This also means I don't need to bother going back to the volcano to search for pieces of Blitz. Before I get too excited I make sure that the created Armatite has the same properties as the original. Only after that do I let myself start thinking about what I want to make with it.

The angel's armor has served me well, but the material it is made from isn't as strong as Armatite. If I copy the design of the armor and make it using Armatite I will be much harder to hurt. I should even be able to enchant it a lot more than the angel armor.

Still, I am a little disappointed that I can't use the Origin Energy to enhance enchantments. I was hoping it would work and allow me to make up for losing my sacred power. Then again, its other uses far outweigh one little disappointment.

I get the feeling that if I can just figure out how to properly control the energy I can create anything. The problem is that nothing I have tried has worked and I am running out of ideas. Maybe it is something that can only be controlled by a god or goddess.

Still, the uses I have found so far are really good, so I really have nothing to complain about. I split the remaining energy in half, the first half goes to fixing my soul and the second half to making Armatite. Then I get up and go back to hunting undead until I have as much energy as I can hold.

The amount of energy I can hold has increased, it now gets painful at around seventy energy. I am guessing that it is because when my intelligence increased so did my mental fortitude. Once again I split the energy in half for my soul and Armatite, then it is rinse and repeat.

Despite me killing hundreds more undead, the number attacking the crack has still increased. There are now thousands gathered at the crack and the ice has all but vanished. There is only a dozen feet or so of ice left around the base of the mountain.

Once that is gone, which will only be a few hours, the undead will start tearing the mountain down. Who knows what else will be released during that time, but the maker should be last. I am torn between sticking around to see what the maker is and leaving before then.

Considering how much power I have already stolen I am pretty sure the maker will want me dead. Especially since I plan to continue stealing energy right up until I make my escape. However, I should probably get Brightfire and Nala to safety ahead of time.

I continue killing undead and using the energy right up until it is dinner time. Then I gate back to the cave to meet up with Brightfire and Nala for dinner. Once I have provided dinner from the pouch we all dig in and eat our fill.

Brightfire says "I am level seven now!"

"Congratulations! You are doing great!"

Brightfire says "This should make me the strongest elf, right?"

"As far as I know, yes."

Brightfire says "Am I as strong as your other companions?"

"That's kind of hard to judge, but probably not. Especially not if you are comparing yourself to my kids."

Brightfire says "Oh."

"Don't look so discouraged. You have only just gained the ability to have levels. They have had a lot more time to grow stronger."

Brightfire says "I guess so. I will catch up eventually, right?"

"To the humans, probably. The beastmen have other advantages."

Brightfire says "How much longer are we staying on the island?"

"I will be staying a little longer, but the two of you are leaving first."

Brightfire says "Why?!"

"Because this island is going to be extremely dangerous very soon. I want to stay until the last possible minute, but I can't do that if I need to rescue you first."

Brightfire says "Are you sending us back to the village then?"

"No, it is too far. For now I will send you to the first volcanic island. There are things you can hunt there. Once I join you, then we can head back to the village."

Brightfire says "That's alright, I guess. I still want to be stronger before we go back to the village!"

"When we get back to the village I will get some of the wyvern scales and improve your armor. Oh right, how is the sword?"

Brightfire says "It's perfect! When I swing it, it feels like an extension of my arm!"

"That's good. Alright, I am going to gate the two of you to our last campsite on the island. I will let you carry the food pouch so that you don't have to worry about food."

Brightfire says "What about you then?"

"I still have my pouch and there is some meat left. I will be fine for a day or two."

With no other arguments forthcoming, we clean up the camp and I give Brightfire the food pouch. Then I open a gate back to the jungle of the first volcanic island and we all go through. I help them set up camp and check to make sure the area is still safe before I leave.

I gate back to the island under the volcano and immediately return to killing undead. By the time I get back there is no more ice around the mountain and the crack is getting wider. Since there are no more wanderers I lure groups away from the crack to kill.

By my best guess there are around fifteen thousand undead gathered around the mountain. At this point I have killed less than a thousand undead, nowhere near enough. At this rate I won't be able to kill many more before I need to flee the island.

Since I can't be sure how much more energy I will be able to gather I focus on making Armatite. My soul will heal on its own over time, but I have no idea when I might find more Armatite. I set my goal at five hundred pounds, once I have that I will focus on healing my soul.

That should be plenty to make armor and a weapon and still have more left for other things. So, with a goal in mind I kill the undead as quickly as I can until I can't hold anymore energy. Then I stop just long enough to use all the energy to create more Armatite.

After several rounds of this I figure I have enough Armatite and switch to repairing my soul. As I am killing the undead I keep an eye on the crack, watching in case anything else comes out. If a general comes out without me noticing, I could end up surrounded before I know it.

If it was just normal zombies and skeletons I wouldn't worry about it, but these are different. Not only can they hurt me more, but I need to avoid sending energy back to the maker. The more energy it has the less chance that I can escape from it when it is freed.