Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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What has settled within me now is nothing short of pure Death Energy, just like in the prime of my past.

And the amount is still continuously increasing.

‘…It’ll take a little longer to fully regain my strength.’

So until then, I’ll adopt a defensive stance and read the movements of my opponent.

Whooosh.

“Extraction.”

The page is the eleventh chapter.

What is engraved there is the skull of Hans, the beheaded knight and undying Dullahan zombie.

“Materialization.”

Fwooosh!

Srrr.

With a crunch.

From my outstretched right hand, black mist starts to pour out, and soon a cracked and split skull of someone reveals itself.

I threw it onto the ground and, with overflowing Death Energy, chanted the spell.

“Undead Call.”

Fwooosh!

Crack!

Kaboom─!

Hans, who had formed his body at an incredibly fast speed unlike before, looked around in surprise and spoke.

“Oh, is this… finally my strength has returned?”

“You can tell just by looking. Just pay attention. It’s quite a formidable opponent.”

Hearing this, Hans nonchalantly surveyed the surroundings but soon shifted to a serious expression and replied.

“Indeed. This might not be easy for me.”

“Who said anything about that? Just buy us some time. It’s your specialty.”

“…If that is what you wish, I shall do so.”

I brought Hans forward and then reopened the book to summon a few more Undead.

Jack Callista, the assassin of the Frost Tribe.

Penelope, the queen of spiders and lord of the Black Forest.

And finally, Kan the shaman and Chae Hwa In, whom I sent back earlier.

All of their powers have undoubtedly become even stronger than before.

“…So those are your Undead. Except for one, they don’t meet my expectations.”

Gideon said, glancing towards Chae Hwa In, who was wearing a bone mask.

And through that, I gained one certainty.

Surely the Undead of Gideon have knowledge in forms unknown to me, but it was also true that Gideon was the same.

‘Of course, while Chae Hwa In is quite an exceptional Undead…’

In fact, the one with the greatest fighting power among the Undead I summoned now is not Chae Hwa In.

Smirking, I raised my hand and summoned a staff exuding an ominous aura from the Lord of Death.

It was Kurdalia, the symbol of the Lord of Death that I had used as my main weapon during my time in Thebes.

“What, you didn’t come here just to critique, did you? Show us some skills.”

“…What a delightful suggestion. Please make it worth the wait.”

Kawoom.

Swooshhh.

As if conscious of me, Gideon pulled out a stone slab from somewhere and struck the ground.

We both summoned our Death Energy and chanted the spells simultaneously.

“Herotodos, Libisium.”

“Breath of Magdalene.”

Srrr.

Boom boom boom!

Two strands of Death Energy fluttered and spread in all directions, causing the dungeon interior to shake and the cries of the dead to echo from everywhere.

‘…For now, I might be on the defensive.’

The power returned to about 40%, yet still, I couldn’t reach Gideon.

‘It’s definitely northern-style necromancy, but…’

Contrary to my expectations that it would have fallen behind in the age, it was actually more advanced and refined than those of later days.

It was then that I realized the truth about the northern necromancy schools that claimed to inherit Gideon’s methods.

‘…These quacks, did they just copy as much as they could because they couldn’t do any better?’

In other words, it was a downgrade, or a degraded copy of sorts.

The prowess of necromancy Gideon was displaying was magnificent, and my attempt to decipher him based on the knowledge of northern-style necromancy became utterly meaningless.

“Seal of Destruction.”

Whooosh.

Swoosh!

Once I added another spell, our strengths finally evened out and formed a rough equal footing.

The ground around us was already filled with each other’s Death Energy, turning it into a land of death.

Here, the side that gives up the initiative will draw closer to defeat.

“Remarkable. It is a beautifully structured spell. Did you have a master?”

“Well, if you consider the many things that I learned on my own to be lessons, then yes, countless.”

I had no master.

And there was no need to have one.

If I set my mind to it, stealing their necromancy to make it my own would be a piece of cake.

Perhaps it was the same for Gideon.

“Well, I can see that you would have had no rival in your time.”

Although it seemed like he was measuring himself within the limited space of the dungeon, Gideon’s true power was likely far greater than this.

In response, Gideon slightly curled his lips and floated the stone slab he was holding into the air.

“It seems we need a change of venue.”

His stone slab shattered and formed a certain shape like a puzzle, soon spreading out in all directions to create its own spell formation.

As a blinding light enveloped my vision, what unfolded before me was an endless expansive plain.

And on it lay countless remnants of something.

‘…What is this? It’s not necromancy at all?’

Setting aside the sheer size, it is an entirely different kind of power.

Just as I was about to express my astonishment at this fact, Gideon tossed out an explanation.

“This is Phylosium, the homeland of the beloved I once had.”

“……”

“And I destroyed it with my own hands and contained it within this stone slab.”

Phylosium was indeed the place referenced in the stories told by Henesia and Astrid.

Gideon, having lost his lover, burned an entire nation, which then vanished without a trace—that ancient tale.

The secret lay right here.

“This space cannot be easily destroyed. So you may also freely unfold your spells.”

“…You are quite self-assured.”

That stone slab Gideon held was probably a divine object.

It was an item on the level of the Goddess’ tears, which I had used for dimensional travel. Naturally, it wouldn’t be destroyed by ordinary power.

Now the exit was blocked.

At the same time, Gideon could also unleash his immense power without concern for the surroundings.

The proof of that was that the Undead of his, which had rarely shown any proactive movement, began to gleam with light.

“Kubarna, unleash the seal of power.”

Whooosh.

Kaboom─!

The already gigantic Colossus began to grow its size beyond limits.

Surpassing even the highest tower in the ruins, it stood towering above the clouds, showcasing its form that loomed over the radiant sky of twilight.

‘…What a ridiculous scale is that?’

Its size was incomparable to modern pyramids or aircraft carriers.

From its point of view, we on the ground probably looked like mere ants, if not less.

“Is there nothing more to show? I still have plenty of Undead left.”

A quite arrogant yet reasonable question.

With this sort of thing under his control, there would be nothing to fear in the world.

However, I looked up to meet the gaze of Kubarna and quietly muttered.

“…It’s too high.”

There had been many who looked down on me like this before.

The mad dragon of the Western Continent, the wolf spirit of the Misty Realm, the legendary demon that hadn’t lost for nearly a century.

All of them had lived as conquerors based on overwhelming strength, yet ultimately knelt before me, acknowledging their defeat.

‘Is it time soon?’

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for is approaching.

Ironically, thanks to Gideon utilizing the power of the stone slab, my other companions and the collapse of the dungeon no longer needed consideration.

The strength I had restored had now reached 50% of my prime.

I had undoubtedly crossed a threshold that I could not draw out even with necromancy.

And now, I could once again call forth the High-Ranking Undead that had accompanied me.

Whooosh!

“Come forth.”

The unfolding page is the forty-fourth chapter.

What lies within is the right hand of the legendary demon Volcanus, who aided me during the S Rank Dungeon raid in Korea.

Watching as a massive flame takes form before me, I once again turned the page.

[Greater, dirtier. Seeds of Death…….]

“…Yeah, it’s about time to summon you too.”

Coincidentally, there was a similar existence among Gideon’s Undead, so it would be a good match.

I opened the 67th page of the Book of Death, took the pulsating black heart, and threw it skyward.

“Come forth.”

Whooosh.

Crash!

Roarrrr!

A piercing shriek rang out, and a creature covered in black scales appeared.

Once a mad dragon of the Western Continent, now bound to my will—the Death Dragon Nox, forced into servitude.

Gideon expressed interest at seeing those two Undead, but unfortunately, the main show wasn’t over there.

“Hans.”

“Tsk. Why must you call for me again?”

Having faced Gideon’s Undead so many times to be shattered and reborn, he was clearly quite grumpy.

I looked at Hans, maintaining a dull expression, and flung out the words he had been waiting for all along.

“I’ll give it back. Your heart.”

“…Are you serious?”

Hans stared at me with wide eyes, and I nodded subtly.

It was a natural reaction. Since I had divided Hans’ soul into three parts and sealed it in his heart and beloved steed, I had never returned it until now.

It was partly because I couldn’t handle his full power back then, but it was also a form of revenge.

Soon, realizing that my words were sincere, Hans turned to Gideon’s Undead, wearing a smile close to joy.

“That sounds great. Is your wish their annihilation?”

“…Well, that would be nice. Are you confident?”

Whooosh!

As the Book of Death began to unfold in accordance with my will.

Hans replied, bursting into unrestrained laughter.

“Your Lord seems to joke around as well.”

A voice filled with certainty. It was an expression of confidence that couldn’t be hidden.

The beheaded knight Hans, who was once considered a mystery in the Teheron region, now receives true resurrection.