God of Cloning: My Clones Awakened Job Class!?

Chapter 56 Dark Mages

Ren returned to his normal form. The radiant glow of evolution dimmed as his body settled once again into his mimic form. His shell pulsed gently with mana, but his expression, if a mimic could truly have one, was lighter now. The tension that had gripped him during the war had lifted. For the first time in days, he chuckled.

"Ahhh... finally. Enough seriousness. Back to my cheerful self again," Ren said as his voice echoed playfully.

"Thank you everyone! Now back to business. Let’s go home. But first, let’s check the Dark mages first."

"Klien let’s go!" He yelled and then raised his arms.

"Yes, master!" He knelt then stood up. "They were located at the cave nearby. I will lead you there myself.

Klien raised an eyebrow, arms crossed, but allowed himself a small grin. The battlefield was cleared, the enemies vanquished.

Klien paused for a moment. "It’s northwest of the battlefield. They’re getting weaker..but persistent. Faint enough to be from those barely clinging to life."

Without wasting time, Ren nodded. "Let’s go."

They traveled through the blackened woods, past the broken towers and scorched grounds of the ruined battlefield. A gust of wind carried the stench of decay and lingering cursed energy. But there, near a crumbling ridge, nestled behind twisted rocks and veiled by thick moss, they found a cave.

Flickers of torchlight danced faintly from within. Rein was excited to see them. As they crept closer, the scent of burnt wood and sweat filled their nostrils. Inside the cavern were broken barrels, a few extinguished torches, and tattered mats made from dead grass.

Ren’s eyes narrowed.

He stepped into the dim cave and saw them.

Nine figures, frail and ragged, sat hunched on the dirt floor. Their bones pressed against their skin, ribs clearly showing. Their clothes were reduced to torn rags. Skin covered with dust and soot, hair matted and stained with dried sweat and filth. Their eyes, though dulled, still held fragments of life.

"Dark mages....." Ren muttered.

They looked up, startled by the presence of light. One stood weakly, hands raised in fear. "We... we surrender..."

Ren stepped forward gently, his tone calm. "We’re not here to kill you. You’ve suffered enough."

A moment passed in silence. Then another mage, a gaunt woman with a burnt sleeve, whispered, "You’re... not with the Lich?"

"No."

A gasp followed. The figures slowly stood up, barely able to support their own weight. Tears welled in their tired eyes. One collapsed forward, but Klien quickly caught them.

"Let’s bring them back," Ren said.

They exited the cave with more hope filling their hearts. The return to camp was quiet. But they saw the multitude of army that greeted them. They were shocked that this man was a master of the said forces!

None of the dark mages spoke, they were dumbstruck and could not believe it themselves, though many wept silently as they saw the sky again without fear.

Ren then opened the gate to his soul realm and then they watched in its majestic portal opened.

"Everyone let’s go!" Ren announced and soon, the army went back inside. First the Warriors then the Mages. Ren then escorted the Dark Mages on their way inside. It was comforting that Ren himself will lead the tour inside.

As they approached the Realm gate and stepped through, their eyes widened.

Before them stood a massive, organized camp. Towers of enchanted stone, tents lined in clean formation, workshops humming with activity, and soldiers sparring in the training grounds. Creatures and humanoids of many races worked in unison.

One of the rescued mages gasped. "This... This isn’t a camp... It’s a Kingdom!"

Ren then made it clear. "Nope, not there yet...maybe soon."

"Ah," Another added, "We thought we’d be thrown in chains again. But this..."

Their awe turned to gratitude when they were led to a healing station. Priests and support mages immediately cleansed their bodies with warm holy water, removing grime and disease. They were offered food, soft cloth garments, and warm blankets. Several fell to their knees in disbelief.

As they ate and rested, Rein stood silently by, watching.

"These people... they were once strong," he said to Klien. But they were not evil. They were enslaved."

Klien nodded. "So what now?"

"I will give them purpose again. And power." Ren immediately assembled them.

Ren stood before the dark mages as they knelt around a glowing ritual circle in the center of camp. Their eyes were now sharper; bodies stronger.

"I will grant you evolution," Ren said. "Not just to restore what you lost but to bring you higher than before."

A swirl of dark and pure mana erupted from Ren’s form, coating each of the nine in shimmering layers of shifting essence. The runes beneath them ignited with bluish-purple flames as the air thickened with energy.

His skill activated....

[Skill Training Initiated]

[Selected: 9 Individuals]

[Valid Tribes Detected: Dark Mage Lineage]

[Training to Higher Forms...]

[Lifespan increased: +100 years]

[Granting Training....]

[Name: Druin]

[Class: Necromancer]

[Summons skeletons and Dark magic.]

The second’s body pulsed with venomous green.

[Name: Eric]

[Class: Poisonmancer]

[Masters venom and curse fields. Toxins evolve over time.]

The third glowed ghostly white.

[Name: Cloud]

[Class: Wisp Master]

[Commands will-o-wisps. Wisps of different variants.]

One after another, each of the dark mages underwent their transformation. The camp watched in awe as elegant robes replaced rags, glowing sigils etched onto their skin like tattoos. Their posture became regal, proud—reborn.

[Name: Dreymurd]

[Class: Warlock

[Channel cursed spells and chaotic energy.]

[Name: Frein]

[Class: Death Knight]

[Hybrid fighter-mage. Controls death runes and soul armor.]

[Name: Grey]

[Class: Dread Knight]

[Terror-infused melee caster. A walking nightmare.]

[Name: Rubric]

[Class: Shadowmancer]

[Manipulates shadows and illusions. Can meld into darkness.]

[Name: Niel]

[Class: Ghost Master]

[Controls spirits. Can enslave ghosts.]

[Name: Brie]

[Class: Monster Tamer]

[Bonds with dark creatures. Evolves tamed monsters over time.]

When the final spark faded, the area fell silent. The newly evolved dark mages knelt before Ren in reverence.

"We are no longer what we once were," one said. "We are yours, Lord Ren. Our lives... our powers... they belong to your cause."

Ren walked forward, placing a hand on each of their shoulders one by one.

"You are free. And with your freedom, fight not for dominance....but for balance. Let the world know that dark does not mean evil... it only means misunderstood."

A new era was beginning. And with it, Ren’s army grew stronger once more.