Reborn with a Necromancer System - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Three Hundred Dead and a Goddess Chapter 57: Three Hundred Dead and a Goddess By the time the trial ended, many weeks after the start, Kai stood before his three hundred undead, raised by him and summoned from his Shadow Space.

The ruined city, once silent save for the occasional groan of a wandering corpse, now thrummed with unholy power.

Kai’s power.

The undead that claimed the city were his.

Every last one.

It had not come without cost.

He lost dozens of undead between the battle with the adventurers and the one with the grave maw.

Including Tecton and Ignis.

Kai scoured every street, every forgotten ruin, and every collapsed building for corpses to raise.

He had pushed himself to the brink of collapse, clawing for every last scrap of life essence he could find.

He had been tempted, so very tempted, to drain himself again, to dip into the negative, but he knew.

Vepice wasn’t there.

No miracle medicine.

No safety net.

If he pushed too far, he would die.

But he had survived.

Alone.

Orlin had given him only the barest of hints, the smallest nudges in the right direction.

The old man had fed him, handed him books from the manor’s library, but nothing more.

The weight of his success settled in his chest.

He had done it.

[Rank 8 Necromancer] Exhaustion pressed against his bones, but he didn’t care.

His legs moved on instinct, stumbling back toward the manor.

His body ached, his vision swam, but all he wanted was to collapse onto the old couch near Orlin’s ever-burning fireplace.

Light engulfed him the moment he pushed open the manor door.

Not Orlin’s magic.

Something else.

It was different from the necromancer’s usual teleportation.

It was warm, suffocating, divine.

Like Father Aldric’s power.

‘Is something smiting me?’ Kai shielded his eyes, barely able to make out the figure standing before him.

A form shrouded in a blinding radiance.

Pure mana, thick and unrelenting, so concentrated that it smothered whatever person was beneath it.

The energy hummed, pulsed, alive.

Then, a voice.

“Greetings, Kai.” He held his breath.

“Who-?” The figure chuckled.

“Right.

Of course.

It might be a little too much for a mortal.” With a small flick of their wrist, the overwhelming light softened.

The energy around them dimmed, just enough for Kai to see the vague outline of a woman.

Not human, not entirely.

The way her presence warped reality itself reminded him of something otherworldly.

Something divine.

“That’s better,” she mused.

“Last time, you were but a spiritual entity, so the transaction went more smoothly.” Kai’s fingers twitched.

His heartbeat quickened.

“…Who are you?” The woman smiled.

“Demeris, the goddess of travel, adventure, quests, and all of that.” She waved a hand dismissively.

“I am the one who brought you here.” His stomach dropped.

He stiffened.

“I get that.

Then why not just send me back?” His voice was sharp, accusing.

“Everyone who worships the gods in this world would see to my death in an instant if they could.” Demeris sighed, as if exasperated.

“No, Luke.

I brought you here, to Imeria.” His blood froze.

That name.

His old name.

A name no one had spoken in over eight years.

“You…” His voice came out hoarse.

“You reincarnated me?” “Finally!” Demeris threw up her hands in mock relief.

“You picked this up much faster the first time.” Kai’s breath quickened.

His mind raced.

They’d met before?

When?

“When did we talk?” His voice was laced with suspicion.

Demeris’ lips curled into a playful smirk.

“Again, Kai, I can’t reveal that until you’re stronger.

You’re not ready yet.” That only made him more frustrated.

But before he could press further, she tilted her head.

“You are my champion, Kai.” His entire body tensed.

“…Excuse me?” “I chose you.

Hand-picked.

I need you to save the world.” He stared at her.

Then, he laughed.

Cold, bitter, hollow.

“You need me to save the world?” He gestured wildly.

“The same world that wants me dead?

The same world that would burn me at the stake the moment I stepped out of this cursed city?” She smiled, unfazed.

“Yes.” His expression darkened.

“Then you picked the wrong champion.” Demeris sighed dramatically.

“Oh, Kai.

You always say that.” He blinked.

“…What?” “Every time I find you, every time I tell you your purpose, you always refuse.” She smiled fondly.

“It’s adorable, really.” Kai’s chest tightened.

Every time?

How many times had this happened?

Demeris waved a hand, as if brushing the thought away.

“Regardless, you don’t have a choice in the matter.

I will convince you one of these times.” Kai clenched his fists.

“I am not your pawn.” She smiled, taking a step back.

“Oh, Kai.

It was never about what you wanted.” He took a step forward, anger simmering beneath his skin.

“Listen here, you arrogant-” Demeris raised a glowing finger.

“I’ll be seeing you again soon, Kai.” A pulse of light erupted around her, blinding him completely.

Kai flinched, covering his eyes.

By the time his vision returned, she was gone.

Only the faint shimmer of divine magic remained, dissolving into the air like embers in the wind.

Kai stood there, his mind reeling.

He felt sick.

His old name.

His past.

A goddess claiming him as her champion.

His stomach twisted in anger, in confusion.

He pressed his hands against his temples, his breath shallow.

And with that, the memories of the goddess faded like smoke in the wind.

[Name: Kai Tensen | Age: 8 Years | Specialisation: Necromancer | Rank: 8 | Awakening Requirements: Unknown | Life Essence Stored: 157/10,000 | Mortality Deviance: Minimal | Souls Bound: 8 (Winfried Drummond, Angelica Trunsdale, Troy Saren, Nameless Guards (2), Nameless Inquisitors (3)) | Undead Army: 284 (Joran, Rhea, Finn, Merri, Voltis, Zephyr, Arcane Wolf (2), Skeleton (186), Zombie Shambler (70), Ghast (13), Death Knight, Lesser Lich (2), Kael, Ralts, Joe, Grave Maw | Tethered Souls: 0 | Languages Translated: Imerian, Salan, Forebearer’s (Partial) | Skills: Mana Manipulation, Mana Tempering, Mana Sense, Shadow Manipulation (Advanced), Strengthening Magic (Moderate), Elemental Magic (Minor), Combat Arts (Intermediate), Shadowmeld, Precision Targeting (Magic), Death Sense, Murmurs of the Departed, Shadow Decoy, Sigilcraft (Fortification, Elemental), Aura of Undead | Spellcasting: Novice | Artifacts: The Abyssal Band | Spells: Raise Undead (Moderate), Thrall Control, Shadow Conjuring, Bull’s Strength, Frozen Touch (Contact), Frozen Zone (Area), Icicle Javelins (Ranged), Searing Touch (Contact), Wall of Flame (Moderate), Wither, Gravebound, Wall of Ice (Moderate), Mass Raise Undead (Lesser), Tether the Fallen, Ice Prison (Minor), Shadow Weapons, Flamethrower, Tempered Shadows, Shadow Space, Speed Sigil (Lightning), Power Sigil (Fire), Aura Sigil (Ice), Undead Enslavement, Chaos Sigil, Darkness Sigil (Shadow)]