Light taping came from the pen hitting paper, plans set in motion, months in the making. Even before leaving the tutorial, Ferdinand Smith the leader of the United Colonies was compromised.
An agent of evil and chaos, whose only purpose was to satiate his own and his master's pleasures.
He was a man who always greeded for power, the ability to force his will upon others without restraint or question. However he lacked the traits needed to rise to the highest station in his field. Lacked the connections that others had.
But when the tutorial had flipped the script it, the writing was on the wall. He knew what needed to be done, the sacrifices he would have to make to make his wish come true.
He had found a small dungeon with his group in the tutorial. The remnants of the cabinet members their guards and the president of the previous country. However, when they completed the dungeon and every received their respective rewards. Ferdinand received a very special and peculiar item. The jeweled fang of a vampire duke.
The item itself was a great stat stick as many called them now. But it also allowed him a path forward that his class and race at the time did not. A path to the top.
At first it was small changes, the sun prickling his skin, his ability to see better at night. Hearing peoples pulse from several feet away. Then it became problematic, or at least more so.
He had a thirst. A thirst for blood, and then an insatiable hunger for it.
Soon he found himself leading people into the dark far away from others. Faint voices telling him various things. Then they got more clear, more distinct.
Prepare for your return to your planet, spread our brethren far and wide. And you shall have your seat atop your throne as you wish. Prepare. Prepare for his coming.
Ferdinand didn't know what the voice meant at first, how could he? How could someone of his position know the true face of his master, the pinnacle of the undead.
So, as he was told he prepared. First with his own tutorial, turning others into undead one by one. Using his own blood as a means for the transformations.
Once the tutorial concluded, he was able to procure even further means through rituals and instructions from the higher undead that had come from other tutorials now on Earth.
Their web of information and transformative magic spread like wildfire. It turned out that people were more than willing to join a cause so long as it meant getting stronger. Too many people had sat idly in their own tutorials, leaving them exposed to the realities of what Earth had turned into.
And both the church and the undead capitalized on that.
"How goes our plans," Ferdinand asked, "Are the other cities continuing to fall in line?"
A beastkin woman, now turned undead, brought over a folder, placing it on his desk.
"Yes sir, we are steadily building up our resources. If you look at the projections it is even faster than before. We should hit our quota for the amalgamation summoning within three weeks."
"Good, and the misinformation campaigns?"
"We continue to send small parties to disrupt ReUnite. We have had our collaborators lay low within the city as they take video for us to use. The videos and images of the 'brutality' their guards have shown to be very effective in beginning others to our cause."
"Excellent. And the army?"
"Army, sir?"
"Yes, for when the master comes. We will need to be able to topple the city of ReUnite."
The beastkin women looked confused, "Sir, there is no such army. The lord and assistant are both beyond the means we currently have."
Ferdinand gave a confident grin, "Is that so? We will just have to change that then," he waved his hand, another man standing at the ready opening the door. "The counts will see to it that we have such an army. Let me introduce you. The Five Fingers of the Undead."
The door swung open, five hooded figures stepping into the room. All wreaking of powerful death and mana, the floor beginning to crunch under their steps as it blackened and cracked.
"What is the will of our lord," one asked, their voice echoing deep within the room.
Ferdinand leaned forward, intertwining his fingers, "Build our master the greatest army this world has ever seen.
—-----
"I told you to never step inside the house unless you bring me some god damn boose! You filthy good for nothing rat!"
"Your Mother should have never had you! If you weren't here I would still have her!"
"You brought some good stuff here… Go get me some more son-"
Atticus's eyes opened, his hand gripping the chair so tightly the arm bent inward.
He was by no means a strong man, not with his build and stats geared toward the use of magic. However, the dream had brought up memories despite how disturbing for others were ones he held close.
His father wasn't pretty, wasn't loving. But at least it was the real him.
Atticus let out a breath, a small bright sun burning in front of him as he cleared his mind. But it was always brought back to the man that had changed. The puppet of the Primordial race known as Asurans, all so that a parasite could slither its way into a planet it had no right to be on.
He could remember how bright and brilliant his god was as he looked into the ball of fire spinning in front of him. The day he met the being casted in red flame during the tutorial, Atticus knew instantly he had found his god, his reason for going through everything.
The warmth and love he felt was like nothing else. It was a path he was sure was needed for all. It was a path he knew would free this world from the disgusting grasp of the other worlders and undead.
"My Emperor."
Atticus's head leveled upward, staring down the man, "What is it, Lionel? Do you bring me good news?"
Lionel bent to one knee, his head dipping down so far it almost touched the floor.
"Yes! We have prepared the summoning circle. We have selected the sacrifices and are in the midst of summoning our lord's avatar to this realm. All as you have instructed."
"So it finally begins, our march to glory. Our first step at cleansing and reclaiming this world in the name of the glorious sun."
"Yes! The blasphemers will finally see the reckoning they deserve! The dirty filthy half races that filled the tutorial will now be set free and cleansed here just the same as they were there!"
Atticus stood, moving to place his hand on Lionel's shoulder, his eyes thin as he smiled.
"Yes, they shall be cleansed…" he recited.
"How could I ever love such a dirty little bastard!" The voice of Atticus's father shouted in his mind. "You're nothing but a disappointment!"
His grip tightened.
"My Emperor?" Lionel asked concerned.
"Nothing, let us see to the summoning circle. I want to thank our volunteers."
"Oh! Drake! You're doing so well in school! Look at what you drew! Your mother and I are so proud of you!" The voice said again. However, this wasn't Atticus's real father. No.
This was the husk of the man that was replaced. At some point his father was no longer the man he remembered. He had changed to this puppet of a thing that could only praise, only love. But it was empty and only Atticus could see that.
He and Lionel moved through the building, people bowing at his feet, praising him, showering him in the love he always so longed for.
But it was not enough.
They should all love me… Look at what I have done for them… He thought. Look at them. Why do others not understand the peace I have brought them, the purpose! I have given them a path to walk where there was none. I have given them a god to love when all others have fallen and abandoned them! I alone!
"Atticus, you should treat your brothers better. You're the oldest, you need to set a good example." The voice entreated.
Why?Why should I pretend to play along in this house full of strangers?!
The woman known as his mother was no such thing. His brothers? They didn't share a single drop of blood. It was a sham, a falsehood. And there was only one way to rectify it.
After minutes of walking, they had finally come to the open area where the night was illuminated by a bright red fire circle. Countless men and women surrounding it in chains as they whimpered and begged.
He shouted above them.
"You all are now part of a higher purpose! You are now recruited into the great army and service of the Emperor of the Sun, The Great Sun Mage! Atticus Wallen!"
The magic circle flared, burning and taking some of the people around it in a wave of fire as the screams increased. But Atticus spoke above them, his fanatic followers unable to tear their eyes away from their Emperor.
"You will bring forth an era of peace and prosperity like no other in this world. Where the pure and faithful will live under the protection of our great and mighty god! Yes! Some of you may die! But that is a risk I am willing to take!" he roared.
Cheers and clapping rang out as a chant began, overtaking the screams and shouts for help.
Atticus turned, renewed his belief in himself as he spoke to Lionel.
"Bring me my Apostles, we have much to do and discuss as we prepare the Avatar."
"Right away!" Lionel said, running off immediately, another man replacing him.
"Sir, we have someone at the gate, they bear the mark and say it is something urgent."
Atticus raised a brow but nodded, "So be it, let them in."
Many people had been converted to his flock through his legendary skill. Many thought his expertise was in fire magic, but no. The specialty of the Sun Mage was that of warmth. And to Atticus, that was love.
He turned, feeling his mark come closer, surprised to see the person.
"This is unexpected. What news do you bring?"
"Drake Wallen and the other two Primordial's have gone into some kind of slumber after taking Avalon. Please, my lord, you must save them! Save him! I can't let him die-"
"Shhh my child," Atticus hummed, "Now now, Megan… Of course I will save them. I will save them all…"