The Genesis Of A Necromancer

Jack turned and froze, his heart pounding in disbelief. Standing before him, cloaked in an aura of dark majesty, was Erebus, the god of life and death. The figure's presence was overwhelming, a paradoxical mix of ethereal grace and malevolent power.

"How is this possible?" Jack's voice quivered, barely a whisper. His fingers twitched involuntarily, as though bracing for an unseen blow.

Erebus chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that reverberated through the space around them. "I'm surprised you managed to subdue me. Well, I suppose Olion, that insufferable brat, was correct about you." He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, his hands clasped behind his back.

The god's cloak fluttered, defying the stillness of the air. It seemed carved from the very essence of darkness, its edges shifting and curling like tendrils of smoke. Patterns of crimson and gold shimmered across the fabric, flickering like flames, alive and defiant.

Jack's gaze lingered on the imposing figure, confusion etched across his face. 'How is he here? We're one now… aren't we?' he thought, but no answer came from within. His connection to Erebus felt silent, distant.

"Don't look so perplexed," Erebus said, his tone laced with amusement. "The binding is complete. You succeeded in becoming the principal soul of this body. In essence, you are in control now." He sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. "Still, to think those fools managed to weaken me to such an extent…" His eyes narrowed as fleeting memories of past battles flickered across his mind.

Jack's confusion deepened as Erebus' words sank in. Yet, beneath the uncertainty, a flicker of resentment stirred within him. "If I'm in control, what are you doing here?" he asked, his tone sharp, his cold gaze fixed on the god.

Erebus' lips curled into a smirk. "You may resent me all you like," he said, "but it changes nothing. We are bound now. I cannot harm you, and you cannot harm me. We are one and the same, whether you like it or not."

Jack's eyes darkened, his disdain evident. His previous encounters with Erebus and Olion had cemented his belief that gods were cruel beings, playing with mortal lives as though they were mere pawns. He buried his resentment deep, unwilling to let Erebus see the full extent of his thoughts.

"So again," Jack said, his voice cold and unyielding, "why are you here?"

Erebus' smirk faded, replaced by a calm, unreadable expression. "I came to warn you," he said simply.

Jack's brows furrowed. "Warn me? About what? I already know the gods will come for me because I have your soul within me. What else is there to warn me about?"

Erebus chuckled, shaking his head as though amused by Jack's naivety. "You're still as naive as ever," he said. "There is much you don't understand, much you refuse to see." He turned his gaze to the distance, his expression thoughtful. "You believe the world is crooked, that the gods are cruel. You're not wrong. But you've barely scratched the surface of what that truly means."

Jack's frown deepened, his fists clenching at his sides. "I don't need a lecture," he snapped. "I already know this world is broken, and the so-called gods are no saviors. They're tyrants, playing with our lives for their amusement."

Erebus' gaze snapped back to Jack, sharp and penetrating. "You speak of truth, but truth is rarely so simple," he said. "Good and evil, hero and villain—these are constructs shaped by perception. Everyone believes they are in the right, driven by their own sense of justice. The masses decide what is right and wrong, and those who oppose them are branded villains."

Jack met Erebus' gaze, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "What are you trying to say? That I should just accept this?"

Erebus shook his head. "No," he said. "I am saying that only those with the power to stand against the entire world can truly change it. And power is not handed to the strongest, the wealthiest, or the smartest. It is seized by those willing to do whatever it takes."

Jack stared at the god, his mind racing. Erebus' words carried a weight that was impossible to ignore. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than mere philosophy.

"Enough with the speeches," Jack said finally, his voice tinged with impatience. "If you have something important to say, then say it."

Erebus chuckled again, a dry, humorless sound. "Very well," he said. "The gods are already moving against you. They won't come themselves—not yet. Instead, they'll send their agents, mortals empowered by divine blessings. They will hunt you, and they will not stop until you are dead."

Jack's expression hardened. "I already expected that," he said. "What else is new?"

Erebus' gaze darkened, his tone turning grave. "Your soul is weak," he said. "The balance of life and death has shifted, and the realm of souls is in turmoil. If you do not act, you will die—sooner than you think."

Jack's heart skipped a beat. "Weak soul?" he repeated. "What does that mean?"

Erebus fixed him with a piercing stare. "It means the damned are already coming for you," he said. "You've felt it, haven't you? The whispers, the laughter in the shadows?"

Jack opened his mouth to deny it, but the words caught in his throat. A cold chill ran down his spine as faint voices began to echo in his mind. They were faint at first, like distant whispers carried on the wind. But they grew louder, more insistent, until they were a cacophony of shouts and laughter.

"Yes, yes! That bastard will join us this time!" one voice cried.

"Demon! You don't deserve to live!" another snarled.

Jack clutched his head, his knees buckling under the weight of the voices. Despair flooded his senses, a deep, all-consuming sadness that made him question everything. For a brief, horrifying moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to end his own life.

And then, as quickly as it had begun, the voices stopped. Erebus stood before him, his hand outstretched, his expression grim.

"This body still holds divine power," Erebus said. "It has been protecting you, shielding you from the damned. But that protection won't last forever. If you don't act soon, those souls will consume you."

Jack's breaths came in ragged gasps as he struggled to steady himself. "What do I have to do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Erebus' eyes glinted with an inscrutable light. "You must consume the soul of a being with divinity," he said. "Only then will your soul grow strong enough to withstand the damned."

Jack stared at him, a mixture of fear and determination in his eyes. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: his fight was far from over.

********

Jack's eyes widened, shrinking with alarm as Erebus's words echoed in his mind. The god's grim warning had struck a chord deep within him.

"So... what do I do?" Jack finally asked, his voice steady, but the dread clawing at his heart was unmistakable.

Erebus studied him for a moment, his lips curling into a sardonic smile. "To think you'd make such a fine actor," Erebus said, breaking into a low chuckle. "Just a few days ago, you were craving death's sweet embrace, and now you're asking for a way to live? Intriguing. Good. At least you're not some weakling ready to abandon his goals the moment things get complicated."

Jack sneered in response, his cold demeanor masking the storm brewing within. "It makes no difference. I have one goal—only one. And that's to see this crooked world erased. I can achieve it in two ways, and death is one of them. But," he paused, a shadow of a smirk creeping across his face, "maybe you're right. Maybe I just want to have a little fun before the end."

Erebus's gaze gleamed with dark satisfaction. "Fun, you say? Oh, you'll have plenty of that soon enough. Trust me," Erebus replied, the faintest trace of amusement coloring his tone. Then his expression hardened. "But let me be clear: killing a divine being with your current strength is a fool's errand. You might as well hand yourself over to them and save them the effort."

Jack clenched his fists, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He felt cornered, like a caged animal staring down the barrel of inevitability. "That's exactly what I'm saying," he growled. "I can't fight a divine being as I am, and I sure as hell can't train properly while this curse hangs over my head. So, what am I supposed to do?"

Erebus observed him silently, his expression unreadable. Jack's frustration mounted. The thought of being shackled, unable to progress toward his goals, gnawed at him. He wasn't one to tolerate weakness—not in himself, not in others. He needed a solution, and he needed it fast.

The memory of his battle with Zamazo flashed through his mind. Even then, the odds had been stacked against him. Without the Book of Death, victory would've been impossible. The book had turned the tides, but it had come at a steep cost.

Jack recalled the massive drain on his soul essence. The previous encounter had cost him more than five hundred thousand soul essence points. If it weren't for Naon's untimely demise and the subsequent replenishment, he wouldn't have lasted long enough to broker a deal with Zamazo.

Even now, the aftermath of that battle lingered. His once-impressive reservoir of soul essence had dwindled significantly.

[Soul Essence: 501,200]

He grimaced at the thought of relying on the Book of Death again. Its power was undeniable, but the price was equally steep. At this rate, using it recklessly would deplete him completely. Without soul essence, he would be vulnerable—utterly defenseless.

"You're awfully quiet," Erebus remarked, his tone almost mocking. "Thinking about your predicament, I take it? Trying to figure out how to fight your way out of this mess?" He leaned in slightly, his dark eyes boring into Jack's. "Let me save you the trouble. The answer is simple—you can't. Not yet."

Jack's scowl deepened. "Then what's the point of this conversation? If you're just here to gloat or waste my time, spare me the theatrics."

Erebus's smirk returned, sharper than a blade. "Oh, I'm not wasting your time. In fact, I'm about to do you a favor."

Jack arched a brow, skepticism etched across his face. Erebus rarely offered help without some ulterior motive. "A favor? Let me guess—this is where you tell me it's going to cost me something."

Erebus chuckled darkly. "Not everything comes with a price, mortal. Well," he paused, tilting his head, "most things do. But in this case, consider it... an investment."

Jack remained silent, his gaze locked on Erebus, waiting for him to continue.

"There's an item," Erebus began, his voice lowering, as if the very mention of it carried weight. "Something ancient. Something powerful. And it's closer than you think. I can feel its presence in this place."

Jack's pulse quickened. "What item?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.

"The item is the..."