CHAPTER 26: SETS MY HEART ABLAZE

When Dante stepped into the square, one brave tiger man lunged for him, letting out an enraged roar, making Dante grin as he vanished, only to appear in front of the idiot and muttered. ’’I was gonna show you mercy, but no more.’’

He moved so fast and grabbed the man’s face before slamming him into the ground with one hand as he used Death Eye on the now-injured tiger man.

[D Rank Demi Human - Gladiator]

’’Oh, interesting,’’ Dante muttered when he saw that and quickly checked his upgrades from all the fighting.

[Level Up: 8285]

[Experience: 9,000/15,000]

[MANA: 271285]

[HP: 243251]

[STR: 291303]

[DEX: 316312]

[INT: 241244]

[DP: 42006100]

[Quest Complete: Destroy Thornebrooke - Reward: 1000 Death Points]

Pleased with everything, Dante checked his status.

[Name: Dante Ashbourne]

[Class: Death Monarch]

[Level: 85]

[Experience: 9,000/15,000]

[Rank: E]

[MANA: 285]

[HP: 251]

[STR: 303]

[DEX: 312]

[INT: 244]

[CHA: 132]

[DP: 6100]

[Skills: SSS: Arise - SS: Death Blast (2) SSS: Death’s Domain (1) SS: Death’s Harvest (2) SSS: Death Eyes (1) Dagger Mastery (2) SSS: Death Bolt (0)]

[Death Knight: 4/4]

[Death Monarch’s Army: 4/150]

’Interesting,’ he mused just as a notification popped up.

[When your attributes hit one thousand to one, which represents the one thousand - It’s a way to make things easier for you, my chosen one - Enjoy!]

Dante chuckled at Marzanna’s message until his Death Knights dragged a dozen bodies toward him. Raoul threw three at his feet, prompting him to scan them to check on what class they held.

[Rank D Human - Warrior]

[Rank B Human - Cleric]

[Rank D Human - Defender]

’’Very good, what about the rest of you?’’ he commented.

Henry, Sulla, and Medea all dropped one, allowing him to scan them as well.

[Rank C Dwarf - Rouge]

[Rank C Human - Mage]

[Rank D Human - Warrior Mage]

Dante’s red eyes gleamed before turning to the Demi-Humans and warning. ’’If any of you try anything, I’ll butcher you and turn you into a grotesque monster.’’

When the crowd heard this, they trembled in fear, but when the Rotlings appeared around the town’s square. The little monsters hissed and growled at the scared people. He stopped them from moving. Following that, he turned toward the D Rank warrior and muttered. ’’Arise!’’

His necrotic magic poured out of his hand and seeped into the dead human, only to transform him. Dante watched as the man’s skin darkened as the smell of death hit his nose, the body’s muscles bulged before it slowly rose, letting out an eerie moan that echoed across the town square, but what caught his attention was the creature holding its sword and still had armor as a notification popped up.

[D Rank Zombie Brute created using the Human Warrior]

[Death Army: 5/150]

’’Oh, a zombie brute,’’ he murmured. ’’I read about them in my previous life, strong undead.’’

After that, Dante did the same thing to the Tiger Gladiator. ’’Arise.’’

Moments later, his mana exploded outward and soaked the Demi Human, transforming the dead body into something that would be useful for destroying Dreadport when the time came for him to begin his revenge. When the magic was done, what remained was a vengeful undead beast-man driven by a burning obsession or unresolved rage from their gladiatorial life.

Dante noticed the Demi-Human’s body was a grotesque fusion of decayed flesh and matted fur, with glowing amber eyes and jagged, elongated claws. Their once-proud stripes are faded, and their gladiatorial armor is broken but still clings to their form, embedded in their rotting hide. He could sense it retained its previous combat prowess, blending primal strength with necrotic energy.

[D Rank Feral Revenant created using the Demi Human Gladiator]

[Death Army: 6/150]

Following this, Dante did the same to the other five bodies, bringing more powerful beings into his army to replenish the lost monsters.

[B Rank Wraith Priestess created using the Human Cleric]

[D Rank Death Guardian created using the Human Defender]

[C Rank Shadow Stalker created using the Dwarf Rogue]

[C Rank Boneweaver created using the Human Mage]

[D Rank Ghoul Blade created using the Warrior Mage]

[Death Army: 11/150]

When the seven undead completed their transformation, they stood tall before kneeling in front of him as the series Wraith Priestess spoke respectfully. ’’We are ready to serve the Death Monarch.’’

Dante nodded happily. ’’Very good, now where is that injured hero? Did you bring him to me, Henry?’’

The giant Black Knight stepped forward and threw Freddy’s descendant at his feet, making his smile grow wide. ’’Oh, lovely, now tell me. Who ended up getting with your ancestor? Fiona or that witch Amy? They always were teachers’ pets.’’

When the shocked human heard this, his eyes widened even more. He shook his head and answered. ’’It was Fiona the Kind.’’

Dante began laughing at the young man’s words, but this gave him a wonderful idea before he announced. ’’I’m glad you told me this, I’m not going to kill you as I need you to pass on a message to that cunt Freddy and his slut Fiona. Can you do that for me, little human?’’

The young man nodded like a scared chicken, causing him to grin. ’’Good, now head to Dreadport and get on the first ship back to Eldoria, tell those cunts Freddy and the emperor that I’ve returned and will be coming for them for what they did to me and Luna.’’

’’The black wolf?!’’ the human muttered, shocked.

Dante slapped the Hero and snapped, rage filling his face as his aura exploded, scaring even the Death Knights into stepping back. ’’Don’t you ever mention her! Or even the warning won’t stop me from killing you’’

He looked at Sulla, demanding. ’’Curse this fool and make sure if he tells anyone but those two cowards about me, he’ll die a horrible death.’’

The Death Lich bowed his head and began muttering something, only for a wave of mana to wash over the Hero, forcing him to let out a scream as the magic burrowed deep into his body, making sure it infected every inch of him. His smile grew wide as he continued talking. ’’Now go and warn your ancestor that his death is coming.’’

Dante watched as the Hero stumbled to his feet, fleeing toward Dreadport in abject terror. Under his breath, he muttered. ’’I must grow stronger. In this world, only the strongest endure.’’

Turning to his Death Knights, he declared, his voice cold. ’We will raze an entire city, tens of thousands of humans await their end at our hands, only to become part of my growing army. I cannot stop now, or the Heroes will win!’’

Once Dante finished speaking, he pulled up the information about the Death Camp.

[Death Camp Capacity: 2000/2000]

[Upgrade Capacity by 1000: 500 Death Points]

’Let’s spend two thousand points to increase the space for the remaining Thornebrooke peoples,’ he mused.

[Death Points: 61004100]

[Death Camp Capacity: 2000/4000]

’’Good, now I can create more cannon fodder,’’ he muttered.

Dante fixed his piercing gaze on the Death Knights and commanded. ’’Gather the bodies and throw them into the Domain. If you find any strong fighters or mages, bring them to me. I need to rebuild the army.’’

The four knights bowed in unison as the Death Bear and Wolf Leaders appeared at his side. Moments later, Mary appeared, draping herself over his shoulders with a sly grin. ’’My lord, your fury sets my heart ablaze,’’ she purred. ’’And I figured out that I have another form, not human.’’

This caught Dante’s attention. ’’Show me.’’

Mary slinked from behind Dante until she stood in front of him. A mischievous glint danced in her eyes as she began to transform. Her form shimmered, and a pair of pointed ears sprouted from her head, sharp and elegant. Her eyes, once familiar, shifted into a mesmerizing crimson, mirroring his own. Dark wings unfurled from her back with a soft, ominous rustle, their span casting fleeting shadows across the ground.

Her transformation ended in a demonic form, radiating charm. Dante’s brow furrowed, his mind grappling with the impossible sight before him. He took a step back, his voice a low growl laced with disbelief. ’’How in the hell do you have a demon form, woman?’’

His words hung in the air, sharp and demanding, as his crimson eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers in the depths of her gaze. The Death Knights returned just as she finished, only for Henry the Black Knight to answer. ’’We had a Demon in the family many generations ago; it looks like your power has brought that out, My Lord.’’

’’Hmmmm, interesting,’’ he murmured at the knight’s words.

Dante turned to Mary, who sauntered toward him as she teased. ’’I’m no longer human, My Lord. Can I keep you company?’’

’’No,’’ he instantly replied. ’’I have no interest in love or sex; those things are for the weak.’’

Mary began laughing as her smile grew wide. ’’Why lie? I can sense it deep down, buried beneath all your pain?’’