Karnak, Monarch of Death

The battle showed no sign of ending. The sky roared, and the earth trembled. Swords and bones clashed, crying out in shrieks of agony. Blood was everywhere. Wherever you looked, the scent of death filled the air. Even so, the imperial army fought fiercely.

The monsters of hell summoned by the Black God's Cult were terrifying, of course. But the monsters from hell summoned by the Twilight Order were just as terrifying. But because monsters fought monsters, the humans were able to somehow endure.

How long had they been fighting, and fighting again? Gradually, the enemy's assaults began to lessen. Even the seemingly endless army of the Black God's Cult appeared to have its limits.

The soldiers began to see hope.

At this rate, we might actually win...

That hope turned into despair because of the sudden appearance of a single man.

"In the name of Tesranach." A streak of darkness swept across the imperial army's ranks. "Slay the dogs of the goddesses!"

A black radiance cut down the living and the dead without discrimination. Fresh blood and rotting ichor spurted out together. The imperial army's formation shattered under the sudden onslaught. They all turned to the man in horror.

He was a man in his fifties, with thick dark-brown hair and a beard. His grayish skin, lifeless lips, and the spectral gleam in his eyes told them exactly what he was.

"A death knight?"

And it wasn't even an ordinary death knight. Darkness seeped down at the man's feet. In its place, a radiant golden light enveloped his entire body. It was the golden aura that was proof of a martial king.

"Th-that man is...." Imperial knights found themselves unconsciously stepping back. They recognized the man. The great martial king of the empire, now turned into a death knight "Martial king Batalok?!"

A legendary martial king had returned as a creature of legend, drawing his blade against the empire. With a sinister laugh, the man, Batalok, lightly stamped his foot. He took no stance. No unnecessary strength was put into his movements.

He simply slid forward toward his enemies and cut down what he wished. That was all there was to it, yet no one could dodge or block him.

Countless swords, spears, and suits of armor were sliced apart like bundles of straw. As for soft flesh, there was no need to mention it. A spray of blood blossomed outward like flowers. Soldiers gripped their weapons while trembling in fear.

Fighting such a monster was just another form of suicide. They had to run, no matter what. But to where? The battlefield was everywhere. There was nowhere to flee.

What should we do...?

Batalok solved their dilemma for them. A crescent-shaped golden flash swept through the imperial army over and over. Each time, blood sprayed out like a tidal wave. The dead had no need to worry anymore.

Mages and priests screamed from beyond the collapsing lines. "S-stop him!"

"We can't let him get any closer to the pillars!"

Batalok's face brightened upon seeing them, especially the priests. "Oh, servants of the goddesses."

Suddenly, the martial king's figure vanished from everyone's sight. By the time they realized it, he had already covered dozens of meters, piercing deep into the imperial ranks.

Standing with his back to the priests, Batalok lifted his sword and lightly kissed it. "My master, I offer this to you."

A vast golden arc swept past countless priests in a single stroke. It was so sharp that, for a moment, they couldn't even comprehend what had happened. But pain quickly brought reality crashing down.

Batalok rejoiced as he watched the priests fall, severed cleanly in two. Each time he cut down a priest of the goddesses, his master's grace deepened. For one bound in servitude, this was true and rightful joy.

The slave of the soul laughed in satisfaction.

***

Karnak glanced toward the inner sanctum of the grand cathedral. "You really left the sealing site unguarded?"

Of course, it wasn't as if the Black God's Cult had left it completely undefended. They had prepared a powerful necromantic domain to stop any intruders. But no matter how powerful it was, a necromantic domain alone could not stop the truly strong, especially someone like Karnak. The Black God's Cult would know that, too.

Karnak remarked, "Quite bold of you."

Emil replied calmly. "It's not as bold as you think."

Why would they keep Batalok stationed at the sealing site? It was to prepare for the unlikely event that someone breached the defenses and infiltrated the inner sanctum.

But the current invaders had all been intercepted along the way. There was no longer any chance of a sneak attack. Yet, Karnak had a history of messing with the Black God's Cult using the strangest methods. There was no telling what outrageous trick he might pull this time.

In that case, it was more advantageous for them to strike first. After all, everything would be resolved once Tesranach descended.

"Rather than wasting our strongest force on the slim chance that we might need to defend against you lot, wouldn't it be better to use that power to slaughter the priests as quickly as possible?"

At Emil's sneer, Varos quietly sent a message.

—That's... not quite what you'd usually choose, young master.

—Yeah, if it were me, I wouldn't handle it that way.

If it were Karnak, who always prioritized risk management, he would never have left the seal of the Shadow of Doom unguarded.

I guess Tesranach isn't that similar to me, is he?

They were similar in some respects, but surprisingly different in many others. Because of that, Karnak's expectations had been off. Well, the fact that Emil Strauss had shown up here instead of Batalok had already proven his predictions wrong.

With his fighting sword raised, Emil lazily spoke. "So, it's become a race against time once again."

And in this race, the side that held the absolute advantage was the Black God's Cult. Unlike Karnak, who was pressed for time, Emil Strauss merely needed to hold out.

There was an old saying in the empire: Most accidents happened when people rushed. This applied just as well to battle. Even those with clear superiority in skill often lost their lives by making a mistake in haste.

Emil flicked the tip of his sword toward Karnak and Varos, who were unable to move recklessly. "What are you waiting for? Shouldn't you hurry up and defeat me so you can go and unleash the Shadow of Doom?"

***

The intense presence of Batalok was not something only Karnak and Varos could feel. Any aura user who had reached a certain realm could sense it. The same was true for Serati, Leven, and Lapicel, who were fighting Diogres.

Lapicel urgently called out. "Sis, this is..."

Serati scowled. "I know!"

It wasn't hard to guess why Martial King Batalok had left the grand cathedral. In the first place, the Black God's Cult had launched an all-out attack to kill the priests of the goddesses.

But they couldn't leave this place. Even now, their lives hung by a thread, and how could they dare turn their backs on a archmage?

Diogres sneered. "Oh dear, caught in your own trap, are you?"

The situation had changed. Now, Karnak's group needed to reach the sealing site as quickly as possible. If they were too slow, the imperial army's priests would be wiped out by Batalok. Meanwhile, Diogres and Giyen Ren simply had to hold them in place at a leisurely pace.

Grinding her teeth, Serati recalled Karnak's promise that he would handle things somehow. What the hell is this? At this rate, we're going to die stalling for time!

***

With his sword raised, Varos slowly shifted his toes. At the same time, Emil slightly moved to the side. Each made minute movements to secure the most advantageous position.

After testing it a few more times, Varos gave up trying to claim the better position. It won't work.

It was impossible to close in instantly from a favorable angle. They would need to take their time and fight calmly. But now, they no longer had the luxury of time.

As usual, Varos asked Karnak for his opinion.

—What should we do, young master?

Unlike usual, Karnak didn't respond.

—Young master?

Suddenly, Karnak spoke aloud. "I see."

He exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms wide. "I suppose I have to admit that things are going differently than expected."

He had anticipated that Emil Strauss would be waiting at the sealing site, while Batalok, Diogres Kolon, and Giyen Ren would be blocking his group's advance. He had been wrong. It was Emil Strauss who had blocked Karnak's party.

So, he adjusted his assumptions. That instead of Emil, Martial King Batalok would be waiting at the sealing site. That was why they needed to stall for time to accurately confirm Batalok's location. It was necessary to execute the plan he had prepared.

But even that assumption had been wrong. "No wonder we couldn't find Batalok no matter how hard we searched."

Of course they hadn't been able to find him. Batalok hadn't been at the sealing site in the first place.

Karnak let out a hollow laugh. "Living long enough, you really see it all."

It was, without a doubt, a genuine laugh. "Even when things go against my predictions, it seems they can still work out in my favor."

For a moment, Emil's gaze wavered. Is he bluffing?

That was possible. Necromancers were, by nature, experts at bluffing. But for that, Karnak's expression was too unusual. It was certainly not the reaction of someone who had been caught off guard.

What is he hiding?

Suddenly, Karnak sent a telepathic message.

—Varos.

—Yes?

—Hold him off!

—Got it!

He didn't know what was going on, but the order had been given. That meant Varos' role was clear. Don't think. Just move exactly as told.

With a sharp shout, he slammed his foot into the ground. Reversal Blade traced a brilliant arc, scattering light across the air. Emil immediately responded. The divine power of Tesranach, turned into martial force, clashed against Varos's attack.

Varos was pushed back. The gap in their aura came from the presence of Grace. Even though he deflected the blow as much as he could, he couldn't remain standing. But he didn't fall either. He twisted in midair to regain his stance as he landed. Varos immediately charged in again.

From the start, his focus wasn't on attacking, but on defense and evasion, using quick, small slashes to keep up a steady barrage. This way, even if he was overpowered, he would not reveal any openings. Of course, it also meant he couldn't deliver any decisive blows.

Emil frowned, unable to understand. He's trying to stall even now?

At that moment, Karnak spread his arms wide, grinning slyly. "Operation gift bundle, commence."

***

Darkness poured from the young man's black-haired hands. The gathered shadows tore open a pitch-black rift.

Emil's expression stiffened slightly. That is...

While he hadn't brought down the wisdom of death itself, it wasn't as if he lacked fundamental knowledge of necromancy. The moment he saw it, he recognized what it was. A void space?

It was a type of subspace storage used by necromancers. But in a situation like this, why would he open that? Did he bring out some cursed artifact?

His guess wasn't entirely wrong. It was indeed cursed, and it was indeed an artifact. It was simply an object that defied common sense.

A heap of skeletal bones poured out of the void space with a clatter, like the remains dumped from a slaughterhouse. The countless bones began to move on their own, assembling themselves. Heads, arms, legs, ribs, femurs, and spines connected in succession as four skeletons rose to their feet.

Tattered black robes draped over the rising skeletons, and a blue ghostly light began to flicker in the empty sockets of their skulls.

"Ugh, my joints are aching..."

"So, we can finally crawl out now?"

"Where the hell are we, anyway?"

They were familiar presences: Demphis, Maloka, Kalaf, and Tirafar. Once the Four Governors of the Necropia Empire, they were now resurrected by Karnak as the Four Elders of the Twilight Order.

Emil Strauss' eyes filled with shock. "The archliches!?"

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