[The Holy Dominion's Advance]
The wind carried the scent of death.
From the eastern outskirts of Noxhaven, a column of Holy Dominion knights marched in tight formation. Their golden armor gleamed under the pale moonlight, their shields adorned with the sigil of the Eternal Church—a radiant sun surrounded by angelic wings.
At the front of the force rode a man clad in white-and-gold battle robes, his piercing blue eyes filled with righteous fury.
[Inquisitor Cedric – Level 30]
[Class: Holy Slayer]
[Abilities: Divine Smite (A), Purging Light (B), Holy Barrier (B)]
Cedric gripped the silver warhammer strapped to his back, his jaw clenched in frustration.
"The cursed city should have remained abandoned," he muttered. "Yet now, it stirs once more."
Beside him, a knight saluted. "Sir, our scouts report that a new lord has claimed the ruins. The city's aura has changed, and… the undead are gathering."
Cedric's expression darkened.
"Then we burn it to the ground. No necromancer shall rise again under my watch."
He raised his gauntlet-covered hand.
"Advance!"
The hundred knights of the Purging Force quickened their pace, their torches flickering as they neared the city's gates.
They believed this would be an easy purge.
They had no idea what awaited them.
---
[The Lord of Noxhaven Prepares]
High above, standing atop the Necropolis Hall, Damien Valerian watched their approach with cold amusement. His black robe billowed in the night wind, his glowing violet eyes filled with an eerie hunger.
Behind him, his army stood ready.
100 Elite Undead Knights
200 Spectral Warriors
50 Wraith Assassins
And one bound Wraith Lord, Kaelgor.
The air crackled with dark energy as Damien opened his system interface.
Ding!
[Siege Defense Mode Activated!]
You can set defensive formations.
You can enhance the city's natural barriers.
You can unleash territory-wide necrotic effects.
A cruel smile played on Damien's lips.
"They march to their deaths."
He raised his hand.
"Let the hunt begin."
---
[The Battle Begins]
The Holy Dominion knights reached the broken gates of Noxhaven, shields raised.
Cedric narrowed his eyes. "Why is there no resistance?"
A terrible chill ran down his spine.
And then—the fog thickened.
From the shadows, wraith assassins emerged like ghosts, their ethereal blades slicing throats before the knights even realized what was happening.
"G-GRAHHH!"
"Ambush! Ambush!"
The knights stumbled backward, their tight formation breaking as shadowy figures darted through the ranks, carving through flesh and armor alike.
And then the undead knights charged.
"FOR OUR LORD!"
Their black armor clashed against the shining gold of the Holy warriors.
The battlefield erupted in chaos.
Cedric gritted his teeth. "You dare use the shadows against us?!"
He raised his warhammer, golden light surging through his body.
"DIVINE SMITE!"
A holy shockwave exploded outward, vaporizing several undead in an instant.
But before he could swing again—
BOOM!
A wave of pure death energy slammed into him, sending him skidding across the battlefield.
His eyes widened as he looked up.
A figure descended from the sky, clad in a cloak of darkness, violet flames crackling around his fingers.
Damien landed before him, his aura pressing down like an inescapable nightmare.
Cedric's breath caught. This was no ordinary necromancer.
This was a Deathlord.
---
[The Inquisitor vs. The Necromancer]
"You must be the leader of this pathetic crusade." Damien's voice was laced with contempt.
Cedric forced himself to stand, gripping his warhammer.
"I am Inquisitor Cedric, sworn knight of the Holy Dominion." He spat on the ground. "And you are a blight upon this world."
Damien chuckled.
"A blight?" He raised a hand. "Then allow me to spread the infection."
"SOUL RECLAMATION!"
The battlefield shuddered.
The corpses of fallen knights twitched violently, their flesh melting away, leaving behind skeletal warriors wreathed in necrotic flames.
The Holy warriors gasped as their former comrades rose once more… but now as Damien's minions.
Cedric's eyes burned with rage.
"YOU MONSTER!"
He lunged forward, swinging his warhammer with divine force.
Damien raised his hand.
CLANG!
The warhammer slammed into a barrier of pure darkness, stopping inches from Damien's face.
"You think a mere priest can strike me?" Damien's voice was cold, mocking.
Cedric gritted his teeth and pushed harder, but it was like trying to break a mountain with bare hands.
And then—Damien counterattacked.
"SHADOWFANG—REND!"
The cursed blade in Damien's hand sliced through the air, unleashing a wave of abyssal energy.
"AGH!"
Cedric barely raised his shield in time, but the impact sent him flying, crashing through a pile of rubble.
He coughed blood.
"Damn it… his power… it's beyond what I expected."
Damien strode forward, each step radiating dominance.
"Your faith will not save you." He lifted his hand, black energy crackling.
"Kneel, Inquisitor. Become my servant, or perish."
Cedric spat blood, eyes filled with defiance.
"Go to hell."
Damien sighed. "Wrong answer."
He thrust his hand forward.
"SOUL CONSUMPTION."
A vortex of dark energy erupted, grabbing hold of Cedric's very soul. The knight screamed, his body convulsing as his life force was ripped away.
His divine aura faded. His strength vanished.
And in its place—only emptiness remained.
Cedric fell to his knees, his once-bright eyes now clouded with darkness.
His mind was no longer his own.
Ding!
[Inquisitor Cedric has been turned into an Undead General.]
[Gained Holy Knight of Death: Cedric (Tier 3)]
Damien grinned.
"And just like that… their greatest weapon is now mine."
He turned to the remaining Holy knights, who stood frozen in terror.
Their leader—their strongest warrior—was now an undead slave.
Damien extended his arms.
"Submit… or join him in death."
The knights dropped their weapons instantly, their spirits broken.
Noxhaven had not fallen.
It had devoured its first invaders.
And Damien had only just begun.
---
[End of Chapter 4]