With the help of the Lord, we carefully explore the underground labyrinth.

　According to Lord, a magic circle is a delicate and very dangerous ritual.
　He says that magic can only be used by those who are gifted, but a magic circle is used by those gifted magicians to create large-scale phenomena that can never be used normally.

　A formation made up of multiple magic letters is a mass of magic, a crucible of power.
　Ritual magic, which can sometimes be unpredictable even to the practitioner due to outside interference, has therefore long since fallen into disuse.

　There is no doubt that this underground labyrinth was created long ago, as it was filled with a blessing-absorbing metal that is rarely produced today: demon steel.

"Behold, End. It is set up to gather the power of death from the upper levels.

　The Lord's words were unhurried. What looks like a mere labyrinth to me is not to you, Lord. I've always had a faint feeling that Lord might be a much more powerful sorcerer than I thought.

　If I had been defeated and Horus Kamen had become the King of the Dead, it was possible that I would now have more enemies in the world to fear.
　Shouldn't the Knights of the End thank me and admit me into the Order of the End?　I'll work?　I work a lot.　I don't have any friends in the necromancer world.

　I'll follow the Lord's orders and damage the walls and floors in turn. As we fought off the attackers from the darkness, Senri, who was following us, said something terrible.

"End, are you sure you're doing the right thing?

"No, I'm not. Have I ever done anything random?

"............

　Senri is silent with an apologetic expression.

　The Lord is not my ally, but a part of him is being absorbed by me. The fact that I can use necromancy, even if only partially, is proof of that.
　I don't think the Lord would take the initiative to do something that would lead to my death. We need to be careful, but for now we can trust him.

　The curse of Sable is eating away at me and I'm probably too weak to fight it now. The initiative lies with ...... me.

　As Lord said, I slammed the machete into a section of the floor.
　As I did this, I could feel the swirling death force moving a bit as I struck each blow.

　But how could he have created such a large underground labyrinth?
　It must have taken a different kind of effort to create such a large underground structure than to build a castle above ground. I don't think it can be done by magic.

We must use the bondmen. They are tireless and loyal servants. I used to be one.

　The Lord says wistfully. If you ask me, necromancy is excellent if you don't consider the ethical side.

　The only sound was the sound of me hurting the passage. Senri is letting me have my way for now, but I'm afraid there's no end in sight.

"How dare you!　It's a delicate technique. There are steps to breaking it, but there are steps to disarming it. It used to be impossible to disarm it!

It's going to take a while.

　I just want to get home. ....... But how can you deactivate a magic circle made by the King of the Dead?
　I'm not going to be able to do that.

"It's an old magic circle. It's flawed and no longer in use. Techniques have advanced. How can you call yourself a Death Transcendent if you can't disarm something like this?


§§.


　I dismantled the magic circle, not saying it out loud but checking with Lord.

　I don't know enough about vampires, but I've heard that they have a great aptitude for sorcery. Perhaps this is the reason why Lord chose the carnal lineage as the destination of his transformation into the King of the Dead.
　Vampires have magical powers. They have bodies that are immune to magic. And they have special eyes.

　The lesser vampires gain many abilities when they mutate into vampires. But the mutation does not end there.
　Higher level vampires who have lived a long time and have accumulated the power of death gain the magical eye.
　The eyes of lower level vampires are not comparable to that, but even with my eyes, I can see the flow of death power and the flow of magic power.

　I can't really feel it, but it seems that this is a power that all sorcerers want so badly.

　Perhaps if I learn more and gain more power, I can live without having to fight with others?　
　The reason why people abhor the undead is because they are a threat to people. I, with my human consciousness, have the potential to change that.

　I don't really want to go through the trouble, but if it means living in peace with Senri, I might consider it.

　With that in mind, I disguise my pain and destroy another part of the body. The Lord, floating in the air, said.

'There are three more. The chains that hold the power together will break, and the power of death that has built up will naturally dissipate. Some of it will flow into you.

　I see. ...... So that's why you cooperated. That makes sense to me.

　The power of death is also the source of my power. It's not a problem to have power. I'll take it gratefully. If my own power grows stronger, the pain might go away.

　Will I make it back to town just in time before dawn?

　Just as I was about to think such a thought, my instincts sensed the danger.



　My sensory functions are sensitive. As an immortal, I half-reflexively look for the living.
　I should have known sooner. The reason for the delay was undoubtedly the pain.


　I forced my aching legs to move and jumped away. I hugged Senri behind me and rolled on the ground.



　And then, right above me, a ray of light passed by.



"d*mn, it evaded me.


　It was a blessing in disguise, though not nearly as dense as Senri's light.
　The familiar voice sent a sharp pain through his head. My undead instincts are warning me of a natural enemy.

　d*mn it, only three more places to go. Why the hell is this-- this timing?

　A voice like a thug's spitting. But you already know that voice has a terrible power.

　It's been a while since I've been undead, but they're the only ones who've left me with nothing but my head.

　Senri's amethyst eyes looked at me as I hugged him. Her expression was unfazed.
　But as a long-time friend, I could tell that Senri was confused.


　In the darkness, the Grim Reaper comes.
　Like Senri, he wears a faint light, and his body shines even in the underground labyrinth of negative forces.

　A gentleman with a sword and a sharp-eyed man with a mace.


It's been a while since I've seen you, Senri.

Senri, it's been a long time. "...... Luf, Lee ......?

　Senri calls out his name. The light from the other man was merciless, but he avoided it with Senri in his arms.
　Bullets of light pierced the underground labyrinth. The stone floor and walls were unscathed, but that was probably because the attack had no physical force.

　The light is meant to diminish the power of death. It's a technique to effectively purify me.
　I'm sure it won't even hurt Senri.

"...... still...... d*mn it!　You're still with us. You're a f*cking vampire!

　The other man shone with light. His eyes glittered with murderous intent and anger.

　I never forgot. How could I forget? The man who almost killed me once.

　I scolded my body, which trembled with fear. I stand up slowly with Senri in my arms.
　My head, dulled by the pain between movements, spins rapidly. Lord's looking down at us.

　How are you doing?　Where did he come from?　What do they want?　How many enemies are there?　

　No, before that, is that man, that man who almost killed me from a distance, the Hero of Light, Epe of Annihilation -- is he here?

　.............

　There's two of them. No sign of the others. That man's immense energy is conspicuous. There's only two people in this basement.

　It's okay, I can move. If we lose, we lose senri. We can't lose.

　I'm not what I was.

　Now I'm a monster. I'll scream. I'll do my best not to let her know I'm upset. My voice came out of my mouth, cold and somber.


"Long time no see, Lefley and-- Nevilla. I'm sorry, but I'm in the middle of something. ...... Me and Senri are busy. ............ Will you leave?


　Think. A way out of this situation. Conditions.
　I never wanted to see you. Senri's soul is still that of a demon knight. She's strong but sensitive. Any encounter with her will cause hesitation.

　But I can't kill Senri's former comrades. The only thing to break is fate.

　I forced a smile. Then Lufrey leaned his right hand upward with a grim expression.

　There was no sound or sign. I'm stunned.
　There were countless light bullets in front of Lufrey.

　Hundreds of them. So if they're going to be evaded, we should just spray them with an unavoidable amount, huh?

　I think I understand Lord's feelings a little better now.

"So you guys are the brains.



　Dell, who fought with me in the battle of Linel, was more intelligent!　Could it be that all of Epe's troops are like this?

"Photon Rain.

　As I let out a dry voice, a barrage of light struck me like a rainstorm.