Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 125: Monarch-level dwarf?

This was exactly what she feared.

Sophie had some undead, enough to fend off the Silverbeard Clan's attack. Alex needed to first understand the situation with the Hobgoblins from Chi-Chi.

[Hamburger]: "Have the Hobgoblins discovered your castle?"

[King Kong]: "No, I observed them in the swamp. There's one that looks like a mage, and it can fly. It's leading a group of Hobgoblins towards the snowy mountain."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they hadn't been discovered, Chi-Chi was safe for now. The flying mage-like Hobgoblin was likely a Hobgoblin Shaman.

But Alex remembered that the Hobgoblin Shaman she had killed before couldn't fly.

Wait, could this Hobgoblin be Monarch level?!

Alex felt she might be right.

But what puzzled her was why the Hobgoblins were heading to the snowy mountain. What were they all after?

Despite her curiosity, the immediate priority was to fend off the Silverbeard Clan's attack.

With that in mind, Alex stepped through the portal and arrived at White Rock Mountains.

She noticed that Sophie's castle now had two additional ballista towers, and a transparent shield covered the sky. A larger furnace had been built next to the existing one, likely the advanced furnace.

The number of busy dwarves had increased, and Alex estimated there were at least five to six hundred of them. With two furnaces working, they could now produce eight thousand iron ingots daily, enough to upgrade the town every two days.

Alex felt immensely satisfied with her decision to save the dwarves.

As she walked towards the castle, the dwarves greeted her warmly.

"No need to be so formal. Don't use this as an excuse to slack off," Alex said, waving them off as she entered the castle. She found Sophie directing the dwarves to distribute food; it was mealtime.

"Big Shot, you're here! I noticed you weren't in the castle several times yesterday."

"Yesterday? Nothing much, just went out to collect some protection fees. What's the situation with the dwarves?"

Alex had been feeling uneasy lately. Since the battle with Baldwin, Monarch level beings had started appearing more frequently, making her suspect that the dwarves might also have a Monarch level among them.

Though she wasn't sure, she felt it was highly likely.

"The specters at the White Rock Mountains' border spotted ten dwarves investigating the dwarf mine and fortress, heading deeper into the mountains," Sophie reported.

"Only ten?"

Alex felt a pang of anxiety. The fewer the number, the higher the quality. Could there really be a Monarch level enemy?

"Did they have any unusual features, like the ability to fly?"

"No, but their armor and weapons were better than the dwarves we've encountered before," Sophie said, recalling the specters' descriptions.

Alex didn't believe they were just there to investigate.

No, she couldn't sit idly by. If there was a Monarch level enemy, they were in serious trouble.

"Don't look so relaxed. I'm not invincible. Come with me; there's a high chance one of them is Monarch level. We can't let them find this place."

Alex mounted her griffin, and Sophie hesitated for a moment.

Monarch level? She had never even dared to think about it. She didn't even have a Commanding level yet.

Sophie tried to ride with Alex on the same griffin, but Alex stopped her.

"You'll lead the way. If the enemy is Monarch level, return immediately and warn everyone to evacuate. I'll try to hold them off," Alex said seriously.

Sophie nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. She quickly found another griffin and mounted it.

Whoosh—

Sophie took off on her griffin, with Alex following closely, heading towards the outskirts of White Rock Mountains.

Meanwhile, deep within White Rock Mountains, a group of ten dwarves continued their advance.

They wore deep blue armor with faint arcs of electricity. The nine dwarves wielded war hammers, while the leader carried a spiked mace.

They rode lizard-like beasts, swiftly navigating the rugged terrain of White Rock Mountains.

Ahead, a tall mountain stood, the highest peak in the area. They climbed towards it, planning to survey the surroundings from the summit.

"They must be hiding within White Rock Mountains. Send out all the scout eagles. Report to the leader as soon as you find them," the leading dwarf ordered.

The dwarves stood on the summit and blew their whistles. The eagles circling above scattered in all directions.

The dwarves took out telescopes, scanning the area for any signs, waiting for the eagles to report back.

Alex and Sophie, flying on their griffins, soon spotted a group of eagles ahead. Alex wondered where so many eagles had come from, while Sophie shouted.

"Those are the dwarves' scout eagles, Big Shot! Kill them!"

The eagles, seeing Alex and Sophie, began circling back.

Alex closed her eyes, then opened them, her left eye glowing blue. The eagles burst into black flames and plummeted to the ground.

Alex and Sophie flew towards the direction the eagles had come from, knowing the dwarves must be there.

"Big Shot, they're on that mountain peak!" Sophie exclaimed, pointing.

"I see them. Stay here and observe. I'll go down and test them."

Alex, riding her griffin, saw the dwarves, who also saw her. Without hesitation, she leaped off the griffin.

As she fell, the wind whipped her face, her white hair streaming behind her.

Below, ten dwarves stood, one with a spiked mace standing out. If anyone was likely to be Monarch level, it was him.

In mid-air, Alex drew her scythe, black flames trailing behind it, her eyes glowing different colors.

Not knowing if he was Monarch level, Alex decided to go all out from the start, targeting the dwarf with the spiked mace.

The dwarf, seeing her, swung his mace, arcs of electricity gathering, ready to strike Alex with a full-force blow.

As Alex landed, she teleported in front of the dwarf, swinging her scythe. The dwarf met her attack with his mace.

Boom!

The small summit exploded, lightning arcing out, causing explosions around them.

A circular shockwave spread from the summit, forcing the other nine dwarves to shield their faces from the dust and debris.