The Genesis Of A Necromancer

Chapter 194 - 194: pain

Erebus froze, momentarily caught off guard by Jack's response. He had heard such declarations before—souls yearning for release, claiming they desired death. But they never truly meant it.

They clung to life, even in their darkest moments, desperate for another chance.

But Jack was different. The emptiness in his eyes, the unwavering resolve in his tone—this wasn't bluster.

Erebus crossed his arms, masking his irritation with a forced smile. But beneath the surface, his thoughts churned.

'So this was Olion's actual plan all along,' he mused bitterly. 'Trapping me, eternal and powerless, within this husk of a body. Tch.'

It was infuriating. And staring at Jack—this defiant, broken soul—only aggravated him further.

'What the hell is wrong with this idiot? Why would anyone want to die so badly?' Erebus clenched his fists, a vein pulsing visibly on his temple. But Jack didn't flinch.

Jack's eyes were steady, his resolve unshaken. He'd already made his decision. Death wasn't just an escape—it was a release.

"I'm just… tired of everything," Jack said softly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Erebus forced a smile, though it felt like a razor blade against his pride. "You have to be joking. You don't mean what you said, do you?"

Jack's gaze didn't waver. "I meant every word. You wanted to kill me, right? What's stopping you now?"

The casualness of Jack's reply was almost maddening. Erebus studied him closely,

Yet, for every pillar that fell, cracks appeared in her defenses.

Missy, her once rosy complexion drained, appeared ghostly pale. Her skin was as white as chalk, and she swayed on her feet, barely holding her ground.

She was throwing weak barriers into place, but the shimmering shields flickered and shattered under the relentless onslaught of skeletal warriors.

The entire group was engaged in a losing battle.

Erebus's voice slithered into Jack's mind, its tone dripping with both malice and persuasion.

"Look at them, Jack. Your companions are barely clinging to life, and even then, they fight for you. For this world. For a future you seem so eager to throw away."

Jack's lips curled into a sneer, but he didn't respond.

"Ah, but it's worse than you think," Erebus continued, his voice smooth yet sinister.

"This battlefield—your battlefield—is no ordinary ground. Beneath their feet lies the Soil Essence Flower, a plant that blooms once every millennium. Its essence feeds on souls, Jack. And this is its millionth cycle. It grows hungrier with each passing age."

Erebus gestured to the scene unfolding below. The skeletal giant that had once formed the throne of this cursed land began to crumble.

Bones, ancient and brittle, splintered apart. They rattled as they hit the earth, rolling into an unholy union, forming a swarming tide of undead warriors.

"Do you see now?" Erebus asked. "I brought you here for this very reason. That body—it holds the power of countless eons, forged long before your existence. Within this cursed land, it will not stop until every soul has been consumed. Yours, included."

Jack's gaze flickered briefly toward Alisha. Her staff wavered as she conjured another volley of light spears, their golden brilliance tearing through the skeletal horde. Yet, for all her efforts, it was a losing battle. Her breathing had grown ragged, and her arms trembled from the strain of maintaining her spells.

"They've already lost the fight, Jack," Erebus said, his tone dropping into a sinister whisper.

"Unless you act. Quickly."

Jack scoffed, folding his arms.

"Friends? Is that what you think they are? Don't make me laugh. They can all die for all I care. If I die, I won't need her anymore. She was only ever a tool to die in my place. That's all she was preparing for."

Erebus chuckled darkly.

"You keep telling yourself that lie. But let me ask you something—did you truly prefer your life of solitude? Do you really believe that the lonely existence you clung to was better than this?"

Jack's expression didn't falter, but his silence spoke volumes.

"They've relieved you of your burden, Jack," Erebus continued, his voice softening, almost gentle.

"Even if you refuse to admit it. These humans, flawed and fragile as they are, have given you a sense of belonging you never thought possible."

Jack's lips twitched, but he didn't respond.

He focused instead on the chaos below.