The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Light X Darkness
“What? A HOWLER?”

Lilith’s voice shattered the somber air of the meeting room, drawing every gaze her way.

The room fell silent, save for the faint echo of her exclamation. The tension tightened like an invisible thread pulled taut, stretching the unease that had already taken root.

Luther’s brows furrowed deeply, confusion etched on his face. “What did you just say?” His voice carried a note of disbelief.

“I said—” Lilith began but was interrupted.

“You heard correctly. A howler,” Ivan muttered, his voice steady, though his eyes betrayed the storm brewing within him.

Hay rose abruptly from his seat, his chair scraping against the polished marble floor. “This is absurd! We’ve barely begun to discuss the planes, and now one of their abominations is already upon us?”

As if in response to his outburst, an unseen wave of energy rippled through the room. It wasn’t aggressive, but it carried an ominous weight, leaving behind a tingling sensation that sank into their skin.

Luther’s sharp gaze darted around. “What was that?” His voice had hardened, instinctively on edge.

Ivan stiffened as realization struck him. A faint, almost imperceptible light flickered in his calm gray eyes. As a saint, his senses were sharper than the others, attuned to divine forces.

“The lady…” he murmured.

Luther and the others exchanged puzzled glances.

“What lady?” Luther pressed.

Ivan didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The grim expression on his face said it all. Something far beyond their control had awakened.

—

The air crackled with latent power as Jack stood facing Alisha. The transformation in her demeanor was palpable. Gone was the sweet, innocent façade she had once worn. In its place was pure, unfiltered hatred, her eyes burning with a righteous fury.

The runes spinning around her radiated light so intense that the space itself seemed to bow under its weight. But it wasn’t just their brightness that unnerved Jack—it was the energy they carried, calm yet terrifyingly potent, like a sword poised to strike.

“Tch.” Jack hissed as the energy struck him like a tidal wave. His body burned and prickled as if thousands of needles pierced his flesh.

[Host has come into direct contact with divinity.]

[Dark Cloak effects have been nullified.]

[All stats have been halved.]

The system’s notifications flashed across his mind, their clinical tone at odds with the chaos around him.

“So,” Alisha muttered, her voice low but laced with venom, “you’re a demon too.”

Jack sighed inwardly. ‘Of all the things that could happen today…’ His mind raced as he analyzed the situation. The last thing he wanted was to have his powers exposed. Yet, between Kurt’s transformation and Alisha’s arrival, the worst-case scenario had unfolded.

“Guess the secret’s out,” Jack said, a sardonic grin tugging at his lips. “Though I must admit, I thought my ‘blessing’ was more powerful than yours.” He let out a sharp laugh, his voice dripping with mockery.

Alisha’s frown deepened, her composure cracking slightly. ‘How did he use karma? That’s impossible. Karma is wielded only by the gods and their chosen.’ Her thoughts churned as she scrutinized Jack, but the answers eluded her.

“You lunatic,” she spat. “You won’t leave these grounds alive.”

Jack’s eyes flickered toward Kurt’s lifeless body. Slowly, the grotesque remnants of the howler form began to recede. Bones twisted and popped back into place, and his ashen skin regained its human hue.

The faint wisp of light—the essence of his soul—floated back into his body.

[Soul Essence: -50.]

[Soul Essence Remaining: 30.]

Jack clicked his tongue in irritation. ‘All those points I worked so hard to farm… gone in an instant.’ He turned his attention back to Alisha, his grin returning.

“Do you think you can defeat me?” she challenged, her voice rising with authority. “Standing under my divine light, you’ll perish before you even understand what’s happening.”

“Bold claim,” Jack replied, his tone casual but edged with defiance. “Let’s put it to the test, shall we?”

He extended his hand, and with a sharp command, his aura flared to life.

[Aura Manipulation Activated.]

The wave of divine energy battering him faltered as Jack’s aura surged forward like a shield.

[You have come out of direct contact with divinity.]

[All stats have been restored.]

Jack smirked as the notifications appeared, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

“At the end of the day, this is all just self-discovery,” he said, his tone almost mocking. “And wouldn’t you know it—I’ve got my own cheats.”

Alisha’s confidence wavered as she realized her energy no longer affected him.

Meanwhile, Kurt’s body began to smolder, his skin blistering under the lingering divine presence.

‘That’s my investment. I can’t have him burn away like this,’ Jack thought irritably. With a wave of his hand, Kurt’s body dissolved into smoke, the essence swirling toward him and vanishing into his chest.

“Now,” Jack said, turning back to Alisha with a predatory grin, “I can give you my undivided attention.”

“Die, you lunatic!” Alisha screamed, the spinning runes around her releasing a torrent of light spears.

“You keep shouting ‘lunatic’ like you’re not about to become something worse yourself,” Jack retorted.

He leaped backward, his movements fluid as he dodged the onslaught of spears. Each projectile cut through the air with deadly precision, their radiance leaving trails of searing light in their wake.

Jack landed, his blades materializing in his hands. He parried a cluster of spears, their impact sending shockwaves up his arms.

Then, with a bold move, he reached out and grabbed one of the spears mid-flight.

A sharp, burning pain erupted in his palm as the divine energy seared his flesh.

[Corruption Activated.]

Tendrils of shadow spread from his hand, crawling over the spear like a living entity. The light dimmed, consumed by the darkness until the weapon was unrecognizable—a spear of pure, malevolent energy.

[New Skill Acquired: Spear of Darkness.]

Jack’s grin widened. ‘So, it’s true. Anything I touch can be corrupted. This just keeps getting better.’

He hurled the spear with lethal accuracy, the corrupted weapon tearing through the air toward Alisha.

She reacted instantly, summoning a barrier of light that gleamed with divine intensity. But the dark spear was relentless. It slammed into the barrier, shattering it in a burst of energy.

Alisha’s eyes widened in disbelief as the spear closed the distance.

“No!” she cried, but before it could strike her, a radiant blade intercepted it, slicing the corrupted weapon in two.

A man stepped forward, his presence commanding. His sword glowed with a defiant light, his stance unwavering.

“My lady,” he said, his voice calm yet firm. “Let me handle this.”