[It all began when they started contacting me privately. They told me that they really valued me, and that I had the ability to quickly make it to the top...]

"Hmm."

Bisher Moon began, and his story sounded so similar to Lee Shin-Woo’s experience. That's right. It’s almost identical to what Ethan Cruz had said to me!

But there was something different: Ethan had gotten Mentes Orun involved early on with Bisher Moon. While Bisher had been suspicious of Ethan Cruz, he hadn't suspected Mentes Orun. Thus, Bisher Moon fell for a trap and ended up cursed by Ethan. That curse was...

"...Come again?"

[It’s called Deadly Force, a curse that's almost the same as death. It's one of the world's worst curses, and so long as you're not well-versed in using darkness magic, you won't even notice that you're in its grasp.]

I knew Ethan used curses, but he’s that powerful? While Lee Shin-Woo was astonished, Bisher Moon added for further explanation.

[I believe Deadly Force was created by mixing together the Empire's curse as well as a few other curses.]

"Indeed. That makes sense."

[Deadly Force is so subtle that you wouldn't know you were affected even when it was cast right in front of you. However...though unskilled, I was able to use darkness mana. The moment I realized that I'd been cursed, I desperately fought it off. He then tried to cast a subordination curse on me, but I was able to dispel it with my darkness mana.]

"Why didn’t he chase you down?"

According to Bisher, he had been dead for years. In that case, Ethan was already incredibly powerful years ago. So Lee Shin-Woo asked the logical follow-up question⁠—the important thing to figure out here—and Bisher replied firmly.

[Because Deadly Force is such a fatal curse, it has a few downsides. First, it's difficult to use against those with more mana than the caster. Second, the caster cannot move freely until the target's death. It's all or nothing.]

"Aha."

Lee Shin-Woo recalled what the goddess had told him before. He needn't be worried about Ethan Cruz... With his max level Curse Resistance, there was no way Ethan Cruz's curses would work on him. Well, so long as the man’s undead weren't nearby!

[That's probably why he called for Mentes Orun. But because I knew about the curse beforehand, I was able to fight off Mentes Orun and run away.]

"What about the other undead?"

[I was able to momentarily confuse them with my darkness mana. As darkness mana forms master-servant contracts, it can likewise be used to weaken that link.]

Now Lee Shin-Woo understood why the goddess had awakened his darkness element! And for someone who was 'unskilled', Bisher Moon sure seemed like an expert!

[It was a really close call though. If I had made a decision a split second too late, if I hadn't injured Mentes Orun, or if I hadn't been able to confuse Ethan's undead subordinates, I would probably be by his side right now.]

And Lee Shin-Woo would've been facing nine undead rather than eight. There was one thing he knew for certain: if he wanted to beat Ethan, he would need to rip the undead from his control!

And if I can, get him to use a curse on me...

Ethan wouldn't expect him to take that magic head on; Lee Shin-Woo would have to do his very best to make him use Deadly Force on him. In his mind, a plan was starting to take shape. Ah, another thing...

"Originally, I wanted you to join and lead my other subordinates until the time your revenge came, but..."

[I will, so long as it helps me get my revenge.]

"Even though it’ll slow me, we should travel together for the time being. You see, I'd like you to tell me everything you know about darkness mana. A few days should do."

‘What!? I'm not going to let another guy get on my back!’

[But you can use darkness magic that's much greater than mine...!]

Jin and Bisher yelled in astonishment simultaneously—Jin was doing it silently through their bond, of course. Lee Shin-Woo comforted Jin, saying that he had no intention of letting Bisher ride on his back, and then he said to Bisher, "I may be able to use the darkness mana, but I don't really know how to use it, so teach me the basics."

[How can that be? For someone who can command that much darkness...]

By Bisher’s standards, it was as if Lee Shin-Woo had been given the ability to fly before he could crawl. There was no changing the fact, though. And Bisher wouldn’t be able to turn Lee Shin-Woo down anyway. And so they began their travels together…

[Hm, that's correct. That's Confusion.]

"Ah, it really is easy. Is that it?"

[Yes, that's it...]

The lesson ended in half a day.

"Nice. Thanks for taking all this time to teach me everything."

[All this time? It's only been a little over 10 hours...]

The Empire's artificial sun slowly dimmed, and the veil of night fell. Lee Shin-Woo had given peace to the final undead hero in the level 3 danger zone⁠—unfortunately, this senior was a big fat zero again⁠—so they were now moving to the level 4 danger zone.

Lee Shin-Woo was able to understand Bisher's darkness magic in one go, which Bisher had trained for his entire life before his death. With slight disbelief, he stared at Lee Shin-Woo and asked, [I'd like to think you weren't making fun of me... Were you truly unaware of it?]

"I'd just awakened this power, so all I know is contracts, curses, and resistance. But because of you, I feel like I've grasped the basics, so thanks."

Realizing Lee Shin-Woo was telling the truth, Bisher felt empty; he didn't know what to say. Jin knocked on Bisher’s knees in a companionable manner. It'd been a long time since he could commiserate with someone else regarding this particular suffering.

[As a descendant of the Moon Clan, several people have told me that I was exceptional, but Paul Zero, your talent trumps mine.]

"I've been getting that a lot lately. Now, let's talk about your mission from here on out. All you need to do is go over here..."

Amongst the Pauls that were following his command and traversing across the Empire, Lee Shin-Woo picked the high-level ones that weren't part of Shino Rendu's group and told Bisher of his plan. Henceforth, they would move together with Bisher Moon.

"I've already told a few other teams to enter the level 4 danger zone. You may not be traveling with them, but in case of an emergency, make sure you're close enough to reach them so you can help each other if in need. You got it?"

[Of course. I’ve passed by the area in the past. There's no way of knowing the danger a large city like that will entail.]

After only one awakening, Bisher Moon had regained all of his memories as a hero, which almost made Lee Shin-Woo forget that he was an undead. Was the rate at which he recovered his memories faster than Shino Rendu because he died at a higher level?

"Yeah. Remember to adopt hit-and-run tactics. If you're caught by one of the twelve generals, or if you run across an informant, report to me immediately."

[You really are working with the heroes in order to purify the Empire.]

"Of course I am… And we'll kill Ethan Cruz faster than you expected. I'll call you before then, so make sure you're prepared."

[...That's exactly what I wanted to hear.]

Lee Shin-Woo had gotten a solid grasp on Bisher Moon's abilities during the half day he spent with him. Bisher’s pledge of loyalty hadn't been an empty promise, and he was sure that Bisher wasn't the lying type. He was plenty satisfied with that.

[Above all, I'm really happy that I can get stronger again...!]

"Then get going, if for no other reason than to get stronger."

[I understand!]

Bisher departed in satisfaction. Once he'd sent him off, Lee Shin-Woo called up his map and approximated where his subordinates were.

"Good. They're still doing well. Not many have died either."

"Of course they’re doing well. They're all elites...!"

"Even so, it would be over for them in an instant if they made a mistake. It's a relief that they're growing amid that danger."

The level 4 Bronze Golems, which were the only ones amongst his subordinates that weren't elites, were moving through the level 2 danger zone, while the level 5 and 6 Golems and Pauls traversed across the level 3 danger zone. And now, the Chi Pauls⁠—the Chimera Avengers⁠—and the group of elite Pauls led by Shino Rendu and Bisher Moon respectively were permitted to go through the level 4 danger zone...

Lee Shin-Woo mapped out a path for them so that they could avoid danger and grow as much as possible. As long as they stayed away from the heroes, especially Ethan Cruz, it wouldn't be long before Lee Shin-Woo led them into the fight against one of the twelve generals.

"It's unfortunate since it seems like Anti-Skull will show up soon. If Ethan Cruz weren’t such a bastard, I would've taken my time to infiltrate Anti-Skull."

"Yeah, so unfortunate. Let's kill Ethan Cruz and go play with Anti-Skull instead."

Jin, who'd seemingly reached a state of nirvana, replied to Lee Shin-Woo's incomprehensible words with more nonsense and kept running. They were in a quiet grassland, but the area seemed to be thick with tension.

"I have no idea what's going to show up..."

"Well, that's the kind of place this is."

They’d entered the level 4 danger zone, which included the large city that was connected to a satellite city, as well as the rugged free land in between. It was the cream of the crop, the land that encompassed 30% of the Empire with the capital at its center. Its danger level was thus the highest.

Troops under one of the twelve general's direct command would be stationed here, and it wouldn't be strange if they were to encounter one of the twelve generals in person. They had reached the frontline of the hero’s struggle against the undead.

"I've learned which places are safe from our seniors."

"So which place is safe?"

"Mm... At the very least, this isn’t one. Not there, either."

"Then their info's pointless!"

"No, it's telling us that it'd be a waste of time to go over there, so it's valuable information!"

A safe spot that had been procured by heroes decades prior wouldn't be the least bit helpful to Lee Shin-Woo!

"We know where Ethan Cruz frequents, as well as where one of the twelve generals supposedly patrols. We’ll be fine. Plus... I was able to figure out how I could acquire my undead seniors while avoiding the notice of my living seniors."

"You're talking about the senior heroes..."

All his seniors who were going through the level 4 danger zone were level 7. If they were to see him right now with his Disguise up⁠—or even if his true appearance was exposed⁠—he was confident that he could come out unscathed, but he really didn't want his seniors to know where he was.

"Yeah, good job you... Shin-Woo!"

"Huh!?"

Jin sharply called out to Lee Shin-Woo. They hadn't reached the area with the undead hero yet. In that case... Lee Shin-Woo looked up and soon sensed the death energy ahead of them, which had filled the grassland to the brim.

"Mm, as I thought, level 4 danger zones really are on a different level."

"Why are you so calm? There are so many high-rank level 6 elites everywhere...!"

And they weren't heroes. Nor were they one of the twelve generals. There were simply thousands of undead roaming around where they needed to pass through. Most of them were level 6, and a small minority were level 5!

"This should be enough to get you to level 7 in a flash," Lee Shin-Woo muttered in satisfaction.

"You're not going for a frontal breakthrough, are you...?"

"This is nothing compared to the large-scale battle we faced in the training facility. Let's go, Jin!"

"...Ah, screw it!"

After that, Lee Shin-Woo and Jin besieged thousands of undead without any outside help, and in only two hours and thirty minutes, all of the undead had been completely exterminated. Such was the manner in which the two skeleton heroes made their level 4 danger zone debut.