CHAPTER 13: HOLD ON A SEC!

Dante watched the creature twitch before kneeling as a creepy voice replied. ’’Yes, Death Monarch. Rid me of my past and grant me a future by your side, now I see the real you, not the hero I once knew.’’

’’Alright,’’ he chuckled, then came up with the perfect name. ’’You will be known as Sulla!’’

[Turn Sulla into your third Death Knight?]

His acceptance unleashed a torrent of crimson light that engulfed the Death Lich, its anguished roar shaking the air with primal fury. Beneath its tattered robe, the creature’s form swelled, bones cracking and reforming into a towering, muscular behemoth that dwarfed its former skeletal frame.

Dante watched the once-frail figure of Velmorath now loom like a colossus, its robe straining against rippling muscles, radiating raw, terrifying power. His eyes gleamed with exhilaration, his heart pounding at the sight of this. ’This is good, my strongest creature so far,’ he muttered just as Sulla’s robes grew longer.

While that was happening, he checked the Death Lich’s status to see how strong it was.

[Name: Sulla]

[Death Lich]

[Rank: B]

[MP: 800]

[HP: 567]

[STR: 401]

[DEX: 80]

[INT: 666]

Following that, Dante sent Sulla and the others back into the Domain while Raoul stood at his side like a silent guard. He glanced at the Death Scout with a curious expression before shaking his head. The two continued as the Goblin finally spoke. ’’What are your plans, My Lord?’’

Dante faced the towering Death Lich, his voice steady and commanding. ’’Level up until I hit Rank E. That should prepare us for the humans coming our way. If I recall, most of them are Rank D or higher. But don’t worry, I’ll power you all up before they show.’’

He pulled up his status screen after the grueling battle with Sulla. His stats flickered into view, revealing the toll of the fight and the gains from his victory.

[Name: Dante Ashbourne]

[Class: Death Monarch]

[Level: 1]

[Experience: 2550/10,000]

[Rank: F]

[MP: 32]

[HP: 41]

[STR: 43]

[DEX: 36]

[INT: 21]

[CHA: 6]

[DP: 280]

[Skills: SSS: Arise (1) SS: Death Blast (1) SSS: Death’s Domain (0) SS: Death’s Harvest (1) SSS: Death Eyes (0) Dagger Mastery (0)]

’Oh my status has jumped,’ he thought, excitement rushed through his veins. ’Hopefully, after killing hundreds of creatures, I’ll be Rank E.’

Following that, Dante and his Death Army traveled through the jungle, killing all kinds of monsters who happened to be F or E Rank, gaining him loads of experience, but after a few weeks, he had to move west to find stronger enemies. A ferocious mana storm erupted, its howling winds and crackling energy forcing Dante to scramble for cover as he tore through the dense underbrush.

Heart pounding, he caught a glimpse of a Death Bat overhead. The creature let out a series of sharp chirps, then veered sharply in a new direction. He followed, his boots crunching through the foliage, while the rest of his undead minions observed silently from the shadows.

’A cave nearby? Perfect,’ he thought, a deafening boom of thunder shaking the jungle as lightning illuminated the tangled canopy.

He sprinted toward the hideout, sliding into the cave’s mouth just as Raoul and Sulla emerged from a portal, securing the entrance. Rising to his feet, he stretched, a satisfying pop in his back easing the chill that had seeped into his bones. While standing there, Dante checked his status to see how close he was to ranking up.

[Name: Dante Ashbourne]

[Class: Death Monarch]

[Level: 49]

[Experience: 9650/10,000]

[Rank: F]

[MP: 134]

[HP: 126]

[STR: 170]

[DEX: 231]

[INT: 121]

[CHA: 52]

[DP: 2640]

[Skills: SSS: Arise (1) SS: Death Blast (2) SSS: Death’s Domain (0) SS: Death’s Harvest (2) SSS: Death Eyes (0) Dagger Mastery (2)]

[Death Knight: 3 / 4]

[Death Monarch’s Army: 28/80]

Dante’s eyes widened in disbelief as he tallied the staggering Death Points he’d amassed over the past few weeks. Shaking his head in awe, he stepped into his Domain, materializing amidst sprawling grasslands where his undead roamed. Once inside, notifications popped up and he quickly noticed that it was different then the previous ones he’d seen.

[Monster Mountain: 100 Death Points]

[Death Knight Camp: 100 Death Points]

[Death Camp: 300 Death]

[Monarchs Treehouse: 100 Death Points]

[Different Biomes: 200]

Dante’s gaze locked onto the Monster Mountain and the familiar treehouse, but the other two options puzzled him. Curiosity piqued, he selected them, and their details flashed before his eyes.

[Death Knight Camp: A grim fortress where Death Knights can rest and restore their mana, honing their dark prowess]

His pulse quickened at the thought of his undead warriors gaining such a stronghold, a perfect sanctuary to bolster their strength for the battles ahead. Dante unleashed his power, splurging on the Monster Mountain. The ground quaked violently as jagged, obsidian peaks erupted from the earth, stabbing into the sky like the claws of some ancient beast.

[Death Points: 26402560]

Dante’s jaw dropped at the sight, but the Death Goblins, Bats, and Wolves didn’t hesitate, charging toward the towering formation. The other undead lingered, their hollow gazes fixed on him, expectant. Raoul’s voice cut through, sharp and impatient. ’’Do we get a home?’’

’’Yeah, hold on a sec!’’ he snapped, his mind racing to keep up with the chaos he’d unleashed.

He activated the purchase, and the Death Knight Camp surged into existence just meters away, its dark spires and ominous aura startling Sulla, Medea, and Raoul, who whirled to face it. A sprawling array of tents unfurled across the ground, each one pulsing with necrotic energy, ready to house and empower his knights for the years to come.

When the undead saw this, he could feel their twisted happiness. Raoul, Medea, and Sulla bolted toward the newly risen camp, eager to claim their space, while the Banshee, Ghoul Warrior, and Revenant lingered hesitantly. Dante grinned and waved them on. ’’Pick a tent! You’ve all been leveling up like champs.’’

Upon hearing this, the trio nodded and departed, leaving him alone as he returned to the real world. Emerging in the Dark Jungle, he set out to find the Hollow Bears, determined to enlist their aid. After grueling hours of trekking through the unforgiving land, Dante stumbled upon a cave in the earth.

’’This must have been the one the Death Bats found,’’ he muttered.

Just then, a primal instinct screamed at him to move, and he leaped aside just as a colossal bear erupted from the shadows, jaws snapping inches from his throat. Using his Death Eyes, he scanned the beast, a wicked grin spreading across his face as the rank flashed before him.

[D Rank - Hollow Bear]

The Hollow Bear’s roar shattered the silence of the Dark Jungle, its massive paw slicing through the air toward his torso with bone-crushing force. But his senses were honed by countless battles, was a blur of motion. He dropped low, the swipe whistling over his head, and in a single quick movement, his dagger gleamed under the faint afternoon light as he slashed deep into the beast’s thick hide.

Blood sprayed in an arc, splattering the tangled roots and mossy jungle floor, yet the beast’s fury only grew, its glowing eyes burning with wrath. The Hollow Bear reared back, its bellow shaking the trees, but he didn’t falter. Each strike of his blade tore through fur and muscle, fueled by the monster’s rage as it thrashed in defiance.

Yet, to his surprise, the creature’s resilience was staggering; his attacks, though devastating, hadn’t brought it down. With terrifying speed for its size, the monster lunged forward, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Heart pounding, he vaulted backward, boots skidding across the earth, narrowly evading the beast’s crushing bite.

Seizing the moment, Dante’s eyes flared using dark energy as he channeled his power. ’’Death Blast!’’ he snarled, thrusting his hand forward.

A surge of crackling necrotic energy erupted from his palm, slamming into the bear’s massive forepaw, and a deafening boom erupted. The impact sent a shockwave through the jungle, splintering nearby branches, and the beast howled in agony as its limb began to rot. Yet even wounded, the Hollow Bear’s eyes locked onto Dante, its hulking form coiling for another strike.

Adrenaline surged through him, his grip tightening on the dagger as he braced for the next clash. As the Hollow Bear coiled for another strike, the air crackled. From the swirling mists of the Domain, the Death Wolves burst forth, moving like specters through the jungle. Raoul emerged alongside them, his eyes blazing.

Without hesitation, they launched a coordinated assault on the bear that became confused at the sudden appearance of new foes. The wolves rushed to the creature’s rear, their fangs tearing into its flank, drawing fresh blood that soaked the earth.