I have thoroughly planned this next arc, and the confidence I feel while writing it is unmatched. I love not having to plan and write at the same time.
Also, small edit note: At the end of the last chapter, Granny wanted to speak to Jerry. That no longer happened. Instead, she wanted to speak to Horace.
---
The pentality of magic is present in everything.
Five schools of magic. Five types of nature spirits. Five Archmages. Five Primordials.
...
2022-06-08 17:37:01 +0000 UTC
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Here you go, everyone! I have my doubts about these few chapters (hence the late release), but I'll revisit them at a later time.
Enjoy!
---
Jerry’s heart was shaken, but he insisted.
“I can try,” he said. “Wizards are frail. An ambush, a trick… There have to be ways I can win.”
“There aren’t. You don’t even understand how terrifying Archmages are, Jerry…” Horace’s voice suddenly broke, ending in a long, trembling sigh. “This is all my f...
2022-06-06 19:08:55 +0000 UTC
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Behold!
We got a new cover made, and I love it! This is thanks to the 100$ Patreon goal that was reached a while ago, so a big shout-out to all of you as well. It's made by a great artist on Fiverr called Thequito, except for the typography, which was made by me (an amateur.)
Another thing you might notice is that I changed the story's name again. I promise no more changes unless my publisher signs this story and disagrees. Fun fact, this was also the very first title I came up wi...
2022-06-06 17:30:49 +0000 UTC
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Archmage Aracataron’s skull face appeared in a circular portal, and everyone froze in terror.
“Who are you?” he asked coldly. “And why are your zombies holding my grandson?”
By now, Jerry’s previous anger had already been vented, and his head was mostly clear. He blinked. What’s that?
He had no idea who or what this person was—a skeleton mage, maybe?—but they sounded extremely strong. They were called an Archmage, and they controlled a death knight...
2022-06-03 22:30:00 +0000 UTC
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Happy new month, everyone!
---
The tribe gasped collectively. People stepped back, some gazing at Horace with concern and others at the wizard with thinly-veiled hatred.
“No…” A muffled sound came from the ground as Horace struggled to raise his head. Pretending or not, he was clearly hurt. “I really…wasn’t lying…”
“Bullshit!”
Another ray flashed past, burying itself in Horace’s ribs. He screamed.
“Speak, vermin! What are you hiding!...
2022-06-01 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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“Tax collector?” Jerry stood up. “What—”
“Quick!” Horace practically jumped upright, his voice suddenly filled with haste. “Hide, hide, quick!”
“Horace—”
“No time to talk!” the death spirit yelled. “Hide now!”
“Follow me!” A nearby woman grabbed Jerry’s arm, pulling him aside and into a hut. His undead were similarly approached and pulled into huts, as were Marcus and Laura.
Jerry did not resist them, but he did not stay quie...
2022-05-30 21:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Yo guys, I just received the first rough sketch from the cover I commissioned. I'm supposed to make comments, suggest changes, and shoot it back.
To be honest, this is not at all what I had in mind when I said 'a skeleton with a party hat' but it looks cool, no? What do you think? All suggestions are welcome, big or small.
Do you like it?
2022-05-30 18:24:22 +0000 UTC
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Happy new week, everyone!
There's another chapter coming in a few hours! Now that I have time in my hands and I've escaped Stressland, it's time start chipping away at those bonus chapters I owe. I'll try to maintain a consistent 4/week -- should be pretty doable.
Enjoy the chapter!
---
The days didn’t pass; they flowed.
Uninhibited, one by one, slowly yet quickly, they slid through the group with the ups and downs of a sun that changed nothing. The Akshik trib...
2022-05-30 16:31:50 +0000 UTC
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I've found a good artist for the cover too! I'll show you a sketch soon, so you can give your opinion on what to change, if anything.
Enjoy the chapter!
---
Marcus wiggled his toes, then smiled under his mustache.
“Laura!” he asked. “Can we have some more, please?”
“Yes, please!” agreed a death spirit.
“It’s running low!” replied another.
Laura chuckled. “Fine,” she said, waving her hands in the air, “have a bunch.”
Wat...
2022-05-27 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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“Oh, no need to make a big deal about it.” Jerry laughed. “The pleasure’s all ours!”
“Not nearly.” Horace smiled back, a hint of knowledge on his black lips. He turned his body sideways, motioning to the people behind him. “Let us apologize for testing you like this. We don’t enjoy it…but it’s a necessary process if we want to keep surviving.”
“If I may, Master”—Boney stepped forth, his bone jaw clacking—“what kind of test are they talking about?...
2022-05-25 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone. We're approaching an important deadline at work -- I'm submitting my research to one of the largest AI conferences, actually -- and I need to bust my ass off for a week to get everything ready, so the story will go on break until 6/27.
On the bright side, work will probably calm down after that, until mid-July when my contract is over.
Sorry for the cliffhanger, enjoy your week, and see you on the next-next Monday!
---
The old woman’s voice rang out in...
2022-05-23 21:09:10 +0000 UTC
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Hey, all!
Sorry for the late notice -- I messed up the announcement scheduling -- but I will be taking a break throughout this week. There's a bunch of stuff I've been putting off and must get to, including some rest time so I don't burn out; I've been super overwhelmed/unproductive lately. I might skip one release next week as well, but I'll try not to.
I will also take some extra time to plan stuff out for the next arcs so you get plenty of 'ohh' and 'ahh' moments -- you're so g...
2022-05-16 07:56:53 +0000 UTC
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Jerry, Laura, Boney, Headless, Boboar, and Foxy stood face-to-face with a bow-wielding, creepy-looking creature. It resembled a human, except its skin was paper-white and everything else was pitch-black, the kind that seems to absorb your sight and everything around it.
Shoulder-length black hair accentuated a pale face with robust features, while black teeth—when the creature opened its mouth—served to make an almost appalling antithesis. Its composition could easily be considered ...
2022-05-13 17:37:01 +0000 UTC
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A massive form erupted from the mud, splattering brown everywhere as it lunged for Axehand’s waist. Jerry’s eyes widened.
This was a skeletal crocodile. It reached at least six feet long, with its mouth alone taking up two, and all its bones seemed perfectly preserved. Fortunately for the crocodile, and unfortunately for everybody else, the only part of its body necessary to maintain its identity as a predatory beast was its teeth, which were part of its skeleton.
If it took h...
2022-05-11 17:42:43 +0000 UTC
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The Mists of Death are taboo; none who enter return, or so we were told by the local death spirits. We intend to challenge that notion. We have brought wizards, warriors, equipment, knowledge, and experience; no matter what dangers lie inside, they will not faze us.
However, in the unlikely case that we do die, we leave our travel log here for the future explorers of our glorious Kingdom.
For Alabaster,
Casius Esteban and the 17th explorer team
- A ...
2022-05-09 17:37:59 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone. We're approaching an important deadline at work -- I'm submitting my research to one of the largest AI conferences, actually -- and I need to bust my ass off for a week to get everything ready, so the story will go on break until 6/27.
On the bright side, work will probably calm down after that, until mid-July when my contract is over.
Sorry for the cliffhanger, enjoy your week, and see you on the next-next Monday!
---
Jerry rubbed his eyes. It didn’t ...
2022-05-07 15:59:01 +0000 UTC
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And that means proper cover art for the story. Finally!
Thank you guys for your support, it means a lot to me. The dopamine rush of Patreon pings does wonders for writing... And as inside information, know that Cultivator vs. System, my Amazon release, went amazing, so I will go full-time writing starting July/August, when my current job contract ends. That is a dream come true for me, and it means I will be able to devote tons of time to Friendly Necromancer -- or any other story I wan...
2022-05-05 16:13:51 +0000 UTC
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Woohoo, we're flying!
---
Jerry leaned against the railing and took a deep, deep breath. The ground rolled below, seemingly slow but actually quick, and the wind buffeted his face, sending strands of black hair flying backward. He hadn’t had a haircut in a long time, not since Derek helped groom him for Pilpen’s council half a year ago.
How is Derek, I wonder? thought Jerry, leaning more on the wooden railing until his jaw rested on it. Maybe he and Holly ha...
2022-05-04 17:37:59 +0000 UTC
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Happy new week, everyone! This is the second time I give you a Book 1 epilogue, but I have decided to make this the end of Book 1, not the previous arc.
---
The ground flew away as the airship steadily rose, passing through the air to approach the clouds.
“That went pretty well!” Jerry said with a smile, lying on the deck with arms sprawled to the sides.
“Well, my ass!” replied Marcus. His hand was on his chest, and he was panting. “We almost died thrice!”<...
2022-05-02 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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Jericho grinned at Axehand. “You think you’re something, don’t you?” he said. “A pitiful, stupid undead who can’t even talk…”
Unlike Jericho, Axehand didn’t taunt—what lumberjack speaks with trees?
A strong breeze blew through the manor’s holes, and the iron flask jingled on Axehand’s waist. He uncorked it to drink a large gulp, eyes locked on Jericho—and then, as moonlit wine dripped down his fractured ribcage, he tossed the flask on the airship.
A...
2022-04-29 17:31:00 +0000 UTC
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Jerry’s and Maccain’s souls clashed in mid-air.
Like two armies fighting, or two bodies of water trying to drown each other, they split into strands and streams, coiling and twisting and ensnaring each other. It was the first time Jerry engaged in soul battle—but the knowledge came easy, and his soul obeyed his will as it split and dashed, executing formations that he came up with on the fly.
It felt glorious.
But Maccain was there too, and the moment their souls colli...
2022-04-28 17:31:00 +0000 UTC
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“Hurry, hurry!” Laura hissed in Boney’s ears—or where they would be, if he had any. “Get the airship started now! We cannot fight a Sakalai!”
Boney didn’t need to be told twice, but… he had already charged into the airship’s bowels in search of barrels—as Marcus had told them before he rushed off—and found them. Unfortunately, there were dozens of barrels there, with several different icons painted on them. Which were the right ones, and how was he suppose...
2022-04-27 17:31:00 +0000 UTC
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Starting next month, the release schedule will drop to 3/week, BUT, bonus chapters ahoy.
Before writing Friendly Necromancer, the story we all read and love, I had posted a few stories on Royal Road under a different pen name. Some of you might know me as Winged Wolf.
One of those stories, that you might also have heard of, is Cultivator vs. System.
---
Screw your System. I just want to cultivate.
2022-04-27 09:19:58 +0000 UTC
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Maccain and his two zombies stood among the rubble, confidently facing the Funny Bone. Screams rang from all around as window shutters opened and closed. Fast approaching boots stomped on stone and wood.
Jerry forwent his control of the mice and unstrapped himself from Axehand’s back, stepping on the airship’s deck with his own two feet. The plan had already failed; they had been revealed, and not just that, but a terrifying opponent had shown up out of nowhere too.
The situat...
2022-04-26 18:55:04 +0000 UTC
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Boney crossed the manor, following after Master’s mice. Or, to be exact, he was following Boboar, who was following Billies One and Two, who were following Master’s mice. Axehand was behind Boney, the Master strapped on his back, while Headless was right behind, with the final two Billies closing the line.
They were… well, they were many. An entire circus was not the best candidate for an infiltration but they weren’t going to leave anyone behind, and besides, they had Master...
2022-04-25 22:11:16 +0000 UTC
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Releasing chapters to the One-Feather and Two-Feather tiers needs to be done manually every time, so I forget sometimes... If I do, remind me!
I apologize for this week's late releases, but on the plus side, you get to binge!
---
With a creak that felt ear-scratching—but was really rather quiet—the iron door swung open, revealing the manor’s outer courtyard.
As they remembered, trees and bushes lined the gravel paths, shining under the silver moonlight. The silen...
2022-04-23 13:51:16 +0000 UTC
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The Wall of the Damned stretches for one thousand miles, coast to coast, completely cutting off the Dead Lands from the Three Kingdoms. It measures an average width of six feet and an average height of nine, with the most important sections being appropriately strengthened.
It is undoubtedly the world’s greatest monument, a massive, herculean task that was completed over the course of a single year by the combined and complete efforts of the Three Kingdoms. If anyone ever...
2022-04-23 13:50:38 +0000 UTC
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The manor of Count Decaron was placed on the city’s edge, as far away from the Wall as possible. Tall walls surrounded it, painted red, pristinely maintained, and with spikes at the top, while the nearby houses all spoke of riches and authority—despite its relatively low population count, Edge Town had no lack for nobles.
As soon as the Funny Bone had departed from the town square, a procession had already formed behind them. Despite their deep-seated hatred, the people were curiou...
2022-04-23 13:49:44 +0000 UTC
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“What do you think about this, Boney?” Jerry pointed to a length of rope. “Can’t we use it?”
“We already have rope, Master.”
“We have rope, yes… but what about a second rope?”
Under his hood, Boney’s jaw clacked.
With the sun high up in the sky and today’s performance planned for the late afternoon, Jerry’s team was left with plenty of free time. They decided to spend it efficiently, acquiring all sorts of supplies for their upcoming exped...
2022-04-19 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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Little to nothing is known about the Great Enigma. What happened six hundred years ago? Where are the Primordials, are they alive or dead, and why are those world-shaking events missing from each and every historical record?
Many connect this enigma to Dorman, the mysterious person that lived during the same period. For unknown reasons, Dorman traveled the entire world and left cryptic inscriptions in various ancient sites, said to point towards his treasure. Nothing else i...
2022-04-18 17:39:19 +0000 UTC
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