The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 102

Chapter 102: preparations
The scorching sun bore down mercilessly on the small group as they arranged themselves around a massive circle, carefully drawing intricate arrays over the cracked and sunbaked earth.

The smell of dust and heat mingled with the faint tang of ink as the markings came to life under their practiced hands.

A young man with curly black hair wiped the sweat from his brow and removed the goggles from his tired eyes.

His face was flushed from the unrelenting heat, but determination kept him going.

“That should do it,” he said, stepping back to survey their work.

“All that’s left now is a powerful source of energy, and we’re good to go.” He exhaled deeply, his voice tinged with both relief and apprehension.

“Is that so?” a voice came from behind, accompanied by a firm pat on his shoulder.

Turning, the young man saw a tall, disheveled figure holding a coffee mug. Despite the faint lines of exhaustion on his face, his eyes gleamed with pride and reassurance.

“Norman, your skills are truly remarkable,” the older man said, sipping from his mug.

“To think you’ve figured out such a complex mechanism at your age. You might just surpass me one day.”

Norman flushed at the compliment, glancing away.

“Ah, Master Fred, don’t flatter me. I can barely keep up with your standards. You created the Falons Code at twenty. I’m nearly nineteen and haven’t done anything half as impressive.”

Fred Meyer, renowned as the youngest genius of the Hughiner Kingdom, chuckled.

“You haven’t hit twenty yet. A lot can happen in a year. And don’t underestimate what you’ve accomplished here. Together, we’ve managed to create a functioning linking array to the planes. Do you realize how monumental that is? With this, we’ll be able to transport our forces to the other side.”

As Fred spoke, Norman couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling that had settled in his gut. He hesitated, his voice quieter when he finally spoke.

“Master Fred, do you really think it’s wise for us to declare an all-out war on the demons? I mean… it’s obvious they’re stronger than we humans.”

Fred’s expression softened as he considered Norman’s words. He sighed deeply, setting down his mug and crossing his arms.

“You’re right. We humans are weaker. But let me ask you something: what do you think has allowed us to survive this long against all odds?”

“Intelligence?” Norman ventured.

Fred shook his head. “No. It goes deeper than that. Intelligence alone can only carry an individual so far.

Take our current situation, for example. Despite how everyone praises my mind, I couldn’t figure out the missing piece of the array. But with your help and the combined efforts of everyone here, we not only found the solution but implemented it in record time.

“What sets us apart, Norman, is our ability to work together. Even with our separate minds and bodies, we’re capable of combining our strengths to achieve what no other race can. That unity is our true power. So no, I can’t promise we’ll win. But with the kingdoms and the church coming together for this, we’re giving ourselves the best chance possible. If things go south, we’ll regroup, re-strategize, and try again. But ignoring the demons—letting them fester unchecked—that would be the end of us.”

Norman absorbed Fred’s words, the weight on his shoulders lifting slightly. “I see,” he said with a small nod. “We’ll see how it turns out, then.”

Before Fred could respond, a sharp voice rang out, cutting through the dry air.

“Coral Fred!”

They turned to see a soldier approaching, clad in the white and silver uniform of the church. His breastplate gleamed in the sunlight, and the insignia of the church was emblazoned proudly on his helmet. A holy sword hung at his side.

“The bishop has requested an update,” the soldier said, his voice steady but urgent. “He wishes to know if the array is ready for activation.”

Fred gestured toward the ground. “See for yourself,” he replied simply.

The soldier’s eyes widened as he took in the elaborate markings. “Impressive. I’ll inform him immediately.” He turned to leave but paused when Fred called after him.

“Wait. Is it true that Alogra has agreed to join the conquest?”

The soldier hesitated before nodding. “It’s true. Alogra has pledged their support.”

Fred’s lips curled into a faint smile. “To think we’d have such a powerhouse on our side. We’re definitely ready now.”

Meanwhile, in a distant chamber shrouded in dim candlelight, Lord Carlos sat on a grand throne carved from obsidian. The old man rolled a silver ring on his gnarled finger, his wrinkled face devoid of any warmth.

“The array is complete,” a soldier reported, kneeling before him. “It’s ready for activation.”

Carlos’s lips twisted into a grim smile. “Excellent. Inform the kingdoms to prepare their best forces. This nonsense with the demons ends here and now. We’ll crush them utterly.”

The soldier rose and departed swiftly, leaving Carlos alone with his thoughts. He turned to Saint Ivan, who sat quietly in a corner, his blade resting against his lap. “Ivan, prepare the altar. The angels have withdrawn their forces from the planes, and I need to know why. If they return, the tide will shift in our favor.”

Ivan’s calm gaze met Carlos’s fiery one. “I’ll see to it. But their withdrawal is troubling. Perhaps something happened in the Realm of Souls.”

Carlos frowned. “Unlikely. The Realm of Souls isn’t easily accessible, even to angels and demons. My guess is it’s tied to the Heavens Tournament. Perhaps Lord Haraus didn’t prevail this time.”

Ivan nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll know soon enough. I’ll set up the altar.”

“Good,” Carlos said, then hesitated. “What about the lady?”

Ivan’s eyes opened slightly, a flicker of unease passing through them. “She followed that demon boy into the planes. Her actions complicate things. Without her, we can’t retrieve Olion’s Crown. If she dies and a demon absorbs the soul essence, we’ll face even greater challenges.”

Carlos’s jaw tightened, his fingers rolling the ring more fervently. “If she’s dead, we’ll track down the demon and retrieve the crown, though it may take years. If she’s alive… we’ll have no choice but to eliminate her.”

The room fell silent, the weight of their plans settling heavily in the air. Both men understood the stakes—failure was not an option.