[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-black-dragon-necromancer":3,"chapter-black-dragon-necromancer-black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-72":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Black Dragon Necromancer",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312832,4521,"Chapter 72","black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-72",72,"\u003Cp>Near Karnesen City, on a cluster of floating islands, lay a private estate of the Vellin family: a vast open-air platform carved into the cliff’s edge, its floor paved with smooth black basalt. The platform offered an unobstructed view, overlooking the churning, star-speckled dust clouds below and the distant, flickering lighthouse of the Astral City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bored out, Sakavi suddenly had an idea and asked the Viceroy to host a ten-day banquet here. The dining table was a massive, low, circular stone sofa encircling a raised central area, allowing both humanoid and true forms of dragons to sit comfortably. The cushions were stuffed with shadow panther hides and winter wolf wool—luxurious and supremely comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the seventh day. The main course was rib meat from giant stone oxen of the highlands, pre-marinated in spices and red wine, now roasting over a central charcoal pit. Also present was a whole young grassland lamb, stuffed with rosemary, numbing mushrooms, and other exotic spices, slow-roasted on outer charcoal racks until its skin was crisp and charred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appetizers were crystal sturgeon slices—taken from the fattest parts of giant sturgeons in the frigid Crystal Lake, sliced into translucent sheets and served on ice platters, accompanied by lemon juice and a mint-scented sauce. There was also glowing mushroom salad, made from magical mushrooms growing in caves that emitted a faint luminescence, mixed with crisp wild greens—refreshing to the palate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other dishes common across the multiverse—salt-baked sea shrimp, moonlight silver salmon jelly, charcoal-grilled deep-sea giant squid tentacles, tiger-skin griffon eggs, and wild mushroom night-dew soup—had already been consumed over the first six days. Today, everyone unanimously demanded something new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was also Starlight Wine, a prestigious wine from elven lands, stored in transparent crystal bottles, its liquid shimmering with tiny specks of starlight, crisp and lingeringly sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sakavi had no appetite for any of it, for as he carefully roasted the stone ox ribs, Aquilon returned—with news of the loan negotiations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “Aquilon, did you fall under a hallucination or eat some poisonous mushroom? How dare you bring me back a contract like this? Are you trying to kill me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “He got robbed—can’t you see he didn’t even wear his underwear? Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suled: “Has the Cult of the Dragon really sunk this low? Then again, Sakavi himself never wore clothes either. How can they not fear defaulting on the loan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “Verna, you’re the second-in-command of the Duchy. How can you dare mock me? If I truly can’t pay, what will you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “You flatter me too much. I’m merely one of your vassals. Your money has nothing to do with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “It does now.” Sakavi pulled out a wooden puppet, pressed a dragon scale onto it, muttered incantations—and suddenly, the puppet rapidly decayed into a pile of ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “What is this? Why suddenly pull out a puppet? Are you cursing that dragon-blooded Cultist who swindled you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “No. I’m dissolving our vassal contract. This is called a curse transfer—it swaps the fates of the puppet and a person. I reversed it to break the contract. Doesn’t that make perfect sense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “So you’re cursing me? You’re so petty—I just used your name when I committed murder and arson! If you dissolve the contract, how will I escape my enemies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “It’s long overdue. This is proper respect. Half the debt is yours now. How do you plan to repay it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “A drow who repays honestly isn’t favored by the Spider Queen. Do you think I’ll pay? Even giving the Cult of the Dragon a single gold coin would be an insult to me, a master of conspiracy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “Enough banter. How do you plan to handle this plane? Who will stay behind to oversee it? Two legendary druids are coming. We can’t afford to be without someone powerful watching.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “So you’re planning to leave me here? Don’t even think about it—I won’t agree. Let Suled and his wife go. Use the plane as Isolene’s dowry. How much dowry will you give? Don’t even think of dodging payment for your subordinate’s wedding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi: “The dowry is a life-saving ring. I’ve already sent Grap to negotiate with the Black Forest. It won’t affect their marriage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verna: “Why are all three of you still eating?! My whole roasted lamb is gone! Didn’t you save me even a bite? No conscience at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isolene: “It’s not my fault—it was Vex who ate it all. He’s the biggest, so he ate the most. He must be punished by roasting another one for everyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Verna, Gisk the jackal-man reports for duty! Your orders!” Seeing the young jackal-man standing before her with a perfect military salute, Verna barely suppressed her laughter and waved dismissively, indicating no need for such formality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gisk was straining to appear calm and cold, but his constantly shifting yellow eyes betrayed his nervous excitement. His outfit was a visual catastrophe, the perfect embodiment of “overdone fusion style.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most striking was his fire-red mohawk, as if soaked in cheap dye—vividly bright and jarring. He’d meticulously styled it into a towering spike atop his head, sharply contrasting his own earthy-yellow fur, as if a flame that never died burned on his skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a human civilian officer’s gray greatcoat, clearly far too large—the shoulders hung to his upper arms, the hem dragging to his shins. He deliberately left it unbuttoned, proudly displaying his furry, muscular chest. The sleeves were crudely rolled up, revealing leather bracers and sharp claws on his forelimbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually held a thick, slowly burning cigar between his teeth, attempting to mimic the demeanor of a human officer or mob boss. He occasionally exhaled smoke, trying to puff it from his nostrils—but failed miserably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike his upper body’s human imitation, his lower half fully embraced jackal-man tradition: a leather long-pants reinforced with metal patches, and a wild-style hide belt adorned with several small metal skulls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gisk, you’re here! Your outfit’s different again—who are you imitating this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report, my lord! I’m imitating Chief Verna, whom I deeply admire. I’m honored to serve her today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t lie. I don’t know you, and I’ve never dressed like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Verna, as your steadfast supporter, I believe in developing my own style—not blind imitation. My hairstyle reflects my stance toward the Duchy. My greatcoat represents my current status. The cigar? To be as cool as you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent, excellent! Hahaha! Youth has such energy! Hahaha! Verna, you’ve got a truly admirable supporter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope this is all a dream,” Verna muttered, covering her face, unwilling to look at the serious yet absurd creature before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Let’s talk business. Gisk, how many men did you bring? We’re about to wage a major campaign to clear this plane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report, my lord! I brought five thousand jackal-men as the vanguard. Ten thousand lizard-men stand ready to deploy at any moment. We guarantee mission success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many? Sakavi, aren’t lizard-men mainly used for port and river transport? Why pull so many? You should’ve sent more boar-men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. That’s why they lack combat experience—and why we need to train them now. Gisk, I’m putting you in command. If you mess this up, you’ll regret it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem, my lord. Look—my men have already begun reconnaissance of the Withering Marsh. The two brothers in the crystal ball are known as the ‘Shadow Fangs.’ The elder, Kaimon, is an assassin skilled in shadow stealth and lethal strikes. The younger, Sola, is a ranger who excels in natural tracking and survival. They’re exceptional scouts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Kaimon and Sola stepped onto the edge of the Withering Marsh, the thick, rotting-sweet stench of death immediately enveloped them. Even with talismans protecting them, they felt their lungs clogged with icy sludge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place… even shadows are sticky,” Kaimon whispered. His body seemed to melt into the twisted shadows cast by the skeletal trees along the marsh’s edge, nearly invisible to the naked eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch your feet—and the air. Every breath here weakens us,” Sola replied, crouching to examine the black mud. He noticed unnatural depressions and drag marks—not from beasts, but from some viscous substance moving across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they passed a seemingly calm mudflat covered in vivid moss, Sola suddenly grabbed Kaimon’s arm. His sharp eyes spotted microscopic bubbles rising beneath the moss. The moment they halted, several vine-like tendrils—previously mistaken for dead branches—lashed out like black lightning, striking for their ankles!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaimon’s shortblade flashed through shadow, cleanly severing the vines. Black, foul-smelling sap oozed from the cuts. Sola noticed the severed vines sank back into the mud and vanished instantly, as if they’d never existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeper in, the emerald-green toxic mist thickened. Suddenly, the black waters ahead began to “boil.” Three bloated, dripping corpses of poison wraiths crawled out. They made no roar—only a nauseating, sucking, gurgling sound as they shuffled forward. Where they walked, plants instantly withered and turned black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t let their fluids splash you!” Sola warned, drawing his enchanted longbow. Arrows streaked like meteors, piercing the brain of one wraith—but it only staggered. The poison spewing from its wound surged toward Sola like a living thing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaimon emerged from shadow, his twin blades wreathed in dark energy. Each strike aimed to sever joints, avoiding direct blows that might spray poison. The battle was brief and fierce. The wraiths dissolved into three writhing pools of toxic sludge—but both brothers’ weapons and armor bore corrosive marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had they finished than a faint, bone-rattling vibration echoed from above. Without hesitation, Kaimon instinctively shoved Sola aside and rolled sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Whoosh! Three skeletal raptors, with wingspans nearly three meters, dove like black lightning. Their rusted bone claws gouged deep into the ground where they had stood. Their eye sockets burned with emerald soul-fire. They attacked with cunning coordination—one distracted, the other struck from blind spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They moved with impossible agility, easily dodging most arrows. Sola had to use expensive explosive arrows to inflict meaningful damage on their dense skeletons. Kaimon kept using shadow-jumps, targeting their vulnerable neck joints. When they realized they couldn’t win, they let out mournful cries and vanished into the marsh’s depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After escaping the skeletal raptors, they reached a relatively open area dotted with mushroom faces. Suddenly, the faces on the mushrooms twisted, emitting silent screams. The brothers were struck by violent headaches; their vision blurred and doubled. The marsh’s vengeful spirits used the mushrooms as amplifiers to launch a psychic assault! Danger struck again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaimon’s affinity for shadow granted him partial resistance, but Sola, as a ranger deeply tied to nature, suffered far more. He saw dead comrades beckoning him, heard voices that didn’t exist. He nearly stepped toward a seemingly calm patch of mud—actually a deadly trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sola! Wake up!” Kaimon growled, slapping a talisman infused with holy light onto his brother’s chest. Sola jolted violently—the illusions vanished—but his face remained pale, drenched in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a series of attacks, the brothers neared the marsh’s core. Here, they found strange traces: low-level undead moved in slow, ritualistic circles around a small, half-collapsed altar built of black stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the altar’s center lingered an extremely faint but high-quality necromantic resonance—alien to the environment, as if deliberately concealed yet leaving traces. As Sola moved to collect a sample of the altar’s offering, the ground beneath them suddenly came alive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal mud abomination—composed of sludge, bones, and countless tormented souls—erupted upward! “Retreat!” Kaimon acted instantly, grabbing the still-weakened Sola and activating his strongest shadow-teleportation. Their forms blurred—and they barely escaped, reappearing hundreds of meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t look back, fleeing the marsh at top speed. Behind them, the mud abomination roared with fury and disappointment—a dull, heavy sound—while the entire marsh pulsed with heightened, enraged death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the jackal-men’s ordeal, Sakavi gained new respect for Gisk’s abilities. He’d merely spoken offhand—and Gisk had actually built a rear-ops reconnaissance unit. The results looked promising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, if you let my men lead a full battalion, I guarantee we’ll capture the lich inside. Give me this chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. Such danger doesn’t warrant sending so many to die. I’ll go myself. Who knows what surprises await us inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>",2026,"2026-06-20T13:10:04.638Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ab97960453a77a346c5dc675f55eeba4ea18d307ba8b0ef53418108c43efa314","black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-73","black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-71",145,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fblack-dragon-necromancer-cover.jpg"]