The Empires Rise

"Everyone," I shout, "Make sure you have allocated your stat points. This will not be as easy as you might think!"

I leveled up after the last wave and put my free points into intelligence. I am double-checking my mana; it was replenished after the level-up. With a sigh, knowing I can heal those wounded, I approach the warriors who have taken the brunt of the necromancer's death wave.

"Several people have wounds. Some are already closing, while others have necrosis slowly creeping through their bodies.

Healing the two who are the worst, I hand the rest over to those who have healer professions.

I check my mana levels.

Mana: 62/72

It's not bad. There's plenty for when the next fights start. I walk over to the group's one casualty.

From somewhere, a white sheet was placed on his body.

Seeing no one else doing anything about this person, I checked in with Draemish.

"Is there a way for us to have this person raised as a new undead?"

"In theory, yes, but I would make sure it is okay with the people in question not to harm our relations with them." She replies.

Looking for Uxa and Bryst. "Uxa," I start, "could we have your-"

He looks over at me and cuts me off with a sad look, "You want to ask if we could raise him so he can continue to fight with us? The answer is no. We have been fighting for our own space back home. Doing this to his body would be the greatest sin in my eyes. Coming from one world where the undead turn those that fall to another where our allies will raise our bodies makes no difference. Do not do it."

I looked deep into his eyes and nodded, "Alright, I wanted to ask before we did anything. What would be the best way to honor this man's life?"

"Burn him till nothing remains. Use the ashes for fertilizer, and then make sure his family receives his items." Uxa states relief in his voice, knowing I want what is best for his people.

"OK, it might be a bit before we can do as you say, but I will make sure it is done."

Knowing this man had a family yet to arrive, I returned to Draemish with a heavy heart.

"It is for the best. I have seen when necromancers go out of control on a battlefield. The death-attuned mana ran rampant, and they started raising enemies and allies alike. It was horrifying. We had to put down the necromancers to stop it. So this is for the best."

"Given that, is it okay for us to have Laxreal return as a lich?"

"There is something different about liches. Their bodies are fully encased with condensed death mana, so they don't react similarly to large quantities of death mana. They get excited, but they will not go on a rampage. Because creating a lich has become taboo in my world, there aren't more. Those getting trying to get hunted down before they can succeed."

Confused, I ask, "And you are okay with Laxreal becoming a lich now?"

"Yes, he isn't killing innocent beasts or people. The mana condensing from the deaths of these monsters would be there one way or another. His receiving the benefit of it is right. Otherwise, we don't know if another necromancer will come out and use it to raise us if we fall."

I am happy to hear that no one will kill Laxreal immediately and that he won't go on a rampage from the death mana. I turn to the battlements one more time.

- Eleventh Wave starting in 5 Seconds -

"Be ready for whatever is to come!" I call to all those around me.

With anticipation, we look over the parapet to see the next enemies.

The countdown hits zero, and nothing appears in front of us.

Continuing to look around, I still don't see anything.

Looking over to where Ritotorous is perched. "Rito, can you fly around and find the enemies?"

He nods and takes off not long after he reaches out to me. "There are 100 monsters spread out between the north and south. There are slimes and a fish monster. They carry two spears, one longer and the other shorter."

Thanking him, I inform everyone. "We need to split up the groups; there are 100 monsters total."

"What is the split of the monsters?" Shadow asks.

Not knowing the answer, I asked, "What is the spread of the monsters?"

"There are about 70 slimes in the north and 30 fish monsters in the south."

After telling everyone this, we split the groups. All ranged damage dealers went to the South to care for the fish monsters. A couple of groups of warriors went with them to ensure their safety at close range. The rest of the warriors stayed at the gatehouse.

I again cast Nature's Grasp at the gatehouse's entrance and followed the rest to the south.

With the increased level of the monsters, it takes longer for the fish monsters to take casualties, but once the first one appears, more follow quickly behind it.

Once the monsters got close, I analyzed one of them.

- Sea Devil

Level 5

HP: 0/20 -

With this side of the settlement dealt with, the hunters head to the north while the mages return to the gatehouse.

Reaching the gatehouse, I find the warriors cannot deal much damage to the slimes. The cores keep moving out of reach. A few warriors have minor arm and leg damage from the slime touch, but nothing major so far.

A few slimes remain after passing through the gatehouse and the flame towers. However, it is still unnerving how many have made it. Out of the 70, 16 slimes made it, though. This is great since it means the flame towers are doing their jobs well.

Gibnic launches a chain lightning at the slimes, and they are paralyzed for a few seconds. This gives the warriors time to destroy the cores inside of their bodies.

"How often can you cast that spell?" I ask him.

"I can cast it up to ten times before I run out of mana," he answers.

"Great, for the next wave, I want you to stay here if there are more slimes." These slimes came from the north, and a lake is in that direction. Continuing down that line of thought, if lightning can stun the slimes, wouldn't ice be able to slow them or even freeze them?

Asking the rest of the mages, "Does anyone know ice magic?" I see a couple of hands raised. "For the next wave, stay here with Gibnic and focus on the slimes that come through the gate. I want to know how effective your magic is against them."

They agree to stay behind after I look down to the last slime being slain.

- Eleventh Wave Cleared

Calculating Experience...

Contribution 20 Kills. 40 Experience granted.

Twelfth Wave Starting in 1 minute -

The next wave starts, and we have the same enemies as before. However, the number of enemies has increased to 120. There are still 70 slimes in the north, but now there are 50 sea devils in the south.

It takes longer for us to finish off the sea devils, and one of them can get within range to throw its short spear. With a lucky hit, it can stab through one hunter's leg.

Waiting to finish off the enemies on this side, I walk over and help to heal the injured man. He can still fire, but he won't be walking around the settlement quickly without a potion or a healing spell.

Rhenriqi is helping to wrap the wound and help me preserve my mana. Her physician skills are coming in handy since Xelyphe is with the melee fighters, helping where they can.

The wave clears, with our side taking the longest out of the two groups.

- Twelfth Wave Cleared

Calculating Experience...

Contribution 10 Kills. 20 Experience granted.

Thirteenth Wave Starting in 1 minute. -

We are about to start our third hour of fighting. The people around me are becoming more haggard as we fight. Knowing I need to do something, I try to cheer them on. No one is receptive to my encouragement, and they look for the next wave begrudgingly.

The next wave starts, and right away, I can tell that something is different about it.