When we got back to our village, everyone was ready to go. Food and water and other supplies had been loaded into sacks and tied to the Bicorns. Objects such as clothing, tools, and other necessary items, I stored with my Extra Skill "Spatial Storage". When everyone finished packing, there were only empty houses left in our village.
And then we got going.
The plan was to travel along the coast of the Kingdom of Farmuth, towards the Kingdom of Siltrozzo. This was a small trading kingdom north of Ingrasia and Farmuth, and because of this it had a large port city where we could use our remaining funds to buy a ship, and set sail for the island. I was riding Rogue at the front of our exodus, to avoid any frontal attack by monsters or thieves; while the Kijin were spread out along the long line, with Okimura at the end of it to secure our rear.
We had started our journey a little after noon, and by the time we had to stop for camp late at night, we had already reached the border with the Kingdom of Farmuth. Normally this trip would take a whole week, but thanks to the strength and speed of the Bicorns, we managed to do it in just half a day. If we managed to keep up this pace, we would reach the Kingdom of Siltrozzo in a month, instead of the three months it normally took.
As we camped that first night, I, who didn't need sleep, thought of ways to make myself stronger. I wasn't fooling myself. According to rumors, some of the sea monsters that inhabited the ocean were powerful enough to take on Demon Kings. Having seen the power of Milim and Carrion, there was a real chance that I could lose. If I wanted to get everyone to the island safely, then I had to get stronger. The only solution I found was to use my new Unique Skill "Skilled One" to strengthen my skills. And not just mine. One of the Skills I had obtained after witnessing the death of the Orc Disaster, was Extra Skill "Food Chain" which allowed me to strengthen my subordinates and give them Skills that they were compatible with, and instead when they strengthened themselves, I would also strengthen myself and could obtain copies of their Skills. Unique Skills seemed to be the exception.
With that idea in mind, I first used "Skilled One" to make a copy of all the Skills that I currently had. Then, I had the Librarian examine and analyze each of my subordinates, and inform me of which Skills I could give to each one.
Analyzing.
The subject "Rogue" is compatible with the following skills: Extra Skill "Ultra-fast Regeneration" and Extra Skill "Chaos Eater".
The subject "Okimura" is compatible with the following skills: Extra Skill "Multilayer Barrier", Extra Skill "Sage", Extra Skill "Spatial Motion", Extra Skill "All-Seeing Eye" and Physical Attack Resistance.
The subject "Hiroka" is compatible with the following skills: Extra Skill "Sage", Extra Skill "All-Seeing Eye", Extra Skill "Haki".
The subject "Yoshi" is compatible with the following skills: Extra Skill "Sage", Extra Skill "Molecular Creation", Extra Skill "Haki".
Subjects belonging to the Mermaid and Merman races are compatible with the following Skills: Extra Skill "Ultra-fast Regeneration", Extra Skill "Magic Sense" and Magic Resistance.
Subjects belonging to the Bicorn race are compatible with the following Skills: Extra Skill "Ultra-fast Regeneration", Extra Skill "Body Armor" and Magic Resist.
Do you want to grant copies of said skills to the subordinates mentioned above via Extra Skill "Food Chain"?
Yes
No
Yes!
At that time, I talked to everyone who would receive skills through "Thought Communication" and told them what I intended to do. Everyone was quite surprised, but they thanked me for making them stronger and giving them more power.
Unfortunately, humans, elves and Dark Elves, couldn't receive Skills through this way because, technically speaking, although they were my friends and family, they had not been named by me, and therefore there was no "Soul Corridor" connecting us.
Once I finished handing out the skills to everyone, I had the Librarian analyze my own skills and find out which ones I could combine with "Skilled One".
Analyzing.
Extra Skills: "Fire Manipulation", "Water Manipulation", "Earth Manipulation" and "Wind Manipulation" can be combined into the Extra Skill "Molecular Manipulation".
What are the skills of "Molecular Manipulation"?
Analyzing.
"Molecular Manipulation" contains all the effects of the Skills that make it up, as well as greatly increasing the range and amount of manipulation that can be exerted.
Combine skills to get "Molecular Manipulation"?
Yes
No
Yes!
What other skills can I integrate?
Analyzing.
Extra Skills: Spatial Storage and Spatial Transference can be integrated with the Extra Skill "Spatial Travel" of the Oculus to generate the Unique Skill "Space Master"
But didn't you warn me that I couldn't have the Unique Skills?
Analyzing.
The Unique Skill "Space Master" will be integrated into the Oculus.
You want to generate the Unique Skill "Space Master"
Yes
No
Yes!
Analyzing this new Unique Skill, I found that its effects were basically the effects of the three Skills that made it up, but much more powerful. Now Spatial Domination" did not spend as many magic as before, the space of "Spatial Storage" had been doubled, and "Spatial Transference" had evolved to be able to safely transport living beings.
Apparently, at the moment these were the only skills that could be integrated thanks to "Skilled One", but I was sure that if I kept possessing creatures and gaining Skills, there would be others that could become more powerful as well.
By the time I finished organizing my new Skills, it was already dawn, and we set out on our journey again.
As I had predicted, after a month of travel, we finally reached the Kingdom of Siltrozzo. Our journey through Farmuth went off without a hitch. On our way we met a caravan of merchants and they told us that the country was so calm because both the King of Farmuth and the army of the kingdom were attacking another kingdom further south, but they couldn't tell us which kingdom was it. Thanks to the lack of the army, the soldiers who normally patrolled the areas we passed through were called to the capital of the kingdom, which made our passage easier.
Until now our exodus had gone unnoticed by the Kingdom of Farmuth, I expected the same to happen in the Kingdom of Siltrozzo, but I was destined to be disappointed.
The first problem we had was when we tried to cross the border from Farmuth to Siltrozzo. While in Farmuth there weren't many guards due to the departure of the army, in Siltrozzo they were everywhere. Luckily, our new merchant friends helped us by saying we were with them, and the border guards let us through.
But our apparent anonymity was about to end.
I only learned this much later, but those border guards weren't just guards. Ninety percent of Siltrozzo's army was secretly made up of highly trained mercenaries, their loyalty paid by the Head of the Rosso Family, Granbell Rosso the ruler of Siltrozzo. These mercenaries were trained in many arts and magics, and, above all, in recognizing monsters and the undead. Upon our arrival, I was quickly identified as an undead leading a small but powerful force of dark elves, monsters, humans, and elves. Our presence was then reported to Granbell Rosso, who immediately sent his most faithful spies to watch our progress. When their spies reported our strength, or rather my strength, Granbell and her granddaughter Maribell determined that I was an unknown threat that had to be eliminated before I became a nuisance to their plans for world domination through the economic power, as a certain slime was beginning to be. So, they assembled an army of about fifteen thousand of the mercenaries they had under their power, and led by Granbell himself, they would set a trap for us, to get rid of us quickly.
But back then I didn't know all that. That's why our exodus crossed the Kingdom of Siltrozzo without any mishaps, until a few days later we reached the outskirts of Gimul, the largest port city of Siltrozzo, where we would buy a ship with the thousand gold coins that we had been able to gather, and then we would set sail for the island.
Our arrival in Gimul was met with absolute silence. There were no guards at the entrance to the city, and the streets of the city were deserted.
"I don't like this." – I told Browen, who was next to me on his mount, Sleipnir.
"Me neither, Lord Rogan." - Browen answered, surveying our surroundings.
By now only me and Browen had entered the city, while the others waited outside for us to buy the boat. Although it had simply been a measure to keep our presence on the down low, it seemed like it had been a good idea, since this situation smelled like a trap. I had hardly thought this when a feeling of weakness invaded my body and the Librarian warned me...
Warning.
Anti-Magic Barrier detected. Magic and Magical Skills have been blocked.
What was happening? Had someone activated a barrier?
"You seem confused, undead." – Said a man, as he appeared out of nowhere. His age must have been around fifty, or even more. His hair might once have been blonde, but now it was completely white. He was dressed in a formal suit, and carried a large sword in his right hand.
"Who are you? What do you want?" – I told him while I overcome the weakness caused by the barrier.
"My name is Granbell Rosso and I'm the ruler of this kingdom. As for what I want, it's pretty simple. I want you to die." – he simply said.
"Why? I haven't done anything to you." – I said while looking for a way out of this situation.
"It is not what you have done that worries me, but what you may do in the future." – Granbell replied, as he approached. Beside me, Browen unsheathed his sword.
"Browen, wait. I doubt this guy came alone. Go back to the others. I'm worried about them." - I told Browen.
"You're right to worry. My forces have already surrounded your allies, outside the city. There is nothing you and that Dark Elf can do. If you surrender, and accept your death without resisting, I might spare the lives of your allies." – Granbell said, but I doubted that he would comply.
Librarian, can you analyze and undo this barrier?
Analyzing…
The barrier has been fully analyzed. Time required to undo it: twenty minutes.
Very well. I only had to hold out against this guy for twenty minutes.
Librarian, use "Observer" to tell me what's happening with our colleagues on the outskirts of the city.
Analyzing…
A force of fifteen thousand soldiers seems to have surrounded them.
So Granbell had told the truth… Is there anyone else in town?
Analyzing ...
No. All citizens appear to have been evacuated.
Can you see any ships in the harbor? One big enough for all of our allies?
Analyzing…
A ship of the necessary size has been found at the dock.
Good. That made things much easier.
"I'm sorry. But I'm not such a good person that I'd let you kill me." – I said as I drew my own sword. Not Hughes's, but the sword I had commissioned from Dorian, which he had finished while we were traveling through Farmuth. It was made of pure Magisteel and was a Unique Grade, as I hadn't wanted to spend a huge amount of magicules to turn it into Death Steel. I didn't want to weaken myself in case we ran into hostilities. It seems that I had been right. "If I may ask, what do you mean what I might do in the future?"
"It's simple, isn't it? Unique monsters capable of human form like you are very dangerous. That damn Slime is already proving to be a nuisance to the Rosso Family's plans. But someone is already taking care of that Slime and his city. My spies inform me that you are as powerful as that Slime, so I will eliminate you here and now, before you become a threat." – Granbell said, and then attacked.
His speed was incredible for someone who look that old! In just a few seconds he covered the meters that separated us and slashed with his sword, his trajectory towards my head. It seemed that the old man had finished speaking. I quickly blocked with my own sword, while using one of the few skills I could, "Decaying Body Armor" and "Magisteel Reinforcement" to cover my body in armor. With our swords locked with each other, I kicked at Granbell, trying to put some distance between us. It worked, as to avoid my kick, Granbell jumped back.
Attention.
Remaining time to deactivate the barrier: fifteen minutes.
I ignored the Librarian, and while charging towards Granbell, I covered my sword with energy using one of my arts "Slash Attack". I slashed vertically at the old man, and the energy coating my sword created a giant slash. But Granbell managed to easily dodge the cut and attacked again with his sword.
Attention.
Remaining time to deactivate the barrier: ten minutes.
We continued exchanging blows for a few more minutes and the Librarian continued to notify me of the situation of my companions. It seemed the Kijins had started their own attacks and were managing to drive the army back. Every time the Kijin killed one of the soldiers, his soul floated up to me, and was consumed.
Attention.
Remaining time to deactivate the barrier: five minutes.
"Let's end this nonsense. Meltlash!" – Granbell said and he and his sword began to emit a bright light, with small particles dancing in it. Then, with such superhuman speed I couldn't dodge, Granbell lunged at me, his sword pointed at my head.
With incredible speed, Granbell's sword collided with my own sword, splitting it in two. Then his sword found my Legendary Grade armor. The sword managed to destroy the armor, but doing so consumed all the energy of the attack, leaving me safe. And just in time...
Attention.
Deactivation of the barrier has been successful. Magic and Magic Skills have been unlocked.
I could feel the moment when the barrier disappeared, as the exhaustion I had felt until now disappeared from my body. I quickly checked the status of my friends, and I was able to verify that, although there were some wounded, they were alive. Seeing my friends… my family injured because of this guy's machinations made me furious. Now, I'm the first to admit that I may have gotten a little over the top, given what I did next...
I quickly used "Observer" to find both my friends and the ship that would take us away from this madness and then used "Space Master" and a gigantic amount of magicules to teleport my friends directly to the ship. Normally, I didn't have enough magicule to do this, but since it was such a short distance, it only consumed about ten percent of my magicule reserves.
Once my friends were on the ship, I used "Molecular Manipulation" to control both the water and the wind, and propel the ship away from the dock and the oncoming army.
When my friends were a safe distance away, I let the anger I was holding in consume me. I quickly made my dragon wings appear and shot into the sky, leaving Granbell behind. Once I was high enough, I used a small skill that I had been developing.
"You've pissed me off enough to do this! Now you can regret it in hell! Combined Skill "Time of Extinction"!
When I invoked the Skill, I had created, three huge chunks of rock erupted from Gimul's surroundings, reached my height, and then disappeared. A few seconds later, the sky turned into flames as three large meteorites fell from the atmosphere at breakneck speed.
The three meteorites hit Gimul, destroying much of the city, but that wasn't all. The shock waves caused by the impacts, devastated the rest of the city, and even destroyed the surrounding forests.
There was no way anyone could survive that. Normally, I would never use this Combined Skill in a populated area since it could be considered a Weapon of Mass Destruction, but this time the only ones who would be affected were Granbell and his army, and the old man had made me angry enough that I didn't care.
This Combined Skill was both very simple and very complicated. First it simply used "Molecular Manipulation" to create various chunks of rock using the surrounding soil, then it used "Space Master" to teleport said rocks into the atmosphere and then let gravity do the rest. That was the easy part. The hard part was predicting the trajectory of the meteorites to make sure they would hit the desired location. Normally this would be impossible to calculate, even with the supercomputers of my previous world, but because the Librarian's Skill to analyze and predict far exceeded that of those supercomputers, it was able to predict with great accuracy at what angle and trajectory the meteorites would fall.
Librarian, survey the area and search for survivors.
For some strange reason, I started to feel incredibly tired.
Analyzing.
No survivors were found. But the individual "Granbell Rosso" used long-range teleportation magic to disappear before the impact. His chance of survival is estimated to be 100 percent.
Grh. That damn cockroach escaped!
I was worried that Rosso had escaped, as well as what he said about Rimuru and his city, but right now I couldn't leave my friends in danger. This time, we couldn't help Rimuru.
With some of our fighters wounded, we were low on battle power. But I had an idea how I could solve that problem.
Fighting off exhaustion, I asked the Librarian to examine the corpses of the enemy soldiers, and search for those that were viable to use my Intrinsic Skill "Reanimate".
Analyzing…
Five thousand viable corpses have been found for reanimation. Do you want to use the Intrinsic Skill "Reanimate"?
Yes
No
Yes!
Once I used Intrinsic Skill "Reanimate", hundreds of bodies began to emerge from the rubble of the city. These bodies were Undead Warriors, but unlike the ones that were summoned by necromantic magic, these were real creatures, much stronger. I could feel a connection to them through my other Intrinsic Skill "Undead Tyrant" which allowed me to control them all. These undead lacked souls, and therefore if I released them from my control, they would rampage through everything in front of them like rabid dogs. But since they didn't have a soul and weren't exactly alive, I could also store them with "Space Master". Once I stored my Undead Warriors, I teleported to the ship where my comrades were waiting for me. But the fatigue was such that I fell to the floor of the boat as soon as I appeared. As my consciousness faded, I could hear a voice…
Warning
Checking human souls needed to evolve...
Checked.
Conditions met.
The Harvest Festival will start for the Rogan's evolution to Demon King.
When it ends, gifts will be distributed among his vassals.
Warning
Harvest Festival has begun.
The body structure will reformulate and evolve into a new species.
Checked.
Evolution from "Lich" to "Demon Lich".
Successfully done.
Greatly increased all physical abilities.
Transformation at will of the material and spiritual body.
Continuing to relearn past Skills and resistances.
Successfully done.
New Skills:
Extra Skill "Infinite Regeneration"
Extra Skill "Universal Detection"
Extra Skill "Demon King's Haki"
Extra Skill "Universal Thread"
Extra Skill "Universal Shapeshift"
Successfully obtained.
New resistances:
Nature Element Nullification
Ailment Nullification
Holy Attack Resistance
Successfully obtained.
This ends the evolution.
Warning
Request to evolve of Unique Skill "Librarian" to Voice of the World.
Received
Request of Unique Skill "Librarian" accepted.
Trying to evolve Unique Skill "Librarian"
Unique Skill "Librarian" will sacrifice Unique Skill "Skilled One" to evolve.
Successfully done.
Unique Skill "Librarian" evolved into Ultimate Skill "Knowledge King Raziel"
Request to evolve of Unique Skill "Selfish One" to Voice of the World.
Received
Request of Unique Skill "Selfish One" accepted.
Trying to evolve Unique Skill "Selfish One"
Unique Skill "Selfish One" will sacrifice Unique Skill "Siphon" to evolve.
Successfully done.
Unique Skill "Selfish One" evolved into Ultimate Skill "Selfish King Astaroth"
Request to evolve of Unique Skill "Grave Robber" to Voice of the World.
Received
Request of Unique Skill "Grave Robber" accepted.
Trying to evolve Unique Skill "Grave Robber"
Unique Skill "Grave Robber" will use the gift from the Harvest Festival to evolve.
Successfully done.
Unique Skill "Grave Robber" evolved into Ultimate Skill "Dark Dragon King Neltharion"
Request for evolution of Unique Skill "Observer" to Voice of the World.
Received
Request of Unique Skill "Observer" accepted.
Trying to evolve Unique Skill "Observer"
Unique Skill "Observer" will sacrifice Unique Skill "Space Master" to evolve.
Successfully done.
Unique Skill "Observer" evolved into Ultimate Skill "Watcher's King Grigori"
Implementation of copies of the Unique Skills Observer and Space Master through the Ultimate Skill "Raziel", carried out successfully.
Request for evolution of Unique Skill "Space Master" to Voice of the World.
Received
Request for Unique Skill "Space Master" accepted.
Trying to evolve Unique Skill "Space Master"
Unique Skill "Space Master" will sacrifice Unique Skill "Observer" to evolve.
Successfully done.
Unique Skill "Space Master" evolved into Ultimate Skill "Space King Ramiel"