Summary: The Corpus of the Abyss, a secret organization shrouded in secrecy, was annihilated. All of its members, who had either been killed by Suzuki Satoru, or Cure Elim, or even both. All 55 were all gone. But a certain being, who had seen their demise, gave them a second chance of their undead lives in another world called Remnant. And now, with their members all accounted for, along with their research and treasures, they will mark this world full of Grimm and Huntsmen with magic beyond the realm of humanity.
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY nor Overlord. They belong to Rooster Teeth and Kugane Maruyama respectively. Any references used in this story also belongs to their owners.
He had seen it all. All of his fellow members, his fellow undead, were gone in a flash of darkness.
He, and the rest of the group, were all dominated by an incredibly more powerful undead than that of a Night Lich.
Night Liches were beings who absorbed a great deal of mana and by so doing, transcended the state of Elder Liches. Such occurrences were rare even throughout history, for which many of the living were grateful.
This was because Night Liches were very powerful.
They were well-versed in using incredibly high-tier spells beyond the realm of humanity - the so-called sixth-tier. They were on par with even aged Dragons in a fight. In addition, they also possessed many special abilities, hordes of undead followers, a great degree of intelligence, and resided in behind many-layered impregnable bastions.
They were capable of ruling nations, as undead kings.
Even so, to think there was an undead being more powerful than that of a Night Lich proved they were not as powerful as they were thought to be.
Back then, there was an organization they were so proud of, and it was called "Corpus of the Abyss".
It was a group composed of undead magic casters. Originally, it had been formed to work for their mutual benefit and avoid conflicts.
The reason for that was because when the undead - as beings with unlimited lifespans - studied magic together, friction tended to develop.
Without the three great drives, undead invariably developed other, powerful desires, and in the case of undead magic casters, they generally tended to thirst for knowledge. For that reason, once a conflict over knowledge began, it would tend to escalate. Neither party would stop until it became a battle of extermination which would end with one side being annihilated.
If the three great drives of the living were concentrated into a single point, surely that single desire would become uncontrollable. It was very common for the undead to be destroyed in this way, to the point where the living could destroy both parties while they were absorbed in their feud.
For that reason, undead eventually emerged who understood that it was wiser to make trades and to cooperate within reason, rather than fight to mutual extinction over knowledge and magic items. In the end, a list of names was made.
It was an unenchanted stone tablet that was inscribed with the participants' names through some unknown magic, which would later be known as the "Granisle Inscription."
At that time, it only contained the names of four Night Liches and three Elder Liches. There were few rules and rulebreakers would be ganged up on by the others. Such was the looseness of their relationship.
But 200 years after that, it gradually became a complete organization.
Thanks to an increasing number of undead members, the seven grew by 48, becoming a large organization with 55 members, with the original seven each being difficulty rating 150 undead creatures.
However, very few people knew of this organization.
There were two kinds of undead who belonged to this organization.
One kind cultivated their influence among the living and used them to achieve their aims. The other had nothing to do with the living, working quietly for their own aims in the world.
Very few people thought like the former, so most of their members fell into the latter category. As a result, they did not cause many ripples in living society.
As for those who planned to build their influence among the living, along with it came an increase in the number of enemies. In particular, since the undead were the enemy of everything that lived, there were times where the living would form international alliances to exterminate them. Because of this, there were even fewer members of the former groups. Of course, there were also those who had put down roots in the darkness of the world of the living, but such skilled undead were few and far between.
In the end, "Corpus of the Abyss" became a group that existed only in rumors. The reason why they did not try to compel the aforementioned three Night Liches to join them was to avoid them gaining attention when they did so.
And that was one of the reasons for the problem of them being annihilated took so long.
Due to that reason, 21 members were killed, two left and were eventually hunted down, and the rest were dominated by the undead being that they can only be called as "The Lord of Death,"
With one of the remaining members, Kunivela, a Night Lich that understood that there are probably spells of the ninth tier, watched as he and his fellow members of the Corpus of the Abyss were about to be swallowed by a wave of darkness from the Dragon Lord they were forced to fight.
As he watched the wave of darkness come closer to them. He could only think of a single sentence when his undead life was flashing in front of him.
It was fun while it lasted. Kunivela thought with faint reminisce of his time with Corpus of the Abyss, and how he got to know all of the members of the inner and outer circle of the organization.
He had only hoped that one day that he, and most likely other members of the organization, would make their research come to fruition and one day hope to transcend further beyond.
"Hmm. Is that truly so?"
The speaker was an undead, it was clearly so. However, it was not an ordinary undead.
He wore a cloak of pure white, it radiated an air of holiness. He wore a magnificent white academic robe, edged in black and gold. The collar seemed excessively gaudy, but somehow it fit the overall design.
However, the exposed head was a bare skull. Points of dark red glowed in his large eye sockets, and behind that skull glowed a halo of sacred radiance.
This was the Lord of Helheim, the strongest out of the Lords, Shi.
He witnessed their demise, even though there were ranked at Mid Tier. He had seen the fruits of their efforts.
All of their research to grow stronger, to know the phenomenon of Midgard, their thirst for knowledge. The Lord of Helheim could only nod at respect of their efforts. Even though it was pointless if someone beyond their level could do something similar and at a faster rate.
Even so, as one of his fellow undead, they were nowhere near at his level. After all, he is the strongest being out of the Nine Realms.
With that in mind, as the strongest, he could do whatever he wants, right?
Shi grinned, although it did not show in his face, but many people could tell he was grinning.
"In respect of all your efforts, including the fact that you lot are my fellow undead. I, the Lord of Helheim, Ruler of the Dead, will grant you all a second chance."
Although it was impossible in such cases for a Lord using his Authority other than his or her respective realm. Shi, on the other hand, was an exception to that rule.
After all, he is a True Lord, a Lord who has the authority to all of the Nine Realms. As such, a True Lord can alter, bend, and manipulating the laws, the existence, and the balance of all the Nine Realms under his will. Such was the power of a True Lord.
Giving a second chance to those 55 undead was hardly called as "putting an effort" on his part.
"Now then. Perhaps I should leave a gift for all of you when you get there."
Shi chuckled, knowing it would be quite worthwhile. And then casted, an Authority only a True Lord possessed.
"「World Fraction」."
Kunivela could only think one thing as he and 54 others found themselves in a strange, and unfamiliar place.
Where are we?
That was his first and foremost thought he made as he and the others had find themselves.
They were on a shattered landscape, with the land filled with gray dirt with no signs of life. They even saw several rock formations slowly drifting away from the landscape towards into the night sky—
"What is that!?"
One of the 55 undead, Franz Ailes Intrun, an Elder Lich, shouted in unbelief as the others noticed where he was pointing at, looked at the horizon, and were shocked beyond belief.
They were looking at the huge spherical land, and from what they can see, it was covered by what they can assume were clouds, large volumes of water which they heard in the past was called the sea, and large patches of land spanning continents.
Beyond that was an orb of pure fire, with its brightness covered half of the spherical land, and its light reached to the gray-colored land.
From what they gathered — and from what little information they have — they were on the moon.
"How can this be possible!? More importantly, how did we even get here!?" exclaimed an Elder Lich, by the name of Betelguese Pi Nomar.
"Betelguese, is that you!? I thought you were gone!?" another Elder Lich, Regulus Ay Honti, exclaimed in recognition of the undead that just shouted.
"Regulus, do you mean I was killed by that ridiculously powerful undead and that girl!?"
"Yeah, and we couldn't contact you no matter how hard we tried, so we had no choice but to investigate your fortress, and found out you were turned into a pile of ashes."
"Really? Is that what happened to me when that undead casted 「Dragon Lightning」or I think that it was called?"
"Last I heard of that spell, it was a fifth tier, is it not?" another Elder Lich, by the name of Erich Vi Potaz, said in recognition of that spell.
As the conversation grew and grew, with their topics ranging from where they are, how they experienced what the mysterious undead and the girl did until all of the 55 undead that were gathered on the shattered moon were soon took a conversation that never happened outside of meetings organized in the past.
Although most of them were absent during those meetings but after the attack made by that undead and the little girl, all those absence were now nonexistent after the fear took hold of them.
They took their time by confessing how scared they were when under the effects of 「Undead Domination」and how scared they actually.
For the first time after the founding of the Corpus of the Abyss, all 55 undead — Both Night Lich and Elder Lich — were all present in this current situation.
After their conversation died in an unknown amount of time had passed. They began to discuss more pressing matters.
How did they get to the moon? How are they still existing? Who brought them here? Why is the moon shattered?
These were one of the many questions the Corpus of the Abyss had asked themselves as well as with the others. They even made proposals for investigations to be conducted in order to learn about the moon to see what caused it to be in its shattered state.
Eventually, all 55 undead agreed and had grouped themselves into five with 11 in each group with a Night Lich as their group leader in order to spread out and find clues or evidences on what caused it to be shattered.
In each group, they were composed of 3 Night Liches, and 8 Elder Liches.
Although it was true that Night Liches are few and are very rare undead creatures. However, since the founding of the organization, they were some who had become Night Liches, in fact, roughly 25% of the organization is made up of 15 Night Liches with the majority being 40 Elder Liches.
The first group was led by Kunivela. He was an ordinary looking undead skeleton, but was one of the seven founding members and he even understood that there was probably a ninth tier of spells in the world. The fact he knew about goes to show how vast his magical knowledge had been.
The second group was led by Benjeli Ansis. He was a Night Lich with two heads and six arms, as well as the practitioner of the six tier of both arcane and traditions of other types.
The third group was led by Granz Locke. He was a Night Lich that practiced magic of the eighth tier, he had a body of a Minotaur and his skull possessed horns that was shaped like a goat.
The fourth group was led by Rectur Frot. He was a Night Lich capable of casting seventh tier spells, and some eighth tier spells. He had a skeletal body and head of a War Troll, and possessed tremendous strength comparable to a living War Troll.
The fifth group was led by Kork Sectum. He was one of the very few Night Liches capable of casting Druidic spells of sixth tier up to seventh tier. He had a skeletal body and a head of a Goblin, but needless to say, his strength is far beyond that of a Goblin.
Immediately, after they had made their preparations, they all set out in five different directions.
The first group headed what they assumed to be north. They used all manner of defensive spells in case of enemy attack, some called undead minions for extra protection.
The second group headed to what they assumed as east. They also used the same methods of the first group, however, they made thorough search and locating any life forms they can find.
The third headed toward the west. They summoned undead creatures such as Zombies and Skeleton Warriors as they used 「Undead Slave Sight」for them to detect hidden dangers and used their minions to trigger traps as they observe in a safe distance.
The fourth group headed toward the south. Unlike the previous groups they made several quick searches and locate what was strange and suspicious.
And finally, the fifth group used 「Fly」for aerial observations and reconnaissance of the vicinity and used spells to detect objects that might be hidden on one of the scattered rocks that had once been part of the moon.
They were no longer undead beings that were doing for pride nor they were arrogant creatures of the living dead. They are now comrades-in-arms, undead under the banner of teamwork and had learned from their previous experience that knowing how to work with each other will bring new fruits that were unknown.
Yes, they were no longer as those who seek and thirsts for knowledge, but those seeking a greater goal.
"Have you all found anything yet?" Kunivela asked the leader of second group via 「Message」spell.
It's been a little more than two hours since their investigations had began. Kunivela began to worry since there were no clues being found on his part. Especially when it's nothing but the gray-colored landscape with small hills and craters all around his part.
"[I've found some research papers. All of them belonged to us, I identified one of these research papers to be mine]" Benjeli replied.
Hearing that from Benjeli, Kunivela asked in a curious tone.
"Is mine there as well?"
"[Yeah, there's even yours. Strangely enough, all of these research papers are all piled up and sorted accordingly to the names and signatures of all members of the organization.]"
"...That is truly strange... Contact the others, and tell them of your findings."
"[Understood, Kunivela. Benjeli, out.]
After dismissing the 「Message」spell, then contacted the leader of the third group after a few more minutes of searching.
"Anything there on your part, Granz?"
"[We've found something, Kunivela. I've found multiple magic items, and like Benjeli's findings, they're also sorted and piled up accordingly to our names and signatures.]" replied Granz. Kunivela then heard him cast「Fly」before he continued, "[We can see most items like swords, spears, and the like, we can assume that they're sorted like the others.]"
This is getting stranger and stranger the moment they began locating equipment and magic items piled up and sorted in manner only someone who likes orderliness would do.
Kunivela shook his head, and said, " Very well, contact the others about your findings. This is getting stranger by the moment we contact each other's groups. You may bring or equip some of them if you wanted to."
"[Understood, Kunivela. Granz out.]"
Kunivela cut off the spell, and looked around.
He and his group still haven't found anything worth taking note for, and he was to get worry that his might be the only ones don't have anything to report with.
At this rate, we might be the only group with no findings.
With that thought, Kunivela and his group resumed search for the next few minutes before contacting the next group.
Please this group hasn't found anything yet. Kunivela thought as activated the 「Message」spell and contacted the fourth group.
"[Definitely not over here.]" Kunivela heard the deep voice of Rectur that sounded a bit disappointed not finding worth interesting.
Kunivela made an action that looks like he's releasing relieved sigh. That was good, at least they haven't found anything yet.
Kunivela then cut off the spell before casting the same to contact the fifth and final group.
"Kork, did you find anything?"
There was no reply, Kunivela then waited for a minute before a voice answered.
"[Kork, here. I found something interesting. Call the others, and return back using 「Teleportation」it's really important.]"
Kunivela raised his nonexistent brow at that last part.
If it's truly important, then they would have contacted all of the groups. But, since he knew Kork, the only Night Lich he knew that actually enjoys surprises, it wouldn't hurt to contact them at least according to Kork.
"Very well. I'll contact the others, and be sure it's actually important. I don't want to risk us and the rest of the organization in fighting some foe that might be stronger than all of us combined."
"[Understood, Kunivela. You can take your time, I just discovered these books and meet us at the rendezvous point within thirty minutes.]"
"...Books?" Kunivela asked, quite confused with his fellow Night Lich's findings.
"[Yes, books. And they're strange, that's why I would like gather everyone to see if they know a thing or two about these books. Might be the answer why the moon is in this shattered state.]"
"Is that so... I understand, I'll contact the others with your findings."
With that, Kunivela cut off 「Message」and began contacting the others.
Who knows, it might lead us the answer what we're looking for.
With that in mind, Kunivela hoped it actually lead to more answers than questions.
Screw it, it actually led to more questions rather than answers. To think he was hoping that it would lead to more answers to their questions that they've looking for.
"What are those books?" Kunivela heard the voice of one of the members of the inner circle, Granz Locke, as he pointed his bony finger.
The books that were piled up looked like that they've seen better days. The fact it looked like it was rotted from age proved it was old, and ancient. Probably more than a thousand years give or take.
Kunivela looked at the Night Lich with the body of a Goblin as if to express "What the hell are these?". Kork then explained.
"These are the books that I found earlier. They were all stacked in one place, and there's even our names inscribed in each book."
"...Are there anything else?" Kunivela asked, wanting to know any information worth listening to.
"Yeah, there are." Kork then picked up a book with his name written at the front cover, and pointed at the title that was written in unknown characters, "I used a translation spell to find out what kind of clues we can get by knowing the title of this book. From what I kind make out with it, it's apparently called as 'The Book of the Dead.'"
"The Book of the Dead, sounds ominous for the living. Then, why are our names inscribed in those books? I could only think of a few possible theories why each of our names are on each of those books."
"Rectur, I never thought I heard you say those words in my entirety as a member of the organization. I always took you for more brawn than actual mind."
"Hm? Did you actually think so lowly of me? I'm also a Night Lich, it is common sense that I also possessed a great deal of knowledge and intelligence. I'm not like one of those War Trolls who used more muscles rather than their heads."
"Is that so? Heh, maybe I shouldn't judge the appearance of a fellow member of the organization." Kork said with an amused tone, before turning to the others, "Although, it is true with the book that's entitled as 'The Book of the Dead' sounds ominous for the living, and it's not actually that far off."
Curious, Granz Locke asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"Get this, apparently all of these books each possessed an unbelievable amount of negative energy stored inside. This amount can only be recorded when those retards in Zuranon from a faraway land said to have when they performed the Death Spiral. A ritual said to make an entire city a metropolis of the living dead, with the caster fully transformed into an undead, though commonly an Elder Lich to be precise."
"An Elder Lich, huh. Damn those retards, what would they actually achieve from turning themselves into an undead. That reminds me, from what I gathered back in my stronghold when I was doing my research. I heard that there are books that stored an unbelievable amount of negative energy thought to be used as by any means to know what was death truly like. Of course, those were only rumors my servants picked up when they overheard from some travelers while they're under patrolling duty near perimeters of my territory."
"Is that so? So they existed in the realm of rumors, then. That's quite interesting enough... Anyways, since they all have our names in it, why not open them all together?"
Members of the organization known as the Corpus of the Abyss looked at each other.
Kork's proposal does seem to be worthwhile. Who knows, since it's called as The Book of the Dead and has an unbelievable amount of negative energy stored inside, it's quite possible for undead beings like them should open those books with little to no ill effect. Since they have perfect immunity to death magic, and negative energy can heal them, so why the hell not.
Eventually, all of the 55 undead that belonged to an organization called the Corpus of the Abyss then gathered themselves in a circle. Each holding The Book of the Dead with their names on it.
Why are they forming a circle? One might ask.
The reason was simple. Since they don't know what to do, and thought the book needed to be opened as a group instead of as individuals. So they formed a circle, and once it was complete they then each have last looks.
So this was it, the moment of truth.
Each of the 55 undead that have gathered, slowly opened the book. And by the time they all have opened the book, a wave of pure negative energy washed and engulfed all of them in a sea of darkness.
"The Book of the Dead," in YGGDRASIL, The Book of the Dead was nothing more than a glorified item for undead players with the racial class of Elder Lich in order to become an undead of the highest order, an Overlord.
The Book of the Dead was also used to change one's race to become an undead such as an Elder Lich. And it was one of the common rare item drops found throughout YGGDRASIL. Players, like Momonga, had gathered most of these books and from what he read about its contents, it talks about souls taking a form of clouds in a vague manner.
Of course, he did not know of this and thus it was treated as a sort of cosmetic item after the negative energy stored in the book depleted upon opening.
Unfortunately, none of the players, even the beta-players in YGGDRASIL realize that one of the developers had put a special effect when the specific requirements are met.
However, upon the hands of the natives of the New World, they are able to grasp and realize the special effects The Book of the Dead possessed, and were able to trigger the special effects of the same book that tremendously affected the world around them.
Those special effects were—
After the sea of darkness had subsided. The negative energy turned scarcer and scarcer by the second before it became practically nonexistent.
If they had performed it within areas of large bodies of life, such as cities and towns. Then, all of it would be devoid any of it.
The sea of darkness had made everything in the surrounding area filled which can be described by a single word "Death,"
However, at the center of that sea of darkness where whence it came from, stood 55 figures.
The most likely question that people would make after seeing and recognizing those 55 figures. The tremendous aura and power they possessed, many could only say it in their minds.
Are they the rulers of death?
A hundred out of a hundred people could agree with that question with no room for arguments, and no room for debates.
They were truly rulers of death.
Emerging from the sea of darkness that possessed an unbelievable amount of negative energy in that darkness. Many of the living could feel the aura of death spiralling around, like electricity to a rod.
In spite of that, they have complete control over that tremendous power they have in the palms of undying hands. The thought of it could make any battle-hardened warriors shaking uncontrollably in fear.
The Night Liches and the Elder Liches of the group called Corpus of the Abyss have transcended from their previous state to a form beyond the power of a Night Lich.
All of the 40 Elder Liches, who were once inferior to the Night Liches in every possible aspects, have reached the form of the highest order of the undead, an Overlord.
Gone with their rotten flesh that hung their bodies, and what remained of their grotesque forms the corpse from whence they came. They now have porcelain white skin of a skeleton, and the power to cast spells of the ninth tier and what was previously unknown tenth tier spells.
However, they were not the only ones who possessed such tremendously powerful forms.
All of the 15 Night Liches, who were once considered to be undead of the highest order, have transcended further beyond the state of Overlords.
They were now called by which was once an unknown species of undead, a "Twilight Overlord".
With their newfound, peerless strength, they were well-versed in using what was once known to be in the realm of gods — the so-called tenth tier. They were now far superior to Dragon Lords in a fight. In addition, they also possessed many abilities which had been previously been unknown, armies of undead followers that are capable of destroying nations, and possessed vast degrees of intelligence.
And they were capable of ruling worlds, as undying gods.
Although they still possess all of their skeletal forms, the main difference was that, they all have unimaginable power.
Not only that, with them being so powerful, their mere presence are suffocating even those who stood at the realm of heroes.
They were indeed rulers of death.
They possessed the power to conquer worlds.
Out of the 55 undead beings, Kunivela was the first to break out of his stupor after feeling the unimaginable power coursing through his body.
"Amazing..."
No, amazing is an understatement. A better word for it was—
"Magnificent."
Truly, it was magnificent.
He looked at his hands. To think such power could have existed.
"Ha, ha, ha, hahahahahaha!"
Kunivela let out a chuckle, no, a full-blown laughter.
"Magnificent! To think power of this kind actually exists! It goes beyond common sense! Have we really been this ignorant of such power!"
Kunivela enjoyed a sweet few seconds of joy before his emotions were immediately suppressed. But the sense of joy still lingers on.
Before long, the rest of group had broken out of their stupor of thought and joined in experiencing unbelievable power within their grasp.
After a few scant minutes of getting the feel of their newfound power and looked at the world in their view.
They do not know if it was their world, or another world. But what they know, they have given another chance.
Everything has purpose. To live or to die has its own purpose.
The living cannot comprehend such statement, but undead beings such as them can understand such statement.
After all, they have gone further beyond.
"Now then."
The speaker was none other than Kunivela. Who went forward and stared at the world filled large bodies of water, vast continents, and so, he proclaimed.
"Out there is a world we will learn. Let us go, to experience the unknown. A world that we will establish ourselves a force to be reckoned with."
He then extended his arm towards the world.
"But," he then clenched his extended arm, "Whether we may be saviors of the world, or its destroyers. Everything has a purpose, including the fact that we were supposed to be one of the mightiest beings in the world."
"However, we were too shortsighted. There are many beings far beyond us, in our previous state of being. With that being the case, we shall be cautious with our approach. We shall gather information first, seek out what was unknown. And most importantly..."
Kunivela then turned to the oldest members of the group.
They were undead with a difficulty rating of 150, but since they had gain such power they're clearly far beyond that.
Kunivela smiled, though he was an undead skeleton and unable to make it happen, but anyone can tell he was smiling.
"Let us all have some fun while we're at it."
Hello everyone, my name is gabrielchiong11 with my new story.
I hope you like the story I made. Hopefully it came out better than expected, if it so, I'm greatly appreciated by your support.
As of now, I'll consider this as a One-shot story. But...
If this story has at least 15 reviews or so, I'll consider continuing it. Who knows, it might become very popular. Especially with Corpus of the Abyss being an inter-fic group... Lol.
If you guys don't know what Corpus of the Abyss really about, I highly recommend reading the Evileye Spinoff story. It is a story made by Maruyama himself, so go check it out.
That's all, gabrielchiong11 out!
