The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: demons in the church
Jack braced himself as Alogra’s fist closed in, anticipating a bone-crushing impact. But instead of a world-shaking collision, he felt… nothing. Blinking in surprise, Jack found himself standing, unscathed.

‘Did he hold back?’ he wondered, steadying his breath. He wasn’t sure if Alogra’s mercy was calculated or if he’d just been lucky. One thing was certain, though—Jack hadn’t thought before he acted. When Alogra had started this fight out of nowhere, claiming it was ‘for a lesson,’ it had struck a nerve. Jack loathed being thrown into conflicts without reason, but here he was.

In a flash of anger, he’d summoned his strongest attack. He watched with satisfaction as black flames coiled around Alogra, engulfing him. ‘Let’s see him escape this,’ he thought, his gaze hard as the dark fire consumed his opponent.

But something strange lingered in his mind. When he’d released that spell, he hadn’t felt like himself. The words he’d chanted—they hadn’t been his own, almost as if a force deep within had spoken through him. For a brief, chilling moment, he’d felt a surge of strength far beyond his own, a power too great to comprehend.

He dropped to the ground, legs giving way as he observed the blaze. Yet, to his dismay, the flames began to flicker and die, revealing Alogra’s silhouette—unscathed. Not a single burn marked him.

‘What the hell? How is this possible?’ Jack’s frustration turned to outright disbelief. This man had put him through grueling training day after day, all in the name of discipline, yet the one time Jack fought back with everything he had, it didn’t leave so much as a scratch. He cursed under his breath. ‘I even risked exposing my magic, and he’s just… fine? This was my strongest spell!’ His gaze shifted to the system’s prompt, floating before him in mocking indifference.

[Dark Flame Ball]

[Tier 2 (Basic Tier Spell)]

‘Are you kidding me?’ Jack’s head spun with frustration. The spell had been his trump card, a weapon of raw destruction. Even the system had noted its significance. But here Alogra stood, completely unfazed, his smug voice piercing through Jack’s frustration.

“That was the best effort you’ve put in so far,” Alogra said, his voice calm as ever. The flames had vanished, leaving him untouched as though he’d stood in a protective bubble all along.

Jack’s heart sank, caught between exhaustion and annoyance. Alogra strode toward him, that infuriatingly innocent smile painted on his face as if nothing unusual had occurred.

“Come on, let’s get home,” Alogra said, brushing off soot from his clothes. “You need a proper meal. Tomorrow’s training won’t be any easier, and I need you sharp.”

Jack could only watch as Alogra walked past him, undisturbed by the spell or Jack’s outrage. ‘Is that it?’ he thought, bewildered. He had expected questions, or maybe a scolding about using forbidden magic. But Alogra acted as if nothing had happened, as though Jack hadn’t just unleashed a dark spell right before his eyes.

‘He didn’t even ask about the Magomon, the magic—nothing. How can he be so carefree?’ Jack sighed, half-relieved. If Alogra didn’t care, then Jack wouldn’t need to come up with an excuse. He was grateful, honestly; if it had been anyone else, there’d have been consequences. ‘Anyone else would’ve burned, and I’d be in serious trouble,’ he thought, recalling Alogra’s impenetrable aura.

The question lingered, though—why hadn’t the flames harmed him? Rising to his feet, Jack trailed behind Alogra, his body aching from the earlier blows. Despite holding back, Alogra’s strikes had been anything but gentle.

A soft chime interrupted his thoughts as the system screen popped up.

Ding!

[Aura Manipulation!]

[Skill Description: This skill allows the weapon wielder to manipulate their aura, using it as a shield for defense or as an extension of attacks.]

Jack’s eyes widened slightly at the screen’s explanation. ‘Aura manipulation…’ So that was it. The skill explained how Alogra had shrugged off his most powerful attack. Jack’s admiration mixed with a grudging respect; he was beginning to understand just how wide the gap between their abilities truly was.

His mind drifted back to the earlier battle with the Magomon. Turning around, he glanced over his shoulder to where the massive beast had once been. But the clearing was empty. ‘Did it wander off? Or… does it still have a will of its own?’ Jack wondered. The system interrupted him again.

[Defeated Mountain Beast: 3/10]

‘Huh. So, if my bonded servant takes down a beast, it still counts for me?’ Jack thought, relieved. ‘That’s a bonus, I guess.’ He took a moment to marvel at the system’s logic before a sharp pain in his jaw pulled him back to reality.

‘This old man,’ he fumed, wincing as he touched his cheek. Alogra’s earlier slap had knocked a tooth loose, and his jaw throbbed with a deep, lingering ache. He was certain he looked ridiculous with his swollen cheek. ‘One day, I’ll return the favor,’ he thought bitterly, glaring at Alogra’s back. Despite his calm expression, Jack knew better than to trust that serene smile.

‘He’s a devil in sheep’s clothing,’ Jack sighed as they finally approached their modest hut at the edge of the woods. It had been a grueling night of battles, but Jack had learned more than he ever expected. From the harsh lessons to the system’s revelations, it had been a whirlwind experience.

Just as they were about to enter the hut, Alogra stopped, his expression shifting from casual to serious in an instant. Jack froze, feeling a sudden tension rise in the air, as if something ominous loomed.

“What is it now?” Jack asked after a long, uncomfortable silence, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alogra didn’t answer right away. Instead, he studied Jack with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine. Then, with a faint chuckle, Alogra finally spoke, breaking the silence. “Your powers… now I remember where I’ve seen them before. Funny, meeting someone with that kind of strength again.”

Jack felt his heart hammering. What did Alogra mean? He was about to ask, but Alogra’s next words cut through the tension like a blade.

“Listen closely.” Alogra’s voice was low, his gaze piercing. “Whatever you do, stay away from the church and anything under its domain.”

Jack’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why? What does the church have to do with this?”

Alogra’s expression darkened further, his voice carrying a weight that Jack hadn’t heard before. “Because among them… are demons even I wouldn’t dare face.”

A shiver ran down Jack’s spine as Alogra’s warning sank in. The words lingered, ominous and foreboding, as though they carried the weight of countless untold secrets. For the first time that night, Jack felt a fear greater than anything he’d experienced in their training.