REAPER SCANS
Necromancer Academy's Genius Summoner
[Translator - Ramen]
[Proofreader - Artethrax]
Chapter 505
Without hesitation, Simon threw himself through the rift carved open with the Greatsword of Destruction.
Step. Step. Step.
The sound of his footsteps echoed through the damp and heavy air filled with the stench of mold and experimental chemicals.
This place was a cave, his eyes seeing a chaotic blend of red, black, and brown.
Standing on solid floor, Simon saw jagged stalagmites jutting from the ceiling. Somewhere, the faint trickle of water could be heard.
"This place is…"
The Association's secret base.
But it wasn't just an ordinary cave facility.
"It's a dungeon, isn't it?"
[Kuhehe! Indeed, it is!]
Simon's party—Kajann, Serene, Lorain, General Amin, and himself—stepped inside. They were all looking around with widened eyes.
"Kajann, this place really is…"
"Yeah."
Kajann let out a quiet sigh.
"This definitely seems like the legendary 'Gold Mine Dungeon' from decades ago."
"So the adventurers back then didn't actually destroy it, huh?"
"Seems like it. The Association must've taken control of it and repurposed it as their lab."
Lorain raised a finger, pointing in the distance.
"Simon, look over there."
Eyes flicking in the direction, Simon saw water flowing across the ground.
No, to be precise…
"It's all blood."
Splash!
A river of thin, bubbling blood flowed through the dungeon like a stream. Occasionally, what seemed like corpses drifted along with it. Just looking at it almost made Simon's stomach churn.
'…'
As Simon's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, more details came into view.
The dungeon was huge. Human corpses hung from the ceiling while enormous devices experimented on them, squeezing the lifeless bodies. Corpses were impaled on stakes, burning in flames… No matter where they looked, it was a manifestation of hell.
The thought that all the kidnapped villagers from Tarados must've died like that only made Simon's stomach worse.
'How could another human do something like this…?!'
[Boy!]
He heard Pier's voice.
[Stay calm! They're coming!]
Stepstepstepstep!
The darkness ahead writhed. Undead soldiers were swarming in.
There were far more of them than the ones they had briefly fought outside the dungeon. They were also joined by medium-sized chimeras, monstrous fusions of various animals and plants.
Shiing!
Lorain was the first to move. She swung her red daggers through the air, and the leading undead soldiers were sliced in half, collapsing to the ground.
But from their severed halves, writhing flesh began to reform.
"I knew it. They're the same as the ones we fought outside."
Each of these undead was part of an 'immortal army'. Simon nodded.
"They also seem to be regenerating much faster than the ones outside."
Everyone took up battle stances. Standing a bit back, Simon unfolded the map he had received from General Amin.
"Our plan has changed a little. It looks like we'll have to go all out from the start, so I'll assign our roles now."
Simon locked eyes with the first of his group.
"Serene, if you take the side path, you'll find a staircase leading to the upper floors. The captured villagers should be there. I want you to rescue them."
Taking out the captives wasn't a mission that could be accomplished with brute force alone.
Simon judged that among the members right now, Serene, who specialized in mind-influencing abilities, was the most suited for the job.
Serene shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah~ It's a boring job, but since I agreed to help in exchange for two coupons, I guess I have no choice."
"It's not boring, it's a crucial mission with lives on the line. I'm counting on you."
"I got it."
Serene winked and strode forward, her ivory hair fluttering behind her. The scattered feathers around her transformed into 'feather soldiers', escorting her.
"Kajann, please head to the laboratory on the second basement floor and retrieve Karl. I believe the reason this dungeon is still standing is due to his power."
"Understood."
"I believe we can act together until we reach the second basement floor."
Securing Karl could be the key to destroying this dungeon and the immortal army.
Simon handed Kajann the necklace containing Karl's clone.
"And Lorain, you're coming with me. Let's break through to the third basement floor, take down Nirthi, and find the master of the dungeon."
"Sure."
"And lastly, General Amin…"
Simon turned around. Since Amin's injuries hadn't fully healed, he planned to have him remain in the rear and hold off the troops The Association would send.
However…
'?!'
When he turned around, he saw what was beyond the dungeon's open space. Towering monsters loomed over the camps where their allies were stationed.
Simon rushed outside the dungeon.
Pooow! Pooow!
A battle was taking place outside the dungeon as well.
Ten colossal undead, each taller than even the highest buildings of Langerstine, roared as they trampled over tents, crushing members of the Ganes Guild and the soldier armies beneath their feet.
Even from a distance, the overwhelming presence of jet-black made it clear just how powerful these undead were.
"Are those also from The Association…?!"
[No.]
Said Pier in a grave tone.
[I don't know what's going on, but I can feel it! Those undead belong to Magnus' Fifth Legion!]
"Magnus, you say?!"
Simon's face turned pale at the unexpected name.
"Why is he in Tarados…?!"
If those undead belonged to Magnus' legion, regular soldiers wouldn't be able to stop them. There may even be Ancient Undead among them.
Lisa, her brother, and even the coachman were in those camps.
'At this rate, they'll be annihilated.'
Simon broke out in a cold sweat.
'What should I do? Do I fight Magnus' Legion today and then face The Association again tomorrow at midnight?'
"I'll go."
Just then, Lorain stepped out of the dungeon beside Simon.
"You stick to the plan and deal with The Association."
"But—!"
"Do you remember what your client said? The entire continent will be in danger if The Association completes its experiment. This is a race against time."
"I'll help as well."
General Amin also stepped out of the dungeon.
"These are my soldiers, so this is my responsibility. I'll command them and make sure not a single one of those undead steps into the dungeon!"
Simon bit his lip. He was worried, but he had no choice but to trust Lorain and Amin for now.
"Stay safe, General Amin. You too, Lorain."
"Simon?"
Rrrrrrrrrrumble!
Her red eyes gleamed as a massive wave of jet-black surged around her. Her black hair streamed wildly, flowing like flames.
"You haven't forgotten whose daughter I am, have you?"
Simon nodded firmly as a shiver ran down his spine.
"Sorry for worrying. See you on the other side!"
Simon returned to the Gold Mine Dungeon.
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator - Ramen
Proofreader - Artethrax
Join our discord for updates on releases!
* * *
By the time they finished making a decision, the undead soldiers inside had already advanced, reaching the very entrance of the dungeon.
Kajann used his long-range claw attacks, cutting down the fastest ones at the front, but they kept regenerating.
"Simon!"
"Yeah, we're done talking."
Simon stepped forward and raised his hand above his head.
"Starting now, no more holding back. I will unleash the full might of my Legion's power."
His hand grabbed Pier's skull, now transformed into a helmet. As he pressed it down over his head, dark-blue mana swirled from its eye sockets.
Click!
Clack, click!
Pier's bones clung to Simon's body like magnets. He pulled his arm back and tore through the air as if ripping apart the space behind him.
As he did, a massive subspace opened, and countless undead of the Seventh Legion from within began to head out.
[Grooooouughh!]
[Kiiish!]
Skeletons, zombies, corpse spiders, skull wings, and every other kind of undead Pier had collected, no matter the size.
Over a thousand undead poured out relentlessly, instantly matching the immortal army of The Association in numbers.
[It's been too long since I marched into battle alongside you, Commander.]
"I'm counting on you, Eliza."
The Captain of the spider troops, Elizabeth, showed herself.
Craaaash!
A bolt of black lightning struck down upon a zombie, and from within, a young noble boy wearing a crown strode forward, fluttering his uniform.
[Hey, hey, Simon! I assume you've set the stage for the hidden card to come out?]
Throwing playful jabs in the air, Prince stepped forward, the captain of the zombie troops.
"Of course. Everything's set."
Simon and Prince bumped fists.
They were prepared to charge. Simon took a deep breath.
[Der König ist Zurück......!!]
Lyrics spilled from Simon's lips. The requiem swept through the entire legion, a dark-blue light flickering in the eyes of the undead.
[Rooooooooooaaaaaaaaaah!!]
As their morale surged to its peak, towering undead let out fierce battle cries. Elizabeth and Prince turned to Simon in surprise.
[Commander?]
[Wh-What… What did you just do?]
Simon simply smiled.
Everything he learned in Kizen became part of his strength. His experience as a Commander blended seamlessly with the growth he achieved in Kizen.
He raised his greatsword and shouted,
[All forces!]
The undead of the Legion crouched low, pressing their hands to the ground, growling as if they were about to charge in.
[Follow me.]
Giving the absolute order, Simon charged forward.
Elizabeth, Prince, and Kajann followed right behind him, the undead army surging forward barely a step behind them.
[Kieeeeeeeegh!]
[Kaaaaaaaaaah!]
Thousands of undead warriors and the immortal army collided head-on. At the very front, Simon vigorously swung his Greatsword of Destruction.
Slaaaaaaaaaash!
A long, straight line was drawn across the battlefield, and every undead caught in its path was cleaved in half. Before they could even begin to regenerate, the Legion's zombies scrambled in, biting and tearing them apart.
[Kiriri!]
[Kiiish!]
Corpse spiders latched onto the ceiling, launching venom, webs, and nets.
Skull wings swooped in, cursed feathers scattering from them as they grabbed undead soldiers and threw them into the river of blood below.
[Keep going!]
Shouted Simon.
[Der König von Undead fiel hier nieder......!!]
Empowered by the requiem, an even stronger absolute order seeped into the undead of his Legion.
Now with enhanced speed and power, the undead warriors shattered the enemy formation and charged forward like a spear.
As Simon's forces advanced, the destroyed and regenerating immortal undead were crushed underfoot. Even if they were both undead armies, the difference in quality was overwhelming.
[Kuhehe! We've broken through, Boy!]
The Legion tore through the encirclement formed by the immortal armies in an instant. Simon's party and his undead flooded forward like a relentless tide.
Ahead, the path leading to the first basement floor came into view.
"How ridiculous."
Kajann let out a bitter laugh from his position at the front of the charge, slashing through the air as he ran.
"So this is the power of a Legion."
[I can't be outdone!]
Elizabeth spread her webs mid-air, and the flying immortal armies were shredded to pieces, their remains scattering like dust.
[Hidden-card punch!]
Prince dashed along the web, then thrust a devastating punch. It sent the immortals flying in all directions from the wind alone.
Simon, at the very front, swung his Greatsword of Destruction, his advance only growing faster. Deep within the dungeon, the staircase leading down to the lower floors finally came into view.
Dark-blue sparks flared in his eyes.
'I'm coming for you, Nirthi.'
——
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