Chapter 15: The Meeting
Inside the valley, dead silence reigned.
Two thousand skeletons covered every inch of the clearing, forming a silent sea of white.
On more than half of these frames, the energy luster unique to Tier 2 Undead flowed, and the Soul Fire in their eye sockets was solid and stable.
This force was enough to wipe any small kingdom off the map.
Kaito sat on the massive tree-stump throne, one bony leg crossed over the other.
His consciousness sank into the soul network, feeling the torrent of spirit formed by the convergence of two thousand streams of absolute loyalty.
An unprecedented sense of control made his Soul Fire grow a size larger.
It was time.
This makeshift troupe needed real order.
Kaito's will pierced through the soul link, projecting precisely into the depths of every unit's Soul Fire.
His will was clear, allowing no doubt.
"Listen up. First item: Forms of Address."
Kaito adjusted his sitting posture.
"From now on, address me uniformly as Lord or My Lord."
The term "Undead Ruler" was too ostentatious. It sounded like "Final Boss" carved on his forehead, just waiting for people to form raid parties to farm him.
In an instant, the Soul Fire of the six Generals fluctuated violently.
The Ruler is laying the cornerstone for this newborn nation!
"Lord"—what a simple, unadorned term, yet it implies absolute ownership!
What confidence and majesty this is!
What an honor it is for creations like them, who were bestowed True Names, to address him as "My Lord"!
"Second item: Regarding those living humans."
Kaito's will became serious.
"Without my order, any unit is forbidden from harming them. They are different from you."
"If their heads fall off, they truly die. If your bones shatter, you can piece yourselves back together. If your Soul Fire goes out, you can stand up again."
"They are one-time consumables. I want them alive because I need the knowledge about this world in their brains. Do you understand?"
"Your command is our will!"
The Soul Fire of two thousand skeletons flickered in sync, and a uniform response echoed in the soul network.
This feeling of absolute obedience made Kaito's bony frame feel much more comfortable.
"Very good. Third item: From today onwards, our territory is officially named—Evernight Territory!"
Evernight.
The kingdom of the dead, and a symbol of eternity.
"Now, I announce: Evernight Territory shall hold its Second Award Ceremony!"
Kaito's will exploded like thunder in the consciousness of all skeletons.
He stood up from his throne, his pale bony finger pointing forward.
"Pride!"
The Tier 3 Berserker, Skele-Pride, stepped forward.
The violent aura radiating from him made the Soul Fire of the surrounding lower-tier Skeleton Soldiers flicker unsteadily.
He knelt on one knee, lowering his skull, displaying a humility in stark contrast to his title.
"I appoint you as the General of Punishment of Evernight Territory! You shall command the Punishment Legion, with jurisdiction over two hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Swordsmen!"
"I dedicate everything to My Lord!"
Pride's soul roared.
The moment Kaito's voice fell, two hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers wielding bone swords with the sharpest bones automatically stepped out.
They walked behind Pride, forming a phalanx radiating killing intent.
"Wrath!"
The Skeleton Knight urged his skeletal warhorse to the front.
The iron hooves of the warhorse struck the ground, and the Soul Fire it breathed scorched the earth beneath it black.
"I appoint you as the General of the Fearless Vanguard of Evernight Territory! You shall command two hundred Skeleton Cavalry!"
"Obeying your will, My Lord!"
Two hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Cavalry riding skeletal warhorses gathered behind Wrath, forming a torrent capable of trampling everything.
"Lust!"
The Skeleton Mage walked out.
"I appoint you as the General of the Arcane Legion of Evernight Territory! I grant you three hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers. Additionally, the newly incorporated Tier 3 Mage shall be your adjutant!"
"Your light of wisdom shall illuminate the Evernight."
Lust bowed with a hand over his chest.
Three hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers with the most symmetrical bones and active mental power stepped out, curiously sizing up their new commander.
"Gluttony!"
Like a moving mountain of bone, Skele-Gluttony took a step forward, and the earth trembled.
"I appoint you as the General of the Aegis Legion of Evernight Territory! You shall command three hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers!"
"Yes!"
Gluttony responded with a muffled voice.
Three hundred Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers with the thickest bones and sturdiest structures walked with heavy steps to stand behind Gluttony, forming an insurmountable bone wall.
"Envy!"
The Tier 3 Toxic Archer appeared silently at the front of the queue like a shadow.
"I appoint you as the General of the Silent Extinction Legion of Evernight Territory! You shall command one hundred and fifty Tier 2 Skeleton Archers!"
"Everything lies within your gaze."
Envy's voice was like a whisper, yet it rang clearly in the soul network.
One hundred and fifty Tier 2 Skeleton Archers gathered behind him, the Soul Fire in their eyes carrying the calmness and focus of hunters.
Finally, Kaito's gaze fell on the most introverted one, Greed.
"Greed!"
The Ghoul, Skele-Greed, walked out.
"I appoint you as the Secretary of State of Evernight Territory! You shall command the State Affairs Legion, with jurisdiction over fifty Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers and eight hundred Tier 1 Skeleton Soldiers!"
This appointment caused violent fluctuations in the Soul Fire of the other five Generals.
Eight hundred and fifty units!
The quantity was the largest among all legions!
And... Secretary of State? This was a brand new position, completely different from theirs!
Kaito ignored their surprise and continued ordering.
"The fifty Tier 2 Skeleton Soldiers belonging to the State Affairs Legion shall, effective immediately, serve as Territory Safety Officers!"
"Responsible for supervising the standards, safety, and progress of all infrastructure projects!"
He also pointed out a dozen Skeleton Soldiers who had performed outstandingly in previous battles and construction.
"The above units are promoted to Centurions under their respective legions, responsible for specific execution of orders!"
With a few simple sentences, a rudimentary command hierarchy was established.
"Additionally, the State Affairs Legion shall immediately draft two hundred Tier 1 Skeletons."
"Head to the human area and learn farming techniques! Specific personnel allocation shall be managed by Greed personally!"
Greed lowered his head deeply.
"The Lord's will shall be executed with the highest efficiency."
He glanced in the direction of the humans who were fenced in and scared pale.
His mind began rapidly planning the allocation of personnel, land, and tools.
Kaito scanned the six major legions taking shape before him, as well as the dozen newly appointed Centurions, and nodded with satisfaction.
Finally, he issued a command that surprised all the Generals.
"Last item! All Centurions and units above, including the six Generals."
"Every day, you must set aside a fixed time to go to the human camp and learn the language, writing, and all common knowledge of this world."
"Dismissed!"
After speaking, Kaito turned and walked back to his Imperial Palace, leaving behind a group of subordinates with violently fluctuating Soul Fire.
After Kaito left, the silence of the valley was broken.
Under the leadership of their respective Centurions, the massive skeleton legions began to reorganize and drill according to the new establishment.
However, the six Generals remained where they were, conducting a silent exchange through the soul link.
The first to speak was Wrath, his Soul Fire burning like molten lava.
"Learn? Learn from those fragile creatures that break with a pinch?"
"Although the Lord's command is absolute, I cannot comprehend it!"
Envy's Soul Fire flickered with ghostly blue light.
"Wrath, put away your meager thinking ability."
"Do you think the Lord needs that so-called 'common knowledge'? No, this is a trial."
"It is for us to personally analyze the fragile structure of life."
"To understand their fears, their weaknesses, the limit of movement of every joint. This is for more efficient hunting."
In Lust's purple Soul Fire, a hint of playfulness emerged.
"Analyze? No, Envy, your vision is still too small."
"This is not mere hunting. The Lord is teaching us how to toy with their souls."
"Language is the carrier of thought; writing is the cornerstone of civilization."
"By mastering these, we can dominate them from the source."
"Making them willingly become the cornerstones of Evernight Territory is far more brilliant than ruling by simple fear."
Gluttony's muffled voice sounded.
"Learning how to make them grow fatter? That way, the hotbed of flesh and blood can birth more kin."
Pride's intent was filled with fanaticism and arrogance.
"You all only see the surface! How could the Lord's profound meaning be so simple!"
"He wants us to learn so we can look down upon them!"
"To witness with our own eyes how foolish and insignificant those self-proclaimed noble lives are!"
"In the face of absolute power, their so-called civilization and common sense are nothing but jokes!"
"This is to consolidate our faith, to make us understand that following the Lord is the only truth!"
The exchange among the five Generals was full of their own paranoia and understanding, but eventually, their consciousnesses all turned to the silent Greed.
Among them, Greed was given the largest army and the most brain-intensive internal affairs power. His thoughts were crucial.
Greed looked at the bustling construction site, then turned his gaze to the planned farmland.
"You are... all wrong."
Greed's thought transmission caused the Soul Fire of the other five Generals to stagnate in unison.
"Combat, slaughter, domination... these are all just means, not the end."
"What the Lord needs is an Empire capable of self-circulation, self-development, and infinite expansion! Not just a legion!"
"Infrastructure is for survival. Agriculture is for energy conversion. And learning is for replication!"
"Replicate their technology. Understand their social structure."
"Then, build a brand new civilization belonging to us undead, with efficiency ten thousand times higher than theirs!"
"This is the Lord's true ambition!"
"Each of us—Punishment, Vanguard, Arcane, Defense, Sniper—we are just screws in this massive imperial machine."
"And I, State Affairs, am responsible for driving the operation of this machine."
"The Lord ordered us to learn, not to look down, nor to toy."
"But to—Surpass!"
Greed's thoughts washed over the souls of the other five Generals like a flood.
In an instant, they all understood.
So, this is the Supreme Ruler's true thought!
Their Lord, their Creator, was never satisfied with just a small forest from the very beginning.
His gaze had long been cast upon the entire world!
"The Lord's wisdom... is as deep as the abyss!"
"We are... dull!"
"We swear to follow the Lord to death! For the rise of Evernight Territory, we dedicate everything!"
Six powerful and fanatical wills intertwined, transforming into an even more steadfast loyalty that surged toward the crooked wooden cabin.
At this moment, Kaito was lying in the coffin-shaped wooden bed he had built, crossing his legs, pondering a very serious question.
"Tomorrow, should I make them learn how to plant potatoes first, or corn first?"