The Black Necromancer

Chapter 421 Before The Gods

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Alvar sat in silence as he thought of what had happened at the frontlines. The reports he had gotten stated that the rebels had already cleared out after felling the wall of Magair.

"Again, I have failed my people. What is with the luck of this damn skeleton?!" Alvar asked himself with a pained expression. To the side, Dyson stood silently.

Creak...

The door to his study slowly slid open and Vera walked in. She had a concerned look on her face as she hurried to her father's side.

"Father! I heard what happened. Are you okay?" Vera asked as she stopped just short of Alvar.

"Daughter. I am fine, just dismayed at the loss of life that is plaguing our empire because of those damned rebels." His face contorted in suppressed rage for a moment before he regained his composure.

Vera's eyes maintained their external worry as her mind began to spin with thoughts. She had been unable to implement her full plan of internal sabotage because of how quickly Alvar had returned to the castle. But even still, the window she gained was enough to implement some measures. Now, she just had to wait for the right time to do everything.

"Don't worry, we, the people of Rivera, will prevail in the end." She took her father's right hand between hers and said with a soft voice.

"I believe we will." Alvar returned the grasp and looked up at her affectionately.

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As the father and daughter comforted each other, a more important discussion that concerned the future of the world was taking place elsewhere.

Leon looked around as he floated behind Michael in the Celestial Realm. He had been in the Void between worlds, but he had never been to the Celestial Realm. It was only when he had ascended to Godhood and been recognized by the Temple of Gods that he would gain his own Domain here and be able to come and go as he pleased.

But for now, he had to rely on Michael to reach this place which he normally should not be able to.

"This is amazing..." Leon marveled at the look of the place where he had appeared with Michael. The stars in the sky were like worlds of their own, constantly moving and never static. The mana and Divinity within the atmosphere was so rich that If Leon was not already on the path to Godhood, then he would be overwhelmed and probably lose himself, eventually dying.

"Of course, it is the Celestial Realm, the only place worthy to hold the boundless bodies of Gods." Michael replied proudly. He was in his true body, having turned into a mass of light and energy with stars dancing within, making him look like an endless galaxy on his own.

All around them, floating islands drifted in the endless cosmos that was the Celestial Realm. The islands were of many sizes, with many of them being as large as the continent of Rivera back on Datar.

From what Leon could see, there were many large and mysterious beasts and other lifeforms living on these islands. Each and every one of them was powerful in their own right. Even the weakest of them was strong enough to give an A rank a run for their money.

"So, for what reason did you bring me here?" Leon asked after he had gotten his fill of the scenery for now.

"For you to decide your future. Come with me." Michael placed his hand on Leon's shoulder without explaining further, and the two of them teleported to a grand and majestic looking circular hall. Many chandeliers hung from the incredibly high ceiling, gleaming with magical light and illuminating the massive hall.

When Leon's eyes finally caught up with his surroundings, he realized that Michael was no longer beside him, and he was standing in a depressed circular stage that was at the center of dozens of raised seats. It resembled something like a council hall where politicians would gather to make a decision concerning a sensitive manner.

When he realized where he was, he naturally also spotted the dozens of figures that filled the seats that were raised higher the further away they were from the center platform where he stood.

An indomitable wave of pressure instantly descended on Leon's shoulders, causing his heart to shake and his will to waver.

"Reincarnate Leon Cromwell!" A domineering voice boomed through the hall and the invisible pressure on Leon's shoulders receded. He looked up and was able to find the one who spoke. A giant mass of green and black light condensed to form a figure that was familiar to Leon. He had once seen this God when a number of Gods had descended to the mortal realm after Leon had made his initial contact with the Paragon of Undeath.

Dardan, the God of Beasts, and the Guardian God of the Gublin Empire, as well as some smaller kingdoms, looked down on Leon with a stern gaze.

"Welcome to the Celestial Realm." Dardan said, nodding his head as a form of acknowledgement to Leon. "You have been brought here so your heart can be tested. Only if we deem you worthy shall you continue on the path that you have laid out for yourself. If we do not deem you worthy, then we shall erase your existence at once." Dardan said with a firm tone that showed that he was not joking.

Leon looked at the area where Michael sat but Michael did not say anything. He had obviously agreed to this as well, or else he might have warned Leon before hand, or even better, Leon would not be in this position at all.

"You do not have a choice in this test. You will either go along with it, or we will just end you. Do you understand, Leon Cromwell?" Dardan asked after a short pause.

"I understand." Leon responded cautiously.

"Very well, then. Let us begin."

After Dardan spoke, a ray of golden light penetrated the ceiling and landed on Leon. In the next moment, everything went black.