Necromancer 38

Test

38. Confrontation with Ran 2

"Hey, knock them all down, Reaper!"

Ran shouted. The Reaper charged forward, swinging his scythe down.

“[Shield]!”

Mirage and I simultaneously created barriers, but both were sliced through with ease.

“Dodge!”

I yelled as I leaped backward.

Mirage, the Swordsman, and the Red Mage each jumped back—

Slash!

But the Swordsman couldn’t escape in time and was cleaved in two. He vanished in countless black particles.

“Damn…”

Once a minion is defeated, it can’t be resummoned until a certain period passes.

At least, that’s how it worked with the lowest-level ghost I used as a minion before.

Usually, you can’t summon again until about a day has passed.

Will it be the same for the Swordsman? Or will it take even longer?

Or—has he been completely destroyed?

If he’s completely gone, it’s a disaster.

Our combat strength will be seriously reduced from now on.

“Either way, I can’t afford to lose both Mirage and the Red Mage…”

If we keep getting picked off one by one, we’ll eventually lose from sheer attrition. Before that happens, we have to take the Reaper down with an all-out attack.

“If we defeat him, we’ll be able to keep Ran himself in check. Got it!” “Understood.”

Mirage replied as he readied his sword. The Red Mage, unable to speak, silently raised his staff.

“I’ll go right, Mirage, take him from the left. Red Mage, keep firing your flames. Support us both.”

Giving the standard formation...

“Let’s go!”

I charged forward.

Mirage dashed around to flank him from the opposite side. From behind, the Red Mage unleashed a rapid series of fireballs.

Roaaaar!

The Reaper roared, slashing through the fireballs with his scythe. While his attention was diverted, Mirage and I attacked simultaneously.

“[Slash]!”

For a moment, we were faster.

Slash! Slice!

Mirage’s and my blades sliced a cross-shaped wound into the Reaper’s chest—

Thud.

The Reaper fell, his chest deeply gashed.

“Now it’s just you left, Ran.”

I readied my sword.

Mirage did the same, while the Red Mage held back, ready to cast a fire skill at any moment.

Ran’s attacks are mostly long-range. But from what I can see, he doesn’t seem to have any powers to boost his physical abilities.

Even if he’s agile, with strength and speed, he’s not above me.

And on top of that, I have Mirage and the Red Mage with me. We should be able to neutralize Ran for sure—

Spasm!

Suddenly, the fallen Reaper started twitching.

“Oh, did the ‘binding’ break?”

Ran grinned.

“Binding…?” 

“Yeah… a rare bit of advice from me.”

Ran looked at me.

“Run.”

A dark light glinted in his eyes.

“You’re going to die.”

Spasm! Twitch!

The Reaper’s convulsions grew more violent.

From the wound on his chest, a black mist began seeping out.

What is this phenomenon—?