Daily Short: Matt 08

Matt dropped off Igawgalad off to float next to Jennifer wrapped in a thin bubble of reality. The two Shard Companions would bond naturally due to the shards. Whatever else happened, at least Jennifer’s ascension would proceed smoothly in the future.

Moving his attention from the struggling young woman fighting her way through a Titan’s defenses he moved towards another location. As a Prime World there were many factions that existed. Matt emerged directly in the throne room of one of the more well-known factions.

The Undead Host.

This branch of the Host existed at his sole sufferance. They had initially attempted to fight Matt, but buckled after a few centuries. While had never bothered to check, it was likely that one of the smarter Rulers was involved. All attempts to summon Dark Gods, Demons, or other such were met with silence. Eventually even the most stubborn undead would realize there was something wrong. After mopping up around three continents worth of undead trash Matt cut a deal.

There were few creatures more useful at doing research than Undead. They didn’t sleep, eat, or get distracted. If you got the right type of Lich, they might be inhumanly passionate about knowledge. It wasn’t hard to find someone of the right persuasion in a Horde of unliving monsters.

That was exactly how Matt’s current researcher had been found. Moving through the empty throne room he pulled open a side door. The laboratory in question was booby-trapped ten thousand ways from sanity. While almost nothing could hurt Matt there were worse things than death. The last time he’d entered unannounced a trap had sent him to the at-the-time bottom of the Abyss. Twice before that he’d been both thrown into the center of a true Prime Sun and deposited in the Deep Waters.

That’s why I’m nice, polite, and don’t try teleporting in unless I fancy a challenge. Matt thought looking at the skeleton that was madly giggling as it stirred a very suspicious looking potion.

“Ahem.” Matt said.

There was a paused as the skeleton’s neck made a strange creaking noise before turning to look at Matt. Several seconds passed before finally the skeleton screamed out in a terrified tone, “You scared me bastard!”

“Too late, you need less delay on the scream.” Matt said ignoring the strange potion that was now bubbling.

“Right. I’ll work on that in a century or two. What’s the reason for showing up, Boss?” the skeleton asked clearly ignoring the solution in the flask moving towards critical mass.

“You sent me a message the automatic undead invasion Spell was ready. Dove, get that Potion of Dark Memory crafted sooner rather than later. I can’t have you forgetting important things like this.” Matt said with an eyeroll of annoyance.

“You know my stance on that thing, Boss. Who knows if it really works! It could be messing with my perception of reality, twisting me into a horrific creature of evil!” Dove said the purple glow in his eye’s sockets appearing firmly opposed to the idea.

“Get the potion made, and drink it or I will obliterate you.” Matt said firmly. He had to put his foot down or else this discussion would veer off-topic fast.

Dove, Undead Eternal Lich, saluted with haste and said, “On it! I’ve always wanted to make and drink a Potion of Dark Memory!”

“So, the Spell?” Matt said keeping on track.

“Right the Spell.” Dove said holding his salute.

Matt’s right eyelid twitched as he stared at the skeleton.

“Oh! Yes, the Spell. Right this way, right this way. The scroll is over here, somewhere, like probably around this table…” Dove said moving over to a table stacked with everything from Tomes to bric-a-brac.

Matt flickered his senses over the table before reaching in and pulling a long scroll-case out of the pile. Three of the tomes that tried to eat his hand burst into dark flames that didn’t harm the other tomes. He unrolled the scroll giving it a long look. The entire spell structure was genius as was to be expected.

Dove might be a Lich with strange tastes, but in terms of spell craft dealing with the undead he was leagues ahead of Matt. Granted, Matt could cheat, but asking the [Outsider] would be like hitting a mosquito with nuke. It wasn’t cost effective in any way, shape, or form.

“So, what do you want to call it?” Matt said memorizing the Spell as the scroll turned to ashes.

“In honor of my dearly departed granny, let’s call it Dark Underworld. The classics are always the best.” Dove said glancing back at the potion that was now starting to shine with unhealthy light.

Matt took one look at the potion and kicked Dove’s kneecaps out before sprinting for the door.

“Bastard!” Dove said using basic telekinesis to fling the potion after Matt.

Hah! I’ve seen this trick before! Matt thought as he kicked the door open before rolling through. A slick of Darkness covered the doorway. This time, I won’t be so easily fooled!

There was a flash of soundless vibration as Matt straightened up from the floor.

“That’s why I keep telling him to drink a Potion of Dark Memory!” Matt said before slipping into the shadows once again.