Karnak, Monarch of Death

The dark energy spread across the moonlit sky like a rippling haze. Seeing Maloka arrive, the necromancers’ faces lit up with relief.

”Lord Maloka!”

”W-we’re saved...”

But just like that, their two heads were severed and spun through the air before landing with a dull thud on the ground. Their relieved expressions were still on their faces. Varos had mercilessly taken their lives.

Leven, startled, turned toward him. ”Was it really necessary to kill them?”

It was standard protocol in the King’s Order not to kill captured necromancers recklessly.

Varos responded indifferently. ”And why exactly shouldn’t we kill necromancers?”

”Huh? Well...” Leven hesitated.

The reason was simple. If a necromancer was turned into a soul, they could be forced to divulge secrets through other necromantic rituals. Killing them recklessly risked sensitive information leaking.

And then it hit him. What was the point of worrying about information leaks when Maloka himself was right there, floating above them? He had already seen and heard everything.

Maloka, for his part, barely reacted to the deaths of his subordinates. It was the same as with Demphis. Life and death meant little when the dead could simply be raised again.

Serati whispered while carefully observing Maloka. ”Do you think he figured out the plan?”

Karnak, still keeping his gaze locked on Maloka, shook his head.”No. If he had, he would’ve been waiting for us from the start.”

It was clear that Maloka had left the estate earlier. The real question was: How had he returned so quickly?

From above, the archlich spoke in his usual detached tone. ”You did well. I was completely deceived.”

He had indeed chased the withdrawing reclamation army nearly to the edge of the territory. It was only later that he realized the estate was under attack.

”You must not know much about necromancy,” he continued. ”A necromancer remains connected to their domains, allowing them to sense disturbances. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice when you started destroying them?”

Karnak frowned. ”Even if that’s the case, how did you get back this fast? We put more than half a day’s distance between us.”

Maloka’s reply was short. ”I flew.”

The mansion and the outskirts of the barony were far apart. For an army, marching back would have taken over half a day. But for an individual? Even a fast horse could make the trip in less than half a day. And a ninth circle master flying straight back, unhindered, could do it in under thirty minutes.

”You never even considered that possibility, did you?” Maloka’s mocking tone made Karnak’s expression grow even more rigid.

Watching his reaction, the archlich smirked inwardly. ”This actually works out better for me.”

His true objective had never been the barony itself. Everything—the occupation, the battle—had all been a trap to lure Karnak.

”Now, I can complete my mission without issue.”

Karnak’s group tensed, readying themselves for battle.

Maloka, lifting his golden staff, summoned a surge of mana. ”Wouldn’t it be easier if you just surrendered?”

The air vibrated violently as an overwhelming pressure descended upon them.

”The outcome won’t change either way.”

***

”I only need one of you.” The archlich flicked his skeletal fingers. ”The rest of you can burn.”

Flames swirled into a complex magical formation midair before erupting into searing lightning. Seven bolts of lightning streaked across the battlefield like fanged serpents, cutting through the darkness with ear-splitting thunder. Karnak’s group scrambled to defend.

”Ugh!”

”Dodge!”

Leven and Lapicel leaped aside just as a bolt of lightning tore past them, splitting the earth. The ground, scorched and blackened, crumbled into smoldering ash, while residual electricity crackled in the air. However, Serati intercepted the lingering arcs of lightning, her blue aura slicing through them in an elegant curve.

”This much is nothing!” she shouted.

In that brief opening, Varos surged forward. His aura chains unraveled, and crimson blades shot through the air.

However, Maloka scoffed as he watched the flying chain sword. ”Pathetic.”

A veil of darkness wrapped around the archlich, deflecting the incoming attack with ease. Since the target was floating in midair, the attack had lost much of its force before reaching him.

”Then we’ll just have to drag you down!” Karnak swung his wand, summoning chaotic mana. ”Dance of the wind, rise and sweep away all before you! Gale Cyclone!”

The hem of his robe flared as a massive storm roared into existence. A fierce whirlwind howled toward Maloka, the sheer force of it shaking the very air. But once again, it was futile. The storm only made Maloka’s robes billow. His body remained completely unaffected.

”Did you really think this would bring me down?” Smirking, Maloka began preparing his next spell.

”No.” Karnak grinned and raised his wand high. ”But I did buy enough time to summon him!”

The swirling wind transformed into roaring flames, illuminating the night. ”Come forth, El Ragnatia!”

The air shimmered, and from within the inferno, a massive fire spirit titan emerged. This time, Maloka was truly caught off guard.

Elemental summoning? This guy?

It was the exact same reaction Demphis had once given.

How could a necromancer have a close relationship with an elemental spirit?

Even as a ninth circle master, Maloka had never been able to properly wield spirit magic. Not in undeath, and not in life either. He had been able to summon spirits easily enough, but controlling them had always eluded him. The fire titan let out a deafening bellow while unleashing a wave of flames.

Maloka raised his staff toward the incoming fire. A deafening explosion rang out as his dark barrier clashed against the inferno.

The shield trembled under the pressure, but Maloka only clicked his tongue. ”Tch. Spirits are such a nuisance...”

Spirit magic had many restrictions, but its sheer power far exceeded most conventional spells. A seventh circle elemental titan could rival even the later stages of eighth circle magic. Of course, it still wasn’t a threat to him. At best, it was a nuisance to a ninth circle master.

”I’ll snuff it out quickly!”

Just as he prepared to pierce through the fire titan with a water spell, Karnak raised his wand again. ”Come forth, El Terrastia!”

The earth cracked and split apart, and from the churning ground, a stone titan emerged. Its body was composed of jagged rock, with horned peaks rising from its head and shoulders. Its massive form, with boulders connected in a way that mimicked muscles, gave it an almost lifelike presence. It was definitely far more fluid than any golem.

”Another one? You’re joking.” Even Maloka was shocked this time.

Summoning El Ragnatia was one thing, but now a second elemental titan? Summoning them wasn’t hard. No, that was the easy part.

”There’s no way he can control both!”

Managing spirits wasn’t as simple as having twice the difficulty when handling two. If one was hard to control, two unruly spirits would be a disaster. After all, taking care of two unruly kids wasn’t simply twice as hard as taking care of one.

At best, he’ll lose control. At worst, they’ll start fighting each other.

But that wasn’t what happened. Instead, the fire titan roared and regenerated the gaping hole in its chest, filling the wound with flames. ”Kraaaaa!”

And from the opposite side, the earth titan stomped forward, shaking the battlefield. ”Grooooooah!”

Both titans charged, massive hands stretching toward Maloka in perfect unison. It was clear they were cooperating. They were actually working together to take him down. This was no accident. This was commanded.

The blue flames in Maloka’s hollow eyes burned brighter. I can’t take them lightly. I need to deal with these things first.

The two elemental giants attacked. The fire titan’s flaming fist ignited the very air, radiating waves of heat. The earth titan’s massive strike shattered the ground beneath it, sending debris flying in all directions.

Dodging through the air, Maloka swung his golden staff. ”Then I’ll deal with you first!”

Mana rippled, causing distortions in the air. A sudden shift in power surged through the battlefield. The fire titan’s flames suddenly veered off course, redirected straight at the earth titan.

The stone titan’s body sizzled and cracked as flames engulfed it, its rocky exterior glowing red-hot. With a roar of pain, the stone titan swung its fist wildly.

Maloka flicked his staff once more. ”And now, you.”

The burning stone fist veered off course, straight toward the fire titan’s head. A deafening shockwave erupted as the fire titan’s head burst apart into a spray of glowing embers, scattering in the wind.

By turning their strength against each other, Maloka had easily dismantled both elemental titans. But spirits had a way of regenerating quickly. He needed to finish them properly.

”Blow, abyssal winds that shatter all! Abyssal Vortex!”

A massive black cyclone formed, expanding rapidly as it swallowed both elementals. Flames, stone, and spiritual energy were sucked into the void, their forms rapidly dissolving. Moments later, both titans had been completely banished from the mortal plane.

”Hmph!” Maloka turned toward Karnak’s group with a smug grin. ”Did you see that? Against insignificant spirits like those, I could...”

No one was looking at him. No, there wasn’t even anyone there. He could only feel faint traces of movements through the dark forest, far beyond the estate. Karnak’s group was already running away at full speed.

”What?” The blue flames in Maloka’s hollow eye sockets flickered violently.

For a lich, it was the equivalent of blinking in disbelief. ”You cowards...”

He let out a short laugh, utterly dumbfounded. Had they really fled? Abandoning the estate? The hostages? After coming all this way, risking themselves to infiltrate this place?

”Are they good people or bad people?”

Hovering in the air, Maloka took a moment to process what had just happened. Then, he came to his senses. It didn’t matter. The mission came first.

”You’re really making this annoying!”

Scattering dark energy into the air, the archlich’s form shot forward, streaking toward the forest like a shadow.

***

The servants and maids sank into despair while watching from the windows.

”This can’t be happening!”

”Lord Karnak ran away?”

”Did he abandon us?”

The greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment. Just moments ago, they had believed they were finally going to be rescued, only to see the one they trusted most flee.

But then, old butler Tafel spoke, his voice steady as he reassured them. ”Do you truly believe our lord abandoned us?”

”What?”

”What are you trying to say?”

”You saw it too, didn’t you? Lord Karnak ran. Sir Varos ran.”

”Yes, I saw it. Our lord is no longer here,” Tafel admitted calmly. ”But tell me. Are we in danger right now?”

The servants exchanged blank looks.

The terrifying archlich? Gone. He had chased after Karnak’s group.

The necromancers who had guarded the estate? Also gone. Both had been beheaded by Varos.

Not only that, the undead that had been keeping them under watch were gone. The necromantic domains sealing the mansion were destroyed. There was no longer a single trace of necromancy left within the estate.

”We are free to leave at any time. Does that still sound like we were abandoned?”

Finally, everyone came to understand Karnak’s true intentions.

”Th-that’s right!”

”Lord Karnak did this for us!”

Moved by realization, the servants wiped away their tears.

Tafel, his voice warm, urged them forward. ”Then hurry and pack your things. We must flee while we still can.”