Re: Ascension Rebirth – The secret final boss, just which one is it?

Chapter IX

PART ONE

[Eternum Calendar - Year 988]

“Welcome to the [Grand Library] of the Northern Tetrarchy, please view any material in here to your heart’s content.”

Says [Rian Mil Avon Ariadyne] after guiding me to this place. As he says this place was enormous, far stretching to the point I couldn’t see where it ended. Rows and rows of shelves all stacked with books, it was a little daunting to think I had to go through all of this. I don’t even know how much time I have.

The smell of aging paper filled the air, booklovers would think this as paradise, for me I wasn’t as thrilled as it only meant I had to go through all of them to get the information I specifically wanted.

“If you need anything, please rely on me.”

Says the maid that also accompanied us.

“Ah, okay, well if you have any materials on [parallel worlds] or [teleportation] I’d like to view them.”

I asked bluntly, at first both the maid and Rian were intrigued by my suggestion, but I managed to smile and dodge any potential questions as to why I’m searching for them.

* * *

I was slowly getting to my wit’s end due to the seemingly endless lines of books in this place. I’m grateful they let me view their library but still, this was way too much and my impatient heart couldn’t take much more of this. I must’ve skimmed through at least 400 different books but none of them were the ones I was looking for. I won’t deny that I’ve learnt quite a bit about this world but none of that matters to me, perhaps this is just going to be a dead end?

No, for now I won’t give up and search a bit more.

It was two hours later that I found an odd bookshelf; it was entirely empty except for one book. Curious I asked the maid about it but she just tiled her head and responded with ‘what book?’ At first I was confused and tried to point it out that there was a leathered book but she told me to stop joking around.

After a bit more deliberation I found out she wasn’t able to see the book, I even asked Rian but he didn’t know what I was talking about either. Was it an invisible book? No, that makes no sense, if it was invisible I shouldn’t have been able to see it either.

I stepped a bit closer to the shelf but as I did a sensation of boundless regret and despair overcame me. Every second in that state felt like my entire world was being crushed and I was at the center of it all. Another step in and the feelings changed, maliciousness swirled around as if to taunt me into reading it. Truthfully it may have been better to avoid this one book as the obvious signs of danger was obvious, but humans are awfully curious creatures after all.

As I placed my hands on the cover of the book my entire body started to chill, my spine snapped into place as thought it had been frozen. As a necromancer I could feel my own soul being ripped apart but at the same time I felt something else; nostalgia.

As my vision became disoriented and my breathing hoarse the only thing stopping me from dropping this book was my own will and curiosity. Enduring the pain I grabbed onto the leathery cover of the book and once I did my entire world went dark. My surroundings disappeared into a pit of void and the only thing here was this book and myself, a warm feeling of sanctuary filled my heart this time, a feeling of safety.

Of course I knew better, this book was dangerous, but as I looked at the cover two things caught my attention immediately. I froze for a couple of seconds as I let the information sink in.

The first thing was that the title of the book was [Necronomicon], the book of evil. It finally made sense why I was receiving such chilling feelings as my laid my hands on it. I could feel the boundless evil emanating from the pages. Immediately my mind made the decision to purge the book as the correct course of action but my rationale thought otherwise.

That was to read the book, despite having somewhat rudimentary on the background of such a book, I thought to myself those were just works of fiction in my old world, there was no way such things could be real. However my mistake was that this wasn’t just any world I was living in, this was a fantasy world where everything was free game.

But even before that there was an even more uncanny thing about this book. Something that needed to be addressed and that was that this book was in English. Right, this world doesn’t use english but an entirely different language that I had forced myself to learn but here was this book, an ancient relic into my previous world and english was my one true connection to that world. That is why I rationalized that I shouldn’t be destroying it but reading it.

I’ve searched this entirely library and I don’t think I would get any other clue if I let this one go. I had confidence in my own will and rationale to be able to resist the temptations of this book, but I needed to know the contents.

‘The successor of the old world gazes upon our soul.’

I started to hear whispers in my head but I ignored it as best as I could as I flipped through the pages. As I read the book I noticed that I couldn’t retain the information of what I had just read. It was like letting your mind slip as you read and you find out that you’ve read a few pages but don’t know what it was you read. Right, it was that feeling but I know I was concentrating so why wasn’t it that I couldn’t retain the contents?

I even tried reading it out aloud but it was to no avail.

This book was driving me crazy, perhaps that was the point but still.

‘It is futile, without the permission of the [Lord of Chaos] you will not be able to read us.’

The voices continue. ‘Lord of Chaos’? The only one that fits that Lovecraftian theme is [Nyarlathotep] the crawling chaos… or so I figure.

Hmm… this might actually prove to be useful insight, though Nyarlathotep wasn’t ever depicted as a useful fellow in my old world’s literature he was identified as a powerful figure. The fact that this book was written in english and the that he has some references to my old world may be a clue. Perhaps he could even help me return.

For now I decided to take this book. Since neither the maid or Rian was able to see this book I don’t think it would cause too much of a problem if I removed it from the library. I wonder if this book counted as an item as well.

I checked.

[Necronomicon]

+[20 Magic]

+[13 Insight]

There was even had an inscription on the interface box that wasn’t written on the book itself.

[The book emanates evil aura, as long as the user holds onto this item they will be allowed access to the skill [Evil Eye].]

[New skill acquired:[Evil Eye(Temporary)]]

[Evil Eye: gain the temporary ability to instil fear into an opponent’s mind causing them to lower physical/magical/mental defenses for a brief moment. Can only be used on enemies up to a maximum of 10 level above the user]

Oh~? Interesting, so using this I may be able to lower the mental defenses of those at most 10 level higher than me and use it in conjunction with [Enchanting Voice]. Though it’s a little disappointing that it only works on enemies up to 10 levels higher but the number of times I’ve met people who were too high for [enchanting voice] was a little annoying. I can also use it in battle or to avoid battle.

It even gives me a nice boost to my stats. With that I decided to put it away into my inventory.

I checked out the skill and it’s already at maximum level of 50, which is good to know that skills had a maximum level. It does say (temporary) so I guess if I lose the book it will disappear.

Figuring that I wouldn’t be able to find any more relevant sources I decided to end my search here. When I returned father gave me a pat on the back for a job well done, though Lena was feeling a little moody for having been brought here against her will, still she didn’t directly speak out.

PART TWO

After my spectacular triumph over the duke the earl was quickly promoted to dukedom at my suggestion and he had replaced [Vista Calros] and [Ciel Noire] as the minister of both internal and external affair, meaning he had a lot of work to cover, he even hired the guards and servants left over from both of the duke’s residence and it was getting a little crowded in this manor, thought this place was getting an upgrade soon so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

In any case the new duke wanted to throw a celebration for this occasion and preparations for a big party were being made.

I decided to take this opportunity to relax a bit but before I could do that there was one person I wanted to visit. Ex-duke [Vista Calros] was being held up at the official prison dungeon of this nation and while it was normally off-limits for visitation I was granted permission.

Thus I decided to see the ex-duke one last time.

I was guided into a dimly lit place, not unlike the place under the ex-duke’s house. It was cold and desolate in here but my pity for the ex-duke was limited. In the deepest part of the dungeon there was a single cell separated from all the others, this place was reserved for only the most hardened criminals, fitting for a treacherous cur like this man.

I told the guards I wanted to talk in private and they let me.

“It’s been… 3 days I believe, ex--duke Vista Calros. How have you been holding up?”

I asked through the metal bars. He immediately jumped towards me and clutched onto them as he shouted.

“You! You insolent little brat! I will kill you! I will break you! GET ME OUT OF HERE! I DON’T DESERVE THIS TREATMENT!”

Shouting at me like that won’t help your case much, ex-duke.

I pulled my head closer to him and activated [evil eye] and as soon as I did clear horror and fear filled his face. He dashed back against the wall trying to claw his way out of the dungeon just to get away from me. Watching this scene put a smile on my face, even I could tell that the smile was a most evil one.

“Now, now, Mr. Vista Calros, you shouldn’t act like that. It’s unsightly.”

“Y- you! Who are you?! What are you?!”

He asked as he continued to claw through the stone walls, even as his fingernails broke off and he started bleeding from his fingers. It was a horrible sight but one that somewhat filled me with satisfaction.

“Come now, I’m just like you. A fellow human being, the one you so boast that they are the ‘superior race’. We share a kinship… you and I.”

“Why…? Why did you do this to me?”

“Why? Well I would like to say that it was for justice or for the good of the city but we both know that isn’t quite true. If I had to state my real intentions… it was that I did it because it amused me… because I could.”

“B- because you could? Just… just for that reason?!”

I shook my head.

“No, not just for that reason. It’s because I know it was you… who ruined my dear friend’s life. A long time ago you became obsessed with a certain person; a woman named [Leona]. She had two daughters; twins, but you didn’t care, you went for the woman nonetheless and even went as far as trying to get rid of her daughters. For that reason I wanted you to suffer like they did. Slowly… in this cage like a beast… await for your death that will come in a year.”

“A- a- a beast…?”

“That’s right. After I’m gone, you will continue to rot in this cell until your execution. And that’s how it’s going to be.”

The ex-duke started to shake violently as tears poured from his eyes and snot running down his nose. It was an extremely unpleasant look.

“You…! You’re evil!”

“That’s right, but cultivated evil is unlike your morose, lusty evil. Even evil has standards but you are just pathetic, I can’t even acknowledge you as a human being, right, you’re nothing but a beast in a cage awaiting the day the guillotine removes your head.”

“You…! I’ll see you in hell!”

“Hell… Hahaha~ I see, then when you get to hell… tell them that [Aran Callahad] sent you.”

With those last words I left the frightened beast, trembling in its cage.

PART THREE

It was now about a week after ex-duke Vista’s trial. We were all invited to the after-party celebrations and I was the guest of honor. Since then Elise Noire had become free, though because of all the events that had transpired she really didn’t get proper time to mourn her father’s death so she did so during our free time. She even came to me and cried on my chest, also she still calls me [Ulysses].

She had been adopted by the new duke, Lucius Rosenberg so her lifestyle shouldn’t have been changed all that much. And with most of duke Ciel’s wealth going to duke Lucius he’s going to be able to become a much more effective minister due to all that wealth and political position.

Interestingly Elise has expressed interest in politics and is studying under duke Lucius.

Chrom was also hired to be her personal guard, of course her allegiance is definitely under Kyrios but from what I’ve seen so far he gives his subordinates a lot of freedom, I also think Chrom’s just going along with the flow for now, but we’ll see.

Also, recently whenever I see Elise she blushes and hides her face. I’m not dense enough to not notice this but she’s far too young for me so I’ll have to pass on her. Besides I don’t know how much longer I’ll be staying in this world so it’s better if she quits while she’s ahead. Maybe I’ll have to talk to her later if she’s still harboring such feelings after a few years.

Other than that, Lena was also able to meet her mother, she was feeling a bit sour before but as soon as she met her she broke down in tears. I guess it turned out to be a worthwhile trip in the end for her, though her mother fell asleep soon after, apparently while she’s sleeping the disease doesn’t spread.

Moving on, the Tetrarch’s son, [Rian Mil Avon Ariadyne] also offered me a fairly lucrative deal, which was marrying into his family. Since my father was his childhood friend the Tetrarch himself also backed up the decision, it seems that they’ve taken a liking to me, even to the point where I’ll be the next-in-line for North Tetrarch after Rian.

When I first met her she was just a seven year old child but still had her act together. She gave me a bow.

“Hello.”

I guess her she still needs a little lesson on formal speech but for a seven year old her actions were pretty acceptable in the world of high rollers.

“Hi.”

I answered back.

For better or worse I declined their offer. Rian’s daughter was the same age as I but I don’t really want to take away someone’s future in an arranged marriage.

With that the party began! There was food, drinks, fun, lots of people, activities, etc. it really was quite a night, until a certain someone decided to talk to me in private.

PART FOUR

“What is it Lina?”

Lina was the one who called me out to the veranda. As night had fallen the air became chilly but the sight of the moon and the land from the duke’s manor was amazing. This situation really did get my heart pounding, and if I was any more naïve I would’ve thought that Lina brought me out to confess her love for me or something.

Though that will never happen, I mean because I can’t accept her feelings even if she did do that.

“I just wanted to thank you, young master. For everything you’ve done for me up til now. If it wasn’t for you I would’ve still been feeling enmity towards my mother and I never would’ve had a satisfying conclusion. Not only that but you’ve also helped me a lot these past few years, so I just wanted to tell you how grateful I was.”

“Lina… You don’t have to thank me for anything, all I did was go along with you. It was you who pulled out the courage to talk to your mother and it was you who forgave her from the bottom of your heart. If anything you should be proud of yourself for getting this far.”

“Young master… thank you.”

Tears trickled down her face, but not sad ones, tears of happiness. She smiled as she turned back to cover her face as she became embarrassed with me watching her. Still, her figure that shun elegantly in the moons’ light was oddly charming.

Holding back I decided to return to the party.

“Well, then I’ll accept your feelings of gratitude, Lina. Shall we return to the-“

“Sorry, Sir Morgant, if I may have a word?”

Stopping me from returning was the butler of this house, [Dian]. With his trademark false smile and pleasing looks he holds his gaze towards me, not even batting an eye towards Lina who was blushing brightly.

“Uh, no problem.”

“T- then I’ll return first. Please excuse me.”

Lina says as she skips inside. I’m going to have to have a word with her about not making her emotions so blatant, especially in front of me as it is displeasing for some reason.

“So? Is there anything you need?”

I asked, half-heartedly.

“I was just a little curious.”

“About what?”

“That power of yours.”

At that moment I snapped back to reality and met his gaze head on. What did he just say? About my power? No, impossible I haven’t ever used my power in public or at least I made sure to be out of sight so no one aside from my family should know about it. Then why is he asking about my powers so suddenly?

Actually from the moment I met him there was something certainly strange with him. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it, it was like he was too perfect, that false persona of his. I knew he was hiding something but just what?

Just who is he?

Just as I was about to think further into this he exhibits a great aura. It’s like I’m drowning in his presence, just who is this guy?

I just realized I hadn’t checked his name or title yet. It must’ve slipped my mind since Lina was practically bouncing about when she met.

As I concentrated something extraordinary popped up. Something that I would never have guessed in my life.

[Erendel De Signa. Level 165, Demon Lord].

At that revelation I weakly took a few steps back. The… Demon Lord? But I thought Astaroth was the… could it be, that higher level, her father?

“Who are you?”

I asked, I wanted confirmation.

“It seems that you have somewhat caught onto my true identity. As expected of the one being that caught my daughter’s attention, you really are a cut above the rest of these mortals.”

“Daughter? So you really are the demon lord?”

He shakes his head.

“I was the former Demon Lord, for reasons I cannot disclose right now I have ceased to be. As far as my daughter knows, I’ve left everything up to her and disappeared.”

He just left? I’m not entirely sure on Astaroth’s age, and even supposing she really was as old as she looked she still has a lot of people around her so she shouldn’t be feeling lonely. Besides applying human emotions to demons don’t seem to be a wise decision, but still, for a parent to simply leave. Something must’ve happened.

“How much do you know about me?”

I asked.

“Not too terribly much I’m afraid. Only that my charm spell hadn’t worked on you the moment we met. Granted that it was only meant for low level beings but still, for someone to resist, that’s when I first got curious. Later I found one of my daughter’s minions prowling around in the city which lead connected me to you.”

Chrom, huh?

Wait did he just say charm spell? Don’t tell me that’s why Lina’s been so infatuated with him? Well, if he’s not using it with malicious intents and is only using it to integrate into society I can’t really say much but it’s still in poor taste.

“Let me ask you something. Were you the one who summoned those zombies that night when I was escaping from the duke’s manor?”

I asked.

He gave me a smirk as he nodded.

“That’s right, I felt it necessary to test you a little.”

“Test me for what?”

“Like I said, your powers.”

“My [Necromancy]?”

“Ho~ so that power is called necromancy? An interesting power indeed, one I have not seen before.”

Wait didn’t he summon zombies?

“Didn’t you summon those undead to attack me? Then you should at least be capable of rudimentary necromancy right?”

But he shook his head.

“No, those lower class undead were simply minions I had under my command, they were not summoned like you had summoned your minion.”

I honestly don’t know what to think about this guy, he’s incredibly hard to read and his body language is so stern that it’s actually confusing me. He doesn’t seem like he’s going to turn hostile any time soon, though I get the feeling he isn’t especially an ally since he did say he ran away from being the Demon Lord.

I realize it’s odd to say that the Demon Lord is my ally but that was truly the case in my situation. Still, there must’ve been a greater purpose if he was going to reveal himself to me so easily. Maybe he’s still underestimating me since he never revealed his name?

“[Erendel De Signa], what is the purpose in this meeting?”

As I revealed his name he was taken aback a little. That really does work wonders on all sorts of opponents.

“Ho~ you already know my name, and you’ve already seen through me it seems. It is true that there was a greater purpose in calling for you, as my daughter’s trusted comrade I wished to give you a warning.”

“Warning? What, don’t tell me you’re going to say something clichéd like ‘stay away from my daughter’, or anything right?”

“No, no, of course nothing of the sort. Perhaps you had already guessed but each generation of Demon Lords have a unique power that even those of the same species don’t have. For my daughter, her power is [Foresight], she is briefly able to see glimpses into the future.”

Foresight? Clairvoyance? No, that isn’t quite right, so future sight.

Wait… that means her prior warning about something happening to me and me needing to keep track of myself has a lot of weight. Dammit, she didn’t tell me any of the details before she left.

“Then what’s your ability?”

“My ability is known as [Clairvoyance], I am able to connect with the realm of the dead, it isn’t too terribly useful of a power but there are situations where it certainly helps. In fact during my reign as the Demon Lord I was able to secure subordination from the [Ghost King] due to my powers, but that’s for another time.”

He closes his eyes in reminiscence.

“Right. So you had a warning for me?”

“Of course, recently there has been a bit of a disturbance in the realm of the dead.”

“Of what variety?”

“It isn’t all of them, but a few of the dead souls have ceased entering the realm of the dead. They’ve been made to forever walk the lands of this world, bound by some kind of force, and it isn’t just a couple hundred, but thousands. An extremely troubling omen, which is why I wish to warn you. Unlike my daughter I cannot see what changes this will bring but whatever it is, it probably won’t be good.”

“I see.”

From the information given, my conclusion is that someone is gathering a massive force of undead. While on surface it may be a little hypocritical since the demon army also employs a lot of undead this situation is a little different. I know this because I’m a necromancer.

Firstly it’s that normal undead do not have souls and are basically just walking puppets. However the undead being created by this unknown phenomenon is unnatural because they are undead with souls. I’m not entirely sure on the benefits of having undead with souls, but if it is any indication from my [skeleton knight] who possesses an artificial soul, then they are likely many times stronger than ordinary undead.

“What about you? What do you plan on doing about this?”

I asked Erendel, he gives me a contemplative look before answering.

“I do not know. Depending on the situation I may have to move my hands but I would prefer for it to not have to come to that… for a variety of reasons.”

Well figured as much, there was probably a reason why he ceased being the Demon Lord, must be related to that somehow.

“Though it is an odd feeling for me to have to ask a human, but please treat my daughter well.”

“… Eh?”

That line completely blanked my mind. That kind of line is usually reserved for parents who are sending their children off to marriage. No, no, no, I’m not going to be staying here for much longer than I need to so that kind of promise will only become a burden.

He even lowers his head!

A Demon Lord is lowering his head to me!

“I… will try my best.”

Eh? What did I just say?!

“Thank you. Then I shall be returning to the party.”

As he says that the prior heavy aura dissipates as he returns, leaving me standing outside, tired from that encounter.

It was later I learnt that [Dian] stopped working as a butler for Lucius and had disappeared to someplace else. I had a feeling that this would happen since his location was compromised to me, still I don’t really know if he’s a friend or foe. I just get an ominous feeling just by thinking about him.

PART FIVE

After everything was said and done we were finally able to return home safely to mother and Sebastian. It felt like some much time had passed since I last saw them.

“Mistress I am so sorry!”

The first thing that Lina says upon meeting was apologize to mother, of mother being the kind lady that she was replied with a smile.

“Don’t worry, there was no harm done. I’m just glad that everything turned out well for you and your sister.”

‘What an angel’, I thought to myself. She really is a keeper, well done father. With that everything came to a satisfying conclusion, but I still couldn’t shake off this impending doom feeling I was I getting due to Astaroth’s predictions, I didn’t even know what was going to happen or where it was going to happen. I had absolutely no detail on it, and these are the worst kinds because I can’t actively plan ahead.

PART SIX

Today mother went into labor.

It was a very tense situation but everything turned out fine with the help of Lina, Lena, the town doctor and myself. Well it wasn’t their first time doing this so they were rather confident.

[Ada Fallon]

That was the name of the second child born to the Fallon house, a healthy baby girl. She had similar shades of black hair as me and her eyes were of the same emerald color. I feel like she’ll no doubt grow into a beauty like mother. However it was a little sad because if everything goes according to my plans I should be returning to Earth soon so I’m not sure if I will ever be able to see her grow up.

Still, while it lasts, I’m glad I have a sibling.

END REPORT

[Status Menu]

Morgant Fallon. Level 19

NECROMANCER

DEMON GENERAL

Strength: 78 (65 + 13)

Dexterity: 12 (5 + 7)

Magic: 29 (5 + 24)

Insight: 59 (35 + 24)

Agility: 11 (5 + 6)

[Status Points: 10]

[Skill List]

(PASSIVE) [Life Force Sensory]: Level 12

(PASSIVE) [Toxin Resistance]: Level 1

(AUGMENT) [Enchanting Voice]: Level 6

(ACTIVE) [Life Drain]: Level 11

(ACTIVE) [Wither]: Level 4

(ACTIVE) [Decay]: Level 9

(ACTIVE) [Summon - Skeleton Knight]: Level 3

(SUB SKILL) [Anti-Life Gambit]: Level 1

(SUB SKILL) [Intimidating Roar]: Level 1

(SUB SKILL) [Shield Charge): Level 1

(SUB SKILL) [Fortification): Level 1

(TEMPORARY) [Evil Eye]: Level 50 (MASTERED)

[Equipment]

[Shard of Tyrving]

+ 4 [All Stats]

[Sebastian’s Pocket Watch]

+ 3 [Strength]

+ 3 [Dexterity]

+ 3 [Insight]

[Father’s Sword Hilt]

+ 6 [Strength]

+ 4 [Insight]

+ 2 [Agility]

[Necronomicon]

+[20 Magic]

+[13 Insight]