Deep within the withered, lifeless forest, late at night, the undead roamed aimlessly as the space a hundred meters above the ground warped and rippled. From the distortion, Victor’s figure emerged, his blue Magus robe gleaming faintly even in the dim, desolate environment.

  He hovered mid-air, his gaze sweeping the area below. The ground was slightly scarred with signs of conflict, and a jagged sinkhole yawned open at the center of it all. Frowning, Victor focused his mana sense on the hole, sensing a lingering presence of powerful mana.

  So, this is where Prominence and the others were last detected, Victor thought grimly.

  Lizbeth had informed him of this before his arrival. It appeared that the incident was similar to what happened to SuperNova. A powerful entity, the mastermind who had orchestrated the undead invasion, was definitely hidden here.

  Descending slowly, Victor landed on a small patch of solid ground at the bottom of the sinkhole, the crunch of soil under his boots breaking the eerie silence. All of a sudden, his perception was clouded by the overwhelming density of elemental particles saturating the area. But rather than resisting the strange energy pulling at his senses, Victor allowed himself to be drawn in. He closed his eyes and surrendered to the flow, letting the alien sensation wash over him.

  Then, in an instant, he could feel the world around him transforming.

  When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the heart of a bustling medieval city. The sun was blinding. The crisp air carried the aromas of fresh bread, blooming flowers, and the faint tang of iron from the smithy. Cobblestone streets stretched in every direction, lined with vibrant market stalls shaded by colorful canopies. The atmosphere surrounding him was very lively.

  “Fresh fish! Fresh fish! Only three copper coins apiece!” a stout vendor bellowed, holding up a glistening trout as proof of its freshness.

  “Spiced apples! Sweet and sour, perfect for pies!” another merchant chimed in, waving a basket overflowing with ripe fruit.

  Victor’s gaze turned to an alleyway where two children darted past him, their laughter ringing out like bells.

  “Give it back!” one shouted, her arms outstretched as she chased a boy clutching a small toy.

  “No way! Take it back yourself if you want!” the boy teased, quickening his pace as he dodged her grasp.

  Across the street, knights clad in shining armor marched on patrol, along with many pedestrians crowding the streets even more than in Brightmoon City.

  Victor blinked in confusion. Everything around him felt too real to be an illusion, yet something was undeniably wrong. To begin with, how was it possible for a bustling city to exist in the middle of nowhere, let alone at the bottom of a sinkhole?

  Creasing his eyebrows even more, Victor channeled infused mana into his eyes, enhancing his perception. The enhanced clarity revealed peculiarities he hadn’t noticed before. Though the people moved and acted naturally, their expressions full of life, there was something deeply unsettling. A faint, constant aura surrounded them—a swirling mixture of negative energy and Necro elemental mana.

  Realization struck him like a thunderbolt. They’re all… ghosts. No, perhaps ‘living souls’ would be more accurate.

  Victor turned toward a passing pedestrian, stepping directly into his path and attempting to stop him. “Hey,” he said firmly.

  The figure gave no response, walking right past him as though Victor didn’t exist. He tried again with another, and the result was the same. The ghosts remained entirely oblivious to him, continuing with their routine. Yet Victor could feel something—or someone—was watching him, hidden within this ghost city. He tensed his body and kept wary of his surroundings.

  “Let’s see what game you’re trying to play,” he muttered as he moved through the eerie streets.

  He soon found himself drawn to a commotion, where a crowd of people, or rather, ghosts, had gathered in a square. Curious, Victor slipped between the translucent figures to see what had captured their attention.

  In the center of the gathering stood a makeshift wooden stage. On it, actors were performing a play, and Victor’s eyes widened as he recognized what the story was being told. The main actor portrayed a princess fleeing her kingdom after it had been devastated by an enemy invasion.

  But despite the hopeless situation, she rose from despair and continued with her revenge as she became a powerful dark Magus who controlled the undead. The scenes progressed, showing her determination to grow stronger by any means and become a hero who reclaimed her homeland and restored peace.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  It was The Tale of the Fallen Princess.

  The same storybook that Lillie adored—her absolute favorite. But why was it being performed here, in this strange, ghostly city?

  “Such a coincidence can’t be happening… can it? Unless…” Victor’s mind raced. Stepping back from the crowd, he pieced together the hints; between the tale, this ghostly city, and the mastermind behind the undead invasion, it was pretty obvious at this point. Therefore, he made a decision.

  In order to unravel the mystery, Victor focused on finding the source of the illusion. It didn’t take long before he pinpointed the massive castle at the heart of the city. Its imposing silhouette loomed above everything, exuding an undeniable, oppressive aura. It was unmistakably the source of it all.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, Victor flew toward the castle at full speed. An ethereal barrier materialized around him as he got closer to the castle. In an instant, he crashed through the castle’s largest window, the glass shattering like brittle ice under the force of his arrival. He landed heavily in the grand hall, the impact sending a shockwave through the air and scattering debris across the floor, echoing all around.

  “Oh, my. What a rude intruder,” came a cold, mocking voice.

  As the words echoed through the hall, the surroundings began to twist and warp. The grand, opulent castle transformed into something dark and gloomy. The once-glowing chandeliers dimmed, their flames replaced by an eerie blue glow. The polished marble floors cracked and blackened, giving way to jagged stone. Shadows lengthened unnaturally, creeping along the walls and distorting the space around him.

  Victor’s eyes darted toward the source of the voice, and a figure materialized amidst the gloom, floating in place. She was humanoid in shape; her complexion and overall appearance made it clear she wasn’t human. Her bluish skin glistened faintly under the dim, eerie light, and two small, curved horns protruded from her temples. She wore a simple, flowing black dress beneath a pristine white apron, and atop her head sat a chef’s hat—an absurdly out-of-place detail in the otherwise sinister atmosphere.

  Ignoring the odd appearance of the figure, Victor questioned in precaution, “Who are you? A ghost?”

  The figure tilted her head, and a playful smile spread across her lips, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Ah, I see now. Not only do you barge into my home uninvited, but you even dare to ask who I am without introducing yourself first. Not even knowing basic courtesy. How uncouth,” she said with mock exasperation. “For a mere Elemental Adept Magus, an ant, you certainly have guts.”

  Although Victor wanted to demand answers, he could feel an oppressive wave of energy emanating from her, suppressing his urge to push for answers and instead inclining his head slightly.

  [A dangerous extraordinary life form has been detected!]

  True enough, even the System’s danger alert was acting up. Though it was a mystery how it wasn’t immediately activated—

  [The life form is expected to be capable of killing Nexus Temporal Magi like ants.]

  Holy shit! Victor’s hair stood on end as he read the description.

  Quickly, he placed his right hand on his upper left chest and bowed in the formal introduction of a Magus. “My apologies, my name is Victor Asteriscus. I’m the headmaster of Sanctum of Interdimensional Magi,” he said in a tone that was calm yet neither servile nor overbearing. “Are you the mastermind behind all of this?”

  The ghost’s expression brightened instantly. “Victor Asteriscus? Asteriscus… Why does that sound familiar?” She rested her chin on her hand. “Whatever. Can’t figure it out. As for your question…” She clasped her hands together theatrically, clearly reveling in the drama of the moment.

  “Well, introductions first!” She gestured dramatically. “I am Valeria arc Noctis, the ‘Fallen Princess’ from the Dark Era, now known as the ‘Ghost Necromancer.’ I am the owner of this castle, and all its undead legions are mine to command.”

  So, it’s her. As I suspected. But what now? I won’t stand a chance against her in a head-on fight…

  Even if she was a foreign invader suppressed by the World’s Will, even with every trump card in his arsenal, he wouldn’t last a minute. At least, that was what his instinct was telling him. But if fighting was out of the question, that left only one option: negotiation. She seemed open to conversation, for now at least.

  Narrowing his eyes slightly, Victor straightened his posture and spoke firmly. “It is an honor to meet a legendary figure such as yourself, Miss Valeria. There’s something I would like to discuss with you.”

  Valeria grinned and came closer. “Tell me then, Victor. What brings you here? Surely you didn’t come to stop me from conquering the world…”

  A sinister, dark energy swirled around her, dark tendrils flickering like a storm on the verge of breaking. The oppressive aura made Victor’s throat tighten, and his heart pounded as he struggled to suppress a shiver.

  Then, just as suddenly, her tone shifted entirely. “…With a free lifelong premium cooking service! Satisfaction guaranteed or double your money back!”

  “Wh-What?” Victor blinked, utterly baffled.

  Valeria smirked, clearly enjoying his reaction. “Sorry, that was just a joke.” She then added with a playful wink, “But I’m not kidding about the premium cooking service.”

  Victor took a steadying breath, regaining his composure. “A joke? Your undead army is endangering my academy and everything in this region.” His voice grew sharper, betraying his anger. “I demand that you put an end to it,” he declared, enunciating each syllable clearly.

  At that, Valeria’s cold, mocking laughter echoed through the room. “Oh, how bold of you! But let me ask you this, Victor: Do you truly believe you can stop me? Or are you here to play the fool and amuse me?”

  As she spoke, her form began to shift and distort, growing massive and monstrous. Wisps of spectral energy radiated outward as her once-regal visage transformed into a ghastly, ghostly apparition. The temperature plummeted, sending chills down Victor’s spine, and the air thickened as though charged with malice.

  The same dark energy came back, coiling around Victor like invisible chains. It was so powerful that it suffocated him, as if he were ten thousand meters under the sea. Even with his extraordinary constitution, it felt as though he were on the verge of being crushed like a puny insect before a towering predator.

  Victor gritted his teeth as he fell to his knee. Although his mind raced to find a way to defuse the escalating confrontation without losing his life, he wouldn’t back down on this. Because if the academy got destroyed, his life would also be forfeited; there was essentially nothing to lose!