Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 288: Source of Fear

Alex felt utterly bewildered by what she heard, but the promise of a reward and Edgar's confident tone convinced her to give it a shot.

"Though I'm not sure what you see in me, you saved my life, and I'll do my best to repay you," Alex replied politely.

"It was nothing. Even if I hadn't saved you, someone else would have. This information was given to me by that person," Edgar said, leaving Alex puzzled.

Huh? Since when did I have such a mysterious benefactor? Could it be that the missing undead lord suddenly appeared, wreaking havoc to protect his heir?

"Can you tell me who this person is?" Alex asked with a curious, almost childlike expression, only for Edgar to respond with a simple, "That's classified."

"Alright then, let's get down to business," Alex said, slightly miffed but willing to move on.

"It's a hidden threat in the Dark Forest. I've heard that the Undead Lord's weapon has powerful sealing abilities. As the new Undead Lord, you likely have this ability too. Could I take a look at your weapon?" Edgar's calm demeanor belied the shocking information he casually revealed, leaving Alex stunned.

He was from the same era as the undead lord!

Edgar remained seated on the boulder, unmoving, as Alex approached and handed him her scythe, taking the opportunity to ask, "Master, were you friends with the undead lord?"

Edgar shook his head, accepting the scythe. "We only met a few times. We weren't exactly friends."

"What kind of person do you think the undead lord was?" Alex asked, seizing the chance to learn more while Edgar examined her weapon.

Edgar pondered for a moment, as if recalling distant memories. "Most people saw him as a reckless youth, but his talent was undeniable."

Reckless youth? Maybe that's why he ended up being betrayed.

Seeing Alex's interest in the undead lord, Edgar shared a bit more from his memories. "From the fall of the undead Empire to your emergence, it's clear he's dead. The dark clouds over Eldoria are his doing. The red moon has a strange power, dispersing the clouds at night, only for them to return by day. This has been going on for centuries."

Edgar sighed, perhaps lamenting the fall of a genius or simply sharing all he knew. It confirmed Alex's suspicions.

Alex absorbed the information, noting two key points: the undead lord was almost certainly dead, and he died on Eldoria. There might be some mysterious connection to her own origins here.

Edgar offered no further details, and Alex didn't press for more, waiting patiently as he examined her weapon. After a moment, Edgar returned the scythe to Alex.

"Though I've never seen the previous undead lord's weapon, yours is indeed extraordinary. What he said is true; your weapon has strong sealing capabilities."

"What do I need to do?" Alex asked, holding the scythe. She hadn't known about its sealing power, as the system description didn't mention it. But Edgar had no reason to deceive her. She figured the sealing power must be related to the weapon's "Soul Concentration."

"A powerful creature is sealed in the forest. I need your scythe to seal it completely," Edgar said, looking at Alex.

"Can you tell me more?" Alex asked, estimating Edgar's strength to be at least Emperor level, possibly Sovereign level.

If he couldn't handle it, how could a King-level weapon suffice? And why "seal" instead of "kill"? Was the creature too strong for him to defeat? If so, how could she seal it?

"The creature is called the [Source of Fear]. It's formless and intangible, impossible to kill, only seal. As for its origin..." Edgar paused, a pained expression crossing his face before he continued, and Alex listened silently.

"It's not a native creature but a troop of a Lord. I won't name him, but he was my close friend, as talented as the undead lord, the top Lord of his time, much like you now."

Edgar paused, giving Alex time to process the information. She wasn't too surprised; having such an immortal, soul troops would make anyone formidable.

"He and the undead lord had a complex relationship, both rivals and friends. When he learned of the undead lord's failed attempt to break through to godhood and subsequent ambush, he was furious and sought revenge. But his strength wasn't enough, and he was gravely injured by the major powers, forcing him to hide."

Alex could tell this Lord was a hot-blooded youth, much like the reckless undead lord, which explained their mutual respect and rivalry.

"While in hiding, he fell in love with a woman who wasn't human. They had a child, and once healed, he broke through his limits and reappeared before the major powers. Unknown to anyone, he had found me before this."

Alex could predict the outcome. Such a disillusioned youth wouldn't rest until he avenged the undead lord. By then, it wasn't just about revenge; he was enraged by the corrupt, dog-eat-dog world and wanted to eradicate the vile powers.

But fighting alone, his fate seemed sealed.

"He told me he was affected by the Source of Fear, a fusion troop. If he died, he'd be controlled and turned into a puppet, killing everyone in his memory. He didn't want his wife and child harmed, so he forcibly separated it and gave me a high-level spatial magic book.

Through his guidance, I advanced it to a forbidden spell and learned how to seal the Source of Fear. He was weakened by this, but knowing he couldn't escape unscathed, he chose to continue because it was his path to godhood, his choice. Before leaving, he hoped that if I ever met his daughter, I'd tell her he loved her very much."

Edgar took a deep breath, followed by a long sigh.

"Have you met his daughter over the years?" Alex asked Edgar.

"I have, but she hasn't met me. She's your friend, Ruby!"

Alex was taken aback, never expecting it to be Ruby.

In her memories, Ruby's father was indeed a powerful human, but Alex never imagined Ruby's father was also a Lord.

However, Ruby had suffered a coup and was hunted, yet Edgar hadn't intervened to save her. From his earlier words, it was clear he was a Sovereign-level powerhouse.

Edgar seemed to notice Alex's confusion and began to explain.

"The reason I agreed to help him seal the Source of Fear and confine myself to the Dark Forest is because my journey from Standard to Sovereign level was largely due to his help. His kindness to me is immeasurable, and this is the only way I can repay him. Since choosing to seal the Source of Fear, I haven't been able to leave the Dark Forest. I wanted to help his daughter, but I was powerless.

As the sealing power weakens, I can't even move my body now."

"Can't you release the seal after his death? Why persist?" Alex asked, not understanding why Edgar seemed so stubborn, even seeking her out to continue sealing the Source of Fear.

"It's not that simple. Over the years, the Source of Fear has developed some intelligence. It's like his shadow, and anything related to him will restore its power. His weapon is with his daughter now. If the seal is broken, the Source of Fear's first target would be her.

Moreover, his weapon was left to his daughter as a contingency against the Source of Fear. Once Ruby reaches King level, some of her memories about him will awaken, guiding her to the Dark Forest.

With his weapon, she can seal the Source of Fear again. At that point, the Source of Fear will become Ruby's ally. However, the risk is significant. If Ruby can't control it, she could be consumed. This is both an opportunity and a danger for her."