Surprisingly, the Zombie Gray Rat was far superior when it came to combat against its own kin than its appearance would suggest. Unlike the slow, lumbering, and growling zombies often depicted in tales, this undead rat was anything but sluggish. It moved with a speed that far outstripped its living counterparts, darting across the dungeon floor with an almost unnatural agility. Its attacks were brutal and efficient, tearing through its prey with a viciousness that was both shocking and methodical. The zombie rat didn’t just kill—it ensured its target was truly dead, never falling for the [Play Dead] tactic that its living kin often used to escape danger.
The Zombie Gray Rat was relentless. Even when bitten, clawed, or slashed by its opponent, it didn’t falter. It continued its assault, undeterred by injuries that would have crippled a living creature. Its single-minded focus on destruction made it a terrifying opponent, and Ludwig couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as he watched his creation in action.
[You have killed a Gray Rat.]
[You have obtained…]
The same drops from the previous kill appeared once again, and Ludwig quickly collected them, storing the items in his inventory.
“Your zombie didn’t even lose half its health,” Thomas remarked his tone a mix of surprise and admiration.
“Yeah,” Ludwig replied, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “In a one-on-one fight, when one side has no fear of death, they’re bound to be far more aggressive than someone who’s trying to self-preserve.”
“At this rate, you’ll be able to use this rat at least a couple more times before you have to change tactics,” Thomas added.
“Now that’s where you’re wrong,” Ludwig said, his voice tinged with confidence as he approached the freshly killed rat. He crouched down, his hand hovering over the corpse as he called upon the gift of necromancy once more.
“Rise Undead!”
The scene was both terrifying and mesmerizing. Dark, swirling energy emanated from Ludwig’s hand, enveloping the rat’s corpse in a shroud of necromantic power. The creature twitched and shuddered as the magic took hold, its lifeless form rising once more, now bound to Ludwig’s will.
Now, Ludwig had two undead servants.
“Go, and hunt your kin,” Ludwig commanded, his voice firm and authoritative. The two zombie rats obeyed without hesitation, their rotting forms shuffling forward as they began to scout the dungeon ahead. Ludwig followed closely behind, his weapon at the ready, prepared for whatever lay ahead.
“Are you planning on creating an army?” Thomas asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
“Isn’t that the dream of everyone who dabbles in necromancy?” Ludwig replied with a sly smile.
“And do you know the reason it has always been a dream?” Thomas countered, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
“No,” Ludwig admitted, shaking his head. As a transmigrator, much of the common knowledge about this world was lost on him.
“It’s control,” Thomas explained. “The undead have wills of their own. The smarter they are, the more magic one would require to bind them to their will. Not even the strongest necromancer can lead an army of more than a hundred or so undead. The mana cost itself is steep, not to mention the mental burden of having to keep everyone in check.”
“What about liches?” Ludwig asked, his curiosity piqued.
“They’re different,” Thomas replied. “Because they’re already undead, they need fewer resources to control their own kind. But even they have limits. For example, a normal lich cannot control a Death Knight—they’re both at the same level of power. And without something like a Death Knight to lead the other undead, they become disorganized and utterly useless.”
“I guess necromancy isn’t that powerful…” Ludwig mused, his tone thoughtful and quite sad.
“It has its strong points,” Thomas said, “But not many use necromancy to simply control a lot of undead. Necromancy is basically a supporting magic class. Most necromancers are, after all, strong and powerful magicians. They use necromancy to hamper their enemies while they themselves prepare powerful magic.”
“I see,” Ludwig said, his mind racing as he processed the information. He flung his left arm forward, sending the chain in his hand spiraling toward a fleeing rat. The chain wrapped around one of the rat’s hind legs, giving Ludwig’s two zombie rats the opportunity to pounce on it.
Soon, Ludwig had three zombies under his control.
“How are you feeling?” Thomas asked, his tone humorous.
“What do you mean?” Ludwig replied, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“The mental strain. It’s heavy, right?” he asked confusion on his face even more than Ludwigs.
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. I don’t feel a thing…” Ludwig shrugged as he moved ahead.
“Maybe it’ll kick in once you have more undead under you,” Thomas said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
The two of them continued moving through the cellars until Ludwig suddenly stopped.
“What’s up?” Thomas asked, his glowing form flickering slightly as he hovered closer.
“There’s a box there. It looks untouched,” Ludwig said, his eyes narrowing as he approached a corner of the dungeon. Among a dozen or so broken crates and boxes, one stood out. It was remarkably intact, save for a small piece of wood that had been torn off by what looked like the claws of one of the rats.
Ludwig crouched down and carefully tore open the crate, revealing its contents. Inside were a dozen bottles of preserved wine, stacked neatly and seemingly untouched by time. The bottles were in good condition, their labels faded but still legible. Ludwig grabbed one of them and inspected it closely.
[Cheap Bastos Wine]
Category: Consumable.
Status effects: [Aged: 742], [Dungeon Mana Infusion]
Causes nausea, dizziness, and extreme abdominal pain to any living being who drinks it. May lead to death.
Grants 200% mana, stamina, and health regeneration for the next 8 hours after use.
Description: Among the many businesses of the Bastos Family, wine-making was their weakest. It was merely a hobby of Dante Van Dijk, tending to one of his deceased wives’ favorite grape vineyards. Though the wine this vineyard produced every year was of abhorrent quality and taste, he still preserved it among finer wines.