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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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He intended to become his Legion Commander and planned to use a Necropolis to supplement his power.
He had already completed the design, and by studying it and listening to his explanations, he would learn the fundamentals of Ashen Construction and the dragon’s methods.
He would then adapt that knowledge to create his own Necropolis.
It would take time.
However, he lacked the time currently, so he intended to focus on a few key aspects.
-I intend to build my Necropolis here.”
“…That would be ideal. You’ll be able to access its power from anywhere.”
That was why he had planned to build his own Necropolis here as well.
While he felt slightly possessive about his domain, his undead’s power was also his own.
There was nothing to regret, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed that he couldn’t build it himself and had to rely on the dragon.
‘I’ll build mine in the Barren Lands.’
While the dimensional fragment was vast, it couldn’t accommodate two Necropolises.
He also anticipated the dragon’s Necropolis to be massive, considering it was meant to supplement a dragon’s power.
As promised, the dragon revealed its design. (However, since it couldn’t interact with the physical world, he had to draw the actual blueprints based on the dragon’s explanations.)
He studied the design, focusing on the “walls,” the most crucial element he needed to learn currently.
As expected, the Necropolis was massive, incorporating even the areas Mutre had worked on.
The dragon’s perception range was quite extensive.
‘It could communicate with me even without entering the dimensional fragment, as long as it was open.’
That meant it could sense him from outside, proving its exceptional sensory abilities.
The “wall” itself wasn’t a particularly complex spell.
Thanks to his improved understanding of magic after becoming an Archmage, he managed to create a decent spell within a day, despite only having the basic framework.
-That’s not bad for your level.”
“I can still see areas for improvement…”
-It’s excellent, considering you’ve just become an Archmage. You underestimate yourself.”
“I don’t know about that.”
While he didn’t think he lacked talent, he wasn’t sure if it warranted praise from a dragon.
Perhaps he was overestimating the dragon.
“But this should be enough to defend the base.”
-Indeed. Especially with the ‘tower’ as well. You seem to have already given that some thought.”
“I remembered it, more accurately. Thanks to you.”
-I helped with the walls, but you handled the tower yourself, didn’t you?”
“I adapted some of what I learned from the walls.”
-I see. I’m glad it was helpful. I would enjoy continuing this discussion, but it’s time for us to part ways. I never thought I would look forward to the day a gate is sealed.”
“By the way, can’t you destroy the gate with your current power?”
-Impossible. Even if I become your Legion Commander, it will be impossible for now. You’ll need to reach at least 8th circle.”
Even then, it would only be possible because the dragon had created the gate in the first place. Normally, it would require a 9th circle mage, it explained.
“I see. That’s unfortunate. I’ll visit again soon.”
He still had much to learn. He wanted to see if there were any other 7th circle spells that could be useful.
As if reading his mind, the dragon replied calmly,
-I’ll be waiting.”
After a brief farewell, he exited the dimensional fragment.
He immediately summoned Orie, Untinia, and Annelise.
Orie, her playful smile replaced with a serious expression, quickly joined them, and he informed Untinia and Annelise of his breakthrough.
Naturally, they were astonished, especially Untinia, who looked incredulous.
“Good heavens, you’ve already reached the Archmage level… even though human growth is frighteningly fast, I never imagined it would be this quick…”
“I wondered why you didn’t appear during the attack. It seems there was a good reason. Congratulations.”
Annelise, at least, seemed to accept it relatively quickly.
“Reaching 7th circle has expanded my capabilities significantly. I intend to take a more active role from now on.”
“Does that mean we’ll be leaving the tower?”
Untinia asked, and he shook his head.
“No. I’ll be the only one leaving. I’ll join the others and stabilize the Barren Lands as quickly as possible. But before that…”
He looked upwards.
“I need to secure this place. I have a plan.”
Untinia and Annelise wouldn’t be involved in this process.
He was simply informing them.
They were directly involved, and Untinia, in particular, held a relatively important position.
He had personally forged a connection with the Demihuman Alliance, and Untinia was a key figure in that connection.
Therefore, he felt obligated to keep her informed, and at the same time, by indirectly revealing his power, he was further increasing his value, making it impossible for them to abandon him.
‘Well, even disregarding that, she’s worth keeping around because of her connection to Yeriya.’
Despite becoming an Archmage and finding a way to turn the dragon into a Legion Commander, Yeriya was still a valuable asset.
Her cooperation would make the process of turning the dragon into a Legion Commander much easier, and even without that, her power and status would be beneficial.
Moreover, her goals didn’t conflict with his.
In fact, their goals were mutually beneficial, so recruiting her was a net positive.
With the biggest obstacle, the demon king’s pact, potentially resolved, it would be foolish not to try.
After briefly informing Untinia and Annelise of the situation, he went up to the surface.
‘First, the walls.’
And then the tower, specifically the Tower of Ghosts, Orie’s domain.
Orie’s domain would expand, gaining influence over the “walls” and numerous other benefits.
He recalled the dragon’s words.
-Constructions shouldn’t exist in isolation. Connect them all. Don’t focus on individual structures. Consider the overall harmony and future additions. The ideal approach is to design everything from the beginning, with a clear purpose, and build it all at once.”
-You don’t need a lot of materials. You have demonic energy, don’t you?”
-More and better materials are always welcome, but that’s all. Why do you think this is called magic? Why is it called Ashen Construction?”
-A necromancer’s power is limited without minions or corpses. But that doesn’t mean they’re not mages. You have a preconceived notion.”
-It doesn’t matter if it’s incomplete. Once it’s built, you can add more materials later.”
-If the quality is high enough, even that might not be necessary.”
-In the distant past, there was a city made of illusion magic. But it was an illusion, yet not an illusion.”
-I’m not saying you should aim for that. Your path is different. But such extremes exist.”
-Use your own methods.”
He raised Elosette’s Staff.
A torrent of demonic energy flowed from his seal, channeled through his body, now a vessel.
The demonic energy flowed towards his core, strengthened by the dragon heart fragment, and his seven circuits spun rapidly, amplifying the energy.
Elosette’s Staff resonated with his core and circuits, creating a powerful synergy.
He still didn’t use hand seals or incantations.
He never had.
The demonic energy arranged itself according to his will, forming a powerful spell.
[Transformation, Silent Walls]
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A torrent of demonic energy, far exceeding anything he had wielded at 6th circle, spread throughout the oasis.
Untinia and Annelise, sensing the overwhelming surge of controlled demonic energy, rushed outside, and Orie appeared beside him.
Even the Specters, Orie’s subordinates, who were usually invisible, materialized, proving the sheer scale of the demonic energy he was wielding.
‘This is a strange feeling.’
Even at 6th circle, he had wielded more demonic energy than other mages of his level could handle.
The same would have been true even if the demonic energy was converted to mana or magic power.
But that was nothing compared to his current power.
It was at least five times greater, and he was amazed that he could control such a massive amount so easily.
‘It’s so easy.’
It felt as if magic had become an extension of his limbs.
He felt a strange sense of exhilaration.
The controlled torrent of demonic energy flowed towards the existing walls.
The bone walls, which had been so effective against the monsters, began to crumble.
But in their place, the demonic energy solidified, as if dyeing the walls black.
It was as if the bones were being replaced by demonic energy, but it was more than that.
-Huh?
Orie flinched, making a strange sound.
She had sensed the change in her domain.
“Don’t resist. This won’t harm you.”
-Y-yes…
Orie looked bewildered, but he ignored her and continued.
The melted bones spread underground, and the walls on the surface transformed into jet-black barriers of demonic energy.
The bones spreading underground began to collapse and absorb the other structures in the area.
He didn’t care about losing the constructions he had painstakingly built.
None of them met his current standards.
He needed to rebuild them all, and he lacked the time to do so individually. He would use this opportunity to dismantle them and combine them into a single, powerful structure.
The surrounding constructions crumbled and were absorbed into the walls.
The walls’ influence expanded dramatically, and when the only remaining structures were the walls and the Tower of Ghosts, he connected them.
Orie’s domain expanded significantly, and the two structures began to share their functions.
-Wow…
Orie gasped in pure admiration.
-Such authority…
She seemed to be sensing the power she had gained through the connection between the Silent Walls and the Tower of Ghosts.
But that wasn’t all.
He used the Silent Walls to further transform the Tower of Ghosts.
He made its structure more ethereal, its essence similar to the Silent Walls.
He unleashed the power he had previously restricted to create his research lab.
The Tower of Ghosts’ influence expanded, and its height increased.
-M-Master?
Part of his underground research lab was destroyed in the process, but he accepted the loss. It was fine. He could rebuild it later if necessary.
He didn’t even need Mutre’s help anymore.
Things were different now that he was a 7th circle Archmage.
As the transformation of the Tower of Ghosts concluded, a grey mist began to form around the area.
And new undead began to materialize, created from the remnants of the absorbed constructions.
‘It’s complete.’
Shadow Beasts.
Formless creatures, similar to Specters.
They were classified as ghost-type undead, but they were far more difficult to create and control.
However, in the right environment, their power was unmatched.
As the transformation finished, he felt his body emptied of demonic energy.
But it was only for a moment. The demonic energy flowing from his seal quickly replenished his reserves.
‘Hmm… it’s not completely unlimited.’
Recovering demonic energy this quickly put a strain on his body.
If he repeated this process excessively, it could shorten his lifespan.
‘That’s unlikely to happen, though.’
And even if it did, he could recover later, so it wasn’t a major concern.
He could effectively wield an unlimited amount of demonic energy as long as he paced himself, and he made a mental note to determine the optimal recovery rate that wouldn’t strain his body.
-Master, this is… this is truly…
Perhaps because it was her domain, Orie immediately grasped the new functions of the Silent Walls and the connected Tower of Ghosts, her voice filled with awe.
The melted bones, hidden underground, would become spikes impaling any intruders, and the walls of demonic energy concealed Shadow Beasts within their depths.
The grey mist would serve as a cloak, concealing the area and providing cover for the Specters.
‘And Orie will control it all.’
The formless tower and walls could partially alter their shape, merging with the mist and strengthening the undead within their domain.
They could even be dissolved back into demonic energy in emergencies, making them far more versatile than traditional constructions.
-I think I can defend this place alone now. Such a domain…
“Currently, the Shadow Beasts, Specters, and other ghost-type undead are the main force, but I’ll add Skeletons and other standard undead to your ranks later.”
He could have absorbed the undead from the existing constructions and made them part of the Silent Walls, but he had prioritized expanding the walls’ influence, and as a result, the existing undead had become part of the walls’ structure.
The Shadow Beasts were merely byproducts of that process.
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