This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 189

Chapter 189: The Deathly Gaze

A "renowned weapon" capable of leaving a mark on history.

An Equality Dagger must possess at least five characteristics—

"Sensitivity Grasp: The user's agility must not be below 20 points."

"Equal to All Beings: When the Equality Dagger pierces armor, it inflicts proportionate damage to all creatures, be it a lowly mud imp or a towering dragon deity.

Note: Each regular attack from the Equality Dagger inflicts damage equal to 3% to 5% of the target's maximum health."

"Random Debilitation: Whenever the Equality Dagger damages a creature, there's a chance the target gains one of six random debuffs—'weakened, stunned, poisoned, immobilized, petrified, asleep';

When the affected creature under debuff status is attacked again by the Equality Dagger, the damage dealt increases by 2 to 5 times."

"Domain Collector: Each time you step into a domain, you can transfer one agility point required by the Equality Dagger to other attributes, up to a maximum of five points.

Thus, when you traverse five domains, the user's agility requirement becomes 15 points (meeting the usage criteria)."

"Renowned Weapon: The initial wielder of the Equality Dagger was 'Godslayer Ersos,' who founded the illustrious Equality Sect in the history of Aendu.

From an unknown goblin chieftain to the great mage Wint, and even the primordial dragon Falno and the supreme god Atest (with faint divine power), all met their demise under Ersos and the Equality Dagger's thrust.

Ersos' famous saying was: 'Before death, all are equal.'

The famed quote of the Equality Dagger is: 'Even mortals can stand tall against the heavens!'"

A renowned weapon.

Referring to a weapon that has left behind a legendary tale in history.

The prerequisites for a renowned weapon are extremely stringent, demanding high legends for both the weapon itself and its wielder.

From what Matthew knows, the most renowned deed of the godslayer Ersos was successfully killing a "Supreme God" during the Enlightenment Era.

Although he faced divine retribution and died afterward, this did not diminish the greatness of his godslaying act.

After all, in those times, a Supreme God was nearly an unapproachable figure for ordinary people.

The term "Supreme God" refers to offspring born of powerful divine beings on both sides.

Even the weakest among them were true gods with faint divine power, and if they were demigods, they were not entitled to bear the proud title of a Supreme God.

Even within the pantheon of the second generation of gods, the Supreme Gods were the strongest in lineage and highest in status.

That Ersos managed to successfully kill a Supreme God in an era that was severely oppressed is no wonder why he and his Equality Dagger earned a place in history.

This fact remains an enigma to the gods.

Because the traces of history have been deeply etched into the dagger, any intelligent race, after encountering this dagger for some time, will resonate with the soul-stirring tale of "Mortal Ersos slaying the Supreme God Atest."

Matthew also confirmed from this aspect that this Equality Dagger was not a counterfeit.

However, within the stories surrounding Ersos, there's a particularly intriguing segment.

It's said that after Ersos was killed by the gods,

His soul was drawn out by a deity, ready to drag him into the divine realm for endless torture.

Yet, at that moment,

Death himself intervened abruptly, asserting that the soul of the faithless should return to the underworld.

His attitude was unprecedentedly firm, rescuing Ersos' soul from the hands of other gods.

However, Ersos wasn't buying it.

He said to Death, "You're no better than those on the hill."

And then, he voluntarily dispersed into nothingness.

The closing of Ersos's legend added a poignant hue.

While it might not depict the absolute truth of history.

Still, as Matthew gripped this dagger, he could sense the fervor and valor of the Godslayer from the past.

"This is quite the weapon," Matthew thought to himself.

He felt secretly delighted, quickly adapting to the feel of the Equalizer Dagger in just a short while.

Spinning, slicing, thrusting, slashing... each technique flowed smoothly from his hands, no less adept than a second-tier wanderer.

Displayed on the data panel.

"Hint: Your ability 'Short Weapon Specialization' is in effect.

You've become the temporary owner of the renowned weapon, the 'Equalizer Dagger.'

To become its rightful owner, unlock more of its capabilities.

You'll need to accumulate a certain level of world legendary status while carrying or using it.

Current progress: 0/1."

"This thing truly is a wanderer's artifact."

"But it's only natural for a mage to wield a dagger."

Matthew cherished it for a while before stashing the dagger into his quick-access inventory, easily retrievable at any time.

His spirits soared.

"Why pick up a dagger? Planning to become a melee mage like Chen?" Margaret glanced back amid her busy tasks.

Matthew grinned, "Can the Eastern Guardian use daggers too?"

Margaret exaggeratedly reacted, "He's proficient in every weapon!"

"Long, short, thick, slender, hard, soft—any weapon, there's nothing Chen can't handle."

"Even he himself can be considered a formidable weapon. If you get the chance, you should meet him. He's a good person and has a decent relationship with Lord Ronan. But there's one thing you must bear in mind: among all the legendary mages in the Alliance, he's the poorest. So, don't expect to profit much from him."

Listening to Margaret's lavish praise of Chen, Matthew deeply felt the camaraderie among fellow financially challenged individuals. Nevertheless, he held a positive regard for Chen himself, considering he was the hero who took down the sea serpent, benefiting Matthew and other Alliance mages.

Just as Matthew was about to inquire further about Chen, precisely at that moment, the mechanical bat's flight speed abruptly slowed.

In the sky ahead, a massive vortex appeared.

From within the vortex emerged a head, several times larger than before.

Immediately following was a proportionally enlarged lion-bodied creature.

With enormous wings on its back, it wielded an exotic weapon resembling a spear.

"Do you truly think you can escape the pursuit of the Sphinx?" He glared coldly at the two:

"Perish, you bandits!"

Margaret waved her left hand, creating a portal in midair.

However, she grabbed the mechanical bat and Matthew, veering off to the right.

This feint successfully deceived the Sphinx.

The two sides swiftly distanced themselves.

"It seems our final lesson will only go this far; you'll have to leave Hell on your own," Margaret quipped at Matthew, smiling.

Then, facing the lion-headed monster, she inquired, "Respected Mr. Sphinx, do you have children?"

The Sphinx sneered, "At death's door, and still playing emotional cards?"

Margaret shook her head, "I'm not fearing your power, nor am I planning to ask for leniency. I just want to know this fact."

The Sphinx furrowed his brow, "Of course, I have children."

"What are you trying to say?" Margaret heaved a relieved sigh, then seriously stated:

"My mentor, Suerel, taught me that for rare beings like you in this multiverse, it's better not to eradicate entirely. If you have no offspring, I might have to subdue or banish you. If the Sphinx species were to perish because of that, I would feel remorseful, failing my teacher's teachings. After all, she nearly exterminated the Five-Colored Dragon once and later couldn't find its materials, thus feeling deeply remorseful. But now, since you have children, I have no concerns."

The Sphinx erupted in rage at her words.

The massive figure agilely maneuvered in mid-air, hurtling fiercely towards Margaret.

Margaret let out a loud syllable that swiftly transformed into a deep, melodious tone. As the Sphinx almost reached her, this lyrical composition concluded with a tremor.

"Enhance Monster Immobilization!"

In an instant, the Sphinx froze in place, eyes widened as if to devour Margaret whole. Yet, she paid no heed to his gaze, adjusting the distance between them before commencing another stanza, full of rises and falls.

Matthew listened, unable to resist the urge to imitate. That was the resonance of Suerel's chanting method.

In a mere five seconds, Margaret completed a fifth-level spell incantation— "Cross Sever!"

Suddenly, a cubic force field formed around the area where the Sphinx stood. This field was imperceptible to the naked eye, but Matthew sensed the dreadful power accumulating within, even from a distance.

Watching the steel-like lines of force about to carve into the Sphinx's body, the creature displayed remarkable resilience. Its claws and tail subtly shifted, attempting to break free from the Monster Immobilization's effect.

"Hmph! This level of force field spell is unlikely to kill me!" The disdainful voice echoed from the Sphinx's chest.

Countless cutting lines swiftly approached him, most parts of his body starting to move. Yet, at that precise moment, Margaret completed her second spell incantation.

"Tenfold Weakening!"

As the aura that significantly reduced natural armor class fell upon the Sphinx, a hint of nervousness finally flickered in his eyes. However, this tension lasted only half a second before the endless cutting lines tore through the Sphinx's body.

Half a second later, the spell ended, and the Sphinx turned into countless pieces of flesh and blood, scattering heavily onto the ground.

"See that? 'Spell Delay' and 'Last Strike First'—two very useful ultra-magic abilities."

"Without the tenfold weakening, it would have been challenging to kill him in one blow. But once I used tenfold weakening beforehand, it wasn't as easy for me to immobilize him. As for the connection between spells, besides using Suerel's chanting method skillfully, it also relies on an ability called 'Spell Trace.' But you'll have to learn that yourself; there aren't any other mages in the alliance who teach these techniques. Even if there were, their practical application falls far behind mine."

Margaret raised her proud little head, somewhat wistfully telling Matthew, "Go, Matthew. Lele's teleportation gate isn't far from here. You should remember the direction, so leave quickly."

Before Matthew could respond, a blood mist suddenly appeared in front of Margaret. From the mist came a sharp female voice:

"You killed the Sphinx? And you stole my treasure?"

Margaret took out the Debt Ring, wearing it on her middle finger, calmly addressing the mist, "Bloodthirsty witch Luticia, I've heard your name. If you want this ring back, come to Fangtooth Keep."

"I plan to break through Purgatory from here. You should feel honored to be my first opponent."

With that said, she flicked a gesture towards the misty void, causing it to vanish, leaving only Luticia's indifferent voice, "Very well."

"After I cut off your head to use as a cup, I'll kiss your lips. I hope that even then, you'll still be as defiant as you are now."

After the voice faded, the legendary pressure from this Blood Flag Clan member dissipated rapidly.

Matthew asked with concern, "Are you really going to challenge a legend?"

Margaret smiled, countering with a question, "If I can't challenge a legend, how can I uphold the path of combat?"

"I'm someone born for battle, inherently more adept than others at this."

Matthew had prepared himself for this moment, awaiting an opportunity that finally came to him just now. He sensed the call of legendary paths, a sensation quite extraordinary.

"If I can't even surpass the legends between planes, there's no point in challenging myself deeper into the inferno. I'd deserve to perish here. So, sparring with Luticia seems the best way to start for me."

Matthew gazed into her eyes.

Upon confirming she wasn't acting impulsively, he could only extend his right hand. "Let's shake hands; I wish you good luck."

"Actually, your suspicion that I always seem to receive the domain's favor wasn't wrong. I haven't quite figured out its patterns yet. It seems those around me have a higher probability of unlocking the legendary path or entering the domain..."

Before he could finish his words, Margaret embraced him tightly, enthusiastically rubbing against him.

"Why didn't you say this earlier!"

"If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have had to toil so hard to break through the inferno!"

"Is it that easy to enter the domain just by sleeping with you every day? But I've already mortgaged 4.6 million, not breaking through the inferno might be impossible!"

She rambled for a while.

Then, with a smile, she flew off towards the horizon.

Matthew touched the sore spots on his body, realizing a body valued at 4.6 million wasn't something he could afford to be rough with.

He then imitated Margaret's posture and steered the mechanical bat, flying away.

However, unfortunately, he seemed to lack the skills of a pilot.

After covering some distance, the mechanical bat suddenly flipped, throwing him off and arrogantly flying away.

Thankfully, Matthew managed to transform into a raven just in time.

This saved him from a disaster.

He had no time to contend with the mechanical bat. He swiftly located the portal he had used to come here.

After activating the communication spell, Lele's hologram appeared before Matthew.

"I want to go back," Matthew stated firmly.

"What about Margaret? Did you sell her?" Lele asked, somewhat surprised.

Matthew explained, "She went to challenge the legendary figures of the Blood Flag Kingdom. If successful, she'll proceed deeper into the inferno to hone herself. You should know her intentions, right?"

Lele exclaimed, "She did mention that crazy plan to me, but I thought she was just talking nonsense. I didn't expect her to have the courage to take that step. I envy her. I want to break through the inferno too, but I can't even pass the league's test... The teleportation array has been activated; you'll be back in thirty seconds."

Matthew remained composed, enduring the long thirty seconds.

Finally, a flash of white light.

He safely returned to the primary material plane.

Matthew was self-aware; whether continuing to follow Margaret or recklessly seeking Rhaegar wasn't something he could do at the moment.

He had already retrieved the Sinful Grail from Rhaegar's ancestral tomb, exceeding the mission's requirements.

The rest depended on their abilities.

At that moment, he intended to bid farewell to Lele.

However, just then, Lele grabbed him. "Settle the teleportation fee, a thousand two hundred gold coins, as a favor for Margaret."

Matthew was astonished. "Isn't this the final practical class?"

Lele shrugged. "I don't know about the agreement between you and Margaret, but here, she hasn't paid, and she hasn't returned, so I have to ask you."

"You're not trying to cheat me, are you?"

He gazed at Matthew suspiciously.

Matthew's heart ached.

All the goodwill he had felt towards Margaret due to her courage shattered.

In the end, he could only reluctantly pay the fee.

...

Returning safely to the graveyard, Matthew's nerves instantly relaxed.

He found a wooden crate nearby, filled it with soil, and then stuffed the Sinful Grail inside, covering it with layers of dirt.

Because that thing kept buzzing incessantly in his ear.

Although he could resist its temptation using his domain, it was still bothersome to Matthew.

Burying it underground in the graveyard made the world peaceful again.

"Indeed, the way the Antu Empire handles divine abominations is quite systematic. Just using soil alone can partially deter malevolent items. If combined with cement and lead plates, this stuff could probably be completely sealed."

Matthew stretched lazily, contemplating to himself.

Of course, he could attempt to use his 'Demonic Sealing' ability to seal the Sinful Grail.

This artifact, after all, is an outsider from the outer planes and inherently malevolent—precisely the target of this ability.

But considering Sivak still temporarily needs it, Matthew could only resort to a more flexible sealing method.

Matthew's trip to Eskana indeed yielded substantial gains.

Aside from the Equality Dagger.

The most valuable finds were a series of corpses, all exceedingly rare devil and demon remains. Even if Matthew didn't use them personally, selling them akin to what Rhaegar does could fetch a fortune.

That realization.

Margaret's image in Matthew's mind grew larger once again.

Initially, Matthew performed basic preservation on these corpses.

Then, he singled out the Observer Eye Fiend's corpse and placed it on the floor of his workspace.

This was an alien corpse.

By 'alien,' it means the remains of intelligent life with non-standard forms.

These beings cannot be transformed into skeletons, zombies, or specters using specific necromantic spells.

Their revival only allows for significantly random outcomes.

Necromantic revival is an obscure branch of necromancy, something most necromancers might never use throughout their lives.

Matthew, too, hastily gathered related knowledge and researched for an hour.

Only then did he commence the initial steps of its revival.

Fortunately, despite its obscurity, the difficulty of this ability wasn't too high.

After about twenty minutes.

Amidst Matthew's chanting.

The Observer Eye Fiend's corpse swiftly amassed spiritual essence visible to the naked eye.

However, it had been directly crushed by Margaret during its life, so even after revival, its eyeballs were sunken in.

Eyestalks around it were in a state of detachment.

This rendered it more like a bare eyeball, devoid of the ferocity and dominance it had in life.

...

"Prompt: You've successfully employed the Necromantic Spell - Revival of the Undead.

You've acquired an 'Eye of Undeath.'

You've gained a new necromantic summon type: 'Eye of Undeath (Requirement: Observer Eye Fiend's corpse).'

Based on the undead domain's enhancements and the Eye of Undeath's former state,

It will possess ten creature levels and a unique racial trait: 'Death Gaze.'

Death Gaze: You can direct the Eye of Undeath's gaze onto crowds thousands of miles away, granting you the ability to observe them 360 degrees for one hour.

During this period, those observed have a minimal chance of encountering 'misfortune.'

Note 1: The Eye of Undeath might be sensed by the observed, potentially interrupting this process.

Note 2: You can only gaze remotely at those with high levels of enmity or affinity towards you.

Currently Observable Targets —

-

Margaret (Eskana/Blood Flag Kingdom) -

Eli (Watcher's Highlands/Earth Keepers Society)

-

Rhaegar (Spider Underground/ Blood Flag Kingdom) -

Sivak (Matthew's Graveyard/Rolling Stone Town)

Targets with fulfilled affinity but temporarily unobservable due to other conditions —

-

Babasha (Contact time too short) -

Lumiere (Innate ability 'Illusionary Vanish' obstructs any prophecy-based spells)

-

Suya (Dreamland Black Banyan Blocked) -

Zeller (Cerebral Occlusion Technique obstructs any prying) -

Lolan (Bardic ability negates prying)

- Others (Omitted)"

...

"Goodness!

Isn't this the power to see who's going to die?

The catch is, Matthew glanced over it and found out that he could only see good friends.

Even though he deeply cared about their well-being.

But this 'misfortune' effect, it's really discomforting, isn't it?

However, he thought again.

He couldn't see any enemies.

This indicated that in his daily dealings, he had been quite successful.

There was absolutely no one who held animosity toward him.

For a necromancer.

To have no enemies at all, he's practically a model citizen.

But just then.

The data panel flickered.

...

"Prompt: Your Eye of Undeath has added 'Sphinx' to the visible list (Enmity)!"

...

"Isn't this guy supposed to be dead?"

"Could it be that he has the power of resurrection?"

Matthew furrowed his brow.

He was just about to activate the Eye of Undeath to peek into the Sphinx's situation.

But the next moment, a huge purple vortex appeared at the center of the graveyard.

Within the vortex, a monstrous creature with a lion's body and a human face forcefully made its entrance!

"Do you think you can just kill a Sphinx like that?"

"Too naive. We roam through countless timelines. Even if you kill me now, there will be countless versions of me, from the past or future, seeking retribution."

"You are destined to meet your end at my hands!"

The Sphinx looked down upon Matthew arrogantly.

However, in the next moment, a serious-looking centaur treeminder appeared above his head.

Following closely, oak guardians also revived, joining Omodochi at the entrance of the graveyard.

They all gazed down at the Sphinx.

Simultaneously, a fully armored, shield-bearing black knight silently arrived in front of the Sphinx.

Alongside Agus, numerous undead emerged within the graveyard!

Suddenly, a horde of zombies, skeletons, and specters swarmed around the Sphinx, filling every space.

In one corner of the graveyard, the ogre Renaismae looked menacingly.

The dark priest and his acolytes were poised for action.

Hellfire Nightmare and Peggy emerged from the kitchen to witness the commotion.

Following behind them was the curious metamorph, Afei.

And the legendary thief Zeller, wearing a troubled expression.

Matthew blinked.

The domains of the oaks and undead activated simultaneously.

The power of these two grand ceremonies instantly amplified several times over.

The Sphinx glanced around.

Then suddenly fell silent.

Matthew stared at him steadfastly:

"Care to repeat—who do you wish to obliterate?"

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