They arrived near the city.
The driver pointed. "That's the Alum Grave Tower. That's what the city calls it. No one knows what it's for. They say it was here before the city, before the people. There are many stories about that tower. Never go there. It's too creepy."
"Can you drop me here? I have some business."
"Your wish, sir."
Liam stepped off and watched the carriage disappear down the road until he couldn't see it anymore.
Let's go. Tower — here I come. I'm a little scared. But I'm level 100 now. My level is maxed. I can't go higher. I want to test my strength.
He stood at the gate.
They were right. This place gives off a bad feeling. What is inside here.
The gate opened.
What. They said no one can enter.
He stepped inside. The door slammed shut behind him.
A girl appeared before him.
"Welcome. Tell us the reason for your visit."
Is she a demon? I never saw a demon before. I heard the demon race exists but anyone who has ever seen one never lived to tell about it.
But she is beautiful.
Another demon girl appeared beside the first.
"Why did you come here?"
"I came here to fight. I want to clear this tower. Am I being rude?"
"No. Come with us. We will take you to our master. His name is General Valerius. Address him with respect. He respected you enough to let you enter his home."
They entered a hall. A ladder stood in the center. They climbed slowly.
One of the girls spoke as they went.
"Our Lord has known no true challenge for centuries. No one could stand against him — except the Demon Generals above him."
She glanced at Liam. "He thought you could give him a good fight."
"How does he know me?"
"You can ask him yourself."
They stopped before a large door.
"This is where our job ends."
Both girls looked at Liam and smiled.
"Make our Lord happy. Don't die too soon."
"Thank you. I'll try."
He pushed open the door.
What the hell is this. I came here to fight someone and they're treating me with this much respect. This General — they say he is a respected warrior. I'm starting to think they mean it.
He entered the throne room.
General Valerius sat on a massive throne.
"Welcome, Liam."
"Thank you. But how do you know me?"
"All six Demon Generals and all six Light Generals know you."
"There are twelve of you? Six demon and six light?"
"I answered your question. I said I answer one. Hold the rest for the other Generals."
He rose from his throne and walked slowly toward Liam.
"All the Generals are cursed with eternal life. We cannot die naturally. We cannot age. Some call it a gift. Some call it a curse."
He stopped.
"For me it is a curse. I grow stronger with time. I am at a level nothing can challenge — and I don't mean the Generals above me. Not all of them have a fire in their heart for battle."
He looked at Liam steadily.
"We know your system power is not working the way it should. It only shows your level and attributes now. It was far more powerful before they sealed it. Maybe if you survive today — I doubt you will — someday you can break the seal and see what kind of monster that system really is."
"Then let's begin. If you have nothing else."
"Hold your questions. I already said more than I intended to."
General Valerius drew his sword.
A sword fight. Okay.
Creation — Dark Sword.
Valerius attack. Liam reacted fast, deflected. The clash echoed through the entire tower.
Liam threw the sword at him and charged behind it at the same speed. Valerius deflected the sword but by the time he turned back it was too late. Dark force wrapped around Liam's fist. The punch sent Valerius flying into the wall.
Valerius stood up.
"You hit hard. My chest armor is broken."
He attacked fast. Liam dodged, grabbed him, threw him into the wall, and was already moving before Valerius could hit it. One second away from the second strike — Valerius glanced back and threw a fireball to slow him down.
Creation — Fire Arrow.
The arrow met the fireball in the air. Both canceled each other out.
The moment both fires died Valerius was already in Liam's face. Full force. Liam took the hit and flew into the ceiling. He dropped. Before he could recover Valerius grabbed him and drove him into the wall, hit after hit.
He screamed.
Do you think I'm going to lose my second chance and die here.
The next punch was coming at his face. Liam grabbed the fist, put his other hand on Valerius's chest where the armor had broken.
Dark Force.
It hit him clean and sent him through the door where the girls were waiting on the other side.
Liam transported behind him.
Valerius was on his knees trying to stand. Liam grabbed his throat.
Dark Force.
The force hit his throat and tore through it.
Liam transported to his side for the finish. Both demon girls watched in horror.
Valerius raised his hand.
"Stop. You Won ,Let me say my last words to them."
Liam let go.
The two demon girls came to him. He looked at them.
"Take me to my throne. I want to die there."
They carried him and sat him down.
Liam watched.
"Come forward, Liam."
He stepped up.
"Let me give you your reward. You won."
Valerius chanted.
Unique Ability Transfer.
Liam's system appeared.
Unique Ability Transferred.
Immortality — immune to aging and natural death.
Valerius looked at his girls.
"You are servants of this boy now. Serve him. He will be the last thing alive in this universe."
He let out a final breath. His body faded into dark ash.
Liam collapsed.
He woke in the throne room. He was wearing dark armor — identical to what Valerius had worn.
The two demon girls knelt before him.
"What are your names?"
"We have no names, sir. I am the First Servant. This is the Second Servant. We are powerful fighters. We will be useful to you."
Liam was quiet for a moment.
"I killed your master. Don't you hate me?"
"No, sir. You fulfilled the greatest wish he ever had. For that we are grateful."
Liam stood.
"That changes today. You are not servants."
He looked at the one on the left. "You are Nyx."
He looked at the one on the right. "And you are Luna."
Liam walked to the throne and sat.
Title Updated.
New Title — The General.
Nyx and Luna stood beside him.
For a day it stayed like that. Both girls beside him, him on the throne.
I have to go.
I can transport. I'll visit again. Fix the castle — we broke everything in here.
"Sir, we can shadow transport wherever your shadow reaches. Even a tiny piece of it. We can come through to you. Our minds are connected to yours now. Just call us. We'll be there in a second."
That's amazing. I know you'll be useful to me. In the meantime — if either of you ever needs anything, come to me. But not during sleep. I love sleeping.
"Of course, sir."
Dark Force — Transport.
He materialized in Oakhaven.
I need to sleep. Do I even need sleep anymore. I don't feel like I have to. I'm immortal. My body isn't aging. Isn't dying.
That's terrifying. I'm going to watch everyone age and die in front of me.
Well. What can I do. It happened. It's not like I can fix it now.
I have to be ready for something worse first — facing Princess Lyra. I told her I'd be back in seven days.
She's going to be angry. Maybe she throws me out of the castle. Lying to a princess is not a good thing to do.
He transported to his room and started talking to himself while taking off his clothes.
I'll say I was asleep for four days.
She'll get angry. She'll say why didn't you send someone to wake you up.
He turned around.
Lyra was standing at the door watching him.
"You lied to me. You come back after seven days and you're in here planning how to lie to me again?"
She went at him. Hit after hit.
"You said you don't have a wife. Then where did you go for seven days if not to a wife. Tell me."
She kept hitting him.
"Wait wait wait — I'll tell you where I was, just give me a second."
She stopped. "Talk. I'm listening."
You're mean, you know that.
"I went to NyxAlum."
"Why."
"Someone at the guild mentioned a tower near there. I wanted to see it for myself."
"You went alone into that place not knowing if you'd come back?"
Lyra grabbed his head and shook it. "You're not lying? Promise me."
"I promise. And — why do you even care if I come back or not."
Lyra's face went red.
"It's not like you're my husband."
Liam — I can't hold my Anger, I will kill you.
He ran for the door. She ran after him.