A King of a dying World (pt.3) (remade)

So many times, again and again, over and over, numerous times I have seen my trusted Summon lose and kill itself. Its sanity couldn't hold, too fragile, too weak. But, its sacrifices are always what makes it easier for me.

'It killed a total of 214 Players and NPCs alike. There's currently… 1,822 left excluding the nine out.'

I scan the life signatures in the vicinity and indeed, the numbers have not decreased that much. There's only strong signatures, about Level 400 at the minimum.

'...This will take a long while.'

Of course, I can always speed things up with my other Summons, or even use one of my exclusive Summons as the God of Death. The Skeleton King is now a wild card, but it won't hurt me. I have a card up my sleeve for discouraging him in attacking me.

'Now, for the corpses.'

I look at the corpses in the distance. It was a lot to conjure up and reanimate for a typical Necromancer, but I am a God over the concept of Death. This meager number is nothing.

"Reanimation."

I point my palm towards the battlefield and a dark Aura bursts forth, traveling towards there and enveloping the dead bodies.

"Kuagghhh!!"

"Arrghhh!"

Of course, the process is painful. It was akin to jumpstarting a generator, which is the brain, and the electricity that's sent throughout the body will slightly jolt the body awake and functioning. It's uncomfortable and sometimes very painful depending on body mass, which is every time since a normal body of 1m50 will experience an electrocution level of pain from the Spell.

'Serve your God.'

"Grahhh!"

"Hrahhh…"

They rise up and grab their weapons. Lifeless, rolled back eyes that're now white. A slightly dark grey skin color, and a dark ominous Aura radiates from each of them.

[You have reanimated 214 beings]

I put down my outstretched arm and sighed.

''...Kill everyone."

"Graaahhhhhh!!!"

"Raahhhhh!!"

The reanimated corpses rush to find their target, of which there are many. Their targets all had fearful looks, as they began to prepare for the incoming Undead wave.

"Solar Light."

"Holy Protection."

"Divine Power!"

Those that had Miracles that repel Undead casted them to the frontline, mainly to tankers and DPS dealers. The tankers push up slowly, while the DPS that's behind them fire or poke through the defense gap of the tankers. Some were comrades, now enemies.

This was why Necromancers were shunned and disgusted by the populace. Some use their power over Death as a blessing, though much inferior, to give back what it has taken. But most use it like me, for absolute chaos and to inflict as much death as possible. To destroy, and to lay waste to everything that possesses the great gift of Life.

In truth, I felt nothing even when I killed the first living being in this game world. He screamed, begged, until his throat was no longer able to produce the melodies of fear and terror. Along with his wife, and their sweet daughter. Though not as gruesome, they went out as a family. The little girl, she was the most peaceful going out. Died in her sleep, no fear nor pain. A merciful death.

Killing, it was second nature to me. For my cause, my ambition. I am willing to give up every last bit of my Humanity to reach it. And now, it did not change, just shifted.

'...But, it seems like I cannot fully protect everyone. Sorry, my dear children. My wife… darling, I'm afraid after this, I won't be able to see you for the last time.'

I was afraid, that if I made any more memories with any of them, I would suffer so much that it'll finally break me for good. I've lost too many, known too little to shoulder my burden, to lessen the weight I carry. I… want release from those memories.

'And so, this will be just the thing.'

Battle, death, screams, they will release me of my memories. To dull out the sadness, to kill the last bit of feeling I have for this world, to finally 'die' one last time.

'...'

I waited, and waited. Of course, I have no faith that my small, meager average Level 400 Undead army of 214 will be able to kill all of the Players. They were pushed back quite easily, but some managed to inflict heavy wounds to the frontline tankers and dispatch some of the backlines. I continue to reanimate those that've fell, and watch as the chaos renewed itself.

"Shit! They're now in our ranks!"

"Priests, can't you do something?"

"I can't, my Miracles can't protect any of you from being reanimated! This is the power of Divinity!"

Of course, it'll need an equal level of Divinity in order to fully protect you all from my powers. Your Death shall be fuel for this fiery battle, until none of you stand on this battlefield. All, except for 'them'.

'...'

I look into the distance. There in the sky, on a platform made of earth, artistically shaped and carved with meticulous care, stood eight individuals. I know every one of them, as they are the current top 10, also known as the High Rankers.

'...'

Amongst them, the number 2 and 4 were the ones I have my eyes on cautiously. They were sisters, from my intel. They both possess the attribute that's directly opposite to mine.

[Sarah Goldheart, Rank 2]

[Elizabeth Seraphim Emilia, Rank 4]

They were the two that pose the most danger to me, one able to suppress my powers as Death, and the other able to wound me to a critical state if I'm careless.

"..."

Besides them, the one that I would consider my enemy would be the tallest, bulkiest one of the group. A Titan.

[Marcus Riex, Rank 3]

He was the one that stood out the most of the others, literally. His height was more than twice the height of my Royal Guards, his face always dawning a helmet, and a heavy red armor with the mark of a radiant sun on the chestplate. His weapon is a giant broadsword, forged inside a Mana condensed volcano. Very edgy, cool, and slightly doubtful origin. But whatever.

'They are the ones I'll need to watch out for…'

The Divine Sisters are a natural threat, while the Titan is a threat in a physical way. The others I can handle to a certain extent using an assortment of Undeads and some of my Monarchs.

'...'

I stare at the battlefield where death ran rampant, and then towards the battle between the Skeleton King and one of the High Rankers, the one with a long name. I believe it was Ushikawamaru Yoshida.

'He's a one-shot build, utilizing high Penetration effects, high attack power, and Instant Death afflicting Skills to do the job. From what I've gathered, he's a battle junkie who repeatedly and stubbornly seeks out strong opponents to test his blade and tactics. And, is one of the frequent Players who manage to come to my floor the most, unless he went to the 8th floor that is.'

He was exchanging blades with the Skeleton King, fast with sparks flying all over. His smile was only widening, as the spark's intensity increased. Their blades clashed with each creating shockwaves throughout the surroundings. It also discharges black and red bits of Aura, making the scene more overwhelming and cool.

"Haha… hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!"

'...He's really insane like the reports say.'

The standoff looked like it was a stalemate, but that was far from it. I know of his Level, and it was more than three leagues higher than the Skeleton King's current Level of 750. He was toying with the Skeleton King, though showed some sense of respect by holding himself back. He wishes to enjoy the battle, it seems.

'...Hmm.'

Ushikawamaru Yoshida, a man who lived in the moment similar to Lubert Alkhan, but seems to have a broader goal than to simply enjoy the adrenaline. He has a family in his World, though the way he treats them is a little cruel and downright sadistic, for me it seems like he wishes to bring something to life, like I once did.

'A screwed family…'

Abusive, hurtful, yet strong and has a sense of camaraderie with each other when in danger. It was an interesting family that spanned three generations, of which I followed closely.

'An interesting man… filled with interesting and barbaric ideologies.'

Those were the words I would use to describe him, a man filled with twisted thoughts, yet somehow turned out to be more 'human' than I am. But, in hindsight, I am Death.

Anyway, the fight was stretched out longer than it should be. It was a tight fight, but that was it. It didn't change much as the two both refused to move an inch from where their feet lay.

"Summon High Undead, Great Wolf Warrior."

I use the corpses in the distant battlefield as a medium to lessen the cost of summoning. From the gathered corpses, approximately 6 dozens of them, amalgamated with each other along with the present Undead at my disposal, a warrior once known and respected by all rise up.

"Grrr… too, bright."

"Undead, serve your God once more."

"...Under…stood."

It was a Demi-human, a humanoid wolf, wielding a rusty and shabby longsword along with an equally rusty and shabby armor set that consists of a chestplate that covers the entire muscular upper body, a set of plates covering the legs, and a pair of gauntlets. Some of the places weren't protected. The joints of the legs were one, due to flexibility issues that it might bring, but that wasn't a problem for the warrior. Another is the arms, where the gauntlets only protect the hands and a little further up the forearms.

White snow-like fur. It was smooth and silky, flowing beautifully in the wind along with his dreadlock hair. His eyes were white, yet somehow he scanned the surroundings like he could see. He growled at the Players and NPCs at a low pitch, revealing his canine teeth, and this made them terrified out of their wits.

[You have been inflicted with the Fear Debuff!]

[You have failed to resist!]

[Due to your Level disparity, the Fear Debuff has advanced into the Terror Debuff!]

He is one of my exclusive Undead Summons, one that I personally raise up and harvested for personal use. A dutiful, loyal, and subservient Undead that's Level 1,043 at the start. He's a famed Dragon Slayer, mercenary, and swordsman. An all-rounder Undead that can act as any role, backline DPS through rapid Spell casting and enchantments, a Tank with a taunt riposte style of play, and a bruiser with good sustain just to name a few.

'A good product.'

I smiled underneath my helmet, a sense of satisfaction washes over me.

"Attack."

"..."

With wordless actions, my Undead rushes to decapitate everyone in sight. His swordsmanship is swift, deadly, and precise. His intentions were unknown as his eyes were not used to predict his attacks. And his footwork was efficient and minimal as he chopped and slashed off the heads of his enemies.

'...'

"Shit! He's going to kill us all at this rate!"

"Tch, is Death really not gonna fight us?"

"What are you, delusional? He could kill us with one wave of his hand!! You're lucky this fight is going on longer than this!"

Yes, what the Players are saying is indeed true. I could've ended this entire thing, excluding the nine, with various methods. The Grand Spell Eternal Sleeping Moon, summoning the Judge of the Dead, revealing my true God form, or unleashing my Monarchs name a few.

'...'

But, I wanted to see the scene of the battlefield, for one last time. I stared as chaos ensued in the battlefield, amongst the ranks of the Players and NPCs. They were getting killed faster than they could be healed back, if they could survive a strike is the thing. And just in a matter of minutes, their numbers were reduced to being one third of the original surviving number.

"...Enough!"

However, that was the end of it. The blade that continuously swung through the air stopped abruptly to my shout. It saved the life of a Player, but due to the stress damage he suffered a critical heart attack and died on the spot.

"..."

The reason I stopped my Undead was because-

"Storm Blade: Scattering Wind!"

The Skeleton King was overwhelmed in an instant and suffered several slashes through its bones, quickly reducing it to scattering white dust as it took off to the wind.

"My… dear… Lily…"

Its consciousness returned briefly for it to say its final words. Afterward, Ushikawamaru ignited his blade into a soft green fire to evaporate any lingering bone dust that happened to land on it.

"Phew, that was a terrific fight!"

A lie but, with his smile and what just happened, some might even consider that to be true.

"Now… Huh?"

My Undead used Shunpo, a Movement Skill that folds Space to seem like teleportation, and arrive in front of Ushikawamaru with a downward slash.

"Woah!"

A clang of metal resounded, one far louder and with a much greater force than the previous fight. Both blades trembled and grind their edges as the two tested their strength against each other.

"Damn, you're tough…''

"..."

Ushikawamaru conjures up his green flames, now in a darker shade, but before he could do anything my Undead was already withdrawn.

"Aww, that's no fun!"

Instead of being frustrated, he charged forward, following my Undead as he descended. The two clashed blades once more and this time, it wasn't a close match.

"Kuk!?"

"..."

It was my Undead who swung his blade midair and deflected the incoming threat. He lands safely and gazes at the clearly enraged Ushikawamaru.

"Now, this is what I'm talking about!"

Ushikawamaru lunged forward while in a spinning motion midair. It would be considered a flawed move, exposing your back to your opponent, but considering what's to come, it'll be his enemy's loss while his would be minimal.

"Storm Blade: Cyclone Eye!"

Wind started to gather quickly and enveloping the blade, then ignited with green flame.

"Aura: Dragon!"

A red and yellow Aura enveloped my Undead from head to toe. Its speed and strength took a noticeable spike, now completely being able to match Ushikawamaru's. This took the samurai by surprise and caused him to stiffen mid flight. He knows that he's not the strongest, the fastest, nor smartest. But he prides himself in being able to overcome challenges with instinct. However, right now his instincts were numb and unresponsive.

"Draconic Fury."

Though unnecessary, he spoke the Skill's name as he activated it. The intensity of the Aura doubled, and then tripled the next moment. This also means his overall Stats have increased proportionally.

"Kuk!?"

The scene Ushikawamaru envisioned didn't come to reality. Instead, it was his close defeat as he barely managed to redirect the incoming blade away from hitting his body. His heart rate spiked, and his entire body was on alert. He was blown away with great force and crashed hard on the ground in the distance.

'Why can't I sense anything!?'

I read his mind, now made easier by the confusion he's experiencing. The reason for his instinct not activating is because, right now, there was no malicious intent being directed to him. A trained body reacts very acutely to any killing intent, but there's no killing intent right now. Even when my Undead was swinging his sword, there was no killing intent being directed to him.

'How… How can this be?! This can't be… a bug?'

'...What nonsense?'

Of course, refusing to accept reality. Typical, but unexpected coming from him.

"Kuk, you're strong."

"..."

My Undead was still not unfazed. He approaches his enemy with slow steps, menacingly.

"Not saying anything? A shame, but whatever."

Ushikawamaru stands up, cracking his stiff neck to relieve some stress. He takes up his katana once more, pointing it towards my Undead with a menacing glare.

"Haven't seen you before, you're his new pet?"

"..."

"Strong, good swordsmanship… and that Aura unleash just now, a Dragon Slayer?"

Guessed, but received no answers. So, without any further ado, they began fighting each other again.

"Hahaha! This is great! I don't need to hold back anymore!"

They both used Shunpo, their blades now clashing with each other and produced yet another intense shockwave, and their eyes locked with each other.

''So, got any words to exchange?"

"..."

"Nothing? Not even a name? Shame, would've liked to remember our first fight but it seems like it'll be like any other. Just me cutting down a nameless Undead, blindly and obediently serving its master."

Ushikawamaru taunted my Undead with its nature, a servant that's ready to die without any hesitation for me. A puppet to be controlled, and once done is discarded into nothingness.

''Hahaha, though, why is it that I can't feel anything when I'm fighting you? No rush of adrenaline, no malicious intent, not even so much as a thought of shedding a single dew of blood from me. Why is that? Huh? Tell me, tell me!"

Ushikawamaru was an emotional person when I first met him, and he only became more and more emotional as time went on. He's crazy, talks a lot, and seems to exhibit maniacal tendencies such as hysterical laughing and unstable, unpredictable movement patterns.

"C'mon, we're partners in a dance, why not talk a bit? Be more friendly with each other as we tear our flesh and cut our bones, huh? Isn't that nice? Why… why won't you talk?!!"

His face shifted rapidly from being relaxed, to a friendly smile, to a rage distorted one in a matter of seconds. During that conversation, their blades have not made a single shift or movement, almost like they're in perfect balance of force.

"Dammit! Why, why won't you talk!! Fine, if you're gonna be like that, then I'll kill you slowly and savor every single whimper, grunt, and sound that your rotten vocal cord can produce!"

Truly a maniac. I heard that he's not very liked by the other High Rankers, due to his tendencies.

They finally broke the balance they had and began striking and blocking each other's attacks. Upward slash met the hilt that hit it from the side, horizontal slash blocked and countered thrust, counter thrust blocked from the side and followed with an attempted hilt strike to the face, and then disengaged.

It happened at a rapid pace, with everything seemingly falling into place like clockwork.

And then they went at it again. This time, with Skills into the play.

"Storm Art: Breeze!"

A style of swordplay. There's two types of variation in a 'melee' Build, one is the Skill, another is a sort of Passive that can be triggered, either when under certain conditions or manually, and it gives varying benefits depending on how good and 'practical' it is.

Ushikawamaru swung his katana like he did every time, with not even a slight difference. My Undead, although wary, blocked it like normal. It was the same, but then different the next moment.

The katana bounced off the edge, and yet accelerated at an absurd speed that's not possible with physics. It was aimed in a different angle and this caught my Undead by surprise.

He quickly positions the longsword and blocks the incoming strike without faltering. Then, as he was about to counter, the katana was once again accelerating at a near impossible speed. This causes my Undead to withdraw from the battle, but gets chased by Ushikawamaru as he shows a crazed expression.

They block and slash at each other, now being able to land some scratches on each other's armors this time. Sparks flew through the air and my Undead was being pushed back. The bizarre swordplay coupled with the unpredictable erraticness of Ushikawamaru made my Undead unable to properly respond. It could only play on the defensive, parrying strike after strike after strike.

''Aren't you gonna use any Skill? Afraid or something? Or am I not the right type for you?"

"..."

But, it was because I didn't give the order. My Undead, akin to a dog that he is, was very obedient and only would do something if I gave the order. And so, in response to Ushikawamaru's question, I whispered my confirmation.

"Don't hold back, and decimate all that lives."

"...Understood."

My Undead spoke in a much clearer voice compared to before. No longer ragged and hoarse, my Undead charged up the red and yellow Aura. A Dragon Slayer and a Sword Saint Build, one of many pinnacles of absolute power that one can build up to with sweat and blood.

An all-rounder, I designed him as. With the ability to use little Magic in his swordsmanship, and the high self-buff powers of a Dragon Slayer, he is able to reach an attack power capable of obliterating a dragon with size comparable to a large continent with one, or many swings of his blade, which is currently in my Inventory.

'...'

I stuck my hand into a black wormhole that appeared beside me. My hand grasped the rough hilt of something, one that drained me of my vitality and Mana at a rapid pace. I contemplated whether or not to let loose this Item, and decided that since this is the end, I might as well make it a spectacular one.

'One of the nine will be able to contain or block it anyway, as long as it's aimed at them.'

I pulled the Item out, a red ominous sheen radiated from the entire thing. It was naturally a sword, a claymore to be precise, one that had pulsating red and orange lines across its large blade.

This is the Dragon Slaying Blade, Nokrun Auroleas. The weapon that was once in my Undead's possession, crafted by my orders, and enchanted with the roaring cries of hatred belonging to many fallen dragon Souls that my Undead has slain in his lifetime. It is a Mythical weapon, one that makes any dragon in its presence tremble with both fury and fear.

Its appearance is, once again, a claymore that's the same length as my height. It was heavy to wield, probably because I'm not a warrior Build, and even harder to swing and stop it midway. Though, I wasn't the one who's going to wield it, so it's fine.

"Shadow Shift."

A dark swirling void appeared on the ground. I hover the claymore over it, and look at the battle happening in the distance. I calculate their movement pattern, and drop the claymore into the swirling void before my feet.

Then, in the sky above, the dark swirling void opened and down came the claymore, heading to the fierce ongoing battle.

"Huh?"

Ushikawamaru noticed the sword first, and his head raised up to see it. The pulsating claymore brightens and intensifies its pulsing rate. This intrigued Ushikawamaru, and he intended to take it. However, before he could make a move, his opponent had already leapt up and caught it midair.

[Your Undead, Great Wolf Warrior, has been restored to its original state]

[The name, Great Wolf Warrior, is now changed to Dragon Slayer Siegfried]

[All of his Stats are now unsealed!]

The Aura that was previously at its maximum, brightened significantly as soon as his hands got hold of the hilt. The red and orange lines were now bright and shining, not pulsating anymore. Siegfried, the name of a Slayer who, in the long distant past, has been recorded to have slain a dragon. He was not the only one, but I chose that name regardless since I find it cool sounding.

"Siegfried, destroy my enemy with thy mighty blade!"

"Understood."

The radiance of a Dragon Slayer could overwhelm most if not all those that're under or equal to them. Siegfried was no exception, and his radiance was even more powerful than ordinary Dragon Slayers. This radiance made Ushikawamaru experience various Debuffs.

[You stand before a mighty Dragon Slayer, all Stats have been repressed by 5%]

[The Dragon Slayer's keen eyes have analyzed your being, your Status is revealed]

[The Dragon Slayer's Aura has permeated your being, all Defenses have dropped by 18%]

The three effects, except for the middle one, were even stronger if it was a Dragon that stood before him. Though small, a Debuff was still a Debuff that affects one's damage output and resilience. It annoys Ushikawamaru, but he ignores it and presses on.

"Well, done holding back?"

"...Yes, I shall come to you as Dragon Slayer Siegfried, prepare yourself."

"Heh, nice introduction. Then, I am Ushikawamaru Yoshida, the Shogun of Storm. I hope we'll rip and decimate each other fantastically."

"..."

And so, the battle intensifies once more.