âWho came up with the title of the 12 generals?â, he wondered. It was simple. It was the Emperor. Only those amongst his subordinates he specifically recognized would be bestowed that name. The Lightning Shadow General, Hansen Von Dorthe was the last of the 12 generals that were supposed to âprotect himâ, and their status was one of respect.
Therefore, their status was unique, so much so that they stood out amongst the other generals [1] and the nobles as well. They were more powerful than the others, even if they were similarly leveled, and the subordinates under their direct control were stronger than the othersâ subordinates.
[But there are a few amongst them that are especially powerful. The top members of the 12 generals⌠The sword that protects the Emperor, Seagald Von Retadane, the spear of the battlefield, Leofield Von Tariman⌠the Emperorâs shield, Arema Steelworker, and lastly, me, Archmage Feotane Von Seldin.]
He floated in the air, and his silk robes fluttered. Feotane looked like a handsome, young man, and spoke in a carefree, delighted tone.
No matter how Lee Shin Woo looked at it, he looked like a normal man, but the somber and dark energy that came from his body, as well as the fact that there wasnât even a grain of life energy he could feel from him, proved that he was undead.
[We are known as the four commanders of the Empire.]
He realized where Guillotine Steelworker had gotten the term âFour Commandersâ from, grinned, and replied.
âFor a self-introduction, youâre too loud.â
[Iâve finally met you âheroesâ, so if I donât introduce myself properly, it would spoil the mood, wouldnât it?]
Feotane was really composed. It was the composure that came from being one of the absolute strongest.
Hansen Von Dorthe was somewhat the same, but ultimately, he was nothing more than vanity and conceit. On the other hand, the Archmage was so powerful that it explained his composure.
âYou know about the heroes?â
[How could I not? Dozens of years ago, the heroes caused chaos in the capital⌠Ah, God truly is indifferent. Considering the fact that she ignores our feelings.]
ââŚâ
[Ah, why the long face? I donât hate heroes. His Imperial Majesty is the same.]
âWhat?â
Lee Shin Woo had secretly been preparing to escape while conversing with Feotane, but when he told him about his and the Emperorâs feelings on heroes, he gave an honest reply. Of course, this was also acting. He believed that this would cause Feotane to let down his guard.
[You might think that we hate you because you kill our precious citizens, but⌠Ultimately, quality above quantity. High level heroes that are hand-picked by God due to their talent⌠If we can incorporate you into His Majestyâs forces, then we can endure that much heartbreak.]
âIncorporate heroes into his army? Says who?â
[Haha, itâll happen eventually, no? So long as you are in the Empire, the only way of getting out is to die.]
It seemed as though Feotane Von Seldin really took a liking to Lee Shin Woo, as Lee Shin Woo didnât just stiffen upon sight of him, plus he was responding confidently. Feotane smiled and was focusing all his attention upon him.
Feotane knew that Lee Shin Woo had some trick up his sleeve, but he acted nonchalantly as if taunting him, saying âgo ahead, try it if you canâ. If he knew exactly what Lee Shin Woo was planning, then he wouldnât have remained so calm.
[No one can escape death, so it was a game you had no hopes of winning from the very beginning. We have too great of an advantage. No⌠we made it that way. Mm, Iâm referring to His Majesty and his wisdom.]
âThen, I suppose I just have to kill you all before I die.â
[No, you canât. You will never be able to kill us.]
Feotane said confidently, and Lee Shin Woo was vaguely aware of why he was so confident. He had surpassed life and death itself, and didnât possess the energy that âall existences naturally possessedâ.
Even if they could kill him, he wondered whether he would actually die or not⌠he inspected him meticulously and realized.
âThe core of this guyâs existence is⌠he doesnât have a âcoreâ that all existences possess. The root of his power, his stats, are hidden somewhere else. Holy shit, that abilityâs actually possibleâŚ?â
Lee Shin Woo recollected a skill that black magicians rarely used in fantasy novels known as transmission. Oneâs life force would be extracted and would be transferred to another vessel; by hiding that container, the undead black magician would become immortal⌠He was a Lich!
If thatâs the case, then the Emperor was probably a Lich as well. That meant that there were two Liches that had hid their containers somewhere! Right when Lee Shin Woo was genuinely shocked, the Archmage clapped his hands and moved on to the main topic of discussion.
[Now, it seems like weâre done with the introductions, so shall we go on to the main topic?]
âRem!â
[Stop right there.]
Lee Shin Woo turned to his comrades and was about to throw something, but at that moment, his body became stiff. Despite the deep concentration of lightning that continued to flow through his body, Feotane had frozen âthe entire spaceâ and made it so he couldnât move.
[Iâm not done talking, young hero.]
ââŚâ
[Whatâs in your hand? Hmm? Whatâs this, thereâs nothing there. It looked like you were about to throw something. Was I just seeing things? In any case, it doesnât matter. So, moving on to the main topic.]
The chatty Archmage looked like he couldnât be happier, as he put his arm around Lee Shin Wooâs shoulders and continued. Lee Shin Woo couldnât move. Regardless of how much mana he had, there was nothing he could do, as the entire space itself was frozen.
âRem, Iâm counting on you.â
âActivation is ready at any time.â
The only things he could do was to make use of the shared subspace function to secretly relay his message to Rem, who was perched atop Kratiaâs shoulder, or use his Assimilation skill to apologize to his precious partner or activate a skillâŚ
[I told you this before, but we put more importance into quality over quantity. We wait until several heroes become strong enough to enter our ranks and then⌠when they are strong enough, we accept them into the fold. You will ultimately become our comrades, so we can give you important positions as well.]
ââŚâ
[Therefore, I wonât kill you. It looks like youâre still level 6, so⌠Mm, indeed. It looks like you can still progress further. Itâs strange, itâs like thereâs something off balance with you. Itâs not yet time to harvest. Isnât that right? However, It seems like we can bring that beautiful magician girl with us soon⌠Huh?]
He tilted his head. Feotane had frozen both Kratia and Prince like heâd frozen Lee Shin Woo, but strangely, it felt like something had changed. However, he couldnât tell what that was yet. It was as if there was a strange mana reactionâŚ
[Wait a sec⌠A gate!?]
âHeup!â
Suddenly, a gate appeared beneath Kratia and Princeâs feet⌠Because it was such high level magic, Feotane hadnât expected it at all and was shocked. The moment he stretched out his hand, Lee Shin Woo used the only skill that he could use in this frozen space, Rule of Boneâs Self-Destruct skill.
[Critical Hit!]
He had converted the entire areaâs mana into lightning, so it would be effective against even the likes of a level 8 Archmage! âŚEspecially if both Lee Shin Woo and Jin were to sacrifice their bodies in the process!
[Kuhahk!]
The Archmage was swept up in the blast, the huge explosion caused the entire areaâs mana to shake. Feotane felt nauseous, as he hadnât felt pain in such a long time, and hurriedly flew into the air; at that moment, Kratia and Prince had already disappeared. Of course, Lee Shin Woo and Jinâs appearances had disappeared as well due to the explosion!
[How could this happenâŚ]
The Archmage looked around, though there was nothing left inside, and muttered in shock. He had lived for quite a long time, but he wouldnât be able to forget that attack. To think he would go as far as to sacrifice his horse as well to save his comrades!
No, what was even more surprising was the fact that his comrades could create a Gate and use it to escape, as well as the fact that he had been so grievously injured by a level 6 hero.
[Letâs say that I sustained this much damage because it was Self-Destruct, but the gate⌠No, itâs possible to create a temporary gate if they used an item. Damn it, I canât interfere with Godâs subspace. Did God give them that item herself? They really got me!]
Eventually, he came to a reasonable conclusion. Honestly, the correct answer was that Lee Shin Woo told Rem that the Bone Gate was ready from his (Remâs) inventory, and Rem had activated the gate underneath their feet, sending Kratia and Prince to another place, but he did come to a similar conclusion.
[Itâs been a long time since Iâve seen someone so talented that they could be a candidate for a general. I was going to recommend him to the 12 generals, but oh well.]
To make sure, Feotane used the artifact that was set up in this space and scanned the entire area, but there werenât any traces of anyone remaining. He could truly say that they got him good.
[Keuk. They got me. How long has it been⌠my wounds are worse than I expected. I have to go and treat them immediately.]
He muttered to himself and raised his head to gather mana, but the entire areaâs mana was jumbled with lightning or chilly air, so there was nothing here he could use. If he wanted to restore his body (a Lichâs body), then elemental mana wouldnât cut it. He needed pure mana.
[Tch. Iâll treat myself and then come backâŚ]
It seemed like he didnât really like it, as he muttered and left.
At that moment, a torrent of mana swelled within the air, and Lee Shin Woo and Jinâs new bodies formed. It was truly a mysterious and frightening scene.
[The Invisible Heart skill has become Lv4. All stats have increased by 3.]
Lee Shin Woo, who had been completely resurrected, saw that damn message, gritted his teeth, and muttered.
âDamn it, I promised myself that I would never die againâŚâ
âWe got out of that situation alive, so itâs fine!â
Lee Shin Woo and Jinâs Invisible Heart and Blessing of Death possessed a strange option, and whether this was good or bad, he didnât know.
Lee Shin Woo and Jin could choose when they would revive, so long as it was within several minutes, and it really helped in situations like this, where dying just once wouldnât let them overcome danger.
Even now, the Archmage hadnât realized that they werenât really dead and had left the area!
âBut what happened to Prince? I thought itâd be fine, so long as I could save Kratia and Rem. Wasnât it limited to two?â
âIs it really the time to be curious about that? Letâs go. We have to go as fast as we can!â
âNope. Jin, we have to find something here before we leave.â
âWhat exactly are you trying to find in this urgent situation⌠Hey, itâs not that, is it? Please tell me itâs not.â
Jin had been pressing him, but when he saw Lee Shin Woo moving so quickly, he realized what the answer was and was shocked.
âAre you going to take that surveillance item!?â
âOf course I am. Do you know why the Archmage wasnât able to find us, even though he activated the artifact?â
âI donât know!â
âBecause Kratia succeeded in hacking into it! So if we canât take that along with us, it would be such a waste that I would lose sleep over it!â
âYou canât sleep, youâre undead!â
[Lv8 Huginnâs Eye]Â [2]
âI found it!â
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âHey!â
When Feotane Von Seldin had activated the artifact at the very last moment, Lee Shin Woo had followed the flow of mana and realized where the artifact was hidden within the facility. Lee Shin Woo wouldnât lose that artifact again, and the moment he greedily grasped it, Jin lifted him onto his back and ran out of the facility. At the speed of light!
Exactly 10 minutes later, Lee Shin Woo and Jin were completely healed from the injuries theyâd sustained from Self-Destruct, while Feotane Von Seldin had also returned to the facility. He found that the artifact that controlled the facility was gone without a trace, and was shocked for the third time that day.
[1] T/N: Apparently, I need to be more specific when referring to the 12 generals, as there are other generals in the Empire.
[2] T/N: Reference to one of Odinâs ravens from Norse mythology.