World Tome Web:
Dark Mana
Dark Mana is the manifestation of corruption, the raw essence of death, fear, and despair.
It is born from the negative emotions of living beings and death, or through direct corruption by a Lich or Archmage Lich.
Those who survive its touch are never truly alive again,
Those who fall under its influence lose their humanity piece by piece. Their souls blacken, their hearts twist, and their magic becomes a reflection of their torment.
The Lich
"A Lich can wield nearly every spell they once mastered in life."
This is what makes Black Mages so feared.
Even while alive, they command the darkest forms of magic.
But once they die, their bodies and souls are coated in Dark Mana and they return as something far worse and sinister.
Alive, they are already powerful.
Dead, they become transcendent, their magic intertwined with death itself.
To face a Lich is to realize death was never the end…only a promotion.
No longer human, they are reborn as the embodiment of death, the creators of the Undead Knights.
An Archmage Lich and a Lich King stands at the pinnacle of this hierarchy, an entity capable of bending entire regions to its will.
The Nature of Dark Mana
Dark Mana feeds on emotion.
Fear, hatred, despair and death, these are its sustenance.
The greater the negative energy in the air, the stronger its pull, and the more unstoppable its wielder becomes.
Those who kill using Dark Mana absorb the souls of the fallen.
Each soul devoured becomes a new source of power and the screaming never truly stops, a reservoir that grows without limit.
"Each kill feeds their hunger.
The fallen souls are devoured, their essence transmuted into Dark Mana that swells within."
In time, such beings reach a state where mana cost no longer exists.
Their spells can shatter armies, kingdoms or countries, burn cities, and rewrite death itself, all without a second thought.
The Black Book of Noctorine
It is said to be the first grimoire of the dead, the origin of all Black Magic.
It was written by the Archmage Lich King 'The One Whom the World Dare Not Name', the only known lich to ever ascend to both Archmage and King during the Lost Age: Dark Millennium.
"He created the first grimoire of death… the origin of all Black Magic.
Within its pages lie the forbidden incantations that birthed Dark Mana itself, and the secrets of immortality paid for in souls.
The Forgotten Truth
But all of this was said to be a myth, a legend from the Lost Age.
A tale to scare the young and amuse the old.
Until now.
But legends have a way of clawing back into reality.
---
Somewhere in Cebu City inside the building
A phone rang through the chaos. Dani picked it up.
"Aren't you going?" said the Mayor of Cebu City. "I'm sure you've already seen what's happening, knowing the nature of your magic."
Dani chuckled. "Everyone knows I can commune with animals from kilometers away."
He smirked. "And yet they still talk ill behind my back."
A laugh slipped out. "Petty? Maybe. But I'll let those two-faced bastards deal with that Lich."
The Mayor didn't seem surprised by Dani's attitude.
"Son, you're nothing like the man the media makes you out to be," he said, laughing. "Just make sure none of those zombies escape. I've just won an election, I'd rather not become tomorrow's scandal."
"Don't worry, Dad," Dani said. "Look out your window."
The Mayor turned and froze. Outside, a cradle of vines rose like a living wall, thick enough to shield the entire dungeon's perimeter, reaching high into the sky.
The Mayor began, "When did you…."
"Since the beginning," Dani cut in. "Back when I was on the call with Michael."
"So you don't have to worry about anything, Dad. I've got everything under contro…"
A sudden surge of mana erupted, blasting a gaping hole through the wall.
Dani said "I'll call you back." The line cut out, leaving only silence.
"What are you doing here?" Dani whispered, his eyes narrowing.
---
Outside the Dungeon Tower
Rank 8 of Cebu City, Pilar, screamed, "Martin!"
Before anyone could react, Rank 7 of Cebu City, Martin, a fighter-class Battle Mage, was struck down in a single blow by the Undead King.
The battlefield was thrown into chaos, torn between fleeing or letting the top-ranked Battle Mages handle the fight.
Yet with the speed they had just witnessed, and the death seal now marked upon them, the situation had turned dire.
Rank 9 Anton broke free from the seal, his holy magic shimmering faintly around him.
"I'm not dying here, he thought. Everyone else is frozen in fear… the Undead King will take them first. That's my chance to run."
Fear made decisions faster than courage ever could.
The Undead King sensed Anton's holy magic, its natural enemy.
Without hesitation it cast a cursed spell, feeding on fear as its mana source.
"End feeds end.
Ouroboros."
The battle mages froze in horror, the idea that an undead being could cast a spell was beyond belief.
Shadows burst from the ground, coiling around his body like living serpent ropes, then tightened, biting deep, their fanged darkness tearing flesh and soul.
The Undead King roared in pain, releasing a burst of Dark Mana that tore the flesh of nearby battle mages, knocking them unconscious.
Jane was puzzled. Why would it inflict pain on itself?
If it had cast that spell on anyone else, it could've easily killed one or two of them.
Then she realized, pain, fear, any form of negativity would only make the undead stronger.
The fact it was hurting itself could mean only one thing, it was converting its own pain, and the fear around it, into Dark Mana.
It was preparing to unleash a spell so powerful, it could wipe out an entire platoon.
The Undead King raised a single finger towards the sky, black energy swirling at its tip.
He uttered the words;
"Finger of De…"