Evolution: A Warlock's Rise To Power

In the morning while Lucan was looking over the maps in the command room a portal opened beside him as Ash led several workers into the fort.

"Lord Quilldrake." He said with a bow.

"Here you go." Lucan said, handing over a scroll he had written minutes before.

Ash pulled out something that looked like a walking stick with a black crystal on top carved into the shape of a perched Raven.

Lucan frowned. "How is this a rod?" He mumbled.

"Do not look down on it Lord Quilldrake. This scepter was used personally by the Supreme Ruler during his younger days. It is a magnificent variant rod that many would love to have for themselves. That fact that our patron was even willing to trade it to you shows how highly his Mightyness thinks of you."

'Or he was too lazy to find something to fit the terms of our deal.' Lucan thought to himself while taking the scepter.

"Alright, I will use it well."

"I must be returning I will leave the others to you." Ash said, stepping back into the portal before it closed.

"Lord Quilldrake, please show us where you want your transporter. And I was assured you would be able to provide the proper mana crystal."

Lucan was happy to see over 100 workers. Compared to what Raze sent last time; the transporter should be built very quickly.

He led them to the main entrance hall and had them build the transporter in the center. He placed the pumpkin sized crystal to the side as they got to work. 10 workers broke away to go deal with the gate, but not before Lucan spoke to them first.

"Would it be possible for to hire you guys to help restore the fort. There are a few broken towers and several collapsed hallways."

"That's no problem, as long as you can pay. We probably don't have enough materials for all that but the transporter should be working by this evening."

"Good, money isn't an issue but if you screw me on price, even Raze can't help you.

"Ha, ha, ha, we know better than to cheat our customers. Well, only if they are warlocks." The foreman said before giving Lucan a wink and taking his men up the gate towers.

Lucan took a moment to look at the "Rod" he had received.

[Scepter of Raze]

[Level 100 Epic item]

[Scepter of Raze's attributes]

> +150 mana

> Shadow spells cost 10% less

> 5% chance to cause temporary confusion when hitting a sentient creature in the head.

>User can use the ability Summon Shadow Creature once per day. The shadow creature will have half the stats of the user and last until unsummoned or it dies. Only one Shadow Creature can be summoned at a time.

>User can use this item to cast Mass Confusion once per week. The spell has a range of 200 feet and a target area with the radius of 25 feet.

>This items level can be raised by infusing it with the proper materials. (Materials required: Unknown)

'Not bad.' Lucan thought to himself. 'It's got a shadow ability and a mental ability. It meets the requirements and looks kind of cool. It even has a better reach than a normal rod.'

He headed back towards the command room. Silent was off playing in the top level of the astronomy tower. She wanted to turn it into a garden, she said that she was thinking of starting to dabble in poisons but they both knew she just wanted to play with the pixie. He was fine with it. The roof was retractable, it may not be the best, but it wouldn't be the worst place for a garden. She had also taken a bag full of lower grade mana crystals to extend the pixie's life span.

Commander Gear came and found Lucan. "My Lord, I have noticed several villages within a few days ride in the surrounding area. With your permission I would like to send a contingent of elves to spread the news that their lord has returned to these lands and let them know the fortress has been taken back."

"That is a good idea. It will help get my population numbers up and the locals will surely know the area better than us."

"I would like to send 50 elves and 2 Elites. I estimate it should take them two weeks."

"That is fine. Tell them to render aid if needed. We should give these people a good impression of their new lord. If any villager reveals a natural resource that isn't on our maps, make sure they are rewarded."

"Yes my Lord, I will instruct my subordinates to give them adequate gold."

"Also take some good wine, food and pelts. In some villages that purely rely on bartering, gold is worthless."

"My lord is wise and fair." Gear said before taking his leave.

Lucan already moved several things out of the vault this morning to make it easier for the guards to have access to it. On top of that, Commander Gear also had two different vault keys where Lucan planned to store some things the commander may need in the future. Of course, only Silent and him could access the main vault.

After taking a screenshot of the maps Lucan headed towards the main hall and stepped outside. Lucan used this chance to summon his new mount. Although Raze gave him something he didn't really need it was still a great mount. He could chose from several different creatures each time he summoned it. Even though they weren't able to fight like the best mounts and all of them were limited to the ground it was still a good ability. Just not as good as flying on a broom.

On the plus side the shadow horse he summoned had a very comfortable saddle and wouldn't consume any mana. He took the black horse made from shadows around the perimeter of the fortress to start the planning process for the massive formation he would build to protect his fort. He planned to spare no expense in its construction.

He was already adding spells to his favorite list as more experience points rolled in. After seeing Lucan in battle, Sturdy had even dropped 2 levels to purchase the ability version of ethereal step at a ridiculous price. The pricing was set by Source Creations and Lucan had thought it was originally set too high but apparently not. The best part was that since it was a spell of his own design he received 100% of the experience.

Frantic had also been busy and had already made pacts with over 500 Willow employees. A few of them from the C team had also purchased a few of Lucan's phantoms. Since they were variants and not truly his creation, he only received 50% of the funds but still, it was better than what he got from selling Raze's spells/abilities. He was earning banked experience points faster than ever.

But ever since he crossed the level 100 threshold, the prices for things skyrocketed. But if Windy Willow kept coming through for him it wouldn't matter too much.

Around lunch time he returned to the command room and sat at the tall stone table that was raised on a platform. He took out several books and a few sheets of parchment to start planning his formation. He was going to try and tackle an intermediate formation. Although his profession was still at the novice level it wouldn't be impossible, he would need to make many references and make sure everything was properly planned out.

'SuperSleuth, do you have some time to talk?'

'Sure. What do you need?'

'I am currently looking for a good number of rare materials. Do you think you can help, or at least point me in the right direction?'

'No problem. What do you need?'

Lucan started to list out over a hundred different materials that wouldn't be found at the common general store.

'No problem, I will ask around. I have been working with Hellfire a lot recently and he has a pretty good network of suppliers. What do you need all this stuff for anyway?'

'I am building a formation for the fortress I just conquered.'

'Ha, ha, no way. That's awesome.'

Lucan proceeded to tell Super everything that had happened in the last week and promised to invite him over once the teleporter was set up.

'Alright give me a day to ask around and I will get you some result.'

Silent came back from the astronomy tower around dinner time. She had several elven guards help her move a bunch of dirt up there to cover the top floor while the pixie worked his magic to turn it into a proper garden. They transplanted a few trees and she had a list of plants the pixie wanted to add.

Not surprisingly, once the pixie found out her plan the quickly became good friends.

'Umm, hello. Is this working? Mr. Tomlin can you hear me?'

'In game I am Lucan Quilldrake.'

'Ah, apologies. This is Dill Jenis from Terracorp. My player name is Pickle.'

'Ha, ha, ha, of course. Dill Pickle. How could I forget.'

'I am not the VP of marketing for nothing. I wanted to ask you about a few of the abilities you are selling.' Pickle responded with a chuckle.

'Good timing. I was going to call you when I logged out.'

'Oh? What can I do for you?'

'The fortress has been conquered and my multi-plane teleporter will be ready any minute.'

'AHH! Great! I will let Mr. Hekin know immediately. I didn't expect that you were his nephew.'

'Ha, ha, yeah, he was pretty shocked when I told him I have my own company now.'

'I will speak to him now and talk to you again shortly.' Pickle said, disconnecting the transmission and disregarding the reason he made contact.