Alexander stood still in the quiet aftermath of the battle with the Chaos-corrupted bear, its monstrous body already dissolving into a black mist that reeked of void corruption. The Soul Ash pulsed in his hand, a strange, oily essence of the creature's power now his to wield. As the wind brushed through the trees, he exhaled slowly and opened his character sheet.
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[Alexander Noir – Character Sheet]
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Class: Necromancer (Rank: E)
Subclass: Monarch of the Undead
Level: 20
Evolution Rank: E
HP: 460 (+20%)
Mana: 1,800 (+50% subclass bonus)
Mental Control Pool: 260 units
Soul Ash: 1
Attributes (Boosted by +20%):
Strength: 36
Agility: 30
Endurance: 40
Intelligence: 78
Wisdom: 60
Charisma: 32
Skills:
Raise Undead III – (Summon up to 10 skeletons; reduced mana cost via subclass)
Shadow Fog – (Area debuff + summon buff)
Basic Shadow Bullet – (Armor-piercing magic)
Undead Harvest (Active) – Gain 25% XP from kills by your undead
Mental Domination (Passive) – Controls undead mentally; Monarch subclass reduces control load by 30%
New Skill Unlocked: Undead Command Core (Passive) – Grants additional control capacity when inside constructed undead domains
Subclass Passive:
Undead Loyalty (100%)
Cannot be harmed by undead
+50% Mana capacity
+30% reduced control cost on undead
Can summon any number of undead within mental limit
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Alexander clenched his fist, letting the Soul Ash absorb into his body. It spiraled through him like a cold wind, awakening dormant veins of power. He could feel it—his control deepening, his mind sharper. The forest around him dimmed as he raised his staff and channeled mana into the earth.
"I've evolved," he whispered. "It's time to build my army properly."
---
Warrior-Type Undead – General Traits:
Brute Skeleton: Broad-shouldered, reinforced bones, carries rusted cleavers or clubs. Strong but slow.
Bone Knight: Heavily armored in salvaged metal, more intelligent, capable of forming shield walls and basic formations.
Ghoul Striker: Feral, fast, and vicious. Uses claws and serrated teeth. Can leap and climb trees or walls.
---
He started with the Brute Skeletons. Alexander marked a circle of runes on the ground using black ash and bone powder, his mana surging as he activated the summoning. One by one, large skeletal figures rose from the earth, standing over six feet tall, their bones thick and warped.
"Three Brutes. Control Load: 18 each... that's 54," he muttered. "Efficient enough for frontline bruisers."
Next, he summoned two Bone Knights. Their skeletal frames appeared wrapped in makeshift armor looted from the ruins of past battles. Shields and rusted swords clinked as they stood at attention.
"Smart. They'll be better for leading small squads," he observed. "Mental load is 28 each... manageable."
Then came the Ghouls—seven of them clawed their way out of the ground, their eyes glowing faintly red. They hissed, crouching low and twitching with unstable energy.
"They're fast. Control load is low—only 10 each. Perfect for harassment."
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Builder-Type Undead – General Traits:
Bone Shaper: Skeletal entity capable of manipulating bone, stone, and earth. Can construct basic structures like walls, watchtowers, and crypts.
Grave Sculptor: A more advanced unit that can fuse multiple undead into a larger form or combine remains into functional machines or siege equipment.
Wight Engineer: Retains partial memories of construction or magical engineering. Can assemble advanced mechanisms and traps using salvaged parts.
---
Alexander tapped his staff against the ground and cast Raise Deathbound, his evolved summoning command, targeted for utility rather than combat. From the soil emerged two Bone Shapers—thin, elongated skeletons with long arms ending in chisel-like fingers.
"Start working near the ruins. Clear the ground, shape perimeter walls."
He directed them telepathically, surprised at how fluidly his thoughts translated into action. The Bone Shapers moved immediately toward the outer edge of the ruin site, where the Necro Dark Altar stood silently in the background.
Alexander felt the surge in mental weight—each Bone Shaper consumed 30 units. He'd need to be careful how many he summoned until his control pool increased further.
"Once the graveyard is constructed, I'll bring in Grave Sculptors and Wight Engineers," he muttered. "Eventually I'll automate my infrastructure."
---
Scavenger-Type Undead – General Traits:
Bone Crawler: Small, spider-like undead made from shattered bones. Can scout, dig, and search for materials or corpses. Low mana cost and control weight.
Flesh Grubber: Semi-intelligent undead designed to harvest usable flesh or organs from fallen enemies.
Hollow Rats: Reanimated skeletal rodents that scout en masse and relay information back to the necromancer.
---
He raised his hand again, pulling forth six Bone Crawlers. They skittered from under his robe like loyal insects, crawling through the terrain, heading for goblin corpses and old battlefield remains.
"They're fast, low profile, and each costs only 2 mental units," he grinned. "Perfect for spreading my reach."
Soon after, two Flesh Grubbers and a swarm of Hollow Rats were summoned. The rats immediately spread out, creating a crude network of recon around the forest while the Grubbers began sorting through corpses for materials.
Alexander sighed, finally feeling the weight of it all in his mind. Roughly 200 units of his 260 capacity had been used up in one hour.
Undead. Infrastructure. Empire.
For the first time since he reincarnated, he felt like more than a survivor. He was now a ruler.
---
He walked back toward the black altar. The Undead Necro Dark Altar still pulsed with sinister power. It would become his core—a source of energy, summoning, and amplification.
But something stirred beneath it.
Faint whispers, like the mutterings of forgotten kings, echoed under the surface. He narrowed his eyes and placed a hand on the black stone.
Something was waking up beneath the ruins.
A vault. A chamber.
A forgotten place only accessible by someone of his nature.
But first, he would need more Soul Ash, more power, and more minds to dominate.
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End of Chapter 11