Chapter 42 :The Day the Dead Stood Still

The first explosion shattered the silence before dawn.

A jagged roar ripped through the eastern wall of Valeria as stone splintered and ash rained down like cursed snow.

The earth beneath the fortress trembled with the thudding of thousands of heavy feet.

The acrid scent of necromantic rot swept over the city—an invisible poison that clawed at the lungs and stirred unease in even the most steadfast warriors.

Atop the battlements, Jin stood with the wind tugging at his tattered robe, eyes narrowed like a hunter sizing up prey.

His gaze cut through the smoke, resting on the horror advancing through the forest below.

And there, hovering just beyond the tree line, was the necromancer.

The ancient foe floated, a twisted staff crafted from gnawed bones in one hand, his hollow eyes twin abysses that seemed to suck the very light from the world.

Behind him, the Bone Legion spilled forth like a living tide—silent, endless, a horde of rotting flesh and shattered bones bound by dark sorcery and hunger.

The necromancer's lips curled into a smile—cruel and knowing.

"We meet again," he said, voice soft yet sharp, like greeting an old acquaintance.

Jin's lips twitched in response, but his smile was anything but warm.

"Oh, I can't say the same. You smell worse than the last time we crossed paths," Jin replied, cracking his neck with lazy confidence.

The necromancer chuckled, a sound like dry leaves blown in a winter gale.

"Still full of spirit. I wonder how long it'll last this time."

"I severed your mark. Took your talisman. Led your horde on a merry chase through the wilderness. And now you come back with more bones and fewer brains."

Jin's voice dropped, cold as steel. "Tell me, old corpse, are you trying to die twice?"

The necromancer's eyes flared with dark fire.

"That talisman does not belong to you," he spat. "It was forged with ancient souls—my souls. You stole what cannot be owned."

"And yet, here it is," Jin said, summoning the shimmering silver-blue talisman to hover beside him. "And it listens to me now."

The air grew colder, heavier. The undead below hissed and stirred in anticipation.

The necromancer's tone dropped, venomous. "Give it back, boy. Return it, and I will let your little fortress live. Defy me, and I will turn your women into hollow brides of the grave."

Jin's eyes hardened until they were shards of ice.

"You had your answer the moment I chose to run rather than crawl."

A shadow crossed the necromancer's face.

"So be it," he snarled. "Let this be your last sunrise."

The Battle Begins

The Bone Legion surged forward.

At Jin's signal, the city erupted into chaos and light.

Flaming arrows hissed through the air, striking the undead masses with bursts of fire.

Oil traps ignited with hellish roars, sending columns of burning liquid across the battlefield.

Magical barriers crackled with thunder, shimmering walls of electricity repelling the first waves.

Selene led the charge on the northern walls, her sword a blazing comet slicing through rotting limbs. "Hold the line!" she shouted, rallying the archers and foot soldiers.

On the southern flank, Lana gritted her teeth, spear spinning in a deadly dance. Beside her, Lila barked orders, repositioning militia and reinforcing weak points.

Above the battlefield, Arielle soared on currents of wind, her fingers weaving blades of slicing air that shredded undead ranks.

Together, they tore through the first waves, turning the tide again and again.

But the Bone Legion did not relent.

Conversations Amidst the Chaos

Jin landed beside Lana on the southern wall, eyes sharp despite the exhaustion shadowing his face.

"How's the southern flank?" he asked, voice urgent but controlled.

Lana wiped sweat from her brow. "They're relentless, but the traps are holding. For now."

"Any sign of the necromancer's magic poisoning the soldiers?"

"Not yet," Lana replied, stabbing down a crawling zombie before it could bite a guard. "But morale's slipping."

Jin nodded, scanning the battlefield.

"Send word to Arielle. Tell her to conserve energy. We'll need her sharp for what's coming."

Lana saluted sharply and disappeared into the crowd.

Nearby, Selene ducked a clawed hand and spun, slashing through an undead mage. She hissed between gritted teeth, "The numbers just keep coming."

Riven, one of the veteran archers, leaned in. "I swear I saw more walking out of that forest than before. Could this be a diversion?"

Selene's eyes flickered. "If it is, then what's the real attack?"

System Report

Jin whispered to himself, "System, enemy numbers?"

[Enemy Forces: 1,200 confirmed. Estimating additional 3,000 approaching.]

[Note: This may be a diversionary legion. Primary force unconfirmed.]

Jin clenched his fists.

"They're testing us."

The Battle Rages On

Hours slipped by in endless waves of claw and flame.

The undead fell, only to rise again, stitched together by cursed magic. Some exploded in showers of bone and sinew upon death; others twisted, their broken limbs fused anew, ready to fight.

Jin moved like lightning—rising on wind bursts, striking with searing dragonfire, vanishing into shadows with the Cloak of the Hidden Realm when overwhelmed.

But cracks began to show.

Lana staggered under a deep gash across her ribs, sweat mingling with blood.

Selene's sword chipped, sparks flying as she parried a monstrous blow.

Arielle's wind-blades slowed, her qi visibly draining.

The fires that once roared began to smolder.

The enemy's true force had arrived.

The True Bone Legion

From the horizon emerged a tide of death unlike anything seen.

Thousands of skeletal beasts, robed undead mages, towering stitched giants bearing cursed banners.

Black magic churned the sky as the necromancer chanted in an ancient, forgotten tongue. He sat atop a floating throne of interlaced ribs and bone shards, eyes blazing with malevolence.

Jin stood on the wall, panting, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.

"System," he rasped. "Status?"

[Critical fatigue detected. Beast transformation will shorten lifespan temporarily. Proceed?]

He stared at the wave of death before him.

"Do it."

Beast Mode: Tyrant Ascends

A brutal roar tore from Jin's throat.

His body cracked and convulsed. Black scales erupted across his skin; jagged horns tore from his brow. Massive wings—torn from shadows and wind—unfurled from his back, stirring the air into a tempest.

He was no longer human.

He was the Tyrant.

He dove into the battle like a comet blazing through the sky.

Fists blazing with dragonfire smashed through undead ranks. Feet thundered, cracking the stone beneath him. Each blow shattered bones and sent foes flying in shreds.

His voice rolled like thunder, eyes burning suns that scorched the earth.

But even he could not stop the tide.

The Talisman's Power

Suddenly, the talisman at his side pulsed violently.

Time seemed to slow.

A silence fell over the battlefield—a heartbeat held in eternity.

[System Alert: Synchronization with Ancient Artifact complete. New skill unlocked.]

[Skill Acquired: Soul Liberation — Lost technique of the Pre-Demonic Age.]

[Effect: Frees enslaved souls from necromancy, unbinding their fate. May convert freed souls into followers.]

Jin's beast form snarled, rage and power swirling.

He lifted the talisman high.

A blinding wave of radiant light exploded outward.

Chains binding the undead shattered like glass.

Their hollow eyes twitched, memories flickering through the void.

Then those eyes flared with new purpose.

They turned—not to him, but to the necromancer.

The Fall of the Bone King

The necromancer screamed, rage and terror mixing in a twisted howl.

The souls he had bound for centuries turned against their master, clawing and tearing through his magic like wildfire.

His throne shattered, bones snapping like brittle twigs beneath their fury.

Jin landed before him, body still burning with aftereffects, eyes fierce.

"This isn't yours anymore," Jin said, raising the talisman once more.

"No!" the necromancer shrieked, hurling black flames.

Jin caught them barehanded, pain flaring as flesh burned, but he did not flinch.

Stepping forward, he slammed a glowing palm into the necromancer's chest.

[Initiating Soul Bind Transfer...]

The talisman wrapped itself in light around the old man's heart.

His soul screamed—a war of wills and shadows.

Nearby, a hulking suit of enchanted armor stirred, opening its chest as if awaiting a gift.

Jin forced the necromancer's soul inside.

Chains of pure light snapped into place.

The puppet's eyes glowed crimson.

The necromancer knelt, voice twisted and hollow.

"I… serve…"

[System Notification: Host has completed emergency objective. Necromancer converted to Bound Soul Puppet. Threat neutralized.]

Aftermath

Jin stood, barely able to breathe.

He turned to see the undead—once his enemy—now silent and still outside the walls of Valeria.

Thousands upon thousands.

Unmoving.

Watching.

Like statues carved from bones and shadows.

They did not breathe. Did not speak.

Just stood, awaiting the rise of their new master.

Then Jin coughed—a harsh, rattling sound.

Blood spat from his mouth.

His knees buckled.

"JIN!" Lana cried, catching him.

Arielle and Selene rushed forward to steady him.

His skin radiated unnatural heat—like a furnace gone out of control.

"His yang qi is surging uncontrollably," Arielle shouted. "He's burning from the inside!"

"We need to get him home. Now!" Selene ordered, voice fierce.

Together, they carried their leader through the silent, awestruck city.

The people parted in stunned reverence.

Behind them, the undead army remained.

Standing.

Waiting.

Watching.

The king had returned.

And Valeria's fate hung in the balance.