Necromancer Of The Black Bible (12)

The vision the world showed me soon vanished.

I returned to the cave, and Equinox shifted back into a black spirit form.

After that, I followed Equinox’s instructions and made the snake’s spirit my guardian spirit.

A guardian spirit is a spirit body that protects me, and I can draw on its power at any time.

“The snake’s power is not just its fangs. Its true essence is its cunning and sly intelligence. Draw on that, and you can deceive the laws of the world.”

Equinox still spoke in riddles.

I had lived over thirty years and learned much, but his words were not easily understood.

Once again, Equinox read my thoughts and chuckled hoarsely.

“Heh-heh-heh. You are wise compared to other humans, but you cannot compare to me. The years we’ve lived are different.”

Equinox claimed his age was about four thousand years.

He said he was born when the Lord God first created this continent.

If that were true, then it was natural that I, who had lived only thirty to forty years, could not understand him.

Equinox approached me, sitting cross-legged, and placed a hand on my back.

“Close your eyes and feel the snake’s power.”

As I followed his instruction, I saw the image of the white snake coiled above my heart.

It met my gaze with gleaming red eyes.

Hissss!

At first it seemed meaningless, but as I watched, I understood its intent.

I am ready.

When I realized this, Equinox’s voice came.

“The snake is a spirit adept at lies. This one in particular is clever enough to deceive the world itself. From now on, you will use its power to deceive the laws that govern your body.”

[The laws that govern me?]

When I asked through my soul’s voice, Equinox answered briefly.

“Follow the power I’ve infused. Soon you will understand what it means.”

I focused once again.

Equinox’s chilling yet soft black energy seeped into my chest.

I followed it.

The energy slowly wound around the guardian spirit snake, soon enveloping its head.

And within it, I saw a glowing dark-crimson orb.

‘What’s this?’

As I stared, I saw two wavering lights inside it.

One was completely black, the other red.

They were clearly separate, yet constantly interfering with and intertwining around each other.

Equinox’s voice came.

“To deceive the world with lies, half-truths are needed. This creature’s Spirit Pellet is structured so: half falsehood, half truth. By harnessing it, you can double the power of your Mana Ring.”

With that, Equinox immediately breathed energy into the white snake’s Spirit Pellet.

The red and black energies of the Spirit Pellet coiled together and seeped into my Mana Ring.

The moment the energies fully merged,

Thwack—

With a heavy jolt, another Ring formed in my heart.

‘Impossible.’

So this was what it meant to deceive the laws of the world.

Could other abilities also be amplified this way?

Equinox immediately answered my doubt.

“Yes. It is possible. But only one ability at a time. For now, focus on the Mana Rings — it is necessary for your training.”

[Understood. I’ll do that.]

I agreed immediately with Equinox’s suggestion.

In this early stage, all strength must be focused on the Mana Rings.

Only then can progress be made quickly.

That was a fundamental principle of magical training.

As I focused again and spun the second Mana Ring, Equinox taught me the next stage of training.

“From now on, breathe with the basic breathing method of mages. At the same time, draw mana through your brow and fill your heart’s rings.”

[Through the brow? Not the crown?]

“The mana of necromancers must be absorbed through the brow to be properly purified. Continue this purification and your Mana Rings will stabilize and refine.”

Hearing the explanation, I could understand.

Ordinary mages draw mana through the crown at the top of the head. The crown also purifies mana, and such mana can be used for any purpose.

But specialized mages, who use mana of a single branch, absorb it through the chest, the danjeon (lower abdomen), or even the soles of the feet.

They channel mana through the body part that can purify it as needed.

‘So necromancers use mana purified at the brow.’

Once I organized that thought, purification became easier.

With the mental barrier gone, mana began circulating faster.

“Huuu—”

Recalling my training in my past life, I began breathing deeply.

Once I stabilized, Equinox aided purification with his black energy.

He stimulated both my brow and the rings simultaneously, tripling the speed of purification.

And with that, I entered a trance.

The vibration of Mana Rings spinning in my heart and the unique sensation of mana drawn through the brow.

These flows combined within me.

All of it felt new, a kind of ecstasy.

So I continued purifying the Mana Rings.

I didn’t know how much time passed, but I could tell how weary my body was by the dwindling life force stored in my Rings.

When the life force ran out, Equinox woke me and took me into the mountains.

There, I captured animals drawn to me and absorbed their life force.

No creatures as sacred as the white serpent appeared again, but absorbing their vitality was no problem.

I mostly consumed rabbits, occasionally even young boars.

Mana purification and life absorption.

Those two things consumed my time.

I couldn’t tell how many days had passed, but one thing was clear.

My Mana Rings were changing distinctly.

Where once green and red mingled, now they shone bright green.

As I observed through imagery, Equinox’s voice came.

“Complete purification is near. When you finish, the Rings will multiply.”

[Multiply… you mean another one will form on its own?]

“Yes. A necromancer’s Mana Rings multiply with each full purification.”

It was astonishing.

I mulled over his words and asked again.

[So with purification alone, I could reach the 10th circle?]

I asked in rising hope, but Equinox shook his head.

“No. Purification can grow them only to the 4th circle. To reach the 5th, special materials are required.”

[Special materials…]

“There is no need to worry now. You’ll know when the time comes. Focus on training.”

Equinox was right.

Worrying too far ahead was meaningless.

Even my master once said this.

This world exists only in the present. The past is but a trace of it, the future a mere illusion. Do not lose the present by fretting over past or future.

Reciting those words, I continued training.

The Rings grew purer, and when bright green light began to flow from them,

Thwack!

With intense pain, the Mana Rings multiplied.

Normally it should have gone from one to two, but using the serpent’s guardian ability, it leapt from two to four.

With four Rings at once, excruciating pain hit me as mana surged back through my body.

Urk—

Black blood poured from my mouth.

Equinox evoked his dark aura and urged me.

“Focus. The pain comes from unstable Rings — stabilize them and it will vanish.”

I had no breath to answer.

I pressed on with purification, Equinox’s aura aiding me.

After a long while, as the pain faded, I lost consciousness.

Equinox said something, but I didn’t hear.

When I awoke, light was spilling into the cave.

The cave faced west, so only at sunset did the light reach here.

The slanting sun dazzled my eyes.

As I rose, Nocturne appeared, glowing red, and greeted me.

Master, you have awakened.

[You’ve awakened too?]

I regained awareness some time ago.

Nocturne said he had only watched me, entranced in purification.

Equinox had forbidden him from approaching, so he couldn’t speak to me.

After explaining what he had done, Nocturne paused and asked cautiously,

Master… Did I make a mistake?

This guy… does he realize he made a mistake?

As I silently looked into his red gem, he spoke softly.

Old man Equinox told me not to go near you. Because of that, we had quite a fight.

At that moment, Nocturne’s red glow swirled with malice, shading purple.¹

Leaking killing aura, he continued.

Equinox is suspicious. He knows too much, and he keeps giving you things without asking for payment. People like that must be watched — they always collect in the end.

[Payment?]

I asked briefly.

His aura bothered me, but his point was valid.

There is no such thing as kindness without price.

The Demon King demands souls and offerings for wishes, and even Kallios, called the Lord God, asks faith and wealth for divine power and blessings.

If gods and demons do this, humans are no different — if not worse.

In both my past and present lives, I had never received kindness without cost.

Except for Equinox.

Nocturne, still exuding malice, answered me.

I suspect Equinox. I think what he seeks is your body. Otherwise why would he make your Mana Rings grow so quickly?

My body?

I recalled what Equinox said when he first acknowledged me as his master.

I was born when this continent’s history began four thousand years ago. I have sought someone to inherit my art. That long wait now bears fruit.

You who have turned back time — I was waiting. From now on, I will serve you as master. Accept my homage.

‘He said he was waiting for me. That he would pass on his art.’

But he never explained why.

Why would Equinox go this far for me?

The question lingered.

Then, a black spirit appeared at the cave’s mouth.

It was Equinox.

He approached me unhurriedly and asked,

“Nocturne has awakened. What did he say to you, Master?”