Chapter 48

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: Fall of the Ashen Executioner

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The land shrouded in the aura of death, the Black Wasteland.

A place shunned by everyone on the continent, yet it had formed its own ecosystem in its own way.

Numerous outcasts who wielded the power of darkness gathered here, forming various factions, and waged fierce turf wars to claim this shadowed land. That was the long-standing history of the Black Wasteland.

One of those factions. Krak, the leader of the 'Ashen Butchers' who ruled the ashen forest region in the southwest of the Black Wasteland, had to hear some ear-splitting news from the morning.

"Hey, you bastard. Necropolis is completely wiped out? You expect me to believe that?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but it's definitely true. A sudden civil war broke out, turned into full-scale war, and the entire city burned down..."

Smack!

"Guh!"

"Hey, you punk. If you're gonna lie to me, at least make it convincing. You think I'll buy that?"

"I-It's true! Why would I lie... Ow, that hurts."

"You little shit, trying to latch onto someone else, aren't you? That's it, right?"

"No! Why would I betray the boss? Betrayal means death, you know that!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Hmph."

"Believe me! This is serious! Most of Necropolis's five major factions have been annihilated, with only a tiny handful barely escaping the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠city alive! Word is, the Blood Reapers among them sought refuge with the Graveborn. They handed over all their precious blood tomes just to survive. I swear, it's true!"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Shut up and let me think."

As his subordinate spoke, Krak grew serious. He could tell the man was speaking from the heart, but the content was so unbelievable it was hard to accept as truth.

No matter that Necropolis was an alliance of five mid-to-small factions, it was still a force not to be underestimated. With a city the size of a small town, it wasn't something that could just collapse.

Yet what? The whole city destroyed? Most ruling factions wiped out and seeking shelter elsewhere? Even offering up their most treasured secret tomes to do it?

Unbelievable. But this wasn't the kind of guy who'd lie, so it had to be true.

"Did they get invaded or something?"

"Doesn't seem like it. No word of any outside intrusion. Oh, but there was this."

"What?"

"All the survivors were talking about some guy called the Immortal Skull."

"Immortal Skull?"

"The one who took over Necropolis. A skeleton that keeps coming back no matter how many times you kill it. That's why they call it the Immortal Skull or whatever."

Krak snorted. What a grandiose name. And what? It revives no matter how many times you kill it?

"Bunch of cowards. They always exaggerate like crazy. Skeletons that revive endlessly? Give me a break."

"They do exist, if a skilled necromancer keeps raising them."

"Hey, if it were that easy, necromancers would have conquered the world by now, right? Just keep reviving the ones you kill."

"True. Yeah."

"It's all hype. They're embarrassed about getting wrecked, that's all."

"Still, we should be cautious. We need to prepare countermeasures. That Immortal Skull guy's supposed to be insanely strong. Who knows where he'll strike next after taking Necropolis."

"Countermeasures? No need to freak out. Hey, gather the boys."

"Huh?"

"Gather 'em. We're marching on Necropolis right now."

"Wait, what the—"

"Think about it. It's fallen, right? Empty house? What does that mean?"

"Y-You're saying loot the place?"

"Bingo. Smart kid."

Krak's eyes gleamed. His subordinate's filled with panic. It made sense, but wasn't it too sudden?

"Boss, just in case, shouldn't we scout it out first..."

Smack!

"Guh!"

"Scout what? Since when do we play it safe?"

"W-Well, no, but— Guh! Stop hitting me!"

"Who are we?"

"Kugh, the Ashen Butchers!"

"Right. The Ashen Butchers fear nothing. Why? Because we're the invaders."

"......"

"Immortal Skull, my ass. Doesn't matter. We're always the attackers. We've always invaded and always won."

"Y-Yes!"

"Good. Then get to it. I'll sharpen my blade."

Things seemed to be going smoothly, but they weren't. Unexpected news arrived out of nowhere.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"What?"

"Boss! Enemies are invading!"

"Crazy. Who?"

"No idea! Skeletons right at our doorstep! Too many!"

"Shit! Ring the bell now!"

Dong-dong-dong!

The alarm bell rang, and the Ashen Crossroads city under the Ashen Butchers' rule was instantly engulfed in the flames of war.

Cheers and clashing steel echoed. Krak, emerging with his massive curved sword, soon snorted.

"These are the 'enemies'? Just this?"

Skeletons. Bare bones. Lowly undead that crumbled pathetically with one sword stroke.

A handful of them, barely a snack's worth, calling themselves enemies?

"You idiots! Freaking out over trash like that and reporting like cowards?"

He charged, swinging his curved sword wreathed in dark magic, stained black. Skeletons fell like autumn leaves.

Soon, no skeletons remained around him. Nor around his men. Overwhelmed by victory, he bellowed a laugh.

"Boys! Head back! We'll grab a drink and..."

"Boss! Behind you!"

"Huh?"

He turned. A few skeletons were rising again, shambling toward him.

The one at the front of the group stared straight at him. Its skull jaw clacked.

-Areyou their leader.

"Wh-What? It speaks?"

-Areyou their leader.

"And if I am?"

-I see.

Vmmm!

In that instant, Krak felt an illusion that the empty sockets of that skull were glowing.

Or was it an illusion?

-You catch my eye. Strong power, thick dark ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠aura. Iwill take you.

"What the hell? Hah!"

He charged, slashing downward. The thing's body split vertically and crumbled emptily.

"Big talk for trash."

"Boss, behind!"

"Why do you keep— Whoa!"

Krak jumped in shock. The crumbled bones were reassembling.

"What the!"

He slashed. It crumbled. Reformed. Again. Five or six times.

-You are strong. Truly to my liking.

Krak's expression didn't change as the shambling skeleton approached, but it began to feel ominous.

"Th-The Immortal Skull."

Was it coincidence that the name came to mind?

Maybe this skeleton before him was the rumored Immortal Skull.

-Iwill claim you, human steeped in darkness.

The moment light filled Arkbone's sockets, he felt dizzying pain.

His heart pierced. A spear of bone had flown and embedded itself.

"Gahk!"

-Well done, my minion.

-No problem.

He noticed too late. A hooded skeleton in the distance.

Mana rippled from its hand. It must have cast the spell.

'A skeleton mage? From trash like that...'

His thoughts cut off. That was the end of Krak, the Ashen Executioner, ruler of the Ashen Forest and terror to the western nations—the leader of the Ashen Butchers.

-Rise.

Moments later, Arkbone raised his hand. The flesh on Krak's corpse vanished, and soon a bare skeleton rose, bowing to Arkbone.

And the humans watching from behind.

The Ashen Butchers.

"Crazy!"

"B-Boss..."

"M-Monster."

Terror soon filled their faces.

"Krak?"

Ian tilted his head. Who was that again?

If Arkbone killed him, some guy in the Black Wasteland. Krak. Ashen Executioner...

"Oh, the Ashen Butchers!"

The Ashen Butchers. Infamous bunch, all dark aura users—a band of monsterized bandits.

Famous for riding 'Grimsteeds,' horses corrupted by dark magic into monsters, and rampaging with massacres.

Their leader dead? Hard to believe.

Krak had survived a long time.

Still notorious among neighboring Black Wasteland nations, and later became a global villain.

Him dead...

'Serves him right. Heh.'

For Ian, it was good news. A villain croaking meant continental peace grew stronger.

But Arkbone's rising infamy was a bit iffy.

How many bad deeds had Arkbone done to spread infamy like that?

Well, invasions themselves were bad, no denying it.

'What if he gets rumored as the Demon King at this rate?'

With such silly thoughts, Ian activated the communication spell imprinted on Arkbone.

"Hey, Arkbone. Can you hear me?"

-Thisvoice, Father's voice.

"Yeah. Doing well?"

-Doingwell. Currently in battle.

Figured. Noises around the link were chaotic.

"Got something important only you can do."

-Father's command, anything.

"Those guys you're fighting. Got any horses or something?"

-Horses, quadrupeds.

"Yeah. Probably pitch black with ashen manes."

-Those, yes. Many.

"Perfect! Don't just kill 'em—capture them. Got it?"

-Turn those horses into my minions, yes?

"Exactly!"

-Understood. Don't quite get it, but Father's command.

No wonder he didn't get it. Turning mere horses into minions?

But Grimsteeds were worth it.

'Turn Grimsteeds undead, and they become high-grade skeletal horses.'

Skeletal horses weren't amazing themselves.

But they enabled cavalry creation—that was key.

"Just do as I say. You'll figure out why."

-Understood.

Link cut. Soon, faction growth alert, then a meaningful message.

Ian grinned at it.

'Knew it.'

Would've been disappointed otherwise.

'Skeleton cavalry, those bastards are a real pain.'

Ian knew how terrifying their fearless charges were. This was a valuable gain.

Two full days since Ddol Ddoli left its master's side and returned to the wild.

Ddol Ddoli walked endlessly. Traversing vast plateaus of barren brown, the deep brown faded, revealing green land.

Dense thickets, puddles everywhere, sticky air.

In human terms, a swamp.

'This place, damp.'

Damp and sticky, unpleasant. But Ddol Ddoli pressed on. Powerful energy emanated from here.

That's why it came this far—to meet a being of great power.

Didn't know how strong. Could be a dragon like before. Or as strong as one.

No matter. Ddol Ddoli was stronger now. If they fought again, it wouldn't lose so easily.

Ddol Ddoli wanted strength. That's why it left its master, came here.

It trudged through soggy ground. Rock feet squelched forward.

Stepping in puddles, sticky mires. Then it stopped. A voice spoke out of nowhere.

-Don't come closer.

Ddol Ddoli whipped around. No one there.

-Voice heard. But no one.

-Saying again. Don't come closer. This is my domain.

-Me, Ddol Ddoli. Who you.

-I'm the lake.

Ddol Ddoli's head tilted.

-Words weird. Lake not living thing. But you say lake. You lied.

-Hehe, no lie. I am the lake.

-You, ignoring. Liar.

Ddol Ddoli ignored and walked. Toward the large lake ahead. But the voice persisted.

-Pity. My words aren't advice. It's a notice, a warning. Azran Great Lake is my domain. I don't want artificial life entering my domain.

My domain. Ddol Ddoli's gem eyes narrowed.

Remembered Dragon Mountain.

Just entered the mountain, told to leave.

Situations overlapped.

-Mountain just mountain. No one's land. Same, lake just lake. No one's land. You, no right boss Ddol Ddoli.

-Wrong. This is my land.

-You liar and greedy. Ddol Ddoli, ignore such.

-Wrong again. Strictly speaking, I'm not 'guy,' but 'girl.' I'm female.

Ddol Ddoli ignored and walked. Then astonishing: fierce gale blew, blocking it.

A massive figure appeared in the air. Womanly form with hazy lower body.

Mysterious woman with blue body like the lake, blue hair to waist. She spoke sternly.

-Warned you. Enter, and I attack. Artificial life.

-Ddol Ddoli, not artificial. Ddol Ddoli, Ddol Ddoli.

-You are artificial. Shouldn't exist in this world. Don't know who made you, but very insolent.

-What?

Ddol Ddoli's eyes twisted. Could endure else, but not master insult.

-Say again.

-Don't know who made you, but very insolent.

-Wrong. My master best in world. Can't tolerate you not knowing.

-No. Your master... Eek?

Ddol Ddoli crouched. Charged with Rush, smashed fist.

-Surprised. No way. I have no form. I am the lake itself. Physical attacks can't hit m—

Thwack!

-Kyaaak!

The woman spewed blue water, flung back. Ddol Ddoli charged relentlessly. Battle erupted.