The Extra's Rise-Chapter 121: Vakrt (1)

It didn’t take Kali long to set everything up. She moved with the efficiency of a professional assassin, except instead of wielding a dagger, she wielded connections and paperwork. The broker she found for me was as meticulous as he was discreet, which suited my purposes perfectly. I handed the reins of my money over to Kali with a surprising amount of trust, though the mana oath certainly helped. Betrayal wasn’t an option for her—not without severe consequences.

With three billion dollars now safely in hand, I was ready to proceed. Vakrt, of course, wasn’t going to accept my money without some pomp and ceremony. They insisted on consultations, evaluations, and a tour of their facilities before I could formally commit. All of it was complimentary, naturally. For a deal involving tens of billions, the cost of wining and dining potential clients was a drop in the ocean.

So, during the long weekend, Rose and I made our way to Avalon City. After a warp gate transfer, we stepped into a sleek, private plane bearing the Vakrt insignia: a glowing skull that would have made any ordinary citizen think twice about boarding.

"Do you offer this kind of premium service to all your clients?" I asked Rose as I settled into the plush leather seat. The cabin exuded understated luxury, from the mahogany trim to the silent hum of mana-powered engines.

"Only to the ones spending a small fortune," she replied with a smile. "And, well, since you’re my friend, you get the VIP treatment."

"Friends get perks. Noted." I smirked, leaning back. "I suppose a few thousand on travel expenses is negligible when compared to the tens of billions I’m about to spend?"

"Exactly." Rose gave a small shrug, as if the scale of this transaction were as mundane as grocery shopping.

By the time we arrived in Avalon City, I was already mentally preparing for the next step. A self-driving car emblazoned with the Vakrt logo—a glowing skull that practically screamed, "Yes, we deal with dark magic, and no, we don’t care if you find it unsettling"—was waiting for us.

"Isn’t that logo a bit… much?" I asked as we slid into the car.

"To you, maybe," Rose replied, chuckling. "To necromancers, it’s practically a status symbol. If you ever visit the Western continent, you’ll see it plastered everywhere."

She wasn’t kidding. In the Western continent, necromancy wasn’t just accepted; it was celebrated. Vakrt had built its reputation on catering to that very culture, becoming a powerhouse in the process.

The car whisked us to Vakrt’s main branch in Avalon, a sprawling complex that gleamed with a mix of futurism and arcane artistry. We were ushered inside without delay, staff bowing politely to Rose as we made our way to a private elevator. As we descended to level B6, I felt the faint hum of powerful wards enveloping the space.

When the elevator doors opened, we were greeted by three figures whose presence immediately commanded respect. They exuded a quiet strength, the kind that made you instinctively tread carefully.

"Welcome, Young Lady," said the man in the center, his voice deep and resonant. He stepped forward, offering a nod to both of us. "I am Benjamin Voon, Head Necromancer of Vakrt. These are my colleagues, Reed and Lily."

"Arthur Nightingale," I introduced myself, shaking their hands in turn.

Benjamin studied me with sharp, assessing eyes. "I understand you’re looking to purchase the Blood Wyvern Skeleton. This is not a transaction we take lightly. The materials involved, as you know, are of the highest caliber."

"I wouldn’t expect anything less," I replied smoothly.

"Very well," Benjamin said. "As you are aware, there are four critical components to assembling a Lich: the Skeleton, the Source, the Skull, and the Staff. Additionally, given your mana rank of high Silver, controlling a Lich of this level will require significant measures. Please, walk us through your preparations."

I nodded, touching my spatial ring. With a flicker of mana, three items appeared on the table before us.

"This," I began, gesturing to the first item, "is an Ancient-grade artifact. I’ll be integrating it into the Staff to suppress the Lich’s power, allowing me to maintain control."

The second item was placed beside it—a skull that seemed to radiate a dark, almost sentient energy. Its surface was etched with runes so ancient they looked more like cracks in reality than markings on bone. "This is the Skull of an Arch Lich. I intend to use it as the Mind aspect."

Finally, I revealed the Basilisk Heart. It pulsed faintly, a living rhythm that made the air around it feel heavy with potential. "And this will serve as the Source—the Soul aspect."

The three professionals stared at the items in silence, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.

"Incredible," Reed murmured, his hands twitching as though resisting the urge to reach out and touch the materials. "These are… extraordinary. Far beyond what most necromancers ever dream of working with."

Lily, the alchemist, leaned in to examine the artifact. "If we integrate this into the Staff, it’ll enhance the suppression mechanism while maintaining the harmony of the components."

Benjamin, ever the professional, nodded approvingly. "Your materials are indeed exceptional. The challenge now lies in ensuring that the Skeleton harmonizes with these components. The Blood Wyvern’s dark mana affinity is a strong match, but adjustments will be necessary to align it with the Arch Lich Skull and the Basilisk Heart."

He gestured for us to follow him into a laboratory lined with shelves of preserved specimens and glowing tools. In the center of the room, suspended within a transparent stasis field, was the Blood Wyvern Skeleton. Its blackened bones gleamed faintly, runes etched along the spine pulsating with latent power.

"This is the Skeleton in question," Benjamin said. "Shall we begin the compatibility analysis?"

I nodded, stepping closer to the Skeleton. As the process began, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of anticipation.

The laboratory hummed with quiet energy as Benjamin, Reed, and Lily prepared to begin the compatibility analysis. The Blood Wyvern Skeleton floated in its stasis field, runes etched along its length pulsating like the heartbeat of some ancient, dormant predator.

Benjamin gestured to a large table, and a holographic projection of the Skeleton appeared above it. A network of runes and mana pathways lit up in intricate patterns. "First, we’ll analyze the existing structure and mana resonance of the Skeleton. Reed, run the baseline check."

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Reed nodded, stepping forward. He placed his hands on a console, his fingers moving deftly across glowing glyphs. The Skeleton’s structure began to shimmer in layers, its internal mana pathways appearing like a glowing web within the projection. "Structural integrity is flawless. Dark mana resonance is excellent—ideal for necromantic applications. This Skeleton is a textbook case for compatibility, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

Lily tapped her chin thoughtfully, leaning closer to the projection. "The challenge will be integrating the Basilisk Heart. Its mana signature is far denser than the Blood Wyvern’s skeleton. If the pathways can’t handle the sheer output of the Source, it could destabilize the Lich during its creation."

"True," Benjamin agreed, his brow furrowed. "However, the Arch Lich Skull offers a unique advantage. Its runic structure has an inherent ability to regulate mana flow. The trick will be balancing the resonance of the Skeleton with the regulatory properties of the Skull while ensuring the Heart doesn’t overwhelm the system."

"I suggest reinforcing the Skeleton’s mana pathways," Reed said, zooming in on a section of the hologram. "Here, along the spine and the ribcage. We can inscribe additional stabilizing runes to channel the excess output from the Basilisk Heart without disrupting the harmony."

Lily nodded. "Yes, and we can enhance the mana programming pathways to synchronize with the artifact in the Staff. The artifact’s suppression properties will act as a safety net, preventing the Heart’s energy from exceeding the Skeleton’s limits."

"Exactly," Benjamin said, his voice steady but focused. "But the mana programming must be precise. Arthur will need to use his own dark mana to fill these pathways, effectively binding the components together. If there’s even a slight deviation, the entire structure could collapse."

They turned to me, their eyes sharp and calculating. "Arthur," Benjamin said, "this isn’t just about the quality of the materials. You’ll need to actively program the mana pathways using your dark mana. Given the complexity of these components, it will require absolute precision and a deep understanding of dark mana. Are you prepared for that?"

I nodded. "I’ve been preparing for this for months. And with these materials, I know I can make it work."

Benjamin gave a small, approving nod before turning back to the others. "Let’s finalize the adjustments."

The three of them worked seamlessly, their ideas bouncing off each other in rapid-fire succession. Reed suggested a unique rune pattern inspired by ancient necromantic texts, which Lily modified to improve mana efficiency. Benjamin, ever the perfectionist, overlaid additional layers of protection to ensure stability during the integration process.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the holographic projection solidified. The Skeleton was now overlaid with an intricate lattice of runes and pathways, each one glowing faintly in anticipation of the energy it would soon channel.

Benjamin stepped back, folding his arms across his chest. "Compatibility is excellent. The Blood Wyvern Skeleton will harmonize perfectly with the Basilisk Heart, Arch Lich Skull, and the artifact Staff once properly inscribed and programmed."

He turned to me, his expression both serious and satisfied. "Now, for the cost."

I held my breath.

"Thirty-two billion dollars," Benjamin said evenly. "This includes the Skeleton itself, the rune inscriptions, and the mana programming pathways. Once the modifications are complete, the Skeleton will be given to you in a state ready for integration. You will need to use your dark mana to bind the components together and complete the Lich."

I exhaled slowly, the number ringing in my ears. Thirty-two billion. It was an astronomical sum, but I already knew the value of what I was building. This wasn’t just a project—it was an investment in my future.

"I’ll make the down payment today," I said, my voice steady.

"Very well," Benjamin replied. "We’ll begin the modifications immediately. With the materials you’ve provided, this will be one of the most extraordinary Liches ever created."