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<b>Chapter 3: The Sage Gains a Subordinate (part 2)</u></b>
Further strengthening my resolve, I shifted my attention to the undead,\nstretched out my hand and swung it to my side in a straight path, exercising my power.
As I did that, the undead were suddenly enveloped in a purple flame.\nThe purple flame spread until it completely covered the place.
Screams of agony erupted from the ground.\nThe souls of the dead were in pain.\nThe miasma swirling amidst the atmosphere grew thicker.\nI could feel the land growing contaminated.
The purple flame enshrouding the undead below gathered at long last, slowly giving rise to a figure.\nIt finally disappeared, leaving behind white wisps of smoke.\nThe undead had been thoroughly burnt without a trace.\nIn their place stood a grotesque composite of bones.
Was that the result of combining them?
I leaned forward, carefully observing the grotesque creature.
Its height was comparable to that of an ogre, and its skeletal structure wasnât humanoid.\nThree additional pairs of arms grew from its ribs.\nIts head was that of an ox, with imposing horns.\nCrimson flames swayed in its eye sockets.\nAn even thicker miasma enshrouded him like a cloak.
I knew from the appearance and intimidating air around it.\nThis undead possessed terrifying power.
Is this the highest-ranked skeleton?
Considering its enormous magic power, it seemed to show many traits of a lich.\nWithout exaggeration, it certainly could rival the former Demon Lord.
I had never expected to give rise to such an entity.\nAlthough I had used many undead, he had clearly exceeded my expectations.\nPerhaps a large combination of factors meshed well.
As I was immersed in my thoughts, the unmoving ox-headed undead looked at me.\nThe crimson flames in his eyes stopped swaying.
âAre you the one who brought me forth?â
His tone seemed heavy with resentment.\nHe seemed to clearly possess an ego.\nIn addition, it didnât seem like I had control of him.
Nevertheless, it was great that he could converse.\nIf I could communicate my intentions, we could easily reach a mutual understanding.
âIt certainly was I, butââ
âGrrr! â
As if interrupting my words, the ox-head thrust out one arm.\nA black bolt of lightning fired out of it.\nThe bolt of lightning flew to me in a straight line.
Is a conversation impossible? The other side is on a rampage.
I leapt off the balcony.\nThe black lightning bent at an unnatural angle, precisely aiming at me.\nThe tracking function meant that the one casting it could control its movements.
I released a ball of water from my hands. It crashed into the lightning, neutralizing it.\nI also created a force field of magic in the air and landed on it.\nI maintained my position, looking down at the ox-head.
âBwahaha, not bad. No wonder you were able to give rise to I! â
The ox-head transformed the miasma enveloping him into wings.\nAs he flapped them and soared high into the sky, black flames radiated above his head.\nThe lightning just now was the same. But here the main component was miasma.\nThis ox-headed undead was excellent at manipulating miasma.\nIf you compared our practical skills, I didnât hold a candle to him.
However, I have no intentions of losing.
I forced him back with wind magic.\nThe black flames held their ground for just a moment before they were pushed back.\nThey flipped directions, attacking the ox-head.
âGuoooooooooooooo! â
Flooded by black flames, the ox-head roared.\nIts bones were a little burnt.\nBut it wasnât a fatal wound.\nThe undead seemed hardy.
âSee myâŠpower! â
The ox-head pointed both hands at me and sent a barrage of lighting my way.\nIt felt like a heavy downpour.\nEach lightning stroke held power equivalent to that of high-ranking magic.\nIt could easily annihilate tens of thousands of troops.
I set up multiple barriers using magic.\nI prepared hundreds of translucent circular shields.\nBefore long, the incessant rain of lightning strikes hit the barriers.
It resulted in sparks and explosions.\nCracks ran down the barriers, breaking them one by one.\nThe aftermath of the destruction reached the castle behind, scraping the walls and spires.
The magic offence and defense ended in an instant.\nAround half of my barriers were intact. Only the surface had been smashed.\nOf course, I took no damage at all.
I can defend using low-level magic, huhâŠ
I was honestly impressed seeing the destruction of the terrain around me.\nThis just now was a good way of confirming it.
Back when I was alive, I prided myself in having a large amount of mana as a human.\nHowever, even then I was limited on race.\nI used my ingenuity in various ways to counter the demons.\nAfter a tremendous amount of study, I finally became a sage.
I now was very good at tricks.\nAnd when it came to magic, I was second to none.\nAs expected, the blessings of the Valley of the Dead were great.
âImâŠpossibleâŠâ
The ox-head was shocked.\nThere was no mistaking that he had put in all his strength into the rain of lightning.\nIt wasnât unreasonable for him to be at a loss, seeing me come out unscathed.
In the meanwhile, I transformed the remaining barriers into dozens of spears.\nI adjusted their tips, and aimed them at the ox-head.
âCanât you shut up for some time?â
As I moved my finger, the spears fired intermittently.\nThey moved faster than sound. The ox-head could do nothing but defend.\nA wall of miasma immediately materialised.
The spears I launched crashed into the wall.\nThick black fog gushed out of the spots where the spears crashed.\nThe spears launched in quick succession, slowly weakening the wall.
âThis isâŠjust a trifleeeee! â
I could hear the ox-head scream.\nHe was desperately resisting the onslaught of spears.\nAt best, he was only buying time.
I devoted my attention to the spears lying in wait and released them all at once.\nThe wall of miasma was quickly smashed to pieces, and the spears that pierced through, hit the body of the ox-head.
âGrrrrrrâŠ! â
The ox-head fell.\nWith a gaping hole in his torso, he once again unfurled his wings of miasma.\nControlling his stance, he tried to avoid crashing into the ground.
âI wonât let you! â
I severed his wings using blades of wind.\nThe ox-head crashed headfirst into the ground.\nHe rolled around as the cloud of dust caused by the impact of the fall coiled around him.
âGrrâŠY-YouâŠâ
The ox-head got up, groaning.\nHe compensated for his damaged parts using miasma.\nBeing able to move despite receiving such a fatal wound, was a trait very peculiar to the undead.
âWhy canât you listen to me for once? I donât want to fight.â
âGrrrrr! â
As I landed on the ground, the ox-head pounced upon me like a beast.\nEach of his eight arms held a weapon made of miasma and magic.\nThey began attacking with shape-shifting movements.
âAppear.
I created a sword out of magic and added a fire attribute to it.\nI then foresaw the trajectory of the ox-headâs attack.\nIt was the combat experience of someone from the Valley of the Dead.\nIt also contained the sword style of that person.
I raised the flaming sword above my head and swung it down.\nPulverising the weapons in the air without mercy, I slashed at the ox-headâs torso diagonally.
âAhâŠgahhâŠâ
Cut in half, the ox-head fell to the ground.\nAs I thrust my sword into his back, I forcefully absorbed the miasma and magic contained inside.\nWith this, I had taken away his only method of resistance.\nNow I did not have to worry about it doing anything strange.
I looked at the ox-head on the verge of death.\nThe flames in its eyes flickered weakly.
ââKill me. I have been defeated.â\nThe ox-head murmured in a small voice.\nIts fierce air from before had all but disappeared.\nNow that he had lost his power, he was somewhat calm.
Seeing its change, I shrugged my shoulders.
âI wonât kill you. What did you think I called you forth for?â
âWhat do youâŠmean? â
The ox-head asked perplexedly.\nThe flames in its eye sockets flickered as if it were blinking.
I nonchalantly uttered,
âI want you to become my subordinate. I could make you obey, no questions asked. But I want to respect your free will as far as possible. Wonât you lend me your strength?â
ââŠâŠâ
The ox-head gazed at my outstretched hand.\nIt was difficult to imagine what it was thinking because it didnât have a face, but it seemed like it was dumbfounded.\nIt seemed like it was ruminating over my words, trying to comprehend their meaning.
If it opposed me, I would have no choice but to use violence. It would be best that he cooperate of its own initiative.\nUndead with a strong ego were valuable.\nTheir combat strength had no shortcomings.\nIt was no doubt an existence whose power I needed in the future.
There was a long silence at the place.\nI said nothing more, and earnestly awaited its reply.
ââŠâŠâ
At long last, the ox-head stirred.\nThe undead, with its face bowed to the earth, clumsily grabbed my hand.
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Hasr: Maybe I should make a discord server for spoilersâŠ