The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Darkness rings
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Not long ago, Jack and Alisha had engaged in a sharp exchange about who might take the other’s life. Now, the balance of power between them had shifted drastically. Jack, holding the Elemental Fog Crystal, stood in command of a powerful servant—Gale, the fallen angel who had been reborn under his control.

Jack glanced at Gale, a faint grin curving his lips. The glimmer in his eye betrayed his thoughts. ‘Even if I don’t have the strength to crush Alisha myself, I have minions to do it for me,’ he mused, the weight of his newfound power settling comfortably on his shoulders.

But despite his confidence, Jack harbored no immediate intention of killing Alisha. For now, she was useful.

“You brat!” Alisha snarled, her teeth grinding audibly.

Jack dismissed her venomous glare with a wave of his hand. “Relax,” he said, his tone languid. “I’ve no interest in your life at the moment. I’ll even help you find the Chapters of Time—not that it’ll change much in the grand scheme.”

His nonchalant demeanor only seemed to fuel her rage, but Gale interjected before the tension could escalate. “What’s the plan, then?” he asked. His calm gaze fixed on Jack, his towering form radiating quiet authority despite his servitude.

Jack studied Gale for a long moment, his thoughts churning. ‘I chose to bind a servant instead of absorbing his power,’ he reflected with a hint of amusement. ‘Never thought I’d make a decision like that.’

He exhaled, appraising his creation. Gale was powerful, independent in thought yet bound to Jack’s will—a dangerous combination, but one that worked in Jack’s favor. ‘He’s not entirely a puppet, but close enough. As long as I pull the strings, this won’t be a waste.’

“The best course of action,” Jack said, his voice taking on a calculated edge, “is to stay off the radar of those demons for now. At least Gale and I have demonic auras to mask us. The problem lies with you two.” His gaze flickered toward Alisha and Nephris.

“What do you expect us to do about it?” Nephris asked, her small frame quivering slightly under the weight of the situation. “There’s no way to hide our presence… or is there?”

Alisha’s voice sliced through the air before Jack could respond. “Don’t even think about doing to us what you did to Sir Gale!” she spat, her fiery determination masking a flicker of unease.

Jack chuckled, shaking his head. “Relax. I’ve got no intention of repeating that… experiment. But you’re right—the beast blood we used earlier won’t cut it anymore. Its scent has faded, and reusing it would be foolish. If only—”

He stopped mid-sentence as a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

[Inventory has been updated!]

[Please check your inventory for recent additions!]

Jack blinked, momentarily stunned. In his haste to adapt to this world, he had barely explored the system’s capabilities. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity to dive in.

A glint of excitement sparkled in his eyes as he navigated to the inventory tab. Rows of items materialized before him, each labeled with tantalizing descriptions.

[God’s Bane]

[The beings that transcend the realms of man shall cower before this weapon. Death awaits them!]

Jack’s gaze lingered on the dagger, its jagged edges gleaming with malevolence. The weapon bore an uncanny resemblance to his Shadow Fang, yet it exuded a far darker aura. Just looking at its image within the system sent a shiver down his spine.

But his enthusiasm dampened as he noticed the cost.

[??? Soul Essence required.]

The price was definitely not something he could afford.

Jack frowned, his fingers absently brushing his chin. ‘I spent so much soul essence summoning Gale and using bone spells during the last fight. I can’t afford to drain my reserves completely—leaving myself defenseless would be suicide.’

He scrolled further through the list, finding nothing but exorbitantly priced items—each more impressive, and useless, given his current resources.

The others watched him in silence, their expressions unreadable. Alisha’s patience was visibly wearing thin, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. ‘He acts like a child handed a new toy,’ she thought bitterly.

Just as Jack was about to close the inventory in frustration, another notification popped up.

[Accessories and weapons can now be stored in the inventory! Host can summon them and use them at will!]

‘At least there’s that,’ Jack thought with a huff. But the feature didn’t solve his immediate problem. He still needed something to mask Alisha and Nephris’s presence—something affordable.

Then he saw it.

[Darkness Ring] ×2

[To be one with darkness, to be nothing but darkness. Your presence shall fade from the light!]

[Soul Essence: 10 per ring]

A slow smile spread across Jack’s face. It was perfect. Cheap, effective, and exactly what they needed. Without hesitation, he selected the rings.

[You have purchased the Darkness Rings!]

Dark energy swirled in Jack’s palm, coalescing into two slender, obsidian bands. The rings pulsed faintly, as if alive with an ominous energy.

“Here.” Jack tossed the rings toward Alisha, who caught them reflexively. “These will mask your presence. Wear them, and you’ll be as good as invisible to the demons.”

Alisha stared at the rings in her hand, a mix of awe and suspicion flickering across her face. The moment her fingers brushed the smooth surface, a chill ran through her body. Her aura dimmed instantly, as if she had vanished from the plane of existence.

‘What is this?’ Alisha wondered, her heart pounding. The sheer power radiating from the rings was unsettling. ‘How did he create these out of thin air? Is he hiding the true extent of his abilities? Could I have killed him before he grew this powerful?’

Her mind raced with questions, but she dared not voice them. Instead, she slipped one of the rings onto her finger, its cold touch sending a shiver down her spine.

Jack observed her reaction with satisfaction. ‘These rings are just what we needed. Now, we can move without drawing attention.’ He glanced at Nephris, who was hesitating to put on her own ring.

“Don’t overthink it,” he said, his voice softer but still commanding. “This is for survival, not trust.”

Reluctantly, Nephris obeyed, slipping the ring onto her finger. Her golden glow dimmed immediately, her presence almost undetectable.

Jack leaned back, his confidence restored. But as he surveyed the group, a darker thought crept into his mind. ‘This is just the beginning,’ he mused. ‘The rings solve one problem, but the road ahead is treacherous. The Chapters of Time, the Dark Scepter… and Alisha. She’ll be the key to unlocking it all. For now, I need her alive. But when the time comes…’

A shadow passed over Jack’s face, his grin turning sinister.

Alisha felt the weight of his gaze and suppressed a shudder. Deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the greatest threat to their survival wasn’t the demons or the war—but Jack himself.