Surviving as a Barbarian in a Fantasy World

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 317: Necronovix, the Four Lords of Hell (6)

The Dwarven King, realizing belatedly that the newcomer was the Master of the Magic Tower, flusteredly greeted him.

"Oh, it's been a while."

[Yes, yes. I almost felt slighted, thinking you had forgotten me.]

"Th-that would never happen."

The mighty hero, Grombir, the strongest among the dwarves, found himself floundering in the presence of the Master of the Magic Tower.

It was an unavoidable reaction, given who the Master was—a legendary figure who had made a name for himself across the continent long before Grombir was even born.

He was the lord of all mages, a monstrous existence beyond the concept of mere mortals.

Although Grombir was the king of the dwarves and held a high status, he had been indebted to the Master of the Magic Tower a few times in his youth, making it difficult for him to act assertively.

"So, what do you mean by that?"

Grombir, eager to change the tense atmosphere, quickly shifted the topic.

"Are you saying the Necronovix that Ketal fought was just a clone?"

Ketal doubted whether he had truly defeated Necronovix.

The Master of the Magic Tower had called his doubts justified, leading Ketal to interpret it as the enemy being a mere clone.

However, the Master of the Magic Tower denied this.

[No, it was definitely the real one. Let me explain. If you want to listen, feel free.]

With a wave of his finger, the Master of the Magic Tower conjured a chair made of mana and sat down.

His gaze then turned towards Serena.

[...But who are you?]

"Greetings, Master of the Magic Tower,"

Serena replied softly.

"I have heard of your famed name. A being on earth who has touched the gates of heaven. I am Serena, once known as the Holy Sword."

At her words, a glint in the Master of the Magic Tower's eyes flickered momentarily.

[...A change in nature, is it? The powers of the gods truly can achieve the most peculiar things.]

The Master marveled but showed only mild surprise, as if it was within his expectations.

[No issues then. I have questions for you as well.]

After organizing his thoughts, the Master of the Magic Tower began.

[First, Necronovix must have come here, correct?]

"He did,"

Ketal replied.

The Master of the Magic Tower asked,

[What happened then?]

"I won."

[Hah, you actually defeated that monster.]

The Master of the Magic Tower chuckled.

Even he had barely managed to graze Necronovix.

The entity was so formidable that only a god descending directly could have opposed him.

Yet Ketal had emerged victorious against such a being—an astonishing display of strength.

[Well, it's not bad for us. But to get straight to the point, you didn't actually defeat Necronovix.]

"Then, are you saying it was a clone?"

[I told you, it wasn't a clone. It was indeed Necronovix himself.]

"...My God."

The Four Lords of Hell.

One of them had descended directly onto the earth.

Grombir felt dizzy at the thought, while Ketal wore an expression that seemed to say, "I figured as much."

The entity had been far too strong to be a mere clone, far surpassing the level of Materia, who had borrowed Floris' body to descend.

‘Though I can't fathom how he escaped at the end,’

Ketal thought.

As a being akin to a god, Necronovix must have had a way.

Grombir muttered, amazed,

"Did you come to gather information about Necronovix? You sure detected him fast."

[Not entirely incorrect, but there's a misunderstanding. Let me clarify. Necronovix didn't come only here.]

"...What?"

[While you were facing Necronovix, I was also fighting him. Not just me—the elves as well. Their sacred land was attacked by Necronovix.]

"W-what?"

It wasn't just them who were attacked.

Grombir was shocked at the revelation.

"Are the elves alright?"

Ketal asked quickly, knowing that Karin and Arkamis were there.

He also thought Ignisia might have arrived there, making him naturally worried about those he knew.

[They seem to have barely managed to fend him off, though there were significant casualties. The ones you're familiar with are injured but alive, so you don't need to worry.]

"That's a relief."

"Are you saying Necronovix attacked one place after another?"

[No, he appeared simultaneously.]

"H-how?"

Grombir looked completely baffled.

The Master of the Magic Tower clicked his tongue and explained.

[Let's start with the phenomenon. Necronovix appeared in three places simultaneously.]

The sacred land of the elves,

The Magic Tower,

And the dwarven stronghold.

Necronovix attacked these three locations simultaneously.

[These weren't clones or shadows. Each one was the true Necronovix. Three of him existed on earth simultaneously.]

"...Are you saying there are three Necronovixes in total? Unbelievable."

Grombir swallowed hard.

To have three god-like beings present on earth simultaneously was terrifying.

However, the Master of the Magic Tower denied that possibility.

[No, it seemed more like a separation of himself.]

"Dark magic?"

[Most likely. The three share their power and consciousness. There’s a time limit, and he can’t fully pay attention to the others if he focuses on one side. Still, there are few who can withstand even that.]

The Master of the Magic Tower knew this.

Necronovix had been so focused on Ketal that he couldn’t properly distribute his power and consciousness elsewhere.

[The only ones who can buy time against a split Necronovix are me and... perhaps the Sun God's Saintess.]

Even the so-called heroes couldn’t stand against Necronovix.

The Master of the Magic Tower looked at Ketal.

[You might be the only one who can truly defeat him.]

"Hmm."

"..."

Grombir's face turned pale.

In conclusion, Necronovix could exist simultaneously in three places on earth.

However, only the Sun God's Saintess, the Master of the Magic Tower, and Ketal could contend with him.

If Necronovix returned after Ketal left, their lands would face inevitable destruction.

[Can you contact the gods?]

"Impossible. My prayers don't reach them."

[They must have used a trick from Hell. Of course, they would use every method available to summon one of the Four Lords.]

The Master of the Magic Tower clicked his tongue.

They couldn't rely on the gods.

They had to respond using only the power available on earth.

[My power alone isn’t enough to handle Necronovix. So, will you help me?]

Would Ketal join him in fighting against Necronovix?

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Ketal nodded without hesitation.

"I'll cooperate."

[Thank you, truly. If you visit the Magic Tower later, I'll reward you generously.]

"Don't worry about it. It's only natural to cooperate when the world is in peril."

Ketal replied.

He could feel the sinister presence laughing inside him, but he ignored it.

"So, how should we deal with this? Are we supposed to handle all three at once?"

Like the Hydra, which could only be killed by severing all its seven heads simultaneously, they might have to deal with the three separated Necronovixes all at once.

At this, the Magic Tower Master let out a groan.

[To be honest, I haven't figured it out yet. It’s such an advanced form of dark magic that I can't immediately grasp its exact nature.]

"Hmm. Serena, do you know anything?"

"Ah, no. I have information about Necronovix, but I've never heard of such abilities."

[It’s probably a power they gained after the Divine Demon War. Fortunately, we’ve managed to capture one of its tails. We can analyze it and figure out how to counter it.]

"So, we have to hold out until we find an answer. It’s like a continent-wide defense game," Ketal murmured before asking,

"How do you plan to block them? You don't know how the Necronovixes will descend, right?"

To stop the Necronovixes' attacks, they needed to predict their movements in advance.

However, they could only respond a step behind without receiving any divine revelations. The Magic Tower Master answered:

[That won't be a problem. My magic is encompassing the entire continent.]

"...What?"

[I've cast a Ten-Class spell I created, Omniscient Observer Perspective. The spell is active. It blankets the continent like the air in sync with my scattered puppets. No matter where they appear, we’ll know immediately.]

"Hold on."

Ketal’s expression was one of surprise.

The Magic Tower Master was saying he had deployed a spell covering the entire continent.

Ketal let out a dry laugh.

"You monster."

[It sounds like you're teasing me when you say that.]

The Magic Tower Master remarked with an exasperated tone.

[In any case, we can detect their arrival immediately. We’ll need to leap using spatial magic to respond swiftly.]

"So, we just have to wait for now."

[Since we can’t act until they show themselves, that’s correct.]

"When do you think their next attack will be?"

[Well, I’m not entirely sure of the method, but judging by standard approaches, it shouldn't happen too soon. It will probably take at least a week before the next attack follows.]

"We should be safe for the time being."

[Probably so. Rest for now. I’ll call for you when the time comes.]

"Understood,"

Ketal replied and continued training his aura alone.

Two days later, the Magic Tower Master rushed over to Ketal.

[This is insane!]

His eyes were filled with shock. His voice carried a tone of denial.

[It’s only been three days!]

"It seems they've already arrived."

[Damn it. I’m counting on you.]

Ketal nodded.

* * *

In the Eastern Continent, multiple fronts existed where the forces of the surface and the forces of evil were engaged in intense battles, vying for control.

Among them, the largest frontline existed, connecting to all regions of the Eastern Continent.

The demons had identified its strategic importance and were relentlessly attacking it.

The surface forces were barely holding their ground, pouring in all their strength.

It was a living hell.

[The black wave engulfs the surface.]

It was not a wave but a tsunami—a massive, dark tidal wave that blocked out the sun as it crashed over the frontline.

"Ah...!"

"Save us..."

The defenders were swept away without resistance.

Among them were individuals of remarkable talent, top-tier superhumans who were once deemed future heroes.

Yet they all disappeared meaninglessly before the overwhelming force.

"Aaahhhhhh!"

Desperate screams filled the air.

The frontline was crumbling.

In just five more minutes, the entire area would fall.

There was nothing they could do.

Hopelessness loomed.

And at that moment, someone flew in from the distance.

[You’ve arrived.]

Necronovix cast a defensive spell, clashing with an axe, and a thunderous roar echoed.

[We meet again, monster.]

Ketal swung his axe, blocking Necronovix’s path.

He squinted as he examined Necronovix.

"...It's exactly the same as the one I faced before."

Its aura, energy, everything was identical.

It felt like it was copied and pasted.

Ketal let out a faint smile and asked:

"What are you, really?"

[There’s no reason for me to tell you. The surface will burn. You can remain alone amidst the scorched land.]

Darkness swirled.

Ketal summoned his aura.

Power clashed with power.

Ketal succeeded in halting Necronovix.

Although the frontline was partially destroyed, they managed to hold it.

The Magic Tower Master, too, with half of his body’s bones shattered, managed to fend off Necronovix’s assault.

However, there were three Necronovixes in action.

They stopped two, but the third was left unchecked.

The legendary village of Pysaraphia, a sanctuary of fairies that had existed on this earth for thousands of years, where all the world’s mysteries were said to reside, was now burning.

The Fairy Queen, a formidable hero, was slain.

The mystical spring, whose single sip could cure all diseases and rejuvenate one’s youth, evaporated and vanished from the surface.

The surface was ablaze, crumbling, and trembling.

And at that moment—

The white snowfield.

The eastern sea connected to it.

"Wa-ha-ha-ha!"

"We’ve finally arrived!"

There, beings that were not of the surface had landed on the earth.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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