Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Abyss Evolution
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Leyzon chose two methods for further modifying his undead.
The first was high-efficiency absorption of Transcendent power.
The second was refinement through Transcendent power.
In Leyzon's room at Steel Wolf Guild headquarters.
His hands never stopped, ceaselessly weaving intricate patterns.
The undead knowledge he'd obtained from the former Gray Mage Tower master, Garjun, was now being put to use.
As a result, Leyzon's refinements ignited with even greater fervor.
'Garjun, that guy had good reason to aim for Transcendence all this time.'
Garjun's goal had been to achieve Transcendence as a necromancer.
Naturally, all his research was geared toward that very end.
Leyzon was convinced that the pinnacle of Auto-Evolving Undead Creation [?EX] was Transcendence.
Garjun's research notes had proven a tremendous boon to him as well.
Before he knew it, a full day had slipped by.
No one had set foot in Leyzon's room during that time.
The chamber was thoroughly guarded by his undead.
Leyzon pressed on with his work in complete solitude.
A day passed, and the sun was on the verge of setting once more.
Thud—
Something heavy dropped inside Leyzon's room.
A profound silence enveloped the surroundings.
Leyzon remained utterly still amid the hush.
Whoosh—
Purple flames began flickering to life, one by one.
Violet will-o'-the-wisps danced around Leyzon.
Soon, they converged above his head.
At last, an engraving etched itself into the halo.
A black sun rippling like waves.
What had once been a mere luminous ring now took on a distinct form.
Flash—
Leyzon's eyes snapped open.
Cold sweat beaded across his face.
Yet he could sense the aura radiating from his body had swelled far beyond its previous level.
The flow of power felt entirely different.
It was as if he'd sloughed off a constricting shell that had encased him until now.
"Huu."
He exhaled the breath that had filled his mouth.
Then Leyzon clenched his fist tight.
Squish—
Purple venom began coalescing in his grip.
A crystal-clear purple toxin, so pure it was nearly transparent.
It held virtually no hue, no scent whatsoever.
Leyzon stared at it for a long moment before parting his lips.
"Syria, shadow."
At his call, a crimson shadow erupted into humanoid form.
Leyzon hurled the toxin at it without hesitation.
Sizzle!
In that instant, the red shadow melted away completely.
This was a shadow wielded by Syria herself—level 19 Fallen, gold hero rank.
Yet it couldn't withstand Leyzon's poison.
A venom potent enough to dissolve magic itself.
"...It's grown."
The next phase after the second-stage Growth Form.
The third-stage Advanced Form.
This was the moment Leyzon ascended to the next level.
And it wasn't mere growth.
The toxin that had dissolved Syria's shadow owed itself to skill evolution.
Fierce Poison Mixed Aura [SSS].
Poison's Illusory Scent [SSS].
The two SS-rank skills Leyzon already possessed.
Both had advanced to SSS-rank.
And that was far from all.
Most of his skills—even the lower-tier ones—had risen to SS-rank.
But the undead-linked skills stood out most prominently.
'They've all hit S-rank.'
Blood and shadow, curse and darkness, deceit and dragon scale, insects and fortress.
Every category of skill had reached S-rank.
In truth, S-rank skills weren't rare for hero-rank pioneers.
Most had at least a handful.
But Leyzon was different.
His undead-linked skills were purely supplementary.
And Leyzon's true specialty was fusion magic.
The higher each skill's potency climbed, the more exponentially his overall power surged.
Leyzon's shoulders trembled faintly.
This was the most dramatic breakthrough he'd achieved lately.
A grin of accomplishment tugged relentlessly at his lips.
"Leyzon-nim, you're on the verge of exploding."
Eden betrayed a hint of unease.
She who'd stuck by his side through it all.
She'd witnessed his explosive outbursts firsthand.
"Hmph. We've been handling the upper dungeons ourselves lately. Can't be helped."
"You've held back plenty, Leyzon-nim!"
Syria piled on after Pauli, gazing at him with pity.
"...We'd better make sure it doesn't blow up on anyone."
Estelle watched him with concern.
Provoke him now, and something was bound to erupt.
Knock knock—
Just then, a knock echoed from Leyzon's door.
Someone had come, knowing he'd finally wrapped up.
In the pitch-black room, Leyzon cracked his neck.
His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
They itched fiercely—the limit pressed hard upon him.
"It's Crow, Leyzon-nim."
Crow had come to report.
"Come in."
Crow eased the door open at Leyzon's reply.
He froze moments later.
The four undead stared at him with unmistakable pity.
Crow's eyes met Leyzon's.
One look at those eyes, and their reactions made perfect sense.
"The wanted bounty on necromancers has been officially lifted."
"About time."
Before rumors flew of Leyzon allying with the eastern noble faction.
He and Duke Imperba had prepared one key move.
Canceling the imperial bounty on necromancers.
The bounty stemmed mainly from the ossuary incident.
With that figure gone, there was no cause to prolong it.
True, the empire kept necromancers in check.
But that was the reclusive emperor's decree alone.
The nobles, too busy devouring each other's influence, couldn't care less.
They'd never given the necromancer bounty much thought.
So they'd simply released it with a casual "that's enough."
And today, the necromancer bounty was officially rescinded.
The age of necromancer persecution had finally drawn to a close.
Of course, it was just an announcement—practical change remained negligible.
Still, the mere fact of it shifted the landscape dramatically.
Necromancers could now operate openly.
Leyzon included.
"On top of that, an incident perfect for boosting the Abyss's renown has broken."
Leyzon's alliance with the eastern nobles had spread like wildfire among the aristocracy.
His involvement had all factions watching the eastern group warily.
The situation needed escalation.
And nothing would amplify it like elevating the Abyss's prestige.
Time for the shadow-dweller to claim its first official feat.
"What happened?"
"The Transcendent Order has resurfaced."
These persistent weeds.
He'd uprooted their main temple, yet they sprouted anew.
This time, though, he welcomed it.
"Perfect."
Leyzon's lips curled in wicked delight.
Ideal for testing his power—and padding his record.
"One snag: the Holy Order is mobilizing to suppress them too."
The empire's Holy Order.
Unlike the Transcendent Order's worship of evil Transcendents, they revered the forces of good.
To Leyzon, Transcendents were Transcendents, good or evil.
But the public viewed "good" ones as allies.
No downside to currying favor with the church.
"Fine. Give me the location."
Leyzon rose and donned his prepared cloak.
A lavish black mantle, saved for this very day.
Skulking in the shadows had served its purpose.
The bait was laid thick.
Now, it was time to make the Abyss's name thunder across the world.
"Everyone—official debut."
World, behold the Abyss.
The western Sopple Great Plains.
A vast expanse of endless prairie, famed for its sheer scale.
There, a column of armored paladins marched.
Leading them was the 38th Heresy Inquisitor, Eran Imir.
Former Savior Lord, wielder of the cross that punished all heretics.
Eran Imir stood boldly at the paladin vanguard.
He'd come here for one reason alone.
The Transcendent Order—recently crushed—had reared its head again.
The Sopple Great Plains teemed with nomads, as befitted such open terrain.
A frontier where locals handled security themselves.
Prime ground for rogue factions to take root unseen.
"Imir-nim, we're approaching the area the nomads described."
"Soon, then. Ready yourselves."
Imir traced the holy sign and lifted his gaze.
Today, he would excise those who defied his good Transcendent lord.
This was the moment of his crusade.
"Hmm?"
One paladin noticed the sky darkening overhead.
The others quickly followed suit.
One by one, they tilted up their visors to peer skyward.
Stunned murmurs escaped them soon after.
"Wh-what?"
"What is that...?"
A colossal dragon filled their sky.
A gray behemoth vast enough to blot out the heavens.
Rumble—
As it eclipsed the sun, black lightning cracked.
All gaped at the sight—even Imir.
No tales spoke of such a leviathan haunting the Sopple Plains.
Why now, of all times?
"No... it can't be."
Imir's face grew grim.
That monstrosity might be an apostle summoned by the Transcendent Order.
"Everyone!"
As Imir moved to order a full assault and stand his ground—
"Oh, the Holy Order."
A leisurely voice, utterly unfamiliar, rang out.
There'd been no presence behind him moments ago.
Only after the words did any aura register.
Imir's gaze swiveled slowly toward the source.
"Gasp!"
He felt as if his eyes might burn from their sockets.
Empowered directly by a good Transcendent, he was hypersensitive to such forces.
Now, he could scarcely trust his vision.
A grim-faced half dark elf male stood before him.
The sheer pressure pouring from the man halted Imir's breath.
Like staring into a titan's pupil from inches away.
An unfathomable gulf—even the cornea dwarfed his frame.
That overwhelming disparity stripped away all will to fight.
He registered as something incalculably beyond humanity.
"Y-you..."
"Pleased to meet you."
The man flashed a charming smile.
"I'm the Abyss. Here to steal first blood."
The Abyss—Leyzon.
He greeted them with disarming warmth.