Reborn with a Necromancer System - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Orlin’s Test Chapter 46: Orlin’s Test The cemetery was silent, just as the rest of Mirth had been since Kai arrived.

The wind had died, and only sound was the soft shifting of loose dirt.

The loose dirt that the zombie was pushing out of its way to climb out of its grave.

Its flesh was in various stages of decay, stripped in some places down to yellowed bone.

The remnants of its burial garb hung in tattered strips from its withered frame.

Dirt rolled off its broad rotten shoulders into the hole it just crawled out of.

Bones knitted together.

Rotting flesh reformed into something almost whole.

Empty eye sockets filled with not eyes, but a dim, unnatural green glow.

Kai felt the familiar tether snap into place-the invisible link between necromancer and thrall.

“This is just another Raise Undead spell.

Simple.

Controllable.” Then several pieces of metal suddenly shimmered in the air.

Kai’s focus faltered as a sword and shield materialised out of nothing.

The weapons floated for a brief moment before slamming into the zombie’s waiting hands.

Kai’s eyes snapped to Orlin.

The old man smirked, lowering his cane.

“There.

Now relinquish your hold.” Kai hesitated.

“That’s-” “What?” Orlin cocked his head.

“Are you afraid?” Kai scowled.

“Fine,” he grasped the thread in his mind and severed it.

A cold shudder ran through his body.

The moment the link broke, the undead jerked violently, its body spasming as if it had suddenly become aware of its own unnatural existence.

It lifted its head.

It raised its sword, shield locked into position, its empty sockets staring straight at him.

It charged.

Straight for him.

Its movements unnervingly fast for something that had just crawled out of the grave.

Kai barely had time to react before the sword sliced through the air.

“Shit!” He stumbled backward, throwing up his hands.

He didn’t have time to summon another thrall to protect him.

His only weapon was necromancy.

His mind raced.

“What can I use?” Kai looked around for anything he could use as a shield, but aside from gravestones, the cemetery was largely empty.

An idea formed in his mind.

He leapt back.

“Gravebound!” A dark, twisting mass of necrotic hands appeared beneath its feet.

The hands lashed out at the undead, seeking to wrap around its limbs and immobilize it.

But the moment they touched the zombie’s flesh, nothing happened.

Kai’s stomach twisted.

‘What?’ Kai’s heart raced as he dodged another swing of the sword.

He felt for Shade in his shadow, but Orlin tapped his cane on the ground.

Kai looked at his new mentor and he felt chills.

‘Right.

Necromancy only.’ “Okay, then!” As the zombie swung again, instead of dodging, Kai jumped forward, closer to the zombie.

The smell of decaying flesh assaulted his senses.

He reached out, his mana latching onto the decayed muscles of the undead.

“Wither.” The effect was instant.

Instead of aiming it at the undead’s life force, which Kai knew didn’t exist, he targeted the creature’s exterior.

The creature’s flesh dried, its limbs locking up mid-motion as Kai’s magic drained what little vitality remained.

The undead toppled, its legs snapping under its own weight.

But it wasn’t dead.

No, it still attempted to feed.

To take life.

It clawed forward, dragging itself toward him with unnatural determination.

Kai grit his teeth.

‘Whatever.’ Kai gritted his teeth.

He was running out of options.

“No choice, then.” Kai raised a hand and tore open the shadows.

His shadow stretched out between him and the zombie.

The air shuddered.

Orlin’s eyes widened.

He moved as if to intervene-then stopped.

From the swirling darkness, three figures emerged.

Three undead arcane wolves.

Made of pure arcane energy.

Each one radiated power- One bore an ice-blue sigil etched onto its forehead.

Another had a crimson firebrand.

The last was marked with lightning.

Zephyr, Ignis, and Voltis.

Kai felt hesitant to summon his army since losing so many in his fight against Mari, but he looked at them proudly.  Kai pointed at the zombie.

“Attack.” The wolves moved as one.

Zephyr struck first, an air of cold radiated from its body, slowing the zombie’s movements.

Ignis lunged next, its paws leaving small craters in the earth with every push off the ground.

Its claws sliced through rotted flesh like butter, tearing limbs away with ease.

And Voltis?

It was untouchable.

Not that a withered, slowed, and torn-up zombie could ever hope to catch it.

The zombie’s sword slashed out-only to miss as Voltis flickered away, its speed unmatched.

Kai watched, his heart hammering.

The fight ended in seconds.

The zombie collapsed into a meaty heap.

The wolves tore it to pieces.

Silence followed.

Then, just as Kai relaxed, another sound began.

Not groans from zombies or rattling skeletons.

Something seemingly scarier.

Slow clapping.

Clapping that seeped into Kai’s bones.

Unnatural clapping that didn’t have the same sound or impact as it normally should.

Kai turned to see Orlin grinning beneath his hood.

Smiling became the only other facial feature that Kai could ever see from beneath that shadowed hood.

Not because of the teeth, they were still shrouded in darkness, but his eyes smiled sinisterly enough for Kai to know.

“Fascinating.

Impressive.

Very impressive!” Kai exhaled.

“So I pass?” The clapping stopped.

“No.” The answer was cold.

Resolute.

Kai’s stomach dropped.

He should have known.

Deals with devils were never simple.

“Wait, what?

Why?” Orlin leaned on his cane.

“You failed.” Kai felt a surge of frustration.

“How?

I defeated it!” Orlin chuckled.

“Yes, and quite efficiently.

But you didn’t defeat it with necromancy.” Kai’s jaw tightened.

“I used my wolves.

They’re undead.” “Exactly.” Orlin tapped the ground with his cane.

“They were modified with elemental sigilcraft.

That is not pure necromancy.

On top of that, you summoned them with…

Shadow magic?

Impressive that you can store them inside that.

It seems similar to my extra-dimensional space.” Kai’s fingers curled into fists.

Orlin sighed.

“But!” Kai stilled.

“It was fascinating to watch.” Another tap of the cane.

A flash of light.

Kai blinked and then found himself back inside the manor.

The warmth of the fireplace wrapped around him like a blanket.

Orlin settled into a chair.

Kai imitated him be seating opposite the old mage.

He steepled his fingers, peering at Kai with interest.

He took out a large ornate coin and let it dance around his fingers as he continued to watch Kai.

Never taking his gaze from him.

Kai remained seated and unsettled.

Waiting for something.

Anything.

Then, finally, Orlin flicked the coin up and it never came back down.

He grinned at Kai.

“Kai Tensen.

Would you like to become my first ever disciple?” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Jhaydun Hey, everyone!

Orlin has been one of my most favourite characters to write so far.

I hope you’ll all enjoy Kai’s time with him!

On a side note, a friend of mine has been working on a cool farming novel, so if that’s also your speed, please check it out!