So, what's next? I scanned the rest of the items and saw the scale I received from Krosgund. I was told to make it into a mask to communicate with him if the Adventure Guild agreed to his proposition. However, that failed...so I guess I don't need Krosgund's scale now. I grabbed the scale and put it back into my bag. Maybe I should return the scale to Krosgund since it has lost its intended use. Once I put the scale back, I exhaled in exhaustion as I looked at the remaining materials. The essences I have out are to be used for my supporters. As for the three Yeti skeletons...I guess I have a few binding masks lying around somewhere in my bag. Hmm...okay, it's decided! Let's make some weapons!

I took the 29 poor quality weapons plus one of the good quality weapons and melted them. Then, I began to temper the metal pool by purifying it and removing all of the bad qualities. Next, I separated the large pool of liquid metal into three equal pools. I used each pool to shape and make a sharp and durable katana. Then, I began polishing the three blades, making sure to keep in perfect condition. After all, smithing isn't my strong point, so I need to place extra attention towards making and finishing the blades. While I was working, I noticed a sensation...a presence? Impossible, other than me, there shouldn't be anyone else in the domain. I looked around but I could not see anyone. I closed my eyes and tried to locate the presence. It seemed to appear near the pile of materials! I opened my eyes and step back in shock. In front of me was a skeleton...no, the skeleton from Dead Man's Rest! It stood before me, two blackish glows staring towards me...through me. It was as if it could see the deepest part of my soul. By habit, I hastily checked the skeleton's status and was shocked at my discovery.

Name: ???

Titles: God of Death/Harbinger of the Undead

Race: Undead/Grand Lich God/

Affinities: Undead/Unholy/Darkness/Death

Abilities: Summon Undead, Darken the World, Death Wave, Unholy Boost, Death Seal, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???

Specials: ???, ???, ???

The name is blank?! And there were ten unknown skills along with three special skills! In order for this to happen, this Undead's level must be at least in the SS rankings. What is this Grand Lich God doing in the mortal world?

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously. If this skeleton is a high level monster, then human speech should be no problem.

"I am the God of Death, the Harbinger of the Undead, the Grand Lich God - End." The Grand Lich God replied.

"Y-You...what do you want?"

"You interest me. You...an Undead...acting like a human. Why do you do such a thing?"

"Because I am human."

"Idiot. Humans are weak creatures. They die easily and quickly. Each human life is only a moment in time. But we Undead, however, are eternal. Come! Cast away your humanity and embrace your Undead self. I command you."

"N-No...." I replied as I struggled to resist his command. The power of a Grand Lich God who is known to be the closest being to death and the Undead was tremendously hypnotic. It took my all just to resist.

"Why do you uselessly resist? What is so good about being a human?"

"Many things! But the most important thing isn't about being human. It is about serving under you. I am not a mindless zombie and you have no control over me. I am Khaos - Disciple of the God of Creation and Apostle of the Goddess Lady Luck! It will be you who will serve under me!"

"Hmph! A mere disciple dares to contend against me! Death Seal!" End roared as he made a few gestures. Suddenly, dark magic shot from below me and grabbed a hold of me.

All of my movements were sealed. I could not move...I could not think...I could not breathe. But...but I will not give up! My eyes flared up with determination and I roared in my mind. With a stroke of luck, the Grand Lich God loosened his hold of me in shock when he saw my determination and I was able to break free of the Death Seal.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Interesting. Fine then, I'll give you a chance. Defeat me in battle and I'll submit to you. However, if you lose, you will become my mindless servant for all of eternity!"

"Who's afraid of who! Challenge accepted!"

Immediately, I unsheathed my skinning knife and charged towards the Undead. End smirked (or at least I think he smirked) and raised his hand. But nothing happened. End stared at his hand in surprise and quickly dodged the slash I sent his way.

"What happened?! How come I can't use Summon Undead?"

"Haha, that's because you are in my domain."

"That doesn't explain anything. Even in a mere human's domain, I can summon Undead - especially with three skeletons right there."

"But my domain isn't human made. It was given to me by my master - the God of Creation."

"Dammit! So that's why...curse you! Take my Death Wave!"

"Hmph! OverLuck! I sacrifice half my mana!" I roared as I used the double-edged skill OverLuck. This skill boosts my luck to the extreme at the cost of permanently halving one of my stats...in this case my mana. Luckily, mana is one of my more useless stats. Anyways, once my luck skyrocketed, the Grand Lich God's Death Wave suddenly lost its effectiveness.

"What! What happened?" End gaped in surprise. This was the second time his skills did not work. He refused to believe that it was a coincidence.

"At the cost of half my mana, my luck has reached its maximum. You cannot defeat me because my luck is better than yours. I use Plunder!" I explained before raising my hand towards the Undead. With a swipe, I stole one of his abilities. Lucky! I got the Summon Undead skill.

"Curses! If only I wasn't weakened!"

"Oh? You were weakened?"

"Hmph! Don't stick your nose in where it doesn't belong! Unholy Boost!" End snorted as he boosted his stats. Then, he rushed towards me with his fists raised and ready.

I snickered at the sight of the charging Grand Lich God. Trying to compete against me with fists? Laughable. Him a mage and me a warrior. It's clear who's going to win in a fist fight. End thrust his right fist towards me and missed. I had sidestepped to his back and gripped his spine. Hehe...its a good thing I learned that Dislocation Technique before this happened. With a sickening wrench, I completely dislocated the Undead's spine. All of his spinal discs were pushed out of place.

As End grunted in pain and collapsed to the floor, unable to move, I sneered at him. "Do you give? If not, I can dislocate more places."

"If I wasn't weakened, I'd have wiped the floor with you." End gritted through his teeth.

"Hmph! Even if you weren't weakened, I'd still win. In this domain, I am king."

"Dammit!"

"So, what will it be? Submit to me and become my subordinate or die and be resurrected as a Deathsworn?"

"Kuh!"

"Make your choice now while I still have the patience!"

End sighed dejectedly and responded after some thought. He agreed to become my subordinate. With no time to waste, I formed a spiritual contract with the Grand Lich God. With a powerful subordinate like End, I can finally see certain victory against the Firebirds. After I formed the contract with End, I marked him with the Mark of Servitude. Then, I appraised him again but somehow I still wasn't able to see the ten abilities that were censored, not to mention the three special skills. When I asked him about this matter, he proclaimed that it was because he was severely weakened when he fought against the previous God of Death for his position. After he raised his strength to peak condition, the skills will naturally be revealed. In addition, he will also gain three more skills that are specific to the God of Death position. Nodding in satisfaction at my gain, I dismissed End and stored him in my storage bag.