The wails and heavy thuds of beating lasted a minute or two.

Blood stained the boy’s pale skin crimson, speckling the black iron rod.

Curled on the ground like a frightened cat, the trembling youth lost consciousness.

Raphas wiped sweat from his greasy brow, panting from exertion. He spat contemptuously at the motionless boy.

*Tch. Weakling. Fainted before I even warmed up. Just a slave. Utterly boring.*

“Hey! Drag him away. Don’t let him clutter my sight.”

Raphas tossed the rod aside, scowling at another boy. *Damn. Bad luck.*

“Y-yes… Lord Raphas…”

The boy flinched, his hollow eyes fixed on his bloodied companion. Deep despair flickered in his gaze.

“You piece of filth… calling you an animal insults animals themselves…”

Hank glared, bloodshot eyes burning into Raphas—the bloated noble.

His wrists bled from struggling against the shackles, crimson streaks staining the iron.

The man’s oily face and revolting fat made him want to vomit. He longed to tear Raphas apart, feed him to dogs.

“That slave was mine. How I treat my property is my freedom, Mr. Hank. Or are you overstepping?”

Raphas smirked, stepping closer. “Besides—should you really worry about others? Stealing *my* goods… did you think I’d let you go?”

He snapped his fingers. A robed figure drifted from the shadows.

“My esteemed Mage,” Raphas bowed deeply, eyes gleaming with reverence, “show Mr. Hank the gift I prepared.”

*Ah~! Another chance to see the Mage’s dazzling magic! Absolutely magnificent!*

*Heh heh…*

A gaunt, corpse-like face emerged from the hood. Wrinkled skin stretched into a manic grin.

His raspy chuckle echoed like wind through a broken chimney. Raising a hand, the ground beneath him turned to murky swamp.

**Dark Magic: Corpse Summoning**

Dozens of identical wooden racks erupted from the black mire.

Each held a burly man—skin ashen, chests pierced. Long dead.

Their mouths gaped, eyes bulging, faces frozen in death’s bitter rage.

“No… it can’t be…” Hank whispered, face draining of color.

His laughing companions from days past—now cold corpses.

All because he’d raided Raphas’s caravan two months ago… *If only I hadn’t…*

“You didn’t think I brought you here just to see these dead dogs, did you?”

Raphas covered his mouth, laughing scornfully.

*The Mage’s magic is invincible! Glorious!! Omnipotent!!!*

“Rise, my zombies! Gnaw your beloved leader to bones! Let me savor his dying screams!”

Raphas spread his arms, drunk on anticipation. *This is what happens to those who cross me!*

The corpses twitched. Limbs jerked stiffly. Black blood oozed from twisted mouths as bestial growls filled the air.

**ROAR!!!**

Reanimated giants rolled milky eyes, leaping from the racks. They lurched toward Hank, rotting stench thick in the air.

“Oh! Almost forgot your *special* gift.”

Raphas grinned, pulling two glistening eyeballs from his robe. “That little girl you kept mentioning? The Mage killed her. See? Pretty, aren’t they~?”

*Pity the Mage was too efficient. I wanted to pluck them out while she lived. But… she was just extra anyway.*

“YOU BASTARD!!!”

Hank shattered. Regret and guilt swallowed him whole. *I killed Luo Er.*

*If I hadn’t ambushed that carriage…*

*If I’d never befriended Luo Er’s group…*

*If I hadn’t invited her for dinner that night…*

*She’d still be alive.*

“Yes. *You* killed that poor girl. All your fault.”

Raphas held the eyeballs high, savoring Hank’s agony. The screams thrilled him to his core.

“She was amusing when she died. Kept screaming ‘Run, Mr. Hank!’ even as she bled out. Such a kind-hearted—”

Cold metal bit into his fingers. Warmth splattered his face.

Raphas tilted his head, confused. He stared at his right hand.

Only a jagged stump remained, spurting blood and shreds of flesh.

“Eh?”

Raphas froze.