Category: This Necromancer Wants to Capture the Hearts of Deceased Beautiful Girls

Chapter 80: The Moonlight Knights

Abyss’s plan was successful. Although the Lord of Submergence’s power hadn’t fully transferred to Leona yet, he had sworn his allegiance. As long as this gluttonous creature had enough food, he wouldn’t betray them. With this step complete, the Lord of Submergence’s power was essentially in Abyss’s grasp.

Abyss didn’t know the full extent of the Creator God’s power, but based on all the evidence so far, the Creator God had absolute control over everything in this world. Simply possessing immense power might not be enough to challenge him—as the world’s supreme ruler, he could potentially revoke their powers or even erase Abyss from existence.

Abyss knew he had only one chance to challenge the Creator God. Therefore, he would gather as much power as possible, divine, mixed, and otherworldly, to have more options at his disposal. He didn’t know when the Creator God would return from his travels, so he had to seize every opportunity to acquire the power he desired.

“Flora should be the first to wake up, and Leona will probably wake up in the morning,” Abyss said, relieved, as the Lord of Submergence’s form completely vanished, becoming part of Leona’s power. “As for me, I probably won’t wake up for a few days. I’ll be sleeping to recover my damaged soul. I’ll leave it to you two to carry me around during that time.”

The missing portion of his soul hadn’t regenerated yet, and occasional flickers of soul flame escaped from the wound.

“Dear Mr. Belator, I have a question! Can’t we just stay here and wait for you to wake up?” Leona asked, raising her hand.

“Of course not,” Abyss said, spreading his hands. “I’m broke.”

“Ugh! You penniless fool!” Leona rolled her eyes.

Abyss ruffled her hair, ignoring her protest. “We have two options now. We can either go to the Elven Kingdoms and search for the legendary druid, or we can go to the Eastern Empire and search for the legendary alchemist. As for the genius dark elf assassin, her burial location is still unclear, so we’ll leave her for now. What do you two think?”

Flora, content as long as she could travel with Abyss, shook her head.

Leona pondered for a while, then looked up. “ABC, I want to go to the Eastern Empire!”

“Hmm, sure. Is there something you need to do there?”

“You promised to fulfill our wishes from our previous lives, right?” Leona said, a longing expression on her face. “I want you to help me obtain something I yearned for but could never have. It’s in the Eastern Empire.”

“What is it?” Abyss asked, curious. “Something that an Imperial Princess, who could have anything she wanted, couldn’t obtain? I’m intrigued.”

“The ‘Moonlight Insignia,’” Leona said seriously. “It’s a special magical tattoo that proves the bearer’s identity—a member of the Moonlight Knights. Have you heard of them?”

Abyss, having traveled extensively and learned about various customs and legends, knew the story of the Moonlight Knights.

Thirteen hundred years ago, the Mynian Empire’s territory of Caladi, now known as the Shadowblight, was overrun by Shadow Demons, creatures from another world, within a week. The surviving inhabitants fled to the Haitville continent. After a joint investigation by the Empire and the Church failed, scholars theorized that these monsters might use the Shadowblight as a base to launch attacks on Haitville.

Magic wasn’t as advanced back then. They couldn’t effectively use magic barriers for long-term defense against the Shadow Demons, nor could they afford to constantly monitor the Shadowblight. Although Divine Arts were effective, their high cost limited their use. To protect the continent, the Mynian Empire and several kingdoms in the east formed a Continental Defense Force, always prepared for battle.

But the Shadow Demons were powerful. Ordinary soldiers couldn’t hold them back. So, several powerful Dou Warriors in the Empire formed a volunteer knight order, the Moonlight Knights, to fight without pay.

The Moonlight Knights were unprecedented—an all-female knight order. It consisted of only seven members, but each one was a peak ninth-tier Dou Warrior, and all were among the rare female knights officially recognized by the Empire.

Initially, the Moonlight Knights were ridiculed. An all-female knight order sounded like a publicity stunt. Even though the seven members were genuinely powerful, they didn’t receive much respect. After all, the Shadow Demons hadn’t attacked yet, and they hadn’t done anything.

Then, just as people began to believe that the Shadow Demons were content to stay in the Shadowblight, the worst happened.

A report arrived from the Continental Defense Force stationed in the northeast corner of the continent—a Shadow Demon had been spotted swimming across the sea, heading towards Haitville!

This lone demon was quickly eliminated by warships, but the news sent shockwaves through the continent.

If one monster could swim, others could too. What if they launched a large-scale invasion? Warships alone wouldn’t be enough to stop them! Although the Empire immediately dispatched their most elite fleet to investigate the Shadowblight, anxiety remained high.

And then, the Moonlight Knights stepped forward.

These seven powerful female knights volunteered to join the expeditionary force, venturing into the Shadowblight to find a way to stop the monsters from spreading across the world.

The rest of their story was passed down through the veterans who returned from that expedition—they fought bravely, dying in the Shadowblight, but they managed to send back a crucial report. The Shadow Demons weren’t a disorganized horde. They had a strict hierarchy based on power, and all obeyed a single leader, whom the knights called the “Shadow Queen.”

They discovered that the Shadow Queen was preparing a large-scale migration, targeting the vast Haitville continent. The seven Moonlight Knights decided to assassinate her. After six of them perished, the Shadow Queen was slain. Without her leadership, the remaining demons, acting purely on instinct, scattered, and the invasion plan was thwarted. The knights had saved the world. However, the last surviving knight, after writing the report, also succumbed to her injuries. According to the veterans’ accounts, her heart had already ruptured while she was writing, but her immense vitality, fueled by her strength, allowed her to finish her final task.

Only after their deaths did the people of the continent truly appreciate their sacrifice. Bards, inspired by the veterans’ tales, composed epic poems and songs, spreading their legend throughout the land. Their ashes were brought back, and the Empire, with the highest honors, built tombs for them in their hometowns. The Emperor and the Pope personally presided over their memorial services and posthumously awarded them medals. But all of this happened after they were gone.

It was said that the Moonlight Knights had been recruiting members before their departure. Any woman who passed their trials could join their ranks, becoming the eighth member. But no one had met their requirements.

And after the seven knights died, joining the order became impossible. How could one seek them out and pass their trials when they were dead? Unless someone resurrected their souls from their tombs, asking them to be examiners again and magically tattooing the insignia on those who succeeded. But what necromancer would be so bold? Unless they were insane, who would dare desecrate the tombs of the continent’s heroes?

Leona couldn’t help but look at Abyss.

Here was a necromancer, readily available, one who was both insane and incredibly bold. Her wish, once a childish fantasy, now seemed attainable.

Abyss nodded casually. “Sure, then you can carry my sleeping body towards the Eastern Empire. When I wake up, we’ll search for the third person’s grave and help you fulfill your wish. Leave it to me, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed,” he said, grinning at Leona, flashing his white teeth, as if to reassure her.

“Really? It’s a deal then!” Leona said, her face lighting up. “Once I become a Moonlight Knight, you’ll be showered with praise!”

“Absolutely!” Abyss nodded solemnly. “I, Abyss Belator, will do my utmost to fulfill your dream, because you’re one of my most trusted followers!”

“Stop with the sweet talk! You think I’ll be moved by that? Do you say that to all your followers?!” Leona said, blushing.

Abyss chuckled sheepishly and scratched his head. “Because I truly trust you.”

Leona sighed softly, a happy smile on her face.

“Oh, right, Leona, I have a small question.”

“What?”

“Where are you planning to get the Moonlight Insignia tattooed? You’re not thinking of getting it on…”

“You pervert! You want me to get it tattooed on a private area to satisfy your indecent desires?!”

“…On your face, maybe… Eh? Why are you so angry?! Wait, let’s talk this over. Put down the Dou Qi lance!”

Chapter 79: Here, Have a Soul Chip

The Lord of Submergence’s massive form dissolved rapidly, like snow melting in the sun. As he vanished, Leona felt the power within her growing stronger. With a mere thought, lightning would crackle around her, shielding her from harm or obliterating any enemy who dared to stand in her way.

But she couldn’t celebrate just yet. Abyss’s words filled her with a burning anxiety.

“You’re going to feed him your soul? Are you an idiot?” Leona exclaimed, pulling Abyss’s collar, forcing him to bend over. “How many times can you feed him? He’ll suck you dry eventually!”

Abyss, struggling to straighten up, gently patted Leona’s hand. “No, no, Leona, calm down and listen to my plan.”

Flora didn’t confront Abyss like Leona, but her eyes were filled with worry as she watched him intently.

“Remember the ‘vegetarian souls’ I created?” Abyss asked, finally released by Leona. “That’s what I’m going to feed the Lord of Submergence. I’ll separate a small fragment of my soul and then use the method for cultivating vegetarian souls to make it grow immensely, like an inexhaustible fruit tree, providing him with a steady source of nourishment.”

Abyss’s vegetarian souls were his own unique creation, which had proven useful in their battle against Bishop Dallan. He had discovered them by accident, using magic to mimic the form of a soul, realizing that the resulting construct possessed similar properties to a real soul and could be manipulated at will.

He didn’t know where this ability to create souls came from. He simply knew how to do it. He didn’t even use the ancient language commonly used by mages for incantations, but a language he had invented himself. He couldn’t explain how he came up with this new language, it had simply appeared in his mind one day.

However, vegetarian souls were still essentially simulations made of mana. They lacked the soul energy of a real soul and wouldn’t be recognized as food by the Lord of Submergence. Dallan’s failed attempt at sacrificing the swapped souls had proven this.

Therefore, Abyss had devised another method—separating a small fragment of his own soul and then using mana to replenish it, similar to cultivating a plant, nurturing a small sprout into a full-grown organism, creating a new soul.

The cost of this method was that Abyss would have to sleep for several days to recover his damaged soul, leaving him vulnerable and reliant on Flora and Leona’s protection.

After hearing his explanation, Leona and Flora were finally relieved. It wasn’t without cost, but a few days of sleep in exchange for the power of an Outer God was a good deal indeed.

The Lord of Submergence’s voice echoed, “My power has been infused into her body… But it cannot fully merge with her own power… It must wait until her soul grows stronger before I can fully integrate…”

“I understand. She’s undead. The strength of her soul is determined by me, her master. I just need to increase my own power,” Abyss said casually.

Any other necromancer, hearing these words, would be spitting blood in anger. Abyss, already incredibly powerful, could still grow stronger, and it seemed effortless for him? Was this even fair?

“Your method of growing stronger… Is it by gaining the loyalty of more followers?” Leona asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

Abyss nodded. “Indeed. You possess a portion of the Creator God’s power. The more you acknowledge me, the more power I gain. Although I haven’t truly felt the Creator God’s power flowing into me yet, my abilities have indeed increased significantly, including my soul power. It’s clearly connected to that world-creating fellow.”

“Will Leona be transformed into a tentacle monster by the Lord of Submergence’s power?” Flora asked worriedly.

“No… The tendrils are merely a manifestation of my power… Not my inherent form…” the Lord of Submergence explained honestly, having no intention of breaking his oath.

Flora understood immediately. The Lord of Submergence had so many tendrils not because he was limited to that form but because he simply preferred it.

The Lord of Submergence, now much smaller, his power residing within Leona, awaited the strengthening of Abyss’s soul to fully manifest.

“Alright, since it’s settled, I’ll feed him now,” Abyss said, nodding in satisfaction. Without hesitation, he wiped his face, and a small, square portion vanished, revealing the bright soul flame within.

They were currently existing as souls within the dream realm.

Holding the thin soul fragment in his hand, Abyss chanted in his self-created language. It was a difficult language to pronounce, requiring him to use magic to mimic sounds that a human throat couldn’t produce.

The soul fragment expanded rapidly, like a puffed snack. It didn’t grow into another Abyss but simply inflated, eventually becoming a giant, flat, chip-like object about a meter in diameter.

“Give me food… I am hungry…”

The Lord of Submergence’s plea echoed. Weakened by the recent battle, he seemed famished.

“Try this, but don’t eat it all. Leave a small piece, and it will grow back,” Abyss said, yawning. He seemed tired after creating the soul chip. “If it works, you can eat this every day and never worry about food again.”

The Lord of Submergence’s form vanished, then reappeared before them. His body, previously the size of an asteroid, was now only a few kilometers long. He tentatively extended a few tendrils, broke off a small piece of the giant “soul chip” to preserve, and then pushed the rest into his dark cloud.

After a long silence, his voice echoed again.

“It is food… A soul with powerful energy…”

A hint of excitement entered the voice of the gluttonous monster.

Leona felt a surge of power within her, her already immense strength increasing slightly. It seemed the Lord of Submergence’s power was linked to his level of satiation.

At that moment, a strange image flashed before Leona’s eyes.

The Lord of Submergence, contentedly consuming the soul chip, briefly transformed into two naked women, embracing each other, their eyes fixed on her.

But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, like a fleeting illusion. The Lord of Submergence was still the tentacled monster, no women in sight.

Chapter 78: Sorry, We’re Equals Now

The explosions from the endlessly multiplying bone shards continued, wave after wave, their immense power engulfing the entire dream realm. This relentless and indiscriminate assault forced even Abyss to shield himself with magic from the residual energy of his own attack. The true extent of his destructive power, when unleashed, was finally revealed.

Leona now understood why Abyss always seemed so nonchalant and unconcerned—because there was truly no one on the entire continent who could make him nervous. His power, defying common sense, left him with few rivals. His adherence to his no-killing principle, his willingness to help others, his efforts to maintain stability—it wasn’t because he sought anything in return, but simply because he wanted to.

Because nothing in the world could truly challenge him, he sought to challenge the gods, seeking a thrill that was hard to come by. He was a true powerhouse, and in his dictionary, the phrase “I have to” didn’t exist. It was replaced by “I want to.”

Leona couldn’t imagine the devastation Abyss could unleash if he chose the path of evil. No one could stop him, not even her and Flora. She hadn’t forgotten that Abyss, as their master, could enslave them at any moment, forcing them to do his bidding.

Holding the bone sword, Leona waited patiently for the explosions to subside.

After nearly ten minutes of continuous detonations, the cacophony of explosions gradually faded, the blinding light from the magical flames dissipated, and the Lord of Submergence’s ravaged form was revealed.

The countless tendrils that had attacked them were gone, blasted into fragments that drifted aimlessly through the vast expanse.

“Enjoy the fireworks show?” Abyss asked, casually dusting off his hands, looking up at the Lord of Submergence.

“You have lost,” the Lord of Submergence said, his voice devoid of any frustration, simply stating a fact.

“Mortal attacks cannot harm me… The tendrils are merely manifestations of my power, not part of my true body. They can regenerate infinitely, but your mana cannot… I am the master of this realm… Your mana, without an external source, will soon be depleted.”

As he spoke, the Lord of Submergence began to regenerate. Countless new tendrils sprouted from his ravaged form, writhing and extending, hardening as they grew. Soon, his body was once again covered in tendrils, even denser than before.

“You can yield now… Submit to me… Further resistance is futile…”

The tendrils shifted their aim, targeting Abyss.

“Who told you I was trying to harm you with those explosions?”

Abyss grinned.

“…?”

The Lord of Submergence hesitated.

“Look around you. Do you see something familiar?”

Abyss didn’t know what constituted the creature’s visual organs, but the Lord of Submergence obediently looked around.

Drifting around him were countless severed tendrils. They should have been inert, mere space debris, having lost their connection to his body. But now, they were writhing like snakes in water, their broken forms converging towards him.

“What is this…” the Lord of Submergence uttered in confusion.

The severed tendrils accelerated, becoming projectiles that shot towards him.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Unlike Abyss’s explosive magic, these tendrils were numerous and fast. The Lord of Submergence couldn’t even raise his own tendrils to defend himself. They pierced his body, creating large holes that merged into gaping wounds. His form writhed, disappearing and reappearing in different locations, but the rebellious tendrils relentlessly pursued him, adjusting their trajectory.

The tendrils he tried to use for defense were also severed, their broken segments joining the enemy ranks, attacking their former master.

“You’re controlling my severed tendrils!” the Lord of Submergence exclaimed, his voice laced with panic, a stark contrast to his usually emotionless and sluggish demeanor. “Impossible!”

“You say it’s impossible because you’re a god and I’m just a mortal,” Abyss said, seemingly unburdened by controlling millions of severed limbs. He watched with amusement as the Lord of Submergence desperately dodged the tendrils’ relentless assault, using his teleportation ability. “Based on my understanding of gods, I, as a mere mortal, shouldn’t be able to control your severed limbs. Each one would require a tremendous cost. But we’re currently in my follower’s dream. I am her master, and my status is elevated accordingly. Now, my rank is equal to yours. Therefore, your severed limbs are now my servants.”

Manipulating severed limbs was one of the most basic skills taught in Necromancy 101. And Abyss, as the pinnacle of necromancy, could effortlessly convert millions of severed tendrils into his own minions, turning them against their former master!

The Lord of Submergence had a unique defense mechanism against Abyss’s attacks, but he couldn’t defend against his own!

As his own tendrils pierced his body, the black cloud, previously impervious to external attacks, began to dissipate. The loss of a small portion of his vast form was insignificant, but the sheer number of tendrils was overwhelming. Each severed tendril could split into multiple segments, each becoming a suicide bomber!

Boom!

In agony, the Lord of Submergence even abandoned his attempts at mimicking speech, letting out a deafening roar of thunder. His massive form was riddled with holes.

As if enraged by Abyss’s attack, he launched a new assault!

He vanished, reappearing right where Abyss and the girls stood! Ignoring the tendrils still attacking him, he shifted his form, engulfing them like an amoeba consuming its prey!

His body, despite being riddled with wounds, was still vast enough to block any escape route.

“Trying to consume me?”

Abyss’s vision blurred as the Lord of Submergence’s massive form closed in, the starry sky fading into nothingness.

It wasn’t darkness, but a complete sensory deprivation, an “error report” sent to his mind as all his senses shut down. Within this nothingness, all perception ceased, even thought itself seemed to grind to a halt…

So the Lord of Submergence’s cloud-like form was actually a void of nothingness?

A smile touched Abyss’s lips. This unknown creature from another world had truly provided him with many new discoveries.

He snapped his fingers, although the sound was swallowed by the encroaching nothingness. He, Leona, and Flora were being consumed, their forms gradually dissolving. But the snap still had its effect.

Thousands of kilometers away, a cluster of bone shards, previously flying outwards at high speed, suddenly twisted and reformed, becoming three figures holding hands.

“You escaped?!” the Lord of Submergence exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and frustration, like a child losing a game. “Within my void… no spatial magic can function…”

“Sorry, but this isn’t spatial magic,” Abyss said, releasing the hands of the two girls beside him, who were still disoriented. He explained patiently, “This space isn’t just filled with your severed tendrils, but also the bone shards I released earlier. These aren’t simple magical constructs. Each shard is an extension of my being. The explosion was powerful enough to propel these shards far, far away. As long as I wish, I can transfer myself to any of them.”

The Lord of Submergence fell silent again.

Countless tendrils continued to assault his massive form, the holes in his body growing larger, his form becoming increasingly fragmented.

“Your rank… I yield…”

The Lord of Submergence’s voice finally echoed again.

“That’s it?” Leona asked, dumbfounded. “I thought we’d have to fight him until we were exhausted…”

The situation was quite different from what she had imagined. She had assumed the Lord of Submergence was simply a powerful monster that needed to be physically subdued. But it turned out he was immune to external attacks, and it was Abyss’s superior intellect that had defeated him.

“Alright, then swear allegiance to her,” Abyss said, patting Leona’s shoulder. “Offer your power to her, and I will provide you with the nourishment you need. Don’t worry, you won’t regret it.”

As he spoke, the tendrils he had been controlling stopped their assault, allowing the Lord of Submergence to slowly regenerate.

The Lord of Submergence writhed, his massive form contorting, and uttered words that should never come from a god’s mouth.

“I, Wrathful Bubos, pledge my allegiance to Leona Placidia Crepeus, transferring my power to her.”

As a god, his words carried weight. The moment he finished speaking, a surge of lightning erupted from Leona’s body, coursing through her before vanishing.

Leona immediately felt the change within her. An immense power filled her, ready to be unleashed as lightning at her command.

She raised a hand, and a lance, hundreds of meters long, materialized in her grasp. It was a weapon forged from her Dou Qi, but unlike ordinary Dou Qi weapons, it crackled with lightning, brimming with extraordinary power!

“Congratulations, we did it,” Abyss said, giving Leona a thumbs-up.

“You said you would provide him with nourishment. What are you going to give him?” Leona asked, not feeling celebratory. She grabbed Abyss by the collar. “Don’t tell me you’re…”

“Yes, I’m going to feed him my soul,” Abyss said with a carefree smile.

Chapter 77: The Audacious Challenger

Never in his existence had the Lord of Submergence felt so bewildered as he did today.

He was sure he hadn’t misheard. The tiny mortal before him, with the most sincere expression, had actually proposed that he, a god, become the servant of his subordinate.

What was happening? Was he mad? But the Lord of Submergence couldn’t sense any madness from the boy. He spoke with perfect rationality, not out of anger or for amusement. He was genuinely presenting this proposal.

Refusing to become a god’s servant was already an act of foolish audacity for a mortal. But to reverse the roles and demand a god become his follower? Unthinkable!

“Impossible…” the Lord of Submergence immediately refused. His simple mind didn’t allow for complex considerations, only a straightforward rejection.

A god could never become a mortal’s servant. A god’s status was inherently higher than a mortal’s. Mortals had no right to control a god. Even the not-so-bright Lord of Submergence instinctively understood this.

“Don’t dismiss it so quickly,” Abyss said, raising a finger. “Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want to escape this situation where you have to constantly bargain with mortals for food? Are you content to be a pitiful creature, scrounging for scraps through that tiny hole in your mask?”

“Mortals are too weak. Their power is insignificant compared to a god’s. Their status is too low…” the Lord of Submergence said, seemingly tempted, but still hesitant. “If I were to swear allegiance to you… The world’s corrective forces would turn your body to ash…”

“How can you know without trying?” Abyss asked, his expression still relaxed. “My survival doesn’t matter to you, does it?”

“…” The Lord of Submergence pondered again.

Indeed, this arrogant mortal, despite his power, was still just a mortal. His life or death didn’t really matter.

Powerful individuals would always emerge. The Lord of Submergence was immortal. In his endless existence, he would eventually encounter another powerful being, perhaps even stronger than Abyss, and perhaps not as arrogant.

“I have a proposition. Hear me out,” Abyss said. “Fight us. If we can make you yield, you become her servant, offering your power to her, and I will provide you with enough food. If we can’t defeat you, I become your servant, offering you nourishment without asking for anything in return. What do you say?”

Leona felt a twinge of anxiety. When she first encountered the Lord of Submergence, he hadn’t been so close. She had assumed he was only two or three times the size of a dragon. But now, face to face, she realized he was as vast as the entire Haitville continent.

She had expected Abyss to end the negotiation and have Flora pull them back to reality, to devise a new plan later. But he was still confident, challenging the Outer God to a duel.

I must protect Abyss. He’s putting his life in my hands again.

The Lord of Submergence was indeed intrigued by Abyss’s proposal. After a moment of thought, he replied, “I accept your wager. Because you cannot defeat me. Mortal power is limited. No attack can harm me.”

“Excellent!” Abyss clapped his hands. “Then let’s prepare—Leona, get ready. You’re my champion. Flora, be prepared. You’re our last line of defense.”

“Understood!” Flora and Leona responded simultaneously.

“We can begin.”

Abyss nodded slightly.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As soon as he finished speaking, countless tendrils, crackling with lightning, surged towards them from the Lord of Submergence’s massive body. Their sheer number was staggering.

At least hundreds of millions! Abyss estimated, seeing the scale of the attack.

“Leona, use this sword!” Abyss shouted. Before Leona could react, bones materialized in her hand, rapidly growing and extending, reaching several kilometers in length within seconds.

This was the result of Abyss channeling his Bone Armor spell through the necromantic bond, manifesting it on his follower. Without the limitations of physical space, he could extend these weapons made of pure mana for dozens of kilometers if he wished!

Leona now had a weapon, albeit one of absurd length. But as the most talented Dou Warrior on the continent, she instantly found its balance. Her body erupted in a dazzling blaze of Dou Qi flames, illuminating half the sky.

She grasped the colossal sword with both hands and, propelled by her powerful Dou Qi, began to spin rapidly! The orange flames transformed into a giant spinning disk. Even though it was still dwarfed by the Lord of Submergence’s immense form, she charged forward without fear!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The tendrils that reached them were severed as they passed through the path of Leona’s spinning sword. Countless severed tendrils flew in all directions, writhing helplessly, drifting through the weightless space.

“Yaaaaaaah!”

Leona roared, switching from defense to offense. Propelled by her Dou Qi, she shot towards the Lord of Submergence, leaving a trail of fire in her wake. Her bone sword slashed, severing more tendrils.

Snap.

Abyss, standing still, his eyes closed, snapped his fingers.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The bone sword in Leona’s hand extended even further, growing at an incredible speed, then fracturing into multiple segments. These segments spun and flew in all directions, carrying Leona’s Dou Qi, creating a magnificent fireworks display on the surface of the Lord of Submergence’s massive form!

The sword extended, fractured, and the fractured segments continued to extend and fracture, the number of bone shards in the air increasing exponentially, becoming denser and denser, creating a terrifying chain reaction!

Within seconds, the number of bone shards rivaled the Lord of Submergence’s tendrils!

And then, Abyss opened his eyes. A blinding blue soul flame flashed within them. “Explode!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A cataclysmic explosion engulfed the Lord of Submergence’s body. A wave of destructive energy swept through the entire dream realm! Intense heat surged towards them, and a layer of ice armor materialized around Abyss and his companions, sizzling and reforming as it resisted the scorching temperatures.

An attack of this magnitude could annihilate the entire Haitville continent, leaving nothing but ashes!

Chapter 76: Would an Undead Dream of Electric Sheep?

“This is… my dream? I didn’t expect to see stars,” a voice came from Abyss’s right. It was Leona, holding his hand, looking around curiously, her gaze finally settling on the dark cloud in the distance.

“This is your dream, altered by the interference of an external force,” Abyss said, tilting his head slightly, gesturing towards the monstrous creature with his chin. “That’s the culprit. I used magic to induce sleep, and he naturally appeared in your dream. If you were an ordinary human, you might dream about this thing every night… My goodness, look at those tendrils, as dense as the villi on a small intestine.”

“Not appetizing at all…” Leona had already encountered the Lord of Submergence once, but that was in a void of nothingness.

“Should we call him over?” Flora asked softly, holding Abyss’s left hand.

“Of course, we can’t have a proper conversation if he doesn’t come closer,” Abyss nodded and turned to Leona. “Leona, call him.”

“Don’t order me around!” Leona retorted, then cleared her throat and shouted at the dark cloud, “Hey! Giant jellyfish! Over here!”

The dark cloud immediately sensed Leona’s call. It wriggled slightly and rapidly dissipated. As it vanished, a new dark cloud materialized near them—this was how it moved.

Only when it appeared before them did they realize how far away the monster had been. It hadn’t seemed particularly large, but as it approached, its true size became apparent.

Even saying it blotted out the sky would be an understatement. Their entire field of vision was filled with the writhing tendrils of the black cloud. Even though the Lord of Submergence was right in front of them, they could only see its edges from the side. Abyss estimated its diameter to be at least a thousand kilometers.

A voice, a mixture of thunder and rushing water, echoed in their ears. “Mortals… Submit to me… I will grant you power…”

The voice came from all directions, bypassing their ears and directly entering their minds, making Abyss’s head buzz.

How much power did this colossal monster possess?

Abyss couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t intervened in the Council of the Dead’s plan, if the Lord of Submergence had successfully crossed the world barrier and entered Haitville.

Perhaps the nine native gods, the guardians of this world, would have appeared to fight him. And the mortal realm? It would be a bloodbath. The Council of the Dead, empowered by their lord, would surely unleash their vengeance upon the Church, sacrificing countless souls to fuel their lord’s war.

Although Abyss was a necromancer himself, he had little hope for his fellow practitioners. They had abandoned the ancient tenets, twisting the original purpose of necromancy, becoming tools of selfishness and greed. Most necromancers had become something else, something that disgusted Abyss.

“You’re saying you want us to be your slaves? What will you give us in return?” Abyss asked loudly.

The dark cloud seemed surprised by the question. It paused, then repeated, “Submit to me… I will grant you power…”

“But we don’t lack power. We don’t need your measly offerings,” Abyss said, spreading his arms. “Standing before you are the most talented Divine Arts user, the most powerful Dou Warrior, and the most skilled necromancer on the entire continent. We can easily reach the pinnacle of this world without you.”

The Lord of Submergence was stunned.

He had never encountered such mortals. The ones he had met always craved power, eagerly submitting after hearing about the benefits of serving him, seeking the strength to dominate others. It was always a good deal. He would be satiated, and the mortals would rule, providing him with even more souls, a mutually beneficial cycle. As for the souls used in the exchange, they were just food to him. He didn’t care where they came from.

But these three weren’t tempted by his offer. The one who seemed to be their leader even arrogantly claimed that they didn’t need his power, that they could conquer the world without it?

How could he possibly make a deal with them?

“I can grant your other wishes…”

The Lord of Submergence struggled to come up with a new offer.

Abyss smiled, satisfied. “Yes, that’s what I’ve been waiting for. I want you to fulfill my wish.”

“State your wish… Become my servant… Accept my gift…”

“My wish is to eliminate the Creator God of this world and take his place.”

“…”

The Lord of Submergence fell silent again.

Abyss wasn’t in a hurry. He held the girls’ hands and waited patiently for the slow-witted monster to process this unprecedented request.

Leona yawned. She disliked dealing with those who were less intelligent than her—gods included.

Flora, ever diligent, kept her eyes on the giant monster, ready to wake up Abyss and Leona at any moment.

“I cannot defeat the Creator God for you…” the Lord of Submergence finally said. “He is of a higher rank than I. I cannot win…”

“Aren’t you a god too?” Abyss asked.

“The Creator God is the supreme deity, wielding the highest authority across multiple worlds,” the Lord of Submergence explained honestly. “My power is derived from him and can be revoked. Therefore, I cannot fight him…”

“He suddenly seems less impressive,” Leona whispered to Abyss. “He was acting all high and mighty, telling us to be his underlings, and now he’s backing down. I don’t think he understands how to negotiate.”

“That’s how simple-minded creatures are. They’re straightforward and don’t bluff,” Abyss whispered back.

After the initial disappointment, Abyss had an unexpected realization.

This Outer God was likely a ruler of another universe, similar to the Nine Gods of Haitville, but his mind was a chaotic mess, his intelligence lacking. Unlike the Nine Gods of Haitville, who were rational and experienced, this one seemed… incompetent.

Was he always like this, or had something happened to him?

“I can grant your other wishes…” the Lord of Submergence said again. He didn’t want to give up on the possibility of a deal. These three were powerful and could potentially provide him with an endless supply of food.

“Hmm… Actually, I have another wish. One that you can fulfill,” Abyss said, seemingly prepared.

“…What is it?” the Lord of Submergence asked eagerly.

“Simple. I want you to become my servant—or rather, the servant of this young lady beside me,” Abyss said, smiling and patting Leona’s shoulder. “You’re hungry, right? If you become her servant, you’ll have all the food you can eat, no more worries about your meals.”

“Eh? Me?” Leona exclaimed. “What? You want a god to be my underling?”

Chapter 75: When a Straight Man Meets a Girl’s Heart

Abyss blew out the candles in the room, hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, and returned to the bed, lying in the center. “Come on, Flora, Leona, lie down. We’re sleeping together tonight,” he said to the two girls who were still sitting on the edge of the bed.

While discussing the plan, Flora and Leona had been focused on how to deal with the soul-devouring Outer God, without any other thoughts. But now, with the lights out, the thick walls blocking all noise, the room silent except for the soothing aroma emanating from a small incense burner, the atmosphere became undeniably ambiguous.

Both Flora and Leona blushed, hesitant to lie down.

“What’s wrong? Do you need to use the restroom?” Abyss asked innocently, looking at them. “But I thought undead don’t need to use the restroom. Lower-level undead expel waste by spitting it out, and higher-level undead turn it into gas and exhale it…”

“Not the restroom!” Leona exclaimed, slapping Abyss on the nose. “Do you even know how to talk to girls?!”

“What can I do… I was raised by a grumpy old man. The only females I interacted with were corpses…”

“Idiot! Ugh, so frustrating!” Abyss’s cluelessness, however, seemed to steel Leona’s resolve. She threw herself onto the bed, grabbing Abyss’s hand. “Is this okay? Like this?”

Seeing Leona lie down, Flora followed suit, albeit more hesitantly.

“Good. Now, palm to palm. This will help us enter the same dream,” Abyss said, looking at the girls on either side of him, his voice barely a whisper. “Close your eyes. I’ll use the necromantic bond to calm your minds. Just relax completely, and leave the rest to me.”

He interlaced his fingers with theirs, their four hands clasped together.

He could feel both girls tense up for a moment. Flora quickly relaxed, placing her complete trust in him, but Leona remained stiff, her hand trembling slightly.

“Why are you going rigid again… Do you need me to feed you some medicine, Leona?”

“Shut up! I can handle it myself!” Leona said, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to calm down.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to cooperate with Abyss’s plan, but her heart couldn’t settle.

This was her first time holding hands with a boy. Abyss’s hand wasn’t strong and broad like other boys his age, but slender and soft, his nails trimmed short and clean. It felt comfortable to hold, making Leona’s heart pound—although her heart no longer beat, the feeling was still there, undeniable.

Leona was a lonely princess. Although she was unattainable in the eyes of commoners, she held an awkward position within the noble circle.

She was powerful, but because of her overwhelming strength, no one treated her as a real person. In the minds of most high-ranking individuals in the Empire, she was more like a strategic weapon, a deterrent against other nations or a bargaining chip in negotiations. And because of her status as an illegitimate child, she was ostracized by other noble children her age. As for pursuing relationships with boys? Forget about the royal family allowing such behavior that would tarnish her reputation as a lady. Even she herself looked down upon most males on the continent.

Abyss was different. He had forcefully become her companion through his necromancy, with a certain unreasonable and domineering charm. He had entrusted his life and the success of his endeavors to her without a shred of doubt, indulging her arrogance and whims.

He had dragged her on adventures, to fight against an Outer God she had never heard of, pulling her out of her sheltered life and thrusting her into a wider world.

For the first time, Leona had a true friend in Flora, someone who understood her. And for the first time, she was this close to a young man.

She peeked through the small holes in the mask, looking at Abyss beside her. He had obediently closed his mouth and eyes after her scolding, a faint smile on his face, a mix of anticipation and excitement, lying peacefully beside her.

A faint scent of herbs emanated from the grey-haired boy. His eyelashes were long, his nose wasn’t particularly prominent, and his nostrils were small and delicate, almost feminine. He wasn’t conventionally handsome, his features different from the rugged Northern people who made up the majority of the Western Empire’s population. But looking at Abyss’s profile, Leona felt a sense of security, even though he wasn’t the typical muscular sixteen-year-old boy she often saw, even though he lacked strong arms.

What does he think of me? What’s my place in his heart?

Leona tried to push these thoughts away, but they kept popping up, making her feel restless.

…

Compared to Leona, Flora’s feelings were simpler.

Abyss was the first person she had encountered after the terrifying experience of being poisoned, and he had been with her ever since, leading her on adventures and showing her new ways of life.

With him, Flora discovered her own rebellious and willful nature. She realized that she wasn’t meant to be a tool for others, that she had her own life to live.

As long as she was with him, she would continue to discover new things.

As for the wish Abyss had promised to fulfill, she decided to keep it to herself for now. It was a significant wish, and if she revealed it, he might abandon his adventures for her sake—Flora didn’t want to stop, and she didn’t want Abyss to fulfill her wish too soon.

As long as I don’t tell him, he’ll owe me a wish.

Thinking this, a faint smile touched Flora’s lips. She focused on the feeling of their interlocked hands, the slight dampness of his palm from nervousness and excitement, and emptied her mind.

…

Abyss’s breathing gradually slowed down. Flora, whose hand he held in his left, had been soothed by his magic and had fallen into a deep sleep. Leona, after a period of inexplicable tension, also calmed down, her soft snores, like a kitten’s, audible beneath the mask.

It’s time.

Silently chanting a sleep-inducing spell, Abyss’s consciousness sank rapidly. Soon, a pitch-black space appeared before his eyes.

It resembled a night sky, but it was eerily silent and oppressive. Only a few faint stars were visible, their light flickering like candles in the wind, threatening to be extinguished at any moment.

And directly opposite Abyss, a dark cloud crackled with lightning, countless thin tendrils extending from it, swaying like seaweed.

Chapter 74: Three People Doing Big Things Together at Night

Has the pervert finally revealed his true colors?!

This was Leona’s first thought.

She immediately spread her arms protectively in front of Flora, glaring at Abyss. “You pervert! You finally couldn’t hold back anymore! I’ll never let you touch Flora! If you want to do anything… do it to me! Leave Flora alone!”

“You’re definitely involved, but it would be better if Flora joined us too,” Abyss said, not showing any remorse, but scooting to the center of the bed. “One on each side, lie down. We have serious business to attend to.”

Leona’s face flushed red. “Have you no shame?! What do you take us for?! We’re not that kind of girl!” she accused.

“I’m not casual either… Oh, I didn’t tell you beforehand because I didn’t want you to feel pressured while bathing. This will work better if you’re relaxed. Especially you, Leona. You need to be completely relaxed,” Abyss pleaded, clasping his hands together. “Please help me out. I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow!”

“So you rented that luxurious bathroom for this?!”

“It’s my first time doing something like this, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“I misjudged you! You’re just a scheming pervert! And you said you wanted to fulfill our wishes! You just want to trick us into liking you, don’t you!”

“Huh?” Abyss looked bewildered. “How did I become a pervert? I won’t touch you inappropriately…”

“No foreplay?! Don’t you know how to cherish a girl?!”

“Abyss… You haven’t told us what you’re planning to do…”

While Leona was about to challenge Abyss to a duel, Flora, who had been silent, realized that he wasn’t planning anything untoward. He genuinely had serious business in mind.

“Oh, look at me, not explaining properly,” Abyss said, slapping his forehead. “I don’t know what Leona misunderstood, but what I need you to do is simply sleep next to me—I’m going to talk to the Lord of Submergence in the dream realm.”

“You’re targeting me!” Leona said, feeling both embarrassed and angry.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Abyss apologized profusely. “I’m not treating you as tools. If you don’t want to do it, it’s fine. The only connection between the Lord of Submergence and this world is through you anyway, he can’t go anywhere else…”

“That’s not what I meant…” Leona’s voice trailed off.

“What exactly do we need to do?” Flora asked, amused by Leona’s flustered reaction. She walked over to Abyss’s left side, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at him with a smile.

Flora’s figure, clad in a bathrobe, was captivating. Without any other clothes underneath, the robe accentuated her youthful curves. However, Abyss seemed too preoccupied with his plan to notice.

Seeing Flora sitting on the bed, looking like Abyss’s blushing bride, Leona puffed out her cheeks and climbed onto the other side of the bed, kicking off her slippers.

“Hurry up and tell us. I… I can’t wait to deal with that giant jellyfish!”

She kicked Abyss impatiently with her bare feet.

Abyss, who had probably been planning this for a long time, started explaining as soon as Flora and Leona asked. “Since you’re both willing to help, I’ll explain. Currently, the only connection the Lord of Submergence has to this world is that mask, the Face of Hell, which has recognized Leona as its master. So our plan begins with her.”

He pointed to the bedside table, where a cloth-wrapped object lay. It was the Face of Hell. Abyss had retrieved it while Leona was bathing, wrapping it in cloth to prevent the maid from touching it and causing trouble. After finishing his quick twenty-minute bath, he had come to the room and guarded the artifact, waiting for the girls to return.

“Later, we’ll hold hands and lie in bed. I’ll use the necromantic bond to soothe your minds. Even though you don’t need sleep as undead, my magic will induce a natural slumber,” Abyss said, taking Flora and Leona’s hands. “Leona, you need to wear the Face of Hell beforehand to establish a strong connection with the Lord of Submergence. This way, when all three of us fall asleep, there’s a high chance we’ll encounter him in the dream realm and be able to communicate with him.”

“What’s the point of communicating with that giant jellyfish? Isn’t he brain-dead?” Leona asked, puzzled.

“He’s not very intelligent. Most of his consciousness is based on his primal instincts as a creature, but he’s not completely incapable of communication. He can mimic human speech and intentionally establish trade relationships, indicating that he can think rationally, perhaps at the level of a child,” Abyss explained. “I’m the first person on this continent to study the dreams of the undead. My research has shown that, within a follower’s dreams, I, as the master, have a higher authority. Perhaps, through Leona as a conduit, I can communicate with the Lord of Submergence as an equal.”

“If he’s willing to sit down and talk to us civilly, we can discuss what he wants and see if we can reach an agreement.”

“If he’s not willing to talk, then Leona and I will beat him until he is.”

“Flora, you have two tasks. First, during my negotiations with the Lord of Submergence, use your diplomatic skills to support me… Maybe that’s not the right word, but something similar. Second, if my plan fails and we can’t defeat him, use your Divine Arts to pull Leona and me out—or seal us temporarily to prevent him from using our bodies to escape. Of course, that’s a last resort.”

Divine Arts users underwent rigorous mental resistance training due to the possibility of battling black magic users. High-ranking Divine Arts users, with the help of the gods, were practically immune to illusions and could resist most forms of mind control. Flora, as the most talented Divine Arts user in history, naturally possessed exceptional mental fortitude.

“I understand,” Flora said, nodding seriously. Abyss’s plan was crazy, but she was used to his style. Cautious yet bold, he preferred simple and effective methods, but he never charged in blindly.

“Are we going to fight the giant jellyfish?” Leona asked, eager for a challenge. “If you can give me another good fight tonight, I might even praise you!”

“If he’s not willing to talk nicely, I guarantee you’ll have a blast tonight,” Abyss said, squeezing Leona’s hand excitedly.

Flora blinked, listening to their conversation. Something felt a bit off.

Chapter 73: This, My Friends, Is the Life!

“This is the bath you’ve been dreaming of all this time,” Abyss said as the maid pushed open a fragrant wooden door, revealing the scene to Leona and Flora.

It was a luxurious bathroom, steam rising from a large bathtub carved from a single log in the center of the room. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers from the various petals floating in the hot water. Beside the tub was a small copper table with a bottle of dwarven spiced liquor and several crystal glasses. Next to the main bathtub was a smaller stone tub filled with ice, a faint chill emanating from it.

Located in the northwestern corner of the continent, the Western Empire had a unique bathing tradition—soaking in scalding hot water, followed by a shot of strong liquor, and then a final rinse in ice-cold water. It was said to dispel fatigue and induce complete relaxation.

“This… This is the life I want!” Leona exclaimed, jumping in delight. This bathing style was sophisticated! Invigorating! This was how a princess should live!

“You… You and Flora can bathe together. I booked this bathroom specifically for you two,” Abyss said with a smile. “You haven’t had a proper bath since joining me. Now that we have time, relax and enjoy yourselves.”

“Good job, ABC! I’ll remember this and reward you later!” Leona said excitedly, patting Abyss’s hand.

“If you want to reward me, you actually have a chance tonight…” Abyss murmured, then put on a gentle smile. “Take your time. When you’re done, there will be a maid waiting outside. She’ll escort you to your room for the night. Don’t worry, I spent a lot of money on the room. It’s guaranteed to be luxurious and comfortable.”

“Alright! You can go now. Flora and I are going to bathe!” Leona said cheerfully, pushing Abyss out, having the maid close the door, and then pulling Flora to undress.

“I feel like Abyss is hiding something from us today…” Flora said, walking towards the clothes basket as Leona pulled her along. “Don’t you think he’s acting strangely nervous?”

“Nervous? Is he? Oh, he’s a wandering mage. He probably rarely visits such high-class places,” Leona said, quickly stripping naked and then helping Flora with her more complicated mage robes.

Once Flora was also undressed, Leona held her arms and scrutinized her body.

Although Leona was also a girl, Flora couldn’t help but blush. “Um… What…?”

“The Church is amazing. They’ve trained your body to perfection. If I’m not mistaken, you’re only seventeen, right? My goodness, everything is in the right place. If I were a boy, I wouldn’t be able to resist you.”

Leona observed Flora like a piece of art, nodding repeatedly.

Flora blushed even harder. She had bathed with other girls before—as the Saint of the Church, she had four maids attending to her during her baths. But no maid would ever dare say such things to the esteemed Saint.

“Look at me, although my figure is also quite impressive, my skin isn’t as good as yours,” Leona said, puffing out her chest, which was as flat as a board, and then patting her upper arm. “Feel my skin here. It’s tough, it can deflect a charging bull. But yours, my goodness, it’s as smooth as pudding. I feel like it would tear if I poked it.”

Flora, flustered by Leona’s comments, ran to the bathtub and jumped in, her head bobbing above the water as she blew bubbles.

Leona, finally satisfied with admiring Flora’s perfect body, jumped into the bathtub with the grace of a gymnast.

The bathtub wasn’t just a container for water. It had a compartment at the bottom with a heating magic circle. Water flowed in from a small hole at the bottom and circulated back, keeping the water at a constant temperature of over fifty degrees.

Immersed in the hot water, Leona and Flora, both undead with naturally low body temperatures, immediately felt the comforting warmth penetrate their pores, making them want to moan in pleasure. It was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. The warmth spread through their bodies, making them feel truly alive again.

“Ah… My goodness… This is heavenly,” Leona said, her head above the water as she half-squatted in the tub, unable to sit without being submerged. She balanced a flower petal on her nose and looked at Flora, who was meticulously scrubbing the dirt off her body, with a dreamy expression.

The undead didn’t sweat or have a metabolism. The potent preservation magic of their high-level necromancy prevented bacteria from growing on their bodies, so they wouldn’t develop any unpleasant odors even without bathing. What they needed to wash off was the dust accumulated from lying in their graves for forty years. It wasn’t difficult to clean, but these pampered noble ladies, out of habit, wanted to be completely spotless.

Leona and Flora helped each other wash their backs and hair, soaking in the tub until their faces were flushed, their bodies fully revitalized by the heat.

“Let’s have a drink. It’s been an unforgettable day,” Leona said, leaning on the edge of the tub, pouring two glasses of the spiced liquor, and handing one to Flora.

The fiery dwarven liquor burned as it went down, a wave of heat traveling from the tongue to the throat and down to the stomach. Then, the intense aroma of the spices exploded in their nostrils, stimulating their senses. Even the gentle Flora couldn’t help but cover her nose and let out a long sigh, while Leona gasped in delight, as if expelling forty years of loneliness with each breath.

“And now for the highlight of the Western Empire’s bathing ritual!” Leona said, stepping out of the hot tub and, after a brief moment of preparation, plunging into the ice-cold water, submerging her head completely.

A Dou Warrior’s body was resistant to extreme temperatures, but after a momentary delay, the icy cold water engulfed Leona.

“Ugh… Hah…” Leona gasped, her head above the water, her eyes closed, her rosy lips slightly parted as she breathed rapidly. Her muscles and bones felt like they were melting, her entire body weightless.

This was it! This was the true Western Empire bathing experience!

Flora, after a moment of hesitation, lifted her long, slender legs and stepped out of the hot tub, entering the cold water. As a Saint, she had been forbidden from taking cold baths, as it would damage her skin. But now, as an undead, her skin would remain eternally beautiful, and she was no longer bound by the Church’s rules. So, with a sense of excitement, she experienced the ice bath she had never had in her previous life.

“Ahh…” Flora gasped as she submerged herself in the icy water.

It was so cold! But her body felt so relaxed! It was amazing!

…

Flora and Leona spent two hours in the bathroom. After sending their clothes to be washed and changing into the bathrobes provided by the inn, they emerged, their skin glowing, their damp hair cascading down their backs, their lips plump and rosy from the moisture, looking radiant and beautiful. The splendor of their former lives was fully restored.

The maid, who had been waiting outside, led them down a long corridor to a luxurious suite.

“This is your room, ladies. Please rest well. If you need anything, just call for me,” the maid said respectfully, opening the door made of fine wood for Leona and Flora.

“Where’s Abyss?” Flora wondered.

“Boys bathe quickly. He must have finished long ago and gone to his room to sleep. He’ll probably come find us tomorrow. Come on, I can’t wait to roll around on that soft bed!”

Leona pulled Flora into the room excitedly.

Several magic lamps cast a soft glow, illuminating the ornate furniture, the bookshelf filled with various books, the exquisite and expensive paintings, and the handicrafts imported from the Elven Kingdoms.

And a luxurious bed, five meters wide.

Seeing the bed, Leona’s smile froze.

Abyss was sitting on it, cross-legged. He seemed to have bathed as well, wearing the inn’s pajamas, his bare feet white and clean. He looked at them with a smile.

“You’re here. I’ve been waiting for you. Come join me in bed.”

Abyss patted the bed and grinned, his teeth gleaming.

Chapter 72: To Change the Future

Abyss nodded approvingly. “If you’ve truly decided to walk this path, I wish you the best of luck.”

He removed a ring from his finger and placed it in Helen’s hand. He usually concealed his rings with an illusion spell, so to Helen, it appeared out of thin air. She looked at him questioningly.

“Take this ring. If you encounter a situation you can’t handle, rub it seven times with your palm. It will summon the ghosts who helped you gather evidence against the nobles. They know a lot and can offer advice. They will be your most reliable allies—ghosts are not burdened by material desires. As long as you treat them with respect, they will be loyal to you.”

Abyss explained with a smile.

Helen hesitated for a moment, then accepted the ring, clutching it tightly in her hand.

“Thank you, Mr. Abyss,” she said, standing up and bowing deeply to him.

Dar, the dwarf, busy mopping the floor, couldn’t hear their conversation. He only saw Abyss pull a ring out of thin air, give it to the beautiful girl, and then the girl bowed to him. Was he proposing?

He couldn’t understand human customs. They had only met a few times, and they were already talking about marriage. Even dark elves would at least have a few flings to test their compatibility. Dar shook his head and continued cleaning.

“Then I’ll give you my handkerchief, Mr. Abyss,” Helen said, taking out a pale blue handkerchief from her pocket. It was made of the finest silk imported from the Elven Kingdoms, its delicate embroidery and elegant colors clearly indicating its origin from the royal workshops.

Abyss accepted the handkerchief, still warm from Helen’s touch, and tucked it into his pocket, ignoring Leona’s murderous glare.

“Mr. Abyss, you are a powerful mage, and you might never need my help, but please accept this handkerchief as a token of my gratitude. If you ever need my assistance, please come find me, or send someone with this handkerchief.”

Helen’s face flushed slightly. In the Western Empire, it was customary for unmarried noble ladies to give handkerchiefs to young men as a sign of affection. But she had left the palace in a hurry and hadn’t brought anything else.

“As long as it’s within my power and doesn’t harm my people, I will do my best to help. It’s my way of repaying your kindness, Mr. Abyss!”

Abyss had only helped her secure the funds and dealt with the assassins, but it had been a life-changing experience for Helen.

Without his help and encouragement, she might have lost her spirit after her initial failure, becoming complacent and indecisive like her father and brothers. His support had led her to victory, allowing her to realize that the purpose of her life wasn’t to adorn herself with fancy clothes and makeup, but to change the Empire, which was straying from its righteous path and slowly declining, to do something for the people who supported them, to rekindle the spirit of its past.

Now, she didn’t want to be a prince’s wife, but an Empress. With newfound courage, she believed she could change everything.

Abyss studied Helen carefully. Her eyes were different from the confused and self-righteous girl he had met a few days ago. He knew she had matured. The children of the royal family never lacked vision; they only needed courage and experience. A golden fish wasn’t meant to stay in a pond; once it encountered a storm, it would transform into a dragon. Abyss had given her the opportunity, and she had seized it, soaring towards a new future.

“We’ll be leaving Golden Griffin City soon. I still have much to do. I hope you can hold onto your ideals and never lose your current spirit,” Abyss said, standing up and picking up his beer mug.

“Come, let’s have one last toast. Who knows when we’ll meet again.”

Helen, deeply moved, raised her glass and clinked it against Abyss’s. She then drained the fine wine in one gulp.

She left the tavern without hesitation or a backward glance, but her firm steps brought smiles to the faces of Abyss and his companions.

…

As night fell, Abyss and his companions also left the tavern. But this time, it wasn’t to avoid endangering the city’s residents, but to find a place to stay.

Even with the tents and blankets, sleeping in the wilderness had led to numerous complaints from Leona. As she put it, forcing a princess to sleep in a tent, unable to bathe, to be served, or to wake up in a five-meter-wide bed, was pure torture.

Flora was adaptable, but even she seemed to prefer sleeping indoors.

To appease the two girls, Abyss abandoned his plan to spend the night in the wilderness and, gathering their remaining funds, decided to take them to a more luxurious inn.

Golden Griffin City was a bustling commercial hub with a large population and numerous high-end inns. As long as you could afford it, you could enjoy a luxurious bed, a sumptuous dinner, the service of professional maids, and most importantly, a warm bath filled with flower petals and fragrant spices on a cold winter night.

Abyss didn’t care how long their remaining money would last. Finding a sufficiently impressive-looking inn, he ordered every service they offered, as a treat for Flora and Leona after their battle with a powerful opponent. His earnings from Lena were almost gone.

First, a celebratory dinner.

Servants placed a dozen delectable dishes on the table, opened a bottle of fine Elven white wine, and then withdrew, leaving the trio to their meal, waiting outside the private room. Expensive scented candles flickered on the table, casting a soft glow, making the dinner feel romantic and elegant.

“Really! Can we eat all of this?!” Leona whispered to Abyss, standing by the table.

“Of course. I’ve spent almost all our remaining money. Let’s enjoy ourselves tonight,” Abyss said, gesturing for Leona and Flora to sit with a gentlemanly “please.”

Leona, who had been craving a proper high-end dinner, pulled the equally hungry Flora to the table and immediately started digging in.

“Ah… This fish fillet is so tender and flavorful… Almost as good as the palace chef’s…” Leona said, her mouth full, praising the food.

Flora ate delicately. As an undead, she didn’t feel hunger, but she wanted to savor these delicacies she had never tasted before.

As she ate, she glanced at Abyss, who was leisurely gnawing on a chicken leg opposite them.

She noticed that he was also observing her and Leona, and she thought she saw a strange emotion in his eyes.

Was he… nervous? And excited?

Flora popped a piece of fruit into her mouth and tilted her head, puzzled.

Chapter 71: The Moment Helen Grew Up

“That’s it?” Leona asked, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the three sheets of paper in Abyss’s hand. “The assassin not only didn’t fight you to the death but also gave you written evidence?”

“She’s a dark elf,” Abyss said, sitting back down with a smile. “The mastermind behind this hired a dark elf assassin to kill Helen. They’re quite skilled, I’ll give them that. They used a ‘Keep Out’ spell to prevent witnesses and even stabbed me in the heart with a magical dagger. If the real Helen had stepped out, she would be dead now—although I could resurrect her, it’s better to avoid that.”

“Oh, dark elves. They deserve it,” Leona said, understanding immediately. “They only thought about the dark elves’ efficiency, forgetting their ‘fine tradition’ of negotiating with the target if the first assassination attempt fails.”

“She even offered to spend the night with me,” Abyss said, placing the evidence before Helen. “Here you go. It’s solid evidence. Dark elf assassins have a habit of investigating anonymous clients, which made things easier for us.”

“And you didn’t agree, right?!” Leona asked, grabbing Abyss’s wrist, her voice alarmed.

“Of course not. Do you think I’m the kind of person who would be interested in the living?”

“Ugh! You pervert! Why are you so proud of that?!”

Helen, watching Abyss’s nonchalant demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down her spine. She had been too careless, thinking that having leverage over the nobles would guarantee her safety. If not for Abyss, she might be a corpse now—or one of his undead followers.

She took the three sheets of paper and carefully read the contents. The contract was written in Common Tongue, while the reply and the investigation report were in Elven, which posed no problem for her.

Her expression grew increasingly serious as she read.

The contract not only outlined the assassination request but also detailed the nobles’ plan for after her death: they would immediately disband her personal guard, citing incompetence, and execute the captain and vice-captain, ensuring that the secrets she possessed wouldn’t be revealed. These words were originally intended to reassure the Shadow Sisterhood, but now, reading them, Helen felt a surge of anger.

Despite her noble status and her position as the jewel of the Western Empire, Helen had no real friends in the court. The Emperor and the late Empress Dowager treated her as a valuable asset, keeping her under strict protection and limiting her interactions with others. Only during times of chaos in the palace could she find opportunities to sneak out. The only people she considered her own were her personal guard, a group of well-trained female soldiers who had undergone rigorous training since childhood, with Helen as their sole leader, loyal and devoted, upholding the knightly code. Besides her personal maids, Helen interacted most frequently with the captain and vice-captain of her guard—they visited her regularly, brought her things not available in the palace, and awaited her instructions.

Her brow furrowed as she finished reading the contract.

“How dare they… If, after Grandmother’s death, Father had also planned to use those funds to improve the Empire’s healthcare, like me, they might have even dared to assassinate him,” Helen muttered, her anger barely contained.

Leona nodded. “If I were you, I would take immediate action and punish those bastards. Has it been so long since blood was spilled in the court that they’ve forgotten the temper of the Crepeus family?”

Helen looked up, deep in thought.

The royal family of the Western Empire, the Crepeus family, were direct descendants of the Mynian Empire’s royal lineage. When the Empire split, the first Empress of the Western Empire, a decisive and ruthless woman, opposed the Emperor, who had ascended the throne through treachery and collusion with the nobles. She rebelled, declaring herself Empress. For the sake of freedom and the people’s welfare, she was willing to fight against any force that stood in her way. It was her spirit that allowed the Western Empire to stand firm, gain the support of the people, and earn recognition from other nations, not as rebels but as equals with the Eastern Empire, both claiming legitimacy.

But had the Western Empire’s royal family become weak and complacent, lost in luxury and indulgence? Their power hadn’t vanished, as evidenced by the late Empress Dowager’s control over the Empire. Perhaps all they lacked was determination, the will to break free from their comfort.

Many things suddenly became clear to Helen.

“If you’re planning to punish these nobles, I can offer my help, with no strings attached,” Abyss said casually after Helen finished reading the investigation report. “The short lady beside me is also eager to help you.”

Leona nodded. She was more than willing to help her ambitious niece. Compared to her two nephews, who were content to be puppets of the ministers, she would rather see Helen become a capable and determined Empress.

Helen pondered for a moment, then tucked the three sheets of paper into her pocket and said to Abyss, “Mr. Abyss, you’ve helped me so much, without asking for anything in return. I’m ashamed, and it makes me realize my own naiveté and inexperience. But I want you to leave me here. I will walk the path ahead on my own.”

Abyss and Leona raised their eyebrows simultaneously. Flora nodded slightly.

“Your decision surprises me,” Abyss said. “You’ve never done anything like this before. Are you sure you can handle it alone? Those nobles dared to attempt to assassinate you once, they’ll dare to do it again and again. Do you have the confidence to defeat those experienced schemers?”

“There’s a first time for everything. It’s time I faced this,” Helen said, meeting Abyss’s gaze, her eyes filled with determination. “From now on, I will use every resource at my disposal to investigate these nobles thoroughly. I will bring the most corrupt ones to justice and make an example of them. My only trusted allies are my personal guard, but I will cultivate my own power base and establish myself firmly in Golden Griffin City. To the lady with silver hair like mine, although I still don’t know your name, I’m grateful for your reminder. I will restore the glory of the Crepeus family and bring the Empire back to the righteous path!”