Black Lotus and White Marigold -8-
Roarrr!!! The black death aura clumped together, forming more than a dozen distinct shapes.
Clank!! The first to reveal themselves were the ones appearing in front of me like bodyguards—undead towering a head taller than an adult man.
Clank! Clank!! What stood there were hulking knights clad head to toe in jet-black full plate armor of an ominous design that sent chills just looking at it. One hand gripped a greatsword too massive for an ordinary person to wield single-handedly, while the other held a thick, enormous shield large enough to cover their entire body. The knight reeked of death aura from every inch, clearly no living being. Above all, where eyes should have been, blue corpse flames blazed fiercely.
Mid Undead – Death Knight
Clank!! The Death Knights stood silently, awaiting their creator's command.
Roarrr!! Next, the clumps of death aura in front of the Death Knights took shape as well.
"Hiiihiiing!!!"
A horse's neigh echoed. Like the Death Knights, ominous black armor materialized. But unlike the bulky Death Knights, this one had sleeker lines. Instead, it had no head. Nothing where a head should be, and in its place, at the neck stump, blue corpse flames burned. The missing head, clad in a helmet, dangled from its left hand. The right hand clutched a cavalry lance. It rode a skeletal steed armored in horse barding.
"Purrrr!!"
Roarrr!! The bony horse, lacking lungs, exhaled—and from that breath, flickering blue flames billowed out.
Mid Undead – Dullahan
Of the same rank and also a mounted undead, the [Death Cavalier] specialized in close combat, while this one was more like a magic warrior.
"Purrrurrr!!!"
The excited steed neighed vigorously, mirroring the Dullahan's ferocity atop it.
Whoooosh!! This time, death aura coalesced behind me and Kangjang. From it burst a figure draped in tattered robes that looked ready to crumble—yet it exuded no raggedness. Instead, the swirling death aura within created a spine-chilling presence. Beneath the robes lay bare bones, devoid of flesh. Empty eye sockets blazed with blue corpse flames.
"Hee hee hee!!"
An unearthly laugh reverberated. It raised a sinister staff, and the death aura rippled as its body floated lightly upward.
"Hee hee hee!! Mort!!"
"Hee hee hee!! Mort!!"
⟨ Death ⟩
Sinister words were chanted, mana rippling in response. It eagerly awaited to unleash its wicked wisdom for the creator who summoned it.
Mid Undead – Lich
Roarrr! Death aura formed another shape. This time, from the shadows on the ground—
Flash!! Dozens of red corpse flames blinked from within.
Scraaaape!! Scraaaape!! Shadows erupted behind me, building into a massive giant around four meters tall. Composed entirely of shadow, its body was studded with dozens of eyes made of corpse flames.
"Ah... aaah..."
"O... ooooh..."
From those dozens of flames came wails of hatred—shadow wraiths filled with loathing for the living.
Mid Undead – Shadow Walker
And finally—
Roarrr!! Right beside me, a massive death aura took form. Nearly five meters tall—
Clatter! Something hard clashed against something else.
Clatter clatter clatter! Not once, but dozens of sounds rang out in succession.
"Grraaaaaah!!!"
With a final roar, it revealed itself: a grotesque giant formed from dozens of bones twisted together, standing at least five meters. One hand clutched a massive shield of tangled bones matching its bulk; the other was a long, thick hand ending in claw-like, razor-sharp fingers.
Clatter!
"Clack clack!"
"Clack clack clack!!"
The skulls comprising its body clattered their jaws, eager to claim the living as part of themselves.
Mid Undead – Necro Guard
Three Death Knights, three Dullahans, two Liches, one Shadow Walker, one Necro Guard—a total of ten undead forming a perfectly balanced party. Compared to me, a low-grade ghoul, they were all higher in racial hierarchy. But since my level was higher, in pure strength, I had the edge.
"Grrr..."
I didn't issue any verbal orders.
Clank!!
"Hee hee hee! Name Concentration!!"
Hummm!!
"Grooooh!!!"
"Hiiihiiing!!"
No words were needed between us. Commands flowed in real-time through my mental link with the undead. They instantly entered combat readiness.
And after a brief moment—
BOOM!!!
"Groooaaah!!!"
"Grroooaaah!!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
Three Starving Asuras and dozens of ogres they led burst through the forest.
Thud!!! In response, the Death Knights thrust their shields forward, forming a wall.
Whoosh!! At the same time, the massive Necro Guard leaped from beside me to the front line with the Death Knights.
Both Death Knights and Necro Guards were defense specialists. One boasted high defense, the other immense stamina and regeneration. That's why both manned the front.
But unlike Death Knights, the Necro Guard—as its name implied "guard"—possessed a special skill they lacked.
Hummmm!!!!
Groooaaah!! Blue death aura billowed from the Necro Guard's body. It quickly peaked, and then—
"Groooaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!"
The skulls on what passed for its face roared in unison.
Fwoooosh!!! With the roar, a wave of blue aura pulsed outward—
Fwaaah!!
"Woooah!?"
"Grraaah!?"
It struck the enemies charging toward us, drooling with hunger.
"Woooaaaah!!!!"
"Groooaaah!!"
The ogres, already chaotic, lost all reason, eyes rolling back as they swarmed the Necro Guard. This was the Necro Guard's [Grave Guardian's Fury]—the classic crowd control, taunt, or aggro ability.
"Groooaaah!!"
"Woooaaaah!!"
It had no effect on the Starving Asuras with their magic-resistant hides and brute strength, but every ogre fell to the taunt without exception.
From here, things were straightforward.
Fire.
"Hee hee hee!! As I commanded!!"
"Freezing Air State!!"
"Hee hee hee!! As I commanded!!"
"Freezing Air State!!"
⟨ Ice Magic ⟩
Sinister words poured from the Liches' mouths—arcane tongue so wicked that mortals would suffer mental strain just hearing it.
Crackle!!
Hummm!!!
The Liches unleashed a barrage of spells at the ogres, now conveniently clustered by the taunt. Their magic—far superior to what Skeleton Mages used—was amplified by undead's mechanical casting, firing endlessly.
BOOM!!
Crackle!!!
"Groooah!?"
"Kreeeeah!?"
Dozens of ogres were pierced or scorched into corpses. Basic ogres were weaker than mid-grade undead and couldn't resist the Liches' spells. The magic was chosen to leave bodies intact—valuable resources.
"Woooah!!"
"Kaaaah!!"
Of course, with their numbers, some dodged or evaded the blasts.
For those—
"Hiiing!"
"Hee hee hee hee!!"
Roarrr!!
The Dullahans charged in. With their mounts' speed, they evaded the Starving Asuras and hunted the surviving ogres.
"Groooah!!?"
Slash!! Slash!!
Dullahans cleaved ogres with lances or—
Roarrr!!
"Kiiieeeek!!"
—raised their severed heads toward foes, spewing [Undead Fire] from the mouths. Unlike regular flames, it burned life force, leaving bodies whole.
Ding!! Ding!!
Level-up alerts chimed with each batch of ogres slain, but I ignored them mid-battle.
"Woooaaaah!!!"
"Groooaaah!!"
"Bwoooaaaah!!!"
As the ogres were smoothly cleared, leaving only the Starving Asuras—
"Alright, Kangjang. Let's go."
"Auu~!!"
Kangjang and I stepped up.
Thud!!
Kangjang leaped dozens of meters toward the nearest Starving Asura on the right.
"Wooo!!"
Kraaaah!
As her fist thrust forward, black ominous mana gathered, forming an Eastern dragon silhouette. It was her original skill from her living days as the unique class [Dragon Fist Master], enhanced by her jiangshi martial art [Jiangshi Fist].
BOOM!!
"Groooah!?"
Her punch cratered the Asura's body, sending its massive frame flying backward.
"Wooo woo!!"
Bwoooom!!!!
Kangjang wrapped herself in death aura, ready for the real fight. Naturally, it wasn't dead yet.
"Guess I'll join in?"
Roarrr!!
I gathered part of the black flames enveloping me into my hands, condensing them into long spear shapes—the same black flame spears Flamma had used against me.
Roarrr!!
I gripped one in each hand.
Thud!!
I leaped toward another Asura charging at Kangjang.
"Groooaaah!!!"
And—
"Krurr! Eat this too, you fat fuck."
Shiiiik!!
I hurled both black flame spears simultaneously.
Puuk!!
"Kraaaaaah!!!"
The two spears pierced precisely where nipples would be on a human—right in its chest.
"Groooaaah!?"
The protruding spears from its "nipples" looked comically absurd.
Thud!
It grabbed them with both hands to pull them out—but—
Roarrr!!
"Groooaaah!?"
Touching them set its hands ablaze, dealing more damage.
Damn, these black flames are insanely useful.
Originally Flamma's innate ability—not magic despite consuming mana—it bypassed magic-resistant skin. The rock-hard hide was effortlessly burned through. I could even feel it incinerating the magic resistance inherent in the skin itself.
This power let me selectively burn what I wanted, and it wouldn't extinguish until I'd incinerated everything I targeted. If I hadn't figured out a counter immediately, I'd have been toast.
Roarrr!!
Now, I manipulated the flames to envelop the writhing Asura entirely.
"Euuooooh!!!"
At that moment, I sensed the rearmost Starving Asura closing in.
Block it.
Fwaaah!!
The Shadow Walker burst from my shadow, morphing its incorporeal form into blades and slashing at the Asura.
Slash!!
"Groooaaah!!"
The unexpected strike wounded its chest, though shallowly. But it successfully halted the charge.
Clank! Clank!!
"Grrr!!"
"Hee hee hee!! Name Binding!"
"Hiiihiiing!!"
The remaining undead turned on the last Starving Asura. Though slightly stronger than mid-grade undead individually, against this many, it was as good as done.
"Gruuuuuh..."
Roarrr!
I approached the black flame-impaled Asura, its body heavily corroded by the flames.