18. Atop the Awakening Ramparts
Atop the ramparts of the awakened city, Carol wore a satisfied smile as she watched the undead she had dispatched gaining the upper hand. It was a shame one had fallen, but the other two had crushed their foes with overwhelming ease despite unfavorable matchups.
"Hmph, not bad at all."
Perhaps because they were creations of the Guild Master himself, they exceeded her expectations in strength. Excitement bubbled in Carol's chest. To think they could break those women so effortlessly. The undead the Guild Master had crafted were skilled warriors of some renown in life. But had they truly been stronger than those two women back then? No, not at all.
Bellatrix von Pernalid, the Defeated Princess, had long been infamous across the continent as one of its top powerhouses. And Ju Cheong-ah, the Fox Spirit, was a rising platinum adventurer making waves with her extraordinary prowess. By contrast, the pre-death ranks of the two undead facing them barely scraped the platinum threshold.
Ordinary undead weakened dramatically upon revival, far below their living potential. So how had these two overwhelmed them? Matchups played a role, of course. Cheong-ah's vulnerability to brute-force rushes. Bella's weakness to speed-based assaults she couldn't parry one-handed. Add the Necropolis's innate buffs for undead... But even so, it shouldn't have been this one-sided.
There was another reason the undead dominated: a special modification technique. Enhancements using only the prime strengths of countless monsters and other races' bodies. The Guild Master incorporated ogre tendons, drake hides, and the like. Some might compare it to alchemists' chimeras... but it was fundamentally different.
Chimeras were mere stitched monstrosities. These undead were corpses infused with abilities, layered and fused in complex ways. That's why Carol was thrilled. If undead made from far weaker stock could perform like this, what if the Guild Master turned those two into undead his way?
"Then they'd at least take down the Empire's Dragon King or that old monster from the Holy Nation, right?"
With those two corpses, she might even slide past killing the count without a scolding from the Master. Her voice giddy with anticipation, Carol rang her bell, commanding the undead: kill the pair and retrieve the bodies.
As the two undead moved to deliver killing blows to Bella and Cheong-ah in obedience—
Kirrring...!
A thin, sharp crack, like glass shattering. It was the Necropolis formation Carol had spread across the sky, splintering like a broken window.
Then, from within, all the mana permeating the Necropolis converged, sucked into a vortex at one point.
"Wh-what...? How? Who?!"
Carol panicked at the sudden turn. Regardless, the space's mana accelerated toward that spot.
And moments later—
BOOOOOOMMMM...!!!
Like a volcano erupting, a deafening roar as black light surged skyward. At its center stood a man.
"How the hell is that guy...?"
Carol recognized him. An unremarkable face, but not a common one around here. Black hair, black eyes. Ian.
The powerless weakling kidnapped by Regina not long ago. Somehow clinging to life by leeching off stronger women like a kept husband. How?
"What the fuck is that bastard...?"
He raised his hand. Black mana gathered at his palm like a pinpoint. He unleashed it swiftly—in two directions. Toward Bella and Cheong-ah, naturally.
Command targets in peril.
§
-Grk.
The undead Terror Propagator howled mockingly at her. It slowly raised its axe, gripping Cheong-ah's head.
-Graaaaa...!
As the axe began its descent, a torrent of thoughts flooded Cheong-ah's mind. She didn't want to die. She still had so much left to do. And...
'Darling...'
Ian. If she'd known, she would've stolen one more glance at his face. Ah...
It felt like the end. Then—
BOOOOOOMMMM...!!
Something hurtled in at blinding speed. A storm-like gale whipped her hair and clothes. But this wind felt... gentle. Cool yet warm.
The Terror Propagator's grip vanished.
-Gakkkkkkkkkkk...!!!
Its scream. Simultaneously, Cheong-ah felt her body fully restored. A familiar voice made her eyes well up.
"Cheong-ah, sorry I'm late. You can open your eyes now."
"Darling...?"
"Yeah, Cheong-ah."
Her vision cleared. Colors returned. Light filled Cheong-ah's eyes once more.
"Ah, aaah..."
He's awakened. He's truly back. She'd feared the worst, but thank goodness. But how?
Cheong-ah whipped her head around, hoping Ian was nearby since she heard his voice. No sign of him, not even a trace.
"Darling, where are you?"
"I'm here... uh, with the others. Karlson's right beside me."
"Then how is this...?"
"I'll explain later. First, deal with that thing."
"Ah..."
Following Ian's words, Cheong-ah turned. The sight: the Terror Propagator writhing in agony, rolling on the ground.
-GAAAAAAKK!!!
Tearing its own skin, bleeding, roaring. The humiliation hit Cheong-ah like a wave.
"You fucking bastard..."
She'd trembled in fear, consumed by terror moments ago. Shame burned.
"...Uuuu."
Thank goodness Darling wasn't watching...
"I'll watch from here. You've got this."
Ah, no.
"D-don't look. It's embarrassing."
She'd rolled and crawled, filthy now. Showing this to Darling after so long? No way. Her face flushed—
"Can't see you anyway."
...Aish, really.
"Always teasing."
She giggled, raising her sword.
"Finish quick and come back. I miss you."
"Yes. Coming right away."
Blue mana bloomed from her gripped sword, black mana intertwining. Ian's energy. Feeling its warmth, Cheong-ah sheathed her blade and assumed position.
Saintess Sword Form 1
"Butterfly Wing."
§
"Open your eyes now. No time to waste."
The tickling whisper in my ear snapped me awake. Not the face I'd longed for, but a welcome one nonetheless.
"My lord, you're conscious?!"
"...Karlson?"
"Any injuries?"
"No, I'm fine. Where are we?"
The atmosphere was tense. Wreckage everywhere, injured strewn about. More wounded than whole— what happened?
"Uh, did I...?"
"You've been out less than half a day."
"Ah, thanks."
Karlson anticipated my question about blackout time. Less than half a day? Around three hours...
"Then, uh...?"
About to ask on Cheong-ah, Bella, Dina—
[Conductor's command targets in danger.]
...Huh? In danger...?
Images overlapped: battered Cheong-ah and Bella. If I didn't act, they'd die. Seeing it—
My head burned hot.
BOOM...!
Like a hammer to the skull. What happened while I was out?
"Who the hell dares."
My eyes bulged. Fury boiled, veins throbbing.
"My lord? What's wrong?"
Karlson's low call didn't register. Who dares touch Cheong-ah and Bella. Who dares touch what's mine.
Seething rage filled my mind. Purple mana, thick with death's aura, surged around me. I raised my palm, fingers half-curled, gripping hard.
"Gather. Beneath me."
Instantly, all spatial mana rushed to my palm. Swirling power formed a vortex.
"M-my lord?!"
Karlson's shocked cry— unheard. My eyes half-rolled back. Dares touch Cheong-ah and Bella...!
The mana vortex devoured everything, erupting skyward. I hurled it toward two spots: Cheong-ah and Bella.
Feeling it envelop them, I slowly closed my eyes.