134 Bone of Death (1/2)
The group continued their search through the temple, it's large white halls stretched far and wide, the pillars gave off a bone like texture as they pierced the hard ground. Even though the temple was shrouded in darkness the bones gave off light. Lachlan had already analysed them and found that although it was little, the amount of light it gives off is dependent on how strong the beasts' were.
So like they suspected, the pillars were made entirely of bones. Not all the same, but just a random mixture that the dragon created as he threw things together.
They walked deeper into the temple, that's where they found the thing they wanted the most. It was the dragon's treasury. And although the group didn't know how he did it, the dragon managed to collect a huge amount of gold, silver, jewels, and many other precious items.
”Damn, this dragon was a hoarder,” Simon remarked with surprise.
”Well if my knowledge of dragons is correct then they were known to be gathered precious items; not for their value but apparently due to them giving off a sparkle which caught the dragon's eye,” Joe said as he hit them with a fact. Although none of them was certain whether or not he was actually correct.
”Huh, I reckon this dragon had another habit, which was picking up piles of bones as well,” Chloe said as she walked around the corner, she had stopped in her tracks as her eyes widened. The group noticed and swiftly rushed over; when they walked into the side room they were all amazed.
In the centre was a single piece of bone, 2 metres in length that gave off a purple glow. In the surroundings however, there were bones on top of bones. Some were small, some were humongous. But everyone knew one thing, the one bone in the very centre was the most important.
Lachlan especially.
'Analyse'
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Name: Bone of Death
Description: Is able to raise up to five undead soldiers dependent on the user's personal strength. User is determined by forming a bone pact with the Bone of Death.
Location: Where the shroud of death lays.
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Unlike the other bones which might have a bit of durability to them, some might be pointy or sharp. This bone possessed a whole other ability, not to mention the fact that it seemed rather sharp.
However, due to the bone's thin shape, Lachlan didn't think it would be too durable. Although, it could be used as a spear, lance and maybe if it doesn't lose its abilities it can be broken apart into daggers.
Lachlan turned to the others and briefed them of the bone's abilities. They now have to decide on who gets it, although when Lachlan talked about the method of how to control it they were left at an impasse. None of them knew what a bone pact was.
'Hey Aaron, any chance you know what a bone pact is?' Lachlan asked. Although he wasn't confident, considering that fact that Aaron's world was full of magic he might know something that could help them.
'Well, I've heard of a practice like that in my home world. It would usually involve the bone of a strong beast paired with a human capable of wielding that strength. The human would cover the bone in their blood from top to bottom, as for whether or not the pact is formed, that's decided by the bone' Aaron replied back swiftly.
'Decided by the bone?' Lachlan asked in confusion.
'Indeed, usually when the bone is from a strong beast there may be remnants of the beast's soul or will in the bone and therefore it decides who to form a pact with. Once the pact is formed it'll choose a suitable bone in the body to merge with and it'll be done' Aaron explained.
Lachlan nodded and turned to the others. ”Alright, so I think I have an idea but we're going to have to decide on who gets the bone. Since it doesn't increase my willpower I won't take it, but it will increase your strength.”
Lachlan then briefed them with a quick summary of what to do to possibly form a bone pact. They all looked at each and pulled out their hands, they clenched them and placed it on their other extended out hand.
”Rock, paper, scissors!” All of them shouted as they threw out what they had. And surprising, from that one shot there was only one winner, everyone else had chosen rock while one person chose differently.
”Haha, I win!” Simon shouted loudly as though it was his first victory in years. He held his hand up in victory as he looked towards the others. ”Well, I suppose I'll be taking that bone then.”
He walked over to the bone and grabbed hold of it. The ground beneath him lit up abruptly, giving the group a bit of a fright. Letters of an unknown language began appearing, they started sliding onto Simon's skin and moving around.
'Aaron, when performing a bone pact should there be a bunch of glowing letters sliding across the body?' Lachlan asked.
'Well yes, that's the first half of the pact, the second part is the instalment of the bone. That part usually sends the person receiving the bone in a lot of pain, since usually, the bone will choose somewhere important in your body to place itself. For example, the rib cage or the spine, the sudden increase in bone size and strength forces the body to quickly adapt' Aaron explained joyfully.
”Ah!” Simon began to scream as he collapsed to the floor, his body twitching and squirming as his muscles were all tensed up. The Bone of Death had disappeared, there was something glowing purple beneath his skin, moving around until it reached Simon's neck.
Simon continued to scream but this time he was holding onto his neck tightly, veins were popping out of his skin as he was sent into cold sweats. Simon was gritting his teeth hard as he now began rolling around on the ground.
Chloe walked up to him and whipped out a bottle of water for when he stops screaming. They wait patiently for a few minutes and finally, he stops, the purple glow that was moving his neck had stopped and vanished. Simon looked around as he took deep breaths.
”Ouch, what the hell was up with that?” Simon complained as he laid back down, relaxing on the cold, hard bone floor.
”Well, it seems you've successfully merged with the bone, now try it out,” Lachlan said with a bit of excitement. He wanted to see how useful it really was, at least he wanted to know the max limit of it.
Simon nodded and closed his eyes. The group was unsure of what he was doing but none of them knew how to actually activate the bone of death so they couldn't talk. However, when his neck glowed purple they knew he did it.
Some of the bones surrounding them began to rattle together, getting dragged across the ground as they slowly began to create something. It took a minute or so but after a majority of the bones were used four beasts stood around them.
They were four wolves, they had a purple flame in their eyes. The rest of their body had nothing on it, no flesh, no blood, just bones. Lachlan quickly analysed them to see how strong they were.
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Name: Skeleton Wolf
Age: Adult
Attribute: Bone
Grade: Normal
STR: 44, AGI: 45, VIT: 10
INT: 15, PER: 14, WIL: 30
Weakness: No Intelligence, Blunt Attacks, Neck Bones