteful food to store in my pocket. Hopefully, around that time, Bones and his dungeon buddies will help wipe out the rest of the horde. 

It's odd to think my lichdom is being invaded by an undying force. If they successfully create a portal, I might lose my claim on these lands. That might even remove my bond as a lich. Sure the recreation part is a pain, but other than that, it is nice getting multiple chances. 

Bo puts in solid work as a walking stick. Getting into a good rhythm, I've probably already put twenty miles behind me, and it isn't even noon yet. The mountains to the west provide enough streams that I've been able to keep myself hydrated, and the food I have from the small raid is keeping me well fed. The same streams I rely on keep these lands lush with pine trees and aspens. The forest is alive and beautiful. 

Currently, I am focusing on Nette's memory packet that goes over her mind magic. According to her, she attuned her core to pure mana. From that point, she meditated heavily while cycling her pure mana through her mind. The unique cycling technique is doable with only pure mana. 

Pure mana comes from removing the essences from mana. It is dark essence that makes dark mana, death essence that makes death mana, and so on. To remove the essence, one will need a powerful filter. In my case, Annette thinks I can develop a way to purify the mana within my filled cores. Then let one of my empty cores absorb the newly purified mana and bind it. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure how that would work. 

So that leaves me with either finding a mana filter or finding out how to remove essence from my mana. As unlikely as it is, becoming my own filter is my best chance. 

Somehow I need to figure out how to separate the essence. I summon unformed shadow mana into my hand for a while and observe it. Then I switch to death mana and observe it. The energies have as many similarities as they have differences. 

Both energies are a grayish color. Shadow is a dark gray, and death a lighter pale gray. Both of them want to be commanded, to be given a shape or a purpose. Shadow is passive with its desire, while death is more forceful. Death is rigid and stiff. Shadow is smooth and flowing. And this...is getting me nowhere. 

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With death mana still around my hand, I try interacting with it. That doesn't really work as my hands pass through it. The mana still obeys my will. So instead of using my hands to interact with it, I'm using my intent. 

From hand to hand, I make the mana flow. I speed it up so the mana cycles at high speed. If it rotates fast enough, the mana may separate from the essence. Death mana spins fast. Its kinetic energy is cutting into my hand. Still, no separation, and now my hands are a bloody mess. 

Dismissing mana, I give my hands a minute to heal, summon shadow mana and try the fast spinning mana technique again. A couple bloody hands are my only reward. 

I'm still deep in thought over the matter when fire erupts all over me. A burning sensation is met with the sting of arrows piercing my shoulder and chest. Instinctively, I shadow-step, taking a break from the onslaught. 

Bugbears encircle where I was, waiting for me to reappear. Two of them are still actively throwing fire into the circle. Yup, I'm an idiot. I walked right into a bugbear unit and was caught entirely off guard. 

Still slightly burning, I pat out the flames carefully so as not to disturb the arrows sticking out of my body. Now that the fire is out, I grit my teeth and pull the arrows. If I haven't done it before, I take a moment to thank my previous self for giving me a body that can take a hit. Neither of the arrows penetrates past the tip allowing me to easily remove them. 

Eight bugbears have encircled me. Two guardian rooks covered in rocky plating holding massive thick shields stand opposite each other on my right and left sides. Near both guardians are staff wielding rook wizards with fire igniting their staff's tips.

Standing slightly back and on the other side of the guardians are bow-wielding life hunters at the page rank. Next to the biggest guy directly in front of me is a water hunter at the page rank. The big bugbear is buffing himself, growing bigger in size by two-fold. 

The life berserker is the highest rank of the group of eight, with a squire status. He is decked out in plated armor with two massive swords drawn. Lower-ranked lancers are covered in a combination of leather, chain mail, and plate armor, except for the earth lancers.

The water lancer has covered his arrow in ice that he is prepared to fire. While the life mages stand close to the earth mages, their bows are also ready. One of the guardians lowers himself and places his hand on the ground. Stone and earth begin rising.

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