Necromancer Of The Black Bible (95)

A week has passed since arriving at the Ethereal Gate.

I sat cross-legged before the severed bridge, immersed in meditation.

The single topic occupying my mind now.

‘How can I become stronger than my current state.’

Necromancy Mana Rings stopped growing at the 4th circle.

From here, beyond refining Mana Rings, another condition is needed.

‘Sacrifice.’

Equinox has spoken of this sacrifice for quite a long time.

In the past, I paid little attention, but now it is different.

With Mana Ring growth halted now, and facing the greatest enemy, I must find a breakthrough.

‘Either I become stronger than him, or raise an army stronger than his.’

After learning the remaining reincarnation device parts are in the Ethereal Realm, I first chose becoming stronger myself.

Thus, I came here and continue meditation for a week.

Hoooooooh-

It was the sound of the ice wall I created eroding.

Originally it was not this sound, but here it echoes hollowly.

This is not the only strange thing.

Unusually low temperature and space where even breathing is impossible.

The Ethereal Gate floats in such space, orbiting the planet.

‘Planet.’

In my previous life, I had read several books claiming this world is spherical.

Like the sun and moon in the sky, the world we live in is spherical.

With plausible arguments, and testimonies from mages who flew high with flight magic, so I thought it might be true.

Actually seeing the spherical world from such space brings strange thoughts.

Moreover, I feel infinitely small.

All living beings in this vast world are mere specks.

Even massive dragons are invisible from here, so small.

‘God was overlooking creations from here.’

I drew mana to repair the shattered ice wall.

Fierce rotating mana felt from the heart.

Normally, such long mana rotation causes fatigue, but not here.

Because I am connected to the Ethereal Gate.

In the Ethereal Gate’s second room, a massive furnace reduces souls that forget themselves or cannot regenerate to energy.

And that energy transmits to me that is connected to the Ethereal Gate.

I think this energy is the clue to obtaining the fifth Mana Ring, so I endure here expending massive mana.

‘If sacrificing vast mana, perhaps I can break the wall to the 5th circle?’

This space requires enormous mana just to sit and endure.

I endure thanks to mana activated by the White Serpent guardian spirit and Equinox’s amplification.

Without their help, even an 8th Circle mage would struggle to endure long here.

‘I am not entirely fine either.’

Enduring here a week, my body is battered.

Increased resistance grants Cold Immunity, but the human body demands much else.

Restoring ceased breathing and falling vitality.

And gradually stiffening muscles.

Now even the heart aches.

‘This is the limit.’

Is there reason to endure more?

Honestly, I do not know.

Previously Equinox would advise, but he was silent on this matter.

Why?

Because this process meaningful?

Because it was the correct direction?

Or was it a trap?

[Because your attempt, Honored Master, seemed plausible.]

[You speak as if you know the answer.]

[I am the only necromancer master in this world. Naturally I know the answer. But your attempt resembles the answer and principle. Because it touches the essence of sacrifice.]

He still speaks incomprehensibly.

Feeling the aching heart, I asked again.

[Then shall I endure more? Until the heart splits?]

Mages often die from their heart bursting due to Mana Ring rotation.

But in my case, it is doubtful.

Because the vitality in my heart does not allow it.

My hypothesis is this.

If I sacrifice the heart.

If the heart bursts from excessive Mana Ring operation.

Then, I can regenerate with the vitality held in the heart.

And in that process, a new Mana Ring forms.

[If you truly burst the heart with such an attempt, the fifth Ring might form.]

[Meaning the heart won’t burst with this level.]

[I watched with expectation, but it seems not. Connected to the Ethereal Gate, and even if disconnected, your vitality is too strong.]

How ironic.

Too strong until it became a problem.

[Many gave up here. This wall is not easily surmountable by anyone.]

[Then tell me the method. How did you surpass this realm?]

Equinox’s low laughter came.

That laughter was slightly different from usual.

With an eerie and chilling feeling.

After laughing briefly, Equinox spoke.

[To surpass here, abandon being human.]

Instantly, my spine chilled.

Because those words I had heard from Master in my previous life.

[Naturally. Even learning necromancy from my copy reaching the 8th Circle, you would surpass this 5th circle wall. To surpass that wall, abandon being human. Your previous life’s master surpassed it, hence leaking such words to you.]

[That wall… what is it?]

[Sacrificing the one you cherish most.]

Hearing that, my mind became dazed.

As if drawn by an unknown force, my soul was sucked in.

Though I had considerable great power until now, I have no resistance to this force.

Abandoning the resistance, I was led along.

After passing an unidentified long passage.

Soon I arrived at a familiar place.

Somewhere in the Dead Lands.

Seeing the tent before and constellations in the night sky, I roughly recalled the time.

‘Back to the past again. This time, right after first meeting Master, traveling toward the Principality of Tarnia.’

My prediction was correct.

I could confirm my previous life self emerging from the tent with a flint.

I kindled fire with familiar hand movements.

Due to often helping kitchen work after limping in one leg in my orphanage days.

Tak, tak-

Striking flint three or four times, sparks flew immediately, igniting smoke on prepared dry straw.

“Huu-, huu-”

A pitifully diligent appearance.

Thus, my previous life self successfully kindled fire.

Then Master, watching from inside the tent, appeared.

“You kindle fire well.”

“Yes. I’ve done it a lot.”

Master gazed at my previous self affectionately, soon approached and patted my shoulder.

“From now on, no need to kindle it this way.”

Master extended a hand, and the just-kindled flames subsided.

Master looked at my previous self and continued.

“You have innate talent. Using that, you can kindle fire simply.”

My previous self blinked looking at Master.

Master lightly snapped his fingers, and with that, fire rose from the extinguished wood pile.

Hwararak-

Seeing that, memories return.

The conversation I had with Master then.

“You mean I can do this?”

“Of course.”

“But I…”

“Try it once. Then talk.”

“How should I…”

“Listen well. I’ll tell you once.”

Master extinguished the fire again.

Then he approached, caressed my hand, and continued.

“There is a substance called mana in this world. It is drawn to strong mental power. You just strongly think to kindle fire.”

“Kindle… fire?”

In that instant, small flame rose from the smoking wood.

I could not believe my power even seeing it.

“This… isn’t it what you did, Master?”

“Shall we test it?”

Master extinguished again, smiled stepping back, and I concentrated.

But this time, I could not kindle immediately like before.

Then Master said,

“Recall striking flint. Then you strongly wish. That much is enough to kindle fire.”

“Flint…”

In that instant, flames soared from the wood.

Those flames resembled sparks flying from flint.

‘That time, I first realized the principle of magic.’

But why did I move to this point?

Why did this world lead my soul here?

Then Master approached my previous self and stroked my head.

“Well done. It is exactly that way.”

“Other magic too is this way?”

“The basic principle is the same. But for stronger magic, a price is needed.”

“Price?”

In my eyes looking at Master, reflected campfire flames flickered.

Seeing thus, my desire then was fully felt.

The Master that I met after long hardship.

I knew Master a black mage, but it did not matter.

The world I lived in was already too dark, and to survive in darkness, any means was necessary.

The problem is a lack of methods, not that they are of dark means.

Master seemed to know me well.

“As I said before, I am no mage. But a cursed black mage and necromancer. You know how they are treated in the world?”

“…Yes.”

“Ones like me treated as bugs, pests among them. Targets for extermination.”

“Aren’t black mages strong?”

“Of course they are strong. Unmatchable against same-level mages.”

“Then how do they exterminate us?”

Master smiled at my question.

Then stroked my head and replied.

“Already speaking as if you are a black mage.”

My previous self lowered head in shame, and Master continued.

“No need to be ashamed. You used lesser magic, so now you are a mage. And you are my disciple, so a black mage. But remember. This path is not easy.”

“…In what way?”

“You must abandon what is precious to you.”

“A precious thing.”

In that instant, I could read the thought rising in my previous self’s mind.

Amid confusion, one face rose.

A girl’s face.

‘Emma?’

One of the central figures bullying me in the orphanage.

Queen bee Emma.

Due to her outstanding beauty, as a child I was once captivated by her.

But after the incident that caused me to limp, she became the object of hatred.

My previous self seemed to think the same as now.

With a complicated expression, I asked Master.

“Can an object of hatred also be precious to me?”

Master’s eyes flickered blue.

He replied with eyes seeming to pierce all of me.

“Hatred is not simple. And extremes meet that criterion. Meaning, only one that you cherish can you deeply hate.”

Master’s words from the distant past awakened my inner hatred once more.

Perhaps this is an opportunity.

An opportunity to surpass the wall of sacrifice.