Necromancer Of The Black Bible (46)

BOOOOM—

CRAAACK!

A shockwave unlike any before spread in all directions.

At the same time, cracks appeared again on the barrier.

I hurled another Bone Spear toward the crack.

BOOOOM—

CRAAASH!

The barrier couldn’t withstand even two strikes and a gap formed.

As expected, when the quality of mana changes, so does the power of magic.

His Mana Rings were inferior in quality to mine, but he had more of them. Drawing in that much mana, his Bone Spear’s power was nearly equal to mine in my true body.

‘Let’s end this now.’

Unease swept over Shador’s expression as his eyes met mine.

He must have realized instinctively—he couldn’t withstand my next strike.

Hundreds of bones pointed toward him as I spun the third Bone Spear with even greater ferocity.

FWEEEEE—

The vicious sound split the air.

Soon, the spear would pierce through the barrier and impale his head.

That’s when Shador spoke.

“I’ve lost.”

He dispelled his barrier, fell to his knees, and continued.

“I bear no grudge against you. Please, let’s stop this here.”

[Stop, you say?]

What a laughable thing.

When one begged for mercy just because the tide turned, had anyone ever been spared?

Keeping the third spear spinning, I asked again.

[And why should I stop?]

“That’s because…”

Shador’s cracked violet eyes glowed as he answered.

“If you kill me, something you can’t handle will happen.”

He was speaking of Illinas.

Bitter as it was, he wasn’t wrong.

My power still hadn’t reached Illinas’s level.

When I stayed silent, Shador continued.

“If you let me go, I’ll report that I bested you but failed to kill you. After that, I’ll inform you of his schemes. Should I be ordered again, I won’t capture you.”

It was a tempting offer.

If he was true to his word, Illinas would grow careless.

I couldn’t avoid him forever, but I could buy time.

But there was a problem.

I couldn’t trust him.

How could I trust the words of one who betrayed even the master who raised him and helped him reach the pinnacle of the 10th Circle?

I gave a dry chuckle.

[So, Shador… you’re saying from now on you’ll serve me, not Illinas.]

The word “serve” made him flinch, but he nodded soon after.

I kept only the third spear spinning and withdrew the mana controlling the rest of the bones.

Condensing it, I continued.

[Frankly, it’s hard to believe you. Isn’t it? The one sent to kill me suddenly switches sides.]

With a tense expression, Shador spoke.

“Your power… it’s something beyond my comprehension. I thought myself closest to the root of mana, but seeing you today, I know—I’m not even at your feet. Though bound by Illinas’s shackle now, soon you’ll make him yield. That is why I choose to serve you.”

His words were logical.

This world is ruled by the strong. To survive, you must either become one—or swear loyalty to one.

Shador had long strove to become strong, but never a ruler.

Over that long time, he must have grown used to submission and loyalty.

‘So that’s why he chooses this now.’

But I couldn’t let my guard down.

His words sounded plausible, but there were traps.

‘My power still hasn’t reached Illinas’s.’

Shador couldn’t kill me alone, but if he joined with Illinas, he could.

He spoke of a distant future where I’d surpass him, but the future is an illusion.

The only reality is the present.

At present, I haven’t surpassed Illinas. I must act only by that measure, or risk everything.

After collecting my thoughts, I looked at Shador again.

My face betrayed nothing, but my eyes carried weight.

He seemed to expect his persuasion had worked.

I made my decision.

I couldn’t trust him. That’s why I’d use the surest method.

[Shador.]

“……”

[Answer me.]

“…Yeah.”

Tch. This one still doesn’t know his place.

I brought the spear close to his eyes and spoke again.

[That’s all? You said you’d swear loyalty to me.]

Finally understanding, Shador blinked and spoke.

“…Yes. P-please, speak.”

He looked up at me again, and I sneered back into his eyes.

[Is that the attitude of one swearing loyalty? Do you act like this before Illinas too?]

Shador flinched once, then bowed his head, pressing himself to the ground.

“M-my apologies!”

I used lesser magic to summon a chair before him.

I sat down, chin in hand, gazing down at him—like a Demon King.

[Go on then. Swear your loyalty.]

“T-to… swear properly, I must know my master’s name.”

The moment I heard that, I knew he hadn’t given up.

To dare ask my name.

He surely knew it already.

Illinas wouldn’t fail to tell him the name of his target.

That’s how important names are in the Demon Realm.

Yet for him to ask me…

‘He’s trying to use sorcery.’

Among 8th-circle dark sorceries, there exists one called the False Covenant.

A curse that binds the soul after a false vow is made.

It wasn’t commonly used, but Master sometimes employed it when contracting with high-level monsters, so I knew it well.

The crucial part of this spell is the target speaking their true name aloud.

It’s called the Power of the True Name—False Covenant amplifies it to bind the soul.

Shador must’ve thought to exploit my spiritual form with this sorcery.

A good attempt.

Had he not even tried this, I might’ve mistaken him for genuine.

I chuckled lightly and asked back.

[You want me to tell you my name?]

“Yes. Illinas never told me your esteemed name…”

I checked the mana I’d been condensing in one hand.

After enough time, viscous green mana swirled thickly in my palm.

Its density and viscosity were nearly that of my core mana.

‘With this, it should work.’

It was my first attempt, but I was certain.

Caressing the mana, I spoke.

[Fine. Then I’ll tell you.]

For a moment, Shador’s eyes flickered.

He tried to hide his emotions, but couldn’t suppress the faint grin tugging his lips.

I leaned close to his ear and whispered.

[My name… is Damian.]

His eyes flared.

At the same time, I injected the mana I held into him.

The mana seeped into his ear, seizing his reason.

Flooding every corner of his mind, it devoured even his heart.

The spell I cast was Brainwashing.

It was the surest way to subdue him in this moment.

Seizing his consciousness, reason, and emotions, I knew for certain.

He had indeed been preparing a False Covenant against me.

But since he hadn’t finished, it was canceled.

I felt his frustration just before it vanished.

Smiling faintly, I called his name.

[Shador.]

“Yes, My Lord.”

[You need no name of mine to swear loyalty.]

“Understood.”

[Just obey my words.]

“I shall remember.”

Shador knelt, waiting for my next command.

The first thing I did was take his artifact.

The Soul Harvester he had laid down.

As I lifted it, his staff reverted to its original serpent form, and in my hand appeared a faint, massive scythe.

‘So this is the Soul Harvester.’

As I examined it, Equinox’s voice rang.

[This is genuine.]

[A good weapon?]

[For a necromancer, there is none better.]

After a pause, Equinox continued.

[The Soul Harvester doesn’t just cut souls. True to its name, it harvests them, storing them here.]

Equinox raised black energy and pointed to part of the weapon.

Near the great blade, grooves of various sizes were carved.

I touched them and asked.

[Is this where soulstones go?]

[Correct. You may insert stones you create, but when it reaps a soul, that soul manifests here. Those captured souls can even be fused together.]

[And fusing them, their traits combine?]

[Indeed. Similar traits amplify, complementary ones form new powers, but opposites diminish each other. You’ll grasp it quickly as you experiment.]

Equinox continued explaining.

Listening on, it was easy to understand.

This thing could generate soulstones and draw upon their abilities.

Its power changed depending on what soulstone was set.

‘This is more impressive than I thought.’

Not only did it make stones, it let you use their power.

And I could wield it even as a spirit.

Without it, fighting an enemy lacking Mana Rings could’ve been troublesome, but with this, no more.

Holding the scythe in one hand, I looked down at Shador.

Time to give him an order.

No need to hesitate.

He’d already suggested the best plan.

I ordered him.

[Go to Illinas. Tell him you fought me, won, but failed to kill me.]

“Understood.”

[After, report everything Illinas does to me. Use any means, but don’t get caught. Understand?]

“Yes. I will remember.”

At my gesture, he bowed, took his staff, and vanished.

Now only one task remained.

It was time to deal with my master, trembling in the hut as he watched.