It was Talice who spoke. She had also noticed that something was wrong with Asa, but the gradually spreading aura made her afraid to step forward. All she could do was anxiously shout. By this time, Ayime had already fainted in her arms.
I don't want to die! Get going. Yes, get going! The black mist in Asa's eyes suddenly dispersed.
To move forward meant to take steps, to venture forth, to struggle, to face everything and accept everything—it meant not wanting to die. Not wanting to die! This voice in Asa's increasingly muddled consciousness wasn't loud, but just as it had split apart the oppressive atmosphere in the room, it also carved an opening in Asa's mind. The suppressed desire for life surged up and burst forth.
Asa's hand loosened, and the aura continuously emanating from the sword hilt was abruptly cut off. The overwhelming thoughts of death in his chest and mind vanished completely.
Before the sword hilt could fall to the ground, Asa caught it with the pouch filled with Sunwell water. With a soft plop, the thick, dark aura disappeared entirely from the space.
"All right. Let's get going," Asa exhaled deeply and turned to Talice with a smile. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, and his smile was weary yet calm. Though the situation had been incredibly perilous just moments ago, he now looked as if nothing had happened at all.
"I thought something was seriously wrong with you," Talice sighed in relief as she walked over with Ayime in her arms. Ayime had only fainted and wasn't seriously harmed. Now that the oppressive aura had vanished, she slowly regained consciousness. She rubbed her eyes and looked in confusion at Talice, who was holding her, and Asa. It seemed she still didn't understand what had just happened.
Throughout everything, Shante had remained completely still, silently watching from the side. As Asa first fell into silence and then snapped out of it, his gaze kept shifting, but he never moved or spoke. However, just as the three of them reached the entrance of the passage, he suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
"What is it?" Asa turned back.
"You are taking this path because it is meant for you. You have the right to walk it. I did nothing more than fulfill my duty as the gatekeeper here. But you healed my ailment, and that was unnecessary," Shante shook his head, looking rather displeased. "I told you, I won't owe you anything. If I feel indebted to someone, I can't sleep."
"You're right. Healing you was intentional—it was calculated, a favor with ulterior motives," Asa replied with a smile.
"But the fact is, you did heal me. Even if it was with ill intent, after coughing for thirty years, suddenly not coughing anymore—it will constantly remind me that I owe you something. To help me forget about it, I'll give you two things."
From the corner of the room, two figures covered in cloth stepped forward and pulled off the fabric draped over them.
"I spent thirty years developing these. Due to a lack of experimental materials, I was only able to complete these two recently," Shante said indifferently. "Though they're not perfect, they're usable. Take them. That way, we'll be even."
From the start, Asa and Talice had assumed that these figures were zombies or skeletal constructs. But when the large cloth was finally removed, revealing their true appearance, the two of them froze—completely stunned.
...
By now, they had been traveling underground in Nigen for half a day since entering through the passage in Shante's hut.
The tunnel had been narrow at first, but after an hour of walking, it widened, leading them into the vast subterranean world of Nigen. Apart from occasional passages that reminded them they were underground, the place lacked the oppressive, claustrophobic feel of typical caves. In particularly expansive chambers, one could even experience a sense of openness akin to the wilderness.
Towering ceilings over a hundred meters high were often adorned with countless faintly glowing gemstones, resembling a starlit sky. The surroundings stretched for miles in every direction. It was said that in the central regions of Nigen, there were vast underground plains spanning dozens of miles.
Contrary to the common perception that the underground world was a barren and lifeless wasteland, the area teemed with unique subterranean plants and creatures, especially near underground rivers. Many rock walls were adorned with glowing flora or embedded gemstones, providing dim but sufficient illumination for those accustomed to the environment.
By surface-world standards, this path would have been nothing more than an unremarkable wilderness trail, seemingly untouched by the dark elves, minotaurs, or other subterranean dwellers.
Grandma Ail had given them an old map of unknown origin that marked the path forward. Given that no necromancer had ever successfully traversed this route, the map was likely left behind by Akibard himself.
Time was of the essence, but rest was still a necessity. Asa found a suitable spot to stop, as Ayime was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.
Lighting a fire was out of the question. In this underground world, fire's glow and warmth were a beacon for unwanted attention. While they were still far from any major tribal settlements and unlikely to encounter anything too dangerous, Asa didn't want to take any chances.
He removed his outer robe and draped it over the young mage, letting her rest in a dry alcove within the rock formations. Talice stayed with her, while Asa took Hilika and Rodhart farther away. Ayime was terrified of the two, and even Talice regarded them with wary suspicion and unease.
Not far ahead, an underground river flowed, its rushing waters unable to drown out the gruesome sounds of Hilika and Rodhart gnawing on the massive lizard carcass. The wet crunching and tearing noises unsettled Asa's appetite. He found himself thinking that even the worms he had eaten in the lizard swamp had been more palatable than the dried meat he was currently chewing.
Still, the fact that he could eat at all under these circumstances was a testament to his unnerving resilience—even he had to admit that his nerves had become disturbingly strong. By contrast, Talice and Ayime were utterly unable to eat. Ayime, in particular, seemed on the verge of mental collapse from sheer terror.
Asa had never expected to see these two again—especially not Rodhart—and certainly not under these circumstances. He couldn't even determine whether Rodhart could still be considered human, or even alive.
The sickening crunch of bones being devoured echoed through the cavern. They weren't just eating the flesh; they were consuming the lizard's bones as well.
From the mere fact that they could still eat, they appeared to be alive. But there was not a single trace of life left in their bodies—not even Ayime's life-detection magic could register them.
According to Shante, every part of their bodies—except for their teeth—had been individually extracted, refined through necromantic magic, and reassembled. Even their very bones were engraved with intricate necromantic sigils.
By that measure, they could no longer be considered living beings. The necromantic energy within them surpassed that of mere zombies or skeletons by a thousandfold in both potency and precision.
These were not mere undead. These were necrotic constructs—death-born entities of unparalleled refinement.
"This is a secret necromantic technique left behind by Lord Akibard. The original intent was to create the ultimate undead warrior, but it seems even he never truly succeeded—because the materials were simply too difficult to obtain," Shante said. When speaking about these two figures, who no longer resembled normal humans, a faint smile of pride actually appeared on his hideous old face. "I spent thirty years experimenting and was only able to barely create these two. The first one took quite some time, but the second was much faster. However, I didn't have enough time to fully complete it."
"It's not just about having an exceptional physique and combat skills—the key requirement is an indomitable will. Only warriors whose mental strength has surpassed their physical limitations can endure the agony of slowly having their bodies modified while still remaining alive. Since maintaining their agility is crucial, the synchronization between their minds and bodies must be seamless, indistinguishable from that of a living person. That's why every modification had to be done while they were fully conscious—gradually adjusted, slowly refined."
As he spoke, Shante's energy seemed to improve, his words flowing more freely. It was a stark contrast to his earlier frail demeanor. Whether it was because his chronic illness had been cured or because he was finally able to share his life's work with someone, his excitement was evident. Thirty years of painstaking effort, finally being unveiled—anyone would find it difficult to contain their enthusiasm.
"But mere willpower alone isn't enough. These individuals' minds must already be completely consumed by bloodlust, desire, and raw instincts. Only those who have fully abandoned human morality on the deepest level can truly accept this kind of transformation. You see, the mind and body are inseparable. Take this big guy, for example—he was once the ruthless leader of a notorious bandit gang, said to have killed so many that even his battle aura had taken on a sinister, blood-soaked nature unlike anything I've ever seen. And this smaller, younger man—he may not look as vicious, but don't be fooled. He single-handedly fought his way into Dehya Valley just to seek out necromancers. His sheer ambition and desire have already surpassed all human emotions. In a way, he's even more terrifying than the brute—because pure cruelty is one thing, but absolute detachment from all sentiment is something far worse. And far more suited to this transformation."
"Every muscle fiber in their bodies has been extracted and reconstructed individually—I guarantee you, even insects lack their level of explosive strength. Their coordination remains perfect because their core consciousness has been preserved, meaning they haven't lost a single ounce of their combat skills. Their hearts are no longer vital organs. Every vein and muscle in their bodies can contract and expand at will. Their blood has been completely replaced. Their bones are inscribed with necromantic curses, ready to be unleashed at any moment," Shante continued, pointing at Rodhart's abdomen with a hint of pride. "If you have time, you can cut open their stomachs and take a look. Their livers have been converted into reservoirs for necrotic energy, functioning much like enchanted gemstones but capable of self-replenishing. Their stomachs can absorb rotting flesh and convert it into necromantic power. The techniques involved in this process could greatly enhance your own mastery over necromantic magic..."