Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Pieces of the Undying Ruler (1)

The situation was perilous.

‘He lunged at his throat without warning, yet the fangs failed to pierce the skin… ‘.

It was unclear whether a permanent defensive shield protected him or if the power of the dark magic-infused ghoul was simply too low, but Jeraf successfully broke away from the clamping jaws.

When Jeraf’s dark sorcery shoved me back, it felt incredibly disorienting.

Navigating this situation was nearly impossible without an understanding of this realm’s sorcery.

By some stroke of luck, I utilized the walking corpse positioned behind him to obstruct his movement, narrowly rescuing my strategy from complete failure.

I stared down at the cold, lifeless form of Jeraf.

A youthful walking corpse from the hamlet remained attached to his remains, tearing at his throat.

They were corrupt from the very beginning.

Every single restless dead in this place, including that walking corpse, comprised the locals they had slaughtered.

This likely explained why taking a life for the first time failed to inflict any deep emotional trauma upon me.

To be fair, had the ‘Mind Hub’ not been operational, the mental strain would have been hazardous, but at this moment, it merely mirrored the sensation of eliminating an opponent in a video game.

However, a new dilemma required my attention.

‘My actual strategy had been to strike the back of his skull with a stone at a later time.’

Observing Jeraf’s behavior provoked my temper, forcing me to execute the strike immediately.

The moment the intent to strike manifested within me, Hans’s physical form instinctively targeted his throat and lunged.

The actions that followed felt almost completely automated by the physical vessel.

‘That does not imply I lacked the ability to halt it, though.’

Even though the reaction was driven by instinct, the crisis demanded swift action, meaning I could have halted the motion had I deliberately chosen to intervene.

Furthermore, it proved far more efficient than attempting to bash the back of his skull with a stone.

Had I stuck to the initial design, the protective shield might have remained intact.

‘Even so, analyzing this sensation closely, it feels like… ‘.

Indeed, it resembled a deeply ingrained physical reflex.

Conscious effort allowed for total regulation, yet without active thought, the physical form reacted independently.

It became clear to me that the primal urges embedded within a restless vessel could not be discounted.

Naturally, this did not appear to negatively impact my primary physical form back on Earth, and could potentially be utilized to my benefit, though vigilance remained necessary for the time being.

The moment had arrived to advance to the subsequent stage of the strategy.

—

Village Head Malcolm.

In truth, he was a high-ranking leader of the continental syndicate known as the ‘Oath of the Reversal,’ and ‘Marcos Giocali’ gazed at the display before him with immense pride.

The dark gemstone vibrated with the necrotic energy pulled from the surrounding restless dead.

His quest for the ‘Heart of the Immortal King’ had spanned several decades.

Yet, the prize he ultimately secured after enduring immense tribulations was merely a flawed piece.

Transporting it to the syndicate’s main base carried the hazard of alerting the various righteous factions of the land, prompting him to select an isolated settlement in the mountains where outsiders rarely ventured to lock away the piece and begin its refinement.

An entire year had elapsed.

‘The moment is nearly here. A brief period of patience, and at last… ‘.

The wealth and assets dedicated to the ‘Fragment of the Immortal King’ were substantial.

His very standing within the syndicate had become unstable because of it.

‘Yet the moment this process concludes, the balance of power will shift entirely. Mightier than ever witnessed… ‘

[Teacher?]

Abruptly, his pupil who was stationed at the threshold reached out to him.

[What is occurring?]

[Teacher, it is, something is happening outside this very instant…].

—

“I am telling you, my sibling is inside that place!”

“And I am telling you, that companion departed only a short while ago.”

I was deliberately creating a major scene at the boundary of the settlement.

Standing before me was the middle-aged fellow I initially encountered upon discovering the settlement.

“Listen, the tracking signal points directly into this location! Merely permit me entry to verify it.”

“Why would I grant entry to an unverified outsider without any guarantees?”

“In that case, let me converse directly with the village head!”

Drawing the village head into the open would serve as the ideal outcome, though his absence would not ruin the plan.

Information could still be gathered regardless.

His refusal to appear would simply indicate he was occupied with an essential task, and only one matter of true significance existed within this settlement.

“I serve as the village head. What possesses you to generate such an uproar?”

I foresaw that he would not simply disregard or eliminate me without thought.

An individual had arrived seeking the very person he assumed had already been disposed of, meaning he required an assessment of the circumstances before taking drastic measures.

I offered a polite, welcoming expression to the village head, Malcolm.

“Greetings, my name is Heinz. I apologize for creating such a scene, but I have reason to believe my twin sibling, Hans, is currently within your borders.”

“Ah, Hans… that name is familiar. Though, did that young fellow not arrive here after losing his way during a solitary journey?”

“Regrettably… to my embarrassment, a severe dispute drove us apart recently. However, I recognize the need to make amends, which prompted my search for him.”

He possessed no rational grounds to doubt my claims.

After all, my facial features were identical to those of Hans.

At this juncture, his reaction to my presence ceased to matter.

My primary objective had already been fulfilled.

—

While Heinz orchestrated the distraction at the perimeter and drew out the village head, Malcolm, Hans moved without delaying a single moment.

He clearly desired absolute precision down to the smallest detail, preparing for the chance that the distraction might fail.

An unanticipated hazard could easily emerge not from external forces, but from the core chamber guarded by the defensive ward.

Because of his efforts, I managed to position myself before the “Fragment of the Immortal King” without encountering any resistance.

Bypassing the intermediary Alfred entirely, I placed my hand directly onto the piece, gaining a clear comprehension of what refinement truly entailed.

Furthermore, the reasoning behind the arrangement of the restless dead encircling it became obvious.

Were they providing necrotic energy to the piece?

Or was it a form of harmonic synchronization?

The piece was not merely draining necrotic energy.

Existing in a flawed, incomplete state, it simultaneously drew in missing structural data, aligning and anchoring itself.

Reflecting on the surroundings, only formidable entities occupied the space, including spirits and spectral riders lacking heads.

The least powerful among them appeared to be a skeletal rider, though it still far outclassed the entity I encountered back in the storage unit.

‘Hold on, was that storage unit I occupied simply a repository for defective creations? That realization is rather annoying.’

Throughout this “refinement” cycle, inferior restless dead would have been reduced to mere waste products.

They were likely cast toward the piece as sustenance whenever a high-quality restless dead manifested.

Ultimately, I had been confined to a storage unit for failures, failing to satisfy their criteria.

‘While it worked out in my favor, it remains oddly irritating.’

Advancing closer, I felt the necrotic energy within my own vessel being drawn outward alongside an intimidating pressure.

At that exact moment, the sheer peril of the object became undeniable.

A living being would be transformed into a restless dead through mere physical contact, and lesser entities would disintegrate by simply breathing the nearby air.

Setting aside its sheer capability, it resembled a concentrated mass of pure malevolence.

I extended my arm toward the “Fragment of the Immortal King.”

‘Gorging yourself will bring no benefit. Consume a defective product instead.’

Naturally, I harbored no desire to let it swallow my consciousness without resistance.

I maintained my own intentions.

—

“Therefore, as twins, we have possessed an awareness of each other’s whereabouts since our birth.”

“Ha, a claim that strains credulity…”

The pleasant expression on the village head’s face instantly vanished, turning rigid.

Subsequently, his features distorted into a vicious scowl as his gaze snapped back toward the settlement.

An unprecedented anomaly had disrupted the piece.

Wasting attention on this insignificant pest was no longer an option.

“Eliminate that individual!”

Malcolm instantly channeled his necrotic energy and sprinted toward the chamber of the piece, bellowing his orders.

The middle-aged warrior, Baucal, an oath knight of the Reversal, pivoted to execute Heinz, yet…

“Since when?”

The space stood entirely empty.

—

[Eradicate them all.]

…horror, hopelessness, torment, subjugation, insanity, incompleteness, malice, starvation for flesh, wrath…

An unending torrent of destructive sentiments assaulted my mind.

[Despise the living. Blanket this realm in hopelessness. As mortality stains this domain further, your capability will expand. Claim what you lack…]

The sheer volume of data filtered by the “Mind Hub” proved staggering.

Past a certain threshold, any entity subjected to this primal force would be reduced to a mindless restless dead, their consciousness utterly erased by the piece.

Could any mind retain its stability when subjected to such a force?

‘That matters little to me, however.’

I pressed forward with my objective.

Malcolm had undoubtedly detected the shift and was rushing to this location, leaving me with minimal time.

‘He surely instituted defensive protocols in this chamber as well.’

At this stage, his dedication resembled pure fixation.

In all likelihood, had he possessed the capacity to withstand the raw force of this piece, he would have remained by its side constantly.

‘Regardless, let us test this method. I require it to succeed. The process is nearly complete anyway.’

Utilizing the shifting necrotic energy being pulled from me, I strove to align my existence with the “Fragment of the Immortal King,” reawakening the familiar sensation of commanding the restless dead.

Under ordinary circumstances, such an action would be entirely impossible.

Yet, as a restless dead capable of deflecting the psychological assaults radiating from the piece, I preserved my independent consciousness.

‘Even if the alignment fails and degrades my vessel, disrupting their operations remains a victory.’

The piece remained flawed and exposed, seeking harmony with its environment to mend its gaps.

I introduced ‘Hans’ into that structural void.

The outcome manifested almost instantly.

[The subject has satisfied the criteria for evolution. Gained unique capability ‘Vile Wisdom.’]

The notification materialized directly before my eyes.

Even without reading the words, the internal shift within my existence was undeniable.

My physical structure, composed entirely of bare bone, experienced no visual alteration, yet the fundamental nature of my being had shifted.

Simultaneously, unfamiliar understandings integrated into my thoughts.

[Ah! Vocal communication is now possible?]

By generating vibrations through my vocal pathways using necrotic energy, speech became achievable, though this represented a minor modification.

I tilted my gaze downward to inspect my skeletal form.

A dark gemstone throbbed rhythmically between my ribs.

An organ of life had manifested.

-Name: Hans

* Category: Restless Dead (Demilich)
* Shared Attributes: “Mind Hub,” “Rapid Regeneration”
* Individual Attributes: “Decayed Heart,” “Vile Wisdom,” “Magic Affinity”
* Specific Observation: The subject’s capability has expanded via integration with the “Fragment of the Immortal King (1/3).” The dormant necrotic energy within the piece has achieved harmony with the subject. Psychological degradation was averted through the intervention of the “Mind Hub.” Consequently, the subject has advanced from an “Elite Skeleton” into a “Demi-Lich,” an adept of necromantic arts.

—

Juan found himself stationed at the threshold of the concealed corridor once more.

His failure to promptly eliminate the infected rodent that broke free the previous day had resulted in this watch duty as a penalty.

“Ugh, because of Jeraf’s incompetence, I am stuck dealing with the repercussions for no reason.”

Reflecting on the duration, a considerable amount of time had elapsed, yet Jeraf remained nowhere to be seen.

“It is entirely predictable. The man is undoubtedly indulging in one of his typical outbursts.”

Juan shifted his weight, resting his spine against the backing of his seat.

A full year had passed, and yet this isolated settlement remained entirely undisturbed.

His sole duty throughout the day consisted of relaying updates from the settlement boundary to the supervisor within.

“Juan! You fool! What occupies your attention at this moment?”

Crash!

Abruptly, the supervisor’s communication sorcery blared with immense force, sending Juan and his seat tumbling backward onto the floor.

“Present, Teacher! No anomalies to report in this sector!”

Though he scrambled to his feet and returned to his seat while massaging the back of his skull, Juan’s rapid response did nothing to pacify the supervisor’s fury.

“No anomalies?! What absolute… No, inspect the piece immediately! Move! Establish contact with Jeraf this instant!”

“Understood, understood! I shall verify it immediately!”

Owing to the protective barrier enclosing the chamber of the piece, messages required manual relay into the storage area using a specific sorcerous apparatus positioned at the threshold.

“Listen! Jeraf! Cease your activities and inspect the piece… Wait?”

As Juan scrambled to transmit a warning to Jeraf, he paused, re-examining the sorcerous apparatus.

He attempted the transmission once more.

“Jeraf? Can you receive my words?”

Silence followed, which was entirely logical.

The connection had ceased to function entirely.

“What… what is occurring here?”

Just as a panicked Juan lunged out of his seat.

Hum—

The sorcerous array etched at the entry of the storage unit flared to life, and the barrier swung open rapidly.

“Hey! Jeraf! Why have you suddenly…”

Gazing toward the widening threshold, Juan locked up entirely.

The figure emerging from the doorway was not Jeraf.

“How… why… what is…”

Multitudes of restless dead radiating a terrifying pressure packed the corridor, shifting and pressing forward in the shadows.

—

Directing the restless dead required minimal exertion.

The volume of necrotic energy circulating through my vessel now existed on an entirely different plane compared to the meager amounts I previously wielded.

While I lacked the ability to experience sensory inputs directly through them as I did when linked with Alfred, the level of authority remained highly effective.

My commands now governed not merely simple ghouls and skeletons, but the superior entities stationed near the piece.

‘Because they spent an extended duration drawing energy directly from the piece, their physical states are somewhat compromised… ‘

Simply forcing them to stand represented a massive advantage.

The ground surrounding the “Fragment of the Immortal King” was buried in the shards of destroyed restless dead, illustrating the scale of the past losses.

I marched forward with absolute assurance, guiding the horde to obstruct the corridor.

Before long, the portal leading to the outer world came into view.

‘A defensive barrier secures that exit, preventing simple departure… Should I destroy it?’

Following a brief moment of deliberation, an understanding dawned on me, and mirroring the exact gesture Jeraf had utilized, I extended my arm above the portal.

In doing so, the practical utility of “Vile Wisdom” became instantly apparent.

Hum—

The sorcerous array engaged, and the portal glided open.

Necrotic energy ceased to be an incomprehensible puzzle to my mind.