Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Deep within, the thing that had spurred Skullius to awaken the very essence of the Insurgent Magnus, called to him.

He immediately gave it his attention, the pulsing vibration like that of a heart that ran through him giving him hope.

Skullius didn’t have much of an understanding of this thing, but as it called, he responded without delay, giving the accruing damage no mind.

He activated [Advanced Mana Manipulation] and dived into himself, following the light from his core that was trying to produce more mana!

His vision was pulled to the Fruit of World Myths, his attention becoming focused on the flower-like object as in next moment, a familiar feeling overtook him!

The colourful world became dyed in strange shades of colour that only focused on black, white and grey!

Skullius saw himself rise as the pressure he felt from being trampled disappeared, his image now, whatever it was, feeling so free that all of his worries vanished, a sensation of complete fulfilment washing his existence!

Crude World Projection!

Unlike last time when he couldn’t see his body, Skullius looked at his arms and saw them covered in a thick black smoke that rose up as if in long exposure!_.

The same was true for his legs and torso as all he was, was a black figure floating in the air.

He saw the large gremlin as an outline with a dark grey colour as it stomped on him while being bound by chains that held…a colourless hue!

As if this wasn’t a surprise enough, Jackpot turned to look up to where this new body of Skullius was and narrowed his eyes!

‘He can see me?!’ Skullius thought in shock.

It was true!

The lucky brute could see Skullius but it couldn’t bring itself to attack as it felt something discourage its engagement with this dark entity.

An immense sense of weakness immediately poured onto Skullius as his body began to descend, falling back to his Discount Human form!

‘Come on! I just gained something that could help me! Is it because I’m on the brink of dying right now?!’

Skullius surmised that this weakness was because of that.

He also considered that the only reason he had this body while in this state was probably because his [Evil Darkness] affinity had rose to grade C after his first use of this [Crude World Projection]!

Skullius’ eyes honed in on the dispersing darkness that was around him!

Unlike everything else in the cave, it held a particularly attractive shade of black that almost seemed… genuine… in a sense.

As he fell, weakness wrapping around his body as Jackpot looked at this cautiously, the Discount Human stretched his hand towards the darkness, a shocking change occurring in the very next moment!

The darkness which had been about to vanish was drawn towards his smoking hand at an astonishing speed!

The [Evil Darkness] gathered in his palm, forming into a abstruse yet vivid shape without definite qualities!

Moulding darkness was so easy!

The darkness heeded his call!

It submitted so readily!

It was as if in this form, darkness followed his will!

Was this the purpose of Crude World Projection?!

Sadly, Skullius’ dark body was already halfway back into his Discount Human body, sinking steadily!

Before he could fully sink though, Skullius made one last attempt before this state was lost to him for the time being, willing the mass of darkness in his palm to solidify and smash into the head of Jackpot!

VWUUUP!

In less than a second, the vivid darkness condensed into a small ball of darkness that shot out at the speed of sound towards the gremlin!

Skullius’ vision returned to normal afterwards as he looked to check what he had attempted had worked!

It just so happened that Jackpot tilted his head to the side as he sensed a terrible fate awaiting at the last second when he saw the black form of Skullius receding, successfully evading most of the blow but getting his cheek and ear blown off!

“EEEEEEEEEEAAAAHHGH!” Jackpot screeched in pain as he drew back, chunks of flesh falling from his shredded side along with sprays of blood!

Skullius felt the slightest bit of relief from having the giant’s foot over him as he didn’t waste any time, using the Chains of Damnation that were already around Jackpot to pull him towards the ever-growing spot where the cave had been destroyed!

The heavy creature tried to resist but after the shock from having its cheek blown off, it didn’t manage to steady itself enough to maintain a rigid stance as what followed…

CHSSSSHHHHH!

Jackpot was dragged into whatever the rainbow chaos outside the cave was and the moment he touched the outside, he screeched with an ear piercing voice that portrayed utter despair, a sound effect like fried meat resounding only for a second as the body of the creature was disintegrated!

Skullius watched all this with his body limp. He wasn’t able to move after using [Crude World Projection] which he now understood a lot better.

Yet, above the feeling of achievement, he couldn’t help but rejoice in the death of Jackpot, even though he didn’t suffer enough.

[You have killed (III) Lucky Emperor Gremlin. 735,500 Exp awarded]

[Congratulations, you have killed a Cluster General]

[Congratulations you have cleared a ‘Low level Cluster’]

[The Cluster General fueling this space has been killed. Cluster will commence collapse. Please exit immediately]

The illusory crack that was visible from the cave suddenly cracked, opening up a path to Aigas, as the scene of where Skullius had entered from could be seen beyond.

Skullius almost panicked as he couldn’t move, his mind having been rattled by the guidance field notification that said this space would now collapse!

Thinking quickly, he willed the Chains of Damnation to wrap around Red Rage’s remains and pull them towards himself.

As soon as that was taken care off, he willed the chains to drag him out through the portal, a process that didn’t take long as within a few seconds, Skullius found himself lying on the hard ground surrounded by a deserted town.

After a few more seconds passed, he watched as the large white crack he had seen in the beginning slowly close up until it didn’t exist anymore.

Before he could rest and proceed with other important things, another notification appeared in his sight, being one the many boons to be earned when one cleared a Cluster!