The Third Return of the Necrotic Magic Swordsman

An hour after Evan’s departure, the forest grew restless.

Footsteps echoed as figures emerged from every direction.

The first to arrive was a team of three—Kael, with Mirra and Elira at his side.

Others soon followed. Among them was Sylen, his face a storm of anger and confusion, Elya and several trusted members trailing behind him.

Sylen halted before the dried-up lake. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing at the carnage left behind.

’Too late… I delayed the march on the Beast Lord for this… for the chance growing on that flower. The serpent—I was going to make it my pet. I even left the Lesser Flood Dragon bloodline with it. But now…’

The once-mighty flower was gone, reduced to a charred stem in the lake’s center. Blood spattered the shore, scorch marks staining the earth.

Sylen clenched his fists. ’The guardian was at the peak of the Expanse. Only a handful I know could have done this. Yet no one is here. No traces… unless… a hidden adventurer? A Flame Master… a Sword Master… wait… it can’t be him…’

His gaze swept the area. The lingering energy of flames pulled his attention—and there stood Kael, not far away.

Sylen smiled thinly and stepped forward. ”Oh? I didn’t expect to meet you here, Kael.”

Elya and the others followed close behind.

Kael’s expression soured the moment their eyes met.

’This guy again… each time I’m close to an opportunity, he appears and ruins it like a curse shadowing my path.’

He sighed. ”Looks like this time you didn’t even get the chance to steal from someone else. Must sting to feel like a loser, right?”

Sylen’s steps faltered. His smile stayed, though colder. ”Oh? When did I ever do something so nasty?”

Kael sneered. ”Coming from a liar who spits one with every word… pointless. Whatever was here is gone, nothing but ash left. Judging by the flames, even if we had been here earlier, we wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

That struck Sylen. He had assumed Kael claimed the fruits, but Kael’s face betrayed no such victory.

’So it wasn’t him… then who? Who could wield flames like this, strong enough to erase the guardian, yet remain hidden from my eyes?’

With no answers, Sylen turned away. ”Let’s go.”

For the first time in many days, he left empty-handed. His jaw tightened as he glanced northeast, where a final scorch trail pointed skyward.

’I must rejoin my brothers soon. Before something unexpected unfolds.’

He departed, grim-faced, his team at his back. The lake fell silent once more.

Kael lingered a moment longer. The burn marks tugged at something deep within him.

’Vela… these flames… are you sure they aren’t yours?’

From within, the Flame Specialist’s voice trembled.

”Yes… Impossible as it sounds, it feels like my own other self left these scars. But that can’t be. I was destroyed… erased without hope of revival. Even if I returned, I would be far above Tier Four Expanse, not in here.”

Her words unsettled Kael. With no answers, he finally turned away. Staying longer would only spark needless suspicion.

Far above the trees, the true culprit rode a great eagle, wings cleaving through the night air.

Evan did not rest. He pushed onward toward town.

He needed to arrive before Sylen… though fate had already placed him far ahead.

He passed countless presences below, hidden beneath the leaves, but he paid them no mind.

At fifty kilometers from the site, he slowed. The exhaustion of battle weighed on him, yet he could not sleep.

’Just a few hours more… and I’ll know which one of them I’ll end first.’

The eagle’s soft feathers beckoned him into rest, but he resisted.

Four relentless hours later, the town’s walls finally came into view.

He dismounted far from the gate, blending into the crowd of travellers streaming inside.

No one spared him a second glance.

Evan secured his room at the inn, then immediately moved toward the bar.

If the march against the Beast Lord had already begun, he needed to know.

Time was running short.

Evan entered the bar and made his way to the counter, where the bartender was busy serving drinks.

He slid into a seat, masking the urgency in his expression. Acting rushed would only drive the price of information higher.

”What’ll it be, sir?” the bartender asked, polishing a glass before putting it back.

”Something refreshing. A fresh juice will do,” Evan replied casually, feigning disinterest.

”Alright. Give us a moment to prepare it. Anything else… something extra you’re here for?” The bartender’s eyes gleamed knowingly.

Evan chuckled softly. ”Hah, so much for hiding it. Yes, I came for information. Not something grand, but personal enough.”

”Then I’ll need to hear your request before we talk price,” the bartender answered with a smirk.

”I want to know if the Twilight Team has set out for the Beast Lord raid yet. And if not, how much time remains?”

”Oh, that’s cheap enough.” The man leaned closer. ”They haven’t started the raid. As for when, one of my sources reports that their leader, Sylen, is currently outside the town. The march is scheduled to begin two days after his return.”

He lowered his voice as he added, ”And here’s a bonus. Don’t wander too far. Several sites within fifty to seventy kilometers have been found ravaged—whole areas destroyed by some unknown beast herd.

Adventurers are calling them massacre zones. Blood, remains, scorched land. Beasts strong enough to cause that level of destruction are moving around, and no one’s pinned down their identity yet.”

The warning carried weight, though Evan knew the truth. ’That herd… was it me. My battles, my hunts. The chaos they’re blaming on beasts came from my own trail.’

Still, he wasn’t careless.

’If Sylen is truly involved with that mutated serpent and the dragon bloodline, then it all makes sense why he went to that place, as a flood dragon bloodline can’t possibly pop out randomly, and there was also a tag of Mutation on it. But I can’t rely on speculation alone.’

His drink arrived. Evan paid the small fee of one silver and eighty bronze for both the juice and the information.

After finishing it, he returned to the front desk of the inn and extended his stay for three more days.

Four days in total would be enough time for him to prepare before Sylen returned from the Forbidden Zone.

Key in hand, Evan started up the stairs, only to pause at the sudden noise near the entrance. A group entered, drawing glances from the patrons.

It was the Twilight Team—though notably missing Sylen and his vice-leader, Elya.

’So it’s true. Those two are out of town,’ Evan thought, quietly slipping away before they noticed him.

He reached his room, unlocked the door, and shut himself inside. On the bed before him, he lay out the results of his gruelling hunts and near-death battles.

Five items.

The first, an ancient-looking ring found within the cliffs of the Death Mountains, alongside the remains of a long-dead mage and his final letter.

The second, a strange ore Drogmir had retrieved during an expedition into a collapsed cavern. At first, Evan nearly discarded it as worthless stone, but later discovered it was far from ordinary—a mistake that could have cost him dearly.

The third, an old book, was uncovered thanks to his Keen Eyes ability. Hidden deep in a small cave hidden by some sort of magic formation, it had once belonged to an assassin cultivator of the higher Expanse, who had died with no explanation.

His weapons were broken, his body long decayed, but the book was preserved—a secret its owner clearly never intended to lose.

The fourth, a mysterious vial he had taken from a small cave.

And finally, the fifth, the prize of his most brutal battle yet—the Divine Fruit, seized after unleashing his hidden summon in a display of devastating power.

Evan rubbed his hands together with a rare grin. ”Let’s see what kind of fortune I’ve gathered before I surrender myself to some proper rest.”

He reached for the ore first, opening the panels one by one.

[⟪Whispering Bloom Iron⟫ (Unique): A rare metal known for its feather-light weight and extreme durability. Grants high physical defence with a slight boost to elemental resistance, making it ideal for balanced armours and weapons.]

After reading through the description of the ore, Evan nodded with interest before moving on to the next item.

[⟪Ring of Cyralis⟫: A Lumael-ranked relic forged in solitude, beyond the known craft of magic imprint. When invoked, it unfurls a translucent barrier that nullifies nearly every assault beneath Tier 1. It can be summoned three times a day. Its fleeting shield carries the weight of survival, meant only for moments where existence itself hangs by a thread. Degraded by the passage of time, but still a hidden lost gem. (Duration: 5 sec) (CD: 30 min)]

”Hm… not bad. Defence that’s unbreakable in the Tier 0 expanse. The duration’s a little short, but maybe it can be enhanced through enchantment.”

He studied the ring carefully before slipping it onto his finger. Best to be ready at any moment.

Next item.

[⟪Emberguard Pill⟫: A unique, refined pill that enhances the user’s flame resistance permanently by 15%, offering reliable protection against fire-based attacks.

(Note: Can only be used below Tier 1.)]

Evan rolled the pill in his hand, satisfied. ”An easy way to boost resistance. Not bad.”

He uncorked the vial without wasting any time and swallowed the pill.

The pill melted instantly on his tongue, leaving behind a sour, unpleasant taste. A strange liquid spread across his mouth.

”Ugh—!” He gagged, trying to spit it out, worried it might have expired, but the effect had already taken hold.

A notification appeared in front of him.

[You have consumed ⟪Emberguard Pill⟫. +15% Fire Resistance permanently gained.]

[Detected: Host possesses similar skill — Low-Grade Heat Resistance.]

[Skill level has increased due to the pill’s effect. Low-Grade Heat Resistance {Lv.75 (↑12)}]

”Good.” Evan nodded, satisfied with the boost, before turning his attention to the next item.

[⟪Codex of Silent Bloom (Nocturne Codex)⟫: A codex left behind by a fledgling assassin, burdened with grief yet burning with yearning for the world he could not conquer. Though his life ended in a vicious trap, his techniques remain sealed within these pages. Those who obtain it inherit both his sorrow and his path, carrying forward the last legacy of his blade in the shadows.]

When Evan opened the book, a folded letter tied with thin threads slipped out. He sighed. ”Of course… it couldn’t just be simple.”

He unfolded the letter and began to read.

~~~~~~

Hello… 

I’m not good with words, so I’ll keep this simple. If you’re holding this book, whether by luck or skill, your life has already changed. 

If you found it alone, good. If you’re with others, trust no one. Do not share this secret with companions, not even close friends. 

I was once the heir of the Veyl Crest Family in the Fifth Expanse. On the surface, we were nobles.

In truth, we were assassins—masters of poison, traps, and silent death. I was born talented, a genius in our family’s craft, but I was too carefree.

Too trusting. That flaw ruined me later on. 

Our rival clan framed us for treason. The King’s order fell, and in one night, my family was destroyed.

Houses burned, blood spilt, heads displayed as trophies. I escaped with my elder brother, carrying with us our family’s last treasure—this Codex. 

But we were ambushed. My brother… that fool. He shoved the Codex into my hands and stayed behind to fight so I could escape.

I thought he would return. He never did. All I found later were heads on pikes—his among them. 

Grief didn’t give me time to breathe. The Royal Knights caught me, led by a Swordmaster who toyed with me as though I were prey.

I lost an arm and an eye to his blade.

Yet he underestimated me. Using my family’s last artifacts, I escaped—but through the wrong portal. I fell into the Zeroth Expanse. 

Half-dead, I was picked up by a team who, impressed by my talent, let me join. But with only one eye and one arm, my potential was halved. Eventually, I discovered their true nature.

Greed consumed them. They planned to kill me and take my items. 

I struck first. They all died by my hand. But in the end, their treachery finished me anyway.

One stabbed me through the eyepatch I had been wearing—straight into the wound that had never healed. 

I killed them, but poison had already seeped into me. With no materials and no strength left to concoct an antidote, I accepted my end. 

This Codex contains the legacy of my family. Our knowledge, our techniques, all of it. If you are strong enough to follow its path, you may also find the clues within leading to our hidden treasury in the Fifth Expanse. 

But I have one request. If you ever reach that far, if you take what was once ours—bring ruin to the Elvandar Family of Mages.

They are the ones who destroyed us. Make them feel the pain we felt, multiplied a hundredfold. 

This is the final wish of a fallen assassin. 

—Your humble benefactor. 

~~~~~~

”Hmm… I’ll consider helping you if I feel like it. But since you’re offering your family’s treasure with such respect, I’ll accept your request.”

Evan spoke calmly, pulling the cloth away from the book’s cover.

The true binding was revealed—engraved with venomous sigils and etched in the aesthetics of assassins. It radiated a sinister perfection.

He flipped it open.

Inside were secrets drenched in blood and poison. Arts of venom and plants. Silent killing methods. Hidden weapons and formations. Techniques of thread manipulation. Stealth breathing. Mana circulation. Customisation of poisoned blades.

And deeper still, forbidden methods—blood infusions meant for stages beyond Tier 3, some reaching into Tier 5 and even the Demi-God realm.

Evan’s eyes sharpened. He closed the book, memorising the marked coordinates and the method of opening the treasury. Now, it was his alone.

A faint smile curved his lips. The loot pleased him. But his gaze shifted to the final reward—the three mysterious fruits.

Arven had shown interest in them. That alone proved they weren’t ordinary.

Before examining them, Evan summoned his undead. Drogmir stepped forth, hammer in hand. The skeletal mage rose beside him.

Evan produced ore and armour, his tone firm.

”Refine this ore and implant it into my armour. Drogmir, this is your moment—do not disappoint me by wasting it.

Mage, even though I still don’t know about my physique connection with your dungeon, where I find you, but I hope you can answer me in future. For now, enclose the area with barriers. No sound leaks out. Watch his every move.”

Drogmir lit up with rare enthusiasm. His hammer struck instantly, sparks dancing as he worked.

The mage’s magic formation formed a shield, silencing the chamber.

Evan gave a short nod, then turned back to the fruits.

He pulled up his system panel.

Still blank. Nothing but question marks staring back at him.

A sigh left his lips. Why was he burdened with such a broken system?

With a thought, he switched to the other system. This one responded instantly, scanning the fruits he had gained through luck and the map.

The truth appeared before him.

Evan froze. His pupils trembled as the descriptions unfolded.

His eyes widened until they almost tore from their sockets.

’How is this possible…’

--> To be continued...

What did he see in that panel?

Is it something bad, or is it different from what he expected?

If you want to find out, be sure to add it to your library so you can receive the new chapter updates as soon as they’re available.

I hope you enjoy the chapter! See you in the next one.