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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Necropolis
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Necropolis.
A long, long time ago, when Kang-jun first set foot into the realm of the 9th Circle—the so-called ultimate state—he had, to his surprise, naturally awakened this very magic.
Was it some kind of reward, granted to one who had reached a plane thought to be unattainable?
A vast amount of knowledge had flowed into Kang-jun's mind, and every formula, written in an unknown language, had become entirely his own.
“Oho.”
As a vast amount of black magic began to radiate from Kang-jun, Hela allowed the corners of her lips to curl into a slight smile.
“So, I finally get to witness the power behind the name '■■■' with my own two eyes...”
With eyes a tangled web of anticipation and curiosity, she did nothing but gaze intently at Kang-jun.
“Now I can clearly judge for myself whether the absurd rumors about the power of that name were exaggerated or not...”
Kang-jun offered no reply, focusing all his attention on unleashing his black magic.
Like a dam breaking and releasing the water pent up inside, the black magic poured out with terrifying force...
“W-what is this...”
The hunters of the reclamation team, who had been watching the scene in a daze, stared at Kang-jun with trembling eyes.
They were stunned by the sinister and noxious energy, a quality entirely different from their own...
And they were stunned once more by its overwhelming quantity, a volume as immeasurable as the cosmos.
“How...”
The black magic, which flowed out as if to fill the entire world, did in fact proceed to saturate the entire area.
Some of it took the form of a toxic mist, polluting the atmosphere, while the rest seeped into the soil as a sticky, viscous slime.
“Cough, cough...”
Dry coughs erupted from all around.
The entire space was contaminated...
It became a place where even breathing was difficult.
“The first activation condition, 'securing a foothold,' has been met.”
Hela, too, couldn't hide her bewilderment at the sudden turn of events, looking preoccupied as she continuously scanned her surroundings.
“What have you done...”
Then Kang-jun spoke.
“I will now fulfill the second condition.”
“What...?”
“As of this moment, I claim this place.”
At those words, Hela's eyes flew wide open, and she screamed as if in a desperate struggle, the veins in her neck bulging.
“As long as I draw breath, not even the greatest of gods would dare try to take this place, Niflheim-!”
However, it was nothing more than the meaningless protest of the weak.
It was never a request for permission in the first place.
If one had to define it, it was an absolute declaration that could not be defied.
“Wrong.”
Kang-jun added in a chillingly calm tone.
“The declaration has been made. This is now my territory. Thus, the second activation condition, the 'declaration,' has also been successfully completed.”
Then he tilted his head and asked in return.
“Do you dare trespass upon my territory, knowing not your place?”
Just as Hela, seemingly struck speechless by his audacity, stood with a bewildered expression, her lips quivering.
“Do you see?”
At that moment, a tectonic upheaval occurred throughout the entire area. The world's axis seemed to tremble, and the ground began to undulate wildly like a wave.
KRRRRUUUMBLE!
Land that had been perfectly flat suddenly shot up to become a mountain, while other parts sank in an instant, transforming into a thousand-foot cliff.
“This is my kingdom.”
Soon, the eyes of the hunters watching Kang-jun's back began to swim with a complex mixture of emotions.
Doubt, awe, fear...
After all, it was clear that no matter how great a hunter one might be, they could not manipulate the very crust of an entire space to their whim.
The essence of this phenomenon was akin to forced weathering and erosion, caused by Kang-jun's black magic that had thoroughly permeated the land and air.
“W-what are you doing!”
Kang-jun spoke again.
“I shall now fulfill the third condition: the 'furnishings.'”
The moment Hela, sensing the situation turning against her, screamed, "S-stop!" and charged at Kang-jun.
“Trespasser, show proper respect to the emperor of a nation. If you wait quietly, I will grant you your death soon enough...”
As soon as Kang-jun's words ended, Hela was crushed by an unknown force, forced to her knees with her head bowed.
“L-l-let me go this instant-!”
Kang-jun, on the other hand, remained perfectly composed, continuing to state what he had to say.
“Let's see...”
Muttering to himself, Kang-jun stared intently at a steep cliff that his black magic had sculpted in an instant, and added.
“A kingdom ought to have a castle.”
As those short words concluded, a massive rumble, 'Krrrrrrumble!', echoed once more, and a great fortress rose to stand tall.
It was a colossal fortress, one that could be described as overwhelming all creation without exaggeration, inspiring a sense of intimidation in all who beheld it...
“Now, I shall need 'subjects' to personally look after.”
Finishing his words, Kang-jun's gaze swept over the countless, innumerable dead that permeated this place.
“While I'm at it, I'll take your subjects as well.”
At that, as if by a silent pact, every one of the dead in this place ceased their movements one by one and began to bow deeply to Kang-jun.
Thud, thud, thud...
Like a stone tossed into a placid lake, a ripple of loyalty began to spread out in a circle, covering the entire area.
“I'll need 'soldiers' to protect them from all manner of threats, including foreign invasion.”
At his words, skeleton soldiers, heavily armed in black armor and tightly gripping their weapons, began to rise from the ground all around...
Along with them, skeleton mages in black silk robes, holding orbs of different colors in their bony hands, emerged in droves.
Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands...
Their numbers increased exponentially, as if they were multiplying...
“They'll need generals to lead and command the soldiers.”
Soon, Death Knights mounted on spectral steeds that could gallop through the air, and Liches exuding an extraordinary aura, began to appear.
“It would be even better if there were a symbolic 'sacred beast,' such as a dragon.”
As those words concluded, a dark shadow suddenly fell over the bone towers upon which they stood.
In the distant sky, a massive something let out a deafening roar.
A Bone Dragon.
Despite being nothing but bare bones, the overwhelming creature, still boasting a colossal frame, flew freely above their heads.
“H-how on earth...”
Everything Kang-jun mentioned was repeatedly manifesting into reality.
For Hela, who possessed a considerable amount of knowledge herself, this was an eccentricity she could not easily comprehend.
Kang-jun surveyed the kingdom he had created in an instant and continued in a low voice.
“I merely drew a few strokes as they came to mind.”
“What?”
“There's no need to put much effort into dealing with the likes of you.”
Necropolis was a magic that possessed such an undeniable 'phenomenon' that it made most other black magic feel like mere parlor tricks.
The magic, intricately composed of billions of complex formulas, was, in essence, closer to 'realization' than to 'summoning.'
It realizes ideals into reality.
To put it simply...
It summons the caster's ideal.
Although it was a magic that couldn't just use any place as a 'foothold' and demanded an absurdly vast amount of black magic...
“This place has a good foundation.”
The moment the caster voiced a vividly imagined ideal, it was a powerful magic that could materialize even the most absurd fantasies.
“Intruder.”
Kang-jun said with a gesture.
“Lift your head.”
Hela's head was then lifted on its own, as if someone had grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked it up...
“Realize the difference in our stations.”
Having spoken, Kang-jun picked up a small pebble from the ground and began to toss it up and catch it as he continued.
“Gravity...”
The pebble, having left Kang-jun's hand, did not fall back down but floated gently in place...
“Disasters...”
Suddenly, a barrage of lightning fell from the sky, striking the ground indiscriminately...
“Even your very breath...”
Hela gasped, “Keuk!” her eyes flying wide.
It was because her airway had been completely blocked, as if someone were squeezing her throat.
“Everything in this world is decided according to my will. The nature and form of all things change with a single utterance from my lips.”
Hela, her face flushed red, looked up at Kang-jun with eyes full of terror.
For her, born the daughter of a deity and a deity herself from birth, it was a fear she had never felt before in her life.
“O, ■■■...”
She muttered softly, then continued with great effort, her voice trembling.
“A-are you not afraid of the consequences...”
“Not at all.”
“I will not go down so easily...”
Just then, a 'Tiring!' sound began to ring in Kang-jun's ears, and several system messages appeared before his eyes.
[The deity of Asgard, the guardian of the underworld whose left and right sides differ, summons 'Naglfar'.]
At that moment, Hela's divine power began to surge...
CR-CR-CR-CR-CRACK-!
The empty space here split apart as a fissure formed, and from beyond it, the bow of an impossibly massive 'warship' emerged.
“Naglfar?”
Hela smirked and replied.
“N-Naglfar is a weapon this body has forged over eons, weaving together the fingernails and toenails of the dead and refining the power born from their thoughts and grudges.”
“Oh...”
“It was originally a weapon painstakingly crafted to lend at least some strength to the gods who share our cause on the 'foretold day of destruction'...”
Then she added.
“But if it can be used to end your life... now...”
Then, Kang-jun replied.
“Wow, what excellent craftsmanship.”
“You bastard...!”
“No, I'm being serious.”
And then he added.
“It's quite desirable.”
“How dare you...!”
“I will take it.”
At those words, all of creation reacted once again.
