The blackguard had already learned to control several aspects of the Lich's power. He could channel several types of dark energy through Anarazel, and empower it to devour souls (though that was as much an inherent ability of the sword's as it was an application of the magic). He had a rudimentary grasping on how to drain life force, finding it much easier when he had a grip upon the drain-ee. And those soul-searing blue flames had all but become his trademark.<br/><br/>But he had yet to master two facets of Tanathal's power; his power over death and the undead, and his ability to conjure creatures from the dark realm. It was the latter ability he decided to devote himself to next. From what he understood from the text he was reading and his intrinsic grasp of what the magic within him was capable of, he gleaned that doing such a thing came in multiple steps. First, he had to tear open a rift to the void darkness. Then, he had to simultaneously keep out the creatures he did not want while ripping forth the creature he did want.<br/><br/>But the void contained some powerful monsters. If he did this wrong, they could all be in serious trouble. The blackguard closed the book, then stepped into a cleared area of the library for spellcasting practice.<br/><br/>A blue ball of fire formed in his hand, then stretched out into the shape of a massive blade. As the flames burned away, they left behind the physical form of Anarazel. With a bit of concentration, the corrupted knight sent shadow energy sparking through the blade as black lightning. He raised it over his head, and drew a deep breath. Anarazel cut through the air, and a rent of inky black was left in its wake. Maddening whispers in a tongue no one could understand came from the rift as glowing eyes of all colors peeked out along its surface.