“Heh heh heh, fools are making a ruckus,” Mergen cackled with malice as he learned of the civil unrest in Vester and Barshark.
Even from Mergen’s perspective as a former human, humans were a truly comical and foolish species. They killed their own kind in the name of justice or for the greater good, yet became enraged when they themselves were killed, all without realizing their own contradiction. Mergen believed that this was precisely why he, in his true greatness, had abandoned humanity. He also thought that those abandoned by him were pitiful creatures.
He traveled from Hordia, passing through Filat, Misra, and Garius, before entering Boltner. Then he moved on to Berganda, Ranleo, and Seraeno. Mergen, as a necromancer, had a specific goal, and he was satisfied that it had been achieved.
“Now, you fools, the time has come to serve the great Mergen! I will make you know that I, Mergen, am the true Demon Lord.”
He pondered where to make his stand. Since it would inevitably lead to a confrontation with Marius, he preferred to have even a slight geographical advantage.
“Shall it be Barshark or Vester?”
Indeed, a nation embroiled in civil war, with daily casualties, was the ideal environment for a necromancer. Gastark had apparently mobilized millions of dead to attack multiple countries, but Mergen considered that the limit of a second-rate necromancer. He intended to show them the terror of a first-rate one.
***
Queen Jessica of Barshark wrung her hands. The thought that things had not gone as planned gnawed at her. Her decision not to send reinforcements to the East was not due to selfish motives. She had dispatched trusted generals and elite soldiers to Hordia, leaving behind only those who could not withstand the battle against the demon army. While she couldn’t deny that she had hoped sending them away and then recalling them would buy time, it was unavoidable. Nevertheless, Marius’s ability to end the war so quickly was truly beyond comprehension.
*If only my army had stayed to fight until I could arrive,* she thought, harboring a selfish anger.
The current situation was dire; the royal castle was besieged by half a million rebels. The royal army consisted of three thousand Royal Guards, ten thousand security personnel, and approximately one hundred thousand regular and reserve soldiers. Despite the five-fold disparity in numbers, the castle, not a particularly strong fortress, had not yet fallen. This was simply because the rebel army’s command structure and tactics were chaotic. Although the soldiers’ morale was high, they charged in haphazardly, which was precisely why the castle could still be defended. The royal army, while more skilled, was outnumbered, and their morale was not particularly high given they were fighting their own people. The crushing defeat by the Hordian army still lingered. They would lose in a war of attrition. However, the rebels were so disorganized that even then, the outcome was uncertain. Currently, words, not arrows or magic, were flying between the two sides.
“Don’t side with the King! Everyone died because of that idiot king!”
“That’s right! And the neighboring countries have become our enemies too!”
“What were they thinking, prioritizing invasion over defeating the demons!”
The primary driving force behind the rebellion was anger towards the King. He had not only caused the senseless deaths of people’s loved ones but had also provoked enemy nations. He should have taken responsibility, yet he offered only a single apology. The fact that reparations to the families of the war dead had been postponed due to financial difficulties was also unforgivable.
On the other hand, the royal army did not remain silent.
“Anyone can say what’s best after the fact!”
“You ignorant fools don’t understand the difficulty of making decisions on the spot!”
They hurled insults back. Of course, it was the state’s policy not to educate the populace, so it was not entirely fair to condemn only the people, but no one realized this.
On this day, skirmishes continued without resolution, and the fighting ended at sunset, to be carried over to the next day. Night combat would be reckless for the rebel army, whose members were originally ordinary people, unlike the regularly trained soldiers. However, some voices within the royal army advocated for exploiting this weakness.
“Your Majesty, these rebels are not civilians. Let us slaughter them all as a warning.”
One of the generals exclaimed, causing Jessica to frown.
“Can we afford to create more casualties? You fool.”
She dismissed his suggestion. Her invasion of Hordia, her refusal of reinforcements to the East, and the inadequate reparations for the bereaved families were all against Jessica’s true intentions. However, her pride would not allow her to simply shrug it off by saying, “It wasn’t my fault.”
Barshark, having lost hundreds of thousands of its productive workforce, was on the verge of collapse. It was a time when all citizens should have united for reconstruction, yet the people merely blamed the King for his mistakes, and the soldiers believed they should simply kill the populace. All the capable individuals had perished in Hordia, leaving only men of lesser caliber.
One cannot put spilled water back into a cup. She had to devise a way to at least preserve the nation…
“I have an announcement.”
A soldier rushed in.
“A mage has just appeared and wishes to offer wisdom to Your Majesty. They claim to know a way to end this battle immediately.”
One name came to everyone’s mind. The man of immense power, whom they would rather not meet at this moment.
“His name is…? Could it be Marius von Tubant?”
Jessica’s voice held an undeniable tremor of awe. She did not necessarily believe her judgment had been foolish, but she understood that if she were condemned, the consequences would be severe.
“No, his name is Mergen.”
“I have not heard of him.”
No one suspected that this was the alias of the demon Mergen. It was beyond their imagination that a demon would openly identify himself with an alias and approach the castle head-on.
“Well, he… he brought an Ogre with him.”
“What? An Ogre?”
The Queen’s eyes widened, and others gasped in surprise. Ogres were the strongest of the Oni race, considered high-level monsters comparable to Griffins. Someone who could command such a creature had clearly proven their magical prowess.
“Your Majesty, why not hear what he has to say?”
One of the court scribes suggested, and Jessica nodded.
“Indeed. Let us hear him out.”
Jessica granted him an audience. Having lost all her key personnel like Chandler, Jasper, and Mark, she was desperate, but this was also the moment her fate was sealed to be remembered in history as a foolish monarch.
A man clad in robes walked in, leading an Ogre. Many present thought of Marius, but Jessica perceived that Mergen, unlike Marius, lacked humility, which displeased her. While they were asking for help, surely there was a minimum level of decorum to maintain. Mergen, internally mocking the Queen’s thoughts, offered a bow.
“Nice to meet you.”
The murmurs grew louder at his uncivilized demeanor. Addressing the monarch of a nation with such a casual greeting and attitude, as if meeting a stranger on the street, was unacceptable. The Chancellor’s face turned scarlet as he was about to speak, but Jessica silenced him with a look. She interpreted this disregard for the King as a sign of his immense confidence. Jessica knew that individuals with overwhelming power, yet who were gentle and respectful like Marius, were rare. If someone possessed such strength, a certain degree of leniency should be afforded.
“You say you have a good plan?”
Mergen felt a pang of pity for the King, who omitted even pleasantries, let alone any probing.
“Yes, I have an excellent strategy.”
“What is it?”
Before Jessica, who leaned forward at the immediate response, could hear more, Mergen shot her through the head with a “Laser.”
“You shall be my sacrifices.”
Before the people could comprehend what had just happened before their eyes, Mergen and the Ogre began their slaughter. It was a swift annihilation, with Mergen simply firing “Laser” indiscriminately.
“They’re too weak, even for this… Well, I suppose that’s why he met me so easily.”
“W-what are you doing…”
One of the men who had not yet died glared at Mergen from the ground. He was the man who had suggested to Jessica that she meet Mergen.
“What? You didn’t die?”
Mergen paused for a moment, thinking that perhaps he had missed some targets when firing casually. He prepared to attack again. The middle-aged man desperately shouted,
“W-wait. I’m a follower of Tindalos.”
“Hmm?”
Mergen’s movement stopped for a moment. He recalled that followers of Tindalos were a group of humans who, through Rubens’s machinations, sought the revival of Tindalos. In other words, they were allies.
“What, you actually exist?”
Mergen only knew of their existence by name.
“Y-yes. Help me quickly, comrade.”
“I refuse. If Tindalos is revived, I won’t be able to become King.”
“Wh-what?”
Upon hearing Mergen’s words, the man’s eyes widened to their limit before he was shot through the head with a “Laser.”
“Why should I revive a god when I, who can conquer the world without relying on gods, exist?”
Mocking the man, spitting on him, and kicking his head, Mergen then ordered the Ogre to gather the sacrifices. However, preparing sacrifices did not require a grand ritual. Fresh corpses were sufficient.
“Soul bound to the underworld, by the blood and flesh offered here, return as my servant! [Living Dead]”
The forbidden spell “Living Dead” was a type of undead creation magic, but unlike Necromancy, it could even revive and control those whose bodies had perished. It required fresh corpses, but apart from that, it was incredibly powerful.
“It’s been a while, Rubens, reduced to such a pathetic state.”
Mergen taunted the resurrected zombie of the Basilisk with his magic. This was how he could bend even beings more powerful than himself to his will, stripping them of their selfhood. Although they could not exert their full inherent abilities due to their lack of self, they were far stronger than zombies.
“Now, tell me the details of the Evil God’s revival?”
Moreover, he retained his memories. Mergen could not hide his surprise at the method of reviving an Evil God that Rubens recounted.
“No way… it was that ridiculous of a method.”
He felt he had seen an unexpected side to Rubens, who was supposed to be a comrade. At least, he had thought Rubens was a straightforward creature.
*No matter. I will reign as the new Demon Lord, the new god.*
To achieve this, he had to subdue Auraniess, who had apparently already revived. It was only by commanding the “Calamity Demon Lord” Auraniess, renowned as the strongest, that Mergen’s ambition would be complete.
*And heh heh heh… Auraniess is said to be more beautiful than any woman on earth.*
The mere thought of being attended by the strongest and most beautiful woman ignited his desire. The “Eternal Empress,” as she was known, would still require preparation to acquire. He would likely need to sacrifice those surrounding the castle and revive the Demon Lords. Demon Lords Decarabia and Zagan, along with the fallen demons. By controlling them all, and further utilizing Mergen’s skills, he could form a force capable of defeating Auraniess.
*Well, as preparation, I’ll just defeat this ‘Marius’ or whatever.*
Since he possessed the power to crush the demon army and defeat Demon Lords, turning them into corpses to control them would serve as useful pawns in the battle against Auraniess. However, they would lose their magical abilities, so excessive expectations should be avoided.
*Frankly, no matter how strong Marius is, he’s a second-rate mage.*
Mergen’s policy was that capable mages should not draw attention. Doing so invited a swarm of nuisants, like Marius. True first-class individuals were like himself, Mergen believed. Until initiating an event, he remained inconspicuous and never revealed his strength. This was how he achieved his goals. Marius, in Mergen’s opinion, was merely a brute force. He did not realize that his feelings were mixed with a sense of disdain, not just simple contempt.
***
With the destruction of Barshark, the demons were resurrected.
“Now, shall we go? My servants!”
Mergen, accompanied by the resurrected Demon Lords Zagan and Decarabia, and the demons Rubens, Gerik, Albert, Franklin, Pal, Rebera, Laam, Samuel, and Gastark in their undead forms, headed towards Filat.
“Ah, yes. Shall we make Misra disappear to celebrate?”
Mergen pondered, like a child choosing what to eat.
“It’s on the way to Filat, so let’s do it on the side. [Necromancy]”
Mergen conjured countless zombies and added them to his advancing horde. He had no intention of unleashing zombies on Marius. Given Gastark’s defeat, he could anticipate that a horde of zombies would be meaningless against Marius. Nevertheless, Mergen had his reasons.
“The legendary Hundred Demon March. I, the great Mergen, shall recreate it.”
Mergen, fully embracing his role as a Demon Lord, let out a slovenly grin. The Hundred Demon March was a festival of nightmares for humanity, where a hundred Demon Lords and demons marched and ravaged the continent. Mergen was attempting to recreate it with his own power. With many Demon Lords and demons having been destroyed by Melinda, he intended to fill the remaining gaps with the undead. As they approached the Misra border fort, he commanded Zagan.
“Zagan. Show me your power.”
Being able to command beings far stronger than himself was one of the pleasures of being a necromancer. He thought this as he watched Zagan react to his command and begin an attack. The Demon Lord Zagan of Hecatoncheir, with fifty heads and a hundred arms, was so colossal he could dwarf castles built by men. A single blow relying on brute force was said to inflict fatal damage even on Demon Lords of equal standing. Zagan proved that this reputation was not an exaggeration.
“What is that?”
The Misra soldiers who noticed Mergen’s entourage voiced their curiosity, but it was their last word. Zagan’s ultimate attack, “Cosmic Crusher,” created a roar that seemed to reach the heavens as it pulverized the Misra border fort, vaporizing everything within it – living beings and inanimate matter – and physically blasting them away. Furthermore, he had only used fifty of his arms, demonstrating a power that surpassed Mergen’s imagination. If this was his power as an undead controlled by Mergen, how formidable must he have been in life?
“S-splendid, Zagan! Truly my servant!”
Mergen rejoiced and danced with glee. Zagan, praised, said nothing and brought down fifty of his opposite arms. This time, no roar was heard, but a gale arose and swept far into the distance. Mergen’s eyesight could not discern what had happened, but a city far away, like the border fort, had vanished. This was “Cosmic Wave,” the long-range version of “Cosmic Crusher.” This was the power of Demon Lord Zagan, who had once plunged multiple continents into despair. Mergen believed Marius’s victory was pure luck.
“Now, let us bring about the end of the human world!”
Following Mergen’s declaration, the horde of undead and zombies ravaged Misra.
***
Hordia was the first to receive news of the appearance of the Hundred Demon March. Asteria issued a cold, detached command to the military seeking instructions.
“Ignore it.”
A moment of silence filled the court, followed by a scream-like question from the Chancellor.
“A-are you abandoning them?”
His expression held a complex mixture of seeing someone inhuman and desperately wishing they were not, but Asteria was neither intimidated nor swayed.
“Yes. Ten thousand men sent will result in ten thousand deaths; a million will result in a million deaths.”
Everyone agreed that the Queen’s words were not wrong. Nevertheless, Asteria’s choice to abandon them without hesitation evoked a feeling of disgust bordering on awe.
“We cannot afford to let our soldiers die in vain. Understand this.”
With that, it became difficult to argue.
“Inform Filat.”
Whether this should be seen as passing the responsibility to Marius or as a prudent decision to refrain from reckless action was debatable. The former was likely more common, probably due to Asteria’s personality.
*If humanity had united, casualties could have been reduced,* she thought.
Zombies required a large number of corpses to be effective, and their higher forms required the sacrifice of the living for rituals. Preventing them was difficult, but there had been ways to reduce casualties. Though she knew it was an overreach, Asteria felt regret.
“Hordian forces will only mobilize after Marius’s defeat. In that case, you must prepare for death.”
Her voice, imbued with the Queen’s authority, caused everyone to bow their heads.
