Karnak, Monarch of Death

The primary forces holding the capital now were the main army of Giyen Ren and the imperial knights once led by Batalok.

"More precisely, they are the imperial knights who have been turned into undead by Giyen Ren's sorcery." Desteran explained as he glanced at Serati. "The first and second legions of the empire have also been turned into zombie armies. Their number is around four thousand. The remaining imperial forces appear to have escaped, likely regrouping somewhere, but unfortunately, we could not track them that far."

Varos clicked his tongue. "So, the empire's elite legions have become zombies? This is going to be troublesome."

Leven, puzzled, asked, "Does it make a difference if elite soldiers become zombies?"

Once turned into zombies, they were all the same, weren't they? The only difference was if they were turned into death knights or other higher forms of undead.

Karnak shook his head. "In reality, there's quite a difference."

"How so?"

"First, the quality of their equipment."

Who would be more terrifying: a zombie in a straw hat wielding a pitchfork, or a zombie clad in full plate armor with a sword and shield?

"Even among zombies, their combat power varies greatly depending on their condition in life."

It was obvious who would be stronger between a shriveled old man zombie and a somewhat decayed but thickly muscled, broad-shouldered zombie.

"If the first legion of the empire has turned undead, it's not an ordinary force. They can't be compared to common zombies."

In fact, Karnak knew well just how powerful an undead legion of imperial elites could be. And why was that? Because he had made them himself.

Serati shook her head in disbelief. "So even in death, the weak only become weak zombies? The world truly is unfair."

Desteran pointed to a section of the map of the capital. "Currently, most of the cult's forces are stationed here, in Kamalt Street in the eastern part of the capital."

Kamalt Street was home to the headquarters of the three orders that worshipped Parnel, Atima, and Katera. Lapicel frowned while looking over the map. She noticed that the three temples were oddly clustered together on the map. "They must get along quite well, gathering together like this."

Unlike the Sun Order of Latiel or the Moon Order of Alium, these three had their main temples practically stacked upon each other, almost like a single order.

Desteran chuckled softly. "It's just because of land prices."

The emperor had granted the three orders adjacent plots of land in the capital. Why would they bother building their temples elsewhere when the land they received was free?

"They do get along well, though."

Having their headquarters close together allowed the orders to cooperate efficiently on shared missions. The task of sealing and storing the collected Shadow of Doom from across the continent was one such example.

Desteran's gaze now turned toward Karnak. "Beneath the central temple of these three orders is the seal where the Shadow of Doom was stored. They have set up an airtight defense around this place."

On the map, there were rough notations indicating the numbers of Giyen Ren's elves and dwarves, dragons, necromancers, undead forces, and Batalok's imperial knights.

"Right after the capital fell, there were many more necromancers and undead forces, but most of them have since left the capital."

"I get the idea now." Karnak murmured as he studied the map. "So, what are we supposed to do about this?"

***

Karnak fell into thought, and Desteran stole a subtle glance. This was such an important matter that he had reported it first, but there had been someone among the group who had been bothering him from the start. There was a man in his early thirties whose aura was anything but ordinary.

Was there a silver knight of that age who isn't widely known?

That wasn't the only strange thing. Although it was definitely a face he was seeing for the first time, there was something oddly familiar about the feeling he gave off.

In the end, Desteran could not hold back and asked Varos, "When do you plan on introducing him?"

"Ah, he's..." Varos glanced at Drel. They had expected this situation and had already prepared a story in advance.

Drel offered a polite greeting. "It is our first meeting, Sir Desteran, though for you, it may not be the first time seeing me."

Desteran had not been a criminal from the beginning. He had only taken control of Search Black and seized the capital in his mid-thirties, less than five years ago. The Drel from ten years ago had never met Desteran.

"I am Dreltein Thelix, though I now go by Drel Rixton."

Naturally, Desteran was astonished. "You mean you are truly Sir Dreltein? What in the world is going on here?"

"The one you met was the future, corrupted version of myself. Lord Karnak drew this body out from that soul and granted me a new life."

Serati, startled by Drel's blunt revelation, asked in a whisper.

—Is it really okay to say that?

—It will be fine.

—What?

—He's already deeply entangled in this. It's better to reveal part of the truth rather than clumsily hiding it.

—But how do you even explain the resurrection of the dead—

There was no need.

"Indeed!" Desteran accepted it immediately. "It is truly the guidance of Lady Serakal!"

For the leader of the Twilight Church, his goddess resurrecting the dead to stand again upon this earth was not strange at all. It was perfectly natural in the eyes of a fanatic.

Serati shook her head as she watched Bishop Desteran, drawing the sigil of his faith and trembling with emotion at the miracle before him.

—Is it really okay to leave him like this?

—Just let him believe it. It's easier for everyone that way.

***

While Desteran was delighting in what he took to be a divine miracle, Karnak was still deep in thought. According to the information, the leaders guarding the capital at present were Diogres Kolon, Giyen Ren, Batalok, and Emil Strauss.

Two archmages, one undead martial king, and one Avatar of Tesranach.

The fact that Emil Strauss's abilities were still unknown was troubling enough, but even excluding him, they had no viable plan with their current forces. This was true even if they included the strength of Search Black in their calculations.

The situation was entirely different from when they had taken down Leoslav and Relfiana. Back then, the collective power of Karnak's group had far exceeded that of the two fallen popes, allowing them to clear out the troublesome soldiers and execute a swift, decisive strike.

However, assassination was a double-edged sword that, if not executed swiftly, could end up cutting its wielder.

Karnak continued. "Back then, the blade wasn't sharp enough to be dangerous, so it was worth attempting. Even if we failed, escaping wasn't a problem."

Serati carefully offered her opinion. "How about waiting a bit longer? One of them might leave the capital eventually."

Even now, outside the capital, Beltia, the three other fallen opes, necromancers of the Black God, and countless undead armies were ravaging the empire, seeking to erode the faith in the goddesses.

Would they really all need to remain in the capital under these circumstances? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to leave perhaps one archmage and one martial king behind while the others focused on breaking the faith of the goddess worshippers?

Karnak shook his head. "There's little chance of that."

The fact that they had hastened to secure the capital first was proof enough that they were wary of Karnak. Though Diogres had played a large role, it remained true that Karnak's group had taken down both Archmage Elezar and Martial King Dreltein.

For Tesranach, Karnak's party was not a force that could be taken lightly.

"They won't consider their current force excessive in the slightest."

On the contrary, there was a high chance they might even summon Beltia and the other fallen popes to the capital. At the very least, the likelihood of their forces diminishing was close to none.

Resting his chin on his hand, Karnak scowled. "We need the power of the empire. We can't do this alone."

Certainly, the empire had been defeated. They had lost countless soldiers, the capital had fallen, and even the emperor had been forced to flee.

"But that doesn't mean the empire has perished." There was a significant difference between being defeated and being destroyed. "Don't underestimate the empire. As long as the emperor, the focal point of unity, is safe, it can always rise again."

And how did he know that? Because it happened in my time, too.

Of course, Karnak had thoroughly crushed the resurrected empire as well. In any case, they would only find a solution by linking up with the revived imperial forces. However, this would only be possible if the empire moved according to Karnak's intentions.

But how much weight would the emperor give to the words of a mere wanderer, who wasn't even an imperial citizen but a man of the Seven Kingdoms like Karnak?

"It truly was a heavy blow to lose Diogres," muttered Karnak.

Had Diogres still been alive, Karnak would have found a way to join hands with the emperor through him.

Karnak let out a sigh as he struggled with what to do next.

"Seeing Sir Drel reminded me." Suddenly, as if something had dawned on him, Desteran posed a question. "Is it possible for someone from the future and someone from the present to exist at the same time?"

It wasn't a difficult question to answer, so Karnak replied immediately. "In special cases, it is possible."

After all, both the future Leven and the present Leven had coexisted. Desteran's expression shifted strangely. He blinked repeatedly while letting out an odd groan.

"What's wrong?"

"So, you're saying it's really possible for a future self and a present self to exist at the same time?"

Everyone looked at Desteran, puzzled. He seemed extremely flustered, repeating what he had already said for no reason.

"Uh, it's just that..." Unable to continue, Desteran's expression twisted sharply on one side. "Don't tell me it's true?"

Serati, unable to understand, asked, "What is it that's true, exactly?"

***

Inside a dark stone prison cell, a child wearing tattered rags was chained up. The boy looked to be around thirteen years old, with delicate features that could easily be mistaken for a girl's.

The boy mumbled weakly, curled up in a corner. "It's cold, and I'm hungry..."

Suddenly, voices came from outside the cell.

"This is the boy?"

"Yes, boss!"

"I told you, don't call me boss! It's bishop now, got it?"

"S-sorry!"

"Both of you, enough talking. Just open the door already."

With a creak, the iron door opened, and a silver-haired man stepped inside. At the sight of him, the boy's eyes brightened, and he shouted, "Desteran!"

His face looked as though he would burst into tears at any moment. Desteran stared down at the boy with a disbelieving expression. "He really does recognize me."

And that wasn't all. The black-haired young man and the red-haired beauty who had come along were also immediately recognized. "Lord Karnak! And even Sir Serati, you're here too!"

It was a deep, mature tone that one wouldn't expect from such a young child. Still, Karnak withheld judgment and checked the boy's soul first. Then, he let out a dry chuckle. "Well, this is something."

It was certain. The boy's soul was someone he knew all too well. "You've become quite adorable, Master Diogres."

The lower-rank members guarding the cell stared at the boy in shock.

"Wait, he was serious?"

"He really is the archmage?"

The boy, who had spoken so deeply just moments before, now burst out in a tone befitting his age. "I told you! I've been saying it all along! I'm Diogres! I kept telling you!"

He seemed terribly wronged. Coupled with his hunger and the cold of the stone cell, it only made him feel even more pitiful. "L-let's get out of here first."

Flustered, Desteran hurried to unlock the chains. "When someone tells you something, you should at least listen, damn it..."

As the boy grumbled while leaving the cell, Serati watched his small back in utter confusion. What on earth is happening now?