Rise of the Supreme Necromancer-Chapter 62: Ghost Blade

"Arstaaaain..." the ghost howled from the wall. Aleric shut him up.

On closer inspection of the sword, Aleric could feel that it wasn’t empty of magic—some Dark energy found its way there. It wasn’t a spell, but the item certainly was what non-mages would call "cursed". Aleric guessed that strikes with it would release Dark energy into targets, hurting them.

Almost like his own enchantments, except weaker and probably not one-use.

There were a lot of singed marks on the metal’s surface, and the steel there felt brittle. But overall, the blade was still solid and sharp.

"It’s incredible, master! Such unorthodox and inventive use of a Raise Undead Servant spell—even... Oh, even great Xarvain never thought to do something like this! I would know—I have all his necromantic knowledge!" Spine Staff gushed.

Inside the circle, Aleric’s new undead servant slowly rose to his feet. Aleric looked at him.

"New servant... Did you cut your throat too deep to talk?"

"What?..."

Aleric raised his brows.

"I guess not. I also guess that you forgot your death. That’s alright, most souls do. This is the first thing they forget."

"Uh... Death? Yes, I feel dead..."

"Do you remember your name, at least?"

"N-no..."

Aleric huffed.

"Must be because of all the torture. Happens just too often... Oh, well. Guards, take the newbie to the rest of them. He should report to Samuel. One hand will be enough to hold a sword, and the other... He can tie a shield to it, I don’t care."

"Yes, Master Fenn. Newbie, come with us!"

After the new undead servant left, Aleric put the sword in an already-drawn heptagram.

"Now, Spine Spine staff, you will help me bind the ghost to this thing. It should fit, right?"

"Absolutely, master! The binding is already mostly done—you only need to move it."

***

The process was as simple as the staff promised. Half an hour later, the ghost was floating in front of Aleric, attached to the sword in his hand by an invisible tendril of Dark magic.

The sword itself was now holding even more Dark magic than before. Because of its connection with the ghost, its strikes would be just as deadly as being hit by a Pain-enchanted weapon. Although Aleric doubted they would actually raise any undead.

He put the sword on the table. A moment later, the ghost was sucked into the sword by the leash on it.

"Another amazing work from you, master," Spine Staff praised. "Any owner of the sword will be able to control the ghost just like you were controlling it before, but easier. If the ghost is harmed, it will be able to return to the sword, and possibly even recover over time, especially if the sword’s owner gathers Dark energy by killing people with it."

Aleric nodded, then hummed thoughtfully.

"Spine Staff, do you think this sword will fit more souls? It was quite a powerful artifact, after all."

"More souls... Oh, it’s possible, master! But only nascent ghosts can be bound to items so easily. Relatively easily, of course. You will need to find or make them."

A smile appeared on Aleric’s lips.

"This is something to look forward to. But for now, this sword needs a sheath, a good cleaning... And a name."

Another half an hour later, the Ghost Blade was hanging from the sheath on Aleric’s belt. Like that, Aleric could control the ghost and also use the sword itself for self-defense.

’I’d give it to Samuel, but he already has a good one... And I don’t have other warriors worthy of it,’ Aleric thought. ’That’s alright. Now I can at last focus on other elite soldiers...’

His ghost was bound and wasn’t moaning over Aleric’s shoulder anymore. Aleric’s mana reserve was also large enough.

He would find, take, or buy whatever living horses were left in Oakdale and raise them as his undead servants. By the end of the month, before the king had time to fully prepare, Aleric would have proper cavalry and proper archers.

Then, Aleric would attack other parts of Aleshat, so he could grow his forces even more!

***

Several days later.

A traveler in a torn cloak was going down the road toward Oakdale.

In the past day, he met dozens of people who were traveling in the opposite direction, fleeing the county with carts that carried all their livelihoods and families. These people stared at the traveler in confusion and worry. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

But eventually, the road grew empty. Then, the city itself became visible in the distance, and eventually, the traveler saw the undead guards at the gates.

Those were the zombies who had scared away countless peasants before, but the traveler looked at them only with curiosity as he passed. They didn’t stop him.

Inside, there were even more wonders for him. Countless undead were walking on various tasks alongside living people. But while the undead walked with confidence, the living people held their heads low and never smiled.

Soon, the traveler approached the open ground around the castle. There, he saw a scene that made his mouth go wide with wonder.

A sea of undead was standing in front of him. Countless skeletons with bleached bones stood in neat rows, led by zombie sergeants, lieutenants, and captains. Carts with supplies moved out of the castle alongside more soldiers. The entirety of free space around the castle’s walls was taken by the undead.

At the side, several dozen horsemen in black, carrying spears and shields, were waiting in silence and not even breathing.

This was an undead army preparing for a march!

At this moment, two more people rode from the castle: one was covered in steel armor from head to toe, while the other wore a black cloak and carried a staff made from skull and bones.

Other undead parted in front of them as they moved to the front of the army.

When the traveller looked at these people, he immediately knew that he found the right place. Abandoning all caution, the traveller ran past all the undead toward the riders and fell to his knees in front of them.

"Please! Please, grant me an audience, Lord Necromancer!"