Chapter Text
You know, I thought the Job Change quest was going to be a breeze.
The notifications I got upon entering told me otherwise.
[You cannot leave this dungeon until you have cleared it.]
[In this area, your Potion and Store ability are restricted. On Level Up, you do not receive Status Healing.]
"Well… That sucks," I grumbled to myself, glancing around the dungeon.
Based on the structure, I seemed to be in some sort of old castle. There was a lit torch on the wall for me to carry through for light and many more hanging on the walls, cobwebs and rubble down the path as far as I could see.
I grabbed the torch off the wall, and began walking forwards through the halls, wondering what kind of enemies that I'd end up facing in this dungeon.
I didn't have to wait long to find out as I heard the clanking and banging of heavy armour as an armoured figure came into view, holding a sword.
[Knight]
That simple name hung above the monster's head in an orange colour.
"A knight," I hummed in thought. "So, the castle means this is a medieval-style dungeon after all… And all my enemies are going to be like knights from the old days when people still used castles…"
I couldn't help but grin at the thought of fighting against knights.
I dropped the torch as I charged forwards. The knight swing down at me, but I simply moved to the side, landing a solid punch on his stomach. His entire form rippled as I unleashed a shockwave, causing him to blast back and land on the ground hard.
[You have slain a Knight.]
"… Is that it?" I muttered as I snatched another torch off the wall. "I suppose my Martial Arts skills are making this easier on me… The Dungeon is clearly taking into account my level and stats, not the extra damage I can deal thanks to my Martial Arts techniques."
I walked forwards, cracking my neck… Before I heard more sound. Looking back, I saw there was a whole company of knights standing there with various weapons.
I grinned. "Now that's more like it!" I dropped the torch and charged into battle.
One knight swung at me with his mace, I dropped low to dodge, before hitting him in the chin hard with a rising kick, sending him up to the ceiling.
Two knights swung at me from the top and bottom, but I wasn't going to let that happen so easily. I did a small jump, flattening my body mid jump and dodging between the blades as they passed right where my head and legs were. I planted my hands on the ground, doing a split kick and hitting both of them into walls.
I pushed off the floor with my hands, spinning around and hitting another knight with a roundhouse against the side of his head, sending his helmet flying off and crashing into the wall.
A knight came up behind me, no doubt trying to catch me off guard. I only glanced back, lifting my leg up in the back-rising kick, hitting the helmet with such force it shot up into the ceiling as the knight died.
The final knight charged at me, but I only lifted my hand and caught the blade. I took a little damage, but my gloves prevented hand injuries. I pressed my hand against the knight's helmet. "Goodbye."
A pulse breath was unleashed right in the knight's head, blowing up the helmet as the body slumped over.
I took a breath, wiping away the notifications that I got telling me that I killed the knights, but did notice that I got some drops. I opened them up to observe them.
[High Knight's Chestplate]
[Item Class: B]
[Type: Armour]
[The Chestplate worn by a High Knight, providing good defence. +7% Physical Damage Reduction. Slows movement speed if your strength is below 80.]
I let out a whistle and a grin at that, equipping it without a moment of hesitation. Damage reduction was too good to pass up.
I looked down at myself, briefly seeing the outline of the chestplate, before it vanished. "I'm really glad that Armour-Type items don't force me to show their design," I chuckled softly…
Danger!
My right hand slammed over my right shoulder, grabbing the face of an enemy as I unleashed a pulse breath, blowing up their head once again.
I looked back in shock, seeing them dressed up in what looked to be robes. "Assassin Type enemy!? I couldn't even sense him until he'd almost gotten me…" I was more grateful than ever for my intuition right now. I'd have had a knife in my back otherwise.
"Seems I can't play around…" I said, snatching a torch off the wall as I began to walk through the halls once again.
My eyes widened as I saw a fireball hurtling towards me, quickly diving down as it sailed over me and impacted the ground, exploding upon doing so. I looked to the source, seeing a robed figure with an outstretched hand and holding a staff in the other.
"And magicians with fire magic!" I exclaimed. I'd honestly thought the Dungeon would only have knights, not assassins and magicians!
Clearly the dungeon was based on Medieval stories, where magicians ran rampant and knights served a king… As well as assassins that killed anyone for the right amount of money.
I closed the distance with Advance before the magician could cast another spell, grabbing his neck and snapping it to make sure he couldn't cast at me again.
I quickly jumped to the ceiling where I spotted another assassin, kicking him hard enough in the stomach that my foot when through it. I grabbed the body, turning and blocking the arrows fired by an archer with them.
I kicked off the ceiling, tossing the assassin's body into the archer, before my fist glowed white.
Shockwave Fist!
I punched down, sending a shockwave out from my fist, sending the enemies flying away from me.
"Accelerate!" I snapped out, forming swords in the air and sending them into the bodies of the archers and assassins, diving towards the knights as I began to snap their necks and crush their helmets against their heads.
[You have levelled up by one.]
+1,000 HP
+1,300 MP
+6 Stat Points
I took a breath as I dealt with them all, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead. While I didn't get exhausted in the traditional sense, it was still a bit exhausting to do all of that at once.
I slowly took a breath as I sat down, deciding to take a moment to open my stats page and allocate my stats…
Only for my senses to scream as my hand shot up, catching an arrow before it could hit my face. I looked over with wide eyes as another group of knights starting to walk towards me.
"No rest for the wicked," I growled, crushing the arrow in my hand.
A dungeon with a constant mob of enemies, one that wouldn't end until I headed into the boss room…
I could only grin with excitement as I charged into battle.
From there, things began to blur as I went crazy with fighting.
Skulls were crushed, hands through stomach, using fallen enemies as shields. The more I fought, the more natural the stance of the Black Dragon became and I came to understand why Hei Long was undefeated.
The stance was monstrous.
Every single attack I did became deadly. Even ordinary punches and kicks became vicious when the stance was involved, it was almost like my entire body had been turned into a weapon of mass destruction.
Drops kept popping up, and I began to learn how to multi-task while fighting. As I levelled, I quickly brought up my stats page and allocated the stats where I thought they would work best, all while killing the knights. When I got drops, I quickly opened and read them as fast as I could before equipping them if I determined they were immediately useful.
I don't know how long I must have been fighting against them in those hallways on the way to the boss room but when I next glanced at the time right outside the doors, it was almost 3AM.
That meant I'd been fighting for five hours by the time I reached the boss room.
I looked at the equipment I was wearing after all that fighting.
[High Knight's Gauntlet]
[Item Class: B]
[Type: Armour]
[The gauntlet worn by a high knight. Provides 3% damage reduction and prevents hand injuries. Slows movement speed if your strength is below 80.]
[Assassin's Boots]
[Item Class: B]
[Type: Armour]
[The boots worn by an assassin. Provides 3% damage reduction, prevents feet injuries, and silences footsteps. Slows movement speed if your strength is below 80.]
[High Magician's Ring]
[Item Class: B]
[Type: Accessory]
[A ring worn by a high magician. Provides 5% damage reduction, and increases damage done by all spells under subcategory 'Magic' by 25%.]
I learned the fun fact that I could wear both my Obsidian Treads and my Assassin's Boots together for… Some reason. I didn't really get it, but I wasn't going to look a gift in the horse's mouth.
I looked at my stats. I'd levelled up five times during those five hours, but I was still faced with apprehension as I faced the door of the boss room.
My intuition was warning me. Telling me that I should remain on guard. That if I dropped it for even a split second…
I would die.
I placed both of my hands on the doors and pushed, walking forwards as they opened for me.
I was in a throne room. An empty chair was at the end of the room, torches hanging from the pillars and on the wall on either side of the throne.
The throne itself was empty, bare. Based on the cobwebs on the side, it must have been abandoned and left untouched for many years.
Step.
I felt a chill rush through my spine, all of my senses going into overdrive.
Step.
My eyes burned.
Step.
My ears trembled.
Step.
My fingertips began to twitch erratically.
Step.
It was the first time I'd felt like this. It was the first time I'd been overwhelmed by this feeling…
Step.
The feeling of fear.
Step.
He emerged from the shadows, clad in blood red armour. A crimson cape fastened onto his shoulders; a blade sheathed at his side. A red plume came from the back of his helmet as those vermillion eyes stared at me from behind the helmet.
Even the name over his head was a dark red in colour.
[Blood-Red Commander Igris]
… The name was a bit edgy, but what can you do?
The knight walked along the steps of the throne, standing at the bottom of them as he faced me. He slowly drew that long sword of his, letting it hand ins his right arm.
I was about to summon forth the Gatekeeper's Sword, before my eyes landed on Igris's weapon…
And I saw it.
A knight that guarded the king. One who fought, and fought, and fought for the king they cared for so much. One who had slaughtered man, woman, and child, all for the sake of the one they cared for…
The knight who ultimately failed as their king was killed by poison of all things, before their very eyes.
The knight who lamented their failure.
The knight who fell into madness.
The knight who guarded an empty throne, waiting for the day their king would return…
For without a king, the knight had no purpose.
"Accelerate," I said before I could stop myself, blue light blazing to life in my hands… And I held a new weapon in them.
[Remorseful Reaver (Fake)]
[Item Rank: B+]
[Type: Weapon]
[+95 Attack]
[The Weapon used by the Blood-Red Commander Igris. A blade that has been with Igris for all of his life, that has witnessed all the sorrow and agony that he has gone through. The only faithful companion of the remorseful knight.]
There was a beat of silence…
Clang!
And then we clashed.
From the force of the impact alone, the entire room trembled, pillars shaking and dust falling from the ceiling.
I stepped back first, and Igris didn't hesitate to capitalise.
He brought his sword at me horizontally, attempting to cut me off at the head early.
I ducked down, a shockwave rippling behind me as the pillars were cut through as if they were butter.
I moved in, thrusting my sword towards his chest.
His back bent at an almost impossible angle, the blade not even grazing his chest or chin. He moved to the side, bringing his sword up and swinging down.
I kicked against the ground, shooting forwards into the air, a dust cloud kicking up behind me as my blade sunk into the wall above the throne.
I tugged it out of the wall, turning and bringing the blade up horizontally as I blocked his sword thrust.
I lifted my leg and brought it down in an axe kick on his head, sending him crashing to the ground.
I kicked off the wall, shooting down at him and stabbing into the dust cloud kicked up when he crashed in.
Shiiink!
My sword sunk all the way through concrete, Igris gone.
Move!
I rolled to the side as his blade crashed into the ground where my body was.
The Remorse Reaver vanished as I projected another into my hands, using advance to appear above him instantly, swinging down just like he'd done to me!
Clang- Boom!
Igris turned, blocking my swing as another shockwave was sent rippling through the room and causing it to shake once again.
"You are a tough bastard, huh!?" I growled. "Unfortunately for you…"
Storm flames blazed to life on my sword.
"I'm not going to lose here!"
I pressed down harder, Igris's blade trembling as it fought against the disintegration factor of the flames. The slight widening of his eyes and the hesitation as he looked at his sword was all I needed.
My foot lashed out, kicking him in the side of the head and sending him flying, crashing through a pillar and into the wall. I panted softly as I stood between him and his blade.
Crimson eyes glowed from inside the dust cloud, and I dodged to the side instantly, the blade on the ground shooting straight to Igris from where I'd been standing, the crimson knight catching the blade in his right hand once again.
"Are you kidding me…?" I breathed out. "He can summon that thing from anywhere he wants? So, I can't make it easier by disarming him…"
I glanced down at my sword… No, it must have been Igris's skill otherwise my sword would hold the same property.
In other words, a sword fight wasn't going to win me this battle.
I let the projection in my hands fade, hitting a fist against my open palm. "I'll admit, I lose in swordsmanship!" I said to him. "Let's see how you handle hand to hand now!"
Igris stared at me…
And then he stabbed his sword into the ground, undoing the fastens of his cape and letting it fall at his feet, and then he grabbed the daggers that had been hidden on the back of his waist, tossing them aside.
"The knight's code of chivalry then…" I said. "You won't fight against me with your sword while I'm unarmed…" I dropped down into my stance. "Come on!"
Igris dashed towards me, throwing a punch at my chest.
I dodged to the side, hitting his stomach with my open palm. A shockwave rippled through him, sending him flying backwards.
I moved behind him with attack, hitting him in his left side with a roundhouse.
As he was sent flying, Igris recovered by flipping and skidding to a halt, charging right back at me.
I threw another roundhouse, but he jumped over it, instead grabbing me by the back of my shirt and throwing me into the wall.
I let out a yell of pain as I crashed into it, a crater forming in it from the impact, before he was in front of me yet again, throwing a punch.
I quickly lifted both of my arms, blocking it!
Pain!
I let out a yell of pain as Igris followed through with the punch, forcing me deeper into the wall.
I managed to direct his arm to the side, getting away by using retreat, breathing hard as I lightly nursed my arm but remained ready for the next attack.
A quick glance at my health left me in shock.
That combination he'd hit me with took 3,000 of my health. Igris was far more powerful than I'd realised if he could do that much!
'I can't let him hit me too much…'
I saw him as a shadow in the dust cloud, walking towards me.
I took a breath… And felt a small flamer flicker to life on my head.
[Hyper Dying Will Mode has been activated.]
It was almost wonderous how I'd instantly calmed down; how my senses sharpened to such a degree.
Igris was in front of me again, throwing another punch.
I dodged left, my own fist meeting his face and sending a shockwave through his body that brought him to his knees.
I lifted my elbow and brought it down, hitting him on top of the head hard with Fang, before I spun and hit the side of his head with yet another roundhouse, sending him crashing into the wall.
He walked out of the dust, glaring at me. I glared right back.
We charged at each other, beginning to viciously exchange blow after blow.
Block. Punch. Kick. Duck. Punch. Hit. Hit. Hit. Dodge. Punch. Knee. Block. Kick.
On and on we went as we traded blows, neither one of us relenting…
Before I felt a punch land on my cheek, sending me spinning. I used the momentum of the spin and hit the side of his head with a vicious roundhouse kick…
But this time, Igris endured.
He grabbed my leg before throwing me hard, sending me crashing into the wall above the throne, causing a small crater as I yelled in pain.
I fell down in a heap, landing in a seated position on the throne as I breathed heavily.
My body was battered and bruised, blood in my mouth and dribbling down my chin.
I breathed heavily as I sat on the throne in a slump, body trembling lightly from the pain…
I heard footsteps as Igris approached the side of the throne, standing over me.
I heard the whistling of wind as his sword zipped through the air into his hand and he swung down…
[Black Dragon's Enlightenment has been activated.]
Clang- Fwoosh, shiiink!
I watched as Igris's eyes widened in shock as my foot hit his hand, sending the sword spiralling through the air and sinking into the wall.
[Due to Hyper Dying Will Mode, Black Dragon's Enlightenment, and Hyper Intuition all being activated at the same time, the Player has obtained the Passive & Active Skill 'Clairvoyance.']
[Clairvoyance is now Level MAX, Rank EX.]
And suddenly, I could see.
I could see Igris's hand going towards my throat as he recovered, closing around it and lifting me as he choked me, punching me in the stomach until my HP hit Zero.
I dodged to the side as Igris's hand lashed out at that unnatural speed, dodging it before his hand had even begun moving. My foot raised up, hitting him in the chin and sending him up to the ceiling.
The ground trembled as I directed all the power I had to my right leg, glaring up at Igris as he slowly began to fall.
[The player has created a new skill. What would you like to name it?]
"Black Dragon Impact."
A roar echoed through the air as I kicked upwards, a dragon emerging from my foot and shooting towards Igris, sending him crashing into the ceiling and earning a scream of pain from the Red Clad Warrior.
[You have slain Blood-Red Commander Igris].
You have obtained [Red Knight's Helmet].
You have obtained [Skill Book: Dominator's Touch].
You have obtained [Leather Pouch].
You have obtained [Hearthstone].
[You have levelled up by two.]
+2,200 HP
+2,800 MP
+12 Stat Points
I slumped in relief, falling back onto my ass as Igris's body dropped from the ceiling and crashed onto the floor.
I held the side of my head as I deactivated both Enlightenment and Hyper Mode.
"That… Was too close for comfort…" I breathed out. "At the end there, luck was a big factor… If I hadn't obtained Clairvoyance, I would have been screwed…"
I opened my inventory to look at the rewards.
[Item: Leather Pouch has been opened. You have received 3,000,000 Gold].
"Doubling my gold huh?" I grinned. "I'll take that…"
[Red Knight's Helmet]
[Item Class: EX]
[Type: Armour]
[The helmet worn by Blood-Red Commander Igris.]
[15% Physical Damage Reduction, +20 Vitality, +20 Strength]
"An EX-Ranked piece of armour," I grinned as I equipped it. "The stats from it are crazy. The 15% Damage Reduction would have been more than enough, but the plus twenty to both my vitality and strength is more than appreciated."
Plus, with the helmet, my damage reduction was now up to 36%. That meant I would only take a third of the damage from now on.
[Skill Book: Dominator's Touch]
[Type: Skill Book]
[Using this Skill Book grants the player the skill 'Dominator's Touch.']
"Dominator's touch, huh…" I rubbed my chin. "I wonder if it's that skill Igris used to bring his sword to him… I wouldn't complain about that. A skill like that could be useful, but I'll save it for when I'm out of the Dungeon…"
[Hearthstone]
[Type: Consumable]
[A quest-exclusive item. If you break the Hearthstone, you will instantly leave the dungeon. If the job quest ends, the Dungeon is automatically destroyed. Cannot be stored.]
Alarm bells ran in my mind.
Wasn't this the boss room? Why the hell was I now being given a Hearthstone? Unless…
I got up in a hurry.
Shit! The quest wasn't over!
I looked around as swirling dark portals, cracking with black energy began to form; six of them in total.
[The Job Change Quest will begin.]
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" I exclaimed in shock, dropping into my stance.
This was bad. My health was sitting at around 28,000, only two-thousand above half of my health. Hyper Dying Will Mode had left me breathless, and I still had a small headache from using Clairvoyance.
On top of that, my right leg was trembling from the force of using the Black Dragon's Impact skill, which meant I couldn't use it until the trembling had stopped!
[The longer you last, the more points you can collect that will place you into a higher-tier job.]
"The longer I last!?" I exclaimed. "Fuck you!"
[Good Luck.]
"I repeat, fuck you!"
I stared in horror as, from the portals, countless knights began to emerge. And they were moving in at me from every direction.
"You think this is enough to scare me…!?" I growled, cracking my neck as I reared my fist back.
Shockwave Fist!
I punched forwards, causing shockwaves to ripple around me, sending the enemies all around me flying away.
"Let's see you attack me when you don't know which one is real!"
Clone!
There was a shimmer in the air, as suddenly the knights were looking at five perfect copies of me.
They looked between all of us, confused, and I smirked as I hid behind a pillar using retreat.
'That's right, focus on the clones. I'll stay here and let my leg recover-!'
[Magician is using Skill: Detection.]
'Oh, come the fuck on!'
Above the head of one of the magicians, a giant eye opened up, shooting over to look at my hiding place.
The clones all vanished as the knights and magician were no longer tricked by the technique, instead beginning to converge on me again.
Two knights swung down at me, but I projected Remorseful Reaver and blocked their swings. I used the power of the sword to send them flying away, appearing above another knight and stabbing through his helmet like a hot knife going through butter, landing on the ground hard.
'I can do this!' I thought to myself as I began to cleave away at the knights relentlessly. 'Remorseful Reaver can cut through them like butter! No matter how many it takes, I will end them all!'
And so, I fought.
I cut, I slashed, I stabbed, I swiped.
Over and over again, never getting the chance to rest as more knights just kept pouring out of the portals.
But, over time, I began to notice something.
I wasn't levelling up.
No matter how much I killed, no matter how many knights I cut down, my level didn't rise at all. I didn't keep track of how long I fought for, but I knew I must have killed hundreds of them already!
So, why!?
My gaze turned to the magicians as I fought, and my intuition screamed at me.
Them!
I hurled my sword through the air, sending it straight through the magician's chest, causing it to slump to the floor… And with it, many knights simply collapsed into suits of armour.
[You have slain a Magician.]
I flashed over to my sword, picking it up. "So, that's it," I growled. "The reason the magicians seemed to be doing nothing… Those fucks are using summoning magic! That's why I'm not levelling up, I don't get anything from killing these bastards!"
Well then, if that's the way they wanted to play it…
Clone!
Then let's play!
[Magician is using Skill: Detection.]
I flashed over to the magician as soon as the eye appeared, swinging my sword down and cleaving him in two, glancing back to see four other eyes in the air.
[You have slain a Magician.]
"Four of you fucks left then," I growled.
I charged towards the magician, but knights blocked my way. I let out a roar as I began to cut them down ruthlessly, trying to reach the magician, but more just kept coming and coming.
I let out a growl as I jumped into the air. "How long are you gonna hide, you pussy!?"
A Remorseful Reaver formed above me, firing straight through the Magician's Skull.
[You have slain a Magician.]
"Three to go!"
I turned my head, eyes widening as I saw the three magicians had gathered together, placing their hands on the ground as a purple glow came from beneath them.
The ground trembled a huge amount of the remaining knights almost seemed to melt and join together beneath me, forming a huge golem with swords sticking out of it.
"Oh, fuck you!"
The Golem jumped straight up, trying to squish me into the ceiling. Unfortunately for it, I jumped right off, kicking off of its shoulder and shooting down, flipping forwards and landing on both of my feet.
I dodged to the side as it came down, slamming both of its fists into the ground and destroying a huge portion of the floor.
"You should have kept your huge numbers, idiots!"
I appeared in front of the Magicians and, with three rapid swings, they were all cut down.
[You have slain a Magician.]
[You have slain a Magician.]
[You have slain a Magician.]
[You have levelled up by one.]
+1,100 HP
+1,400 MP
+6 Stat Points
The golem and the remaining knights all crashed to the ground, harsh bangs sounding as the clanging rang in my ears, causing me to hold the side of my head in pain.
I looked up at how long I'd taken.
[01:28:46]
"Please tell me it's over now…"
[All the monsters in the room have been slain, the quest will end now.]
"Thank fucking god!" I fell down onto my ass, breathing hard. I wasn't sure how much longer I'd have been able to last, truthfully, until I was overwhelmed. My HP was sitting at twenty-seven-thousand… I was lucky I had intuition and so many dodging skills, or I'd be much lower.
[A Job will be granted after analysing the Player's Actions.]
"Huh?" I frowned, staring at the screen. "I don't get to choose?"
I tilted my head. "Shit, it could be any number of things… I could be a Warrior, a mage, an assassin… Fuck, I hope it's something I can actually use…"
[Wherever the Player goes, the Reaper follows.]
[The Player's path is littered with corpses and the smell of blood.]
I gave a wince at the reminder of how much death I'd caused amongst the angels. I still wasn't convinced I didn't smell of blood, I should have another shower when I got home.
"Still, that's dark… Am I a Berserker or something?"
[As the Player possesses strength, they prefer to not leave anything to their teammates and overcome everything with their own strength.]
[Your desire for strength burns strong enough to call those who wander the Valley of Death, and the Army of the Dead who follow your commands shall create a path where your voice will be law and you will never need another's help again.]
"W- Wait!" My eyes widened in shock. "Army of the dead!? You mean my class is…!"
[Your job is Necromancer.]
"Are you kidding me!?" I exclaimed. "Why a Necromancer of all things!?"
The Mage Sub-Class: Necromancer. A Grim Magician and the undead army that follows them. They always tended to leave the fighting to their minions, which wasn't my style.
"Calm down, Jaune," I said to myself, taking a deep breath. "Let me think about this… What are the pros of being a Necromancer…? I guess having my own personal army… But most of the time, such slaves are unable to get any stronger…"
I paused. "… But what if they can? With the System, your ability is dependent on skills, levels, and stats. Doesn't that mean that the summoned can also become stronger by fighting with me? Plus, I also have close-combat abilities. By leading my army… I'd be able to clear out hoards of Grimm no problem, I'd be able to crush anyone with such overwhelming power…"
I grinned. "I accept."
[Your job has been chosen.]
[Based on the mount of points you obtained, you will be given a chance to promote to a superior Class.]
My eyes widened as shadows began to rise up from the various dead forms around me.
[You reached the required play time.]
[Points will be added.]
[You did not use a Hearthstone.]
[Points will be added.]
[Final Health is above 50%.]
[Points will be added.]
[All Enemies have been slain.]
[Points will be added.]
[The total points have exceeded the feat limit.]
The shadows rushed towards me, before crashing into my body and I gasped as the rush of power running through me, darkness floating off of me.
[You have been promoted from Necromancer to Shadow Monarch.]
"A Promotion already!?" I exclaimed in shock, not expecting that.
[You have learned a Job Exclusive Skill.]
[You have obtained Bonus Stats.]
[You have obtained the Title 'The one Who Overcame Adversity.']
This was insane!
I gained the right to promote to the next class purely because of how well I did in the quest… I was glad I gave it my all, otherwise I'd likely have been stuck as a Necromancer for a good long while.
My ears twitched as I heard some sort of scream echoing in my ears. Looking around, I saw darkness lingering around the forms of the knights and magicians, and a text box hovering over their bodies.
[Shadow Extraction can be used on this target.]
"Shadow Extraction…?" My eyes widened. "Right, the power of a Necromancer, raising the dead!"
[Please select your command phrase for Shadow Extraction.]
"Command Phrase…"
…
"Arise."
A rush of wind was heard as the shadows danced around me, hands clawing out from the bodies of the knights and magicians surrounding me… And from them, came soldiers made of shadows.
[Shadow Extraction – Rank C – Lv. 1]
A job exclusive skill. A shadow soldier is created from a body without life by taking out its mana. The chance of failure increases the higher the targets stats are, and the more time passed since the target's death.
Shadows able to be extracted: 40/101
[Shadow Save – Rank C – Lv. 1]
A job exclusive skill. You absorb the created shadow soldiers and save them. Saved soldiers can be summoned and reabsorbed whenever and wherever the animator desires.
Saved Shadows: 0/80
"Woah…" I said in awe. "So, basically… I can turn anyone who's dead into a summonable being for me to use…" I glanced at the information I could see above their heads.
[Shadow Infantry Lv. 1]
Rank: Normal
[Shadow Magician Lv. 1]
Rank: Elite
"Thirty-four infantry, and six magicians," I noted. "Good thing I can save them all, they'll be useful in the coming times…"
A hint of red caught my eye and I looked, eyes widening.
Igris.
I gulped lightly as I made my way over to him. "Save all shadows."
[Saved Shadows: 40/80]
I stopped in front of the deceased warrior.
"Blood-Red Commander Igris…" I said his name softly as I stared down at him.
If I had to rate him on the level of a hunter… He'd be a high B, possibly even an A – Rank.
[Shadow Extraction can be used on this target.]
Having such a high ranked warrior on my team, there was no way I could pass up such an amazing opportunity.
"Arise."
Shadows began to rise from his body…
Before they burst, a screeching sound echoing as nothing happened otherwise.
"What!?"
[You failed to extract the shadow.]
[You still have two chances remaining.]
"Shit…" I bit my lip. "This is not great… He's been dead for an hour and a half, and his stats are monstrous… Two chances left… Luck, don't fail me now. Arise!"
Once again, the shadows began to rise from his body. And once again, they burst and let out a screeching sound as the soul refused to return.
[You still have one chance remaining.]
I stayed silent, glancing to the throne, before I looked back at him.
"Is this really what you want?" I asked him. "Do you really want it to end like this? For a King who took you for granted, who never truly understood what the loyalty you meant showed him?"
There was silence.
"Is that really how you want this story to end!?" I yelled at him. "Don't fuck with me! You are a great knight, probably the greatest I've ever known! How about you stop protecting the seat of someone who is gone and serve me, who is standing right here and willing to accept your loyalty!" I outstretched my hand.
"ARISE!"
A burst of mana was unleashed, accompanied by a violent rush of wind.
A shadowy hand emerged from the corpse, grasping my own as the loyal knight emerged, already kneeling before me as he held onto me like a lifeline.
[You have upgraded the shadow.]
[Shadow's level will be 7.]
[Shadows higher than Rank Knight can be named.]
"The Blood-Red Commander…" I shook my head. "Nah, that's a bit of a mouthful…" I stared down at him. "You are now… Igris."
[Igris Lv. 7]
Rank: Knight.
[You have successfully extracted the shadow.]
I looked back as every other knight and magician fell on one knee bowing to me…
I couldn't stop the grin coming to my face…
So, this was what it was like to be a King? No… A Monarch?
It felt damned good…
"Please take good care of me, okay?"
[The One Who Overcame Adversity]
A title given to those who overcame adversity heroically. Your stats increase proportionally to your missing health. (1% stat increase every 1% HP missing.)
Publish Date: 4th October 2020
Word Count: 6,005