Chapter 20: I Wish to Walk Alone
When the undead finally disappeared into the darkness, everyone could finally relax. Even Shatima couldn’t claim she could face such a powerful horde of undead—just one giant zombie had left her, who couldn’t transform, utterly exhausted, not to mention the other dark undead. Although Rebrí and Mihajović were reluctant, they assessed the situation and realized that the enemy’s retreat was already a stroke of luck. If they continued, they might all turn into zombies. As for what to do next, they believed the mysterious lord would have his own plans.
It wasn’t until Komer and his group silently returned to the surface of Damorlensk Fortress that Puber, Ilot, Eve, and the others could truly relax. In fact, this expedition wasn’t long, but for Grace and Finitz, it felt like an extraordinarily arduous journey. The strange magical beasts and undead on the second floor of the bunker, along with the thrilling and intense battles, created an experience they had never encountered before, making it seem like they were in a dream. Returning to the surface and seeing the sunlight again, they would never forget that peculiar feeling.
The explorers wisely avoided mentioning what had happened during the expedition. Yet, why the undead retreated at the last moment remained a mystery in everyone’s mind. Perhaps only the lord himself could resolve their doubts.
Komer ignored his companions’ puzzled thoughts. He couldn’t deal with so many things at once. The strange creatures on the second floor were clearly remnants left by Kenifer III. Maybe it wasn’t his intention, but it was the reality now. He had been forced to reveal himself as the heir to the Dark Dynasty. And now, it seemed those creatures on the second floor were eager for him to take on that responsibility. Komer didn’t want to avoid this issue, but the core question was: even if he became the heir to the Dark Dynasty, what could he do—or what did he plan to do? He didn’t think the guy on the second floor would give up so easily. By indirectly agreeing to some of his demands, he might have escaped, but fulfilling his promises would be troublesome.
Rise the banner of the Dark Dynasty and fight to overthrow the Holy Light Church? That’s absurd. It might gain full support from those great secret cultists in the South, but compared to the power of the Holy Light Church, it’s like a firefly trying to compete with the bright moon. The Holy Light Church, at its peak, could have a few madmen from the Inquisition turn the entire Caucasus upside down with ease, not to mention having the support of countless nations and cities behind it. Even in the South, the power of the Dark faction cannot rival that of the Holy Light Church now; merely gaining the right to preach openly is already a remarkable breakthrough.
But since he had promised the other party, Komer didn’t intend to break his word. The consequences of breaking a promise would be unimaginable, especially since he still planned to stay in Damansky Fortress. It would be a shame to give up such divine aid for nothing. Komer also hoped to have a good conversation with this demon spirit to see if he could uncover more secrets from it. Besides, the second floor of the bunker should also contain wonderful treasures that would delight one.
As night fell, Komer entered the even more desolate and gloomy corridors alone. Yet at this moment, he no longer felt the tension or worry of exploration. Everything had been laid bare, and now what he needed was a thorough conversation with the other party, which would determine the direction of his future steps.
Komer sat alone in the center of a pitch-black square. The Dark Altar felt so familiar. Only when immersed in the intense dark atmosphere could he truly experience the comfort and pleasure of being surrounded by the essence of primordial magic—a sensation beyond any other pleasure, as if returning to his mother’s womb, surrounded by an atmosphere identical to his own body. Komer even felt as though his body had become part of the entire primordial darkness, his consciousness expanding infinitely. In that instant, every detail of the square, as well as the hidden rooms and corridors behind the doors around it, was fully within his awareness. The mind is the lamp; darkness is the primordial essence! This was the ultimate goal pursued by the Dark Way. At this moment, it seemed as though Komer had glimpsed the steps to enter the Dark Way.
A faint, sorrowful voice came from the depths of darkness without any apparent reason, “I can no longer tell whether you are the incarnation of His Majesty or a reincarnation. You’re too similar—almost identical. If you’re not His Majesty’s incarnation, then I can only say you possess the same dark talent as him. You are a born heir of darkness!”
“I’ve already made it clear to you—Kanifer III indeed transferred all his memories and experiences to me. But I have my own independent personality and will. Even Kanifer III can’t change me; only I myself can.” Komer had to remind him once again, as he seemed lost in old memories.
“I’m sorry. Perhaps prolonged anticipation has made my emotions a bit unstable. I have too high expectations of reality. You’re right—everyone has their own life, and there’s no need to deliberately imitate anyone. But I hope you’ll remember your promise to me.” A faint telepathic message came through, and this time the other party seemed much calmer.
“I don’t have a habit of breaking promises, but there are some issues I need to clarify. That’s why I came here tonight specifically to talk to you, to understand your thoughts for my reference,” Komer replied.
“Oh? My thoughts?” The other party seemed a bit confused.
“Yes. The Dark Dynasty has been destroyed for three hundred years now. Most people in the Azure Continent don’t even know this dynasty ever existed. Before leaving, Kanifer III also told me there was no need to cling to past glory. Perhaps he thought it was more important to ensure the legacy of the Dark Dynasty endured. But it seems you’re still indulging in those past glories. So I want to know your true thoughts. Have you really lived in hatred these past three hundred years? The current Light Church has won the respect and trust of the humans in the northern regions of the Azure Continent. It’s almost impossible to shake its dominance. Once you go out and see everything for yourself, you’ll understand what I mean. So I want to ask—if you could get out, what do you hope we could do?”
“What do I want to do?” This question seemed too broad, leaving the other party stunned and hesitant. After a long while, they couldn’t respond to Komer. Komer waited patiently, knowing that their lack of understanding of the current situation made it hard for them to make a choice. After all, they weren’t mindless fools—three hundred years of waiting should have given them more patience and resilience.
“I don’t know what I want to do either. Maybe I really need to calm down and think things through. But I hope I can go out and see things for myself.” After a long pause, a hesitant telepathic response came through.
“That would be best. The world changes quickly. Going out might change your mindset. But can you go out now?” Komer quickly realized what they meant.
“No. If I could go out, why would I need to be trapped here for over a hundred years? The builders of Fort Damorlensk tried every means to find a suitable vessel for me but failed, and since then, there has been no chance again. You know my energy comes from dark forces. With the Eye of Darkness here, the protection of those dark forces allows me to move around this castle, but I can’t step outside their range unless I find a suitable vessel.” A sense of deep regret was conveyed. “But I think you might be able to help me fulfill this long-cherished wish.”
“Hmm, I’d be happy to help you with that. I can also sense the nature of your energy entity. Do you have any specific requirements for this vessel?” Komer knew this was the key; otherwise, with the other party’s abilities, they would have long caused chaos on the Land of Azure.
“Of course. First, the vessel must be a magician of considerable rank; otherwise, my energy wouldn’t be able to remain in it, and I’d be severely restricted. Even if I could go out, it would be meaningless. Second, when the vessel dies, its body must be preserved intact—meaning the meridians through which magic flows must remain intact and sealed in a special way. If death occurs after too long and the meridians wither, it becomes worthless. Third, a magician with strong magical power is needed to use special crystals to bind my soul to him through a mental imprint, allowing him to sustain my life with magic at any time. This is the most crucial part. Otherwise, if his magic fails, my soul will dissipate and vanish. Such crystal fortresses for soul attachment do exist; what you need to solve are the issues of the vessel and the host.”
The other party struggled to explain the complex magical concepts through mental communication, and it took Komer some time to understand.
“Do you mean attaching to a host like a parasite?” Komer wasn’t entirely sure what the other party meant.
“Hmm, it can be explained that way roughly. I no longer have a body, and my energy is preserved through special black magic. Logically, I should have vanished long ago. Unless I find a vessel that matches my original form in every way, I can only appear in the light this way.”
“I understand. I’ll think of a way. Maybe I have a suitable vessel. But I have to ask—does gender matter to you?” Komer suddenly thought of a question.
“Gender? There shouldn’t be one, right?” That question was quite unexpected.