Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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What exactly should I call this feeling?

Hoo-ooong.

“…….”

It’s not particularly unfamiliar or strange. After all, even though I had been bound for a while, this was still my power.

However, it’s exactly for that reason that my mood soared. It felt as if I had taken off clothes that didn’t fit my body, and my mind was incredibly clear and refreshed.

“Hoo.”

As I lightly exhaled, a moment later, invisible, intangible blades surged towards me.

Kwagakakak!

Lee Ji Cheol’s attack skill, packed full of power, boasted enough might to completely demolish a building or two.

Yet, I simply raised one hand and blocked it without even looking at it.

Jjeoeoeong!

“…Hold on. This is the perfect time for me.”

“What?!”

Lee Ji Cheol, who had looked quite formidable, now felt like nothing more than a small pond fish.

That tiny bit of power no longer caught my attention.

I closed my eyes and simply savored the immense sense of liberation washing over me.

“…This feeling.”

A sensation that had been almost erased from my mind due to a long hiatus. Acknowledging the waves of that colossal power, I calmly smiled and looked at the frozen expression of Lee Ji Cheol.

“I should thank you.”

“…What?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have resorted to such measures.”

Honestly speaking, attempting necromancy on my own soul, bound in an unexplainable chain, isn’t a very rational action.

That ritual was merely something I had devised alongside Khan; I had no immediate plans to carry it out.

However, due to Lee Ji Cheol displaying unexpected prowess, I had no choice but to take the gamble, resulting in the outcome I achieved.

‘…About 40%?’

Naturally, considering Helena’s remarks about the chain’s self-repair capabilities, it was likely a temporary effect. However, even so, I managed to draw out nearly half of my prime power.

And I can confidently say that if I were granted that 40% of power, I would be able to crush anyone on Earth head-on.

“Not to mention, you should be more than enough.”

“…….”

Suddenly curious, I summoned the status window, the proof of my awakening.

Ding!

【Baek Eun Ha】

▶Level: –

▶Title: Lord of Death

The only item listed, the level, had disappeared, and instead, something new appeared in the previously empty title slot.

Seeing that familiar name, I chuckled and returned the window to the Book of Death.

Puhaak.

“…This is beyond ridiculous. While I’ve saved my trump card, I haven’t even shown my true power yet.”

Yet, the look on Lee Ji Cheol’s face while saying that was anything but pleasant.

He could physically feel that my condition was quite extraordinary.

I gazed intently at him, waving my hand to spread the Death Energy wide.

Hoo-ooong.

“Well then, feel free to do whatever you want.”

The Death Energy extending from me began to merge with the shroud surrounding us, soon enveloping the entire circular space in thorny darkness.

“From now on, whatever you do here will not escape.”

“…You will regret this.”

With a serious expression, Lee Ji Cheol began to gather his magic power and get into position.

Evidently, he hadn’t been exerting himself before, as he was gathering an even greater power than earlier.

With his muscles bulging, Lee Ji Cheol unleashed the magic he had collected and activated his skill.

“Earthquake!”

Kuaaaang!

An intense shockwave that creates the illusion that the world is shaking.

Because we separated the space from the outside, the ground didn’t collapse, but if this had been used outside, it could have genuinely triggered an earthquake in the surrounding area.

Lee Ji Cheol didn’t stop there; he gathered his magic power once again and shot another skill at me.

Hoo-ooong.

“Explosive Thunder!”

Kugwahwahwahng─!

A series of explosions erupted from the ground, rushing toward me as concentrations of magic, yet I made no response whatsoever to that overwhelming attack.

I merely enjoyed the luxury of watching it.

Kwang!

Puhaak─!

The attack hit me dead-on, shaking not only my body but the outer walls of the shroud as well.

However, what emerged was my figure, completely unscathed.

“Ridiculous! What kind of trickery is this?”

“Not particularly a trick.”

I had simply raised my magic and Death Energy to enhance my defense.

Of course, with just a bit of special processing added.

“That’s the problem with you guys. You’re always making a fuss about titles and skills, yet your fundamentals are weak.”

While skills might seem like special abilities unique to the awakened ones of Earth, for me, they are merely the results of training that anyone can attain.

When strength, technique, and experience combine, isn’t that what a skill is?

“If that’s all you’ve got, it’s rather boring. Is there more to show?”

“…Kugh.”

“Then it’s my turn now.”

I grinned slyly, raised a finger, and pointed it at Lee Ji Cheol. Instantly, the black mist spreading out began to engulf his entire body.

Puhaak.

Swooosh.

“Ugh! Get away!”

However, no amount of thrashing would change anything. I lightly waved my finger and invoked one of the basic virtues of a Necromancer.

“Energy Drain.”

Shwaaaaak!

Pasasasak!

“Guaaah─!”

The reaction was intense.

Despite Lee Ji Cheol being an S Rank with truly vast magic power, about half of it was absorbed into me in an instant.

“Why? Can’t stop it?”

Had I cast the same spell ten minutes ago, I would have wasted precious power with little effect.

But now, things were different. With the high-level perfected spell supplemented with the lacking output, Lee Ji Cheol found himself completely powerless.

“This will be returned as it is.”

I twirled the mass of magic power that had gathered on my fingertip like a water balloon and began to reshape it.

Considering the magical arrangement from earlier.

“Was this how it felt? Explosive Thunder.”

Hoo-ooong.

Kugwahwahwahng─!

The violent shockwave that flowed across the ground sent Lee Ji Cheol flying without a chance to defend himself, crashing into the wall of the shroud.

Kwaaaaang!

“Ugggh!”

An attack that was a perfect mimicry of Lee Ji Cheol’s earlier skill, even boosted in power.

Perhaps shocked both mentally and physically, Lee Ji Cheol staggered and struggled to rise from the ground.

After a long silence, the words he finally uttered were the kind of denial any confronted person would voice.

“This… this is nonsense. How could I…”

Lee Ji Cheol’s reaction wasn’t particularly special; countless had responded like that on the other side.

The strongest among them, who had never known defeat, those who lived their lives towering over others.

However, it was precisely because of this that they experienced even greater shock when their absolute confidence collapsed.

“…It’s not over yet.”

Just like those he had watched countless times, Lee Ji Cheol, too, denied reality and rose again, filled with determination.

Seeing the all-too-familiar sight, I chuckled at him.

“Book of Death.”

Puhaak!

Unfortunately, the fun has come to an end. There wouldn’t even be a hint of a twist left. I could never tell how long this power would last.

Shwaak.

Shwaarak.

The pages turned to the ninety-fourth.

What lay within was the soul of the enraged dragon, Nox.

[Release me from this wretched death, you filthy servant of death…….]

The soul I had earlier summoned in an unstable form during my fight with the puppeteer Bennett, I directly overlaid onto my body.

“Synchronization.”

Tsu-tsuz.

“Activation.”

Kwaduk.

Kwadududuk.

From between my hair sprouted small horns, and my eye color changed, with the pupils sharpening.

Simultaneously, explosive magic power began to pour forth from my heart.

Seeing Lee Ji Cheol trembling like a aspen, I exhaled the breath I had held.

Huuuh.

“Dragon Breath.”

Puhaaaaah!

Flawless!—!

The dimly lit shroud turned white, and an overwhelming heat engulfed everything, as if entering a blast furnace.

After a while, as the heat dissipated, the figure of Lee Ji Cheol collapsed in the center was revealed.

His body scorched and a pitiful sight, it was clear he was in no condition to continue fighting.

Step.

Step.

As I leisurely approached him, his body, which had been motionless, quivered slightly.

“You’re quite sturdy. Honestly, I thought nothing would be left.”

Right now, I could easily predict Lee Ji Cheol’s state of mind.

Those who had denied reality due to the unexpected defeat would invariably reach the final stage.

Fear.

With his trembling body, he faintly lifted his gaze, only to find his eyes now colored with fear staring down at the ground.

“…P-please, spare me.”

From his lips escaped a plea that was utterly unworthy of the title “tyrant.”