Mage And Wolf
Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Chapter 98

I’m finally feeling normal. Relatively. Energy is entering my Spirit Ocean at a rate that doesn’t hurt or disorient me, and the mark of the Death God is absorbing the rest. As it absorbs energy it is growing. What began as a small black dragon now covers my upper left chest, crossing my collarbone to wrap partially around my upper arm.

"Come quickly, we need a medic" a familiar voice calls. Were the High River Sect we traveled with among the prisoners they were holding?

I rush over to find Elder Ming feeding Nanny Vitale a regeneration pill, but shaking her head in defeat.

"What happened?" I ask a High River disciple in tattered robes.

"The Dragon God Sect Master, the one you insulted, hit her with something that closed her meridians and damaged her cultivation" The disciple tells me.

"It happened about a half hour ago when we were captured" another adds.

"So when my token broke" Elder Song says sadly.

I can now finally move energy outside my body, and I’ve seen and experienced the process of having your meridians opened.

"I think I can help. I’ll need 4 regeneration pills and a grade 1 monster core cut into 4 pieces"

Elder Song and Elder Ming look confused, but quickly get what I need. I pop the first slice and pill into her unconscious mouth, circulating it along what I remember to be a humans natural energy pathway.

By the time the energy fades, there is a trickle flowing from her mind to her heart. The second extends it to her dantian. The third and fourth get a trickle flowing through all her organs and limbs and she starts to wake up.

"Score. That’s two for two experiments that didn’t blow up" Elder Song gives me a high five and everyone glares at us in horror.

"Sorry, dark humor" he shrugs.

"How are you feeling?" I ask Nanny Vitale. "Any pain, weakness, nausea, discomfort?"

"My everything hurts, even on the inside" she answers. "And I feel as weak as a newborn baby, but I can feel my energy returning slowly"

"Your meridians and veins are still damaged, Young Miss only managed to get them open enough to save your life. I fear you’ve got a long road to recovery ahead of you"

"I’ll worry about that later. High River Sect is under attack, might we employ your services to save our girls?"

The three Elders look around and see no objections, so they nod their agreement.

"We’ll take care of it on the way. We’re escorting the Forbidden Treasure Sect to safety in another world before an unstable portal closes." Elder Po informs her.

"Gather everyone and let’s get moving" Elder Ming shouts, causing a panic in the released hostages. It seems many were stripped naked to shame them into compliance. There’s women from at least 3 sects, including the travelers from High River Sect.

"There’s storage rings in a box over here" one of the Shadowed Blade Inner disciples calls, "they’re likely yours"

Elder Ming shoos the not so discretely peeking men away and the ladies hurry to get dressed, not particularly caring what they wear as long as it fits.

Suddenly, we can hear swords clashing and shouts in the distance.

"The barrier around High River Sect must have fallen. Time to go if we don’t want to fail our mission." Elder Po gets everyone moving.

We arrive to find the Dragon God Sect has breached the walls and fighting has started within the sect grounds. Our men flank the sides of the invading force, while group 1 joins the Caravan in the middle, being the only ones visible.

"Dragon God Sect, lay down your weapons and admit defeat in your foolish war against The Shadowed Blade or perish here" I shout, using the Booming tone of a High Priestesses authority.

There are bodies everywhere, this has been a brutal battle, even an hour in. Cultivators fights don’t tend towards long, drawn out fights it seems.

My announcement has caused confusion in their ranks, our Sect is hidden and not many know even which region it is in. So how could they have declared war on us, right?

The defenders seem relieved, even if it is evil cultivators coming to their rescue. Enemy of my enemy is my friend style.

I can feel the recently deceased within my spirit ocean, it’s like they’re waiting for me to do something. I recall The Goddess said I should be able to turn and raise undead, but I never discovered how, nor had the opportunity. Maybe they’re waiting for me to raise them?

"If I do something truly evil within your Sect grounds, will you forgive me Nanny?" I ask the Guardian of the High River ladies.

"I’m not certain I’m in a position to complain, but as long as it doesn’t hurt our girls, I will forgive you."

I start focusing on the bodies in my mind and I can feel them reacting. The outside energy didn’t affect them, but the energy from the spirit ocean is. That must be why I couldn’t understand earlier, despite being around many bodies.

I pour energy in until they’re all upright, visibly dropping the sea level in my mind. They’re waiting for a command now.

"Defeat my enemies, wipe out the Dragon God Sect" I call in my mind and it is relayed in a ghostly voice for all to hear.

I open my eyes and see zombies. Zombies everywhere. The wounds of their death still open, skin purple and blotchy, blood all over. I’ve created my own live action horror film.

Nobody else but Elder Song seems as impressed or happy as I am. The defenders are screaming, the Dragon God Sect is hacking wildly at their risen allies and foes. Their power has been greatly reduced, but the horror factor and lack of pain are making up for it.

The battle is a one sided massacre.

I usher the risen Dragon God Sect members outside, letting the corpses of the High River Sect disciples fall once again and raising the rest of the Dragon Gods Sect army in their place.

"There’s a time limit. We should get a move on to finish off the last 2 branches of the sect while they’re still fighting" I call out and Elder Song points the way while everyone else stares in shock.

"Sorry Nanny Vitale" I call and wave as we run away. Best I’m long gone before they recover from seeing that level of a forbidden technique practiced in public.

The last place the Dragon God Sect was attacking turns out to be a town of mostly low level unaligned cultivators.

A thousand zombies rushing their lines, dressed in their own Sect robes causes the expected result. Chaos. At first everyone attacks the undead, until the townsfolk realize they’re only attacking the Dragon God Sect, at which point everyone else flees.

They too try to escape, but we’ve stationed teams around the town to deal with anyone who makes it that far. Once their numbers are depleted I release the dead and we move in to clean up. Maybe some survived, maybe not, but the Elders don’t sense anyone powerful left, so we call it a victory and start running for the portal.

The portal is so unstable at this point that it’s causing a minor earthquake.

"I’ll have them close it from the other side once we’re all through" I reassure Elder Po.

"Keep safe and see you in the future" He says, giving me a fist to the chest salute.

"Don’t let anyone bully you at home either, remember what you learned here" Elder Ming gives me a hug goodbye.

"And for the Goddess’s sake, don’t let her decide what is acceptably evil" Elder Song tells Sect Master Becky, making everyone laugh.

"Safe travels Young Miss" The disciples call as I usher the Forbidden Treasure Sect members through the portal and I wave one last goodbye.