Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1685: Justice Doesn’t Exist In Murim
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"Why?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
"Hm?"
"Just… why are you going out of your way to waste your time on me? We just met, and yet you're preaching to me—trying to convince me to change. As if a few words could change a man who spent decades being trained as an assassin."
"I believe you can change. You've been listening to me this whole time, after all."
A Paladin was a concept that never existed in Murim—a man who fought to serve his gods, punish evil, and protect the weak.
And Jonathan was not just that.
He was the Hero of Light.
Even if the gods who blessed him weren't what he believed.
Even when he saw Baldr die, punished by his own cruelty.
Even as his entire life unraveled and everything he believed turned out to be a lie.
Still, something remained within him—the teachings that truly mattered:
Be kind.
Believe in others.
People can change for the better.
Protect the weak.
Punish evil.
"You… are no different from the people you terrorized," he said. "You're lost, scared… You were simply the victim of someone who manipulated and tortured you, weren't you? I've known people like that all my life."
"Ugh…" The Poison Needle Assassin groaned, his eyes watering for a moment as he felt Jonathan's warm hand on his shoulder. "No… No, I am the Poison Sect's… I am the Tang Family's Assassin!"
But he threw Jonathan's hand away, rejecting his kindness. Then, he injected needles into his own skin, flooding his bloodstream with five different poisons.
"{Five Poison Curse Arts: Toxic Swamp Dragon Transformation}!"
"W-What are you doing?! Stop! You're going to die!"
Jonathan tried to use Paladin's First Aid to heal him, but a powerful shockwave of poisonous ki struck him, sending him flying into an empty house.
CLASH!
"Ugh…! I'm sorry…! Is everyone okay? Please, run away for now—find shelter!"
He helped those wounded by falling debris or poison, healing them as best he could—until he felt a monstrous, sinister aura approaching.
"GRAAAAHHHHH!!!"
A massive, five-meter-tall monstrosity emerged—muscular, covered in purple skin and scales, with a crocodilian head and glowing red eyes.
His chest glowed with five cursed poison seals, constantly twisting his body into a grotesque form.
The ultimate technique of the Poison Sect: transforming a nimble assassin into a monstrous powerhouse—at the cost of their sanity.
Noxious gases spewed from large orifices on his back, making the area increasingly toxic.
And yet, Jonathan stepped forward, fearless.
"Don't worry, friend."
He knew when someone was silently asking for help.
"I'll save you."
"WRAAAAHHHH!"
The monstrous assassin roared, charging at Jonathan and slashing with his giant, poisonous claws. The hero met the attack with his glowing sword.
CLAAASH!
"What's wrong with him? Was he trying to recruit that assassin?"
Arachne watched from above the ruined palace, unable to understand why someone would go so far.
And yet, she was quickly reminded why.
Love and kindness—that's all.
The same reason Maria had gone so far to save her from the Curse of Sloth.
"Gahahahaha! Are you seriously only sending kids to fight me?! Damn weaklings—stay out of this!"
Arachne turned toward the explosions, spotting a massive man punching through buildings and air, releasing explosive shockwaves.
Surrounding him were Nyx, Melianna, Ferleen, and Alma.
"You guys should stay back! Maria said you shouldn't join the fight!" Alma warned, glancing at Melianna and Ferleen—the two foxes pushing themselves to fight alongside her.
"We can't do that!" Melianna snapped.
"We've come this far. We have to fight for what we believe in!" Ferleen added. "Especially since you're allied with the Crimson Order!"
"The Crimson Order?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow. "Ahhh, those guys? If you hate them that much, your world must've been conquered by them or something, right? That just means you're weaklings! Unlike your world, Murim is strong—strong enough to make those vampires our allies instead of prey!"
"For someone from a beggar sect, you sure talk a lot of trash!" Nyx roared, charging at him. Her Aura exploded as she unleashed her hybrid form—growing three times in size, her body now covered in scales. Her wings, tail, claws, horns, and fangs all extended dramatically.
CLAAASH!
Her long claws blazed with phantasmal flames as she unleashed a flurry of slashing strikes at the burly Beggar Sect Elder. His Golden Core Aura surged with the power of an Expert as he blocked her blows with his massive arms.
"Heheh! You'll have to hit harder than that if you want to hurt someone like me, stupid brat!"
With a malicious grin, he punched Nyx down, slamming her into the ground and shattering the floor—cracks spreading through the ruined temple.
"Nyx!"
Celes' eyes widened as his Divine Spiritual Aura erupted. He rushed toward his friend, even while locked in battle with the Fourth Elder of the White Mist Sect.
"Where do you think you're going, brat?!"
The woman intercepted him, kicking him down—only to be blocked by Nia's golden spear. Her eyes glowed with powerful magic, and behind her, the symbol of a mighty zodiac beast manifested:
A rooster.
"Hah?! A rooster? Is that supposed to be—"
Nia didn't let her finish. Her spear pierced through the White Mist Barrier and stabbed the elder's chest three times. Each strike landed like a sharp, painful peck, forcing the Fourth Elder to vomit blood as she glared at Nia in fury.
"Damn bitch!"
She grabbed Nia's face and slammed her into the ground. Celes panicked, torn between helping his mother or his friend.
But then—
FLUOSH!
A ghostly knight clad in azure armor appeared, attacking the Fourth Elder with a flurry of sword techniques he had learned in this world.
"It's nice to be back in Murim. I've learned a lot… though this isn't exactly the best time to wake up, huh?"
"Eustace!"
"Ngh! A damn ghost?!"
The Fourth Elder quickly retreated, putting distance between herself and her enemies.
"Celes, don't worry about me!" Nyx called from the ground. "I'll be fine!"
"B-But…!" Celes hesitated.
"Trust me," Nyx smiled, winking.
"…Ugh, fine!"
Celes leapt away, spreading his magic across the battlefield.
FLAAASH!
Suddenly, seawater burst from the ground, as he conjured a magical and spiritual domain in seconds. He controlled the water to bless allies, heal wounds, and restrain enemies—summoning sea snakes that slithered across the field.
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