Necromancer Of The Black Bible (89)

Puk-

The Bone Spear I fired pierced Penbris’s back and skewered his heart.

Then hundreds of chains flew toward me from the ground.

Chyararararara-

With chilling metallic clangs, they surged with menacing force, but the Soul Harvester did not stand idly by.

It spun once grandly, deploying a barrier around me, and all the chains were blocked.

Chaechaechaechang-

Sharp metallic rings echoed across the battlefield.

Even after one wave was blocked, the chains did not stop.

They continued flying toward me, and the barrier held firm, repelling the attacks.

Countless wraiths watched, but none approached.

Understandably, for both the Wheel of Eternity and the Soul Harvester were fatal to them.

If caught wrongly, they would be annihilated instantly, so they could only watch from afar.

I spoke toward the chains persistently pounding the barrier.

“Conditions are set by the stronger. Do you dare think you are in a position to attach conditions to me?”

The chains shook furiously.

As if trembling with rage.

It seemed unable to reason, just like its master.

‘I suppose I must show it.’

I dismissed the barrier and swung the Soul Harvester once.

The blade, charged with considerable ferocious energy, cleaved the chains, dropping them to the ground in an instant.

Even then, it did not give up.

It extended three new chains, which I caught barehanded.

Then, infusing mana, I spoke.

“You still fail to understand the gap between you and me?”

There are many ways to neutralize such iron.

Among them, I recalled one I had long wanted to try.

One I could not do in my previous life due to insufficient mana.

Now, though my circle count is not higher than before, the guardian spirits of the White Serpent and Equinox allow far stronger mana usage.

Thus, I wanted to test it properly.

Swishswishswish-

In an instant, cold energy was injected into the chains.

Energy dozens of times colder than freezing ice.

<…Ordinary iron is known to be strong at low temperatures, but that applies only to ordinary cases. Whether at low or high temperature, exceeding a certain level causes iron to lose its form. Under extreme Inferno magic, iron melts like water; under extreme cryogenic freezing magic, iron crumbles to dust. This realm is comfortably usable only upon reaching the 8th Circle…. >

Content I had read in my previous life.

Extreme high heat of Inferno magic was easy to imagine, but extreme cryogenic freezing was hard.

Because I had never seen such magic.

‘Demons mostly use only fire magic.’

So I tried it.

Extreme cryogenic freezing magic.

I concentrated mana and began stealing the target’s warmth.

As the Mana Rings in my heart began rotating, dense mana flowing from my hand penetrated deep into the iron chains, and soon they grew as cold as my hand.

When the chill became visible, white frost formed on my hand, and shortly after, cracks began in the chains I held.

Jjijik-

A sound like tough leather tearing began faintly.

Adding strength to my grip, the chains soon burst with a puk.

That was merely the beginning.

The small crack I created became the starting point, and from there, the frozen chains began crumbling to dust in unison.

Pasasasasa-

I confirmed the iron dust on my hand being blown away by the wind.

‘Those words were true.’

This confirmed two things.

That iron can be neutralized with extreme cryogenic freezing, and that my current magic level surpasses the ordinary 8th Circle.

‘Fully purified 4th-circle necromancy is truly powerful.’

Though aided by the guardian spirits, I could feel it.

The power of pure necromantic Mana Rings.

I shook off the iron dust from my hand and spoke.

“Shall we continue?”

The Wheel of Eternity no longer responded.

The iron chains left only as roots in the ground merely trembled lightly and did not rise further.

Confirming this, I pushed aside Penbris at my feet and asked,

“Is this the time to be doing this?”

Penbris, with a large hole in his torso, had already breathed his last.

Deep blue blood pooled on the ground, and his neck was grotesquely twisted.

The energies flowing from his body’s sides had completely vanished.

As light faded from his still-vital eyes, a soul gently rose from the corpse.

A bright golden soul.

Perhaps due to its Ethereal Realm origin, it felt distinctly clear compared to other souls.

But freshly dead, it likely discerned nothing.

Death is inherently like that.

One cannot help but reflect on the life lived.

I grasped the still-confused soul with my hand and continued toward the Wheel of Eternity.

“Now I state my conditions. This one is in my grasp. I can annihilate it anytime. So decide. What you will do. For reference, if you do not become mine, I will annihilate this one and then find and destroy you.”

Conditions set by the strong are like this.

An offer that cannot be refused.

Reversing such offers I had received in my previous life brought an indescribable thrill.

What choice would the Wheel of Eternity make?

In truth, I knew the outcome.

Throughout my previous life, I had never seen anyone refuse such a proposal.

Chalgeurak-

Indeed, the Wheel of Eternity signaled submission to me.

It drew out one iron chain long from the ground and bowed deeply before me.

An act imitating human courtesy.

I created a chair behind me and sat.

Then, alternating between Penbris’s spirit and the Wheel of Eternity’s chain, I spoke.

“What do you think should be done with this one’s spirit?”

The chain trembled once, and soon Nocturne’s voice reached my ear.

It says it will follow your disposal, Master.

[Quick to adapt.]

Laughter came naturally.

As expected.

Breaking stubbornness is hard, but once broken, most become obedient.

That was true for me in my previous life as well.

I drew Penbris’s soul closer.

It was still in confusion.

Likely this state would persist for about half a month.

For a being that lived over 3,000 years to sort its experiences, that much time is needed.

‘But I cannot wait that long.’

I have no intention of gifting it.

Such an arrogant, self-centered one needs punishment.

Only then might it become somewhat useful.

‘How best to eliminate this one’s arrogance and lofty heart?’

The answer came quickly.

I looked at Penbris’s corpse sprawled on the ground.

Both knees and left elbow severed, chest pierced through.

The only somewhat intact parts were the head and right arm.

The heart is already destroyed, rendering the use of mana unlikely.

What if I make it live in such a body?

A fitting punishment for one who tormented and lorded over the weak for 3,000 years.

If suffering in a perpetually deficient body, might it reflect on its past at least once?

‘Reflection or not doesn’t matter. It can simply serve as an example.’

Showing the fate of those who defy me is important.

That alone can reduce unnecessary fights.

Good.

Then it is decided.

I will make this one an example.

I looked at Penbris’s soul still floating, unable to orient itself.

Toward that soul and the corpse on the ground, I drew forth mana.

Purely purified core mana seeped into both like viscous liquid, and soon Penbris’s soul connected to the corpse.

I used telekinesis magic to strip all remaining armor pieces from the corpse.

Because those pieces would interfere with the soul’s settling.

Then the soul fully settled into the corpse, and soon the body began moving.

Yet the movement was limited.

Merely trembling in place.

‘It will likely take time to move properly.’

I stood.

For it was time to wrap this up.

I shouted toward the countless wraiths watching this place.

[Did everyone see?!]

Merely shouting that, the wraiths bowed their heads toward me.

A bland ending.

‘Is this the end?’

Then Equinox’s voice came.

[Not yet. Look at the sky.]

I raised my head to the sky.

The sun had already passed the mountains, so darkness had settled around.

Stars sparsely revealed themselves in the sky.

And a sphere smaller than the moon, faintly glowing at its edges, began gradually brightening.

[The Ethereal Gate is opening. It seems Eliastra has succeeded.]

Before heading to the Ethereal Gate, El had said it might take about a week.

I had not expected success in merely half a day.

‘Exquisite timing.’

I smiled faintly and gazed at the Ethereal Gate.

The Ethereal Gate, hidden in shadow until now, gradually brightened and revealed itself.

A clear spiral pattern centered in the middle, and at its core, black space began to appear.

Along with that, the wraiths watching began screaming.

-Wh-what is this!

-I-I’m being sucked in!

-Uwaaak! No!!!

The wraiths soared skyward as if sucked into a vortex but were caught on something, preventing full absorption.

‘Hm? What’s this?’

Upon closer look, it seemed due to the iron collars around the wraiths’ necks.

The iron collars drawn from the Wheel of Eternity were preventing collection of the wraiths.

And then Ceres’s voice came.

Master. It seems this is as far as we go.

Ceres too must be experiencing the Ethereal Gate opening for the first time.

I reassured her.

[Do not worry. We will meet again soon.]

Oh? What do you mean?

[I am the one who opened the Ethereal Gate. I will go there soon, so wait.]

Though brief, Ceres seemed to understand immediately.

After confirming Ceres and her kin were all sucked into the Ethereal Gate, I commanded the Wheel of Eternity.

“Release the iron collars.”

In that instant, all the wraiths here began to get sucked into the Ethereal Gate.

As crimson wraiths soared skyward in unison, the black night sky dyed purple.

It was truly a magnificent spectacle.