CHAPTER 42: MY LORD, FEAR NOT

Dante pushed the third bowl of spicy noodles away from him; he was bloated thanks to the big portions the woman gave them. The other two had just finished their meals, causing Bella to look at him, a knowing smile appearing. ’’Enjoyed the food?’’

’’Yes, I’m going to order some more and put them in the storage ring for our journey,’’ he answered, standing up.

Moments later, he made his way over to the counter where the human woman was sitting, reading a paper. She looked up, and a friendly smile appeared as she greeted him. ’’Here to pay, young man?’’

’’Yes, and I want five of everything you’re selling,’’ Dante responded, shocking the server, but he asked for the price anyway. ’’How much would that cost?’’

The woman looked baffled for a few seconds before shaking her head, answering his question. ’’Well, there are many noodle meals and some are expensive thanks to the ingredients we use, but I’ll do it for eight gold coins.’’

Dante hesitated, his instincts urging him to kill the woman, but he handed over the nine anyway. If playing nice in Dawnhaven meant better food, he’d swallow his pride, for now. The human’s smile grew wide as she took the payment and spoke. ’’How about you return here in an hour? I’ll use magic to keep your food hot?’’

’’Okay.’’

Following that, the trio left the store as Bella spoke, glancing around. ’’We need to get some stuff for the journey south, it’s a long and dangerous road. Maybe a camo tent? But they cost a lot?’’

The Elf started mumbling about everything needed, causing Mary to sigh. ’’Our lover has enough gold to last a while, and we can always raid bandit camps on the way to Blackharbor?’’

’’Sounds like a good idea, but I’m not your lover, woman,’’ he replied and started leading the women toward the nearby market as he continued. ’’I have over ten thousand gold coins and double that in the others. Ashvale, Thornebrooke, Hollowend, and Dreadport were full of wealth. Now it’s all mine and I can spend it however I like without the emperor’s advisor moaning at me.’’

Dante handed Bella a pouch of gold, grinning as he told her to go all out with the shopping. They trailed behind the passionate Elf as she eagerly bought essentials: food, camping gear, protective wards to fend off powerful monsters, and a host of other necessities. Despite her excitement, her face clouded with guilt over spending so much coin.

’’It doesn’t matter,’’ he reassured. ’’I don’t care about wealth anymore, I can always get more of it.’’

When Bella heard this, her face lit up, only to remind him. ’’Do you want to get your noodles? They should be done now?’’

After that, the group headed back to the shop where they found a massive pile of food, stacked as high as the older woman could reach. Dante was shocked, but stored them all in the magic ring he took from the adventurer as Mary thanked the human. ’’Thank you for that, we’re traveling to Blackharbour and don’t want to hunt any monsters.’’

’’Don’t worry about it, young lady,’’ the woman waved her away. ’’Your group has paid my rent for the next couple of months and helped my children not starve during the coming winter. So thank you for the big order.’’

Dante was conflicted but decided not to say anything as the trio left the shop and departed Dawnhaven. While walking, Bella glanced at him. ’’You were struggling not to kill the humans, right?’’

’’Yes,’’ he admitted. ’’Next time they won’t be so lucky, I’ll destroy Riverside to make up for it. I just wanted decent food and stuff for the road. This survival pack is annoying me.’’

Following that, the two young women returned to the Domain thanks to the weather was getting worse. While alone, Sulla appeared beside him, hovering over him like a villain sitting on his shoulder. ’’Riverside should be full of new victims, should I scout it out, my lord?’’

’’Do it, and report back what you see.’’

Minutes later, Dante passed by a merchant caravan, but thanks to his magic, the Death Lich was invisible to them. He pressed forward along the dusty road, the growing presence of Darkmoore soldiers forced him to rush into the underbrush to get away from he stronger foes.

The distant clatter of hooves sent a chill through him when he felt two dozen A Rank Warriors hidden among the horde of soldiers, stirring a gnawing paranoia that enemies might be closing in. ’’My lord, fear not,’’ Gilbert said, emerging from Domain. ’’The Darkmoore forces will be too preoccupied to pursue us.’’

Dante let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. "Good. Because I want to rest once I get a chance,’’ he said, a tired smile flickering across his features.

They pressed onward, the path winding through dense brush. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber, a low growl echoed from the underbrush. A lone wolf lunged from a hidden trail. Dante’s daggers flashed, meeting the beast mid-air, and cut the creature in half.

Blood sprayed across the forest floor as a pack of snarling monsters emerged from the bushes, encircling him. He let out a low chuckle and raised his hand, summoning the Death Wolf Leader. A portal tore open, and the towering beast stepped through, its presence freezing the attackers in their tracks.

With a roar, the Death Wolf lunged, tearing through the creatures, punishing their audacity for daring to hunt its master. Dante watched his undead tear apart the smaller ones and basked in the experience he was earning through his monsters. By the time the fight came to an end, Raoul appeared and decapitated the last Forest Wolf.

Corpses littered the ground. Dante opened a portal to his Domain, throwing the bodies inside for his army to feast upon. He had no use for E-Rank creatures in his ranks; their remains would serve as food, fueling the growth of his monstrous legion. After he was finished with that, the Death Goblin complained. ’’Why didn’t you unleash us on that village, my lord? I was hoping to slaughter more Darkmoore soldiers!’’

’’I needed supplies for the journey,’’ he answered, waving away the Death Knight. ’’Riverside will be bigger and better to destroy. More bodies for my growing army.’’

’’Very good,’’ Raoul happily said.

The two of them started walking toward the town until it grew too dark to continue, and he decided to set up a camp because the air in the Domain was becoming unbearable thanks to all the undead roaming in it. He summoned the Death Giants and Wendigos to guard the campsite.

While sitting in front of the fire, Dante made after digging out a small hole, he checked everything he’d earned since leaving Dawnhaven.

[Level Up: 109110]

[Experience: 300/20,000]

[Experience Gained: 10,100]

[Death Points: 10,60012,000]

’’Oh, looks like the Wendigos killed monsters while following the humans,’’ Dante muttered before pulling up his status.

[Name: Dante Ashbourne]

[Class: Death Monarch]

[Level: 110]

[Experience: 10,200 /20,000]

[Rank: E]

[MANA: 316]

[HP: 280]

[STR: 334]

[DEX: 343]

[INT: 276]

[CHA: 151]

[DP: 12,000]

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

’I need to level up some of my skills,’ he decided.

Following that, Dante pulled out some sweet noodles and started eating, the aroma spreading across the clearing they were in. This attracted dozens of monsters that caught his monsters’ attention, but he raised a hand and ordered. ’’Let me deal with them.’’

Just then, he started casting Death Blasts into the creatures he could see. Explosions rang out when his magic connected with them, sending their burned corpses flying through the air, and he continued killing the forest monsters using his skills so he could let them level up.

Ten minutes later, Dante’s barrage of spells ceased, his mana gone. He was now exhausted and paused to eat, regaining his strength. As exhaustion set in, darkness enveloped the clearing, a thick shroud that swallowed everything beyond the flickering light of his fire, leaving him isolated in its dim glow.

He stood up and crawled into his tent as the Death Giants growled behind him, keeping even more monsters back. Dante soon fell asleep as howls echoed across the Dark Forest, but that didn’t bother him in the slightest. By the time he woke up, the sun had risen, and beams of sunlight filtered through the canopy above.

’’The breeze feels good,’’ he muttered, climbing out of the tent.

Dante yawned just as Sulla appeared in front of him and bowed, revealing. ’’Riverside is a den of filth, my lord. They buy and sell slaves, but all races are involved in such trade.’’

’’Good, then they’ll deserve what’s coming for them,’’ he responded, stretching his arms before questioning. ’’How are your zombie hordes doing?’’