An unexpected horse's neigh echoed through the Hamern Great Forest.
A mournful cry spread through the air. Solion rode his ghost horse, crossing the great forest.
‘You, you damn dog...!’
His eyes were bloodshot, his complexion pale. His appearance was a mess, as if he had changed so much in just a moment!
His insides were burning black as well.
‘It’s over! It’s all over...!’
Destrue, its arrival is near.
Muspelrun? He had seen through the strategy.
Preparing a small detachment to cast curses, and even sacrificing the spirits he had gathered over a lifetime!
But, he was not at all regretful.
Why should he be regretful!
Destrue
At the moment this ancient monstrosity arrives, he would gain even more.
He would be recognized for his contributions, sit as an officer in Salvatium, and receive the admiration of all the necromancers. Not only that, he could even dream of a second ascension as a reward from the council of elders.
This was Solion's lifelong aspiration.
To become an officer, and eventually join the council of elders, living a life close to eternal!
But.
‘Because of that damn thing...!’
Solion focused his eyes on the two Death Knights ahead of him, and beyond them.
A ragged robe flapping in the wind, the creature was fleeing as fast as it could.
It was pitiful.
Dealing with ancient spirits, Death Knights, and the undead.
His armor was scratched and dented in many places, and his left arm had long since fallen to the ground and rusted!
But despite its pitiful appearance, this was the root of all the chaos.
‘Why, you? How could you...!’
The whispered scream was the trap that the mysterious masked figure should have fallen into.
Muspelrun's strategy? The moment the masked figure stepped into the trap, it was irrelevant.
All he had to do was wait for the sweet fruit to ripen and then take it!
But, the moment that damn thing appeared, everything went wrong.
Everything, completely wrong!
“You... You, still call yourself Shane von Ruman! A great traitor! You, still call yourself a knight!”
Solion shouted until his voice was hoarse.
It wasn't to hurt his feelings.
His insides were truly burning.
‘The council of elders. Damn the council of elders...!’
A phrase the necromancers often used.
- You won't even rest in peace after death.
This is not a lie.
Even now, he could capture a soul and inflict indescribable pain.
This is not comparable to torture where death is an escape. There is no escape, only extreme pain!
Unlike the limited pain of the physical body, the pain of the soul is terrifying and new every moment.
‘No, no. Please, just not that...’
Solion spurred his horse with a desperate heart.
Whether the Death Knights understood his feelings or not, they just silently galloped on.
‘Time... There's not much time left!’
A blue veil had already spread across the sky.
With a flash of light, the ancient spirits lost their physical forms and became souls.
Muspelrun's plan had begun.
Even in this situation, Solion could not let go of hope. No, he could not.
“You... If I can just get my hands on you... I can stop it!”
He was certain.
Shane von Ruman, once he regains his senses, is a more perfect being than any Death Knight.
And...
Lord of the Undead
If Shane, with the title of Lord of the Undead he had inscribed when he was first created, commands his undead army...!
Did Solion's wish come true?
‘This, this damn thing...!’
A sudden scream.
Shane's movements noticeably slowed.
The speed of the creature, which had been difficult to catch even on a ghost horse, suddenly decreased.
As if it were moving through water.
Why?
He didn't know what had happened. Or rather, he didn't need to know.
The important thing was that he could catch the creature.
“Catch him, catch him! Catch that brat...!”
At Solion's command, the two Death Knights leaped into the air.
No, they didn't leap. The ghost horses simply jumped so high.
“Sever his limbs and make him kneel!”
[How dare you...!]
Was it trying to resist?
Shane swung his sword with a fierce momentum.
Solion flinched at the momentum but quickly regained his composure.
“Ugh, hahaha! Ughahaha! You've lasted quite a while!”
A loud, ringing laugh.
A bright smile spread across his face, which had been pale like a dying person.
It was delightful. No, it couldn't be anything but delightful.
Clang, whoosh.
Snap!
Perhaps out of weakness, the sword flew out of his hand and embedded itself in a tree with a single parry.
Crack! Thud, thud.
The second thrust from the Death Knight severed his arm. Then the third, fourth.
Thud, thud.
Shane's body fell weakly.
“Finally, finally... I've caught you!”
Solion smiled brightly at the sight.
He thought he was about to be devoured by the mouth of hell, but there was a glimmer of hope.
How could he not smile!
He couldn't help but smile.
* * *
Shane lay powerless, looking up at the sky enveloped in a blue veil.
‘This damn thing...! Cutting off my mana?’
A fierce chase.
The mana he had stored as a reserve was depleted in no time.
The ghost horse, indeed, was good.
Even when he ran at full speed, it followed leisurely.
Not only that, the undead were so fierce.
He was surrounded once, and it took half of his mana just to break through the encirclement!
So, he barely managed to survive with the mana he was receiving...
- Thud.
Suddenly, the supply of mana was cut off.
It was a situation that made him want to go mad.
[They say not to trust creatures with black fur...!]
The creature's hair was gray, but black or gray, it was all the same.
As Shane was burning with hatred for Aster, a shadow fell over his helmet.
“Are you angry, Shane von Ruman? Huh, were you abandoned by your master?”
[Get that ugly face out of my sight. Your eyes are bloodshot, disgusting.]
“Ughaha, this is the first time we're having a conversation. It feels quite fresh.”
[Your eyes are rotten, aren't they?]
A sharp voice. The momentum was like a blade.
But, Solion's face, looking down at Shane, was calm.
What was there to fear when the limbs were already severed?
It was just ridiculous.
“Go ahead, say whatever you want. You can only be this arrogant to me now.”
Solion said this and looked around.
“Let's see... You are certainly bound by the bracelet of subjugation, aren't you?”
He didn't check, but it was obvious.
How could a non-necromancer control the undead? It was impossible without the bracelet of subjugation.
‘Then...’
Solion thought quietly.
The bond of subjugation formed by the bracelet of subjugation is strong.
Depending on how it is used, it can even make an undead that already has a master into one's own.
But.
Who gave the bracelet of subjugation to Velok? Solion himself.
‘When I gave the bracelet of subjugation to that fool Velok, did I not prepare a way to break it?’
The method to break the bond of subjugation formed by the bracelet of subjugation had already been researched.
Solion calmly placed his hand on Shane's chest plate.
“... ... ... ...”
His lips moved incessantly. A voice seeped out. Black magic flowed from his hand and seeped into the chest plate.
Shane spoke at that moment.
[Wh, what...! Hey, hey! What are you doing? Just like this?]
It was an unexpected turn of events.
Why not?
A villain who barely defeated the righteous messenger. The villain savors the victory, making all sorts of poses.
You lost because of this, and because of that. If you had done this, I would be the one lying there.
He even reviews the battle without being asked and spouts out their future plans.
But, to get straight to the point like this?
[Have you ever seen such an immoral brat...!]
Clearly, he was of the same kind as that gray-haired one.
Of course, in terms of rudeness and being a scoundrel, the gray-haired one was a few steps ahead, but in essence, they were the same.
‘This damn... To be a subordinate to this kind of thing again?’
It was unacceptable.
Look over there.
The two Death Knights, mounted on their horses, holding their lances low, staring forward.
It was a scene that would make ordinary people shudder.
If you put a tattered, dark robe on them and gave them a large scythe, they would be the very image of the Grim Reaper.
But.
How pitiful they look!
Like broken dolls, they stand still, waiting for their master's command, in a completely pitiful state!
- Damn it! Mana! Give me mana! If you just repair my limbs, I can immediately...!
Shane sent a desperate mental message.
Just a moment ago, he was cursing the one he wanted to kill, but now, in a crisis, he had no one to trust but him.
But there was no response.
- Do you know who I am?! Shane von Ruman! Shane von Ruman! But, are you going to abandon me like this? Huh? Abandon me?
The anger rising deep in his heart.
He was angry.
‘At that time... I should have just left then and there!’
He thought the guy looked interesting, so he stuck around.
But in the end, the one who had all the fun was the guy in the mask.
He was going to be a slave to a black magician again!
But, a sudden realization flashed through his mind.
‘Whether a slave or a servant, it's all the same... Damn it!’
Shane tried to deny the realization. No, he had to deny it.
But, he admitted it.
- Master, come quickly! The Death Knights are dying!
A bit of self-respect. The first time was hard, but the second time was easier.
- Please, come! Master, please...
The word "master" came out naturally!
For Shane, it was a desperate cry.
Being a slave to a black magician was more terrifying than being a servant to a scoundrel.
But, did his desperate wish come true?
- Master?
The voice echoing in his mind.
- You're here!
- No, not yet? But, Master?
‘This damn...!’
The calm voice made his head throb, but after a moment, Shane composed himself and corrected the title.
Or rather, he tried to.
- Master... Master... Master... You piece of trash, worse than a nymph! Why did you cut off my mana!
The last bit of self-respect. The word "sir" was unacceptable.
After all, this situation was entirely the fault of that guy.
- Where are you! Huh?
The urgent voice. He could feel it.
Zzzz---
“... ... ... ...”
The longer the black magician's incantation, the more he felt like he was not himself. The dirty, damp feeling grew stronger.
He was about to become a slave to the black magician, just like those wretched Death Knights!
- When are you coming!
The answer came immediately.
- 3.
- 3...? What the hell...?
The voice came again.
- 2.
Confusion at the incomprehensible situation was brief.
- Damn, it's over!
Shane could feel it.
The damn black magician's spell was ending.
Look now. The loyalty to the black magician was rising, more than the resentment and hatred for the damn gray-haired one!
But, then.
- 1.
Thud.
A rough, dull sound came from above.
“... ... ... ... Gah!”
The black magician, who was reciting the incantation, let out a scream and flew like an arrow.
Then.
Thud!
His body hit a tree and fell weakly.
[What...]
Shane couldn't understand. All he saw was the black magician flying away.
The shadow fell over his face at that moment.
“Master? You're not using the proper title?”
[You...!]
The annoying face. But, it wasn't disgusting because he was wearing a mask.
[You finally came to save me!]
Shane raised his voice in joy, but Aster shook his head slightly.
“No, I was caught too.”
[...?]
Shane's eyes flickered, not understanding.
Aster smiled at his expression.
“I was just joking. I just wanted to say it. Anyway...”
His eyes darted around.
Aster looked at the necromancer who was swaying against the tree and said,
“I'm here.”
Death Knight and necromancer.
Villain vs. villain.
The arrival of the righteous messenger to end their battle.
A line that sounded impressive. The sound of pain came immediately after.
“Ugh, ugh...!”
“...”
The sudden sound of vomiting.
Aster, of course, and Shane also turned to look at the source of the sound.