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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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Chapter 144: Legion (1)
***
The released dark mana spread in all directions. It looked like the branches of a tree stretching endlessly.
“Ohho!”
Gathdal’s eyes lit up at the sight.
“Dark mana? I knew it when you were using the Flesh Golem, but you’re a really strange guy.”
Although it was an unexpected situation, Gathdal’s experience and knowledge were too rich to be surprised by what Damien had done.
“What do you plan to do with that dark mana? Are you going to use alchemy? Or are you going to activate the legacy left by the demon?”
There were many ways to use dark mana, even if it wasn’t dark magic.
Alchemy and the legacy of the demon that Gathdal had just mentioned were examples of this.
However, they were not widely used because they were less efficient or had more side effects than dark magic.
Damien did not answer Gathdal’s question. Instead, he used dark mana to form a spell.
At that, Gathdal’s reaction gradually grew.
“Dark magic? This is quite surprising! A High-Class knight using dark magic!”
Gathdal watched with a very interested face.
“I saw a knight like you a long time ago. He learned dark magic because he wanted to get revenge on a dark mage. He said that you had to know your enemy to kill them well?”
Perhaps because he had met an interesting opponent.
Gathdal’s mood was much more excited than usual. So much so that he was talking nonsense.
“Do you know what happened to him in the end? The dark mana and mana clashed and he became a cripple. Wasn’t he a really stupid guy?”
While Gathdal was talking, Damien’s spell was completed.
According to the completed spell, a large magic circle began to be drawn on the ground.
“At least he has the right form. Let’s see how different you are from him…”
Gathdal’s face hardened as soon as he saw the structure of the magic circle.
There was not one dark magic that created skeletons. It existed in tiers according to the level of the dark mage.
The lowest tier skeleton creation spell was so crude that no matter what soul was used, it could only create low-level skeletons.
Skeletons that could be shattered with just a little hit, and that showed no trace of the reason and individuality of the soul used as the material.
As the tier of dark magic increased, the strength of the skeleton increased, and the characteristics of the soul used as the material also appeared.
And the dark magic that Damien uses is…
“10th tier?”
It was one of the highest levels of dark magic that not only created skeletons as powerful as monsters, but also reproduced the reason, memory, and even habits of the soul used as the material.
“How did you…”
Even Gathdal, a Grand dark mage, needed more than a day of preparation to use 10th tier dark magic.
Damien had completed it in a matter of minutes.
It wasn’t just that he was fast. He had drawn such a complex and intricate magic circle without making a single mistake and without any hesitation.
“This is the path you have chosen.”
The magic circle emitted a black light. The souls of the knights and soldiers began to be sucked into it.
“So don’t blame me.”
Just before being completely absorbed into the magic circle, the knights and soldiers looked at Damien and smiled.
The magic circle swallowed everyone’s souls. Soon after, dozens of skeletons rose from within.
The skeletons were all different in size and shape, and they all had different atmospheres.
It couldn’t be helped. They were transformed into skeletons by the highest level of dark magic, which perfectly absorbs their abilities during their lifetime.
Gathdal looked at them with a shocked face.
“……It’s great, but”
But it was only for a moment. Gathdal quickly regained his composure.
“You can’t defeat me with them. Do you know why?”
Gathdal said with a sneer.
“There are two main factors that determine the strength of a skeleton. First is the quality of the soul used as the material. Second is the effort put in by the owner.”
The red skeletons were not only made from souls carefully selected by Gathdal but they were also fed countless souls and memories to grow them.
Thanks to this, they were all able to obtain a strength that surpassed the Low Class.
On the other hand, what about the skeletons that Damien created?
Most of them were ordinary soldiers. There were also Low Class and Middle Class, but they were only a small minority.
Not only that, but the overall number was also small. There were only a few dozen of them on the other side, but Gathdal’s loyal followers numbered over a hundred.
“Well, that’s true. I can’t defeat you with these guys who just finished.”
Surprisingly, Damien also readily acknowledged that fact.
“But there’s one thing I didn’t mention.”
Damien added, making a gesture.
“That undead can be strengthened as much as you want with the support of a dark mage.”
Damien used dark magic to form another spell.
Even though the enemy was preparing dark magic, Gathdal was relaxed.
“I don’t think any dark magic can close this gap, but… let’s see. What kind of dark magic will you use?”
However, the moment he saw the spell Damien was creating, Gathdal’s smile disappeared without a trace.
“……What the hell is that.”
Grand dark mage.
The knowledge that Gathdal had accumulated to reach this position was enough to fill a valley.
Even Gathdal had never seen the dark magic that Damien was preparing.
The way the spell was constructed and even the composition were all things he had never seen before.
“It’s on a different level… No. How can you use dark magic in such a way…”
It was different from the existing dark magic from the beginning. It seemed to completely deny the foundation that the existing dark magic had.
“T, that’s… Where did you get that dark magic…!”
The moment Gathdal shouted, the dark magic Damien was preparing was completed.
At that moment, the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
***
As Damien completed the dark magic, the ground shook. At the same time, an altar began to rise behind Damien.
It was exactly the same shape as a square pillar. It was wide at the bottom and narrowed towards the top.
There was a single chair placed on the top of the altar.
The chair was made entirely of bones and had a very high back.
Perhaps because of that, there was a strange sense of oppression emanating from the chair.
It was as if one felt a sense of pressure just looking up at it.
It was as if one should bow their head.
It was like looking at a throne.
“What… what the hell is that dark magic…”
Gathdal asked with a trembling voice.
Even he, a Grand dark mage, had never seen such dark magic in any records.
That was only natural.
This was an ancient dark magic that Archlich Dorugo had as his personal secret.
Dark Binding.
Dark magic was created for the purpose of supporting the undead under his command.
Damien stepped onto the altar. At that, everything became quiet.
Not only the skeletons that Damien had summoned, but even Gathdal held their breath and watched Damien ascend the altar.
Why was this?
Every time Damien stepped up to the altar, fear grew in everyone’s hearts. The emotion of fear piled up. The emotion of awe slowly raised its head.
It was the same for both friend and foe. Even Gathdal was no exception.
And when Damien finally reached the top, the emotions that everyone held were maximized.
Damien sat on the throne. He leaned back against the backrest and looked down at everyone.
No one took offense at his arrogant attitude. Rather, only one word came to mind.
Monarch.
Damien’s appearance reminded one of a monarch reigning over the dead.
“I declare.”
Damien’s voice rang low.
“From now on, I will not move a single step from this spot.”
Chains sprang out of nowhere and wrapped around Damien’s body and the throne.
“From now on, I will not react to any threats.”
A second chain bound Damien’s two legs to the throne.
“From now on, I will not use any dark magic.”
A third chain bound Damien’s arms to the throne.
Everyone who saw the sight wondered.
Why would he seal his own abilities? And that too, when he was about to fight a Transcendent, a Grand dark mage?
“In exchange for these three restrictions, I will share my knowledge and experience with my followers for a short time.”
Damien took a break and finished speaking.
It will be like diving into a sea of knowledge.
At that moment, a flood of information poured into the minds of the skeletons.
No, it wasn’t like a flood. It was as if they had thrown themselves into a sea of knowledge. The amount of information was so overwhelming that they felt like they were going to suffocate.
The skeletons’ talents were too low to absorb all of this.
All the skeletons could get was a single grain of knowledge.
However, the moment they accepted it, a tremendous change took place in the skeletons.
An explosive energy erupted from dozens of skeletons.
“What, what the…”
Gathdal was greatly surprised by the sudden change.
“What… what’s going on!”
The skeletons raised their weapons in unison. Dark aura rose from their weapons.
“Low… Class?”
Gathdal muttered with a dazed expression at the sight.
But he soon denied his own thoughts.
“No, no… this is… this is…!”
Gathdal exclaimed in shock.
“Middle Class!”
All dozens of skeletons had been promoted to Middle Class.
“This is… ridiculous…”
Most of them were ordinary soldiers during their lifetime. There were also knights, but they were only Low Class. There were only one or two Middle Class.
Those who were insignificant and useless had suddenly been promoted to Middle Class.
“What the hell did you do!”
Undead become stronger with the support of their owner.
However, there is a limit to that. No dark mage could promote an ordinary skeleton to Middle Class.
“What did you do!”
At Gathdal’s scream, Damien folded his arms with an indifferent expression.
“You’re noisy.”
The skeletons’ gazes turned to Gathdal. Dozens of Middle Class killing intents poured out at once.
“Make him shut up right now.”
As soon as Damien’s order fell, dozens of Middle Class rushed towards Gathdal.
***
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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