Finally Free From Pain and Suffering

I only saw darkness and only felt pain. My torment was never ending, there was no time to be at peace, nor to be freed from agony. Whether many minutes, days, weeks, or months may have passed, I had no idea.

All I knew was pain and suffering. I could no longer even scream. Everything was like hell, devils punishing me for a sin I never commited.

I felt hungry as my stomach grumbled and finally felt painful, but no food came to fill my belly. My throat dried, and my mouth was void of saliva, utter thirst filled me, and yet, there was no water to sate it.

I was terrified of everything, but no one was there to comfort me. I wanted death to come, but no one brought it to me.

The only thing that occupied my mind was the unexplainable pain I went through in the darkness. Why was death, always easy to achieve, now cannot be attained? A human being could die from a simple car crash and die, some by mere accident falling down the stairs, disease, sickness, drowning, burning, blades, and many more, death was easy to obtain.

But me? Why? Even death, they deny me of it? I longed for death, I searched its embrace. I no longer cared how I died, the result was all that mattered. The memories of my life, my family, hobbies, experiences, had all but faded in this world of despair and agony.

What did I do to deserve this? I did no one wrong, I committed no crime, I only did what I wanted quietly on my own, and no one was harmed. And here I am, left to simply feel the pain inflicted upon me that I couldn't imagine how it was done.

I had no luxury for sadness anymore, nor happiness, nor anger. Just pain...

Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain Pain!

…

…

Where was death when you needed it?

"Impressive little human."

"Others cry and beg."

"They wanted to be spared."

"Stop the pain and let them be free."

"They did it for some time."

"Valuing their life."

"But you…"

"The moment you were brought to us."

"You surrendered to death."

They suddenly spoke to me amidst the torrent of pain. I do not know why they speak to me now.

"You have our praise."

"You embraced death."

"We are happy."

"You are also one remarkable being."

"Different from the beings in this world."

"You are the one."

"As you have embraced death, we shall bless you in return."

What were they trying to say to me? I cannot understand.

"Your hatred for us is understandable."

"But know this, you are already dead."

"Albeit, you shall be given a new form."

"The highest of us all."

"Slay us with your own hand."

"And you shall have the blessing of death."

"And you shall become death incarnate itself."

"The pain is part of the process..."

"And time."

"""Now, slay us."""

I didn't try to understand the entirety of it, but I hated them. I wanted to destroy them. However, I did not know how to slay them, but I willed it. It was then that I felt their presence disappear.

The next thing I knew, I was sprawled on the hard rocky ground, the same place inside that cavern. There was only silence. I started to move, but I couldn't stand, I couldn't even strain my muscles to carry my body.

I saw my arms were so thin that there wasn't even any fat and muscle. But I didn't stop and used my hands to drag myself towards the exit. I grinded the solid ground, but I didn't get any wound, but only felt the hard and rough sensation.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the doors, and they opened wide when I was coming in close. There were human soldiers guarding above, but I forced myself up. Then eventually, I absorbed their life force.

When I was set free, knowledge was embedded into me, specifically, my abilities and magic. Those were the only ones left to me, and…. None said what happened to me.

But, what I knew was that I must absorb their life force to feed and save myself from this miserable state.

When it was enough to allow me to stand, and swelling with power, I was filled with utmost happiness. It was refreshing to finally be able to move, see the green outside, and free from pain.

I wanted to shout my joy! Aaaah, wonderful!

I noticed that I was naked, it was very embarrassing to show my body like that! So I immediately covered myself while acting all nonchalant. There were even men there, ugh.

I also noticed that my hair had turned silver, but I didn't get to check on it more since there were some people there. Well, I just killed their allies, so they're pretty hostile. Well, no matter.

I also needed information, so I'll keep the knights intact — knights are pretty important persons, you know — I tried out my type of raising of the dead spell, the bad kind of raising the dead, not resurrection.

Yeah, they turned to zombies of some kind. Essentially, my abilities were mostly focused around undead kind of stuff. Like the things liches can do. But I still look perfectly human, so I'm no lich — I don't have a skeletal body, as you can see. Of course, with the exception of a few changes in my appearance.

In any case, I tested the knights a bit and after that, eventually killed them. Instant death! Awesome! Damn, aren't I pretty OP?

But I'm no Mary Sue… hehehe.

Hm… aaah, sure nice to finally express myself with vigor. Though I can't say I like expressing myself outside.

Still, how joyful it was to finally be out of the pain! Finally, no more.

Now then, let's do something about these two knights lying lifelessly on the ground. I didn't intend to raise them as plain mindless undead, they were pretty useful having their own mind. Yes, meaning they will be as intelligent as they originally were.

This could also be a test if I had grips on their devotion.

I cast a spell called "Reshaping Undeath". For the record, this spell recreates them into undead, but they still retain their entire capabilities when they were still alive. Of course, there will be some power boost.

A black haze engulfed the two bodies before seeping into their skin. The bodies flinched before they both slowly stood up. Confusion colored their faces as they looked at themselves. They were paler than they were, like a dead body as they were already… dead.

They had conflicted expressions when they saw me. Well, they were just trying to kill me just now.

Alright, I wonder if they'll try to attack me despite my link to them.

The man, in particular, quickly walked towards me while leaving his sword on the ground. When he got nearer, he genuflected in front of me.

"Master, I sincerely apologize for my actions earlier."

After seeing the man genuflect, the woman quickly sprang into action and frantically kneeled on one knee. She seemed to be slow to uptake, or perhaps still confused and refused to accept it.

But the man quickly accepted his new being.

"I,I t-too deeply beg for your forgiveness."

Interestingly, the girl was frantic.

"Will you two not strike me? Am I not your enemy?" I asked.

"Of course not, master," the man said.

"Why? What changed?"

"I saw and felt enlightenment, and fulfillment when I was filled with the will to serve you, my master."

Now that's eerie. I don't how that would feel, your mind just changing all of a sudden. The woman on the other hand, has yet to say a word. Let's be careful with this girl.

"You," I pointed at her. "Will you not say anything? Are you having conflicted feelings?"

" — No, master… I'm just, just… confused. It is weird…"

"But do you know your purpose?"

"Yes, my purpose is to serve you."

"I see. What's your name?"

"Heiness Zeres, master."

"And you?"

"Neolen Herven."

"Noted. Now then, the other guests have arrived so you may stand."

Looks like they won't try to kill me from this moment forward. Well, if they tried, they can't defeat me anyway.

The special zombies dragged along multiple soldiers shaking in their boots, but the undead didn't care. They threw the soldiers forward causing a loud thud through their armors, the soldiers gazed up at me with terror. That's pretty rude considering I should have a normal appearance, nearly normal at least.

I ignored them and looked at the zombies.

"Much appreciated! So, did you guys have a nice meal?" I said in a friendly manner.

The zombies nodded surprisingly in unison. Huh, interesting.

Normally, you don't need to talk to mindless minions, but, hey, I'm not a cold person to my forces. I know I should treat my subordinates kindly and not abuse them and such.

"That's good! Now then, maybe this is enough."

I stepped closer and they trembled even more, causing the metal of their armor to rattle loudly.

"Aaaah!"

"Stay away!"

They all crawled back away in fear.

"Hold them."

The zombies followed my command and held down the humans. I slowly walked, taking my time and watching their despairing faces. Yup, I'm doing it on purpose. One soldier in particular looked behind me and cried.

"Lady Heiness! Help us!"

Then followed by others.

"Lady Heiness! Save us."

"H-Help!"

I stopped in place and turned towards one of my newly made "Death Knights" and then asked.

"Heiness, what will you do? They are asking for your help."

Her eyes shifted towards the soldier's, their pleading eyes all going towards her. She was silent for a few seconds before turning her head to look at me.

"Master, I… I have no obligation to help them."

"Huh, is that so? Well then, you heard her lads!"

"What, What did you do to her?!"

"Oh nothing you need to concern yourself about. Bye."

Before they could blurt out anything, I absorbed their life force and they later dropped to the ground.

"Those guys didn't even try to call for me, were they blind? They just ignored me, another knight. That was harsh. Well, can't blame I guess, they didn't know me yet," Neolen complained as he faced Heiness.

"Yes… After all, I was with them for an amount of time."

With the soldiers done, I raised them again as zombies before turning to my two knights.

"I guess you have a camp around?"

"An outpost."

As usual, Neolen was the first to respond. Getting slow there Heiness.

"Alright, pick up your swords and lead me there."