Chapter 757

Chapter 757: Obsidian Fragment

“Ms Molofeel,” Zardeth said with some annoyance, “you could just walk in without hiding your presence here. It made me uneasy.”

“I’ll be more careful next time,” Molofeel replied.

Jesse glanced at Sorrel inside and said, “I came to ask you for the way to summon a Netherwalker. Also, I got a useful spell recently—a summoning circle. Have you heard of it?”

“The chant to summon a Netherwalker can be yours. You should have taken it last time, but you seemed uninterested in summoning that demon,” Zardeth said while sitting across from him. “What exactly is this summoning circle? Does it make summoned things stronger?”

“No,” Jesse replied. “It’s for summoning a person.”

“You mean a circle needing one person to lead, with two guiding the Void magic?” Zardeth asked in surprise. “Are you sure it’s real? I know some Demonologists learned this from the Orc Warlocks’ Council. How did you get it?”

Jesse looked at the books on the shelf and various spell materials, saying, “That’s a secret.”

“Of course,” Zardeth said, his tone relaxing a bit. “If everyone in the Dagger Association learns to use this summoning circle, we could return to The Slaughtered Lamb from anywhere… as long as three people are in the basement. That would speed up gathering spells and finding artifacts.”

“I thought the same,” Jesse said, looking at him. “As the best here at Shadow Magic, Zardeth, you’d learn it fastest. Given how important this spell is, you should learn it quickly.”

“You’re too modest, Jesse,” Zardeth replied. “I think you might have learned it already and came to tell me.”

Jesse said, “Not this time. I brought it before studying it. Honestly, I’m curious—your skill in Shadow Magic has jumped ahead, while I’m stuck… We all wonder how you did it. Did the dwarves from Ironforge share some trick, like how to handle emotions?”

He paused, watching Zardeth’s reaction; the man seemed proud Jesse noticed his progress.

Jesse continued, “Remember the Dagger Association’s rule you told me? Share everything, so don’t dodge this. Other Warlocks are learning fast. It’s been ten years since the Dark Portal. If we move this slow… we’ll fall behind. Warlocks in Quel’Thalas and Shadowforge City studied Dark Magic long before the Dark Portal, not to mention Dalaran.”

“I didn’t expect you to chase progress so hard,” Zardeth said.

“Then I’ll answer your question this time.” He took a small black box from the shelf and pulled out an earring with a strange purple-and-yellow gem fragment.

“This is obsidian from Silithus, Jesse. It holds amazing dark power,” he said proudly. “Just touching it, you feel its strength. This fragment is rare—I got it from a close warlock friend who bought it from an Explorer Association expert in Ironforge. You know Orc and Ogre Warlocks fled to Kalimdor? They went to Silithus for this obsidian to boost their dark spells. Some in Shadowforge City already know this.”

Zardeth handed the obsidian fragment to Jesse, who held it and felt his ears ring.

His fingers gripping the fragment grew warm, and the Chain of Will around his neck heated up.

This wasn’t real heat. As alertness surged, he noticed every change. This “obsidian” from Silithus had nothing to do with volcanoes.

It was a dark stone used by Old Gods’ servants to talk. The Ahn’Qiraj temple was full of such things; insect people lived with them.

When Twilight’s Hammer followers came to Silithus, they used these stones to summon corrupted elements serving the Old Gods, or worse…

Was this fragment part of those evil stones?

Jesse didn’t know. It might be real or fake. Maybe a reckless adventurer brought it from Kalimdor to the Eastern Continent, or the Old Gods’ servants were spreading their influence.

“We talked about this, Zardeth. We seek demon power, not ancient evil worship.”

“What do you mean?” Zardeth asked.

“If this is real Silithus obsidian, you’re close to those mad cultists,” Jesse said, gripping the fragment. “Do you want to give your mind and soul to those evils?!”

Zardeth frowned. “How do you know?”

Jesse replied, “These stones link to the bugs in Silithus. I just came from Kalimdor—even ten-thousand-year-old Night Elves avoid them. They know if you’re drawn in, you become the Old Gods’ toy. Zardeth, do you want to rule the shadows or be ruled by them?”

“I’ll never be ruled by shadows,” Zardeth said coldly. “But I can’t just take your word…” “Tell me how to use this fragment’s power,” Jesse cut in.

Zardeth hesitated. “There’s a chant that strengthens…”

“The bond with this thing,” Jesse finished.

“Yes,” Zardeth admitted reluctantly. Jesse sighed. “Tell me the chant.”

Zardeth took out a paper and recited, “Kis, Gag, Uk, Gal, Iz, Agso…”

“What language is this?” Jesse asked.

Zardeth paused. “Probably an old tongue, like the language of Kalimdor or an ancient elf variant. They didn’t explain.”

“This is Shath’Yar, ‘Black Claw’ Zardeth!” Saenor poked from Ms Molofeel’s demon bag. “It sounds like the Void servants’ chants for power!”

“You know a lot, imp,” Zardeth said.

“Of course!” Saenor replied. “If you doubt me, ask your Netherwalker servant—that thing you dragged from the Void Plane. It’ll know what this means!”

Zardeth gulped. “I’ll go to the basement now.”

“I’m coming,” Jesse said.

They hurried to the Mage Quarter. By evening, Zardeth looked grim, clutching the box while Jesse followed, planning how to handle this.

If this was truly a Silithus obsidian fragment, Zardeth was close to becoming a Twilight follower.

He’d turn the whole Dagger Association into an Old God cult. Jesse could only stop them or leave…

He couldn’t bring himself to kill Zardeth or the group.

Zardeth seemed clueless about the fragment but grew wary after sensing its danger, not suspecting Jesse envied his progress.

Jesse felt he could be saved.

Jesse had resisted shadow corruption himself. Zardeth was talented in Shadow Magic and had self-control before this. He deserved a chance to step back from Twilight if he realized his mistake.

Besides, ten years later in the game, the warlocks in The Slaughtered Lamb basement had no ties to Twilight’s Hammer. Back in the basement, Zardeth led Jesse to the Netherwalker.

The room was nearly dark, lit only by the Netherwalker’s two flickering flames.

“Kuromos,” Zardeth called.

“Master, I obey…” the Netherwalker echoed.

“I’ll say something,” Zardeth told the darkness. “Tell me what language it is. If you understand, translate it to Demonic.”

“Understood, Master,” the Netherwalker replied. Zardeth read the chant again.

After listening, the Netherwalker’s shadow spread, making a sharp hum. It said, “This is the Void Plane’s tongue… Shath’Yar…”

Zardeth frowned, his hand trembling.

The Netherwalker added, “It means, witness my will, master of the world… respond.”

“I’m sorry, Jesse,” Zardeth said, staring at the box. “I almost… Now we must destroy this.”