Night still clung to the land when Kael left his own grave behind.
The manor lights faded in the distance as he walked deeper into the forest, the undead assassin following like a silent shadow.
Cold wind brushed against his face.
Fresh.
Free.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…So this is what it feels like," he murmured.
No expectations.
No restraints.
No name to carry.
For the first time in his life—
He was truly untouchable.
But freedom meant nothing without control.
And Kael intended to have plenty of that.
He stopped beneath a cluster of ancient trees, their twisted branches forming a natural canopy that blocked even the moonlight.
Perfect concealment.
Perfect isolation.
"Status," Kael said quietly.
[Daily Intelligence System Active]
[Next Intelligence Available]
His eyes sharpened.
"Show me."
[Intelligence Acquired]
[A hidden underground ruin lies 300 meters east. It contains a sealed chamber and dormant corpses.]
Kael went still.
Then—
He smiled.
"…You really are useful."
A hidden ruin.
Underground.
With corpses.
"That's not coincidence," he murmured.
"That's opportunity."
He turned without hesitation.
"Lead the way," he said, though there was no need.
The direction was already etched into his mind.
The forest thickened as he moved east.
Branches clawed at his clothes. Roots twisted beneath his feet.
But Kael didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
Minutes later—
He found it.
Half-buried beneath overgrown vines and collapsed stone, the entrance to the ruin was almost invisible.
Almost.
Kael crouched, brushing away dirt and debris.
Ancient carvings revealed themselves beneath his fingers—worn, faded, but still pulsing with faint traces of magic.
Old.
Very old.
"Interesting…"
He stepped inside.
Darkness swallowed him instantly.
But it didn't matter.
Behind him, the undead assassin followed.
And Kael… wasn't afraid of the dark anymore.
The air inside was cold and stale.
Each step echoed faintly through the narrow corridor.
Dust coated everything.
Undisturbed.
Forgotten.
"Perfect," Kael whispered.
The passage opened into a wider chamber.
Cracked pillars lined the walls. Broken statues lay scattered across the floor.
And in the center—
A sealed stone door.
Kael approached it slowly.
His gaze lingered on the symbols carved into its surface.
Not decorative.
Not random.
A lock.
"Step back," he said.
The undead obeyed instantly.
Kael placed his hand against the stone.
Cold.
Unmoving.
Then he pushed.
Nothing happened.
He frowned slightly.
"Not physical…"
His eyes narrowed.
Then—
He smirked.
"Of course."
He stepped back and gestured.
"Break it."
The undead assassin moved forward without hesitation.
Its movements were stiff—but powerful.
It raised its arm—
And struck.
Boom.
Cracks spread across the stone.
Again.
Boom.
The chamber trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
A third strike—
CRACK.
The seal shattered.
The stone door collapsed inward with a heavy crash.
Silence followed.
Kael stepped forward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Beyond the door—
A hidden chamber.
And inside—
Bodies.
Dozens of them.
Lying in rows.
Perfectly preserved.
Kael stopped.
For the first time since leaving the manor—
He looked genuinely surprised.
"…A burial chamber?"
But something felt off.
These weren't ordinary corpses.
No decay.
No damage.
As if time itself had avoided them.
Kael stepped closer.
Kneeling beside one.
A soldier.
Armor intact.
Weapon still in hand.
"Not buried," he murmured.
"Stored."
His eyes gleamed.
"Even better."
He stood.
Turned.
And looked over the entire chamber.
Dozens of potential soldiers.
Dozens of loyal undead.
An army.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Let's begin."
He raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered instantly, responding to his will.
The air grew heavier.
Colder.
"Rise."
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
One corpse twitched.
Another.
Then—
All at once—
The chamber erupted in movement.
Bodies convulsed.
Limbs jerked.
Eyes snapped open—empty, lifeless, obedient.
One by one—
They stood.
A silent army.
Waiting.
Watching.
Serving.
Notifications flooded Kael's mind.
[Undead Created: Soldier – Lv.1]
[Undead Created: Soldier – Lv.1]
[Undead Created: Soldier – Lv.1]
Over and over.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…This is just the beginning."
He turned toward the entrance.
Toward the distant manor.
Toward the world that thought he was dead.
"From now on," he said quietly, "this is my domain."
The undead stood behind him.
Dozens of them.
Silent.
Unquestioning.
And beneath the earth—
A kingdom had just been born.
[End of Chapter 5]