The former Judge on the far left collapsed after a number of groans issued forth, unable to endure the pain.

"Soon, We are so much closer to realizing a new undead!" Dr. Hollowell clapped her hands, as she danced about completely unlike her previous self only months ago.

Jack nodded, as he spoke, "Not new undead, just undead. We are all equal in death, good doctor... But remember all in death serve me."

"Of course, God-King." Dr. Hollowell produced a menacing smile.

The former Judge on the far right squeaked out a harsh strained voice, "I s-ser-va my God-da-King-ga...!"

"Let's put these three remaining ones under." Doctor Hollowell issued her orders to a couple of assistants, who grabbed up syringes of fluids, and began to inject each of the judges."

"F-finally..." the second judge's voice squeezed out.

Jack turned to walk away when he heard the good Doctor sound confused... A rarity.

"Why isn't the serum working?"

"...!" continued grunts of pain issued forth from the four judges. It seemed the second started to pound his fist against the floor, as the stone floor began to crack along with the issued thuds of sounds upon impact.

"Huh?" Jack turned to look over his shoulder, as he was flanked by Leslie, Emily, and Eris.

"...These vials are filled with the purified venom of the Blind Devil Wyrm..."

Jack tilted his head, as Leslie mentally messaged him, [Blind Devil Wyrm venom is known to induce comas in undead... So strong that it even affects the soul, so it works on skeletal undead as well. In short, it knocks anything out with a soul.]

[These pre-militus have souls...]

[Don't ask me... This is your alchemy experiment.] Leslie's sassy voice fired back.

Jack took a few steps forward and waved his hand over the third former Judge. As he did so, a calmness took over the judge, as he collapsed on the floor in a puddle of gold-tinted sweat.

It was Dr. Hollowell's turn to tilt her hand, wondering exactly what magics does the God-King process... She would have to research gods later...

Jack moved over to the second, who produced a wretched smile, as he collapsed with his eyes still open. Moving to the first Judge on the right, Jack brought up his hand to put this judge under, as the former judge spoke up, "M-My God-da-King-ga... I Heard-da t-that w-we are at-ah w-war wit B-borda-ah."

Jack paused, as he wondered how this one knew... It seemed the assistants gossiped, but it wasn't a secret, so Jack confirmed, "Yes, I have declared that so, just about two hours ago...."

"C-can I Re-request-ta ta g-go wit y-you, M-My God-da-King-ga?" The former judge's pitiful tortured voice issued forth to answer the call to arms.

Jack pulled his hand back that paused in the air to rub his stubbled chin.

[I could see what he can do, but can he do anything with so much pain to bear???] Jack thought, as his thoughts soon turned to voice, "Can you serve on the battlefield as you are now?"

"P-pain is m-my f-fuel!" The former judge got from all fours and with strength of will alone, he stood upcoming chest high to Jack.

He stood with a slight curve in his back, but he was tall and proud with every moment of waking pain that washed over him, this former judge refused to bow before his mistress of pain in the face of his God-King's call.

"Amazing! Write this down! Write everything down!" Dr. Hollowell yelled into a whisper to the nearest assistant, who scrambled for a journey to record these events.

"Strength of will." The good Doctor muttered under her breath.

[What do you think?] Jack mentally messaged Leslie.

Leslie showed a surprised expression, before it softened, [I think, one warrior can't slow us down. Why not.]

Jack nodded again, as he spoke, "What is your full name, former judge?"

"N-name's B-bestle Tornface."

"You will be the first I name Militus Obitus. You may not have achieved the final form of the Obitus, but you have achieved what I wanted in the mindset. Come and serve. I wish to see you stand atop a mountain of corpses as you proclaim my name."

"Y-yes, m-my God-da-King-ga!" Obitus Tornface kneeled and pledged.

"Good. It should be just enough time for my armies to be in place. Obitus Tornface, follow behind us. Good Doctor, I have something I want you to study... Specifically what it's effects are on some of the "Living-dead" Tissue."

"Oh?" Dr. Hollowell came forward with expectation. Each time the God-King had something for her they were always the most wickedly wonderful things.

"Bring me a liquid container of some sort. Doesn't have to be large."

Dr. Hollowell collected a beaker, herself, as she came before the God-King.

Jack held his right hand just below his chest, while everyone wondered what he was waiting for... But as Emily was about to ask, the skin just below Jack's pectoral muscles twisted. A small vial of purple color was pushed out into Jack's waiting hand, leaving a small open hole that oozed a tiny amount of blood.

Jack held the vial up, as he looked at the bubbling solution inside. The vial that was once filled to the top was now three-fourths full. He looked down at the good Doctor.

"Here."

Jack pulled the small cork off the vial, as he carefully poured a quarter of the contents into the beaker. The purple viscous-like fluid plopped into the beaker, as it soon spread to fill the entire beaker full.

Everyone stood silent as they watched this horrible substance, as an odd odor prevailed in the area. Leslie remembered this smell from Jack's Library, as she frowned remembering her time with the strange tome and tentacles.

"This is?" Dr. Hollowell could only ask.

Jack bent down, bringing his mouth next to Dr. Hollowell's ear, as he whispered, "This is the blood of the death god... See what fantastic and horrible effects can be garnered.

Dr. Hollowell held the beaker to her as if it was a child, as she nodded, "Yes! YES OF COURSE!"

Jack corked the vial again, and put it into the hole in his chest, as the flesh latched onto the vial and pulled it back into his form. After a few seconds, all that was left was crusted blood in its place.

He then turned to leave, as he left his words lingering in the air, "Look forward to success."

The door to the lab closed, leaving Dr. Hollowell, her assistants, and the three coma induced former judges on the floor. She held the beaker close to her chest, as her deep black eyes sparkled.

"So much research to be done!" She then turned and started issuing her orders to her assistants.

*******

On the way back up, Leslie asked, "Was that a good idea?"

"What? Leaving some of the death god's blood with the good Doctor?"

"Well... Yes. Are you sure it isn't going to... I don't know, turn into some kind of tentacled monster and take over the Holy Palace?"

"Hmmmm...?" Jack rubbed his chin, as was his custom as the group, Jack, Leslie, Emily, Eris, and Obitus Tornface accended another large set of spiral stairs to the ground floors.

"Wait... That's seriously not a possibility is it???" Leslie's voice pressed.

"I- I don't think it is... Well, as long as they don't leave the blood to its own devices. I'm sure the good Doctor will keep it safe."

"..."

"Is this going to bite us in the pelvis?" Emily asked, after listening.

"Butt." Corrected Leslie.

"You know what I mean." Emily stamped her next step she took up the stairs.

"I doubt it, but on another note, how is the assembly of troops."

"Warmarshal Joan is efficient, if not mad like you."

"Hahaha, even you call me mad???"

"We've talked, haven't we Emily?" Leslie giggled.

"Yes, yes we have!" Emily giggled back.

Eris kept to her side, of Jack's left, alone while Leslie and Emily walked together on Jack's right side. They were all followed by Obitus Tornface.

"Haaaa~ Oh~!" Jack inhaled large amounts of air and released it into a greatly exaggerated sigh, "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"What?" Jack noticed the silence, as he looked to his right and left.

"You act as if you've had lungs before..." Leslie commented, after a few more silent steps upon the stairs going up.

"...I have..."