In the pitch-black darkness of the encampment, the flickering light of the campfire cast shadows on the aged, weathered face of Necromancer. Seated upon a slab of stone, his deep-set eyes seemed to pierce through the night, an aura of chilling cold emanating from him, causing anyone who passed by to shiver involuntarily.
The subject of souls was a sensitive one, and Necromancer, infamous as a former villain of great notoriety, was the very embodiment of that taboo. Before the Great Expedition began, no one could have imagined him standing among humanity's ranks. Yet, somehow, General had persuaded him to join, transforming him into one of the army's key assets.
Shadow, then just a young, naive girl brimming with fervor, was assigned to logistical and kitchen duties for the Main Team. Her tasks seemed to revolve solely around firewood and simmering pots of stew, but fate drew her closer to Necromancer than anyone else.
While others kept their distance, eyeing him with suspicion and apprehension, Shadow frequently found herself face-to-face with him, delivering food or supplies. She never complained, but each time their eyes met, she felt an invisible pressure, as though her soul was laid bare under his gaze.
One evening, as Shadow scratched at the ground with a stick, practicing a magical array she had begged from Mage while preparing a late-night meal for Necromancer, he suddenly spoke from across the campfire. His voice, low and raspy, seemed to echo from the realm of the dead: "Girl, you enjoy learning others' skills, don't you? Would you like to be my apprentice?"
Before Shadow could respond, he waved his hand dismissively, as if the question was merely a formality. From that day forward, he confined her to a corner of his tent for hours each day, lecturing her on his dark knowledge.
His teachings were unlike any other. There was none of the gentleness of the Mage or the exuberance of Warrior—only cold, sharp words and tales of souls that sent shivers down her spine.
He taught her how to sense the flow of souls, how to preserve them before they dissipated, and even how to manipulate them—skills that even she found horrifying.
When word of this reached Hero and the other team members, surprisingly, no one intervened.
Sage, with his silver hair framing eyes weighed down by sorrow, merely told Shadow:
"Throughout history, there have always been those who pursued knowledge through inhumane means. Yet, the knowledge they left behind, however dark, retains value. Humanity preserves such knowledge but condemns the methods by which it was obtained. If you feel conflicted about inheriting it, that is natural. If you believe you bear some of the karmic weight, use that knowledge to save others—save as many as you can."
Sage's words were like a torch illuminating Shadow's troubled mind. She began to see Necromancer in a different light, though she could never fully relax in his presence. Yet, she could not deny that during the grueling Great Expedition, his skills became indispensable.
When the army faced the Soul Abyss, where lost souls wailed and threatened to drag the world into oblivion, it was Necromancer who carved a path forward. When the Demon General Ghosthollow emerged, wielding soul-manipulating powers that shook the army, it was Necromancer who stood against him, using his forbidden arts to vanquish the enemy.
In moments of life and death, he even saved countless comrades, preserving their souls while their bodies were healed by medics.
But Necromancer never stopped rambling. During his forced "lessons," he would often say to Shadow: "My great knowledge must not be lost! I'm certain I'll die in this war—perhaps a demon general will stab me from the front, or worse, some comrade will betray me from behind. What a tragedy!"
Shadow, now imparting soul cultivation techniques to Mai, gave a wry smile. In the end, it was she who fell first, while Necromancer lived on, hale and hearty, even gaining a bit of weight.
When she seized the [Celestial Destroyer] from Hero's hands, brought it before the Demon King, and detonated it, in that final instant before her body was obliterated, she felt multiple spells strike her.
Some, she was certain, came from the Necromancer; one from Priest, another from Saint, and she thought she glimpsed the golden light of Monk as well—alongside many other spells she had no time to recognize.
It was likely this strange mixture that preserved her soul from disintegration and, in ways she could not fathom, cast it adrift so far that it found its way into another world, where she now passed on Necromancer's methods of soul cultivation to Mai, ensuring his legacy would not vanish.
She wondered if, back in her old world, he had found a new apprentice.
The doctor left the hospital room, leaving old man Nite standing there, his gaze heavy as he looked at the girl lying on the bed. According to the doctor, Mai's condition was not life-threatening, and she would soon awaken.
Yet, Nite felt no relief. He had watched the livestream of that battle, witnessing every movement, every skill executed with lethal precision.
Mai, his granddaughter, though exceptionally talented and trained from a young age, was still just a sixteen-year-old girl. What he saw was not Mai. Those were the skills of a battle-hardened warrior, the kind forged through thousands of bloody conflicts.
Whoever inhabited Mai's body, though they had stayed to help and showed no malice, filled Nite with unease. The question burning in his mind was: Where is my Mai?
When the girl on the bed opened her eyes, Nite hoped to see the familiar, playful spark of his granddaughter. Instead, her eyes were calm, profound, as if they held an entire world he could not reach. His voice trembled as he asked, "Where is Mai?"
Shadow did not answer immediately. She needed time to process. Mai's memories, this world, unfamiliar concepts like Vorn, livestreams, and modern technology flooded her mind like a torrent.
She silently "loaded" the information, confirming that the man before her was Nite, Mai's grandfather, someone Mai's memories marked as utterly trustworthy. Finally, she pointed to her head and said softly but firmly, "She's still here."
Nite froze, his face contorting as if he wanted to argue but didn't know how. The answer was too vague, too hard to believe. Before he could speak, Shadow extended her hand, her voice calm: "Lend me your hand for a moment. Don't resist."
Nite frowned. He didn't know what the girl intended, but her eyes held no trace of malice. After a moment's hesitation, he placed his hand in her small palm. Shadow said softly, "Relax."
In an instant, Nite felt his consciousness being pulled away, as if his soul were sucked into another realm. The world around him blurred, replaced by a vast, weightless expanse of white light. Shadow's voice echoed from somewhere: "Don't be afraid. This is our consciousness space."
To ordinary people, the soul is a vague, frightening concept, a shadow lingering at the boundary between life and death. But for those who have touched the true essence of the soul, manipulating it is not so complex—it's like learning a new language; understand the rules, and you can wield it.
Soul techniques may appear mystical and arcane, yet they are neither as complex nor as powerful as rumors suggest—it was only that Necromancer himself was a monster.
[Soul Link], the technique Shadow was using, sounds grandiose but is fundamentally simple: using Mana—or in this case, Vorn—to connect the nervous systems of two people at the point of contact, guiding the other's consciousness into one's own mental space.
However, this act is akin to opening the gates of one's mind, exposing every vulnerability. If Nite intended to attack, he could easily harm her consciousness. Yet, Shadow was not worried.
Her soul, forged through years of training and Necromancer's spells, was stronger than anyone in this world could imagine. Moreover, Mai's memories confirmed that Nite was the person she loved and trusted most.
In the consciousness space, a shimmering lake stretched out like a giant mirror, reflecting threads of light that floated like spider silk. At the center of the lake stood Shadow, her appearance resembling Mai's by about seventy percent but unmistakably distinct.
Clad in sleek black leather armor, her figure was graceful yet powerful, her long hair flowing in an invisible breeze. On her shoulder hovered a tiny, translucent figure—the familiar face of Mai, faint as a small flame.
Nite couldn't hold back. He rushed toward the tiny figure, cradling Mai's soul in his hands, his eyes filled with worry and love as he examined her for any sign of harm. Despite her ethereal form, Mai flashed her familiar mischievous smile. "Grandpa, I'm okay," she said, her voice clear but faint, as if echoing from a distant place.
Nite turned to Shadow, his gaze sharp with suspicion. "If she says she's okay… then why is she like this? Please, tell me what happened to my granddaughter."
Shadow let out a quiet sigh as she stepped closer, careful not to agitate him further. "Mai's soul is wounded," she said, her tone steady yet firm. "In that battle, her will suffered heavy damage. A soul in such a state would normally struggle to heal on its own. But I have passed on to her a method of soul cultivation—something that will allow her to train and mend her soul. It will take time, and she will need certain materials to nourish it, but recovery is possible."
Nite furrowed his brow, trying to grasp what Shadow was saying. He was unfamiliar with concepts like souls or the mystical ideas she described, but he sensed she wasn't lying. Her eyes, though cold, held sincerity.
Shadow looked up at the vast white sky of the consciousness space. "I don't intend to stay here forever," she said, her voice lowering. "I have a place I need to return to. But to do that, I need to borrow Mai's body—temporarily. Once I find my way back, I'll return her body to her, completely intact."
Mai, despite her faint form, nodded eagerly. "Use it, big sister!" she said, her voice full of trust. "Take as long as you need until you find your way back!"
Nite, however, remained skeptical. He looked at Shadow, then back at Mai's tiny soul, his heart heavy. But he understood that, in this situation, he and his granddaughter had no other choice. If Shadow was telling the truth, she was Mai's only hope of returning. If she was lying, he would find a way to reclaim his granddaughter, no matter the cost.
"Fine," Nite finally said, his voice hoarse. "I'll trust you… just keep Mai safe."
Shadow nodded, cutting him off. "I understand. And I promise, I'll protect Mai, just as I protected my comrades."
The consciousness space dissolved, and Nite felt his awareness return to his body. He opened his eyes, still holding Shadow's—or rather, Mai's—hand in the hospital room. Shadow looked exhausted, her eyes half-closed, sweat beading on her forehead. [Soul Link] was not an easy technique, even for someone with a soul as strong as hers, as it demanded absolute precision. She released Nite's hand, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
"I've made an agreement with Mai," Shadow said, her voice slightly weak. "She's agreed to let me continue using her body. In return, I'll help her resolve her issues with the Goldvale family and take care of you. For now, I'll live with you, as Mai did."
Nite let out a small sigh of relief, though his trust in Shadow remained incomplete. Knowing "Mai" would stay within his sight eased his mind slightly. He nodded, his gaze softening just a fraction.
"Can Mai hear our conversation out here?" he asked.
Shadow gave a faint smile, sensing what he was getting at. "She's immersed in her soul cultivation state and won't hear us."
Nite hesitated, then asked, "What happens if you can't find your way back?"
Shadow gave a small shrug. "I didn't tell Mai directly because I think it might discourage her from healing. But since she's the true owner of this body, once her soul is fully restored, she'll take control again—that much is certain. As for me… I don't know what will happen. But don't mistake that for something quick—it could take years. Years enough for me to find a body… or make one."
Nite stared at her, his eyes flickering with unreadable emotions. He did not press further into what she meant by "finding" or "making" a body—some answers, he felt, were better left unheard. He wasn't sure how much of Shadow's words he could trust, but whether he liked it or not, fate had bound them together. For Mai's sake, he would cooperate.
Shadow stood, adjusting the hospital gown on her body, feeling the weakness still lingering in Mai's form after the battle. This world, with its unfamiliar concepts and technology, presented a new challenge. But Shadow was undaunted. She had survived the Great Expedition, slain dozens of demon generals, and personally ended the Demon King. Compared to that, this world was just another battlefield.
"Mr. Nite," Shadow said, turning to him. "Can you tell me what happened after I passed out?"
Nite pulled a phone from the bag at the head of the bed. After some fumbling, he opened a video and handed it to her. "See for yourself."
Shadow recognized it as Mai's phone, one of the most vivid items in her memories. After sifting through Mai's knowledge of "smartphones," she couldn't help but marvel at the unimaginable technology and its convenience. It seemed the people of this world relied heavily on these slim rectangular devices.
On the screen, Inferno Knuckle, after defeating the boss, saw the flames on his fists die out. He collapsed to his knees but struggled to stand, dragging himself toward the camera. From Mai's memories, Shadow recalled another new concept: livestreaming, cameras.
Ever since waking up in this world, she had felt an unseen presence watching her but couldn't pinpoint it. It seemed to be a cloaked recording device, and she couldn't help but admire the technology. Her eyes then drifted to the frenzied comments scrolling on the right side of the screen:
[Holy hell, that was insane!]
[YO KNUCKLE SOLO'D A MONSTER ABOVE HIS RANK 🔥🔥]
[bruh doesn't even count, he didn't even solo it, and man ranked up MID-FIGHT 💀]
[forget him, WHERE'S MAI?? lower the damn cam, she fell down there👇]
[bro she's 100% dead lol… fall dmg + KO = respawn never 💀]
[dead or not idc, we still need the body fr 🧍]
[LMAO third wheel energy, she lowkey deserved it 💅]
[yo wtf?? u gossipin while ppl DYING?? priorities trash 😭]
So this was a livestream, where people from all over watched the recorded events in real-time. The thought made Shadow wonder if she had done anything odd. Recalling the moment she caressed and pressed her cheek against the military knife, thinking it might be a divine artifact, her ears flushed with embarrassment. How many people saw that?
On the screen, the camera finally tilted down to reveal Mai—cradled in the arms of a striking young man with a machete strapped at his waist: Kai. Dropped off at the city by Evermoss, he had seen what happened on Mai's stream and rushed back, late yet just in time to catch her fall. Knuckle's heart pounded when he saw Kai carrying her toward him, her face pale, blood streaking from her nose and staining her clothes. But after checking her condition, he found she was only unconscious. Relief washed over him, and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
As Knuckle turned toward the Gate, he saw Evermoss and Solstice returning, looking even more battered than he was. In truth, Knuckle hadn't taken a direct hit from the Silvermane. Solstice held the Dimension Core, now split in two, signaling the portal's closure and Lost Angel's safety. All that remained was cleaning up the remaining monsters, a task the army's F-rank soldiers could handle.
Nite saw Shadow finish watching without comment, then clumsily dragged the video's timeline back to the start, to the moment Mai was ambushed and injured on the first day. According to Mai's memories, the monster had appeared out of thin air.
Such creatures weren't unheard of, but according to the [Hero Manual], neither that monster nor any in this event's horde should have had that ability. If it wasn't a hidden high-level monster, it could only be the work of someone from this side.
The culprit had carefully chosen a camera blind spot, with the monster appearing behind a tree, out of direct view. But Shadow's lips curled into a sly smile.
Nite, catching that smile, asked, "What are you planning?"
"Extortion," Shadow said with a smirk.