Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!

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(Maria's POV)

The morning sun warmed my face as I slowly opened my eyes, realizing it was already the next day. I had been working tirelessly to repair the island's damage and assist as many people as possible, so we had not yet left this world, and it might take a few more weeks.

I was eager to return to Earth, but I also wanted to ensure I left this world without regrets. I was still contemplating what to do about Alma, our relationship, and the friends I had made here.

I wanted to leave, yet I also didn't, and leaving another "me" here would feel… I don't know. I think they would sense it was merely a fragment of me and not the full me they know.

"Haaa…"

As I rose and walked to the bathroom to bathe, I glanced over some system messages. After my battle against the Living Nightmare Dimension, I had naturally gained many Levels. It was a formidable enemy, and despite my strength, I was still able to grow significantly stronger.

[You have slain a powerful entity, the [Living Nightmare Dimension (??? Rank)]!]

[You have gained a tremendous quantity of EXP!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[…]

[Your Level has increased from Level 0 to Level 238/500!]

[All of your Stats have increased greatly!]

[You gained +238,000,000 System Points!]

[You have absorbed the power of the [Living Nightmare Dimension (??? Rank)] and have devoured its Nightmare Dimension Soul.]

[Your Existence is further elevated, as you have harnessed this energy to grow even more powerful.]

[Your [Divinity]: [Primordial Flame: Starless Deep & Void Death / Yin & Yang (Tier 5: Rank 1)] has Ranked Up to Tier 6: Rank 5!]

[Your [Physique]: [Abyssal Mourner of the Starless Deep Death Physique (Tier 5: Rank 1)] has Ranked Up to Tier 6: Rank 5!]

[Your [Spiritual Heart]: [Abyssal Starless Void Deep Chaotic Heart (Tier 5: Rank 1)] has Ranked Up to Tier 6: Rank 5!]

[Your [HP] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [MP] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [KI] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Nether] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Spirit] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Attack] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Defense] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Magic] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Agility] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Aether] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Divine Power] has increased by +45,000,000.]

[Your [Nightmare Power] has increased by +300,000,000.]

[You learned the Inherited Skill: [Living Nightmare Dimension Soul Realm: Lv1]]

[You learned the Racial Skill: [Cosmic Mourner's Wail: Lv1]]

[You learned the Racial Skill: [Voidsculpt Dominion: Lv1]]

[The Recognition of People toward you around the World has generated a great amount of Faith and Hope.]

[You acquired the Title Skill: [Azure Star's Greatest Savior: Lv1]]

There it is. I gained numerous rewards: three new skills, a new title, and a substantial boost in stats… I felt far stronger, yet it also seemed that no matter how much power I acquired, my current dilemmas could not be resolved by wielding it.

Oh well! I'm glad things turned out well in the end, and we saved this world. That's what matters, right? Worrying over minor details has never been my style anyway.

I will discuss with Alma and my friends what we'll do next, and then we'll determine what happens… whether they choose to come along or stay.

And I'll respect their decisions, whichever they make.

I won't be gone forever. I'll return often to visit.

But I don't want these people to depend on me as some kind of Hero or something. My departure will likely create a significant power vacuum that they'll need to fill.

However, it's up to the people of this world to decide how they handle it, not me…

"Good morning, Amelia, Arthur!"

I continued living my life as before in this house, and so did everyone else. Even though Amelia knew who we were and everything, she still regarded us as family and didn't mind having us around.

If anything, she has been happier than ever since then.

"Good morning, Maria! Are you attending the graduation ceremony today?" Amelia asked. She no longer needed to pretend to use her wheelchair and was walking on her own perfectly.

Regarding the Dream Heart Cancer, I had healed her Dream Heart using my newfound powers over Nightmares and Dreams with ease, so that issue was resolved, and she had been recovering swiftly, now brimming with energy.

"Good morning, sis. You're late," Arthur said, sipping coffee while reading the news on his tablet.

"Hahah, yeah, sorry. I woke up a bit late today…" I sighed, sitting down and savoring the meal Amelia prepared for me. "Hmm! This is delicious, Amelia. I love your pancakes…"

"Yeah, I'm… I'm glad," Amelia said, smiling as she sat down.

We ate in silence, and the atmosphere grew slightly awkward…

We hadn't spoken a word, yet it felt heavier and heavier, as though we had conversed for hours without end.

"It's good, right… the pancakes…" Amelia muttered, gazing down at her plate and fork. "It's…"

"Yeah… Um…" I muttered, trailing off into silence.

Then Amelia suddenly dropped her fork onto her plate, making a loud clatter.

We looked at her as she covered her face with her hand.

She was crying.

"A-Amelia?"

"Whoa, are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine… I… I'm fine…"

Amelia tried to wipe her tears with her handkerchief, but she kept crying.

"I… I'm truly grateful for everything you did, but… I still miss my sister… and my brother… knowing they're gone, and that you two will leave too… I… I'll be so lonely… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have said that. I-"

I didn't hesitate, embracing her tightly without letting go.

"Maria?"

"It's okay… I know how you feel."

Amelia looked at me, then burst into tears again, returning my embrace tightly.

"Maria…! Please, don't leave…!"

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