Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

[World Channel 69699 (10,000 users)]

"Cain is selling flint! Can you believe it?"

"Yeah, but who can afford it?"

"10,000 basic resources? I'd rather buy cooked meat and save for a kitchen."

"Smart move. Cooked meat is much more cost-effective."

"Still, some people are buying the flint."

"There's always a few whales, right? And don't forget that Maid Factory scam. Dude's castle is Level 11 now, all from ripping people off."

"Wow. Just wow."

"Guys, check the Free Market! Alex listed a ton of stuff!"

"Big deal. She's rolling in resources."

"Look at *what* she's selling!"

"…."

"Wheat? Rice? I thought Eldoria was a steak-and-potatoes kind of world."

"Corn, mint, sunflowers! Mountains of it!"

"What did she do? Raid a farm?"

"More like wiped out an entire village."

"No way she got that much from monsters."

"Someone counted 27 different resources, from 20,000 to 300,000 units each! That's not monster loot. That's a village raid."

"I have a native village near me, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole, even with my King-rank units! What kind of army does she have? And isn't she worried about losing units?"

"Maybe her units… don't die?"

"Hello! Healing Herbs! She's selling Healing Herbs!"

"70 HP! That's insane!"

"Why is she selling them? I'd keep every single one!"

"Either she has something better, or… her units are immortal…"

"If her units are immortal, we might as well all just log out now. Game over, man. Game over."

"She took a mine on Day Two, a village on Day Three… what's next? Conquering the world on Day Four? I haven't even unlocked a freaking kitchen yet!"

"If Alex declares herself Empress, someone let me know. I'm joining her court."

"You know what that entails, right? *Snip snip.*"

"I'm not applying to be a eunuch! I'm aiming for Empress Consort!"

"Sure, Jan. Pics or it didn't happen."

"Can't send pics. Too low level. And once Alex is Empress, those pics are for her eyes only."

"Concubines spend a lot of time on their knees, you know."

"Oh, honey, you have *no* idea what Alex likes."

"Whoa there! This chat is getting NSFW! I'm gonna need to see some ID."

"I'll let anyone drive me if they conquer a country. You in?"

"Nah, I'm good. Beastgirls are enough for me."

"Guys, the Healing Herbs are gone!"

"What?!"

The Healing Herbs had indeed vanished from the Free Market.

Alex had received over 100,000 Magic Crystals. More than she'd made from the sabers!

*Raiding is definitely the way to go,* she thought, her eyes gleaming with avarice.

More good news: Arthur had reached Level 10!

* John: Level 9.

* Baxter: Level 6.

* Zombie Titan: Level 6.

* Liches: Level 7.

Arthur's hunting spree had cleared out the nearby Elite monsters. Only one threat remained: the Grey Wolves to the northwest. Their Alpha, a Level 43 Elite, was too strong.

[Grey Wolf]

…

Even with the Dragon Sparrow Saber, Arthur's 83 Strength couldn't break through the Alpha's 86 Endurance. But at Level 11, Arthur's Strength would be 89.

"Level 11, and those wolves are mine!" She wouldn't tolerate such a threat so close to her castle.

But the wolves also felt threatened. They'd watched Alex's army grow exponentially. They decided to strike first.

"Awooo!" The Alpha rallied his pack. 300 to 500 wolves! A massive pack. Most packs were only 20 or 30 strong. This Alpha was clearly a force to be reckoned with.

The wolves marched towards Alex's castle. A preemptive strike. Even wolves understood basic military strategy.

Alex, alerted by her castle's surveillance, summoned her forces. A battle was imminent.

"Awooo!" The Alpha howled at Alex from a distance.

Alex was confused. *Was he trying to negotiate?*

Arthur and the other undead roared in response.

*Oh, he's definitely not negotiating,* Alex realized. *He's insulting me.*

"Arthur, wipe them out!"

"Yes, Master!"

"Fireball!" Arthur unleashed his new Level 10 skill.

[Fireball]: Launches an exploding fireball, dealing massive damage.

"Wind Blade!" The Alpha countered with his own ranged attack.

*Boom!* The fireball and wind blade collided in a fiery explosion, leaving a crater in the ground.

"Fireball!"

"Dragon Flame!"

"Dragon Flame!"

The three Skeleton Dragons unleashed their ranged attacks.

"Wind Blade!"

"Wind Blade!"

"Wind Blade!"

"…."

The wolves responded with a barrage of wind blades. They had the numbers advantage. Too many wind blades for the dragons to intercept.

"Bone Hardening!" Mike, the Level 20 Elite, and his squad braced themselves, their bones gleaming with a metallic sheen.

*Clang!* They intercepted the stray wind blades, their hardened bones deflecting the attacks. Arthur was blocking most of the attacks, but the sheer volume was overwhelming.

"Fireball!" Arthur launched another fireball. His explosive attacks were effective against the wolves' cutting wind blades, often detonating multiple wind blades at once.

But Alex was still outnumbered, especially in high-level units. Besides the Alpha, there were two other wolves above Level 40. The odds were stacked against her.

"My only chance is to exploit their mortality," she thought. "Wear down their strongest units, then summon them as skeletons." It was her only hope of victory.

"Arthur!" Alex called out. "Don't engage them head-on! Use your air advantage! Pick them off one by one!"

"As you command, my Queen!" Arthur replied, dodging another volley of wind blades with a well-placed Fireball. He, John, and Baxter took to the skies, Baxter carefully carrying Alex.

With Alex safely airborne, the other undead were unleashed. The Zombie Titan, the Liches, and Mike the Elite skeleton scattered, engaging the wolves in guerilla warfare. Undead didn't fear death or injury. Hit-and-run tactics were perfect for them. Every wolf they killed would become another soldier in Alex's army.

"Fireball!" Arthur searched for weaker targets, but the Alpha Wolf was always watching, intercepting his fireballs with wind blades. The Level 43 Elite was a tough nut to crack.

"Dragon Flame!" John tried to find an opening, but the other two Level 40+ wolves kept him busy.

"Wind Blade!" A wind blade sliced through John's Dragon Flame. No luck there either.

Baxter, carrying Alex, stayed out of the fight, prioritizing her safety.

"Blood Frenzy!" The Zombie Titan saw his chance. The wolves' top brass were focused on the dragons, the biggest threats. He lumbered towards a Level 25 Elite wolf. Initially, he was outmatched. His Level 6 stats were no match for the wolf's Level 25 stats. But he was immortal.

He could take the punishment.

As the wolf gained the upper hand, the other wolves moved on to different targets, leaving the Titan in a one-on-one fight.