10 The World Underneath (1/2)

James felt a chill go down his spine when he heard the cheerful words. Wasting no time, he transformed into his Grim Reaper form. He also released his two merged damned souls for the specific goal of surveillance. At that same moment, the earth beneath his feet rumbled as hundreds of corpses struggled to break free from the ground. After the Army of the Fallen emerged, the air around James's standing position distorted in a rapid and eerie manner, which was causing the familiar black smog to make another appearance. While all these happened, James waited for the system's notification. But, a deafening silence greeted his expectations. With all these changes happening together, James had not even turned his head to locate the origin of the voice.

”Oh? You want to fight me? You? Boy, don't put me in the same category as those cute monsters. Sit down!” the mysterious person said while laughing.

While his voice echoed, James felt a strange pressure overpower him. Which buried all the corpses into the ground, almost as if a massive hammer knocked them back into the earth. Meanwhile, the merged damned souls screamed in agony and looked as if they were suffering from gruesome torture. Their reaction made James to return them to his Inventory. Because, he could not afford to lose the damned souls. The moment the merged damned souls disappeared, a turbulent wind dispersed the black smog. In less than five seconds, the mysterious individual bested James.

James who was still in his Grim Reaper form could not move an inch because the pressure he felt overwhelmed him.

It was like a small lamb standing in the presences of a Lion, there was no way the lamb could control itself in such a scenario.

'System! What is the meaning of this?! Didn't you say there was no one within 1km radius?! Where is this bastard hiding?! Scan his stats now!' James said via his mind.

In response to James's furious bellows, the familiar sound of the system's notification echoed in his mind.

<Ding>

Scanning...

Scanning Completed!

There is no living being within a 1km radius of the user's current location.

Error! I cannot detect any target! I have denied the user's request!

<Ding>

When James saw the system's response he was beyond livid. But at that same moment, he noticed the system warned him with the phrase - There is no living being within a 1km radius. Being a Necromancer, a sudden realization dawned on him.

'System, scan for any sign of the undead,' James said within his mind.

<Ding>

Scanning...

Scanning completed!

There is no living and undead beings within a 1km radius of the user.

<Ding>

The moment James read the system's display, it was as if his brain short circuited for a moment. Because, the current situation confused him.

”Oh? You are still conscious. Your Grim Reaper form is unique. If not that those bastards have their eyes on you, I would have stripped you clean by now. Tsk, tsk. How unfortunate for me,” the mysterious person said.

Although it sounded like complimentary words, James felt as if the mysterious person mocked him, and it made him furious.

”who are you? Show yourself. Don't be a coward who hides in...” Before James could finish his statement, the same aged voice interrupted him, ”Coward? Yeah, you're right. I'm a coward, but I need not hide from a mere Apprentice ranked sorcerer. Even if you were five ranks higher, I'd still mop the floor with those bones of yours,” he said.

While his words echoed, the air in front of James distorted. Almost as if someone or something tore through space. Although a beautiful sight, James felt chills as he watched. About five seconds later, a skinny old man in a black mage's robes appeared from the rift. He had a radiant smile on his wrinkled face as he stared at James.

Because of the hood he had over his head and the poor lighting conditions of the forest, James could not see his face. From his lying position, he could only see the scanty teeth in the mouth of the old man. Even though the man stood right in front of him, the system still did not recognize his presences. Which made James baffled. In a tight spot, James commanded the flames burning in his empty eye sockets to attack the old man.

Meanwhile, the old man laughed in response to James's sneak attack. A few seconds later, James's mouth opened in disbelief. Because, the two flames from his skull fell on the ground, without even touching the body of the old man. Although everything happened so fast, James saw as the flames passed through the illusionary body of the man.

After James's failed attack, the old man stretched his hand towards James's skull. Which caused him to feel a life threatening fear for the first time since he came to the Continent of Skyhaven. Instead of cowering in fear, James had a devilish grin on his face as he laughed. From his point of view, he preferred to die than beg for his life.

Contrary to his expectations, a shocking scene occurred when the old man's wrinkled hands touched his skull. At that moment, something suppressed his Grim Reaper form. Forcing him to return to his human form. The sudden turn of events left James with a dazed expression on his face, and after the old man touched him, he felt as if something restricted him from using Mana.

”Kid, no need to put up such an expression on your face. We have both had our fun. So, it's time to get to business. Don't worry about your Mana, it is just temporary,” the old man said. Meanwhile, James remained silent. He tried his best to communicate with the system, but he received no response.