Damn Necromancer

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Chapter 226: The Third Trial (14)

Great Demon Realm Decisive Weapon.

Since the damage was dispersed as the range widened, he kept the range as narrow as possible.

Just enough for Baal and the other Great Demon Lords to fit in.

Among them, the one with the most concentrated firepower was undoubtedly Baal.

He had heard that the number one rank was something else before he came.

'Definitely.'

Three heads, and a tremendous presence.

He looked much stronger than the other Great Demon Lords. That's why he focused on Baal.

And, the performance of the decisive weapon was...

[Great Demon Lord 'Agares' has entered eternal sleep!]

[Great Demon Lord 'Gamigin' has entered eternal sleep!]

[Great Demon Lord 'Vasago' has entered eternal sleep...]

In a single blow.

The three Great Demon Lords, engulfed in the explosion, died. When the explosion cleared, all that remained was a battered Baal.

[Amazing achievement!]

[You have massacred a group of Great Demon Lords!]

[Calculating achievement....]

Even Baal wasn't unscathed. Two of his three heads were blown off. All that remained was the human-shaped head in the middle. The legs attached to his body had become limp like a squid that had lost its strength.

―...H-holy blood?

Baal was terrified.

It was called the blood of God.

It was no different from poison to the beings of the Demon Realm. An explosive filled with the energy of such holy blood had detonated.

It exploded right in front of him, leaving no time to defend. His insides were turned into a mess.

His internal organs melted, and his blood hardened like a solid. Even his brain wasn't intact. More than half of it had been blown away by the explosion.

If it weren't for his monstrous vitality, he would have died long ago.

―Serves you right, you bastard! Die!

Vulcan charged.

The flame demon struck Baal's helpless body with all its might.

* * *

It wasn't just the Great Demon Lords who were gathered in the territory of the four lords.

Their armies were also on the move.

They were qualitatively and quantitatively different from the armies of the lower Great Demon Lords.

The number was close to 200,000, and it was teeming with higher demons. Such a massive army was resting, having set up camp.

Then they suddenly felt something strange.

A group of Balrogs were flying in the distance.

In the whole world, only Vulcan's mercenary group moved in such a large group.

'They're coming here?'

'Are they crazy?'

Baal had just issued another official notice to the entire Demon Realm, hadn't he?

Moreover, if they had brought a large number, it would have been a different story.

They were only about a hundred.

Even though each one was a strong Balrog warrior, there was no fighting against numbers.

The Great Demon Lords went out to greet them in person.

'This expedition will end quickly.'

'There's nothing more to see.'

That's what they thought.

Until just now.

―D-did they die?

A massive explosion.

Followed by an eerie silence. In the midst of it, a demon uttered in bewilderment.

Those words were the thoughts of all the demons present.

Gone.

They were gone!

After the terrifyingly threatening holy explosion, only Baal remained. Even Baal was collapsing helplessly.

They had no desire to help him.

The Demon Realm respected the strong.

They pledged their loyalty to the lords because they were strong.

But now it was different.

Who was the weak one now?

The human and the Balrogs?

Or the former Great Demon Lords who were swept away by the explosion, leaving no trace?

Clearly, it was the latter.

And there was more...

―How many more of those things does he have?

There was no rule that said he could only use that explosion once!

The moment they were swept away, it would be the end for them.

That's why the army hesitated, even as Baal's pleas for help echoed in their minds.

It was a fatal blow to Baal.

'Weak.'

The number one in the Demon Realm?

At this moment, it didn't seem like it at all. Was it because he was drenched in holy blood? Baal was even weaker than Paimon had ever been.

On the other hand, Vulcan, who had devoured the corpses of three lords, and Kim Minwoo, who had gained loot, had their specs significantly increased.

The battle was easy and smooth.

Especially since the 200,000-strong army hadn't joined.

―S-stop! Vulcan! I'll recognize you as a Great Demon Lord! I'll grant you a territory wider than anyone else! Human! You too...

He cut off the neck of Baal, who was wagging his cunning tongue. The one remaining head floated high in the sky.

Eyes wide open.

A tongue moving like a snake, as if still trying to continue speaking.

That was Baal's end.

[Great Demon Lord 'Baal' has entered eternal sleep!]

[You have achieved an impossible feat!]

[The order of the Demon Realm will be reorganized!]

[You are a 'human'!]

[According to the Demon God's Law, you cannot ascend to the position of a lord!]

[Other rewards will be given!]

'Impossible feat?'

He had only seen that phrase once.

When?

When he was playing as 'Kim Minwoo' in the past, and he had reduced the Dragon Lord's HP to 63% at level 200.

'And then I possessed him when it was down to 50%.'

At that time, the achievement that popped up was 'Incomprehensible Feat'. While he was thinking for a moment, a message popped up.

[Rewards for hunting the higher demon lords, including Baal, will be calculated comprehensively!]

['Death Emperor's Crown' is given!]

Whoosh.

A crown appeared in his hand. It was a crown with a diamond in the center, shaped like a skull.

"......Huh?"

Kim Minwoo's eyes widened.

This was because it was an item he had seen many times before.

"Death Lord?"

There was always a jeweled crown on his head. And that crown was...

'Exactly the same?'

It had the exact same appearance as the one he was holding in his hand now.

Then, could this be the crown that the Death Lord used?

He immediately checked the details.

[Death Emperor's Crown]

[Rank: Mythical]

[A crown used by a legendary ruler long ago. It maximizes the power of a Necromancer.]

[Effect 1. All stats +300]

[Effect 2. 'Legion's Aura' always applied - Gives a buff when summoning undead.]

[Effect 3. 'Emperor's Authority' can be used - Once a month, increases all summons' stats by 200%.]

[Effect 4. 'Treasure Trove of Knowledge' - Various undead crafting techniques are activated in your mind.]

[Effect 5. 'Suffocating Dignity' - Most undead will not be able to escape your control.]

[Effect 6. ???]

.

.

[* The true power of the crown is still sealed. If certain conditions are met, a more powerful force may awaken.]

"Crazy, crazy!"

Kim Minwoo's eyes sparkled more than ever.

Mythical!

It was the second Mythical item he had seen while playing the game.

And this one was...

'Much better than the one I saw before, right?'

The Mythical rank item he had checked once in the past was a sword.

'Durandal's Sword.'

[Translator - Prøks]

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He remembered it as a sword that boasted tremendous stats and holy effects.

He could say for sure.

That one was lower rank than this crown.

It was truly a crown specialized for the undead.

An item overflowing with the dignity befitting a Death Lord.

And this one was...

'Its effects haven't even been fully unlocked yet.'

It was a growth-type item!

It meant there was a high possibility of it going beyond the Mythical rank.

'Because the stage has widened.'

In the game, Mythical was the end, but would Mythical really be the end? Could it be that only Mythical appeared because the stage was narrow?

Such a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

'Anyway. One thing is for sure.'

It was an insane loot.

A crazy item that was not inferior to, or perhaps even superior to, Vulcan, who could be considered the spoils of war of this expedition.

That was this crown.

"Ha, you can go now."

['Wicked Corpse Summoner's Helmet' is removed!]

A makeshift Unique helmet.

He took off the 120 billion won helmet he had bought from the auction house because he didn't have any decent equipment.

He didn't need this kind of thing anymore.

He had acquired the ultimate graduation item that he would be with for the rest of his life!

[You equip the Death Emperor's Crown!]

[* Special Event Occurs!]

[* You are the Death Emperor, the successor of the Death Lord!]

[* The successor has inherited his first piece of equipment!]

[* You feel a strange pull. It seems there is still much of his legacy left....]

[* Quest, 'Inheriting the Throne, Father' has been triggered!]

[Quest: Inheriting the Throne, Father]

[Category: Special Quest]

[* Find the Death Lord's legacy scattered throughout all dimensions.]

[* Currently Possessed Legacy (1/10)]

[* Resonance will occur when you are near a piece of the legacy.]

[* When all legacies are found, the 'New Order' will be reorganized.]

Phew, phew.

He was breathless at the sight of the dazzling messages.

'Ten legacies in total?'

He quickly recalled the past appearance of the Death Lord.

A jet-black robe.

A jeweled crown.

A skull ring that sparkled on his finger.

A large jeweled necklace.

And a long staff.

Five things came to mind.

'There must be more, right?'

Inside the thick robe, there must have been treasures overflowing.

Since there were so many different types of equipment, he didn't know exactly what the 10 items consisted of, but...

'I will find them all.'

What if they were all Mythical rank?

If he found them all, it wouldn't be strange at all for the 'New Order' to be reorganized.

Ten items with the potential to be Mythical, or even higher?

It wouldn't be strange even if they broke everything.

He called Merhen and Cedric.

"How is it?"

―Is that... the Lord's crown?

"Yes."

―...Now you finally look like a master.

Cedric managed to speak after a pause.

Merhen, on the other hand, was hesitant without answering.

"Merhen?"

―Oh, yeah!

"Is there something wrong?"

―No, it's just... It feels like... an atmosphere that's hard to talk in...

Suffocating dignity.

Was it because of the crown's effect?

She was usually friendly like a puppy, but she was hesitating, unable to approach easily.

'How can I reduce it?'

The moment he thought so.

['Suffocating Dignity' is reduced!]

The atmosphere around Merhen and Cedric brightened considerably.

It seemed they were more comfortable this way.

―Heehee!

Merhen immediately linked arms with him.

"Is it more comfortable now?"

―Yes! It's not good to use the Lord's energy too much. Hail and the others might be scared.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Fortunately, he could control it.

If even a legion commander felt this much pressure...

As Merhen said, ordinary undead might not even be able to breathe.

'Though I doubt if undead breathe in the first place.'

Well, anyway.

Since it had become like this, it seemed like he could just use the dignity when necessary.

―Human.

"Yes?"

―What are you going to do now?

Vulcan approached and asked.

Where he pointed, a massive army of nearly 200,000 was lined up.

They all looked terrified.

"You said you wanted to become a lord, right?"

―I did.

"I can't do it anyway, since I'm human. So, you do it. Become a lord."

―Really?

"Of course, it's real."

He was already bursting with the crown. The position of a lord? Even if they gave him a hundred of those, it wouldn't compare to one crown.

"Can you do it?"

―Of course. There's no one to oppose it now.

The qualifications of a demon lord.

Strength was important, but also the consent of three other lords was needed.

But, the top privileged class who were adamantly opposed were all dead.

Before, even if others opposed, they could have handled the aftermath, but could they now? With Baal and the higher lords all dead?

"That army is yours now. Go. And prove it. Your place."

―Humph! That's what I intend to do! I'll show them the dignity of the Balrogs!

Vulcan approached the massive army.

And then, he made a speech.

―Will you come under me! Or will you die like them!

A super simple speech.

The answer of those who had been hesitant in battle was already decided.

―We will pledge our loyalty to Lord Vulcan!

―Spare us!

An army of 200,000 under his command.

The end of this journey was approaching.

All that was left was Vulcan's ascension to lordship.

[TL/N: Peak Chapter FR]

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]