This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Curse of Life's End, Alliance of Five Dragons

...

"Prompt: Your current level is LV16. To continue leveling up, you must invest more XP and expend points from the Path of Legends.

(Current status: Insufficient Path of Legends points despite surplus XP, thus unable to proceed with the upgrade.)

Your attributes have been enhanced: Intelligence +1 & Perception +1;

Your covenant slots +4;

You have acquired new abilities: 'Negative Energy Reconstruction' and 'Curse of Life's End';

Negative Energy Reconstruction: You can alter parts of your body by injecting a moderate amount of negative energy. Areas modified through negative energy reconstruction gain additional innate armor, increased physical strength, enhanced affinity to negative energy, and an overall boost in spellcasting speed;

Warning: Negative energy reconstruction should not exceed 60% of your entire body, otherwise irreversible transformation toward undeath may occur.

Curse of Life's End: Generates a pale energy chain between you and a target, impervious to terrain or structures, extending up to 30 meters.

When the target is ensnared by the chain, their resistance to instant death judgments is significantly reduced.

...

Your ability 'Necromancy' has evolved into 'Multiple Necromancy'.

Multiple Necromancy: When using Necromancy, you can sustain a greater number of summoned creatures with reduced focus and exercise finer control over them;

...

Given your arduous study in the ways of necromancy, you may choose one from the following three domains—Soul/Pale/Underworld Weapons."

...

A deluge of information flashed before Matthew.

Compared to his last advancement, there was one less professional trait this time, but overall enhancement was still palpable. Matthew focused his attention on selecting a domain.

All three were subdomains of death, with the Soul being broad and alluring, while Pale and Underworld Weapons were more specific. Pale referred to a special region within the underworld, and a category of undead primarily composed of ghostly beings.

Underworld Weapons represented a weapon expertise highly associated with negative energy. Matthew hesitated, initially leaning towards the former but eventually choosing the Pale domain.

His reason for excluding the Soul domain was simple: advancements could only be passively absorbed rather than actively explored. In this case, the Soul domain's randomness posed uncertainty in what Matthew would gain.

The Pale domain, however, was narrower and more specific in its direction. Matthew could anticipate what choosing this domain would yield.

Seconds later...

"Prompt: You've gained the 'Pale Domain'.

-

Your former temporary ability 'Pale Hand' has solidified into a permanent one, retaining all previous characteristics.

-

You've gained affinity with Pale creatures (Specters, Ghosts, Pale Colts, Pale Knights…)

-

You've gained permission to access the 'Pale Realm (Underworld)' at any time."

As expected, the Pale Hand had seamlessly become a permanent ability, much to Matthew's delight. This ability, compared to the 'Claw of Aesdro,' had its own advantages—it required less focus to maintain, granting him greater operational flexibility.

The permission to access the underworld at will was an unexpected but delightful surprise. Matthew thought he might gain some connection to the Pale Realm, but having a remote area of the underworld as his personal sanctuary was beyond his expectations!

Even in its remoteness, it was a realm that others, especially mages, would find strategically valuable.

As for the affinity with Pale creatures, it was merely an additional perk. He hadn't intended to become the 'Lord of Pale.' It was satisfactory to have the spectral beings under his command.

In contrast to the domains that had become routine, the two newly acquired abilities were the biggest gains of this upgrade.

Overall, Negative Energy Reconstruction and Curse of Life's End were supportive abilities, but each held significant value. The former could strengthen Matthew's physical body, albeit at the cost of some vitality.

However, Matthew pondered, if he used vitality to neutralize the encroachment of negative energy, could he potentially gain the enhanced physical strength from Negative Energy Reconstruction while safeguarding his body's life essence?

The latter held even greater significance. Currently possessing several instant-death spells and abilities, Matthew's limitations lay in their low probability of success. Curse of Life's End had the potential to alter this dynamic. Once ensnared by his energy chain, an unlucky opponent might perish instantly when hit by one of Matthew's lethal spells.

This undoubtedly added another ace up Matthew's sleeve.

While there was a definite increase in strength due to the upgrade, it wasn't as significant as he'd imagined. Matthew was well aware of this. His decision to upgrade wasn't solely for short-term combat prowess but to ensure he played a more significant role in the next battle.

Especially since the Black Dragon had blatantly ambushed Rolling Stone Town, friction with the Ancient Dragon was inevitable. He desired a secure development path but circumstances wouldn't allow it.

Hence, he had to find a way to eliminate those obstructing his progress.

In the recent battle, Mionogas, the Black Dragon, managed to escape primarily because many of Matthew's spells were completely nullified.

He estimated that at least eighty percent of his spells were ineffective against the Black Dragon, which pushed him to switch to melee combat mode later on.

Level wasn't the sole indicator of combat prowess, but it was a part of it.

Matthew, a Level 3 spellcaster, faced a Level 5 Black Dragon with an 80% chance of direct immunity. Now, at Level 4, that immunity drops to around 40%. This shift owes partly to the dragon's innate advantage and mostly to the significant level difference causing extra immunity penalties.

Currently sitting at Level 16, Matthew believes his spells will decisively impact the next encounter with the Black Dragon. However, there's a regrettable twist. Ending the meditative phase prematurely shattered his self-restraint in the domain of moderation.

He receives a notification: "Alert: You've breached the self-restraint aspect of moderation, reducing your moderation by -10; Gained Greed Element *5; Entered the 'Indulgence Phase' within moderation where acquiring moderation elements is restricted, but greed-related elements are doubled."

This unique indulgence phase intrigues Matthew. Unlike the deceitful feast, it seems to entirely exit the moderation domain. His abilities "Tranquil Mind" and "Deceitful Feast" flicker into a murky gray, still seemingly usable, albeit with a warning hint.

He ponders, "If I gather a lot of greed elements during this indulgence phase, will I lose access to the moderation domain entirely?"

As he ponders, another message flashes: "Notification: Your Balance Domain is now in effect. Grants temporary state 'Graceful Equilibrium' - during the indulgence phase in the moderation domain, gain double greed domain elements without penalties from the moderation domain."

Matthew brightens at this glimpse of the path to balance. Until now, he thought the balance domain merely skimmed across various domains without tangible effects. This newfound revelation suggests he can balance the conflicting domains of moderation and greed.

He considers, "Perhaps I can use these two domains as an experiment to balance them before my eventual balance between life and death. It might yield more experience."

These thoughts flash in a brief moment. As he refocuses, three individuals regard him with a gaze that questions his remaining strength.

Zeller remarks, "Do you still have any power left?"

Matthew gestures, "A bit, but not much."

It's the truth. While his XP suffices, advancing to Level 5 demands accumulated practical experience, of which Matthew currently has none. The road to Level 5 appears arduous.

However, his growth rate astounds others. Within a mere four months, he ascended from Level 2 to Level 4, a feat achieved right under the scrutiny of the Rolling Stone Town inhabitants, leaving them amazed.

Richard peers at Matthew, "I thought I had you figured out, but you're hiding a lot."

Rhaegar scratches his head, "Honestly, if you were a devil or a warlock, I'd find it easier to accept."

Matthew smiles without elaborating, believing that his accumulated experience, obtained tirelessly through his nightly tree planting, outstrips the inflated significance of mere levels.

He then solemnly retrieves the Equality Dagger from his bag and hands it to Richard, who, taking it, visibly reacts, "A legendary weapon? Are you sure?"

Matthew nods gently. Rhaegar peers at the dagger, sensing familiarity.

Matthew shifts the conversation, asking Richard, "With this weapon in hand, how confident are you in taking down the Black Dragon?"

Richard, absorbed in examining the Equality Dagger, estimates, "Using a safer approach, I could take its life in around ten minutes. If I disregard everything, I could bring it close to death in three minutes. However, as seen earlier, without ballistas, we're almost helpless if the dragon is set on fleeing."

Matthew nods, "Your role is to unleash significant damage when necessary; leave the rest to me."

The four engage in further discussion about the impending situation. Richard notes the dragon's stealth, suggesting the existence of a greater force behind Meionogas. They intensify vigilance and prepare for a potential dragon disaster.

Meanwhile, Matthew hurries back to the cemetery's workshop, grabbing blank parchment to document the forthcoming battle.

"The biggest challenge in facing dragons lies in their colossal bodies, dense muscles, and natural armor that surpasses ordinary creatures. It renders conventional weapons useless against their scaled defense. Even ballistae pose a threat but struggle to kill them outright. There's only one fearsome dragon crossbow, tough to move, requiring several soldiers to operate. Their sheer size and formidable defenses grant dragons an unusual margin for error in battle.

Meionogas dwarfs Philorius but outweighs the latter twentyfold, granting them unstoppable force in a charge. As it stands, it seems only the Black Knight Agus can face him head-on when the black dragon isn't fully powered. Other units simply can't hinder his movement.

Matthew scribbled and pondered, alternating between books and contemplation. The innate advantage of dragon armor could be targeted. In this battle, Matthew's Dispel spell played a commendable role. However, while dragons boast physical prowess, they also possess remarkable intelligence and agility far beyond common creatures. If this fellow opted for a direct confrontation, he would have perished numerous times already.

He continually evaded the dragon crossbow's range, cunningly active in residential areas, leaving Matthew's team handicapped on their home turf. It wasn't even a result of the black dragon's deliberate strategy, possibly an instinct from its true dragon lineage. Dragons, indeed, seemed to have received celestial favor. Even a fifth-tier dragon requires legendary strength to confront.

"If only Rockstone Town had a legendary warrior or mage," Matthew sighed softly. Unfortunately, the town only had Richard, a legendary thief, the most awkward against dragons. Can he cause effective damage? Yes, but not much. Legendary thieves theoretically outmatch other legendary professions of similar size, but against behemoths, their capabilities dwindle. Fortunately, the dagger Matthew loaned compensates to an extent.

Nevertheless, common folk would perish with a slight misstep while facing dragons. This meant Matthew needed more preparation to evade such a fate.

The workspace remained tranquil, only the quill scratching against paper broke the silence. Aside from summarizing combat phases, Matthew noted two anomalies: Richard mentioned the black dragon's sudden ambush, catching even the keen Silver Serpent off-guard, highly illogical without legendary-level invisibility or multiple layers of fifth-tier spells. Considering the black dragon lacked any magic, someone must have concealed its presence.

The second anomaly occurred when the black dragon fled, emitting an aura resembling dragon breath yet fundamentally distinct. At least, Matthew didn't observe any physical buildup. That aura resembled a kind of pseudo-spell, but a natural magic-resistant being like a black dragon would negate such magic. Only two explanations remained: either the dragon possessed an item releasing this breath-like aura or someone bestowed a high-level blessing in a divine spell form, a more plausible scenario.

Combining these anomalies, behind the black dragon Meionogas, there must be a potent being well-versed in divine arts! Yet in this era, where gods were banished to the Celestial Palace, divine powers struggled to reach the mortal realm. Who stealthily extended influence around Rockstone Town?

Deep in thought, Matthew furrowed his brow, pondering heavily. After a moment, he let out a long breath, "There might be a way after all."

"For a mage, armed with enough information, there's always a chance, no matter how powerful the opponent," he mused. With that in mind, he swiftly grabbed a fresh parchment and began outlining plans to neutralize the black dragon.

A night passed, and Matthew drafted preliminary plans to tackle the dragon. During the day, he dispatched all letters through Cauldron House's channels. Acknowledging some comrades' nomadic lifestyles, he even invested in a magical service called 'Paging Letters,' guaranteeing receipt within seven days in the primary material plane.

Moreover, Matthew penned two letters, delivering them through the alliance's network to Isabelle and Suerel, despite minimal expectations from the two adept mages. However, necessary attempts had to be made.

Over the next few days, Rhaegar led the reconstruction efforts and comforted the affected in Rockstone Town. Thankfully, casualties were relatively low this time, and Rhaegar's established reputation convinced most that Rockstone Town could repel the dragon. Nevertheless, the town's atmosphere grew somber.

Three days later, in the afternoon, an owl carrying a thick letter arrived at the Lord's mansion's office hall. Matthew was present and assumed it was his missive. However, the owl paid him no mind, heading straight to Rhaegar. To Matthew's surprise, the owl dropped the hefty letter right in front of Rhaegar.

Thud! The desk trembled slightly."

"The owl swiftly flew away.

Matthew and Zeller curiously approached.

At that moment, Rhaegar just opened the envelope.

The outermost layer suddenly flew off—a scroll made of sheepskin.

Emblazoned on it was the following headline—'War Directive (Addressed to the Lords of the Hundred Cities)'.

The three exchanged glances, each struck with a sense of foreboding.

The war directive had finally arrived.

Even Rolling Stone Town received the directive.

Does this mean all the territories in the south have received the same contents?

Matthew quickly perused the directive.

The contents closely matched what Margaret had revealed, except for the registration time for mages.

In the officially announced directive, the Alliance required mages in all regions to complete registration within two months.

During these two months, no private battles were allowed in the territories. Even if disputes arose, a battle application had to be submitted to the Alliance, resolving issues openly.

"The good news is, that black dragon won't be able to ambush us within two months, or else they'll face retaliation from the Seven Saints Alliance."

"The bad news is, does this mean our dragon-slaying plan is postponed?"

Matthew sighed in frustration.

However, Rhaegar shook his head, his eyes shining with unwavering determination:

"Perhaps not."

---

Meanwhile,

At the border between Highleaf and the Golden Plains,

In the desolate and misty hills,

Amidst the thick fog, two colossal creatures fiercely pushed against each other.

"You deceived me!"

"Those humans aren't easy to deal with!"

"That necromancer gnawed off scales from my entire tail!"

The black dragon, Meionogas, roared furiously.

The red dragon, Suerel, retorted defiantly by ramming back with its head:

"Are they hard to deal with, or are you just weak?"

"You'd better show some respect if you don't want me to tear you to pieces!"

The black dragon, on the verge of losing control of its anger, forcefully pressed its head against the red dragon's jaw:

"Suerel! You're a coward! Always hiding behind and manipulating everything! I'd love to see how much power you have to shred me into pieces!"

Suerel erupted in rage, opening its massive jaws to bite the black dragon's neck.

But at that moment,

A sinister voice emerged from the mist, instantly restraining the two colossal dragons:

"You are part of the Great Dragon Revival Plan, no need to bicker over trivial matters.

Red dragon Suerel, black dragon Meionogas, green dragon Fatina, White Dragon King Algalon, blue dragon Wilcox—

The five of you have signed the Pact of Five Dragons, forming the 'Five Dragon Alliance'.

Within the alliance, no conflict is allowed. Cooperation among individuals is mandatory to swiftly fulfill the Lord Dragon's commands.

Or do you think Rolling Stone Town is a tough nut to crack? Shall I dispatch the other three chosen Dragon Lords, so all five of you can join forces to conquer Rolling Stone Town?"

It was a man wearing a peculiar mask.

He appeared unusually frail and thin.

However, as he emerged from the mist,

These two domineering colossal dragons slightly lowered their heads.

"We don't need anyone's help!"

"We can take down Rolling Stone Town by ourselves!"

The two colossal dragons affirmed successively.

Suerel, the red dragon, even expressed in a somewhat obsequious manner:

"We are merely waiting here because the Seven Saints Alliance's war directive hasn't been issued yet."

"As soon as they give us an opportunity, I alone can crush Rolling Stone Town, fulfilling the Lord Dragon's desire!"

"Rest assured, Lord Shapeshifter."

-----------

Table of content

• You can access publicly available chapters of "This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees" right HERE.
• Your invaluable feedback and ratings mean the world to me. Please take a moment to rate this novel at Novelupdate.
• You can also check out the other Novels I'm currently translating by clicking HERE.
• If you come across any mistakes within this chapter, kindly notify me in the comments below, so that I can make the necessary corrections.