Death Mage in Another World

Kai walked along the dirt road toward the town gates, his classmates trailing behind him. They'd been walking for a few minutes, but as they got closer, the distant sounds of chaos reached their ears. By the time they arrived at the gates, they were greeted by a scene of utter turmoil: the city was under attack. Flames licked at the edges of buildings, smoke billowed into the sky, and the sounds of steel clashing echoed in the air as bandits fought fiercely against knights defending the city.

Kai's classmates froze, their expressions shifting to confusion and fear. They began muttering nervously:

"What's going on?"

"Are those bandits?"

"What do we even do?"

Sean gripped his makeshift weapon tightly, his face pale. "We're not ready for this! This is insane!"

Liam nodded quickly, his voice shaky. "We're just students! We can't fight *that*! Look at the chaos!"

Kai, however, remained calm, his red eyes fixed on the flames and the swirling chaos. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "What are you all scared for? You've got powers now—use them."

His classmates stared at him in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" Sean shouted. "This isn't a game, Kai!"

"Exactly," Kai replied, his grin widening. "That's why you need to stop hiding and help. You're not powerless anymore. We can actually do something here."

He gestured toward the city. "You—go help evacuate the civilians. Get them out of harm's way. You—use your magic to reinforce the knights. And the rest of you, work together to pick off the smaller groups of bandits. Got it?"

The group hesitated, their fear still evident, but Kai's commanding tone left little room for argument. He turned to Sean and Liam, who wore deadpan expressions, clearly unimpressed by his enthusiasm.

"You're way too excited about this," Sean muttered.

"Yeah," Liam added. "You look like you're about to have the time of your life."

Kai just laughed, shrugging off their complaints. "Maybe I am. Someone has to enjoy this, right?" Without waiting for a response, he dashed toward the gates, his laughter ringing in the air as he ran straight into the fray.

---

The city was a battlefield. Knights and bandits clashed in the streets, the cries of battle mingling with the roar of flames. Kai sprinted through the chaos, weaving past fights with ease. He leaped onto a cart, then propelled himself onto the roof of a nearby building. From there, he began dashing across the rooftops, his movements swift and fluid as he used the terrain to his advantage.

Jumping from one house to the next, Kai's red eyes scanned the battlefield below. He suddenly skidded to a stop at the edge of a roof, crouching low as he observed a group of knights locked in combat with a band of marauding bandits. Among them, one figure stood out: a woman with striking blue hair and piercing green eyes. Her slender frame belied the strength and precision of her movements as she fought off attackers with practiced skill. Her voice rang out as she gave orders to the knights around her, her tone calm but commanding.

"Hold the line! Reinforce the east side—don't let them push through!" she shouted, cutting down a bandit with a fluid strike. Her composure under pressure was unshakable, her presence like a beacon of stability amidst the chaos.

Kai tilted his head, watching her with growing interest. "Huh… impressive," he muttered to himself.

Without hesitation, he dropped down from the roof, landing softly behind the group. His sudden appearance startled a few nearby knights, who instinctively turned their weapons on him.

"Whoa, whoa, easy," Kai said with a smirk, holding up his hands.

The blue-haired captain turned to face him, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Who are you?" she demanded. "This isn't a place for civilians. Help out, or stay out of the way."

Kai grinned, clearly enjoying her no-nonsense demeanor. "Help out or stay out of the way? That's a little harsh, don't you think?" he teased. "You could at least say 'please.'"

Her eyes narrowed further, unimpressed by his casual tone. "If you're not going to help, then leave. This is no time for games."

Kai chuckled, his red eyes gleaming mischievously. "Relax, Captain. I'm not here to play around. You looked like you could use an extra hand, so… here I am."

She studied him for a moment, clearly skeptical. "Fine. Prove it. If you can fight, then do it. Otherwise, get out of my way."

Kai gave her a mock salute, still grinning. "Yes, ma'am. Just try to keep up."

Without waiting for a response, he dashed past her, diving into the fight with a burst of energy. The captain watched him go, her expression unreadable.

"Who *is* that guy?" one of her knights asked, stepping up beside her.

"I don't know," she replied, her gaze following Kai as he fought. "But we'll see if he's worth the trouble."

---

Kai laughed maniacally, his voice echoing through the battlefield. "Skill: Shadow Bind!" he shouted.

From the ground, shadowy tendrils erupted, snaking out with terrifying speed and precision. They grabbed at the bandits, coiling around their limbs and pinning them to the ground. The bandits cried out, their voices a cacophony of fear and confusion.

"No! Let me go!"

"What kind of monster is this?!"

"This isn't normal!"

Kai watched them struggle, a grin spreading across his face. "You really thought you could take over this city? Pathetic," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. He turned to the blue-haired knight captain, who stood nearby, her sword still in hand, watching the scene unfold.

Her sharp green eyes narrowed. "What… what kind of magic is this?" she muttered, half to herself.

Kai's grin widened as he heard her. "Skill: Shadow Bolt!" he declared. Above him, a dozen black orbs of swirling shadow energy materialized, hovering ominously.

The bandits screamed in terror, their struggles growing more desperate as the shadow bolts floated menacingly above Kai. He pointed toward them. "Go!"

The bolts shot forward with blinding speed, piercing through the captured bandits one by one. The cries of pain were short-lived as the dark energy ripped through them, leaving lifeless bodies in its wake. In mere moments, the battlefield fell silent.

The knight captain stared in shock, her grip on her sword tightening. "You… killed them all… instantly," she said, her voice laced with disbelief.

Kai turned to her, his expression unbothered. "They were bandits causing chaos. What did you expect me to do? Give them a warning?" He chuckled darkly. "Skill: Resurrection."

The fallen bandits' bodies were suddenly engulfed in a thick, black mist. The shadows writhed and coiled around them, pulling them upright. As the darkness faded, the once-dead bandits now stood, their eyes glowing faintly with an eerie light. They had become undead, loyal only to Kai.

The knights nearby froze in horror. The captain's voice rose above the stunned murmurs. "What in the gods' name are you doing?! This… this is necromancy! Forbidden magic!"

Kai smirked, addressing his new undead soldiers. "Go. Return to my summoning dead." The undead nodded silently before dissolving into black mist, disappearing into his summoning circles.

He dusted off his hands and muttered to himself, "Good. Efficient as always."

Before the knights could process what had just happened, Kai raised his hand again. "Skill: Summon Skeletons!"

From a series of black circles on the ground, skeletons emerged, their bones emitting a dark aura that seemed to ripple with power. They stood at attention, awaiting his orders.

Kai gestured toward the remaining bandits. "Go. Defeat the rest of them."

The skeletons nodded, their bony forms clattering as they marched off to engage the bandits.

The captain's green eyes burned with a mix of anger and unease as she turned to Kai. "You're a Death Mage? Don't think that means I trust you. Prove you're not here to destroy this city."

Kai laughed, his tone lighthearted despite her accusatory glare. "Didn't I just send my summons to help you out? Saved you a ton of trouble, didn't I?" He crossed his arms, his grin never fading. "You're welcome, by the way."

Her expression remained stern, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She watched as his summoned skeletons fought with precision, turning the tide of the battle. Despite her skepticism, she couldn't deny their effectiveness.

"Your… skeletons aren't completely useless, I suppose," she admitted grudgingly.

Kai feigned shock, putting a hand to his chest. "Was that a compliment? From you? Someone pinch me—I must be dreaming."

She huffed, turning her attention back to the battlefield. "Just don't get in my way."

Kai chuckled, watching as his skeletons pushed back the remaining bandits. "Wouldn't dream of it, Captain."

Kai leaned casually against a broken wall, watching the chaos of the battlefield slowly settle as the remaining bandits were driven off by the knights and his summoned skeletons. He turned his gaze toward the blue-haired knight captain, who was barking orders to her subordinates with an air of authority that even he had to admit was impressive.

"Well," Kai said aloud, drawing her attention, "I guess I should go help my friends before they get themselves into too much trouble."

The captain turned sharply to face him, her piercing green eyes narrowing. "Who are you, stranger?" she demanded, her voice firm but tinged with irritation.

Kai grinned, his red eyes gleaming with mischief. With an exaggerated flourish, he bowed low, one hand over his chest. "The name's Kai. Just a humble Death Mage passing through." He straightened up and added with a playful wink, "At your service, milady."

The captain's cheeks flushed a faint pink, but her expression quickly turned to one of annoyance. "Don't think you can charm your way out of answering properly! What are you even doing here? And stop smirking!"

Kai laughed, his tone light and teasing. "Relax, Captain. I'm just here to lend a hand. You should be thanking me, not questioning me."

She took a step closer, her irritation evident. "You're insufferable, you know that? Just stay out of my way!"

Kai gave her a mock salute, his grin never faltering. "Whatever you say, Captain. But don't miss me too much while I'm gone." Before she could respond, he activated his skill. "Shadow Step."

In an instant, Kai disappeared into the shadows, his laughter echoing faintly as he vanished from sight. The captain clenched her fists, her green eyes scanning the area in frustration.

"This guy is going to drive me crazy," she muttered under her breath. Shaking her head, she turned back to her knights, raising her voice to issue commands. "You two, secure the perimeter! The rest of you, regroup and assist the civilians. We need to stabilize this area before reinforcements arrive! Move it!"

The knights saluted and rushed to carry out her orders, leaving the captain to glance briefly at the spot where Kai had stood moments earlier. With a sigh, she muttered, "What a pain... but at least he's effective."

---

Meanwhile, Kai's classmates were locked in chaotic battles of their own, scattered throughout the burning streets. Their voices rang out amidst the clashes of swords and shouts of bandits.

"Watch your left! I can't cover everything!"

"This is insane! Why are there so many of them?!"

"Where's Kai?! He's supposed to be helping us, right?!"

Sean and Liam, Kai's best friends, were fighting side by side, swinging their weapons with dramatic flair. Sean shouted, "I knew coming here was a bad idea! We should've stayed in the forest!"

Liam dodged an incoming attack, yelling back, "You're the one who said we'd be fine as long as we followed Kai! How's that working out now?!"

Another classmate, barely dodging a bandit's blade, shouted, "If we survive this, I'm never listening to you guys again!"

"Someone cover me while I cast this spell!" another yelled, sweat pouring down their face.

"Don't just stand there! Swing your sword, idiot!" came a sharp retort from the back.

Before the chaos could overwhelm them, a sudden rumbling sound caught their attention. From the nearby streets, an army of skeletons came charging in, their bony frames glowing faintly with an eerie light. The skeletons didn't hesitate, immediately throwing themselves into the fray to assist Kai's struggling classmates.

Sean blinked in shock. "Oh, great. More of Kai's creepy skeletons."

Liam groaned, slicing through a bandit. "Well, at least they're on our side!"

"Why didn't he send these earlier?!" another classmate shouted, ducking under a swing.

Above them, Kai appeared on a rooftop, his red eyes gleaming with excitement. With a wide grin, he leaped off the roof and landed with a thud in the middle of the street. As bandits surrounded him, he raised his fist and slammed it into the ground.

"Skill: Bone Spikes x30!" Kai shouted.

The ground beneath the bandits erupted violently as dozens of sharp bone spikes shot out, skewering several enemies at once. The remaining bandits screamed as they tried to retreat, but the spikes continued to rise, cutting off their escape.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment as the dust settled. Kai stood amidst the carnage, his hand still pressed to the ground, a satisfied smirk on his face.

"What the hell was that?!" one of his classmates shouted, their voice a mix of awe and horror.

Another added, "He just wiped them out in one move!"

Sean and Liam exchanged stunned looks before Sean finally spoke. "Okay, I take it back. Having Kai around isn't so bad after all."

Liam nodded slowly. "Yeah… but remind me to never make him mad."

"Kai!" one of the other classmates yelled. "Where have you been?! We're over here risking our lives, and you're out doing your own thing?"

Kai straightened up and dusted off his hands, his skeletons continuing to fight in the background. He turned to his classmates with a playful grin. "You're welcome, by the way. Now, are you guys just going to stand there, or are we finishing this together?"

Another classmate groaned. "I don't know whether to thank you or yell at you!"

Sean smirked. "We'll yell at him later. For now, let's just win this thing."

The group rallied around Kai, their confidence bolstered by his display of power. Together, they charged forward, pushing back the remaining bandits with newfound determination.

---