The Extra's Rise
Chapter 583 - 583: Ebony Tower (3)

Luna snorted at my thoughts, her amusement rippling through our mental connection like cold water.

'Of course, with you, how can anything ever be normal?' she said, her voice carrying that particular blend of exasperation and fondness that had become her trademark. 'A simple academic paper exchange becomes a life-changing revelation. Typical Arthur.'

I chose to ignore her commentary, as I often did. Despite being an ancient qilin with millennia of experience, her input was more often than not simply unnecessary—and occasionally detrimental to my mental well-being. Right now, I needed to focus on the Deputy Tower Master of the Ebony Tower who was currently kneeling before me like I was some sort of divine figure.

"Please, Sir Paul, get up," I said, trying to inject some normalcy into what had become a decidedly abnormal situation.

Paul Lucrian remained on his knees for a moment longer, his hands pressed flat against the polished stone floor of his office. When he finally looked up, his eyes held a light I'd seen before—the fevered gleam of someone who had just witnessed the impossible made manifest.

"You don't understand," he breathed, slowly rising to his feet but keeping his gaze fixed on me with unsettling intensity. "This paper... what you've accomplished... it's not just a method for bypassing the Gift requirement. It's a complete reconceptualization of how necromantic energy can be manipulated at the fundamental level."

He moved toward one of his bookshelves, pulling out a thick tome bound in what looked suspiciously like human skin. "For thirty years, I've been trying to understand why certain theoretical frameworks fail when put into practice. The mathematics were sound, the energy calculations perfect, but something was always missing."

Paul opened the book, revealing pages covered in dense equations and necromantic diagrams. "Your approach doesn't just solve the Gift problem—it explains why our traditional methods have inherent limitations. The way you've structured the ritual circles, the energy flow patterns, the temporal sequencing..." He paused, shaking his head in wonder. "It's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."

I felt a familiar warmth creeping up my neck. The praise was deeply uncomfortable, primarily because I knew the truth—my initial creation of Erebus as an Ancient Undead had been largely accidental. I'd stumbled onto the method through a combination of desperation, intuition, and what Luna liked to call my "supernatural ability to survive impossible situations through sheer bloody-mindedness."

'Are you going to tell him the truth?' Luna asked with obvious amusement. 'That his new messiah of necromantic theory basically threw magical spaghetti at a wall until something stuck?'

Absolutely not.

"I'm glad the theoretical framework resonates with your research," I said instead, accepting the praise with what I hoped looked like modest confidence rather than shameless fraud.

Paul continued his enthusiastic analysis. "The implications are staggering. If this method can be replicated consistently, we're looking at a fundamental shift in how necromantic education is structured."

"The democratization of elite necromancy," Jin observed quietly. He'd been remarkably silent during Paul's revelation, but I could see him processing the political implications with characteristic thoroughness.

"Precisely!" Paul exclaimed, turning to include Jin in the conversation. "Though 'democratization' might be too strong a term. The method Arthur has developed is still incredibly demanding. It requires theoretical knowledge that most practitioners never acquire, precision that comes only with years of experience, and resources that remain quite expensive."

I nodded, seeing an opportunity. "Speaking of resources, that brings us to our agreement. You mentioned assistance with my second necromantic summon project."

Paul's enthusiasm immediately shifted toward the practical. "Of course, of course. What did you have in mind? With this theoretical breakthrough, I imagine you're planning something quite ambitious."

"This will be my final necromantic summon," I said, deciding that complete honesty about this particular aspect couldn't hurt. "I want to create something that represents the absolute pinnacle of what my methods can achieve."

Paul's eyebrows rose. "Final summon? Are you planning to focus entirely on other magical disciplines?"

"Something like that," I replied evasively. The truth was more complex—my integrated approach to magical and martial development meant that specializing too heavily in any single school would create imbalances. But explaining that would require revealing more about my capabilities than I was comfortable sharing.

'Smart,' Luna commented. 'Let him think you're making a strategic choice rather than revealing the limitations of your unusual development path.'

"In that case," Paul said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "we should discuss this thoroughly. Creating a final masterwork summon is not something to approach casually."

He gestured toward a seating area near the transparent wall that offered the spectacular view of the Western Continent. As we settled into chairs that were probably worth more than most people's annual salaries, Paul steepled his fingers and regarded me with academic intensity.

"Tell me about Erebus first," Paul said, settling back in his chair. "When I examined him two and a half years ago, he was already remarkable—an Ancient Undead created without a Gift, though at the time I couldn't fathom how you'd accomplished it. Now that I understand your methods, I'm curious about his current capabilities."

"Erebus has evolved significantly since our last meeting," I replied. "He's specialized in magical support, battlefield control, and necromantic amplification. He can provide defensive enhancements, coordinate undead minions, and supplement my own magical capabilities during combat."

"And the limiters I detected during my initial examination?"

"Removed when I advanced to Ascendant-rank. He now operates at his full potential as an Ancient Undead."

Paul nodded with obvious satisfaction. "Excellent. A fully realized Lich with those capabilities provides an excellent foundation." He paused thoughtfully. "Given Erebus's specialization in magical support and battlefield control, your second summon should complement rather than duplicate those roles."

"My thinking exactly. I need something that can handle roles Erebus isn't optimized for."

Paul leaned forward, clearly in his element now. "What's your preferred combat style? That will heavily influence the optimal summon design."

"Close-range combat primarily. I fight with a sword, prefer direct engagement over ranged tactics."

"Interesting. Most necromancers favor distance fighting, using their summons as shields while they cast from the back lines." Paul's eyes lit up with professional interest. "You're thinking more like a Death Knight or a Necromantic Paladin. Combat necromancer rather than pure spellcaster."

Jin spoke up. "Arthur's advancement path has been... unconventional. He's developed capabilities that don't fit traditional classifications."

I shot him a grateful look. That was accurate without being revealing.

Paul absorbed this information with obvious fascination. "In that case, we have several potential directions. A direct combat summon to fight alongside you, a specialized support unit to enhance your close-combat effectiveness, or perhaps something focused on battlefield mobility and tactical flexibility."

"What would you recommend for materials?" I asked, deciding to push my luck. "Given the significance of this project, I'm willing to invest heavily in superior components."

Paul leaned forward, his academic excitement evident. "Given the extraordinary quality of materials I can provide and your unique combat style, I see several viable paths for your final summon."

He pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment and began sketching while he spoke. "With crystallized void essence, ancient dragon bone fragments, and concentrated soul gems from legendary-class entities, we can create something truly exceptional."

The first sketch showed a sleek, deadly figure. "A Phantom Reaper—designed for your close-combat preferences. It would phase between physical and ethereal states during battle, striking with devastating precision before becoming untouchable. Perfect synergy with your sword work, essentially giving you a supernatural dueling partner."

Paul moved to a second design. "Alternatively, a Bone Colossus variant. Pure physical dominance optimized for your tactical needs. Nearly indestructible, capable of both protecting you and devastating enemy formations while you engage primary targets."

The third sketch was more elaborate. "A Spectral Warden—balanced combat and tactical capabilities. It could adapt its role mid-battle, functioning as both warrior and coordinator depending on what the situation demands."

I studied the options, each clearly designed around complementing both my fighting style and Erebus's support capabilities.

"But," Paul continued, his eyes lighting up with inspiration, "given the theoretical breakthroughs in your paper and the quality of materials available, I believe we could attempt something more ambitious." His sketching became more complex. "A modular construct—one entity capable of shifting between multiple configurations based on tactical requirements."

I studied the three sketches carefully—the Phantom Reaper, Bone Colossus variant, and Spectral Warden. Each design was sophisticated, clearly the product of decades of expertise and deep understanding of necromantic principles.

"These are all impressive concepts," I said finally. "But this is my final necromantic summon. I want to give this decision the consideration it deserves."

Paul nodded approvingly. "Wise. This kind of decision shouldn't be rushed, especially given the significance you've placed on it."

'Look at you being all responsible and thoughtful,' Luna commented with amusement. 'Almost like you've learned something about not diving headfirst into major magical projects.'

"I'll need some time to think through the tactical implications of each option," I continued. "How they would complement Erebus, how they fit with my combat style, what situations I'm most likely to encounter."

"Of course," Paul replied, clearly pleased by my careful approach. "A decision of this magnitude deserves proper consideration. Take all the time you need."

He leaned back in his chair, then seemed to remember something. "Actually, that gives me an idea. Would you be interested in seeing the Tower's restricted material archives? It might help inform your decision to understand exactly what components would be available for each design approach."