Limitless Undead System! I can Copy all Undead attributes.-Chapter 68: The Girl That Refused to Fight.

Shawn quivered on his knees as his breath left him in short, panicked gasps. His chest rose and fell erratically, each inhale scraping his throat raw as though the air itself resisted entering his lungs. He was being summoned, called forth by an Eldritch Shadow Eater, up the long, jagged flight of stairs that led to the throne.

He swallowed hard.

How in hell was he meant to approach such a being?

The question echoed endlessly in his mind, pounding against his thoughts like a death knell. And yet, before his fear could root him completely in place, his body betrayed him. Muscles moved without permission, legs straightening as he rose on trembling feet. Step by step, slow and unsteady, he began to ascend the stairs.

’I am going to die! I’m going to die!’ he screamed within himself, his thoughts shallow and frantic, barely coherent as terror hollowed him out.

Steven watched the scene unfold, his jaw tightening. He sighed inwardly at the predicament of the fat Awakened.

’Go, Shawn! Go!’ he chanted silently, though whether it was encouragement or mockery even he could not tell.

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Steven’s lips twitched.

’I will need your help,’ he thought sharply, directing the plea inward. Just as he expected, there was no response—only a vast, hollow silence that answered him back.

His attention returned to Shawn. The fat knight was already halfway up the stairs, tears streaming freely down his face. His body shook so violently it seemed he might collapse at any second. Each step brought him closer to a death too horrifying to fully imagine.

And King Nomis, the Eldritch King, was not making it any easier.

The massive figure sat upon his throne like a god carved from nightmare itself, his presence pressing down on the hall with suffocating weight. His gaze alone felt sharp enough to flay skin, an immense glower etched permanently into his monstrous demeanor.

When Shawn finally came within several steps of the throne, Nomis slowly raised one massive hand, signaling him to stop.

"YOU WILL BE MY SNACK!"

Gulp.

The sound was almost audible across the chamber.

Faces twisted in horror among the Awakened still gathered at the bottom of the stairs. Some clenched their teeth, others averted their gaze. Sure, Shawn was about to be eaten—but deep down, they knew their own fate would not be much different.

With this monster before them, he would weed them out one by one, savoring their despair for his own amusement until none remained.

"A KING NEEDS GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR HIS MEAL!" Nomis roared, his voice shaking the chamber and plunging the Cohort further into confusion.

Brows furrowed. Hands tightened around weapons. How were they meant to entertain a Shadow Eater?

A man rose first.

His movements were hesitant, almost pathetic. He shook his waist and waved his hands awkwardly, forcing a shy, broken attempt at a dance.

It was not amusing.

Especially not to King Nomis, who raised a single brow in confusion and mild irritation.

And then—

SPLURT!

Out of nowhere, a man from the crowd lunged forward, weapon already drawn. Steel plunged cleanly into the dancer’s throat.

Blood sprayed across the marble floor, warm and obscene. The victim convulsed violently, hands clawing at the blade lodged in his neck. After a few shuddering spasms, his body went limp, collapsing lifelessly at the killer’s feet.

A slow, dreadful smile peeled across King Nomis’ face.

That expression told them everything.

This was the entertainment he desired.

But killing one’s fellow human...

Many questioned the idea. Some froze, hands trembling as morality warred with survival. Others hesitated, torn between disgust and terror.

And then there were those who did not hesitate at all.

One of them was Brian.

Their valiant leader turned swiftly, katana flashing as it left its sheath. Without a word, he stepped in close and cleaved clean through the skull of another Awakened. Bone split. Blood burst. The man dropped instantly, dead before his body hit the ground.

"Brian, how could you!" someone cried out from the crowd.

The protest died mid-sentence.

A large Awakened swung his war hammer without warning, crushing the complainer’s face in a single brutal strike. Flesh caved. Teeth scattered. The body collapsed like a sack of meat.

Chaos erupted within seconds.

The hall descended into madness as Awakened turned on one another. Steel rang against steel. Spells detonated wildly, scorching walls and tearing chunks from the floor. Screams echoed endlessly as desperation drove them to slaughter.

They wanted to live.

Even if that meant killing each other to earn the fleeting mercy of the Eldritch King.

Steven grit his teeth, ducking beneath a wild swing aimed at his head. He slipped under the blade with practiced ease but did not retaliate, even when a perfect opening presented itself.

Another attacker rushed him.

No—three.

Three Awakened surged forward, eyes wild, weapons raised. Each one desperate, feral, eager to spill blood if it meant survival.

Who knew why?

"You fucking bastards! You bend to the will of Shadow Eaters!" Steven snarled, weaving aside from another blow. He was almost too slow, steel sliced across his cheek, cutting deep enough to draw blood.

A warning.

If this continued, he might actually be forced to fight.

And kill them all.

’What do I care?’ he thought grimly. ’It would be extra skills for me to copy.’

Still, he needed numbers, bodies! to distract the Eldritch long enough for him to escape this hellish chamber.

Meanwhile...

Shawn lay sprawled near the throne, quivering as he watched the carnage below. His vision blurred through tears as fellow Awakened butchered one another in grotesque fashion. Spells streaked across the hall like dying stars, lighting the massacre in flashes of color and fire. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

And then—

"COME OVER HERE AND GIVE ME A HANDSHAKE—"

Shawn froze.

His face twisted in confusion as he stared up at King Nomis once more. The mighty King leaned forward slightly, one massive hand extended toward him.

He wanted to refuse.

He wanted to scream.

But there was no choice.

It was this... or death.

Shawn obeyed.

He crawled closer, closing what little distance remained. Each movement was stiff, mechanical. His gaze locked onto the massive gauntlet—the jagged metal fingers, the palm stained dark with old blood.

He swallowed hard.

Then, trembling, he raised his hand.

Snap!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The scream tore from his throat, ear-piercing and raw. Shawn jerked backward violently, tumbling onto his side as agony exploded through his body. He clutched at where his hand had been—

His stump.

King Nomis laughed.

Between his teeth was Shawn’s severed hand, torn away in a single, casual motion. The Eldritch King chewed slowly, savoring the taste as Shawn writhed on the floor, groveling in pain and despair.

"SO UNWISE!" Nomis mocked, finally turning his gaze away from the broken Awakened.

He swallowed his snack.

Then his eyes returned to the chaos below.

Nearly half of the Cohort had already fallen.

And then... he noticed something unusual.

Amid the slaughter, one individual refused to fight.

She was being shielded—protected by three other Awakened who stood defensively around her.

A girl.

Her armor was minimal, barely enough to offer real protection.

King Nomis’ expression darkened.

"DISRESPECTFUL SCUM!" he snarled.

The girl was Silva.