Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 719: Soul Collection

[Youʼve slain Marʼzhul (Level 21). Youʼve gained 2140 XP.]

”[Eternal Damnation].”

As I observed the ashen remains of this lionkin noblewoman get her soul dragged into my Soul Reaper, I pulled up my Primordial Villain classʼ subclass, Harbinger of Ruin, and checked its progress toward unlocking necromancy.

Capture the souls of 1,000 level 20+ entities 203/1000 -> 394/1000

Capture the souls of 50 level 30+ entities. 34/50 -> 50/50

Capture the souls of 1 level 40+ entity. 1/1

Finally. Now I just have to farm some rabble, and I will become an official Necromancer-classed person. Or so I assume… Based on my knowledge gained from my little chat with the Soul Records, my type of necromancy will be vastly different from what the necromancers of the Iskaris continent use, namely corpse reanimation.

I dismissed the panel and turned toward Seraphiel.

She was still crouched beside the lionkin girlʼs lifeless form, her hand clutched around the hilt of her bloodstained dagger, jamming it in and out in silent, automatic thrusts. Her body trembled with every movement, but she didnʼt stop.

I walked over and gently knelt beside her.

She didnʼt even notice.

So, I reached out and placed my hand over hers, the one holding the dagger.

She stiffened. For just a second, she resisted, her arm tensing like she wanted to tear herself free and continue the relentless stabbing.

Then her grip loosened. Her shoulders hunched. Her body sagged.

And finally, she broke down again. This time, with a wail so full of anguish, it tore the silence apart.

She threw herself into me, sobbing with no care for anything else in the world, wrapping her arms around my chest and pressing her face into me as if I were the only thing keeping her from collapsing entirely.

I held her. I didnʼt say anything. Didnʼt offer platitudes. I just let her cry.

But time was ticking.

I stood after a few minutes, gently lifting her into my arms again. She clung to me like a lifeline, her breath still ragged against my neck.

I returned to the study and approached the chained elf corpse.

… Seraphiel had done her best.

The girlʼs body was pristine. Fully healed. No blood. No wounds. Just smooth skin where there shouldʼve been torn muscle and ravaged flesh.

If not for the lifelessness in her eyes and the stillness of her heart, one mightʼve thought she was merely sleeping.

I gently brushed a lock of blonde hair from her forehead and nodded quietly to myself.

It wasnʼt salvation, but it was dignity. She was no longer a mutilated corpse but the motionless body of a beautiful girl.

Easier on the mother. Easier on everyone.

I bent down and cleaned her body with [Water Creation & Manipulation], after which I warmed her up with fire. Then, I slid my arms beneath her and lifted her with the ease of a breeze. 𝖗ά₦О฿ĚS

One arm now held the nameless elf girl. The other held Seraphiel.

As I stepped into the hallway, I used wind magic to scoop the quivering maid off her feet and lift her through the air beside us. She didnʼt even scream this time. Just stared at the girl in my arms with a trembling, tearful expression. Perhaps they knew each other.

We left the manor behind.

The sky greeted us with fire and smoke as we soared back to the ranches. Below, Emberfang burned, purged of its filth, its tyrants, and its sins. Darius and Vex were making quick work of the city.

I landed softly outside the ranchʼs main building, setting Seraphiel down with care. The maid floated beside us and wobbled as I released the wind magic.

Then, with slow, deliberate steps, I approached the older elf woman who had begged us to save her daughter.

She saw the girl in my arms and instantly collapsed.

A scream tore from her throat. Her fingers clawed at the air, reaching for her child. I lowered the girl into her embrace.

”Iʼm sorry for your loss,” I said quietly.

She didnʼt hear me. Or maybe she did and didnʼt care. She was too far gone in her grief.

But at least now, she could mourn someone whole.

Someone who looked… peaceful.

A few seconds passed in solemn silence before the sound of quick, stumbling footsteps broke through. The human maid rushed forward and fell to her knees beside the weeping elf. She wrapped one frail arm around the grieving motherʼs shoulders and gently stroked her back, whispering soothing words through her own tears.

”Sheʼs with Lady Luminara in the Eternal Forest now, Elirya… Sheʼs not hurting anymore… Sheʼs free.”

The elf clutched her daughterʼs body tighter.

The maid continued murmuring, brushing the blonde-haired girlʼs cheek with reverence. ”She was the kindest soul… even after all they did to her. She never stopped smiling. Never blamed anyone. Not even me…”

Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard before continuing.

”Lyren deserved so much better…”

I watched them for a moment longer, ensuring the names burned themselves into my memory. Elirya and Lyren. Another pair of victims in this hellish city.

Another reason to see the whole damned lionkin race cleansed off of the face of Thalorind.

My boots crunched over blood-soaked dirt as I moved through the ranch. I scanned the area, stepping around still forms that lined the walls and floors.

All dead.

All beyond saving.

It looked like the girls had done exactly as Iʼd asked them to. Those too far gone to recover had been granted mercy. Quick, gentle deaths.

I paused beside a body, then moved on. There was no point lingering. No one in this building would be getting back up, save for the elven mother whoʼd been awaiting our return.

With a quiet sigh, I made my way through the other ranches. The story didnʼt change. Each one was filled with corpses. Some bodies were whole, while others were ruined by the cruel appetites of lionkin. But here and there, I saw signs of movement. People had been here. Alive ones. Which meant those who could be saved had been moved somewhere safe.

I kept going, crossing the threshold of another dark hallway, until I heard voices.

And then the sight of hundreds of people, huddled together in a wide open section of what looked like a cleared ranch, welcomed my eyes. The moment I stepped closer, I saw her.

Liora stood in the middle as golden light flowed from her staff. Her healing aura enveloped those around her, stabilizing wounds, soothing pain, and restoring energy. Her face was pale but focused, sweat beading her brow as she pushed herself to save as many people as she could.

Seraphiel quickly joined her.

Still teary-eyed, still shaken, but determined.

Together, they cast spell after spell, rotating between healing, purifying, and mending. Moving from one wounded figure to another. The warmth of light energy filled the air, akin to drinking a tasty hot chocolate after returning home from the freezing temperatures outside.

I stood there for a long while, just watching.

*Stomp!* Stomp!*

With perfect timing, as the healer duo had just tended to the last person who wasnʼt beyond saving, thousands of feet stomping against stone and dirt echoed through the ruined city. Blossomʼs ears twitched, but based on her calm attitude, they could only be one thing. The army had arrived.

We all emerged from the ranches at once, my women flanking me as the survivors remained huddled behind.