Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 46: You are a Necromancer?

’Clap! Clap! Clap!’

The sound echoed, the only noise in the stillness, and Kren suddenly looked disturbingly similar to the monster lying on the ground. I took an unconscious step back before I even confirmed anything.

But then Kren smiled, and his eyes returned to their usual scholarly gleam. As if I was just seeing things. "Vale! I can’t believe you’re a Necromancer! You said you were from the Dark Order, but I didn’t think you’d be a Necromancer. Those are some of the most powerful Knights in the Dark Order!"

I looked at him blankly in surprise but then I narrowed my eyes. ’Necromancer? What is Kren talking about? Is he trying to pull a trick?’

I glanced at the monster, then back at Kren. "Necromancer... but I’m not a Knight yet."

Kren spread his arms wide and gestured to the monster. "Don’t you see? The creature is undead, a hallmark of Necromancers, and it’s turning to you! It must mean your core is sensitive to Necromancer essence."

"Now you just have to familiarize yourself with that essence. Fortunately for you, you’ll make good progress in this ruin, as it’s filled with such energy." Kren smiled at me expectantly, as if waiting for a response.

I nodded slowly, my green eyes darkening slightly. Whatever was happening was beyond my understanding. But. "Yes, it must be as you say. This is a good chance for me."

I forced a smile and glanced at the monster, not loosing my composure on the outsid, inside though. ’No! It’s not the Dark Order, it’s the Forbidden! What exactly is going on? Is the undead monster somehow connected to the Forbidden Mark Order? Then it’s fortunate Kren and the others misunderstand, for now, at least, until I figure all this out!’

Arvas studied Kren and me, his gaze sharp and drilling. He spoke flatly, "Congratulations. Not many Squires are lucky enough to discover their attuned essence. But we need to move on, there are still plenty of undead wolves out there."

With that, Emily decapitated the monster. It didn’t resist as its head rolled to the ground, its red eyes still fixed on me intently. I shuddered and looked away.

We continued their journey, though the others kept their distance from me. Only Tiber, Syla, and Taiwo stayed close. Fortunately, no wolves, dead or alive ambushed us again, a relief for me, who didn’t want a repeat of what had just happened.

The crimson moon still hung in the sky, watching me like some omnipotent god eye.

Then Kren and Arvas slowed their pace and called me over.

My heart skipped a beat. ’What now? Did they somehow figure out my Mark? But that’s impossible. Then why are they calling me over again?’

Ignoring the questioning looks from the others, I walked forward. Kren greeted me with a smile as he noted my confusion. "Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble," he said with a laugh and a gesture as if we are sharing a secret joke.

Arvas scowled. "You’re wasting time again, Kren! This isn’t a classroom. Be serious!"

Kren dismissed the remark with a simple smile. "You fuss too much. I just want to show him something practical related to what I’ve been teaching him."

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Kren gestured ahead. "There’s a broken cathedral nearby with murals. I want to show you how it looks. I believe this ruin isn’t from another world—it likely originates from ours. I’ve seen something similar before."

That piqued my curiosity. "From this world?"

Kren nodded as we moved aside, ignoring Arvas’s exasperated sigh. "Yes. Typically, ruins are places brought here from other realms or worlds that Arcane Wizards tried to reach.

"But some ruins already existed in our world. Remember the ages I told you about? There are ruins from the First Age, all the way to the Emperor’s disappearance. They’ve been warped around Rifts, just like the others."

’So this place existed here originally, not brought from elsewhere. They really did believe in gods back then’ I thought, studying the cathedral.

The structure was broken, worn by time, and covered in blackened vines. The stained glass windows were long shattered, and we entered through a gaping hole in the wall, stepping onto rotted wood.

Inside, rusted metal chairs filled the space, the air heavy with the scent of dried husks and rot. Many of the seats were occupied by skeletal remains, most crumbling to dust, but others still intact, their slack jaws frozen in expressions of horror, all staring in one direction—the altar on the raised platform.

It was as if they had died from pure terror. I shuddered and looked away, focusing instead on the dust swirling in our wake as we approached the platform, led by Kren.

My skin prickled with goosebumps, the empty sockets of the skeletons feeling as though they were watching me.

"There are murals on the wall behind the altar that I think you’ll find interesting," Kren said. "I believe they depict the gods of the First Age. Although, I doubt this cathedral is that old..."

The altar was made of black stone, gleaming as though slick with blood—but no, it was the red light pouring through a hole in the roof, making it appear wet.

But my focus wasn’t on the altar; it was on the murals behind it. They depicted a man in black robes, standing against a backdrop of darkness, his hands clasped and his face hidden beneath a hood. Surrounding him were others dressed similarly, all bowing in apparent fealty. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Something about the man drew me in, compelling me to move closer unconsciously. The area around the figure rippled, revealing hidden symbols I couldn’t quite discern. I knew something surrounded the man, but it was shrouded in mystery.

I leaned closer, my green eyes darkening further, and then gasped as I recoiled. I had seen something—a single, vivid image.

A red moon.

So lifelike, it felt as though I were staring directly at the one outside.