Plague Graveyard
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Serea's face twisted in pain, as if she was enduring something agonizing. The pain brought her somewhat back to her senses.
However, seeing the changes in Serea, Celia furrowed her brows tightly.
Serea's golden hair gradually turned gray, and her eyes changed from their original bloody hue to a strange demonic red. This was a temporary mutation caused by the massive influx of death energy into her body.
System: Acquired Death Crystal *758
Now, with the infusion of death energy, much of the fatigue and weakness in Serea's body faded. But it was equivalent to a tired person drinking coffee and then soda: the weariness did not completely subside—she was just using another force to persevere.
"System, what should I do next?"
System: The 'Plague Graveyard' can resurrect high-quality 'Skeleton Warriors' and 'Skeletons'. The 'Death Altar' has two construction branches: 'Undead' and 'Destruction'. The 'Destruction' branch of the 'Plague Graveyard' can control and revive fewer undead, but it can meet the host's current needs.
"You mean, building 'Plague Graveyard: Destruction' allows me to resurrect Vina?"
System: Please refer to the detailed information yourself.
Opening the construction blueprint for the 'Plague Graveyard,' Serea noticed that, unlike the single-scheme Blood Well, there were two construction options: 'Plague Graveyard: Undead' and 'Plague Graveyard: Destruction.'
The requirements for both are generally similar, but Serea fixed her gaze on Plague Graveyard: Destruction...
Plague Graveyard: Destruction: Unlocks for fifty Death Crystals. Requires the prototype building 'Graveyard' (occupying 200 square meters).
"You need a 'Graveyard' to unlock it?"
System: The requirements for building a Graveyard are extremely simple; you just need 20 corpses buried within the required area.
"..."
At this, Serea pondered where she could find corpses, but then a sudden idea struck her.
"System, isn't Addis's tomb a graveyard?"
System: Yes.
"Then unlock the 'Plague Graveyard: Destruction' building here!"
System: Unlocking...
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Fifty Death Crystals shot forth. Unlike the Blood Well, which was constructed through summoning, the Plague Graveyard required a tremendous amount of death energy for activation, thus consuming more materials.
As the Death Crystals were released, they immediately transformed into a thick gray mist, seeping underground. Under the influence of this death energy, the altar beneath Serea underwent a fundamental change.
Building: Plague Graveyard: Destruction (Blue)
Level: 15
Sturdiness: D
Durability: D
Magic: B
Description: The initial building of the Undead tribe, symbolizing destruction. It can use special troop blueprints to create powerful undead, and also serves as a resting place for them. It can be upgraded to a Level 2 building, the 'Undead Altar.'
Seeing the thick death energy floating above the altar, Lola was stunned.
"My queen..."
But as soon as the Plague Graveyard: Destruction was completed, the undead below, who had been dormant, sprang to life once more.
Click, click, click!
One by one, skeletons stood up, the empty soul fire in their eye sockets fixed on the altar, and then they began to march towards it.
"The undead are revived?"
Seeing this, maro at the altar's entrance reached for his sword, but just then, Serea received a system notification.
System: Skeleton Swordsman has entered Plague Graveyard: Destruction (1/20)
System: Skeleton Archer has entered Plague Graveyard: Destruction (2/20)
System: ...
The skeletons who were ahead were soon overtaken by powerful Skeleton Warriors, who stood atop the Plague Graveyard: Destruction, then knelt down before Serea.
"!!!"
In that instant, Serea felt that, through Plague Graveyard: Destruction, she could control these undead—just as she controlled Little Black and the others.
However, unlike her undead subordinates that generated Death Crystals for her, these undead would instead consume her Death Crystals.
System: Insufficient death energy for Plague Graveyard: Destruction. Please supply Death Crystals.
Hearing the system's prompt, Serea thought...
As expected, although the Plague Graveyard allowed her to control more undead, she had to pay a price—spending Death Crystals to maintain its operation.
System: For every undead controlled by Plague Graveyard: Destruction, 1 Death Crystal is consumed every 24 hours. When the undead are dormant, consumption is halved.
Even if all 20 slots were filled, only 20 Death Crystals would be needed daily, and during peacetime, letting the Skeleton Warriors sleep would halve this cost.
By this calculation, the Death Crystals generated by her undead subordinates could fully offset this expense—making the maintenance fee acceptable. The benefits, however, were...
6 Skeleton Cavalry (with skeletal horses), 14 Skeleton Warriors (all special individuals).
The undead troops left by Addis were now loyal to her!
When the Plague Graveyard: Destruction reached its control capacity (20/20), the other skeletons who hadn't entered stopped, returning to their dormant state.
Former enemies, after Addis's death, chose to join Serea's forces, gathering beneath the altar and awaiting the queen's orders.
"T-The Necromancer's netherworld undead actually pledged loyalty!"
At this astonishing sight, maro looked at Serea—surrounded by Skeleton Warriors. He knew she could command undead from the netherworld, but never imagined so many former enemies would swear allegiance to her...
Noticing this, Serea examined another ability of Plague Graveyard: Destruction: Undead Conversion!
System: The 'Plague Graveyard: Undead' can convert corpses into Skeletons or Skeleton Warriors, while 'Plague Graveyard: Destruction' can convert Skeleton Warriors into 'special units' (Skeleton Lancers, Skeleton Swordsmen, etc.).
Listening to the system's explanation, Serea gained a general understanding.
The Undead branch, as the name implied, focused on sheer numbers and development; the Destruction branch on cultivating powerful individual undead and special units.
Realizing this, Serea took out a gemstone.
It was the gem set into the bone ring, whose true function was...
Addis's Bloodthirsty Banshee (Gold, blueprint): Use via 'Plague Graveyard: Destruction' to convert a corpse (female only) into a Bloodthirsty Banshee (Bronze Elite+).
System: 'Bloodthirsty Banshee' is classified as an undead, but will retain memories and most abilities from life after resurrection. Converting Vina into a 'Bloodthirsty Banshee' would effectively revive her.
"Turn Vina into an undead! In that case..."
Serea looked at Vina, already on the brink of death on the ground. Clenching her fist, she knew this was the only way...
Use the blueprint!
The gemstone transformed into a red light, merging into Serea's body. The red light then flowed into the Death Altar, and 'Plague Graveyard: Destruction' now offered an additional option in its building management menu, aside from evolving Skeleton Warriors.
Convert to 'Bloodthirsty Banshee'!
"Vina..."
System: Alert—Vina's vital signs are still present. Please proceed with the conversion ritual as soon as possible.
"System, I will become the dark sovereign, right?"
System: Yes.
"Then will I be able to resurrect others?"
System: The Soul Altar will fulfill your wish.
"Good!"
Saying this, Serea scooped Vina up and walked out of the Skeleton Warriors' protective circle.
"My queen, Vina—"
"Leave her to me. I promise I'll bring her back!"
With that, Serea placed Vina onto the stone platform of the altar, the very spot where Addis's body once slumbered. For now, Serea needed to borrow it.
(To be continued...)