Chapter 7: Cave of 1000 Corpses

Harvard would prepare his spells for combat, watching the shambling messes scamper their way towards him, lunging out in punches and kicks, elongating their bodies so they can properly connect towards him. With a simple flick of the wrist, Harvard conjured one of such spells, spawning what seemed to be a shield to defend against the enemies that flooded across the area, casting a second spell in spawning what seemed to be a scythe. Usually a tool used to cull crops, the weapon in choosing would act to cull and cleave the hordes down, already having an idea on what is gonna happen. As the Card Magician kept slicing at everyone, practically maintaining his distance away from the freaks of nature, their anatomy would quickly piece together, proving the child's point that these things are not just merely undead, but immortal. He swore he has even chopped off one creature's head, to which they reattached it back like it was barely a graze.

On the other side, Zazel would be maneuvering around the molting mass with his Sigils as transportation, blasting down fire with Asmodeus, pressurized streams of water with Folacor, and even electricity by Furfur to damage the creature, but to no avail. Despite the harsh burns, severed limbs from the water, or even pure static that further increases the damage, the shambling mess of flesh merely regenerated itself, grasping the Candelabrum tightly, its fire burning brighter. The creature would do a counter-attack in the form of shooting the bones in a small, yet precise manner, similar to that of bullets. Said bullets were reaching speeds beyond sound itself, but it was lightwork for Zazel to deflect with a Sigil as a defense. Eligos was its name, and he was thankful it came to him in this time.

"They're not budging! These things just don't care what we're throwing at them with! Its like they can't feel what's happening!" Zazel warned, prompting Harvard to think on his feet. What to do here? The creatures are being relentless, constantly pushing the boy back with their all-out assault, and no matter what spells he casted, whether it would be offensive or defensive, it only served to delay the inevitable. Moreover, these creatures doesn't seem to have a proper limit to what's going on. Their energy isn't being wasted in the slightest, most likely rendering them to be sitting ducks if they waste any time. His eyes dart around the location, being reminded of the Artifact the creature is wielding

"THAT!" He declared, pointing towards the candle. "That thing is holding onto it for dear life! That's probably what's causing all this to happen!" Zazel looked onwards to the candle, dumbfounded.

"That thing!? WHY??"

"Remember the creatures moving around? I'm willing to bet that thing is responsible for it! Shot in the Dark, maybe it can cast Necromancy! Y'now, Zombie Magic!"

Zazel would be a bit stunned at how quick he took this assumption, though he may have a point. The shambling creature was grasping it for dear life, leading one to assume it's a life source for them. The candle wasn't burning as brightly as it was right now, which means its use is being triggered across the entire cave. A wide range to be sure, but a plausible one. Moreover, if this truly is Zombie Magic, that would most likely mean that candle also controls the horde that Harvard is facing. Taking the candle for themselves would mean they kill 2 birds with 1 stone: They'd have what's essentially a zombie-like army, and the shambling creature itself would become limp on the floor, unable to properly live. With this knowledge in mind, Zazel would know what to do, telling the plan towards Harvard

"Find a way to slow these guys down! Try to do the thing you did when we first met! You SHOULD have a monster for this....Right??"

Harvard, hearing this order, smiled widely. "Oh yes I do. You make sure to grab that Candle!" And with that, Harvard gets his preparations, requiring a large chunk of energy in order to pull it off. He'd cast the seal downwards itself on the ground, letting the Horde come storming in, having their very bodies become a cost and a catalyst, both in releasing their physical coils to this world so they can rest beyond, but also using that mass to summon a monster. Zazel, meanwhile, got set on getting up close and personal, aiming to burn at the appendages that held the candle.

What the duo didn't expect was that the Shambling mass was actually smart. Using its large body, it slammed itself across the caverns, causing the area to rock to and fro, shaking the foundation, and even severing connections of a stalactite to drop it atop of the child. Harvard would try to maneuver out of the way, but inevitably had to postpone the summoning through the usage of a set of chains that connected itself to a different surface, quickly dragging him away from harm's way. From here, he'd try to cast another spell, burning through his energy quick, just as he expected it was gonna be. Such a spell was to cast more chains around the stalactite itself, hurling it on its side to slam into the horde of creatures that came to take advantage of the child's position. With speed, efficiency, and some luck, Harvard was barely able to be torn to shreds against the enemy, strong dust and debris shooting towards him as it headed for his direction, coughing and covering his eyes as he maneuvered his way towards the sigil once more.

The beast, witnessing the child somehow barely surviving his wrath scattered across the environment, grew into an absolute tirade of groans, grunts, and roars, ultimately deciding to tear itself apart. In such a grotesque display of violence at oneself, Zazel would notice that the pieces that were ripped out from the creatures body was being reanimated, making it become littered to the brim with even more of such husks. Some of said husks were even thrown by the appendages directly at Harvard, causing Zazel to quickly react and cast the Asmodeus sigil on instinct alone, cremating some of the mounds, but ultimately realizing a disaster unleashed towards Harvard.

It was coming in his direction. A wave of hellfire directly aimed at the child. Zazel would try to warn him, but it would quickly make contact, most likely causing severe burns and more than likely killing him. In Zazel's mind, he was in fear. He effectively, yet accidentally, killed off someone who saved him prior. Or at least...he believed such was the case.

Harvard stared at the incoming hellfire, gave a wide smile that doesn't showcase a hint of such fear, and raised his hand up, card in hand. "Gotcha" would be his uttered word in this moment, before he would be consumed by the flames.