BXBX NOVEL Chapter 390: Utilizing Necromancy Theme cards
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.
After a few rings, Envy's voice answered, laced with amusement. "Yes, dear? What is it?"
A gentle smile touched Daniel's lips. "Nothing much, love. Just a quick question. Do you happen to know anything about Billy the Kid?" He posed the question cautiously, hoping it might shed light on the failed resurrection attempt.
Envy's amusement flickered momentarily. "Billy the Kid? Isn't he… well, dead? Why the sudden interest?" A sliver of concern crept into her voice, for she remembered him as a notorious outlaw.
"I was trying to raise him," Daniel admitted, trusting Envy with the truth. "As an undead."
Envy's brows shot up. "Undead? You know necromancy?" Surprise colored her voice. This was a side of Daniel she hadn't known existed.
"Let's just say I'm curious," he offered instead of a direct answer.
A beat of silence followed. "So, you tried raising him and it didn't work, did you?" Envy inquired, piecing together the puzzle.
Daniel's silence confirmed her suspicion. "Ah," she began, "one of the limitations of necromancy is its inability to reanimate powerful mages. While Billy the Kid wasn't top ten in his time, his strength likely bordered on the Grand Master Rank. His magic specialized in body enhancement and Native American shamanic rituals. His Origin Element, if I recall correctly, was… Bullet.
This explains his prowess with guns and enchanted bullets."
Understanding dawned on Daniel's face. "Origin Element… Bullet" he murmured, piecing together the puzzle. Now he knew why the card failed.
The card "Raise Dead" clearly states, "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." This means Daniel can't use this card to resurrect Billy the Kid.
The restriction of "3 or less Power" came into play, and Daniel was certain that most average mages should possess more than 3 Power. In this context, "Power" in the card signifies the cumulative destructive capabilities of that card, including its strength, special abilities, or magic. Similarly, "Toughness" reflects the card's survivability, which translates into reality.
For instance, a golem card with 3 Power and Toughness might be capable of crushing a jeep or small APC with its strength, and normal bullets would do little against its armor. On the other hand, a Human or beast card with 3 survivability could still succumb to a bullet to the head unless they actively defended themselves.
Their survivability allows them to withstand a bullet by ducking, going prone, or enduring a grievous wound through sheer willpower and determination to live. This might buy them enough time to reach medical assistance or a hospital.
Silence stretched as Daniel digested the information. Envy's concern crackled through the line. "Hello? You there? Everything alright?"
"Ah, yes, I'm here," Daniel replied, snapping out of his thoughtful state. "Thank you very much, I was just processing something."
A beat of silence followed on Envy's end, making Daniel raise an eyebrow. Was she teasing him again? Just as he started to suspect this, a bright note entered her voice.
"Ah, sorry about that! Michaela and I were watching a Korean Drama and it's getting to a good part. Don't want to miss the next scene! Bye!" Envy chirped before hanging up abruptly.
Daniel sighed, a hint of exasperation in his breath. Michaela was definitely winning over the women in the house with her Korean Drama obsession. He couldn't fathom the appeal – the actors, both male and female, seemed to share the same generic features.
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.