The battle between Alex and the now [Legendary] Undead King had reached its boiling point.
The air itself seemed to thicken with the clash of their immense power.
Every spell Alex hurled, every strike he delivered, had worn down the king until he knelt, his once overwhelming aura reduced to a mere flicker of its former self.
The Undead King's health bar blinked ominously.
[HP: 231/150,000]
"You can't win," Alex spoke as he saw the king kneel before him, his health so low he couldn't even stand straight anymore, though the fire of defiance still smoldered in his sockets, "Listen to my offer."
The king let out a guttural laugh, hollow and eerie, "You think I care?" His voice grew louder, bolder, "I can resurrect as much as I want, fool!"
And he was right—being undead meant that as long as no priest performed a true exorcism, he could come back, stronger each time.
But Alex, unflinching, smiled coldly, "That's false."
The king's laughter faltered, and his gaze locked on Alex, hollow sockets narrowing in suspicion. "How so?"
"I know where the [Annihilation Crucifix] is." Alex's smile widened, and his words hit the Undead King like a thunderbolt.
The king's laugh died instantly, replaced by a stunned silence.
His now nonexistent pupils widened as the weight of Alex's claim began to sink in.
The [Annihilation Crucifix] was an ancient artifact of immense power, capable of wiping out the very essence of any undead, including the king's.
Even the most legendary undead couldn't resurrect once their soul was obliterated by the Crucifix.
"You lie!" the king spat, though his voice trembled, betraying his fear.
He knew about the [Annihilation Crucifix]. All undead did.
The mere mention of it was enough to send shivers through their ancient bones.
"Wanna try your luck?" Alex's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Or do you prefer not to take the risk?"
The king fell silent, staring at the human before him, in his eyes, he could see that Alex was saying the truth.
In the end, the undead king exhaled—a wheezing, rattling sound—and bowed his head slightly. "I would rather not."
The admission hung in the air for a moment, the great Undead King, ruler of the undead legions, acknowledging his own vulnerability.
He was only in his weak form right now, only growing stronger as time went by and after every resurrection, but that was one of the reason Alex went for him so early: while he still had a chance to beat him solo.
Alex stepped forward, his voice calm but firm, "I want you to form a [Soul Contract] with me. That's all."
The Undead King's head snapped up. His glowing eyes blazed with indignation, "Are you serious, human? Do you have any idea what that means?" His voice seethed with disbelief.
"Absolutely," Alex nodded, his gaze unwavering.
The deal was simple—Alex would become his master, and the king would be bound to obey.
It was either that, or Alex would take the time to find the [Annihilation Crucifix] and end him permanently.
The king understood the implications well enough.
He was immortal, but not invincible.
[Rank: Legendary]
[Master: FateBreaker]
...
With the contract sealed, the Undead King's form completely disappeared, merging with Alex's being.
The king was no longer a foe, but a summoned companion—bound to serve.
A faint chill ran through Alex as the king's essence fused with his, altering him slightly.
He felt the shift almost immediately.
[The essence of the "Undead King" has been linked to yours...]
[Granting FateBreaker the "Undead Lord" Talent.]
Alex took a deep breath as the new talent integrated into his avatar.
...
[Undead Lord Talent - Rank F]
[Description: As the master of the undead, you have the ability to summon and control undead creatures. Summon up to five skeletons, who will follow your commands and fight alongside you in battle. Each skeleton has its own stats based on your level, and they can be summoned or dismissed at will.]
[Skeleton Summon Limit: 5]
[Skeleton HP: 3000 each]
[Cooldown: 1 minute per skeleton]
[Next Advancement Task: Have your undead kill 100 monsters/players.] (0/100)
[Advancement Reward: Talent upgraded to Rank E.]
...
Alex read through the description, satisfied.
It was just the beginning, but the talent could be leveled up.
The more he used his skeletons, the stronger they'd become.
This was his prize for dominating the king—a legendary undead under his command.
Other than the initial talent you get at the beginning of Universal Descent, which has its rank set in place, any other talent always starts at F-Rank, no matter how powerful it is.
The only way to then upgrade that talent is to complete the advancement tasks.
The field where the battle took place was quiet now, no trace of the Undead King left, except for the aura Alex now carried.
The contract was done, and he had won more than just a fight.
It was time to test his new power.
Summoning the skeletons was just the first step in his plan.
With a smirk, Alex muttered, "Let's see what you can do, my undead army."