In front of the altar, a soul was freed from Hazard and took its place within the altar.
[Level 3 Hero's Soul absorbed by the altar. 124 points gained.]
Name: HazardFinal Race: Demon Archlich KingLevel: 2Life: 200Strength: 60Agility: 40Mana (Miasma): 700Endurance: -Available Points: 203
Abilities:
Undead Resurrection:Can raise dead beings into servitude by consuming dark mana proportional to their level.
Negative Energy Bullet:Consumes 10 dark mana to fire a bullet of dark energy, dealing 30 damage. (Can also cause confusion and paralysis depending on the enemy's level and willpower.)
Corpse Explosion:Activates selected corpses within a 100-meter radius to explode.
Summon Death Scythe (Inactive):A weapon imbued with dark mana that inflicts venomous wounds and a powerful curse. Any living being wounded by the scythe, if still affected by its curse (including bleeding and tenfold pain) upon death, will become a slave to the caster.Consumes 50 dark mana per minute.(Activation cost: 100 points.)
Summon Vengeful Spirits (Inactive):Spirits that can physically harm enemies and explode upon death, dealing significant damage to living beings.Consumes 20 dark mana per spirit.(Activation cost: 100 points.)
Demon Archlich King's Second Form (Inactive):Doubles all abilities.Duration: 10 minutes, cooldown: 6 hours.(Activation cost: 100 points.)
Skills:
Mana Sensitivity (Rank D):Can perceive mana radiation within a 200-meter radius.
After reviewing his available points, Hazard activated the Vengeful Spirits skill and Second Form but hesitated to activate the Death Scythe, believing he wouldn't need it in close combat. Instead, he preferred to rely on Negative Energy Bullets and Vengeful Spirits to defeat his enemies from a distance while enjoying the sight of accumulating gold.
Then, he checked his army list:
300 standard demonic undead3,500 demonic undead archers1,150 demonic undead swordsmen50 elite swordsmen530 elite archers20 demonic undead sorcerers1 giant hellhound257 undead hellhoundsGold balance: 24,290 coins
Hazard now felt powerful, eager to claim another soul to increase his level. Meanwhile, he continued trading fire gems for death gems, earning about 30 fire gems per day from the mine. Each noon, he made the trade in secrecy, knowing that both he and his undead found the presence of death gems soothing. He suspected that Terror also had a similar attachment to his own gems.
Now possessing 300 death gems, Hazard lay on top of them, enjoying the moment. But then, he discovered a soul trading section in his exchanges. Within it, people were actively buying and selling hero souls at outrageous prices:
Level 1 souls: 2,000 gold coinsLevel 2 souls: 20,000 gold coinsLevel 3 souls: 100,000 gold coins
Undoubtedly, the sellers were devils. But Hazard felt he could afford such costs. He began deploying his cavalry, searching for another dungeon, yet even after a full day, he found nothing. His gaze repeatedly returned to the direction the knights had come from.
Allowing his giant hellhound to feast on the flesh of its fallen kin—corpses that he could not yet resurrect—Hazard took 500 elite mounted archers and his guards and set off toward the knights' origin point.
Southern Empire Border – Village of Herin
At dusk, the villagers gathered at the town center, anxious for their missing teenagers—young heirs who were meant to aid in their work and bring future generations. The village chief, a 60-year-old man with blonde hair and blue eyes, attempted to calm the worried parents.
"Sir Alex and a team of fifty elite knights left two days ago to find our children. Stay calm and pray to God that they return safely."
"But the knights left their horses behind! We can use their horses and follow them!"
"Yeah, let's go!"
The chief sighed, wondering if the villagers had brains filled with crops instead of sense. He slammed his wooden staff against the ground.
"Horses panic in the Forbidden Mountains due to the breath of hellhounds. Only trained warhorses can remain calm there. If regular horses were viable, the knights would have ridden them!"
Still, the villagers murmured in distress.
"But… our children…!"
"We have to do something!"
Ignoring their pleas, the village chief returned to his home. He sat before a painting of his late wife, whispering:
"If only you were alive, Alfred wouldn't have turned into such a reckless boy."
Meanwhile, Hazard stood atop a green hill, looking down at the village below. He then gazed at the sky.
[Not yet.]
Midnight – Village of Herin
The sky was dark, and the villagers were asleep, except for three teenage girls gathered outside. Each had Rank 1 normal power.
"We should've gone with Alfred to help!"
"Yeah, so we could get lost too?"
"That place is insanely dangerous! We warned them, but they didn't listen. This is what happens."
"But Kashan and Alfred are strong. They'll defend everyone."
"Even elite knights fear the Forbidden Mountains. What can newly promoted Rank 2s do?"
"Sir Kenyu was with the search team. He'll probably track the Demon King and find them."
As they chatted, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush. They turned toward it—only to see nothing but the midnight breeze.
"Guys… I'm scared. Let's go home."
"We're in Imperial territory. Nothing will happen to us."
"Still, let's go just in case."
"Hmm… fine."
Hazard observed them from afar, watching as they unknowingly walked away from his elite undead archers. He then ordered his forces to advance, his mana scanning all villagers.
Total villagers: 280
4 elite Rank 1 individuals1 elite Rank 3 individual
Raising his hands, Hazard summoned vengeful spirits. From his body, 30 black wraiths emerged, moaning with agony as they spread toward the village.
Village Chief Kamel's House
Unable to sleep, Kamel thought about his missing son when he heard unusual noises. Peering out the window, his blood ran cold—tall, shadowy wraiths with razor-sharp claws and fangs were entering homes.
Screams erupted.
Panicked, Kamel rushed for his druidic staff—but it was missing. A chill ran down his spine. Had someone taken it?
With his last reserves of mana, he cast a protective spell—a five-meter-tall dandelion-like flower grew from the ground, releasing explosive white spores that hunted and destroyed spirits on contact.
Relief flooded him… until five black energy bullets struck his guardian flower.
Then, a massive hellhound emerged, ripping the weakened flower from its roots and tearing it apart.
Kamel knew it was over.
Turning, he saw the source of the dark energy—a horned undead in black robes and a fur-lined cape, standing on the wind.
The giant hellhound grabbed Kamel, carrying him to the undead king—Hazard.
As Kamel was thrown before him, he saw his people being slaughtered under the moonlight.
Hazard placed a cold, skeletal hand on Kamel's head.
Kamel tried to resist, gathering his last scraps of mana—but Hazard gave him no chance.
A Negative Energy Bullet formed in Hazard's palm—then sank into Kamel's skull.
The village chief fell dead.
[Village of Herin – Rank 2 elite threat eliminated.][Glowing Bronze Treasure Chest acquired.]