Rise Of The Death Monarch

Dante felt the overuse of mana and took a break. He leaned against a rock as the wolf beauty started dragging the four bodies toward him. ''Let's change them, and where are the others? Why didn't you use them?''

''It costs me mana to bring the undead back every time they fall,'' he answered, annoyed.

Luna's head tilted in confusion as she continued with her question. ''Then why can't you bring back your old ones?''

''They were destroyed using light magic,'' he sighed. ''And the other ones were weak and not worth the mana.''

''Oh, that makes sense,'' she muttered, tail swaying side to side.

Following that, Dante slumped down to catch his breath while watching the Troll den entrance. He summoned the creatures he brought back and ordered them. ''Guard the path and bring me any strong monsters. I'll be out soon.''

The Mountain Trolls grunted, making their way outside, surprising Luna, who turned to him. ''They are amazing! I'm glad you got this power, master. It was better than being a noble hero.''

Dante grimaced but nodded, turning to the scattered bodies. With a focused breath, he cast Arise, their forms stirring as they rose to serve him. Luna's blue eyes widened in awe at the sight. Before he could speak, two notifications flashed in front of him.

[Death Troll - A Rank]

[Death Troll Leader - A Rank]

A wide grin appeared when he saw the ranks. He shook his head and answered her question. ''Yes, it is. But there's something I need to do, check the Domain, do you want to come with me?''

''Let's go!''

Moments later, he opened a portal and stepped through, followed by the wolf woman, who stopped moving once she was on the other side. Dante turned to her and warned. ''There are thousands of undead lurking here. I just wanted to check on the Death Camp, which is this way.''

A chorus of guttural moans echoed closer, sending a chill through him as the undead shambled toward them. His concern flared into resolve, and he bellowed across the Domain. ''The Dark Wolf is my woman! None of you will attack or target her!''

At his words, Luna's cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She stepped closer, her hand seizing his arm. Dante glanced at her touch, surprised to find it didn't irritate him, only stirred a quiet confusion. He shrugged, and the two explored the Domain and noticed there were thousands of Zombies and Ghouls roaming.

'Looks like my army is big enough to wipe out the last two villages on the way to Blackharbor,' he mused.

After that, Dante led the wolf woman toward the treehouse he'd built. When his gaze landed on it, he stiffened. The memories of Bella were still raw in his mind, but Luna squeezed his arm. ''Don't worry, master. I won't leave your side again,'' she reassured him.

''I'll hold you to that,'' he replied as he felt better thanks to her words.

Following that, they waited for a little while before heading toward the next monster, which would be the Blood Lion, and stepped through a portal he opened. Luna told him everything about the A-Ranked beast; it was stronger than the Mountain Trolls, but there was only one, according to the older woman.

When they appeared in the Mountain Trolls' den, the monsters turned to him and got excited as the beasts dragged over some strange-looking humanoid, throwing their broken bodies at his feet. Dante's eyebrow rose in curiosity as he turned to the wolf beauty. ''What are these things?''

''Creepy fuckers,'' she spat. ''They hide behind things and call for you, it's unnerving even though I'm much stronger than they are. The Creepers used your voice against me for years, but I knew you were dead.''

''Oh, so they can mess with people's minds?''

Luna nodded. ''Yes, they would be a good addition, if only to mess with the humans even more,'' she admitted.

Dante counted four of them and shrugged, pointing at them. ''Arise.''

Seconds later, the creepy humanoids bounced to their feet and knelt in front of him as a creepy voice echoed from one. ''Death Monarch! We live to serve!''

He studied them closely: their skin was a dull, ashen gray, stretched over long, gangly limbs, dangled loosely at their sides, each ending in four razor-sharp claws. Their faces bore a warped resemblance to humans, distorted by exaggerated features, oversized eyes that gleamed unnaturally, eerie, stretched smiles, and smooth, bald heads.

[Death Creepers - D Rank]

The older woman shivered at the sight, earning a chuckle from Dante, but he quickly reassured her. ''They won't scare you anymore. If any tries, I'll destroy it without hesitation.''

Luna's lips curved into a warm smile. She stepped out of the den, and Dante commanded the Creepers to retreat to the Domain, holding them until needed. After that, the two continued through the mountains. He was sitting on the back of the Death Bear while the Trolls followed behind, keeping guard over him.

The duo resumed their hunt, and after a few hours, they reached a small forest inside the mountain range. It confused him, and it showed by the expression on his face, making Luna laugh. ''This is the Blood Lions land, he's an old bastard but should be up for an adventure after we kill him.''

Dante nodded, questioning. ''Do most creatures here have personalties?''

''No, master,'' she revealed. ''It depends on the monster, their location, and all sorts of things. Most are just wild and bloodthirsty, especially on Nemaroth.''

''Interesting,'' he muttered.

Following that, Dante turned to the surroundings only to see a field of trees and a grassland in the distance, baffling him even more. He didn't ask Luna and decided to raid a library in Blackharbor. Just then, the Dear bear let out a growl, forcing the Trolls to circle them before letting out bellows.

''The Blood Lion is coming,'' the older woman whispered.

She shifted into her giant wolf form at the same time as a massive black lion stepped into the forest, a deep rumbling voice hit his ears. ''What brings death to my doorstep?''

Dante's eyes widened, his breath catching as Luna froze and the undead fell silent. A tense moment passed before he faced the Blood Lion, its massive form looming like a family car. ''How do you know what I am?'' he demanded.

The monster didn't answer straight away, but stepped close, allowing him to use Death Eyes to check out what rank it was.

[Blood Lion - S Rank]

''Oh shit, he's the same rank as you, Luna,'' he said, looking at the Dark Wolf.

She was ready to fight,t but the lion spoke once again. ''I don't want to fight, I'm old, we,ak and dying. There is something I do want, though.'

He was curious and went along with it. ''And that is?''

''To serve death,'' the creature answered.

''Fascinating,'' Dante mumbled, climbing off the bear's back. ''You know the cost, yet still want to serve me?''

The Blood Lion slumped down, letting out a long sigh. ''The humans keep sending Hunters after me. I can only hold them off for so long until someone strong enough succeeds, then I'll leave this world.''

''But with my master, you'll grow stronger and live longer?'' Luna asked from the side.

''Exactly, and don't think I haven't heard the whispers of a white-haired being capturing monsters all over the forest,'' the lion revealed. ''So I watched you for many moons through my spies and became certain that you would bring me a new life.''

Dante looked at the older woman, who shrugged. ''What do you want me to say? S-Ranked beasts are intelligent, I thought you knew this?''

''Most of my past life is vague,'' he admitted. ''I remember being betrayed and the days leading up to it. Oh, and the journey back to the capital, but before that, it's a blur.''

Luna narrowed her eyes, but the Blood Lion interrupted. ''Do you accept my service, Death?''

He glanced at the beast and warned. ''Yes, but I'll have to kill you to give you a new life, tied to mine.''

The monster nodded. ''I understand and revel in such a thing.''

Dante's chuckle rumbled low, his red eyes blazing with death mana as he unleashed a Death Bolt into the lion's skull. The beast collapsed but still twitched, its stubborn survival irking him. He glanced at Luna and asked. ''Can you finish it off?''

Without a word, the older woman surged forward, jaws snapping shut around the beast's neck. A sharp crack echoed through the trees as she ended it, putting a smile on his face as she approached and rubbed her big head against his body. He ran his hands through her soft fur, earning him a love-filled growl.

Following that, Dante stepped forward, pointing his hand at the dead Blood Lion, casting. ''Arise.''

Death magic poured out of him, but so much more than any other monster he'd brought back, and by the time it stopped, he was weaker than ever. He stumbled to the side, only to be supported by Luna, a concerned expression stretched across her face. ''Are you okay, master?''