Chapter 67: The Land of Silence
Immediately, he cast an illusion around a small circle of ground, allowing him to cover his activities with an opaque veil.
Then, with a swift movement, he began to dig.
The soil was soft, yielding easily to his touch. Because of his experience, he knew exactly what he was doing.
He reached the rough wooden coffin surprisingly quickly. Working with efficiency, he then carefully pried it open.
The stench of decay hit him like a physical blow, but he remained undeterred. With a gloved hand, he reached inside and collected some of the decayed remains of Mangetsu's corpse. This would suffice.
He withdrew his hand, the dead flesh clasped tightly within his palm. It was then stored inside a scroll. Whether or not Mangetsu even had at least one of the swords, the DNA sample was useful in building an army.
Replacing the lid, Arthur refilled the hole, ensuring the grave remained undisturbed. Deactivating the illusion, he then melted back into the shadows, leaving the town behind as silently as he had arrived.
Twelve hours later, Arthur found himself in a secluded clearing.
Here, he prepared for the next step.
'Summoning jutsu: reanimation.'
For this ritual, Arthur had sacrificed a hapless NPC, a petty thief who had attempted to rob unsuspecting merchants back in Wizened Town. His disappearance wouldn't raise an eyebrow.