Chapter 18 : The True Undead Troops

The True Undead Troops

"Let's begin!"

Serea picked up her black formal attire. Since it was combat gear, putting it on wasn't too troublesome.

First, her upper body.

"The top feels a bit tight."

Then her lower body.

"It's so chilly—it doesn't feel safe at all... but whatever, as long as it fits."

Next came the legs and feet.

"These black stockings feel smooth to the touch and pretty durable. As for the shoes, these genuine leather short combat boots are actually quite reassuring."

Once fully dressed, Serea fastened the final piece—a black cloak with a red lining—onto her gown.

"If I pull the cloak forward, it perfectly covers my whole body, and the hood at the back can also hide my face."

With that, Serea was outfitted in her formal combat suit. She'd expected the clothes to be cold, but the outfit seemed to insulate her from the outside temperature and felt surprisingly warm.

What's more, after donning it, Serea could clearly feel it was much less tiring to control Little Black and the others. The result was as good as she had expected.

While she thought about this, Serea used a puddle by the roadside as a mirror to examine her appearance. The absolute territory created by the formal wear made even Serea unable to look away from herself.

"Looks pretty good."

Gazing at her reflection in the water, Serea was a little intoxicated by the sight.

But remembering that she still had business to attend to, Serea ended her self-indulgent moment, turning her gaze to the row of corpses lying on the ground.

At this point, the equipment from those bodies had already been removed by the skeletons, revealing shriveled bodies drained of blood—the state of death was truly dreadful.

"With so many corpses, if I converted them all into undead, there's no way I could control that many."

System: The host can first use experience gems to enhance your abilities, then resurrect the undead.

"Hm? Enhance my ability first? If my abilities are stronger, does that mean the undead I raise will also be stronger?"

System: Yes.

"Alright, then I'll use the experience gems first."

As she spoke, Serea took out ten (tier-one) experience gems and used them all.

The experience gems dissolved into countless tiny specks of light that surged into Serea's body. As a wave of heat rose inside her, Serea felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

And then, it faded...

As that exhilarating feeling passed, Serea couldn't help but ask longingly,

"That's it?"

System: Personal level +2, maximum controllable undead +1.

"Let me see."

System: Retrieving personal information, please wait...

Character: Bloodstorm Serea Otto (Vampire Queen)

Level: 12

Status: Good

Spirit: A+

Strength: B

Agility: B+

Endurance: D

Constitution: C

Charm: EX

Luck: B

Skills: Blood Absorption (Tier 1), undead Revival (Tier 1), Abyssal Summoning (Tier 1), Soul Harvest (Tier 1), Blood Frenzy (Tier 2)

Description: Darkness Sovereign!

"Although my level increased, nothing else really changed. But being able to control one more undead isn't bad."

System: Please acquire more experience cards to continue leveling up.

"Trying to coax me into more ten-pulls again, huh..."

Serea scoffed as she clenched her fists; she could slightly feel her strength had increased, but it was a minimal improvement.

"Now I can resurrect the undead, right?"

System: Please select the optimal material for resurrection.

"Hmm?"

System: The corpse's previous level, skills, etc., will partly be inherited by the revived undead.

"There's actually a mechanism like that?"

To experiment, Serea looked at a shriveled corpse.

Character: Odura von Eino (Apprentice Mage)

Level: 19

Status: Dead

Spirit: B+

Strength: D

Agility: C

Endurance: D

Constitution: B

Charm: B

Luck: C

Skills: Arcane Impact (Tier 1), Fireball (Tier 1), Magic Shield (Tier 2)

Description: A fledgling apprentice mage, just a step away from becoming a junior mage—a truly troublesome foe at your current level.

"Level 19—you're the highest. Let's resurrect you."

Serea turned her palm toward Odura's corpse, preparing to activate her skill. Since there wasn't enough dark energy, she converted a few soul crystals.

Undead Revival!

As death energy poured into the body, its flesh split and fell away. A Skeleton Warrior rose.

"At your command, my Queen!"

Character: Skeleton Warrior (Undead)

Level: 14

Status: Good

Spirit: B

Strength: D

Agility: C

Endurance: D

Constitution: B

Charm: B

Luck: C

Skill: Fireball (Tier 1)

Description: A loyal Skeleton Warrior, sworn to Queen Serea.

Looking at these stats, Serea evaluated,

"The level dropped by five, spirit stat down to B, the rest are the same. But why is he a Skeleton Warrior? He was a mage in life—and what's with a warrior casting Fireball, with D-ranked strength? Is this a joke?"

System: The profession and skills inherited by the undead depend on the quality of the corpse, host's level, skill effects, etc.; they do not 100% replicate the original profession.

"What about that Skeleton Archer from before?"

System: The creation of the Skeleton Archer was a result of a stroke of luck for the host.

"But this Skeleton Warrior has D strength, and you were the one who encouraged me to revive him. What do you have to say?"

System: Please offer up dark energy or awaken as a Death Altar hero unit. Once you acquire the corresponding building and abilities, you can change and enhance the classes of undead units. Moreover, the Skeleton Warrior is just a starting unit with significant growth potential. Please do not underestimate any of them.

"Is that so?"

System: Yes.

"Alright then, join my team."

"By your command."

After speaking, the resurrected Skeleton Warrior stood up. What Serea did not expect was that he walked straight over to a set of armor.

Under Serea's surprised gaze, the Skeleton Warrior expertly put on his armor, then picked up a sword and shield.

Looking at the armored Skeleton Warrior brandishing his blade, Serea clapped her hands.

Clap, clap, clap!

"Not bad—that's the kind of warrior I wanted. Seems like that B-level spirit stat gave you real brains."

Serea praised him, and the newly-armored Skeleton Warrior joined the party carrying loot.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sound of metal colliding made Serea even more mesmerized. Armor and blades were a real man's romance.

And there was still plenty of that gear left!

Looking at the neatly arranged corpses on the ground, there were over twenty high-level corpses of royal guards from the Otto Kingdom—more than enough.

Thinking that she was about to have a fearless, deathless steel army, Serea's heart raced with excitement.

After picking several of the highest-level corpses, Serea used Undead Revival on them one by one.

In less than ten minutes, a squad of thirteen Skeleton Warriors clad in bright silver armor and wielding steel shields and swords was born.

Among them were the newly revived Odura, six of the Otto Kingdom's royal guards, and six Skeletons previously made from mercenary corpses.

As for Little Black, since his frame was too big, he couldn't wear armor, but his bones were already extremely tough. Armor was optional for him anyway.

Their average level was around 11, and this new batch of Skeleton Warriors was much stronger than the previous ones.

The best approach would have been to eliminate those five ordinary Skeleton Warriors and use Otto Kingdom guard corpses to make new ones.

But Serea didn't do that. In her own words:

"Your Queen is a principled person."

And so, a brand-new Skeleton Warrior squad was born. Along with the newly evolved Little Black, Serea now commanded a force of fourteen undead warriors.

At this moment, all the treasure had been collected, and all fourteen Skeletons stood assembled by the convoy, awaiting Serea's next order.

(To be continued...)