Back to the Crimson domain

"Well prime Norris is back. No much emotions, just pure logical and rational analysis. This lich form would really be good for battle but it's not possible in any other realm since I can only cast it with the death realm's assimilation ritual".

He looked around, taking in the environment. The town was more lively, with warriors, improving and honing their combat skills. Despite the activity, Norris still couldn't bring himself to like the place. It simply could not resonate with him. He felt too much like an outsider in this town.

Two guards approached him without hostility. "Greetings, Major Norris. We've been notified of your arrival. We'll take you away from the portal station to where you'll be staying."

Norris nodded and followed them peacefully. Though inwardly he was annoyed which made him couldn't help but think, "Monitoring me? Politics... all this is so tiring and boring. I'd rather not be here, but be somewhere else, studying magic and trying to make my life more comfortable. But I need resources from this war for future purposes. I hope to build my pure land in this world. Choice you make have to be borne by yourself."

After settling down, Norris stayed in the residential place prepared for him. He just stayed there for the night. The next morning, seeking a distraction from his frustration, Norris decided to visit the library to learn more about the wars that had ravaged this realm. On his way out, the guards tried to stop him but he easily passed them. He only needed to release his aura and they were reminded that he treated them with respect out of politeness and respect for the noble not because of them.

As he delved into the dusty tomes, he stumbled upon an ancient myth that caught his attention. It piqued his interest. He took the tome and found an empty space to seat.

Norris read a very old myth in the world of the dead about a Titan whose entire family was slaughtered. He wasn't reconciled and couldn't accept their deaths, so he prepared his army to journey to the unknown realm of the dead, the current death realm. He was labelled a pioneer, a great being who stepped out of tradition to try Planar travel. Though they were praises for him, Norris saw a being forged by selfishness and obsession.

Norris is actually sure he would do it if it was him. Titans are demigods at adulthood which makes them the strongest race to date even higher than dragons. If Norris had that strength, he was sure he'd be more daring.

"Wow, this guy is a story," he thought. "He's worked straight out of the myth." Thinking of it, Norris felt kind of disgusted. The way he succeeded felt almost like fate was pulling the strings, paving the way for him. Space travel, a magical advancement that should normally take generations of theories to complete, was done because of the protagonist.

"I'm actually kind of scared," Norris thought. "It could be God, it could be a divine being, it could be the material world itself, or it could even be the death realm manipulating the strings." His family died, and he brought the magical technology forward – so convenient a script, Norris thought, filled with dread. He tried not to think deeply about it.

He kept on reading about his adventures till he reached the part where he read on the war that forged the current death realm. Undead weren't that popular then, a relatively new species, so nobody really knew how to deal them except through divine power which will be wielded by priests. Mages need to deal with them though this took a while. But most rulers don't want to be deeply involved with the divine. I mean, at that point, who controls the territory – the gods or the rulers? The Gods, who have near-omnipotence in their concept, or a king who rules a piece of land while having mystical connections with the land. He might be strong in the land, able to call the wind and rain and cut mountainsthrough rituals, but that's all. I mean, it's pretty easy to choose.

Just when the forces under his control where losing hope. He displayed strong strength and finally destroyed a demigod abomination. This made them see a way of winning. Hit, hit and hit till it collapses. Even abominations of the dead could be killed again. With his strong strength and his charisma, the morale was undoubtedly boosted, and with it came a powerful force that the protagonist just 'coincidentally' learnt to harness. With it he fought by harnessing the morale of the army. He won the battle since he discovered he could use this force to spread energy and collect energy from the army. With this after a hard battle he won. He carved a realm in the core, a realm which further expanded and was called the core area of the death realm. He built an underworld to collect the souls of his empire inhabitants. He also found his family who as demigods could resist the undead transformation – a happy ending. Norris thought this sounded like a fairy tale. Though this story cannot really be verified, since the titans are missing from the material world in self-banishment, the story might actually be true. Who knows?

Norris decided to keep coming everyday enjoying the novels in the collection of the Noble and his domain.

***

The meeting for the war's strategy had begun, and Norris, now in his undead form, was invited to attend. As a token of respect, he was offered the position of Magical Advisor. The noble domain's war potential relied heavily on melee combat, relegating mages to logistical support roles.

The Norris felt a pang of annoyance, unable to participate in the war as a combatant. He asked if there were any exceptions, but the room fell silent, and he sensed contempt emanating from the other attendees. This awkward moment made him realize the precarious situation of mages in this territory. Mages here were glorified clerks—stuck healing wounds or polishing swords while warriors basked in glory.

As Norris dared ask, "Any exceptions for mages in combat?" the silence dripped with scorn. The room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the response. And then, just as the tension was about to snap, a low, menacing voice spoke up from the shadows...

"And why should we make an exception"