"Demon!”

“Yes Master?”

“After all the sacrifices of today, I still have a soul that is of no use to me. So, I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

"Here it is," said Zamioculcas, killing an immensely muscular, dazed-looking villager. “How does Machronus intend to survive my defenses, considering his knowledge of them?”

The miniature devil picked up the soul attentively, then adjusted the glass that adorned his eye, thinking.

"Usually, the price you offer would be too low, but it turns out that Machronus does not intend to survive.”

“What? What is this, a joke from your demonic sense of humor? "

The devil did not bother answering and contented himself with sitting more comfortably on his ornate book.

"Ah, the wretch! He must have made a pact too, protecting him from divination. This cunning, foul bastard…”

While the necromancer vomited his insults, the devil disappeared into the sleeve again. Zamioculcas did not seem to notice. Instead, he grabbed his grimoires and decided to cast a few spells to trap his study.

"Master," Sentry called just as he finished casting Theophrastus’ Blood Circle on the cellar door.

“What?” screamed the wizard, losing his temper. “It’s not a waste if it might kill someone!”

"I mean, Machronus has arrived in the plain.”

“Already? Ah, the rascal! He wants to arrive before me to trap the battlefield! All right, let's go on the offensive. Let all the undead come forward, zombies on the front line, and may demons, lemurs and bats begin to watch the plain. Skeletons! Bring me the vampire's chest. For far too long I have been waiting to use it ...

___________________________

Zamioculcas took two long hours to bring his undead to the clearing, and finally the two wizards were face to face. Surrounded by his guard of skeletons, Zamioculcas stood at the eastern end of the clearing, while Machronus watched him calmly from the other side. The leaves of the trees oscillated gently with the breeze. Arms crossed, Machronus smiled at his opponent.

"Dear colleague, are you ready? "

Zamioculcas did not answer immediately, contenting himself with observing with his own eyes the ground on which the battle would take place. He mentally took a few notes, then looked up at his enemy. He stared at him for a few seconds accusingly, then raised his voice.

"I am ready, colleague. Have at you! "

And in the same movement, the two men drew from their side their grimoire of dark magic. With a broad movement of his hand, Zamioculcas sent the vanguard of his undead forces forward. The animated corpses obeyed without a sound and rushed towards the other wizard.