Necromancy—the power to command the dead—was originally a skill of the Death Knights in Warcraft, formidable beyond compare. However, Jack Williams had only just grasped its essence. His control was clumsy at best, his foundation nonexistent. Thus, he failed to fully subjugate the skeletal dragon Bruno, allowing it to retain its consciousness and memories while nonetheless becoming his most loyal servant.
Through the remnants of the dragon's memories, Jack gleaned some of its past. To his astonishment, this long-buried creature was no ordinary undead beast but the former chieftain of the Dark Dragon Clan—Bruno. In ages past, he had been slain in a joint assault by the leaders of the Light and Water Dragon Clans, his remains discarded in this desolate canyon.
Later, the necromancer Bazel discovered the corpse and sought to reforge it into an undead dragon. Yet, a series of unforeseen events delayed the process, leaving Bruno to languish for untold years, his power greatly diminished—until fate delivered him into Jack Williams' hands.
Jack could hardly believe that his very first creation was a Dark Bone Dragon, and one that even retained fragments of its former self. He had, without a doubt, stumbled upon a rare treasure. Unable to suppress his delight, he chuckled, clicking his tongue in admiration. "Seems the heavens still favor me, Jack Williams! Ha!"
Just as he reveled in his fortune, a series of feral roars echoed from the distant canyon. The sound sent a shudder down his spine, nearly causing him to collapse on the spot. In a flash, Toby and Constance bolted into his pocket with a whoosh.
"T-That's a Flame Gryphon Beast," Constance whispered, her tiny voice trembling. "A Rank Six magical beast—formidable beyond measure. We must flee at once!"
"A F-Flame Gryphon Beast? Rank Six?" Jack stammered, his body stiff with fear. "Then… then we should definitely run!"
"Master, why trouble yourself with such insignificant creatures? Allow me to handle them."
Bruno's voice rang with supreme confidence. Lifting his colossal skull, he surged forward with the speed of a lightning bolt. The ground quaked beneath his every stride.
"Wait, just how powerful is he?" Jack turned to the moles, his voice laced with unease.
"We don't know," Toby admitted. "But dragons are the mightiest of all creatures, far surpassing Rank Nine magical beasts. At their weakest, they are of Saint-level strength. However, as an undead, Grant's power may have either increased… or diminished. That, we cannot say."
Jack exhaled in relief, stroking his chin as if contemplating a beard that didn't exist. "Well, even if he's weakened, he should still be stronger than a mere Rank Six beast, right?"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A deafening series of explosions thundered through the canyon. Jack staggered, barely keeping his footing as the distant howls of dying beasts reached his ears. His heart pounded. "The dragon… he's not dead, is he?"
"I doubt it…" Toby muttered, though doubt flickered in his beady eyes.
Just as they exchanged wary glances, heavy footfalls heralded Bruno's return. Clouds of dust swirled around his skeletal frame as he flung two lifeless Flame Gryphon Beasts at Jack's feet with a resounding thud. Yet, his bony body bore a few new cracks.
"Master, they dared to disrupt your peace, so I have dealt with them," Bruno declared. "Alas, my strength is but a shadow of what it once was. The wounds I suffered in my battle against Brack and Kanal were grievous. The subsequent soul-binding ritual further fractured my core, severely crippling my power. At present, I am but a mere Rank Six being. Were I in my prime, I would have vanquished these creatures effortlessly." His tone held a hint of chagrin.
Jack and the two moles gawked at the slain beasts, then at Bruno, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Haha! At last, my time to shine has arrived!" Jack crowed.
—
"Interesting… that boy managed to subjugate a Bone Dragon so quickly."
High above, a spectral figure floated in the moonlight, gazing down upon Jack, who was busily roasting gryphon meat over an open flame. A twisted smile played upon his lips.
"Very well, Jack Williams. Let's see how long you can evade my grasp. If it's a game you want… then let's make it truly thrilling."
—
"Toby, Constance, don't you moles love eating insects? Shall I dig up some earthworms for you?"
"We don't want insects," Toby sniffed. "But that meat of yours smells rather delectable…"
Salivating, the two moles could hardly tear their gaze from the sizzling gryphon meat.
Jack, ever indulgent toward the tiny creatures who had saved his life, wasted no time in slicing off generous portions of the roasted flesh and setting them before them.
Eagerly, Toby and Constance dug in, relishing the succulent meat—a feast far superior to their usual fare. Between mouthfuls, they lavished Jack with praise, extolling his culinary skills.
Jack, gnawing on a piece of meat himself, puffed up with pride. "Of course! Back in the day, I took third place in my family's cooking contest!"
"Oh?" Toby blinked. "How many contestants were there?"
"Uh… three."
The two moles exchanged a long-suffering glance, then promptly ignored him.
Meanwhile, Bruno lay nearby, his vigilant gaze sweeping the surroundings. Suddenly, he let out a low, rumbling growl. "Master, a large number of beasts are approaching. Stay on guard."
Jack stiffened. He scrambled to his feet, scanning the horizon. Yet, he saw nothing. Just as he turned to protest, the ground beneath him began to tremble once more—this time with greater intensity, a chaotic rumbling that sent shivers down his spine. This was no mere pack of beasts.
"Damn it! What's coming this time?"
Bruno responded calmly. "Judging by the tremors, a horde of Earthquake Bears. Rank Four. At least a hundred of them."
Jack swallowed hard. "A hundred Rank Four beasts? Are they trying to trample me to death?"
He cast a sidelong glance at the incoming stampede. A sinister gleam flickered in his eyes as he turned his attention to the two unsuspecting moles.
"Wait, no—don't even think about it!" Toby shrieked, his voice high and pitiful, like a maiden about to be besieged by a gang of ruffians.
—
Within mere minutes, the hundred-strong horde of Earthquake Bears surged forward, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. They tore across the land like an unstoppable force, their speed utterly terrifying.
Jack's lips curled into a cunning smirk. Clasping his hands together, he murmured, "Oh, merciful gods, forgive this poor, innocent soul." Then, to the utter shock of the white-cloaked figure lurking above, he closed his eyes in serene anticipation.
"What trickery is this?" the figure spat. "Does he truly fear nothing?"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The lead bears abruptly plunged downward, their roars cut short as they vanished beneath the earth. Dust billowed into the air as more followed suit, tumbling into a vast chasm that had appeared as if from nowhere.
The specter gaped. Before him stretched a pit over twenty meters long, five meters wide, and nearly eight meters deep—now filled to the brim with flailing Earthquake Bears.
Toby and Constance, their fur matted with dust, crawled out from beneath the heap of fallen beasts, looking utterly wretched.
"Help… I was nearly crushed to death…" Toby whimpered.
Jack, meanwhile, cackled shamelessly. "Not to worry! Tonight, we feast on bear meat!" He flashed the sky a victorious middle finger.
"Damn you, Jack Williams!" The white figure seethed, his voice shaking with fury. "I'll see you dead for this insult!"