Damn Necromancer-Chapter 301
Chapter 301: Olivia (1)
Andromalius's enthusiasm didn't end with investment.
“If you wish, I can manage Lord Vulcan’s territory as a proxy.”
“Hoh. I hate bothersome things. Will you really do that for me?”
“Yes. It is not a loss for me either. Because an opportunity to govern the territory of the Rank 1 will certainly be rare.”
Mr. An answered Vulcan’s words with sparkling eyes.
Kim Minwoo nodded.
“Makes sense. Vulcan isn't the style to be good at internal affairs.”
“Keuh! It’s enough if a Balrog fights well.”
“You’ll lose to Cedric and Merhen now, you know? The soul absorption effect was killer.”
“……Give me one too.”
“No souls. Yet.”
“There’s one left, isn't there?”
“That’s for Olivia.”
While conversing with Vulcan.
A map flowed out from inside the inventory.
[The completed treasure map resonates!]
[You can move to where the treasure is!]
[Would you like to move?]
Kim Minwoo’s eyes shone.
A treasure map completed through a whopping three Ranking Battles.
An item all Demon Lords coveted and wanted to possess even if it meant killing him.
Naturally, the reward would be very sweet.
“Going.”
There was no hesitation.
It was at that moment.
Darkness was swallowing all directions.
A space without a single ray of light. Even the ground beneath his feet couldn't be seen. However, Kim Minwoo’s eyes headed toward exactly one place.
A hemispherical pedestal.
Above the stand that looked carved from black marble, a single ring was floating.
It was neither silver nor gold. Black metal swallowing light. The patterns engraved on the surface squirmed like veins.
His heart sank with a thud.
At that moment.
Woong―.
A vibration rang out above his head.
Death Emperor's Crown.
Usually quiet, it was trembling madly.
Like a dog that found its owner.
No, like discovering kin.
Kim Minwoo’s eyes grew wide.
‘Don’t tell me.’
His hand trembled.
‘Is that, the Death Lord’s legacy?’
Gulp.
Dry saliva went down his throat.
The Lord’s legacy composed of a total of ten pieces.
It was a great item, enough to reorganize the ‘New Order’ if all were gathered.
‘Even just the crown was a Mythical rank item.’
And that, an item possessing overwhelming performance even compared to Hell Rhapsody, which was the same Mythical rank.
The treasure was calling him.
Approaching it, he carefully picked up the ring.
[Acquired item, Death's Imprint!]
[Death's Imprint]
[Rank: Mythical]
[A ring used by a legendary ruler long ago. Maximizes the user's power.]
[Effect 1. Grants an imprint to one target.]
[Effect 2. When the imprinted target dies, permanently absorbs a portion of the target's stats.]
[Effect 3. Imprint can be granted a total of three times a month.]
[Effect 4. ???]
[* The ring's true power is still sealed. More powerful power might awaken if specific conditions are met.]
“Wow, crazy!”
Brief effects of merely three lines.
But the performance was at a level that made one go crazy.
Absorbs stats?
And permanently at that?
“Isn't this just a stat copier?”
Even being able to utilize it three times a month, the word crazy had to come out automatically!
Just a few months wearing this, and stats would rise explosively.
‘If I can absorb the stats of guys like the Dragon Lord or Hardronox even once…….’
It would be a mega jackpot.
He could understand at once why the Demon Lords coveted the treasure map with their eyes rolled back.
How could they resist when it gives something like this as a reward?
Pushing aside the Unique ring far away, he carefully equipped Death's Imprint.
[Equipping Death's Imprint!]
[* Special Event Occurred!]
[* You are the successor of the Death Emperor, Death Lord!]
[* The successor has inherited his first equipment!]
[* A strange attraction is felt. It seems many of his legacies still remain…….]
[Quest: ‘I am Succeeding the Throne, Father’]
[Classification: Special Quest]
[* Find the Death Lord's legacies scattered across all dimensions.]
[* Currently Possessed Legacies (2/10)]
[* Resonance occurs when a legacy is near.]
[* Upon finding all legacies, the ‘New Order’ will be reorganized.]
Now two out of ten.
He felt full already even without eating.
‘Now what I have to do is…….’
Level 700 was right around the corner.
‘First, I should look for Namgoong Min a bit…….’
Recruiting Legion Commanders was also essential.
Increase believers to copy faith, block the Shadows' intervention…….
‘I have to go to the Heavenly City too, right?’
There was so much to do.
It was then.
[You have acquired two of Death Lord's legacies!]
[Qualification to perform the fourth arrangement has been generated!]
[Would you like to perform the arrangement?]
“Huh?”
Kim Minwoo tilted his head.
Wasn't level the condition for performing the arrangement?
Seeing this, it seemed the condition for the last arrangement was the acquisition of legacies.
‘……Just in time, I needed a Legion Commander to feed souls to.’
Increasing Legion Commanders.
It was the method to spec up in the shortest possible time. Besides, he also wanted to see the Death Lord's face after a long time.
“I’ll do it.”
The judgment was quick.
[Death Lord begins to call you.]
Kim Minwoo’s figure blurred.
＊ ＊ ＊
When he went to perform the third arrangement.
The place where the Death Lord was was truly a pitch-black space itself.
But this time it was different.
Above a massive jade throne.
Behind his back, sitting in an arrogant form, a massive city was visible. A super-sized city where countless undead were moving.
―Finally, you have reached this far.
“To set legacies as the condition instead of level. You’re a bit mischievous.”
―At that point, would level be what’s important?
“That’s not it, though.”
―That is why.
“I received your help well last time.”
―Are you talking about Archaia's matter.
Kim Minwoo nodded.
When he fought against the Dragon Lord.
There was a time when the Death Lord handed over his divinity to help in the battle. If not for his help, he wouldn't have been able to endure against Archaia for that long.
―It is nothing. If the target I invested in directly dies, it is a loss for me too, so I merely helped.
Is this gentleman a tsundere?
Or is his personality just that cold?
Based on what he'd seen so far, it was closer to the latter.
“But being grateful is being grateful and…….”
Kim Minwoo, looking up at the Lord, spoke firmly.
“If you happen to be thinking of stealing my body, I want to tell you that you're wasting your effort.”
The Lich smiled brightly.
Jet-black teeth made of bone twinkled.
―You never know the length until you measure it.
Saying that, he gestured to the sky.
―That spider has endured for a long time.
“Are you talking about Hardronox?”
―Yes. Hidden by his father's halo, he has hidden his body in the shadows for a long time.
“……So?”
―One who covets the father. Did you not hear from the witch?
He did hear from Ananke.
Primordial Monster.
Cunning Shadow.
One who covets the father.
That he was an existence one could not stand against with current power.
“Covets the father, huh…….”
―He is that greedy. Reaching out his hand to where you are is ultimately to devour the divinity of both you and me. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
“Is that undead city behind you perhaps gathering divinity?”
―Similar. I have many such factories.
This was truly like an evil Lich.
A factory offering prayers for eternity.
That such a thing was the use of a super-sized city.
“So, the conclusion is……?”
―Setting the spider aside…… why would the Outer God descend on Earth?
“Hmm. Because his authority was stolen by me?”
―What you possess is not exactly the Outer God's. It is merely power modified by dragons.
“Then I don't know why he was so angry. Did he perhaps get furious seeing a fake copying a luxury brand?”
―Similar. Seeing the imitation of his authority being wielded right before his eyes, his pride must have been hurt.
“That gentleman is quite petty too.”
―Gods are originally like that. However, that is not the only reason. To descend on Earth for merely such a reason, he has too much work to do.
At those words, Kim Minwoo’s eyes twinkled as if noticing something. He says he won't descend for merely such a reason.
Then, doesn't it mean the Outer God is also aiming for something?
What could that be.
It was obvious.
The divinity of the Death Lord and himself.
Wouldn't he feel like descending only if it's at least that level?
“The item is one, but the ones aiming for it are two?”
―The price is bound to jump in such cases. Competition will be fierce too.
The Apostle Hardronox and the Outer God are in conflict?
This was somewhat interesting information.
“But, can Hardronox oppose the Outer God? He's an Apostle.”
―You are misunderstanding something. An Apostle is not a subordinate. To express it accurately…… right. It is closer to a contract relationship. Like the relationship between me and the Legion Commanders.
Not a master-servant relationship, but a contract relationship.
Kim Minwoo’s eyes shone.
If utilized well, this might become very useful information.
“Then Hardronox has blood ties added to that?”
―From a human concept, yes.
Soon, the Lich spoke with his eye glint shining.
―The fourth arrangement has begun…….
The Lich swept his hand.
Everything blurs.
It was a familiar process.
Since it was something he had experienced several times already.
Amidst the changing scenery, the Lord's last words were heard.
―Olivia. Unlike the other children, she is a bit peculiar existence……. Try persuading her well…….
Peculiar?
Soon after, a message appeared.
[Entering Eternal Sunset!]
Golden light was dyeing the world.
Sunset poured over the endlessly stretching hills. It was neither red nor orange light. Only gold. Light brilliant enough to dazzle the eyes soaked the earth.
In the middle of it…….
A black-haired woman was sitting alone.
Sitting with her knees up and resting her chin, she was looking beyond the horizon.
A quiet posture without a single twitch. As if she were part of that scenery.
Kim Minwoo approached slowly.
Even at the sound of stepping on grass, the woman did not turn her head.
“Olivia?”
There was no answer.
He stood next to her. Her profile came into view. Pale skin, long flowing black hair. Her pupils were shining blankly while holding the sunset.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
A low voice flowed out.
“I watch it every day. This sunset.”
Her finger pointed at the horizon.
“But it never sets. It floats there forever.”
Kim Minwoo’s brow twitched.
Eternal Sunset.
It was literal.
A world where the sun does not set.
An existence trapped in a never-ending twilight.
Olivia turned her head.
Empty pupils looked up at Kim Minwoo.
“I just, wish all of this would end.”
Instantly, Kim Minwoo realized.
Why the Death Lord said she was ‘peculiar’.
The fourth Legion Commander had no regrets.
No longing either.
Fighting, victory, growth.
She was just wanting the end.
