Bro, I'm not an Undead!-Chapter 1669: Kenno’s Heights (2)

Kenno’s Hidden Class was called Matter Monster. He could use it to change the state of existence of inanimate matter. Things like mass and composition were simple enough for him to tweak to extremes as long as the object he was altering had no sense of sentience – like magical artefacts with consciousnesses.

With his Majestic Territory, Kenno could alter phenomena around both inanimate and animate objects, such as space, gravity, and sound, which could affect his enemies in a plethora of ways.

Now that he had activated trillions of this Majestic Territory within himself, he was considering the possibilities. How could he use the empowered abilities of Matter Monster, multiplied as they were, on himself in a way that charted a path of growth for him? Something that could, perhaps, allow him to become stronger than Kintar.

Skullius’ faith and trust echoed through Kenno. That had meant more to him than he’d imagined before. Skullius’ trust translated into something more than just how the Null Lifeform could use him. No. It also translated into how Kenno himself could expand his role. Skullius wanted him to see his potential maximized.

’Yeah. I think I got it,’ he thought, and chuckled. He turned to Ryte, who was gaping at him.

"You have my attention there."

The voice caused Kenno’s words to die in his throat.

A blanket of thick Undeath energy fell on him and the Mages with all the grace of a cyclone. The effect was immediate: crippling fear that demanded that all of them to remain absolutely still.

Souran had been watching how Soizar was struggling against the two pests that had shown up suddenly when he’d sensed the unfathomable power that rippled through Kenno just now.

"Now, how can a little thing like you channel enough power to light up a world and contain it? Are you really mortal?"

No one could hear what the Lich said, but her next gesture alarmed them all.

...!

She pointed a finger below – at the Mages and Kenno – and suddenly, they were surrounded by Death Knights. The monsters wasted no time striking down with lethal blows. They were Divine – stronger and swifter – and thus the Mages and Kenno had no opportunity to do anything, especially while hounded by Souran’s Undeath energy.

...But the Undeath energy was dispelled like smoke suddenly.

"Hmm?" Souran was surprised.

A curious thing had joined the fray.

Weaver dispelled the ferocious Undeath energy with Red Rage’s assistance. Araeyn was there too. He’d warped them in the thick of the conflict, and Ferex, ravenous and murderous, blew through all the Death Knights in a blink, ripping them apart with his glowing claws. His form was shifting, turning into a dark, tall, unsteady omen with vicious blades at the end of his fingers. He’d been absorbing the souls of the Death Knights Skullius had killed before, adding them to his own using the [Soul Talisman] ability, and his strength was approaching the Divine.

Souran had noticed before, the growing threat.

The Death Knights Ferex had ripped into reeled, their attacks on the Mages and Kenno stalled. They weren’t dead. As strong as Ferex was, he couldn’t reach their Broader Existences yet.

In that instant the enemies were stunned, Araeyn warped everyone a distance away. Everyone except Red Rage, of course.

The First Rank Apostle remained, staring up at Souran.

The Arch-Lich was mildly amused.

"No wonder Soizar is reeling. You all belong to that anomaly," she said, and cackled, her socket flames blazing. "Now, what’s making you so brave?"

Red Rage’s cape fluttered in the brash winds, and the scattered lights of a dying Aigas made him look even more gorgeous. Null Life Essence poured out of him spectacularly. It was a declaration of war. He pointed at the Arch-Lich.

"You’re probably too strong for us to kill, but heed me well. After we are done with you and your tail has been tucked between your legs, I’ll give you a message to spread back to that cesspool of an expanse you call home," said Red Rage with an even voice.

The connection between Null Life Essence and Undeath – Existential Parallels – allowed his intent to swim between him and Souran seamlessly. The Arch-Lich heard it all.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She was so amused that she laughed like a normal, living entity. "If I had known there was still a reason to humor this world even without those Deities and anomalies, I wouldn’t have allowed my mood to sour!" She descended from the sky and summoned the remaining Doom Knights to her side. "I’ll entertain you only because I’m curious about this message of yours."

"What is that idiot doing?"

Meanwhile, Kenno, who had been released from Souran’s spell along with the Mages, grimaced at Red Rage’s declaration. He was every bit as driven as the Apostle, but antagonizing something of that caliber wasn’t wise. He’d seen what the Liches were capable of, after all.

...But also because he knew exactly how strong they were, and what it had taken for Skullius to fight them...

"Ryte! Do it now, while we have the chance!" he cried.

The Mage, still reeling in bits of a stupor, frowned, shook his head, and did as he had been bidden. There was no time to argue now.

"You heard the man! Give it all you got!" he told the other Mages.

Swiftly, the Mages channeled their energies, applying the highest forms of magic they could and aimed it all at Kenno.

I need you to pump me full of the essence of space and time – whatever shape they take. I’ve learned from my master that there can be different interpretations of concepts, and you Mages can weaponize them. Hit me with everything that has to do with spatial manipulation and time manipulation. Don’t hold back.

That had been Kenno’s request.

Ryte himself was a master of Ascended Magic related to time. He’d been the one to trap the Reacher Academy in the Stagnant Space because of a time spell, after all.

Some of the Mages around knew variants of space magic.

Scattered Space Magic.

Near-Void Space Magic.

Internalised Space Magic.

All of it was blasted into Kenno in streams possessing wildly different qualities. It was a devastating amount of power, to be sure, especially for a mere Incandescent Stager, but after everything that Kenno had been through, it might as well have been a trifle. In fact, he felt his body greedily absorb the properties of the magic.

That was precisely what he wanted, after all.

He had decided that from the traits he’d tasted while stuck as Deific Usurper’s anchor, that space and time were the most appropriate for what he was trying to accomplish.

Broader Existence.

Majestic Territory.

Wasn’t it obvious what he was aiming for?

The first to get an inkling of what Kenno was attempting was Weaver, ever perceptive.

"Crafty..." said the Apostle.

...And then, not even a second after he said it, a broad power fell from the skies and landed on Kenno.

He didn’t know it, but a mighty powerhouse had seen it fit to tie him to Fundamental Barter and its benefits.