The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: An army
Jack stood at the edge of a vast, dark canyon that seemed to stretch endlessly in both directions.

Its depths were obscured by an ominous black mist that churned and shifted like a living entity. The wind howled through the ravine, carrying with it an unsettling, otherworldly wail.

Behind him, the rest of his party caught up, their breaths labored from the relentless sprint through the desolate landscape.

“This is it,” Jack said, his voice steady but edged with tension.

“This is where the first clue should be. At least we made it this far.”

Alisha, standing a few steps behind him, leaned on her knees, panting heavily. Her black hair clung to her sweat-drenched face, and she shot a frustrated glance at the glowing map in her hand.

“It was far,” she said, her voice laced with exasperation.

“And hell, this map eats through moonlight stones like a starving beast.” She opened her pouch, revealing the dwindling supply of iridescent stones that shimmered faintly even in the dim light.

During their journey, they had been forced to stop repeatedly to replenish the map’s energy.

Each time, it seemed to demand more stones, as if mocking their dependence on it.

The map’s edges curled slightly in response to her complaint, almost as if it were smirking.

“Tch” Alisha scoffed upon seeing the maps mocking act.

“It doesn’t matter,” Jack said, collapsing to the ground with a sigh.

“The good news is we’re here. The bad news is that I doubt we’re getting into that canyon without a fight. We need to rest up first.” He extended a hand toward Alisha.

“Hand me some of the stones. I need to refill my mana.”

Alisha rolled her eyes but complied, pulling out a handful of moonlight stones. Their glow dimmed slightly as they passed into Jack’s hands.

“You should refill too,” Jack added, closing his eyes to focus on the task.

“We’ve got enough stones left to last a while. No sense in starting the next battle half-dead.”

Alisha grumbled but moved a short distance away to begin her own replenishment process. Nephris, the shadowy feline guardian, followed close behind, its glowing eyes scanning the surroundings for threats.

Missy, the youngest member of their group, giggled softly as she watched them.

‘Big brother looks so serious,’ Missy thought, smiling as she skipped over to Alisha’s side, leaving Jack to his task.

Jack sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed, as he directed his focus inward.

He could feel the latent energy within the stones, a faint hum that resonated through his palms.

Slowly, he drew the energy out, channeling it into his mana core.

‘This is my first time, but let’s see how it goes’

The process began as a gentle flow, like a trickling stream, but as Jack pushed harder, it grew into a raging torrent. The mana swirled within him, a whirlpool of power that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.

[MP +100]

[MP impure +10]

[MP +100]

[MP impure +10]

[Congratulations, your mana pool has increased!]

[Congratulations! You have advanced to the next level!]

[S-Rank Dark Mage]

[New title acquired!]

[Effects of title: Once activated, even the shadows shall be your playthings!]

[All flame spells have now been converted into dark spells.]

[Flames have merged with darkness to become one!]

[All spells upgraded to Tier 5!]

[New spells added to host ability tabs.]

[MP: 10,000/10,000]

Jack opened his eyes, which now glowed with an eerie azure light.

He felt the transformation within him, a profound connection to the shadows that seemed to hum with anticipation.

His newfound strength radiated outward, an almost palpable force that sent a ripple through the air.

Alisha, still in the midst of her own replenishment, felt the disturbance immediately.

Her eyes snapped open, and her gaze locked onto Jack. Her breath hitched as she realized what had happened.

“What the hell?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Even Nephris’s ears twitched, the familiar sensing the surge of power emanating from Jack. Alisha’s thoughts raced.

‘How did he manage this? Breaking through to S-Rank without a mentor, without guidance? It’s absurd! Even the best prodigies from the church couldn’t achieve this before the age of 48.’

Jack stood, brushing dust off his cloak. Alisha’s lips pressed into a thin line as she watched him, a mixture of awe and frustration flickering in her eyes.

“How did you do it?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Jack turned to her, his expression calm but unreadable. “Do what?”

“Master the element of darkness,” she said, gesturing toward him. “And without a teacher? Without guidance? This shouldn’t be possible.”

Jack shrugged, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “I don’t know. It just feels… natural.”

Alisha clenched her fists, her frustration bubbling over.

“Don’t get cocky. I’ll catch up to you. And when I do, I’ll surpass you.”

Jack chuckled softly. “Sure you will,” he said, his tone dripping with mock encouragement.

“But don’t worry. I’ve still got use for you, so I won’t kill you. At least, not personally.”

Alisha’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing. She couldn’t deny the gap between them, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.

Before their exchange could escalate, Jack’s expression darkened. His body tensed as a ripple of energy coursed through him, his senses sharpening to a knife’s edge. His eyes hollowed momentarily, a sign that his connection to the “little ant”—his scouting spell—had activated.

“They’re coming,” he said, his voice low but urgent.

Alisha stiffened. “Who?”

“The army. And they’re heading straight for us.”

His words hung heavy in the air, the gravity of their situation sinking in. Alisha’s gaze darted toward the canyon, where the oppressive darkness seemed to stir in anticipation. Missy clutched Nephris tightly, her earlier playfulness replaced by fear.

Jack’s fists clenched, his azure eyes blazing. “Rest time’s over,” he said. “Get ready.”

As the party scrambled to prepare for the impending battle, the canyon seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, as if it were alive—and hungry.