Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Sparring Match (part 1)

Unlike the others, these ones didn’t act human. Their movements were stiff, their heads turning only when something approached. When Aiden’s beast came into view, they reacted immediately.

They stepped aside, no words, no hesitation.

They understood enough.

Aiden didn’t slow down as he passed through. His undead beast moved forward, its heavy steps echoing softly through the streets.

Some of the townspeople looked up, and started greeting Aiden with so much respect.

Carrion followed closely behind, its armored frame drawing attention even among the undead. Graveknit moved in its usual unsettling way, bone fragments shifting with each step.

Aiden didn’t stop until he reached his villa.

It stood at the center of the town, larger than the other structures, built from darker materials that seemed to absorb the fading light.

He stepped down from his beast and walked inside without a word.

—-

His room was quiet, clean, undisturbed.

Aiden closed the door behind him and let out a slow breath.

Then, for the first time since leaving the city, a faint smirk appeared on his face.

“That pill…” he muttered.

A short, quiet chuckle escaped him.

“Completely useless.”

There was nothing in it, no curse, no trigger, and just a bluff.

And Caelus had swallowed it without hesitation.

Aiden walked further inside and sat down, leaning back slightly.

“Fear works better than chains,” he said under his breath.

Then his expression shifted.

Focused.

“Status.”

[Name: Aiden (Level: 30 → 33)]

Class: Necromancer (Death God — Locked)

Basic-Grade Summon: 19

Bronze-Grade Summon: 25

Iron-Grade Summon: 0

Silver-Grade Summon: 0

Gold-Grade Summon: 0

Legendary-Grade Summon: 0

Mythical-Grade Summon: 0

Summon Slot Available: 45/64

Active Skills:

Lord of the Dead, Bone Shield, Bone Spear, Undead Reinforcement, Undead Sight, Possession Command, Fear Pulse, Bone Armor, Grave Calling, Bone Prison, Corpse Explosion

Passive Skills:

Mana Channeling, Necrotic Sustain, Necrotic Reservoir, Undead Dominion, Death Aura

Skill Points: 7

Subordinate: 2

Gold Coins: 6457

Aiden’s eyes moved slowly across the screen.

“…Three levels,” he murmured.

From thirty to thirty-three.

Not bad.

The battle, the summons, the destruction… it all paid off.

His gaze lingered on the numbers.

Bronze-grade summons, twenty-five. He got the new bronze undead from the battle with Caelus city.

Still not enough.

Not if he wanted to deal with Breim City.

And definitely not if that Ashen Veil Clan decided to interfere.

He leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping once against the armrest.

“…I guess I’ll take the seven towns first.”

His voice was quiet, but certain.

His eyes shifted back to the status window.

Then to the skills.

Something new caught his attention.

“…Three new ones?”

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

New entries appeared beneath his current skills, their names forming one by one as if the system itself was waiting for him to notice.

Aiden leaned forward slightly, his interest finally showing.

“These…” he murmured.

Unlike most of his abilities, these weren’t meant for commanding armies.

[Active Skill: Bone Rend

Condenses necrotic energy into Aiden’s arm or weapon, allowing him to tear through defenses at close range. The attack ignores part of the enemy’s physical durability and directly damages their core. The closer the contact, the stronger the effect.

Designed for one on one combat, where a single strike can decide everything.

Cost: 2 Skill Points]

[Active Skill: Grave Step

A short-range movement skill that lets Aiden shift through a thin layer of death energy. His body becomes half intangible for a brief moment, allowing him to dodge attacks or reposition instantly within a limited distance.

Effective in duels, especially against faster opponents.

Cost: 2 Skill Points]

[Passive Skill: Death Duelist

Enhances Aiden’s combat ability when facing a single opponent. Increases reaction speed, precision, and control over necrotic energy. The effect becomes stronger the fewer enemies are present.

When fighting one on one, Aiden’s power is amplified beyond his normal limits.

Cost: 2 Skill Points]

Silence filled the room.

Aiden stared at the skills for a long moment.

“…Finally, something close range combat.”

Up until now, everything he had relied on was numbers.

Summons. Control. Overwhelming force.

But this…

This was different.

A slow smile spread across his face.

“Good.”

His eyes sharpened slightly.

“If I have to face someone stronger… hiding behind numbers won’t always work.”

His finger moved slightly, hovering over the skills.

Seven points.

Three skills.

Just enough.

Outside, the town remained quiet. Undead continued their tasks, unaware of the shift happening inside the villa.

Aiden leaned forward, gaze fixed on the screen.

“Let’s see…”

His voice dropped.

“…how strong I can get on my own.”

—

The training area behind the villa was wide and empty, surrounded by high stone walls. The ground was packed earth, hardened from countless drills and clashes.

Aiden stood at one end, rolling his shoulders slightly as he loosened his body.

Across from him, Carrion stood still.

Its tall frame was wrapped in dark armor, bone and metal fused together as one. Faint traces of necrotic energy leaked from the gaps, like a slow, steady breath.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Carrion spoke, its voice low and steady.

“I will begin now, my lord.”

Aiden exhaled slowly.

“Don’t hold back,” he said. “Fight seriously.”

Carrion didn’t hesitate.

“As you command.”

The air shifted.

Aiden felt it immediately.

This was different from before.

Carrion wasn’t just standing there like a subordinate anymore. It felt like an opponent now. Heavy. Pressuring. Real.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Good.

If he could fight Carrion at full strength, then he would know exactly where he stood.

Peak body tempering.

That was the line.

Carrion moved first.

The ground cracked beneath its foot as it shot forward, far faster than its size should allow. Its arm pulled back, then came down in a heavy strike aimed straight at Aiden’s head.

Aiden reacted instantly.

“Bone Shield.”

A curved wall of bone formed in front of him.

The impact landed.

A loud crack echoed through the training ground.

The shield shattered in one hit.

Aiden’s eyes sharpened.

“Grave Step.”

His body blurred, slipping into a thin veil of dark energy. Carrion’s follow-up strike passed through the space he had just occupied.

Aiden reappeared to the side, already raising his hand.

“Bone Spear.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep