The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Tournament I
Arin strode confidently towards the platform at the center of the grand hall, his posture upright and purposeful. Beside him, a young man with striking blonde hair stepped forward, his every movement radiating a poised assurance. The air was thick with tension, and as they walked onto the platform, an unusual warmth enveloped them both.

It must be the array, Arin thought, focusing mana into his eyes to analyze the faint energy swirling beneath the surface of the platform. A faint, silvery web of protection lay there, pulsing like a living thing.

“Prince Arin,” the blonde boy, Kevin, spoke up with a smirk, his tone a blend of respect and challenge. “I’ve heard tales of you—the Digmun Family’s rising star. I always hoped we’d get a chance to spar. Didn’t expect it to come this soon.”

From a distance, Jack listened to their exchange, his sharpened senses catching every word. He smirked faintly. ‘Seems my dear brother’s gained some fame in my absence. If he keeps this up, he might even secure the throne for himself someday’ Jack mused, glancing briefly at the girl beside him, her gaze lingering on him yet again. He felt an unwelcome prick of irritation.

‘Why is this girl so fixated on me?’ Jack thought, clenching his jaw. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him since they’d arrived, and it was getting under his skin. To make matters worse, she was with the church—a place he viewed with nothing short of disdain. He forced himself to ignore her, redirecting his focus to the platform.

Kevin moved first, gripping his sword with a deadly determination. He unsheathed the blade, revealing an intricate weapon that seemed to glimmer with an ominous light.

Impressive weapon, Jack thought, assessing it. A quick scan of the weapon’s attributes through his system revealed more details:

[Dragon’s Saber]

[Grade 5 Equipment!] Upgradeable!

[Enchantment: Forged from the tooth of Ovnu Gat, the Great Dragon. This blade feels no resistance, capable of slicing through nearly any material.]

‘So, it cuts through anything. Could be useful, ‘Jack considered, momentarily intrigued, comparing the saber to his own prized weapon, Shadowfang.

In a flash, Kevin charged forward with astonishing speed, his figure blurring. His footsteps were almost silent as he moved, leaving a faint shadow where he’d once stood. Arin narrowed his gaze and began chanting under his breath, summoning a swirling aura of electricity around him.

[Lightning’s Rage]

Sparks danced and snapped around Arin, his eyes gleaming with a fierce blue glow as he locked onto Kevin’s advancing figure. A crackling bolt of energy shot from Arin’s fingertips, streaking toward Kevin like a spear of raw power.

But Kevin was ready. He sidestepped gracefully, evading the lightning by a hair’s breadth and pressing forward with relentless speed. Mages like you are powerful from a distance, but once I get close, the battle is as good as won, Kevin thought confidently, gritting his teeth as he charged closer, dodging each bolt with ease.

Within moments, he was close enough to strike. Twisting his body mid-stride, Kevin spun the saber with a flourish, angling the sharp edge toward Arin in a downward arc.

“You’re an impressive fighter, Kevin,” Arin murmured coolly as the blade drew near. “But you underestimate your opponents far too easily.”

[Bolts of Chaos!]

With a shout, Arin unleashed an explosion of lightning that surged outward in every direction, forming an electrified barrier that struck Kevin mid-swing. The air crackled as tendrils of lightning ensnared him, tearing through his body with merciless intensity.

‘He tricked me…’ Kevin realized too late, his body convulsing as the electrical current coursed through him. His muscles tensed painfully, his skin tinged with a faint sizzle as smoke began to rise from his form. The attack seemed endless, and with each passing second, Kevin’s strength waned as his eyes glazed over, his vision dimming.

Just as the scent of burning flesh began to permeate the air, a glowing rune on the platform flared to life, severing Arin’s spell in an instant. The air grew eerily silent, and Kevin’s body slumped forward, unconscious but alive.

“Impressive array,” Luther commented, chuckling softly from the sidelines. The senior figures seated nearby nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with a mix of admiration and curiosity. Fred, the renowned alchemist who’d crafted the array, lifted a metal arm to adjust his glasses, the faint clinking sound a reminder of his mechanical enhancements.

“Just a matter of using the right materials,” Fred replied, his eyes gleaming with quiet pride as he surveyed his work.

In the audience, murmurs spread among the alchemists watching. “I told you—it could only be Master Fred who created such an efficient array.”

Meanwhile, Kurt, a brawny youth with a cocky grin, scoffed as he watched the aftermath of the fight. “That idiot. He didn’t take into account that Arin’s element was lightning. Amateurs like Kevin are too full of themselves to spot obvious traps. That trick would never work on me,” he boasted, arms crossed.

Arin turned his dark gaze toward Kurt, his expression unreadable. With a flick of his wrist, he swept his jet-black hair back, his eyes narrowing. “Since you’re so confident, perhaps we’ll get a chance to test that theory. I’d enjoy learning a few moves from the king’s son himself.”

Kurt laughed, crossing his arms even tighter. “Careful what you wish for. You might regret it.”

Before the tension could escalate further, Henry, one of Arin’s loyal supporters, cut in, his voice dripping with smugness. “You should show Prince Arin some respect. He’s nearly an S-ranked mage already.”

The smug look on Henry’s face quickly faded as Kurt shot him a dangerous glare, recalling the earlier insult. Jack watched the scene unfold, deep in thought. He had scanned Arin’s stats through his system earlier, but hearing Henry’s words solidified a theory that had been forming in his mind.

[Arin Digmun]

[Level: 20]

[Elemental Affinity: Lightning]

[Class: B+ Rank Mage (Noble)]

‘That explains the “plus” in his ranking. His progress is probably rapid thanks to the resources and elite training he’s received’, Jack mused. ‘It’s not just him either. All of them have this advantage.’

“Next up,” Luther’s voice boomed, capturing the hall’s attention once again, “we have Kurt Russell of the Kingdom of Blades and James Harrow from the Holy Church.”

Jack glanced over as Kurt strode to the platform, exuding confidence. James followed, his steps calm and measured, every movement deliberate. But as interesting as this duel might be, Jack’s attention drifted.

‘How do the church warriors fight?’ he wondered, intrigued despite himself. In his experience, the church’s methods were elusive, shrouded in layers of secrecy and moral grandeur. Their techniques were powerful, but their motivations were something else entirely. He’d only seen them from a distance—until now. Was it mana, or was there something more to their energy?

The platform was charged with energy as Kurt and James took their positions. Kurt’s muscles tensed, his stance fierce, while James maintained a serene expression, his eyes closed as if in silent prayer.

As the battle began, Jack leaned forward, an unfamiliar spark of anticipation igniting within him.