The Third Return of the Necrotic Magic Swordsman

The moment Evan opened the Prime Nexus, only one thing appeared on his panel—a single, merciless word carved beside a faint image.

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That one word had already driven him half-mad.

Every attempt, every trick, every desperate command… all ended the same way.

The system that once guided him through impossible odds had gone completely silent.

With it, all hope of escape vanished.

He leaned against the cold, black obelisk rooted in the onyx tiles beneath him.

The vast void around him pulsed like a living wound.

For the first time in centuries, Evan felt truly powerless.

’So this is it…?’ His eyes dimmed.

’Destined to die again—for trying to save someone who probably didn’t deserve it.

If I’d just… been less greedy, less careless with Arven…’

He let out a shaky breath.

’If I ever get another chance, I’ll live differently. No more mistakes. No more blind faith. Just—’

His thoughts stopped.

The last image burned into his mind was the system’s final message—still hovering in front of him like a curse refusing to fade.

Evan stared at it for what felt like an eternity, his expression vacant. It felt like salt rubbing into his wounds.

Then—

A flicker.

A faint pulse rippled through his chest, and with it came a voice he hadn’t heard in hours.

”Arven…” His lips trembled. ”You’re back.”

He lunged forward, arms spread, trying to hug the small spirit who materialised before him.

But Arven’s translucent form offered no resistance—and Evan went face-first into the tiles.

A sharp thud echoed.

He groaned, rubbing his reddened nose, but even that pain couldn’t erase the small, fragile smile tugging at his lips.

”You look miserable,” Arven remarked, voice dripping with smug amusement.

”Without me, you’re just a helpless, tierless fool.”

Evan shot him a glare. ”Can’t you go one minute without mocking me? I nearly died.”

”Nearly?” Arven tilted his head. ”You did die. Just… not permanently.”

”Comforting.” Evan exhaled, steadying himself. ”What happened, anyway? You went completely silent.”

”Oh, that.” Arven waved a hand lazily. ”I was preparing a few things before we reached this plane—my domain, technically. You should be thanking me. Now let’s start without wasting any time.”

He snapped his fingers.

The obelisk behind Evan flared alive, flooding the chamber with luminous streaks of cyan and emerald light.

In the next instant, those lights lanced into Evan’s body.

Energy—ancient and suffocating—poured into him like a storm trying to rip him apart from within.

Arven stood silently, watching with an emotionless expression. ”I hope you can exceed expectations,” he said. ”That’s how we can suppress those monstrous beings with talents capable of trampling millions in a single go. Otherwise, our fate will be the same as before—helpless against those who have reached the peak.”

[Detected: High-level conceptual energies entering host body.]

[Analysing compatibility…][Body vessel level → Unfulfilled.]

[Soul vessel level → Fulfilled.]

[Condition mismatch detected. Energy rampaging through the host body.]

[Detected secondary stabiliser: Relic .]

[Initiating containment process in 3… 2… 1…]

The obelisk’s glow shifted violently.

Emerald became white.

White deepened into crimson, then twisted into black and void-blue streams that wrapped around Evan like serpents.

His body convulsed. His vision flickered.

The power was eating him alive.

But Arven remained calm, hovering above him, weaving invisible threads of control through every surge of chaos.

Like a conductor commanding a storm, he guided the impossible—refining each pulse of energy before it shattered Evan’s core.

Slowly, painfully, the wild forces began to merge, forming a rhythm.

Evan’s breathing steadied. His body glowed with shifting colours—white, red, black, blue—each bleeding into the next.

’Everything’s in place,’ Arven thought, satisfaction glimmering in his eyes.

’When you rise again, even the former ruler will tremble before your talent; few will be able to rival you in this whole world, and even they will fear your might.’

[Unknown time later...]

Where Evan once sat now lay a husk—a blackened shell of human shape, hardened like burnt obsidian, reeking of corruption.

Then—

Crack.

A faint line appeared.

Then another.

The shell split apart with a thunderous shatter.

A burst of dark light erupted from within as Evan emerged, gasping, his skin marked with faint traces of shadow and light dancing together.

”Huh…” He blinked. ”Where… am I?”

Memories rushed back in fragments—the Mist Zone, the abyss, Arven’s ritual.

”Arven.” He called out. ”You’re not going to stay quiet again, are you?”

The little spirit appeared, smirking as usual.”Oh, you woke up early. Not bad. Three weeks is faster than expected.”

Evan’s eyes widened. ”Three what?”

”Three weeks,” Arven repeated casually. ”It took that long to stabilise your synchronisation and awaken the foundation I’m building for you.”

”Three weeks…” Evan muttered, his expression hardening. ”Then those two Destined Ones— they’ve had all that time to grow stronger.”

Arven’s smirk widened. ”You think so? This plane doesn’t follow time or space. From the outside, it’s been maybe three seconds or even less. Relax.”

Evan let out a slow breath, his shoulders dropping. ”So… a premium-grade time dilation field, huh? Fancy.”

”Something like that,” Arven chuckled.

Evan crossed his arms. ”Then let’s see what I gained after three weeks of forced hibernation.”

He opened his panel.

Lines of unread messages cascaded down like a storm.

[Detected: Conceptual energy clash within host body.]

[Body integrity failing...]

[Stabilisation source detected: Divine Relic .]

[Relic similarity with Legacy confirmed.]

[Extracting…]

[Extraction complete.]

[Host has obtained the Seed of Authority.]

[All conceptual energies have been redirected to nurture the Seed.]

[Growth process initiated.]

[Estimated time: ???]

[Host consciousness forcibly entered into hibernation.]

Evan’s eyes narrowed.

A faint, cold smile formed on his lips.

”So that’s what you were plotting all along, Arven.”

Arven crossed his arms, smirking. ”You make it sound like I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Evan’s gaze turned distant, voice low.

”Then let’s see what kind of thing I’m meant to become.”

The abyss around him pulsed in response—like it was listening.

...

Hours passed as he read the panels, which continuously rang, marking his transformation whole this time. As he finally reaches the end of these almost endless panels.

[Hidden Authority: True Ruler of Abyss (Partial) obtained.]

[Host existence level insufficient. Authority sealed.]

[Title gained: .]

Evan’s eyes widened as he read the messages—but the excitement faded when he saw the seal.

’Figures. Another lock on power I can’t use yet.’ He sighed and dismissed the panels. ’Still, something this valuable won’t go to waste. Not this time.’

He turned toward the monolith—back to its dormant state.

But as his gaze lingered, dark mist began rising again. The monolith pulsed, and he immediately understood.

’It’s sending me back.’

Before he could relax, his eyes caught something in the mist—a massive door, half-concealed in shadow, towering in the distance.

”Wait—”

The words never finished. Space rippled violently as the mist swallowed him whole, dragging him through the same passage as before.

Moments later, he emerged in the familiar dome-like space, the monolith before him now crystalline and humming softly, not like the previous stone build.

’Back again… and still alive,’ he thought, exhaling.

He accessed the Nexus system. Instantly, notifications flooded in.

[Host existence level elevated.]

[Authority rank increased.]

[High-tier data transfer initiated.]

A sharp pain shot through his head—then came knowledge.

The Ruler Authorities, the Prime Nexus, the truth of the Supreme Race.

Each ”Ruler’s Candidate” battled in the shadows for dominance over the Expanses.

To rule, one had to conquer, defeat, or seize the Ruler’s Proof of others.

Every detail got into his mind like being downloaded into his brain—methods, laws, and the truth about Corruptional Abyssal energy.

But one thing bothered him.

’I didn’t receive a Unique Gift… Did that monolith skip me?’

Before he could think further—

[Detected irregularity between Host’s Authority and Ruler’s Proof.]

[Analysing… Error. Nexus Expanses attempting override.]

[Override code: ??/*#@)&...]

[Host granted Temporary Supreme Authority.]

[Host Authority matches Abyss Fragment signature—identical to the True Ruler.]

[System level elevated.]

[Expanse influence dismantled.]

[Host deemed True Candidate of the Nexus.]

[Title gained: True Ruler Among the Fakes (Overwritten by True Abyss Ruler Authority).][Candidate registration dispelled.]

[Qualification: True Successor of the Abyss.]

[New Authority ability acquired: ??? (Locked).]

Evan groaned. ”Another sealed ability… maybe the universe just likes mocking me.”

He stared at the monolith again, half-expecting it to react. Instead, Arven stood beside it, eyes closed, palm pressed to the surface.

Evan frowned. ”Arven? What are you doing? Let’s go.”

No response.

Minutes passed before Arven finally opened his eyes.

Evan crossed his arms. ”Well? What was that?”

Arven tilted his head. ”Oh, that? You said you didn’t get a gift, right? I’m fixing that.”

Evan’s eyes lit up. ”You mean—finally? But make sure it’s not locked, sealed, or buried under five layers of cosmic restrictions.”

Arven chuckled. ”Don’t worry. Open your eyes and behold your gift.”

Evan hesitated, then slowly opened them—

—and froze.

”Wh… what the hell is that!?”

Arven grinned. ”Your gift. Don’t just stand there—catch it!”

Before Evan could react, Arven hurled the ”gift” at him with the speed of sound.

”Arven, you unmerciful ghost—!” Evan shouted, bracing himself as the thing hurtled toward him.

The darkness flashed—

To be continued...

Sorry, everyone, for the delay, due to exams; I hope you all understand.

What was the gift Evan received, and why was he so shocked?

If you wish to know, then wait for the next chapter to see the reveal, and add it to your library for instant updates.