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The Necromancer in Shadow by TheOminousRain

Anime » Eminence in Shadow Rated: M, English, Horror & Humor, Cid Kagenou/Shadow, OC, Words: 548k+, Favs: 386, Follows: 387, Published: Oct 27, 2023 Updated: Aug 9

768Chapter 16: Declaration of War

Chapter 16: Declaration of War

Did she say Lutheran Barnett? The infamous Sir Gaunt himself? That psychopath is trustworthy? Pffftt…. I must try not to laugh.

"The vice principal? Is he capable of analyzing these artifacts?" I ask Iris curiously whilst trying to hold back my evil grin.

"Not him but his foster daughter, Sherry Barnett. Her mother was a brilliant researcher and she herself is a very talented student that she is being recommended to obtain scholarship to study in Laugus. If there's anyone who can analyze Artifacts, I believe it's her." Explains Iris.

Ahh I knew it… poor Sherry Barnett. Few years ago her mother, Lukreia Crowley, was murdered by Sir Gaunt and the psychopath tricked her into working for him by adopting her. I'll have to see her in action, to see if she can be useful to me after I inevitably kill Sir Gaunt.

"On the topic of the Cult of Diablos, Mr. Claude, I want to know the results of your investigation." Asks Iris as she turns her gaze on me.

Now, to recite the backstory I've prepared!

"Well… this is a secret I've never told anyone. Do you remember reports of several knights who mysteriously went missing after my sister was kidnapped?"

"Yes, I seem to recall that we officially blamed their deaths on Necromancer." Answers Iris.

"I killed them." I confessed. And it's true. They were my first zombies. A duke's son killing his own knights is definitely a scandal bad enough it has to be kept secret. I'm sure they will understand.

"… Because they were members of the Cult?" Alexia asks.

"Yes. Ever since then, I didn't trust the Knight Order. Or anyone else for that matter."

"How are you so sure they were members, Mr. Normann?" Asks Marco.

"They told me themselves after I sneaked into their headquarters and was caught. Back then they didn't have the Pseudo-Artifacts so I could kill them before they could alert anyone else. But ever since then the Cult was wary of me so it becomes harder to investigate." I answer.

"How about the other knights?" Asks Glen the Lion Beard. The idea that his fellow knights are enemies is disturbing for him I'm sure, but after last night, this fact cannot be denied anymore.

"I've investigated and so far found nothing. Either they weren't members of the Cult or they've become better at hiding it."

"And what about Necromancer? Has your investigation yielded any fruit regarding him?" Asks Iris.

"Unfortunately no. I haven't heard anything about him in years. In fact, it was only after I was captured by the Knight Order recently that I found out that he supplied them with the Pseudo-Artifacts because they flaunted it. In fact, that was the reason I surrendered and allowed myself to be detained."

"Then he has likely expanded his base of operations since his first appearance in Everick, which is why he stopped his serial killings." Iris concludes with a frown. While it is good for her that I've stopped being a serial killer, the fact that I've gained more power and influence in exchange troubles her greatly. How could it not? I've turned from a simple serial killer to a mastermind in the shadows after all. I like that reaction. Yes… fear me more.

"Shall we, the Crimson Order, help with the investigation?" Suggests Marco after noticing Iris' mood.

"That would be a bad idea, Marco. It will make it seem like the royal family is meddling with the Normann family's affairs." Glen refutes in consideration of the current political climate. My arrest has already put some strain in the relationship between my family and the royal family after all.

"Indeed. However, at some point we must go to Everick to investigate because Necromancer is based there. Is that okay with you, Mr. Claude?" Asks Iris.

"I appreciate the assistance."

"Good. Is there anything else you're willing to share with us?"

"Nothing else I'm afraid. But… the reason the Cult kidnapped girls are definitely not for ransom, aren't they?" I answer as I turn my gaze at Alexia, the latest victim of the Cult.

"They were after my blood. They took my blood almost daily that I almost thought they were a vampire cult. They say they wanted the blood of Heroes that flows within the royal blood." Alexia answers.

"Blood of Heroes? Y-You mean the blood of Freya? What for?" Marco asks, mentioning the human hero Freya, one of the three heroes who defeated Diablos and the founder of Midgar Kingdom. To be honest, I should've considered that fact when I hear that Zenon wants to collect Alexia's blood. How could I forget…

"I have no clue." Alexia answers with a shrug.

"And those monsters who went into rampage last night. You said they were turned into girls, your highness?" Asks Glen.

"Ah yes. There's another secret organization we have to worry about besides the Cult of Diablos, namely Shadow Garden." Iris remarks. Now the conversation starts to get interesting. I want to know about this organization too.

But still, even Iris is calling them Shadow Garden. This name I made up has been getting popular I see. Though just to make sure.

"Are you sure they're called that?" I ask Iris.

"Yes, I'm sure. One of them, whose name is Alpha, called her organization Shadow Garden."

WHAT THE HECK! THE NAME I INVENTED WAS ACTUALLY ADOPTED!? Can I consider this plagiarism? Can I sue them for copyright infringement?

"Do you know anything about them, Mr. Claude?"

"No, I don't. I only went after the Necromancer after all. Sorry."

"That's fine. Even I just found out last night. They used some kind of black flexible substance to restrain the monsters and also… turned the monsters back to human form but refuses to say anything about it when I confront one of their leaders." Iris elaborates while clenching her fists tightly. They must've insulted her pride.

"Does that mean the Cult of Diablos has been turning innocent girls into monsters and Shadow Garden are the ones saving them? One of them even saved me!" Alexia made a biased conclusion due to being saved by one of them.

"That may make them sound heroic but they refused to elaborate on their operations and they didn't let us take those girls into our custody so that we may return them to their families." Iris answers also with biased opinion of the Shadow Garden due to being insulted by them. How amusing.

But Iris... It's cute that you think their families will welcome them with open arms after personally casting them out of society. Ahh… ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

"They are a dangerous organization that operates outside of the law. Until we truly know their purpose, we cannot trust them." Iris declares, with Glen and Marco agreeing with her.

Hmm… Isn't this my chance to manipulate Iris slowly into antagonizing the Shadow garden? I mean, she is already on the right track.

"I agree with you, Princess Iris. Perhaps they are doing their own experiments with the girls they captured." I say my piece, which solidifies Iris' standing in this room.

"…" Alexia could't retort, being the only one in the room with something positive to say about Shadow Garden.

"About this person who saved you, Alexia. Can you describe the person to me?" I ask curiously. I truly want to know about this person that I've declared as my destined foe.

"His name is Shadow. He wore black hooded long jacket that obscured his face in the dark and the rest of his outfit is black as well. His swordsmanship was… amazing. He defeated Zenon without breaking a sweat. And that's after Zenon got power boost from his Artifact and some red pills that turned him into a huge monster similar to those monsters who rampaged in the city. And finally… that huge explosion from last night… It was his doing." Explains Alexia.

I had to suppress my grin as I hear her describing my destined foe who, judging from that name, which was unmistakably taken from an English word, is undeniably a reincarnator just like me. What an edgy name. But who am I to talk. Heh heh heh.

Shame that he vaporized Zenon's corpse, though. I would love to reanimate and improve him.

"Something bothers me though." Marco says. Our attentions are now on him.

"Why only girls? Not boys or men?"

No one but me knows the answer. And even then I'm still not sure why the Demonic Possession mostly happens on women, rarely on men. Maybe this world is filling a harem trope of some kind?

"Delta's bored! Delta wanna go hunting!" Shouts Delta in the throne room of Alexandria where the Seven Shades is gathering.

"Oh no, you're not! We must wait for Lord Shadow!" Scolds Gamma.

"Boss man is coming!? Okay! Delta stays!" Declares Delta, easily becoming docile the moment her boss' name is mentioned.

"I'm here." Shadow says as he suddenly appeared, already sitting on the throne before the Seven Shades could sense his presence, shocking them all.

Heh. Nailed it. Shadow thought.

"Boss man! Since when did you come!?"

"Just now." He turns towards Alpha as the Seven Shades bow before him.

"So, Alpha. What is so important that you summoned us all here?" Asks Shadow with curiosity. It is rare for Alpha to call for such a meeting that involves even him after all.

"It concerns Necromancer, Shadow. Last night I encountered him in the Capital." Replies Alpha. Shadow's interest is piqued when he heard that name.

"The Necromancer." The dreadful name escapes his lips, making the mood in the throne room becomes more solemn. Even Delta is listening attentively.

"Yes. He said the Possessed who rampaged around the Capital last night was a result of the Cult's experimentations which was based off his own experiment… with me and another girl… whom he called No. 002." Explains Alpha, displaying little outward emotion but is burning inside at that dreadful memory that still haunts her to this day.

"They were the girls we brought last night, right?" Asks Epsilon, who helped Alpha on healing them.

"Yes. And he also mentioned he has done even more terrible things to his own experimental subjects." Alpha says while clenching her fists.

"Even worse than those girls?" Epsilon asks, completely horrified because the conditions of the Possessed girls they brought home last night were terrible enough… and that's after Alpha treated them. She thought it would be better if their lord would help them but he hasn't said anything, which means this is their duty.

"Can I… take a look at them?" Eta sleepily asks.

"If we failed and have no other choice. But even then you're not allowed to dissect or mutilate them." Says Alpha.

"Okaay…"

"Moving on. When I encountered him, Necromancer fights using floating sword Artifacts, just like your report, Zeta." Alpha explains further. Zeta nods at the mention of the information she gained from spying other branches of the Cult.

"Also, he was able to vaporize one of the Possessed with just a finger." Alpha continues.

"So that's one of the magic which earned him the name Living Artifact." Zeta remarks. The thought of someone manipulating magic to such an extent without the use of Artifacts is terrifying, though with their lord at their side, they didn't despair, as they know that he can do the same thing. The light of destruction he unleashed in the capital some time ago was proof of that.

"Did he bring any undead with him?" Shadow asks curiously.

"No. At least I didn't see any undead last night."

What kind of Necromancer didn't bring any undead? Though the floating swords sounds cool. Thought Shadow.

"And finally… Shadow… His reaction towards your ultimate move…"

"Hmm. Go on." Heck yeah! Please tell me how this guy reacts to my "I am Atomic" move!

"He laughed and excitedly declared you as his fated enemy, someone he has been waiting for a long time." Explains Alpha. The Seven Shades went silent after hearing that. To think there is someone who is not afraid after seeing their lord's power firsthand… it's unthinkable.

"Heh…. Heh heh heh heh…" Shadow chuckles. His chuckles soon turns into laughter.

"Mwa ha ha ha ha! HAA HA HA HA HA HA!" Shadow's laughter echoes throughout the throne room.

"Very well. I accept your challenge, Necromancer!" Declares Shadow, his words reassures the Seven Shades of his inevitable victory.

Shadow stood up from his throne and said "From this day forth, I declare the Necromancer as my fated riva—no… ENEMY! I declare war on the Necromancer! The day we finally clash in battle…" Shadow clenches his fist excitedly "…shall be legendary!"

"Boss man so cool!"

"And then Lord Shadow declared war on his dreadful enemy, Necromancer! And-" Mutters Beta as she excitedly wrote on her notebook.

The Seven Shades left the throne room after a few more discussions about some new information Zeta obtained about the Cult's movements which seems to be centered around Everick and the Capital City of Midgar. Even the Reaper Squad, Necromancer's minions, are on the move. They weren't able to discern the Cult's intentions yet and will keep investigating.

Shadow was about to leave when Alpha approached him.

"Shadow."

"What is it, Alpha?"

"I want to ask you… What is the meaning of my name?"

"Hm. It is an old alphabet from an ancient civilization. Beta, Gamma, Epsilon and others all the way to Omega are part of these letters. Yours is the first letter, which to this day also means the leader or commander, which suits you beautifully as my right hand woman." Alpha blushed while hearing his explanation about the significance of her name.

"So that's why…" Alpha smiles, feeling really special… until she realized something.

"Wait…. He knows it too…" Alpha remarks, recalling how Necromancer also has access to wisdom that only Shadow knows. Such thought worries her greatly.

"As I suspected." He's a reincarnator too. That explains the necromancer theme, undead filled dungeons and the freaking Mimic. Thought Shadow.

"Don't look so worried, Alpha. Whoever he is, I won't lose." Shadow declares, greatly easing her worries.

"Very well. Let us know if you need any help. We won't hesitate to offer our lives for you." Declares Alpha in return.

"That… will be unnecessary." I mean, this guy is just a roleplayer like me. You don't have to take him that seriously. Shadow thought to himself.

"I see." Replies Alpha, saddened by his resolve to face his dreaded enemy alone without relying on her and the other Shades.

"For his crimes of harming what's mine, the first thing I'm gonna do when I meet him is to punch him in the face." Yeah. I'm so gonna punch you for the Mimic Incident. It hurts my feelings you know! Thought Shadow.

"Heh... So you're always thinking about us. About me…" Whispers Alpha, blushing after seeing Shadow get angry on her behalf.

"Then I pray that you'll claim victory over your fated enemy, Shadow. And… thank you…" Alpha says with a bright smile on her face that would've captivated the hearts of any man in an instant, though Shadow is unaffected by it.

"You're welcome, Alpha." Thank you for what though? Thought Shadow.

Author's Note:

Lots of info dump and a moment between Alpha and Cid. For once Alpha is not suffering in my fic. Once again I hope I portrayed the personalities of Cid and the Seven Shades properly in this chapter. Shadow and Necromancer are now aware of each other's existence and know each other as reincarnators too. They're now officially rivals! Though they basically treat each other like they were opponents in a game rather than enemies at this point. But Cid is still sour about the Mimic though.

Also, The Academy Terrorist Arc starts! With Lutheran lacking in resources compared to canon I plan to have him change his plan, though I'm still thinking about how to do it.

Chapter 600 - 19