Bro, I'm not an Undead!



The glinting armor Replicus wore receded to form a gap that exposed the majority of the turbulent storms attached to his skeletal frame. These too also gave way, showing the two bright mana cores hanging just before Replicus' spine – one with a radiant blue that pulsed vigorously, and another with a jarring white that almost contended with Replicus' sockets at full flash.

Asides from these though, a small, pale creature with crumpled skin, its head bald and its face eyeless, was squirming irritably, beating at these two cores with as much strength as it could muster.

Perhaps the little thing was just mad about the cramped space, or maybe it was displeased by the band around its neck which Replicus had placed on it just after it was born.

"You're so vicious, huh?" Replicus said exasperatedly.

This latest Apostle was already proving to be a handful.

He had known already, but he thought that the leash that he placed around it would make it tolerably docile for the time being. Well, that certainly wasn't the case. He really needed to complete the process before proceeding.

Since the little Apostle had calmed down before – perhaps it had fallen asleep, he didn't know – he had placed it in his body and began feeding it Null Life Essence. With the vast reserves of it in the Honing Fortress, and without access to it being restricted while he was in the Severed Union, Replicus thought the little thing would have more than enough.

Because circumstances had changed though, and he had to limit his supply, and thus the little Apostle had woken up and started trying to manhandle his mana cores. It didn't help that Pherdanta's striking mana had burst out vibrantly just now. The new Apostle was probably startled by it.

Replicus reached within himself and drew out the little menace.

He held it up and watched it make all sorts of faces as it tried to jump out of his hand and flee.

'I guess this is better than having the little sockethole try to use that Dominion or whatever on me,' Replicus thought.

That didn't seem to be a viable option for the little Apostle now though, as the source of that Dominion it had exhibited earlier today, was the crown that had been growing from its temple.

There was no sign of it now, which, according to what Replicus had seen from the guidance field, meant that the authority it had been trying to steal, has passed.

'In any case, let's get this over with.'

Replicus held down the little creature.

When he experimented with the original egg it had been born from, he had linked all sorts of skills to the unborn creature inside making it a little too strong, and then killed it.

When using [Apostle Summon], the quality of the specimen determined what kind of creature would be born, after all.

That had worked a little too well, as far as Skullius was concerned. He knew from experience that Apostles could be born with skills they had before being summoned from a carcass. That had played a hefty role in this case.

The guidance field sparked alive before Replicus' sockets and he had it show him the description of the little one's species once again.

~~~

[Astute Duke of Transversal]

This is an incredibly prodigious race honored among the stars and favored by the many worlds in the Null Verse. The Astute Duke of Transversal is loosely related to one of the most formidable races within Serenity's treasure - a royal race - and has even adopted traits that go beyond the very definition of its name. Asides from being extremely favored by various versions of Null Life Essence, having several innate powers that bar contact with the Duke's body unless it allows it, and several racial manifestations that propound dreadful offensive capabilities, this species can temporarily transplant various regions of the Null Verse anywhere it wishes, and quickly adapt them to its advantage. It also possesses the ability to passively learn all there is to know about the Null Verse and its vast dimensions.

(Due to its unique powers, the Astute Duke of Transversal has inherited a flaw to balance its existence among the natives of different worlds.

The Astute Duke of Transversal can NEVER truly become subservient to another being because of its close ties to a royal race. To sway it into service somewhat, a LEASH will be provided, however, even after using it, the Duke will slowly grow more and more rebellious with age unless its master tames it UNCONVENTIONALLY).

---

-This species has the possibility of awakening a hidden AUTHORITY in the future.

-This species has the possibility of awakening a Second FOND CALAMITY in the future.

-This species has the possibility of awakening a SUPREME skill in the future.

---

All stats and skills will only be revealed when LEASH is fully utilized.

~~~

Replicus' sockets flashed with intrigue. The context he now had gave him several degrees of enlightenment.

'Definitely high risk and high reward,' Replicus thought while raising the Apostle, the Astute Duke of Transversal.

Once again, he had seen three options some time ago, when he gave the required experience for the unborn creature to reach Tier 1. Because of the quality, the evolution options had been absurd, but this had stolen his eye.

Still, he had yet to fully understand the fullest extent of this creature's powers.

The combination of the creature's unique race and its young age locked out Replicus from seeing its abilities. For that...

The Penetrator looked at the little band around its neck and tapped it with his finger. He sent forth a dash of Null Life Essence with the contact, and the metallic band sparked blue.

~~~

[Half-hearted Binder]

<???>

Forged by one of the many renowned blacksmiths across the stars in blazing furnaces made from mined, mountainous souls, this band's purpose is to restrain the Astute Duke of Transversal in its youth. To increase the success rate and lengthen the period of submission, the band allows the user to give the Duke a NAME. This name is then branded onto the Duke's body and may even increase its prowess if the user is strong enough.

-Caution-

The NAME given to the Duke will be branded in flame for all to see and will continue to glow on the creature's skin unobstructed. When the incalescent dies, so does the Duke's loyalty.

~~~

Band. Binder. Leash.

Whichever way the guidance field explained what was around the Astute Duke's neck did not dampen Replicus' caution. He knew how dangerous of an Apostle he had summoned, but the returns would be extremely worth it if he played his cards.

He doubted the Duke would start to rebel in a matter of days. 

Besides, he had a few ideas on how to tame this thing unconventionally, as the guidance field had said.

'Here goes,' Replicus cackled and placed the Apostle on the floor. The blue tinge of the band around its neck meant that the band was ready to inscribe whatever name he chose.

At this moment, he couldn't carelessly say a word, since there was no warranty here.

The little Apostle seemed pleased to finally be in an open, unrestricted space and without grubby hands hanging onto it.

However, perhaps because of the band's influence, it looked up at Replicus with its hollow sockets, awaiting its name.

Replicus scoffed.

'I've got something fitting for you,' he thought before opening his mouth.

"ARAEYN DERAGIN EXONN."

The words fled from Replicus' mouth livid with all the Null Life Essence he could send out in a single instant.

...!!!

Even the Penetrator was dumbstruck but the pulse that left his mouth as he spoke, as though drawn by the Half-hearted Binder.

A shockwave spread from around the two and blew out through the entire ship temporarily bringing it to an abrupt halt!

Despite his initial shock though, Replicus kept his sights on the little Apostle.

It had just been blasted by what he assumed was the force of his words, and the draw of Binder.

The bellow of flame echoed throughout the room, but Replicus didn't see the fire.

No.

He saw it.

He just didn't realize that it was a fire.

It could barely be differentiated from the air at first, but soon, it became clear.

An icy blue hue drew the characters of the name he had chosen on the little of the Apostle.

The creature let out an inhuman scream.

No one could that heard the scream could have assumed it was from anything other than pure agony.

Even Replicus was a little unsettled.

He would have felt sorry for the little thing if it didn't unleash a flood of greenish Null Life Essence at him that blew him back before he could fully guard!

Because of his immense agility, however, Replicus was flung like a ragdoll.

He gave himself and the creature distance, and watched as the process started to conclude.

Half a blink later, he felt the approach of his Unlimited, who attempted to use their Limited Granted Warp to emerge at his side. With a wave of his hand, he denied them access to this space and built up a barrier around the room.

He couldn't tolerate any variables that could complicate things further.

Moments later, everything seemed to settle.

Where the little Apostle used to be, a tall shroud of Null Life Essence with the likeness of thick mist now stood, hiding its figure.

Despite this though, Replicus could see clearly a print of blue that read:

"ARAEYN DERAGIN EXONN."

In an ancient dialect lost to Feinheath as a whole, it could only mean:

"HE THAT REBELS AGAINST ORDER."