The Genesis Of A Necromancer

"Heaven's Spear, descend!"

Alisha's voice rang out, cutting through the cacophony of battle like a divine command. Her wings of light flared, illuminating the cavern as she thrust her staff upward. A brilliant rune materialized in the air above her, pulsating with celestial power.

The golden spear that emerged from the rune radiated an aura so pure it seemed to burn away the lingering darkness. It hovered for a moment, its edges gleaming with blinding light, before plunging downward with unstoppable momentum. The cavern was flooded with its brilliance, every corner illuminated in stark contrast to the encroaching shadows.

The skeletal titan, a monstrosity towering over the battlefield, raised its massive hands in an instinctive attempt to block the spear. Its movements were sluggish but deliberate, its hollow eye sockets glowing with defiance. The massive hands, forged of bone as black as obsidian, reached upward to intercept the divine weapon.

Jack acted faster.

Dark tendrils erupted from his palms, writhing like serpents through the air. The shadows coiled around the titan's arms, binding them in place. Jack's voice was a low growl, strained but resolute. "You're not stopping this."

The tendrils tightened, pulling the titan's arms away and exposing the vulnerable crack in its skull. Alisha's spear collided with the fracture, and the resulting impact was cataclysmic. A shockwave rippled through the air, shaking the very foundations of the cavern. Jack staggered, bracing himself against the force, his teeth clenched as the sound of the collision roared in his ears.

The spear's golden energy clashed against the titan's metallic skull, their opposing forces locked in a brutal contest. Sparks of divine light and shadowy fragments erupted from the point of contact, cascading like a violent storm. The crack widened, spreading across the titan's skull with agonizing slowness.

But the skeletal giant refused to yield.

With a guttural roar that shook the cavern, the titan tore through Jack's shadowy bonds. The tendrils snapped like brittle vines, disintegrating into nothingness. Its massive hand, jagged and clawed, reached up in a desperate attempt to shield its head.

"Don't let that hand touch the spear!" Erebus's voice thundered in Jack's mind, sharp and commanding.

"It won't," Jack replied, his voice cold and steady. The dark energy in his palms surged, coiling around him like a second skin. He pushed off the ground, his body blurring into a shadowy streak as he hurtled toward the titan's head.

Jack materialized at the spear's impact point, his blade, Shadowfang, already in motion. The weapon's edge shimmered with dark energy, condensed into a razor-sharp point. He swung downward with all his might, his voice a low promise as he growled, "With this strike, you're finished."

The blade connected, and the resulting explosion of energy was blinding. Darkness and light collided, intertwining in a chaotic dance that consumed the battlefield. The cavern shook violently, debris raining from above as the air filled with the deafening roar of the titan's death throes.

The glow in its eye sockets flickered, then extinguished. The massive skeletal frame swayed for a moment, its movements slow and deliberate, before collapsing. The bones crumbled into dust, their blackened fragments scattering across the cavern floor. The oppressive energy that had filled the space dissipated, replaced by an eerie stillness.

Jack landed hard, his legs buckling as he struggled to stay upright. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving as sweat dripped from his brow. He glanced at the pile of dust that had once been the titan, his expression grim.

"Well done," Erebus said, his voice quieter now, tinged with exhaustion. Despite the praise, a faint bitterness lingered. "But don't think for a second this is over. That was just one piece of the puzzle."

Jack wiped his face with the back of his hand, his gaze fixed on the remnants of the titan. "Yeah," he muttered, his voice low. "I figured as much. It's never that easy, is it?"

Behind him, Alisha descended, her radiant glow dimming as her feet touched the ground. She leaned heavily on her staff, her breaths ragged and labored. Despite the exhaustion etched across her face, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

"You're insane, you know that?" she said, her voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and admiration.

"Maybe," Jack replied, his grin brief and weary. "But it worked, didn't it?"

Alisha shook her head, the fatigue catching up with her. "Let's hope it was worth it."

"How do we get out of here?" Gary's voice broke through the stillness as he approached the group. His once-sturdy frame seemed worn, his armor dented and tarnished. Though he wouldn't admit it, the strain of the battle had taken its toll.

"Good question," Alisha said, glancing around. She looked up at the cavern ceiling, her gaze searching for any sign of an exit. "I've checked before, and it's the same now. No doors, no passages. Just... nothing."

Jack's eyes narrowed as he focused inward, his thoughts turning to Erebus. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

'Well?' he thought, allowing the god's voice to fill his mind.

"This is my domain," Erebus replied, his tone casual. "I linked it to the tunnel you entered earlier. Leaving, however, is a bit problematic. But not impossible. Head to the shattered remains of the titan's skull. With your power, you can create a gate."

Jack relayed the information, his voice steady despite the unease lingering in the pit of his stomach. "Let's move to the remains. I'll find what we need to get out of here."

As they turned to head toward the crumbled bones, a sharp notification appeared before Jack, its red triangular icon flashing urgently.

[Soul syncing incomplete!]

[Soul interruption has occurred!]

[System reset imminent!]

Pain struck him like a lightning bolt. Jack's hands shot to his head as he collapsed to his knees, a strangled cry escaping his lips. His vision blurred, the cavern spinning around him.

"Jack!" Alisha's voice was filled with alarm as she rushed to his side, followed closely by Missy. Their hands hovered over him, desperate but unsure of how to help.

Jack writhed on the ground, his breaths shallow. His skin grew cold, his body trembling violently. Despite their efforts, it was clear: he was slipping away.

Meanwhile, in the grand halls of the Church of Light, a knight approached Saint Ivan with urgency.

"Saint Ivan, the altar is prepared. The connection to the Heavenly Realm has been established. They demand the lady's presence."

Ivan's piercing eyes opened, flashing with irritation. His pristine blade rested against his lap, its white scabbard glowing faintly.

"Aren't you aware she's missing?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with annoyance.

The knight hesitated but stood firm. "I am, Great Saint. But the realm persists with their demand."

Ivan's gaze darkened as he rose, his cape swirling behind him. "Inform Lord Carlos. I'll address this at the altar."

As he strode past, his aura radiated authority. Yet behind the calm facade, unease simmered. Something was amiss—and it wasn't just the missing "lady."

______

Ivan strode through the towering halls of the sanctum, his every step echoing with purpose. The pristine marble beneath his boots gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, reflecting the golden light cast from the sacred chandeliers overhead.

The atmosphere was heavy with sanctity, the air perfumed with the faint aroma of incense and mana. As he approached the grand double doors leading to the altar room, the two guards flanking the entrance snapped to attention. Without hesitation, they pushed the immense doors open, their movements precise and reverent.

The sight that greeted Ivan was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Before him stood the altar, a colossal pillar adorned with intricate golden inscriptions that glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat.

The inscriptions seemed alive, ancient words of power inscribed by hands long since vanished from this world.

At the base of the pillar was the altar itself, a massive slab of polished stone radiating a divine aura that sent shivers down Ivan's spine. Surrounding the altar were towering mana crystals, their jagged surfaces shimmering as they channeled streams of energy into the inscriptions on the pillar.

The hum of magic filled the chamber, a low, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate in Ivan's very bones.

Ivan slowed his steps as he entered the chamber, his usual commanding demeanor replaced with solemnity. Each movement was deliberate, a silent acknowledgment of the sacred space he had entered.

As he reached the altar, he knelt on one knee, lowering his head in deference. His white cape pooled around him like a cascade of light, the golden embroidery catching the ambient glow.

"Your Saint has arrived," Ivan declared, his voice firm yet reverent, echoing through the vast chamber. "And he awaits your command!"@@novelbin@@

As though responding to his call, the altar began to shine more intensely. The mana crystals emitted a low, melodic hum, their energy converging on the inscriptions.

The pillar's golden lines ignited, the light traveling upward in a spiral until it burst forth from the pinnacle, forming a radiant holographic figure. The brilliance of the apparition filled the room, its light casting long shadows across the walls.

The figure that appeared was breathtaking. It was a being of unparalleled beauty, its features sharp and flawless, exuding both grace and authority. Four massive wings extended behind it, their feathers shimmering with hues of gold and silver that seemed to shift and ripple with every movement.

Though it was merely a projection, the energy radiating from the figure was almost overwhelming, pressing down on Ivan like a physical weight.

"Rise, Saint Ivan," the figure commanded, its voice resonant and cold. There was no warmth in its tone, only an indomitable presence that brooked no disobedience. "The time has come. Bring me Carlos and the other bishops. They are to assemble at once."

Ivan's head snapped up, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he processed the command. Shock flickered across his usually stoic face. "Seriously?" he blurted, his disbelief breaking through his otherwise disciplined demeanor.