As the battle between the two sides stopped after a one-sided victory, a gigantic figure of an undead lich was seated on his throne made up of skulls and bones like an Overlord.
The remaining soldiers of the hydra group were now completely surrounded by the nearly 4 thousand undead soldiers.
Only those at intermediate & master rank managed to survive the onslaught. But many of them knew that it was because the enemy didn’t attack them with all their numbers but rather kept them busy and toyed with them for some reason.
Ceril, the Necromancer’s gaze then landed upon this group of remnants who barely had any strength and spirit left to fight back.
“Those who served as second in command to the heads of the hydra, walk forth! If you wish to live, that is.” commanded the undead king.
His ghastly and tyrannical voice resounded in the battlefield, instantly sending shivers in spines as if it was a decree of an absolute ruler.
The undead army created a path towards their master and the remaining soldiers were left with no option but to follow this command.
Soon, seven figures walked out of this battle formation. 3 of them were intermediate rank grandmasters, 2 were beginner grandmasters while the remaining 2 were peak masters. This group also included Hank, Odin’s most trustworthy subordinate.
They all walked towards this grand figure of the undead lich while being scared to death. But had no choice lest the enemy leader decided to kill them on the spot. Their lives were now in his hands.
Ceril on his kingly throne had a solemn expression while being surrounded by the 6 peak grandmaster heads of hydra who stood like his own generals on right and left, three on each side.
All of their bodies were riddled with visible wounds and they no longer had any form of sentience on their countenance. Their eyes were glowing red just like the undead lich but they stood like his royal guards who would do anything to protect their king.
The right-hand men finally reached in front of the undead lich and kneeled in servitude to their new master.
“You should’ve understood why I called you out, right?” asked Ceril in his grim tone.
The group of people only gave a nod, understanding the reason why they were spared.
The next second, the necromancer summoned a fist-sized, round-shaped lotus-like object in his hands.
It was exactly the Blood-oath token he asked for back then when he met Kahn in the training facility.
And now he was finally going to make use of it as if he already planned all of this ahead of time.
“I give you a choice. Bind your lives to me and become my loyal subjects who will work for me the rest of their lives or die right here.
But know this.. You will die just like these people and become part of my army. And even if you die, there won’t be a heaven or hell for you. Your fates will be tied to me for eternity and you will never see the so-called afterlife.” declared the undead lich.
“May I ask… what about the remaining soldiers?” asked a blue tengu species mage.
“Oh, I have no use for them. The fewer witnesses, the better.” replied Ceril as his eyes glimmered bright red.
“Rawwwwrrr!!”
The next second, the undead army that was on standby and surrounded the remaining soldiers charged at them. This time, the full force of three thousands of undead monsters and soldiers attacked the remaining forces and just in a matter of minutes.. All the remaining forces were wiped out in a massacre.
And right in front of these 7 individuals, they too were turned into an army of undeads and skeletal soldiers.
This even terrified them even more as they too felt like the same fate awaited them should they choose to refuse.
“We will serve the might Undead King!” shouted Hank who had already seen Loki’s power firsthand too many times.
After the blood-oath ritual was done, on the terms that completely restricted the seven individuals and had no form of rules imposed on Ceril, the undead lich decided to speak again in his domineering tone.
“From now on, you will handle the respective underground business. You will serve me like your life depends on it. And Hank, you will take Odin’s place.
From henceforth, I want an ample supply of strong individuals who died recently. And if they’re not part of any cemeteries you control, I want their details since morgue and burial services will still be used during the process.” elaborated Ceril and gazed at the remaining seven living individuals..
“Know that all of you are alive as long as I have a use for you. I am neither your leader nor someone who cares whether you live or die. I spared you because it will save me a lot of hassle to control the already established forces and networks of the hydra in this district since you all served directly under these generals of mine.
If I see that you are failing in your tasks and can’t keep up with the demands.. You know what will happen.” he declared.
“As for the rest of the underground forces.. There will be new leaders who will take charge and replace the previous heads. Those will be people you will report and serve in my absence. Do you understand?” asked Ceril.
“Yes, my liege.” spoke a female succubus who once served under Violetta.
“From now on, the Hydra no longer exists. This organization is under new management.” spoke Ceril as he released his full aura of a High Lord and an immeasurably dense pressure filled the 2 kilometers of space under the illusion barrier.
“And from this day forth, it shall be called..” paused Ceril as all the seven servants froze on the spot after feeling the undead lich’s murderous aura directed at them as their master uttered the new name of their organization that was made of seven crucial forces that controlled the underworld in Rukon district.
“The Seven Deadly Sins!”