Magnus sat on the roof of the safehouse, the ocean wind slapping his coat against the rusted railing. Below, waves hammered stone in rhythmic violence.
He wasn't thinking about the sea.
He could bring back the dead.
But only a few. And only as husks.
But it was still a powerful ability. After all many of the famous webnovel, anime or manga characters from his past life were those with Necromancy ability.
Although he was not at that level yet. But still he had taken a few steps in that direction.
---
The first lead was a street healer in San Juan who called herself Mami Elva. She wore fake rings but had real scars. He learned(copied) two things from her: how to listen when the spirits talk, and how to know when they're lying.
He copied her skills and left.
The next was a man in Port-au-Prince. He didn't speak much. Showed Magnus how to build a proper altar, what to burn, what not to say. Most of his rituals didn't work. The ones that did were ugly.
Then New Orleans. Then Kingston. Then a dive bar in Lagos where a woman with burned-out eyes made him watch her cut the soul out of a dying bird. She told him raising the dead was easy. Bringing them back—that was different.
He took everything useful. Left quietly every time.
By the end of the month, the system marked a new entry.
---
[Skill Gained: Voodoo Magic– Level 4]
User can utilize voodoo, i.e. various practices from Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo. Users have access to various practices that involve rituals, prayers, sacrifices, herbalism, and communing with Iwas and Loas to achieve various affects. Some of the most common applications involve necromancy, being possessed, and creating Voodoo dolls.
Blood Magic
Curse Magic
Herbalism
Mediumship
Necromancy(slight)
Ritual Magic: Conjuration & Invocation
Spiritualist
Spirit Magic
Voodoo Doll Creation
---
But now it's time to go back.
Muir Island was colder than he remembered.
He flew in under a cloudbank, touched down an hour past midnight. No one greeted him at the landing pad, but that wasn't unusual. People here kept their distance.
He walked the path to the facility alone.
---
Masque had waited weeks for this.
He knew Magnus was out of the islands but would be back soon. Everyone on the island knew that. But he also knew the others didn't pay much attention.
Magnus had pushed him too far. They took him for granted but they didn't know what he could do.
What power he has.
Tonight, he had six with him. Morlocks who's appearance had forcefully changed through his powers.
He changed their appearance to enhance there mutant powers and to make them more combat effective.
Ultimately it was all to increase his chances against Magnus.
And as he had done it he also got them into control using the device he had made. Thankfully they were his supporters before so it became more easy for him to do it.
They were waiting by the lower service hall. Magnus would pass through on his way in.
Perfect.
Magnus stepped through the east wing checkpoint and immediately knew something was off.
No guards.
No lights on in the control booth.
He stopped moving.
Listened.
The air was too still.
Then came the first strike.
A dart clacked off the wall next to his head.
Tranquilizers.
He didn't flinch.
Second shot—he caught it mid-air.
A voice echoed from the hallway.
"Still fast, huh?"
Masque.
He stepped out of the shadows wearing smug look.
Magnus still didn't move.
"I figured this would be the best time. You'd be tired," Masque said. "Jet lag. Maybe a little distracted by all the stuff you were doing outside."
Two of Masque's men stepped out behind him
"Really?" he said. "This is your big move?"
The others moved in.
Magnus struck first.
First one dropped in two hits—knee, throat.
Second drew a blade. Magnus kicked it out of his hand, spun, elbowed him across the temple.
Masque flinched.
Magnus turned to him.
"Tell me you brought more than this."
Masque snapped his fingers.
Three more came from behind. Bigger ones. One mutant—power unknown. The other two just brutes.
Didn't matter.
Magnus dodged low, swept the legs of the first. Rolled forward, slammed a palm into the second's sternum—crack. Down. Mutant charged. Telekinesis, light. Magnus ducked under the wave, closed the gap, crushed his ribs with a clean body blow.
Masque turned to run.
He didn't get far.
Magnus tackled him into the wall, twisted his arm behind his back, slammed his face into the concrete once. Hard enough to break skin.
Masque groaned.
"Done?" Magnus asked.
No answer.
He dropped him.
Emma was already waiting when Magnus got back upstairs. She was leaning against the railing, arms folded, hair windblown.
"You handled it?" she asked.
He gave a nod. "Masque's taken care of."
"Is he alive?"
"For now."
She shrugged, weary. "Should've just killed him outright."
Magnus shook his head. "Better to do it in front of everyone tomorrow. And I doubt you're so clueless that you didn't notice what was happening under your nose. Which means you let it play out on purpose."
"Exactly."
She stepped aside, letting him pass. "We'll finish it tomorrow."
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