Chapter 40: Necromancer Kim Tae-min (4)

A little while before the incident occurred.

Han-seong had finished preparing for the battle with Tae-min. All that remained was to send the Collector to scout the temporary base candidate location and eliminate any potential threats.

“I’m back,” said Ji-hye, who had just returned.

Han-seong immediately dispatched the Collector, which had finished its escort duty, to the temporary base candidate site. Then he turned to Ji-hye and asked:

“Did you retrieve the remains properly?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Mage. And…”

“On my way back, I ran into Park Young-cheol. He was with a survivor from Jingwang High School.”

A survivor from Jingwang High School.

Could that mean he had gathered information about Tae-min?

“Yes, I got information about the Necromancer.”

Ji-hye nodded.

According to what followed, Tae-min had gained a notorious reputation since middle school, and not in a good way.

He had pushed a teacher down the stairs for criticizing his classroom behavior, and had mixed glass shards into the rice cooker when he was dissatisfied with the school lunch.

“Oh, and there was also an incident where he cut off a cat’s head and put it in another student’s locker for spreading rumors about him.”

“…He was a complete psychopath.”

He didn’t seem that bad when I first met him. Han-seong clicked his tongue.

On the other hand, it made some sense.

It must have been because he was so abnormal that he could sacrifice survivors to the Vampire Tree.

“Hm? That’s…”

While nodding silently, something caught his eye.

From Ha-eun’s perspective, which was revealed through the Mark skill, the target they had been searching for finally appeared.

‘He was at the gas station as expected.’

Necromancer Kim Tae-min.

The one who had suddenly vanished appeared before Ha-eun’s group. Han-seong’s eyes darkened, and Ji-hye tilted her head curiously.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just found the Necromancer.”

“R-really? Where?”

“At a gas station about 8 km from here.”

Calculating the straight-line distance across the Han River, it was just over 7 km. At that moment, Ha-eun’s group began conversing with Tae-min.

Han-seong listened carefully while relaying the conversation to the curious Ji-hye. The topic of conversation happened to be related to Ji-hye as well.

“What? He said he was protecting me?”

“Mm. That’s what he’s saying.”

“What a shameless bastard. To tell such blatant lies to his companions…”

Ji-hye’s face scrunched up in anger.

However, the lies didn’t last long.

Ha-eun, who had been exchanging words with Tae-min, saw through his deception. Meanwhile, around that time, the Collector that had been sent out earlier arrived at its destination.

‘Near Achasan, a 5-star hotel.’

The top floor of a hotel with a casino.

Exactly 5 km away from the current location and just over 2 km in a straight line from the gas station. The optimal location for a temporary base.

Han-seong had the Collector clear out the zombies inside. After carefully checking for any potential dangers, he used the base skill.

[Warp Gate has been installed.]

[Time remaining until disappearance: 30 minutes]

Now it was time for judgment.

Immediately after entering the temporary base.

The first thing Han-seong did was use Detection to check Tae-min’s status.

To assess his capabilities.

[Name]: Kim Tae-min

[Owned Skills]:

▷Create Undead (Intermediate)

▷Life Force Sharing (+Energy Sharing)

Dead Eye, Death Hand, Vampiric Touch, Dark Blind, Zombie Wave, Curse: Master Kill, Dead Return, Corpse Explosion, Mark of Negation

‘Level 28…’

Han-seong was currently level 36.

This meant Tae-min’s skills would be effective against Han-seong. Of course, there was no chance of his skills actually reaching Han-seong, but it was still best not to let his guard down.

‘He has quite a few skills too.’

Excluding the two unique skills, there were nine skills. Among them, the one that particularly caught his attention was Mark of Negation.

Han-seong had something similar after all.

‘…Blood Imprint.’

The ability to make vassals out of vampire races.

Based on this, he speculated that mark likely had the effect of creating vassals as well. And he must have used that to make a contract with the Vampire Tree.

Soon after, his speculation proved correct.

Tae-min, who had been exchanging words with Ha-eun’s group, revealed the truth with his own mouth.

“It’s a bit unexpected.”

“Hm? What is?”

“The Necromancer. He seems to be confessing what he’s done too easily.”

Tae-min was rambling on about the contract with the Vampire Tree without even being asked. He also admitted to attacking Han-seong’s base.

Just as Han-seong was thinking there must be some reason for this, Ji-hye offered her opinion.

“Could he have some other motive?”

“Like what?”

“Hmm, maybe he’s trying to buy time?”

Buying time? Why bother?

But come to think of it, it did seem a bit suspicious.

Han-seong observed Tae-min closely.

That’s when he noticed something odd. Tae-min kept fidgeting with his fingers behind his back.

‘Why is he doing that?’

Just as he was feeling puzzled, a sudden change occurred.

Red dots began appearing sporadically on the map.

‘That’s…!’

The number exceeded several hundred.

They were all zombies and ghouls.

The creatures quickly formed ranks and approached the gas station. It looked as if they were closing in a siege.

“…I think your guess was right.”

“Really? You mean…”

Ji-hye asked back with a surprised face.

Han-seong nodded silently.

‘His goal is probably…’

To eliminate Ha-eun’s group here.

It was already a foregone conclusion from the moment he started telling the truth about what he had done. If he had intended to go with them, he would have maintained his lies to the end.

However, he couldn’t capture them if they fled before the encirclement was complete, so he must have been blabbering on to buy time.

‘It’s dangerous to leave them like this.’

In fact, Ha-eun’s group was so focused on Tae-min’s story that they hadn’t noticed the zombies approaching at all.

Han-seong urgently dispatched the Collector to the gas station.

To prepare for the impending battle. At the same time, he readied his attack.

‘The distance to the gas station is about 2.1 km.’

Unfortunately, Magic Arrow and Wind Cutter were out of effective range and couldn’t be used. But all the other skills were available.

‘Next…’

The skills stored in the bracelet were one Chain Lightning and two Call Lightning. In other words, he could use Call Lightning up to three times.

Just as he finished his preparations.

The zombies Tae-min controlled had approached near the gas station. They waited silently for a signal, watching Ha-eun’s group while suppressing their presence.

“Now, will you give me an answer?”

Having finished speaking, Tae-min proposed cooperation to Ha-eun’s group. Of course, that too must be a lie.

If he truly wanted to cooperate, he wouldn’t have formed an encirclement with his zombie army.

Meanwhile, Han-seong intended to strike first before the full-scale battle began. By dropping lightning on Tae-min’s head.

However, there was a problem.

‘The positioning is tricky.’

He recognized two issues.

First, the distance between Tae-min and Ha-eun was unexpectedly close. Second, all the skills currently available were area-of-effect attacks.

In other words, no matter which skill he used, there was a chance Ha-eun’s group would get caught up in it. On the other hand, Han-seong didn’t want anyone other than Tae-min to get hurt.

‘…I have no choice.’

He’d have to wait for the Collector to arrive.

After that, he could use the Collector to move Ha-eun’s group far away from Tae-min, then unleash the prepared skills.

And at that moment.

As Ha-eun rejected Tae-min’s proposal, the zombies simultaneously kicked off the ground.

“Graaaah!”

“Grrrr! Graaah!”

Zombies charging in from all directions.

Ha-eun’s group struggled desperately to break through the encirclement, but it was futile. They were immobilized by Tae-min’s skill, Death Hand.

Taking advantage of their confusion, a ghoul approached from behind. It snatched up Eun-ji and headed towards Tae-min.

Seeing this scene, Han-seong realized.

‘He predicted everything.’

That Ha-eun’s group would reject the proposal.

Tae-min seemed to have anticipated exactly how they would move when surrounded by zombies.

‘This is troublesome.’

In this situation, he’d have to use the Collector to rescue Eun-ji first. He couldn’t let the Healer, who would be of great help in the future, die.

It would be best if Ha-eun could save Eun-ji, but he decided not to expect that. Ha-eun had just been caught by Tae-min’s skill.

“Ugh! Urgh…!”

Ha-eun struggled, caught in the grip of a translucent hand. She thrashed about trying to break free, but the more she struggled, the more her strength drained away.

“No! Ha-eun!”

Eun-ji screamed as if wailing.

The situation was that serious. Ha-eun’s complexion grew increasingly pale, and she seemed unable to even breathe freely now.

But there was no need to worry.

The Collector had just arrived on the scene.

The Collector, which had been sliding down the slope at high speed, suddenly kicked off the ground and fell towards the bottom of the mountain.

Its landing point was the center of the gas station.

Whoosh! Crash!

After making a thunderous landing.

The Collector immediately stretched out its long arm and retrieved Eun-ji, who was in the ghoul’s grasp.

Then it swung its other arm and struck the surprised Tae-min and the ghoul.

Wham! Crash!

Perhaps due to the sudden ambush?

Tae-min was slammed into an office building without putting up any resistance. Meanwhile, the Collector joined Ha-eun with Eun-ji in tow.

With this, a safe distance had been secured to avoid getting caught in area attacks. With nothing left to hold him back, Han-seong immediately prepared his skills.

But at that moment.

“…Collector!”

An unexpected sight unfolded.

Tae-min, who had been sent flying by the Collector’s attack, appeared looking far too unscathed.

What’s this? Did he use some defensive skill?

Though slightly puzzled, Han-seong quickly dismissed it. He needed to deal a decisive blow before Tae-min closed the distance with Ha-eun’s group.

[Activating skill.]

[Remote: Call Lightning]

Rumble! Boom─!

A thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth.

Along with a deafening explosion, blue lightning illuminated the darkness of night. Tae-min, struck by the lightning, was enveloped in a hazy smoke, and Han-seong watched this intently.

“D-did we get him…?”

Ji-hye, who had confirmed the lightning strike, asked with a tense face. A moment later, as the smoke cleared, someone walked out.

Han-seong furrowed his brow.

“No, he looks fine.”

“What? Even after being struck by lightning?”

Han-seong nodded silently.

As he said, Tae-min looked mostly unharmed except for some slight singeing of his clothes. He didn’t look at all like someone who had just been struck by lightning.

‘Does he have a defensive skill? Or…’

Could he have an item that nullifies magic attacks? As various speculations arose, something suddenly caught Han-seong’s eye.

The sight of part of the encirclement on the map collapsing.

Han-seong checked those coordinates and his eyes widened in surprise.

‘That’s…’

A group of zombies that had been waiting outside the encirclement.

The dozen or so zombies that had been there were now lying on the ground, charred black like lumps of coal.

As if they had been struck by lightning.

‘What’s this? I didn’t attack there.’

As questions naturally arose, a speculation suddenly flashed through his mind.

There was one skill among Tae-min’s abilities that could explain this situation.

‘Could it be Life Force Sharing?’

If that skill’s effect was to share life force between the Necromancer and the zombies, it could explain the current situation.

No, this speculation must be correct.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for zombies far away from where the lightning struck to suddenly turn into charcoal.

“…To think you’d start by dropping lightning out of nowhere.”

Tae-min spoke up then.

After clicking his tongue, he immediately directed the ghouls to surround the Collector.

“I don’t know how you avoided Dead Eye to get here, but sending the Collector to me in this situation was clearly a mistake.”

Tae-min sneered.

He suddenly pulled out a jackknife.

Soon, incomprehensible characters appeared in the air, and they moved according to Tae-min’s directions, engraving themselves onto the blade.

‘What is he trying to do?’

It looked ominous.

Han-seong tried to move the Collector to retrieve Eun-ji and Ha-eun and retreat.

Whoosh! Crack!

Suddenly, vines shot up from the ground and bound the Collector’s arms and legs. Han-seong was momentarily flustered but quickly grasped the situation.

‘A zombie used a skill.’

He realized that as a zombie from the underground mall stretched out its hand, vines had sprung up simultaneously.

That wasn’t all. Zombies that had approached unnoticed clung to the Collector’s body. As if trying to prevent the Collector from escaping.

Noticing this, Han-seong tried to shake them off and pull the Collector back. But Tae-min’s actions were a bit faster.

Whoosh! Thud!

The jackknife Tae-min threw flew rapidly towards the Collector. The blade that flew like a flash of light lodged itself in the Collector’s torso.

Just as he was about to grab and pull out the knife.

A warning message suddenly appeared.

[Warning: A curse is being applied.]

[Curse: Master Kill]

▷Launches a deadly curse at the master controlling the minion.

‘A curse?’

Han-seong’s eyes widened.

At that moment, dark clouds suddenly began gathering in the sky above the hotel where he was. Then a dark red lightning bolt rained down towards his head.

And…

Ting!

The lightning bolt disappeared feebly without even striking the hotel’s rooftop, blocked by something.

What? What just happened?

As he wore a bewildered expression at this baffling situation, the detailed circumstances were revealed.

[Blood Aura: Activated]

[The curse has been nullified.]

“…Ah!”

That’s right, I had forgotten about this!

Han-seong recalled a fact he had forgotten.

[Unique: Blood Aura]

-The aura’s blessing is applied to all allies in a subordinate relationship with the skill holder.

▷Effect Range: 10m radius

▷Regeneration Amplification: +300%

▷Energy Recovery: 3 per second

▶Immune to all curse and illusion-type skills

The unique skill of vampires, Blood Aura.

An effect that applies whenever within a 10m radius of Ji-hye. Thanks to this, he was able to deflect the deadly curse Tae-min had created.

Perhaps because the curse had failed?

For the first time, cracks appeared in Tae-min’s expression, which had been composed until now.

“What? Why didn’t the curse…”

As Tae-min stammered in confusion with a dumbfounded face, Han-seong used a newly acquired skill against him.

[Remote: Chain Lightning]

The initial number of strikes was 6.

After that, it consumes an additional 10 mana per strike to hit up to 30 targets in succession.

Crackle! Boom!

Chain Lightning enveloped Tae-min’s body.

The blue current then struck the zombies behind him in succession, and all those exposed to the attack turned into black lumps of charcoal.

All except one – Tae-min.

He must have survived this time too using the Life Force Sharing skill.

‘Then for now…’

We need to wipe out all the zombies first.

Han-seong pinpointed the coordinates at the center of the red dots and began preparations for bombardment.

[Remote: Magic Field]

A skill that amplifies the power of magic.

After setting up Magic Field, he moved the Collector to put Eun-ji and Ha-eun into its pouch.

“Huh? Wh-what…”

“Wait a moment. Suddenly… Eek!”

The two looked bewildered, but there was no time to explain. He didn’t have language abilities in the first place.

Afterwards, the Collector hefted Min-cheol, who was struggling to swing his axe, onto its shoulder. Then it immediately kicked off the ground and headed towards Achasan Mountain.

To get away from here.

“Such a petty trick…!”

Tae-min responded immediately as well.

He stretched his hand towards the Collector, and soon a black sphere formed and rapidly enveloped the Collector’s body.

Splat!

The thing that wriggled like mud quickly engulfed the Collector. At that moment, the Collector’s vision went completely dark.

‘A skill that blocks vision?’

It must be Dark Blind.

Just looking at the skill name, it seemed to have the effect of blocking vision. Sorry for Tae-min, but having vision blocked wasn’t much of a problem.

Thanks to placing the Mark skill on Ha-eun, he could control the Collector through her vision.

[Activating Precise Observation.]

[Vision is shared.]

And using the Precise Observation function on Tae-min’s coordinates solved all problems.

Meanwhile, perhaps flustered that the Collector hadn’t stopped despite having its vision blocked? Tae-min cursed with a scowling face.

“Damn it! Chase after them now!”

The ghouls reacted to those words.

Nine ghouls began pursuit at a speed incomparable to the zombies. But Han-seong wasn’t about to just watch this scene unfold.

[Remote: Water Blast]

A skill that drops a powerful water bomb with tremendous water pressure in a designated area. The ghouls hit by this collapsed in place.

Han-seong didn’t miss this opportunity.

Crackle! Zap!

The Chain Lightning stored in the bracelet enveloped the ghouls. Perhaps thanks to Magic Field, the ghouls quickly fell silent and turned to dust.

Now only hundreds of zombies remained for Tae-min.

He scrunched up his face.

“Damn bastard! How far are you going to interfere…!”

How far?

This is just the beginning.

[Remote: Tinder]

Whoosh!

A small spark clung to a zombie.

Noticing this, Tae-min’s expression hardened sharply and he tried to move the burning zombie elsewhere.

He seemed to know what Tinder’s ability was.

‘That won’t work.’

[Remote: Decoy Dummy]

The appearance of a taunting steel doll.

The zombie that had been trying to move away had its feet bound in place and was quickly incinerated. This signaled the rapid spread of flames.

At this rate, Tae-min’s zombies would be annihilated. Just as Han-seong was about to wait leisurely, Tae-min suddenly shouted at the zombies.

“Dead Return!”

Right after his shout.

The hundreds of zombies abruptly stopped in place, then suddenly collapsed to the ground. At the same time, all the red dots on the map disappeared.

Han-seong narrowed his eyes.

‘What? Did he release control?’

But what’s the point of this?

Whether they turn to ashes from Tinder or just become corpses, isn’t it the same either way?

As he tilted his head in confusion, the flames that had lost their targets suddenly vanished. After confirming all the embers were gone, Tae-min snapped his fingers at the zombies.

The zombies began moving again.

Red dots reappeared on the map as well.

‘I didn’t expect Dead Return to have that kind of ability.’

I thought Tinder would take care of the situation.

Han-seong frowned.

Meanwhile, Tae-min, who had been controlling the zombies, suddenly staggered and clutched his head. His breathing had also become much rougher than before.

‘Could it be mana depletion?’

It seemed that way.

The Necromancer must use mana like a Mage. And if Tae-min’s mana was low, it likely meant the zombies near the gas station were low on energy as well.

Tae-min appeared to share not just life force, but energy with the zombies too.

‘Come to think of it, I’m also starting to…’

My mana is falling below half.

However, Han-seong had something by his side that Tae-min didn’t.

“Mage, here’s a potion.”

Ji-hye held out a mana recovery potion.

With a straw already inserted for easy drinking.

Taking this, Han-seong leisurely recovered his mana while watching Tae-min.

‘Anyway, if he’s low on mana…’

I should target that weakness.

I happen to have just the right skill for it too.

[Remote: Mana Drain]

[Target: All beings within range]

A bluish magic circle spread out in a 400-meter radius centered on the gas station.

Soon, along with a notification that energy was being absorbed, a blue light enveloped the gas station area. Then a dazzling flash appeared along with a notification message.

[Notice]: Energy absorption complete.

▷Kim Tae-min (Necromancer, Lv.28)

▷Low-grade Zombie (Lv.5) x398

▷Mid-grade Zombie (Lv.10) x57

▶Absorbed Energy: 40% of maximum

-All energy is converted to mana.

‘Oh? My mana…’

It exceeded the maximum.

I didn’t know this could happen. As he was making an intrigued expression at this newly learned fact.

“Cough, cough! Bleurgh!”

Tae-min began vomiting.

The amount of energy that could be stolen with Mana Drain was 40% of the maximum. This meant Tae-min’s current mana was less than 10%.

As evidence of this, he vomited blood along with the retching. It seemed the mana depletion penalty didn’t benefit from the life force sharing effect.

‘Anyway, this is the end.’

[Remote: Poison Fog]

The skill he had saved until the very end.

The thick poisonous fog that settled quickly engulfed Tae-min and the zombies.

Perhaps due to Magic Field’s effect, the zombies collapsed much faster than with Tinder. After all the red dots on the map disappeared.

“Urgh… Guh! Ugh!”

Tae-min also collapsed.

Because there were no more zombies left to share life force with him. Poisoned, Tae-min writhed in agony.

“Ma-Mage…!”

Bloodshot eyes.

Dark red blood flowed from his eyes, nose, ears and mouth. He gasped for breath irregularly and reached out towards empty space.

“St-stop… Cancel, the magic.”

Of course, there was no reason to do that.

Han-seong’s goal was Tae-min’s death.

“If I die, Mage. A curse, will return to you. I’ve, made sure of that…”

Nonsensical gibberish.

He had already grasped all of Tae-min’s skills through Detection. And the only curse he possessed was Master Kill, which he had first launched through the Collector.

Han-seong stared at Tae-min with an expressionless face at this obvious lie.

“Cancel, the magic right… Guh! Urgh!”

Tae-min, who had been speaking, curled up.

Soon after, a large amount of blood gushed out and soaked the ground. Tae-min’s entire body turned blue as if afflicted with cyanosis.

His body trembled violently.

After a while, as if sensing his end was near, he muttered in a voice that seemed about to fade:

“You, I should have, eliminated you, earlier…”

With those regret-filled last words.

Tae-min’s body went limp. He no longer seemed to be breathing, nor was he coughing up blood anymore.

However, it was too early to feel relieved.

Given his nature of dealing with corpses, there was a possibility he could revive as an undead. Though it was baseless speculation, it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

Han-seong moved to confirm the kill.

The last skill stored in the bracelet.

Call Lightning fell to the ground.

However, the lightning didn’t strike where Tae-min’s corpse lay, but rather the oil storage tank at the gas station.

A tremendous explosion occurred.

With a sound that seemed to rip the air apart, a fierce explosion engulfed the entire surrounding area.

Tae-min’s corpse, as well as the corpses of zombies felled by the poison fog, were all consumed by the flames.

Boom! Bang! Kaboom!

The scene was completely devastated by the chain of explosions.

The sound of the explosion could be heard even at the hotel where the temporary base was located. Some time after that.

[Your level has increased.]

Had Han-seong’s speculation been correct?

Or was it because he had eliminated even more zombies that had been wandering outside the battlefield?

Han-seong reached level 37.

At that moment.

“M-Mage!”

Ji-hye grabbed Han-seong’s body.

Her eyes were wide as if startled. She soon pointed towards Jamsil and cried out:

“Look over there. The Vampire Tree…!”

Seeing this, Han-seong’s eyes widened before he smiled. The hideous pillar of the Vampire Tree was slowly collapsing.

As if to prove that the contract had been nullified by the Necromancer’s death.