Chapter 326: The Dead
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 326: The Dead
It was an area-of-effect spell that targeted the entire continent. There was no way it didn’t have a penalty. It was easier to assume they had spent the entire time that hazy curtain was up preparing just this one spell. If I were to assume that the magic we just witnessed was a disposable, one-off spell, then this wouldn't even be a fight.
Giving up and running away would be the easiest path.
If a large-scale spell like that were converted into an attack spell and launched just a few times, we would be annihilated. The fact that no other spells were flying in suggested my guess was correct.
I couldn't know how much effort went into preparing that massive spell.
However, there were a few more things to consider.
First, the spell that targeted the entire continent was a necromancy spell, not an attack spell. Even for them, a continent-wide attack spell was likely impossible. If it were possible, they would have used it to overwhelm us from the start. They were smart; there was no need for them to bother turning our own territory against us first.
The necromancy spell was probably the only one they could cast on such a scale.
Second, it had bypassed our holy power. Although it was magic, it was formless, slipping past our protective barriers and holy defenses. If a lethal spell had been possible, they would have cast it first, without a doubt. They had already anticipated that their attacks would be blocked. The spell we just saw couldn't be described as simple black magic. It might even be one of their unique abilities.
The simple conclusion I could draw was that there were mages—or a mage—who operated outside the norm, and they were likely masters of this type of magic. Getting bitten by one of the undead here doesn't immediately turn you into one. This was a special method for increasing their numbers. What I had just witnessed with my own eyes was how they propagated their kind.
Even so, a spell of that scale was not something that could be easily cast, even with a long preparation time. That held true even if it was their specialty.
Considering that spell by the standards of our continent, it would require an astronomical number of sacrifices. They might have used living Chinese people as sacrifices, or perhaps they drew mana from their fellow undead. It didn't matter what items they used, how they extracted the mana from the sacrifices, or what kind of abilities they employed.
What mattered was that the spell had spread, and we had to stop it.
‘There won't be a second time.’
A spell of that magnitude could surely not be used twice.
They might not even be able to use magic for the next few days. Nothing was certain, but I had no other choice. This alliance, this war, was started to protect our own. Taking care of the settlement came first.
“Tae… Taesung! I… I’ll also…”
“Chieftain. I’ll go with you…”
“Denied. The Blood Dagger Clan will handle the risen dead inside the northern walls. While confronting them, focus on gathering as much related information as possible. If you determine there’s a problem with the clan, I’ll make sure you can return here.”
“O-Okay…”
“Seulgi, inform Han So-hye of this immediately. Organize and inform me of who will be dispatched to each city. When Choi Eunju returns after Sand Glave and I have left, they need to be ready to provide support to the cities at once…”
“Got it.”
Choi Seulgi nodded, and I immediately turned to my clan members.
“Orbo of the Shield will lead the vanguard. Orbo and the Goblin Three Sisters will move with the northern reserves. The enemy is the undead. Rather than aiming for their arms or torsos, completely incapacitate them before moving to the next location. It doesn't matter if you move slowly.”
“Hmph!”
“Gark and the elite Orc swordsmen will remain on standby here and reinforce any area that needs more strength. And Gark, inform Goff and Black Spear that I have headed to the Brother’s Land.”
“For Blood Dagger!”
“It’s a cliché, but it’s not the strong who survive. It’s those who survive that are strong. Do not die or get injured.”
The members of the Blood Dagger Clan nodded immediately. I grabbed hold of Choi Eunju and teleported to Sand Glave’s camp. Like the Big Ogre Clan, Sand Glave was positioned at the very front line of the wall, watching the undead approach.
The massive boulders thrown by the Ogres and the arrows fired by the Orcs embedded themselves in the bodies of the undead, certainly helping to hinder their advance. My prediction might have been right. Unlike their initial momentum, they seemed to be taking their time. No noticeable magic was being fired our way. Thanks to that, I could be more certain.
The first wave was just a numbers game.
What they really wanted wasn't a siege, but a guerrilla war that started from within. The ones we could see were likely just bait to exhaust our stamina. The real attack would come after we were worn down. Han So-hye seemed to know this as well, as she was still minimizing the use of her priests.
When Choi Eunju and I suddenly appeared, Sand Glave muttered.
“Is this because of that spell?”
“Correct. Assemble your elite warriors at once. We head for the Land of Glory.”
“.........................”
“The Great Tribe Leader has risen.”
“I’m not certain.”
As expected, he was quick on the uptake. But it wasn't yet certain whether the Great Tribe Leader had risen. However, if the Great Tribe Leader in the Land of Glory had indeed risen, the situation would become even more horrific. I didn't know what effect their necromancy spell had on us, but it was unlikely that the southern king who was in Goff’s stomach would suddenly be resurrected from hell. The same would apply to corpses in poor condition.
In fact, the intelligence gathered by Broken Bow and the northern informants indicated that the reanimated corpses had at least retained their basic forms.
If the risen dead could use their past strength, and if the resurrected Great Tribe Leader retained all his previous combat experience, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe.
He was the strongest Green Skin I had ever seen.
And that wasn't all. If, just if, those reborn as undead were reborn with upgraded specs, the situation would become even more complicated.
“You telling me to go to the Land of Glory… are you telling me to fight the Great Tribe Leader?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
He wouldn't be able to face him alone. If my worst-case scenario came to pass, I would also lend a hand in dealing with the Great Tribe Leader.
“What about the other regions?”
“The areas where the southwestern and northeastern wars took place are plains. I expect the greatest number of dead will rise there, but…”
“We’ll have to trust the Minotaurs of the plains. They should be able to hold out. No, they can do it.”
“The Green Goblins will also lend a hand. It’s also highly likely that reinforcements will be sent from the East. We are in the process of forming teams to check on each clan and city. You and I will head to the Brother’s Land and the Land of Glory, respectively, ahead of them.”
“Now.”
“Yes.”
No other answer was needed. Worried about the state of his own clan, he immediately assembled the officers who would head to his settlement and then looked at Choi Eunju. It would have been right to stop by the Land of Glory first, but honestly, the desire to check on my own settlement was stronger. Just as I was explaining the situation to Jang Ye Ri and requesting support for the eastern front, what came out of Choi Eunju’s mouth was, unexpectedly, “Double Casting.” I looked at her with surprise, and she spoke at once.
“I became able to do it recently, honey.”
“Thank you.”
I felt sorry for not having paid more attention to her, but time was of the essence. Sand Glave immediately threw himself into the portal Choi Eunju opened, and I, too, leaped toward the one leading to the Brother’s Land.
In an instant, the scenery changed, and various sights filled my vision.
“Don’t let the dead inside!”
“Shamans capable of flame sorcery, use your flames!”
“Break their limbs so they can’t move!”
“Show no mercy! Grant peace to the warriors who have risen again!”
Tents were burning; not a single one was intact. I had thought the city’s elites would hold them off, but it seemed they were struggling to fend off all the warriors who had died up to this point. In particular, the risen officers from the Goff and Black Spear Clans began to stand out.
‘Fuck.’
The corpses were in fairly good condition. They hadn't just been reanimated.
The one small comfort was that the demonic beast of the East wasn't moving. Since its bones and hide were scattered all over, it seems it wasn't considered suitable material.
The others looked surprised by my sudden appearance, but this was no time for leisurely greetings.
“For… For Blood Dagger!”
“Where is Hark?”
“He’s… He’s with the Goff Clan!”
Before he even finished speaking, I focused my mana into my eyes to locate Hark. The Blood Dagger Clan’s front line seemed relatively stable, so he was reinforcing the Goff Clan. Our line was being held by the elite Orc swordsmen. I immediately shot forward like a spring.
They were all warriors whose names I knew, warriors I had buried in my heart after they fell in battles big and small. It wasn't that I had never imagined them rising again to laugh and talk with me. But never like this.
The chilling voices of the undead echoed around me. Even in death, they were still strong. They had no twitching muscles or red eyes, but with their mouths shut tight, they were swinging their swords at their brothers.
As soon as they saw me, their eyes widened, and I saw it.
‘Fuck.’
They weren't speaking, but they were conscious. It seemed highly likely that they retained their former memories.
“Forgive me.”
I unleashed Levatain and began to cut them down indiscriminately. I swung continuously, not caring if I hit arms or legs, and they began to fall like mowed-down wheat. Of course, there were those who parried my blade. Elite Orc Swordsman was a glorious title that only the tribe's finest swordsmen could receive.
In a way, it was only natural that they could block my sword.
If they were alive, they would have considered it an honor to cross swords with me. Absurdly, that was still true now.
“Glory…”
“For…”
Incomprehensible voices escaped their lips. Wounds began to appear on my own body. They were shallow, but their swords were reaching me. These were warriors who had faced adversity with me. Their swords were heavy and sharp.
I looked at them, and they looked back at me.
They closed their eyes again, and I lowered my head toward them.
Just as a storm of complex emotions began to rise within me…
“It’s been a while.”
I immediately turned my head at the sound of that voice. It was a voice I could never forget. She was a Green Skin who had taught me so much, a woman who still remained in my heart.
“Ragia.”
She smiled at the sound of my voice.