-----
Ten years had passed since Elayne was thrown into the pit.
"Tsk. What’s with all this fungus around the pit? Has soone actually cleansed this place?"
"Who cares? It’s the damn pit."
"Commander Blazer said we’re pulling them all out today. He’s hosting so kind of event."
"What for?"
"I don’t know... testing so kind of super soldier he made."
"Oh, that guy?"
"Yeah... we’d better just follow orders. I don’t want my soul destroyed after finally learning to talk again."
" neither..."
Elayne opened her eyes.
She had been in deep ditation for the past three months, communing with the plants and her companions, who were also in a similar state. Sailor was the only one who hadn’t fully embraced her "doctrine," and he had sensed earlier that their ti had co.
"Elayne, it’s ti," he said, his expression solemn as he looked up at the sky.
"I know," Elayne replied with a nod.
She glanced at a glitchy system notification. Using her Ghostly Soul, she deciphered the corrupted text and uncovered the true na of her new Skill:
[Congratulations, you have learned the Skill: [Netherworld Farming Arts: Lv1]!]
"Finally..."
After ten long years, she had drawn out every ounce of power buried deep within her soul. In this desolate place, with no resources and no path to strength beyond the cultivation of plants, Elayne’s mind had slowly healed. Her mories had reassembled, and she had regained full control of her body. Her mind was nearly as sharp as it had been in life.
The wound in her head had closed, and the one in her chest had nded as well, thanks to the Nether energy she channeled into her flesh. It activated the regenerative power of the Zombie’s Flesh. Shade had also helped her craft a Cursed Rune of Flesh and another of Decay. Though slightly flawed and not as refined as those made by the Cursed Needle Master, they were sufficient.
"Hurry and climb up!"
A skeleton called from above, tossing down a rope. One by one, they were expected to climb out on their own.
"If you take too long, we’re burning this whole pit down!"
"..."
Elayne looked at her friends.
Dorothy.
Norman.
Hope.
Shade.
Sailor.
She smiled and nodded at them. "Let’s go."
She was the last to climb, letting little Hope go first, with Norman just below to support her. Hope hadn’t been able to "grow up" and remained a small skeleton, but after a long ti, her legs had finally regrown. She could now walk on her own.
"Huh, there were five in here? More than I expected."
Elayne was the last to reach the surface. Ten years had passed, though to her, it felt like only a few weeks. Being Undead had severely distorted her perception of ti.
"Excuse , has it really been ten years?" she asked politely, addressing the two skeleton soldiers clad in black armor.
"Yeah, it has, trash! You’re heading to the arena right now, so grab a weapon and get ready!"
"Arena?"
"Lord Blazer picked you and these four other useless piles of bones to serve as entertainnt. We’ve got so distinguished guests today!"
"Guests?"
"Two nobles from great families are visiting... You really don’t know anything, do you?"
"I’m sorry... I hope this helps."
Elayne handed one of the soldiers a Ghostly Yin Pill.
"Hmph. Well, no harm in telling you. It’ll be the last thing you learn before dying to our strongest soldier anyway," the one who took the pill chuckled, while the other glared at him with envy. "The youngest son of the Great Lord of the Black Spectral Dragon Palace is arriving today, along with the daughter of the King of the Nether Ghost Castle—the White Ghost Princess. They’re both esteed mbers of two major powers in the Netherworld’s Abyssal Cavern Labyrinth Territory. That’s where we are now."
"A-Abyssal Cavern Labyrinth... So that’s why there are caverns everywhere," Elayne murmured. "And nobles?"
She was stunned. The Netherworld was far more expansive than she had imagined. She had thought it was just a realm where the undead wandered aimlessly, perhaps with a few scattered villages. But contrary to her assumptions, the Netherworld was a vast world of its own—possibly even larger and older than Arcadia.
"They’re here to witness the special soldier Lord Blazer has been raising," the soldier continued. "Our great King wants to build ties with the ancient forces, palaces, and kingdoms of the Netherworld. That’s why he’s hosting these events and offering up his own soldiers, hoping the ancient families will see him as soone worth supporting."
"...?"
Then it clicked. The Demon King of Death was likely a newer power in the Netherworld compared to these ancient factions. Though his strength was undeniable and he was probably feared by many, the oldest powers could still oppose him—and if united, perhaps even defeat him.
This was all speculation, but it was based on the fragnts of knowledge she had gathered.
"He’s not just creating soldiers for himself," Elayne thought. "He’s selling them to other factions to earn their favor and gain access to their strength. All to advance his plans to invade the Living World."
"So... His Maje...sty..." Elayne struggled to say the title respectfully. "He’s hosting this event? Will he be present?"
"Of course not! He’s got far more important things to do than watch a bunch of trash fight in a second-rate arena," the soldier scoffed. "But sotis, a genius talent erges from the rubble. That’s who you’ll be fighting. You weren’t turned into pills because you might actually pose a challenge."
"Good challenges..."
Elayne sighed as she walked through the city, taking in the surroundings. Gloomy houses made of black stone and white bones stretched in every direction. So rose like towers, others sprawled low and wide. There was little sense of architectural order.
From Norman, she had learned this place was called "White Bone City." The na made sense, given how much of it was built from bones, with only a few structures made of black stone.
"Elayne, what now? I thought we were going to escape."
Sailor’s voice echoed in her mind through "Spirit Talk," a unique ability Elayne possessed. It allowed her to communicate with Spirits without speaking aloud. Anything that qualified as a Spirit—even the ghostly souls of the Undead—could speak directly into her soul, sotis involuntarily.
"Please, just let find him first."
"..."
Sailor rolled his eyes and looked away. The others—Hope, Dorothy, and the rest—showed no doubt. They trusted Elayne completely.
-----
User Comments
0 comments from readers