Leon walked out from the Obsidian Pool feeling like a new person. He looked down on his body, and noted with joy, that his exposed bones had been covered up by a luscious looking robe that was highlighted with gold and purple flourishes.
He ran his fingers over the robe, noting how soft it felt to his numb touch. When his fingers reached his head, he noticed, to his shock, that his skull had been deformed!
,m “What?! How did this happen?!” Leon exclaimed, startling both Nedra and Kaladin.
“What’s wrong?” They both asked.
“My head! What’s on my head?!” Leon stopped before them and leaned forward. A moment of silence passed, before Nedra spoke up.
“It is… It is a small crown.” She said hesitantly.
“…A crown?” Leon froze. He did not know how to react to that. He quickly pulled up his status.
[Status]
Name: Leon Cromwell
Race: Obsidian Skeleton Noble
Level: 1
Health Points: 7000
Mana: 3500
<Strength: 120>
<Agility: 110>
<Durability: 150>
<Intelligence: 120>
<Dexterity: 110>
Skills:
<Beginner Weapon Mastery level 99>, <Spell Weaver level 11>, <Spirit Summoning level 22>, <Spirit Storage Level 15>, <Beginner Fire Magic>, <Beginner Weapon Enhancement Magic>, <Beginner Curse Eyes>
Titles:
<Slayer of Ghosts>
Title Perks:
<Slayer of Ghosts>: You have stood tall against adversities, both living, dead, and those in between! This title is your reward!
+10% Intelligence.
—
‘An undead noble?’ Leon gaped. He had not expected that. After all, he was just a magic warrior some time ago. How did he skip from that to being a noble? That did not make any sense at all!
Leon went over the rest of his status, and was soon left in an even more shocked state when he saw his health, mana, and the new skills that he had gotten from this race advancement. His battle effectiveness had suddenly soared compared to before! It was like the difference between night and day! He was sure that this was not supposed to happen at all.
“Nedra, what exactly is this pool?” Leon turned to the millipede queen.
“Hmm? I am not sure, but my former master treasured it greatly. It was something that facilitated his exploits into creating more creatures to serve him. It was never completed, but even then, it was still very good. A sip of the water from this pool was enough to enhance the basic stats of any of the creatures under his command for a short amount of time.” Nedra dutifully explained, with one of her antennae rubbing the spot of purple on her forehead.
“Never complete… Were there any Obsidian based creatures under your master’s command?” Leon held his chin in thought as he asked.
“No, there were no creatures like that under the former master’s command.” Nedra shook her head.
“I see.” Leon was slowly coming to a possible hypothesis, but he was not entirely sure. He thought that perhaps the reason for the pool having different and more powerful effects on him was because of his characteristics as an ‘Obsidian’ based lifeform, but when he thought of that, he also thought of his undead millipedes, and Kaladin. They did not really display anything too special or wild.
‘Ah, crap. Just when I thought I was adjusting to all this, everything gets thrown into chaos again.’ Leon sighed mentally and shook his head. ‘Nothing I can do about it.’
Like usual, he chose to just go with the flow and adapt as best as he could. In the end, this was a good thing for him, as being stronger would give him the ability to defeat stronger foes, and in turn, grow stronger.
“Well, we are done here. Let’s head back up and take down this nest.” Leon told his companions and turned to leave the cavern that held the Obsidian Pool.
.
.
“He is doing well.” A man with a head full of sparkling, gunmetal gray hair spoke to himself as he looked into a watery mirror. The mirror did not display his image, but the image of a pitch black skeleton that was garbed in a fine, black robe that was accentuated by gold and purple flourishes.
“Indeed. You chose well. He adapts well to the situation, and is surprisingly fluid. I initially thought that he would have broken by now. The beings of his world have incredibly fragile minds.” A soft, sonorous voice reached Michael’s ears as a fair lady, with a voluptuous body stepped into the room he was resting in. Her slender waist, curvy hips, and well endowed chest only increased her visual charm. A head full of curly, red hair framed her heart shaped face, and her blue eyes were as calm as a sea on a sunny day.
She casually walked over to the king sized bed that Michael was laying on, and slid onto it, pressing herself against him. Her right index finger trailed his exposed chest as she stared into the mirror in his hands. She looked intrigued by the black skeleton that was climbing up the pit that led to the Obsidian Pool.
“I can see his heart. He misses home, but he does not have the time to think about it.” The lady said sadly.
“Home? This is his new home. He does not need to worry about that forsaken land that I have liberated him from.” Michael snorted.
“Oh, but it might not be as you think. He does not miss the place, but instead, a person. One person that he has always admired, but had never taken a chance. A love story that never had the chance to bloom.” She sighed.
“Oh, Asteria, do you plan to share our love with a mere mortal?” Michael held the lady, Asteria’s, chin and guided her face to meet his. He gave her a small peck on the lips with a fire in his eyes.
“Of course not, but I will do my best to help him move on.” Asteria replied, a similar fire to Michael’s burning in her eyes. She took the mirror in Michael’s hand and placed it to the side, on a table that rested by the bed, before pouncing on Michael.