https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Terentius_Varro

Thank you for this! This looks really interesting. I'm already reading several novels, why not add in a comic?

The grand master had spoken: 100 sacrifices. That was the most important part of the ritual and creating your own, blank, grimoire was probably the most efficient initiation test, as you would have needed it to be a dark sorcerer in the first place and it was difficult enough to skim away the weak and less determined ones.

I was close to completing my task, it had taken an average amount of months to get the materials and the usual weeks to perfect the spells and set everything as needed. The only missing thing were the 100 sacrifices... The most laborious part and the one you shouldn't talk about. Some of the grand masters of the past had found creative ways to make wars begin and quickly got even more material, once they found a way to bond their death to the spell. Others had waited years to reach the number. Others were quicker, but somehow they never managed to become very powerful. Well, damn it, I would have changed things, I would have sacrificed millions... Millions of bacteria! Fungi, to be precise. I had thought about growing my culture, but a cut of fine cheese would have done the trick anyway.

​

"... and then you got nothing and wasted everything, didn't you?"

"FUCK! How is it possible? I did everything to the perfection, I focused on their lives, I have taken them, I-"

"Shut up, Alexander. You've always been so smart, yet so dumb..."

"But-"

"Value. The sacrifices are value. You're not the first one trying to sacrifice lesser means of life. Many quicken the process using dogs instead, after all it's needed that it's one hundred of something, obviously the result depends on what you use. If it's the same species you get finer results but it doesn't even need to be that way."

"So, the reason why you can't talk about it..."

"People would get suspicious about large amount of animals disappearing at once. They try to mitigate the inconvenience of inept trying this way. Yet, 100 chickens barely makes a book you can write a minor spell on, so that would be pointless. Now start again, we'll hang ut once you get your job done. You have potential and you know that. And don't ask me again how I'm finding 100 people: everyone has their personal way"

"Damn, it will be tedious, but I already have some ideas... Two years from tomorrow, the pub under the shortest tower, where we first met, vesper time at the table near the cellar door. I'll wait you there"

​

Now, I wouldn't have sacrificed him, he was my friend after all. But sneaking as much mages as I could among the 100 people would have made everything way more interesting...

I should probably be dead by now, but as my grandmother used to tell me:

[removed]

yes, actually, he did specify that they were too small to be seen.

Dark magic relies heavily on illusions. If the devil had any real power he wouldn’t prey on the weak minded and vulnerable. With that being said it is incredibly important to keep your own council. When entering the lair of a practitioner of dark magic never trust your eyes. They will create false hallways to keep you wandering endlessly, and when you grow tired they will move in to begin their manipulation, to try and turn you into a ghoul that does it’s bidding without question, or begin to wear you down spiritually and emotionally, whispering horrible things in an attempt to get you to end your own life, so they may consume your soul. When challenged they will create magnificent illusory creatures to try and terrify you. But if you steel your mind and stay focused and clear the battle becomes much simpler. You can handle the fight from there in a number of different ways. You can charge the beasts and watch as they jump away, just out of your reach every time, plow through their bullshit walls and drive the wizard into a corner where they may be sealed or at least immobilized temporarily. Since most of them bind their soul to an object that cannot easily be found it may not be possible to destroy them, but preventing them from doing any more damage to the minds of the innocent is a nice consolation prize. You may also play their game, run down their endlesss corridors and when they think they have you defeated, reveal the binding spell you led them into and seal them inside where you may be able to grill them for information on their intentions. These creatures have roamed unchecked for so long they truly believe themselves to be invincible, Their arrogance is a weakness you can exploit, be creative, but don’t lose yourself to the darkness in the process. There is no shame in taking a step back to collect yourself. Even the most hardened warriors suffer from fatigue after prolonged exposure to their manipulation. They fear the light, so when you see one preying on a group of innocents try to illuminate the situation. There is no winning this war, It is about damage mitigation and hopefully rehabilitation of their victims. Stay safe stay vigilant. And know when to call in for backup if you see something truly dangerous happening.

I got excited with them when they said they're gonna turn the war my boy

As I stared blankly at the mirror I started to cry as I thought “no not again”

I decided to jump.

Man was created in the eyes of God.

Monsters only know how to imitate.

“Luxury Gay space communism”…. That is a new one for me.

As he fell he thought, ain't this a prime example of hubris......

So a strictly hierarchal society that demands the lesser people sacrifice life force for their masters by blood, a society that summarily executes enemy combatants and whose notoriety is so great that enemy combatants choose berserker-like suicides over capture, has just had their servant class discover not only unlimited power but also eternal youth? This is either heading towards full blown dystopia or fully automated luxury gay space communism.

The floor starts to melt into lava. Only the kids are prepared.

An oni is a type of yokai recognizable by their horns, red skin, and preference for large clubs for weaponry

this is amazing

So is an Oni like a orge or something?

Could you send me a link about that? I genuinely want to read into that

Good news the drive works, bad news we can’t go back home.

"You're correct, I'm vile, cruel and most certainly a sadist. Now, to bad things..."

This is just Lilo and Stitch? Maybe it was intentional.

Not the tardigrade lich!

Will do thanks!

Spot on mate! A pint and a bit more from you would be nicer than a demon tree tickling yer ares now wouldn't it then ?