The Genesis Of A Necromancer

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The dragon's roar was a symphony of fury and destruction, echoing across the forest like the sound of a world breaking apart. With a single mighty surge, it unleashed its infernal breath, an unending torrent of black fire that burned hotter than the core of a sun. The forest transformed into an apocalyptic inferno as trees, earth, and fog beasts alike were swallowed by the searing flames.

The fog beasts, spectral forms made of shadow and mist, stood no chance. They writhed and screamed as they evaporated into nothingness, their ghostly shapes dissipating like smoke caught in a storm. The heat was unbearable, forcing Alisha to stagger back, her arm raised to shield her face. She felt the blistering air clawing at her skin, the sheer force of the dragon's might threatening to consume everything in its wake.

When the dragon's onslaught finally subsided, the forest was unrecognizable. Blackened stumps and smoldering ashes replaced once-towering trees. A heavy, eerie silence fell over the land, broken only by the faint crackling of dying embers. Amidst the destruction stood Jack, his chest heaving with effort, tendrils of shadowy flames still licking at his feet.

"It's done," he rasped, though his voice betrayed his exhaustion.

"Let's hope it stays that way," Alisha replied, her tone sharp, but her expression unreadable. She couldn't deny the awe she felt at the sight of Jack wielding such devastating power, yet the aftermath left her with a gnawing unease. This wasn't victory—it was a prelude to something far worse.

Then, as if mocking their efforts, the fog began to creep back, insidious and unrelenting. Within seconds, the suffocating mist had returned, blanketing the forest as though the flames had never touched it. The buzzing sound—a low, incessant drone—persisted, louder now, like a swarm of invisible insects circling them.

Jack clenched his fists, his voice a mix of shock and indignation. "What the hell is this? Where's the fog coming from?!"

"I just poured my entire pool of mana into that spell!" he shouted, anger boiling over. The absurdity of the situation grated on him, every ounce of his effort rendered meaningless by the fog's resurgence.

His system screen flickered into view, mocking him with stark reminders of his limits:

[MP: 0/1000]

Jack gritted his teeth, his mind racing. The dark corruption of his magic had amplified the dragon's destructive power tenfold but at a steep cost. The original spell, *Dragon's Breath,* was a tier-two elemental spirit spell requiring 50 mana points. Summoning an elemental spirit added another 450, and his own corruption effect had pushed the cost to the maximum—1000 mana, draining his reserves entirely.

'Dammit!' he cursed inwardly. His muscles ached from the strain of channeling so much power, and the backlash from the corrupted spell gnawed at his mind like a dull knife.

Alisha's voice cut through his thoughts. "Asriel, look!"

He turned to see what had caught her attention. The fog was thicker now, swirling ominously, as if alive. Shadows darted within its depths, too fast to discern.

The buzzing grew louder.

And then came the beasts.

They emerged in droves, their amorphous forms twisting into grotesque shapes—part wolf, part serpent, and part nightmare. Each creature moved with unnatural fluidity, their glowing, hollow eyes fixed on the dragon that still crackled with residual flame.

"Damn it all!" Jack growled. His flame dragon roared defiantly, spewing another jet of black fire that carved through the fog beasts, vaporizing many in its path. But no matter how many fell, more emerged, endless waves of shadows born from the fog itself.

Jack's system chimed again:

[Bonded Servant has sustained severe injury.]

[Elemental Flame Dragon HP: 20/100]

[Return servant to second space for recovery.]

The notification hit him like a blow. "So bonded servants can die," he muttered under his breath, anger simmering. He had invested everything into summoning the dragon, and now it was barely holding on. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Alisha's voice broke through again, tinged with urgency. "Asriel, we still have the demon warriors to deal with! You're drawing too much attention!"

"I'm aware!" Jack snapped, dodging the razor-sharp claws of a beast that lunged at him. With a swift counterstrike, he sliced through the creature's neck, its body dissipating into mist.

His frustration mounted. Every swing of his blade felt heavier than the last, every movement draining what little energy he had left. The beasts weren't merely attacking—they were testing him, wearing him down.

'This is insane,' he thought, gritting his teeth. 'We came here for the crystal, and now it's turned this entire place against us.'

The dragon let out another anguished roar before collapsing, its flames sputtering out as the fog consumed it. Jack's system chimed once more:

[Bonded Servants: 3/10]

The dragon was gone.

Jack staggered back, his breath ragged. Alisha, equally battered, retreated to his side. Their backs met in the center of the clearing as they found themselves surrounded by the fog beasts.

"So much for getting the crystal," Alisha said, her voice biting. "We should've just listened to the demon. Now we're trapped."

Jack's eyes darted around, searching for an opening, a plan—anything. But the beasts closed in, their growls reverberating through the suffocating mist.

Then it hit him.

"Gurat!" Jack muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the battlefield. Amid the chaos, the demon cowered behind a charred tree, trembling like a leaf in a storm.

Jack's lips curled into a grim smile. "That coward might be our way out of this."

He raised his hand, summoning a bone spear. Shadows coiled around his arm as the weapon formed, its tip glinting menacingly.

Gurat's panicked eyes locked onto Jack as the spear flew—not at him, but at the tree he hid behind. The force of the impact shattered the trunk, sending Gurat sprawling.

"Gurat!" Jack bellowed, his voice cold and commanding. "Pinpoint the source of that buzzing sound, or I'll make sure you don't live to regret it!"

The demon scrambled to his feet, shaking. "Y-yes! Right away!"

Closing his eyes, Gurat focused, his sensitive ears straining to isolate the sound amidst the chaos.

"It's coming from... there!" he finally shouted, pointing to a cluster of jagged rocks at the forest's edge.

Jack's eyes lit up with determination. "Perfect."

The fog beasts surged forward, their claws and fangs glinting in the dim light. But Jack was ready.

[Bonded Servant has been summoned.]

A vortex of darkness erupted behind him, swirling with malevolent energy as a new figure began to emerge.

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