Turning slowly, the Lich finally noticed him. Before it could react, Raito drew his second dagger, green flames of holy burst dancing along its edge. With a precise, brutal strike, he drove the dagger through the Lich's back, shattering the core that pulsed around its chest.

A blinding explosion of holy light erupted as the Lich screamed. The air itself seemed to crackle, and the bones of the fallen Titan that had tried to reform froze, powerless under the surge of holy energy.

Raito hovered above, daggers glowing, chest heaving, ready for whatever came next.

The body of the Lich was absorbed, vanished, and devoured by Greed.

[Absorption Complete]

[Level Up!]

[Current Level: 9]

The last traces of the Lich's energy twisted into black smoke, pulled into Raito's chest as his body glowed faintly with green light. The air around him grew cold, unnaturally still.

[E Rank Undead essence evolved to D Rank.]

[Dark Affinity +50%.]

Then, the system's voice echoed inside his mind, calm, yet filled with authority.

[Skill Acquired: Necromancer Heir]

Granting permission over Dead Mana…

Authorization complete.

Effect:

• You may now summon and command undead up to your current level.

• Dead Mana manipulation unlocked.

• Dark affinity increased significantly.

• Level increased.

[System Remark:]

The restless dead now heed your call, Raito, those who wander between life and decay.

A soft rumble echoed through the castle hall. Shadows from the shattered bones began to rise, faint green light flickering within their hollow sockets.

Raito looked down at his hand as wisps of dark mana swirled around his dagger.

"Undead, huh," he muttered, a grin forming. "That means I can control them now."

The voice of the Lich faintly echoed through the mist.

"Use them well, heir of decay."

Even if it wasn't as strong as a canonical copy of someone in Bones, it was still of the dead.

Raito looked around at the motionless undead knights who now stood before him, their hollow eyes glowing faintly as if waiting for his command.

"I'm sure these are all knights who've been dead for centuries," he muttered. "And I'm certain there's even more hidden deeper inside."

He exhaled softly. "Well, now that I've defeated the Lich, what could possibly be next? That should've been the final boss. The drill assessment should be over by now. It should've returned me automatically to my room."

Raito turned to leave, glancing toward the massive entrance behind him.

But the castle door remained shut, completely sealed.

He frowned. "What's going on? I already defeated the final boss, didn't I?"

Then a system notification appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in front of the dark hall:

[Quest Update]

Step into the other door.

Walk through it, and you will meet me.

The Final Boss.

Upon defeat, the Drill Assessment will end.

Raito blinked. "Something more powerful than the Lich?"

The words echoed in his head like a threat and a promise.

He stared at the massive open door ahead of him. The air beyond it shimmered faintly with red mist.

"What the hell is this place turning into?" he muttered, tightening his grip on his dagger.

He took a deep breath, then stepped forward.

As he entered, torches along the walls flared to life one by one, bathing the enormous hall in crimson light. He stopped for a moment, eyes narrowing.

Lined on both sides of the hall were hundreds of undead knights, each motionless, each radiating faint mana. None attacked him.

"I see," Raito said quietly. "They're not hostile anymore because of the Necromancer Heir title."

He walked slowly between them, his footsteps echoing across the endless marble floor.

Three hundred undead knights watched in silence as he passed, the flickering firelight reflecting in their hollow eyes.

At the far end, another colossal door awaited him.

The moment Raito reached for the handle, a wave of power hit him like a crashing tide. He staggered slightly, coughing as the air thickened. It was as if gravity itself pressed against his lungs.

"What is this aura?" he whispered, clutching his chest. "I can barely breathe."

He stared at the door, the pressure growing stronger with every heartbeat.

"I'm sure whatever's behind this door," he said softly, his eyes sharpening, "is at least three times stronger than the Lich."

Raito placed his hand on the handle, his holy aura faintly flickering around him.

"Alright then," he whispered. "Let's see what's waiting for me inside."

Raito pushed the massive door open.

The moment he stepped inside, the world turned dark. The air was heavy and still, almost suffocating.

Then, light.

Red light began to glow from the cracks in the floor, tracing veins of mana across the stone. The glow spread, coating the room in a crimson haze.

At the center stood a throne, carved from black obsidian, towering above all.

Upon it sat a figure, massive, motionless, and clad in heavy armor unlike any other knight Raito had seen. Its chestplate bore ancient runes. Its helm was crowned with jagged spikes. A colossal sword rested across its knees, its blade cracked yet burning with a red aura that seemed alive.

The figure's head was lowered, as though asleep.

Raito froze, watching carefully.

Then,

Clang.

The armored figure moved. Its head lifted slowly, and a faint crimson glow flared within its hollow eyes. The throne room trembled as the creature's killing intent filled the air.

Raito instinctively took a step back, his breath catching.

The creature's deep, echoing voice rolled through the room.

"You there, come closer."

At that exact moment, a system notification appeared before Raito's eyes, flashing with golden light.

[Final Quest: Drill Assessment Execution Phase]

[Boss: Death Knight]

[Accept or Reject]

Raito's eyes widened.

"Wait, what…? A Death Knight?" he whispered.

He clenched his fists, the glow of the system window reflecting in his eyes.

"How am I supposed to defeat something like this?"

mind raced. Death Knights weren't supposed to appear here—not in a simple assessment.

He swallowed hard.

"The last time one appeared was… twenty-five years ago," he muttered. "And the person who defeated it…"

He looked down, his voice trembling slightly.

"…was my mentor. Masen Nibori. The man who stopped the last calamity. The one I swore to surpass."

The Death Knight slowly rose from its throne. The sound of its armor grinding against itself echoed like thunder.

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