The Northern God’s new Three Brothers. Among them, the Third, Grayson. She possessed the ability to control ’dead birds’. She seemed capable of summoning smaller ones, as she was endlessly pouring them out from the hole in her back. If left unchecked, the skies of the North would soon be filled with flying corpses.

’I have to do something before the Northern God completely takes over her mind,’ Simon thought, brushing the feathers from his clothes and honing his focus.

[Wait a minute, kid!] Herseva’s voice cut through his thoughts. [Why are you fighting yourself? It’s dangerous! Fall back to the troops until the other Ancient Undead arrive!]

’Just a moment,’ Simon replied, lowering his stance. ’There’s something I want to find out for myself.’

Grayson, shedding tears of blood, swung her arms. The birds that poured from her back split to the left and right, then charged toward Simon like a horrific swarm of bees. He could see their twisted beaks, protruding eyeballs, and mangled feathers.

"Royal Guard!"

At Simon’s command, the two remaining Royal Guards stepped in front of him. The turquoise Jet-Black from the guards drained out and formed a magic circle in the air.

"Come forth! Knights!"

Following that, Skeleton Knights leaped out from Simon’s subspace.

’Simon Original – Royal Guard & Blade Storm’

It was Simon’s trademark move. The Skeleton Knights, spinning with their swords, became a vortex that tore apart the descending flock of birds.

"Mages!"

Above them, a massive subspace opened, and Skeleton Mages began to cast black magic.

’Dark Blaze’

The birds flying in from other directions were all incinerated by the black flames. With her avian protectors diminished, Simon immediately kicked off the ground and charged.

"Grayson! Can you hear me?"

However, just before Simon arrived, a flock of birds flew in and concealed Grayson’s body. Simon immediately halted. After the flock passed noisily, her body had vanished without a trace.

This time, the flock of birds spread out behind Simon, and from within, Grayson’s claws lunged. Simon quickly stepped back while tilting his shoulder to dodge.

’Not yet!’

Simultaneously with the evasion, Simon’s body spun like a top. A picture-perfect roundhouse kick connected with Grayson’s head.

She didn’t react.

However, Grayson didn’t even dodge, calmly taking the kick to her face. Her expression remained unchanged; she didn’t seem to have taken any real damage.

’Did her physical abilities improve after becoming the Third?’

Simon stepped back and swung the Overlord he had pulled from the ground. Even that, Grayson simply deflected with a swing of her sharpened claws.

[Simon.] She whimpered, her face contorted with guilt. [They’re coming from behind.]

Hearing that, Simon reflexively threw himself to the side. Sure enough, a flock of birds shot past where he had been.

[This time, from the right, and they’re coming up from below ground.]

It was true. A flock of birds swarmed from the right, and from the earth, a large avian undead with a massive beak burst through the dirt. Simon dodged by somersaulting into the air. The bird’s beak snapped shut on empty air with a loud ’thwack!’ before returning underground.

"Grayson...!"

[Simon, please run away,] she pleaded, tears streaming down her face as she raised her arms. [I don’t want to kill you.]

As she waved her arms like a conductor, all the winged undead from the Northern God’s army rose into the air and gathered around her.

[I’m scared. The Northern God’s power is taking over my mind. I might disappear soon.]

As expected, Grayson was desperately fighting against the Northern God’s power that was trying to dominate her.

"I understand." Simon let his arms hang limply.

Just then, the same bird undead that had targeted him earlier shot up from the ground, its beak thrusting forward amidst a cloud of dirt.

Simon raised his leg and stomped down hard, preventing the beak from rising. However, the difference in strength was immense, and his leg was being pushed back.

"Then from now on..."

Bones flew to Simon’s right leg, attaching themselves piece by piece like armor. As Simon put all his strength into his leg, the bird undead was crushed as the ground caved in.

’Kieeeeeeeek!’

The flock of birds surrounded Simon from all directions, circling him. He silently extended his right arm. Bones flew and connected to his elbow and the back of his hand, and finally, a great white sword clicked into place. Immediately, Simon stepped forward and twisted at the waist.

A brilliant white line was drawn through the air, and the flock of birds scattered and vanished like dust motes in a storm. Simon, now wearing Pier, strode forward confidently.

"From now on, I will face you with the power of a Legion Commander."

[Simon is....] Grayson’s eyes trembled. [A Legion Commander, just like Her Excellency the Grand Duke...!]

But regardless of her surprise, her body moved with deadly purpose. She raised more flocks of birds and even drew in named flying undead. A black storm of feathered corpses formed around her.

And Simon, with a faint smile, willingly stepped into the storm.

The undead descended like arrows from all directions to eliminate him.

[Simon! Run!] she sobbed. [Even as a Legion Commander, it’s impossible! This power is...!]

’Khuhuhu!’ Pier’s sinister laughter echoed.

[What a strange woman! To worry about others even after becoming undead. In a way, that’s some incredible willpower! If she had opened her core normally and enrolled in a necromancer school, she would have become a renowned necromancer.]

"I agree," Simon said, infusing power into the Greatsword of Ruin. The pristine white greatsword began to turn a murky green.

[Can you use that technique in a real battle?]

"I have to try!"

Simon, now in the center of the storm of feathers, swung the greatsword with all his might.

’Kal Original – Venomous Asura’

In every direction the sword was swung, dogs of potent venom shot forth. At the same time, Simon, having gained initial rotational force, began a second spin, once again conjuring the power of venom.

"Agh!"

This time, a circular green sword energy spread out.

’Kal Original – Venomous Explosion’

The birds swarmed in, as if to consume space. The venomous dogs advanced toward them. The moment the sword energy following the dogs touched their bodies, the forms of the dogs collapsed, turning into explosions of pure poison. The surrounding blackness turned entirely green, and the approaching birds melted away, bones and all. Cal’s venomous explosion didn’t end with a single blast; it continued to expand, dissolving the birds.

Simon used the opening to escape and charged toward the now-isolated Grayson.

"Grayson!"

He leaped, kicking off the ground so hard the dirt erupted like a wave. In mid-air, Simon readjusted his grip on the greatsword and swung it toward her neck.

The white blade stopped right next to Grayson’s neck. The skin caught on the tip of the blade tore slightly, and a single line of black blood trickled down her neck to her chest. She gave her characteristic loose smile.

[Why did you stop?]

Simon bit his lip. "Because you stopped first, Grayson."

Her arm, which had been aiming for Simon’s side, was trembling, frozen in place. She hadn’t even tried to dodge as the Greatsword of Ruin flew toward her neck. She grabbed her own arm with her other hand, refusing the Northern God’s command to attack him.

Simon’s eyes narrowed fiercely as he lunged. Their bodies tangled and fell to the ground. Pinning Grayson down, Simon drove the Greatsword of Ruin into the earth and angled it sideways, aiming it at her neck. With the slightest pressure, the greatsword would descend and sever it.

[Simon,] she said. Even while struggling against the Northern God’s control, her loose smile remained. [My last words... no, I have a request.]

Simon waited.

[I have a father with dementia. He can’t work on the farm anymore, so I’ve been doing it instead. The reindeer farm is a long-standing business in my family.] She chuckled. [Remember? The first day you came to the North, you asked me.]

"Pride! All Northerners have the pride of protection. To protect my land, my family, my domain!"

[How did it come to this?] She looked up at the sky with lifeless eyes. [I was just trying to protect my life and family as a Northerner, but now I’ve become a traitor among traitors, one who has tarnished the pride of the North.]

Simon remained silent.

[Simon.] She closed her eyes with a smile. [I’m sorry to be so shameless, but please take care of my father. And the farm....]

"That kind of thing," Simon said, his bangs swaying, "you can stay and take care of yourself."

[What? But I’m going to d—]

"You’re not a complete corpse yet." Simon placed his hand over her chest, where her core was. "If you truly care for your father, and if you feel guilty toward the North, then ’you’ solve it."

[What?]

"The UNDEAD are not yet completely dead. Especially you. You’re a special undead with reason, aren’t you?"

Simon’s Jet-Black began to burrow into her core. Pier, who was watching, shouted in surprise.

[That’s reckless, boy! Didn’t I tell you? The Three Brothers and the Northern God have a direct contract! It’s impossible for another necromancer to steal one of them!]

"That kind of thing," Simon declared, "you don’t know until you try!"

Simon’s Jet-Black began to be sucked into her core. Now that he had started, he couldn’t back down.

[Khahahaha! You’re just as stubborn as your father!] Pier, as if he couldn’t be stopped, laughed and returned to his skeleton form, placing his hand over Simon’s. Their combined Jet-Black began to seize control of her core.

In response, the Northern God’s Jet-Black fiercely rebelled, summoning the birds that moved with the Third’s power.

[Protect the kid!] Herseva shouted.

Golden cities opened up all around, and mummies poured out, throwing bandages. The birds flying through the air were caught by the wrappings and tumbled to the ground, becoming prey for the mummies.

"Keuk!"

Simon, with his hand on her core, coughed up blood. His Jet-Black was already flowing backward. The contract between the Northern God and the Third was that strong.

[S-Stop! At this rate, you might really die, Simon...!] Grayson cried out.

"Create an opening for me, Grayson!" Simon gritted his teeth. "Just like you’ve been resisting the Northern God all this time!"

She closed her eyes as if in understanding. Then, the deep blue Jet-Black that had been swirling and flowing backward began to be slowly sucked into her core. Her body arched up. She resisted the Northern God’s power to the very end and accepted Simon’s.

[Khuhuhu! I thought it was impossible to steal one of the Three Brothers,] Pier said, the corner of his mouth lifting. [Both the boy and this woman’s will are incredible!]

Something pitch-black began to pour out of her body like a wave. Grayson’s body, which had been convulsing, finally went limp.

Simon gasped for breath, his chest heaving. Her pupils had now turned the same deep blue as his Jet-Black.

"You did well, Grayson."

One of the Three Brothers had just been transferred entirely to the 7th Legion.

She squeezed out her last bit of strength, raised her arm, and clenched her fist tightly in the air.

All the feathered undead, once under the Northern God’s control, were liberated, scattering into the sky.

"What the?"

"The birds are...!"

The warriors of the North, who had been fighting at the front, watched the magnificent spectacle with their mouths agape as the sky was stained black.

[There is no time to rest. Now is our chance!] The Grand Duke, who had quickly assessed the situation, gave an order. [All Three Brothers have fallen! There is nothing left to block our path. With this momentum, we will march to the Abyss!]