Dante's lips curled into a cruel, jagged smile as he stepped toward the next woman, his eyes glinting. He raised a hand, and the air thickened with the stench of decay as his Death Magic pulsed, a black miasma seeping from his fingers. ''Arise,'' he hissed, his voice a venomous whisper that cut through the silence of the clearing surrounded by his army.
The woman's lifeless form twitched violently, her body jerking as if puppeted by unseen strings. A scream tore from her throat, shrill, guttural, and raw, a sound that clawed at the edges of sanity. It grew louder, piercing, until even Dante winced, the banshee's wail slicing into his skull like a rusted blade. ''Cut that shit out!'' he snarled in irritation.
It died abruptly, choked off as if strangled by an invisible hand. The woman's body rose, hovering inches above the earth, her tattered burial robes fluttering like the wings of a dying moth. Her skin, once kissed by life, was now a ghostly pallor, shimmering faintly under the starless sky. He noticed the woman's eyes burned with an eerie, hollow light, and her form rippled with malice.
[D Rank Banshee Created for the Death Monarch's Army]
[Death Points + 2]
The adventurer was no longer human; she was a D-rank banshee, born from his cruel embrace, bound to his will, and now lived to serve. Next, he turned to the big man and cast his skill on him. ''Arise.''
Moments later, Dante's energy seeped into his body and started transforming him into a D Rank Death Revenant. A red glow enveloped the adventurer's exposed skin, mirroring the spectral sheen of his other soldiers. After he was done, a towering, decayed figure with hollow eyes, clad in jagged, blackened armor that seemed to writhe due to the necrotic energy, exuding unnatural strength and an insatiable hunger.
[D Rank Death Revenant Created for the Death Monarch's Army]
[Death Points + 2]
At that moment, the Death Revenant unleashed a thunderous roar, raw fury echoing through the air as a colossal axe, its blade etched with necrotic runes, and a towering shield, blackened, materialized in his gnarled hands. The hulking giant, clad in jagged armor, dropped to one knee beside the Plague Maiden, her miasma coiling like a venomous shroud, and the Banshee, her tattered form keening with spectral wrath.
A cruel smile curled across his lips. ''Magnificent!'' he proclaimed, his voice ringing with dark triumph. ''You three, alongside my army, herald the dawn of something unstoppable, something savage, yet beautiful!''
His gaze settled on the final human, limp in the iron grip of a Goblin Warrior, its eyes glinting with cunning. Approaching the corpse, Dante cast Arise, and a glow enveloped the body, its flesh twisting as the transformation began. Before him, the young man had morphed into a D-rank Death Ghoul Warrior, a gaunt, sinewy figure with ashen skin, jagged claws, and glowing, feral eyes that burned with hunger; its tattered rags barely concealed a frame poised for slaughter.
[D Rank Death Ghoul Warrior for the Death Monarch's Army]
[Death Points + 2]
A wicked smile spread across his face. 'Perfect,' he thought. 'A legion to raze Ashvale and claim its villagers' souls.'
Just then, a string of notifications popped up, bringing him back to reality, only to get excited at what he saw.
[Death Monarch's Army: 30/30]
[Death Points + 2]
[Quest Complete: 2 Death Points]
[Experience + 1000]
[MP: 15>18]
[HP: 4>5]
[INT: 6>7]
[CHA: 4>5]
[SSS: Arise: 0>1]
[SS: Death Blast: 0>1]
[D Rank Human Scout- 200 Experience]
[Death Points + 8]
[D Rank Human Warrior - 200 Experience]
[Death Points + 8]
[C Rank Human Healer - 400 Experience]
[Death Points + 8]
[D Rank Human Mage - 200 Experience]
[Death Points + 8]
When Dante saw this, his eyebrow rose, but he was happy while thinking. 'That quest must have been for the information I got from the humans.'
Following that, he looked at the nearby Death Wolves and ordered. ''Find me a secure place to rest. I'm hungry and tired.''
The monsters growled before rushing off into the underbrush as the four new undead stood around. Dante looked at them and opened a portal to the Domain, shouting to everyone. ''Get in, I'll come once I've set up camp for the night.''
When the small horde of creatures heard this, they poured through the portal, but Raoul stood next to him. His eyebrow arched at this as he questioned. ''What are you doing?''
''Protecting you from the vile monsters,'' the Death Scout answered.
Raoul's answer amused Dante, causing him to nod. ''Alright. You can be my bodyguard alongside the Revenant. He seems angry after his change, lingering feelings perhaps?''
''Yes, but it will grow into love over time, My Lord,'' the Death Scout answered.
After his army was gone and the wolves reappeared, they led him up a mountain where he found a ledge with one way up and shelter from the coming rain. Dante scanned the place and was happy. ''This is a good place to rest and not get attacked by the numerous monsters down there,'' he muttered.
Raoul stood by the entrance alongside the Death Wolves, who acted like a pack of guard dogs. This sight made him laugh just as a notification popped up, causing his smile to grow even wider.
[Quest Complete: 2 Death Points + Survival Gear]
As he finished reading, a larger bag materialized, its weight promising greater bounty. Peering inside, he found a sturdy tent, stacks of firewood, and provisions that were a lifesaver, especially since his bread stores had dwindled. Dante hauled out a bundle of firewood to ward off the chill. After some time, he was sitting in front of the crackling flames, getting warm.
After some time, he turned to the tent, erecting it against the biting wind sweeping in from the distant sea, its icy gusts no longer a threat. Soon after, he became comfortable and started eating bread as he checked his status, thanks to all the rewards and kills he'd done.
[Name: Dante Ashbourne]
[Class: Death Monarch]
[Level: 0]
[Experience: 8,350/10,000]
[Rank: F]
[MANA: 18]
[HP: 5]
[STR: 12]
[DEX: 5]
[INT: 7]
[CHA: 5]
[DP: 161]
[Skills: SSS: Arise (1) SS: Death Blast (1) SSS: Death's Domain (0) SS: Death's Harvest (0)]
Dante's grin widened at his upgraded status, eyes lingering on Dexterity. Unlike his days as a hero, when he relied on brute strength and his fabled sword, he now chose a different path. As a Necromancer, he'd blend strength and speed to catch his foes off guard, defying their assumptions that his kind couldn't fight.
'This will be perfect,' he thought. 'I'll crush those wretched heroes and their arrogance.'
He allocated twenty points to Strength and Dexterity while putting twenty-one on HP, a surge of power coursing through him. His muscles burned, and he unleashed a ferocious roar, the raw energy of his enhanced form igniting his resolve.
[HP: 5>25]
[STR: 12>32]
[DEX: 5>25]
[DP: 161>101]
Dante glanced at Raoul and decided to upgrade him to Rank E to see the results. With a simple thought, he spent fifty Death Points only to see the Death Scout drop to the ground as a red glow washed over its body.
[DP: 101>51]
Moments later, the Goblin stood up and shook his head while looking at his hands, questioning. ''Did you just make me stronger, my lord?''
''Yes, my Death Scout has to be strong after all,'' he replied.
Afterward, Dante returned to his food as another quest popped up, exciting him once again.
[System Quest: Recruit The D Rank Hollow Bears To The West - Reward: 200 Death Points - Recommendation: Rank Up Before Attempting]
When he read this, his eyes widened at the number of points he'd earn, but he'd never heard of Hollow Bears. Afterward, he slumped back against the wall as the hot air brushed against his skin. 'If I remember correctly, in the game, level zero to fifty is Rank F, while fifty-one to one hundred is Rank E,' he mused. 'Seems like I can fight anything up to D Rank, after that I'll have some trouble but I can use the Death Army.'
Dante couldn't help but get excited as he jumped up and spoke. ''Come forth, my Ghoul Warrior and Plague Maiden.''
The air turned cold as the two undead stepped through the portal, and they knelt in respect. Just then, the Maiden spoke first. ''You summoned us, My Lord.''
''Go out there and cause chaos,'' he ordered. ''Drive the monsters toward Ashvale, once the villagers' leader sees the number of beasts, he'll summon more adventurers and guards from the Darkmoore Kingdom.''
''Yes, Death Monarch!'' the Ghoul and Plague Maiden replied.
Following that, they vanished by jumping off the ledge, leaving him behind as Raoul hopefully asked. ''Can I go hunting, My Lord?''
''Go for it, but return before morning,'' he responded. ''And take the Death Wolves, so you can fight other monsters.''
They all bowed their heads and vanished into the darkness as he summoned the Death Revenant that stood by the opening. Dante glanced at the undead and curiously questioned. ''Do you still hate me?''
The warrior, its crimson-glowing skin pulsing, met his gaze and shook its head. ''No, Death Monarch. I felt the torment humans inflicted on you. Your rage is just in this cruel world where the strong devour the weak. Now, you've become the beast destined to consume us all.''
''And do you support me in my journey?'' he continued.
When the Revenant heard this, it nodded. ''Until you deem me unworthy of serving you, My Lord.''