Ch.55The Double Dungeon Is Dangerous (4)

After obtaining a soul from the National Cemetery, I conducted extensive research on the hunter known as Chae Hwain.

‘…She was quite famous.’

She was considered a frontrunner among first-generation hunters and apparently was Korea’s pride as the first person in the world to be recognized with an S-rank title.

Indeed, proving those words, Chae Hwain had established her existence without reaching the deterioration stage even as a soul.

What was contained in that soul was an incredibly powerful energy, will, and superior material. Because of that, I had originally planned to touch it after regaining a bit more strength.

‘……’

But the situation was urgent. I needed to utilize every available option now.

Groooh.

With such an exceptional soul, I could now create a powerful undead by building a body for it.

And fortunately, there was a fairly decent completed body right here.

It was Caliburn, the Death Knight summoned by the Lich.

“Are the rest not coming?”

The Lich ultimately sentenced to death the eleven hunters who had not accepted his proposal.

“Then die.”

Kuooh!

Kyaak!

Hihihing!

Starting with the Death Knight’s roar, the Lich’s undead positioned around the room began to emit horrifying screams.

Seeing this, the hunters trembled, completely intimidated.

At last, the final battle began.

“Ugh, damn. This is crazy. Undead call!”

Song Hayeon was the first to retreat backward while summoning all the undead she possessed.

Two Skeleton Mashers, one Phantom Wolf, plus the two Durahans she had just seized ownership of, and Doom Warrior Hans.

Honestly, it seemed like she might lack control, but she was literally pouring out all her strength.

“Hooh. Not bad.”

Thud.

Ziiing.

The Lich praised Song Hayeon while striking his staff on the ground to cast enhancement spells on his undead.

The spell formation flowed like water, fast and precise. As expected, his experience from living for ages showed in his skill.

[Grrrr!]

[Kuooh!]

Crack!

Kwajik!

Crunch!

The undead from both sides collided, and the hunters attacked the enemy, helping Song Hayeon’s undead, fighting for their lives.

“Cover me!”

“Die, you bastard!”

“Wall of Fire!”

Kwaaang!

Piing!

Whoosh!

The battle was more evenly matched than expected. Thanks to the Durahans and Doom Warrior holding the front line, they were somehow able to face the enemy on relatively equal terms.

However, that didn’t last long.

Kuuung!

“Ring of Erosion.”

Psssk!

As the Lich struck the ground with his staff and chanted a spell, the tide of battle began to collapse in an instant.

From what I could see, it seemed to have the effect of stealing the life force from enemies within a certain range and transferring it to his undead.

This was the quintessential necromancer strategy. He was properly utilizing his strengths.

It was simple, but powerful.

However, that also made it easy to predict.

Kwajik!

After activating the mental stabilization magic in my ring, I borrowed a sword from a companion and broke through the enemy lines in an instant.

My target was the Death Knight who was single-handedly destroying the Durahans and Doom Warrior.

Seeing me, the Death Knight shook off the surrounding undead and swung his sword at me fiercely.

Whiiing─!

But I deflected it and barely blocked it. The Death Knight was a being I had researched and created countless times. Just by observing the movement of its skeleton and the flow of death energy, I could accurately predict what action it would take next.

Kwagagak─!

Chwaaak!

My arm creaked due to the difference in strength, and blood flowed from where the blade grazed me, but it didn’t matter.

[Grooh!]

[Hihihing!]

Watching my movements, Song Hayeon, with perfect timing, commanded her Durahans and Doom Warrior to grab hold of the Death Knight.

‘…Now’s the time.’

Indeed, our coordination had become quite good by now. I raised my death energy and leaped right in front of the Death Knight.

“Book of Death.”

Puhwak!

The moment he noticed it, the Lich’s demeanor changed. He sensed something was wrong.

But it was already too late. I wouldn’t give him time to act.

Grooh!

I gripped the ring with my blood-covered hand and crushed the jewel in its center.

And simultaneously, I splashed blood from my opened wound onto the Death Knight.

Chwaaak!

“…What are you doing?”

The Lich probably wouldn’t understand what I was about to do at all.

“Undead call.”

Chae Hwain’s soul contained in the ring’s jewel was released, and I activated necromancy using that soul and the Death Knight’s body as a medium.

At the same time, tremendous death energy scattered, causing the magical power in the air to fluctuate.

Puhwak!

Huuung.

‘…This is going to be close.’

Even though I used the Lich’s Ring of Erosion spell to my advantage, using the power flowing into the Death Knight as material, it still wasn’t easy.

I forcibly patched together the collapsing spell formation by partially utilizing the function of the Book of Death, which was also a top-tier catalyst.

Tssss.

Zzzzzk.

The Lich watched the scene without taking any action. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t take any action.

‘Of course he’d be bewildered.’

Anyone proficient in necromancy would be certain that the ritual I was performing couldn’t possibly be completed properly.

A sloppy spell formation with countless basic mistakes and errors, not even following the correct sequence.

To try to steal his undead, which already had an established command system, with such a method—from his perspective, it must have been utterly absurd.

And he wasn’t wrong. I too wouldn’t have used such a risky method if I could have regained a bit more strength.

The Lich looked at Song Hayeon with a ridiculous laugh.

“…What a mess. It’s almost painful to watch. Judging by the similar style, is he your disciple? Your teaching seems to be lacking. Tsk tsk.”

And soon after, he raised his staff and pointed it toward me and the Death Knight. He was about to finish us off.

“Caliburn. Kill that fool and bring me the book he’s holding.”

But it was too late. If he had truly wanted to stop my ritual, he should have moved very quickly and precisely.

“Caliburn. Can you not hear me?”

Only then did the Lich sense something was wrong, furrowing his brow and turning his gaze back to me. I grinned at him.

“It may be sloppy.”

“What?”

But if he had deeper insight, the Lich could have somehow realized.

“But that doesn’t mean it won’t work.”

That the seemingly haphazard ritual was forcibly infiltrating his undead.

Looking at the Death Knight, which had now become close to an empty shell, I raised my death energy once more.

And then, I immediately inserted Chae Hwain’s soul into that empty body.

“You made quite a decent body with such meager skills. Must have put in some effort.”

“Wh-what!”

Crack.

Crunch.

I felt it. This was a success.

Without needing to take any additional measures, Chae Hwain, having found a place for her soul to settle, instantly took control of the body with her powerful will. Truly remarkable adaptability.

“I’ll be taking this.”

Crunch.

Cruuunch─!

The Death Knight’s form had already changed beyond recognition.

Its once massive body compressed and shrank, and pale skin began to cover its entire body like a human form.

Just as a mask made of blue death energy was about to overlay that face, a strange resonance struck in all directions.

Wooong!

It was the soul’s resonance announcing the birth of a high-level undead. Even for me, it had been a long time since I’d actually heard it.

“Who… am I?”

Naturally, her sense of self wasn’t fully established yet. So, to awaken her essence, I softly called out her name.

“Chae Hwain.”

At that moment, Chae Hwain froze as if petrified.

And soon, powerful magical energy and death energy erupted from her entire body.

“Chae… Hwain…”

It was the birth of a high-level undead, Death Knight Chae Hwain, who was once an S-rank hunter.

Watching this, the Lich spoke with a trembling voice, seemingly dumbfounded.

“Impossible.”

“……”

“This is impossible. It makes no sense.”

The Lich shook his head and turned his empty eyes toward me, speaking again.

“What exactly are you?”

“What good would it do you to know?”

Even if I told him, he wouldn’t understand anyway. The Lich, having reached some conclusion on his own, said to me:

“No, I can sense it now. The smell of a kindred spirit that you’ve been hiding under a human shell.”

Kuung!

The Lich struck his staff down and emitted powerful death energy as if showing his true intentions, then chanted a spell.

“Rise.”

Puhwak!

Crunch! Cruuunch!

Psssk.

Clank!

Just from what was visible at the front, there were four Durahans and six Living Armors. And behind them, numerous undead were being summoned.

At this point, it could rightfully be called an army.

I commanded Chae Hwain, who was staring blankly downward.

“Clear them all out.”

“…Why?”

“Huh?”

At those words, both I who had given the order and the hunters watching from behind were all dumbfounded.

Did I make some mistake?

It seemed that due to the complicated way I completed the ritual, the command authority wasn’t properly established.

‘…The path is definitely connected though?’

It was probably due to my diminished strength and Chae Hwain’s overwhelmingly strong will. Either way, it was troublesome.

Sensing this situation as an opportunity, the Lich, with quick judgment, sent four Durahans to ambush me as I stood at the forefront.

Hihihing!

Kuung.

Thud.

Clatter!

Clicking my tongue at the sight, I raised my sword, when suddenly a fierce storm swept before my eyes.

Kwagwagwang!

Kwagagagak─!

“Ugh!”

When I finally managed to open my eyes, which were filled with dust, what I saw were the remains of two Durahans torn to pieces beyond recognition.

Step.

Step.

Clank.

As Chae Hwain passed in front of me, who was staring blankly at the scene, she quietly spoke.

“…They are the enemy?”

Feeling the effect of the completely shattered ring fading away, I somehow lowered my gaze to the floor and just nodded awkwardly.