Being electrocuted was an interesting experience.

Lexie let it happen, simply out of curiosity to see how it would impact her body. She knew she wouldn't die from it, and she turned on <No Pain, But Gain> so that the pain wouldn't completely immobilize her, but she was curious to see how strong the bolt would be.

Turned out–extremely strong.

The bone-shattering jolt zinged through her body, with searing pain that locked up her muscles. Her jaw clenched involuntarily, and her breathing stopped temporarily.

Her vision went in and out of focus. She heard her Uncle yelling and shooting behind her, and some of those bullets hit the zombie, but it healed almost instantly. It also zapped lightning at Uncle Max, but he managed to dodge it.

Lexie was somewhat worried about her Uncle, but she kept her eyes on the beast, staring at it, siphoning her pain into resistance.

Then, when she could move her hand again, she wrapped it around his wrist and activated <Back To Sender>.

It was the creature's turn to jerk. The smile dropped from his face. But he wasn't falling. He looked more shocked than pained.

Technically, he was an undead, more than Lexie was. Lexie wasn't even sure he felt the pain. He certainly didn't look like he did.

He said something in a different language that Lexie didn't understand, but she thought it might have been a question because he seemed to be waiting for an answer.

Maybe he asked her what she was, or wanted to know if she was one of them.

"I am Lexie," Lexie said, and she thought about using her soul card to steal his power, but decided it was better to save the card for the teleportation exercise she still planned on doing this night.

She would just have to beat the zombies the old-fashioned way. But she would leave at least one of them alive.

"Lexie!" Uncle Max tried to get her with his harness, but she activated the <All Around Protection> shield to block him. She didn't want him to get electrocuted, either.

As she blocked it, she asked the one in front of her, "Do you speak Eldritch or Fae?"

"You are Eldritch?" he said in a broken dialect.

"Yes."

"Eldritch will be tasty. I love dark meat."

"That's a shame. You won't be having it today." Lexie shot out of his hold, and as he dashed for her again, she sent fire his way.

He dodged it. He moved at lightning speed, his jaw unhinging as he tried to devour Lexie's head whole.

She put her entire foot in his mouth and used a variation of True Windbreaker to add more force to her kick, trying to break his teeth.

It didn't work.

Physically, the zombie had more raw strength than she did, and he almost bit her leg off.

Lexie activated <Can't Touch This>, and it sent her back in the nick of time.

"Not bad," she told the creature, as a long, slender tongue came out to swipe over jagged teeth.

She stopped smiling. "That's disgusting."

He cracked his head and scrambled for her again, but Lexie was always three feet apart from him, jiggling from side to side, as he tried to maneuver around her invisible shield.

Then he activated a kind of lightning echo that attacked her a handful of seconds before he did, to confuse the card. Smart.

Lexie then drew <All Around Protection> back on herself.

The zombie snarled, getting frustrated.

While she stayed out of his grasp, she read his pathways. The interesting thing was that most of the pathways in his body were stiff and decayed, just as his cells were. All its current motion and magic originated solely from its brain.

The pathways in the brain were glowing, active, and strong. They were the only thing keeping it alive, and without that, the creature would be dead.

Was it a golem? A creature being controlled by a hive mind? It didn't seem like it.

It seemed like a being that had managed to discover the exact pathways in its brain to control its bodily movements and channel powerful magic without the body path

ways' involvement.

How did that work exactly? Could Lexie do the same thing with card magic?

Not that she would need it as an Eldritch, unless she planned on maintaining a hive mind that is. But as a human, this would have been a vital discovery, wouldn't it?

Perhaps, to give paraplegics a way to move around again, or to give mages with an ailing body power over it again.

Not that Lexie should care about such a thing.

Helping humans was no longer her mission. Her mission was to be a Lord of the Eldritch and the King of all Eldritch, too, probably.

She was not going back to earth again.

But there was no reason why she couldn't pass the knowledge along. Perhaps, she would tell Uncle Max before he went back. And even if the knowledge didn't end up being useful, Lexie still wanted to investigate it, simply for its sake.

Knowledge was addictive, and she liked to know things.

But while she was thinking, she didn't realize that the clicking had gotten much louder.

Suddenly, about two dozen other Zombies came running out of nowhere.

"Shit!" Uncle Max screamed and started shooting like an amadmann.

Lexie, on the other hand, remained calm. Even as their lightning crackled in the air around them, she gave Uncle Max her <All Around Protection> and wove a VOID surrounding her that swallowed the attacks.

When the zombies got close, Lexie would flare the VOID outwards, and she also began shooting little bubbles of VOID from her finger that pierced through their skin.

They didn't react to their wounds. It was like they didn't feel it, confirming Lexie's theory.

She sent the next set of VOID bullets through the skulls and flared her hands to expand them, blowing their brains open. Only then did they fall to the ground.

She repeated the act until there was only one zombie standing. The first one.

He seemed to have realized his mistake, because he finally appeared afraid.

He looked wildly around him at his fallen compatriots, whose corpses were now on the ground. They were groaning and would be getting up soon, but Lexie didn't bother finishing them off right now.

She floated to the last Zombie standing and said, "You said you speak Eldritch, right?"

"What…what kind of Elditch are you?" he stammered. "I have never seen your kind before."

"I am Lord Lexie," she said. "Of a new line. Now, what I want to know is, where do you guys get the animals from? My Uncle said that when you run out, you get animals from somewhere. Where is that?"

"I don't know," he said, and the hunger still shone in his eyes. Even with his predicament, Lexie could see him calculating how to eat her brain.

I must have a beautiful, delectable brain, she thought proudly.

"Okay." She brought out one of her blank cards and handed it over. "Push your essence into this."

The Zombie blinked at her.

"Do you understand what that means?"

He shook his head, but Lexie was unimpressed.

"You're lying, aren't you?"

He shook his head more frantically.

She sighed. "Well, it's a shame. The only reason I was keeping you alive is to make a creature card out of you so I can study you later. But if you're not able to do that, then I guess..." Lexie lifted her finger gun, pointing it at his head, and he jerked back, but she prevented his escape with a force field that enclosed him.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Then she raised her eyebrow at him as he whimpered.

"Fine," he said. "'I'll do what you say."

"That's what I thought you." Lexie allowed enough space in the forcefield for him to grab the card, giving him a warning VOID tap, when he tried to zap her with lightning and chomp on her hand while they were at it.

"Sorry," he said, rearing back and eyeing her fearfully. "It was a force of habit."

"I understand," Lexie said, because truly she did. Her brain was simply too tempting, and she would probably do the same in the zombie's position.

After Lexie had gotten what she wanted from the zombie and cleaned up the rest of his friends, she finally turned back to her Uncle Max. "I think we can head to town and search for the access point. Since it's nice and safe now."

Uncle Max was staring at her for nearly a full minute.

"Max?" Lexie inquired.

"I get it now," he said finally. "She's a freaking power house."

"Told you," Cecilia had joined them at some point, probably ready to teleport them to safety if need be.

Lexie smiled, pleased that they were acknowledging her skill.

"Well," Lexie said. "I'm not surprised that you're shocked. I've been very humble all this time."

Uncle Max snorted at that, and Cecilia straight up laughed. Lexie wasn't sure what was funny about the statement, but she felt like joining in, too, so she laughed.

It felt good.

They walked through the forest, encountering more zombies. Uncle Max warned that some of the zombies were faster and cleverer than the rest. Some used clones, and some could link themselves to you and try to control your body through electromagnetic waves. Then they were the ones who typically stayed near the town, who oversaw the whole hunt.

Lexie wasn't too concerned because, for now, most of their attacks were fairly predictable. Lexie used a variation of <All Eyes on Me> to sense where they were and killed them before they came. Though she'd told herself she wouldn't kill indiscriminately, now that she had one zombie, she didn't need the rest, and they were too bloodthirsty to keep alive.

As they attacked, she used an expansive shield to deflect their lightning before using VOID bullets to decimate them.

Uncle Max killed a few, too, with some of his more explosive bullets. After a while, he started to kill even more than Lexie, and he seemed to be having a lot of fun, swearing at the critters that had tormented him and kept him indoors all this time.

Lexie grew bored of killing them, so she would simply point in the direction and say, "There," and he would blow them to smithereens.

It was a fun exercise.

"So," Lexie asked. "How far away is this town?"

"We're almost there," Max said. "Once we clear this brush just ahead, we should start to see it."

Lexie nodded, and they walked some more.

After some time, the zombies stopped approaching them. The overseers didn't come out to meet them either.

Lexie was disappointed. It was like Yasycht's dungeon all over again. She didn't like it when the creatures started avoiding her.

When they finally emerged from the brush, they saw the town spread out in the valley beneath them. They were an assortment of buildings, separated into quadrants. One quadrant had buildings made of sand, the other had those made of smooth black stone. One section used metal, and the other brick.

There were meeting points between these buildings, and the path led to what looked to be a market that was on a faraway mountain.

Lexie couldn't see much beyond that.

"Wow. It really is a town," Cecilia said.

"Told you," Max said. "This is actually the best time to explore it without being bothered or attacked."

"Why? Because everyone is indoors because of the zombies."

"Yes."

"You said you don't know where the animals come from, but do you know who might know?"

"Sly," Max said. "He's my lizard friend. He likes humans. Not sure how he'll feel about Eldritch, though."

"We'll find out." Lexie made Max lead her to his friend's home, one of the black stone ones closest to the forest, and they knocked on the door.

The door did not open traditionally. It lowered like a drawbridge, and he came out, a tall, honest-to-God lizard that stood on two legs and was wearing a silken bathrobe and a bonnet.

"Heavens," he spoke like he'd learned human language from a Victorian soap opera. "Max. You didn't tell me to expect guests at this time! I look dreadful. And just what are you doing out this late? You'll get caught by the beasts."

"Actually," Max said wryly. "Outside might be the safest place to be right now."

"What do you mean?" His eyes travelled to Lexie, who was still taking in the bathrobe. "And pray tell, who is this?"

"This is my goddaughter. I think I mentioned her one or twice."

"Ah, yes. The tiny, spoiled-rotten, annoying one who likes to break human laws and is too nosy for her own good."

Lexie scowled at Max. "You told him that?"

Max winced. "Yes, but in my defense, I said all that in an affectionate way. So keep that in mind before you start zapping my head off."

Lexie pursed her lips, still not pleased with that.

"I'm not tiny," she said, finally to end that.

"Of course not," Uncle Max said. "Anyway, Lexie is an Eldritch now, and she had a few questions."

"I see. What are they? Would you like to come in or have some tea to discuss?"

"No." Lexie didn't have time for that. "I want to know where you people get your animals from when they run low."

"Oh. Well..." he hesitated to say it. "We have a few who volunteer for The Challenge."

"The Challenge?"

"Yes. Whenever we run low, a few kind souls volunteer, or are made to volunteer to the challenge. They enter through a shimmering black door behind the supreme's abode, and if they win, we get blessed with all manner of delicious creatures appearing in our forest."

Ah. Like Lexie. So there must be a link to the forest then, and that was why Lexie and Cecilia were able to appear there.

The shimmering black door must be a link to Yasycht's dungeon, or at least one of his levels. Through that, they could access the dungeon and find Ryn.

"I see," Lexie said. "And where is this Supreme's House?"

"You want to go to the Supreme's abode? At this hour?"

"Yes. Why not? Who is he?"

"He is...he is the being that keeps this all together," Sly said. "The Supreme keeps the madness at bay."

"By sacrificing these volunteers?" Cecilia guessed.

"If need be," he said. "You do not want to get on the Supreme's bad side, lest you be a sacrifice yourself."

"We can come back tomorrow," Max suggested.

"No. Right now."

Sly looked at Max, turning his head to the side so he could do it fully.

Max sighed. "It's okay. You can tell her. I think she can handle it."

Sly still looked unsure, but he said, "Alright. Since it is your choice, I will draw you a map."

A few minutes later, armed with Sly's map, they started making their way across the path toward the market at the other mountain.

Max had grown quiet during the conversation, and now he said, "Be careful with the Supreme, Lexie. Do not underestimate him."

"I know," she responded. After her encounter with Pvilycht, she was determined not to underestimate any creature again.

Speaking of Pvilycht, she called him again, and when he apparated, he looked different from how she remembered. Colder, not as in awe of her.

"What is wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. I am simply reverting to my former bond," he said. "But as a last-ditch effort, cousin, I must tell you. There is a good chance that my former bond will be completely restrengthened very soon. Neqal is establishing it as we speak. Bond with me now, or I will kill your charges."

***

A whistle suggested an end to the squabble between the two teams.

As they walked off the court, Bonds told them everything they did wrong. There was no clear winner at that round, and while that was good for both teams, it was also simultaneously bad for both.

As Bonds called out the teams for the next round of fights, Dewie tried to ignore Xena, poking his back.

She'd been doing it the whole time, but he was determined not to talk to her for the entire gym session. Maybe the whole day. He was that pissed.

"Dewie," she hissed. "Come on, just talk to me."

"No," he said.

"You just did."

Drat. She'd tricked him.

"I can't believe you did that to me." He turned and hissed at her. "You told Journeyman that I was never going to get the hang of my visions. That you thought I should stop our training."

Xena looked guilty. "Yes, but I only did that because I was worried about you, Dewie. Lionel told me that your visions are really not good for your health. I didn't want you to get hurt."

"That's not your decision to make. Don't you get it? You can't decide what's best for me. Only I can do that!"

The last sentence was definitely a yell. Darn. Dewie didn't mean to yell. He instantly felt bad.

Xena blinked. So did Henrietta, who was sitting beside her, and Jace, who was sitting beside Dewie. In fact, everyone in their immediate vicinity was surprised. No one had seen Dewie mad before.

"Xena, Dewie," Bonds called out. "I'm glad the two of you are all fired up. So maybe you can use some of that on the field today."

Dewie blushed at the attention he was getting, but he got up and stomped to team 3.

He heard Xena following him.

Across from them on the other team, he spotted Ava. Still with the dragon tail. Telling Vacek hadn't made it disappear. It was now pressed on her skin, shaking and vibrating.

Dewie was concerned. He got the immediate sense that something was about to happen.

"I'm sorry, Dewie," he heard Xena say. "You're right, and I'm sorry, I was being stupid, but you can't–"

"Xena." He turned to her. "I want you to try and use your powers on me right now."

She frowned. "But we're about to–"

"Please," he said. "It's important. Just go slowly, okay?"

She sighed and nodded.

Typically, Xena's powers caused Dewie's visions to disappear completely, but right now, he held onto them and focused, really focused on Ava and her dragon tail.

He didn't let his thoughts wander. He didn't hide from them. He thought only about her.

As Xena activated her light powers, and, like before, it wiped everything clean.

But not before Dewie saw something...

The dragon's tail disappeared, but a mirage of Ava had fallen to the floor of the gym. She was screaming, a metallic rod was embedded in her back with shattered glass all around her.

Glass.

Dewie glanced to the side at the high windows.

That was glass.

He started running.

"Dewie, what are you doing?" he heard Xena say, and he also heard Bonds add, "We haven't started yet."

But Dewie didn't stop.

"Ava, get out of the way," he yelled, but she kept standing there looking confused.

That was until he tackled her to the ground, rolling her over and over until they hit the opposite bleacher.

"Dewie!" Xena gasped.

"Bro!" Jace added.

A few people laughed.

"Get off me," Ava pushed at him, her voice muffled on his shoulder.

But he stayed there, waiting. Watching.

A second ticked. Another one. Another one.

Bonds sighed. "Okay, Dewie, enough fooling around. We have to–"

A crash interrupted her words, and people screamed as a metallic rod shot through the windows, before javelining itself into the ground

Right where Ava had been standing.

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