Chapter 16—The Wraith Knight

Lilith’s spark had already vanished upward, a glimmer crawling toward the dungeon roof. It didn't matter; she had her orders. She was part of the Hive now. Our goals were the same, and I would be aware of everything that she learned, every tiny tidbit of information she gained in the outside world.

She would become invaluable sooner rather than later, and she’d show these assholes what it was like to deal with an actual cheat.

Standing next to the Core was Zenos. With each slow, deliberate scrape of chitin against stone, the hound-mantis flexed his blades with the precision of a guillotine sharpener. Unlike Luna, he exuded an icy chill. Silence and steel defined him. A leader who is born unwavering and unafraid. He had no choice but to serve. To fight.

But he would also become so much more.

I assigned Zenos to the Core’s defense with my mental command.

And Luna… She paced restlessly, yellow eyes darting between me and Zenos, tail lashing. She did not speak her jealousy, but I tasted it in the Hive-Bond.

—You will always be First, Luna.

Her ears twitched, but she said nothing. I patted her back gently with a tendril.

Soon, there will be many more of us, and none shall ever take your place at the very top of our hierarchy.

The Hound-Mantis regarded us silently from his position beside the Core. His compound eyes gleamed strangely in the eerie glow cast by the black orb.

—He isn't a Thrall. Does it mean he and Lilith aren't bound by the same rules as Luna is? After all, they're just 'units,' not my thralls...

He must've perceived something from me because suddenly those cold, alien lenses fixed upon me. And then...a sense of curiosity? Apprehension? Something akin to fascination welled up within me as well; this creature had been crafted entirely out of bone fragments and whatever else.

What kind of intelligence lurks behind such eyes...or lack thereof? Could such a mind even exist without fleshly components necessary for higher thought processes?

Curiosity blossomed further as I studied Zenos intently. From where I sat near the Core, I could observe every minute movement made by him; each subtle shift revealed yet another detail previously unnoticed. Even now, small things caught my attention—the way muscles bunched beneath plates when he adjusted weight distribution, how individual segments articulated smoothly during complex maneuvers…

Everything about him seemed so utterly efficient. So perfect. It seemed as though his design was solely focused on optimizing his combat potential, rather than considering aesthetics or practicality beyond survival value.

I wish he was a flower mantis, though... They're lovely. Well... I suppose there is no reason why I can't make him a Thrall later on; it must be something possible. I might need to unlock another title or evolve first…

Either way, it doesn't change anything right now because the system chimed in:

[Due to your aberrant actions, a penalty has been applied. Wave 2 is beginning immediately.]

It would appear I had royally pissed off whoever manages this System.

Well done, me.

[Difficulty increased from Normal to Savage.]

Ah yes, excellent. Thank you. Why stop at increasing difficulty?

Go ahead! Make it harder! Do your worst, System!

And then I saw it with Spirit Sight.

I didn't recognize the figure descending from the swirling mist of the spectral plane.

The knight. He came to claim my existence.

His form was a twisted shadow, its features obscured behind the visor of an archaic helmet that glowed faintly red in color, and I could sense his presence all around the Den of Ghosts and Wraiths even if only glimpses were visible at first; soon, however, a more discernible aspect emerged: a long blade of shimmering crystal, translucent as diamond. He held in a tight grasp the weapon whose edge rippled with the faintest of tremors as though it were alive. His entire armor shone brightly in hues that were unnatural for this place: crimson, azure, and violet...and yet, strangely ethereal, like starlight itself.

He walked in the direction of the Core, and I could hear no sound from the boots that clanked heavily upon the dungeon's bone-riddled ground. Despite this silence, his steps resonated deep inside the Core. I felt its tremors reverberating within every particle of dust. It was terrifying to feel, but the fear was countered with the thrill of fighting something new, a unique specimen.

My gaze locked on the knight.

—I want him... No, should I say her? The armor does look somewhat...female? Whatever. How can I make this thing mine? Should I call Lilith back and try to infest it? Would that work?

No.

It wouldn't.

This is not some common wraith, not some ghost. This being surpasses all the previous ones I encountered, even the Spore-Manticore that killed Luna, which was merely an animal. The one coming to destroy the Core had purpose and intention written all across his ethereal existence. Even Zenos and Luna had frozen, staring in silence at the creature walking towards their nest.

And still, I yearn for his consumption, for the experience, and for his subjugation. I would rather not be defeated, not at any cost. That said, how could I possibly consume a knight? Lilith has her mission, so I'm not going to recall her...that leaves us to deal with him the traditional way: by ripping him limb from limb, and then mashing his flesh with our own, and consuming him that way. Of course, Luna will do most of the hard work. But I can support her with Zenos's presence.

I let the direwolf step in front, growling menacingly at the intruder. But something intriguing happened. Zenos took a stand before the wolf. His body shifted, adjusting to better position himself to face this unknown threat, but still he stood tall, unfazed by the knight approaching him.

—Zenos, step back.

Yet he refused to follow my order, standing his ground instead. His stance was firm and determined, unyielding. It was evident that nothing short of my absolute authority over him would move him away. Stubbornness emanated from his form in waves; even though I could compel him to retreat, it would require much effort and energy to accomplish. So instead, I allowed it for the moment.

The knight's pace remained slow and deliberate. There was a gracefulness about his movement that spoke of immense skill in battle, but at the same time suggested an eerie sense of otherness that separated him from mortal men.

Closer. Closer.

Finally, the figure halted its advance several meters away from us.

And spoke.

[Due to a barrier in language, a new skill has been generated.]

[Universal Language Lv. 1]

Your speech and comprehension have improved to bridge the gap in languages due to your interaction and circumstances. Conversations and texts are automatically translated to the closest concept available. Upgrade this skill for more accurate translation and comprehension.

“This tomb belongs to my...mistress, creature. Your intrusion is a transgression.”

This is a female voice. Although somewhat mechanical, she is undeniably feminine. At times, her speech was halting. Was it the limitation of that bizarre skill, Universal Language—that the System generated to assist with the conversation?

“Who might this mistress be?” I asked, even though I could not care less. The dungeon itself, most likely, but I needed her to continue speaking. Why? I had no clue; perhaps I needed to understand a greater purpose for being thrust into this world, where threats of death surrounded me constantly while I simultaneously endured the loneliness and hopelessness of my existence here.

Or perhaps just to know that, somewhere, something or someone cares...

The response came immediately: “Lady Odessa Odelia. And you have defiled her resting grounds.”

Her sword lifted, crystal edge trembling like a star about to shatter.

“For the Mistress of Silence. The one who guards this tomb. All who trespass… must be purged. Immediately.”

[Knight-Captain of House Odelia has challenged you! Prepare to fight for your Hive!]

A laugh rippled through me.

This was beautiful. Too good. It seemed as though a puppet master had meticulously planned every event up to this point, creating a complex deception. It brought to me a sudden sense of humor.

“You still serve your mistress in death? Tell me, Knight… When I devour you, will she mourn?”

And if she does, perhaps I’ll find her next… and silence her, too.