Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1803: Ending The Vampire Tyranny

------

SLAAASH!

Another strike cleaved through his body, splitting him in two.

"W-Wha...?!"

Varn Velcrith’s eyes widened in disbelief.

How could she do this so casually!

"GRAAAA!"

He transformed into a three-headed black-and-red wolf, charging at her and dragging her through the jungle.

But then—

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

"Aaaahhh?!"

His body fell apart into three pieces.

"DAMN IT!"

He shifted again, becoming a gigantic crimson gorilla covered in blood crystals, attacking her with relentless fury.

Once more, Maria vanished.

She turned into lightning, flickering in and out around him.

Her sword slashed across his body, followed by dozens of phantom cuts as faint dream ghosts began to manifest, steadily multiplying the damage.

She combined the assault with her Soul-Shattering Ghostly Scorpion Sting, recreating her wasp-like barrage and riddling his body with holes filled with poisonous ki.

"NNGAAAAHHH!"

He transformed yet again into a bird, but the outcome remained the same.

By the time he finally understood what was happening... it was already too late.

"I can’t transform into my previous forms?! She’s killing them...? But how is that possible!"

In desperation, Varn Velcrith swallowed dozens of pills and powered up, lunging at Maria with bare fists while animal claws surged from his aura.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

In that single exchange, countless cuts erupted across his body.

"Ngh?!"

Varn Velcrith vomited blood and staggered, losing his balance.

And then...

Without giving him a chance to transform again, her sword pierced straight through his heart.

And his soul.

Within the depths of his very being, nine Dream Ghosts wielding swords appeared.

They danced gracefully, turning Varn Velcrith’s soul into a vivid, agonizing painting born from his torment.

"W-Wait! PLEASE HAVE MERCY! I DIDN’T WANT TO DO THIS! THE EMPEROR FORCED ME! I SWEAR I AM NOT EVIL—AAAAAGGGHH!"

His soul swelled like a balloon alongside his body.

The agony and despair of everyone he had made suffer intensified his pain, deepening every wound.

And then...

BOOOMMM!!!

He burst apart like an overinflated balloon, blood and guts splattering everywhere.

Maria sighed.

"Did he really think I would believe such a stupid lie?"

She had already peered into his soul and mind. Until the very end, he had clung to deception, convinced Maria was some soft-hearted fool who would forgive him so easily.

The remaining Vampires were swiftly slaughtered by her family, while Gray massacred many more in the name of his people.

Ferleen and Melianna still stood in shock at how quickly everything had ended.

Maria was terrifyingly efficient!

But as the sun rose over the horizon after that long, endless night of battle, they smiled through tears of happiness.

"It’s finally over, brother!" Melianna cried.

"Yeah... it is," Ferleen nodded.

Maria gazed at the blue sky, breathing in the fresh air and sighing in deep relief. Her eyes slowly closed.

Too exhausted to stand any longer, she dropped to her knees.

"Alright, let’s take a break now... ugh."

Afterward, Maria gathered the rescued survivors and explained about Gray, how he would now serve as their temporary leader.

The people were overjoyed within her Soul Realm, though they longed to return home. She allowed them to step out, using her powers to create a heavily protected region filled with defensive formations.

She also opened a portal to her Soul Realm in case they ever needed anything from it.

The survivors formed a thriving community with Gray as their chief.

Anubis had grown quite fond of the people as well, and Ferleen and Melianna reunited with many fellow red foxes—some even familiar faces.

In that way, two more days passed peacefully as the construction of their new village continued without issue.

"I already checked. There are barely any beast spirits left, and the ones remaining are too small and weak to cause trouble," Maria sighed.

"It’s a pity..." Gray said, looking down.

Both were now sharing breakfast with their families and friends.

Today was the day they would depart, after all.

"Hmph, cheer up, you idiot. It’s not so bad. You’re just going to have to rebuild this world with your own hands," Anubis grumbled.

"Anubis... thank you for all your help so far," Gray said sincerely.

Maria smiled at them and sighed softly.

"Anubis, how about receiving the Divine Throne and staying here for now?" she asked.

"W-What?! But...!" Anubis tried to act indifferent, but he had grown attached to these hardworking people. It felt like a fresh start for him, far from Thebes and the other gods.

"Come on, I know this is what you want..." Maria teased. "I can still summon you when needed."

"Ugh... fine..." Anubis sighed. "Fine! Whatever..."

Maria promptly granted him the Divine Throne of Spirit Beasts. As Anubis absorbed the power, he grew larger, overflowing with divine spiritual energy.

His aura spread across the world. The terraformed lands created by the Vampires vanished instantly, replaced by beautiful rivers, vast deserts dotted with large oases, and enormous continental rivers.

The wastelands transformed into true deserts, introducing a new biome the people of Verdanthral had never seen.

He also raised a massive golden pyramid in the heart of his new desert, with a giant oasis before it where Anubis chose to reside.

The people rejoiced, celebrating the birth of their new Beast Spirit King—a god entirely from another world.

"So you two are staying?" Maria asked as Ferleen and Melianna approached.

"Ah, no, we aren’t," Melianna replied.

"We want to go with you," Ferleen said. "Please, would you allow us?"

"Wait, what?! Are you sure? You’re from this world... is this really okay? What about your people?" Maria asked.

"Our families are long dead..." Melianna closed her eyes and sighed.

"Indeed," Ferleen agreed. "Though there are people we know here, none of them were truly close friends..."

"Our world was devastated, and now it’s finally beginning to heal, but it will take time," Ferleen continued.

"We’ll return and help when we can, but for now we want to go with you!" Melianna said. "After all, Nyx and Celes and Arachne... they’re my friends."

"I feel the same," Ferleen nodded.

"Alright then," Maria said, pulling them both into a warm hug. "You’re always welcome. Let’s go."

"Yeah! We’re besties already!" Nyx exclaimed, rushing toward Melianna.

"Hm! You’re our best friend, Melianna," Celes added. "We have best friends back on Yggdrasil too. I want you to meet them all later!"

"Sure, hehe!" Melianna giggled sweetly, beaming with happiness.

They had finally found a true family with Maria and her loved ones, and they had no desire to let go of that bond.

"Alright then, Gray, Anubis, I’m leaving this world to you two," Maria said with a gentle smile. "We’ll return. Until then, take care."

Maria stepped through the portal with her family, crossing worlds once more.

To Floor 33.

"Hm? This energy..."

As she passed through the dimensional membranes, an odd tingling sensation washed over her.

An energy she recognized pulsed throughout this entire world...

"Imagination Essence? Or Dream Essence? It’s... like this entire world is made of it."

Maria and her family arrived in a realm of wonders born from the boundless imagination of children.

------