I, Necromancer Chapter 20

"Can I be honest with you, Scaith?"

Ajuka asks that question during a momentary lapse in our conversation. Or brainstorming. Talking with someone smart is always pleasing, and being able to juggle theories between us is an even greater joy and pleasure.

From me discovering that he based the Evil Pieces on how Vampires and Werewolves can create more of their kind through bites, and simply mimicked that process and used the Agaresite to be the carrier of such 'disease'.

To Ajuka learning on how my Necromancy does not anger any Death God, by simply not enslaving already existing Souls that have entered the cycle of reincarnation.

By simply empowering the dead corpses with the memories imprinted upon them. It initially didn't bring out all the power of the corpse, but I've gotten around that hurdle thanks to the Sephiroth Graal.

I lean back on the couch, staring at the green-haired man across from me, "Of course." I nod, tilting my head in the process, studying the strangely complicated look in his eyes despite his usual calm expression.

Ajuka takes a moment to gather his thoughts, fussing over his hands, "Is it… Wrong that I welcome the threat of the Dungeons?" I blink at his question, and I realize that such a thought has been gnawing at him for a while now.

Perhaps not just him. Perhaps any powerful being is starting to feel it at this moment.

I could see it in his eyes… That thrill, that fire, that hunger… For a powerful opponent.

Right now, the man sitting before me is no leader. No Satan. But an anomalous being with unfathomable power who yearns for a battle where he could feel the blood roar in his ears.

I didn't answer his question. I merely studied his eyes. Until I found something. "You've encountered something, haven't you?"

He smiles. It was tense, nervous, yet also excited. "Two months ago." He starts, releasing a slow, shuddering breath, "I used my Kankara Formula to peer into the depths of the Inner areas of No Man's Land."

"I witnessed walking calamities. Feral monstrosities. Flying horrors… And then I witnessed a Human."

My eyes widen at that, and I lean forward.

"Covered in white clothing. The only being to walk out of that gargantuan portal behind him. Magic itself seemed to bow before him."

Another shuddering breath, "No Heavenly Dragon Class being felt my gaze from tens of thousands of miles away… Until he did. He turned and stared me right in the 'eyes', looked in my general direction… And undid my Kankara Formula with but a flick of his wrist."

Silence fell between us, until I lean back on the couch.

I take a moment to gather my thoughts, then look back at him, "I've always known that something like this may happen." He rose a brow at my words, "The multiverse is vast. We cannot imagine what sort of monstrous beings each world gives birth to. What sort of talented minds can be born and push their civilization ahead by eons within a span of decades."

I stare down at my palms, void of calluses in this new body, "I always expected that, one day… An Archmage of unfathomable might may step out of a Gate, ready to show us that our understanding of Magic is nothing."

"Or that a Necromancer with an army of millions may overflow into the Underworld."

"You never know the sort of calamity the multiverse may give birth to, and may end up being dropped upon our doorsteps."

Ajuka takes in a slow, deep breath. His gaze never leaves mine. And that's when his eyes slowly widen in realization, "The live challenge against the Heavenly Dragon Class Gate." He breathes out, and I couldn't help but grin. "That's the real purpose behind it, isn't it?"

A chuckle escapes me despite myself, "You're the first one to realize the true meaning behind showing the fight against that Gate." For Fleurdelys, it was a show of strength and a show of the connections she gained so quickly after waking up.

To the Angels, it was a show of making an effort in the fight against Gates.

To the world, it was to show how the Gates were an even higher threat, since a being as powerful as Ddraig – one of the two reasons the Heavenly Dragon Class ranking even exists – needed assistance to fully conquer the Angel Titan. And he did not come out unscathed from the battle.

But there was another message in there. One meant for those very powerful beings, one that they won't understand for a while.

"You are proof that my message will reach them."

'There are worthy opponents for you out there.'

The live battle against the Gate was a sample.

The Beast Tide was the wake-up bell that made the Gates the threat that should be taken seriously.

And that bell made the powerful beings of all Pantheons turn their heads towards No Man's Land. How many of them yearn for a worthy opponent? How many of them yearn for a war against overwhelming odds?

How many yearn to see the levels they could reach, if they didn't just waste their long, immortal lives?

"Just how far have you been planning?" Ajuka chuckles, voice full of mirth, "Even the Beast Tide was in your calculations?"

I make a so-so gesture, "I expected it to overflow in the coming years due to a being above Heavenly Dragon Class appearing or wandering in the outer edges of No Man's Land. I didn't expect it to happen due to external action."

I should have, seeing how the Khaos Brigade has the blood of Ophis within their grasp, but I guess I didn't dare imagine they'd use it just to make entire hordes of beings flee towards us.

They likely detonated the blood like a powerful, mighty firework. Unleashing all of that immense power to scare the absolute shit out of the feral monsters, making them ignore their fight instinct and just chose flight.

It might not have worked as well if the beast's mind weren't so eroded. Had they paused and noticed that the burst of power was exactly that, they might not have fled in such a way, or in such enormous quantities.

Ajuka moved to talk, but any words he was about to say died in his throat when a flash of red light lit up a room. A large orb of flickering red light appears above the table between us, flashing a brighter and darker red like an alarm.

Upon closer inspection, the orb was made up of numbers, and resembled a massive nucleus. An insanely complicated and concentrated array of some sorts, of a scope I couldn't even imagine.

Ajuka's eyes narrow, and he soon flicks his wrist. The nucleus blooms open and unfurls above the table, turning into a transparent landscape that laid before us, giving us an eagle eye-view of it.

There, taking up the majority of it, was an enormous kingdom of immense scope, made entirely out of a strange, dark metal. The surrounding land didn't match the earth beneath the kingdom's enormous, towering walls of gleaming dark metal, telling us instantly that this was a Superimposition Gate.

Plus, the air around it was still twisting and covered in cracks, as Reality and Space-Time were still settling after the appearance of such a massive piece of land.

I watch as a large army of monsters from a colossal tear in Reality not even a few hundred meters away from the kingdom instantly made a beeline for it, giant gorillas with living snake as tails and huge dragon-like horns on their heads.

They numbered in the hundreds, and all charged towards the kingdom like the feral beasts they were, together with their enormous leader.

In turn, the gates of the Kingdom slowly rose, and from it marched out an army of metal knights. Hundreds, then thousands, then ten thousands. Archers, mages, knights, soldiers- All sorts of weaponry, all made of the same dark metal.

The two armies soon started battling, but the knights… They weren't mad. They weren't feral. They took up formation, divided the enemies, had the archers and mages focus on the wounded targets so to take them down faster.

And more knights flowed out of the kingdom to replace the fallen units at a steady pace, like a slow grindstone tearing the invading monsters apart, little by little… Until none remained.

"Fascinating…" I muse aloud, leaning forward, studying the marching knights with wide, manic eyes.

Ajuka leans forward, then flicks his gaze at me, "You recognize these things?" I nod, gulping heavily as I study these fascinating creations.

"Do you know what a Phylactery is?"

He blinks at my question, then nods soon after, "A powerful container for a Soul. A Necromancer's biggest goal, so to ascent to Lichdom."

I nod, "Phylacteries are, at their base, a simple Soul Flask. They are meant to store a Soul. But a Soul Flask becomes a Phylactery when it guards a potent, important Soul… Or multiple ones." I wave my hand towards the knights, "Living Armors. The hardest form of Necromancy there is, even harder than Grafting."

Ajuka's eyes widen, then flick down towards the knights, currently gathering the remains of their fallen members. His gaze mainly concentrates to the wisps of sky-blue energy seeping out of the cracks of their armor, or from beneath their metallic robes. "A Hive-Mind…?"

I wet my lips and cross my arms, "Seems so… A very, very intelligent one too." Battle formations, fighting Skills, battle tactics, a unified mind to keep everything flowing smoothly… "There's likely a Phylactery inside the kingdom, or…"

Ajuka smiles, his gaze intense, a thirst for knowledge swimming within his eyes, "Or the whole Kingdom is the Phylactery."

He cups his chin, grinning as we watch the knights tear apart the monsters and take their valuable parts within the gates, which shut behind them, "I believe I have found a way to train our army."

I glance at the kingdom, then look away, a foul taste in my mouth. I can already guess how such a thing came to be.

A powerful Necromancer likely sacrificing the entire Kingdom in his ascension to Lichdom, devouring all of the inhabitants and living beings in it, and turning them into slaves.

And over time, their enslaved souls broke and started remaking the Phylactery into a mighty metallic fortress, while they all become powerful warriors.

I shake away those thoughts. "The Boss of this Gate might be Maou Class, if not stronger. Keep an eye on it."

Ajuka nods, his gaze hungry, and I send a mental prayer towards whatever being has made that Kingdom their home.

Because its going to be used and dissected until there is no more use for it.

~XXX~

When I teleported back home, I expected to be greeted by the girls, who'd usually gather in the living room to chat and get to know each other.

What I did not expect was to turn around and see the White Dragon Emperor… Beaten black and blue, and wrapped in bandages from head to toe.

"What… Happened here?" I question aloud, making Fleurdelys perk up. A radiant smile blooms on her full lips, the teacup halting by them due to my arrival.

"Oh, my dear Scaith!" Her radiant voice tells me that she enjoyed a good fight, and seeing Vali reduced to such a state… I think I can tell where that fight came from. "I have a nephew! His name is Vali Lucifer!"

A muffled grumble comes from the beaten up teen, but it held no bite. Hell, he sounded… Satisfied.

"That side of your family was able to procreate?" I question aloud, putting pure shock in my voice, making her burst out laughing. Best I hide the fact I knew of Vali from her.

Mostly because I totally forgot until now, despite the fact that I wanted to recruit him and Albion for a while.

"Seems like so!" One hand waves towards the injured party, "He is a Half-Devil, so he managed to have a Sacred Gear. The Divine Dividing, in fact."

I hum just as a pair of glowing radiant blue and white wings appear over Vali's back, and a powerful voice echoes out of them, "You must be the powerful Necromancer that brought back my rival. Well met."

I smile and gaze at the radiant wings, "Ah, Albion. Ddraig has been rather vocal about wanting to fight you once more."

"His eagerness matches mine." Albion chuckles, "I yearn to fly through the air once more."

I move, a milky white radiance pouring out of my chest and taking the shape of a small cup, "You'll also have no shortage of opponents to fight against. Hell, you've come at the perfect time." I wave the cup, letting the white radiance cover the wings and Vali as a whole.

"Oh? How so?" Albion questions, wings flaring as they are studied and memorized by the Graal.

"We'll be diving into the Inner Area of No Man's Land soon enough." I reveal, surprising even Fleurdelys. I send her a wink so that she doesn't get worried, "You'll get to fight so much that you might get tired."

Silence… The laughter. Loud, eager laughter, "When do we start!?" Gods, these guys are all battle maniacs here… And I gotta rely on them!

Well, at least they are easy to handle. Just give them a victim. Or several.

I look down at the Graal, watch as it flickers, then smile back up at the wings, "I've called back Ddraig. He should come back with enough biomass to make you a new and powerful body." I nod towards the wings, "The Sacred Gear was made out of your corpse, so you'll be able to use all of your abilities. Even the poison."

Albion whistles, "What about Vali's Sacred Gear?" Heh, he still cares about the kid. I like that.

"It'll be crippled, losing access to quite a few abilities, but I can easily avoid that by leaving behind a shard of your Soul to power it." I shrug and send the Graal back into my body, "You'll have a mild headache until I get enough Souls to repair the damage."

"Do that then, please. Kids a good fighter." I nod, then mentally command Rhapthorne to descend. Soon, a wave of green light washes over Vali's injured form.

He startles, then quickly rips the bandages off of his healed form, eyes wide in disbelief, "What amazing healing…" He muses, standing tall to stretch his body and pop his bones. Once done, he looks at Fleurdelys. The horned beauty raises an amused brow his way, and Vali is instantly cowed, "So…" He starts, turning towards me instead, "You said something about charging deep into No Man's Land?"

I grin, "Wanna come with? It'll be dangerous, but…" I flick my gaze to the wings on his back, "You'll get to watch the Red and White Dragon Emperors fight beings on par, if not stronger than them."

And honestly? I want to witness that myself. I want to watch these two powerful rivals work together to tear into their opponent, and show the might they wielded at their prime.

The might that forced the Three Biblical Factions to stop waging the Great War and actually put them down before resuming. Which makes me think…

How much of a nuisance were you two fucking idiots to make THREE Factions decide 'Fuck the war, get those two bastards!'?!

Vali's eyes gloss over, and he reaches Nirvana by just having that mental image, which makes me snort.

"May I ask why this sudden plan, my dear Scaith?" Fleurdelys questions once I was done with Vali, her expression calm, but I could tell that she was both nervous and worried.

I give her a soft smile, "I need to get started on those weapons for everyone, and I need a lot of Souls if I want them to meet my standards."

Again, a mantra rings out in my head. Everything has been going my way.

And I hate it. I hate it a lot. I know something is coming. And that something will be terrifying.

Like a karma that must settle for all the good luck I've been blessed with.

"I'll take a tenth of my army with me. Use the rest as you see fit." Fleur narrows her eyes and searches my gaze for a few quiet seconds before relenting and nodding. Clearly, we'll have a more in depth conversation later.

I love how caring she is.

I know that she has no plans for now. Her main focus is getting closer to the new Peerage members, and just enjoying some peace and quiet with them.

Plus, I believe she and Changli paid a visit to the Chinese Territory and sold the majority of our gains from the Beast Tide, while also requesting improved gear for our newly expanded army.

Much of the funds went into that, and into expanding Changli's greenhouse with more ingredients for Alchemy. With her and Tio working together, the army is training hard and growing day by day.

Once their training starts to slow down, we dive into No Man's Land and just… Start a slaughter. The damage we'll do is negligible at best, and I'll have to think about ways to make sure any conquered ground lasts.

But for now, my main focus is creating those soul-bound weapons that grow with us. They are a must. Weapons and armors both, if I can.

And for that, I need an enormous amount of Souls, and even biomass. Preferably, I'd also love to put my hands on more unique racial powers, like powerful regeneration and the likes.

Mostly because I'd like to, in the future, create Soul-bound gear for the army too. I'll start with Fleurdelys and the Peerage, maybe myself too if I think of a weapon, then with my Undead Minions.

Turning to Vali, I nod at him to follow me, "Come with me, I've got someone for you to fight, so to make sure we can keep the Divine Dividing Sacred Gear working properly."

I'm sure Lu Bu will appreciate the chance of fighting someone that can put up a fight again.

~XXX~

Augusta's gaze freezes, the map laying on the table before her swiftly forgotten and ignored.

"I had not expected a visit from someone of your status." The flaps of her tent shake as a gust of warm wind blow in.

Lifting her gaze towards the other end of the table, Augusta finds herself gazing up at the tall, divine form of the God of the Bible. Long, bright golden hair, golden eyes, fair skin, a tall form exuding pure beauty.

It was hard to look at her, and even harder to look away.

Yah smiles, kindness and warmth radiating out of her form in waves, "So, you are the wielder of that grumpy sword…" The Goddess muses, tilting her head at orange-haired warrior, "Does it speak to you?"

Augusta holds the gaze of the Goddess for several quiet seconds before releasing the tension in her shoulders, "Sometimes." She was the wielder of the Sword of Kings, Ea. The weapon of Gilgamesh, a rather renown figure.

Yet, her control over it was… Subpar, so far. She hadn't even achieved Balance Breaker yet.

"It demands tithes." Yah muses, gaze lowering to the complex map on the table, and to each mark upon it. "Achieve victory after victory, and you shall earn its recognition."

Augusta lets out a slight huff, "I've done that. Monsters don't sate it-"

"Because you have to fight warriors. Like yourself." Golden eyes flick up and narrow in thin amusement. "You'll see."

Augusta blinks, but doesn't question the Goddess that created her Sacred Gear, "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

Yah hums, turning to walk around the table, a lone hand dragging along the map laying on it, "I've figured how to slow the incursion of Gates." The divine woman reveals, stunning Augusta greatly, "And… I plan to sponsor you. Your Hero Faction as a whole."

Lips open and close noiselessly, before the Spirit Inheritor regathers her wits, "I… What? Truly?!" Yah titters softly, and nods towards the map.

"Clearings Gates helps… But we must focus on specific ones. The ones that release the biggest, most intense Spatial fluctuations, which cause more, weaker Gates to appear within that range."

A finger reaches out, flicking over a large marker on the map. Then, with a wave of her hand, all the others vanish, "Thus, that area will be cleared, and will face a massively reduced amount of incursions."

Augusta wets her suddenly very dry lips. Countless minds had tried to study the Gates and how to combat them, to no avail… And yet, the God of the Bible figures out the crux of the matter in a short span of time since her rebirth.

"I presume… You will sponsor us to take on such Gates, then." Yah nods, gaze growing gentle yet serious.

"I will gather the Heads of each Pantheon. I will have them pick champions among their numbers, and I will bless such champions with the best Sacred Gears among my collection."

Golden eyes flick to Augusta, "They will then join your Hero Faction. They will try to lead. To take over." Augusta gulps, "Crush them all, and stand at the top."

And perfect her Sacred Gear. Warriors from all over will be sent to her… Countless opponents to offer to Ea, and gain its recognition.

Countless plan that benefit everyone all coming together. Truly, there was no one that could compare to the God of the Bible when it came to strategies and planning.

Still… Augusta looks down at the map of the Underworld, "Such Gates cannot be simple, though…" They were likely Maou Class, if not so, so much higher.

"Not all of them are powerful." Yah reassures, gaze warm and soft, "Some are enhanced for they stand above a Leyline. Others are… Unique. A new type of Gate, meant exactly to spread these Spatial fluctuations."

The Spirit Inheritor's eyes widen at that. For a new type of Gate to appear after so long… Or perhaps it did, but it never reached the lived areas of the Underworld.

"I call them Challenge Gates." Yah reveals, "Only a single, powerful being steps out of the Gates. And they are… Smarter than most beings that invade our Universe."

Shaking her head, the Goddess turns and offers Augusta a warm, radiant smile, "Now, how about you show me around your base? I'll be turning this place into a fine fortress!"

"Oh, and let us pick the perfect spot where you can beat up the champions of the other Pantheons- Oooh! We can make it a Colosseum!"

Why did the Goddess suddenly become giddy at the thought of beating up the children of other Pantheons…?

~XXX~

Rizevim comes to with a scream of pure, utter agony.

A scream so loud, so powerful, so long, that it tears his throat apart, and ends only because his vocal chords are shredded.

"Finally awake, meatbag?" Cold, ruthless mechanical eyes gleam out of the darkness. A gargantuan form slithers close from the void, causing the darkness to grow denser, choking the life out of Rizevim, tears and snot pouring down his face.

The mechanical being gazes at the strung up form of Rizevim with disinterest, a billion ants made of metal crawling across that colossal form. "You've proven yourself to be useless. To be worthless. To be weak."

"Space-Time is too unstable. Our arrival is final, but this world… When the main fleet comes, it must be cinders. Our Lord must be pleased."

The ants come together, climbing over each other to form tendrils of metal that slither through the air, towards the broken and mangled form of Rizevim.

The Super Devil struggled. He shook his head. He cried and quietly begged, but the unfeeling mechanical being just watched.

It watched as the ants burrowed into the Super Devil, rebuilt its broken body. Made him stronger, made him better. Mightier.

Made him a puppet. One that wouldn't fail, or be led by childish, useless emotions and desires.

A puppet that would obey its master, and bring about the completions of its orders.

"Now then, meatbag… Tell me all you know."

Thus, the being that was no longer Rizevim started speaking. And he kept speaking, and speaking, and speaking.

The mechanical eye in the darkness is joined by another. Then a thousand more. Then a million more.

And soon, they started burrowing through the void like maggots.

"They are still alive."

The mechanical eye freezes, "Hm?" The half-meat, half-metal puppet stirs, gaze blank and empty. "What are you talking about, meatbag?"

Silence… Then-

"The Infinity and the Dream."

A cold, empty gaze meets the mechanical orb of its master.

"They are still alive."

The metal monstrosity stirred behind the darkness, before the mechanical eye blinks out.

"Inconsequential."

Unseen by its master, the puppet sneered.

A.N. And the plot THICKENS. Soon enough, I'll cut down the streak of wins Scaith has been having.

I wanna add some struggle, for fucks sake! But I keep failing to do that shit! Uff!

And y'all better enjoy it or I'ma strangle y'all until yer faces are purple!

Hope y'all enjoyed this chappy, and thanks for your patience!

Toodles!