Chapter 46: Promotion Ceremony!
Skeleton Land.
Countless Undead wander in this wasteland. This place was once an ancient battlefield from the Arcane Empire, later transformed by the fall of a Floating City, resulting in intense energy radiation. The resurrected Undead here are more dangerous than anywhere else, as their bodies are enveloped in a field of negative energy; any effective attack may drain the attributes of the enemy. This is a forbidden zone for the living, with no visible living beings in sight. Occasionally, some Necromancers traverse through, busy transporting many peculiar materials from the lower planes, produced in the region between the Spirit World and the Underworld.
A gigantic altar towers in the center of the land.
This altar covers a vast area, resembling a fortress made of bones, surrounded by seven peculiar high towers.
They appear somewhat like obelisks, but the tops are ablaze with ghostly blue flames. No creature dares to approach these obelisks, not even Liches, who maintain their distance, for this is the “Soul Calling Tower” and also the “Soul Lock Tower.” Countless vengeful spirits hover at the top of the obelisk, unable to break free. Numerous vengeful spirits rush out from the burning ghostly blue flames, constantly colliding with an invisible energy field, with some dissipating and being absorbed by the Soul Calling Tower, while others rebound back into the tower.
“My Lord!”
A high-ranking death priest arrives outside the altar, respectfully stating, “The other Soul Calling Towers have been completed. The ceremony can begin.”
With the appearance of a dark silhouette.
A terrifying entity descends above the altar, the God of Death – Naraku, a deity from another realm, has taken root here over nearly a thousand years, stealing the power of the God of Death System.
The God of Death – Naraku is a well-known and notorious deity. His countenance is withered and frightening, resembling a skin-covered skeleton with a rusty-red hue, dense black-green hair, draped in a black cloak, with eyes, teeth, and nails saturated with poison. His black staff, “Reaper,” forms a giant scythe-like energy blade at its tip, capable of instantaneously killing any mortal upon contact. This artifact is reminiscent of Orcus’s staff but possesses greater power, as Naraku is the true God of Death, able to kill any mortal at will.
God of Death, enemy of goodness, hater of life, harbinger of darkness, king of despair, reaper of flesh.
Throughout the long history, the God of Death – Naraku has had countless titles; he is a deity of the neutral evil faction, peaking at Strong Divine Power. Although he weakened to Medium Divine Power after arriving in this world, he cannot be measured by ordinary Medium Divine Power standards.
For this God of Death also wishes to become as powerful as the ancient God of Death – Ye Ge!
Naraku’s divine profession is – death, darkness, murder, underworld.
His fields are – death, evil, trickery.
Basically, any deity possessing the field of [Trickery] should not be underestimated, as one can see from deities like the Spider Queen – Rose, God of Murder – Sherek, Goddess of Magic – Mystra, and Lady of the Night – Shar; deities with this field are generally very dangerous.
The God of Death – Naraku’s true form descends.
With his appearance, countless Undead fall silent, followed by rows of Undead kneeling as if worshipping their ruler.
An intense Death Aura surges.
Since the Saint’s Cataclysm erupted, countless people have perished in the Material Plane, and the Plague has intensified this process, causing countless mortals to die amidst the disaster.
“I am the harvester of life!”
“I am the master of death!”
Naraku steps into the center of the altar with a gigantic black scythe, with countless souls erupting from the ground at his footsteps, then wildly flying towards the surrounding obelisks.
The immense death divine power surges; almost instantaneously after Naraku initiates the ceremony, countless Undead in the Material Plane respond, and the last remnants of the [Domain of Eternal Sleep] dissipate, allowing many faint wandering souls to appear, which mortals can see with their naked eyes.
This phenomenon only occurs near the Underworld.
Now, as the God of Death – Naraku advances, the entire Material Plane experiences disturbances, with the Power of Laws being eroded by death, causing the Material Plane to resemble the Spirit World.
Only the Spirit World manifests such a multitude of wandering souls!
In an instant.
All deities sense the shift, with those related to death sensing it most clearly.
“No!”
An angry growl echoes from a distant direction, followed by a golden light streaking across the sky. The power of the [Domain of Eternal Sleep] suddenly surges, causing the shapes of numerous specters to become hazy once more.
“Naraku! Hater of Life!”
Klanvor’s golden figure appears in the sky, angrily addressing Naraku, “You will not succeed! I am the King of the Dead!”
Altars rise across the Material Plane.
Naraku is not surprised by Klanvor’s arrival; he has prepared for this for a long time.
“Weak Klanvor! You are unworthy to command death!”
A sneer appears on Naraku’s lips, and then with a wave of his hand, more than ten incredibly powerful Undead presences materialize around him.
Undead – Owwo!
Death Emperor – Sharn IX!
Demigod Lich – Zazastan!
King of Bones – Votran!
Powerful Undead emerge all around; just in the multiverse, there are five or six with renowned names, while others, even if not well-known, are at least high-level legends.
These are all Klanvor’s enemies.
For a long time, Klanvor’s oppression of Undead has made many Undead Lords harbor great hatred toward his existence.
At this moment.
A change occurs in the sky.
A massive spatial portal opens, revealing the emblem of Gisz. Another ally of the God of Death – Naraku arrives, the wicked ancient Lich Queen, ruler of the Gisz, Lich Queen – Valakis appears in view.
This terrifying mind-flaying lich has yet to fully enter the Material Plane.
Her suspicious nature prevents her from fully trusting anyone, even those with whom she has an alliance with Naraku.
………………
Thousands of sleepers appear at the edge of Skeleton Land.
Belonging to Klanvor’s church, countless worshippers who lost loved ones in the Plague gather, filled with anger and hatred, utilizing the power granted by Klanvor to assault the countless Undead before them.
This is a battle between the living and the dead.
Hatred strengthens their faith, and hatred makes them fearless in the face of countless Undead.
The low murmurs of prayer continue.
Naraku stands on the altar, drawing power from the obelisks, seemingly unconcerned with Klanvor’s presence. Around the altar, other Undead Lords guard, and this promotion ceremony is not fearful of outside interference, as Naraku’s power is already close to Strong Divine Power; now he merely needs to fuse the death power of the Material Plane.
If successful.
He will alter the characteristics of the Material Plane, making it more suitable for his reign.
