"What the hell is this guy thinking?" He casually tossed a magic stone containing wind-magic, then proceeded to cast a seemingly weak normal spell. Airi was surprised by what Kuro did right in front of her.
"Well, Airi, just you wait and see this magic." The gas released by the magic stone earlier was not your typical gas; it was 'HYDROGEN.'
The question here is, how could I produce this type of gas in this world? Well, let's throw it back a bit.
--> The day after defeating the 'Disastrous Goblin'
[System]
[Requirement Achieve: Unlock Special Shop]
"What? What is this requirement?"
*Answer: It's to reach level 35
--> That night
"Open 'Special Shop.'"
My eyes scrolled through the system tab. This was some kind of weird shop, with a guide and a lot of materials not from this world... but from Earth?!
Glue... screwdriver... scissors, and a lot more.
-->
And inside the shop, they sold hydrogen gas in a bottle. Just by using my 'God Knowledge,' I could learn how to make my own hydrogen gas using my wind magic.
And... if hydrogen gas were to meet with fire... I chuckled.
It would cause a big explosion! As the fire slowly entered the barrier.
Boom
Crack
Crack
I couldn't believe it myself; the explosion was this strong. The barrier I made cracked.
Airi was shocked.
"I can't sense any strong magic, yet it releases this much firepower?!" Airi thought. She turned to me. "I know he always surprises me, yet... this is far from my expectation."
After a few minutes, the explosion stopped. The gas inside the barrier slowly disappeared.
The two statues were gone, completely destroyed by the explosion.
I sat on the ground as I huffed. That thing sure was tough.
"Hey, Kuri. I can't sense any strong magic from that. What is that magic?" Her eyes were fixed on the place where those statues disappeared; she didn't even look at me when she spoke.
"Otherworld... Magic... I guess?" I gave her an awkward smile. If I were to say science, it might take too long to explain to her.
Her head turned to me. Her face showed as if she wanted to throw a thousand questions at me. "What?! Other... World magic?!" She was surprised to hear that. Well, if I remember correctly, I never told her that I am the so-called 'OtherWorldly God.'
"Kuri, may I talk with Ascillia?"
"Yea, sure."
Ascillia suddenly emerged from my mind and turned into her spirit form.
"Hold on a sec, you know about this, right?" Airi seemed upset.
"Well, yeah."
"And he is what I think he is, right?" Airi's face became closer to Ascillia's.
"Yeah, he is what you think he is."
Sigh "Seriously? I can't believe I can see one 'OtherWorldly God' again. Now I know how you can use such powerful magic that easily."
"But yeah, Kuri, you must not relax yet." Airi flickered to the door and sat there once again. Her speed was no ordinary; if I were to compare my speed with hers, she's like one thousand times faster than me.
"Also yeah, this hasn't finished yet." Ascillia came back inside me as I stood up and rubbed the dust off my butt.
After all, the system hasn't shown that I killed the boss yet, and it means that the real boss is... the skeleton!
"So, you finally realize it, human!" The skeleton suddenly stood up from his throne. I could sense a tremendous aura coming from him.
"Nephy, how much mana do I have right now?"
[System]
*Answer: 47%
Well, this must be some tough fight.
"I am a necromancer and also this dungeon master. This dungeon is mine..."
His dead eyes were looking at me. "Hoho, when I was alive and also a traveler, I never met such a pure soul such as yours."
Pure... souls?
"Human, do not fear. I mean no harm to you." His voice seemed harsh, yet peaceful. I couldn't sense any killing intent coming from him.
"Now, let me show you." He raised his orb, and suddenly my system tab popped up.
[System]
[Necromancer of the 'Dark World' trying to enter host mind, would you let him in]
[Yes/No]
"Master, people from the 'Dark World' are dangerous, but I have no right here. It's up to you, master."
I closed my eyes for a second, trusting my intuition.
"Yes."
[System]
*Host has let Necromancer enter the host's mind. Necromancer entering now.
My head suddenly felt dizzy, a painful sensation. I touched my head, trying to ease the discomfort.
Slowly, the dizziness vanished. I opened my eyes, finding myself in an unfamiliar place. I couldn't sense Airi or Ascillia.
"Nephy?"
Silence. Where am I? A light beckoned in front of me, and without realizing, my body moved toward it. As I reached it, I found myself in a forest, emerging from inside a cave.
I needed to stay calm. This must have something to do with the necromancer, but I wasn't sure what to do.
"Hey Zalvagran, you awake?" A man's voice echoed from above the cave. He sat atop it, wearing only pants, with a wild mane of hair and a muscular physique.
"What's with that look? You're staring at me as if we're strangers."
Was he talking to me?
He jumped down, hitting my head. "What the hell, man? After you fell unconscious, you became weird."
"Uh... who are you?" The man looked surprised. My voice seemed different, and I wore a peculiar robe.
"Oh no, my Zalvagran, have you lost your memory?!"
"I... I don't know." I had to put on an act.
"Hmm, no way. That impact wasn't that powerful, yet it made you like this." He crossed his arms and sat down.
"What kind of impact was it?"
"No way, man. This must not be true!"
"I... let's sit down first. I'll ask you if you remember anything." I followed his lead as he began recounting tales that held no familiarity to me. It seemed to be the memories of the 'Necromancer.'
"Remember anything?" He looked worried, as if I were his son who had forgotten his father.
I shook my head. From his story, I was the strongest necromancer in the 'Dark World.' The 'Dark World' was a place inhabited only by powerful demons. Zalvagran, once a mage, had fought a formidable demon and lost. The demon offered to mentor him, and he accepted. Trained and raised by the demon, he became the strongest necromancer. The dungeon was a gift from the demon, who believed Zalvagran could find happiness there. Zalvagran did nothing but train to become stronger.
Meanwhile, the man, Zoragon, was the strongest mage warrior, and this cave was a place where we had met a long time ago and became friends. Somehow, this cave had become our meeting place.
This cave... is it...
"Hey, Zor--" As I was about to ask a question, the dizziness returned. My head... once again, I lost consciousness.
"Attack!" The voice was harsh.
"Put yourself together, Zalvagran!" Zoragon patted my shoulder. In front of us stood an army of a hundred thousand. Where the hell was I?
My body moved on its own, unleashing a massive magic that annihilated half the army in one shot.
Chaos ensued; the sky turned red as if reflecting the color of the blood spilled. A sense of unease filled my heart. Zoragon leaped into the army, alone. Within seconds, the soldiers around him began to vomit blood. His power was extraordinary.
Two men in robes approached me, flying. I sensed a dangerous aura, half of Airi's power each.
"Zalvagran, the 'Necromancer of the Dark World,' we will exterminate you and your dungeon."
"Try it if you can."
The man raised his hand, creating a massive magic circle above us.
"This magic will kill you and your stupid dungeon!"
At the mention of destroying the dungeon, anger boiled in my heart as if the word had triggered a switch, turning on my rage.
"Such a weak magic," the words escaped my mouth involuntarily.
"Cancel," I snapped my fingers. It felt like watching a virtual reality movie where I played the main character while observing his actions.
The enormous magic circle vanished.
"Impossible!" They seemed scared for a moment and then chuckled.
A sword suddenly pierced my body. It hurt. It was Zoragon.
"I'm sorry, Zalvagran. I didn't want to do this, but you're a threat to the world, a necromancer raised by the demon." My eyes widened.
"I see, so this is it." I felt the same betrayal Zoragon had felt. It hurt, not physically, but emotionally, being betrayed by someone you trust.
"Huh." I spat out blood as he pulled the sword from my body. "Even so, if I die, I will protect this dungeon because this place is where I belong." My body released a small magic circle.
"Demon explosion!" My other hand cast a barrier that protected the dungeon.
The explosion was terrifying, akin to a nuclear bomb from my previous world. I lost consciousness after that.
[System]
[Necromancer has left the host's mind]
-->
"Ugh... what?" I opened my eyes, and my voice returned to its normal tone.
"Master, are you okay?" Ascillia's usually calm and emotionless voice carried a hint of concern.
"Yeah, what happened?" I sensed an ominous bloodlust coming from near the throne. Airi seemed ready to start a fight with the necromancer, wearing an expression I had never seen before — anger.
"Airi! Stop!" My voice reached her, and the bloodlust vanished.
"Kuri?" she seemed confused.
I stood up, walking slowly towards her. My body felt a bit weak, and the necromancer remained silent, his eyes fixed on me.
I patted Airi's shoulder. "I'm fine."
"W-w-who cares?!" She avoided eye contact, blushing. I chuckled, rubbing her head, and then turned to face the necromancer.
"Zalvagran... is it?"
He closed his eyes.
"So, that memory is yours. Why did you show it to me?"
"Let me explain. The statues you destroyed earlier were a trial to test your strength. You are worthy enough to be called strong. So, I have a request..."
"You want me to protect this dungeon?" he snapped. Realizing that I understood his intentions, he looked shocked.
"Of course. If you had directly asked me, I might have rejected it immediately. Why would I go so far to help someone I just met? You showed me the memory with the hope that I would help you?"
Airi appeared confused after listening to our conversation, and I was sure Ascillia felt the same.
"I see, so you saw through me. I'm sorry, then..."
"I will help."
"R-really?!"
"Yeah, I mean, the fact that you're still alive shows how much you love this cave. Will you trust me, after what happened to you?"
There was silence for a while.
"Yes, your soul... it's so pure. I've never met anyone like that before. I have this feeling telling me to trust you." Zalvagran had used his magic to keep himself alive just to protect this dungeon.
[System]
[Dungeon Master has offered you to become the new 'Dungeon Master.' Would you like to accept it?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes," I accepted it without hesitation.
"Thank you, young man. Thank you..." His voice slowly faded along with his body.
"You may rest now, Zalvagran."
"Hey, Kuri. What were you two talking about just now?"
I explained everything to Airi and Ascillia.
"So, it's like that. Now you've put more burden on yourself. Protecting a dungeon is not that easy, you know. Many monsters or adventurers might come and try to explore your dungeon, and they might even destroy it if you don't properly protect it."
"Well, yeah. How do 'Dungeon Masters' protect their dungeons?"
"Normally, they wait on the throne and protect it themselves. BUT! You're a god and 'OtherWorldly' to boot, so you must always travel."
"Master, after becoming a 'Dungeon Master,' you can detect anyone entering or leaving your dungeon. With your teleportation magic, you can instantly return, but—"
"But only if I can at that time?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, teleportation magic won't work if I'm trapped inside a barrier with higher mana than me. I guess I need a guardian."
"Open Shop."
I was ready.
"What are you doing, Kuri?"
"Just watch, Airi. This is the power of a master, an 'OtherWorldly' God."
[System]
[Would you like to summon the monster?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes."
Two large magic circles appeared in front of us, and from them emerged the monsters I had bought from the shop, each worth one hundred thousand SP.
On the right, a lion with a scorpion tail, a manticore, appeared. It was about ten times the size of a normal lion, with stats almost equal to the statues. Its strength, however, was abnormal.
On the left stood Medusa, a mythical creature that was equally frightening. Both were 'Legendary Beasts,' each worth fifty thousand SP.
"How unexpected, to summon such powerful creatures at the same time. I can say they are both strong monsters... for me, just a small fry, though."
Damn this loli draggy; why couldn't she compliment me even once after summoning such powerful monsters?
"Well, how do I give these two commands?"
"Summoned monsters or beasts are normally connected with their summoner's mind, so it's similar to when you were talking with Ascillia, yet different. They can't talk somehow."
"I see. Then... Medusa, protect the first floor. I want you to give me a signal if there is any human or beast that comes here. Also, give me a signal if there are enemies you cannot fight. The same goes for you, manticore, but on this floor."
Medusa suddenly disappeared, and I could feel her presence on the first floor. "How fast," I thought. It wasn't teleportation; it was her own speed.
"Well... I guess I'm done here." My eyes were suddenly drawn to the 'Necromancer's throne.'
I didn't know why, but my gaze focused on a book I hadn't noticed before.
I reached for the book, and my eyes slowly moved to the title.
'Zalvagran's Grimoire'
Today's Result:
[Name: Kohaku Kuro
Race: God
Title: Monster Hunter [Additional Strength+3%]
Lvl: 51
[HP: 510,000/510,000
Strength: 1050
MP: 480,000/480,000
Speed: 1600
Dexterity: 900
Agility: 520
Luck: 106
Defense: 940
Specialty: [God Knowledge]