Schwick! Heads Roll

Schwick! The sword swung with full force severed the neck of the unconscious Delly. This time, it cleanly separated head from body, and the severed head rolled across the ground.

He'd leveled up three times at once. Part of it was probably from indirectly gaining EXP while commanding the undead, but taking down a strong foe like Delly was the biggest factor.

His current level was 44. Yoahim grinned in satisfaction and was about to allocate his stats as usual when another alert popped up.

What the hell does 'the aura of death emanating from my body grows stronger' even mean? Was it saying he was about to die or something? It mentioned getting closer to death, but it didn't seem negative. Still, it left a bad taste in his mouth.

Yoahim opened his status window to check the Aura of Death stat, but he had no idea what it meant. Maybe it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was nothing to worry about, contrary to his fears.

For now, I'll let it slide... 'Too many undead for my Necromancy level?'

Undead were fundamentally the summoner's property, but command rights could be transferred. That's how someone like Delly, who wasn't a necromancer, could lead an undead unit.

The number one could command at once depended on personal ability. Demonkin like Delly or those with Necromancy skills like Yoahim could handle more. But commanding beyond one's capacity caused issues, apparently.

My Necromancy is level 4. Can't handle a thousand at this level, huh.

Skeletons alone? A thousand would be fine. But with mid-tier undead like zombies and ghouls mixed in, it strained his command limit.

Then just split the forces and delegate command rights.

If one person commanding too many was the problem, splitting them up solved it. Of course, you needed people capable of commanding undead.

And conveniently, there were the dark elves Leon and Sasha here.

Unlike fairies created by Raello, dark elves created by Kakali had the same aptitude for necromancy as demons.

Leon and Sasha might not have genius-level talent to become full necromancers, but handing each a hundred should be manageable.

Yoahim turned toward Leon and Sasha, who were awaiting orders, and suddenly noticed something.

Both leveled up.

Leon was 53, Sasha 52. Each up one level.

This was hugely important.

Haellagos never leveled up no matter how much he fought or accumulated EXP. He'd already reached his peak at 150. That was his hard cap.

Genia Saga's max was 200, but not everyone could reach it. Everyone's cap was different.

Haellagos capped at 150, Bellrallion at 200. Everyone's potential varied.

Them leveling means they haven't hit their caps. No idea how much further they can go, but stronger is better for me.

Leon and Sasha were Yoahim's most trusted allies.

His ultimate goal was freeing Kakali's seal. To learn why he was trapped in the game and how to return home, he desperately needed her help. Gods might hold answers, regardless of her involvement here.

Forces opposing Kakali's unsealing? Plenty. To fight them, I need Leon and Sasha.

Raello's followers wouldn't let Kakali's apostle roam free. Holy knights and the full might of the Veina Kingdom would block him. Alone? Impossible.

With Leon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Sasha? Odds improved.

"Leon, Sasha."

"Apostle, just say the word and we'll kill 'em all."

"Do you have orders for us, Apostle?"

Yoahim moved some skeleton warriors and archers to the left and right flanks, then nodded at them.

"I'm delegating part of the forces to you. Disposable troops, so no pressure."

He delegated 97 skeleton warriors and 88 archers to each. He'd thought over a hundred each, but slightly less.

Including delegated... let's calculate.

Yoahim counted on his fingers, then grabbed a stick and scratched numbers in the dirt. Basic arithmetic—done quick.

Total 874. Not bad.

Not bad? Huge gain. Forces increased, not lost.

Yoahim clenched his fist with a quiet "Yes!"

At this rate, punching through to Levia Castle wouldn't be hard.

"Hiiiing."

"Huh?"

A sudden neigh made him turn. A black horse stared at him. Familiar—it was the one he'd been riding.

He'd assumed it died after falling amid the undead attack, but it was fine.

Yoahim stroked its neck as it approached, chuckling wryly.

"Lucky bastard."

The horse survived because undead prioritized him and his subordinates. It fled fast, hid safe, and snuck back now.

"Smart one, Apostle."

Yoahim nodded at Leon.

"Yeah. Too good to turn into a phantom steed."

Mention of phantom steed made it snort irritably, like "Don't you dare."

Damn, it really is smart. Yoahim laughed, stroking its neck again.

He mounted up via stirrup, then addressed Leon and Sasha.

"Straight to the next village. They won't expect the fight's over already. Hit 'em fast before they prepare."

Besides Elga Village, three more to take. Clear path for Haellagoria's main force to Levia Castle.

Elga fell quicker than expected, forces grew—next village wouldn't respond in time.

Easy win? Take it. No need for hard roads.

Yoahim spurred his horse; Leon and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sasha mounted quick and followed.

"To Bilder Village!"

The massively swelled undead horde marched behind their commanders. Wind and stomping kicked up dust clouds; black silhouettes flickered ghostly within.

Marching corpses spread ominous aura, reeking of death. Even shrouded in dust, everyone sensed them.

First to react: patrolling undead scouts.

Spotting the onrushing foe, they recalled orders: kill intruders.

Simple command—even brainless skeletons could follow. Flawlessly.

That was the problem.

Turning back to alert the commander might've changed things.

But skeletons obeyed only given orders. Kill enemies? They charged.

Enemy numbers? Strength? Not their concern.

Blame fell on the commander.

"What the hell is that?"

Zarad, Bilder Village commander like Delly a demonkin, narrowed his eyes at the massive dust cloud. Silhouettes flickered—numerous, but unclear.

Delly back?

Why think that? Simple: fight couldn't be over yet. Even if Delly lost, they'd taken hits too. Only explanation for this many troops: Delly returned.

Perfect logic, he thought.

What'd Delly leave? Booze maybe.

Idiotic thoughts piled, then unease hit—like wrong puzzle piece.

"Huh?"

Harsh hoofbeats pierced the dust. Eyes widened.

"That..."

Gale winds parted the cloud. Enemies flooded his view.

"Enemy attack! Enemy raid! Fuck, what the hell did Delly do to let them through already?!"

Impossible. Should still be fighting. Travel time from Elga? No way they'd arrive yet.

Unless Delly got wrecked from the start.

"Block them! Protect me! All of you, guard me!"

Zarad bellowed uselessly. Overwhelming numbers crushed most subordinates; enemies closed in.

Hoofbeats thundered.

"Gaaack!"

Sky spun. World spun. Head over heels.

No... my head's spinning...

"Fuck... this make any sense...?"

Thud.

Zarad's head hit the dirt.

Yoahim reined in, grinning.

"Now it does. Why wouldn't it?"

His forces seized Bilder Village in a flash. Barely a fight—total rout. A pathetic victory.