Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

After Bones completed his evolution, Richard felt a stronger connection with him. Through it, he could send simple mental messages to Bones.

Additionally, he gained insight into Bones' innate abilities.

Bones' talent lay in his black armor, likely born from his fear of the Black Knights. His armor was identical to theirs.

This armor provided robust protection against physical, energy, and even mental attacks, making it an excellent defensive trait.

Such a talent was perfect for the task Richard intended to assign him.

With a thought, Richard summoned an avatar of the same first-tier strength from outside the village.

He then used Nightmare Power to create a coffin, engraving it with dense protective and stabilizing runes.

Richard placed the avatar inside the coffin before entrusting it to Bones.

"Bones, this coffin holds my avatar. I need you to take it to a safer territory," Richard instructed solemnly.

"Boss, aren't you coming with me?" Bones asked, concerned.

Richard shook his head, "I'm a vassal of Magic Sword Amadeus now, so I can't leave the territory. If I die here, I'll resurrect in the coffin.

This coffin is my lifeline. You must protect it at all costs!"

Hearing the importance of his task, Bones was immediately filled with determination and excitement:

"Boss, as long as I'm around, this coffin will remain safe!"

Richard said no more. He summoned a mithril greatsword with Nightmare Power and handed it to Bones.

"Take this sword and guard my avatar well."

With that, Richard flew toward Amadeus City, leaving Bones behind.

Watching Richard's figure disappear into the distance, Bones stood up, using Nightmare Power to conjure chains that securely fastened the coffin to his back.

Taking up the mithril greatsword, he set out into the wilderness, embarking on a new chapter of his life.

...

In Amadeus City, chaos reigned as nightmare spirits panicked.

The Great Black Tide was a natural disaster in the Nightmare Wizard World, sensed by lower-tier nightmare creatures even before higher-tier ones.

Upon arriving in Amadeus City, Richard quickly found Puppet Billy, who was gleefully devouring nightmare spirits.

Richard approached, his tone serious:

"Puppet Billy, the Great Black Tide is coming, and you're still eating nightmare spirits?"

Puppet Billy handed Richard a nightmare spirit, muttering as he ate:

"Why worry? The tall ones will hold up the sky. This Black Tide hasn't even stirred Lord Amadeus, so how can it be a Great Black Tide..."

Before he could finish, a powerful surge of Nightmare Power erupted from the city's center.

A five-meter-tall black knight clad in ebony armor, wielding a sword covered in eyes, soared from the manor.

His overwhelming Nightmare Power altered the environment, casting a sinister pall over Amadeus City. The walls and shadows seemed to hide lurking monsters.

"...So it is a Great Black Tide. Lord Amadeus has even unsheathed the Magic Sword."

Puppet Billy tossed aside an uneaten nightmare spirit, his clownish face taking on a serious expression.

"What's special about Lord Amadeus' Magic Sword?" Richard inquired.

Puppet Billy nodded, "That sword is Lord Amadeus' innate weapon, consuming a lot of Nightmare Power. With it, he once severed a head from Lord Korlheim, another of the Lord's knights.

The sword's power suppressed Korlheim's regeneration, leaving the wound unhealed to this day."

Before Richard could respond, a voice rang in his ear.

It was Magic Sword Amadeus.

"My vassals, march with me."

Richard glanced at Puppet Billy, seeing his face contort.

"Lord Amadeus is marching out. We're doomed!"

Puppet Billy angrily crushed a nightmare spirit, stuffing it into his body.

"What's the danger? Is marching with Lord Amadeus so perilous?" Richard asked, curious.

"It's not just perilous; every time Lord Amadeus marches, taxes double or triple for years," Puppet Billy lamented.

"Once, it lasted thirty years. Thirty years of triple taxes, and I had to cover deficits with my own Nightmare Power."

Puppet Billy's resentment was palpable.

Had taxes not risen, he might have become a Great Nightmare, perhaps even a guard.

Amadeus' command wasn't exclusive to Richard and Puppet Billy; soon, more Little Nightmares gathered in the city.

Each one exuded powerful energy, the weakest among them a mid-tier first-level being.

Richard, newly ascended to first-tier, was inconsequential among them.

However, thanks to his talent, they didn't see him as weak. Because of Puppet Billy, they even regarded him highly.

A wild nightmare capable of single-handedly killing three Black Knights was sure to become a guard if he survived this march.

As time passed, more Little Nightmares gathered, and after three days, the entire territory's Little Nightmares awaited Amadeus' next command.

Since awakening, Amadeus hadn't left the manor. Though curious, none dared rush him.

Marching meant casualties, and the Little Nightmares preferred delay.

Inside the manor, Magic Sword Amadeus sat silently in the municipal hall. Beside him, a nightmare creature inscribed runes on his armor with a feather pen.

"How long, Amanda?" Amadeus asked gruffly.

"Almost done, Lord Amadeus," the nightmare creature replied calmly.

As Amanda finished the last rune, the armor's inscriptions resonated, dark red lines connecting them.

A sequence of spells activated, forming a barrier against physical, energy, and mental attacks, adhering to the armor.

Had Richard been present, he'd recognize Amanda's basic alchemical enchantments and spells as inferior.

Even Richard possessed better defensive spells.

But that was Richard's assessment.

For Amadeus, unfamiliar with advanced alchemy, Amanda's skills sufficed.

If spells lacked power, quantity compensated. Nightmare Power mimicked mana and stones.

Amadeus' brute strength complemented Amanda's limitations, making the alien soul valuable.

Consuming it wouldn't elevate him to a Nightmare Lord, but cooperating increased combat prowess and reduced Nightmare Power consumption.

"Lord Amadeus, it's been ten years. You promised..." Amanda began.

"Rest assured, I keep my word," Amadeus interrupted bluntly.

Amanda sighed internally. These creatures lacked contractual fidelity.

Escape was his responsibility.

...

With the runes complete, Amadeus soared from the manor, riding a black dragon formed by Nightmare Power.

"Dragon Knight—Amadeus and Korlheim must have deep grudges," Richard joked to Puppet Billy. "Using a dragon as a mount."

Puppet Billy glanced at the dragon, replying casually, "Korlheim clashed with Lord Amadeus over his fondness for dragon mounts. After a battle, Amadeus' mount became exclusively black dragons."

Mounted on the dragon, Amadeus brandished his sword, the dragon's wings stirring nightmare winds. Enveloped, nightmare spirits fell into terrifying illusions. Even Little Nightmares shivered.

These winds, caused by high-level nightmare creatures' concentrated power and rules, typically belonged to Nightmare Lords.

Amadeus, displaying them, neared that rank.

Besides the winds, Richard noticed something odd about Amadeus' armor.

"Mana fluctuations—why does Amadeus' armor have them?"

Richard observed Amadeus, refraining from using energy vision. Only curse-like blood-red inscriptions were visible.

"Runes, without a doubt," Richard concluded, recognizing wizard runes and their spell formation.

"Could devouring a soul grant nightmare creatures full memory access?" Richard speculated.

"Or is the wizard not dead, but imprisoned by Amadeus for service?"

If the former, caution was essential. But if the latter...

Richard smiled, joining the nightmare army for battle.

After their departure, a house on Amadeus City's outskirts opened its door.

A black-robed figure emerged.

"Time for some free shopping."

Watching the army vanish, Richard's smile turned greedy.