Damn Necromancer-Chapter 298
Chapter 298: Upper Ranking Battle (4)
Eastern edge of Sky Island.
Andromalius sniffed the air.
“Here, I smell some treasure…….”
Shrugging his shoulders, he moved his steps.
His authority was simple.
Finding hidden things.
Whether it be treasure, a culprit, or stolen goods.
His steps following the smell stopped.
Corpses were visible between the rock shadows.
It wasn't one.
Three. No, four.
All had their throats slit. It was ghost-like skill.
Not a single knife mark was out of place.
The fact that there were no traces of resistance meant they didn't perceive the attack until the moment they were cut.
Andromalius squatted next to the corpse.
His gloved finger scanned the severed section of the neck.
The blood hadn't hardened yet.
It was warm.
‘High-level assassin.’
His eyes narrowed.
‘Formless Sword Wraith. It is that guy's skill.’
Proxy of Rank 4 Gamigin.
A powerhouse ranking within the top five in this Upper Ranking Battle.
It seemed they were done in by him.
He rubbed the blood stained on his finger.
Viscosity, warmth, coagulation speed.
Everything was information.
“His location is…….”
The muttering cut off.
Andromalius slowly raised his head.
“Come out, Wraith.”
The wind blew.
Seureureuk―.
A shadow seeped out onto the rock.
The hem of a black coat fluttered in the wind.
Half his face was covered by a hood. O
nly the revealed eyes shone coldly.
“You have sharp senses.”
It was a low and dry voice.
“Since when did you know?”
Andromalius smirked.
Sseuk―.
He scanned the corpse's blood with his hand once more.
Red liquid spread between his gloves.
“I am a bit good at finding culprits.”
He rubbed his fingers and dropped the blood.
“It seems this corpse felt very aggrieved.”
He smiled gently.
“It’s reporting everything to me?”
Wraith’s eyes narrowed.
“Interesting authority.”
“I make a living thanks to it.”
Andromalius stood up.
He brushed off his bloodied gloves.
“By the way, it seems you were waiting for someone here. Don't tell me that's me?”
“Andromalius. One who was once a great Demon Lord, but fell and joined hands with a Necromancer.”
“There is no need to introduce me so long-windedly.”
“There was an order to dispose of you.”
“Oh my! How scary. Don't tell me your master Gamigin said that? To kill me?”
“I will correct one thing. Lady Gamigin is not the only one who considers you a thorn in the eye.”
“Several ordered it? Well, fine. But you see.”
A sneer bloomed on Andromalius’s lips.
“A mere proxy doesn't know to fear a Demon Lord?”
“Not a Demon Lord. Just one of the fallen demons.”
Seureung.
Wraith’s sword was drawn.
“Andromalius, your last words?”
“Beautiful treasures emit an ecstatic scent. I’m talking about Mr. Kim Minwoo. It seems he obtained a good ability recently. The scent has become thicker.”
“……Is that your last word?”
“No, no. Not that…… I just thought that if I take your soul, he would really like it?”
Five jet-black claws soared above Andromalius’s hand.
“I was always scolded for getting a free ride. If I pack a gift and go, I might hear some praise this time, right?”
Wraith’s figure disappeared.
Immediately after.
Chaeng―!
As the invisible sword and Andromalius’s claws collided, a roar burst out.
＊ ＊ ＊
Iron Blood King Carnos.
Every time he walked, the earth resonated.
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps trampled over corpses.
The sound of bones crushing came from beneath his feet. He did not care.
“Ca, Carnos!”
A blood-covered proxy stepped back.
His legs trembled. Pupils stricken with fear shook madly.
“Did you not hear the Lords' command? Clearly, we were supposed to combine our strength and deal with Kim Minwoo first―.”
“Heh.”
Carnos stopped.
Crimson pupils looked down at the proxy.
The corners of his mouth twisted upwards.
“Combining strength with bugs like you…….”
A massive hand was slowly raised.
“What meaning does it have?”
The proxy’s eyes opened wide.
‘This crazy bastard is―.’
He had no intention of letting them live from the start.
Seogeok―!
The head soared high into the sky.
Blood spurted like a fountain from the neck.
Red liquid splashed onto Carnos’s face.
He licked his lips with his tongue.
“Hehe.”
He looked around.
Corpses were scattered.
Dozens of them.
All were proxies he had slaughtered. It didn't matter if they were allies or enemies.
He cut down everything that moved.
It was a sea of blood.
“Good.”
Carnos’s eyes blazed.
“The blood is boiling more and more―.”
An immense sense of elation was felt.
The longer he stood on the battlefield, the more his power strengthened. This was also just an action taken to perform the Lord's command well.
Because strengthening himself would produce more efficient results than moving with several bugs.
It was then.
A cold wind blew.
Carnos’s words were cut off.
A blizzard was rushing in from beyond the horizon.
No, it wasn't a blizzard. Ice fragments were pouring from the sky. Like glass shards falling.
A woman walked out from the center.
Pale skin.
Silver hair.
Even her pupils were white like frost.
Witch of the White Night Elise.
Wherever she passed, the earth froze.
Grass hardened like glass.
Moisture in the air became crystals and scattered.
“Did you kill them all again?”
Elise’s voice rang out coldly.
“Your master Baal commanded it. To cooperate.”
Carnos smirked.
“Hmph!”
A snort burst out.
“And what about you?”
He pointed behind Elise with his finger.
Frozen corpses were visible in the blizzard.
They were all proxies.
Shapes frozen while alive.
Expressions stricken with fear were hardened as is.
“Didn't you freeze them all too?”
Elise’s eyes narrowed.
“There is a difference.”
The chill became thicker.
“I didn't do it on purpose. The weak bastards just froze on their own.”
Her finger pointed at Carnos.
“But you are intentional. You killed while enjoying it.”
“So what?”
Carnos shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s fun though.”
Elise let out a sigh.
White steam rose from her mouth.
“Stupid barbarian.”
“What did you say?”
Carnos’s eyes flashed.
Huff. Huff.
Rough breath leaked out.
Crimson pupils blazed. The greatsword in his hand trembled.
“Ha, it would be fun to smash you at a time like this.”
Killing intent spewed out like a storm.
Elise did not budge an inch.
Rather, she smiled coldly.
“Try it if you can, ignorant bastard.”
The air froze.
The momentum of the two beings collided head-on.
Heat and cold. Blood and frost.
Conflicting powers clashed in the empty air, creating a rupture sound.
A tense confrontation continued.
The one who backed down first was Carnos.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue.
“I have no time to deal with you right now.”
He slung the greatsword over his shoulder.
“Have to catch that Necromancer bastard first.”
Elise’s eyes moved minutely.
“Fortunately, you at least know how to think.”
“Drakan and Rafaela died. Seems like a pretty interesting guy, that human.”
The corners of Carnos’s mouth went up.
“Curious how hot his blood will be.”
Elise was silent for a moment.
She also knew that the two powerhouses had died.
There were no restrictions in this Ranking Battle.
Naturally, the same applied to items.
One could utilize items sharing life signals as much as they wanted.
Drakan and Rafaela.
The signal lights indicating the two had turned dark like an abyss.
“Then, you mean to cooperate?”
“Just for a moment.”
Carnos extended his hand.
“Because once we catch that guy, I’ll kill you first.”
Elise smirked.
“I have the same thought.”
Her pale hand grasped Carnos’s hand.
Heat and cold intersected.
It was the moment an uncomfortable alliance was established.
＊ ＊ ＊
Kim Minwoo leaned his back against a rock.
“Three remain. Iron Blood King Carnos, Witch of the White Night Elise, Formless Sword Wraith.”
Cedric nodded.
―They say Carnos is a type that gets stronger the more he fights. If the battle drags on, it will be disadvantageous.
“That’s likely. On the other hand, I heard that witch Elise is specialized in ice magic……. Cedric, you will take on Carnos with me.”
―Right.
“Merhen, I need you to handle Elise for a bit. Can you do it?”
―Leave it to me, Minwoo.
She nodded.
They had fed them the powerhouses of the Upper Ranking Battle.
The combat power of the two had exploded.
They would be a great help even in the battle against the two.
‘It would be best if we fought them one by one, but…….’
Quite some time had passed since the Ranking Battle started.
He had to assume it was about time for them to join up.
―But, what about the Formless Sword Wraith?
“Since he’s an assassin, I’ll start by laying down the Land of Death first. Then I should be able to at least dispel stealth.”
“What about Elise?”
―Ice magic specialization. Skilled in wide-area suppression, and mana consumption skyrockets inside her cold field.
Merhen cut in.
―But Minwoo, there isn't much information on Wraith.
“Because he’s an assassin type. He’ll aim for a surprise attack rather than a head-on contest.”
It was then.
[Ah, Mr. Kim Minwoo. This is Andromalius. I encountered Wraith, so don't worry on your side and fight. I will handle this guy.]
A short message arrived.
“Huh?”
―Why?
“Andromalius says he’s fighting Wraith?”
―Really? That’s great! Then Minwoo will be much more comfortable?
“Right. Though I don't know if Andromalius can win…….”
He just got a free ride in the Middle Ranking Battle.
Will he pull off something this time?
―He was a Demon Lord too, after all. He’ll do something, then.
“As expected, our Merhen is smart.”
―Hehe.
Merhen’s words are right.
If he wants to live, he’ll do something.
Since he didn't even know where he was and the content of the message was quite relaxed, it was right to focus on recovery rather than support right now. Kim Minwoo took out a potion from his bosom.
Liquid flowed down his throat.
The torn wound on his shoulder healed smoothly.
Mana filled up.
Silence flowed for a moment.
Only the sound of the wind was heard.
Under the red sky, the air of the Demon Realm was still fishy.
It was then.
Kim Minwoo’s brow twitched.
A tingling sensation swept over his skin. His head turned instinctively.
Beyond the horizon.
Two streams of momentum were soaring high into the sky.
One was blood-red. Vigor blazing like boiling lava.
The other was frost-light. Chill that seemed to freeze the atmosphere.
Two conflicting powers were approaching side by side toward this direction.
―Minwoo.
Merhen’s voice lowered.
―It’s two.
Cedric’s blue eye glint shone sharply.
―Carnos and Elise. It seems they joined hands.
Kim Minwoo slowly stood up.
He rotated his shoulder. The bone joints made a cracking sound.
Two silhouettes rose above the horizon.
One was a man with a massive physique carrying a blood-red greatsword on his shoulder.
The other was a woman scattering frost with her silver hair fluttering.
Iron Blood King Carnos.
Witch of the White Night Elise.
The gazes of the two turned toward Kim Minwoo simultaneously.
Seureureung.
Hell Rhapsody slid out of its sheath.
“Guests have arrived.”
The corners of Kim Minwoo’s mouth went up slowly.
“Two of them at that.”
When Wraith isn't here.
He has to catch these bastards.
