REAPER SCANS
Necromancer Academy's Genius Summoner
[Translator - Ramen]
[Proofreader - Artethrax]
Chapter 506
The first basement floor of the Gold Mine Dungeon.
By this point, it truly felt like a dungeon. An eerie and unnatural space.
The first basement floor had no solid ground, only a vast red sea.
Most likely, this sea wasn't originally red. Human corpses floated on its surface, drifting like debris.
Simon's next stop, the second basement floor, was at the end of a central path that cut through this uncanny sea.
The main path branched off into several smaller paths, from which immortal armies poured in endlessly.
"Prince! Send the zombies to block the path at seven o'clock!"
[Okay!]
"Eliza! Set up a barrier of webs along the side bridges!"
[Understood!]
The more they fought, the fewer undead from the Legion remained.
It couldn't be helped. With two more floors to descend, they had to conserve strength and use their forces as efficiently as possible.
'More importantly…'
Simon lifted his head.
'How in the world is this space being operated?'
A river of blood was seen on the floor above, yet it hadn't spilled downward. Instead, the sea on this floor somehow stretched upward to merge with it. A clear sign that space here was heavily distorted.
Of course, expecting logic or the laws of physics to apply inside a dungeon was foolish to begin with.
"Simon, the path's been cut off."
At Kajann's words, Simon snapped back to reality and stopped. It was just as Kajann said.
It looked like the path had been destroyed just moments ago, with broken fragments floating in the sea.
'This must be Nirthi's doing.'
Hundreds of meters away, the road continued.
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Even as they faced the broken path, the immortal army continued to pour into the central path where Simon stood.
[So, what are you gonna do now, Simon?]
Asked Prince.
"We've got no choice. Let's leave this area to the Legion's undead and cross quickly on our own."
Leading the way, Simon kicked off the floor and leaped onto one of the floating chunks of debris in the red sea.
Splash!
The fragment wobbled dangerously and was about to sink under his weight, so without hesitation, Simon jumped to the next one.
"Urk. This is dangerous."
[Fufu! There's no need to cross in such a difficult way.]
Elizabeth grabbed onto the web she had attached to the ceiling and lifted herself into the air. Soon, she connected the webs to Kajann and Prince, pulling them up as well. Finally, she also grabbed Simon and pulled him into the air.
She led the way while the three of them dangled beneath her from her webs.
"Good job, Eliza!"
It was a swift and smooth movement. In the distance, the path to the second basement floor came into view.
'This will do! Just a little more, and—!'
[Everyone, be careful!]
Pier shouted over the carnage.
The sea of blood surged upward on them, and from within, a massive, lava-coated monster burst forth, its maw wide open.
'Crap!'
Elizabeth flung her arm out, pushing her three passengers away. The creature only struck her instead, slamming her into the other side of the platform.
Landing on a floating fragment, Simon shouted,
"Eliza!!"
[Leave this place to me and keep moving!]
Simon saw her pushing the monster back with her webs as she struggled free.
Simon, Kajann, and Prince nodded their heads before sprinting across the floating debris like stepping stones.
Standing up, Elizabeth looked at the monster that had pushed her down.
[What in the world is that thing?]
A chimera, grotesque and writhing like an enormous earthworm. Its skin oozed molten lava instead of sweat.
It was writhing in pain, seemingly suffering from the lava as well, but the dungeon's regeneration effect kept healing its wounds.
A chimera that could only exist only in this Gold Mine Dungeon, immortal yet destined to suffer eternally.
[How unfortunate. As a gift to a fellow undead…]
Elizabeth spread her arms wide.
[Let me grant you a peaceful end!]
As she crossed her arms, the spiderweb she had set up in the air tightened, grabbing the chimera.
However, the lava flowing from it melted the web. Easily breaking free, the chimera then charged straight at Elizabeth.
Thuuuuuunk!!
[Kugh!]
Clashing with the chimera, she was slammed into the floor once more.
The chimera kept pushing Elizabeth down, opening its mouth wide. She barely held it back, pushing with all the strength of her arms.
Elizabeth's web tried to wrap around the chimera again, but the flowing lava kept melting it. It wasn't a great matchup for her.
[Ugh.]
She sighed as if resigning herself to something.
[I don't like this.]
Crack!
Her white face split open, revealing differently colored flesh underneath.
Pop! Pop!
Then, her waist quivered, and spider legs burst forth, planting themselves firmly on the floor.
In an instant, she kicked off the floor with her eight legs, pushing the chimera back with sheer strength.
[I hate looking anything less than beautiful, even for a moment.]
Elizabeth lifted the monster with her strength alone and slammed it into the floor. Lava splattered everywhere as the chimera let out a shriek.
It had been a long time since she fought in her true form. Her dark-blue webs spread all around her.
[I've changed my mind. Before you disappear, you'll pay for making me angry.]
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator - Ramen
Proofreader - Artethrax
Join our discord for updates on releases!
* * *
With Elizabeth's help, Simon's party safely reached the second basement floor of the dungeon.
If the first basement floor was a fortress designed to prevent enemy intrusions, then this second one resembled a massive internment camp.
Prison cells filled the area, and the citizens of Tarados, turned into undead, poured endlessly from the open cell doors. They were swarming toward Simon's group.
[This is never-ending, honestly!]
Prince stepped forward, pulling his fist back with the full of his force.
[Hidden-card punch!!]
Booooom…!
The immortals were sent flying like leaves in the wind, crashing into the ceiling and walls. But even after being pulped against the stone, they were quickly regenerating.
"Their regeneration has gotten even faster."
Kajann was filled with amazement as he watched a zombie with broken legs immediately rise to its feet again.
"We should split up here."
Said Simon, looking at the map.
"There's a place called the 'Secret Testing Facility' on the second basement floor. And on the third basement floor, there's Nirthi's personal research lab. Kajann, please stick to the plan and search for Karl on the second floor. I'll have Prince go with you."
"Got it."
"I'll head down to the third floor and face Nirthi myself."
Prince looked at Simon in surprise.
[Are you sure you'll be okay with you and Pier alone?]
"We'll be fine. Besides…"
Simon reached out with his right hand, opening his subspace.
"Did you forget we have one more ally?"
Simon immediately grabbed the staff that appeared from the subspace and struck it against the ground.
'Herseva's Touch!'
The dungeon floor shimmered in gold, then shattered into jagged fragments that shot upward. The immortals standing on the ground were caught in the wide-range attack and sent flying.
"I'm counting on you in this battle as well, Herseva!"
[Of course, of course! Just leave it to me, kid!]
Herseva once again lifted the now-golden floor into the air, launching any undead unfortunate enough to survive the first blow.
"Simon, we'll head down to the third floor as soon as we're done here, too."
"Great! See you later, Kajaan!"
Kajann and Prince pushed forward while Simon took a slight detour, searching for the stairs leading down to the third basement floor.
[Kiiieee!]
[Grooooooor!]
In what looked like Nirthi's final act of desperation, even more waves of immortal undead surged out from the prison doors, forming a massive horde.
'So, you wanna test me, huh?'
Simon held Pier's greatsword in his right hand and Herseva in his left.
The power of an Ancient Undead and a power just as formidable.
He had never before felt so assured in victory.
'Herseva's Touch!'
With Herseva's power, Simon turned the floor into gold.
Then, the Greatsword of Destruction came down across the golden floor, grinding forward.
'Slash!'
Crraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash…!
A slash as huge as a mountain surged forward, travelling across the ground in a lethal arc.
Then, the golden shards forming the floor blasted outward, dealing a second strike.
In an instant, a path opened through the immortal army, and Simon sprinted through the gap carved by the slash.
'Almost there!'
Up ahead, the final staircase leading to the third basement floor came into view.
* * *
"Th-Thank you so much!"
"I thought we were done for."
The second floor above ground in the dungeon.
This was where villagers were imprisoned before becoming test subjects.
Serene was holding back the immortals with her feather soldiers while evacuating the villagers out of the dungeon.
"This way! Follow me!"
"Keep your heads down and move quickly!"
She was using her feathers to control a few villagers, guiding the captives to safety. Meanwhile, Serene herself stood at her back, arms crossed before stretching out in a long yawn.
"I'm so tired…"
Despite being inside a dungeon, there wasn't a hint of tension in the way she was acting. It was composure found only from being strong.
She wiped away the sleep from the corner of her eyes and yawned again.
"My goodness, Simon, assigning me chores like this…"
"U-Uhm, excuse me…"
Her half-open eyes shifted to the side. A small, dirty child hesitantly approached her.
"Thank you for saving my mom and dad!"
The child bowed deeply. Serene stared blankly for a moment, then waved her hand in dismissive annoyance.
"H-Here."
The child held out something with her dirty hands.
A hardened, rock-like piece of bread.
"It's for you, big sis!"
The child placed the bread into Serene's hand and bowed again with all their might. Then, she ran off toward her parents.
"…"
Serene stared at the bread, face utterly blank.
It really was as hard as a rock.
The edges were slightly damp, coated in saliva. The child had probably been trying to save the bread, eating with only their tongue to not go through it too quickly.
"Serene Aindark."
It was then.
Somebody was approaching, their shoes ringing against the ground with sharp footsteps.
At the sight of the person, the escaping villagers turned pale and ran in terror.
Serene's lips curled into a smile.
"Looks like today's my lucky day. I didn't know the boss would be here."
Nirthi, the chief and head researcher of The Association's Tarados branch.
Her face was obscured by shadows.
Serene pulled out a feather, holding it in her hand.
"Serene Aindark, eighteen years old. A second-year student at Kizen. An orphan, but currently the official successor of the Ivory Tower."
Serene's brows furrowed in irritation. Nirthi smiled and continued,
"I've wanted to meet you at least once."
"Me?"
"Yes. You started as an orphan yet ended up swallowing the entire Ivory Tower. Your rise was quite impressive. I found it inspiring, too."
Nirthi placed a hand on her hip.
"But after you entered Kizen, your actions have been nothing but disappointment after disappointment."
"…"
"Even facing the humiliation of wearing Kizen's uniform—the heir of the Ivory Tower must feel like they're being held hostage in that situation—you behaved. I assumed you were plotting to destroy the school from within, but now, that doesn't seem to be the case."
Her tongue flicked out of her mouth like a serpent's.
"I wonder why? Did Kizen's power overwhelm you into submission? Or do you actually take pride in wearing that uniform; in becoming one of them? Look at you, obediently freeing the captives just as they intended!"
Nirthi let out a soft laugh and reached her hand out.
Looking at the outreached hand, Serene's face stiffened.
"Me, with you?"
"You must've figured it out by now, right? The true goal of The Association's current experiment."
"Immortal, undying soldiers."
"Correct. Until now, they could only exist within this dungeon. But we've finally achieved the ability to operate them outside the dungeon, too."
Nirthi spread her arms wide.
"The very immortal armies that the great lords feared so much! No matter how mighty Kizen is, they can't win against soldiers that neither die nor disappear! You saw it yourself, didn't you?"
"Hmm…"
"We share a common enemy. The first target of the immortal armies is Kizen itself. If you help me, everything will go even more smoothly, Serene."
Nirthi smirked.
"This experiment is nearly complete. Just a little more time is all I need. If the Ivory Tower and The Association rise together when the promised day arrives…!"
"You seem to be mistaken about something, monkey lady."
Serene crossed her arms and chuckled.
"I guarantee you, your little toys won't be enough to take down Kizen."
"Toys, you say?"
Fury flickered in Nirthi's eyes.
"Also, you said my actions since entering Kizen have been disappointing, but I disagree."
Serene wagged her finger.
"I'm absolutely satisfied with my life right now~ The one move that will bring Kizen down, the twist? It's right beside me, and very close, you see. The path I've chosen isn't wrong."
"…Don't be ridiculous! There's no move greater than my immortal armies and The Association's grand plan!"
"No, there is."
She smiled.
"Simon Polentia. The future of the continent will soon revolve around him. Stealing him away from that insufferable living corpse—the Witch of Death—and her daughter? Now that would be a devastating blow to Kizen."
"You think some mere prodigy is worth more than me and The Association?"
"Of course."
Serene raised the feather in her hand.
"And if you're planning to make me an offer…"
Thud!
Her feather pierced through Nirthi's abdomen.
"The least you could do is show up in person. That's just common decency, don't you agree?"
"Kuhugh!"
Nirthi's body suddenly turned to clay before crumbling into dust.
"You… will regret th—!"
Pffsh!
Serene stomped down on Nirthi's head with her heels, flipping her ivory-colored hair as she turned away.
"…"
Only then did she realize she was still holding the hard piece of bread the little girl had given her.
Staring at it for a moment, Serene casually tossed it over her shoulder.
"You can have it."
The flying bread landed neatly in the palm of one of the people she was controlling with her feathers.
Watching the man devour it greedily, Serene smirked and gracefully walked away.
——
Join our discord for updates on releases!
