Necromancer's Otherworld Directory

As I emerged from the wasteland surrounding the undead town, I stepped into the Forest of Eternal Twilight, the forest that surrounds the core part of the Crimson domain as a natural barrier. The trees, twisted and gnarled, seemed to writhe in the flickering darkness. Their trunks, thick and robust, absorbed the death energy, their bark shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The air grew colder, and the eerie silence was punctuated only by the distant whispers of unseen creatures.

I reached out a hand, my skeletal fingers tracing the intricate patterns etched into the bark. How did they survive? What ancient, forgotten magic allowed them to flourish in this desolate landscape? I felt a spark of curiosity ignite within me, a flame that burned brighter with every passing moment. I guess I've inherited the curiosity of mages after 20 years of being in this world. Druids would have been fascinated by these trees, as they might provide a solution to the problem of trees not growing in the ancient battlefields during the Age of Races War. The cursed negative energy in these battlefields, mixed with various other energies, makes it impossible for plants to grow. Though impure death energy doesn't occupy more than 10%, these trees serve as a reference for how a forest can form and thrive in a supposedly inhospitable environment. This could make them the enemies of most nations, as the battlefields produce special resources, but when has that ever stopped the druids from perfecting the nature imagined in their minds?

These trees were a marvel, a testament to the mysteries hidden beneath the surface of this twisted realm. As I delved deeper into the forest, I caught glimpses of level 3 undead creatures, their power and intelligence evident in their deliberate movements. The forest floor was strangely clean, devoid of leaves. Norris observed that because of the ambient death energy, leaves not attached to their mother plants withered quickly and turned to ashes. The mana in the forest smelled like decay and twisted vitality.

I observed level 3 undead entities, sublimated beings that ignored me as they went about their own business. Due to their long lives, the undead were very indifferent and not in a hurry to make friends. They were wary of me, only observing from a distance. They tended to their nightmare horses, a breed of intelligent, level 3 undead creatures that served as their partners. Their partnership was forged through a shared power level, recognizing each other as equals.

The forest, a complex ecosystem, comprised skeletal creatures, nightmares, and other undead beasts that roamed freely, driven by primal instincts. The forest was not quiet, as lesser undead or undead hordes were moving about and fighting most of the time, trying to evolve either consciously or under the urgings of sentient undead. These sentient undead lived in the noble's domain as part of their mandatory hundred-year contract, signed for being helped by the noble to evolve or evolving on his land. Lesser undead creatures, level 2 and below, gathered in clearings, driven by a primal urge to evolve, seeking to transcend their current state. The winners of this process would emerge as newly evolved, intelligent level 3 creatures, earning their place among the town's residents. This was how the town's population grew—through the constant evolution of its lesser undead inhabitants.

As I navigated the Forest of Eternal Twilight, I traversed the domains of several Beast Kings—level 3, intelligent creatures that had been monstrous beings in their former lives. Driven by instinct and memories of their previous existence, they had transformed into Bonecraft creatures, retaining the essence of their former selves. Their eyes glowed with a dim, malevolent light, and their undead forms varied—some skeletal, some rotten-fleshed, with some strangely not looking any different from when alive except for their auras, even spectral, radiated a palpable aura of menace.

These skeletal entities, distinct from the human-derived skeletal creatures, ruled over their respective territories within the forest. Though intelligent and powerful, they remained subject to the town's overarching authority, their power limited by the death realm's unforgiving hierarchy.

I also caught glimpses of Nightmare Horses, majestic Bonecraft creatures that had evolved from their equine predecessors. Their horse-like structure, forged from memories of their former lives, seemed almost nostalgic. These creatures were favored by the intelligent undead in the town, who valued their strength, loyalty, and intelligence. Their fiery eyes and ghostly manes added an ethereal quality to their already imposing presence.

I continued on my journey, observing the intricate dynamics of this undead ecosystem. The Beast Kings, Nightmare Horses, and other creatures all played their part in the forest's delicate balance of power. Their intelligence and formidable presence commanded respect, but it was clear that they operated within the boundaries set by the town's true rulers.

I stood as a silent observer, taking in the intricacies of this undead society. As I emerged from the Forest of Eternal Twilight, I blended in with the other undead creatures, avoiding suspicion. My presence was just another drop in the ocean of undead that roamed the forest.

In most realms, the phenomenon of day and night is marked by the projection of the real sun and moon, whose projections exist in all planes of existence, with the undead plane not being an exception to this rule. However, this realm is special, as the brightness of the sun and moon were equal. The energy from the sun reaching this plane was reduced by the plane to the intensity of the moon, as the use of the sun's energy in the death realm was minimal, if not almost useless. The sun's existence, which is more inclined to light and life, wasn't appreciated in the death realm—a realm of death. Though undead were also a kind of life? Norris pondered. If the presence of the sun helped the undead in any way, the death realm couldn't have just let the projection of the sun exist in the world laws if it wasn't useful. His mind wandered, drifting off as usual for a while before coming back to his senses, remembering his current task.

It felt weird that the entire town knew there was a newcomer but didn't try to do anything. Thinking about it, it seemed that if a sublimated being came, they wouldn't be able to do anything to them here, and if someone higher came, they wouldn't be able to do anything to save themselves. This gave them an attitude of not caring about newcomers.

I had a meeting with the noble planned, and I wanted to be prepared for any eventuality. I began to craft countermeasures, setting in motion a plan to create a diversion using the undead creatures in the forest.

As I walked through the town, I appeared to be just another undead resident going about my business. However, my mind was focused on crafting a magical wonder that would deceive their senses into thinking it would help them evolve. This wonder, once created, would serve as a beacon, drawing the undead horde to it. Its purpose was not to accelerate their evolution but to attract them, creating a diversion that could aid in my escape if needed.

My second plan relied on the delay in communication between the town's noble and the Beast Kings' domain. I intended to use this window of time to my advantage, passing quickly through their domain before they could receive information about my presence.

While the magical wonder drew the attention of the Beast Kings, I would seize the opportunity to escape, using the delay in communication to slip through their domain undetected. I continued to gather information, surveying the town and its surroundings, searching for any additional advantages or plans that could aid in my escape.

I walked through the town, taking in the surroundings. As an undead, I couldn't smell the decay and rot, but my magical senses picked up on the death energy. The air was silent, except for the creaking of bones and the hum of dark energy.

I passed by the energy harvesting centers, where sophisticated array rituals pulsed with death energy. These centers were responsible for collecting and concentrating the dark energy that powered the town. This essentially showed the noble's connection with a mage. This intricate system could only be done by mages. Other spell-casting professionals like warlocks, druids, and priests might have evil geniuses able to do that, though. Never underestimate the heroes of the world, Norris thought as his mind drifted. My magical senses detected the concentration of energy, like a mist clinging to the walls. Shadows danced along the walls, cast by the flickering, eerie glow of the harvesting arrays.

Next, I visited the repair and maintenance center, where undead warriors came to upgrade their physical forms. The center's skilled technicians replaced damaged bones, reinforced weakened joints, and even installed new limbs and armor. The sound of scraping bone, clanking metal, and dark magic filled the air as the technicians worked their craft. The undead getting repairs looked at me with curiosity and suspicion.

The knowledge centers were a martial library, filled with books on combat tactics, strategy, and crude energy manipulation. To a mage, this energy manipulation would be considered rudimentary, but for warriors, it was sufficient. Warriors only used energy to grow stronger, breaking the limits of the body. Energy attacks was already a high end skill for most warriors and that was something easy for the mage though the lethality was far behind a warrior because the warrior was made and forged with the purpose to kill unlike a mage who are more like scholars, I found my mind drifting once again but didn't stop it. I had practiced my ability to divide attention so this much wasn't needed to stop my mind from wandering. I flipped through the pages of a book, noticing the focus on battle spells and techniques and read them and storing them in his memory just in case he couldn't come back. The warrior training methods would have being useful and sold for a great penny if there were made for humans or any other intelligent race for that matter, which made me disappointed. However, one tome caught my eye drawing my attention and wandering mind—an encyclopedia of common materials in the death realm. This could prove useful, as it contained information on the various resources available in this realm.

I walked through the cemetery, where the silence was broken by whispers of restless spirits. The cemetery served as a nexus for soul collection and energy accumulation, allowing the town to summon and bind new undead. The graves stretched out, with weathered headstones and crumbling mausoleums. My magical senses detected death energy and echoes of summoning rituals. The ground itself seemed to pulse with a faint, rhythmic throb, as if the very earth was alive with necromantic energy.

Near the training area, the air was thick with the martial aura of clashing bones and dark magic. Here, the town's warriors honed their skills, engaging in brutal combat and duels to prove their strength. I heard screams, snarls, and bone crashing on bone. My magical senses picked up on the warriors' focus and energy. The intensity of their training was a testament to their relentless pursuit of power. Since undead like most intelligent race won't reduce their combat ability after not training for a long time that would only mean that the undead fighting fight now were meant to learn new skills.

As I explored, I began to formulate a plan for my escape. I noted the location of the town's gates, the patrol routes of the undead warriors, and potential hiding spots. I decided that my stay in the residential area would involve keeping a safe distance from the Race Course and the Stables of the Damned. The sublimated horses were too fast,.

I also made a mental note to avoid the areas with high concentrations of warriors, such as the Jousting Arenas, Gladiatorial Pits, and training grounds. Warriors fight there to train, entertain themselves or watch others banning them a hub for warriors. Fighting multiple warriors at once would only hinder my escape, and I couldn't afford to be captured, using my hole card. I chose a location in the residential area that was closest to the Forest of Eternal Twilight, providing me with a quick escape route if needed. From there, I could lose myself in the shadows and make my way back to my mage tower.

Finally, I saw the noble's manor, its twisted spires reaching towards the sky. The air around it vibrated with dark energy, and I felt the noble's power.

As night fell and the moon shown bright, I got a place to stay in the residential area. The silence of the undead town surrounded me. I'd continue exploring tomorrow, but for now, I choose a location in the residential area that is closest to the Forest of Eternal Twilight, providing me with a quick escape route if needed. From there, I could lose myself in the shadows and make my way back to my mage tower.