Lucas woke to the sound of hammering. He opened his eyes slowly, his body still aching from the previous day's ordeal, and found pale light filtering through the narrow window of his chamber. The crimson sun had shifted position—his first clear indication that a full day-night cycle had actually passed while he slept.
He sat up carefully, testing his limbs. Everything worked, though his muscles protested the movement. The residual effects of the necrotic energy had faded, leaving only normal exhaustion and soreness. Small mercies.
The Shard of Eternal Night sat on the table beside his cot, still pulsing with that deep inner darkness. Even dormant, he could feel its power—a cold pressure that seemed to draw the light from the room.
Lucas stood, dressed in his spare clothes, and strapped the Frost Blade to his hip. Time to see what had been happening while he recovered.
The courtyard was transformed. During his absence and subsequent rest, his zombie laborers had continued their tireless work, and the results were impressive. Neat stacks of wood and stone lined the walls, organized by type and quality. A new structure had been erected near the Graveyard Barracks—some kind of workshop or forge, though Lucas didn't remember ordering its construction.
More surprisingly, there were people in his courtyard. Living people. Seven of them, to be precise—his vassals, apparently having relocated their operations closer to the Dark Crypt as he'd ordered.
David Chen spotted him first and hurried over, his expression a mixture of relief and anxiety. "Lord Nightveil. We were starting to worry. Selena said you were injured during your expedition but would recover. She didn't provide details."
Lucas noted the way David's eyes kept flicking toward the inner keep where Selena presumably was. The man was clearly terrified of her, which was probably wise.
"I'm fine," Lucas said shortly. "Status report. What's happened while I was unconscious?"
David pulled up his interface and shared some data. "We've completed the consolidation you ordered. All seven territories have been abandoned and our populations moved to the two fortified positions you designated. It's cramped, but defensible. We've also been sending tribute—the first shipment arrived six hours ago. Wood, stone, and some food supplies."
Lucas checked his resource totals and found David was telling the truth. His stockpiles had grown significantly overnight.
[Current Resources:]
Wood: 234
Stone: 187
Death Energy: 203
Food: 67
Soul Fragments: Various quantities
The numbers were substantial. With resources like these, he could expand significantly—summon more units, build additional structures, upgrade existing facilities.
"Good work," Lucas said, and saw David's shoulders relax slightly at the approval. "Continue the tribute schedule. I want steady resource flow, not sporadic dumps. Better to receive smaller amounts consistently than large amounts irregularly."
"Understood," David said. He hesitated, then added, "There's something else. While you were gone, some of us encountered another Lord. Not part of our group. She was scouting near one of our fortified positions, asking questions about who we'd sworn loyalty to."
Lucas's attention sharpened. "What kind of questions?"
"Tactical ones. How many units you had. What your territory looked like. Whether you seemed strong or just lucky." David shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't tell her anything specific, but she seemed... interested. Said she was part of a larger alliance of Lords. Said they were looking to establish diplomatic relations with neighboring powers."
"Or scouting for future conquest," Lucas said flatly. "Did she give a name?"
"Called herself Lady Ashford. Elena Ashford. Said if you wanted to meet, she'd be in the ruins about three kilometers west of here. Some kind of abandoned watchtower she's claimed as neutral ground."
Lucas filed that information away. Another player in the regional power structure. Someone confident enough to scout his vassals and bold enough to offer a meeting. That suggested either genuine strength or dangerous overconfidence.
"I'll consider it," he said. "In the meantime, continue fortifying your positions. The monster wave is four days away. I want your defenses solid enough to hold for at least an hour without my direct support."
David nodded and retreated, leaving Lucas to survey his expanded domain. The courtyard felt more alive now—not just animated skeletons and zombies, but actual activity. His vassals were setting up supply lines, organizing resource distribution, even attempting to improve the crude fortifications around their consolidated positions.
It was the beginning of something larger. Something that might actually deserve the title of kingdom, given time.
Selena emerged from the Graveyard Barracks as David left, her appearance immaculate despite the previous day's exertions. The temporary power boost from the necrotic energy had faded—Lucas could sense her level had returned to its sealed state—but she moved with renewed confidence.
"You're awake," she observed. "Good. We have work to do." She gestured at the Shard of Eternal Night, which Lucas had brought with him. "That artifact needs to be integrated into your territory's core. The sooner we do that, the sooner you can benefit from its effects."
Lucas followed her to the central altar in the main chamber—the same place where he'd awakened her. The blood stains had faded somewhat, though the channels carved into the stone still glowed with faint red light.
"Place it in the center," Selena instructed. "The altar will absorb it and distribute its power throughout your territory. The process takes about an hour and will drain most of your current death energy reserves."
Lucas set the Shard on the altar's center point. Immediately, the runes blazed brighter and the crystal began to sink into the stone as if the solid material had become liquid. Dark energy rippled outward from the integration point, and Lucas felt the change throughout his entire domain—a fundamental shift in the ambient power, like the difference between candlelight and moonlight.
[Shard of Eternal Night integrated]
[Territory enhancement active]
[Death Energy generation increased to +12 per hour (base) +6 per hour (Shard bonus)]
[New territory effect: Nightfall - All undead units receive +25% combat effectiveness during dark periods]
[Current Death Energy: 67/350 (capacity increased)]
The enhancement was immediately noticeable. The Dark Crypt felt darker, colder, more oppressive. The shadows in corners seemed deeper and more substantial. And Lucas could feel his connection to his undead units strengthen, the mental threads linking them to him growing more robust.
"Excellent," Selena said, examining the changes with obvious satisfaction. "Your territory is evolving nicely. No longer just a crude fort but the beginning of a true necropolis." She looked at him. "Now, about the other matter. This Lady Ashford who's been scouting your vassals. What do you intend to do?"
Lucas considered. "Meet with her, probably. Learn what this alliance she mentioned actually is. Assess whether they're potential partners or future enemies."
"And if they're enemies?"
"Then I'll need to know that sooner rather than later." Lucas pulled up his interface and began allocating resources. "But first, I'm rebuilding my military strength. That raid cost me every skeleton warrior in my strike force. I'm not meeting anyone while I'm this vulnerable."
He spent the next hour in focused construction. With his enhanced resources and increased death energy generation, he could afford to be aggressive. He summoned twenty skeleton warriors—double his previous strike force. He also invested in five ghoul scouts to expand his reconnaissance capabilities, and three of something new that had unlocked with his territory level: Bone Archers, skeletal warriors equipped with composite bows and quivers of bone-tipped arrows.
[20 Skeleton Warriors summoned]
[5 Ghoul Scouts summoned]
[3 Bone Archers summoned]
[Total units: 44]
The courtyard quickly filled with undead soldiers. They organized themselves automatically into formation—the skeletons in neat ranks, the ghouls prowling the perimeter, the archers taking positions on the battlements. It was still a modest force by any real measure, but it was larger and more diverse than anything Lucas had fielded before.
More importantly, with the Nightfall effect active, each of these units would be twenty-five percent more effective during dark periods. That meant his actual combat strength was higher than the raw numbers suggested.
"Much better," Selena approved. She walked among the skeleton warriors, inspecting them with a critical eye. "Still fodder against truly powerful enemies, but adequate for basic defense and minor campaigns." She paused. "You should also consider investing in your personal capabilities. You've been neglecting your own progression in favor of territory development."
Lucas frowned. "What do you mean?"
Selena pulled up his status screen and shared it with him:
[Lord Status]
Name: Lucas Nightveil
Level: 6
Class: Death Lord (Unique)
HP: 320/320
MP: 180/180
Strength: 24
Agility: 28
Constitution: 22
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 14
Skills:
[Command Undead] (Passive - Max Level) [Death Energy Manipulation] (Level 2) [Frost Blade Mastery] (Level 3) [Empty Skill Slot] [Empty Skill Slot]
Equipment:
Frost Blade (Rare - Damaged) Leather Vest (Common) Basic Combat Attire (Common)
"Your stats are acceptable for your level," Selena explained, "but your skill selection is minimal. You have two empty slots that could be filled with abilities that would significantly enhance your combat effectiveness." She gestured at the skill list. "Death Energy Manipulation, for instance, is only level two. At higher levels, it would allow you to directly weaponize death energy—drain life from enemies, animate corpses on the battlefield, even create temporary undead constructs."
Lucas studied the information. She was right—he'd been so focused on building his territory and army that he'd neglected his own character progression. "How do I improve skills? Combat experience?"
"Primarily, yes. Use them in battle and they level naturally. But you can also invest resources into training facilities that accelerate skill growth." Selena pointed toward the empty space near the Bone Forge. "A training ground, for instance, would allow both you and your units to practice and improve between actual combat encounters."
Lucas made a mental note. Another investment to prioritize once resources allowed. For now, he needed to focus on immediate concerns—like this meeting with Lady Ashford.
"I'm going to meet with her," he decided. "Today, if possible. I'll take ten skeleton warriors and you as escort. The rest of the forces stay here to defend the territory."
Selena's expression was approving. "A wise balance. Show enough strength to discourage treachery, but not so much that you leave your home vulnerable." She paused. "Though I should warn you—if this alliance she mentioned is legitimate, they likely have significantly more forces than you do. Multiple Lords working together can field armies that would overwhelm your current capabilities."
"I know," Lucas said. "Which is why I need to understand what they want and what they're capable of. Information is as valuable as combat strength, especially this early."
He sent a message through the system interface to David, instructing him to contact Lady Ashford and arrange a meeting for later that day. Then he spent the remaining morning hours organizing his defenses and ensuring his vassals understood their roles.
By early afternoon, David returned with confirmation. Lady Ashford would meet at the abandoned watchtower at dusk. Neutral ground, no more than ten escorts per side, peaceful intentions.
The terms seemed reasonable, which made Lucas immediately suspicious. Reasonable terms in a survival game usually meant someone was confident they didn't need unfair advantages to win.
As dusk approached and the crimson sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, Lucas assembled his escort force. Ten of his best skeleton warriors, equipped with the improved weapons from the Bone Forge. Selena, of course, looking as elegant and deadly as ever. And himself, the Frost Blade at his hip and a growing sense that this meeting would define the next phase of his campaign.
"Remember," Selena said as they departed through the gates, "alliances in times like these are temporary at best. Whatever they offer, whatever they promise, assume it will last only as long as it serves their interests."
"I wasn't planning to trust them," Lucas assured her.
"Good." Selena's smile was sharp. "Trust is for the dead. We're just deciding who dies first."
They marched west into the gathering darkness, toward whatever fate awaited at the abandoned watchtower.