"[Soul Enticement]?"
Kurose Akira stared at the newly unlocked entry, a flicker of confusion rippling through his mind.Entice souls?How exactly was one supposed to entice the souls of the dead?
…Whatever. At the very least, it was a beneficial trait.
As the thought faded, his gaze shifted toward the massive corpse of the Giant Ghoul.
Though it had remained motionless since the battle began, Akira understood perfectly well—this thing was the true source of the demon lair. The necromancer had merely been its puppet.
"Let's finish it properly," Akira said to Ivsha. "Use holy magic and erase it completely."
"Mm."
Ivsha nodded and immediately began chanting.
In an instant, several golden magic circles materialized around the Giant Ghoul, transforming into solid chains of light that wrapped tightly around its body, sealing it in place.
Moments later, ten enormous golden holy swords emerged from the magic arrays, all pointed straight at the Giant Ghoul.
But just as the blades were about to descend—
The Giant Ghoul's body suddenly convulsed violently, shaking loose the sand and debris clinging to it.
"Don't even think about it!"
Ivsha decisively pushed her magic forward. The golden holy swords plunged downward in unison, piercing straight into the Giant Ghoul's body.
"ROAAAR!"
The purifying force of holy magic drew a thunderous roar from the creature. Its pitch-black skin rapidly turned an inky, sickly green.
At the same time, Akira noticed something that made his eyes widen—
The Giant Ghoul's level was skyrocketing, and its detailed status panel was changing at alarming speed.
[Giant Ghoul · Necromancer (Epic)]Level: 49 (0/24,500)Race: ?Strength: 700 Agility: 680 Mana: 620 Endurance: 690Growth: 10 (Gain +10 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)
"…?"
Akira frowned.Had the necromancer's soul merged completely with the Giant Ghoul's corpse?
Before he could think further, a hoarse, thunderous voice burst from the Giant Ghoul's mouth like rolling thunder.
"I told you long ago! Everything you're doing is meaningless! I have already offered my soul to the demon! The Lord of the Undead shall endure with us forever!"
As the words echoed, the Giant Ghoul violently tore free from the golden chains. The holy swords embedded in its body shattered instantly, dissolving into countless motes of light.
Compared to the Flame Demon Virgil, its overall attributes were inferior, and it lacked the endless regeneration granted by Immortal Flame—but Akira's side also lacked the frontal charge of fifty knights.
A brutal battle was inevitable.
Fortunately, both Ivsha and Lucia wielded holy attributes—the natural nemesis of undead creatures.
"Insignificant insects! Prepare to meet your deaths!"
With the Giant Ghoul's furious roar, swarms of low-tier ghouls burst from the ground, rapidly surrounding Akira and the others. At the same time, the Giant Ghoul opened its massive maw, feral malice overflowing as if it intended to tear everyone present apart.
"Loserine, we have to hold them back!" Akira shouted decisively as he equipped the Flame Demon Helm. "We need to give Lucia and Ivsha time to cast!"
Akira knew his combat power was limited—but dealing with a single low-level ghoul was well within his abilities. The Giant Ghoul, however, was something only Loserine could restrain. If it reached Ivsha or the elf sisters, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Understood!"
Loserine nodded firmly, raising her Vowbound Sword and locking onto the Giant Ghoul. At the same time, the water spirits around her body began to glow faintly—she was fully prepared for battle.
"Go and fight without worry. Leave the rest to me."
Lucia gently lifted the Sun Scepter and gave it a light swing. Instantly, golden radiance enveloped everyone, filling their bodies with strength and courage.
[Received Lucia's Blessing of Light: All Attributes +50, Dark Resistance +20% (1 hour)]
Akira's eyes lit up.Miss Saint wasn't just a devastating light mage—she could buff the entire party. Truly an all-rounder.
The boost to all attributes sent combat energy surging through Akira's body.
"Engage!"
He shouted, drawing his exclusive weapon—the Thunderfire Staff. He knew all too well that raw stats alone weren't enough. Combat experience mattered just as much.
Taking a deep breath, Akira tightened his grip and charged one of the ghouls head-on, initiating a fearless one-on-one clash.
"Guildmaster, you've got this!" Beatrice cheered from the rear.
"Sis, stop cheering!" Bellaflora urged. "The ghouls are getting closer—cast already!"
"O–Okay!"
The elf sisters immediately began chanting, magic forming as the ghoul horde closed in.
"Don't worry—I'll protect you with everything I've got!"
Alice stepped forward, gripping her massive shears, planting herself firmly in front of the elf sisters and blocking the ghouls trying to approach.
At the same time, Ivsha completed her chant. A torrent of magical power erupted outward. A massive golden phantom of a nun detonated in the center of the ghoul horde, and after the deafening blast, dozens of ghouls had their lives wiped out in an instant.
Yet the most crucial battle remained—
Loserine versus the Giant Ghoul.
Unfurling her radiant Soul Light Wings, Loserine danced through the air, skillfully maneuvering around the colossal monster. Her attributes were far below its own, making direct confrontation impossible—but with agile flight and calm tactical judgment, she continuously searched for openings.
"Die, you wretched insect!"
The Giant Ghoul roared, slashing at her with razor-sharp claws.
CLANG!
The deafening collision echoed as Loserine braced herself and blocked the strike with her Vowbound Sword. The immense impact sent her flying backward like a cannonball.
At the critical moment, she stabilized herself midair with her Soul Light Wings, then swung her blade in a smooth arc. A sword flash like pale moonlight descended toward the Giant Ghoul.
Forced to defend against her advanced sword technique, the Giant Ghoul halted its assault.
Akira observed carefully.Loserine's techniques were powerful—but against a level 49 Epic monster, they still lacked lethality.
"Looks like I'll need to find stronger skills to raise their combat power," Akira muttered.
High-tier skill books… he remembered seeing them in the shop for nearly a hundred gold coins each.
Before long, the ghoul horde was wiped out by Ivsha and the others. Akira himself managed to cut down two ghouls through sheer swordsmanship.
Only the Giant Ghoul remained.
Against Loserine's Soul Light Wings, the Giant Ghoul was utterly helpless—doing nothing but wasting its own stamina in frustration.
"Damn it! Damn it! You insignificant insect!"
It howled in rage, unable to believe that even after completing the soul transfer ritual, it still couldn't defeat these adventurers.
"Get out of my way!"
With a furious roar, it released its full power. Sickly green mana erupted outward, forming a terrifying vortex that swept across the battlefield.
The oppressive aura forced everyone to retreat—everyone except Loserine, who stood resolutely before the Giant Ghoul, blocking its advance toward the guild members.
"You're not getting past me!"
She swung her sword decisively, slashing toward its head.
The Giant Ghoul raised its right arm just in time, forcibly blocking the strike.
But in that split second—
It sensed something strange.
Loserine's aura… wasn't human.
It was undead.
"You're undead?"Ecstasy twisted across the Giant Ghoul's face. "How fortunate! If you're undead, then your power belongs to me!"
A wisp of soul rose above its head—the soul of the deceased necromancer.
After sacrificing himself to the demon, he had become part of the Giant Ghoul.
"Undead! Submit to me! The Lord of Death walks with you!"
The necromancer's soul cackled as it unleashed its soul power, attempting to seize control of Loserine through necromancy.
Yet—
Loserine merely frowned, showing no sign of influence whatsoever.
"What…? How is this possible?"The necromancer froze in disbelief.
As a renowned necromancer, his spells could manipulate enemy undead—even wrest control from lower-tier ones.
And yet—
Not even the slightest effect?
No control. No disturbance. Nothing.
Why?
Loserine tilted her head, confusion written plainly across her face.
Was he… trying to control her?
How foolish.
A Vowbound Knight blessed by the White Rose—how could her mind be tainted by necromancy?
And more than that—
Her loyalty to Kurose Akira was absolute.
At that moment, Lucia's voice rang softly in her ear.
"I've infused your Vowbound Sword with a blessing of light. Your next strike will carry the power of destruction."
Loserine's eyes hardened with resolve.
Her Soul Light Wings fluttered as she retreated slightly, the Vowbound Sword in her hand blazing with brilliant golden radiance.
"Die."
With that cold word, she brought the blade down.
A single strike infused with pure light cleaved through the Giant Ghoul's head—along with the necromancer's soul hovering above it—splitting both cleanly in two.
"AAAAAH—!"
A piercing scream tore through the air as a system notification appeared in Akira's vision.
[Successfully defeated Giant Ghoul. EXP +10,000. Contribution Points +70.]
As the Giant Ghoul collapsed, a faintly glowing dark-green core burst out from its body.
The Demon Lair Core.
"Now—destroy it!" Akira ordered immediately.
Ivsha began chanting once more. A golden phantom nun manifested and charged straight at the core.
BOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, the Demon Lair Core shattered.
[Demon Lair Core destroyed. Contribution Points +300.]
"All done. Let's head back."
With the lair cleared, Akira led his guild away.
Only after they left did other players finally arrive. By the time they reached the site, the battle was long over.
"What the hell happened here?""The core's already destroyed?""Was it that player from earlier?""It has to be him—how is he this insane?""No way he's below a C-rank guild…"
…
Back at the guild, Akira immediately turned in the quest.
[Gold +3. EXP +30,000!] (+50%)[Obtained Item: Soul Crystal Orb (Elite)]
A smile crept onto Akira's lips.Lucia's Wealth Authority boosted quest rewards by a full 50%.
Amazing.
Curious, he summoned the newly acquired item.
A crystal orb glowing with deep violet light appeared in his hand.
[Soul Crystal Orb (Rare): A crystal orb capable of detecting and imprisoning souls. Contains a captured soul.]
"A soul…?"
Akira's eyes gleamed. He hadn't expected an imprisoned soul inside.
[Red Dragon Soul (Female): Initiate conversation?]
A Red Dragon's soul!?
"Yes."
Just as Akira prepared to question her about how she'd ended up trapped inside the orb, the soul spoke first—her voice frantic with desperation.
"Please… I beg you! Save my child!"